Creating the conditions

A look at the news, plus remembering Joanna Macy

Thanks to all the paid subscribers! Your support matters to me. Though, if you’re a student, I’m happy to set you up with a comp subscription. (I’ve loved hearing from students at UNM and NMSU who are already at work on issues important to New Mexico. Keep up the good work!)

Diana Cervantes on a wicked cold morning in January, 2025.

Earlier this year, photojournalist Diana Cervantes and I spent nine days on assignment with WWF, visiting people (and birds) along the Middle and Upper Rio Grande in New Mexico. Some of those stories are starting to roll out, including this profile of Gina Dello Russo¹.

I keep thinking about something Gina said during our visit:

“The river goes through cycles, but we don’t know when we’re going to get to that point where the cycle is broken. We have altered this system so much, and we haven’t asked the question well enough: how close are we to changing the system to the point where it’s not going to respond favorably in the future?”

Check out that piece online, and keep your eyes peeled for more stories about the Rio Grande in World Wildlife Fund’s print magazine and on their website.

And damn, Santa Fe. This week, crews cut down 12 healthy trees at Fort Marcy Park after organizers of Zozobra threatened to move or cancel the annual celebration. Maybe next, Santa Fe can follow Albuquerque’s lead and get ExxonMobil to sponsor the tourist event.

In this issue of the newsletter:

• Continued drying in the Middle Rio Grande

• Drought outlook

• Environmental news from around New Mexico

• Miscellaneous announcements and essays

• Books!

• Remembering Joanna Macy

• Book giveaway for paid subscribers