The link (below) appeared this morning on Alternet. I pretty much share the perspective therein. This is why I am placing these rather common photos before you reach the link. The scene is about 1.5 km from my house. There is a similar scene in one of the older blogs. The trouble is, it is happening all over the place here: people are cutting down their small forest plots to make ends meet. Send a big thank you to your banks.

 http://www.alternet.org/story/151886/we%27ve_entered_the_age_of_mass_extinction%3A_goodbye_fish_and_a_whole_lot_more?akid=7401.171186.cDrrun&rd=1&t=21

Another defender
of forests killed
in the Amazon.

Black John
Melnays Jānis
the god
at our Temple to
forests gone
weeps.

The forests in Latvia are disappearing at a fast pace, too.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-13772238

A very interesting blog by Elaine. It tells much about volcano activity in our day, but also tells about the significance of forests.

The Temple of Black John (dedicated to the memory of lost forests in Latvia) recommends you see and read it.
http://emsnews.wordpress.com/2011/06/13/volcanic-eruptions-chile-and-china/#more-11765





 DEVASTATING FOREST FIRES.
OUR SYMPATHIES TO THE PEOPLE OF ARIZONA

The Temple of Melnays Jānis (Black John) dedicated to the remembrance of man-destroyed forests, expresses its sympathies to the forests and the people of Arizona in the event of the wast  fires racing across their land. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iRxA7l9zF6xcAEzNbWoW0GyZjxag?docId=447ee61375414d308cc584d0a5f5e39b&index=1

If you ever come Latvia way, you may learn more about us in the blog below, re http://melnaysjanis.blogspot.com/. Do not overexploit the land, rather work toward letting it go fallow and renew itself. Make it a temple.

The Latvian media are telling us this morning that the real candidate hiding behind the ''shoe-in'' president is red head. Since our Wormelings had presumed that the "in" color was orange, one hastened to die her hair red.

Whether this is so or not only time will tell. At this time, however, our own candidate, re Pulkvedis Yandahlins, is keeping a low profile. Hint: he is thinking of coming out all green.

The Temple dedicated to the memory of destroyed forests, Melnays Jānis / Black John is open for the 2011 season and is receiving visitors.

We are located in Latvia, about 30 km west of Valmiera, in the North Vidzeme Biosphere protectorate. The name 'protectorate' is on paper only, but we are working to make it real. The Temple is on private property, but is open for visits to the public. We also offer space for small parties, family get-togethers, weddings, dances, or simply a place for a restful walk on a weekend day. Our's is a very unusual place.

The Latvian Janis (aka John, Johann, Jean, Gion, Huan, etc., also Joan, Zhenja, etc.) is of an ancient Christian root and the festival is celebrated on Midsummers Eve. The owner of the Temple, one Jandzs, is happy to provide visitors with a more detailed account of his views of the origin of this celebrated, but--even so--forgotten figure of arch-Christian times. The prefered time for discussion are Sundays, 11.00-13.00. Please call 'Inguna' (in Latvia) at 25979406 to make an appointment.

Please browse through the commentaries in earlier blogs. You will find a more detailed description of how to reach us. Hope to see you soon.

Alarm bells
from the Latvian forests and wildlife!!!!!!!!!!

Aljezeera English has just published an essay on the state of Latvian forests, re
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=am1xKGQ3YHc&feature=autofb

The horror perpetrated against Latvian forests by LVM (Latvijas Valsts Meži -- Latvian State Forests) may not be an official crime, but surely is double talk by  LVM officials and by Latvia's Prime Minister Dombrovskis. See both in Aljezeera clip.

We at "Ceļmalnieki" have the only temple dedicated to destroyed Latvian forests in Latvia. The "Saw Cross" pictured above is our copyrighted symbol, which we hope will be adopted by all organizations against wanton forest destruction. The "Saw Cross" can be seen in more abstract form at posts at the beginning of this series. Scroll down and click on "Older posts".


P.S. The January issue of the Latvian Gardeners' Club (Latvijas dārzu biedrība) magazine "Dārzā" (In the Garden) has an article and photo essay (p. 34-37) on yours truly and the Temple to Johns. The text is in Latvian.