By Don Wiltshire
I’ve been working my way through the Dark Mountain Project’s suggested reading list. This is a group of writers in England who are trying to “question the stories that underpin our failing civilization, to craft new ones for the age ahead and to write clearly and honestly about our true place in the world.
One book in particular has struck a cord with me: Thursbitch by Alan Garner. It’s a fairly light, science-fiction type book that has two groups of people, one present day, one distant past, dealing with the Mythos of a section of land in England. The distant past (or is it distant future?) group builds its society, rituals and lives around the inherent “story of the land.” The present day people, for the most part, tend to ignore what the earth is telling them.
That got me thinking of the story of OUR land. Stroll on up to the mountains around here and read part of the story for yourselves. Bands of limestone from an inland sea-bed, sandstone, shale, lava, all laid down one on top of the other, on up to our layer which will include plastic water bottles and beer cans.
The story of our land would also include the giant predators of the past, herds of Buffalo, the Ancient Ones and the not-so-ancient ones. Listen, look, feel and learn. The Earth never stops telling us its story. The Earth’s story also includes chapters on “eating to survive.” Some animals sip nectar, some munch on leaves or grass, while others eat those lower on the food chain.
Humans also fall somewhere in-between as sippers, browsers or carnivores. Where are you on the food chain?
Like it or not, WE are about to be devoured by the San Augustin Ranch LLC. They have decided that they have the right to drink up ALL of the water in these here parts. Circle Nov. 10 on your calendars.
The Bear Mountain Café in Magdalena will host a potluck at 6:00 p.m.. and an informative meeting at 7:00 to discuss this imminent danger. Tentative speakers include State Representative Don Tripp, State Senator Howie Morales, Hydrologist Frank Titus and Attorney Bruce Frederick.
This same situation is being repeated around the world as corporations are preparing to gobble up the resources which constitute the “commons” for local communities. Eat or be eaten. Fight for the environment in our little corner of the World!
Find more stories of our Earth at the newly expanded Magdalena Public Library. Stories of our Southwest are now housed in the former Village Trustee’s room, the passenger waiting room of the old Santa Fe Railroad depot. An Open House is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 24th.
Come visit and find the stories of our Earth that interest you.
Noteworthy
And finally, if you love animals, whether they be sippers, browsers or carnivores, stop by the Friends of Animals Bake Sale booth at the Magdalena Schools’ Halloween Carnival. It will be held in the new gym on Thursday, Oct.29 from 4-7 p.m.
It also will be a good opportunity to find out what stories of our Earth our children are being told.
As always, if you have any comments? Problems? Solutions? Up coming Events? Issues? Contact me at mtn_don@yahoo.com or (575) 854-3370.
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