Photo: Peter Southwood, Aorangaia Island, New Zealand

A Salp, as explained by the Australian Museum, is a gelatinous zooplankton creature that is found throughout the world's oceans.

Although they closely resemble a Jellyfish and are often mistaken for one when they are washed up on the beach, they are in fact more closely related to human beings than they are to Jellyfish.

Salps have a nervous system, brain, heart, intestines, digestive and a circulatory system.

Salps use a form of jet propulsion to move through their habitat using muscles within their semi  transparent bodies. 

Salps are between 1-10 cm and reproduce asexually initially and can produce long chains of identical Salps which can disconnect from each other to produce more Salps. These chains can be longer than the human body. They have a lifespan of a few days to a few months.

They are a really interesting creature that few people know about, being yet another wonderful earthling in the rich tapestry of our amazing planet.

Below are some links for more information on these wondrous creatures.

• ​australian.museum/learn/animals/sea-squirts/what-is-a-salp/
• ​www.youtube.com/watch?v=QiPFL9xocOk&t=34s

The production of the Encyclopedia of Religion and Nature, originally published in 2005, is a landmark work in the burgeoning field of religion and nature. It covers a vast and interdisciplinary range of material, from thinkers to religious traditions and beyond, with clarity and style.

Just posted today, Our entry in the Encyclopedia offers a clear explanation of our "universal" approach to Pantheism. While part of a massive print publication, this is the first time our entry is available online.

The entry for the Universal Pantheist Society was written by the Society's board of directors, while this massive two-volume Encyclopedia was compiled and edited by University of Florida professor Bron Taylor, whose protege Bernie Zaleha is on our board. Pantheists will be especially interested in Taylor's essay "John Muir's Stance Against Anthropocentrism," from the John Muir Global Network and excerpted from his excellent book Dark Green Religion.

Learn more about the Encyclopedia at religionandnature.com .

Artist Bob Waldmire (1945-2009) remains known today as an artistic visual “cartographer” for his imaginative and detailed artwork of the historic U.S. Route 66. 

In the early 1980’s, the Universal Pantheist Society received the first of many postcards and letters that Bob Waldmire regularly sent us telling us about his life and adventures. In a submission for our newsletter’s “What Pantheism Means to Me” feature published in 1995, he wrote:

"Personally, to and for me, Pantheism justifies and warrants my existence - and the right to exist. I have long believed of man's duty and obligation to revere the real, the Earth underfoot to the rest of the Universe overhead. Personally, I believe it’s late for man to triumph over his evil with good... but I'm less concerned with man's salvation than with saving some of his fellow creatures, particularly the great whales, the great apes, and predators and any endangered species. I am interested in Pantheism's potential to 'convert' human arrogance to human humility.”

Over the years, he continued to send us postcards, messages, and artwork.  He created and donated to us unique "ads" for us to place in alternative newsletters in search of new members, and we featured his drawings in Pantheist Vision, including this one on the cover of Vol. 5, No. 2, May, 1984):

The cover of Pantheist Vision, Vol. 12, No. 4, December, 1991, featured Bob Waldmire's artwork below, which incorporated a magnificent scene of the Earth and its living beings below the stars and moon beyond, and included Bob's heartfelt admonition: "We must learn to extend our love, compassion and desire for peace to all life - the birds of the air, the creatures of the seas and those who tread upon the good Earth. We need to understand the interconnectedness of all life; we cannot separate one form from the other. For we are all of one source. Peace is not something we can go out and find. We must create it in our own lives and hearts and then give it away..."

This same issue listed Member's Activities, and reported that Bob Waldmire recently published some of his artwork for a piece on "Route 66" in National Parks Magazine.  See page 37 of National Parks Magazine, March-April, 1995 for Bob's pictorial map of the entire Route 66 from Chicago to Los Angeles. View a PDF copy on NPSHistory.com archive website: npshistory.com/npca/magazine/mar-apr-1991.pdf

(The same issue, on page 35, tells the story, written by Bob's father Edwin Waldmire about his invention of the corn dog, which he called the "Cozy Dog.")

When noted author Edward Abbey died in 1989, Bob wrote a fine tribute to Abbey, along with a portrait of Ed with artist Robert Crumb for the cover.  Download the PDF here:

Now, the world-renowned Artizona Highways magazine featured a biopic of Bob in  its April, 2024 issue.  You may read the article, "​Drawing Attention to Bob" by Noah Austin here:
https://www.arizonahighways.com/article/drawing-attention-bob

Many pantheists recognize the divine presence in all life. I recently saw a film on Curiosity Stream called Secret Life Underground that has deepened my appreciation and reverence for everything within nature. I’ve always loved rocks and known that life is found all around us. But this documentary featured the ecosystems that exist within the rocks themselves. 

I want to share the world of Endoliths with my fellow pantheists. Endoliths are beings, such as bacteria or fungi and sometimes even worms, living within the rocks. Some Endoliths eat other beings similar to the way a rabbit eats grass or an owl eats a mouse. Other Endoliths create their own food from the chemicals surrounding them. Very similar to the way plants use sunlight to grow, some endolithic beings use chemicals in the rocks to grow and create food. Endoliths can be found on all continents and in a variety of places from the ocean floor, mountain peaks and even deep within the earth. 

Our technology is just starting to give us a glimpse into these important ecosystems that are full of life. Scientists such as Dr. Gaetan Borgnine have found nematodes, a type of worm, living with bacteria in the Beatrix gold mine over 1.4 Km (4600ft) below the Earth’s surface. Scientists hypothesize that their ancestors may have been trapped within the stalactites during the Permian period over 250 million years ago, but more research is needed. 
​
I am blown away that generations of beings have thrived within the rocks of the earth longer than many of the surface dwelling species have existed. 

Here are links to more information on these fascinating creatures. 

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0964830522000154

https://serc.carleton.edu/microbelife/extreme/endoliths/index.html 

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26441844/ 


​By Jennifer Hall 

For many years, we distributed a tri-fold brochure entitled "God, Humanity, and Pantheism."  The text was written by Henry and Dana Lee Thomas, originally published by Doubleday & Company in 1941, as part of their book Living Biographies of Great Philosophers, specifically the entry for Spinoza.

We obtained permission from the publisher to reprint this essay, because it was a simple, easy-to-understand summary of Spinoza's view of Pantheism. We have now made this publication available on our website, both as a regular web page and as a PDF suitable for printing at home.

We hope you will enjoy this little essay!


- Harold Wood

'Photo: Purple Striped Jellyfish by Fred Hsu -- Wikipedia common use license.
Today is world Jellyfish day which is a day to celebrate the unique and amazing creature that is the Jellyfish and a day to reflect on our relationship with the oceans and seas, the Jellyfishes home that is impacted by overfishing, pollution and marine debris. 

Jellyfish are gelatinous marine creatures with umbrella style bodies and long stinging tentacles. They are carnivorous and feed on small marine creatures, eggs and planktonic organisms. 

Jellyfish are found all over the world's oceans and some are even found in freshwater. They range in size from a cm to well over a metre (3ft) wide with tentacles that can trail over 30 metres (100 ft). They can weigh between 20- 400gms and have a lifespan of 3-6 months. 

Jellyfish are one of the worlds oldest known creatures dating back to around 500 million years. 

For more interesting facts and information on these remarkable creatures please see the links below:

​oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/jellyfish.html

www.mcsuk.org/news/fascinating-facts-about-jellyfish/

​KIDS CORNER

www.natgeokids.com/uk/discover/animals/sea-life/jellyfish-facts/

www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9Q9knJlhww
​
​​
​By Brendon Crook

Today is world planting day which is a day dedicated to planting in whichever way you can.
From planting a vegetable garden to native trees or flowers or helping others plant or donating to causes or venues that do planting or regeneration work or even spreading awareness to others of the importance of plants to our world is vital work.

Planting trees and shrubs not only provides food and habitat for the non-human world but gives the newly planted seed or seedling a chance to fulfill its chance to grow from seed to adult and fulfil its life in the community of life about it. 
It's wonderful to give something back to the Earth after we receive so much.
Planting a vegetable garden is another way of getting close to the Earth and the results are very satisfying and tasty. 

​HAPPY PLANTING 

Below are some links on planting: 

​www.holidaysmart.com/holidays/daily/world-planting-day

www.leaflimb.com/6-reasons-why-planting-native-trees-benefits-the-environment-and-our-local-ecosystem/

grownative.org/learn/native-tree-resources/

​Gardening with children

kidsgardening.org/resources/garden-activities-plant-a-family-tree/

www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_vMsLUrBBo


​
​By Brendon Crook
​

Photo: Marjory Stoneman Douglas in 1985.  (photo: creative commons license, State Library and Archives of Florida.


Marjory Stoneman Douglas was not just a woman who fought for Nature but also was involved in civil rights, a journalist and an author who lived an incredible and long life of activism on behalf of the natural world and her fellow human beings. 

Margory was born in 1890 and lived for 108 years. She was involved in the women's sufferage and civil rights movements, serving as a charter member of the first Civil Liberties Union organized in the South in the 1950's. She was also in the Red Cross in Europe during the dark days of WW1.

However she is probably best remembered as being instrumental in saving much of the Florida Everglades.

Margory became involved in the Florida Everglades in the 1920's but by the 1960's they were becoming in danger of being lost to human development.
In 1947 she published a book titled The Everglades: River of Grass, which was a best seller with the first printing selling out in one month. 
It raised public awareness of ecological issues and turned the Florida Everglades from being looked at and thought of as a useless swamp only fit for development into becoming a National Park.
She continued her work by founding the Friends of the Everglades (www.everglades.org/) which continues to advocate today.

There are many interesting facts and anecdotes in the links below. It is well worth the time to read more of this incredible women. 

www.womenofthehall.org/inductee/marjory-stoneman-douglas/

​www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/marjory-stoneman-douglas

wilderness.net/learn-about-wilderness/marjory-stoneman-douglas.php


​By Brendon Crook

Photo: Shiyam ElkCloner - Reef Manta, Maldives.

​Today is World Manta Day which seeks to raise awareness about the graceful and fascinating Manta Ray.

The Manta Ray, of which there are 2 species, are closely related to Sharks and other Rays and like them their skeletons are made of cartilage instead of bone and  have fossil records dating back to around 28 million years ago. 

They can grow up to 23 ft or 7m and weigh up to nearly 3000lb or 1350kg.
They are filter feeders feeding on zooplankton and are found in temperate, subtropical and tropical waters throughout the planet.

Manta Ray populations are considered vulnerable due to pollution and overfishing and are few in areas that fish specifically for them. They are also affected by lost or abandoned nets. Although they have long lifespans they have slow reproductive rates.


For more information on these elegant and noble looking creatures please see the links below:
www.barrierreef.org/the-reef/animals/manta-ray
​
​www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/giant-manta-ray

www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYkZCl_nsAI

KIDS CORNER
thefactsvault.com/manta-ray-facts-for-kids/

​www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0DQL-bHegQ



By Brendon Crook

Photo: By Abe Khao Lak, Andaman Sea.  (Licence - Wikipedia Creative Commons)

Today is International Whale Shark day.

​A day to give thought to and appreciate the magnificence of the largest living fish known and also perhaps a time to reflect on the way we see and treat the oceans of the world. 

Although growing to nearly 19m or 62ft and weighing up to 40 tons they live entirely on Plankton and small fish. 
They are found in all tropical ocean areas and are estimated to have a life span of around 80-130 years. 

Whale Sharks have fingerprint like markings unique to each creature on their skin that identifies each individual. 

Whale Sharks give birth to live young but there is much science still doesn't know about Whale Sharks. 

They are on the endangered species list.

Some interesting facts and information on Whale Sharks are included in the links below:

www.worldwildlife.org/species/whale-shark

oceana.org/marine-life/whale-shark/

www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9tpPWK7sag

KIDS CORNER

kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/fish/facts/whale-sharks

www.youtube.com/watch?v=jApMS38YR6w


By Brendon Crook