Sacred Sites // Current

Film on fight to save northern Michigan pristine forests, streams from acid & uranium mining madness

Some of Michigan's elected officials - like Governor Jennifer Granholm - are selling out the beautiful streams and lush... more

Yoopernewsman
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7 days ago

PhotoJournal: Snapshots - A Walk in the Sierras

Meditation: A Song and A Prayer for Our Forests - The Sacred Places Series
A slide presentation, with music by Patrick Leonard - A Journey Through The Sierras

Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Park, California

Snapshots from a two day wander through Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Park, California ~ A condensed magical journey through the forest, mountains and waterways.

John Muir described the mighty Sequoia as “nature’s masterpiece”, “the greatest of living things”, a “king tree”, and “the very god of the woods”. There is indeed something otherworldly about sequoia groves along with their companion pines finding their own space and light beneath the shadow of the giant trees!

It is difficult to determine the exact age of the Sequoia, the majestic Grant and Sherman Trees are estimated to be around 3,000 to 3,500 years old. The Grant Tree has the largest known diameter, 28.9 feet at breast height, and about 267 feet tall. The Sherman Tree measured approximately 275 feet tall, 25.1 feet in diameter, a ground perimeter of 102.6 feet, is considered to be the largest living Sequoia, about 10 percent larger volume wise than the Washington Tree, followed by the Grant Tree. Many of the giants are 1,500 to 2,000 years old. The Sequoia’s natural habitat is only in a relatively small area of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, a collective total of around 36,000 to 38,000 acres.

The Music
Patrick Leonard’s exquisite piano improvisations.

The Photography
Snapshots... documenting a moment for the sheer joy and sake of it - one camera, one lens for the most part and taking each moment for what it is, no matter the time of day, light, the situation perfect or imperfect. Remembering magical moments as I appreciate the world I live in, and appreciate our wise ancestors who have left us these legacies of ancient, sacred, mysterious and beautiful places. May future generations also experience the benefit and beauty of our unique, magnificent, and much needed forests.

Sacred Places
to me “sacred place” can be any space that elevates one’s being or awareness to a level beyond that of everyday life. Sacred places can be rendered from forests and waterways, desert rock formations, intentional architectural forms such as the legacies of ancient Egypt constructed by masters of harmony and form, or something more personal that holds significance to the individual.Meditation: A Song and A Prayer for Our Forests - The Sacred Places Series A slide presentation, with music by Patrick Leonard -... more

SeaJade
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1 month ago

Tribe vows to fight mine with axes and arrows

“One of India’s most isolated tribes, the Dongria Kondh, is preparing to stop British FTSE 100 company Vedanta from mining aluminium ore on their sacred mountain, after police and hired thugs forced protesters to dismantle a barricade over the weekend,” reports Survival International.

“About 150 people had blocked the road in Orissa state on Wednesday [October 8] after hearing that Vedanta intended to start survey work for a planned aluminium mine which would destroy an ecologically vital hill, and the Dongria Kondh’s most sacred site. Vedanta employees visited the blockade repeatedly, threatening the protestors. On Friday the villagers gave in and took down the barricade, but about 100 are still at the side of the road, blocking traffic when Vedanta vehicles approach,” Survival continues.

“Today, Dongria Kondh from all over Niyamgiri, the hill range that would be decimated by Vedanta’s mine, are making arrows and preparing their axes to stop Vedanta reaching their sacred mountain. One Dongria man said today ‘Now our people are very angry. We have to show the Dongria Kondh power to Vedanta.’

“When India’s Supreme Court gave Vedanta the green light in August to mine on Dongria land, around 40 Dongrias used tree trunks to block a road leading into their hills, and held banners reading, ‘We are Dongria Kondh. Vedanta can not take our mountain.’ [photos available]

“The mountain that Vedanta wants to mine is not only the Dongria Kondh’s most sacred site, it is also integral to the entire ecosystem of the hills, enabling the numerous streams and lush forests which sustain the Dongrias to continue to thrive.

“Survival’s director, Stephen Corry, said today ‘The Dongria Kondh are protecting their land from invaders, who are only interested in plundering the mountain for their own gain. The Dongrias will get nothing from the mine, except destitution and ruin, and Survival will continue to support their resistance to Vedanta.’”

Please take moment to sign this letter, imploring the Prime Minister of India to safeguard the Dongria Kondh’s rights. For more information please contact Miriam Ross at Survival International (+44) (0)20 7687 8734 or (+44) (0)7504 543 367 or email mr@survival-international.org“One of India’s most isolated tribes, the Dongria Kondh, is preparing to stop British FTSE 100 company Vedanta from... more