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SPIRITUAL                  CORNER

"If you want to see the world’s climate changing, fly over a tropical country. Thirty years ago, a wide belt of rainforest circled the earth, covering much of Latin America, south-east Asia and Africa. Today, it is being rapidly replaced by great swathes of palm oil trees and rubber plantations, land cleared for cattle grazing, soya farming, expanding cities, dams and logging."    The Guardian  Feb. 2018

"We are destroying rainforests so quickly they may be gone in 100 years."  John Vidal  the Guardian's environment editor

5/5/2020

David,
Your past support has helped indigenous communities protect the tropical forests of Central and South America. Thank you!
Today, on this global day of giving, I am writing to ask you to consider donating to our urgent campaign  to support our partners -- indigenous peoples facing the threat of COVID-19 in their communities.
Since March, we’ve refocused our priorities to support our partners across the Amazon to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Indigenous peoples are especially vulnerable to COVID-19 due, in part, to the often remote nature of their territory and the lack of primary care attention from governments.
Supporting indigenous peoples has never been more critical, as tropical forests account for about one third of the solution to the climate emergency we all face.
Science shows that indigenous communities are the best protectors of the forest. This means that the COVID-19 pandemic represents not only an existential crisis for indigenous peoples, it is a threat to everyone. Further, scientists agree that we are likely to experience more pandemics, like this one, if we allow the destruction of tropical rainforests to continue.
If you are able to donate on this special Giving Tuesday, you can do so knowing that there has never been a more important time to help protect tropical forests and the people who defend them.
What’s more, your donation today will be matched 1-to-1 through the generous support of Nia Tero and the board of directors of Rainforest Foundation US. To maximize the impact of your donation, be assured that 100% of your donation less bank fees will be allocated directly to indigenous peoples’ organizations for their relief efforts.
On behalf of our partners and the Rainforest Foundation US team, we thank you for your support and hope that you and yours stay safe.
In gratitude,
     Suzanne Pelletier
     Executive Director
     Rainforest Foundation US

5/14/20

Dear David,
I wanted to take a moment to thank you for answering our recent call to support our emergency response effort for indigenous peoples facing the COVID-19 crisis in the Amazon. 
Many indigenous communities are protecting themselves by retreating into their territories and keeping outsiders away. While necessary, this measure causes a great deal of hardship because it distances them even further from the markets, telecommunications health infrastructure, and other services that they depend on. 
Your support is making it possible to deliver the medicine, food, fuel, and information that local communities need to stay safe and protected through this crisis. 
Please be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest information on the situation or to learn how your donation is helping meet emergency needs on the ground.
Thank you for taking the time to show your support for the defenders of the forest in this hour of need.
Sincerely, Suzanne Pelletier
Executive Director
Rainforest Foundation US

Seventies western swing style country songs written by Tyler, TX  native Wyndi S. Harp and recorded at Avalon Sound Studio in Fort Worth, TX.  Wyndi now lives in Nashville, TN and performs in a Judds tribute duo as Naomi Judd.

Dear David,                                                         11/20/2020
Earlier this year, the Yanomami people of Brazil made a plea to their allies to support their “MinersOutCovidOut!” campaign. For the past two years, the Yanomami and Ye'kwana have been suffering the illegal invasion of their territory from small-scale gold miners who bring widespread forest destruction and disease.  Threats to their existence have reached a critical point as the miners have now introduced COVID-19.  A new report out today outlines the significant loss of life that the pandemic is now causing among the Yanomami people.  Meanwhile, the wise traditions practiced by their shamans and elders play a key role in maintaining the balance of nature, or, as they put it, “to hold up the sky.”
The Shaman’s Message, inspired by the Yanomami’s best known shaman and leader, Davi Kopenawa, is a hard-hitting new short video designed to raise awareness of their plight.  We urge you to listen to the message, sign their petition on minersoutcovidout.org and to share it with your friends and followers.

Christine Halvorson
Program Director
Rainforest Foundation US

I was fortunate to have been in a school district that had outstanding bands led by music directors John R. Bain, Brewer Jr. High and Harold Collyer, Brewer High.  Together they developed the White Settlement Tx schools' music programs into a national awards winning high school band in the 1960's and that tradition is still carried on today.  The Texas Twisters group (above center) was the first combo formed by David Hughes along with several other members of the Brewer Jr. High School Band at White Settlement, Tx in 1964.  They performed mostly 50's popular music at local school and community functions but were not part of any official school program.  Uniforms were custom turquoise vests (made by member Dwain Barker's mother), western tie with Texas on it, white shirt and pants.  L-R back: Larry Tidwell on Sousaphone (later with The Outlanders on Bass Guitar), David Hughes (later in the Outlanders on guitar)  & Gary Reese on Trumpet, Gary Otwell on Baritone (later in the Outlanders on drums)  and John Boshers on Drums.  Middle: Dwain Barker, Gerald Richardson and Mike Williams on Trombone.  Front: Tommy Flanagan and Gene Parish on Saxophone.        drh

THE OUTLANDERS  from  WHITE SETTLEMENT, TEXAS​​  was formed in 1966 during the members' high school years.  The group, shown in the picture above consisted of (Left to Right) David Hughes, Gary Otwell, Howard Hughes and Gary Archa.  In 1967 Howard left the group and Larry Tidwell was added on Bass Guitar.  They performed at local dances , parties and Battle of the Bands,   Their music consisted of songs by the  Rolling Stones, Tommy James, The Beatles, Sam the Sham, The Troggs,  Johnny Rivers, Chuck Berry,, The Beach Boys, The Turtles, Paul Revere and The Raiders, The Monkees, The Animals, The Ventures , The Safaris, etc., etc.      drh

Beggar For Your Love is a classic light rock song written by Wyndi S. Harp.  So Much Depends is a thoughtful, tender love song ballad also written by Wyndi.  Recorded & performed by David Hughes at Avalon Sound Studio.

In 1994 I worked as a single music act  with Logan Swords' Sound Enterprise Booking Agency providing the venues in the Tarrant County, Texas area.  This is a promo photo with a DJ setup I used to obtain bookings to help fill in the gaps between music performances and studio jobs.  Sound system and music was provided for weddings, receptions, private & company parties, etc.         drh​

Brazil’s deforestation is exploding—and 2020 will be worse  www.sciencemag.org/news/2019/11/
By Herton Escobar       Nov. 22, 2019 , 4:40 PM
Development, most of it illegal, destroyed more than 9700 square kilometers of Brazilian Amazon rainforest in the year ending in July, according to a government estimate released on Monday—an increase of 30% from the previous year and the highest rate of deforestation since 2007–08.

The Forests and the Rain Forests are being devastated by Man and by Fire.   (Thought you should know)   Hear the song THE UNBORN TREES in the player above and join the movement to

SAVE OUR FORESTS

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