It's seventh generation time

This morning, crossing the road near the front of our house, we saw two wild turkey hens, each with a handful of poults, one group small, the other very small. We hope they found a relatively  safe and dry spot to shelter from the late morning, early afternoon storms. There were a couple of downpours with some marble-sized hail mixed in during each. The young turkeys looked to be small enough they could have been injured by a direct hit from one or two hailstones.

turkey hens with broods of poults, early  August

Photo by J. Harrington

Usually, by this time in the summer, we're seeing chicks that are more than twice the size of the ones we saw this morning. [See photo above.] That strongly suggests incubation occurred later in the spring for at least some clutches. Under these circumstances, it would be irresponsible of us not to point out "better late than never." [That no doubt proves we've never been pregnant.] Unfortunately, too little, too late may be a more accurate description of how Minnesota, and other governments, are approaching greenhouse gas reductions and mitigation of the effects of climate breakdown. From the state's climate web site home page, we read:

We must redouble our efforts to meet our goals. In 2007, Governor Tim Pawlenty signed the Next Generation Energy Act (NGEA), which outlined a series of goals for reducing carbon emissions and supporting energy efficiency and clean, renewable energy in Minnesota. The NGEA, which had bipartisan support in the state legislature, set statutory goals to reduce GHG emissions in the state by 30% by 2025 (from 2005 levels) and by 80% by 2050. But Minnesota did not meet its 2015 goal of 15% reduction, and is not on track to meet the 2025 goal.

The next international climate change conference, schedule for this coming October, informs us that "The world needs to halve emissions over the next decade and reach net zero carbon emissions by the middle of the century if we are to limit global temperature rises to 1.5 degrees." Unless I've missed something significant, a net zero goal is notably more rigorous than an 80% reduction. Governments and politicians continue to shuck and jive US even when pretending to be transparent about bad news. I suspect a big part of the problem is that most political leaders are likely to be long gone before the worst case scenario catches up with them.

We would all be better served if our leaders followed the seventh generation principle or philosophy of the Iroquois nation as described below:

... In all of your deliberations in the Confederate Council, in your efforts at law making, in all your official acts, self interest shall be cast into oblivion.  Cast not over your shoulder behind you the warnings of the nephews and nieces should they chide you for any error or wrong you may do, but return to the way of the Great Law which is just and right.  Look and listen for the welfare of the whole people and have always in view not only the present but also the coming generations, even those whose faces are yet beneath the surface of the ground -- the unborn of the future Nation."

The Heart of the Tree
Henry Cuyler Bunner - 1855-1896

What does he plant who plants a tree?
   He plants a friend of sun and sky;
He plants the flag of breezes free;
   The shaft of beauty, towering high;
   He plants a home to heaven anigh;
      For song and mother-croon of bird
      In hushed and happy twilight heard—
The treble of heaven's harmony—
These things he plants who plants a tree.

What does he plant who plants a tree?
   He plants cool shade and tender rain,
And seed and bud of days to be,
   And years that fade and flush again;
      He plants the glory of the plain;
      He plants the forest's heritage;
      The harvest of a coming age;
The joy that unborn eyes shall see—
These things he plants who plants a tree.

What does he plant who plants a tree?
   He plants, in sap and leaf and wood,
In love of home and loyalty
   And far-cast thought of civic good—
   His blessings on the neighborhood,
      Who in the hollow of His hand
      Holds all the growth of all our land—
A nation's growth from sea to sea
Stirs in his heart who plants a tree.

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