Ahhh. My first blog entry for 2010. My hope is that this will be the first of many entries, as I expect to have a lot to report in the near future. I had a lot to report in 2009, but between all the living, organizing, adventuring, and savoring, I rarely got around to the actual recording of my experience. 2010 is going to be different. That’s my resolution for the new year.
Already it’s shaping up to be a busy year. I’ve taken lots of responsibilities for an upcoming Grassroutes Caravan to Detroit, MI. I’m committed to doing the Groundwork of building accountable relationships in the service of racial justice. There’s soil to build, communities to maintain and movements that want all the heart, soul and grunt work that I have to offer. It sounds like an ambitious year, but when you’re coming from a place of passion, to be anything less than ambitious feels unnatural.
Because so many of today’s problem’s are rooted in the fossil fuel economy (empire?), I know that I’m going to spend a lot 2010 on the lookout for effective ways to shift power away from the coal, oil, and nuclear industries. As with so many issues in life, it all comes back to the home. My house mates have begun discussion about fasting from the electricity that comes from our local dirty coal plant. One little conversation brought up a lot of questions, the first being, how do we deal with our dependence on an energy source that is killing communities and cooking the planet. Can we abstain from electricity usage, even for a little while? What would we learn from this experience? How would it bring us closer to a world of renewable energy and justice for fossil fuel impacted communities?
Is your house talking about an electricity fast?
As I engage in these very down to Earth conversation about energy, I’m reminded that having ambitious goals for the year also means planning for one’s personal storehouse of energy. I wish I could say I had the perfect plan for staying healthy, staying motivated, staying financially secure, and staying aware of what will burn me out and what will keep me fired up. The truth is, I’m still working a lot of that out. Life is a process
