Requiem for a Grove

Going off-topic here: as a bona fide tree-hugger, I want to give a salute to some brave souls who have spent the better part of a year protesting the University of California’s cutting down a grove of 50 old-growth oak trees in order to make room for a spanking new athletic facility. Derided by the media, cut off by the university, the tree-sitters have been reduced to four, and now occupy the sole tree in the grove that’s yet to be cut down, a majestic redwood. Scorn them if you will, but how many us would have the courage of our convictions to put ourselves on the line as they have? The media makes them out to be stubborn ignoramuses, but consider:

• The oak trees were for some reason resistant to Oak Root Fungus, which has been attacking and killing oak trees by the thousands throughout the state. This grove offered an excellent opportunity for study that is now wasted.

• The athletic facility is being built directly atop the Hayward Fault. Making it quake-safe costs more money, and who knows whether it will actually work in a big quake? Meanwhile Cal has to retrofit the entire stadium, at the cost of who knows how much money.

In this new era of Global Warming, every tree is a valuable carbon sink and oxygen giver. When I go wogging on land with trees, I feel immeasurably better than when I’m wogging on naked pavement surrounded by glass, asphalt, and choking fumes. But I’m not surprised by UC’s attitude toward trees, especially since Stanford’s mascot is one.

Weekly Wog: Finger-poppin’ Fifties: 19 minutes of vigorous Fifties Fun, perfect for a lunch break pick-me-up or wog to the store. Times, Starting with Hollywood Argyles’ Alley Oop and finishing with the Everly Brothers’ Cathy’s Clown, it also includes Bobby Darin, Guy Mitchell, and one of my all-time faves, Del Shannon’s Runaway. Get the list with BPMs and outrageous comments at Podwogging.com!