Herbs not Bombs

On March 20, 2003, the Earth’s tilted orbit shifted us into spring, kids everywhere tried balancing eggs on tabletops, and I should have been celebrating my 25th birthday. But that was also the day that the United States of America invaded Iraq, starting an oily war that led to a million dead, millions more wounded, intergenerational trauma, the normalization of torture, the severe mental degradation of combatants on all sides, environmental destruction…and well, the list of the horrific consequences of war is long.

I was living in New York City at the time and I remember feeling so betrayed by that news, having joined the 10 million people who took to the streets around the world, just one month prior, in what is still considered the largest protest in human history. Millions spoke in unison to tell their governments: NO TO WAR. 

And still, we went to war. 

On March 20, 1951, the democratically elected government of Iran nationalized their oil, freeing themselves from decades of British economic control. They moved decisively towards the creation of labor rights and worker protections. They protected free and fair elections. They started land reforms, redistributing land previously held by the few to be shared by the many. They strengthened press freedoms and expanded political participation.

Within 2 years they were overthrown by a CIA- and MI6-orchestrated coup. And a year later, the 1954 Oil Consortium Agreement gave half of Iranian oil revenues to western companies. The US got 40% of the foreign shares.  

And now here we are. Another spring. Another war.

And another birthday….

And while I’m keeping my birthday wish a secret (per standard birthday-wish protocol), I will boldly ask for a gift from you all: if you would kindly roll up your sleeves, gather your comrades and join me in doing some community herbwork, wherever you are.

Plant rambles, community medicine making sessions, herbcare stations, seed swap parties – let’s celebrate spring through acts of herbal mutual aid. Let’s build community through herbalism. Let’s make and share herbs not bombs.

Herbally yours,
Lorna

P.S. You can view all this month’s happenings in our newsletter here.