I work in hippie-ville, and I say that in the most positive way possible. For those unaware, I work in a not-for-profit fair trade store, meaning that everything we sell comes from about 50 different developing countries and the artisans are paid a fair, living wage to provide us with product to sell. We also ask them to take care of their workers, children and the planet. You can read more about fair trade on our website if you so choose. We have a wind turbine on the roof, frequently house concerts and green group meetings. Every flavor of organized religion (and probably a few that aren't organized), color, race and lifestyle choice walk through our doors at one point or another. In addition to our store, the building also houses the office of the esteemed Stanley Campbell and RUM (Rockford Urban Ministries).
This pic makes Stan look a little intense, which he certainly can be, but in truth he is sweetheart and a champion hugger. He is also a fierce activist. He calls me Dearest (I used to think it was because he couldn't remember my name, but I'm pretty sure he's got it now), always says thank you and can talk anybody into doing anything.(the good kind of anything.) The only person I know who wants peace more than I d
o is Stan, and that's saying something.
Stan writes a weekly column in a local progressive newspaper. You can read this weeks submission here. In the article he explains that he has the button pictured (click to embiggen) for sale here in the building. Early in the day we had already had signs of interest. (For those local, if you want one ask at the desk. $3) I have to admit that while I appreciate the sentiment and have nightmares featuring Sarah Palin I'm not sure I have what it takes to wear the button.
Here's what I love about Stan; HE has no problem with it AT ALL.He'll wear that button and hope you ask him why. The whole oil spill thing just makes me crazy. I'm torn between wanting to go down there and clean off animals until I drop, or find someone, anyone responsible and slap them silly. But, exactly who is responsible? I mean, I'm all for hanging the CEO and any and all henchmen of BP by their toe nails, but really, who is asking for the oil in the first place. I am. We are. As Stan wrote in his intelligent column, if we drive or use petroleum based products we have to shoulder at least some of the blame. Sure BP was hugely in the wrong to drill without a safety protocol to deal with events such as this, but if there was not such a huge appetite for the slimy, black stuff there would not have been a drill in the first place.
Ah, the grim truth. Stan had some great suggestions of actions to prevent feeling, or being powerless in the face of such overwhelming ugliness. Someone asked me today if I thought the spill was a sort of Divine wake up call. I can't answer that, but I think Mother Earth has tried to get our attention in countless more subtle ways and it appears that humans, in general, need to be reminded of our charge to care for her in bolder terms.
As Ghandi said, we have to be the change. Nobody else is going to make things right if we don't take our own personal responsibility. Right, left, middle...it shouldn't take such a disaster to make us sit up and take notice. Take notice and take action.






