Aug. 6 Anniversary of the Hiroshima atomic bombing. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will visit Hiroshima. A calendar of events is on the Remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki website.

-Hiroshima Day Observance - Hiroshima Day will be observed on Fri. Aug. 6 at Earth House, 247 N. East, with a craft project for children at 7 pm (making paper cranes and Japanese lanterns) and an audio-visual presentation at 8 pm by Kyoko Amano, a University of Indianapolis professor who took students to visit the museum in Hiroshima this spring, followed at dusk by a walk around the neighborhood with Japanese lanterns, sponsored by Indianapolis Peace and Justice Center. For more info, email me at jwolfe@uindy.edu or 432-4873.

When I heard Reverend McCarty present this sermon, I knew immediately, I wanted to publish it here. I am grateful that he agreed. I am also grateful to all those who stood on the side of our collective wholeness in saying, "NO", to this divisive legislation. With our nations communities enduring so much economic turmoil and irreplacable losses compounded by the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq; with increased awareness of our living in a time of global warming and peak oil; we are very aware that we all exist with great uncertainty; and that this unsettling time is seen by some (who act not in love and not with our collective hightest good) as an easy time to manipulate and twist people by placing fear between them. Cultivating fear of one another through the presention of false images and stories. I ask that we feel beyond the sensationlism to the heart of what is presented and ask, "What is the intention of this story, what is the motivation, and do I believe this to be true". Even as we work thorough the mazes before us, I am hopeful that we have within us the ability to create the beloved community through our collective awaking. May we stand together so as to have the necessary energy and resources to meet the work before us. P.CC.

"ICH BIN EIN ILLEGAL"
A Sermon Delivered July 25, 2010, by the Reverend Dennis McCarty
At the Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington Indiana, July 2010

READING: from "Gone but not Forgotten," by Jane Bosveld

The great Sonoran Desert stretches from deep in Mexico to the middle of Arizona, a dun landscape dotted with 20-foot-tall saguaro cacti and scraggly sagebrush. With its mind-blurring heat, this is not a place where you want to be left behind--but people are all the time. Ranchers, county sheriffs, and the government patrols that guard the United States-Mexico border find them with grim regularity, the bodies of illegal immigrants who slipped across the border but did not survive the journey on the other side. Remains not found for weeks or months may amount to a few decaying bones. Sometimes an animal drags the body off, or a person strips down under the onslaught of the heat, leaving behind nothing more than a pair of worn shoes and a faded shirt.

More than 200 bodies a year turn up in the Sonoran [Desert], a number that has increased over the past decade as immigrants avoid urban areas and attempt to reach the United States by more remote routes, often through Arizona. After crossing the border, they sometimes walk 70 miles or more to reach a safe point of entry, often traveling without water and in temperatures that can reach 110 degrees Farenheit.

Authorities suspect that the bodies turning up inside our borders are migrants from Mexico or Central America. Their guides, popularly known as coyotes, may have abandoned them in the desert if they fell behind or got sick. "It's hard to know what happened," says Lori Baker, a molecular anthropologist at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, and one of the leading experts in identifying the remains. "Some coyotes just take their fees, which can be $1,500 [dollars] or more, and then leave the people in the desert. Sometimes they're dead before they even get to the border."

For Baker, the granddaughter of a migrant worker, the issue is not whether America's immigration laws should be tighter or looser; the issue is how to respond to the tragedy and loss. "I can't imagine anyone's begrudging a family the explanation of what happened to their loved one," she says. "How do you say, 'Sorry, I don't want you to find out what happened to your 15-year-old son." . . .
[Baker sadly told about] the case of Rosa Cano in June 2003. A single mother, she had set out to find work in the States. When weeks went by without a word, her mother (also named Rosa) contacted authorities, who put her in touch with Baker. It turned out that DNA from. . . bones. . . sent to Baker matched a DNA sample from the family. "I had just found out I was pregnant with my first child," Baker remembers, "And trying to imagine this mother finding out that her own child had died? It broke my heart." Click to Continue Reading

EarthTalk®
From the Editors of E/The Environmental Magazine

"The Organic Trade Association (OTA) considers cotton "the world's dirtiest crop" due to its heavy use of chemical insecticides and fertilizers. Fortunately, there are now thousands of organic cotton retailers, including some of the big box stores. The OTA's Organic Pages Online lists vendors (and links to their websites) by product type. Pictured: An organic cotton T-shirt by Tiny Revolutionary." "Image credit to Tiny Revolutionary."

Dear EarthTalk: I always thought cotton was eco-friendly, but I recently heard otherwise. What's so bad about cotton? And where can I find organic cotton clothing? -- Jamie Hunter, Twin Falls, ID There's a lot "bad" about conventionally grown cotton-cotton grown with the aid of synthetic chemicals, that is. The Organic Trade Association (OTA), a nonprofit trade group representing America's burgeoning organic cotton industry, considers cotton "the world's dirtiest crop" due to its heavy use of insecticides. The nonprofit Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) reports that cotton uses 2.5 percent of the world's cultivated land yet uses 16 percent of the world's insecticides-more than any other single major crop. Three of the most acutely hazardous insecticides, as determined by the World Health Organization, are well represented among the top 10 most commonly used in producing cotton. One of them, Aldicarb, "can kill a man with just one drop absorbed through the skin," says OTA, "yet it is still used in 25 countries and the U.S., where 16 states have reported it in their groundwater." Conventionally grown cotton also uses large amounts of nitrogen-based synthetic fertilizer-almost a third of a pound, says the OTA, to grow one pound of raw cotton. To put that in perspective, it takes just under one pound of raw cotton to make one t-shirt. Researchers have found that the fertilizers used on cotton are the most detrimental to the environment, running off into freshwater habitats and groundwater and causing oxygen-free dead zones in water bodies. The nitrogen oxides formed during the production and use of these fertilizers are also a major part of the agricultural sector's greenhouse gas emissions. This is all true despite that the use of sprayed insecticides is quickly decreasing with the advent of genetically engineered cotton seeds that have insecticides bred right into them. A third of global cotton cropland and 45 percent of world cotton production now uses genetically engineered seeds. This poses a whole other set of issues, as some scientists fear that the proliferation of such "Frankenseeds" can lead to pest immunities and even the unleashing of so-called "super pests" that can resist virtually any pesticide. Organic cotton farming eschews synthetic chemicals (as well as genetically engineered seed) in favor of time-tested natural alternatives that ward off pests, replenish and maintain soil fertility and generally optimize growing conditions without compromising the environment or our health. "Composted manures and cover crops replace synthetic fertilizers; innovative weeding strategies are used instead of herbicides; beneficial insects and trap crops control insect pests; and alternatives to toxic defoliants prepare plants for harvest," says the Sustainable Cotton Project (SCP), a nonprofit that helps cotton farmers in California's Central Valley discover the economic, environmental and health benefits of avoiding synthetic chemicals. For consumers able to pay a little more, there are now thousands of organic cotton retailers. The OTA reports that American farmers increased plantings of organic cotton by 26 percent in 2009 over 2008, while sales of organic cotton fiber grew 10.4 percent (to $521 million) during the same time. The OTA's Organic Pages Online lists vendors (and links to their websites) by product type; many sell online as well as through retail chains. Even some big box stores now offer organic cotton items. So keep your eyes peeled and be a part of the solution by opting for organic cotton next time you stock up your drawers. CONTACTS: OTA, www.ota.com; EJF, www.ejfoundation.org; SCP, www.sustainablecotton.org. "The average office worker uses 10,000 sheets of copy paper a year. One no-brainer way to green up one's office is to refrain from printing when you can, use both sides of a sheet, and recycle so that the recycling industry will have raw material." "Image credit to Thinkstock." Dear EarthTalk: What are some simple things I could do to green the office I work in? -- James Raskin, Framingham, MA No matter how green your office may be already, there is surely room for improvement somewhere. Here are 10 suggestions to help get you and your co-workers further along on the path to office sustainability: (1) Take your Office's Green Footprint: The website TheGreenOffice.com, an online retailer specializing in green office products, makes available a free Office Footprint Calculator to gauge what kind of effect you and your co-workers are having on the environment and identify how to make improvements. (2) Save Trees: The average office worker uses 10,000 sheets of copy paper a year. Refrain from printing when you can, use both sides of a sheet, and recycle so that the recycling industry will have raw material. (3) Power Down: Artificial lighting accounts for almost half of all office electricity use. Turn off lights that are not being used. Better yet, install motion sensors that do it automatically when no one is in the room. Also, shut down computers overnight, and set them to go into sleep mode when sitting idle. (4) Minimize E-Waste: Upgrade or repair the office computers instead of junking them. So-called "e-waste"-toxin-leaching computers and electronics-is a huge problem all over the world now. (5) Telecommute: Encourage workers to work at home when possible to save car trips. For those who must come to the office, encourage bicycling if it is safe. Also some firms now subsidize employee public transit costs to discourage driving. And online video tools like Skype can help cut down on business trips. (6) Green Screen Your Suppliers: Ask your vendors how they are greening their operations. Just posing the question can start them thinking, the precursor to action. Demand recycled paper and soy-based inks from your printers, and buy only green office supplies-which are now widely available. (7) Clean Greener: Make sure your cleaning service uses non-toxic, green friendly products-if they don't, offer to supply them-so that you can breathe easy when you're trying to get your own work done. (8) Eco-Renovate: If you need to renovate or upgrade anything, greenest options abound, including non-toxic paints, natural fiber carpeting, energy efficient windows and Energy Star-rated office equipment. (9) Drink Tap Water: Having big jugs of water lugged in and out every week by the bottle water company is not only unnecessary but a big waste of energy. Most tap water is safe to drink; if yours isn't or you're not sure, put filters on the kitchen spouts or buy filtered water pitchers and keep them in the office fridge. (10) Put Your Heads Together: Form a committee to organize and monitor your office's green practices, to ensure that your office's green goals don't fall away if one or two committed employees move on, and to reinforce the importance of doing the right thing across the organization. CONTACTS: TheGreenOffice.com, www.thegreenoffice.com. SEND YOUR ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTIONS TO: EarthTalk®, c/o E - The Environmental Magazine, P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881; earthtalk@emagazine.com. E is a nonprofit publication. Subscribe: www.emagazine.com/subscribe; Request a Free Trial Issue

Paper Recycler Coming to Northeast Indiana InsideINdianaBusiness.com Report An Illinois recycling company plans to locate a facility in Allen County. Quincy Recycle Paper says it will invest more than $630,000 and create 12 jobs. The company is requesting a tax phase in package that could save it more than $22,000 over a five year period.

SEND YOUR ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTIONS TO: EarthTalk®, c/o E - The Environmental Magazine, P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881; earthtalk@emagazine.com. E is a nonprofit publication. Subscribe: www.emagazine.com/subscribe; Request a Free Trial Issue: www.emagazine.com/trial.

Ronald Shaich, Panera's chairman, admitted as he watched them line up that he had no idea if his experiment would work. The idea for Panera's first nonprofit restaurant was to open an eatery where people paid what they could. The richer could pay full price -- or extra. The poorer could get a cheap or even free meal.

A month later, the verdict is in: It turns out people are basically good. Click to Read

The study focused on three GM corn crops -- Mon 863, Mon 801 and NK 603 -- and found that they caused statistically significant rates of kidney and liver malfunction, as well as some heart, adrenal, spleen and blood damage in rats. These crops have been approved for consumption in the U.S. and many countries in Europe without proper research into their affect on human health.

GM technology inserts non-food genes into the DNA of food, sometimes making the crop more resilient to herbicides and other times causing them to produce toxic proteins that act as pesticides themselves. This process changes the structure of the food drasticcally and presents humans with substances that have never been a part of the human or animal diet.

Several countries in Europe, such as Germany and France, have already banned GM crops, including Mon 801. But the U.S. FDA has done us a potentially dangerous disservice by simply taking Monsanto's word that these genetically modified crops are safe and not doing any testing! This 90-day study was just the beginning, and these GM crops must be studied further instead of being immediately available for human consumption.

Tell the FDA to take these genetically modified corn varieties off the shelves until a peer-reviewed, two-year study can determine if they are safe for human consumption!

Click Here to Stop GM Corn

Quilters Comfort

You are invited to attend the Bloomington Spiritual Life Center’s first Open House on Saturday, August 7, 2010, 2:00 to 5:00 pm. The recently opened center is located at 412 S. Walnut in Bloomington, Indiana.

The BSLC will have tours, mini-sessions, information, discussions, and refreshments. All are invited to drop by for a brief or lengthy stay! If any are interested in helping, as a volunteer you will can helpprepare for the event, or would like to drop by before the open house, please feel free to contact me by email or cell phone (812-219-6734). The BSLC phone lines should be installed within the next week, giving us a land line, fax line, and wireless for the BSLC (so you can bring your laptop and hang out!)

There is evidently no form of energy, including renewable energy, that lacks opposition. A big spat right now centers on biomass power plants.

Biomass is a broad category that encompasses everything from burning whole trees to burning leftover wood chips, agricultural residues or household garbage. The focus of the argument is currently in Massachusetts, where state regulators are considering raising the bar for biomass plants.

Supporters say that cutting down trees to make electricity is carbon-neutral, because the trees will regrow and absorb carbon dioxide from the air. But a recent study suggests that the trees will take years to do that, offering little short-term help. (The same argument can be made about solar cells; manufacturing them involves releasing carbon dioxide, then takes some time to break even before yielding a net benefit in decreased carbon dioxide emissions.)

Biomass is a favored form of renewable energy because its generation can be reliably scheduled; the wind and sun can merely be predicted, and not always very well, leading to a need for extensive storage.

Now a group in Cambridge, Mass., is mounting a more direct assault on harnessing biomass: the Biomass Accountability Project is trotting out experts in medicine and forestry to argue against such power generators.

Margaret Sheehan, a lawyer with the group, says that even if new biomass plants meet all Environmental Protection Agency regulations on air emissions, generation could still endanger human health because the standards are inadequate. For emissions of very small soot particles, she said, “there is no safe known limit.”

That position has some support, particularly in New England. “We cannot afford to trade our health to meet our energy needs,’’ the American Lung Association of New England said in a position statement issued in December. Biomass plants can emit several pollutants harmful to the young, the old and people with respiratory problems, the group said.

But on the other side, the Biomass Power Association is gearing up to fight the notion that burning trees adds to carbon in the atmosphere. The group’s member companies use wood scraps from trees that were cut down for other purposes, said Bob Cleaves, the group’s chief executive. The association also argues that the study Massachusetts is using is misleading.

“The carbon cycle is beneficial,’’ Mr. Cleaves said. “Biomass energy should be supported.”

The arguments on both sides lost a bit of vigor when the Senate majority leader, Harry Reid of Nevada, scaled back plans for an energy bill. While many states have standards for embracing renewable energy, a national standard seems elusive to many or even off the table. Some Democrats are still pushing for it, though.