New planetary scale thinking and processes for the politics of energy production and consumption are the end to which the global community aspires.
A lowering of the ever escalating threshold tolerance for anthropogenic influenced rises in greenhouse gases is the priority the earth requires.
Atmospheric CO2 beyond ~400 parts per million disrupts natural checks and balances such that catastrophic consequences may be impossible to prevent.
Claims more study is necessary before too expensive resolving efforts only mean we rush towards dire outcomes at disastrous future cost for every dollar not currently spent.
The past decade has seen the hottest years recorded beyond preindustrial times. At almost +1.5C consequent accelerator negative feedback loops as follows include:
Amplifying ice-albedo loops, water vapour loops, permafrost warming loops, ocean warming and acidification loops. You can now see them in the daily news.
Variable monsoons, extreme weather, flora and fauna migrations, severe drought, flood and bushfire, extinctions and coastal losses have already begun.
Yet still self interest and denial dominate the necessary scale of decision-making on behalf of every species under the sun.
Acting local is good, but no longer anywhere near good enough. Global solutions are needed that are necessarily wise and tough.
Only constructive planet wide climate and energy action can save us here and now on the cusp.
SRNV is a nature blog I have neglected my co-authorship of in recent years. This has been due to work and family commitments taking me to other parts of this wonderful state of Victoria. In the meantime, Bert has continued his informative presentation and celebration of our region. Now I am spending more time back in Central and North East Victoria I am well and truly ready to join him again. I will reblog here to poetography.ink for my occasional reader’s interest.
It is the rugged mountain landscape that reflects my heart from great heights I watch over every part the pinnacles are the summit of my aspiration valleys are where I pause for consideration and revelation water scoured gullies have carved their scars onto my soul but the long deep range sustains and heals my whole
open rolling plains broad flat and wide are where the scope of my vision emerges from inside where I can see from horizon to horizon nothing impedes my hopes here my future can be spun I absorb the beauty of each day each morning and evening sun from each creature or blade each single tree or forest watching and observing for new opportunities to enlist
along waterways I explore the wilder places I adore where raging tempest or placid calm invoke irrepressible desires for more like the fluid medium within me water of my life clean water fills all empty spaces with relief and ocean depths teem with the origins of my genes where all futures were created as a multiverse of dreams
This week the dVerse poetics prompt from Dora was to incorporate a landscape or cityscape into your poetry that either mirrors or amplifies your interior landscape (or lack thereof).
What is it the forest says to me? It says, “Dive in deep and gleefully!” and oh I do so like to take that advice because diving into a forest is oh so nice
I approach the edge excited each time because when forest bathing the time is all mine nearing the forest the world changes scale and shape new dimensions appear: from 2D to 3D, into 4D I leap
as the colours of tree thin lands fade out behind me the colours of the forest grow ever richer to see and time seems to stop while immersed in this place as the harshness of cities is quickly replaced by the soft light of beauty and amazing grace
the smells of the flora the anticipation of wildlife the moisture in the air the freedom the relief where I walk in peace awestruck and at my own pace where I find so many reasons to pause and marvel in this space
I belong in the forest it puts smiles on my face it slows me it soothes me it relieves me of haste
it gives me adventures I would never otherwise find it welcomes and embraces me and I return all in kind I embrace the ground cover the mid story and canopy I welcome every insect bird and animal I see I soak up the sights of mosses lichen and fungi the waterways the water aquatic life and algae
and I think if this is heaven in heaven I want to be because then heaven is on earth to revere joyfully
Today’s d’Verse prompt is from Lillian: write a poem that somehow mentions, is set in, or is motivated by the woods / forest. As I hope you can see, I like nothing better than to spend time walking in forests.
In the Valley there are few trees now since white settlement the river gums have bled steadily back into ever depleting soil the dehydrating sap bleeding red
some majestic sentinels remain on final watch across the floodplain of gritty dust and cropped introduced grasses as the parade of indigenous extinction passes withdrawing from the flats retreating across the hills ascending to heaven after suffering grave ills
and the broken remnains of centuries of trees stand skeletal or lie shattered on the ground as if awaiting a last chance for redemption after each falling whoosh and final thump of sound in atonement for overseeing the loss of forest they crave to protect their young who escape the cut of plough or chainsaw or grazing teeth they
enfold survivors in fractured parental branches fostering the roots beneath attempting nurture of trunk and leaf but they have nothing left to bequeath to young individuals left standing exposed to sadly age in grief witness to a parasitic human occupation a relentless quest by the future’s thief
It makes pleasurable sense to live in the country but I am apprehensive about what it means when the blistering sun and a searing north wind are set to scorch the earth when they rise again
I am scared of the new summer on days like these marked for worsening catastrophes where shimmering heat on the horizon it seems prefaces the burning of landscapes by fire destined to scour every countryside rise and glen I feel the new summer fear rise again
I am scared of the new summer as you should be when severe climate change dictates choice and activity
What can you say our young assertive one with the voice of an innocent and every reason to come to the land of the people with the frozen tongues did you hear the voices trapped in the throats of the speakers the truthsayers the protesters the dumb and the seekers
what will you say my naive one as a voice for the reticent who want to save their home where no voices are heard and no listening is done did you crack the blank shields of the riot police abashing when your truth and your statements of the obvious were clashing with the public dialogue of denial that’s in fashion
what do you now see my prescient soul a world that is scared yet loudly condemning your role contradiction abounds around what’s believed and is told but you won’t close your mind your mouth or be controlled because the need is the need of a world being sold
where ascendant rejections of science’s findings carry weight disproportionate to tomorrow’s unwinding and the hope that was youth falls to systemic undermining I hope that you stand up to the relentless grinding for across the world there are still people who need you to attack all the arguments of denial so feeble they still rise to smother the planet in chaos and evil but for your pluck and your courage your ability to needle it does provide a check with words that are real and challenges others to rise too and reveal the lies and deception the denialists conceal I hope and I wish you can change how they feel
what will you say next our young assertive one
If you didn't pick it up the rhythm is sort of set to Bob Dylan's A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall
This river of mud it comes to no good when it spreads on the plains or surges through the woods when it rises in the towns or breaks dams where it would this river of mud is never any good
they throw the mud they make the mud stick weather whether there is mud to throw splattered thin or cement thick and I see the mud it makes me feel sick a vitriolic flood of slander and lies sinking reasonable opposition no due process applies
Sunrise and the clouds are silver, gold, pink or the brightest of whites they promise new beginnings and I believe them I say goodbye to the night and the day is full of all that might be
sun fringed clouds speak of good fortune and hope when I raise my eyes to see them things start looking up silver linings
dark clouds rising are mysterious and foreboding what danger is imminent? how will it affect me? I become watchful
ah, today black clouds shadow my father's angry face it’s time to make myself scarce there is no doubt about the turbulence ahead for mother and me it’s time to flee the storm to come
I am grateful the clouds have lifted from our little home the windows and doors are open fresh air has once again surged through and purged too
my little window looks to the sky there are omens in the various shapes passing by I watch them, they guide me to more thoughts of what is to come by and by
Xanthorea gathering in Heathcote-Graytown National Park
It's good to see ya Xanthorea gathering in the forest your handsome forms and spiky hair well combed to keep you modest your food laden tail of unrivalled scale flags you as altruist unprejudiced your coming together in all kinds of weather shows how best to coexist
your invisible feet step slow and repeat toward timely arrival for greetings and meetings you are never late with your shuffling gait your committee nothing short of enchanting it leaves room aplenty for your language of rhyme to talk things through and determine what is true resolving prime issues one at a time until everything works out absolutely conclusively perfectly fine
Boundary Hill Road, Strathbogie Tableland, Victoria.
Walking Boundary Hill Road in dappled sun from the Mannas and Blue Gums lining the run the trees are magnificent and so is the landscape when you are walking here the feeling is great
Photography days #30.
All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.
Fewer Koalas visit us these days, Strathbogie Tableland, Victoria.
We witness their leaving like smoke in the wind the wildlife departure impossible to rescind following First Nations people out of the bush into memory alone at an increasing rush when we came here there were many koalas just 16 years ago now their sighting is uncommon as they falter and go and the freshwater crays I haven’t seen for five years the metal blue of their backs absent - extinction fears there once was a blackfish but it also is gone from the spring creek below us it once called home and the robins are fewer where they once dominated the platypus just hanging on from being eradicated I’m sure the list is much longer but what more can one do than try to protect what is left sheltered in a zoo more people and cars, disease, cats, foxes, more stock more land cleared, less native food, climate change, ticking clock we should know better but our efforts are weak we talk local but the world must now deliver what we seek
Poetry days #30.
All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.
Accessible walk, Lake Pertobe, Warrnambool, Victoria.
Accessible walks are such a wonderful thing getting all people out to enjoy nature and sun for me, it is a matter of strategic dreaming that I will publish each accessible walk for everyone
the pleasure I see in enjoyed natural spaces and landscaped gardens designed for all the smiles on all young and adult faces as they embark on a walk at nature's call
feeling healthier and fitter for being outside as they see the sights on a walk or a roll and so much mentally better inside breaking the chains of confinement is a worthy goal
Yellow-tailed black cockatoos, Strathbogie Forest.
The one on the left said, "What will we do? I think share all our seed, what about you two?" The one on the right said, "I've earned more than you." "I'll be taking full earnings, as is my due!" The one in the middle said, "Be reasonable." On cue. "There's no need to bicker, dissent or argue. Let's eat what we need and let some accrue." The way forward was set by this Yellow-tailed black guru.
Poetry days #22.
All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.
The bird that spoke that first perfect note was a revelation to its kin because she could sing so beautifully the other birds decided to join in
some of the birds variations heard they felt they could do better so they sang with melodies that made the landscape ring and to each note gave a letter
a chorus formed of singing birds who organised their songs into works of art many species took part and for the choir others came along
a feud broke out all about which birds sang best of the rest unresolved each species kept their songs close to their chest and so today when you hear each sing their special tweet be mindful that this is why only one song can each species ever repeat
Poetry days #16.
All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.
If he, she or they can choose to do something pleasing or satisfying, it is quite likely that you can choose to do something pleasing or satisfying too.
All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.
above the field the hero-maker exercises leadership inspired massing forces across the vale with support in plenty provided
the gunsmiths make the guns the gun-handlers pass weapons along the gun-runners deliver them to gunners firing on song
on the field the trap-maker casts nets and snares wide able-bodies and deft-hands ready to relieve the fallen and retired
the charging-mob is subdued by strategy and power out-flanked and out-thought they charge prop then cower
injector-darts hit each target unconscious they drop and fall collected quickly from the field be-gathered one and all
each beast is agentle-laid weighed and length measured teeth and health are checked body-secured then tethered
bio-tags are clipped to ears before the waking beasts astir safe-release is carefully planned returned unharmed to where they were
across the remnant-wilderness against disease and deceit conservation-heroes monitor life resisting extinction and defeat
Today’s dVerse prompt is from Bjorn to use “kennings” or new compound words to create meaning in a poem as a way to continue the evolution of language.
Poetry days #37
All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.
poetography.ink 