DON'T MESS WITH MOTHER EARTH by Sunny Frazier

Let me introduce myself. My name is Sunny Frazier. Marilyn and I have been friends for forty years. She’s been my mentor and we’ve done speaking engagements together. Recently our mutual friend, Lelia Taylor, passed away. She managed a website called Buried Under Books and was very supportive of authors. I wrote a regular column for the site. Marilyn quickly came to the rescue of my homeless blog and invited me to post on her page.

 As you’ll discover, I love books and love to introduce readers to new reads. I don’t do reviews, but I do get personal by tying what I read to my life. And I love feedback.

Right now we’re celebrating Earth Month and April 22 is Earth Day. It was started by Senator Gaylord Nelson in the 70’. Inspiration and awareness of the damage humans were doing to Mother Earth sprang from Silent Spring, written by Rachel Carson a decade before. At the time she was focusing on pesticides used in agriculture. Oh, we are well aware of use in our region of California!

When I was in high school in Lemoore in the 60’s, a teacher warned us about “smog.” We weren’t really aware of it. Wasn’t that LA’s problem? But, it was pointed out that the San Joaquin Valley was a basin. Dirty air seeping in from the big cities had no way to escape. I remember a time when I could see the Sierras and the Coalinga Hills clearly from home. 

The Industrial Revolution of the 1900’s kicked off environmental destruction. Smoke from factories and trains started polluting. Coal, and later cars, would add to the toxic air. We learned about “greenhouse gasses” and “climate change.” Asthma and respiratory illnesses increased. Aerosol sprays were discouraged. So much for plastering our hair in place with Aqua Net.

The San Joaquin Valley has some of the worst air quality in the nation. We’ve failed to meet the federal health standards for ozone. Are we surprised? Besides being the resting place for LA’s smog, we are polluted by heavy truck traffic, diesel locomotives, tractors, irrigation pumps and wood-burning stoves. Plus, Kings and Tulare Counties are dairy land. Tulare has approximately 380,000 cows, more than their population. Methane gas adds to the problem. We’re advised to watch our “carbon footprint.” Recycling, electric cars and being energy efficient help. I’m sure my carbon footprint is not as good as it could be.

 So, now that I’ve made you feel guilty and hopefully a little more aware–have a happy Earth Day!  

Sunny Frazier