The world is burning up and the polar ice caps and glaciers are melting. Bottom line, whether you believe in climate change or global warming or hocus dillydamn pocus, there is no denying we have been experiencing epic, biblical weather extremes that are affecting all of us from the deserts of the Sudan to the vineyards of the Okanagan Valley to the outback of Australia to the North and South Poles melting at accelerated speeds.
I recently just returned from a terrific week cruising up and down the Inside Passage of British Columbia, Canada to the beautiful and bountiful state of Alaska, USA. From the stunningly majestic scenery, to humpback whales breaching and playing just off our whale boat, to the magnificent views of mighty glaciers, to the galvanizing history of the Gold Rush, to the learning of and playing with the famous Iditarod Mushers and Pups, it was a definite bucket list vacation and one that I would HIGHLY recommend for all ages.
Like our beautiful B.C., Alaska is lush and wild, a palette of greens from peridot to hunter, a bevy of blues from periwinkle to midnight, a wilderness of whites from translucent to opaque, a grandeur of greys from granite rock to steel trout. The vastness of the land, the icy depths of the oceans, passages and lakes, the denseness of the forests, the unpredictable weather extremes, the wildlife that are held in deep respect and reverence, created in me many moments of awe and wonder but as well, a few moments of something akin to sadness, perhaps even remorse and failing.
While we enjoyed the soul soothing yet equally heart-stopping vistas, the adventurous and educational shore excursions, the ship's myriad of entertainment, the International cuisine, oh my goodness, the foooooood, (that’s a whole other blog on how to detox after a cruise;) and the far more than normal amount of libations we drank, no judgement ya'll... the outside world was experiencing catastrophic destructive events from wildfires to flooding and earthquakes, AT THE SAME TIME, hello California, to desert-like droughts, to bug infestations, to crop failures, to, to, to... I found myself feeling almost guilty for enjoying myself and the near absurd abundance surrounding me while others were literally fighting to save their homes, their livelihoods, their very lives.
Now, I know that somewhere in the world, on a daily basis, there are fires and floods and earthquakes and tornados and hurricanes and so forth. However, at this time, the number or amount of disasters that are in effect all at once, is extraordinary! The wildfires in my own country this year have far exceeded any other year to date:
As of August 22, 5,881 fires had burned 15,325,405 hectares (37,869,900 acres),[2] about four percent of the entire forest area of Canada[7] and more than six times the long-term average of 2.47 million ha (6.1 million acres) for that time of the year.[1] On August 22 there were 1,040 wildfires active, and 660 of those were deemed "out of control".[8]International aid has helped reduce the impact of the fires.[9][10]
Smoke emitted from the wildfires has caused air quality alerts and evacuations in Canada and the United States.[11] By late June it had crossed the Atlantic reaching Europe.[12][13]
Europe is experiencing everything from extreme flooding to extreme temperatures sitting in the 40 degree plus celsius range in some parts. https://www.euronews.com/video/2023/08/11/torrential-rain-and-soaring-temperatures-europe-gripped-by-extreme-weather
The island of Maui was ravage by a devastating fire fueled by a number of factors including Hurricane Hilary, the results of which are heartbreaking and horrifying. The loss of infrastructure is one thing but the loss of life has been incomprehensible. https://bigislandnow.com/2023/08/22/maui-wildfires-update-115-people-confirmed-dead-with-850-still-unaccounted-for/
If I were to go around the world and link every disaster that is occurring now or has occurred just this past few months this blog would be epic in itself. Suffice it to say that we are in trouble on every continent and in every body of water. Our entire ecosystem is in crisis from the air we breathe to the water we drink, to the land we live off of. We learned much about the glaciers as we glided our way through Glacier Bay. It was spectacular and much of what we were taught throughout our Alaskan trip was about the monumental efforts being taken to preserve the forests, waters and wildlife in Alaska itself, let alone around the world.
The changes to our weather patterns are not new, and unless you've been living under a rock, and chances are the rock was dug up or broken up or moved in a flood or a mudslide, you would know something about what's going on out there. Our planet has experienced many, many climate change incidences throughout history, from the Hadean era to modern times. We are not new to the game. What we are new to is the rapidity of the changes. We have never had 8 billion people using all the resources we have and then some, to survive. Mother Nature is no longer gliding her way along the dance floor in a slow waltz with Father Time but rather, she is shaking her hips and stepping out in a fiery and furious latin bachata leaving him in her dust and ashes. There is a hot- blooded tango happening with these escalated weather changes and not all of it is man-made and yes, we have contributed a great deal. We've pillaged the resources she has so reluctantly surrendered and in return she has donned the gloves to fight back. We mine, frack, dig, plow, spray, cut, clear, pollute and kill. We've taken the very core of what our earth is made from, violently and ruthlessly and ultimately helped to create this world we are navigating today.
The history of environmental law has been inherent from the beginning but, the first actual Protection Act only came about in Japan in 1967, not even 60 years ago and adherence to the laws globally have apparently not been enough, but, we are trying and working hard at it. On a much more upbeat and positive note, there is so much good happening around the globe that is being implemented in regard to better and more protection policies as we speak and if you are like me, and want to get some great, positive news into your inbox daily, just do a web search for all the apps and news media sites that deliver the amazing and innovative initiatives happening in the world. As a person who really only jumped on the band wagon for cleaner, healthier living in the last decade, I am thrilled by what I have learned and what has taken place in our quest to put things right.
While I stood on the bow of the ship's deck I thought about just that one boat. What amount of pollution was it creating, from its inception to that moment, while we oohed and aahed over the momentous glacial mountains that calved little berg bits silently drifting alongside us? Those little bergs carried otters and cormorants and seagulls. The odd eagle flew over head and although we couldn't see any bears we knew they were on shore, feasting on whatever was being served up, preparing for the early winter to come. The forest hid away its population, surely teaming with wild cats, wolves, deer, moose, tiny, furry nocturnal creatures and perhaps even a Sasquatch or two. Underwater was an entire other world, it too prolific in its thousands of species of fish and seafood, each fulfilling their part in that which is the circle of life.
I felt some solace knowing that cruise lines such as Holland America and many others, are on the sustainability band wagon and one of the only lines allowed into Glacier Bay. I often say we are all able to do our little part to help win the battle but, without the Mega Players, the corporations and the political parties getting into bed with a world-wide collective demand for better solutions to fuelling, feeding and fulfilling our duties here, we will not win the war.
There is a battle cry and it's being heard loud and clear throughout the planet of late. She's not just putting up her dukes, she's throwing hard and fast knock out punches and we are either going to fight with her or against her. I will not stop seeing the world as much and for as long as I can and yes, with that comes using planes, trains and automobiles. With that comes eating and drinking and heating and cooling. With that comes wearing clothes and reading books and using technology and, well you get the idea and I know we can do better. This is our home and we all have to LIVE here, not just exist or survive from one disaster to the next. We are here because our ancestors forged the way for us for thousands of years and today many of us have survived because of the selfless and brave who are fighting the disasters that are plaquing us as I write this. How thankful I am for all of them.
Our konnection to the planet isn't a teeny spark of static or a knee scrape of a rug burn. It runs deep, it is primal, it is visceral, it is the call of the wild and she's begging for us to not go into it but rather, to help save it, at least for her sake if not for ours.
Love Kiki,
xoxo
"The greatest threat to the planet is the belief that someone else will save it."
- Robert Swan
Top Left - Mendenhall Glacier, Juneau, Alaska
Top Middle - Marjorie Glacier, Glacier Bay
Top Right - Skagway, Alaska
Bottom - Adorable Whales
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