Sunday 17 March 2019

A New Perspective on Problems

Hello my friends across the world,

I'm focusing on natural beauty and our precious world today as I join Wen's Simply Neutrals Party # 54. It makes me feel better in the face of all that's happening in my life at the moment. I haven't had a chance to do any arty stuff at all, but I can share some of the beauty I've observed, and an inspiring experience.                                                           

These are some hydrangeas from my garden this Summer just past... I love the gentle pastel shades with their tonal variations.


Below, a single leaf with rain drops I noticed on the ground  - we haven't had rain in so long, and it's raining now. So comforting after a long hot Summer breaking heat records again.


Life has been such a roller coaster lately. It seems everything has been breaking down at once.

After spending two weeks loading software and moving data across, my new computer worked like a dream. Then it died mysteriously after a week. My teenage son built it from hand selected parts, and we are having trouble working out which part has died. It's so frustrating in a house of computer junkies, now I am using a horrible old, slow laptop with a worn out space bar and vowels 'a' and 'e', and I am missing my passwords, my favourite software and photos...

Our household has also been suffering blackouts day and night due to a faulty earth leakage detector, then our air conditioner leaked water all over my favourite vintage books from 1890 ( I almost cried!), our hot water system died (cold showers!), and my car battery left me stranded. It was getting ridiculous, and we were feeling so frustrated.

On Friday it was the day of the world school student strike for climate change. Both our younger teens were sick. We wanted to go to support our local kids but my partner had an urgent medical appointment in Canberra, so we decided I would represent us all and join the march in Canberra. As my partner nobly put it, "My health problem really only affects one person and our family, but climate change affects us all."

So I marched with the school students in Canberra for two hours (my arms are still sore from holding up my sign!). What an uplifting experience it was to be alone in a sea of people all keen for action and democracy. It gave me a fresh perspective...

It made me see most of our problems as "First world" problems - our luxuries letting us down. How lucky we are!

Listening to the students' speeches, reading the signs they carried, and seeing so many standing in support of a clean energy revolution via the media later was heartening. The school students were joined by university students and thousands of adults young and old. Many stopped me and asked to take a photo of my banner, and people congratulated me on my signs. One of the photos taken of me held a surprise  - graffiti angel wings in perfect place!


Some people didn't like that sign as much as the other side:


I think the words "intergenerational theft" are powerful, dark and guilt-inducing. Maybe it was too negative. But I spent all the previous evening trying to hone what I wanted to say so I could add my own voice of support to the students' march. 

I liked this sign in particular:




The media in Australia has been largely very supportive, with many making the point that most of the world's most educated and eminent scientists are in agreement that leaders must take urgent action to try to slow the effects of using fossil fuels or face more floods, bushfires, famines, sea-level rise and hotter temperatures.

Some of the students' signs were funny, some were sad to see, showing their fears. Many young children took the opportunity to express their concerns at the microphones.








It was rewarding to be out of my comfort zone, talking to strangers and making warm connections with them, being part of the action. The School Strike for Climate Change happened in 1769 places in 112 countries around the world. 16 year old Greta Thunberg who inspired the first school strike for climate change last year has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. 




I know these pictures don't all fit the theme of 'Simply Neutrals' (perhaps 'carbon neutral' is stretching it?), but I'm joining Wen on her blog, AppleApricot, as I know she feels a close connection to nature too.

Wishing you time to tread in peace among trees soon.







8 comments:

  1. Nothing too bad I think dear Jesse , sorry about the old books , but I am sure you can use them anway!
    Yes they had this strikes here in Austria as well....
    good thing - very good thing!
    Amazing hydrangeas !

    Big hugs,
    Susi

    All the best !

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    1. You are right, Susi, we'll get through it all soon. Hugs to you, too.
      Jesse X

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  2. Hi Jesse,
    Think of you often and wonder how things are~~
    Lovely Hydrangeas! The colors are sooo beautiful. Wish I could grow them~ And the leaf with the droplets is a frame-worthy photo! : ) It's so beautiful and full of interesting textures~
    I am sorry to hear of the computer issues : ( That is always such a hassle. And keeping our patience in the midst of it is not easy! (grrr) Hope things are getting better in that department.
    I know you are busy, but please feel free to e-m; any time~ Hugs to you friend, karen o

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    1. Thanks, Karen. I'll email soon, now that I have figured out how to download my emails directly from the server.
      Hugs,
      Jesse X

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  3. Carbon neutral is definitely stretching it!! Well done you for such a wonderful and thought provoking post, dear Jesse! I really appreciate you sharing this, thank you so much!
    Your photos are gorgeous, by the way, I love that beautiful leaf with drops and the Hydrangeas.
    But how frustrating all the things that didn't go well these last weeks for you and your family... oh my! Hope better times are heading your way soon, dearest. Sending you big hugs and love, take care, xx

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    1. Hello Dear Wen, I can't believe it's been more than a year since your comment on my blog and I didn';t notice it - so behind in my emails still. So much has happened. I'll email you soon. Stay safe in splendid isolation. Love,
      Jesse XXX

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  4. Hello dear Jesse,
    A wonderful post in many ways- I love the hydrangeas, so lovely tones you have , beautiful they are, and the leaf -oh the stunning nature Jesse, and yes we are on our way to kill it, slowly but sure we destroi it all.
    I think this movement of the school kids all over the world, is a great and very necessarly thing , and so wonderful you took part and made your voice heard .
    I`m sorry to read of all the things happened with your house and all, too much it was, and I understand that you was almost sitting down to cry , hopefully it is all over now.
    I wish you a lovely weekend dear friend. Hugs and love from Dorthe

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    1. Hello Dear Dorthe, I'm so sorry it's been more than a whole year since you commented here and I only just saw it! THat's how much of a mess I'm in with emails. So much has happened, and family priorities have taken my time. I love seeing your beautiful artworks. They are such an inspiration and I hope to make time for art myself very soon. love, and stay safe, Jesse XXX

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Thank you so much for your friendly comments. It makes my day to hear from you about my artworks and topics.