I finally watched the movie Avatar, and it was much different than I had imagined. I actually liked it!!! Not for the animation or cinematic reasons (but I did find it neat how the actors and animations were combined, and appreciated the anti-war message), but for the deeper message about Mother Earth, how all organisms are connected, how we need to protect the planet we inhabit, and work together to keep our planet healthy. Can you imagine if those who rape the rainforests and natural resources of the world felt those actions acutely in their own souls? Can you imagine if each and every individual had to stop and think before using resources, and think about the impact it has on the common good? 
For example, can you imagine if and when a person decided to use a papercup, or tissue that the pain and sorrow of the tree that was sacrificed to make the items was felt by the human race? If oil that is sucked from the Earth to make various plastics, styrofoam coffee cups, plastic grocery bags, gasoline, oil to heat our homes, etc. was felt as though we were giving our own blood? If we were connected to our planet as intimately as the Navi people are to Pandora, we would defend and protect our planet, and consciously make good decisions instead of wasteful ones. Our decisions would lead to peace, serenity, and a healthy planet and World. I applaud director James Cameron for the messages he has woven throughout Avatar. To quote Cameron, "Avatar asks us all to be warriors for the Earth. This beautiful, fragile, miracle of a planet that we have right here is our land. Not ours to own, but ours to defend and protect." Here's to Peace, Love, and our Planet! Bravo!
For the first time in 16 years our basement flooded; our recreation room and multi-use room had over an inch of water, and that was with the 6 of us working for hours to keep it from rising. We've already ripped out the carpet and felt padding, moved furniture and tried to save what we could. I worry about what we can't see behind the walls...There must be a reason for the phenomenal amounts of rain, other natural disasters, and changes in weather patterns being experienced worldwide...and I'd put money on it being Global Warming. I hope with pressure from insurance companies, homeowners, scientists, and environmentalist that the government will finally listen and work to reduce greenhouse gases and global warming. Considering the US is the largest contributor to the problem, we should also be the front runners in helping to FIX the problem, our Earth and future generations are depending on us!
Ok, I'm INCENSED about the Census mail we received today...let me just say that I am not against the Census. I understand that it is important to collect data to help decide the allocation of federal funding, etc. But, what I don't understand is WHY we received a letter today telling us to watch for the census in about a week!!!! WHAT?!!!!! The government wasted one sheet of paper, one envelope, postage for about 307,000,000 Americans, and let's not forget the impact of delivering all the mail. The greenhouse gases contributed by the planes and mail trucks to deliver the "pre-census letter" is a horrible shame.
The "pre-census letter" has already been recycled at my house, but what percentage of the pounds and pounds of paper will be recycled? Unfortunately, much of that paper will end up in the landfills. How much money did that mailing to tell us they would be mailing the census cost the taxpayers? There are already commercials to let everyone know that they should fill out the census and why (and don't forget those commercials cost the taxpayers money too!)
Bottom line, the letter from the Census today is WASTEFUL, contributes to pollution, and global warming, and I doubt it will make any difference in the outcome. If the government wants to have an impact, they could have a positive green impact by not wasting trees, money, resources, and preventing green house gases.
Today I inconvenienced Tiger-Lily and Rhody and had them watch an Inconvenient Truth. Rhody astutely asked a few times if any solutions would be presented because he was only hearing about the problems. "You and I are part of the solution," was my answer. We read the ideas interspersed in the credits too, and I pointed out that every time he remembers to turn off the lights, pulls down the shades, and recycles he is part of the solution. Now that the whole family has watched the movie I feel like maybe they realize WHY it is so important to protect the Earth for their future, and WHY we do so many green things to help reduce green house gases, and WHY I want them to be good stewards of the planet and HOW they can make a difference every day.
For example, can you imagine if and when a person decided to use a papercup, or tissue that the pain and sorrow of the tree that was sacrificed to make the items was felt by the human race? If oil that is sucked from the Earth to make various plastics, styrofoam coffee cups, plastic grocery bags, gasoline, oil to heat our homes, etc. was felt as though we were giving our own blood? If we were connected to our planet as intimately as the Navi people are to Pandora, we would defend and protect our planet, and consciously make good decisions instead of wasteful ones. Our decisions would lead to peace, serenity, and a healthy planet and World. 
