Wednesday 25 September 2013

An-Other Victim Of "Civilized" People


Most know that frogs are one of the first to die or be deformed as a result of human impact on the eco-system. Whether deaths be from pesticides or cars - we see more and more dying each year. See here for great info and what you can do. The obvious things we can do include eating organic food, local food, driving less or not at all. Especially after it rains, toads and frogs go on to the roads. So we need to drive very closely...or walk carefully! I have semi-stepped on a toad...felt him underneath so I didn't hurt him. What a relief. Would never want to hurt these guys!

Creating eco-systems for them to live in is also vital. Both in our yards and the whole world - we need to keep things as undisturbed as possible. We need to view world from a nonhuman perspective before we decide how to live/move/eat etc. A healthy human approach would do the same - working toward harmony - not domination of any human or nonhuman.

These all require individual actions but also institutional/systemic changes. The reign of "rugged individualism" and global capitalism must end. Well, they are just illusions anyway. The bailouts of 2008 show both don't work! And in a purely capitalistic state, the government would not bail out! In many ways we live in a socialist state.

The frightening thing is that even conservatives see the bank system as having changed VERY little! They also see a future collapse as inevitable. See TVO's  The Agenda for the discussion. Armine Yalnizyan has some fascinating analysis - more on here at policyalternatives and TVO.

An-other victim of human impact is pictured above. See past posts for more and here.


Thursday 12 September 2013

Plant Anything But Grass To Attract These!

The world is so full of diversity! Yet some North Americans who have land are obsessed with mono-culture. Whether it be the huge broccoli field or the enormous factory farm - both are destructive and unfriendly to both the human and nonhuman world.

Grass is another mono-culture. Lawn mowers pollute as much as driving some 200-500 km. They have no pollution control. Regardless, cars are extremely polluting - lawn mowers more so. And cutting grass is a waste of time! Grow some veges or at least plants that supply food for butterflies, bees, ....

If you like honey/fruit..., bees need certain plants to get "food" from. Grass is NOT one of them. Dandelions are though. So grow them instead! But that means challenging the status quo and actually thinking and caring.

Upon altering ones area, or keeping it from being altered to begin with, we may see wonders like these [ok, maybe not this one in Canada... To see more go here]:


Sunday 8 September 2013

Cup Plant Attracts Wonder-full Butterflies!

Wow! Just 12 hours after posting the last one on the cup plant...guess who arrives? 2 amazing large butterflies! See here for more - the male Canadian Tiger Swallowtail.

Are these not enough to motivate people to stop worshiping their lawns? How common is it to hear some dude "well I have to cut the grass.......what will the neighbours think?". Ugh! Start using your brain, conscience and "free" "will"! "Be a MAN...do the right thing!"

Stop watching those stupid, lying TV commercials that tell you that "weeds" are evil. Who decides what weeds are? Who says they are evil? Who benefits from convinces us [wow, aren't we easily convinced!] that they are evil - perhaps biological terrorists - and must be eradicated! We will even use toxins that kill insects, worms, birds, pollute waterways, wells....all just to step in line...to obey/follow the company, neighbour, society....

"Be a MAN....do the right thing!"

To reveal the stupidity: the dandelion is the stock [example] weed. Hmmm. Can it not be eaten? Is it not medicine? Is it not food also for insects? Is it not beautiful? [Unless you have been brain-washed...literally sold your mind/eyes to the pesticide companies]....

Come on boys! "Be a man....do the right thing!"

One of the largest butterflies in North America is this giant swallowtail - rare in Southern Ontario:


Saturday 7 September 2013

Plant This Instead Of Grass!

This amazing plant is native to Southern Ontario and other areas of Canada. It spreads quite quickly and can be enjoyed by humans and nonhumans alike! The "cup plant" feeds insects - for example, butterflies - including monarchs! - bees and many different ones. And in the fall when the seeds form, they feed the birds - including yellow finches!

It's a beautiful plant. It gets its name as it forms a cup at the stem [which is wild looking - square!]. Insects and birds can drink the water "from the cup".

Click to see more pics

Thursday 5 September 2013

When Will Enough Be Enough?

We are almost pre-destined to be un-happy until we accumulate.

Give me more.

More is better.

Bigger is better.

[I must compete............I must be better than _________]

..............................THEN I will be "happy"

But this is the problem.

There is a way out.

There is an alternative.

But first we must recognize the problem and cause: