Rivera is a lecturer in the Department of Sociology at California State University, San Marcos. He is also a member of the San Diego Tortoise Society and lives in East County.
In 2012, I completed my studies as an undergraduate student at California State University, San Marcos, taking courses abroad in Ecuador. It was a life-changing experience in that I learned about Andean culture and the importance of protecting “Mother Earth” (“Pachamama” in Quechua). 6 weeks in Ecuador turned into 3 months. I stayed longer so I could travel through the country and learn more about the ancient history and rituals of the Andes, and find out how the inhabitants think about protecting our planet and its people. was.
Upon returning to the United States, I was filled with a desire to learn more about Pachamama and become involved in the conservation of unsheltered creatures. No, we didn't stop the lumberjacks from logging or take ships to protect the whales off the coast of Japan. I started volunteering simply to continue learning about our changing planet and to be guided to where I wanted to be. I found myself assisting the American Red Cross with disaster relief efforts after the many wildfires raging in Northern California and Hurricane Harvey in devastated communities in Texas.
Losing my home in the Harris Fire in 2007 may have also led me to learn more about accelerating and severe climate change. Volunteering with a natural disaster response team has given me an understanding and appreciation for living in the moment. This has given me even more respect for the increasing habitat loss of bees and monarch butterflies. I also gained a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of life on Earth. As temperatures rise, there are fewer flowers, which means fewer pollinators and therefore less food.
A few weeks ago, friends and members of the San Diego Turtle Society came to my property and helped me create a habitat for my new friend, Mojo, a 185-pound sulcata tortoise who was in need of a new home. According to Webster's Dictionary, his name means “magical spell or charm.” He has his own personality and can really pick up his speed when he wants to. He is clocked at 1 mph. It takes him only four to five years to zip from San Diego to Ecuador. However, despite its potential size, sulcata can be large burrows of any age, and can go missing and be very difficult to find later. .
Mojo's current owners are unwilling to part with the reptilian beast, but Mojo has outgrown his current suburban habitat. They understand Mojo's need to expand its territory. As his caretakers, they provided him with plenty of hay, succulents, and leafy vegetables, all the things he could eat. With Mojo about to become a member of our family, I decided to make my ranch an even greater haven for the animal kingdom. For example, we have unwanted goats that were once used for weeding. We are also developing habitat for bees and planting native milkweed for monarch butterflies. In honor of my visit to Ecuador in 2012, I am naming my property Rancho Pachamama. The day to welcome Mojo to his new home has been set for Thursday, May 23rd, the same day as World Turtle Day. It may not seem like a big deal to some, but for Mojo, it means getting special access to succulents and sharing a home with seven goats.
Mojo is lucky in the sense that he has a home. Because bees act as pollinators, a decline in bee numbers affects the food chain. Decreased food supplies can lead to food shortages, rising food prices, and starvation around the world. In the US, this could mean he would pay $1 for a lemon, or even threaten national security. No, Mojo cannot outrun hypersonic missiles. But it will be even harder for the animal kingdom to grow what it needs to survive. If its residents can't survive, neither can we. Then Mexico might build a wall to keep us out. For now, I'm preparing for the arrival of new friends by planting Mexican linden trees and gathering weed-eating goats. I ask you, have you found your mojo?
