Smoking!

Y es.. its true.. we have been smoked out for about 3 days now. Its a truly fascinating time here in argentina.. soy soy and more soy.. and in my humble nutritionist position.. we dont need any more! yet.. the people here are, in their own way, being forced to grow it.. the world economy seems to want it.. and mother earth seems to yield tons of it.. a good combination for an overproduction of it.. which is exactly whats happening. We have been in a little town called Baradero since sunday. on monday we visited a most outrageous house where the bishop comes to stay when visiting. the land and house are owned by the catholic church. we had a vista like none other from the backyard... overlooking the islands that the farmers have decided to burn in order to ready the ground for soy. more soy. its sad. now before I go on.. for all you wonderful worry warts out there who love us dearly and tend to let your imaginations run wild with fret.. we are just fine.. and we are not in any danger.. i just want to explain a hairy situation that is right beneath our noses. .... ok.. here we go..

right now there are cows on the land.. and have been for a long time.. these islands are precious to the people.. and somehow the terrain has withstood the hooves of cows for years.. but this year something different has happened. It might be a response of desperate measures to increase profits because of the recent taxes the president has decided to impose on the farmers... but in any case.. they have set record fires to the islands.. so that they can ¨prepare¨the fields (kill anything in their way) to plant soy.... and now.. they are smoking out all of the Buenos Aires province.. roads have closed.. accidents have happened.. our trips had to be cancelled for our safety.. when the evening comes... its a smoke fest.. literally having to cover my nose .. dont get me wrong.. we can breathe ok.. but it is not contributing to my overall lung wellness!!. My dear knowledgeable soil scientist friend kelly explained to me 2 things.. 1 is that when there is colder air.. it sits on top of the smoke like a big fat blanket.. and until the wind currents change .. or daytime comes with a bit more heat.. the evenings are worse than the daytime. during the day.. the air feels much more clear and the weather has warmed up .. so the smoke dissapates.. but evenings are still hard! and also.. that these poor folks think its possible to put out the fires from the air.. but what they dont realize is that there are several feet of peat or humus layer .. and that the fire will go down deep below the surface and travel in this organic layer.. so the only way to put it out is by flipping over the peat to reach the fire.. but there is no way to get there.. the bogs are too deep for people to walk in.. and so.. who knows what will happen with these fires.. and with the people.. and the land. i talked to a man who is in charge of the area´s greenspaces.. and he was miserable with the knowledge that these farmers are destroying thousands of years worth of work to build the organic layers that keep these islands so fertile. i felt like it was one of the first acknowlegements of destruction done by this agressive soy hunt... and granted this is an extreme example.. Its complicated. I dont blame the farmers for wanting to make money. wanting to survive in a completely unstable economy. i dont know who to point the finger at, really. perhaps its our greed.. our ignorance.. our lack of connection to a greater purpose.. that has infected us at the societal level.. todas el mundo. i feel sadness. i feel angry.

and yet.. i have hope.. somehow, we continue on.. and there is kindness in the world that acts as a salve to our wounds. again... the people here in Argentina continue to treat us with the utmost of respect, concern, and sincerity. They ship us here and there.. despite any troubles that stumble across our path. We continue to have late night dinners.. and late night rotary meetings.. but we are persisting! Last night.. we had homemade pasta.. homemade chicken salad, chow chow relish (that´s green beens.... in espanol)..and flan. This sweet rotarian labored at home to roll out the pasta.. i wonder how he cut it? .. and make a wonderful sauce to boot. Frankly, i think i loved it so much cause i could taste the love put into it. Today.. we dined at a nice golf club in Alfio´s (forgive me if im spelling that wrong!!) hometown. Unfortunately , we had to make it quick cause.. they had to get us home while the roads were still open. (seem to close periodically due to smoke!!.. ¨humo¨.) its an absolutely gorgeous night.. the sun is setting behind me.. the trees are lit with the warm hues of fall light. i feel lucky to be in a place so far away.. and to experience something so different from my usual life. and yet.. feel so comfortable.. so at home in this little town. its easy to walk places. the people are friendly. there´s chocolate available. you know.. the necessities.

so.. likely enough from me now. to those of you reading.. i send you a great big kiss on the cheek , Argentine style.. and i clank my invisible glass with you..(another one of my absolute favorite Argentine customs.. to clank your glass with EVERYONE in the roomm.. its quite a scene!!).. and say Salud! to health.. to happiness.. to wisdom and abundance.. to connection with each other and with the earth,
Eecole