5-29-10

A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT

LITTLE BROWN MUSHROOMS

BEFORE LOGGING

AFTER LOGGING

SAY WHAT?

OLD GROWTH

MOSS BEARD

FROM RIGHT TO LEFT: SUZANNE, SIOBAN, MICKYLE,
DAVE, RACHEL, JEN, AARON

SAY ANYTHING

MOVE, I STILL CAN'T SEE THE WATER FALL

THANK YOU

FRESH GOAT CHEESE ON NOT YOUR AVERAGE POTATO SALAD

Rape and murder are probably the two worst crimes a human can commit, in that order. Rape is worse than murder because the victim must live with it, and the haunting terror of the criminal incident is relived over and over in their mind. Murder is a horrendous crime, but once the act is committed, it's over.

Humans have raped the earth's natural resources for all time, and Mother Earth must live with scars. In the great north west, utilizing natural resources has long been a main source of income, mostly through fishing and logging. As a result of overfishing, few swim in the rivers anymore, and as a result of overlogging, vast stretches of mountains once home to glorious trees are now barren. By chopping down forests, rain waters flood hillsides, erode soil, and destroy entire areas. Also, chopping down trees for export has left many local residents poor and benefitting only a handful of rich folk. The demand from American and international residents for wood and paper products over time has badly scarred many of these Oregon mountains. And these aren't the only areas of our country raped for natural resources. Think about mining towns. Think about oil towns. How has that natural resource raping affected those areas? How has their pollution changed our landscape? When the average American purchases wood chips, timber, or paper, do they consider the wildlife that has been raped? Have you ever considered the true value of toilet paper?

Today we went hiking in an old growth forest that was spared from logging. The waterfalls were spectacular, and the feel in the air was magnificent. It smelled so incredibly fresh and so clean. Nothing compares with unspoiled natural beauty.