On December 18, 2011, the animals lost a devoted friend. Barbara Wold, who founded and administered the influential blog Democracy for New Mexico (DFNM), passed away at home. Her life partner MaryEllen Broderick writes:
Yes I will miss Barb's writing, I will miss her logic, wit, and honesty. But I am hoping as a community we can keep this blog going, and help make a difference in this community, state, country and world. Barb loved the blog she loved the power of what this medium could do. She was one of the pioneers of political blogging and I love her for that and her passion to help the underdog, the ones without a voice.
Barb covered a myriad of political issues in DFNM with personality and style. She was known for her passionate defense of the weakest among us, transcending partisanship to honor integrity and call out injustice.
Barb used the tools at her disposal to promote truth and compassion until the very end. Last year, she became a donor to New Mexico’s Equine Protection Fund to help feed horses who might otherwise starve. The day before her death, DFNM published two blogs about recent dramatic developments for New Mexico's chimpanzees, a cause Barb championed.
This Emily Dickinson stanza was one of her favorites -- thank you for everything you gave to others, Barb! We carry your love of all creatures forward!
"Hope" is the thing with feathers—
That perches in the soul—
And sings the tune without the words—
And never stops—at all—
