Tons of times I do not know what to write about in our newsletter, our space for brainstorming…

Y remain calm and think on the crossed emotions I get whenever I find good news, those which cheer you up and let the good vibes protrude towards the enhancement of the environment and our life within society, and bad news, which plant a seed of hate in me, and fill me up with rhetorical questions which should not be so at all….

For instance, in Los que se van (Those who are gone), a web site dedicated to the conservation of nature in Argentina, I read two small articles. On one hand, I found out that after 5 years of the Forests National Law promulgation, several united NGO’S made a denunciation because the Budget Law Project assigned less than 10% of what was stipulated, signed, approved, promised by law.

"A million supporting de Forest Law" - Activists in front of the Congress

Once we start making steps forward in institutionalizing our environmental issues, these stay gathering dust in the shelves of our democratically chosen politicians’ offices. A democratic system financed by the world’s economy, who does not find lucrative the fact of chopping down the trees no more. It bugs me, and I share it with you as a way of making catharsis, through typing hard.

On the other hand, in the same web site I read another article which said that Península Valdes has been declared “Ramsar Site N° 21 in Argentina” (page 6 in this document). This is clearly positive, as this entire ecosystem will be protected by law. And this makes me smile in relief.

Península Valdes - Chubut - Argentina

The thing is deciding whether to be happy or not with these two news. They are both a reminder ­–that things are not okey… that we live in an unsustainable system– and an invitation to think that things can and are already changing. To talk about these issues, getting interested, getting involved. Being part of change. In all, we must not let ourselves be dragged by the whirlpool of events around us, find some sort of serenity in what we do, and be of service to our community.

I leave you with this song which caused great impact in me, try to turn up the volume and disconnect yourselves from the daily routine for at least 4 minutes. Cheers!,

Brian Longstaff.-

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