In Tehrir Square (a.k.a. Liberation Square) and elsewhere in Egypt, men and women stood together for freedom, for the end of an oppressive and brutal regime – a regime which was supported by the United States government.

The United States is a crumbling empire, and more and more people are waking up to this.

Dearest child,

There is a Native American belief which states that every action should be considered with an awareness of its impact on the next seven generations. This ideal has been lost in our current culture, however, I am choosing to contemplate your future life so that I can gain a compass reading on my own life. I hope to do well by you.

In these troubling times, sometimes its hard to know how to function in the world and stay open and present. With the oil and methane continuing to gush into the Gulf, where it is mixed with toxic dispersants, and cover-up efforts being as extensive as clean-up efforts, it’s becoming clear how much power corporations really have in our country.

I was given the great opportunity recently to interview Summer Burkes and (Evolver's own) Natalie Pierce, two activists working in New Orleans right now, on my radio show. We talked about:

* The mood in New Orleans
* BP’s restrictions against press, scientists, and people wanting to help
* Effects of Corexit, the highly toxic dispersant being used

As images trickle in of oil-soaked birds and oil-glazed waters, I hurt because I know that we are not seeing the worst of it. BP's extensive cover-up efforts are restricting media and scientist access to the worst scenes of the spill, and BP's scant clean-up efforts are mostly for show not for real effect.