CATALYST February 2020 by CATALYST Magazine

FREE FEBRUARY 2020 VOLUME 39 NUMBER 2

CATALYST R E S O U R C E S F O R C R E AT I V E L I V I N G

Love Your Lungs Issue

Ultrafine particulates really matter Tier 3 fuels are here! Herbs for lung health Air quality maps & apps Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s up at the Capitol ALSO The root chakra: survival and security Metaphors: Seeing in the dark Yoga: baby back bends Get weird in the garden African dance class Urban Almanac EnviroNews Calendar

Lungs by Mohammed Haneefa Nizamudeen

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CATALYST

ON THE COVER

February 2020 CATALYSTMAGAZINE.NET 5

Lungs by Mohammed Haneefa Nizamudeen…medical imagery to educate and inspire

Welcome to CATALYST’s annual

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COMMON GOOD PRESS, 501C3 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR COMMON GOOD PRESS Pax Rasmussen PUBLISHER & EDITOR Greta Belanger deJong ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER John deJong ART DIRECTOR Polly P. Mottonen ASSISTANT EDITOR Katherine Pioli COMMUNITY OUTREACH DIRECTOR Sophie Silverstone

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PRODUCTION Polly P. Mottonen, John deJong, Rocky Lindgren PHOTOGRAPHY & ART Polly Mottonen, John deJong, Sophie Silverstone, Emma Ryder BOOKKEEPING Carolynn Bottino CONTRIBUTORS Charlotte Bell, Amy Brunvand, Nicole DeVaney, Jim French,Dennis Hinkamp, Valerie Litchfield, James Loomis, Mary McIntyre, Ashley Miller, Grace Olscamp, Diane Olson, Jerry Rapier, Emily Spacek, Alice Toler, Suzanne Wagner INTERN Shannon Crockett, Nataly Welch DISTRIBUTION Katherine Rogers (Manager), Rylee Brown, John deJong, Ashlynd Greenwood, Tia Harrington, Emily Paul, Emily Spacek, Ashley Sweitzer, Sarah Ta

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February 2020

UTAH ENVIRONEWS BY AMY BRUNVAND

I think there’s a trap in loving that empty western possibility, especially when you don’t live in it all the time. That’s part of the deepening divide between urban and rural areas, and it’s tied to how water is used. By being there, you’re changing it, and by being removed from and romanticizing it, you’re probably not seeing it change. —Heather Hansman, Down River: Into the Future of Water in the West

Zion Narrows trail remains open A popular hiking trail though Zion National Park remains open to the public thanks to a $1.5 million deal negotiated by the Trust for Public Lands and funded by the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), a federal program that uses offshore oil and gas revenues to preserve and protect public lands. The 16-mile Zion Narrows Trail passes through two parcels of private property—the Chamberlain Ranch trailhead and Simon Gulch on the park boundary. The Trust established a conservation easement through Chamberlain Ranch in 2013, but in 2018, “no trespassing” signs appeared in Simon Gulch, advertising 880 privately owned acres with “resort poten-

tial.” The Park Service stopped issuing hiking permits for Zion Narrows until the situation was resolved. The threatened sale was a bit of a stunt. The property owner wanted to sell to the federal government, but felt that the appraised value was too low. However, without LWCF there might not have been enough money to make a fair deal. In 2015, Utah Congressman Rob Bishop (R-UT-1), then chair of the House Natural Resources Committee, allowed LWCF to expire because he opposed the purchase of new public lands. In 2016, due to public outcry, Congress voted to reactivate LWCF with a three-year extension; it was permanently reauthorized by the bi-partisan Dingell Act, passed in 2019. Zion Narrows hiking permits: WWW.NPS.GOV/ZION/PLANYOURVISIT/NARROWSPERMITS.HTM

Best Friends Animal Society saves the day Activists in Kanab successfully beat back a plan by Southern Red Sands, LLC to open a 13,000-acre frac sand strip mine 10 miles north of town.

The company had planned to start operations on land leased from the Utah State and Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA) and held mineral rights on surrounding BLM lands. The sand was destined for fracking in Utah’s Uinta Basin. Southern Red Sands withdrew from the controversial project after negotiating with the Best Friends Animal Society which operates an animal sanctuary near the proposed mine. Last July, the Kanab City Council and Kane County Water Conservancy District (led by former Utah Legislator Mike Noel) approved a 50-year water rights contract for the mine, raising concerns about damage to local seeps and springs. Best Friends commissioned a hydrological study that found something even more alarming than expected—the sandy soil near Kanab acts like a sponge to soak up rain water. If the sand is removed, groundwater near Kanab will dry up. Despite the scientific evidence, Noel stated in a report aired on KUER 90.1 FM, “I honestly believe in my heart of hearts that [the mine] would have had a very minimal effect on the water.”

Steep rise in rafting,camping fees proposed The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Price Field Office is planning to jack up recreation fees in order to maintain facilities and build new campgrounds. If approved, the per person fee for Desolation Canyon rafting would go from $25/person to $50/person; the cost of Price area campgrounds would rise from $6-$8/night to $20/night ($75/night for group sites). The fee increase is intended to address management costs and deferred maintenance. BLM says that “the traditional BLM dispersed camping model is not sustainable when many people wish to camp in the same location with no toilets, trash service or other services.” Twelve new developed campgrounds are planned in and around the San Rafael Swell, which would have toilets, picnic tables, fire rings, tent/trailer spaces, access roads and garbage collection. BLM Recreation Site Business Plans: BLM.GOV/PROGRAMS/ RECREATION/PERMITS-AND-FEES/BUSINESS-PLANS. Comments Due: Feb 12, 2020. Submit comments for the Draft Business Plan for the Desolation Canyon River Program to Jaydon Mead at JMEAD@BLM.GOV (put “river business plan comment” in the subject line). Submit comments for the Draft Business Plan for BLM Price Campgrounds to Myron Jeffs at MJEFFS@BLM.GOV.

Air Quality Road Map At the request of the Utah Legislature, the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah has prepared a report on strategies to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions in Utah. The report notes that mountain topography and population growth create air quality challenges. Climate change is creating warmer, drier conditions associated with greater wildfire risk, reduced snowpack, beetle infestations, harmful algal blooms, heat-related illness, and extreme weather events.

Desolation Canyon The report advises legislation and rules to reduce air pollution 50% below 2017 levels by 2050 and to reduce CO2 emissions statewide 80% by 2050. The report envisions that Utah’s conservative politics could make the state a leader in a national dialogue about market-based approaches to reduce climate change. The report also advises economic assistance to rural Utah counties that currently depend on energy extraction including Carbon, Emery, Millard, Uintah, Duchesne, Sevier and San Juan counties. See more about the Air Quality Road Map in this issue under “At the Capitol.” Utah Roadmap: Positive Solutions on climate and Air Quality: GARDNER.UTAH.EDU/UTAHROADMAP/

20 Utah communities commit to 100% renewable At total of 20 Utah communities have committed to 100% renewable energy by 2030 under Utah’s Community Renewable Energy Act (2019). The Act set a deadline of December 2019 for communities served by Rocky Mountain Power to adopt a renewable energy goal with an agreement for support from the power company. Rocky Mountain Power (RMP) provides 80% of Utah energy but still generates 71% of its power from coal. The Sierra Club notes that RMP lags behind

nearly all other western utilities in carbon reduction goals and transition to clean energy. By scaling up solar and wind power to serve community energy plans, it is possible that a quarter of the state’s population could be using renewable energy by 2030. Commitments include: Park City, Salt Lake City, Moab, Summit County, Cottonwood Heights, Holladay, Salt Lake County, Oakley, Kearns, Kamas, Millcreek, Francis, Ogden, Grand County, Orem, West Jordan, Springdale, Alta, Coalville and West Valley City. Sierra Club: BIT.LY/30JBTEc

Lawsuit targets federal lands leasing WildEarth Guardians and Physicians for Social Responsibility filed a lawsuit in January to challenge 2,067 oil and gas leases on 2 million acres of federal land in Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. The lawsuit says that the BLM approved the leases without analyzing the cumulative impacts of oil and gas leasing on global climate change. Fossil fuel extraction from federal public lands contributes 24% of the U.S.’s total greenhouse gas emissions. The lawsuit says that “if federal lands were their own country, their GHG emissions would be ranked fifth globally,” and that “unleased federal minerals represent a “carbon bomb” that would likely push global climate change to catastrophic levels.” WildEarth Guardians: bit.ly/36cFD8L

Trump attack on NEPA is anti-environmental, anti-democratic The Trump admiration is trying to gut the law that puts the “public” in public lands management. The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) is the foundation of environmental protection and public participation in public lands management. It requires environmental impact reviews for major federal projects and gives citizen stakeholders a role in federal land management. In 2018 the Trump Administration Council on Environmental Quality proposed to “modernize”

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NEPA supposedly in order to remedy the poor condition of America’s infrastructure. Instead the rules were re-written to eliminate environmental review and block public participation. One of the most damaging rule changes is to say that cumulative effects would not be required under NEPA. In fact, most environmental harm is not caused by a single catastrophic effect but by a combination of minor impacts over time, in turn driven by the cumulative impacts of decisions by multiple federal state and local agencies. To ignore cumulative effects would actually mean ignoring most environmental impacts. The NEPA re-write would also curtail information by placing arbitrary limits on how long the environmental review process can take and how many pages can be in an Environmental Impact Statement. Along with the NEPA rule changes, the Trump administration is trying to redefine what constitutes a major federal project to expand the list of exclusions that don’t require a review. Since the opportunity for public comment derives from NEPA, there would be no public comment period for these excluded projects. Utah Congressman Rob Bishop (R-UT-1) cheered the changes, saying that “fringe-left special interest groups will continue to scream bloody murder.” If by “fringe-left” he means people who care about functioning ecosystems, clean air and clean water, they will, indeed. Protect NEPA: PROTECTNEPA.ORG/

ENVIRONEWS

Update: Bears Ears and Grand Staircase Escalante Lawsuits are moving forward to restore two Utah national monuments downsized by President Trump in 2017. Last October, the Trump administration tried and failed to dismiss the lawsuits without a trial. In January 2020, The Tribal and Environmental groups defending Bears Ears and Grand Staircase Escalante National Monuments issued memoranda asking for a “partial summary judgment” to affirm that it was illegal for Trump to slash the monuments. The Bears Ears memorandum says that Trump “acted well beyond the law and well beyond the constitutional limits of his power.” The memorandum for Grand Staircase Escalante asks the court to “declare that the Revised Plans are invalid attempts to implement the 2017 Proclamation, which was promulgated without authority.”

U welcomes new chief sustainability officer Kerry Case is the new Chief Sustainability Officer at the University of Utah. Case has led sustainability initiatives at Westminster College for 13 years and is ready to take on a job with the potential for larger impacts. With more than 20,000 employees and 30,000 students, the University of Utah is the size of a small city. Sustainable change at the U can have ripple effects throughout the Wasatch Front. u

DON’T GET ME STARTED

Greta Thunberg should study economics.

Suzanne Wagner

PSYCHIC, AUTHOR, SPEAKER, TEACHER

And U.S. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin should study morals. BY JOHN DEJONG

ast month, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, in response to a reporter’s question about whether Greta Thunberg’s proposal to end fossil fuel investment would threaten U.S. economic growth, cleverly dodged the question by saying that the kettle wasn’t black enough. Which was what most of the media focused on, never mind Mnuchin not answering an important question that the reporter asked Mnuchin, not Thunberg. Mnuchin’s time at Goldman Sachs as Chief Information Officer served him in good stead when, by way of further diversion, he cited health and nuclear proliferation as “more important issues” than the environment and global warming. That’s ironic because most of modern society’s health problems stem from an economic system that treats environmental concerns such as global warming and pollution as externalities, thereby ignoring critical factors in what should be an ivory tower economist’s perfect equation of costs and benefits. And one of the threats of nuclear proliferation is a result of our economy’s addiction to oil. Capitalism may just be the greatest perpetual-motion machine hoax ever invented. From a scientific perspective, physical perpetual motion machines are impossible. Every idea for a physical perpetual-motion machine has been roundly discredited by scientists, who inevitably tease out the trick. The capitalist perpetual-motion machine hoax (e.g. Ponzi schemes) relies on the same tricks. Usually, the trick is ignoring friction (making disbenefits externalities) by supplying a hidden source of momentum (subsidies, tax breaks and favorable regulations). Capitalism doesn’t work, or doesn’t work well enough , without monopolies, rigged markets, false or misleading advertising, externalized costs, tax breaks and political/regulatory favoritism. If Greta Thunberg studied economics, maybe she could find a way to make capitalism compassionate. Over the centuries, untold thousands of economics students have failed. They’ve sharpened its fangs and silvered its tongue. They’ve taught it to bully and lie and

subvert democracy. What’s interesting about Mnuchin’s response is that, as a trained economist, he should know very well whether fossil fuel divestment would hurt the U.S. economy. But he chose not to answer. Was he afraid that his answer would unsettle the markets and reveal the truth about the moral corruption that characterizes capital-

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Chakra SerieS

10 CATALYSTMAGAZINE.NE February 2020

Mūlādhāra, the root chakra

hakra one, the root chakra, is the foundation of our connection to the Earth. For indigenous communities the Earth has long been a sentient being and all of its creatures considered relatives. However, for many people in our modern world, this connection is weak or non-existent. Earth is often viewed as an inanmate object, a commodity, rich in resources to be exploited. We have lost our sacred connection to the entire web of life. When the first chakra is unbalanced, one may feel ungrounded, adrift, and often alone. It makes little difference whether the threats to survival are real or just perceived—both situations trigger the adrenal glands to respond to the stress. If we are always in a crisis or survival mode, we will have little energy to devote to other areas of our life. But when the first chakra is balanced, we feel safe and secure.

Adrenals rule

Survival and security BY TODD MANGUM, MD Editor’s note: The Chakra Series, by Todd Mangum, MD, first appeared in CATALYST in 2009. These stories remain among the most read in our online library. In 2020 we are bringing you an updated version, which began with January’s Introduction to the Chakras.

Location: near the base of the spine, in the perineum. Governs: our understanding of the physical world. Main issue: survival and security. Externalizes: as the adrenal gland. Element: Earth. When balanced: we feel grounded. Color: a harmonic of red. Key words: matter, body, home, family, food. Influences: feet, knees, legs, bones, large intestine and rectum. Deficiencies: manifest as an inability to draw to oneself the material things needed for survival. Excesses: hoarding, obesity, fighting, conquests and warmongering. Imbalances: manifest as hemorrhoids, constipation, sciatica, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, and knee and foot trouble. Emotions dominated by fear, panic and anxiety.

The adrenals lie on top of the kidneys and are actually two glands in one, the adrenal medulla and the adrenal cortex. The adrenal medulla secretes adrenaline and is responsible for our ability to respond instantaneously to any stress. We have all felt this response upon being frightened, when our heartbeat increases, muscles tense, palms sweat; we become hyper alert and wide awake. At this point we are able and ready to act to ensure our survival. The adrenal cortex secretes the steroid hormone cortisol (also called hydrocortisone), aldosterone and DHEA. These hormones mediate our longerterm response to life’s stresses by managing blood sugar levels, electrolytes, blood pressure, energy level and immune response to both injuries and inflammation and infections. The adrenal cortex also produces a little testosterone, estrogens and progesterone in both men and women. Recognized Western medical diseases of the adrenals include Cushing’s syndrome which is an excess of cortisol. Another is Addison’s disease, also called adrenal insufficiency—a deficiency of cortisol, aldosterone and often DHEA as well. Both of these are extreme imbalances of these glands and require prompt medical attention. From a conventional medical standpoint, the adrenal glands are either perfectly healthy

or they present life-threatening situations. Western medicine fails to understand that areas exist outside of normal which do not yet constitute medical emergencies. Many people suffer from adrenal exhaustion without complete failure of the gland. Relative adrenal excesses also exist which don’t yet qualify as Cushing’s syndrome.

A broader perspective Skipping meals, inadequate protein, too much sugar or junk food, insufficient sleep and relaxation, prolonged infection, trauma, chronic pain, severe allergies and any ongoing toxic exposure all rely heavily on the adrenals to compensate for these stresses. Symptoms and signs of adrenal dysfunction include fatigue, nervousness, anxiety, poor recovery from illness or frequent illnesses, hypoglycemia, low blood pressure, low body temperature, progressive exhaustion with physical exertion, low physical reserves in general and sleep disturbances. Other possible causes exist for all of these problems, but if you are plagued by very many, having an exam done to evaluate your adrenals may be helpful. Conventional Western medical blood tests will reveal little unless the condition is extreme. This is not a failure of the blood tests’ ability to reveal a problem. Rather, the ranges of “normal” set by Western medicine are so low that very few people will get any diagnosis using these ranges. Other tests exist which evaluate the saliva for cortisol and DHEA, the adrenal hormones. Rather than test just one morning sample, the saliva test collects four samples over the course of one day. A 24-hour urine collection test for cortisol can also provide useful information. Treatments can include the use of both DHEA and cortisol. These should be done only with proper guidance. These hormones function within optimal ranges; more is not necessarily better.

Western medicine fails to understand that areas exist outside of normal which do not yet constitute medical emergencies.

What can I do on my own? Steps you can take to balance the adrenals include addressing all of the issues related to the first chakra: Examine the relationship you have with the Earth and your body. Do you view them as prisons from which you will be set free at death? Look around your house. Is it a home? Your adrenals will not rest until you feel safe and secure.

Of course, a healthy diet which stabilizes blood sugar and energy levels through proper balance of protein, carbohydrates and healthy fats is of paramount importance. Moderating stimulants such as caffeine is essential since these by themselves can create the panic state. A well-balanced multivitamin is invaluable to offset the deficiencies created by chronic stress. Additional vitamin C and B5 (pantothenic acid) are especially helpful.

root if high blood pressure is a concern). Licorice root also helps maintain healthy cortisol levels by inhibiting an enzyme that converts cortisol to a less potent form of the hormone. Chinese medicine has large repertoire of formulas to address adrenal imbalances. These will often include the kidney qi tonics and herbs to strengthen kidney yin or yang. A Chinese medical diagnosis is advised to use them appropriately.

Also to consider

Adaptogens and tonics Herbs known as adaptogens play a special role in helping us respond to stress. As the name implies, adaptogens help us adapt. They are unique in that they can calm an overactive adrenal system or rejuvenate and energize an underactive one. In other words, they help us stay in balance. Panax ginseng and Siberian ginseng are well-known adaptogens. Another adaptogen, licorice root, is a specific for low adrenal function. It contains substances similar to the adrenal hormone aldosterone, which helps the body retain fluids by retaining sodium (be cautious with licorice

We have access to many ways of reducing stress and balancing the first chakra: Get a massage or any bodywork. Plant a garden. Take a yoga class. Get a colonic. Exercise. To improve the quality of your terrestrial home, buy organic. Use non-toxic cleaning and bodycare products. Refuse to spray your home and yard with toxic chemical anti-microbials, insecticides, pesticides and herbicides. Avoid buying plastics and over-packaged products. Refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose and then recycle as much as you can, including single-use plastics. The greatest assistance of all, however, is always available from the Earth herself. A simple exercise to enhance this connection, when weather allows, is to walk barefoot outside in contact with the ground. Walking on soil, grass, cement and in streams, lakes and the ocean will work. Feel the connection between your feet and the Earth. Next, let a tree find you. Sit with your back against the trunk. Feel how itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s anchored, its roots reaching deep into the ground. Visualize the energy from your root chakra streaming downward along the path of the roots. Allow yourself to feel supported and grounded. Just being with the tree with a sense of appreciation is enough. Sit back and relax. u NEXT MONTH: Chakra Two, The Sacral Chakra. Todd Mangum, M.D., of the Web of Life Wellness Center is a holistically oriented physician practicing in Salt Lake City.

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12 CATALYSTMAGAZINE.NET

February 2020

GARDEN LIKE A BOSS Luffa (Luffa aegyptiaca)

Let’s get weird Try something new and unusual in your garden this year! BY JAMES LOOMIS

t’s a g r e a t time to be a human on planet Earth. Never before have we had so much access to so many new potential experiences. Each year in the garden, I love experimenting with new plants; novel fruits, sinister-looking flowers, or perhaps discovering a new resource that can be cultivated. When I discovered that I could grow my own luffa sponges, an item I thought came from the ocean, a whole new world of possibility unfolded before me. Here are some novel selections that I’m excited to grow for the first time this year. Others are selections you may not have heard of, that are a staple of my garden every year since I discovered them. Most of these plants are quite hardy and easy to grow.

Ground Cherry (Physalis pruinosa). 65-70 days to maturity There is perhaps no better plant to grow in the garden for those with toddlers and small children than the ground cherry. These plants closely resemble a tomatillo, and produce fruit the same way—hidden inside a papery package reminiscent of a Chinese floating lantern. The small fruits inside are sweet with hints of cherry. When my daughter was two,

she would waddle out to the garden every day, plop down in front of the ground cherries and feast. Peeling the package engaged her tactile sensibilities, and the reward inside kept her motivated for more. This, of course, kept her quite busy, which was a blessing that provided her mother and me brief moments of peace while we attended to other gardening. Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost. Plants available at Wasatch Community Gardens Spring Plant Sale (May 9) Seeds available at SNAKERIVERSEEDS.COM

Holy Basil, tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum, aka Ocimum sanctum). 60 days to maturity Regarded as the most sacred plant in all of Hinduism, this herb is said to balance the three life forces named in Ayurvedic medicine; Vata, Pitta and Kapha. This plant is a highly prized medicinal herb whose uses could fill this ent i r e magazine. (If you’re willing to go down the rabbit hole, check out “Tulsi—A Herb for All Reasons”

[Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medicine], complete with 133 footnotes!). Fresh, the leaves provide a tasty and calming boost to your water bottle. They make a delicious sun tea. You can harvest and dry them for later use. This plant is easy to grow, and if allowed to set seed will become a staple in your garden without any further fuss. The bees absolutely love the small purple towers of flowers, and the aroma of the entire plant is what the celestial kingdom must smell like. Start indoors 6 weeks before last frost. Seeds available at SNAKERIVERSEEDS.COM

Dwarf Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum). 75 days to maturity I was first introduced to this adorable variation on the standard tomato plants by MaryBeth Janerich, whose considerable task it is each year to choose the plants for the Wasatch Community Gardens Spring Plant Sale. This one performs like a standard tomato, but as the name suggests, the plant stays a diminutive size although certain varieties still produce good-sized slicing tomatoes. Growing a stocky 2’-4.5’ tall, these plants are so much easier to support than their unruly full-sized indeterminate counterparts. As an added bonus, they do quite well in pots as well. I bring several indoors every fall to extend my tomato harvest well into the winter. Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost.

Plants available at Wasatch Community Gardens Spring Plant Sale (May 9) Seeds available at TOMATOFEST.COM

Japanese Haskap (var. Aurora and Borealis). Perennial I have CATALYST’s own Greta Belanger deJong to thank for introducing me to this plant. It’s the answer to our misplaced desire to grow blueberries in our region! Blueberries, an acidloving plant, are just not happy with our alkaline soils and water. Enter the Haskap, or honeyberry, or Yezberry, a hardy bush that produces small blue berries that taste some where between a blueberry and a raspberry. Some varieties bloom quite early—so early, in fact, that often the pollinators aren’t out yet. The two varieties mentioned here, Aurora and Borealis, bloom mid-season and produce berries that are larger than average for haskaps. You’ll need

to grow more than one variety to allow for cross pollination. Source for plants: HONEYBERRYUSA.COM

Moringa (Moringa oleifera). Perennial, although grown as an annual in our climate Moringa is a shrub / tree native to parts of Africa and Asia. Except for the roots, every part of the plant is edible. A complete protein which contains 46 antioxidants and 18 amino acids, it earns its reputation as a superfood. For my vegan and plant-based friends, this is a must grow! I harvest the young leaves and shoots and use them in my salads. Harvest, dry and powder all of the remaining leaves, which can be added to soups, smoothies and other dishes as a nutritional boost. Alternatively, dwarf varieties can be grown in large pots, then brought inside before frost

and overwintered. Start indoors 8-12 weeks before last frost, earlier if you have good lights Seeds available at RARESEEDS.COM

Luffa (Luffa aegyptiaca). 110+ days to maturity Grow your own sponges for the bath and kitchen! These gourdlike plants have a vining habit and require trellising to support them. They take a long time to mature, so make sure to get them started early and provide them early protection with a low tunnel, cloche or coldframe. The fruits resemble a chubby english cucumber, and are edible when small. When fruits are allowed to fully mature, the skin will turn brown and dry out—your sign that it’s ready to harvest. You’ll find the entire interior filled with a ready-to-use sponge, which resembles a banana skeleton. Time it right and you’ll have banana skeletons in time for Halloween. Start indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost Seeds available at SNAKERIVERSEEDS.COM u James Loomis is a full-time urban farmer, educator and permaculture hooligan.

14 CATALYSTMAGAZINE.NET

February 2020

AT THE CAPITOL

Utah’s 2020 legislative session is here Here’s a peek at some environment-related bills BY GRACE OLSCAMP

he end of January hails the beginning of the Utah state legislative session. For 45 days, till mid-March, 75 state legislators and 29 state senators are gathered on Salt Lake City’s Capitol Hill to consider, debate, reject, and pass bills into law. New bills continually come out during the first half of the session. Some will make it onto the governor’s desk and some will die before they see the light of day. It’s our job, as citizens, to ensure that the good bills move through the process and become law and that the bad bills get stopped in their tracks. Here are just some of the environmental bills running during the 2020 legislative session.

Incentivizing energy storage The key to the renewable energy revolution is energy storage. When more energy is being produced (say, from solar and wind) than is being used, that energy can be stored for use at a later time if the technology is in place. Energy storage will help make the elec-

tric grid more resilient and deploy clean energy to our homes. Creating incentives for new technology is commonplace—incentives helped skyrocket the wind and solar industries. This year, Sen. Derek Kitchen (D-District 2) is running a bill that creates utility and residential tax incentives for energy storage technologies in order to innovate the industry and make it more accessible.

Setting statewide renewable goals According to the recently released Utah Roadmap Study by the Kem C. Gardner Institute, Utah’s reliance on coal is almost twice that of other states (measured by carbon dioxide emissions of different fuel types). Coal accounts for nearly half of Utah’s carbon dioxide emissions. Weaning off of coal is one of the most effective methods to reduce emissions and combat climate change. Rep. Ray Ward’s (R-House District 19) Clean

and Renewable Energy Requirement Amendments create a standard for utilities to be generating 50% of their electricity from renewables by a certain date. It also expands the definition of “renewables” to include (in addition to solar and wind) geothermal, hydropower, and nuclear. Many advocates are encouraging nuclear to be taken off the table due to the vast amounts of dangerous radioactive waste it produces.

Speaking of the Utah Roadmap Study… Last year, the Utah Legislature appropriated $200,000 for the Kem C. Gardner Institute to study and make recommendations on solutions for air pollution and climate change. A draft of the study was released in January, with a few weeks allowed for public comment. The top high-level recommendations (supplemented by specific policies or actions) include: 1. Adopt emissions reduction goals and

Evening g Ta alk with

measure results; 2. Lead by example; 3. Create a premiere air quality/changing climate solutions laboratory; 4. Accelerate growth efforts; 5. Position Utah as a market-based electric vehicle state; 6. Provide economic transition assistance to rural communities; and 7. Participate in national dialogue about market-based approaches to reduce carbon emissions.

Air quality appropriations Every year, the governor releases a budget that the state legislature, through appropriations, decides what and how to fund. Last year, Governor Herbert proposed $100 million for one-time air quality programs. Though the legislature funded only $29 million from that original proposal, it was still well over $25 million more than ever before. This year’s proposed budget includes yet another $100 million for air quality. But this year, Governor Herbert specifically recommends that $34 million go to transit and $66 million go to increasing electric vehicle infrastructure across the state. The proposal is in line with the Governor’s goals of reducing per capita emissions by 25% by 2026. Now it’s up to the legislature to decide how much of that $100 million they will actually fund.

And now the bad… There’s always one or two or 10 bills that will do more harm than good. This year, the first bad bill to rear its head is one that is estimated to cost the state nearly $49 million in lost tax revenue over the next 10 years. The Sales and Use Tax Modifications bill, run by Sen. Ronald Winterton (R-District

26), gives a hefty sales tax exemption on oil and gas production in the state. Not only has the oil and gas industry been federally subsidized for decades but a state audit in 2019 found that Utah’s oil and gas industry has been out of compliance for their methane emissions since the 1990s yet has seen virtually no fines during that whole time. A lot happens during the session and it can be overwhelming to keep track of it on your own. It’s the only time of year that laws are made at the state level in Utah and each legislator is pushing for their bills to become law. Following groups like the Healthy Environment Alliance of Utah (HEAL Utah), the Utah Sierra Club, Action Utah, and the Utah Rivers Council will allow you to stay in the loop with every bill you care about on their legislative trackers, emails, events, and social media accounts. You can take your advocacy to the next level by not just following these groups but by responding to their call for citizens to raise their voices. Fill out any action alerts you see, call and email your legislators regularly, and even join groups like HEAL Utah at the Capitol to lobby your legislators in-person (we promise they don’t bite). Any way you can get involved during the legislative session will help build a better future for everyone in Utah and will make a difference for the future of our planet. u Grace Olscamp works at the Healthy Environment Alliance of Utah (HEAL Utah). She is also a dog lover, a very amateur baker, and an avid reader.

Educate yourself and participate! Healthy Environment Alliance of Utah (HEAL Utah): HEALUTAH.ORG Sierra Club, Utah chapter: UTAH.SIERRACLUB.ORG Action Utah: ACTIONUTAH.ORG Utah Rivers Council: UTAHRIVERS.ORG Breathe Utah: BREATHEUTAH.ORG

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16 CATALYSTMAGAZINE.NET

LOVE YOUR LUNGS

February 2020

Smaller, deeper, deadlier

rom the beginning of time, humans have lived with air pollution. With the discovery of fire we began to poison ourselves and each other. The air in the cave where a saber toothed tiger had been crackling over the fire must have been rich with products of incomplete combustion and the like, but no one lived long enough for it to affect their health. The industrial revolution was fueled with coal. The ill effects of all those smoking chimneys were generally limited to the mills and mill towns. Only the mill owners could afford to live very far from the mill. The discovery and exploitation of oil and natural gas fueled the transportation revolution, embodied in oilburning internal combustion engines taking pollution on the road, literally, which led to suburbs and all that they entailed.

For ages, our efforts to deal with air pollution amounted to nothing more than moving around the fire to get out of the smoke. It took advances in many sciences before we began to understand how badly we were damaging ourselves. Statistics began to play an important part in 1854 when Dr. John Snow, the son of a coal-yard laborer, traced cases of cholera in London to a public well by plotting case locations on a map. Snow is considered the father of the science of epidemiology. Statistics continue to play an important part in understanding and relieving pollution. New studies showing the pervasive and insidious nature of particulate matter use sample sizes of millions of people over years to reach their conclusions.

Twenty-five years after Pope’s study, scientists are focused on ultrafine particulate matter— particles so small that they are absorbed directly into our bloodstreams via our sinuses and lungs.

A/Q made simple Air quality is a complicated topic. The EPA has made it simple by identifying six of the most common pollutants and setting criteria for each of them. The six criteria pollutants are lead, carbon monoxide, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, ozone and particulate matter. When lead was taken out of gasoline, it ceased to be an air quality problem. Carbon monoxide is only a problem when combustion machinery is not tuned up or operating properly. Sulfur and nitrogen oxides continue to be a problem but are fairly well understood. Ozone and particulate matter are turning out to be much more complex. This article will focus on particulate matter. We will examine ozone in next month's issue. Particulate matter is the most complicated of the six criteria pollutants. It's sort of an “everything else” category. As research progresses, it is becoming apparent that particulate matter is a super villain, a master of myriad disguises.

Utah’s role In a very real way, the story of particulate matter started right here in Utah, in 1991, when Arden Pope, an economics professor and statis-

Diseases caused or aggravated by air pollution Heart disease A 2010 study published in Environmental Health showed that “exposure to PM2.5s of less than six hours could lead to arrhythmia, ischemia and myocardial infarction. The active mechanism may involve the autonomic nervous system, systemic inflammation, vasomotor dysfunction and/or thrombogenesis.” The authors suggested that people with cardiovascular diseases avoid such situations, noting, “Guidance for vulnerable persons faced with high sub-daily exposure situations is lacking even if such exposures occur in many real-life situations such as in traffic jams, at bus stops, during accidental fires and explosions, in are-

nas, in indoor parking garages, during fireworks displays, etc.” Arden Pope, et al, in an article published in Circulation Research, in 2014, noted, “Growing evidence suggests that long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) air pollution contributes to risk of cardiovascular disease morbidity [sickness] and mortality [death]. There is uncertainty about who are most susceptible. Individuals with underlying cardiometabolic disorders, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and obesity, may be at greater risk. PM2.5 pollution may also contribute to cardiometabolic disorders, augmenting cardiovascular disease risk.”

Asthma/pneumonia lung cancer/respiratory diseases China is taking a leading role in pollution research as it grapples with the enormous health costs of pollution. A 2016 study by Chinese scientists, published in the Journal of Thoracic Medicine, found that PM2.5s can penetrate deeply into the lung, irritate and corrode the alveolar wall, and consequently impair lung function.

Type-2 diabetes A massive study involving 1.7 million American veterans over eight years found that the risk

of diabetes starts at about 2.4 μg/m3—less than a quarter of current EPA standards. Among people exposed to five to 10 μg/m3 of particulate matter, about 21% developed diabetes— or about twice the national average of 9.4%. For an increase of 10 micrograms per cubic meter of long-term PM2.5 concentration, the risk of diabetes incidence increased by 15.7%.

Alzheimer's/ cognitive deficits Research has shown that degenerative brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s, mental illness and reduced intelligence can be caused by air pollution. New research from Lancaster University published in the Proceedings of the National

From PM10s to ultrafines, what particulate matter comes down to BY JOHN DEJONG tician at BYU, published the seminal report, “Respiratory hospital admissions associated with PM10 pollution in Utah, Salt Lake, and Cache Valleys” in the Archives of Environmental Health. Research had been done on particulate matter 10 microns or smaller, but no solid evidence of a direct link between PM10s and any particular disease had been established. Pope looked at hospital admissions from 1985 to 1989 and found that admissions for bronchitis and asthma for all ages were approximately twice as high in Utah Valley as in Salt Lake and Cache valleys when the Geneva Steel Mill was operating. The Geneva Steel mill in Pope's study really was a poster boy for polluting industry. I had a job there after Vietnam. I started in the coke plant, a place as close to hell as I hope I’ll ever get. The process is simple: You bake coal in an oven with very bad seals, until you've driven off all the gases and are left with pure carbon, which is used to make steel. Most of the escaping gases were captured and piped to the U.S. Oxygen & Gases plant to the north, where they were distilled into oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen and other lesser fractions. The fugitive emissions escaped into the fickle weather patterns and eventually the lungs of Utah Valley citizens. The coke plant

Academy of Sciences in 2016 linked toxic nanoparticles from air pollution to Alzheimer's. Lead researcher Barbara Maher noted that “oxidative cell damage is one of the hallmark features of Alzheimer’s disease, and this is why the presence of magnetite is so potentially significant, because it is so bioreactive.” Maher noted, “We also observed other metal-bearing particles in the brain, such as platinum, cobalt and nickel. Things like platinum are very unlikely to come from a source within the brain. It is a bit of an indicator of a [vehicle] catalytic converter source.”

Infertility/miscarriages/ birth defects The American Journal of Epidemiology in 2013 published research from Stanford University that found an association between specific traffic-related air pollutants and neural tube

was just the dirtiest of a dozen very dirty processes that are involved in making steel.

Pope looked at hospital admissions from 1985 to 1989 and found that admissions for bronchitis and asthma for all ages were approximately twice as high in Utah Valley as in Salt Lake and Cache valleys when the Geneva Steel Mill was operating. The particulates in you Arden Pope had no idea exactly what Geneva's fugitive emissions consisted of. He just knew that it was having obvious and debilitating effects. As a result of Pope's study and many others that followed, the bad health ef-

defects, which are malformations of the brain and spine. “When researchers looked at a subset of women who lived within five kilometers of a monitoring station, they found that for every 10 ug/m3 increase in PM 2.5 levels women experienced during the month after conception, their babies were 19% more likely to be born with birth defects.” Dr. Emily DeFranco of the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine in Ohio writes, “There are several particularly vulnerable exposure periods near the time of conception, both before and after conception, in which exposure to higher levels of particulate matter in the air may pose an increased chance for a birth defect to occur.”

Osteoporosis/ poor bone health A study published in Bone Health found that

fects of PM10s were discovered. As a result of those studies, the EPA set higher air quality standards for PM10s and later imposed standards for PM2.5s. Twenty-five years after Pope's study, scientists are focused on ultrafine particulate matter—particles so small that they are absorbed directly into our bloodstreams via our sinuses and lungs. Our sinuses do a pretty good job of filtering out the so-called “coarse particulate matter” between 10 and 2.5 microns in diameter (a good reason to breathe through your nose). However, that leaves ultrafine particulates, particulates so small that they can only be studied with an electron microscope. These range from 0.1 microns (about a tenth of the size of a bacterium) through 0.01 microns (the size of viruses) down to 0.001 microns (gaseous molecules). The period at the end of this sentence is about 500 microns in diameter. The very nature of ultrafine particulate matter makes them potent threats to our health. Their tiny size allows them to get past our natural filter systems—the mucous membranes in our nose, mouth and throat. These respirable particulates penetrate into the deepest re-

“inhalation of polluting particles could lead to bone mass loss through the oxidative stress and inflammation caused by air pollution.” Interestingly, no correlation was found with use of biomass fuel for cooking. We will look at indoor pollution next month and explore particulate matter released by indoor cooking.

Depression/suicide People exposed to an increase of 10 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3) in the level of PM2.5 for a year or more had a 10% higher risk of getting depression. “We know that the finest particulates from dirty air can reach the brain via both the bloodstream and the nose, and that air pollution has been implicated in increased [brain] inflammation, damage to nerve cells and to changes in stress hormone production, which have been linked to poor

Continued on page 20 mental health, a 10µg/m3 increase over three days raising the risk of suicide by 2%”. — Braithwaite et al, Environmental Health Perspectives, 2019

Cognition Air pollution finally got economists' attention when it was found that there actually are economic costs of pollution. In 2019 the London School of Economics published an article that concluded that “a narrow focus on traditional health outcomes, such as morbidity and mortality, may understate the true benefit of reducing pollution, as air pollution also affects scholastic achievement and human capital formation.” (You have to wonder whether Trump's Secretary of the Treasury, Steven Mnuchin, was under the influence of air pollution when he studied economics.) u

LOVE YOUR LUNGS

Don’t hold your breath There are other things you can do!

esearch from around the world is showing that air pollution, particulate matter in particular, is a much more insideous threat to our health than originally believed. National Air Quality Standards, as administered by the EPA, have failed to keep up with these new findings. Research is showing real health hazards at less than a quarter of EPA limits. In fact many of the studies are showing that chronic doses, even at low levels, can cause a large number of many common diseases. Acute doses, even at what the EPA considers moderate levels, can kill those with advanced stages of these diseases within hours or days. So, it comes down to you. There is no point in waiting for good air quality regulations from the federal government. We can't hold our breath that long. The first step in protecting yourself and your loved ones is knowing what the current air quality is. I have the Utah Division of Air Quality site bookmarked on my computer and it's fascinating to compare the air in neighboring counties. The poor air quality resulting from fugitive methane emissions from the oil and gas fields in the Uintah Basin readily becomes apparent on days when the rest of the state has clean air. On a county-wide averaged basis, the UDAQ numbers can look pretty good unless you take into account recent scientific evidence of the dose specificity of the worst air pollutants. Dose specificity means that the effect is proportional to the dose. Twice the dose equals twice the effect. It also goes the other way—half the dose equals half the effect. But only zero dose equals zero effect. That is all good, as far as it goes, but there are only four UDAQ particulate matter monitoring stations in the Salt Lake Valley, two in Weber County and one each in Cache, Box Elder, Davis, Utah and Uintah counties. A lot of pollution can happen between the Bountiful sampling site and the site at Hawthorne Elementary at 1700 South and 700 East. Another problem is that the air quality is not uniform across the valley. Storms can slosh the pollution back and forth along the Wasatch Front. With a wind coming from across the lake, the air in the Avenues can be fresh as the proverbial breeze and Magna might as well be sucking on a tailpipe. Or, vice versa, if the wind is coming from a slightly different direction.

Knowledge is power (so are high-tech machines & diet)

and supplements to fight the effects of air pollution in next month's issue.

One answer to the problem of chunky air quality data is PurpleAir, a public network of particulate matter sensors that uses a new generation of laser particle counters to provide real time measurement of PM1.0, PM2.5 and PM10. There are about 600 sensors in Utah, most situated from Ogden to Provo. We’ll say much more on this next month but in the meantime check out the map on their website, PURPLEAIR.COM; you can

Caught in a TRAP*

Air quality is not uniform across the valley. Storms can slosh the pollution back and forth along the Wasatch Front. zoom in to your very own neighborhood! For PurpleAir’s origin story, check out CATALYSTMAGAZINE.NET/CITIZEN-SCIENTIST-ADRIAN-DYBWAD/ The idea of a defensible space is useful when considering what you can do about bad air. The second step is to clean the air you plan on breathing. Filtering the air in your entire house, 24/365, will be expensive both upfront and with frequent, necessary filter changes. You may want to filter the air in the rooms you spend the most time in. Cleaning up ultrafine particulate matter is challenging. Only the best filters can do an adequate job. High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters, which are common in air filtration systems, do a good job of filtering out the coarse particualtes but miss the ultrafines that are really the problem. No filters intercept 100% of ultrafine particles. The best current defense is running an air cleaning system with an Ultra-Low Particulate Air (ULPA) filter medium, which is designed to remove 99.999% of particulates 0.12 microns or larger. The problem is that ultrafine particulates start at 0.1 microns and get smaller, so you are going to have to cycle your air through the system multiple times to make a dent in the ultrafine particulates. The third step is making sure your diet is full of oxidation- and inflammation-fighting foods and supplements such as animal-based omega3 fats, antioxidant-rich vegetables and vitamins C, E, B6, B9 and B12. We'll have more about food

Many studies have found a direct correlation between proximity to highways and the ill effects of air pollution. What are euphemistically called “lower socioeconomic status neighborhoods” suffer the worst effects of traffic-related air pollution* (TRAP). Persons in lower socioeconomic status neighborhoods don't have the resources to deal with the health burden of elevated pollution levels. One solution is to move away from sources of pollution. That’s not always an option. No one has done a study of how quickly, or slowly, pollution density falls off as you get further from a major highway. You could probably get a pretty good idea by charting real estate prices around major sources of pollution. Findings on heavy traffic and ultrafines might make you want to filter the air in your car. There are limited options for doing that. Most products are good only at filtering out the big stuff that really isn't the problem. Newer cars are beginning to have built-in air quality conditioners, but frequent filter changes are still necessary. Another avenue of relief could come from efforts to reduce traffic jams. A program aimed at unjamming traffic by voluntarily staggering work hours could significantly reduce exposures to traffic-related air pollution of commuters and those living in lower socioeconomic status neighborhoods. London, England has a program to build green barriers along major highways as a means of mitigating air pollution, in particular ultrafines. “London’s green infrastructure includes a network of parks, green spaces, gardens, woodlands, rivers and wetlands. It also includes street trees, hedges, green walls and green roofs.” (Greater London Authority, April 2019) Utah enjoys clean air most of the time, particularly when storms keep the valleys along the Wasatch Front cleaned out. We need to take advantage of our air when it is clean. Go running but never along a trafficed roadway. Take your dog to the park. Dealing with pollution ultimately leads to one big realization: It’s a lot easier to eliminate the cause than to clean up the mess. Conserving energy every which way, on every level, will always be the most direct way of reducing air pollution. u

20 CATALYSTMAGAZINE.NET

February 2020

LOVE YOUR LUNGS

Continued from page 17: Smaller, deeper, deadlier Continued from page 17 cesses of our lungs and then into our blood streams. Ultrafine particulates that enter our bloodstream in our noses bypass the blood-brain barrier and can attack the brain directly. A good reason not to breathe through your nose. Ultrafines' tiny size give them a much larger active surface area for a given amount of pollution. Because of the very large transfer area of the lungs a large inflammatory response will be called for. Ultrafines' ability to be absorbed in the blood stream and undergo “interstitialization” (getting stuck in a nook) gives them an immediate health effect and makes them difficult to eliminate from the body. They are so light that they hang around for a long time and can be transported far from their sources. They are also difficult to measure, and their immense variety makes the worst culprits difficult to identify and study.

Double double toil and trouble...Fire burn and cauldron bubble The three witches in Shake-

speare's McBeth, with their eye of newt and toe of frog, have nothing on modern pollution as mixologists. Instead, modern pollution mixology employs the atmospheric nitrogen, sulfur in fuel (particularly diesel fuel), oxygen (as needed) and, of course, fossil fuel, in generous quantities. And that's just automotive pollution. Industrial pollution and the effluent from our furnaces and water heaters have similar chemistries. (Our indoor air is another story that we will tell next month.) All this mixing takes place in your vehicle’s engine and its exhaust system. Ignition temperatures in internal combustion engines reach 1800 degrees F. The pollution that goes out your tailpipe ranges from products of incomplete combustion—nasty carbon molecules formed in lessthan-optimum burning conditions—to exotic metallic molecules formed in catalytic converters when the hot exhaust gases pass through your car's exhaust system.

Inflammation The primary effect of ultrafine particles is to supercharge our inflammatory defenses. In an article published in the Journal of Thoracic Diseases, in January 2016, Yu fei Xing et al, found that the “PM2.5 surface was rich in iron, copper, zinc, manganese, and other transition elements (heavy metals), as well as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (smoke from burning coal —the Geneva coke plant) and lipopolysaccharides (important precursors to inflammation). These components can increase free radical production in the lung, consume antioxidant ingredients and cause oxidative stress....Free radicals, metal and the organic components of PM2.5 can induce free radical production to oxidize lung cells, which may be the primary cause of body injury.”

But wait, there's more! Researchers have found that ultrafine particles not only damage DNA and suppress DNA repair but can also promote the replication

To conclude (for now....) N

ew findings show that everyone is to some extent vulnerable to the effects of chronic pollution. It now looks likely that many victims of a variety of diseases actually contracted their diseases from bad air, where it was previously presumed bad air aggravated a condition they had contracted some other way. The air regulation establishment must have a disheartening sense of the ever-receding bonanaza. Just when the numbers are starting to look good the bar needs to be raised. Thirty or forty years ago, when Kennecott was the 800-pound bad-air gorilla in the valley, I read a letter to the editor in the Los Angeles Times from a Kennecott executive, saying that he had no heartburn, or asthma for that matter, over the pollution emitted by Kennecott's pit and smelter operations. He noted that he could

see the smelter from his house, even on bad air days. My guess was that the executive lived in the upper Avenues rather than Magna or Taylorsville, and could indeed, see the top of the smelter smoke stack, towering over the pollution-filled valley. The discovery of ultrafine particulate pollution’s ill effects is news, but there are other unresoved air quality issues. Many serious pollutants were left off the EPA's list of criteria pollutants for reasons of economy. The economic health of many corporations would suffer if they were made responsible for their poisonous externalities and Congress hasn't funded the research needed to set criteria for regulations. That's only correlation, not causality. The chlorine that the Magcorp magnesium smelter on the west side of the lake puts out by the millions of pounds per year is one example.

of damaged DNA fragments and consequently prompt carcinogenesis. Epidemiological studies from around the world have uncovered a surprising number of diseases that can be caused or aggravated by ultrafine particulate matter. The established links between ultrafine particulates and asthma, heart disease, lung cancer and stroke have been strengthened. New connections have been found between ultrafine particulates and Alzheimer's, infertility, miscarriages and birth defects, cognitive deficits, Type-2 diabetes, epilepsy, urinary tract infections, pneumonia, Parkinson's, septicemia, fluid and electrolyte disorders, renal failure, osteoporosis and depression. It's possible that a large fraction of modern disease can be traced to air pollution, with air pollution as a gateway disease/ poison that ushers in a host of other diseases.

Magcorp would out of business if they had to stop emitting chlorine. An argument could be made that the EPA should set criteria for many more pollutants, but corporate citizens will never let that happen. The dirty air lobby and their paid sock puppets in Congress (“It's not bribery, it's campaign contributions! It's not money, it's free speech!”) deny any causal connection between bad health and air pollution, saying regulations should not be set to protect human health until the exact mechanisms are understood. In today's political environment it doesn't look like we can expect any help from the federal govenrment. Hopefully these new findings on ultrafine particualte matter will prompt needed changes. u John deJong is CATALYST’s associate publisher.

BREATHE

Tier 3 fuels are here at last! Doing your part to improve Utah’s air just got easier thanks to Tier 3 gasoline BY ASHLEY MILLER

ver the last several years we’ve been hearing a lot about Tier 3 gasoline. It should play an important role in cleaning up air pollution coming from passenger cars and trucks. Since the new year Chevron, Marathon and Silver Eagle refineries have been making the lower-sulfur Tier 3 gasoline locally and selling it to certain retailers across the state. Tier 3 refers to the strengthened emissions standards set by the EPA that reduce pollutants from both gasoline and vehicles. The Tier 3 gasoline standard requires petroleum refiners to reduce the sulfur content of gas from an annual average of 30ppm down to 10ppm. The Tier 3 vehicle emissions standard improves the function of catalytic converters in newer cars (model year 2017 and newer). When used together, these vehicle and gasoline standards reduce the amount of pollution coming from tailpipes by 80%. There is a benefit for older vehicles burning Tier 3 gasoline as well. When an older car runs on Tier 3 gasoline, the emissions coming from its tailpipe are reduced by up to 12%. Considering about half of the air pollution along the Wasatch Front comes from cars, Tier 3 is an important part of the solution.

An up-to-date list of participating stations Additional gas stations are always being added. Representative Suzanne Harrison recently launched a new website that will help Utahns find out where to fill up with Tier 3 gasoline: TIER3GAS.ORG/ How to tell if yours is a Tier 3 vehicle The first Tier 3 makes and models started with model year 2017. By now, most new cars and trucks are Tier 3. But the easiest way to tell if a car is Tier 3 is to pop the hood. Every car has a “Vehicle Emission Control Information” placard under the hood. These stickers contain a lot of numbers, but look for the “U.S. EPA:” information. A Tier 3 car starts with “T3Bxx” The T3 means it’s a Tier 3 car. Learn more Here’s the official U.S. government source for fuel economy information, including Tier 3 vehicles, vehicle smog and greenhouse gas ratings at FUELECONOMY.GOV/

Utah’s petroleum refiners have several methods available to comply with the Tier 3 standard. They can produce the lower-sulfur gasoline locally, they can rely on the corporate averaging across all of their facilities, or they can purchase sulfur credits. Marathon,

Tier 3 fuel will reduce emissions from the tailpipe of a 2016 or older vehicle by up to 12%. On 2017and newer models, the vehicle and gasoline standards reduce tailpipe emissions by 80%! Chevron, and Silver Eagle, three out of the five local petroleum refineries in Utah, have made substantial investments to produce the lowersulfur gasoline locally, rather than rely on the other methods of compliance.

Where can you buy Tier 3 gasoline today in Utah? You won’t see any new or different button labeled “Tier 3” at the pump. But Tier 3 gasoline is what you will be getting now, at any octane level, at Speedway, Chevron, Shell, Exxon and Texaco stations across Utah as well as Costco and Maverik. Sinclair has committed to making the lower-sulfur gasoline at its facility in Wyoming and selling it in Utah. Tier 3 sulfur content is met by an annual average, and no participating station can guarantee the sulfur content of any particular gallon of gas. However, over the course of a year, the effect should be significant. u Ashley Miller, J.D., is the vice-chair of Breathe Utah, vice-chair of Utah's Air Quality Policy Advisory Board and is a member of the Salt Lake County Environmental Quality Advisory Commission.

22 CATALYSTMAGAZINE.NET

February 2020

HERBS

Breathing easy with botanicals Nature has some answers for the season of colds and bad air BY JOSH WILLIAMS

an’t kick the cough? Chances are you’re one of many Wasatch Front residents struggling to breathe easy with poor air quality, wintertime inversion, and the daily battle of cold and flu season… all at the same time! While we all may have occasional issues with respiratory health, this time of year can be especially challenging. In spite of our lungs doing their best to keep us nourished and healthy, we often end up feeling our worst. The good news is that we have many herbal allies that can help support a healthier respiratory system, easier breathing, better circulation and a strong immune system.

Under the radar until you’re under the weather When healthy, the respiratory system works quietly to supply our body with oxygen and assist with the removal of waste. We can often go long stretches of time without really thinking much about our breathing until something challenges it. As an automatic function, breathing can drop out of our conscious minds into

the background where it does its work without respite. Then along comes a tickle in the throat, a rattle in the chest, or a burning in the sensitive linings of the lungs and suddenly breathing is all we can think about! When our respiratory system is challenged by air quality, illness or stress, there are many herbal remedies we can work with and many

The energetics of an herb allows us to really refine how we connect with the right plant for our purpose. other types of therapies we can use to get back to balance. However, supporting a healthy respiratory system before something comes up is the best way to show some love to our lungs and respect to our respiration.

Support Is superior Support means that we’re aware of our sen-

sitivities, know which seasons of the year tend to cause us the most trouble, and pay attention to how we’re breathing and what quality of air we’re taking in. If you’re one of those folks who just knows that every February you end up with the worst cough that lingers into the spring, you know that by mid-winter you’d better start supporting, nourishing and protecting your lungs before the trouble starts. If you’re someone who struggles with springtime allergies, summertime dry cough, or autumn colds, you can use that experience to work supportive herbs into your wellness protocol in advance. We’ll explore some wonderful supportive herbs for the respiratory system later on.

Herbal energetics If you have a book on herbs or some favorite websites filled with herbal wisdom, you can look up which plants are good for just about any ailment. But there’s more to the art and science of working with herbs than an A-Z list of “this herb for this condition.” The energetics of an herb allows us to really refine how we connect with the right plant for our purpose. Maybe the cough is wet, phlegmy, and productive. If so, taking an herb that’s energetically wet, cooling, and phlegm-producing will only make matters worse. While this herb could very well be celebrated for its effects on the lungs, throat and respiratory system and might be listed as a great herb for a cough, it’s not the right herb for the particular type of cough you have right now. For a wet, productive cough we would want to look for an herb that’s on the dryer, warmer side to help harmonize the situation and provide the body with what it needs to heal. Refine your search to include the characteristics of your cough or, if possible, work with a qualified herbalist to benefit from the energetic depths of plant medicine.

Herbs for respiratory support The list of herbs traditionally used to support a healthy respiratory system is epic in length, so I’ll introduce you to just a few of my favorites. These herbs show up a lot for us in our work with inversion, poor air, and seasonal ill-

nesses and they’re great allies to know about during every season. Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis) Hyssop is a proud member of the giant Mint family (Lamiaceae) which is native from Europe to the Middle East but grows cultivated in gardens around the world. Hyssop is one of my favorite herbs to work with when a thorough cleaning of the lungs is desired. This gentle herb moves into the deep lungs to help loosen and expel built-up waste and toxins creating a more free, open breath. I like to blend hyssop with other supporting herbs into a delicious herbal tea which can be enjoyed in the morning for a week or two as part of a cleansing routine. Mullein leaf (Verbascum Thapsus) Chances are you’ve seen mullein growing in foothills and yards around the valley. Mullein can reach over six feet in height here in Salt Lake City and it puts on an impressive show of canary-yellow flowers that bloom throughout the growing season. A biennial, mullein is small and unassuming during its first year of growth and reaches up with a giant flower-covered stalk on its second year. We work with mullein leaves as a demulcent herb specific to the lungs. This herb soothes, lubricates and protects the delicate linings of the respiratory system—much appreciated when there’s a dry, painful cough. Mullein leaves are covered in tiny little hairs which can irritate the throat, so tea made from this herb must be strained through a paper coffee filter. Mullein leaf is a base for many medicinal smoking blends due to its smooth draw and sweet flavor. Elecampane root (Inula helenium) A bright member of the Sunflower family (Asteraceae), elecampane brings a unique gift to the respiratory system. Elecampane

root simultaneously causes gentle expectoration while also soothing, protecting and relieving pain in the lungs. We use it in a tea or tincture blend whenever there’s inflammation and mucous in the lungs. Yerba santa (Eriodictyon californicum) Earlier I mentioned the importance of herbal energetics, and yerba santa is a great example of just how powerful this understanding can be. Celebrated as an herb for general respiratory wellness, bronchitis, cough and asthma, yerba santa is incredibly drying in its energy. This means that if you have a dry, irritated cough and take yerba santa, it may aggravate your condition or at least not help at all, even though it’s a fantastic respiratory herb. The drying nature of yerba santa makes it a great choice when the lungs are wet, bogged down with mucous, phlegmy or rattling.

Breathe deep Herbal teas are an easy way to work with most respiratory herbs. I also love them in tincture form so that they can travel with us wherever we may go. Herbal baths, steams, smoking blends and compresses are other forms of plant medicine that work well with the whole respiratory system depending on the person and their needs. Do your homework or consult a qualified herbalist or healthcare practitioner if you have special issues or find yourself diving in deep. When in doubt, brew a hot cup of your favorite herbal tea, inhale the warm steam as it dances away from your mug, and drink in the nourishment of your plant allies. u Josh Williams is a traditionally trained clinical herbalist and owner of Greenthread Herbs, a full-service herbal apothecary in the Avenues neighborhood of Salt Lake City.

24 catalystmagazine.net

February 2020

EDITOR’S NOTEBOOK

CATALYST says

goodbye to several longtime friends who have enriched our pages in various ways through past decades. BY GRETA BELANGER DEJONG

i like to read biography and autobiography. that, paired with a good dose of aDHD, makes me an avid reader of obituaries. the unspoken rule is— these are other people’s beloveds. the last six weeks, however, have turned this rule of magic realism upside down. i first met Diane Fouts in the early 1980s; we were among the youngest members of a well-established women’s dream group that met weekly for years. Diane, a lover of the wild outdoors, moved to moab. then somewhere down the line, she returned to salt lake city and became catalyst’s copy editor. editorially speaking, she could be gentle and ruthless at the same time; i learned so much from working with her! she was a faithful attendee of RDt’s saturday morning african Dance class for over a decade (see “african Dream," this issue). she knitted wondrous creations and baked sourdough delights from a family-heirloom starter. she got her degree in environmental Humanities at the University of Utah while working full time as an editor at Huntsman cancer institute and working for

catalyst, where our opinions, puns and poems flew back and forth at odd hours in the early days of the internet’s popularity. i missed her from the day she left us, some years ago, to focus on her thesis. But i felt bereft when i learned that on sunday, Jan. 12,

2020, she had left this mortal plane. it was not completely unexpected; Diane had exhausted the

menu of available treatments for lung cancer (she did not smoke) over the preceding years, and had, in fact, outlived her diagnosis. still, it felt far too soon. Her passing makes me realize how unreasonable we can be in the face of death. Denial runs deep. it just seemed to me that Diane, lucid and laughing to the end, at least on the internet, would carry on forever. two sundays earlier, on December 30, 2019, our friend marcee Blackerby, 75, left us. you have seen some of her work in these pages through the years. the February 2015 catalyst cover was the work of her husband Ric Blackby, who wrote this about marcee in that issue: “I rode in, looking for adventure. She was waiting for me to give her a ride. That red-headed cowgirl of my dreams. We met there on the salt range, in the shadow of the great Mount Olympus. I was dressed in leather

chaps, my finest. Our bandanas and t-shirts marked our era, innocent faces, our age. My blue horse would carry us both, across the universe. She holds her empty hat, waiting to fill it with our life. Behind us the skies beam with hope and pleasure. I painted the Horse i Rode in On for my wife, Marcee. A woman with the spirit to challenge any cowboy. We were a western kismet. Me riding. Her waiting. marcee Blackerby was a multimedia artist as well as writer, fortune teller and all-around force of nature. Her owl glasses, cropped carrot-orange hair and perpetual polio-induced lotus pose, as she sat in her wheel chair, made her easily identifiable wherever she went. likewise, a marcee Blackerby work of art was also easily identified, as an intimate theatre experience, active not static, humorous and at the same time mysterious, even sometimes foreboding. On many saturday mornings from spring through fall, John and i would see marcee and Ric at neighborhood yard sales, where they hunted for cast-offs yearning to be art. “i like the idea of resurrecting the discarded and obsolete, putting them on center stage with a new purpose and

life, perhaps creating a window into another dimension,â&#x20AC;? Marcee wrote in the online art magazine 15 Bytes. Marceeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unannounced departure (the result of a blood infection) has saddened so very many people who cherished her. A celebration of her life will be held this month; see her Facebook page for details. Nick Starkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wizened face was seen by CATALYST readers for years in the ad publicizing the monthly psychic fairs at Golden Braid Books and elsewhere. And for all the years after, he could be found in our Community Resource Directory. Many of you responded to his offerings of shamanic work and journeys to Peru. Nick was upfront about his own brokenness and was his own best student, who tackled his darkest personal foibles with fierce devotion and expected others to do the same for themselves. He was under scrutiny from the

police for his role in administering peyote in ceremony alongside his Ogden canyon creekside home, the same ceremonies in which many found salvation. In a long, entertaining phone conversation a few months ago, Nick told me fantastic stories I only half-believed: He was Deepak Chopraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cook. He interviewed Richard Nixon. People in positions of power and authority in our community worked with him. Inquiring around afterward, I learned all these things were true. Throughout his life, Nick had several dogs. They were all named Rudy. Rudy was listed in the Ogden phone directory. Nick experienced what appeared to be a relaxed death on January 16, 2020 at home on the couch of an apparent heart attack. He was 68 years old. I wish I had gotten to know him better. But isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t that what we almost always say? Hindsight.

Then thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ram Dass, who left us on December 22, 2019 at age 88. It does seem like all the best people die. But that includes all of us, eventually. Thank you for still being here and for reading this story. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s make the most of what life is left. u Greta Belanger deJong is the founder and editor of CATALYST Magazine.

Ed.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s note: According to the cover, you were supposed to find stories on air quality apps and maps within this issue. These stories will appear in the March 2020 editon of CATALYST.

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26 CATALYSTMAGAZINE.NET February, 2020

CATALYST COMMUNITY

CALENDAR Get the full calendar online: CATALYSTMAGAZINE.NET/COMMUNITY-CALENDAR/ Or sign up for the CATALYST Weekly Reader – updates every Thursday: HTTP://WWW.CATALYSTMAGAZINE.NET/SUBSCRIBE-WEEKLY-READER/ Feb. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: Weekly Rio Grande Winter Market @ Rio Grande Depot. 10a2p. Shop for local produce and specialty products. Free. SLCFARMERSMARKET.ORG

Afro-Fusion show and share their about African dancing and drumming skills. $6. RDTUTAH.ORG Feb. 8: Microgreens & Sprouting @ True Leaf Market. 10a-12p. Learn techniques for growing indoor greens and receive a set of supplies to get started. $5-20. Registration required. WASATCHGARDENS.ORG

Feb. 1: People’s Market Annual Seed Swap @ 9th West Farmers’ Market. 2p. Gather for a seed swap and light refreshments with Wasatch Community Gardens, Utah Beekeepers Association and other groups. Free. 9THWESTFARMERSMARKET.ORG Feb. 2: First Sunday Mindful Meditation @ Mindful Yoga Collective. Listen to a talk by a selected dharma teacher, sit for a short period and then join in on an insightful group discussion. Free. MINDFULYOGACOLLECTIVE.COM

Feb. 2, 9, 16, 23: Dance Church @ Rose Wagner. 10-11:30a. All-abilities movement class designed for people of all shapes and sizes, backgrounds and identities. $15. RIRIEWOODBURY.COM

Feb. 3: Repeal the Port Rally @ Utah State Capitol. 4-5p. Rally for repeal of the Utah Inland Port legislation with the Stop the Polluting Port Coalition. Free. STOPTHEPOLLUTINGPORT.ORG

Feb. 4: Rumi Poetry Club @ AndersonFoothill Library. 7-8:30p. Discuss Rumi's poems and celebrate the spiritual poetry of the community. Free. RUMIPOETRYCLUB.COM

Feb. 5: Steamy Dog Valentine’s Flash Reading @ UMFA. 7:30p. Reading session featuring eight writers from the Department of English at the University of Utah. Free. UMFA.UTAH.EDU

Feb. 3: Don Bogen & Paisley Rekdal @ Westminster College. 7-10p. Poets will read from their latest collections followed by book signings and reception. Free. WESTMINSTERCOLLEGE.EDU

Feb. 4: Artist Foundry Short Film Showcase @ The City Library. 7-9p. Utah Film Center hosts a showing of this year’s shorts and trailers from Artist Foundry residents. Free. UTAHFILMCENTER.ORG

Feb. 4: What is “Nature” in a Changing World? (Lecture) @ NHMU. 7-9p. Environmental writer Emma Marris will discuss the changing human relationship with nature, challenging conventional ideas about nature and urging action. Free with registration. NHMU.UTAH.EDU

Feb. 5: Curator Talk & Exhibition Preview @ UMFA. 5p. Preview the first major traveling exhibition of Japanese art at the UMFA, “Seven Masters: 20thCentury Japanese Woodblock Prints,” followed by a lecture on the shin hanga art movement. Free. UMFA.UTAH.EDU

Feb. 6: Research & Conservation of Utah’s Native Bees @ Marriott Library. 3:30-5:30p. USU biologist Dr. Joseph Wilson will introduce Utah native bee species and discuss the role they play in the state’s agricultural and natural landscapes. Free. LIB.UTAH.EDU Feb. 6-8: Utah Farm & Food Conference @ Heritage Center Theater, Cedar City. 8a-4p. Unite with other smaller-acreage producers, farmers and homesteaders for three days to engage in conversations, workshops, activities, farm tours and meals. $25-250. REDACRECENTER.ORG Feb. 7: Advocacy Training @ West Jordan Library. 12p. Learn how to advocate for your organization, details of bills and appropriations that impact the cultural sector and about what UCA will be advocating for this year. Free with registration. UTAHCULTURALALLIANCE.ORG Feb. 7: David Whyte @ Libby Gardner Concert Hall. 7-8:30p. The Jung Society of Utah hosts poet, author and internationally acclaimed speaker for “A Timeless Way: The Art & Practice of Creating a More Beautiful Mind.” $29-$125. JUNGUTAH.COM

Feb. 8: Brandi Carlile @ Vivant Arena. 8p. Performance from Grammy Award nominated singer-songwriter. $33-127. BRANDICARLILE.COM

Feb. 8: RDT'S Ring Around the Rose @ Rose Wagner. 11a. Artists from WOFA

Feb. 8: Chinese New Year Celebration @ The City Library. 12:30-5p. Cultural program including a Lion Dance, family-friendly crafts, a movie screening, calligraphy demonstrations and a discussion of traditional Chinese medicine. Free. SLCPL.ORG Feb. 8: King Conversation @ PBS Utah. 7-9p. The MLK Commission and PBS Utah host a conversation surrounding the stories presented in the book Coming of Age in Mississippi and the KUED Classic production, Utah's Freedom Riders. Free with registration. PBSUTAH.ORG Feb. 8: Annual Bob Marley Birthday Bash @ Soundwell. 8p. Roots Rawka presents a celebration of the life and legacy of Bob Marley with music by Natural Roots. $8. 21+. SOUNDWELLSLC.COM Feb. 9: What’s Happening at the Jordan River (Lecture) @ NHMU. 1-3p. Jordan River Commission Executive Director Søren Simonsen discusses the work being done to conserve, preserve, restore and improve the Jordan River Parkway. Free with admission. NHMU.UTAH.EDU Feb. 10: Monday Legislative Lunches on the Hill @ Utah State Capitol. 11a12:30p. Moms Demand Action hosts a weekly lunch to discuss the progress of key bills and announce scheduled meetings with legislators. Free. MOMSDEMANDACTION.ORG Feb. 11: Afterward (Film) @ The City Library. 7p. Documentary following Jerusalem-born trauma expert Ofra Bloch on a journey that takes her to Germany, Israel and Palestine. Free. UTAHFILMCENTER.ORG Feb. 11, 18, 25: Writer’s Guide to Sci-Fi @ SLCC Community Writing Center. 68p. Three-part class series exploring the Sci-Fi genre and workshopping Sci-Fi short stories. $30. SLCC.EDU

CATALYSTMAGAZINE.NET 27 Feb. 11: Managing US-China Relations (Lecture) @ Westminster College. 78:30p. Patricia Kim, senior policy analyst at the US Institute of Peace, discusses US foreign policy and how the US should manage strategic competition with China. Free. UTAHDIPLOMACY.ORG Feb. 12: Pints for a Purpose @ Kiitos Brewing. 5-9p. Casual evening of prize drawings, drinks and conversation about advocacy for diversity and unity. 21+. Free. KIITOSBREWING.COM Feb. 12: After Parkland (Film) @ The City Library. 7p. Documentary screening followed by post-film discussion organized by local anti-violence nonprofits. Free. UTAHFILMCENTER.ORG Feb. 12: 2020 Arts & Library Days on the Hill @ Utah State Capitol. 8-5p. Day of advocacy for both Arts and Libraries including meetings with legislators, library and arts activities and a women’s suffrage celebration. Free with registration. UTAHCULTURALALLIANCE.ORG Feb. 13: Short-eared Owl Grid Survey Training @ Hawkwatch International. 6:30-8p. Join the conservation effort to establish short-eared owl population estimates that can be used to inform State Wildlife Action Plans. Free. HAWKWATCH.ORG

Feb. 13: The Bee // Promises, Promises @ Metro Music Hall. 6p Doors. 7p Stories. 10 storytellers picked at random from a hat have five minutes each to tell a true story on the theme of the night without notes! $15. 21+. THEBEESLC.ORG Feb. 14: Valentine’s Evening with Art @ UMFA. 6:30p. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic libations and hors d’oeuvres, gallery viewing and live music. 21+. $59. UMFA.UTAH.EDU Feb. 15: Intro to Organic Vegetable Farming @ Glendale Library. 10:30a12p. Workshop led by Wasatch Community Gardens. Free with registration. WASATCHGARDENS.ORG Feb. 15: Third Saturday for Families: Relief Printing @ UMFA. 1-4p. Explore woodblock prints in the exhibition “Seven Masters” for free. Afterward, create your own multicolored prints using supplied stamps and ink. Free. UMFA.UTAH.EDU Feb. 16: Postcards for Democracy @ Amour Café. (First & third Sundays. 2pm. Postcards, pens, addresses, issues and stamps provided. Salt Lake Indivisible @SLINDIVISIBLE Feb. 16: 12 Minutes Max @ The City Library. 2-3:30p. Experimental performance series featuring short works by local artists in many disciplines. Free. SLCPL.ORG

Feb. 17: SLAY Lake City Camper Showcase @ The Depot. 6:30-8:30p. Rock Camp SLC’s showcase concert featuring SLAY Lake City’s camp of women, transgender, non-binary and genderexpanzie adults. $5. ROCKCAMPFORGIRLSSLC.ORG

handmade crafts, tech, and photography. $25. 21+. RAWARTISTS.COM Feb. 21: Art for Justice @ Modern West Fine Art. 6-9p. Exhibition that unites a curated selection of works by women

Feb. 18: Tanner Talk with Ibram X. Kendi @ UMFA. 3p. Tanner Humanities Center presents a reading and book signing by the New York Times bestselling author and founding director of the Antiracist Research and Policy Center at American University. Free. UMFA.UTAH.EDU Feb. 18: Re-Bisoning the West author Kurt Repanshek @ Tracy Aviary. Hosted by The King’s English. 6:30pm. Restoring an American icon to the landscape. Feb. 18: At the Video Store (Film) @ The City Library. 7p. Documentary about the video rental industry’s changing business. Free. UTAHFILMCENTER.ORG Feb. 19: Canyon Congestion @ The City Library. 7-8p. Join the SL Tribune for a public forum focused on traffic jams, parking woes and pollution issues in the community. Free. SLTRIB.COM Feb. 20: RAW Artists Premiere @ The Depot. 7-11p. Spotlight of local independent talent in visual art, film, fashion, music, performance art,

Feb. 11: Sunni Wilkinson @ Weller Book Works. 6:30-8p. Poet Sunni Wilkinson will read and sign his collection, The Marriage of the Moon and the Field. Free. WELLERBOOKWORKS.COM

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28 CATALYSTMAGAZINE.NET

SHALL WE DANCE?

February 2020

Kim Strunk

African dream How Congolese and West African dance came to Utah BY AMY BRUNVAND

f you go down to the Rose Wagner late on a Saturday morning, you can feel the vibration of African drums in the soles of your feet as soon as you walk through the door. Inside the studio where the African dance class meets, drummers are pounding out intersecting rhythms while pulsing dancers leap and crouch with grounded energy and wild limbs. Your feet are literally itching to take a place in the rows of dancers and let loose. But it’s not as easy as just moving with the drumbeats. There’s a method and technique in the dancing that’s rooted in African traditions and cultures. The movement feels ancient and elemental and deeply human.

The movement feels ancient and elemental and deeply human. This kind of dancing seems like an exotic thing to find in Salt Lake City, but the African dance class has been meeting practically every Saturday morning since it was founded in 1996 by Kim Strunk and Jenni Indresano. Neither woman is originally Congolese or West African. They learned to dance from influential teachers

like Mabiba Baegne and Malonga Casquelourd. The original drum community was started by Jeff Wax and by Fred Simpson, who now leads the African Drum Ensemble at the Santa Fe University of Art and Design in New Mexico. The dance community they founded is so strong that it’s still vibrant after the founders moved on. Strunk, who danced with RDT from 19811992, went on to study dance at the University of Utah. Her MFA Thesis is on “Finding a Voice as a Contemporary Dance Artist Through the Investigation of the African Aesthetic in Art and Motion.” In the thesis she writes about exploring “cross-culturization” as cultures merge and shift to form new aesthetics. She describes how she began to study African influences on modern dance and became more and more infatuated with the original African dance forms. Recognizing that she was coming to African dance as a cultural outsider, Strunk wrote, “Initially, I was somewhat uncomfortable teaching African-based classes. My sensitivity towards issues of cultural appropriation and identity led me to question whether it was appropriate for me to teach a cultural dance form other than my own. Despite my concerns, I took on the challenge trusting that my passion and respect for African dance and culture could overcome sensitive issues.”

When she wrote the thesis, Strunk had never been to Africa, but nonetheless her teachers had confidence in her abilities. She describes a conversation with a skeptical student who asked Strunk if she had been to Africa. “I told the student, ‘no, I had not,’ and [Fred] Simpson replied that, yes, I had; one night as I was sleeping I made a trip, had supper with the people and came home.” More than 20 years later the truth of this story has become evident. Maybe Strunk had never been to Africa, but thanks to her dream trip, Africa came to Utah. The African dance community centered at the RDT Community School has made it worthwhile for teachers to come to Salt Lake City. So Utahns have had opportunities to study dance and drumming with teachers from Africa they Rosie Banchero might never have met and to make cultural connections they might never have made. These days Rosie Banchero, artistic director of WOFA Afro Fusion Dance, is teaching African dance at RDT Community School. WOFA is performing for RDT’s Ring Around the Rose children’s series on Saturday, February 8, so take the kids to experience some hands-on African drumming and dancing. Perhaps one night they’ll dream of Africa. u Amy Brunvand is a published poet, librarian for the University of Utah’s Office of Sustainability and a longtime CATALYST contributor. We are so grateful for Amy.

• African Dance, Saturdays 10:20am: RDT’s Dance Center on Broadway, 138 W. 300 South, SLC. $14 drop-in, or $10 with a punch card. rdtutah.org/danceclasses • African Drums with WOFA African Fusion Dance. Febrary 8, 2020, 11:00am. Ring Around the Rose (wiggle-friendly concerts for children and families). 138 W. 300 South, SLC. Tickets $6 from Rdtutah.org/forkids.html • WOFA Afro Fusion Dance Company: wofaslc.com • SLC African dance and music connection:facebook.com/groups/1300 17993722568/

CATALYSTMAGAZINE.NET 29 zen master D. Genpo Merzel. Suggested donation. BIGMIND.ORG Feb. 23: MarchFourth @ OP Rockwell. 8-11p. Internationally acclaimed group of musicians, dancers and artisans performing acts such as stilt walking, hooping and Vaudeville-style dancing. $16-30. MARCHFOURTHBAND.COM Feb. 24: Writing for Healing, Emotional Balance and Self-Awareness @ Our Lady of the Snows Center. 6:458p. Writing practice to help heal and regain balance in the face of conflict or dilemmas. Free. ALTAARTS.ORG Feb. 25: The Nature Fix (Lecture) @ NHMU. 7-9p. Shankar Vedantam, host of NPR's Hidden Brain, will interview prize-winning author Florence Williams about the restorative power of nature. $20. NHMU.UTAH.EDU Feb. 25: True Justice (Film) @ The City Library. 7p. Documentary following Alabama public interest attorney Bryan Stevensonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fight for equality in the criminal justice system. Free. UTAHFILMCENTER.ORG Feb. 26: One Child Nation (Film) @ Rose Wagner. 7p. Documentary exploring the ripple effect of Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s devastating social experiment. Free. UTAHFILMCENTER.ORG

Feb. 25: Zen Master D. Genpo Merzel @ Wasatch Conference Center. 7:30-9p. Informational talk by the founder of Kanzeon, Inc. and creator of the Big Mind Big Heart Process. Suggested donation. BIGMIND.ORG

artists from the Agnes Gund Collection. Free. MODERNWESTFINEART.COM

Feb. 27: Alex Lantaffi @ The Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s English Bookshop. 7-9p. Alex Lantaffi will read, discuss and sign the new nonfiction book, Life Isn't Binary. Free. KINGSENGLISH.COM

Feb. 22: Storytelling for Grown-Ups @ Mindful Yoga Collective. 12-5pm. Practice the art and craft of storytelling in this workshop with Giuliana Serena and Nan Seymour of The Bee. Space is limited. THEBEESLC.ORG/WORKSHOPS.

Feb. 28: Conference on Diverse Excellence @ University of Utah. 8:30a-3:30p. Conference on intersectional identities, systems of oppression, solidarity and privilege. Keynote speech, workshops and additional services. Free. UTAH.EDU

Feb. 22: Zine Club @ The City Library. 2-4p. Learn about zines and make your own at this all-age monthly meetup. Free. SLCPL.ORG

Feb. 28: Female Pleasure (Film) @ UMOCA. 7p. Documentary following five courageous women breaking the norms of their archaic-patriarch societies and religious communities. Free. UTAHFILMCENTER.ORG

Feb. 22, 29: Writing Across the Civil-Military Divide @ SLCC Community Writing Center. 1-3p. Two-part writing and reading workshop focused on veteran memoir and other forms of creative nonfiction. Free with registration. SLCC.EDU

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Feb. 29: Annual Snowshoe Tree Tour @ Wasatch Mountain State Park. 10a-1p. Snowshoe hike led by TreeUtah naturalists who will teach about the local trees and history. $5. TREEUTAH.ORG

Feb. 22-24: Attachments that Hinder Your Life @ Wasatch Conference Center. Three-day workshop with

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YOGA

February 2020

Baby backbends Yoga’s unsung power poses

BY CHARLOTTE BELL

ou won’t see them on Instagram. There ward-flexed position. The spinal extensors, the are so many other backbends that look muscles that help us maintain an upright spine, way more impressive on a sunset- continue to weaken and can no longer do their drenched beach. In fact, they may barely job of keeping the spine vertical. register as backbends when you look at The solution: Strengthen the spinal extensors, the outer form. Indeed, they are called “baby” specifically the erector spinae. The name tells you backbends, suggesting lesser poses that are re- all you need to know: When they contract, they served for people who can’t do the “real” backbends. And yet, after 38 years of BY PERMISSION OF HUGGER MUGGER YOGA PRODUCTS yoga practice, I’ve developed new appreciation for these power-packed poses. In 2016, I had my first bone density scan. While I had no reason to think my bones might be at risk—my mother touted her strong bones well into her 80s—my doctor recommended it as a matter of course. Much to my surprise and disappointment, the results showed osteopenia in my lumbar spine. My doctor recommended bone-building drugs, but was open to my desire to try a more targeted calcium supplement and to change my exercise program. In late 2019, I had another bone scan. The second scan showed significant improvement. I can’t attribute my improvement to just one thing. I’ve faithfully taken daily calcium and have brought my vitamin D3 up to a healthy level. (My D3 levels were quite low at the time of my first bone scan.) In addition, I started weekly strength keep the spine erect. These muscles not only training 18 months ago. And I’ve begun practic- help you maintain upright posture; the pressure ing a whole lot more baby backbends. of these muscles squeezing in on the spine helps build and strengthen the vertebrae.

While weak abdominals do contribute to back pain and postural problems, abdominal strengthening is only half of the equation.

The core is not just the abs

Most of the time when we think of stabilizing the core, abdominal strengthening comes to mind. While weak abdominals do contribute to back pain and postural problems, abdominal strengthening is only half of the equation. Weak back muscles contribute equally to these issues. We spend a whole lot of our time sitting. When we sit and hunch over a device, every joint is in a flexed position—the spine, the shoulders, the hips, the knees and the ankles. This can cause the flexors—including the abdominal muscles—to shorten, and the extensors—including the back muscles—to become slack. As the flexors shorten, we become a whole lot more likely to assume a flexed posture even when we are not sitting. (FYI: In terms of the spine, “flexion” means forward bending and “extension” means backbending.) Over time, gravity conspires with the force of habit to cause the spine to become fixed in a for-

Baby backbends for strong bones and upright posture In my experience, the yoga poses that are most supportive of strengthening the spinal extensors are the baby backbends. These powerful poses are mostly practiced from a prone position. They include poses such as Salabhasana (Locust Pose), Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose) and Ardha Bhujangasana (Half Cobra Pose). Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (Bridge Pose) can also reside in the baby backbend category, even though it’s initiated from a supine position. Most of all, baby backbends are poses that employ the spinal extensors—either exclusively or with some support from the limbs—to gently but powerfully extend the spine. My number one pick for spine-strengthening, posture-supporting baby backbends are the many variations of Salabhasana. What

makes these poses especially powerful is that they employ the back muscles exclusively to engage the spinal extensors. In Cobra Pose, Bridge Pose and the other backbending yoga poses, the arms and legs support spinal extension, sometimes so much so that the back muscles largely disengage.

How to practice baby backbends 1. Props: a yoga mat and a folded blanket. 2. Lie face down on the mat with the folded blanket under your hipbones. 3. Extend your arms alongside your body. Then clasp your fingers behind you, rolling the shoulders up and away from the floor. Stretch your hands back behind you. 4. Ground your hips, legs and feet, and lift your chest, shoulders and head off the floor. Avoid throwing your head back. Instead, keep the back of your neck long, so that your head and neck follow the trajectory of your thoracic spine. Lift your arms up toward the sky. 5. Take five to 10 deep breaths. Then release your upper body back onto the mat and rest your forehead in your hands. Breathe into your back, expanding your back on the inhalations and settling into the floor on your exhalations. 6. Now follow the same instructions and practice these variations: a. Lift the chest, shoulders and head with the arms extended straight outward from your shoulders. b. Return to the first arm position and lift the legs in addition to the upper body. c. Extend the arms straight outward from your shoulders and lift the legs as well as the upper body. For some, lifting the spine off the floor without using the arms will be difficult to impossible. For these practitioners, and for those with significant scoliosis (lateral curves), Sphinx Pose and/or Cobra Pose with light support from the arms and hands, along with Bridge Pose will be the best choice for strengthening and extending the spine. Don’t let the diminutive nickname fool you. The baby backbends, along with weight-bearing exercise and proper nutrition, might be your greatest allies in helping you maintain a strong spine and graceful, upright posture throughout your life. u Charlotte Bell has been practicing yoga since 1982. She is the author of several yoga-related books including, most recently, Hip Healthy Asana, and founder of Mindful Yoga Collective in Salt Lake City. CHARLOTTEBELLYOGA.COM/

February 2020

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COMMUNITY Resource Directory Psychotherapy and Personal Growth • Abode • Bodywork • Movement Sport • Intuitive Sciences • Health • Spiritual Practice • Psychic Arts ABODE AUTOMOTIVE Schneider Auto Karosserie 8/20 801.484.9400, f 801.484.6623, 1180 S 400 W, SLC. Utah’s first green body shop. Making customers happy since 1984! We are a friendly, full-service collision repair shop in SLC. Your satisfaction is our goal. We’ll act as your advocate with your insurance company to ensure proper repairs and give you a lifetime warranty. WWW.SCHNEIDER AUTO.NET

DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, ORGANIZATION Ann Larsen Residential Design DA 10/20 801.604.3721. Specializing in historically sensitive design solutions and adding charm to the ordinary. HOUSEWORKS4@YAHOO.COM

GREEN PRODUCTS Underfoot Floors DA 11/20 801.467.6636, 1900 S 300 W, SLC. We offer innovative & earth friendly floors including bamboo, cork, marmoleum, hardwoods, natural fiber carpets as well as sand and finishing hardwood. Free in-home estimates. Please visit our showroom. KE@UNDERFOOTFLOORS.COM WWW.UNDERFOOTFLOORS.NET

HOUSING Urban Utah Homes & Estates DA 9/20 801.595.8824, 380 W 200 S, #101, SLC. Founded in 2001 by Babs De Lay. WWW.URBANUTAH.COM

DINING Coffee Garden DA 801.355.3425, 900 E 900 S and 254 S. Main, SLC. High-end espresso, delectable pastries & desserts. Great places to people watch. M-Thur 6a-11p; Fri 6a-12p, Sat 7a-12p, Sun 7a-11p. Wifi.

Oasis Cafe DA 11/20 801.322.0404,151 S 500 E, SLC. A refreshing retreat in the heart of the city, Oasis Cafe provides a true sanctuary of spectacular spaces: the beautiful flower-laden patio, the private covered breezeway or the casual style dining room. Authentic American cafe-style cuisine plus full bar, craft beers, wine list and more. WWW.OASISC AFESLC.COM

HEALTH & BODYWORK ACUPUNCTURE Alethea Healing Acupuncture5/20 801.988.5898, 2180 E 4500 S, Ste 210L, Holladay. Relief from acute and chronic pain, stress, anxiety, depression and PTSD. Balance digestive, respiratory, hormonal and reproductive systems. Enhance focus, energy and concentration. Offering acupuncture,

cupping, moxibustion and nutrition guidance. Standard Process Provider. Enhance your winter performance! Winter hours include weekends. www.ALETHEAHEALINGACUPUNCTURE.COM

Keith Stevens Acupuncture 3/20 801.255.7016, 209.617.7379 (c). Dr.

cializing in custom, small batch tinctures, salves, green drink and teas. Also features a knowledge center with books, classes & consultation on herbs, bees, massage/bodywork wellness and more! www.NATURALLAWAPOTHECARY.COM

Keith Stevens, OMD, now located at 870 E 9400 S, Ste. 110 (South Park Medical Complex). Specializing in chronic pain treatment, stress-related insomnia, fatigue, headaches, sports medicine, traumatic injury and postoperative recovery. Board-certified for hep-c treatment. National Acupuncture Detox Association (NADA)-certified for treatment of addiction. Women’s health, menopausal syndromes. www.STEVENSACUCLINIC.COM

AYURVEDA Maria Radloff, AWC, E-RYT5006/20

SLC Qi Community Acupuncture 12/20

ENERGY HEALING Abi J. Bateman, Reiki Master/Teacher

801.521.3337, 242 S 400 E Suite B, SLC. Affordable Acupuncture! Sliding scale rates ($20-40). Open weekends. Grab a recliner and relax in a safe, comfortable, and healing space. We help with pain, fertility, digestion, allergies, arthritis, sleep and stress disorders, cardiac/respiratory conditions, metabolism & more. WWW.SLCQ I .COM

480.600.3765. SLC. Ayurveda is the art of longevity and health. Maria specializes in ayurvedic healing using food choices, lifestyle & routines, herbs and yoga practices. She offers personal ayurvedic consults for preventive health and healing, corporate wellness packages, public workshops and educational events. WWW.MARIYURVEDA.COM

801.859.2513. Body-mind-spirit-connection. Abi has over seven years experience helping her clients achieve deep relaxation, which taps into the body’s natural healing process. Trained in traditional Usui and Holy Fire Reiki, and the healing use of crystals and minerals. Reiki - good for life!

ABIJBATEMAN@GMAIL.COM8/20

APOTHECARY Natural Law Apothecary 12/20

Cynthia Boshard, Reiki Master12/20

801.613.2128. 619 S 600 W Salt Lake's premier herbal medicine shop featuring 100+ organic/wild-harvested herbs available in any amount. Spe-

801.554.3053. Center for Enhanced Wellness, 2627 E Parleys Way. Calm, balance, relieve stress, and support your body’s natural abilities to heal.

COMMUNITY

Cynthia has 12 years experience in Usui System of Natural Healing. Intuitive aura readings also offered—all to support improved health and wellbeing. ReIkISLC.Com

INSTRUCTION “Energy Codes” Certified Master Trainer, Kathleen A. Bratcher, LMT6/20 801.879.6924. 1555 e Stratford Ave, STe 400, SLC. embodiment exercises, meditations and principles from Dr. Sue morter’s book, The energy Codes, #1 L.A. Times Bestseller. Awaken health potential—grounded in energy medicine, neurobiology, and quantum physics—through eC teachings & exercises. Classes & private sessions available. Community on Facebook at energy Codes Utah. AFkB @ mSN . Com

MASSAGE

Agua Alma Aquatic Bodywork 5/20 801.891.5695. mary Cain, LmT, YA 500, mS Psychology. Relax in a warm pool supported by floats, explore the transformative balancing potential of water massage, likened to Watsu. enjoy table massage using Transformational Neuromuscular technique, hot stones, Reiki and Yoga. We will find the right bodywork blend to meet your specific needs. Wellness coaching, excellent references. www.FRomSoURCe ToSoURCe.Com

Healing Mountain Massage School 12/19 801.355.6300, 363 S 500 e, Ste. 210, SLC. www.HeALINgmoUNTAINSPA.Com

M.D. PHYSICIANS Todd Mangum, MD, Web of Life Wellness Center 801.531.8340, 34 S 500 e, #103, SLC. Integrative Family Practitioner utilizing functional medicine for treatment of conditions such as: fatigue, fibro-myalgia, digestion, adrenals, hormones, and more. Dr. mangum recommends diet, supplementation, HRT and other natural remedies in promoting a health-conscious lifestyle. WWW.WeBoFLIFeWC.Com, THePeoPLe@WeBoFLIFeWC.Com 2/20

NUTRITION Teri Underwood RD, MS, CD, IFMCP 8/20 801-831-6967. Registered Dietitian/Certified Functional medicine Practitioner. Food-based, individualized diet plans, high-quality nutrition supplements, and counsel-

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ing. Digestion, Diabetes, Vegans, Cardio-metabolic, Autoimmune, Cancer, Cognitive Decline, Food Intolerance, Fatigue, Weight Loss, Thyroid, Chronic Health Problems, Preventive Health. TeRI@SUSTAINABLeDIeTS.Com

STRUCTURAL INTEGRATION Open Hand Bodywork DA 801.694.4086, Dan Schmidt, gCFP, LmT. 244 W 700 S, SLC. WWW.oPeNHANDSLC.Com

YOGA THERAPY Dana Levy, C-IAYT, M.A. 4/20 419.309.1190. A Certified Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT), Dana works through the body, supporting clients with a variety of issues to develop greater awareness of patterns, more effective coping skills, and improved health using not only tools of yoga and meditation, but also modern somatic and embodiment practices. DANA@DANALeVYYogA.Com www.DANALeVYYogA.Com

MISCELLANEOUS ENTERTAINMENT 12/19 Utah Film Center 801.746.7000, 122 main St, SLC.WWW.UTAHFILmCeNTeR.oRg

LEGAL ASSISTANCE Schumann Law, Penniann J. Schumann, J.D., LL.M 3/20 DA 801.631.7811. Whether you are planning for your own future protection and management, or you are planning for your family, friends, or charitable causes, Penniann Schumann can assist you with creating and implementating a plan to meet those goals. WWW.eSTATePLANNINgFoRUTAH.Com

MEDIA KRCL 90.9FM DA 801.363.1818, 1971 N Temple, SLC. WWW.kRCL.oRgDA

SPACE FOR RENT Space available at Center for Transpersonal Therapy 3/20 801.596.0147 x41, 5801 S Fashion Blvd., Ste. 250, murray. Two large plush spaces available for rent by the hour, day or for weekend use. Pillows, yoga chairs, regular chairs and kichenette area included. Size: 395 sq. ft./530 sq. ft. WWW.CTTSLC.Com, THeCeNTeR@CTTSLC.Com

WEALTH MANAGEMENT Harrington Wealth Services DA 2/20

PSYCHIC/TAROT READINGS Suzanne Wagner DA 1/20

801.871.0840 (o), 801.673.1294, 8899 S 700 e, Ste. 225, Sandy, UT 84070. Robert Harrington, Wealth Advisor. RoBeRT.HARRINgToN@LPL.Com WWW.H ARRINgToN W eALTH S eRVICeS . Com

707.354.1019. An inspirational speaker and healer, she also teaches Numerology, Palmistry, Tarot and Channeling. WWW.S Uz WAgNeR . Com

& MOVEMENT & PSYCHOTHERAPY PERSONAL GROWTH MEDITATION, MARTIAL ARTS Red Lotus School of Movement 12/19 801.355.6375, 40 N 800 W, SLC. established in 1994, Red Lotus School offers traditional-style training in the classical martial arts of T'ai Chi and Wing Chun kung-fu. Located with Urgyen Samten Ling Tibetan Buddhist Temple. INFo@ReDLoTUSSCHooL.Com, WWW.ReDLoTUSSCHooL.Com

YOGA INSTRUCTORS Mindful Yoga: Charlotte Bell DA 1/20 801.355.2617. e-RYT-500 & Iyengar certified. Cultivate strength, vitality, serenity, wisdom and grace. Combining clear, well-informed instruction with ample quiet time, these classes encourage students to discover their own yoga. Classes include meditation, pranayama (breath awareness) and yoga nidra (yogic sleep) as well as physical practice of asana. Public & private classes, workshops in a supportive, non-competitive environment since 1986. WWW.CHARLoTTeBeLLYogA.Com

PSYCHIC ARTS & INTUITIVE SCIENCES ASTROLOGY Transformational Astrology FOG 212.222.3232. Ralfee Finn. Catalyst’s astrology columnist for 20 years! Visit her website, WWW.AqUARIUmAge.Com, RALFee@AqUARIUmAge.Com

CHANNELING Carol Ann Christensen 3/20 c: 801.558.0824 or h: 801.281.9648. Clairvoyant, aura reading, psychometry, astrology, numerology, psychic healing, past lives medium, crystal reading. Practicing since 1975.

HYPNOSIS Rise Up Hypnosis 4/20 808.755.5224. SLC. Jennifer Van gorp, qHHT. Past life hypnosis that is truly empowering. Allows the client to realize that they hold the key to every lock they've carried with them - and provides the clarity to unlock it. one-on-one and group sessions available. RISeUPHYPNoSIS@gmAIL.Com WWW.RISeUPHYPNoSIS.Com

THERAPY/COUNSELING Big Heart Healing, Dr. Paul Thielking 801.413.8978. SLC. Helping people on the path of personal growth, healing, and self-discovery. Through workshops and retreats, Dr. Thielking utilizes what he has learned as a psychiatrist, zen student, and Big mind facilitator to help others to experience a deeper sense of meaning, fulfillment, and joy in life. PAUL@BIgHeARTHeALINg.Com BIgHeARTHeALINg.Com5/20

Cynthia Kimberlin-Flanders, LPC 10/20 801.231.5916. 1399 S. 700 e., Ste. 15, SLC. Feeling out of sorts? Tell your story in a safe, non-judgmental environment. over 21 years specializing in recovery from covert narcissistic abuse, depression, anxiety, life-transitions, anger management, relationships and "middle-aged crazy." most insurances, sliding scale and medication management referrals. If you've been waiting to talk to someone, wait no more.

Healing Pathways Therapy Center 2/20 435.248.2089. 4465 S. 900 e. Ste 150, millcreek & 1810 W. 700 N. Ste 100, Lindon. Integrated counseling and neurofeedback services for anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship, life adjustment issues. Focusing on clients’ innate capacity to heal and resolve past and current obstacles

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rather than just cope. Modalities include EMDR, Neurofeedback, EFT, Mindfulness, and Feminist/Multicultural. Info@PathwaysUtah.coM www.HEalINgPaTHwaysTHERaPy.coM

Mountain Lotus Counseling4/20 801.524.0560. Theresa Holleran, lcsw & sean Patrick McPeak, csw. learn yourself. Transform. Depth psychotherapy and transformational services for individuals, relation-ships, groups and communities. www.MoUNTaINloTUscoUNsElINg.coM

Natalie Herndon, PhD, CMHC 7/20 801.657.3330. 9071 s 1300 w, suite 100, west Jordan. 15+ years experience specializing in Jungian, analytical, and cognitive-Behavioral Therapy. are you seeking to more deeply understand yourself, your relationships, and why you struggle with certain thoughts and feelings? call today for an appointment and let's begin. www.HoPEcaNHElP.NET NaTalIEHERNDoN@HoPEcaNHElP.NET

P. Soni, MD 2/20 801-558-4511. Jungian-based therapy using active imagination and dreams to facilitate personal understanding and growth. This is a small practice. I do not take insurance. salt lake area.

Stephen Proskauer, MD, Integrative Psychiatry 4/20 801.631.8426. 76 s. Main st., #6, Moab. seasoned psychiatrist, Zen priest and shamanic healer. sees kids, teens, adults, couples and families, integrating psychotherapy and meditation with judicious use of medication to relieve emotional pain and problem behavior. specializes in treating identity crises, and bipolar disorders. sees patients in person in Provo and Moab. Taking phone appointments. sPRoskaUER@coMcasT.NET

SHAMANIC PRACTICE Sarah Sifers, Ph.D., LCSW 3/ 20 801.531.8051. ssIFERs514@aol.coM. shamanic counseling. shamanic Healing, Minister of the circle of the sacred Earth. Mentoring for people called to the shaman’s Path. Explore health or mental health issues using the ways of the shaman. sarah’s extensive training includes shamanic extraction healing, soul retrieval healing, psychopomp work for death and dying, shamanic counseling and shamanic divination. sarah has studied with celtic, Brazilian, Tuvan, Mongolian, Tibetan and Nepali shamans.

RETAIL line goes here APPAREL, GIFTS & TREASURES Blue Boutique 10/20DA 801.487.1807, 1383 s. 2100 E., slc. shopping Made sexy since 1987. www.B lUEBoUTIqUE.coM

Dancing Cranes Imports DA8/20

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FEEL THE DIFFERENCE Save up to $10 when you combine a massage w/ any spa treatment

COMMUNITY 801.486.1129, 673 E. Simpson Ave., SLC. Jewelry, clothing, incense, ethnic art, pottery, candles, chimes and much more! Visit Café Solstice for lunch, too. WWW.D ANCING C RANES I MPORTS . COM

tools. Come in and let us help you create your sanctuary. WWW.T URIYAS . COM

Golden Braid Books DA 11/20

SLC: 801.268.3000, 880 E 3900 S & W Jordan: 801.446.0499, 1817 W 9000 S. We focus on health & holistic living through education, empowerment and high-quality products. With supplements, homeopathics, herbs, stones, books and beauty care products, we provide you with the options you need to reach your optimum health. Certified professionals also offer private consultations. WWW.D AVES H EALTH . COM

801.322.1162, 151 S. 500 E., SLC. A true sanctuary for conscious living in the city. Offerings include gifts and books to feed mind, body, spirit, soul and heart; luscious health care products to refresh and revive; and a Lifestyles department to lift the spirit. www.G OLDEN B RAID B OOKS . COM

iconoCLAD—We Sell Your Previously Rocked Stuff & You Keep 50% 801.833.2272. 414 E 300 S, SLC. New and previously rocked (aka, consigned) men’s and women’s fashion, summer festival gear and locally made jewelry, clothing, crafts and decor. M-Sat 11a-9p, Sun 1p-6p. Follow us on Instagram/Facebook/Twitter @iconoCLAD to see new inventory before someone beats you to it! WWW.I CONO CLAD. COM 3/20

Turiya’s Gifts8/20 DA

VALENTINE’S DAY SPECIAL Book a Couple’s Massage for Valentine’s Day & receive:

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801.531.7823, 1569 S. 1100 E., SLC. M-F 11a-7p, Sat 11a-6p, Sun 12-5p. Turiya’s is a metaphysical gift and crystal store. We have an exquisite array of crystals and minerals, jewelry, drums, sage and sweet grass, angels, fairies, greeting cards and meditation

tion, and practice of Tibetan Buddhist teachings. W W W.U R GYEN S AMTEN L ING . ORG

Utah Eckankar 9/20 HEALTH & WELLNESS Dave’s Health & Nutrition 7/20

SPIRITUAL PRACTICE line goes here ORGANIZATIONS Inner Light Center Spiritual Community 801.919.4742, 4408 S 500 E, SLC. Interspiritual sanctuary. Sunday Celebration: 10am. WWW.T HE I NNER L IGHT C ENTER . ORG 4

Urgyen Samten Ling Gonpa Tibetan Buddhist Temple 801.328.4629, 40 N. 800 W., SLC. Urgyen Samten Ling Gonpa offers an open environment for the study, contempla-

801.542.8070. 8105 S 700 E, Sandy. Eckankar teaches you to be more aware of your own natural relationship with Divine Spirit. Many have had spiritual experiences and want to learn more about them and how they can help us in our daily lives. All are welcome. WWW. ECKANKAR - UTAH . ORG

INSTRUCTION Two Arrows Zen Center 3/20DA 801.532.4975, ArtSpace, 230 S. 500 W., #155, SLC. Two Arrows Zen is a center for Zen study and practice in Utah with two location: SLC & Torrey. The ArtSpace Zendo in SLC offers daily morning meditation and a morning service and evening sit on Thursday. TAZ also offers regular daylong intensives—Day of Zen—and telecourses. WWW.T WO A RROWS Z EN . ORG

The Source Within 6/20 Questing (solitary introspection in nature) has been used by cultures, traditions, and mystics around the world for countless generations as a tool to “know thyself”. We facilitate questing programs for people seeking Self-discovery, a purposeful path, and transformation. Information online at: S OURCE W ITHIN Q UEST. NET

➢ A Candle Lit Room, Rose Petals, Sparkling Juice & Chocolate at no extra cost. ➢ Available February 14th. ➢ Call to book today!

801-355-6300 ext. 1 Open Every Day 9 - 9pm

healingmountain.e du 363 S. 500 E. Suite 210, SLC, UT 84102

2020 is the year to promote your work in CATALYST Community Resource Directory CATALYST 801-363-1505 SALES@CATALYSTMAGAZINE.NET

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SLIGHTLY OFF CENTER

Unresolved Predictions for the new Roaring Twenties BY DENNIS HINKAMP

f I had made any, most of my New Year’s resolutions would be dust by now. Resolutions sound too certain when most of the world is mostly conflicted and unresolved. I’ll limit my new decade bloviating to predictions. They are easy because you can claim genius by reminding people how right you were while most won’t remember the ravings you got wrong. These will be the major developments of the new Roaring Twenties: The smoking/vaping controversy is just barely getting started. It’s going to push more people into smoking and vaping. There are only less-horrible ways to consume nicotine. If science came up with a way for you to drink all the whiskey you want without impairing your driving, but you could still become addicted to it, would that be a good thing? The meat industry will fight back against plant-based meat by coming up with meat-based plants.“Wouldn’t your kids eat more broccoli if it tasted like bacon?” they’ll advertise. Like the characters who muse in The Matrix movie, “Who cares if it’s real if it tastes real?”With all this satanic food science going on, I don’t think we are far from the real life Star Trek food replicator. Now that would be the ultimate fast food. The things we talk to will also talk back. It’s getting pretty common to talk to devices and have them answer specific questions. Soon they will start initiating conversations based on algorithms. They will monitor your household patterns and do a quick urinalysis. “You drink too much coffee and eat too much sausage,” Alexa’s progeny will say. “May I suggest a dietician or therapist?” No matter how low the price of gas gets, people will keep buying electric

cars because they are fun to drive, and you don’t have to develop a personal relationship with a mechanic. Pharmacologists will concoct a drug to treat range anxiety. No matter how high the price of gas gets people will still sit in their cars with the engine idling. I blame smart phones and the breakdown of interpersonal relationships. Most of the people I see sitting in trucks with the engines idling are playing with their phones while their spouses or parents are in doing the shopping. Some auto manufacturer will come up with a seat electric shock system to get people out of their cars. Smart watches will continue to be a thing even if they don’t tell time well. Watches were in the grips of antiquity for a while because everyone was just

Saturdays 10am–2pm Produce, grass-fed meats, eggs, honey, baked goods, and more.

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“Wouldn’t your kids eat more broccoli if it tasted like bacon?” looking at their phones. Now they are coming back as personal drill sergeants. Mine counts my steps, the number of stairs I climb, laps I swim, my average daily pulse and the number of times I toss and turn at night. Forget the rise of the machines, the online comments sections will achieve sentience and rise up to destroy all civilization. They have already destroyed all civility. If vinyl records can make a comeback, why not VHS tapes? The players never die, and you can buy a pickup truck load of them at Deseret Industries for $20. Imagine the joy you will experience watching a vintage VHS bootleg copy of Animal House with your grandkids. u

You don’t have to live in pain “Working with Dan has transformed my life.” Daniel J. Schmidt, GCFP, LMT 244 West 700 South, Salt Lake City

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February 2020

METAPHORS FOR THE MONTH

February 2020 Seeing in the dark SUZANNE WAGNER

OshoZen Tarot: Clinging to the Past, Maturity, Celebration Medicine Cards:Buffalo, Butterfly Mayan Oracle:Universal Movement, Harmonic Resonance, Organic Balance AncientEgyptianTarot: Prince of Disks, The World, Six of Disks Aleister Crowley Deck: Ace of Cups, The Fool, Princess of Swords Healing Earth Tarot: Grandfather of Feathers, Three of Feathers, Two of Feathers Words ofTruth: Immortality, Expansion, Dullness, Inappropriate Time

n January 25, the beginning of the new Chinese Calendar year, we entered into the Year of the Metal Rat. That is significant to me personally because the last time we were in the Metal Rat was 1960, the year I was born. The message of a Metal Rat Year is that we need the intelligence, cunning and persistence of a Rat to navigate the extreme times in which we find ourselves. So we complete the circle and begin again, revisiting the energies that motivated the iconic 1960s. This year will be a time of trans-

formation and bizarre contrasts. In the 1960s it was a time of flower children, assassins, idealism and alienation, rebellion and backlash. It brought acts of defiance that defined the civil rights, anti-war and feminist movements. The youth of the time staged “sit ins” and cultivated a growing sense of rebellion against the status quo. I find similar feelings and emotions bubbling up from the young people once again. There is a new generation that intends to be a force for good. They are actively choosing to confront the evil that lives in the souls of men, governments and institutions. The Metal element in the Metal Rat reminds us to become self-reliant—in this case, self-reliant in regard to power and progress. Metal energy is about caring for others in a respectful way. While metal energy can be reserved, it can also be forceful and unyielding as it fully awakens. This year we are being asked to find our backbone and let that confidence and determination chart our course from here. The force that awakens the full power of a Metal Rat is Grief. Who knows what will catapult humanity through the stagnant present state of affairs into persistent and unyielding courage?

This should prove to be a very interesting year. This month, the Grandfather of Feathers is attempting to heal a global illness that has taken over. Each of us is called upon to see into the darkness—including the darkness within ourselves. This darkness is a toxic hate that generates chaos and

Past, present, and future are not tenses of time, but tenses of the mind. promotes self-destructive habits designed to distract you from the root cause of the illness. Grandfather of Feathers reminds us that he is connected to Owl medicine. Those with Owl medicine can go into the darkness and seek out the truth. This card says you must go on a personal journey to discover what has caused such horrible confusion. Past, present, and future are not tenses of time, but tenses of the

mind. The past is no longer before the mind and the nostalgia makes the mind long for that which seems lost. The present is slipping out of sight and a person fears the loss of what is in this moment. Everything this month is about finding and maintaining a type of balance where a little foolishness combined with a little wisdom might be perfect. The Butterfly teaches us that change requires a type of courage. When the world outside does not match the inside values, it’s time to change the world in a way that aligns with truth and the values of your life. You are a part of that change but you will have to step up and step in to make that happen. Buffalo reminds us that you cannot give or receive when your hands are in a fist, ready to fight. External conflicts that manifest may not be exactly yours but you will have to find a way to come to peace with them regardless. Internal and external worlds have to find a place to meet, to work in harmony with each other. We are being asked to make love more powerful than hate— not an easy assignment but one that is more essential now than ever. This world is in a position where unexpected changes are the norm and unseen forces are at work above and below the surface. It’s up to you to allow this energy to give you the power to connect to your destiny. Openings are possible if you are willing to let go of your old reference points and allow that same destiny to actively move you into the new realms. This month, some things will require you to look at them objectively in order to make a clear choice, a choice not based on fear or the past. Observe, respect, connect to, and find movement where it is offered. You may have to look hard and long to find those precious moments. Do not let any of them pass you by. Grab ahold and appreciate them when they show up. Do not let a drop of goodness go to waste. u See more from Suzanne Wagner at WWW.SUZANNEWAGNER.COM/BLOG/

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February 2020

URBAN ALMANAC something coherent, to say nothing of poetic.) Silly. But fun!

February 2020 COMPILED BY GRETA DEJONG

Feb 1 Average temps today: high 39º, low 25º. Sunrise: 7:24am. Sunset: 5:59pm.

by mild temps and above-average precipitation.

Feb 2 Groundhogs, also known as woodchucks, live in Utah. The most common of the many species here is the yellow-bellied marmot. Their tunneling prowess is renowned, with sometimes 50 feet of underground mazework. They are strict herbivores who hibernate in cuddle puddles (up to 20 critters per colony) during the cold season and take only one or two breaths per minute.

Feb 7 Mindsets are lenses through which information is perceived, organized and interpreted. Mindset research is finding that even a tiny shift can change your outlook. Tired of winter? Look at it as something to be enjoyed, not just endured. See what happens.

Feb 3 Hard white animal fat is called suet. Mixed in equal parts with birdseed, it’s a fine cold-weather birdfood that will help wild birds stay warm. Buy at pet stores or save up your cat food or tuna cans and DIY (recipes online). Learn more about winter bird feeding: WILDABOUTUTAH.ORG/WINTER-BIRD-FEEDING/ Feb 4 Declining insect populations and loss of pollinators worldwide are posing a problem for farmers (and the birds depending on insects as food). One country is taking this seriously: The government of Germany—a country slightly smaller than the state of Montana— announced a $112 million action plan for insect protection that includes safeguarding key habitats, restricting synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, reducing water and light pollution and investing in research. Feb 5 One square foot of snow can weigh from three to 21 pounds, depending on how dry or wet it is. Feb 6 The Old Farmer’s Almanac predicts snow and cold for the first half of February, followed

Feb 8 Trip-chaining means that you embark on a series of errands so that your car engine remains somewhat warm during stops. This reduces the number of “cold starts,” which can be responsible for more than half of a vehicle’s emissions. Feb 9 Full Moon @ 12:33am. On this date in 1964, The Beatles made their first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, performing before a then”record-busting” audience of 73 million viewers. Feb 10 Face poem: On the internet, go to PoemPortraits. “Donate” a word of your choice. An algorithm that has “read” 20 million words of 19th century poems makes a two-line poem, of sorts, that incorporates your word. If you allow it, the site’s camera will snap a photo of you and present the text on your face. (It may take a few tries before you get

Feb 11 The average person breathes 17,000 to 30,000 times a day—and more, when active. Feb 12 Women in the Utah Territory won the right to vote on this date in 1870, a right relished until 1896 when Utah joined the United States of America. Women in Utah (or any other state) would not vote again until 1920. Feb 13 The 24-hour day is believed to have been invented by Egyptians, who used a base-12 system, counting each segment of their fingers excluding the thumbs. The 24-hour clock is the model predominantly used around the world (excluding U.S., Canada, Australia and NZ), where 0:00 is midnight at the beginning of a day, and 24:00 is midnight at the end of a day. So Feb. 13, 24:00 is the exact same time as Feb. 14, 0:00. Feb 14 Almost 114,000 people in the U.S. are currently on the wait list for an organ transplant. Send a Valentine to life today (and be a good recycler) by signing up as an organ donor. Put your organs, eyes, skin and more to good use after you give up the ghost. You can do this online at YESUTAH.ORG/ Feb 15 Susan B. Anthony, who was born today in 1820, is the only woman to have her picture on a U.S. coin. Native American Pocahontas appeared on the backside of a $20 bill in the 1860s. The Harriet Tubman $20 bill, slated to appear this year, has been postponed till at least 2026. Feb 16 Low energy may come from unconsciously holding your breath. By inhaling more deeply, more air is delivered to your lungs where oxygen is absorbed by the bloodstream and, upon exhale, carbon dioxide (a waste product, unless you’re a plant) is removed. It’s all about the gas exchange. Feb 17 Buying a car? Check its smog rating. Switching from a vehicle with a rating of 5 to one rated 8 will reduce your vehicle emissions by 80%! EPA.GOV/GREENVEHICLES/SMOG-RATING Feb 18 Have you noticed all the people riding bikes at night lately? You notice them because

they’re wearing white headlamps, red taillights and rear and side reflectors. These smart accessories are actually required by law on all bikes from an hour after sunset to half an hour before sunrise. Feb 19 Houseflies are hatching. Houseflies, blowflies, scavenger flies, brine flies, coffin flies, flesh flies and their maggots are the master recyclers of the Earth, rapidly disposing of decaying plant and animal matter. Without their services, the planet would be carpeted with stinky carcasses. Feb 20 To avoid fungus gnats on your houseplants, allow the soil to dry out between watering. Feb 21 Only 118 of 417 National Park Service sites have an entrance fee. For $80, people 62 or older can buy a lifetime Senior Pass. Travel companions in the same vehicle, up to four adults, then also enter for free. The money goes to the National Park Foundation Endowment. Feb 22 Fire Cider: Drink a shot daily (or in a cup of hot water, throughout the day) if you feel a cold coming on. INGREDIENTS: ½ c. each grated fresh horseradish root, chopped onions. ¼ each: chopped garlic, grated ginger. To taste: cayenne pepper, honey. Raw organic apple cider vinegar. DIRECTIONS: Place ingredients (except honey) in half-gallon jar with enough vinegar to cover by 3-4 inches. Seal with tightfitting lid. Shake daily for 34 weeks. Strain. Heat honey and dissolve in liquid. Bottle and label. Will keep in cool pantry for several months, or store in fridge. Or share! (from Rosemary Gladstar) Feb 23 New Moon @ 8:33am. If the temperature is above freezing, you could prune grape vines, honeysuckle, clematis, holly bushes and fruit trees now. (Keep in mind that fruit grows on hori-

zontal branches, not vertical ones.) Don’t prune spring-flowering shrubs, though, or you won’t get blossoms this year. Feb 24 For a midwinter pick-me-up try some yerba mate. Native to South America, this herbal infusion is known to stimulate the heart and nervous system, improve intellectual function and physical endurance and help eliminate toxins. Make it in a French press and serve with milk. Leaves can be topped off with more hot water several times.

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Feb 25 It’s time to start seeds indoors for cool weather veggies: broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, leeks, lettuce, onions, spinach and more. Gambling gardeners will plant peas outdoors now, provided the soil isn’t too wet. Feb 26 Ash Wednesday, in which many a Christian receives a cross of ashes on the forehead, reminds us that “you came from dust, and to dust you shall return.” As Joni Mitchell poetically put it in her song Woodstock, “We are stardust (billion year old carbon).” Actually, it’s more like 13.772 billion years. Feb 27 If you didn’t do it last fall, cut back ornamental grasses and thin climbing roses and raspberries. Feb 28 Stroll through your neighborhood, looking for signs of life. You’ll see snowdrops, and maybe signs of daffodils, hyacinth, crocus and violets, and in the more eclectic gardens maybe hellebore and witch hazel. If you find hardy mints and rosemary in your own garden (or a friend’s), pinch some! Feb 29 Average temps today: high 49º, low 32º. Sunrise: 7:02am. Sunset: 6:18pm. Today in 1872, Yellowstone became our first national park. u Greta deJong is the founder and editor of CATALYST.

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