Earth Day 2022

Happy Earth Day 2022!

Thanks to the U.S. government agency NOAA for the infographic posted for this very special day. There are so many good ideas represented in this diagram!

We’re so happy when our son can wake up in time to catch the school bus. Two days this week he needed me to drive him the three miles to school and we noticed 100’s of cars doing the same thing. Imagine how much pollution we can save if more kids take school buses more often! Converting to electric or CNG cars and buses will make for better air quality including less carbon emissions.

If you’ve read previous early blogs you may have heard my story but if not here’s a summary of my health/career bio: I was born with asthma so my parents quit smoking cigarettes. Air pollution growing up in D.C. area in the 1960's as well as allergies triggered many severe, almost fatal asthma attacks. There were red alert smog days when we could not go outside. Becoming aware of my sensitive lung issues made me more interested in our environment, learning about weather and earth science in high school, college, and master's program eventually becoming an environmental geologist. I spent my career working on public health issues and for seven years blogging/photographs on global sustainability!

I just posted this bio on the American Lung Association website and found great information:

What's the State of YOUR Air?

For 23 years, the American Lung Association (ALA) has analyzed data from official air quality monitors to compile the State of the Air report. The more you learn about the air you breathe, the more you can protect your health and take steps to make the air cleaner and healthier.

You can make a difference in the air that you breathe.

SIGN OUR PETITION

SHARE YOUR STORY

For the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area:

• Tied for 1st for cleanest metropolitan areas in the country for Ozone

• Ranked 99 for 24-hour particle pollution out of 221 metropolitan areas

• Ranked 127 for annual particle pollution out of 202 metropolitan areas

Check out the air quality for where you live and see how the air has improved since issuing the Clean Air Act in 1970 but there is still work to do according to ALA:

The “State of the Air” 2022 report finds that despite decades of progress on cleaning up sources of air pollution, more than 40% of Americans—over 137 million people—are living in places with failing grades for unhealthy levels of particle pollution or ozone. This is 2.1 million more people breathing unhealthy air compared to last year’s report. Nearly 9 million more people were impacted by daily spikes in deadly particle pollution than reported last year. In the three years covered by this report, Americans experienced more days of “very unhealthy” and “hazardous” air quality than ever before in the two-decade history of “State of the Air."

Western U.S. wildfires burning more frequently and intensely are increasing due to climate change which is the main reason for the increasing air pollution. We all need to do more to celebrate this beautiful Earth every Day as well as give back and find ways to make a difference to improve all life.

Balance in Thailand

We returned to America about one month ago after spending the past eight months in Thailand. During this time, I learned much more about the balance of nature and imbalance being caused by our humanity.

When we first arrived to Bangkok in November 2020, the most obvious environmental issue was air pollution caused by burning agricultural fields in several countries to the north. The most beautiful season of the year for moderate temperatures and dry weather has now been replaced by choking smog across much of Asia.

At that time, Thailand was doing a great job to control the Covid-19 pandemic; but by the springtime, all the preventative measures when out with the Thai New Year celebrations and lack of vaccines causing uncontrolled spread of disease..

As the air quality improved in early 2021, I took daily walks in our area of Bangkok taking photographs - many pics are shown on the gallery. So many beautiful flowering trees, diverse sounds of birds chirping, and low hanging fruit. My connection with nature increased during these daily walks and I began to feel a love and longing to be outdoors in the early mornings at sunrise and evening sunsets.

We got a dog for our son - a Pomeranian who shows us unconditional love! He is a great companion for the entire family and luckily does not choose favorites and is very calm for a small dog. His presence brings us more into balance.

Monsoon rains arrived during late spring and early summer in Thailand and much of Asia. The warming of the ocean water created conditions for intense rainfall that usually lasted about an hour every afternoon. We welcomed the rain that cooled and cleaned the air and restores nature’s balance.

As I think of more examples I will continue to add to this blog post.

Learning with Others

Our attitude about learning makes all the difference for individuals to nations globally. A child may develop a strong ego thinking they know everything yet as we get older we discover there is so much more to understand about the world that is critical for our survival. Our attitude determines if we are willing to try and fail then learn from our mistakes. If we avoid trying to learn to protect our pride from getting hurt then we are not open to learning. Some experiences are harder than others like touching a hot stove or side swiping a bridge in a car which I did one time, lucky to survive, and learned to intently focus when driving. Or if we chase after what we like all the time, such as demanding sweets or our freedom, then we may try to avoid what we do not like which is good for us. How many kids really like doing homework?

In the era of Covid-19, we are seeing how essential in person learning is for a child’s healthy development. Our son had to be home for 9 of the past 12 months. Monday this week was the first day he returned to school instead of online learning after which he said was the best day of his life! I I enjoyed my day off but had to hide by hurt pride. Kids are learning how much they love school rather than staying home and sitting in front of a computer with perpetual homework.

As part of this free, non-commercial website Conserve-Prosper.com, I have provided many educational blogs about sustainability in an effort to improve our lives and our health. I wanted to learn and share our experiences and those of others more knowledgeable than me. One year ago we learned coronavirus escaped China; the first country hit was Thailand during Chinese New Year. My wife’s relatives gave us frequent updates as they developed the response that was not shared in mainstream media in the US. We started making then wearing masks sent to us from Thailand due to the rapid shortage in America. Many people did not want to wear masks in public places as individual “freedom” trumped the Golden Rule. Even now with a new US President calling for everyone to wear a mask there are many people who refuse. Refuse is another name for garbage!

Thailand now ranks fourth best response in the world to Covid-19! People wear a mask not only to protect from the virus but from air pollution which is bad throughout Asia due to factories, vehicles, and farmers burning fields. The country enforces people getting Covid testing before entering the country with strict 14-day quarantine requirements for people coming into Thailand as well as traveling to any region within the country that has an outbreak. Going into stores, you are required to get your temperature checked and provide your name and phone number to get contacted if tracing is needed.

Thailand’s economy depends on tourism that has been decimated with entire towns shut down. However, people’s health took precedence over greed based on my observations. That seems to be the ultimate lesson that everyone from individuals to countries needs to learn from the virus. We need to be humble, remove our egos, be open to new ways of learning and living, use less, conserve more, be caring, loving and gracious, and realize that no one has freedom when we are causing others to suffer.

Air Pollution and Covid-19 Alert in Western Colorado!

The cover page map taken this morning comes from Citizens for Clean Air.

Yesterday, I posted two photos of the smoke during the day and night.

According to the Mesa County Public Health,“(MCPH) is urging residents to take action to protect themselves from wildfire smoke. Air quality monitors Wednesday show AQI levels in the unhealthy, or red (between 151-250) category. At these levels, everyone may begin to experience some adverse health effects, not just sensitive groups.

• Wildfire smoke from the Pine Gulch Fire burning about 20 miles north of Grand Junction is causing air quality concerns. Mesa County Public Health (MCPH) is urging residents to take action to protect themselves from wildfire smoke.

• Air quality monitors Wednesday show AQI levels in the unhealthy, or red (between 151-250) category with more severe impacts at the east end of the valley near Palisade. At these levels, everyone may begin to experience some adverse health effects, not just sensitive groups. If you develop symptoms suggesting lung or heart problems, consult a health care provider as soon as possible.

• Critical fire weather conditions continue with a red flag warning in place for Mesa and several surrounding counties with gusty winds, low relative humidity and dry fuels expected to increase fire activity. 

Strategies to reduce exposure to wildfire smoke:

• Stay indoors as much as possible.

  • Limit outdoor exercise or choose lower-intensity activities.

  • Keep doors and windows tightly closed to decrease the amount of smoke that could enter.

  • Create a clean room, with filtered air at home.

    • Use a do-it-yourself box fan filtration unit to help keep air clean in the home

• Use air conditioners, fans, and window shades to keep your indoor air space cool.

  • Evaporative coolers, known as “swamp coolers” should be turned off during periods of heavy smoke unless there is a heat emergency. These coolers rely on bringing outside air into the home and won’t cool effectively if the home is sealed up so air can be released. 

• Use caution while inside your vehicle.

  • Keep windows and vents closed.

  • Turn the air conditioning to “recirculate” mode.

• Wildfire smoke can irritate your lungs, cause inflammation, affect your immune system, and make you more susceptible to lung infections, including COVID-19.

• COVID-19 and smoke exposure can have similar symptoms, but it’s important to know the difference.

  • Symptoms that are similar are dry cough, sore throat and difficulty breathing.

  • If you experience symptoms such as fever or chills, muscle or body aches, and diarrhea, call MCPH COVID-19 hotline at 970-683-2300 to be screened for testing as these are not related to smoke exposure.

• Avoid activities that create smoke or other air pollutants to decrease indoor particle levels including:

  • Smoking cigarettes, pipes, and cigars.

  • Spraying aerosol products.

  • Frying or broiling food.

  • Burning candles or incense. 

  • Vacuuming, unless you use a vacuum with a HEPA filter.

Preparation is key:

• Recommendations if you are at risk for smoke exposure include maintaining nonperishable groceries not requiring cooking. 

• People with chronic diseases should check with their health care provider about precautions ahead of smoke events and have adequate supply of medication available.

• People who experience asthma should have a written asthma action plan.

Some people are more at risk of harmful health effects from wildfire smoke than others, including:

• Children less than 18 years old

• Adults aged 65 years or older

• Pregnant women

• People with chronic health conditions such as heart of lung disease, asthma, and diabetes

• Outdoor workers

• Individuals experiencing homelessness or those who have limited access to medical care

• People who are immunocompromised of taking drugs that suppress the immune system. 

• Stage 1 Fire Restrictions are in place in Mesa County, open burning of any kind is not allowed.

• For more information on local air quality conditions, and to view conditions in real time through community sourced purple air monitors visit health.mesacounty.us.”

How Can Air Pollution Increase Covid-19 Illnesses?

In San Francisco, I previously worked for an energy utility provider on construction projects at electrical substations. During the early days one hundred years ago, the City used coal gasification to provide natural gas which left toxic poly-aromatic hydrocarbons (PNAs) in the ground. At one electrical substation, we needed to construct new upgrades so, especially due to an elementary school next door, monitoring and minimizing air pollution became paramount. I was in charge of the environmental site monitoring so made sure we kept the soils wet and stopped work during windy conditions to prevent blowing sand. I also set up air monitors to collect PM10 and PM2.5. As will be explained, particles much smaller than human hair are most dangerous getting deep into our lungs. At the construction site, our precautions and testing ensured we did not spread contamination.

As shown on the EPA diagram and text:

“PM stands for particulate matter (also called particle pollution): the term for a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air. Some particles, such as dust, dirt, soot, or smoke, are large or dark enough to be seen with the naked eye. Others are so small they can only be detected using an electron microscope.

Particle pollution includes:

• PM10 : inhalable particles, with diameters that are generally 10 micrometers and smaller; and

• PM2.5 : fine inhalable particles, with diameters that are generally 2.5 micrometers and smaller.

  • How small is 2.5 micrometers? Think about a single hair from your head. The average human hair is about 70 micrometers in diameter – making it 30 times larger than the largest fine particle.

Sources of PM

These particles come in many sizes and shapes and can be made up of hundreds of different chemicals.

Some are emitted directly from a source, such as construction sites, unpaved roads, fields, smokestacks or fires.

Most particles form in the atmosphere as a result of complex reactions of chemicals such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, which are pollutants emitted from power plants, industries and automobiles.

What are the Harmful Effects of PM?

Particulate matter contains microscopic solids or liquid droplets that are so small that they can be inhaled and cause serious health problems. Some particles less than 10 micrometers in diameter can get deep into your lungs and some may even get into your bloodstream. Of these, particles less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, also known as fine particles or PM2.5, pose the greatest risk to health.”

What about Covid-19 Particle Size and Links to Air Pollution?

The Coronavirus particles are smaller than PM2.5 by an order of magnitude!

Here is a May 5th updated alert by Harvard University’s School of Public Health linking an increased risk of Covid-19 illness to air pollution:

“People with COVID-19 who live in U.S. regions with high levels of air pollution are more likely to die from the disease than people who live in less polluted areas, according to a new nationwide study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health….The study results underscore the importance of continuing to enforce existing air pollution regulations to protect human health both during and after the COVID-19 crisis.”

Comparing this finding with the current news may explain why New York is reporting 66% of the new hospitalizations are coming from people staying home; why the pandemic is affecting more Black and Hispanic people as they live in more polluted areas, and why it is so important to improve our scientific understanding of the pandemic and not cut existing environmental regulations before we are too quick to return to “normal.”

However, the Administration and industrialists appear to be suppressing news and challenging these results as well as the Center for Disease Control (CDC’s) guidelines for reopening the country which do not take into account the connection of air pollution and Covid-19 which the White House is shelving the CDC guidelines.

Here is a Washington Post article from yesterday:

“An early study from Harvard University linking dirty air to the worst coronavirus outcomes has quickly become a political football in Washington.

Presidential candidates, agency regulators, oil lobbyists and members of Congress from both parties are using the preliminary research to advance their own political priorities — well before it has a chance to be peer-reviewed.

The stakes are high because the study’s tentative findings could prove enormously consequential for both the pandemic's impact and the global debate over curbing air pollution. The researchers found that pollution emanating from everything from industrial smokestacks to household chimneys is making the worst pandemic in a century even more deadly.”

Here is a related article by The Guardian with an excerpt:

“The principal risk of catching Covid-19 is contact with an infected person, and the quality of healthcare is vital in determining the outcome. But air pollution may be important in three ways, studies show. Higher death rates due to lungs and hearts weakened by dirty air is the best understood. Pollutants also inflame lungs, potentially making catching the virus more likely and raising concern about rising pollution levels after lockdowns are lifted. Finally, particles of pollution might even help carry the virus further afield.”

As a practitioner of environmental science, as well as a believer in The Golden Rule and Law of Karma, I cannot help but see the need for us to reduce pollution worldwide. Do you agree this is a global environmental justice issue? Please share your comments below.

Learning from Where You Live - Join the Conversation!

This past week many visitors to this blog are coming from Hebei, China (located southwest of Beijing) and across India. Seeing where readers live takes me on a journey to wonder if things are getting better or worse? I found a 2017 article in Forbes comparing environmental issues in India and China with India leading the world in deaths from air pollution while China’s policies are working to improve air quality. Here’s an excerpt:

“In 2015, 1.81 million or 28% of the 6.5 million air-pollution-linked deaths worldwide occurred in India. China saw 1.58 million deaths. The report illustrated that globally, air pollution accounts for twice the number of deaths than those linked to AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined, and for nearly 15 times as many deaths as war and all forms of violence. The majority of air pollution-linked deaths are due to non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, respiratory tract diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer.”

“The study found that nearly 92% of pollution-related deaths occur in low and middle-income countries. Children face the highest risks because small exposures to chemicals even during pregnancy and in early childhood can result in lifelong disease, disability, premature death, as well as reduced learning and earning potential.”

A 2018 article in the New York Times states China made great improvements to reducing air pollution smog and particles in just four years:

“Although most regions outpaced their targets, the most populated cities had some of the greatest declines. Beijing’s readings on concentrations of fine particulates declined by 35 percent; Hebei Province’s capital city, Shijiazhuang, cut its concentration by 39 percent; and Baoding, called China’s most polluted city in 2015, reduced its concentration by 38 percent.”

“Of course, air pollution levels still exceed China’s own standards and far surpass World Health Organization recommendations for what is considered safe. Bringing all of China into compliance with its own standards would increase average life expectancies by an additional 1.7 years (as measured in the areas where data is available). Complying with the stricter World Health Organization standards instead would yield 4.1 years.”

If you would like to join the conversation, please post a comment or send an email to info@conserve-prosper.com

Docs Want Climate Action

I grew up with asthma which gets worst living in cities and much better living in smaller towns. Environmental pollution from vehicle exhaust and burning wood or coal are the primary culprits. Burning fossil fuels is affecting our health and the climate.

According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, “Lung disease is the third leading killer in the United States, responsible for one in seven deaths, and is the leading cause of death among infants under the age of one. Some lung diseases, like asthma and emphysema, involve a narrowing or blockage of the airways resulting in poor air flow. Others, including pulmonary fibrosis, pneumonia and lung cancer, are caused by a loss of elasticity in the lungs that produces a decrease in the total volume of air that the lungs are able to hold. Research has shown that long-term exposure to air pollutants can reduce lung growth and development and increase the risk of developing asthma, emphysema, and other respiratory diseases. Results from the NIEHS-supported Harvard Six Cities Study, the largest available database on the health effects of outdoor and indoor air pollution, show a strong association between exposure to ozone, fine particles and sulfur dioxide, and an increase in respiratory symptoms, reduced lung capacity, and risk of early death.”

Over 70 medical associations are advocating that climate change is a public health crisis. Here is the Climate Health Action call to action and list of supporting groups:

Academy of Integrative Health & Medicine

Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments

American Academy of Family Physicians

American Academy of Pediatrics

American Association of Community Psychiatrists

American College of Emergency Physicians, California chapter

American College of Lifestyle Medicine

American College of Physicians

American Heart Association

American Lung Association

American Medical Association

American Medical Women's Association

American Public Health Association

Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health

Bay Area Regional Health Inequities Initiative

Berkeley Media Studies Group

Boonshoft School of Medicine Wright State University

California Conference of Local Health Officers

California Environmental Health Association

California Public Health Association-North

Callifornia Conference of Directors of Environmental Health

Center for Climate Change and Health

Center for Climate, Health, and the Global Environment, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

ChangeLab Solutions

Citizens Climate Health Team

Climate 911

Climate for Health, ecoAmerica

Climate Psychiatry Alliance

Colorado Public Health Association

Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health

Florida Clinicians for Climate Action

Florida State Medical Association

George Mason University Center for Climate Change Communication

Health Care Climate Council

Health Care Without Harm

Human Impact Partners

Infectious Diseases Society of America

International Transformational Resilience Coalition (ITRC)

Maine Public Health Association

Medical Advocates for Healthy Air

Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health

Montana Health Professionals for a Healthy Climate

Multnomah County Health Department

National Association of Social Workers

National Environmental Health Association

National Medical Association

New York State Public Health Association

Ohio Clinicians for Climate Action

Oklahoma Public Health Association

Physicians for Social Responsibility

Physicians for Social Responsibility Maine Chapter

Physicians for Social Responsibility Wisconsin

Physicians for Social Responsibility, Arizona Chapter

Prevention Institute

PSR New Mexico Chapter

PSR-San Francisco Bay Area

PSR/Colorado Working Group

PSR/Florida

Public Health - Seattle & King County

Public Health Advocates

Public Health Alliance of Southern California

Public Health Institute

Regional Asthma Management and Prevention (RAMP)

Rutgers Global Health Institute

San Mateo County Health

Student Section of the Maryland Public Health Association

Temple University College of Public Health

Texas Physicians for Social Responsibility

University of Colorado Consortium on Climate & Health

University of Maryland School of Public Health

Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment

Vermont Climate and Health Alliance

Virginia Clinicians for Climate Action

Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility

Western North Carolina Physicians for Social Responsibility

Wisconsin Environmental Health Network

Local Medical Professionals Link Improving Our Health To Cleaner Air

Today I learned that Mesa County residents have much higher rates of respiratory illness, including lung cancer, than anywhere in the state. Paula Anderson with Primary Care Partners wrote an article in this morning's newspaper titled: Save the planet by improving life in the valley.

While we live in a small new community with homes on central air and we do not burn wood, I've noticed many homes in the surrounding area burning wood and the smoke has been getting into our home! Several nights I awoke to smelling smoke and coughing. A room sized air filter helped to clean the polluted air once inside but did not stop the problem. This week we cut the outside intake pipe to the HVAC system and now suck air in from the garage. We also added some air filters at the intake and in all the vents. Obviously, we must be careful not allowing car fumes to enter the home. Our next option is to purchase an expensive electrostatic filter system.

We also notice the air pollution from wood smoke getting into our car as we drive and must make sure we are recirculating inside air.  

Memorial Day weekend launching Conserve & Pro$per LLC website!

This Memorial Day weekend 2015, we are again celebrating all those heroes who fought for our freedom! But is our freedom truly sustainable if we lack the basic necessities of water, food, and shelter? The purpose of this website being started today is to share my 30+ years of experience working in the environmental science field. I aspire to inform and share ideas on how we can all live on planet Earth by conserving precious resources, eating healthier food, breathing cleaner air, and creating a smaller footprint. Our initial area of focus due to the world-wide water crisis of severe droughts and catastrophic floods is on providing consulting advice and educational outreach to people and communities. 

Founder's childhood influenced by health issues, pollution, and Chief Seattle.

When I was a little boy growing up in the 1960's in northern Virginia, the air and water were very polluted. Having asthma, I struggled to breath and wondered why anyone would smoke or burn leaves and trash as was commonly done. There were Red Alert days when I could not go outside due to the poor air quality. The Potomac River was an open sewer -- with all the dead fish we could not enjoy walking by or swimming in the water.  A physical and moral brown cloud hung over our Nation's Capitol.

In the early 1970's, a very powerful commercial - a public service announcement - was broadcast to promote Keep America Beautiful. The Native American who appeared in the spot was Iron Eyes Cody but many recall him crying when he saw sickening pollution. . Here is a link to the PSA. His powerful message greatly affected me and helped me initiate a career in environmental science.

CHIEF SEATTLE (MORE CORRECTLY KNOWN AS SEATHL) WAS A SUSQUAMISH CHIEF WHO LIVED ON THE ISLANDS OF THE PUGET SOUND. AS A YOUNG WARRIER, CHIEF SEATTLE WAS KNOWN FOR HIS COURAGE, DARING AND LEADERSHIP. HE GAINED CONTROL OF SIX OF THE LOCAL TRIBES AND CONTINUED THE FRIENDLY RELATIONS WITH THE LOCAL WHITES THAT HAD BEEN ESTABLISHED BY HIS FATHER. HIS NOW FAMOUS SPEECH WAS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN GIVEN IN DECEMBER, 1854.

THERE ARE SEVERAL VERSIONS OF HIS LETTER; THE FOLLOWING WAS PROVIDED BY Cal State University at Northridge.

“The President in Washington sends word that he wishes to buy our land. But how can you buy of sell the sky? The Land? The idea is strange to us. If we do not own the freshness of the air and the sparkle of the water, how can you buy them?

Every part of the earth is sacred to my people. Every shining pine needle, every sandy shore, every mist in the dark woods, every meadow, every humming insect. All are holy in the memory and experience of my people.

We know the sap which courses through the trees as we know the blood that courses through our veins. We are part of the earth and it is part of us. The perfumed flowers are our sisters. The bear, the deer, the great eagle, these are our brothers. The rocky crests, the dew in the meadow, the body heat of the pony, and man all belong to the same family.

The shining water that moves in the streams and rivers is not just water, but the blood of our ancestors. If we sell you our land, you must remember that it is sacred. Each glossy reflection in the clear waters of the lakes tells of events and memories in the life of my people. The water's murmur is the voice of my father's father.

The rivers are our brothers. They quench our thirst. They carry our canoes and feed our children. So you must give the rivers the kindness that you would give any brother.

If we sell you our land, remember that the air is precious to us, that the air shares its spirit with all the life that it supports. The wind that gave our grandfather his first breath also received his last sigh. The wind also gives our children the spirit of life. So if we sell our land, you must keep it apart and sacred, as a place where man can go to taste the wind that is sweetened by the meadow flowers.

Will you teach your children what we have taught our children? That the earth is our mother? What befalls the earth befalls all the sons of the earth.

This we know: the earth does not belong to man, man belongs to the earth. All things are connected like the blood that unites us all. Man did not weave the web of life, he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself.

One thing we know: our God is also your God. The earth is precious to him and to harm the earth is to heap contempt on its creator.

Your destiny is a mystery to us. What will happen when the buffalo are all slaughtered? The wild horses tamed? What will happen when the secret corners of the forest are heavy with the scent of many men and the view of the ripe hills is blotted with talking wires? Where will the thicket be? Gone! Where will the eagle be? Gone! And what is to say goodbye to the swift pony and then hunt? The end of living and the beginning of survival.

When the last red man has vanished with this wilderness, and his memory is only the shadow of a cloud moving across the prairie, will these shores and forests still be here? Will there be any of the spirit of my people left?

We love this earth as a newborn loves its mother's heartbeat. So, if we sell you our land, love it as we have loved it. Care for it, as we have cared for it. Hold in your mind the memory of the land as it is when you receive it. Preserve the land for all children, and love it, as God loves us.

As we are part of the land, you too are part of the land. This earth is precious to us. It is also precious to you.

One thing we know - there is only one God. No man, be he Red man or White man, can be apart. We ARE all brothers after all."