While I slept a new year rolled in, but it was nothing the earth hadn’t seen billions of times before. Most of the living didn’t celebrate. The oak trees and jays and deer mice went about their business. Fishes lurked about underwater structure, whales continued their migration, elephant seals gathered on beaches to mate.
On the first day of the year the sun rose and illuminated the darkness. Wind whispered through the pines. Water dripped, trickled, and roared toward the oceans.
The clock ticked past midnight as 8.2 billion people stood by. Some celebrated, some were mired in depression, some resolved to build better lives.
I awoke to a Facebook post from Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita featuring a photo of Leonardo DiCaprio offering a toast. Superimposed on the photo were the words, “To all my haters! Be patient. So much more is coming”. Then a few days later, without congressional approval, our commander in chief strong-armed his way into Venezuela in classic dictatorship style. My pride overfloweth.
It’s hard to sort out the truth. Initial reports suggest Venezuelan oil is rightfully ours so our control of the area is long overdue. But it’s an embarrassing argument as much of the world moves to lessen dependence on fossil fuels.
According to Bill McKibben, half of Australia’s states will get three free hours of electricity every day beginning in July, and the rest of the country will follow in 2027. It’s the result of the country’s massive solar production. Free power to charge electric vehicles, to ramp up manufacturing, to top off energy storage systems.
We’re awaiting final figures, but 2025 total greenhouse gas output by the US is projected to reach 6.2 billion metric tons, slightly more than previous years. Fossil fuel emissions continue to rise as we initiate another war to secure more oil. We might claim other reasons, but it’s the oil and other resources that drive the decisions.
We spent the holidays with our sons in CA, dividing our time between the northern coast and the Sierra. A series of atmospheric rivers brought needed moisture ashore and dumped inches of rain on lower elevations and feet of snow to the mountains. We were in the Tahoe basin between Christmas and New Year’s and were treated to a blanket of white that hung heavy on the Jeffrey pines and cedars. We strapped on cross country skis and kicked/glided across the magnificent Hope Valley, surrounded by panoramic mountain peaks. If a more beautiful spot exists, I’m not sure I could handle it.
A few days later we left that reverent place and after driving a couple hours every hint of snow was gone and there were citrus trees and valleys lush with green and warmed by a winter sun. In the time required for a winter-sick midwesterner to get to the airport, pass security and board a plane, we had driven into a different world. In California, a person can ski the mountains, surf the ocean or hike the high desert by investing only a few hours of road time. There’s little wonder the state has such appeal.
We don’t influence time, and the earth has an agenda that doesn’t wait for our approval. The pines photosynthesize without our permission. Rivers flood at will. Snow falls regardless of whether or not it’s convenient for us.
The planet has shown an amazing capacity to absorb our abuses and excesses but it doesn’t forget. Every war, every ton of pollution, every abused acre is entered in a ledger. And like tectonic pressure, there are consequences when thresholds are exceeded.
A new year comes and spreads light across spectacular mountain valleys and war-torn communities alike. Somewhere, a whale surfaces for air as offshore oil rigs drill deeper; a wren sings a courtship song as its territory is bombed; fire-ravaged forests turn to deserts as climatic conditions shift.
A new calendar brings questions, not promises. We will greet it with wisdom or arrogance. The earth will answer either way.
