Bee Native - organization that is leading the way

This caught my eye in a Twitter post because it seemed so random. Bees? Really?

With all that is going on in the world, why is there a Native American organization focused on bee survival?

But reading the information is a little eye-opening - not to mention humbling. I remember hearing, several times in quick news clips, about disappearances of large populations of the world's bees. Yet, what does that have to do with me? In just about any Alaska Native - or Native American, for that matter - set of values, you will find that care for the earth, natural resources, respect for all creatures, etc. is an integral part of a cultural tradition. Long have we decried the limits and restrictions on our land and the surrounding environment.

But we are also a modern people, and personal respect for and care of the land should not be relegated to something we "used" to do. I absolutely believe a major value we can offer the world is the respect for land. Not the sort of voodoo mystic stuff portrayed on early westerns, but the personal connection to land that I fear we may be losing in the next generation. We have to start "updating" the practice of those values to reflect what is going on in the world. We must not only advocate on behalf of our land regarding the impact of waste, global warming, greenhouse gases and the like to the world at large - we must recognize that the daily things in our lives are effecting this as well.

I'm no patron saint of environmental responsibility - not by a long, long shot. But I have to give much respect to those that are walking the walk - and this "Bee Native" organization is exactly that. From their site:

Survival of the bees is as essential to our food production and natural environment as the soil the crops grow from. One third of our food requires pollination by insects...

As the population of bees and their health decline Bee Native is investing in careful examination, research & organic management to eliminate harmful substances from their environment... In the hands of the American Indian Tribal communities the bees will continue to educate and draw us further towards understanding their needs and our connection to the lands in which we live.

Bee Native advocates both simple, everyday solutions as well as big picture ideas regarding a "natural resource" we really can't afford to lose. It is hard for some to see why an endangered bear or whale is important to the ecosystem, but can't we all agree bees are pretty integral to... well, life as we know it?

Check out the site for some of their suggestions what to do, including donation, but here's two of their fairly simple action steps:

• Stop using pesticides, herbicides, and insecticides. Encourage others to look for alternatives to the poisons we use in our yards and fields.

• Support organic growers. Their hard work is part act of faith, part luck and enormous commitment to bring us safe and tasty produce.

Alaska Native Artist Contest

My Earth Day resolutions

So Earth Day kinda snuck up on me, and I do try and recognize it in some way. For several thousands of years, the Native people of this continent did a pretty good job of being responsible with the earth. But I think we're slipping, big time now. "Taking care of the land" should not be a past value, and I don't think it totally is - yet.

But today, I didn't really do anything because I forgot about it until about noon today. I also got to thinking that every Earth Day I reflect on how I SHOULD be doing more, and down the way not that much happens.

So today I actually reflected on WHY that's usually a fail. And I came up with two pretty obvious reasons:

1) I start too big. Somehow, overnight, I believe I'm going to change all my habits? As utopian as that is... that's a set up for a big fail right there.

2) I'm not really that specific. "Recycle more." "Use less energy." Uh, right. Not ,only is it kind of copping out, there's no accountability, even to myself.

So I've gone over some very small, very realistic changes I know I can make and instead of making them, "change these for the rest of your life" kind of moves, I'm going to commit to them until the end of the summer (Sept. 1.) Then, re-evaluate. My small changes include:

1. Do not purchase DVD's, or physically rent them.
Benefits: Save on packaging, the energy to create the physical DVD, save on gas. I will download any movies I want to rent or purchase, and if it's not available on iTunes... well, I'm SOL. I think it's something I can survive.

2. Do not purchase anything from the grocery store if I'm not using a reusable bag.
I started something like this last year, and even have all the bags, but kept forgetting them, and shrugging it off for a "I'll remember next time." So, for grocery shopping only, if I don't have the bags, I'm not walking in. Benefits: Save on plastic AND paper, landfills not as full.

3. ONLY use environmentally conscious cosmetic brands
I'm halfway to this goal, as the brand I prefer for my basics is pretty much there. But I looked up one of the items I use every day, and... yikes. I checked it on Skin Deep cosmetic database, and holy crap. I'm basically washing my face with toxins... which seems a little self-defeating as well. So only earth-friendly brands. This includes my shampoo, shower gel - the works. Benefits: Not putting freaky hormone-ridden stuff on every day, save on packaging, supporting companies with a green conscious.

4. I will dispose of any medications correctly
I didn't even know this was a problem until I was made aware of how BIG a problem it is recently! Not disposing of medications correctly can mean a lot of things, like danger to yourself or children by accidental poisoning, but it can also (and DOES) get into the water systems, and doesn't come out. This goes into our drinking water, but it can also effect salmon (and other wildlife) populations. You can check out proper disposal here from the State of Utah (hey, they popped up first.) Benefits: Non-poisoned drinking water and oceans, less chance of poisoning.

So that's it. It seems like so little to me, but this year I'm focusing on small changes, and succeeding small, instead of focusing on big, and failing hard.

A few other Native environmental bits:

Here in Anchorage, is was apt timing of the Indigenous People's Global Summit on Climate Change. This APRN audio focuses on the importance of traditional knowledge in the environment discussed at the summit.

A few Native environment sites and organizations:

A Native drum-making business that creates their drums from fallen trees.

The American Indian Environmental Office focuses on "environmental protection in Indian country, with a special emphasis on helping tribes administer their own environmental programs."

Honor the Earth is a Native American environmental advocacy organization.

Red White and Green

The "green" efforts during the past year really don't need any emphasis. You can't walk through a grocery store without seeing that it is definitely one of the bigger issues being addressed, not only in the campaign, but by people nationwide. I just got my umpteenth cloth grocery bag - mostly because I can't remember to bring the bags in when I go shopping.

The green efforts of the Democratic National Convention are nothing short of incredible - the DNCC has really bent over backwards to present a convention that makes a low impact on the environment. They created a "green delegate challenge," including service work by delegates in the Denver area. I've received about three gazillion press releases from them on the different green efforts going on, from Coca Cola being the "official recycler" of the convention (and sorry, it is a LITTLE funny that Coca Cola is the official recycler in the Pepsi Center... maybe not "ha ha" funny... I digress) to alternative fuel, biodiesel or hybrid transportation.

That the Democratic Party is the eonvironmental party is not exactly news, but it was worth it to me to look a little more into the candidate's environmental stances. I really believe we are going to see true lifestyle changes on the part of America, due to environmental efforts, and our next leaders need to be leaders in this area. I don't think you have to be a "radical environmentalist" to care about the environment - just responsible with what we were given.

Presidential Candidates

Sen. Barack Obama has a pretty strong record with the environment, especially as a state senator. He was given a 100% "Environmental Voting Record Award" from the Illinois State Council. His page on the environment. He carries endorsements from the League of Conservation Voters, Friends of Earth Action, Sierra Club The League of Conservation Voters has scored him generally in the 90th percentile each session, hitting 100% for the year 2006, though it dropped down to 67% the last session - mostly due to absences during the votes.

Sen. John McCain has a pretty bad record when it comes to the environment, and generally has voted in favor of big business over environmental concerns, especially with oil and nuclear concerns. His page on climate change. He has a pretty dismal score of 10% with the League of Conservation voters, though a 0% the last session.

Senate

Hard to top 10%, but Sen. Ted Stevens was scored a %5 by the League, though for pretty much the same reasons as McCain. His issue statement on the environment.

I've been impressed with a lot of the things Mayor Mark Begich has done in the city in regards to "greening." I especially liked the light post switch. Sometimes it's the simple things that get overlooked - but end up making a big difference. He has actually done many practical things to get the energy conservation and the environment a priority - all really practical, "That's a good idea" kinds of things. His issue statement on the environment, and an article about how his mind got changed on the environment in the Huffington Post.

Congress

Diane Benson and Ethan Berkowitz didn't have too much information on their sites about their positions - or plans - regarding the environment, and I don't recall either of them speaking about it much. Benson's issue page on the environment - not too detailed, and Berkowitz' issue page - a little more about oil and "watching" things going on about the environment.

Don Young - well, Young's issue statement about the environment was probably the least helpful, period. It's mostly a rant about "radical groups" and having no proof that emissions has anything to do with... well, anything. Feel free to read, but it's mostly about securing energy bills. He was scored a 0% by the League of Conservation Voters, but I think if they could have given him a negative score, they would have. Looking at his environmental voting record, I'm not sure Young believes there should be an environment... a little scary as the "ranking member of the natural resources committee."