Hello, everyone! Welcome!
I don’t know if you’ve heard the news about the ‘Red Tide’ algae affecting southwest Florida, but what’s going on here is a real tragedy.
Toxic algae, called ‘red tide’ are killing the marine life in the southwest coast of Florida. Sea creatures have been washing up on our shores. The situation is so bad that our governor has declared a state of emergency.
This kind of thing upsets me beyond belief. Scientists are trying to figure out how to get rid of these tiny creatures and there has been some wild speculations as to how they had come to be. Well, I have a theory of my own. I believe The Deepwater Horizon oil spill (BP oil spill) in the Gulf of Mexico, April 20, 2010 is one of many things to blame. Nature always tries to protect itself and that includes marine life. All the garbage and oil in the water have killed many aquatic creatures and vegetation. Maybe, some of the gulf’s algae mutated into what are now known as ‘red-tide algae’ to protect itself long ago and maybe they plague us for disrespecting their environment. Yes, I know this reads like something out of an M. Night Shyamalan movie, but it makes perfect sense to me. When a life form is placed in a toxic environment it will either die or change to adapt to its new surroundings. Only this algae has mutated into a monstrous form that kills off every other creature around.
Now, I know that it is a natural phenomenon, but the exact cause or combination of factors that result in a red tide outbreak are not necessarily known. I also know that this phenomenon has occurred since ancient times. Biblical scholars and early marine biologists of the late nineteenth century postulated that the first plague of the Exodus story, the blood color of the Nile, might have been an outbreak of Red Tide. But who’s to say that pollution, oil spills and other unnatural disturbances in the water doesn’t have something to do with a Red Tide outbreak occurring.
Anyway, here’s an article from the Washington Post you can read for yourself:
Florida’s governor this week made official what residents of southwest Florida already knew: The bloom of toxic algae that has darkened gulf waters is an emergency. The red tide has made breathing difficult for locals, scared away tourists, and strewn popular beaches with the stinking carcasses of fish, eels, porpoises, turtles, manatees and one 26-foot whale shark. Continue reading . . .
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Mother Nature’s Lament
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In an age of greed
Seas once clean now choke with oil
My darling sea life
Leaving your bodies on shore
As red tides lap my beaches
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Love and Time are this week’s prompt words chosen by Colleen Chesebro ~ The Fairy Whisperer. *The catch is that we can only use the synonyms to these words in our poems.
Colleen hosts a challenge that anyone could participate in called, Colleen’s Weekly Tanka Tuesday Poetry Challenge every Tuesday, and you have until Sunday to create a post featuring your Haiku, Tanka, Haibun or Cinquain poem. She is an author and poet, and also does book reviews and so much more on her blog. Be sure to check it out.
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Thank you for visiting!
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Thank you for sharing this week, V, “Mother Nature’s Lament” speaks volumes to anyone who lives in Florida or anyone who visits or has visited our once beautiful shorelines. It’s been horrible to see this devastation destroying our beaches and sea life. 😦
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It breaks my heart, K. I’m hoping a solution is found quickly. Some people are worried about our tourists leaving but I worry most about our poor sea creatures dying. The areas affected are in southwest Florida between Tampa Bay and the Everglades. Beautiful beaches like Venice Beach, Bonita Beach, and one of my favorites Captiva. It crushes me that dolphins, sea turtles, manatees, stingrays, and other creatures are dying while they figure things out. 😦
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So many tragedies in the last couple of years. Humans should remember we eat there. If the seas turn against us, we’re done.
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Hello Craig. You’re right. And you would think it’d be common sense but you’d be surprised how many people lack any sense at all when it comes to deciding what’s more important, making money or protecting the environment. So sad.
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I hate red tide. It is like the plague.
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That’s exactly what it is, John! 😦 I hate it too.
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I wish someone would figure out a solution.
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Probably Mother Nature is sending another message through this red tide! Thanks for a meaningful Tanka Vashti, you have summed up her lament so well.
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I think so too, Balroop. Thank you! 🙂 xx
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Sending healing energy ❤
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Thank you, Annette. We could use it. ❤ xx
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Hope this isn’t a sign that the oceans are dying. I felt your lament, Vashti. I found this article mentioning agricultural run-off and hurricanes as feeding the problem. https://www.engadget.com/2018/08/17/toxic-red-tide-florida-shore/ 😦
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Hi Olga. The ‘Red Tides’ phenomenon have occurred since ancient times but scientists don’t know what triggers them. I think it’s a protest from the sea when it becomes polluted. We as human beings need to start respecting other beings and our environment. I’ll check out your link, my friend. Thank you! 🙂 xx
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Excellent Tanka… I love it
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Thank you very much, Jason! 🙂
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Congrats on winning Tanka Tuesday 😉
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I was an honorable mention this week but we were all winners. 😉 Thank you! 😀 xx
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As an ocean lover, this is heartbreaking. Thank you for bringing attention to this horrible and so sad state of affairs. I’m with you, Vashti, Captiva is one of my favorite places, too.
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Hello Jill. You’re welcome. When I see or read/hear about disturbing events like this one, the first thing I think about is letting as many people know about it as possible because awareness is step one to resolving any issue. At least it’s what I believe. My family and I are ocean lovers too, so this is a real tragedy. Thank you. 🙂
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I’ve been watching this on the news…heartbreaking. Really hope we can get a handle on this. Can’t say I disagree with your theory, makes sense.
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Thank you, Denise. Me too. Scientists don’t seem to know what is triggering these ‘Red Tide’ phenomenon, so it’s time to think outside the box. 😉
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So freaking sad.
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My heart breaks for these poor innocent creatures, especially the dolphins and turtles. I have a soft spot in my heart for them. Hopefully ‘they’ will resolve the issue quickly. 😦
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Thank you Vashti. I did not know this was happening. It seems we are getting a HUGE wake up call this year to care more for our planet.
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You’re welcome, Brigid. And you’re right, but will the powers that be listen? I hope so. Thank you. 🙂 xx
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Oh my goodness… this is so tragic and sad. I’m heading over to read the article to learn more. Thanks so much for sharing. Lovely piece depicting this tragedy as well. XO
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It really is, Natalie. You’re welcome. And thanks for visiting and leaving a comment. ❤ xx
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This makes me want to cry, Vashti. How sad for our little sea brothers and sisters. Oil, global warming, pollution… we will pay the price for our careless, but so will the other creatures of the planet. The compassion in your poem pulls at the heartstrings. ❤
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Every time I look at the pictures I want to cry. When will we learn? Thank you, Diana. ❤ xx
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Vashti, this is indeed an environmental disaster! I applaud you getting the word out with your poetry. I know the Bible talks of the red tide and its significance. Can you imagine what the ancient people thought? Wow, it had to be as terrifying as an eclipse to them. ❤
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I’m sure it was, Colleen. They thought the sea had turned to blood. It’s frightening for us now, seeing dead dolphins, turtles, stingrays, sharks wash up on shore is quite terrifying. Scientists don’t even know (or are not saying) what triggers this phenomenon. I think the seas are in protest but the poor sea creatures are paying the price. It’s heartbreaking. Thank you, my friend. ❤ xx
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It’s heartbreaking, Vashti. I’m happy you drew attention to this problem. ❤
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My heart has hurt way too many times as I’ve seen pictures and watched videos, and I’m mad as hell that our government wasn’t more proactive about prevent more tragedy than what would naturally occur with the red tide. The innocent are always the victims. 😥
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I feel the same, Yvette. I’m heartbroken and pissed off. You’re right, the innocent always pay the price for our carelessness. Thank you. ❤
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A very sad state of affairs indeed Vashti. I’ve been hearing plenty about this and have seen so many photos on TV of dead things washing up to shore. I know president orange could probably give 2 shits about it so I do hope the environmentalists that actually believe in climate change and our waters will find out what can be done about this soon. ❤ And of course, I loved your accompanying tanka ❤
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Hi Debby! Yes, a lot of us down here are devastated by what is happening and we also feel helpless because there’s little we can do. We’re counting on our governor to take action and on oceanographers and marine biologists to resolve this issue quickly and save our sea creatures. Thank you, my friend. ❤ xx
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I sure hope so Vashti. We must be diligent with our voices. ❤ xxxx
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I agree. 🙂
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So sad. I hope the world wakes up soon! (K)
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I hope so too. Thank you. 🙂
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This is horrible! I hope scientists can find a way to stop it soon 😦
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I agree, Jacquie! I hope so too. I’m so sad about this. 😦
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