In gentrifying east Los Angeles, neighborhood "guerrilla gardeners" are using the #environmental protections of black walnut trees to fight luxury home developments — and save tree canopy and the character of their communities.

As they say, "the black walnut is the organizer" and what a powerful symbol it has been.

We have the story at #HighCountryNews. Don't miss it: https://www.hcn.org/issues/55.1/south-social-justice-how-protecting-trees-can-fight-gentrification

#gentrification #EnvironmentalJustice #ClimateJustice #TreePower #ShadeEquity #EasternLombardy

There were three men came out of the West
Three kings both great and high
And they have sworn a solemn oath
John Mastodon must die.

They took a tank and ran him down
With bullets in his head
And they have sworn a solemn oath
John Mastodon was dead

But when the Spring came kindly on
And showers began to fall
John Mastodon got up again
And did surprise them all...

As I cross 1K followers, I wish I had something more meaningful to say. Instead I will borrow from Thich Nhat Hanh:

"Nothing exists by itself alone. We all belong to each other; we cannot cut reality into pieces. My happiness is your happiness; my suffering is your suffering. We heal and transform together."

Let's make Mastodon about sharing in both the joy and suffering of others, with kindness, compassion, and love.

Be kind to those who say Mastodon is too slow or too difficult. We all know it’s much faster to find or create a community here than it is in real life, but still, that process pales in comparison to the aggressive engagement algorithms that have battered our nervous systems for years.

Like detoxing from a drug, it can take some effort, but it’s worth it.