I may not be posting as much this week as I will be traveling to visit family and my newborn grandson!
(Be sure to check out my Progressive Grandparents Journal.)
Happy christmaramadakwaanzakuhstice to the everyone in the blogosphere!
Today is the shortest daylight day of the year.
Happy Winter Solstice!
Tonight was the regular weekly peace vigil in which I have been taking part for over 5 years. Each week we get our share of honks along with at least several anti-peace passersby who yell derogatory things at us (“Get a job!”, “Get a Life!”, “We Love Bush!”, etc.).
Tonight the temperatures were frigid, yet three of us bundled up (I mean, like we looked like Pillsbury Dough-People!). We had a small propane heater to warm up our hands. We each held signs for about 1/2 hour. Among us, by profession, were a Gulf War vet, a teacher, and a building manager.
A young woman (about 25) stopped her SUV in front of us and yelled, “You people should get jobs so that my parents’ taxes don’t pay for your welfare checks!”. It was obvious to us that she did not read our signs with messages of peace and because we were donned on bulky winter outerwear and were huddled around a propane heater holding signs, she thought we were homeless because we “looked the type”. Then we realized that she referred to her parent’s taxes, meaning that she does not have a job and is supported by her SUV owning parents.
What Bah-Humbug holiday spirit this young woman had. Not only did she have us pegged wrong because she wasn’t paying attention, she has no sensitivity towards those less fortunate than herself.
I haven’t been posting as much as usual because this is a busy time for me, professionally as well as personally.
As a musician, performer, and director, the holiday season is packed with shows and other events.
Personally, I have been preparing goodie bags for my co-workers in my department. This year I oversee a department of 7 people. I made each person a bag with organic dried goodies from my garden and framed photos of nature scenes I took with my digital camera. This all took more time to put together than just walking into a store and buying gifts, but it was socially repsonsible gift giving since I used goodies from my garden that I know for sure are pesticide-free, photos I took myself, and gently used frames, since I buy almost all my stuff from thrift stores.
I’m also getting ready for my trip to Maryland, making the family calendars for everyone in my family. I continued the tradition that my mother started of giving everyone calendars, with a twist: I provide homemade calendars with photos that I have archived digitally from old photo albums and current photos and make collages on each month, reflecting birthdays and anniversaries.
And, of course, I am eagerly awaiting the moments to see my family again and hold my new grandson.
From HEAL Utah:
Every winter, HEAL Utah works to raise money to help cover the costs of heating fuel for those Goshutes who were on the frontlines of the fight to keep Private Fuel Storage from turning Skull Valley into a high-level nuclear waste dump. Our efforts are a drop in the bucket compared to the economic development that needs to happen on the reservation, but the support does make a difference to those members of the tribe needing some assistance during the winter months.
If you’d like to contribute to this effort, you can donate online here: https://www.merchantamerica.com/healutah/echopay/. If you’d prefer to send in a check, please make it out to HEAL Utah and write “Goshute Support” in the memo (send it to: HEAL Utah, 68 S Main St, Suite 400, SLC, UT 84101). We will pass through 100% of the money we raise from this effort to the Goshutes to help cover winter heating costs.
The defeat of the Private Fuel Storage proposal for Skull Valley was a major victory for Utah this year. We are thankful to those Goshutes who had the foresight and courage to fight for the integrity of their land and the health of their people, rather than sell it to the highest bidder. As Utahns, we are thankful not to have the nation’s de facto high-level nuclear waste dump in our state. As Americans, we are hopeful this victory is a step in the right direction towards fair and equitable energy policies that don’t leave the poor and politically powerless shouldering the nation’s toxic burdens.
Whatever you can contribute will make a difference this winter: https://www.merchantamerica.com/healutah/echopay/. Thanks for your support,
John Urgo
HEAL Utah, Outreach Director
68 S. Main St, Suite 400
SLC, UT 84101
(801) 355-5055
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged environment, gift giving, holidays, indigenous issues
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