Dot Dot Dot, Dash Dash Dash, Dot Dot Dot. Does this sequence ring a bell? Another way to communicate these words is by sound and light. In Morse code, short taps are dots and long taps are dashes. Three dots for the letter S and three dashes for the letter O. The international distress code S.O.S. was developed for ships to mean ‘save our ship’ or ‘save our souls.’ Signals of sounds, flashing lights, and written symbols can bring help to those in need or at least maintain the hope of being rescued.
Another way castaway sailors could seek help was to place a note in a bottle and pray the bottle and note would be found by someone who could find them. Since I began blogging almost ten years ago, each blog has increasingly felt to me like a message in a bottle or more precisely electrons to the ether. I’ve shared ideas for conservation, prosperity, sustainability and alerts during Covid, book reviews, news, concerns and experiences working as an American federal environmental scientist traveling worldwide and then after retiring from the government, some of my observations as a consultant, parent, teacher and tourist.
Gordon Matthew Sumner who calls himself Sting wrote the song Message in a Bottle in 1979 which includes the lyrics: “Walked out this morning, I don’t believe what I saw. Hundred billion bottles washed up on the shore. Seems I’m not alone at being alone. Hundred billion castaways, looking for a home. I’ll send an S.O.S. to the world… _ _ _ …” I wonder what distress calls nature is making to us and how many people are listening?
The Bald Eagle, America’s national bird since 1782 symbolizing strength, freedom and courage became endangered and almost went extinct due to deadly pesticide use and now is recovering through legal protections and removed from the Endangered Species list. I photographed this captive eagle at the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro. It’s very rare for us to see eagles - where do they go when there’s a hurricane, tornado or drought, when lead from hunter’s bullets gets into their food supply, when our machines pour out pollutants and raise the temperature to the sky and water? Here’s an interesting article from Inside Climate News on a land developer displacing a nesting pair of eagles near Auburn University.
I wonder if eagles and other wildlife feel more threatened now as protections and the people tasked with stewardship, such as federal employees, are being threatened and sacked? According to Nature, after the hottest temperatures were recorded last year, the U.S. is withdrawing (again) from the 2015 Paris agreement at the same time there’s an “energy emergency” so we’re going to burn more coal and produce/consume more oil with all the related detrimental consequences. Who should we call? Should we all call 911?
“911. What’s your emergency?”
“I’d like issue an S.O.S. to Save our Species.”
“What’s your address?”
“Planet Earth!”
“Can you be more specific?”
“Not really.” 911 hung up, dial tone.
Sting received the 37th Kennedy Center Honors award in 2014 sitting next to the other recipients: Tom Hanks (Actor whose credits include Cast Away), Reverend Al Green (Soul Singer), Patricia McBride (Ballerina) and Lily Tomlin (Comedian) along with so many other dignitaries including President and Michelle Obama. The winners needed to watch as other very famous people shared their admiration and talents. What an incredible display of our American culture, our unity and diversity, the most talented people who achieved fame — not from an inheritance but from sweat equity and meritorious actions.
Now about 10 years later we live in very different times. We all have whiplash with the extreme political gyrations. Each of us humans is one of eight billion people on earth, growing at a rate of about 70 million per year; does it feels like we’re backsliding into oblivion? Innately, we must protect all that we love: our families, communities, environment and nature for our own survival!
For a reminder of good times, I highly recommend watching the entire 1.5 hour of the 37th Kennedy Center awards ceremony. The presentation to Sting is in the final 20 minutes with presentations by Meryl Streep, Lady Gaga, Esperanza Spalding and Herbie Hancock (who play a very powerful rendition of Fragile), Bruce Springsteen, and Bruno Mars singing the final song Message in a Bottle. I plan to go back and watch other past events that bring us pride and joy in being an American. Also, this Super Bowl Sunday it’s the Chiefs vs. Eagles!
I hope that someone gets my, I hope that someone gets my, I hope that someone gets my message in a bottle.