EDITORIAL
Wisdom of Our Elders
by Randall Hayes
Before starting RAN, I spent a lot of time just north of the
Painted Desert and just east of the Grand Canyon. There I
met the native Hopi couple Fermina and Thomas
Banyacya.
Thomas and I would often visit his elders so he could
report and consult. Several of these old women and men
were 95, 100, and even 102. I disbelieved a man who
said he was 104, until others told me it was true.
Over the ensuing years, Fermina and Thomas conveyed
many lessons, one being:
We non-Indians don't always need their wisdom, we have
much of it in our own culture. Search hard enough and
we will find our own elders with Earth wisdom.
The indigenous cultures I've had the opportunity to know
and work with--from the dry Southwest desert to the
drizzly Amazon--all seek perspective and advice from
their elders. Having taken at least some of the Banyacyas'
good advice, I have sought advice from my own elders on
where to focus attention in this crazy industrial society.
Two such elders are James Hupp, 85, and David Brower,
82.
Jim (a founder and first treasurer of RAN) told me many
stories about David's drive and insights. Jim urged RAN to
pay attention to Brower's words.
David has now put those words into a historic book you
ought to read. With Montana author-adventurer Steve
Chapple, Brower has written "Let the Mountains Talk, Let
the Rivers Run" ($20.00, Harper Collins West, ISBN0-06-
252033-4).
"Let the Mountains Talk" is a wonderful wake-up call. In
it you will read about the Misfortune 500, tiger soup,
broken eggs, broken hearts, and how grass can annihilate
pavement. Learn about love, hope, humor, the restoration
of the soul,what Rush Limbaugh has in common with
Joseph McCarthy, and the extraordinary nature of what is
rotten. Listen to Brower's words about first
ascents, unscrupulous chemical company executives,
greedlock, the miracles of wildness, boldness, genius,
power, and magic.
Brower conveys beautifully that we don't have to tell
pine tree seeds what to do, just give them a chance. "We
have no right to drive these miracles off the Earth."
David Brower continues to aim for the stars in his
wondrous career. He admits humorously that he hasn't
hit one--yet. However, his bold, straightforward advice
can help each reader along her or his own star-studded
career to fight for nature and to win "in the name of
Beauty."
"Let the Mountains Talk" is printed on tree-free kenaf
paper. Kenaf is a fibrous plant that requires fewer
chemicals and less energy than wood to pulp into paper.
It's another example of why Brower is the leading U.S.
Earth activist of our time.
There is an adage, "Trend is not destiny." David Brower's
dictum of hope and humor will inspire you to make that
adage come true, hopefully in our lifetime. If you want
advice from one of our own elders, read this book and
follow David's youthful and sage advice.
David, Jim, Fermina, Thomas: thank you for who you are,
what you have done, and what you are still doing. And
thank you for inspiring us. World Rainforest Report, too,
is now printed on kenaf.
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>From World Rainforest Report, April - June 1995