Paths Across Pacific
Dear Editor: What does the Royal Wedding on Saturday, May 19, 2018, have to do with what I found on a beach in Half Moon Bay, California, last Wednesday, May 16? What could these two very separate events possibly have to do with the upcoming conference in Sitka in July? Even remotely?
Well, let me tell you.
As I watched the wedding ceremonies and listened to the narratives. I thought about our shared humanity. How closely linked we are. How the wedding of Harry, the Prince, and Megan, the ‘‘biracial’’ Princess is part of this 21st century. They are more than symbolic of the much larger phenomena of our shared humanity. They sharpen our awareness of our common heritages and the special qualities diversity brings to our human relationships. They link three continents and two nations in new ways.
Now for the beach combed stuff.
During the multiple TV ads last Saturday, I dashed to the bathroom and gently washed and examined the debris I had found on a very clean California beach. Small pieces of broken, nibbled plastic. Had they been eaten by a bird or sea lion? A baby’s pacifier, made in Germany. A tiny toy soldier. A new sand castle – building mold, aqua. A small shaped wooden stick. A weathered piece of planed wood with a rough hole in it. Could the wood be identified? And a newly washed up 4-1/2-inch light blue plastic marker with the letters CT0349-T5. 052. 2015-17. Does CDFW mean California Department of Fish and Wildlife? Might the famous oceanographer Curt Ebbesmeyer know about a study with these kinds of tags? Maybe at SSSC.
The debris found dashed upon the sandy beach are a reminder of currents, wind and storms of our common, connected ocean.
Please note the dates of Paths Across the Pacific X conference. Wednesday, July 18, to Sunday, July 22. For more information check www.pathsacrossthepacific.org and contact John Stein, local coordinator, 747-7811.
This conference will discuss and integrate awareness of new science and knowledge about connections among us all.
Paths Across the Pacific will hold a planning meeting for its 10th conference 6 p.m. Friday, May 25, at Centennial Hall. Watch for announcements for more pre-conference meetings.
Nancy Yaw Davis, Sitka
Lyme Awareness Month
Dear Editor: May is Lyme disease awareness month worldwide. In accordance, two films about Lyme disease will be shown at the Sitka Public Library. The first film this Thursday, May 24, starting 5:30 p.m., is “Under Our Skin.” The second film, “Under Our Skin 2-Emergence,” will show Thursday, May 31, again starting at 5:30 p.m.
These films are free to the public and additional information concerning tick-borne infections will be available. There will also be time for some Q & A.
Contrary to popular belief, Lyme disease is ever present, all of the ticks that are known to carry this set of infectious diseases have been ID’ed in Alaska. Anyone traveling in the lower 48 who may be exposed to ticks, can also be at risk, as Lyme and its related tick-borne infections have been ID’ed in every state in the U.S.
So these films are presented to provide an opportunity to plant the seeds of knowledge concerning tick-borne infections. If these films prevent just one person from suffering the devastating effects of this complex of chronic tick borne diseases, then the effort has been worthwhile.
At our house, and in our family, we deal daily with the effects of CLD, or chronic Lyme disease. Which until recently, according to the Centers for Disease Control didn’t exist or doesn’t exist according to a large percentage of the medical profession as I write. They think if it does exist, Lyme is hard to get and easy to cure. Nothing could be further from the truth.
So the best way to possibly prevent contracting Lyme disease is education, education, education. Come to the Sitka Public Library this Thursday, May 24, at 5:30 p.m., see the film: it is a start. Plant the seeds of these tick- borne diseases in your minds, become Lyme aware. Einstein once said, “Chance favors a prepared mind.” You may prevent your own suffering and/or someone you may meet by chance. In this case, a little knowledge is not a “dangerous thing.” It is a beginning.
Ritch and Lucy Phillips
Empowering Youths
Dear Editor: We are writing to recognize and thank the community members who participated earlier this month in our panel discussion on ‘‘Empowering Youth Leaders to Promote Equity and Inclusion.’’ By sharing personal experiences of oppression and by analyzing local and global histories of colonization, our panel made space for a community conversation about power, privilege, and race.
As we discussed, power, class, gender, race and other forms of privilege intersect to disempower many people – especially youths – from realizing their potential and living healthily and freely. It is unjust that anybody should feel this way in our community. Our discussion reached the conclusion that in order for our community to become more empowering, equitable, and inclusive, we must call on one another to examine our privileges, and use our privileges to lift up those who are variously oppressed. We must continuously listen to those who point out injustice and call for change, such as youths and those with oppressed identities. We must continue to push through discomfort and have difficult conversations with friends, neighbors, and community members.
We want to thank our panelists: WolfStar Duran, Makayla Myers, Jasmine Woods, Aani Perkins, Alaire Hughey, and Dionne Brady-Howard. Your brilliance and insight are gifts to our community and give us all hope for a better future. We look forward to continuing to build equity and inclusion in Sitka for years to come.
Next year, we will continue organizing dialogues around issues of power, privilege, and injustice. We want our community to proactively ensure that everyone feels empowered and fully respected, regardless of age, race, gender, nationality, or sexuality. Our goal is not to call out or attack anyone; rather, we hope to call Sitkans into difficult but crucial conversations about inclusion, empowerment, and equity. By educating each other, sharing our experiences with each other, and truly seeing each other, we can build a healthier and more equitable community.
Sitka Youth Leadership Committee
