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