Contact Buzz Cohabitation

By JOHN BUSBEE

“Land, water and vegetation are just that dependent on one another. Without these three primary elements in natural balance, we can have neither fish nor game, wild flowers nor trees, labor nor capital, nor sustaining habitat for humans.”

––Jay Norwood “Ding” Darling (1876-1962), twotime Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist

I’m often asked why my writing and radio show, anchored in arts and culture, frequently strays into broader topics, like the environment. By taking a broad sweep of the cultural brush, it helps me and, hopefully, my audiences better understanding how everything ties together.

The greater our awareness of our surroundings—our environment—the greater our abilities to follow a basic creed, to make this a better world. In an interview, Micaela Preskill, Midwest States Advocate for the E2 (Environmental Entrepreneurs) organization, addressed two issues often seen as one or the other: economy and environment.

Inflation Reduction Act which is, hands down, the most ambitious piece of legislation the U.S. has taken to invest in clean energy and clean economy. We are already seeing the impacts of that law on the ground in places like Iowa. We [E2] have been tracking large scale clean energy projects since the law passed. We’ve tracked about 180 new projects bringing $81 million in private investments to the country.”

It’s short-sighted to push the environment and the economy into conflict. Those espousing capitalism claim that environmentalists impede their right to industry, while environmentalists can be perceived as anti-business.

Preskill addresses this, continuing that “E2 is a network of business leaders who do business in all 50 states, in all aspects of the economy, and our members understand that the environment and the economy are inextricably linked.” Not only does investing in clean energy build the economy by creating new jobs, it also allows us to avert “the rising cost of inaction by not acting on climate change.”

Collaborating to reduce climate change is the sensible course. If America’s economy embraces the teaming of economic growth coupled with environmental healing, efforts become sustainable for a better future.

“There are already more than 3.2 million clean energy jobs in this country—about 30,000 in small towns played an important part in the railroad. —Lynette M.

There’s a marker outside the depot in West Liberty marking [an 1859] escape to freedom. —Dan S.

It literally crossed the farm I grew up on, following the Mormon handcart trail. —Timothy N.

It is worth remembering the rare and brave people willing to break the law to stand for justice. Today, those heroes would be called traitors by the GOP. They’d be called “Critical Race Theorists”, “groomers” or any other name the GOP uses to demonize and scapegoat people of conscience. Perhaps there are laws that morality might compel us to break today. —I.C.

And yet here we are going red banning actual history in favor of white washed ones… —Ellie R.

I was on the National Historic Landmarks Committee when the Hitchcock House received its designation. It’s a fantastic siteand an inspiring story.

—Ronald M.J.

“When you look back at the process [recent debt ceiling debate], it’s highly alarming because essentially Republicans in Congress were willing to gamble away the clean energy and clean economy incentives that were passed last year that are revolutionizing our economy,” Preskill said. “They were willing to gamble all of that away in the name of politics to raise the debt ceiling.”

E2 is national, nonpartisan organization proving economic and environmental issues can, and must, be two sides of a winning coin for everyone’s future.

“The good news is that Congress took a huge step in the right direction at the end of last summer,” Preskill added. “Congress passed the

Iowa,” Preskill said. “That’s before Congress enacted the Clean Energy Reduction Act. Those jobs are about to skyrocket.”

Denying this doomsday express of environmental problems barreling down the tracks at us is foolhardy. Younger, more nimbly proactive generations can tip the balance toward a recovering environment.

Still, action is needed now. Contact local, state and congressional leaders to express your desire for leaving this a better world for future stakeholders. If our country’s leaders listen to what the majority of its citizens want, then the artists, creatives and other contributors to our aesthetics will have an environment where they can flourish for generations to come.

I recently discovered my 4x great grandfather, Isaac Newton Griffith, was a conductor in Poweshiek County, Iowa on the UGRR. The Iowa Freedom Project confirmed his activism, and I couldn’t be more proud! I would love to learn more about his role and the UGRR in Iowa. Any advice? —Lissa

Marie

I highly recommend reading ‘Necessary Courage Iowa’s Underground Railroad in the Struggle against Slavery’ [by] Lowell J. Soike. —Jenny

J.H.

KCCI chief meteorologist resigns after receiving death threat for discussing climate change (June 22)

So sorry this is happening to Chris. Today’s world has become so crazy and yes even very dangerous.

—Bruce A.

Dear god. I can’t think of anything more delusional and unhinged than threatening someone for bringing up climate change. —Samuel

F.W.

Sorry to hear this. You were terrific in Boston. Sad that there is so much hate in the world. —MaryEllen W.

Thank you ‘Little Village’ for always covering the news that is pertinent and meaningful to our community. I hope Gloninger finds solitude.

—Michael N.

Chris was such an important voice in this market. The hate that has silenced him is unbearable!

—BrandSpec Marketing

Good for him, taking care of himself and fam, and pursuing an even more meaningful career. Boo on extremists for instilling fear in those who are simply concerned for the common good. —Belinda B.

I’m so sorry. Thank you for your efforts and I hope for you better things and a more peaceful environment. —Ann

G.

“I’d love to change the world, but I don’t know what to do, so I’ll leave it up to you...” (Ten Years After) Might be the way I feel right now.

—Donna H.L.

The world is literally burning and a meteorologist is receiving death threats. No words. —I.S.

Iowa state parks preserve lush corners of a landscape 98% altered by agriculture (June 23)

The story of Iowa’s land evolution is a tragedy. We do have so [many] amazing state parks, but when you look at Iowa from a jet or satellite, it’s clear how little is left for the biodiversity of plants and animals.

—Belinda B.