“winter gloaming” is painted with sumi ink and watercolors on paper. It is available as a sympathy card reading, “those we have loved are always with us.” © Annette Makino 2019
Well, this past year was a pretty dark time for our planet. As Dave Barry writes, “It was a year so eventful that every time another asteroid whizzed past the Earth, barely avoiding a collision that would have destroyed human civilization, we were not 100 percent certain it was good news.”
Deadly wildfires, melting glaciers, a disappearing Amazon rainforest, dying coral reefs: every day brings news of the mounting assaults on our environment and our slide towards a dystopian future. Can the zombie apocalypse be far behind?
While this coastal region of the Pacific Northwest is something of a climate refuge, we were not totally spared: our power was shut off for several days this past fall due to wildfire danger elsewhere on the grid, with one shutoff running until Thanksgiving Day (raw turkey, anyone?).
Most countries are well below the target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions; in fact, annual worldwide emissions have grown 4% since the 2015 Paris climate accord.
The last sunset of the year, Trinidad State Beach, Trinidad, CA. Photo © Annette Makino 2019
And yet, there is still hope. Renewable energy is getting better and cheaper every year. Activists from 16-year old Greta Thunberg to 82-year old Jane Fonda are raising awareness with their climate change protests, and most Americans are making daily changes like driving and flying less or eating less meat.
Seventy-six percent of U.S. adults believe climate change is a major problem, according to the Washington Post, and there is a consequential election coming up. (See The 2010s were a lost decade for climate. We can’t afford a repeat, scientists warn.)
As ever, I draw strength and inspiration for this struggle from spending time in nature, walking on the many wild beaches and forest trails in the area.
And so we start a new year. Here’s hoping that wisdom, clarity and compassion will guide us in 2020 so we can get on with the urgent work of healing our beautiful, troubled world. Happy new year, all!
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Makino Studios News
This mini-calendar measures 5-1/2 x 8 tall when closed, and will easily fit in a narrow space. Major US holidays are listed. All twelve designs are shown on the back of the calendar. The calendar includes an artist’s bio and background on haiku and haiga (haiku art).
2020 calendar: Still need a calendar? My 2020 mini-calendar of art and haiku is available online for $12, or just $1 per month for beautiful art and haiku.
Free shipping: I offer free first-class shipping on US retail orders of $35 or more. Use code FREESHIP35 at checkout.
Studio visits: I don’t have any public events planned for the next several months, but you can always visit my art studio between Arcata and Blue Lake, CA by appointment.
Staying connected: I love hearing from readers and respond to every message. Also, I regularly share art, works in progress, haiku, Makino Studios news and photos of my day. We can stay connected through Instagram, Facebook or Twitter through the links below.