Gone is the day when talking about the environment was solely for hippy tree-huggers. The discussion has expanded from science labs and legislation to classrooms and the workplace. It’s on your morning news and has shaped a good part of our presidential election.

We are clearly at crucial time in the story of our earth. With much to be decided about the future for this mother of ours and with all of her children feeling like they know what’s best -- it was only a matter of time for the conversation to truly turn global for the everyman.

Does that travel bug of yours have you flying the friendly skies in search of new horizons? Well not only does that bug keep us itching for new adventures, but many disturbing studies also show that our travel bugs are eating away at our “good” ozone – that is: the ozone in the stratosphere, which shields us from harmful UV rays. The bad news doesn’t end there, either. While our air travel strips away that lower layer, we are actually CREATING harmful ozone in the upper troposphere, generating climate-changing greenhouse gases. But what are we to do?

“I’m a Princess,” she said, opening her palms and turning her face to the sky. Soft pink petals of cherry blossoms sprinkled down magically around her. I’d never seen Kamioke-san look so light; so full of life. I’d been visiting her off and on as a volunteer for several months, through Hands and Hearts, an organization created to offer companionship to the elderly who suffered loss in some way during the ’95 Kobe earthquake.