Another Op-Ed That Went Nowhere

 

Well, it's spring again and time to beg people not to have their yards sprayed for mosquitoes. You know what would be nice? If the people in charge of protecting our wildlife took real action on the subject, but, of course, we live in a world where the almighty dollar and a pathological desire for convenience reigns supreme. So, pest control companies grow larger, our wildlife populations grow smaller, and concerned citizens grow increasingly gloomy about the future of nature. 

In fact, I think it is fair to say that at this point, nature is endangered. Humans have pushed it to the brink, since we have occupied most of the land, and are leaving the rest of the creatures on this planet with fewer places to go. Ironically, encounters with wildlife may increase in this situation, creating the illusion of wildlife abundance when, in fact, the numbers indicate otherwise.

As only a part of this complex problem, here come the residential mosquito control companies, making the outdoors “fun” again. They say that what they use is “natural” and “Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved” and that they are careful about application, but these are dubious claims that any amateur entomologist could refute.

Let me give it a whirl.

First, these companies use pyrethroids, broad spectrum and deadly poisons. No matter how careful one is, pyrethroids will end up killing butterflies, dragonflies, damselflies, crickets, beetles, fireflies and many more innocuous and beneficial species. It is a synthetic version of a natural substance, with additives to make it persist longer in the environment than its Chrysanthemum derived counterpart. It is approved by the EPA but this is a meaningless claim, since the EPA (in its previous incarnation) has determined that pyrethroids are indeed “bad”, but that the economic pros outweigh the effects on human health and the environment. Yup, the almighty dollar again. Who knows what our present EPA will decide. Maybe they’ll encourage us to drink it twice a day to prevent measles.

Second, the use of these substances will create even worse problems over time as the wildly prolific mosquito develops resistance while less hardy natural enemies do not adapt quite so efficiently. Furthermore, the prevalence of arthropod borne diseases is rising due to climate change, so our urge to spray our troubles away will intensify. Are we having “fun” yet?  I hear there are no mosquitoes on Mars.

Third, it is not necessary to resort to hiring these companies at all. There are inexpensive, non-toxic methods of mosquito control if people would just do a little homework. By the way, this long list of solutions does not include a bug zapper, which kills many more beneficial insects than it does mosquitoes. These, too, should be discontinued for the sake of our struggling insects. I’m partial to nature-based solutions: building habitat for our mosquito eating friends like bats and dragonflies. But if that sounds like too much work, get a fan.

I should point out that even if you don’t like insects at all, many other groups of animals (that perhaps you do like) depend on them directly or indirectly. I could make the argument that one beloved group of animals in particular: humans, also depends on insects. However, this argument is not one I tend to utilize since I maintain that animals do not exist for us, they exist with us. It is our obligation as thinking, compassionate beings, to share this planet equitably. This should be argument enough.

Please, neighbor, don’t use pesticides. They are poisons and will have deleterious effects on human health and the environment no matter how careful you are. In fact, let’s take it even further. Let’s support nature by winding down our wildlife damaging behaviors and treating our fellow animals with the respect they deserve. Restore habitat, promote biodiversity and coexist, people, or we will be living in a world where the animals we regard as “pests” will be all that remains. 

The Livable Planet

 

While perhaps a small crime in comparison to his much more flagrant offenses, Trump’s decision to pave over the White House rose garden stood out to me as a massive symbol of his worldview. If Trump had it his way, he’d pave over all living things to build golf courses, resorts and casinos. He’d wipe out The Everglades to build prisons. He’d cut down all our forests to make a few people rich. Since his followers agree, and they have the power and resources to act, this anti-nature agenda is coming hard and fast, and the window of opportunity to change direction is closing.

Though I’m not convinced that he fully understands it, Trump sold his followers on a vision. He called it a “Golden Age” of prosperity. But as his policies play out, and as his smarter enablers scheme, it is increasingly clear that he is steering us towards a techno-capitalist dystopia. In this world, wealth accumulation comes first, so there are few winners and many losers, necessitating the perpetuation of war and harsh punishment: keeping people always on edge, in a state of paranoia.  The intrinsic value of living things is not recognized in this world, so one must “prove” to be useful or worthy. With automation looming, the working person would have no such value in this scenario, and nature is merely an impediment to progress.

Trump’s daily misdeeds keep his adversaries in perpetual panic, tenaciously pursuing each new indiscretion before there is even time to process the last. The result? He is distracting us and wearing us out. Suppressing at least some of our oppositional tendencies to reallocate energy towards developing our own version of the future is not just a smart move politically, it will inspire us. Allow me to give this version of the future a name: the livable planet.

In this vision, nature is not in the way of progress but is placed at the very center of all decision making. Nature is not in conflict with humanity but is instead woven into the very fabric of society. From this, all good things follow. Quality of life is elevated over the accumulation of material goods. Health is elevated over wealth. Compassion for others leads to diplomacy and restorative justice. Meeting basic needs like housing, food, and energy is paramount, but nature and human health are not regularly sacrificed to achieve it. Creativity and innovation are encouraged to build the livable planet. So, while it is cooperative and nurturing, it is also bold: a different interpretation of peace through strength.

The economy is changing. Whether we like it or not, business as usual cannot continue. The urgency to choose the direction our society takes is being magnified by the rise of AI and the Trumpian vision on one end, and by the time-sensitive acceleration of the climate and biodiversity crises on the other.  I urge my fellow progressives to promote the livable planet wherever we go. That way, when the MAGA’s path of destruction comes to an end, and it will, we’ll be there with a plan to repair it.  

I wrote a couple of Haiku's while reading Trash Wars by Alexander Clapp. The first I wrote, the second is his words rearranged to fit into the format. 

Six were killed, six maimed
Busting apart the remains 
Of the old love boat.

Trash layered their shores
Piles rise high as houses 
Children played in it. 

 

Frog

 
When life becomes scarier than death
The mind slips below the surface like a winter frog
For whom spring has been cancelled.
The buds have been arrested
The seeds shrivel and dissolve.

Guilt

On my steps I found a wooly bear
Its guts were strewn out everywhere
So I put it in a glass,
And filled it full of leaves and grass
It gathered dust for twenty years
I never looked inside.
And maybe it was me.
This tale, an autobiography.

Where are the Leaders?

 Before the election it was crystal clear to me that Donald Trump plans to become an authoritarian president and to follow the Project 2025 playbook to usher in a right-wing takeover of America. After the election, this is still clear to me.

Why is it, then, that leadership on the left, who warned us so passionately that Donald Trump is a danger to America, is now rolling over: running scared, clamming up, agreeing to compromise, or even complimenting the Trump administration? I thought this was called “anticipatory obedience”, the first ingredient to ensure an authoritarian victory.

As a voiceless, powerless person, I am so angry at the pathetic leadership on the left. First, were they exaggerating the threat before the election or they downplaying the threat now? Second, by being passive they are throwing average people who don’t want to live under an authoritarian president to the dogs, further proving that they really don’t care about us. As rich people, they know they will be fine.

  
Those in positions of power have an obligation not to be cowards and to lead us in a resistance. This is not a “wait and see” moment, we must resist now. I am not tired, I am not depressed, I am not afraid. I am ready to fight for the soul of this country with everything I have.

Where are the leaders that will take us there?