LISTEN: Joel Brogon Honors the Earth "Here on the Rio Grande"

For Earth Day, Joel Brogon sends a helpful and urgent message on his song "Here on the Rio Grande." The song unfurls gently, like the mighty river, taking stock of the region's beauty and peril.

"So often, the story told about this region is a negative one," Brogon explains. "But the place I know is one of stunning natural beauty, of deep peace and profound connection, where bonds of land, culture, and family endure and transcend borders."

And the region is in danger: SpaceX has made the Gulf a company town, border wall construction, natural gas plants, population growth, and a coming oil refinery.

"Habitat loss is staggering, with less than five percent remaining," Brogon continues. "Endangered species who rely upon it face almost certain extinction. And now, many of my neighbors live in fear of being separated from their families and the only home they’ve ever known. This is the reality of life in the Rio Grande Valley in the 21st century, and it is heartbreaking."

With this song, Brogon invites us to appreciate the river's beauty and fragility.

"This is truly the place that makes me who I am, and it is certainly worth fighting for."

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