We Are All Interconnected

by C.T. ZEN

Fort Collins and Loveland bring effective change to our local community, some positive and some less than positive. These things may grow and lead to world change.

Loveland’s Arise Festival brought environmental leaders together with artists, musicians and activists from around the world to address our planet’s problems.

Colorado-raised, 15-year old Xiuhtezcatl (Aztec name given at his naming ceremony) Martinez is starting to change things. Six years ago, he, his younger brother, Itzcuauhtli, and their siblings started an Eco-Hip-Hop band, Earth Guardians, now touring the world, working “…to create one international, intergenerational movement for effective change.”

When interviewed, the Activist found him wise beyond his years. When questioned, he looks into your eyes. When answering, he scans the sky, taking in the big picture. When asked what he thinks the biggest problem is right now he said, “Everything. We are disconnected from the Earth and from each other, otherwise there would be no prejudice or hate.” In his heart there is a vision. You see it in his eyes.

He spoke addressing climate-change at the U.N. He has 100+ young Earth Guardians groups around the world who join him in his activism. I would say he is one of our future leaders, but in truth, he is one now. Read about him in Rolling Stone magazine, August 13, 2015 issue, page 16, or catch him on TEDX.  Website: earthguardians.org

In the same issue of RS, read about climate change today, p 41. Chilling.

Loveland, our next door neighbor, has a new Thompson School District (TSD) “reform majority Board of Education,” which includes people with no children in the school system, some funded by local millionaires, who champion charters and vouchers to private and religious schools. Working to keep the public from testifying at meetings, they try to rush votes, or secretly move meetings to times or places where the public can’t participate, stopping the public from speaking their minds before putting things to a vote. They have crippled their teachers’ union, as well. A huge number of their best teachers have left and morale is pretty low there these days. They have set up a site, TSD Reform Watch, so that people can find out what is going on and address it. Their statement of purpose: To inform and empower the public about the educational reform movement in Colorado’s Thompson School District and beyond.

Beyond? The Activist was told in no uncertain terms that they plan to come to Fort Collins. To this end we would be smart to always know our candidates, if anyone is funding them, and if they have children in our district.

The Activist wants to know what you feel are concerns in our rregion. Please send an email stating one issue per email, and one or more solutions, including any sources you can cite, to: [email protected].