DEN Enews

Editor’s Comments

Rapid fire bytes and news reels.

Bishop Budde speaks truth to power. Power answers with vitriol.

The world applauds her message – Christian Nationalism tears it down.

The Oval Office throws out executive orders like confetti. People’s lives are torn asunder, all in the name of an evil dream of power.

Warnings loom for Canadians about a federal election. Are we next?

Just what is Premier Houston saying anyway? Who are the troublesome special interest voices?

The USA should have said No.

The world should say No now.

I am numb. With mouth hanging open at the audacity of so many, I am at a loss for words.

My rollercoaster has stopped at the top of the ride and the car is swinging.

Next week after we have gathered the collective thoughts of those wiser than me, we will present a more concise response to the issues ahead for this province.

For today, allow me to share a prophetic moment from church this past Sunday. Hymns chosen weeks ago spoke to events this past week and to my heart. God of the Movements & Martyrs, written for another purpose, reminds us of our mission of justice for the world and the God of strength who will lead us.

The Word of God, Speak reminds us it is okay to be at a loss for words and to trust God will guide.

I hope you can find a moment to rest in these reflections and let your soul become stronger for the fight ahead.

Carole Aylard, Editor - DEN Enews`

www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYaEl5ombvQ

www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqsnGE3_dsg

Izembek National Wildlife Refuge is at the tip of the Alaska Peninsula and one of the most ecologically important areas in the United States. The wetlands and eelgrass beds are critical feeding grounds for millions of migratory birds who fly to the Arctic to breed every summer. Almost the whole Pacific population of black brants stops here, along with emperor geese, tundra swans, and federally protected Steller's eiders. Eelgrass beds are also vital for fighting the climate crisis, with a recent study showing they can absorb carbon 30 to 50 times faster than forests. Wildlife like brown bears, walruses, caribou, and wolves live here. Building a road through this sanctuary would cause irreparable harm, and this was the conclusion 10 years ago when it was considered and denied. That fact hasn’t changed, and yet the threat of building a road here is on the table again. Please join in asking the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect this refuge by not allowing a road to cut through it.

Forests around the globe are under attack, not just from climate change but from the unsustainable production of commodities like palm oil, soy, and timber. Deforestation accelerates climate change and disrupts forest ecosystems, along with those who depend on them. A recent study showed between 90% to 99% of all deforestation in the tropics is driven directly or indirectly by agriculture. Having a strong Deforestation-Free Products law saves global forests and biodiversity. This petition is for the UK, but Canadians can sign it. The UK was linked to the destruction of more than 30,650 hectares of forest globally in 2021 alone. There was a deforestation law passed in 2021, but it is yet to enter into force. This petition is about pushing the government to promote only sustainable and legal trade in forest products.

Southern resident killer whales, also known as Salish Sea orcas, have struggled with noise and vessel disturbance, contaminants, and the decline of their main prey, the Chinook salmon. For more than 20 years, these orcas have been designated as endangered. They needed a lifeline, but instead, they got a new pipeline. The recently completed Trans Mountain pipeline expansion (TMX) is projected to increase tanker traffic sevenfold in the Salish Sea. There are protections to be made for the orcas, such as reducing vehicle noise and disturbance in foraging areas, rebuilding the Chinook salmon populations, prohibiting increases in shipping until plans to address underwater noises are in place (which was promised), and prohibiting the discharge of scrubber wastewater, bilge, and greywater in or near their habitat. Add your voice to this petition telling our government to protect the Salish Sea orcas!

StandEarth have found that eight banks JPMorgan Chase, Citibank, Itaú Unibanco, HSBC, Banco Santander, Bank of America, Banco Bradesco, and Goldman Sachs provided over $11 billion USD (of the total $20B provided by banks) in financing to Amazon oil and gas activities from 2009–2023. Amazonia is the last place oil and gas extraction should be happening. Forest destruction caused by industrial activities has already forced the Amazonian biome to a tipping point. Indigenous Peoples of Amazonia have put out an urgent call to protect 80% of the region by 2025 to save this key biodiversity hub – which means banks must stop any and all financing of Amazon oil and gas.

Fossil fuels are damaging our atmosphere and making climate related disasters like fires, floods, heatwaves, and drought more frequent and more extreme. Australia is the third largest fossil fuel exporter in the world and fifth largest producer. However, it is not Australians exporting fossils but a handful of predominantly foreign owned corporations who are making huge profits. These corporations have delayed the transition away from coal and oil through greenwashing, lobbying, pressuring governments to keep approving new projects, and despite knowing the damage they are causing. This damage and its costs keep rising, and will continue to do so until we stop new coal and gas projects. Help Australia enact a climate damage compensation levy on fossil fuel (coal and gas) that will help cover the costs of climate change by making energy giants pay for their destruction. 

Helping wildlife

Grandma usually doesn’t believe in encouraging wildlife near her home in winter. I do not feed the foxes like my neighbour Sam. The deer do not come for breakfast to my door as they do at my friend Crystal’s. But then there are my crows.

There is one particular crow with white streaks on his wings. We call him Patches. With as much patience as the foxes and deer have, he waits for his breakfast.

 On very cold days, Nana wants home-cooked 12-grain porridge for breakfast and always asks to “make extra for Patches.” We never have stale bread in the house, and even crackers are needed some mornings.

If Patches isn’t waiting, simply tapping a Styrofoam tray five times brings him to our telephone wire. Crows say “Cah” five times in a row, so I started tapping out in sets of five, and he answered in kind.

Of course, more critters than Patches arrive. The starlings have learned there are plenty of crumbs left over for them. Mr Squirrel wastes no time on pancake morning to scoff a serving half his size and whisk it away to the trees. Laying out seed on a stone last week caused a hundred starlings to light on the lawn at once

There are problems with feeding animals that we should remember.

If you regularly feed larger wildlife, they will become tame and walk toward humans during hunting season. They could also become impatient if you are late with their food and become aggressive.

Animals that are fed daily usually stop looking for food on their own. They depend on the handouts. They can lose their independence in the wild.

Feeding dishes can cause disease. If you use bird feeders make sure they are clean to prevent illness.

Nana and I hope that bits of crackers and a dry crust won’t harm anything. Knowing Patches has made it through another cold night brings sheer joy. Finding the line between helping to keep them alive but not so much that they expect it is the battle.

Now what bird did you see in your yard? What feed do you use? Tell us your stories. [email protected]

Gardens

Do you have your seed catalogues yet? They are ready to come out if they aren’t already in your mailbox. Plan one new plant a year, even if you never grew it before and never will again. I have grown watermelon and peanuts which were great fun. This year I am learning more about flowers. I want to grow my seed for the next year Seed Share with “cone flowers”. They look the easiest for seed saving besides adding beauty to the yard.

I have a few new favourite seed catalogues. Send for them.

McKenzie Seeds, https://mckenzieseeds.com/ They have a large variety of hard-to-find seeds besides the favourites

OSC (Ontario Seed Company) https://www.oscseeds.com/ They have all the seeds you want but Granma likes that they sell large packs like my 500-gram pack of New Zealand Spinach seeds for our 250 planting kits  we are assembling in April

West Coast Seeds https://www.westcoastseeds.com/ They have a beautiful display of organic seeds. They also have a donation grant program that your parish or group can sign up for on March 25^th.

Bottlecap toys

Using pipe cleaners and threading bottlecaps to shape people or snakes, you can make your toys. The cats like the snakes pulled backward across a floor. A hammer and nail will make the holes in the caps but I have a soldering pen that melts light plastic easily. Have fun!

Something to eat

Grandma's days are getting busy. I love winter! It is a time I can stay indoors and take time to do things I never have time for in good weather. Meals always must be prepared. No one complains about having hearty soups, stews and casseroles.

This week I reinvented my Busy Day Casserole. I make mine in a slow cooker but an oven works well and warms the kitchen on cold days. Change the quantities according to your family size.

Busy Day Casserole

1 pack of hamburger, browned

2-3 large potatoes

2 carrots

Onion, garlic and green peppers

1 cup frozen peas

Celery if you have it

1 tsp Italian seasoning or herb preference

1 can of mushroom soup and a can of water

Half a cup of cheese.

Brown hamburger. Drain off excess fat (and save it to soak bread into for the birds) Mix everything in your pot or baking dish. Cook on high for 6 hours or low for 8 hours or more. Add the cheese in the last half hour.

That expression of “Fix it and Forget about it” really works with this. Now I am off to the kitchen to whip this up before I start my Monday work. Have a great week!