The BP Oil Spill

Up til now I haven't written about the disaster that is happening in our beautiful Gulf of Mexico. There is nothing I can say that will be helpful. The situation makes me very sad and very angry. I figure it's best to sometimes leave things left unsaid. I'm going to mention it now and share some videos for anyone who isn't aware of what is happening for reasons I've written below. Obviously, you can find many, many article and videos regarding this disaster if you look for them. I'm also going to mention some thoughts on the environment in general. And just so this isn't too Debbie Downer, I do have a giveaway coming up soon! It's come about through my desire and responsibility to be more Earth friendly, and encouraging others to do the same. Plus it's a pretty chic giveaway. Be on the look out for it.

A couple days ago I observed an online conversation taking place in a blog's comment section and was shocked that many people commented that they were not following the story, they didn't really know about it and I guess were not concerned. What? How can they not know? Well, it seems that other parts of the country are not directly affected and didn't give much thought to anything they had heard about the oil spill. This just seems unreal to me, and probably everyone else who lives in one of the Gulf states. The Gulf of Mexico is a part of our lives. Some of us enjoy it's beauty, some of us depend on it to support our families. All of us love it.

Another thing that came up over the course of this conversation was the inevitable polarization of views regarding wildlife and the environment. These types of topics always disturb me. I'm a nature and animal lover. Albeit one who is not doing all I can do to help our environment. That is something that I have started to work on and will continue to do so.

There are just a couple of things that I can say to try and bring everyone together when it comes to our environment and the many creatures we share our world with. All are created by God-humans, animals and Earth. There is a connection, a God given connection. As for our environment, I don't know the extent of damage our lives and actions cause upon Earth. Many disagree on topics such as Global Warming, etc. It seems that I read that the biggest leap of technology in the history of mankind has occurred in the past 100 years or so. If you think about it, it really is true. But have all of these new advances come at a price? I can't imagine that such changes have not affected our environment in a bad way. Here is an example of something pretty gross and certainly bad for our environment, The Great Pacific Garbage Patch. One hundred million tons of debris estimated to be twice the size of Texas and 30 feet deep, swirling in the middle of the ocean per a write up in Redbook magazine for July 2010.

Our bodies have been affected. The incidence of many types of cancer is increasing. Some children are developing earlier than children of generations before. I'm sorry I don't have stats for you on these things, but a google search can verify these increases. There are probably many, many more ill effects happening to us. My guess, and again it's a guess, is that these changes are happening to our bodies because of the increase in toxins, pollution, etc. So it's not so much of a stretch to think that Mother Nature is being affected as well.

The last thing I'll mention about concern for our environment is that *if* we as a whole are damaging our environment, then it should be something that concerns us all. Let's face it, if we have a planet that is damaged to the point of being unable to sustain life, then most other issues that come up really won't matter will they? Again, I don't know this to be true. I believe that yes we have caused harm. I hope that it is not to the extreme that some believe.

Here are the videos showing some aspects of the disaster to *our* beautiful Gulf. Yes, our Gulf. You may not have the pleasure of living in a Gulf state, but it is one of the many beautiful and fantastic places that our country has to offer to all of us! Apparently, the videos (2 parts for no longer than 15 minutes total) have been pulled down by BP a couple of times, or so it's been said. If the videos no longer work, you'll know why.

Part 1

Part 2

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Aloha Kai "Love of the Ocean"

I'm wanting to share an awesome new shop on etsy. For disclosure purposes, I'm not being compensated for writing this. When I saw my friend's art on Facebook, I encouraged her to open an etsy shop. This week she and her friend did just that! I promised her I would do my best to share their shop. They have been selling their art at different functions in So Flo, not living there anymore I really wanted to be able to buy a few pieces. Now I can and so can you!

ALOHA KAI "Love of the Ocean" is the shop run by Carol and Vic, two artists and surfers. They have found a way to clean up our beaches and make old things beautiful and new. They started this before the awful oil spill in the Gulf. Their art is made from items mostly collected from the Atlantic and Caribbean coasts.

Carol and I met in high school. Funny story and one to show you that though I have always had lofty aspirations to be crafty, I really don't think I have one iota of talent. (Maybe I just haven't found my niche yet). We were in ceramics class together and try as I might I could not make anything beyond the beginner's pinch pot. Carol would be whipping out piece after lovely piece, while I would have project after project fall apart or turn out downright pathetic. By the end of the year, I had not one, seriously not one ceramic masterpiece to show for my efforts. Carol took pity upon me and gave me one of her really cool pots full of swirly designs. I painted/glazed it and took it home...I was kind of proud-atleast of my color skills. But the truth, was engraved in the bottom, Carol's name!

I am pretty sure that my mom still has that pot that is now home to a plant. Yet another thing I can't do-grow plants of any kind. Instead of a green thumb I have the "thumb of plant death"! Mr. H will not let me touch any plant, flower, garden veggie. In fact, he prefers that I don't even look at them.

So back to ALOHA KAI...if you love the beach check out the shop and maybe pass it along to your friends! I just bought a few pieces that really spoke to me and reminded me of the many days spent on the beach during younger and more carefree times, ones that I've had my eyes on since Carol shared the pictures on Facebook. The images I've shared are the ones that I got. They will be a perfect addition to my bedroom redo, a room that I've been wanting to make all about peace and tranquility.

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