I was doing some research into the concept of frogs as a bellwether species and how that ties into the Portland Frog.

[Collimator]

When I came upon this thoughtful and touching article reviewing an art series by Han Beishi featuring cartoon images of a little girl in a frog costume. The article is focused on the environmental messages of the artist's work, but it doesn't seem too great a stretch to extend some of the symbols into the political realm.

Here is an excerpt from the article that is not symbolic and which addresses my original search into the environmental significance of frogs. I invite DU readers to find hope where they will in the idea that a frog has "risen up" so to speak, to become a symbol of our own political resistance to efforts to make democracy extinct.

Frogs (and amphibians more broadly) are considered one of the most important indicator species in environmental science. Frogs have permeable skin that easily absorbs chemicals, toxins, and radiation from their surroundings. They live both in water and on land, so they’re exposed to a wide range of environmental factors. This makes them especially vulnerable to water pollution (e.g., pesticides, fertilizers, industrial runoff), airborne pollutants, UV radiation, rising temperatures, and changes in rainfall.

Because of this sensitivity, frogs often sicken, deform, or disappear before other species are affected, making them a crucial early-warning system for environmental collapse. Frogs are, in fact, among the most endangered groups of animals on the planet. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, around 40% of amphibian species are at risk of extinction. Their rapid decline is a red flag for scientists, warning that the planet’s biological systems are under extreme stress.

I particularly like the notion of the frog living in a broad range of habitats as a metaphor for the wide range of people from different walks of life who are concerned with preserving American values.

[Blue Full Moon]

1. Small but vicious