“Welcome to the Inter-galactic Broadcasting Company News Hour.  I’m Whayout Thair somewhere in the universe.  Let’s go directly to a story we’ve been following in the Milky Way Galaxy where our correspondent Yagotta Seethis is orbiting a planet called Earth.  Yagotta, are you there?”

        Yagotta Seethis – “Thank you Whayout.  A dramatic story is unfolding on Earth where  the humans have gotten themselves into quite a pickle.  For hundreds of years they’ve been extracting carbon-based fuels from their planet and using them to build their societies.  But these fuels have caused greenhouse gases such as CO2 and methane to build up in their atmosphere making the planet warmer and warmer.”

        Whayout Thair – “Can you give us a sense of how warm it’s gotten?”

        Yagotta Seethis – “Certainly.  One clever earthling painted a 20-foot fence depicting the past 2,000 years.  Each one-foot section represents 100 earth-years. She used shades of blue to represent cool temperatures, white for averages, and red for warm temperatures.  Almost the  entire fence is painted in lovely shades of blue and white.  Strikingly, the last two feet, which represent modern times, are colored in shades of red that become darker and darker until the final few inches where a brilliant fire-engine red color represents the current decade.”

        Whayout Thair – “Wow! That’s a dramatic change.”

        Yagotta Seethis – “Indeed it is.  This past July, for example, is the 2nd hottest ever recorded.  July 2020 also marked the 427th-consecutive month with temperatures above the 20th-century average.  The increase of droughts, extreme weather events, fires, ocean acidity and elevation, and polar ice cap melt are actually changing the face of the planet.  I intercepted a conversation between a couple of old-timer earthlings.  One stated sadly, ‘This is no longer the same planet I was born on.’”

        Whayout Thair – “The situation sounds serious.  Are humans doing anything about it?”

        Yagotta Seethis – “Oh yes!  These earthlings are a clever species.  The great majority of them are waking up to the seriousness of this issue.  Their scientists and engineers have created the technology capable of harnessing clean fuels that would help turn the situation around.  The challenge now is to break away from old habits and practices.  Next week I’ll report on how individuals, organizations and governments are responding.  You see, they have to because this is the only home they’ll ever know.  It’s where humans are all forever… Earthbound.”    

        “I’m so tired of this pandemic,”  Betty sighed.  “It seems like it’s been going on for years.  And we’ve lost so many community members.  When are we ever going to get back to normal?” she wondered aloud.

         “It’s been a tough time for all of us,” Barney consoled her.  “And no wonder you’re sick of it,” he added.  “We’ve been fighting this pandemic in Wisconsin for at least 10 years now!” Barney Brownbat reminded her as he darted after another plump mosquito.
 
        The disease known as white-nose syndrome (WNS) gets its name from the white fungus that grows on a bat’s nose disrupting its hibernation.  This weakens and often kills the creature.  WNS has affected at least 13 bat species in North America killing up to 6.7 million bats and decimating our once-common friend, the little brown bat.
 
        Annoyed by that mosquito buzzing in your ear?  Bats are here to help.  They feast on insects each night to the tune of $4 billon of free pest removal services in the U.S.  One bat can eat between 600 to 1,000 mosquitoes and other flying pests in just one hour!  As a result, farmers need to use fewer pesticides saving them money and reducing the amount of poisons released into our environment.  In tropical areas fruit eating bats pollinate flowers and help disperse seeds.

        We need bats not only for their productivity but also because they occupy their own special niche in a balanced ecological web of life.  So ten years ago the Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources partnered with the U.S. Geological Survey Wildlife Health Center and University of Wisconsin wildlife experts to find ways to prevent bats from getting infected or to treat those who do. 

        This daunting task has included surveying bat populations and their roosting and hibernation haunts, working to develop vaccines, and monitoring bat movements with tiny bat-toted transponders.  The persistent work is paying off as this year scientists are finding some evidence that the disease may have bottomed out, and we may be entering a WNS stabilization period. 

        Later…Betty and Barney were trapped, vaccinated and recently spotted flying high over Old Man Tennessen’s place – the first bats seen there in years.  They’re a welcome sign of hope, scientific know-how and Mother Nature’s resiliency unfolding here on the only home we’ll ever know.  It’s where we’re all forever… Earthbound.  

        “And I’m not sleeping very well either,”  Bea Draggled added.  Bea was over-wrought and pouring her heart out.  It’s this Covid thing, and her daughter’s unemployment insurance running out,  and concerns about school and daycare in September, and always looming in the background is the climate crisis.  “It’s almost more than I can take!” Bea sniffled.

        May U. Beewell held her friend’s hand and listened quietly. “Of course you’re sad.  Of course you’re worried about your kids and family.  Of course you’re angry and not sure why.  Of course you’re frustrated by conflicting messages from our leaders.  Of course you’re grieving for losses that will continue on indefinitely.  Of course you’re energized to show up and do what you can.  Of course you care*,”  May comforted Bea.

        That evening, Bea remembered the old adage, “Action is the antidote to hopelessness and despair.”  She also remembered that the Wisconsin Climate Task Force has been holding public listening sessions seeking comments about creating a comprehensive plan to address climate disruption.  Wisconsin had once been a Midwest leader in clean energy generation - a key component in any plan.  But sadly we’ve fallen woefully behind our neighboring states. 
So with the July 31comment deadline fast approaching, Bea got right to work.

            As she wrote down her thoughts, Bea felt her neck muscles relax and her headache subside.  A sense of calm and purpose enveloped her as she envisioned a cleaner, more prosperous energy future for Wisconsin that includes:

• Policies that provided financial incentives for land management practices that pull climate-disrupting CO2 from the air and incorporate it into the soil where it will enhance fertility.
• Greater investment in energy efficiencies like those in the remarkably effective Focus on Energy programs.
• An expanded transportation electrification system including an efficient Electric Vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure.
• Third Party financing policies for distributed energy resources.  This would allow more Wisconsin residences and organizations to install renewable energy technologies without incurring debt or contending with significant up-front financial costs.

 
        After doing her one small part, of course Bea slept more soundly that night.  Of course none of us can bear these burdens alone.  But of course, together we CAN build a better world here on the only home we’ll ever know.  It’s where we’re all forever… Earthbound.    
 
        *”Of Courses” courtesy of Dr. Renee Lertzman

        “It’ll be a miracle if it grows,” I muttered.  With house painters coming on Friday, one of the dozen or so hollyhocks lining the southeast side of our house would have to go so painters could reach the siding.  Instead of cutting down this about-to-bloom 5 ft. flower, Karen suggested I transplant it.  While grumbling about the unlikely success of transplanting a flower in this stage of growth during the heat of the summer, I obligingly found a new home for the gangly growth.  Sure enough, by Friday evening the flower’s half-dozen stalks were still erect, but the leaves were completely wilted.

        Throughout history, we humans have presented Mother Nature with many challenges like this transplant attempt.  She’s often proven herself to be quite resilient.  For example, this spring as world commerce and transportation slowed, pollutant levels dropped dramatically.  Fine particulate matter in cities that imposed Covid-19 shutdowns enjoyed reductions of 25–60 per cent compared to the same period last year.  And the skies cleared!  What’s more, it’s estimated that global emissions of the heat trapping gas, CO2, may drop by up to 7% this year as compared to last.  If so, it will be the biggest emissions drop since World War II. 

        Thank goodness, because the blanket of CO2 and other greenhouses gases is now so dense that above the Arctic Circle the residents of Verhoyansk, Siberia recently reported a temperature of 100 degrees F.  That’s not so surprising because the current global CO2 level is 417 parts-per-million.  That’s almost 50% higher than the typical levels since humankind first walked this Earth. 

        In a perverse sort of way, Covid-19 has given us a jump-start on addressing climate disruption by causing an almost miraculous drop in emissions.  Now it’s up to us to continue and even increase the pace of these reductions and do so in ways that promote equitable economic prosperity. 

        Another unexpected miracle revealed itself early Sunday morning – 6 fresh blossoms opened on the transplanted hollyhock.  During the following week a dozen more blossoms have opened in a celebration of survival and floral beauty. Miracles ARE possible!

        We’re on the cusp of a clean energy revolution.  With 21st century technology available to us, it’s time WE become the miracle-makers in building a clean, equitable future.  After all, this bountiful flower garden is the only one we’ll ever inhabit.  It’s where we’re all forever…Earthbound.

        A sorry-looking lot sadly shuffled into the Teardrop Tap.  Slumpy E. Conomy slunk-up to the bar.  “Forty-four million filing for unemployment, businesses closing, rent and mortgage payments falling behind, maybe the worst economic depression since…since the Depression,” Slumpy mumbled to himself.

        Ian Equitties slouched past Slumpy.  “George Floyd, Black home ownership almost as low as when discrimination was legal, Black unemployment rate twice the average,” Ian muttered.  Next, Climie Chanj drifted in, “Atmospheric carbon dioxide almost 50% higher than eons-old averages.  Last time it was this high, trees were growing near the South Pole!”  What a sorry-looking trio!

        Suddenly, a brilliant shaft of sunlight flooded the room silhouetting the most beautiful sight any of them had ever laid eyes on.  “Hello boys,” Hope Blossoms smiled.  “Why so glum?”  One after another Slumpy, Ian, and Climie poured their hearts out. “Cry in your beer if you must, but let me show you a better use of your time,” she winked. 

        Hope told the boys about the Energy District getting organized in Iowa County.  Like the Soil and Water Conservation Districts begun during the Great Depression, energy districts’ two-pronged goal is to grow the local economy while fostering environmental stewardship.  It’s done by working collaboratively with individuals, local businesses and organizations to increase energy efficiency and promote local, clean sources of energy production.  Local wealth is retained, local energy and efficiency businesses grow, and air pollution is reduced.  (Visit DriftlessConservancy.org for more info.)

        On the national level Hope recommended that they urge their congressional representatives to enact H.R. 763, the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act.  Fossil fuel producers would pay a fee on the CO2 their products release into the air.  Those collected fees are shared by us all in the form of dividends sent to our homes.  The poorest 2/3s of households are projected to benefit the most.  At the same time clean energy sources become increasingly more competitive, and that drives down the use of dirty fossil fuels.  CO2 emissions stabilize, and we enjoy cleaner air.

        “Both of these paths help the little guy at the bottom of the economic heap.  In turn they create opportunities to lessen troublesome social inequities.  At the same time, fossil fuel use is reduced which lowers the threats from climate disruption.  So finish your beers then pitch in and help build a better world right here, where we’re all forever…Earthbound.”

        Aggie Culture and Kyle Ahwatt had never been rivals before.  In fact, they’d been buddies as far back as the Great Depression when Kyle brought electrification to rural farmers across the country.  Together they helped pull the country out of that depression and into prosperity.

        But the landscape is different today; new opportunities abound.  For example, our country is developing a growing appetite for a rapidly expanding, clean, low-cost source of electrical generation – photo-voltaic (PV) solar energy.  So today many farmers find themselves with the opportunity to use land for food OR for producing electricity.  And there’s the rub.  Aggie Culture and Kyle Ahwatt are now beginning to view each other with suspicion because they both have their eye on that pretty little Corra Opland. 

        Aggie assumed she would always be his.  But now this upstart, Kyle, has been talking with farmers.  He’s come courtin’ for Corra, and that’s up-ending long-standing rural cultural traditions.  You see, both Kyle and Aggie have the mistaken idea that it’s got to be all or nothing when it comes to Corra Opland.

        “Those silly boys!” Corra chides.  “Haven’t they heard about the latest thing?  It’s called agrivoltaics, and it means just what it sounds like.  Both agriculture and clean energy generation can happen on the same piece of little ol’ me!”
  
        Corra invited Aggie and Kyle for a nice cuppa tea so she could explain the whole thing.  “With agrivoltaics,” Corra began, “solar panels are situated on cropland so that farming that same land can jest keep right on a goin’.  The panels might need to be spaced just so, angled differently, or even raised up so livestock can graze underneath.  But a farmer can diversify her revenue stream with all sorts of potential benefits:

• Provide shade for pastured livestock
• Market high-value, shade-resistant crops
• Deep-rooted pollinator plantings build soil nutrients, reduce run-off and host beneficial insects
• Possibilities for irrigation reduction and an extended growing season
  
• Attract sustainability-minded customers
• Reduce energy costs
  

       
        “So you see boys,” she continued, “it don’t have to be all of one or t’other.  It’s a new way of thinking.  We need both food AND clean energy so stop this fussin’.  Let’s partner up and use the fancy technology we have today to build a clean, prosperous and healthy future.  Because this here farmstead is the only one we’ll ever have.  It’s where we’re all forever…Earthbound.”

January 1, 2020
           Everett E. Mann was pumped and ready to Party On!  The stock market was breaking records, the economy humming, and Everett was flying to a cruise ship package tour with exotic ports-of-call throughout the Mediterranean.  Where exactly?  He didn’t care.  There’d be a 24/7 buffet and endless entertainment options – Sweet!  Everett closed his eyes and drifted off to dreamland.

            Four months later Everett opened his eyes.  “Welcome to this Kairos moment,” a mellow voice intoned.  “Kairos!?” Everett thought to himself, “Where’s that travel brochure?  I thought it said something about Cairo.”  Everett looked around.  The other travelers were gone.  An unsettling apprehension crept over him.  The voice spoke again.

            “Everett, you and all humankind have been privileged to live during this unique Kairos moment in history.  As you may know, ‘kairos’ comes from the ancient Greek meaning the ‘right time,’ ‘opportune moment,’ or ‘God’s time.’  I’ve arranged this special Kairos moment just for you!”
 
            “And who exactly ARE you?” Everett asked nervously. 

           “I go by a lot of different names,” the voice continued.  “Some call me Yahweh, Allah, or Krishna.  You probably think of me as the Holy Spirit.  It was clear to me that humanity needed a ‘re-set’ of sorts, a fresh new way to be in harmony with each other and the natural world.  OK, I admit sending Covid -19 as a kick-starter is a rather severe nudge, but you clearly needed something to break you out of complacency and some unhealthy habits.  For example, you’ve been consuming natural resources as if you had 2 more planets’ worth in reserve.  You’ve pumped the atmosphere and oceans full of excessive amounts of CO2 and burdened the land with millions of tons of plastics and chemicals.

           “So, I give you this Kairos moment to set things straight.  No matter what, there’s no going back to the ‘normal’ of living in the 2019 world.  Hard as this is, it’s a great opportunity.  You’re already changing some habits, and Mother Nature is responding with cleaner air and water.  Here’s the chance to participate in one of the greatest accomplishments in human history – re-building a healthy world that will last for generations to come.  Make the most of it because I’m not about to create a new planet for you.  This is the only home you’ll ever know.  It’s where you’re all forever…Earthbound.”

        The crowd buzzed with excitement as Commissioner Polly Nation approached the podium.  “Welcome one and all to the 2020 Professional Pollination Practitioners Convention,” she intoned.  “And thank you for the critical services you provide every day.  Truly, our human companions would suffer greatly without your help.  As much as 1/3 of the human food supply would vanish if it were not for your work.

        “Imagine a summer picnic without the foods we pollinate - lemonade without lemons, PB&J sandwiches without the peanut butter or the jelly, no watermelon, no salsa or guacamole for chips, fruit salad made with only bananas and pineapple, no tomatoes, peppers, onions, cucumbers and on and on!”  The crowd hummed with well-deserved pride.

        “But these are treacherous times.  As I’m sure you know, our populations are being decimated; dangers abound!  So with an update on safety concerns please welcome our next speakers, Heloise Honey and Buzz Bumble.”

        Heloise took the podium and displayed a slide of a beautifully manicured suburban lawn.  “Exhibit ‘A’”, she began, “so-named to stand for ‘Argh!’  The grass is lush, green and weed-free only because it’s loaded with chemical fertilizers and pesticides.  Much of that fertilizer runs off ending up in lakes and streams choking our aquatic friends.  But those  pesticides…they’re after you and me!
       
        “Many homeowners excessively over-use lawn and gardens pesticides, some having manufacturer-recommended application rates up to 120 times higher than rates approved for agricultural crops!  The neonicotinoids (neonics) are particularly dangerous.  Beware of them!  Also, in this yard there’s a complete absence of organic debris, and only non-native flowers, shrubs and ornamental trees.  Where’s the food, shelter and water for us?”  Heloise concluded.

        “And now for Exhibit ‘B’,” Buzz began. “‘B’ for Bee-utiful for Butterflies, Birds and Bees.  This slide shows a lawn of mostly native flowers and shrubs including early, mid, and late summer bloomers.  The reduced mowed area leaves room for a small compost pile and veggie garden. What a feast!  With minimal use of pesticides this homeowner is sending an invitation to us, the butterflies and the birds.  Even the microbes in the ground are happy, healthy, and busily adding to the fertility of the soil.

        “Wise humans know that fostering a healthy environment for us means a better world for everyone because, after all, this is only home we’ll all ever share, right here where we’re all forever…Earthbound.”

        “Hey MT!” Les called to his neighbor who was carrying a small bag of groceries up the porch steps.  MT managed a half-hearted wave in return.  Les B. Thrifty knew his neighbors, MT and Penny Les Pockets, both had had their hours cut and were really pinched by this covid thing.  Honestly, Les didn’t know how they were surviving.  It broke his heart.

        That evening Les and his wife, Ima Thrifty-Gal, counted their blessings and wondered if there was a way to help their neighbors.  “With lower income, they’ve got to cut their expenses,” Les reasoned.  So they began making a list of money-saving ideas.

        The next morning Ima called Penny and invited them to a “socially-distant” picnic in their adjacent backyards.  That evening Les fired up the grill, and with their backyard picnic tables 6 ft. apart they all enjoyed a delightful spring evening together.

        Eventually the Thriftys steered the conversation to money-saving practices.  Ima told about the energy-savings pack they’d ordered from Focus on Energy, a program that helps 10s of thousands of Wisconsin families and businesses save money on energy costs each year.  “It’s great,” Ima gushed.  “They offer 6 different FREE energy-saving packs full of items like LED light bulbs, water pipe insulation, low-flow shower heads and faucet aerators to save water, and advanced power strips that prevent electronics from drawing power when appliances are off or not being used.” 

        She told them how get their own pack at FocusOnEnergy.com in the “Residential” section.  “Focus on Energy is a terrific organization,” Les added.  “Every $1invested in its programs returns over $5 in energy savings!”

        Then Ima gave Penny a tip about water heater temperatures being set too high.  “If you usually have to mix in cold water to keep from scalding yourself, it’s easy to lower the thermostat setting to save money and energy,” she advised.  Meanwhile, the guys were making plans for a “solar clothes dryer” (a clothesline) for the Pocket’s backyard.  “Clothes dryers are often one of the biggest energy drains in homes,” Les explained.

        “Now I get it!” MT beamed.  “When everyone reduces electrical use, less needs to be generated.  That’s good for us AND the planet.  The least expensive and most environmentally-friendly energy is the kind that’s never generated in the first place!  While saving money, we’re also protecting the only home we’ll ever know, where we’re all forever…Earthbound.”

        Meanwhile back in heaven, the Spring Gala was just getting underway.  Countless celestial multitudes filled the skies in search of their name cards.  Florence Nightengale was delighted to find herself assigned a seat between Senator Gaylord Nelson and Pope John XXIII, two men she admired greatly.

        Not surprisingly, talk soon turned to the Covid crisis taking place back on Earth.  As a nurse, Florence of course wished she could help relieve the suffering.  She recalled the Crimean War when ten times as many soldiers died from disease as from battle wounds.  The time was ripe for a renewal in health care practices.  By dramatically improving sanitary conditions, Florence helped usher in a new era of health care.  In one location these improvements drove the mortality rate down from 43% to 2%!

        “And speaking of renewal, it’s the Easter season on Earth,” Pope John beamed. “JC knew a thing or two about renewal!  During my time as Pope, I sensed our church was ripe for renewal.  We convened the Second Vatican Council to revitalized and modernized the Church.”
       
        Senator Nelson added, “Just 50 years ago on April 22 a group of us realized it was time to renew our commitment to environmental health, so we organized the world’s first Earth Day.  Today it’s recognized as the planet's largest civic event,” he proudly reported.  “That event led to landmark legislation including the Clean Air, Clean Water and Endangered Species Acts.”

        Returning from the buffet line, Pope John shared a thought. “This Covid crisis is forcing monumental changes in how humans conduct their daily lives.  Changes such as working from home, tele-conferencing and reducing purchases of unneeded ‘stuff’ are very environmentally beneficial.  Senator, you’ve told us many times that ‘business as usual’ pitting short-term financial riches with environmental stability inevitably leads to societal failure.  What’s that quote of yours? ‘(Healthy) biological systems are THE sustaining wealth of the world.’

        “This crisis will surely pass, but the innovation and streamlined practices it has engendered may offer a framework for a healthier, more stable human relationship with Mother Earth,” John concluded.

        Looking down through the clouds, Florence nodded in agreement.  “These clever humans will surely recognize that the time is ripe for environmentally savvy renewal.  Heaven knows, until they join us here, they’ve got to protect this pale blue planet because it’s the only home they’ll ever know.  It’s where they’re all forever…Earthbound.