I could just about cry ~

I woke this morning at some ungodly hour of around 4.30am and could not get back to sleep. The wind was howling outside and the smoke was horrendous. Great. the wind has not done anything to help these bush fires and sirens have been going constantly all night. So, I start to stress, as I do. I feel like crying. I feel the oppression of the fires all around and yes, I feel depressed, like there is no hope. I can honestly say - I feel like it is the end of the world. dramatic - yes. But we are in the grips of severe drought here - and the water is being used up fighting these fires. I don't have a problem with that at all. I just wish it would rain. I wish God, whoever he/she is - would look down and see that his world is in trouble and do something. I wish the idiotic politicians would stop digging dirt up on each other - who cares if this one had an affair or that one takes drugs - not me. I care that we don't have a dam big enough to hold enough water for our city & surrounds. I care that when it does rain - our rain water is going down the drain and out to sea, instead of being sent to a dam. I care about the world. I stress about the world and I worry constantly about the world.

so today here, it is windy - if the fires aren't contained then they could very well threaten our home. My son has been called in to go and fight the fires tonight - a worry for us. But he is a good community member and I am proud of him for doing it. I am proud of our bush fire fighters and I pray that not one life will be lost this time. please God, let it rain.

A CHALLENGE ----> treat Mother EARTH with respect

after my little environmental outburst, this morning - there was a lovely quote left as a comment, by Pretty Lady:

"I pledge allegiance to the Earth, and to the flora, fauna, and human life that it supports, one planet, indivisible. with safe air, water and soil, economic justice, equal rights and peace for all."

Women's Environment and Development Organization.

* which got me to thinking: how about an artistic challenge!

to make something in any media that you wish - a collage, a drawing, a quiltie, an art doll OR one of each ! ! - representing how you feel about our Mother EARTH. with all that creative energy going out, it will surely cause a shift in our thinking.

just a fun thing to do, no swap * post it on your blog when you have finished!

suggestions, please?

if anyone out there in the big world of blogland, has any suggestions on how I can stop my constant worrying about global warming, our drought and lack of water here, the environment and humanity ~ please, please let me know.

Our Great Barrier reef is dying, according to one expert and there is nothing we can do about what is going to happen in the next 30 yrs or so - apparently the damage was done by our parents, in the 50's. Our media is bombarding us with Kyoto, the drought and the water summit, global warming & rising ocean temperatures.

I know that I can stop watching and listening and stick my head in the sand. I know that I can just worry about my little corner of the world in Woodford and forget the rest. I want to do that, yes I do! But then I feel selfish & guilty for not doing my bit.

Some have lights blazing, waste water but me? Oh, no - I run round like some kind of demented greenie turning off lights and watering with a watering can. I compost & recycle ! BUT does it help at all? I have been reading alot, on what we can do to help our planet but the little bit that we can do, seems to me, to be a futile attempt unless the big industries do their share. And the powers that be, begin to realize that this is serious business.

This worrying is beginning to affect my life - I feel such a lack of hope about the future of our planet.