Report from the Fourth Meeting
of Siempre Sustainable Network

605 Elm, Seguin, TX 78155
Jan 14, 2007

After a pot-luck dinner, Chair Marvel Maddox called our meeting to order. Other attendees included Gloria and Joe Saenz, Sylvia Manning and Tony Weisman, Gloria Caballero, Nancy Masterson, Roland James and Barbara O’Hara, Clara Beatriz Pascar, Jack Sample, Tim Snyder, Betsy Martin and me, and Rodney and Sydney Burton. New attendees Tim Snyder (TLU student and the Netzer Co-Op http://netzers.podbean.com/about/ ), Jack Sample (SouthWest Pride, Inc. http://southwestpride.com/ ) and Sydney and Rodney Burton (Seguin entrepreneurs http://vogueshoesofseguin.com/ ) introduced themselves to the group.

Tim Snyder gave a brief overview of the Talloires Declaration for sustainability that a task force is reviewing at Texas Lutheran University for likely adoption. Jack Sample mentioned that his organization is involved with parenting and anger management classes, and that he is investigating work with veterans through the American GI Forum. Sydney and Rodney both have had a long-term positive relationship–through the Peace Corps and otherwise–in working to protect the environment and in promoting conservation & sustainability. Barbara O’Hara is an administrator with the Alamo Area Library System.

Vision, Mission, Goals Statements (Nancy Masterson). After a presentation by Nancy Masterson including various options for vision, mission and goals statements, our group felt for the most part that the shorter options were the better ones:

• Vision—Our vision is to become an ecologically sustainable community.

[Patty Raspino feels that we should reconsider revising the vision statement into one more like our original draft: “To become an enlightened community that is steeped in the natural world, culture, heritage and family, & that embraces the tenets of sustainability in a dynamic & holistic fashion. A sustainable community is ecologically sound, spiritually rich, socially just & humane.”

She believes we need to emphasize–for all interested in Siempre Sustainable Network–that our concept of ecology and sustainability is really comprehensive and involved in bringing folk together. It is more than taking care of plants and animals and the environment! It involves economics, the social system, and teamwork!! (As her student so beautifully told her, “ … (people) need to understand that sustainability IS about their work and their house payment”.)

Patty also feels we need to develop a “Purpose” paragraph for future materials and web site. It was suggested that I might work on such.]

• Mission—The mission of the Siempre Sustainable Network is to develop a community of conservation & sustainability by educating, facilitating, motivating & celebrating.

• Goals are to—
1. Educate by increasing public awareness & knowledge of local, regional, national & global environmental issues.

2. Facilitate action by participating in service & demonstration projects in our local watershed.

3. Motivate decision-makers to enact conservation & habitat enhancement practices.

4. Celebrate our appreciation for the natural world & the unique characteristics of our local watershed.

Nancy volunteered to continue to work on wordsmithing the vision, mission and goals statements. Moreover, she said she would appropriately organize strategies and proposed actions developed by the Vision, Mission, and Goals Subcommittee, under their respective goals.

During Nancy’s presentation, there was also discussion of development of a logo by Tim Snyder and Mary Holman. Both have experience in this area and are willing to develop some sample logos which might be attractive and meaningful to folk involved in with Siempre Sustainable Network.

Texans Take Care of Texas (Patty Raspino). Patty will have an event for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s program, Texans Taking Care of Texas, at Samuel Clemens High School close to Earth Day in mid to late April. This educational activity will take place on the Samuel Clemens campus on a Saturday, and will truly be Texan—and “country”–with boots, cowboy hats and saddles. It will target students, parents, teachers, and administrators, young and old et al. I agreed that I would help with this event in any way possible—including arranging for a soil erosion demonstration and a hands-on soil and water biota exhibit.

Talloires Declaration and TLU (Tim Snyder). Tim Snyder further discussed his efforts through a Leadership Group on the Texas Lutheran University, at getting TLU to adopt the 10-point Talloires Declaration to begin to develop sustainability policies in teaching, research, operations and outreach. This declaration would mean initiation of actions by TLU to realize goals of conservation and sustainability.

It would not need approval by the Board of Regents, but to date has not been signed off on by TLU administrators. Nancy felt that we need to in some way get the city and city council involved in this Talloires Declaration effort, since the 10-point plan is one to which all organizations should adhere.

Earth Day-Related Events/Activities, 2008 (Marvel Maddox). Marvel presented ideas for Earth Day-type activities this year. These included being involved (possibly with a booth) in Market Days and the Farmer’s Market. This could be discussed with Mary Jo Filip, Mainstreet Program Director.

An excellent idea Marvel had was to discuss with Jill and Terry Frisbie the possibility of Chiro Java having a 10% off deal for coffees during Earth Day week for customers who brought in their own cup. And perhaps the deal could be made even “sweeter” if the java drinker walked or biked from her or his home to get a cup of brew from Chiro Java??

Marvel also suggested that we might develop articles for the paper during April–dealing with ways to reduce our ecological footprints. Moreover, he suggested that we contact schools and other appropriate entities about putting on the play, “Walden: The Ballad of Thoreau” http://www.waldenplay.com/ .

Finally, Marvel suggested that we contact Joseph and Miki Ward about the possibility of having a Siempre Sustainable Network sponsored tour of their APEX recycled Styrofoam block home during Earth Day week. Nancy agreed to help in making contact with this couple who are attempting to promote this appropriate technology— … and Green homes.

“Institutionalizing” Conservation and Sustainability (Roland James). Roland pointed out that we do need to begin to rapidly make some major changes in our habits of rampant consumption of natural resources, associated release of unprecedented levels of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, and ensuing desertification and climate change. He suggested that there are many schemes of utility pricing, rebate programs, tax breaks, and other incentives and disincentives that could be used to begin to get everyone in our community to employ: conservation in general, solar water heaters, more landscape and home design toward passive cooling and heating systems, other renewable energies, better insulation systems, etc.

Further Discussion. In discussion related to growth and consumption, Sydney pointed out that with our current economic system, we have to have consumption and growth, and homes, businesses and industry that are bigger and more “robust” and expensive–in order to have the tax base that gives us schools, hospitals, Wellness Centers, parks and public recreation, roads and public transportation, public institutions for basic and applied research, the fine arts and cultural activities, good government, police and military, etc., etc.–i.e., the “quality life” we currently have in our communities. (Ecological economists and ecologists like Herman Daly, H.T. Odum, John Ikerd, David Pimentel, Chuck Francis, Miguel Altieri and others have dealt with this concern.)

Clara mentioned problems of excessive packaging of products and has recently been concerned about problematic characteristics of all light bulbs. (And Alicia Helton recently raised a question about using Styrofoam vs. plastic vs. paper vs. metal vs. glass cups, etc.) … Choosing “appropriate” technologies is oftentimes difficult. As far as I’m concerned, conserving and using less of anything is always the most appropriate route. But of course Sydney has pointed out problems with this strategy in our current economic system.

Other Notes. Marvel, Roland, Gloria Osborn and I attended the San Antonio Environmental Network meeting in January. Roland has shown some excellent sustainability-related films in his home recently, and will continue with these film-showing get-togethers. Seguin held another Master Plan meeting on January 31.

I’ll work at the Master Naturalist Booth at the SA Rodeo on Monday, and will attend training on March 28-29 for starting a Master Naturalist Chapter. Roland James and I will attend the 19th Annual Southern Plains Conference, Managing Energy, and Water & Carbon: Communities Responding to Global Climate Change on February 19.

Bill Barker of Solar San Antonio has been publicizing the “Truth Be Tolled” documentary by Emmy-nominated SA filmmaker William Molina, which will be shown (Premiere Screening) at the Palladium Theater at 6:30 pm on February 7. This film has revealing footage where the State Auditor announces that TxDOT cooked the books and misled senators about the Trans Texas Corridor.

At SouthWest Pride/the old Sue Smith School, Roberto Luna and I prepared the soil and added compost to a plot that will be planted to vegetables and flowers later this winter/spring. I hope that this and other efforts might eventually spark a community gardens program in Seguin.

paul b. martin
Acting Secretary

605 Elm, Seguin, TX 78155
********************************************************

Report from the Fifth Meeting
of Siempre Sustainable Network

SouthWest Pride, Inc. (Old Sue Smith School)
607 Jefferson St., Seguin, TX 78155
Feb 11, 2008

After a pot-luck dinner, Chair Marvel Maddox called our meeting to order. Other attendees included Sylvia Manning and Tony Weisman, Gloria Caballero, Nancy Masterson, Roland James, Clara Beatriz Pascar, Jack Sample, Rodney and Sydney Burton, Patty Raspino, and Mary Jo Filip.

Walnut Branch Project Update—Mary Jo Filip and Nancy Masterson. Seguin Main Street Program Director, Mary Jo Filip and Walnut Branch Project Committee Member, Nancy Masterson provided an excellent update on the Walnut Branch project here in Seguin. (See www.ci.seguin.tx.us/general/walnutbranch.pps for a dated overview/presentation that is “similar”, and www.mysanantonio.com/news/environment/stories/MYSA112607.01B.seguincreek.28b0a8f.htm lwww.seguingazette.com/story.lasso?ewcd=e26f42062297d28e for related recent articles).

The Walnut Branch watershed covers two-thirds of the city of Seguin, and prior to work by the Corps of Engineers for “flood control”, it was a beautiful complex of oxbows, walkways and recreational area of green space enjoyed by the citizens of Seguin and its visitors. The city now has a step-by-step Jacobs Carter Burgess-plan to restore the areas within a five minute walk of the stream to its prior natural beauty and beyond. This green space will serve as a transportation corridor for pedestrians and bicyclers from northwest Seguin to through central and south Seguin.

The vision statement developed through this project is:
“The citizens of Seguin, Texas have a vision of a future when Walnut Branch, from FM78 to the Guadalupe River, is restored to an optimal, diverse and dynamic stream ecosystem, celebrated as a source of community pride and historical significance, valued for its economic benefits and enjoyed by all.”
Realization of this vision will include archeological surveys and studies, protection and restoration of ecological and cultural resources, construction of water falls, retention ponds/soccer fields, decomposed granite hike and bike trails, steps down to the stream, and a creek side diner. Dynamic, on-going accomplishments within this project will depend on collaboration and funding by entities which might include individual citizens and citizen organizations, student groups, Master Naturalists, our Parks and Recreation Board, Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority, TAEX and Texas Parks and Wildlife, as well the issuing of bonds.

Phases in general order of the restoration process will be:
1. The area of Church’s Chicken on Court Street to Nolte Street will be superbly restored.. (This will serve as a model to stimulate the community to want to do more and for launching additional funding opportunities.)

2. Connect the Phase 1 area with Starcke Park East. (This and the other phases will also involve restoration of the area around and including the Matthies House–which will be home to the Wilson Pottery Foundation collection. www.seguingazette.com/story.lasso?ewcd=7b8a96adcd16cbe4 )

3. Work on upstream area north of Court Street. [This will include protection of the springs in the area of Juan Seguin Elementary and restoration of the wetland in the area behind the Police Station, as well as the Herman Land which has great trees and will be wonderful park land. (Tony Weisman openly hoped that city Tree Ordinance Committee members will not cave in to developers when deliberating and realizing our tree ordinance—and that, for e.g., “an old 18-inch established tree could not be removed if nine 2-inch trees were planted”. www.seguingazette.com/story.lasso?ewcd=0956d61390d9a830 ) ]
City-Wide Clean-up for Earth Day—Mary Jo. On either April 19th or the 26th, the city will have a city-wide cleanup for Earth Day!
Texans Talking Care of Texans—Patty Raspino. Patty Raspino indicated that her Earth Day-related event for Samuel Clemens High School is coming together. She expects collaboration from her Environmental Club and with her city water people and Guadalupe Valley Electric Cooperative—as well as Siempre Sustainable Network.

San Antonio Environmental Network—Marvel. Marvel mentioned that he, Gloria Osborn, Roland James and I attended this meeting at Mitchell Lake Audubon Center on March 26. There was a birding opportunity and lively discussion of various local and global environmental issues, including that energy conservation is the key to being sustainable–and centralized vs. the more appropriate decentralized (rooftop) “renewable” energy.

Promoting and Discussing “Conservation and Sustainability” in Religious Congregations/Parishes During Earth Week, …–Marvel Maddox. Marvel Maddox et al. will meet with the Guadalupe County Ministerial Association in the Guadalupe Regional Medical Center back dining room at 11:30 am on Thursday March 13 to discuss appropriate ways to address our churches. Also, others of us will attempt to meet with our pastors and friends about the possibility for this to be addressed in our particular congregations, parishes and religious groups.

(“The [ministerial] association is a multi-denominational alliance of churches in and around Seguin assisting those in need in a primarily spiritual way. The Ministerial Association provides some limited financial support, including a prescription medication program funded by the United Way. The alliance also sponsors community projects and other events to bring the community together.” www.ci.seguin.tx.us/planning/seguin%20resource%20guide.pdf )

Also, I agreed to develop a draft of a short and generic Earth Day presentation (to be used for oral delivery to congregations or in church bulletins) for review at our next meeting. My rough draft follows:

Counting and Caring for Our Blessings

When we were hunter-gatherers at a population of only thousands in the world—and we consumed only about 4000 Calories per capita per day for food, fiber and shelter, … impact on the whole of God’s Creation by humans was minimal. … And in these times humans lived relatively healthy and peaceful lives in the absence of war.

Now we have 1000 times the population numbers, and particularly in areas north of the equator, many, many of us consume 500 to 1000 times the amount of “stuff” we utilized with we were in concert with Nature and the Land. At the same time, many powerless peoples—oftentimes south of the Equator– struggle to meet their minimal basic Caloric needs of about 1500 per person per day. Therefore Nature is mostly being converted to Artificial– and War has become a part of our Nature!

Farmer philosopher and poet, Wendell Berry beautifully wrote, “To live we must daily break the body and shed the blood of Creation. When we do this knowingly, lovingly, skillfully, reverently, it is a sacrament. When we do it ignorantly, greedily, clumsily, destructively, it is a desecration. … To cherish what remains of the Earth and to foster its renewal is our only legitimate hope of survival.”

In this period of Lent, approaching Spring and Easter– or i.e., Renewal– let us focus on how we might conserve and preserve more of Creation we call Nature. Let us begin a dialogue within ourselves, with our family and neighbors, with our leaders– … toward lowering our consumptive habits and better protecting what is Natural and the basis of Life and Living Systems. Let us leave most of Creation for the poor, the powerless and the disenfranchised, … no matter that they may be from diverse origins, from other lands with different languages, of different cultures, of color or pink—or even unborn. … “Let the Earth be Glad.” Psalm 96:12
………………………………
A group here in the Seguin area that is attempting to address these issues in both a Local and Global fashion is meeting regularly the evenings of the second Monday each month at the old Sue Smith School at 607 Jefferson Street. 

Note: A bench for Central Park with a metal plate attached containing a quote by a religious leader connecting morality and ecology, has been donated in the name of Siempre Sustainable Network.

Developing the New Master Plan for Seguin. You can find and view the presentation Mesa Design Group gave at the last meeting dealing with Seguin’s Comprehensive Master plan, by going to the city’s web site:
www.ci.seguin.tx.us/

Birding Opportunities—Nancy. Nancy announced that there will be bird walks at the Seguin Outdoor Learning Center on March 6 and 27 (beginning at 8 am) and on April 10 and May 8 (beginning at 7:30 am).

Misc.. Hazel Mondin is the contact person to inquire about the Farmers Markets in Seguin. Roland James made some comments about our need to have more passive cooling heating of our homes, solar water heaters and (rooftop) photovoltaics (as well as local agriculture serving the food, fiber and shelter serving locals) in order to reduce our carbon footprint. (See www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/stories/2003/07/21/story7.html , www.seguingazette.com/story.lasso?ewcd=36d40b49d5d4865a , www.constellation.com/portal/site/constellation/menuitem.447c4fc72aed32908d84ff10025166a0/ for “related” articles on Seguin’s Rio Nogales natural gas power plant—which adds to Texas’ carbon footprint, but upon which we’ve become “dependent” for local income through gray water sales to it, etc..)

Sylvia pointed out that we in Seguin should be composting (in a simple fashion) our garbage, leaves, grass clippings, and other organic matter. Nancy assured us she would contact Joseph and Miki Ward about having a tour of their Green home around Earth Day. Marvel said the Frisbie’s are receptive to having coffee at Chiro Java at a discounted price for those who demonstrate “conserving and sustaining actions” in the period surrounding Earth Day. Ruben Perez has arranged for a limited tour of Vista Fibers Recycling Plant on Friday March 7.

Understanding the Full Dimension of Sustainability—paul martin. A rough list of actions to take and points to make in the presentation Marvel has asked me to develop for our next meeting on March 10 follows:

Everyone to the blackboard to write short phrases upon it indicating their concept of sustainability.

I began thinking about concepts and the practice of “conservation and sustainability” at least since the 7th grade (My early thoughts, spurred by Richard Guajardo in junior high Catholic catechism class, dealt with the social justice, equality, equity and humaneness component.).

Biology (Principles/ecological processes, 2nd Law of Thermodynamics)—Politics (Saul Alinsky)—Sociology (Sustainable Livelihoods)—Economics(Steady State/Herman Daly) Ethical use of Energy

Target the poor, resource limited, powerless, disenfranchised, the unborn with opportunities/education/financing/support… (so they won’t be compelled to join our military/Al-Qaeda/exploitive corporations/…)

Live like the poor; learn conservation from the poor (though not from the “poor in spirit”)

I would be perfectly happy working full-time to just: retrofit our house; travel by foot, bicycle and bus/train; build solar water heaters and composting toilets; garden; secure a conservation easement for our farm; raise grass-fed beef, patch fence, do rotational grazing/practice Holistic Resource Management; etc.. Nevertheless, I can not ignore the rampant local and global destruction of our natural resource base by those with more power than I—and must attempt to battle it.

Our 6 billion humans, and especially the empowered people of the U.S. and other developed nations (and the powerful ”haves” in lesser developed nations) detrimentally impact soil, water, energy flow, and biodiversity—and effect climate change, i.e. we have definitely “overshot!”. (Water quality & quantity problems, soil erosion, desertification, dead zones, extinction rates, climate change, …)

Lowering detrimental impacts on Nature/the Land means—first and foremost—conservation, conservation, conservation. And we need to begin now!!

But how???? (Work in collaboration with the village and the global community to help each other to truly begin conserving locally and globally!)

One tenet of sustainability involves “caution and tentativeness”! (Many elders in Seguin understood and practiced this in the past. However, we’ve recent begun to worship at the altar of rapid growth of the economy—regardless of the inevitable detrimental effects on our natural resource base.)

Some things that will begin to happen in our city: Reduction of trash, reuse, recycling; … use of nuclear energy

Things that might not happen, but should, for attaining better quality life for all—including other species, for a longer period of time: lowering energy throughput, ecological education

Look up/”Google” these following words/phrases/concepts and you’ll begin to develop a better understanding of the concept of sustainability:
holistic sustainability ecological footprint carbon footprint energetics “emergy” embodied energy net energy net primary productivity mineral cycles
carrying capacity appropriated carrying capacity top soil humus nitrogen cycle sustainable livelihoods holistic resource management sustainable agriculture
natural systems agriculture conservation and development of sustainable community
Second Law of Thermodynamics watershed different components of “biodiversity”

paul b. martin
Acting Secretary

605 Elm, Seguin, TX 78155

*********************************************************

Report from the Sixth Meeting of Siempre Sustainable Network

SouthWest Pride, Inc.
607 Jefferson, Seguin, TX 78155
March 10, 2008

After a great pot-luck meal and introductions, Chair Nancy Masterson called our meeting to order. Other attendees included Rodney Burton, Gloria Caballero, Manuel Garcia, Roland James, Sylvia Manning, Betsy and Paul Martin, Clara Beatriz Pascar, Darryl & Patty Raspino, Joe Saenz, Valeria Rezende & Luiz Otavio Campos da Silva, and Alice Rezende da Silva.

Reducing, Reusing, Recycling. Nancy, Roland James and Paul Martin provided an overview of the Vista Fibers tour which was organized by Ruben Perez, Director of Public Works, and included Linda Duncan, Information Officer–City of Seguin. Although others mildly disagreed, most Siempre meeting attendees felt that curbside recycling would be feasible and is needed for Seguin.

Other discussion proposed: (1) the studying of cities with successful recycling programs (Schertz? SA? Floresville? Boulder, CO? Curitiba, Brazil?)—and implementation of at least components of these programs in Seguin, (2) some inexpensive cost/benefit analysis, and (3) the organizing a critical mass of folk with an effective spokesperson in order to get this on our City Council’s agenda, and to address and persuade City Council toward more and more education, projects and programs that facilitate and encourage “Reducing/Reusing/Recycling”!!

(Subsequent to this March 10th meeting, Nancy Masterson has written and sent letters to Mayor Betty Ann Matthies and the city council, the city manager, and the editor of the Gazette Enterprise, which point out reasons for recycling and improving on the current system of garbage and trash management. Moreover, Roland James has proposed a feasible and relatively simple system for realizing “curbside recycling” at no additional cost to Seguin citizens (And in fact, Roland’s plan–which includes real “trash-” and recycling-pickup–should cost somewhat less than the current system of garbage/trash management for Seguin.).

Earth Day Related Activities. Patty briefly reported on her Texans Taking Care of Texas event which will take place at Samuel Clemens High School. This student event is coming together and will include a booth and activities developed by our Siempre Sustainable Network. (It will take place on May 17th, and will be preceded by a Siempre event on April 19th at the Sample’s SouthWest Pride facility, and a similar activity on May 3rd at the Blue Star Arts Complex, Alamo & Probandt Sts.-SA.)

There was some passionate interaction concerning the role schools should play in facilitating the ecological learning by students. Luiz Otavio wonderfully emphasized and pointed out the “long row to hoe” toward conservation and sustainability—and how we have to continue to try to work together and communicate such that we do journey toward our goal of conservation, resilience and sustainability. (We didn’t reach any real consensus in this discussion other than that we agreed the educational approach should be holistic and “continuing.” … In discussing ecological education and holism, … David Orr of Oberlin College has written in his classic essay, What Is Education For? www.context.org/ICLIB/IC27/Orr.htm , that “all education is environmental education”!)

[Patty Raspino also mentioned that she could use us with Siempre, and others, as volunteers to cut “cedar” at the bird refuge in Cibolo—Warbler Woods. If this were done and the cedar (juniper) was simply left on the ground, her student’s would volunteer to haul it to a desired location.]

Master Naturalist Program. Paul mentioned that our Extension Service County Coordinator-Travis Franke and Natural Resources Agent-Jeff Hanselka are planning to develop an informative meeting about Master Naturalists in late April or May. Also, Paul did attend a portion of a Master Naturalist Chapter leadership training that took place recently on the Bamberger Ranch near Johnson City. He found the Comal County Chapter to be very receptive to the possibility of collaborating with us in the development of a chapter here in Guadalupe County!

“Commonwealths…the Foundations of Resilient Local Communities”. Paul reminded our Siempre group that Dr. Darryl Birkenfeld, Executive Director of Ogallala Commons would be giving a seminar at TLU on April 11, for which Dr. Birkenfeld provide the following abstract:

Over the past 30 years, rural communities of the Great Plains have witnessed recurring scenes of population loss, stagnant economies, youth out-migration, and degradation of natural resources…anything but the picture of sustainability and resilience. In recent years, residents of rural communities are beginning to rediscover that every community already has in place 12 foundational assets that can be called commonwealths. In this presentation, community developer and educator Darryl Birkenfeld, will identify and describe 12 commonwealths, and engage participants in visualizing these key founts of resilience for their communities. He will also illustrate how Ogallala Commons (www.ogallalacommons.org) a nonprofit community development resource network, uses 6 fence posts, as key capacities that reinvigorate the 12 commonwealths, in communities located in Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas.

Sustainability? Paul was asked by Marvel Maddox to say a few words about the scope and various aspects of sustainability. Paul mentioned the monumental paper (Vitousek et al. 1986, published in Science) which estimated that “about 40% of the present net primary production in terrestrial ecosystems is being co-opted by human beings each year.” This major source of truly renewable energy, i.e., net primary production (NPP), is what is left over from solar energy capture through photosynthesis in plants, after the plants themselves have met there own respiratory needs.

If we are going to curb this rampant increase in the co-opting of NPP, and stop the precarious conversion of the Natural world to artificial, while providing quality life for all, then we are going to have to develop local and global policy and programs that:

• target the ca. 1-3 billion humans that have power over and utilize few resources (less than $2 per day or less that 4000 kilocalories utilized) such that they will have quality life similar to that of the middle ca. 2 billion, and

• bring the top 1 billion (making a average of more than $100 per day, and utilizing 200, 000 kilocalories+) down in kilocalorie usage to that of the middle 2 billion in a relatively non-disruptive way.

Therefore the mantra, the mindset and the action have to be:

“reduction in consumption and conservation, conservation, conservation, …”

–and we will have to devise and transcend to a very different production, economic, and socio-political system.

paul b. martin
Acting Secretary

605 Elm, Seguin, TX 78155

************************************************

Report from the Eighth Meeting of Siempre Sustainable Network

SouthWest Pride, Inc.
607 Jefferson, Seguin, TX 78155
May 12, 2008

Our May 2008 meeting of the Siempre Sustainable Network was called to order by Marvel Maddox at about 7 pm (following a potluck meal). Others in attendance were Nelson Diarte, Barbara Effenberger, Chris Frels, Roland James, Bobbie Maddox, Paul Martin, Nancy Masterson, Clara Beatriz Pascar, Luz N. Perez-Prado, and Sister Elizabeth Riebschlaeger.

Reports were given on activities, including Dr. Darryl Birkenfeld’s TLU presentation from Ogallala Commons, the Holistic Management International of Texas annual meeting, Earth Day-related activities at SouthWest Pride & Blue Star Arts Center, and birding events at the Seguin Outdoor Learning Center. Moreover we briefly discussed preparations for another Earth Day-related event which took place on May 17th. (We’re particularly grateful to Deborah Gafford, NRCS, Cinde Thomas-Jimenez, GBRA, Wilfred Bartoskewitz, Texas Agricultural Education & Heritage Center, Judy Peschel & Wanda Kollaus, SISD, and Michael Cary, Seguin G-E and Darren Dunn, KWED/Daily News for their help in making the Earth Day events a success.)

From the general discussion at this May meeting–concerning future events and
activities– it was relatively clear that:

• Some attendees at our Siempre meetings are very interested in discussing processes of sustainability–and networking.
• Other attendees are interested in addressing more concrete actions items and how to effectively deal with them.
• Some are ready to deal with conventional ideas (generally already accepted as needed to be realized) for moving toward sustainability (even though they may not have been tested in a holistic fashion to determine if they are “appropriate” for moving us toward a resilient and sustainable community).
• Others are more concerned with short and long term changes in sub-systems of our community which are inherently non-sustainable.

Moreover, it appears that the following individuals are particularly interested in pursuing the following activities which may be helpful in making our community more resilient and sustainable:

• Nancy Masterson et al.—Earth Day 2009, City of Seguin
• Nancy Masterson, Clara Pascar, Roland James et al.—Enhanced recycling efforts
• Roland James—Helping the City develop energy conservation policy/initiatives; advocating for such
• Paul Martin—Working toward schools generally smaller in student population (but effectively interacting in mentoring, community service, and sports and other extra-curricular activities), with Green buildings, landscape and curriculum (and few cars and pickups)

{Of course we all are also interested in many other aspects of sustainability and appropriate activities/actions to that end.)

Establishment of (a) Standing Committee(s) for work on Earth Day 2009 was essentially tabled. Moreover, there needs to be continued investigation of planning and action toward a Master Naturalists Program by appropriate entities.

Finally, Sister Elizabeth suggested we might want to seek a 5 minute “sustainability” spot on KWED radio. Others thought we might provide the City’s “newsletter” with a recycling tip of the month, that we should have a green citizen of the year award (Agri-Fest?), and/or that we should look into DOE’s energy saving award.

……………………………..
Some upcoming meetings:

June 14—SA Sustainable Network (Discussion of Thomas Berry’s The Great Work), 11 am-1 pm, Friends Meeting House, 7052 N. Vandiver, San Antonio

June 21—Windfarm Field Day, Dickson Family 69 Ranch, Maryneal, Texas

July 17—Seguin City Council Meeting (Discussion of Tree Ordinance), 5:30 p.m. City Council Chamber, 210 E. Gonzales St., Seguin

Aug 9—Bexar Audubon Environmental/Conservation Summit (Levers of Influence?), 8 am-4 pm, Location TBA

Oct 11—Mitchell Lake Audubon Center Fall Wildlife Festival and Plant Sale, 9 am-4 pm

paul b. martin
Acting Secretary

605 Elm, Seguin, TX 78155

*******************************************************

pbm (2007-8)

[ 7 Ss / VV->^^ ]

I. Report from the Third Meeting
of Siempre Sustainable Network:
An Organization of Citizens for Conservation
and Sustainability in Watershed(s)

605 Elm, Seguin, TX 78155
Dec 10, 2007

There is much going on in the Seguin/San Antonio Metropolitan area that could be thought of as very appropriately fitting under the umbrella of “conservation and development of a sustainable community.” For instance the Church Women United, GV Habitat for Humanity, LULAC, NAACP, Seguin Outdoor Learning Center, Seguin Conservation Soc., Soil & Water Conservation Districts., Alamo RDC, TAEX/S, Master Gardeners, NRCS-USDA, health care org., our city/county gov., Citizens Police Academy, SEDC, AACOG, various natural resource conservation societies/charity org./service clubs/non-profits, and many entities fighting for quality life, social justice, humaneness, & positive spirituality, etc. are undertaking actions that might be considered to be appropriate in moving us toward sustainability within the local watershed.

Nevertheless, despite many independent “sustainable” activities (which are hopefully appropriate), we probably aren’t effectively testing our actions through a critically-thinking and holistic decision-making process dealing with short and long-term impacts on life in local watersheds. Through the Siempre Sustainable Network efforts we hope to help local folk connect in their minds what is naturally connected in Nature. Moreover, we hope to learn to holistically test adherence to the principles of these connections (ecological principles/processes), and enforce and reinforce the use of our knowledge of ecological principles and processes in local and global decision-making and actions toward conservation and sustainability.
………………………………

What follows is the first and last stanza of a wonderful poem (Mining the Mother Lode) about the peoples and history of a watershed and vision for it, by Andy Wilkinson www.texaslegacy.org/bb/narrators/wilkinsonandy.html , Copyright June 2002:

“We are the tribe of the mother-lode aquifer.
Twelve hundred centuries, nomads have traveled here,
making their camps in the spring and the fall, seeking
shelter in canyons and washes and swales, building
hearths of caliche, and hunting and gathering
life that collected where water empowered it.
Even when drought plagued the prairie atop of it,
water welled-up from the sweet Ogallala lake
all along Yellowhouse Draw to the canyonland,
nourishing passerby, nomad and animal,
nourishing all who tread lightly and carefully. …

What will we do with this gift of the mother-lode?
Pray that the poets and dreamers remember it,
pray that its guardians hold it in stewardship,
pray that we honor it, pray that we husband it,
pray for the tribe of the mother-lode aquifer,
pray for the water, the sweet Ogallala lake,
nourishing all who tread lightly and carefully,
lightly and carefully, lightly and carefully.”

(Perhaps we might have a short reading of poetry prior to all subsequent meetings?)

Third (Most Recent) Meeting of the Siempre Sustainable Network. After introductions of the meeting attendees [Marvel Maddox, Barbara Effenberger, Nancy Masterson, the Martins, the Cruzes, Gloria Caballero (interested in low input/pragmatic conservation & sustainability), Joe Saenz (Environmental Engineer) and Gloria Saenz (new Seguin citizen wanting to give back to community), Jill Frisbie (health care provider, community activist), Clara Beatriz Pascar (Seguinite esp. interested in reducing consumption & recycling), Mary Holman (teacher/sustainable practitioner, Guad. Co.) and Roland James (retired from Arizona Corporation (Public Utilities and Securities) Commission)]*, we focused on a report from our Vision/Mission/Goals Statements subcommittee (Bobbie Maddox, Betsy Martin & Marvel Maddox).

Consensus was that the vision, mission and goals statements were for the most part very appropriate–after inclusion of some global emphasis and some additional wordsmithing. Nancy Masterson agreed to work towards a draft that uses more appropriate “lay people-language” and is even more succinct, to the point, and effective in communicating with a diversity of people. What follows is a summary of our current draft (a more detailed version begins on page 9 of his report):

“Name for Our Effort:
Siempre Sustainable Network

Vision Statement:
To become an enlightened community that is steeped in the natural world, culture, heritage and family, and that embraces the tenets of sustainability in a dynamic and holistic fashion. A sustainable community is ecologically sound, spiritually rich, socially just and humane.

Mission Statement:
The Siempre Sustainable Network is dedicated to the development of dynamic and holistic actions which ensure sustainability of local and global watersheds in terms of quality life, conservation, and natural resource protection through an enlightened and invested community. A sustainable watershed unit includes all peoples, other life that is healthy & diverse, vibrant living topsoil, ethical use of energy, and of course reliable quantities of quality water.

Goals:
>Increase awareness and knowledge of locally relevant environmental issues

>Instill a sense of place – one that values the unique characteristics of the local watershed

>Encourage exploration, investigation, and understanding of the local watershed

>Encourage service projects and model demonstration projects
>Foster an appreciation for conservation and habitat enhancement practices

>Increase awareness and knowledge of global environmental issues
>Organize an effort to address selected global environmental issues in collaboration with appropriate national and international organizations”
In other discussion at this third meeting of the Siempre Sustainable Network, Roland James emphasized his desire to organize a series of film showings and discussions, book discussions, and discussions of essays/articles/poems. His concept could include invited presenters (authors/film-makers), associated readings to complement film, group analysis and discussion, as well as calls-to-action–after reading/viewing. Moreover, the various readings/viewings could focus on a particular sustainability issue for a time period, and deal with social, political, economic, spiritual and ecological aspects of the issue. Finally, we might consider providing summaries of these discussions and calls-to-action through a newsletter.

Nancy Masterson pointed out that Seguin’s mayor is considering joining the Cool Cities movement http://www.coolcities.com . Barbara Effenberger stated that she would like to help our efforts through her involvement in the Texas Silver-Haired Legislature. Mary Cruz expressed her opinion that we should seek (grants/other) funding and non-profit status in order to be a viable and effective organization. Robert Cruz commented on his commitment to our efforts, but also on the difficulty of achieving deep and comprehensive sustainability in local community because of formidable and ubiquitous outside forces (federal and international/military non-sustainable spending and actions) that preclude “conservation and sustainability.”

Gloria Caballero voiced her interest in promoting sustainable revegetation of Seguin, and establishment of more parks and Greenspace, especially on the west side of Seguin. Joe and Gloria Saenz expressed an interest in keeping watch on non-sustainable development in Seguin and Guadalupe County. (In other meetings, there was discussion of a need for more robust and sustainable economic activity in the west and south parts of town. Moreover, there is considerable interest in making Seguin more pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly, and in promoting intra- and inter-city mass transport.)

Jill Frisbie indicated support for our efforts in various ways, including suggesting that we consider using Chiro Java Expresso Bar and Internet Café for certain subsequent gatherings and discussions. And I (p.b. martin) mentioned that I’d given copies of six basic books concerning sustainability to each of the following organizations: TLU Biology Dep./Library, Seguin Library, Chiro Java, and the Seguin Conservation Society. Moreover, I have copies of these books (which are really all great reads for developing a foundation for “conservation and sustainability”—Berry’s The Art of Commonplace, Catton’s Overshoot, Jackson’s Becoming Native to This Place, McDaniel’s Wisdom for a Livable Planet, Worster’s Nature’s Economy, and Miller’s On the Border).

(A short piece on a critical-thinking thought model and a “conservation & sustainable community” decision-making process is at http://www.context.org/ICLIB/IC25/Wood.htm . A good link to information on numerous good books on sustainable agriculture and “conservation and sustainability” is http://www.ianr.unl.edu/ianr/csas .)

Some events/processes in which you may wish to participate in the near future include:

Throughout 2008-Development of City of Seguin’s Comprehensive Master Plan—Mesa Design Group, … with “conservation and sustainability” woven all through it!

Pot-luck supper meetings of Siempre Sustainable Network 2nd Mondays of each month at 6:00 pm

2008 and beyond-Walnut Branch project

Master Naturalist Class-The Alamo Area Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalists is taking applications for its next training course. Application deadline is Feb. 1. Class 22 will begin Feb. 28 and continue through May 15. Classes are held every Thursday, from 5 till 8:30 p.m., at the Texas Cooperative Extension Office, 3355 Cherry Ridge Dr., San Antonio. Four Saturday-morning field trips will also be conducted. Learn about our local area’s native plants, wildlife, hydrology and geology and enjoy many opportunities to volunteer alongside fellow naturalists.

Jan 10-Peter Bella, Environmental Chief AACOG presenting “Envision,” a strategy or moving communities toward conservation and sustainability; Bexar Aud. Soc. Meeting, Cowles Life Sci. Bldg. r. 149, Trinity University, 6:30 pm

Jan 12-Master Naturalist advance training, Headquarters Government Canyon Nat. Area and trails, 8:30 am-4:30 pm

Jan 24-Water Symposium, Texas Tech Satellite Campus, Junction 7:00 pm

Jan 26-San Antonio Environmental Network, Mitchell Lake Audubon Center just outside of 410 south of SA, 8 am birding/11 am-1 pm discussion

Jan 29-Mitchell Lake Wetlands Society Brd Meeting 7:00 pm. Birding opportunity beginning about 5 p.m.

Feb 19-“Managing Energy, Water & Carbon … Communities Responding to Global Climate Change” 19th Annual Southern Plains Conference, Hereford, Texas Community Center (With field tours to small-scale wind turbines, hydrogen production systems, rainwater harvesters, and off-grid homes) I’m hoping enough folk will attend from south central Texas, to justify renting a van for travel and spending some time touring additional “conservation and sustainability sites” and Palo Duro Canyon.

Mar 28-29-Master Naturalist Chapter Development Training, Bamberger Ranch near Johnson City

April-Siempre Sustainable Network will assist Patty Raspino, Samuel Clemens High School with Texans Taking Care of Texas activities (TCEQ)

Apr 11- An Ogallala Common(s) with a Foundation of Conservation and Sustainable Ecological Processes Dr. Darryl Birkenfeld, Executive Director, Ogallala Commons, 1 pm, TLU (specific location TBA) www.texaslegacy.org/bb/narrators/birkenfelddarryl.html

Apr 11 & 12-Annual Meeting of Holistic Resource Management of Texas, Waco

Apr 22-Earth Day–and activities on this date, … and days around it

May 2-4-WildFest San Antonio www.wildfestsanantonio.com/

May 3-Moving Waters Family Day, Blue Star Arts Complex, 11 am – 5 pm I’ve had a booth at this event for several years, Tony Weisman and Sylvia Manning and Nelson Diarte helped me with it last year, and Siempre Sustainable Network will have several representatives at this event this year.

[Of course if you visit web sites dealing with Cibolo Nature Center, Mitchell Lake Wetlands Center, Alamo Chapter of Master Naturalists, Friedrich Wilderness Park, Government Canyon State Natural Area, Medina River Natural Area, San Antonio Botanical Garden, the Witte Museum, the Bexar Chapter of the Audubon Soc., the peaceCenter-SA, Blue Star Contemporary Arts Center, TLU, Trinity U., St. Philip’s College, etc., etc., … you’ll find many more educational opportunities.]

My (p. b. martin) read on some of the strong interests and potential contributions of the folk who have attended our meetings, or otherwise expressed a keen interest in Siempre Sustainable Seguin, follows:

Patty & Darryl Raspino-Community/political activist experience, teacher of geography and international affairs, peace efforts & ecological club, beekeeper; lovers of their children, music and a sustainable lifestyle

Laura & Joaquina Salazar-Community art, sustainable building, community activist, well-read

Gloria Caballero-Interested in pragmatic/low-input real conservation and sustainability, community activist, raised in New Braunfels area with West Coast experience

Nancy Masterson-Much applied ecology experience; local community connections; wordsmithing; Seguin Conservation Society, other local and national organizations; interest in vigorously using sustainability indicators here locally, recycling; etc. etc.

Roland James-Global efforts (Initiative process in other states, good knowledge of “conservation and sustainability” gurus/foundations/issues/policy/strategies/tactics /assessment); film/book discussions for young and old—in homes, churches, etc.; will work with paul martin/the Samples/Bexar Land Trust/Malcolm Beck/Seguin Conservation Society/local Master Gardeners and others in establishing local community gardens esp. for the poor; local sustainability indicators, Vietnam Veterans for Peace

Joe Saenz-Wants to put his extensive environmental engineer/EIS experience to good use

Gloria Saenz-A passion to “give back” to community

Jill & Terry Frisbie-Could possibly use Chiro-Java for discussions/Siempre Sustainable Seguin activities, underground efforts toward conservation & sustainability, targeting imprisoned/disenfranchised/disempowered, spiritual component of a “conserving & sustainable community”, Rotarian

Barbara Effenberger-Local and national political savvy, connections with Silver-Haired Legislature, organizer who makes things happen, years of experience in education, Church Women United

Alicia Helton-Community/political activist, strong interest in social justice, teacher SISD

Robert Cruz-Pragmatic vision of an entrepreneur, political organizer, Vietnam Veteran, experience with sustainable agriculture

Mary Cruz-Organizing, pragmatic administrator, Chamber of Commerce experience, “feels we need to seek funds” and develop toward a structured non-profit status

Sylvia Manning-Recent recipient of Human Rights Award, Church Women United; author of book of poems, “Enough Now”; socio-political activist in the LRGV & elsewhere for many yrs

Tony Weisman-Knowledgeable about Green construction/LEED certification & sustainable agriculture, deep roots in this region, Veteran

Clara Beatriz Pascar-Passion for recycling and ecological knowledge, connections with America do Sul e Asia Oriente

Marvel Maddox-Chair and facilitator, strong passion for justice and protection of our natural resource base, connections with environmental lawyers and folk using “appropriate technologies”, involved in on-going Lutheran Church sustainability initiative, Lion

Bobbie Maddox-Seguin High School journalism department chair for many years, passion for sustainability, environmental lawyer/appropriate technology-practitioner connections

Mary Holman-Passion for realizing ecologically-sound day-care center, and other ways of increasing numbers of “children in the woods,” lives using many traditional sustainable practices, journalism teacher/Gifted and Talented Coordinator Samuel Clemens High

Trine and Ben Daniels-Local, state, national action toward conservation and sustainability; local elections volunteers; deep and unique knowledge of Texas history

Jack and Donna Sample-Taking the poor in spirit and down-trodden in community and empowering with sustainable livelihoods, possible site for Siempre Sustainability Network meetings/community gardens

Tim Synder-Get Talloires Declaration and sustainability mindset and subsequent actions adopted at TLU–and in the greater community, faith and politics

Nelson Diarte-Considerable experience with sustainable agriculture, natural resource protection, renewable energy, Cooperative Extension Service; Latin American connections; yerba matte/terere

Debbie Magin and Cinde Thomas-Jimenez-Years of practical scientific and educational experience with the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority, deep community roots

Betsy Martin-Rancher’s/cowman’s daughter, family rooted in the Nature, culture, and history of south central Texas (Culebra School/Government Canyon/SA Stock Show & Rodeo), pragmatic conserver and seeker of sustainable systems, teacher of biology/aquatic biology/environmental science, lover of rocks and sticks

paul martin-generalist who wants to leave some significant Land somewhat similar to what it was 10,000 yrs ago and quality life for people and other current biota; will work on enhancing our local REDUCE/Reuse/recycle efforts; will write 1-4 “sustainability” essays/papers per month; acting secretary Siempre Sustainability Network

Brief Summary of the 1st Meeting. During the evening of October 22nd, Seguin citizens Bobbie & Marvel Maddox, Barbara Effenberger, Alicia Helton, and Betsy & Paul Martin; Patty & Darryl Raspino (Teacher/Community Activist Guadalupe Co.), Mary & Robert Cruz (West San Antonio Chamber of Commerce), Laura & Joaquina Salazar (Alamo City Craft Union), and Nelson Diarte (SA Extension Agent-Natural Resources)* discussed key positive aspects and strengths in communities in which we were raised and lived. Chair and facilitator Marvel Maddox wisely anticipated that this would provide insights into a vision of what we desire in a future Seguin, and possibly lead to a mission statement for our group.

Some of these community strengths discussed in the first meeting included:

• Sense of family & community/of belonging/ease of communicating within community,
• Connection with the agriculture base,
• A developing tolerance of differences/of diversity of culture, heritage, traditions, religion, and language,
• Prevalence of abundant “Greenbelts”/”Greenspace”/being in touch with Nature,
• A “feel-good” sense of being frugal and conserving,
• Effective educational systems,
• Active arts programs for everyone,
• Freedom to challenge the status quo and feel you were making a difference,
• Small business–and other functional units being small.

Discussion in the 2nd Meeting. In discussing the perfecting of the “Seguin community/watershed and its environs toward being a more “conserving and sustainable community”, i.e., one that is ecologically sound, socially just and humane, attendees [the Maddoxes, Martins, Cruzes, Laura Salazar; Trinidad & Ben Daniel, Sylvia Manning & Tony Weisman, and Nancy Masterson (Seguinites)]* covered lots of ground, and made the following comments, suggestions, or allusions, and/or cried out for the actions which are listed below:

An appropriate sustainable “lifestyle” may be vegetarianism since conventional meat-production systems are water- & energy- intensive and polluting as well as addicted to massive inputs of artificial chemicals–many of them poisons.

However, especially in Texas (land of sustainable plant communities of bunch-grasses like the blue stems, Indian grass and switch grass, and a Land that is a relatively poor candidate for sustainable grain and horticultural crops), a food production system that relies more on “grass-fed beef/bison/etc.” might be a very appropriate and sustainable system to which to transition. (By most measurements, poultry and swine are more efficient converters of grain to meat in conventional high-input/confinement systems. However, swine are competitors with humans for many food stuffs, and neither swine nor poultry can compete with grazers such as cattle or bison in native bunch grass systems.)

What might be our whole; our “management unit”?? Eugene Odum, an early pioneering scientist in ecosystem ecology proposed that a local watershed might be the most appropriate whole to manage socio-politically/economically/ecologically. Since Odum’s historic proposal, many other leaders have agreed.

What is a watershed?
A watershed is the Land (including soil and other minerals below it, the living community that is a part of the soil, and the energy captured by this biota/minerals/water) that captures local/global precipitation. The watershed unit concept for management can be appropriately defined as relatively small (Walnut Branch watershed) or large (Guadalupe-Blanco River watershed).

“The simple definition
It’s the area of land that catches rain and snow and drains or seeps into a marsh, stream, river, lake or groundwater.
You’re sitting in a watershed now.
Homes, farms, ranches, forests, small towns, big cities and more can make up watersheds. Some cross county, state, and even international borders. Watersheds come in all shapes and sizes. Some are millions of square miles, others are just a few acres. Just as creeks drain into rivers, watersheds are nearly always part of a larger watershed.” www.conservationinformation.com/?action=learningcenter_kyw_whatisawatershed
What do we as a group really want to accomplish? One quick answer: Educate!!! Motivate! Facilitate! Celebrate! toward conservation and sustainability.

[We need a comprehensive (intensive & extensive) rapid appraisal of the state of our watershed/environs’ capital(s) (after Cornelia Butler Flora www.agriwellness.org/Conference2005/July11Track2/Gutierrez-Flora%20without%20pictures.pdf ) –Human, Natural, Built, Social, Political, Cultural, Financial. Hopefully this is happening through the on-going effort of the Mesa Design Group contracted by the City of Seguin. … The state of Seguin needs to be regularly reported in a user-friendly way (ecological footprint, carbon footprint, water usage, energy usage, acreage of natural lands/agricultural lands/developed lands, etc.]
Learn about good things other watersheds are doing—and how. Bring these appropriate processes, programs, initiatives to Seguin. Don’t reinvent the wheel! (E.g., look into Boulder County-CO’s “Zero Waste by 2025” Initiative www.ecocycle.org/ZeroWaste/Boulder%20County%20Zero%20Waste%20Resolution.pdf )
Learn about, educate others about and improve Seguin’s trash/waste/pollution management programs (Reduce/Reuse/Recycle) (“City might save money by reducing trash to the landfill, etc.”)
We might consider being a “watchdog organization” or a part of a bigger one. … On the other hand, perhaps it would be better to work hard to provide positive rewards/kudos and reinforcement/support those who are truly conserving and sustaining our natural resources/local community!! We need to be instrumental in uplifting the “conserving/sustainability” spirit of the greater Seguin community.
We need some immediate successes toward sustainability in community. This will be self-empowering and demonstrate positively to the community that we are serious about working for and serving this community. (Work with Patty Raspino/her students on environmental/Peace projects? Work with Laura Salazar to get some Green crafts/artwork displayed at Seguin Main Street Program Trade Days? Take on some significant blocks of time on Saturdays to work as a group for Habitat for Humanity? Work as a group on Walnut Creek clean-up projects?)
Seguin Nature Day in local schools?
Truly local organic/generic/”indigenous” arts and crafts programs/initiatives should be promoted/facilitated/financially-supported as sustainable micro-enterprises.
Place informational & rallying signs dealing with conservation and sustainable community in collaborators yards.
Conservation and sustainable community symposium at TLU?

Who/what is our “target (audience)”?
“Logical” to interact with local neighborhoods, service clubs, TLU/other universities in the region, arts community, school districts, Seguin Outdoor Learning Center, Rick Cortes, Asst. City Manager-Seguin, “Take Care of Texas”-TCEQ Program, San Antonio Environmental Network, local environmental organizations such as Lone Star Chapter Sierra Club, Bexar & SA Audubon Society, AGUA, Mitchell Lake Wetlands Soc., etc..
Trade days, school events, Earth Day, football games are ready-made events with “captive audiences”.
We need to target our youth (elementary, Middle School, …). … We’ll need to reach them through parents, teachers, school administrators/superintendent, TEC
……………………………………………….
We need action, not just talk! … However, dialogue/discussion/self-education as an organization/time for effective organizing as a group is very important!!
Suggested goal/mission statement: Seguin–as a viable, healthy community of quality life–to be here forever and ever.
Suggested name for group: !Siempre Seguin! … !Siempre Verde! … !Seguin Verde!
We were asked to submit 1-3 possible names for our “primordial”/developing organization. … Also, Bobbie Maddox, Betsy Martin, and Marvel Maddox were to work on a Mission Statement.

……………………………………………………
*[Others who have expressed interest in attending our meetings–but have had time/scheduling conflicts and constraints–include Gloria Osborn, Jolly Ellis, Cesareo Guadarrama III, Steve Anderson, Jack Linden, Jack Sample & Donna Ewald-Sample, Karen Aufderhaar, Erma Moseley, Linda Gunn, David Bernal, Jim Monkerud, Dottsy Dwyer, Mayor Betty Ann Matthies, Jesse Trinidad, Monta and Debbie Zengerle and Julian Leal, Bill Klingmann, Lynn Campaigne, Anthony Bazan, Tim Snyder, etc.]

paul b.martin
Acting Secretary

605 Elm, Seguin, TX 78155

II. Modified Draft of Complete Report
of the Vision, Mission, Goals Subcommittee,
Siempre Sustainable Network

Bobbie Maddox, Betsy Martin & Marvel Maddox

Name for Our Effort:
Siempre Sustainable Network

Vision Statement:
To become an enlightened community steeped in the natural world, culture, heritage and family, and that embraces the tenets of sustainability in a dynamic and holistic fashion. A sustainable community is ecologically sound, spiritually rich, socially just and humane.
Mission Statement:

The Siempre Sustainable Network is dedicated to the development of dynamic and holistic actions which ensure sustainability of local and global watersheds in terms of quality life, conservation, and natural resource protection through an enlightened and invested community. . A sustainable watershed unit includes all peoples, other life that is healthy & diverse, vibrant living topsoil, ethical use of energy, and of course reliable quantities of quality water.

• Goals:
  >Increase awareness and knowledge of locally relevant environmental issues:
  ? Strategies:
  1. Awareness Campaigns:
  o Assist Patty Raspino, Geography-Samuel Clemens HS w/ Texans Take Care of Texas activities this April; conduct similar project in April (Earth Day) 2009 in Seguin
  o Challenge of outdated computer/technology equipment—recycling, toxicity, etc.
  o Promote the Mixed Recycling @ Seguin Fairgrounds/WalMart to lead to reduction in trash/household and energy-/resource- efficient curbside recycling
  o Water conservation motivations (MIT Study)
  o Work w/ retailers on modifying their use of packaging
  • Stores & shops
  • Fast food outlets
  o Annual “Sustainability Works!!” Rally. Include:
  • Art activities of Laura Salazar, Betsy Martin, Kitty Keller, etc. coordinated by Laura
  • Hands-on exhibit of topsoil biota for kids and parents—Nelson Diarte, Paul Martin, Mark Gustafson, NRCS coordinated by Paul
  • Etc.
  o Booth at various Mexican-/African-/German-/English-American, etc. celebrations that educates, celebrates/feeds, & entertains (natural art, homegrown food/homemade ice cream, short educational/entertaining film, etc.)
  o Park bench
  2. Development of Master Naturalist program
  3. Professional Development Seminars:
  o Promote Texas Coop-Extension’s 2-hour forums
  o Jan 26th: San Antonio Environmental Network, Mitchell Lake Audubon Center
  o Apr 11th: Darryl Birkenfeld @ TLU @ 1:00PM
  o Apr 11/12th: Annual Meeting of Holistic Resource Management of TX
  o Host the 20th Annual (or 21st Annual) Southern Plains Conference @ Jackson Auditorium, TLU
  o Regularly ck announcements from Cibolo Nature Center, AGUA, Bexar County Master Naturalists, NRCS, TAEX
  o Speaker list (bureau)
  o Etc.
  >Instill a sense of place – one that values the unique characteristics of the local watershed:
  ? Strategies:
  1. Annual “river” activity event (similar to Penelope Speier’s 04ARTS Foundation Moving Waters Family Day)
  2. Utilize programs @ Seguin Outdoor Learning Center
  3. Involvement with the Walnut Branch restoration project
  (Greenbelt walks from TLU to Starcke Park East, etc.)
  4. Network w/ other groups
  >Encourage exploration, investigation, and understanding of the local watershed**:
  ? Strategies:
  1. Gather statistics, information, and study reports on the various aspects of the Guadalupe River watershed:
  o Water quality in the river—and in associated waters
  o Air quality
  o Soil quality
  o Flora & fauna
  o Local industry emissions
  o Peak energy usage
  o Landfill usage
  o Recycling capacity & usage
  o Etc.
  2. Publicize the above information once gathered and studied
  >Encourage service projects and model demonstration projects:
  ? Strategies:
  1. Energy conserving homes, businesses, and institutions
  2. Xeriscaping, composting
  3. Water conservation initiatives
  4. Develop “shop local” campaigns:
  o Expand Farmers’ Market offerings & venues
  o “Stop buying ‘crap’” campaign (a model for the world)
  >Foster an appreciation for conservation and habitat enhancement practices:
  ? Strategies:
  1. Encourage local landowners to place property into conservation easements
  2. Encourage the donation of land to the Nature Conservancy or similar organizations
  >Increase awareness and knowledge of global environmental issues
  ? Strategies:
  1. Present film, books, and articles on relevant issues and possibilities for action,
  discuss, and begin to decide on action from our local community
  2. Discuss the Initiative Process or other socio-political/economic actions we might
  take to address major and “minor” global environmental issues
  >Organize an effort to address selected global environmental issues in collaboration with appropriate national and international organizations
  ……………………………..
  **In order to realize critical thinking and appropriate decision-making concerning “conservation and development of sustainable community in our local watersheds, we must first know our current state with respect to energy usage, arable land and topsoil, quantity & quality of water, and biotic diversity!!!

III. A Few Excerpts from the UN Universal Declaration
of Human Rights, 1948; the Rio UN Conference Declaration on Environment & Development, 1992; and
the Talloires Declaration–with Suggested Connections

In late 1948 the UN General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which began with the recognition that “the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.” Then in subsequent meetings–and especially in the1992 summit in Rio de Janeiro–is was recognized that “peace, development and environmental protection are interdependent and indivisible.”

The Rio summit also recognized that:

• People are entitled to healthy productive lives in harmony with nature (i.e., entitled to Sustainable Livelihoods http://www.livelihoods.org/ ),

• Environmental protection shall be an integral part of development (the Kyoto Convention later focused on protection through reduction of greenhouse gases),

• We must eradicate poverty (this was strengthened and made more credible by targeting poor children in the 2002 UN Earth Summit) in order to have real freedom, justice and peace,

• It is imperative that we eliminate unsustainable production and consumption and “promote appropriate demographic policies”,

• Indigenous people/communities have a vital role for sustainability because of their wealth of knowledge concerning conservation and sustainability–and their sustainable traditions,

• The environment & natural resources of people under oppression, domination, occupation shall be protected,

• “Warfare is inherently destructive of sustainable development.” States shall protect the environment when at war.

Through the Talloires Declaration, universities and other institutions of higher learning recognize “the unprecedented scale and speed of environmental degradation, and the depletion of natural resources.” Moreover this needed and necessary declaration (that must be followed up with action) points out prevalent conventional “unsustainable production and consumption patterns that aggravate poverty in many regions of the world.”

These cutting-edge institutions of higher learning “believe that urgent actions are needed to address these fundamental problems and reverse the trends.” They agree to take the following actions among others:

• “Educate for environmentally responsible citizenship”,

• “Foster environmental literacy for all”,

• “Practice institutional ecology”,

• “Involve all stakeholders”,

• “Collaborate for interdisciplinary approaches”,

• “Enhance capacity of primary and secondary schools”,

• “Broaden service and outreach nationally and internationally”.

***********************************************************************************

pbm (2007)

[ 7Ss / VV->^^ ]

In his “classic” paper, What Is Education For, David Orr of Oberlin College emphasizes that “no student should graduate from … any … educational institution without a basic comprehension of:” ecological principles, processes and ethics; carrying capacity; least-cost/end-use analysis; appropriate scale and limits of technology,; and how to live well in a place.

With this in mind, our lifestyles are indicative of the fact that we haven’t done very well at educating toward ecological literacy in the U.S., nor in Seguin/local communities. Our biocapacity in this country is about 11.6 acres per capita, yet our ecological footprint is 23.7 ( http://assets.panda.org/downloads/living_planet_report.pdf ). (And this precarious difference is worse for south central Texas.) (Numerous other indicators of sustainability also point to the fact that we are not realizing ecological literacy and appropriate livelihoods/behaviors.)

Moreover, in the U.S. we transform per capita considerably more than 200,000 kilocalories per day, yet over one billion powerless folk transform less than 20,000 per day ( www.webpages.uidaho.edu/~rfrey/220original.html & others.). Our consumption pattern here in Seguin/other local communites in the U.S. cannot yield quality life for most of the billions of folk in the world—for now and certainly not for future generations.

School planners, educators and school systems are obvious pools to tap for leadership that will move us toward a mindset and toward a Natural and agricultural green space which will facilitate and enable livelihoods of conservation and sustainability. In order to foment these pools of conservation and sustainability, we need more neighborhood and rural schools (including high schools) built in concert with Nature and the Land … which have no more than 500 students ( www.wested.org/online_pubs/po-01-03.pdf ). The landscapes of our schools should be of mostly native plant communities (possessing placards with species identification/information), some agricultural production, living and rainfall-catchment roofs, and limited parking space (encouraging walking, bicycling, bus transport and car-pooling). Buildings should be sustainably built of mostly local materials and should be designed and strategically placed for passive cooling and heating, and for comprehensive, holistic education that is lived and breathed on the campus. Food and drink—and fibers and other materials used on campuses– should be mostly locally produced, processed, and prepared for consumption.

All folk involved the school system—students, staff, faculty, administrators, school board members, the larger community—should be knowledgeable about the energy and material inputs/throughputs and outputs, and ecological footprints (including carbon, water, energy) of the school and school system, and involved in changing them for the better (effective communication, participatory/hands-on, decentralized/site-based management, lifelong learning/critical thinking). Various “renewable” energy sources, holistic and preventative systems of student health care, composting toilets and simulated-wetlands sewage-treatment systems and LEED certification at the highest level also need to be considered. (And of course we should have additional systemic and holistic “greening of the curriculum.” http://livegreenlivesmart.org/library/articles/campus_greening_movement.aspx )

The picture I’ve painted in these previous two paragraphs is part of a dream, … a vision for moving toward a conserving and sustainable Seguin/local community. It most certainly won’t happen over night! … But it will never happen in an effective and efficient manner if we don’t start now!!

No one likes to hear that the schools and other components of our built environment–on which we’ve worked so hard, and sacrificed and struggled to build in an ethical fashion–should have been smaller and developed in concert with Nature and the Land. Established people in a local region don’t want to hear a relative newcomer (our arrival here in Seguin was 1985) spout off that the high tech, high-energy and -resource input ways of doing things—which we were particularly manipulated toward, taught and lived after WW II–were way off base. And we don’t want to hear and know that we can’t just tear down what we’ve built, and cannot just throw energy and resources and the “American”/can-do attitude at it, … and then magically fix it.

We Texans and Seguinites are a proud people, set in our ways. And all of us, young and old, in the US, Western Europe, Japan and other “developed” nations, and among the elite in the less-developed nations, have really become addicted to “big” and “consumption” and “wasteful lifestyles”–conventional air-conditioning and water heating, cars, SUVs, and pickup trucks, eating exotic product from all over the world which costs much in energy-units, etc., etc..

Nevertheless, we need to reach down deep and get some humility, all of us—the “wet behind the ears” and the “wise and experienced”—and begin to critically think about how to begin to lead our community into conservation and sustainability. We’ve got to learn to live lightly on the Land and compassionately attempt to provide quality life for all–everywhere and forever.

Therefore, let’s be brave, ethical and critically-thinking as community, and cautiously begin to accept the monumental challenge to develop a long term plan that involves a revamping of a local (Seguin) school district toward holistic ecological literacy and sustainable livelihoods/community.

Let’s begin to work hard to build small neighborhood schools in concert with Nature and the Land, that teach and promote ecological literacy and that give us hope for providing quality life for all for years to come.

(This wasn’t easy to write. … I sort of would like to just be a part of status quo–and doing a little gardening and picking native dewberries & grapes, and looking at the beautiful new calf crop, and efficiently reducing personal consumption/reusing/recycling, and bicycling to the Wellness Center regularly, and helping my wife, Mom and Mom-in-Law, and kids and grandkids—and not worry and struggle with real issues and real change toward conservation and sustainability.
But … .)

paul b. martin, ph.d.
stockman, gardener, biologist, teacher
***************************
pbm
[ 7 Ss / VV->^^ ]

From 5/17/2010

Sweet Devout Catholic … Teacher of Life Skills Toward Building Sustainable Social Fabric …
Seamstress, Pig Castrator, Truck Driver … Mentor for Numerous Aggies
(Lógicamente, ¡Una de las más queridas de mi vida!)

New Braunfels. “Brown rocks which are ‘new’”.

Mom Louise came from German town
(Though the indigenous ones and Latinos
Might beg to differ.)
New Braunfels. Brown rocks.
And the river, the Comal River, makes all rock smooth.

“We’ve done what we can.”
“It’s water under the bridge.”
“We’ve learned by our mistakes. Now let’s move on.”
The Comal River makes all rock smooth.
Some rocks are smoother than others!

New Braunfels. Brown rocks.
The Comal River makes all rocks smooth.
Some rocks are smoother than others!!!

 

Commencement with Dad Alton

(First I must say,
On what will be a very sad and very joyous day,
Something that I wasn’t afforded–some fifteen years back …to say …
On another very sad and joyous day …
That is in minds, souls, and hearts … some so far away.

She married him
Despite his sin.
Therefore, he must’ve been the best
I sincerely believe so; I do not jest!)
…………………………

 

Life of St. Louise

Grandma Amalia Meurer left this world
When Louise was only nine,
And Grandpa Paul couldn’t hold it all together.
It was The Great Depression!
He lost the North Cliff farm.
And off to sharecrop in Stockdale they went.
Then Elmendorf
And managing a KC Bowling alley
In San Antonio.

Subbing-in mothers were several
For young Louise during that time.
Aunt Johanna, Aunt Bertha, … .
Unrelated, but better than gold, Momma Shinert, … .

Schools were many.
St. Joseph’s, St. Peter & Paul, Green Valley Public School,
Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Stockdale Public School.
And only to the Eighth Grade.
A bumpy, lumpy formal education
But a good education nonetheless.
(I’ll stack her skills:
In the three Rs,
Understanding of basic applied ecology,
Critical thinking,
And practicing a sustainable livelihood
Against anyone’s.

Moreover, …
She spoke and wrote alemán y inglés!)

Then during the War
Louise Katherine Kneuper landed a job with Southern Bell.
And on a neighbor’s–Uncle Peggy’s–dairy farm in Elmendorf,
Met this Paul Newman-ish Marine.
Soon thereafter, Papa Paul passed
During those tough years of Hitler’s rage.

“Paul Newman” aka Luther Alton Martin
And Louise married in ’46–
After his years in the Pacific, Australia, Peleliu, …
(And after Alton’s dear and favorite brother, Bain
Was killed in Germany, February 25th, 1945
Close to Louise Kneuper’s Holler roots.)

(When Mom’s brother Bernard visited
Alton’s law was that no German
Would be spoken in his house!)

In the moments of our growing up,
He, Alton, was a de facto–
God of the Old Testament
To we six …
And to Mom Louise.
(“Honey, bring me some tea.”
Slam, bam. There it was by His side.
Meals were always ready
On time. His time!
“We’ll get up at three
And leave for Stockdale!”
And we did!
“Let’s start putting up that corn.”
And as soon as He spoke
The Martin team began processing it
Into jars and the freezer.
“This is the list of jobs
The boys need to complete this week.”
And poor Mom agonized
Over her strategies and tactics
To get us to realize
This action plan
In the commanded time.

He demanded that we adhere
To his team approach
In smoothly performing
The–before school and after—chores
(Though brother Lawrence and I fought
Terribly and wastefully
Many, many mornings and evenings
Over who was to milk the cow).
We planted the garden and fruit trees,
Picked mustang grapes and dewberries,
Put up green beans, sweet corn and field, … ,
Laid water lines,
Built fence and sheds, farrowing pens, the garage, … .

Recently Mom confessed
That she had much dreaded
Dad’s ubiquitous and regular lists
Of things for us to do after school
And during each and every weekend.
She wasn’t a Taskmaster
But she had to be “the taskmaster”.

I walked into Alton and Louise’s living room …
Full of sisters-in-laws
One Christmas Day
“Don’t you ever let those boys do you
Like Alton did me!”
“Mom!?!” I exclaimed
In a kidding manner,
Realizing I’d never get my way
For a life of Alton Martin.

Looking back
Mom Louise was the real god,
The true God of the New Testament.
Humble, caring, wise, sharing, calm.
Not a warrior or Taskmaster,
But a Princess of Peace.
(If Mom sensed Dad was flirting
The target of the flirt
Became her good friend.)

Her years were tough,
But always Good!
For her
And those around.
(She’s now lost her capacity
To verbally communicate.),
But it was always …
“Don’t fret over it!
That’s water under the bridge!”

As with Opa Paul,
Farming didn’t go so well
For Alton and Louise
In the time it never rained of the 1950s.
But Alton’s eldest brother, Uncle Peggy,
Had a plan.
Now not dairying and car-dealing from Elmendorf–
But feed-milling in Devine Town–
For his young brother,
Peggy had a plan.
It was off to the edge of the Brush Country
For Alton and Louise
“It’ll only be a year!” they said.

But the year was the rest of their lives.
The Gateway to South Texas
Became a good place to be.

Still they had cows back in the Dale of Stock,
A distant seventy miles away.
“Shit Honey.
That cow I brought back here Sunday to Devine
Must have a calf
Lying lonely
On the Stockdale farm. …
It’s Monday
And a Peggy Martin workday.
I’ve got to get to the mill!
You’ll have to go back to The Farm
And find that calf.”

And she did.

Big loveably black Johnnie Taylor,
Then us.
And when we grew and left
And came home infrequently …
It was she!
Brother Charlie taught her to castrate.
Dad held.
St. Louise did the emasculating surgery;
Taking their little huevos
In order to raise them
For profitable sale.
(They were an amazing …
And loving …
Pair.)

Louise Katherine Kneuper Martin
Regularly drove loads of hogs
In the green bob-tail Chevy
(Purchased there in Devine in 1955
From cigar-chomping George Fernandez) …
She drove el camión verde
From the five acres in Devine
To the auction or Swift and Company–
Markets in Ol’ San Antone.

There are so many, many stories I could tell.
Some very good, some quite bad.
Some sad. Some glad!

My first prom circa nineteen-sixty.
“Mom, I’ll die if I have to wear
A homemade sport coat!”
But the white linen one she sewed
Was more special than any there!

“A white sports coat and a pink carnation
I’m all dressed up for the dance”

St. Louise’s home-made double-breasted suit,
I’m certain, …
Got brother Dr. John Russell Martin
Accepted by three medical schools!

Incredibly delicious … nutritious … cinnamon-pecan pastries
Covered with a buttery-sugary drench.
Sent by mail to fish martin
Who was in the Corps’ Animal Eight
In College Station, Texas.
And the cinnamon roll-greedy knucklehead
Did not share.
He ate ‘em all! There were none to spare!!

Mom Louise’s date nut loaf at Christmas.
Dewberry pies and cobblers
(Dewberries picked from The Farm
Near Stock’s Dale.).
Tapioca, bread, custard, rice puddings.
And so much more!
All so very tasty.
(Esta alemana even made
Enchiladas y tamales!)

Diaper changing and their rubboard washing.
(Dad sometimes complained
That he had to do more
Than his share of mine,
His first-born.)

Sewing, canning, freezing.

Soaking mesquite thorn- and rusty nail-punctured young feet
In kerosene;
Then slapping on some salt pork
To draw down the swelling
And quiet the sore.

Mom Louise taught me to swim
Even though she doesn’t.
She read me the lessons in my early years
From outside Uncle Peggy’s irrigation reservoir,
And made sure I attended Webelos swimming classes
At the Frank, Senior and Josephine Fordtran Bain’s pool.

She read from the little Catholic books
About fish eggs and sperm
When I was twelve or ten.
But in spite of all the breeding animals around me …
I was super slow and didn’t understand.
(It was Jimmy Weber, and other sorts—
With older siblings–
Who began to somewhat crudely teach me
About the birds … AND the bees.)

All of us Martins had much to learn.
And Mom patiently weathered
The painful process,
The trials and tribulations.

Mom stressed early in my youth
That if I wanted an alcoholic beverage
To just let her know
And I could enjoy it at home
There with her. …
But that was no fun.

In my twenties, in particular,
I spiritually wrestled with–
Many of the teachings of the Church,
Social injustice, Vietnam,
Those who had POWER!
Insecurity and where I was headed in life
(And still do fifty years later.)
Like many others
The crutch I chose to use
To relieve the spiritual pains
Was ethanol.

One night late
A skinny young fellow,
A soldier, he’d been …
Sitting in the Warhorse Cafe in Devine Town
Bragged how rough and tough he was.
In my drunkenness and stupor
From far too much cerveza that eve,
I slurred,
“You don’t look so damned tough to me.”

Mom found me the next day,
Where they’d thrown me,
In the early morning dew
Of our yard grass,
Terribly scraped
And beaten to a pulp.
She carried me in
To sleep and recover
On what quickly became
A blood-caked bed.

Yes, the tales are countless.
But the themes are constant.
Mom was always–siempre
Humble, sweet, caring, prudent, and serene
But also tirelessly persevering and diligent …
And she still is!!!

 

Twilight Years

Two years ago
St. Louise celebrated her 94th
And she was good.

Then off to the Methodist for an operation
And two strokes later things have changed.
Reality, the philosopher’s concern,
Now seems somewhat lacking …
Or from the distant past
Or from a mixture of times and spaces.
The now is fleeting, fleeing.

But is that not the way it is
For all of us?

Mom St. Louise continues to love …
She’s so amiable, courteous, helpful, humble, giving.
Oh, that we were all St. Louises.

New Braunfels. Brown rocks.
The Comal River makes all rocks smooth.
However, some rocks are smoother than others!!!
……………………………..
pbm 3/29/2020
[ 7 Ss / VV->^^ ]

I do fully realize that I am but a very, very, very, very insignificant (& inarticulate) voice in the wilderness who is tuned out even by my kids, other close family members, and friends. Nevertheless, …

we would be much, much better off as humans and other species in this world–even in these times of COVID-19–if we had an eco-socialistic democracy with a well-planned & monitored low-input/-throughput steady-state economy which was relatively independent of polluting and disruptive fossil energy.
…………………………
But it won’t be!

As far as the United States of America is concerned it won’t be with a Trump administration or any other Republican administration. It wouldn’t have been with a Hillary or John Kasich or Jeb Bush administration and won’t be with a Biden Democratic administration (though it would have been and will be significantly better than this current one!). It won’t be with what I have seen of Green New Deals (because therein we continue to worship at the altar of relatively high-energy input/throughput systems, growth, military- & arms-/armament-might, and foolish attempts at placating capitalists through economic/ecological decoupling).

Finally, if we truly worked toward positively ethical applied community ecology across curricula & campuses of all human organizational entities, we could begin to critically think & decision-make … and discuss, and goal set, develop strategies, plans, assessment and replanning systems toward regeneration & conservation of resilient, sustainable ecological community. Nevertheless, most don’t get it … even within the good organizations in which I volunteer … and I don’t see this happening.

I’ll keep “ranting” from the wilderness–and volunteering with these good organizations for as long as they let me. But generally, I truly don’t perceive much happening to give me great hope … even though, contrarily, I do constantly have some little hopes stirred up within–and react accordingly. This COVID-19 situation is an opportunity to learn toward “an eco-socialistic democracy which has a well-planned, monitored steady-state economy relatively independent of polluting and disruptive fossil energy”. However, after listening to Trump’s recent address at one of his narcissistic “rallys”, listening to my tennis buddies, receiving mostly deaf ears from family and friends, … I’m certain we aren’t ceasing the opportunities of the moments.

…………………………

https://theecologist.org/2008/apr/01/steady-state-economy  http://theconversation.com/the-decoupling-delusion-rethinking-growth-and-sustainability-71996  http://www.paulpeaceparables.com/2019/10/30/green-new-deal-a-letter-to-the-honorable-representative-alexandria-ocasio-cortez/  https://www.resilience.org/stories/2005-01-01/prosperous-way-down/  https://thenextsystem.org/toward-democratic-eco-socialism-as-the-next-world-system

***********************

pbm
[ 7 Ss / VV->^^ ]

[Thoughts on a Long Bicycle Ride. March 24, 2020]

Mom lost her Mom at nine years of age.
Was it simply population dynamics and symbioses?
Did it involve Free Will?
Or was it “simply the Lord’s Will”?

Let the philosophers and scientists decide.

Brother Lawrence—
One of the very best—
Died way too soon.
Was it dynamic symbioses?
Or did he purposely die
By the Hands of God? …

Let the philosophers decide?

A dear sector of our family left me long ago.
Was this action, and circumstances therein, Free Willed?
Or was it the works of god?
I don’t know!

Let the behavioral scientists and philosophers decide.

Mom didn’t know me last time I visited.
Is there truly a medical explanation?
Or was it God’s Will?

Let the scientists decide.

Will coronaviruses get us …
• Because of dynamics of ecological community and symbioses?
• Through our collective “Free Will”?
• Or are we but in the Hands of God?

Let the scientists and philosophers decide.

Will the loved ones who left me, return?
Will it be through critical thinking and decision-making?
Or will it simply be humans at their best or worst behaviors,
Or something in between?
Or through a god’s will?
I don’t know.

Let the psychologists, physiologists, and philosophers decide.
…………………………………….
pbm 3/25/2020

Mom Louise Katherine Kneuper Martin
Was never ill!

Mom’s mother, Amalia, who was a Meurer
(From Fredericksburg … Texas),
Fought chronic illness
And died at forty-nine … in 1934.
Thusly, Mom, who was approaching ten
Was forced to sacrifice and tough it out thereafter …

• Through various “mom’s”,

• Numerous schools—

o At St. Joseph’s in Comal,
o Green Valley,
o Our Lady of Perpetual Help,
o And Stockdale—

• And loss of the farm at North Cliff
And subsequent sharecropping.

Consequently, Mom was never ill.

 

Mom’s oldest had pneumonia as a babe
From which newly released penicillin saved.
Brother Lawrence—who’s passed with cancer–
Was carried to Hondo
With dangerous and painful appendicitis.
Internist Dr. John Russell is plagued with Parkinson’s.
Charlie had to leave Aggieland during his first year
Because he was not well.
Skinny Kenny was nagged with asthma from early on.
Linda Lou has to fight a diabetes threat.

But Mom Louise was never ill.

Thinking back though …
Mother did have
A hysterectomy,
Intestinal-health challenges …
Internal repairs,
Gall bladder removal,
Bladder infections, … .
In spite of her efforts at good dental hygiene
She was not blessed with good teeth.

But she never complained!

Mom Louise was never ill!!

At ninety …
Changes in Mom’s corpus
Began to become plain.
She had TIAs. …
Two strokes and falls occurred.
And for the first time, medication was imminent.
Driving and yardwork were forbidden.
Memory and verbal communication largely faded.
Still she never really complains.
At ninety-six now (May 10th)
Mom St. Louise still never complains.
Therefore, in a reality …

Mom St. Louise is NEVER ill.

(I do fervently hope Mom St. Louise/GG is spared by COVID-19.)

……………………………….
Epilogue:

Mom St. Louise has always been
Cool, calm, and collected.
Straight and level.
An amazing critical thinker and decision-maker!

Once when emotional sickness crept in
And tempers flared between Dad and me
And it came to … that we weren’t speaking—
Mom looked Luther Alton in the eye and said,
“You know what you gotta do!!!”
This stubborn, headstrong, temper-prone, cussing homebody,
This World War !! Marine Master Sergeant
Who rarely even left their five acres to even go to San Antone,
Got into their old Chevy with his sweet German bride
And traveled seventy miles one-way from Devine to Seguin
To apologize to his oldest son
Who had almost died of pneumonia so many years ago
(And varying recklessnesses later).

Mother never complained.
She just stayed the course.

So, hear me clearly now.
Mom Louise is most definitely a saint!
On this we all agree.

One point of pride for her eldest son
Is that despite her German Catholic roots–
Which lacked early exposure to ethnic and cultural diversity,
And formal highfalutin education …
She—and Dad too—were largely in humble, supportive, and persevering solidarity
With the Medina County, Texas
Mexican- and African-American community.

NEVERTHELESS, Mom St. Louise is not perfect.
Even saints are flawed.

Saint Louise was looped early on into WOAI news, weather, and farm reports
And lived with life-long listening to this station from San Antonio
Even after it turned into the scary, crazy
Right-wing not-so-Clear Channel.
Relentless bad propaganda can taint anyone.
(I’d guess Mom St. Louise even began to vote Republican
When John Connally of Floresville turned.)

Perhaps this is an illness?

But Mom St. Louise has “never” been ill!

***********************
pbm 3/25/2020
[7 Ss / VV->^^]

Toward a Clean Sustainable Seguin

[And an imagined conversation of a father (Pablo) and
his oldest son (Jeremias)

Jan 2007 (pbm)]

Enrolada*

Depression and Pinchot-wired parents taught us to conserve.
2007 Chosen People-fundamentalist preachers impel us to grab and rule the all that WE MOST CERTAINLY deserve.

Humility, frugality used to be preached in the churches.
America First!!! War!! Estados Unidos sempre precisa ganhar! … And the ship of state lurches.

Donald Trump, Warren Buffett, Bill Gates. The power reigns.
Others squalid in big city/rural remains.

So green! So green! A new gas-electric hybrid auto and a muito verde LEED home built for only 200, 000 times what half the individuals in the world make in a year.
“Organicissimo!! Organicissimo!!” With this certified pesticide-free apple sent from New Zealand for our fresh fruit Texas party of Christmas cheer.

“Environmentists”’ answer is “R enewable”. Used only a half million BTUs per capita last year of ethanol and fuel cell energy.
… Did I mention it cost about a million British Thermal Units of oil, gas and coal. Don’t you love the synergy?!?!

Cars cause super-problems; we rush for more.
9-11! Pres says rush for the store.

Indoor pools, treadmill exercise machines..
Could we become Mexican Raramuri or Kenyan Kalenjins and make the whole earth Nature’s park, and run it in our jeans … and get it back into concert with our genes?

Hot outside? Turn on the arcondicionados! Keep eating more gas, oil, coal fueled potatoes.
Global warming (Climate change)? Highly recommend moving from Barbados.

The Chosen few of the world possess Capital and are Landed,
While the Third World is kwashiorkor- stranded.

7 billion Homo sapiens—Number ONE!!!
Other top trophic species? You’re certainly done!

Top soil? Watersheds? Diverse biotic communities? Passive solar energy? Who the hell has heard of “it”??
Big screens, NFL, NBA, empty calories—chips and beer. All of this is what keeps the U.S. lit.

Farm subsidies, conservation easements, cheap energy and basic resources from abroad. For the Lorded Landed this spells more cash!
Certainly can’t cap excessive income and capital gains, strive for real equity and equality and produce less trash!

Trans Texas Corridors! Loops around Interstate jams. Muckity, muckity, muck, muck, muck.
I’ll solve it by traversing overLand with my on-steroids Hummer, ATV, Suburban, and Big diesel truck.

Frequent flyer miles, ecotourism, luxury ‘beachcombing”, Carnival Cruise.
Explain for me again now those South American favela blues!?!

Come to our High Schools and Universities and learn to change the world faster.
No matter this “serves” to make the Natural ecosphere much less of a laster.

Mold those young uns into businessmen, corporate lawyers, sports physicians, oil field geologists.
But “Heaven forbid” an environmentalist or world renowned ecologist!

It’s the parents’ fault, the teacher’s culpa, the administrators get in the way; a federal problem, a local one. The village! The family! The individual student! … Let’s get more realistic!!!
It’s all of these. Just start somewhere and stay focused on it with lots of will and energy. Get off your butt and think holistic!

Radios, TVs, cell phones, iPods, video games, plastics, petroleum perfumes,Taco bell food, this dam computer screen. Peggy Lee cries out, “Is That All There Is?” … VIRTUAL reality?
Think this is really messing with my Natural innate personality!

Go out into the country, inner city or even suburban streets.
In this wealthiest of nations you’ll find unattended-to obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, asthma, cancer, malnutrition– to which I would attribute bad (or lack of) local doctors, politics and economics, chambers of commerce, ecological ignorance and apathy, and high fructose corn-based sweets.

Arteriosclerosis, arthrosclerosis, hypertension, embolism, angina, arrhythmia, heart attack, stroke. Could it be our way of life??
Perhaps we could just slow down and do it the natural way and give (human) Nature less strife??

Small is beautiful! Don’t let them tease you!!
Big is passé … pasado. Communidades que pensa grandao are screwed.

War. Basic/Airborne Ranger/Green Beret Special Forces training–into fit muscled/artificial “Army of One”- MEN (and woMEN). Uniforms, weapons, order, brass gives us meaning.
Could we all do a chaotic Peace Corps thing –and rather than destroy do just cleaning?

Haifa, Chechnya, Darfur, Cuba, the deep dark Congo.
Their notoriety? “ Isn’t one of those where they invented the bongo?”
……………………
I’m confused!!!!
Or too much BS infused?

Got to act local.
I’m not just a Seguin yokel.
——————————————————–
*Brazilian Portuguese for “totally messed up!!” (An acquaintance of mind who writes some really good poetry, songs, and plays—and who is Artist-in-Residence at the Southwest Collection of Texas Tech University www.texaslegacy.org/bb/transcripts/wilkinsonandytxt.html often says something about “the poets always getting there and telling it like it is first.” Obviously I’m not a poet and what I’ve written herein is old hash, but I thought I might take a shot at writing some “poems” and perhaps be transformed into one before I pass!?!)
……………………………..

pablo “I have my New Year’s Resolutions for the Annual Resolution Party!!!
1) I’m going to really get to know all the folk on our wonderful Elm Street.
And in future years I’ll spread north and south and get to know folk on other streets.
2) And I’ll give them this “Clean Sustainable Seguin Plan” and teach them about
top soil and watersheds, and climax/subclimax biotic communities
and ethical use of daily available solar energy!!”

Jeremias “The first little part sounds fantastic. …
But I’m real concerned about the rest!!!”

The objectives of this piece of work herein are to: 1) collect my thoughts about sustainability for my home town, 2) attempt to begin more dialogue with the margins of the choir and activate them toward Deep(er) Ecology, and 3) bring a few more into the choir.

We do have significant knowledge and scientific acceptance of “Natural Law,” i.e. physical and biological principles like entropy, biogeochemical cycles and photosynthesis, evolution via natural selection, etc., community succession and trophic levels, carrying capacity, territoriality, effective local community communication and having real ecologically-sound fun, etc., etc.. Therefore, it seems almost impossible that there are folk who don’t realize the serious local and global problems of rampant conversions of Nature (e.g., somewhat it was like 10,000 years ago or even 150 years ago) to very artificial systems.

Nevertheless, there is a prevalence of: 1) ignorance about ecological principles; 2) superstition (Heaven, Calvinism, Rapture and Armageddon, Chosen People, One True Religion, One True God, …), traditions, imbedded cultural mores; and 3) technological fix mindsets which continue to facilitate the scorching and paving of earth (resulting in desertification, global warming) —and contribute to continuing global poverty and war, … but also continue to rant “technology will fix all the nasty socio-political/economic–ECOLOGICAL damage we’ve done”. [Many pseudo or wantabe conservationists/conservatives are technological fixers and are guilty of masking the continued energetic burn of the Natural World—and/or they are serving as catalysts for this burn through the promotion of processes of conventional/industrial organic agriculture, inappropriate biotechnology, and development of various energy sources such as fuel cells, nuclear fission/and even fusion?, and various “renewable” alternatives other than reliance on solar energy capture that is local and ethical.]

When we consider these social complexities, I would hope that people of my persuasion (and I believe there are many of us—and many more who’d like to be) won’t become frustrated and cynical, and throw up their arms and give up. We must continue to support a conserving and sustaining process that includes 1) faith in the Natural World, 2) hope that as a community we can stave off the Seven Deadly Sins, 3) charity and love for all of humanity and the Natural World.

And it is of utmost importance that we must work hard (but with pleasure and celebration) locally to: 1) conserve topsoil, 2) maintain watersheds in a healthy and sustainable/Natural state, 3) protect and enhance biological diversity, 4) slow down our economic engine to the point that it runs sustainably on daily ethical use of the sun, 5) emphasize sufficiency more than efficiency, 6) utilize the appropriate technologies we already have in a sustainable way, vs. always searching for more appropriate technologies, and 7) recognize that health, education and welfare are all ecological concerns.

 

What is the significance of a “sustainable Seguin?”
A sustainable system is one which has adequate ecological resources (minerals, water, ethical energy, biotic diversity) and a suitable socio-political/economic system (equity, representation, …) for developing and maintaining quality life for as many individuals and species for as long as possible. Discussions of quality life–whether the remaining resource base (top soil, watersheds, ecological diversity, energy flux) is half full or half empty**–and which individuals and species are important, proliferates throughout the scientific literature. [**This really isn’t all that important—what is crucial is that it is increasingly emptying.] Moreover, the concept and process of sustainability has been thoroughly discussed in the literature, including suggested pragmatic steps toward achieving—“Holistic Management,” and the state/mindset we might eventually desire to achieve—“Deep(er) Ecology.”

Despite the difficulty we may have in grasping the concept and utility of sustainability, it seems imperative … that we grapple with it. Though the often-stated goal of sustainability as systems which are socially just, ecologically sound and humane, is very simplistic, it does seem to be admirable and necessary–and one which we must strive to attain.

Jeremias “Come on Dad. Don’t be so high and mighty–and esoteric. No one really cares about this—or even understands it. As you often say—let’s live for the moment. To hell with ‘sustainability’ of the World’s ‘natural resource base!!’”

Could you flesh this concept of sustainability out a bit more?
The goal of a process of “Conservation and Development of Sustainable Community”, or what I’ve come to label “Positively Ethical Applied Community Ecology” and others might call “Holistic Management” or “Deep(er) Ecology” is “quality life for all—species—for as long as possible.” Strategy, objectives, policy deals with: 1) the conflict of reducing the conversion of Nature into too many humans–or individuals of other
species–at which point we call them serious pests, and 2) into too much financial/built capital and 3) increasing the flow of resources to truly poor humans. Significant challenges include distribution–poor, inequitable, erratic—of resources/energy, people, education, short and long-term medical care, culture—and the absurd acceptance of much of the bad in culture/religion/tradition. Appropriate actions can be particularly difficult. Local action might be more doable and less messy than global actions—which can seem impossible or futile, and really messy; but global situations can sometimes render local actions almost useless.

Perhaps one of the better definitions concerned with “Conservation and Development of Sustainable Community” describes a sustainable community as one that can evolve indefinitely toward greater human utility (including reference to all sectors of the human component of community—blue collar and white collar workers, rich and poor, brown and pink, Zoroastrian and Christian, etc.), greater efficiency of resource use (e.g., of South Central Texas Savannah) and a balance with the environment that is favorable to humans and most other species (Harwood. 1990. Soil and Water Conservation Society). The beauty of this definition is that practically no one can be against conservation and development of sustainable community, at least in a superficial, sort of abstract way of viewing it. Sustainable communities are ecologically sound, socially just and humane—and who can be against that.

Of course the problem is when the rubber meets the road. Ecosystem processes—biogeochemical cycles, energetics are zero sum operations. If you (el gringo usando muchas cosas y producindo mas gringitos, o un “coconut” haciendo lo mismo) are using more that “your share,” you are taking from other important and deserving components of the whole. And when these uses/these “needs” become politically and economically expedient; or they become habit, tradition, cultural, religious–then we really begin to have some real problems in getting off of the non-sustainable treadmill.

A major emphasis of this sustainable process is to consider your management unit (watershed/basin/catchment, county, township, etc.) as a closed system, and to not worry about whether the natural resource base is half full, or half empty, but to realize that it is emptying—and for the future of quality life for people, that’s not good. Moreover, we need to wake up to the fact that we could share lots more than what we appropriate for the truly poor of the world—and help them have a bit more quality in life.

 

Are we currently working toward achieving a sustainable Seguin?
I think most folk give little thought to long term quality of life and sustainability, but probably feel that we are. However, we probably are not!

1. In order to work toward sustainability we need to begin to come to some sort of holistic community consensus as to our interpretation of what is sustainability. This would involve a dynamic strategic planning process of establishing goals and a mission statement, and the policy and tactics (including sustainability indicators and assessment) toward conservation and sustainability.

2. The process of sustainability would involve continuing community-wide education concerning the concept, ecological principles and knowledge of local ecological processes, sustainability indicators, assessment tools, and development and realization of immediate and long-range socio-political/economic actions.

3. The process toward sustainability must involve ways of “becoming” and “doing.” It seems apparent to me that in my lifetime we have become less racist as a country as a result of thorough national and local discussions, evaluations and analysis of race issues and problems–although we still have along way to go toward achieving perfection, and even though we can easily fall back into a seriously racist mindset, … locally, regionally and nationally. Moreover, I believe social, political and economic affirmative action and desegregation has helped to root out racism.

The problem of dealing with non-sustainability is much more complex. For one thing, the concept of “sustainability” is even more amorphous, illusive, and non-discrete than racism. Moreover, racism is but one of many components of some non-sustainable systems.

Let me further emphasize how difficult achieving a dream of sustainability is by touching a bit of energy issues. Simply using (transforming) more and more energy in the world, is very disruptive to the natural resource base (top soils, healthy watersheds, diverse biotic communities), food chain and webs and stable ecosystems. Moreover, means of collection or storage of diffuse energy such as photovoltaic cells, windtricity, wave and tidal electrical generators, hydrogen run fuel cells, geothermal systems and biomass are energetically very expensive. And one concentrated energy alternative to fossil fuels—use of uranium and other fissionable fuels in nuclear reactors–has very high short and long-term pollution and security costs. Yet everyday we see mention of false hope proposals–including various twists and spins, and shell games–with these so-called energy alternatives. In reality, what we should be hearing about in the news media is strategies and tactics for conservation. … That’s conservation! Conservation! Conservation!! Conservation!!! … .

Finally, with respect to what might be appropriate or non-appropriate in the arena of “being and doing,” the effort proposed herein is not really intended to make anyone or any sector of our community feel guilty, but rather intended to stimulate thoughtful, meaningful, productive (long-term) dialogue—including “with self”, … to educate, and to enable (empower), and to mobilize effective applied ecologists into our local community.

pablo “You know, you’d think everyone would be anti-growth, etc., etc. and pro Conservation, and for Development of Sustainable Community, etc., etc. by now—at least if they were educated (in ecology) …” Jeremias “Aw come on Dad, grow up. … As John Prine sang so beautifully, ‘… humans ain’t humans; … people ain’t kind.’”

Is sustainability necessarily of importance to the people of Seguin?
I think it is important to current Seguinites and to future Seguinites—and this includes people and other species. Diversity makes life “interesting” and really worth living for all life forms. Without sufficient quality water, rich top soils, and effective capture of daily solar energy by photosynthesizers—diversity is limited. And diversity is a basic tenet of sustainability.

The Renaissance and the Age of Reason/the Enlightenment have long since taken place, and many decision-makers realize we have the knowledge, power and responsibility to change the human and world condition toward enhancing rather than destroying biotic diversity, toward sustainability and toward quality life for all. In addition, we know that asphalt and concrete and glass and steel and plastic–and other components of artificially built structures and environment (which are spreading over or indirectly extracting from climax ecological communities)–do not sustainably grow food, fiber or shelter—and do not produce the oxygen needed for many life forms, but rather produce excessive amounts of carbon dioxide and pollutants. Science, common sense, and intuition tell us we need to make some drastic changes away from built and financial capital to natural, and social capital. And that important change must begin locally—and right now!

Of course a major problem is that a significant percent of humans in the world do feel that at some level, they do have quality life—and they are satisfied, even addicted to the fossil-fuel dependent built environment, and current political, social, cultural, and financial systems. They get more than their share of abundant calories and have the potential to select appropriate nutrients. They live, work, travel and exercise in a relatively comfortable temperature year-round. They have the muscle and power of wheels with more than one hundred horses (and some artificial horses can even be employed to give them needed exercise with a moving road or water stream). Entertainment and “education” is electronic and remotely controlled with their fingertips. Moreover, under these artificial conditions, they tend to forget and distance themselves more and more from Darfur, Afghanistan and Iraq; favelas, slum and ghettos; the horrific (non)living conditions of other cultures and ethnicities; eroded Land, air and water pollution, species extinction, desertification; or even the spiritually empty Mother, Father or Child next door. This is despite the fact and because of the fact that it is right there on the radio or TV screen in there own little isolated and falsely “secure” industrialized home.

And it is these satisfied people with the power … that have The Power.

Nevertheless change toward more equity and humaneness for all humans and other species must begin locally and globally—and right now. Perhaps it won’t be easy. However, it is doable–and can be fun.

Therefore, deep down, intuitively, using our common-sense and critical and creative thinking capacities and involving science, we know we need to change, and that we must start immediately. Herein (to follow shortly) are some ideas for short-term and longer-term actions in Seguin (and for south central Texas, the U.S., the world).

These proposed actions are really nothing new. However, I do hope to personally work harder at realizing them myself until I pass away. And I hope others will really join in, and help to spread active lifestyles of “Conservation and Development of Sustainable Community” or “Positively Ethical Applied Community Ecology” long after I and they pass.

Jeremias “ Now Pop. You know what is important to folk–‘Faster horses, … , older whiskey, MORE MONEY!’ … Seriously Dad!! You know it’s more money–maybe funny money/credit cards, etc.—but more money, bigger homes, more food, a bigger car/Hummer/Cadillac Escalade, power (and Wars that give us meaning), prestige (no matter how phony) that counts. Get real Dad. You know it’s always been that way.” pablo “I disagree Jer’! Anthropologic, archeologic, cultural sociologic data indicates that for thousands of years, folk not that genetically distinct from us, lived in concert with the environment, especially relatively speaking; they only worked 15-20 hours per week; they had a rich cultural and spiritual life including wonderful works of art; and they lived relatively healthy—and INTERESTING lives.”

It seems that there are two major forces tugging to tear apart sustainability—the forces of tradition, and the forces of rampant change in this very mobile and fluid world? What do you say to that?
Certainly religious and cultural traditions—and especially the more recent ones can encumber movement toward more sustainable systems. However, many traditions (those encouraging frugality and holistic efficiency, and caution and tentativeness in any of our actions, rest on the Sabbath, the Golden Rule, many of the rules followed from great religious books) are foundations of sustainable systems.

Moreover, many sectors of the go-go world are beginning to tire, and to stop and critically and creatively think and act. They are beginning to think that we do need to take time to “stop and smell the roses,” to enjoy sitting down to a home-made/self-made, locally-grown meal and rich fellowship with family and friends, that “small is beautiful” and that many of the simple Natural things our grandparents and ours did—and that hunter-gatherers practiced—make more sense toward having sustainable quality life that our industrialized, artificial chemical, electronic world.

We could continue succumb to forces of non-sustainable (recent) traditions and impetus to rapid and rampant change and squandering away time and resources—working hard to fix-it, improve, develop; make and spend/even save money; use water, pave; convert Natural to artificial, or we could slow the economic/industrial/artificial chemical/electrical/information engine down and conserve: soil, quality water, the ultimate renewable energy/natural resource capturers/conservers—i.e., diverse plant/biotic communities, and high quality energy.

Jeremias “Daddy, start listening to some successful communicators, would you? You just aren’t going to get folk super excited with your litany of: slow down and smell the native flora, do less, be less competitive, sweat (or freeze) in a non-air-conditioned home and conserve, get rid of your muscle car and conserve, have less kids (and really conserve!!). … That’s no fun.

Developing, significant rapid change, cutting down, digging up, planting something new, burning, bulldozing, tearing up, destruction, war. War on drugs. War on the environment. War on Iraq. That’s Ameeericun!! That’s where it’s at; … what it’s about! Come on Dad—get hip! Get with the program!! …

We’re number one! We’re number one! We’re number one! … USA! USA! USA! …”

What are some “sustainable actions” we (especially personal/PBM actions in this first year) might take in Seguin for the short term? (Now/2007)***

Wholeheartedly support Betsy Martin in her teaching with the Seguin ISD

Baby-sit my grandkids whenever needed

Go to Mass with my Mom each Friday, and see my Mom-in-law on that day

Go to Mass at Our Lady of Guadalupe each Sunday

Work at improving my Spanish, Portuguese and Polish (and English), i.e.,
try to do a better job of communicating

Get to truly know all my neighbors on Elm Street through opportunistic encounters, door knocking, and pot-luck get-togethers. Then begin to get to know neighbors on other streets of Seguin

By example encourage biking and walking, car-pooling and mass transport; also by example encourage folk to conserve and “be sustainable” in every little way they can

Take out a monthly (or perhaps weekly) ad–listing these sustainable actions suggested herein (after they are reworked and reformatted—and reviewed and reworked), and asking why we aren’t taking them. Check them off as we begin to realize them as a community

Set up a collection of books/materials related to “conservation and development of sustainable community” for folk to read—in the library, schools, at Chiro-Java, Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church

Encourage reduction of using disposable plastic bags. Begin to meet with managers of major stores, and attempt to spark campaign of “Bring your Own Bag”

Try to get at least one person from Seguin to attend an Ogallala Commons meeting this year

Join a significant local service club, and study local politics

Attend local political meetings and contribute to get-out-the-vote efforts

Look into ways of donating wild pig meat to the local food bank, or cooking it and distributing to the poor in other ways

Build a solar water heater, rainwater catchment system, composting toilet on the Martin kids’ farm near Stockdale and for the Betsy Martin house here in Seguin (work to put in other sustainable systems)

Support anti-war and pacifist efforts—locally and internationally. (Stay in touch with the American Friends Service Committee efforts.)

Always give others credit for progress toward conservation and sustainability and try to stay in the background

Be honest. But try to be honest in an upbeat positive manner.

Help people to realize that despite the failure of the major political parties’ War in Iraq, that they have been very successful in their War on the Environment and the natural resource base

Realize through collaboration with Texas Lutheran University some regular rational discussions of topics like capital punishment, abortion, war, pacifism, religion, school size, organized sports, growth, economic development, conservation, sustainable agriculture, sustainable community, desertification, species extinction, which result in some critical/creative thinking that is science-based

Develop a doable plan that involves participatory goal-setting, policy development, rapid appraisal, action plans, assessment, etc. with planned attempts for consensus buy-in by the “whole” community

Jeremias “You know. Most of these proposed actions are doable—and worth doing!”

 

What about plans and actions for the intermediate future? (2-5 yrs/2009-2012)***

Have a neighborhood/community get-together twice a year

Work toward having one spring Sunday afternoon where everyone in the city gets out in the streets and walks to the opposite side of town with a dozen flowers in there hand—exchanging stories and flowers along the way

Cautiously get more involved “sustainably” with Our Lady of Guadalupe and local clubs, etc.

Write articles on local, state and national actions that are non-sustainable (TTC, State Highway 130; fuel cell and ethanol initiatives; …) and suggest alternative sustainable actions

Organize a local group (cautiously organized but open to anyone, self-selecting) which will systematically, holistically, strategically and sustainably plan toward a clean and sustainable Seguin

Get 50% to everyone thinking about walking, biking or using the bus when getting around in Seguin

Develop a [(an)Ad] campaign for recycling organic matter/composting on individual lots, e.g. a component of this might be a “Don’t Bag It” campaign for lawn clippings

Encourage a city/county wide of REDUCTION, reusing, and recycling of “waste” (including water and energy) [Shoot for Zero Waste–and consider calling the program “Clean Sustainable Seguin’s Zero Waste Program”]

Begin rapid and long term dynamic and holistic appraisals of the ecological (socio-political, economic, ecological) resource base of Seguin (this would include a historical component)

Get local folk to consider ways of protecting our local natural resource base by renovating existing building for use as homes and offices, and for industry, building smaller homes and buildings that are truly GREEN, considering Wildlife Exemptions to property taxes, and to consider donating Conservation Easements

Develop a CD—or other with sustainable music work by Andy Wilkinson, Butch Hancock, Slaid Cleaves, Terri Hendrix, Adam Carroll, Kent Finlay, … and produced by Lloyd Maines

Lay down sustainable lines of communication with other communities actively involved in conservation and development of sustainable community

Try to get 5 or more folk from Seguin to attend an Ogallala Commons meeting each year

Develop and realize a sustainable community symposium at TLU

Spread sustainability ideas to St. Philip’s College, Seguin ISD and Devine, Texas

Work with community to make participation in our local Martin Luther King march equivalent to that of San Antonio’s with respect to percent of the population, i.e., SA’s participation is ca. 100, 000 or about 1% of their population–therefore since Seguin has ca. 25, 000 inhabitants, we should shoot for 2000 to 2500 participants

Help to increase local membership in NAACP and LULAC

Develop pocket-book card reminders of sustainability and laminated sheets of similar information for local schools.

Jeremias “These are all very accomplishable also—with a bit of perseverance and time, especially after some real successes with the more short-term actions!”

 

What about truly sustainable long-term actions toward a clean and sustainable Seguin? (5+ yrs/2012 and beyond)***

Work hard on local and global critical and creative thinking skills

Develop user-friendly, attractive and doable ecological educational programs dealing with names of local flora and fauna—native and non-native

Work with schools, churches and clubs, other organizations in getting more parents involved in learning “the basics”—reading, writing, math, foreign languages, names and interrelationships of local flora and fauna—and the edaphic, hydrologic, and geologic conditions upon which they depend.

Develop an active participatory sports program and “get-to-know and love Nature programs” for all in this Seguin community—young, old, physically-challenged, …

Write a local newspaper column and develop a radio/TV? show re. Clean and Sustainable Seguin

Realize a program to have as much passive solar water heating, and passive cooling and heating, composting toilets, rainwater-collection systems, community gardens, etc. as “possible” in Seguin and the surrounding area

Work toward the opening and revealing of records for individual family and business water- and energy-usage; also, salaries/gross revenues and profits made

Develop a not-for-profit community tool/equipment lending center and “’sustainable’ Bed and Breakfast facility

Begin to eliminate cars from parts of Seguin

Maintain/plant sustainable crops for local food, fiber, energy and shelter

Try hard to realize smart growth/reduction of growth. Stop the paving over of good non-renewable topsoil in this region and the destruction of stable climax and sub-climax plant-animal communities. Campaign to reduce “buying” and mindless consumption. Promote the use of conservation easements, land donations for nature preserves, parks (large and small) to halt development.

Try to get folk to consider some voluntary salary capping and capping of wealth accumulation (< $200,000 ). Focus on truly helping the poor in Seguin and truly helping the truly poor in other parts of the world.

Plant several acres of greens, turnips, beets, beans, squash, radishes, etc. (easy to grow vegetables, herbs and fruit) for picking by folk with urban gardens–to supplement and for charitable organizations

Make celebratory community activities more “sustainable” and do more celebration of sustainability (including pot-luck get-togethers with live music)

Develop and teach some sustainability courses modeled after the many that exist at some of the more progressive colleges and universities

Work toward smaller neighborhood schools at all levels that are truly a part of the environment and not a part of the dynamic that separates us from the environment

Work toward a local economy with robust entrepreneurships focusing on conservation & sustainability

Help to realize a national health care program that effectively covers the poor

As a community regularly discuss Wars–and conservation and sustainability implications of these destructive (but futile) attempts to solve problems–and ways of truly realizing Peace from a local and global perspective

Work toward comprehensive on-going energetics/ecological footprint study for the Seguin region

Translate all that is herein to Spanish (and German?)

Have a community where we don’t have to think about sustainability—we just eat, drink, breathe, walk, bike, go, dance, paint, sculpt, party, and naturally think, are, do and act sustainably

[***Obviously there are many other sustainable actions we can take. For instance I have a list of 151 things one can do to build social capital in community in my files (from www.bankofideas.com.aau ) and a book of ideas for action suggested for every day of the year.]

Jeremias “Some of this seems pretty ‘Pie in the sky’. But who knows, with some other successes, with community education and collaborative efforts at conservation and sustainability, maybe so! Maybe these could be mostly achieved also!!??!!”

Some of this stuff is would be relatively easy to accomplish, but some of it is really difficult? Who can help us?
There are many good local, district, state, national and international groups who can help. But you do need a real goal and doable action plan–both written as concisely, simply, succinctly as possible as possible, prior to significant interactions with these groups. Be persistent and persevering and recognize—1. that although these groups can be very necessary helpful, they do not completely understand you and your concept of sustainability and in many ways may not be on good road to sustainability and 2. that your process, goal, action plan are dynamic and should be honed to become more and more idealistic, more pragmatic, more communicative, more doable in community as time rolls on.

Some of these groups include:

Ogallala Commons
World Wildlife Fund
Oxfam
Natural Resource Conservation Service, USDA
Resource Conservation and Development Programs
Soil and Water Conservation Districts
Texas Agricultural Extension Service
Texas Agricultural Experiment Stations
ATTRA
Holistic Resource Management of Texas
The Nature Conservancy
Audubon Society
Sierra Club
Master Naturalists
Texas Department of Agriculture
National Hispanic Environmental Council
Natural Resources Defense Council
Environmental Defense Fund
American Friends Society Committee
Land Trust Alliance
Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority

What about awareness and celebration of sustainability?
There is considerable information about conservation and development of sustainable community on the internet, in books, journals and magazines—and in the people of our community and others. Moreover, there are many old and new songs, plays, works of art that relate to and can enhance our fervor to celebrate conservation and sustainability as a community.

Listed on the following are a few examples of what is mentioned in the previous paragraph:

Websites-
www.context.org/ICLIB/IC27/Orr.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainability
www.texaslegacy.org/
www.livelihoods.org/
www.brtom.org/wb/berry.html
www.ssu.missouri.edu/faculty/JIkerd/
www.counterpunch.org/jensen07102003.html
www.ogallalacommons.org/
www.epa.gov/greenkit/indicator.htm
www.ucdb.br/coloquio/arquivos/Paul.pdf
www.hrm-texas.org/
www.landinstitute.org/vnews/display.v/ART/2000/08/05/377bbbe53
www.365act.com/
www.bankofideas.com.au
http://mmmappliedecology.tripod.com/
www.npg.org/specialreports/bartlett_index.htm

Books-
The Art of the Common Place by Wendell Berry
Overshoot by William Catton
Environmental Science: Working with the Earth by G.T. Miller, Jr.
The Other Side of Eden: Hunters, Farmers and the Shaping of the World by Hugh Brody
Ecological Literacy by David Orr
Becoming Native to This Place by Wes Jackson
A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold
Sustainable Capitalism by John Ikerd
Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond
The Creation: An Appeal to Save Life on Earth by E.O. Wilson
Food, Energy and Society by David and Marcia Pimentel
Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Freire
Holistic Resource Management by Allan Savory
Rules for Radicals by Saul Alinsky
Small Is Beautiful by E.F.Schumacher
The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan
On the Border: An Environmental History of San Antonio by Char Miller
Nature’s Economy by Donald Worster

Notable “Locals”-
Char Miller, Historian, Trinity University
Steve Murdock, Demographer, UTSA
Wayne Hanselka, Ecologist, TAEX & TAES, Corpus Christi
Ken Kramer, Environmental Activist, Sierra Club (Graduate of TLU), Austin
Calvin Finch, Biologist, San Antonio Water System
Kevin Anderson, Philosopher/Ecologist, Hornsby Bend Bird Observatory, Austin
Darryl Birkenfeld, Community Activist/Philosopher, Ogallala Commons, Nazareth-TX
George Ozuna, Hydrologist, US Geological Survey

pablo “You know Jeremias. Sometimes I want so bad to transcend all this.” Jeremias “What do you mean by all this?” pablo “Well I guess I mean the pseudo-/quasi-realities and shell games and dilemmas. For instance, I thought the ethos my village programmed into me was one of peace and love, compassion and tolerance, conservation and frugality, yet most everyone seems to practice anything but, and they don’t even really pretend to practice anything but. We (including me) practice bulldozing and paving, high kilocalorie consumption, ‘shock and awe’, speed (in more than one sense of the word), noise, etc.
Jeremias “Your dream is to be St. Francis of Assisi. Most people in 2007 can’t relate at all to St. Francis. Hell, he died 780 years ago!! (Besides, sixty of your years have flown by–and you’re a far cry from even starting to be St. Francis!)

Moreover, most people certainly wouldn’t use prefixes and words like ‘pseudo’, ‘quasi’, ‘shell game’, ‘dilemma’ but rather ‘impossible’ and ‘crazy’ for what you’re trying to do!
Most folk other than you are realistic and want to be Michael Jordan, Vince Young, Lance Armstrong, Tiger Woods, Hulk Hogan, T.D. Jakes, John Hagee, Pat Robertson, Martha Stewart, Oprah Winfrey, Brittany Spears, Paris Hilton, Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, or George W. Bush. … Well … um … , … maybe not George W. Bush!”

——————————————————————————————

Some “Appropriate” Mexican Dichos/Sayings:

Del dicho al hecho, hay mucho trecho.
El que quiere baile, que pague músico.
Camarón que se duerme, se lo lleva la corriente.
Una buena acción es la mejor oración.

pbm

[ 7 Ss / VV->^^ ]

I adore sunshine!
But life is mostly water.

We desperately need overcast skies
And rain!

Nevertheless,
The sun gives the energy which binds,
Which connects!

I adore sunshine!
…………….
pbm
[ 7 Ss / VV->^^ ]