It’s a very fragile world, she told us
So we walk carefully everywhere we go
And we promised to remember as long as we could.
-Brian Andreas, Storypeople
The BP Gulf of Mexico oil disaster has been front and center on TV, newspapers and radio. The images are beyond heartbreaking – I know my heart breaks daily over this catastrophe. And it’s still happening. When will it stop?
My grandfather instilled in me a respect for nature. He was such a special and patient man – an organic farmer long before it was sexy and chic. We would take walks in the woods of Eastern Pennsylvania, and he would talk about how everything was interdependent and worked in cooperation. These were truly special lessons to be taught. I was so blessed to have this in my childhood. We are care takers of this world and of one another. Sometimes we forget that. But disasters like this remind us that we are all part of a larger, fragile whole.
I Googled “Gulf Coast aid” to try to find a way to help. Sadly, it was difficult to find much. Conversely there were all sorts of links for Haiti aid. One disaster was natural, the other was man made with lots of finger pointing.
As women, artists, and creative souls, we are heartbroken over this situation and its consequences. We are compassionate souls. We are nurturers. We take charge and take responsibility. What we are not is apathetic. We are architects of a better world. We find those small actions we can take toward the positive. We ask, “What can I do to help?”. Several days ago, I discovered a shop on Etsy that was donating all proceeds from sales to Gulf Coast relief efforts. I was elated that I found a way I could do something to help, and I donated a fine art photograph to the cause. The HELP THE GULF COAST shop unites Etsy sellers to bring help to the Gulf Coast. Through our art, and support of other artists, we can offer help. We can’t just sit and watch.
“To find the universal elements enough; to find the air and the water exhilarating; to be refreshed by a morning walk or an evening saunter… to be thrilled by the stars at night; to be elated over a bird’s nest or a wildflower in spring – these are some of the rewards of the simple life. ” ~ John Burroughs
More ways to help:
Children can learn how to help.
Make a donation to Audubon to help relief efforts.
Volunteer with Audubon.
Support funding for restoration of the Louisiana coastline.
Buy a bottle of DAWN dish detergent & activate your $1 donation to help.
Make a donation to the Alabama Coastal Foundation.
Join the Gulf Coast Oil Spill Volunteers on FB.
Spread the word that Matters of Trustis collecting hair from salons and dog groomers, and nylons to absorb oil from the spill.
Make a donation to the National Wildlife Federation.
Send a form letter to the President in support of the Gulf Coast & Louisiana coastline. Make a political statement!
If you favor halting off shore oil drilling, you can send this letter from the Sierra Club.
Donate artand handmade to the Help the Gulf Coast Etsy shop.
Buy art from the Help the Gulf Etsy shop.
We are architects of a better world for our children and ourselves. Remember to walk carefully everywhere you go…
Image and words courtesy of Honorary Sister / Guest Blogger Joy St. Claire of Oh Joy Photography.
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Congratulations to the winners of the Hello Daddy contest:
The Grand Hello goes Life in Eden’s Hello Daddy
And the 2 runners up are Jaye’s shot April Negotiation and Kate Settle’s shot Evening.
Bravo ladies for such stellar Daddy shots!
And thanks to everyone for playing this week. Your shots were all perfect tributes to all the Dads we love. And don’t forget you can still order today for Father’s Day delivery from Hello Canvas. And everything is 25% just for us with the code HELLOSISTERS. Yay!
Sigh…thank you for ideas on how to help. It’s truly heartbreaking.
I agree with all your sentiments. I would also say that in addition to doing the things you mention to assist in the disaster clean-up, we begin to do things in our daily lives to reduce the amount of fossil fuels we each personally consume. Drive less. Combine errands. Walk whenever possible. Reduce our individual and collective thirst for our natural resources. Demand drives the market and we are all responsible for demanding such risky measures being taken to quench our thirst.
You’ve said it all so beautifully here. We truly are the architects and creators of a better world – for ourselves and more importantly..for our children. Am going to offer to donate this to the etsy shop….as what would our world look like without our natural resources:
http://marciescudderphotography.com/index.php?showimage=1201
Such a devastating and easily-preventable disaster. Thank-you for this…and all of the resources you’ve shared.
I love the photo and the quote is perfect. Without the quote the photo would seem boring and as nothing special, but the text really makes it something beautiful and meaningful.
You’re awesome for sharing all those resources for helping the Gulf coast! I really think its sad that our own country can’t ban together to help clean up our own waters and land, but we can raise millions for another country with a just as devastating disaster.
http://www.cabinfeververmont.com
http://www.nekphotography.blogspot.com
excellent post, joy!
this has been on my mind very much as well. it is heartbreaking to see what is going on there. i’ve been wanting to get together some of my bird photos from my trip to the gulf last year in april and post them. we will be going back to that same spot in july, and i’m curious how different things will be. maybe less birds if the spill has affected that area. maybe more birds if it was not one of the areas affected, and a lot of wildlife has flocked there as a result.
either way, i’m sure it will be different and sad. thanks for this post, though. a very responsible use of this venue and your craft. i appreciate all the links.
Thank you so much for this post! You are right with every word you said. I live in Alabama, 4 hours from the coast in Birmingham. This is a tragedy in so many ways for our state and MS and LA.
Your grandfather sounds much like mine. Thank you for addressing the issue in the Gulf and giving us ways to help. A friend told me that on Cat Island near the Mississippi Gulf Coast they are now finding dead animals as well. It is truly a catastrophe that will only get worse before it gets better.
I am going to go through some of my Gulf Coast photos and see what I can donate.
Wonderful article and accompanying photo, Joy!
The disaster is absolutely gut-wrenching. Thank you for giving us so many options for helping – the links are great.
Pray for an end to the oil leak in particular and our addiction to oil in general.
Wonderful post and thank you for listing all of the ways that people can help. This weighs so heavily on my mind these days…
Just back to "metro" reality after 4 days in the Western Pennsylvania Allegheny River area. Our high tech, over stimulated, all about the money society becomes so meaningless when compared to a million stars, the sound of silence, the beauty of an eagle and the soaring herons! Why is it so difficult to protect such simplicity and beauty? Why is it so easy to destroy? Thank you Joy for sharing your words and art.
joy ..thanks for your artistic call on this tragedy..and the links to continue the group efforts.
We’re collecting and donating cloth that can be used to clean oiled animals.
http://crafthope.com/2010/06/project-8-gulf-coast-oil-spill/
It’s a very kid-friendly project.
Thank you for such a touching post. I just posted some info on how we contributed, and linked to this.
http://peasandlovefor.us/day-to-day/how-can-we-help/
wonderful post. I live in VERY southern Louisiana. there’s already limited natural areas to visit here, so it’s sad when it’s blocked off, our beautiful wildlife is destroyed, and our seafood contaminated. But patience is key. Oil wells take a few months to be fixed and the earth has a powerful way of healing itself. Thank God.