GMO science

Here is yet another telling interview about the severity of GM crops on the health of us, animals, the land, future, etc. It is terrifying how much research has been ignored, erased and discredited. The information here speaks for itself.


http://geraldcelentechannel.blogspot.com/2010/11/jeffrey-m-smith-gmo-threat.html

Creation of the police state

In this interview from RT, Paul Craig Roberts questions the aims of the FBI that would cause them to create fake terrorists, by seeking them out, hiring them and giving them a fake (or real) bomb. He discusses this in relation to the newly imported body scanners into airports covering the country. If the government needs to create terrorists, does that mean there are not enough terrorists to justify actions such as widespread use of body scanners? The main purposes behind the spreading body scanners that he brings up are: 1) money and 2) creation of a police state, i.e. getting us to accept more and more infringements upon our privacy until we are as complicit and controlled as possible (an unreachable, never-ending goal, of course). He goes on to talk about how these scanners could likely spread from airports, to bus stations, to sports events, shopping malls, and so on. New methods of control such as this should not be taken lightly. And it can't be forgotten that everything in today's society is driven by money, not consumer or citizen interests.

http://geraldcelentechannel.blogspot.com/2010/11/paul-craig-roberts-fbi-creating-police.html

Since I'm on the topic of airport scanners, I will link an article I read recently about the capability of the body scanners to emit harmful radiation.

http://myhelicaltryst.blogspot.com/2010/11/tsa-x-ray-backscatter-body-scanner.html

Monsanster

I recently watched a documentary titled, "The World According to Monsanto," recommended by a friend. The link is here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3OedIuaZto

If you need any more reasons to be distrustful (or down right enraged, dismayed, downtroddened, etc.) of the government-corporate-media totalitarian regime, see for yourself. And if you are like me and despise the unbelievable comment that people all over the United States still genuinely believe, that "industrialized farming is feeding the people of the world," this will give you a complete picture of that 100% lie that started with the company of Monsanto itself.

For starters, it's important for every single citizen of this country to be aware that government officials often cycle in and out of working for the government and in high positions of giant corporations, such as Monsanto. It's cited in the documentary related to the agri-business aspect of society, but it is pervasive in areas beyond this, such as the economic sector. High ranking Monsanto businessmen will end up in powerful positions serving the FDA, regulating health, food, agriculture and more. Here is a list to view some of these people and they are discussed more in detail in the documentary as well: http://www.purefood.org/Monsanto/revolvedoor.cfm To think that these people have no agenda but to serve the best interests of people of our country, is to be a blind fool.

Many people in this country today have a faith in the government that is completely off base. The classification of GMO foods by the FDA as "substantially equivalent" is the perfect example. The people of the United States do not view governmental policies with a critical eye. This is largely due to the fact that contrary scientific evidence often results in the firing, discrediting and downplaying of the brave soul who exposes evidence in contradiction to the company's goals and thereby, profits. There are many accounts in the documentary.

There are also numerous studies done suggesting that GMO's are not at all similar to a naturally bred seed and the resulting plant. For example, when rats were given GM potatoes, there was a noted increased immune response as well as an increase in cell division, showing clearly that their bodies recognized these GM potatoes not as food, but as foreign, possibly harmful items. The second response, the scientist commented, does not indicate directly cancerous cells, but that is only because it takes 30+ years for the cancer to develop.

Monsanto manages to gloss over real research in search of just enough vague data to fool the masses, or at least not make them curious enough to investigate on the wide scale. One example from the film was a study published by Monsanto attempting to "prove" that GMO's were "substantially equivalent" to naturally bred plant varieties, but within the study, there are countless vague, poorly worded and moreover completely inconclusive statements, such as "except for the darker brown color, livers appeared normal at necropsy." The scientist commenting on this, made the obvious statement that this is not enough investigation to be considered a legitimate study. All it takes is a critical mind to look at this sentence and say, "why?" So why not answer the "why?" It should be obvious that answering all the "why's" and holes in the Monsanto research would prove every premise false. The Round Up product, Monsanto's claim to fame, was initially advertised as biodegradable, safe, and even "good for the environment." All these claims have been taken off the labeling now, but the same mentality exists and the same manipulation of the facts continues.

Then there is the issue of patent genes. Monsanto is developing a worldwide monopoly over seed sales. The account of farmers from India to Paraguay to Mexico are heart wrenching. In India, the seed sales are now almost completely controlled by Monsanto. The seeds are 4 times the cost and cannot be saved or replanted, as traditional farming methods have done since the dawn of agriculture. This means, if there is a bad year due to weather or uncontrollable and unpredictable factors, the farmers lose everything and declare bankruptcy. There has been a sharp rise in suicides of cotton farmers in India who have been forced into this and have experienced this unrecoverable fate.

In Mexico, due to the NAFTA trade agreement, cheap, American GM corn has been imported and now comprises about 40% of the corn sales, and comes at half the cost to consumers. Although Mexico had not yet allowed Monsanto to enter directly, the corn being imported has spread the patented genes randomly into fields, from a dropped kernel here and there. Some Mexican farmers are trying desperately to keep these new genes out of their higher quality fields that have been bred through generations of honest farming. These modified genes have a high capacity to spread and overtake a plant variety and it is already happening in a big way. One threat is that Monsanto can come in and claim these crops as their own, since the seed has been patented, and destroy farmers lives in this way. On the wider scale, the threat is to plant diversity, which is already being reduced by cross pollination and spreading of these GM plants. And to imagine the implications of the spreading of these GM plants is nothing short of mind blowing.

In Paraguay, 70% of farmland is now owned by 2% of the population, 75% of which are foreigners trying to capitalize on the economic opportunity. The various farmers' accounts in the film demonstrate clearly that these methods of industrialized farming are doing the opposite of feeding the world, but instead causing more death, destruction, dependence, poverty and starvation than before. Communities and families are destroyed. Lives ruined. Suffering abounds. And the lies, lies, lies that Monsanto and the government alike are feeding us, continue to blind us of these truths.

Headed to... ?

Just watched this video from RT that I found on Gerald Celente's blog. The interview is with Paul Craig Roberts and he discusses the process of America becoming a third world country. We are headed this direction fast, and as he sees it, we are already pretty much there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIisOdwAIho&feature=player_embedded

I watched another video (3 parts) today from Max Keiser's show, On the Edge, consisting of an interview with David DeGraw. A similar message to the video above, he discusses the overall degradation of economies and societies on a global scale. He points out the unsustainable nature of every aspect of growth in the human species and societal structures.

http://maxkeiser.com/2010/10/10/ote76-on-the-edge-with-david-degraw/

Finally, I watched the October 8th episode of Democracy Now, The War and Peace Report. Overall, some interesting stories, but particularly interesting was the segment on the foreclosures and frauds committed by banks, forcing many people out of their homes. Luckily, Obama vetoed the bill that would have allowed for continued fraud with the mortgages and foreclosures. The Ohio Secretary of State speaks passionately and convincingly on the issue.

http://www.democracynow.org/2010/10/8/ohio_secretary_of_state_jennifer_brunner

A further story in the episode shows previous Nobel Peace Prize winner Desmond Tutu giving a speech discussing the importance of global warming awareness and action. He seems like a truly wonderful and genuine man!

http://www.democracynow.org/2010/10/8/nobel_peace_prize_winner_archbishop_desmond

Meditative creation

I have the urge to write about all the aspects of what I might term, my extensive doodling hobby, that I greatly enjoy. I occasionally doodled throughout my life, but the hobby took up new importance after graduating from college. Being constantly bogged down with never-ending work can really limit your activities. It did so for me, because every activity that was not part of the “work load” only made me feel guilty of wasting time, so those extracurricular interests were hard for me to develop in myself. This is just one aspect of being finished with school (for now) that I am greatly appreciating at this time. It's freeing to be able to develop new and different aspects of myself, abilities and interests.

I began my extensive doodling career with just a pen or pencil on paper. My artistic ambitions grow through phases of different mediums, techniques, and/or styles. From my pen/pencil art, I began to experiment more with colored pencils on paper. Then, I moved to markers, sharpies to be specific. I began experimenting with paints, acrylic and tempera. Initially, I started painting cardboard boxes, figuring that these kinds of things could only be improved. I have since taken to the tendency of painting... well, everything. I paint boxes, clocks, tables, sticks, shelves, chairs, jugs, cups, really anything I can get my hands on. If I ever own a house, I can guarantee that with enough time, the entire house will be covered, inside and out.

I have also gone through phases of painting with fabric paint on clothing. And I enjoy creating other things like earrings, outdoor structures and delicious, creative foods. The process of creation is an essential part of my life. It is an outlet that provides something to me.

I am currently working on one of my largest, and so far my favorite painting yet (among other projects). It's just a large board I found in the trash. Each stroke brings a new element to consider. The intent behind each stroke varies. Sometimes, I visualize clearly my next move, other times I go onwards with only a vague idea of what my hand is about to do. I spend a lot of time looking at my work. It's a fascinating process that has no backwards and forwards. It is only in the present. There is no error. Every “error” becomes part of the new picture. It may take me away from my first image of what was to be, but this never distresses me. It only enhances. It is part of the essential process.

Creation brings me to the present. I cannot conceive of the end to anything I am making. I look only at what is and usually think only as far as my next immediate move. Sometimes I do sit for a while, looking and imagining further possibilities in the drawing or painting, where I want to go with it. But as I work and create each new stroke, the picture itself changes and is therefore never predictable. Something about this unplanned, unpredictable, organic-feeling process is extremely calming and centering. I believe it is a meditative process. Creating almost always has the power to erase negative thoughts or cyclical thinking patterns I may be experiencing. As I said, it is in the present and brings me to the present. I honestly believe that my experiences with “extensive doodling” have given a new depth to my life and changed me in a very positive way.

Campaign for real milk

Over the weekend I went to Indy to visit an event hosted by the Indiana State Museum called the "Hoosier Harvest," where different farms and various food and health related groups from Indiana set up stands with their products and projects. I went specifically because Fields of Agape, where I've started volunteering (well, sort of, but I am paid with plenty of food!), was setting up a stand there. It ended up being really fantastic actually! But, what I really intended to write about here was this group starting a campaign for real milk. Here's there link to the real milk campaign:

http://www.realmilk.com

Another campaign they were advocating can be viewed here:

http://www.farmtoconsumer.org/

Real milk comes from cows who are fed their actual diet of "green grass in spring, summer and fall; stored dry hay, silage and root vegetables in winter." It is raw milk, which means not processed in any way- not pasteurized, homogenized or de-fatted. I will just highlight a few particularly important, interesting and/or possibly very surprising quotes here that you can read more about on the website:

"Vital nutrients like vitamins A, D and K2 are greatest in milk from cows eating green grass, especially rapidly growing green grass in the spring and fall. Vitamins A and D are greatly diminished, and vitamin K2 disappears when milk cows are few commercial feed. Soy meal has the wrong protein profile for the dairy cow, resulting in a short burst of high milk production followed by premature death. Most milk (even most milk labeled "organic") comes from dairy cows that are kept in confinement their entire lives and never see green grass!"

"Worse, consumers have been duped into believing that low-fat and skim milk products are good for them. Only by marketing low-fat and skim milk as health foods can the modern dairy industry get rid of its excess poor-quality, low-fat milk from modern high-production herds. Butterfat contains vitamins A and D needed for assimilation of calcium and protein in the water fraction of the milk. Without them protein and calcium are more difficult to utilize and possibly toxic. Butterfat is rich in short- and medium-chain fatty acids which protect against disease and stimulate the immune system."

"Galen, Hippocrates, Pliny, Varro, Marcellus, Empiricus, Bacchis and Anthimus, leading physicians of their day, all used raw milk in the treatment of disease. During the 1920s, Dr. J. E. Crewe of the Mayo Foundation used a diet of raw milk to cure TB, edema, heart failure, high blood pressure, prostate disease, urinary tract infections, diabetes, kidney disease, chronic fatigue and obesity. Today, in Germany, successful raw milk therapy is provided in many hospitals.

"Studies show that children fed raw milk have more resistance to TB than children fed pasteurized milk (Lancet, p 1142, 5/8/37); that raw milk is very effective in preventing scurvy and protecting against flu, diphtheria and pneumonia (Am J Dis Child, Nov 1917); that raw milk prevents tooth decay, even in children who eat a lot of sugar (Lancet, p 1142, 5/8/37); that raw milk is better than pasteurized milk in promoting growth and calcium absorption (Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin 518, p 8, 1/33); that a substance present in raw cream (but not in pasteurized cream) prevents joint stiffness and the pain of arthritis (Annual Review of Biochemistry, 18:435, 1944); and that children who drink raw milk have fewer allergic skin problems and far less asthma than children who drink pasteurized milk (Lancet 2001 358 (9288):1129-33)."

These are merely three of many pertinent and informative quotes to be found on this website. There are TONS of links on the site to outside articles, scientific studies, safety analysis, health effects, political and legal issues, historical context, media involvement and coverage, books, blogs, videos, journals, newsletters and on and on. I've been somewhat familiar with the raw milk benefits and surrounding legal issues, but this presents some amazing information that isn't easily accessible to us, the consumers. Read on and spread the word!!

Living in revolutionary times

Ah! Ron Paul is amazing!! He is spot on, everything in this interview with him.

http://blog.alexanderhiggins.com/2010/10/02/wall-street-journal-warns-america-brink-revolution-6218/

Who's really behind the disruptions?

A news report from RT positing the possible involvement of the CIA in the failed coup attempt upon Ecuadorian president Correa. For those who haven't heard, the president was kidnapped by police in Quito, Ecuador and held hostage in a hospital until the military came in and rescued him amidst much gunfire. It's reported that the police did this in protest to Correa's plan to cut promotions and wage raises. They discuss the role of the CIA in planning these types of disruptive events in countries with leaders coming to power who do not follow the United State's desires related to things such as trade policies or general American approval, support and compliance. They also discuss in here the reasons for the lack of coverage in America of this event.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuWpgRQuXU4

More links and some movies

Yesterday I watched a 45 minute documentary about the global financial crisis. It gives a good overview of how we got into this situation- a recipe for the greatest depression yet- for anyone interested in an introduction to these topics.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ECi6WJpbzE&feature=player_embedded#!

On that note, the following is a link to 3 posts about hyperinflation from a very good blog. I'm not going to say much about it yet, because I need to reread it. It is full of information, but difficult for me to follow at times, hence needing to reread it. If you take the time to digest this, I'm sure it will fill your mind with constructive and important thoughts.

http://fofoa.blogspot.com/2010/09/just-another-hyperinflation-post.html
http://fofoa.blogspot.com/2010/09/just-another-hyperinflation-post-part-2.html
http://fofoa.blogspot.com/2010/09/just-another-hyperinflation-post-part-3.html

Aside from this, I recently watched a movie called Fire, set in India, directed by Deepa Metha. A couple years ago I watched her film, Water, which was also deeply moving. Both films deal with taboo issues in India and people who remain forced into the periphery. Water was about how widowed women, or even children, are sent basically to "widow camps" where they are required to remain for the duration of their lives. This affects even children who may have been married off at very young ages. Fire dealt with the cultural intolerance towards lesbianism. Both of the films displayed the pervasive inequalities that women in India endure. She has made another film, Earth, that I hope to see after seeing these two pertinent, thoughtful and highly emotional films.

Surface giving versus life changing

Wendell Berry discusses the inherent flaw of giving money in place of action as a method of doing good in the world. I have come to understand the importance of beginning within the self as opposed to working to smooth over the damage in the external. One method deals with the results, while the other deals with the causes. To create real change, we must work to solve the systemic problems. This involves a much deeper, more complex and extreme change. The act of giving money is an example of attempting to contribute positively to the consequences of a system within the context of the very system that is causing the damage.

"The giving of money has thus become our characteristic virtue. But to give is not to do. The money is given in lieu of action, thought, care, time. And it is no remedy for the fragmentation of character and consciousness that is the consequence of specialization. At the simplest, most practical level, it would be difficult for most of us to give enough in donations to good causes to compensate for, much less remedy, the damage done by the money that is taken from us and used destructively by various agencies of the government and by the corporations that hold us in captive dependence on their products. More important, even if we could give enough to overbalance the official and corporate misuse of our money, we would still not solve the problem: the willingness to be represented by money involves a submission to the modern divisions of character and community. The remedy safeguards the disease.

"This has become, to some extent at least, an argument against institutional solutions. Such solutions necessarily fail to solve the problems to which they are addressed because, by definition, they cannot consider the real causes. The only real, practical, hope-giving way to remedy the fragmentation that is the disease of the modern spirit is a small and humble way- a way that a government or agency or organization or institution will never think of, though a person may think of it: one must begin in one's own life the private solutions that can only in turn become public solutions...

"If a consumer begins to think and act in consideration of his responsibilities, then he vastly increases his capacities as a person. And he begins to be effective in a different way- a way that is smaller perhaps, and certainly less dramatic, but sounder, and able sooner or later to assume the force of example." (Berry, 23, 24)

The perspective presented here is aligned with the Buddhist philosophy. When we are unaware, or disconnected from ourselves, we can only bring harm to the world around us. An untamed mind is like an elephant tromping through a forest and causing destruction without thought (only a metaphor, not an actual criticism of elephants obviously). There are many examples of people in this condition. People with a specific hatred for another way of living are a good and unfortunately common example. Whether they choose to direct their hate based on race, gender, class, sexual orientation, political affiliation, religious beliefs, etc., these people lack a base understanding of themselves and in turn, cause pain in the surrounding world. Turning inwards and leading by example is the only true form of creating change. This path is not limited to the saints and monks. Every individual can achieve this heightened awareness with time, understanding, patience, practice and dedication. The first step is looking beyond the assumptions and restraints placed upon us by society. The assumption of money as necessity is one such externally placed value of this time and place. I am not trying to advocate for a money-less society, but merely considering the possibility will open our minds to other ways of living.

Although it can be intimidating to choose a path diverging from the security of the main road, I hope to not let myself be overrun by this taming to normalcy that occurs on the large scale. I also believe that Americans and global citizens alike, will soon be forced to challenge their old systems of security, when they begin to crumble and expose their hollow, unsustainable, exploitive nature. Unfortunately, we tend to accept what appears to work, without the much needed reflections, until what used to appear to work, eventually fails us.

New America: No farms allowed?

Great, a man has been fined $5000 for his 2 acre organic farm... what is this world coming to? Wow.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jT9qKnmBqy0&feature=player_embedded

For more information, go to Celente's blog at:

http://geraldcelentechannel.blogspot.com/

The September 18th post.

More reasons to avoid more things

Please read this article bringing to light that the majority of antibacterial hand soap contain triclosan or triclocarbon, which cause hormone changes, possible infertility and abnormal development. There is no need to buy these products that may be causing serious, long term damage to ourselves, our species, animals and the environment.

http://cryptogon.com/?p=17733

Looking within

Here is a video from Max Keiser, an economist who hosts two excellent and very insightful shows, the Keiser Report and On the Edge. Keiser discusses the markets, debt, money creation, the banking crisis, global economy, gold prices and other such topics. In this episode, Keiser interviews William K. Black. Black gives a clear picture of the banking and economic situation and scandals going on. I was so impressed by William K. Black from this episode that I am presently trying to read his book, The Best Way to Rob a Bank is to Own One: How Corporate Executives and Politicians Looted the S&L Industry. One of the most memorable and terrifying (but understandable and clear at the same time) concepts from this interview is that our economic system is designed to reward the most immoral people. Here is the link:

http://maxkeiser.com/watch/the-keiser-report/keiser-report-68-12-august-2010-guest-william-k-black/

Also, I just listened to another interview with Gerald Celente. One point that really resonated with me from this is that to make change, we have to start with ourselves. We have the power to change what businesses and corporations we support. We have the power to inform ourselves or remain ignorant, to buy crappy food from huge chains or support the local economy, and so on. I believe in this concept fully. The only way that we can make change is by starting from within ourselves.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNWqKzw-P_s

Pending collapse

I recently watched this 4 part interview with Gerald Celente on King World News. Gerald Celente is a trends analyst, who is well respected for having predicted many incidents accurately (economic collapses, housing bubbles, terrorist panics, etc.) He publishes the Trends Research Journal, in which he analyzes many trends, for example, religious, economic, political, agricultural, scientific, social, pharmaceutical, etc.

In this interview, Celente discusses a range of topics such as the need for a resurgence of small business, equal opportunity, actual capitalism, as opposed to the current system of continually bailing out the "too big to fails," which therefore prevents capitalism from correcting itself and existing as it is truly supposed to. This is equivalent to the merging of state and corporate power, aka Fascism. Big corporations have legal advantages left and right and in the end, as we can see with the Freddie Mac and Fannie May example, they are not at all solvent but due to the fact that they have become SO big, the government and federal reserve sees their failure as a possible detriment to our economy and therefore gives trillions of tax payers dollars to them in attempts to "save the economy." This is not the capitalist ideology of allowing equal competition and collapse of failed businesses and advancement of success. It is so important to realize that this method is not at all going to "save the economy." Providing money to insolvent corporations is merely going to continue the faltering system and cause a more violent end in the future. There is going to be a collapse of America soon and the people at the top will try to do everything in their power to continue the system of profiteering. Celente equates those top business and Wall street men to "junkies," "money junkies." The unemployment rate is up to around 19-22% now, reaching pre-Great Depression numbers. America's class gap is now the widest of the industrialized nations. He gives more details about this and other issues, some of which take a bit of context, but a lot of it is readily digestible and worth considering.

1) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNiAAiSMu9Y
2) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mwFwEkYZVs
3) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEtqPBEpt5M
4) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cS6UApZHsW8

GMO implications

This is a video I watched a couple weeks ago about the consequences of genetically modified foods which really took over in the 1990's. It is really incredible how, since that time, numerous health conditions have escalated at high speed. Definitely an informative video about the subject.

http://rt.com/Top_News/2010-08-26/fat-america.html

Check the source

This is just another great example of corporate funding to distract the public. BP is funding an environmental program for public schools in California. In this video, they discuss "green-washing" where deliberate attempts are made to advertise "good environmental policies," by companies that are clearly not concerned with environmental outcomes, but profits. It should be obvious that no research can be trusted if it is being funded by corporations with agendas.

http://www.democracynow.org/2010/9/10/why_is_oil_giant_bp_helping

Exchange value

I had an incredible day at work yesterday. I would like to preface my experience with a thought. I recently finished the book by Wendell Berry titled, The Unsettling of America: Culture and Agriculture. I would like to write much more about this book later, but for now I will highlight one idea that I am using to think about daily life and the future. I am conceiving of a world that functions not on competition, as it does in this society to the fullest extent, but on cooperation. This may seem like a very simple or possibly idyllic and Utopian concept at first glance. However, you can really delve into this very deeply upon further reflection. It takes a minute to recognize the true and complete saturation of competition into every level of our society, from the individual to the Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, corporate giants and the government.

The ideal of society is very clearly, more, more, more. As individuals, no matter how much we wish our lives, interests, goals and self worth to be separate from our money, we are judged and judge ourselves based upon the ideal of self-sufficiency. Directly, this correlates to, among other things, our savings account. We grow up monetarily dependent upon our parents. We go to college, in middle class and up range of people generally, to specialize and to gain a career which will earn us monetary security and a "worthy" position we are proud of. There is rarely a time when a person on this path willingly decides to do without income for some time, because there are always more "needs" (a new dishwasher, new carpeting, stereo, etc.) and more expensive things to be had (car, television, house, couch, family requiring food, children wanting further education, phones, etc). The goal is an unreachable one, gain more money and higher status until you can no more or until you have built enough security to retire. It is beyond most of us, that this is a cultural assumption, not a given. There is a way to be centered upon the idea of enough as opposed to ever more.

Entangled in the principle of enough is the value of community and not self sufficiency, but acknowledging and respecting our mutual dependences. Our dependencies on each other, on the land, plants, animals, sun, and entire surrounding community. Instead of recognizing these direct, supportive and mutually beneficial relationships around us, we are increasingly separated from our Connection. The word "dependence" in this time and place, carries negative connotations. We don't want to be "dependent" on anyone or anything, which is a direct contradiction to life. The irony here? As our society's aims guide us away from our healthy connections with people and the land, the goal of ever more, which has led to the creation of corporate giants who want to make the most profit with the cheapest labor, create for us a slew of new dependencies governed by them. We are dependent upon pharmaceutical creations with almost half the people you know on some kind of prescription; upon our closest, biggest grocery store, which is dependent upon the petro-chemical industry to create cheapened food products meant to last as long as possible, which leads to monocultures, which are dependent upon ever more chemical fertilizers, which requires synthesis in labs, which requires energy and waste, and on and on the list of dependencies goes. And don't forget about possibly the single biggest, overarching dependence on the limited resource of petroleum. Even ignoring every other aspect of cultural dependence, this one should be evident to all. Every single aspect of every single industry and life here and now is dependent upon this diminishing resource. You can ignore my assertions that society needs to shift from values of competition to cooperation, but you cannot ignore the fact that this society, if for no other reason than petroleum dependence (and there are actually so many more reasons than that), is at some point, going to have to be completely reformed. Not kind of, not just on the edges, but an utter, total and in an absolute core way, this society will change. It simply cannot be maintained on any level.

Back to my great day at work. The woman who supplies the co-op with our local, organic wheat flour, popcorn, flax and wheatberries came in Saturday evening to drop off some of those items. This was the second time I had met her. I liked her the first time I met her, because we were able to have an engaging, though somewhat brief, conversation. Again, we got to chatting about basically everything I just wrote about above and more. When I asked if she would be open for volunteer help, she was, well, nearly ecstatic and that was what led us into our conversations about cooperation, community, connection, sustainability, diversification, the complexity of farming and the future of America and agriculture. She opened her arms to me, excited to teach and to see a young person understanding these issues of imminent importance. There are tons of projects going on at the her farm and it is a year round effort utilizing as many reusable energy sources and practices as possible. She offered me delicious meals that her friend (who was also with her and conversing with us) cooks regularly. And food of all sorts- walnuts, soybeans, wheat, corn, cajun red beans, pinto beans, black beans, and many other crops including fruits and vegetables. It seems that among a small group of close knit friends she has, they work together to provide for each other in various ways. Her friend has a quaint cottage overlooking a small lake, which she gladly offered for me to stay in as I pleased, with my friends too if anyone wanted to come with me. The lake is good for fishing and they are trying to incorporate that into their system of sustainable agriculture. I think we were both equally enthusiastic about the idea. I am happy to say I am starting to live what I believe in, with understanding Connection at the core.

Here is the link to the farm!
http://fieldsofagape.com/

Another non-monetary and exciting exchange I am partaking in is with a new friend from Mexico. We are both fascinated with languages. She is tutoring me in Spanish in exchange for being tutored by me in Japanese. We are meeting twice a week, once for Spanish and once for Japanese. It's a fantastic set up. She speaks English and Spanish, but has also studied 4 years of Latin, some Japanese (but apparently the teacher was horrible so we are starting from square one), and she can understand anything in French, Portuguese and Creole, though she says she has a more difficult time with the speaking aspect. Beyond this even, we are both fascinated by every tangent of language, every overlap between language, culture, philosophy, behavior, society and so on. She is considering starting a blog on these topics exactly and I very much hope that she does!

Life in Richmond is turning out to be quite rewarding indeed. It's all coming together...

Rethinking incessant growth

This article gives a good, clear picture of the reasons big businesses have become so powerful, the problems with it and what could actually function better in its place. The article covers the various industries, such as science, technology, agriculture, transportation, pharmaceutical, oil, banking, etc. He goes on to show how across the board, all industries are centered upon the principle of growth and beating out the little guys. The bottom line is that this kind of non-stop growth cannot possibly continue infinitely. When we start to realize that we are all suffering from this growth complex, we can start to rethink our societal structure and what might be a better path. The end of this growth complex could come in different forms, but we do have a choice to let it grow until it reaches its own violent end or work now towards a sustainable future.

http://vermontrepublic.org/the-curse-of-bigness-or-business-as-usual-in-america-the-vulnerable

A silent danger

Think about how many products you use on a daily basis. Dish soap, laundry detergent, chapstick, make-up, shampoo, and any number of cleaning supplies or cosmetics. The fact is there is very little regulation here. Placing things like "organic" or "natural" on these non-food products has no legal requirements. If you don't feel like taking the time for yourself, think about the loved ones (animals too!) around you who you may be subjecting to harmful things such as petroleum, lead and tar. The bottom line is, the aim of all companies is profit, not your health, so if you don't take the time to look into your products, you are putting faith into companies who do not at all have you, your family or your pets' (or the environment's) interests in mind. Here are a few links to start off.

http://www.democracynow.org/2010/7/21/lead_in_lipstick_coal_tar_in

http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/2010/07/21/2010-07-21_story_of_cosmetics_paints_an_ugly_picture.html

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/07/annie-leonard-story-of-cosmetics.php

Can you sleep at night BP?

I read this article a week or so ago. It is about the gulf disaster and the long term implications on humans and the environment. We are talking cancers, tumors, and many painful deaths and diseases. Everything in it was as I had suspected, but not yet heard. This sadness is beyond comprehension. The most amazing part of it all is the constant attempts to hide information from the public.

http://www.helium.com/items/1929422-bp-gulf-disaster-may-be-killing-millions

Also, possible radioactivity:

http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2010/08/bps-crude-oil-may-be-radioactive.html

Sustainability to a new level

Last night we stumbled upon this amazingly talented engineer who, it would seem, could literally create ANYTHING with his own two hands. Here's a link to the first video (out of who knows how many but more than 47!!), followed by a link to his page. The man recycles almost everything, pays for almost nothing, all the while living off the grid! I'll mention too, his main goal: building a giant robot. Really incredible, check it out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86Krv3gE-c4

http://jamius.com/Robot/Robot.html