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the Frater's Mark
These are the words that nineteenth century scientist Louis Agassiz chose to use to describe the study of Nature. Ecology. Love of Gaia. Care and responsibility for the environment. Can anything be a more important issue right now? With global warming (but, according to our government, that's just a myth - but don't tell the Rhode Island-sized chunk of ice that separated from a major icecap a while back and is now free-floating), the threat of unencumbered oil drilling in some of our key wildlife refuges, like Alaska (but that oil will make us more "self-sufficient in a petroleum sense" - and if you believe that, I've got a few bridges and such to sell), unwillingness across the board to impose new and stricter pollution emission standards to manufacturing and industry, not to mention the fact we no longer recognize the Kyoto treaty, our government's refusal to release many key documents that detail the goings-on of the Energy Department and the fact that we have a Secretary of the Interior who's bosom buddies with corporate money and not with issues that will impact the future of this planet - what could be more important than our Pagan duty to environmental concerns?
We must educate ourselves on all the issues, put into personal practice the three Rs - reduce, reuse and recycle - hone our environmental intuition and never stop fighting to save our mother from the local, national and global threats to her health and well-being. It seems that the Golden Rule runs rampant in this day and age: He/she who has the Gold, Rules. And it's this very short-sighted, apathetic addiction to instantaneous gratification that has caused so much damage, especially over the past century. Our animal appetites, it seems, have not been properly constrained by our rational, ethical minds. Technology has grown hand in hand with specters like toxic waste, radioactive residue, an over-reliance on fossil fuels and groups like the Global Climate Coalition whose job it is to sweep all those nasty facts about damage to the environment under the rug and make you wonder whether or not there really is a hole in the ozone layer. These are the factors that must be combated with the free flow of information, the use of factual data and statistics, perseverence, an immunity to propaganda and, most of all, a love of nature. I hope these websites will be a help to you as you pick up the Pagan mantle of environmental consciousness and become more active in the cause.
League of Conservation Voters
A personal favorite of mine. This site keeps tabs on all of the pending environmental legislation as well as providing a scorecard so that any interested party can see how the congressional members from their state voted on the ecological issues. Invaluable.
Natural Resources Defense Council
A great site in terms of hardline reporting on governmental ecological progress - both positive and negative. If the administration's actions are glacial in nature, they'll say so in no uncertain terms.
Resources for the Future
The coverage of this site is amazing. From the environment to natural resources to the intersections of technology and ecology to the methods, tool and techniques of analyzing the pros and cons of any given promise or threat, this site has it all.
Environmental Defense Action Network
Tied to the most active state environmental action networks, this site really gets the word out. And they offer an email subscription service that will get you the info when you need it. I've received same-day emailings when the timetables for bills in the House and Senate have shifted. Very impressive.
Ecology.com
Features, a news ticker, regular columns by some of the best in the business and special edition news exclusives as well as a link to EcoMart, a huge online shopping network featuring environmentally-friendly items, large and small.
Grist Magazine
Simply put, one of the best environmental e-zines out there with a wicked sense of humor and a wry, cynical streak. No wonder it appealed to me right away.
Mother Earth News
Still the guidebook for simple living including everything from information on gardening and homesteading to alternate energy sources and ecologically safe tools and goodies. Be sure to check out their "Get Involved" page for more applicable links.
E-Environmental Defense
A good overall source for news and views and an excellent site for info on biodiversity and climate change. Good stuff.
Green - GrassRoots Environmental Effectiveness Network
In their own words, their mission is to "promote grassroots organizing and citizen empowerment by providing the information, skills and training necessary for citizens to protect and restore wildlife and wildlands throughout North America". ‘Nuff said.
And finally, three excellent sources for up-to-date environmental news:
Capitol Reports - Environmental News Link
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