Central Minnesota Political

As you know there is a shortage of protective masks across Minnesota. Some weeks ago BBC had an article about Iranians addressing their mask shortage by creating a home made DIY mask industry. Now we're starting to do that here in the U.S. Allina Health put out a call earlier in the week for well made DIY masks. Here in Long Prairie, Valley View assisted living put out a call for masks. Facilities across the country need these. If you know how to sew or can help support someone who knows how to sew by finding supplies for them please pitch in. Care givers need to have some protection and we can help provide that. Below is a link to a video pattern for DIY masks and printed mask pattern. Our family members have used both of them to create prototypes. You'll also find the New York Times article about America's DIY mask industry. I found it very moving. Finally, you'll find Allina's press release which has directions on where and how to deliver masks. It also inc...

On Monday, March 24th,   Greg Van Hoever and his staff at the LP-GE food service   sent nearly 500 boxed meals on ten buses and vans to LP-GE students around the school district. They also served 115 children through the Grab and Go program at the high school and elementary schools.   Van Hoever said that the small children in day care really look forward to their lunches. “The other day I sent them each a few chocolate chips and signed the package your friend Greg in the kitchen,” he said. Van Hoever said it was a challenge to get the lunch delivery program up and running on a few days notice but that the community and school staff have worked hard to make it work. “We are having some trouble getting the supplies that we need so each day we have to adjust,” he said. He also said that he and his crew are working hard to do social distancing in a difficult and crowded situation.  “We are being very careful and even if somebody has a little cou...

Dear Readers, I hope that you are being cared for and that you have somebody to care for you. Here, my family has been taking care of each other and we've been reaching out to our neighbors by phone and, occasionally, in person. Thankfully, everyone is well and seems to be coping as well as can be. Central Minnesota Political is intended to be a political commentary. Caring is a political act. So is not caring. That fact is clearly demonstrated by the President. He simply doesn't care. Whereas, most of us care enough to vote, advocate for change, protect the natural environment, and treat others with respect and compassion. What is going in this country regarding coronavirus is largely a matter of politics. The political, and social, structures that brought us to this moment regarding this virus are pretty much the same as those that created the climate crisis. When the crisis from the virus is over those structures will likely be largely intact. Unless we act to change t...

Sometimes you just don't know what to write

I’ve been concerned in recent weeks because I have a sense that some people no longer believe that nature works. I’ve even read some material that suggests that Earth cannot regenerate itself anymore. For us, here on Maple Hill, above the Long Prairie River, this last week has once again demonstrated that the profound and abiding forces of renewal and regeneration are at work as always. To start the week off - actually, to end last week, we went to the baby shower of Maria Lopez and her husband Jose. Really, Mary and Joseph! Maria is such a beautiful and strong looking pregnant woman and together they are so filled with joy and vitality that one is assured that this new beginning will join with all of us to continue this miracle of life. It was quite an honor to be with them. Then, earlier this week, we went north to visit Caroline Venis at the Wadena-Deer Creek school deep winter green house. It was gray, windy, and cold outside but it was springtime inside. The cucumbers...

Two important bills pollinator bills are moving through the Minnesota House and need support from the Governor and your legislators to make it into law.  HF 1255 would give cities the option to ban bee-lethal pesticides if they choose. This bill is historic. It would make Minnesota the first state to restore local control over pesticides to its municipalities. This bill is sorely needed and a big deal.  HF 721 would put into law the Dept. of Natural Resources current practice of banning the use of neonicotinoid pesticides in our state's publicly owned Wildlife Management Areas.  Call Governor Walz's office at 651-201-3400 and leave a message.  Please tell Gov. Walz:  • Our pollinators need clean, pesticide free forage to survive.  • Support HF 1255 and HF 721 -- 2 important bills to enable the creation of safe sanctuary for pollinators.  Then please call your legislators and tell them the same thing. For those of us li...

These fiery thunderheads are caused by blazes so big and intense they create their own weather, with lightning strikes that then start even more fires. These chaotic, complex, exponential phenomena have emerged from a combination of quite simple, predictable, linear trends; rising temperatures, declining rainfall, increased wind and austerity cuts to fire and forestry services. -- Ed Gillespie, The Ecologist https://theecologist.org/2020/feb/27/end-saving-world