To Frack or Not to Frack

Dear President Obama,

Several months ago we went to a program at our local library put on by an elderly couple who had experienced problems with some drilling that was done on a piece of property they had been hard developing hoop houses for organic nursery plants.

Their water was CONTAMINATED and so they couldn't grow organically anymore and they had to move. At their age this was incredibly challenging both emotionally and financially!

The woman suffered with some severe health problems due to gasses that were released due to the drilling. They are passionate about this subject and have been traveling around the state of Arkansas, doing a power point program to educate folks about the dangers of fracking from their FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE!


This man is VERY articulate and I'm sure he would LOVE to talk to you or anyone on your team about his challenges. If you would like his email, let me know and I'll ask him if it's OK for me to send it.  (Of course, I'm not that naive...I realize that this letter will probably only make it to a secretary or someone who handles the huge influx of mail you must get, BUT what the heck, I'm pretending that you personally read each and every one of my letters!)

SO....To Frack or NOT to Frack, that is the question.  My vote is NOT TO FRACK!

Sincerely,
One Worried Mom

Obama Dragon Slayer

Dear President Obama,

I don't believe that chant we hear over and over on the news, CONSUME, CONSUME, CONSUME is the message we need to be sending out as a way to boost the economy! This earth does not have unlimited resources and our enormous population of consumers are using them up at an alarming speed. YIKES!

I wrote this song years ago. Instead of the Greenback Dollar...it is the Greenback Dragon (a symbol of greed and over-consumption). Actually...I know that I too am part of the problem, when we point one finger...3 point back at us. We can all do better. My partner and I are trying to green up our home and live with a smaller footprint on this earth, but sometimes AFFORDABLE options are few. Converting our house to solar is EXPENSIVE and not super available to the middle and lower class folks like us.

We were touring in Germany last year (we have for the past 9 years) and were SHOCKED to see solar panels on houses & barns ALL over the country The government has made INCENTIVES for folks to do so and it is amazing how quickly things are turning around over there. At least that is what I saw and heard from people we stayed with. How cool is that? We could do that here in America as well if YOU would lead the way and be our KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR...help us to slay that Greenback Dragon!

Here are the lyrics:

GREENBACK DRAGON
Words Donna Stjerna, Music Donna & Kelly Mulhollan

The Greenbacked Dragon convinced the maiden
she needed everything in his cave...
bright red shoes made in far off places,
where spiderweb laces were the rage.
But she didn't care...if the shoes were woven,
from the wings of fairies, they made her dance like a queen!
Then she wanted a crown made of Snowy Owl feathers...
money can buy those things.

Then the Greenbacked Dragon convinced a young man
he would be free and brave,
shiny new armor and a badge of honor
if he joined in the warring game.
But the boy did know...he'd be burning the homes,
of innocent gnomes and bringing the dragon their jewels...
he did his duty like a good soldier should, never questioned the rules!

I know it sounds like a fairy tale
one that could never ring true
but the Greenbacked Dragon is alive and well
convincing me, convincing you

One day the maiden, she had a dream...
a vision, some would say....and in that dream,
she saw the future, forever and a day...
in that vision there were no more fairies,
no Snowy Owls and much to her dismay...
by following the ways of the Greenbacked Dragon,
there was a price to pay!

Years dragged by and the young man grew tired,
of wars that would never cease...
while he was traveling, he met that young maiden,
she taught him how to live in peace.
They swore to the stars and the moon up above...
by the strength of their love, the dragon must be slain.
It is said they brought him down, without a sword or a sound,
by simply walking away!

I know this sounds like a fairy tale,
one that could never come true,
but if we all walk away from the Greenbacked Dragon
He'll lose his grip over me and you!

Obama, Come Blow Your Horn!

Dear Mr. President,

As you know, we have over 130 species of creatures going extinct EVERY DAY! I find that staggering, I hope we humans aren't in that line!

In Barbara Kingsolver's new novel, FLIGHT BEHAVIOR there is a quote by one of the main characters, Ovid, who is a scientist and butterfly expert. He says, "What is the use of saving a world that has no soul left in it? Continents without butterflies, seas without coral reefs, what if all human effort amounted basically to saving a place for ourselves to park?"

That line struck me HARD! I wrote this song in response.

THY KINGDOM COME

words & music Donna Stjerna

for Gladys Tiffany & Barbara Kingsolver

I walked through the desert when the spring flowers were blooming

Their tiny faces raised in prayer, grateful for the rain

I've seen majestic mountains, rise up like an alter

Watched sunflowers bow their heads, across the fruited plains

In the belly of the mountain, where the min the finest marble

For the walls and polished floors, of cathedrals down in Rome

There I sang my songs of peace and they echoed through the temple

Reminding me this earth is my heavenly home!

This lovely blue marble spinning round and round in space

This glorious, beautiful, heavenly place...

Why do we wait for paradise to come?

Ain't it high time we treasure this EARTHLY KINGDOM?

I swam in the ocean with fishes they called angels,

In and out of coral reefs that have not yet been bleached white,

I've stood in a snowstorm, watching trees take communion,

In their lacy white gowns neath the northern lights.

And at the foot of the Redwoods, under green jeweled crowns

I felt diving salvation, deep down in my soul

There I sang my song of peace and it echoed through the forest

Reminding me this EARTH is our heavenly home. (Chorus)

At the edge of the world, where land touches sea,

I have watched a golden sunset and glimpsed eternity

This Garden of Eden, we hold in our hand

We raped and we pillaged with greed in command,

But we have the power to turn things around

Gabriel (Obama) blow your horn, we stand on sacred ground,

Let songs of Peace, ring down here below

Remind us that this EARTH is our heavenly home.  (Chorus)

Welcome to my blog and WHY AM I DOING THIS?

Dearest Readers of this BLOG!

I have been a life long activist in many areas, being a musician/artist...that is the arena that I am most comfortable in.  I get anxious when I watch the news and bogged down with facts and details, legislature and stuff.

Last week I read Barbara Kingsolver's new novel FLIGHT BEHAVIOR, it depressed the heck outta me (but it isn't a depressing book...really, it's a GREAT book). I was just feeling overwhelmed, hormonal and there was a full moon, what can I say.

Anyhow, I needed to DO SOMETHING. Something creative. I poked around on the net to see what folks were doing on this front and found a website young folks called  'i matter' and they have a letter writing campaign. It is brilliant! They want to bring 1,000 letters in person to Obama. YEAH! The deadline for their project is in March.  WELL....I LOVE making collages so, so, so much...I thought, I COULD DO THIS TOO. 

So I am making collages with a letter accompanying it and mailing them to the White House. I will attempt to several each week.  I'm great at making GRAND COMMITMENTS like this and not following through forever! 

This is where YOU come in!  Comment, dialogue...give me IDEAS for collages (I will run out of my own quickly). THEN...pick up a pen and write a letter yourself! Send my blog address to your friends...maybe it will inspire THEM to write a letter. Not a DID YOU KNOW letter. Obama is very smart and understands WAY more than I ever will...but rather a LETTER from the HEART. Tell him how you FEEL. Maybe if we send MILLIONS of letters, he will listen???

Send your letter to:
PRESIDENT OBAMA
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20500

May Peace Prevail on Earth
Sincerely yours,
Donna Stjerna
aka  ONE WORRIED MOM

Obama Elvis

Dear President Obama,

Elvis once sang a song from Man of La Mancha called TO DREAM THE IMPOSSIBLE DREAM

I think that changing the climate crisis around and turning this planet back into a beautiful, shining jewel for future generations to treasure...feels like an IMPOSSIBLE DREAM, the way things are going....but HEED these words...YOU could be the brave President who 'ran where the brave dare not go'...YOU can be the President to 'fight for the RIGHT without question or cause'. Help us make this dream POSSIBLE.




Here are the lyrics:
To dream the impossible dream
to fight the unbeatable foe
to bear with unbearable sorrow
to run where the brave dare not go

To right the unrightable wrong
To love pure and chaste from afar
To try when you arms are too weary
To reach the unreachable star

This is my quest
To follow that star
No matter how hopeless
No matter how far

And I know, if I'll only be true
To this glorious quest
That my heart will lie peaceful & calm
Whe I'm laid to my rest

And the world will be BETTER for this
That one man, scorned & covered with scars
Still strove with his last ounce of courage
To reach the unreachable star

Sincerely,
ONE WORRIED MOM

Obama Firefighter

Dear President Obama,

There are too many people in this country still arguing about whether or not Global Warming is caused by humans.

I heard someone say that if your house was burning down...it would NOT be a great idea to sit around discussing WHO started the fire but rather, to do anything and everything to PUT THE FIRE OUT!

I know that you believe this, I have heard you say it in your speeches. OUR PLANET IS ON FIRE!!!!!

We need a BUCKET BRIGADE...NOW.
Please be our planets Fire Fighter.

Sincerely,
ONE WORRIED MOM

Obama Superman

Dear President Obama,

I am a mother/artist/musician/activist...who cares deeply about this planet. My son is now 22 years old and I have been SO looking forward to the day that I can become a Grandma! Last week my son said that he was considering getting a VASECTOMY!  I was shocked and against it (I still am) but after thinking about it, I can understand. It would be challenging to be his age and think about bringing a child into a world with such a dire future ahead. But this can all CHANGE. My voice is SO SMALL but yours is POWERFUL!
Please be the world's SUPER HERO!

Sincerely,
ONE WORRIED MOM