This essay first appeared on theplanetfeedsus. an open letter to the national Occupy Wall Street movement, from Aidan Ponyboy Kriese, DGR Austin Dearest Occupy :: I write y’all with the greatest admiration, excitement, hope, and humility. I write with the intention to contribute to the conversations that people are having nationally – and internationally – about what the building of a just and sustainable world would look like. ...
[caption id="" align=“aligncenter” width=“448” caption=“McKinney Falls State Park”][/caption] Deep Green Resistance Austin has a vision for the future of the land of Central Texas. One hundred years from now, we can see rivers running free and unrestrained to the gulf with no dams to stop them. We see the creeks and streams that feed these rivers, flowing undeterred by human interference. Rainwater collection is a staple of every building that stands, as are berms and swales that ameliorate the effects of drought. Native plants have reclaimed their rightful place within the landscape, acting as restorers of botanical balance. Damaged land has been bioremediated by dedicated communities of knowledgeable people working with nature to repair broken ecosystems. Large, four-legged animals are returning to the prairies, with buffalo herds once again covering the earth and mountain lions stalking the hills. The red wolf has finally come back home, and with her, the sense that we are not always at the top of the food chain. Cows are disappearing from the fields, allowing the exhausted grasses to thrive once again. Common spaces bursting with healthful edibles are everywhere, accessible to all. The endless noise of civilization has finally faded, allowing us to hear the beautiful symphony of nature that has been blocked out for as long as we can remember. ...