Deep Blog Nation (DBN)

Urgent Update from Taiji: September 1, 2009, A Good Day for Dolphins | TakePart Social Action Network™

2009-09-02T22:03:00.000-07:00

Link

Sometimes the warm and fuzzy feelings that we require come from real life moments and not the movies....

Crying for John Lennon: A Tribute

2009-01-14T00:14:00.001-08:00

The girl who silenced the world for 5 minutes

2008-12-09T22:57:00.001-08:00

Give Peace A Chance - John Lennon

2008-12-09T22:45:00.001-08:00

all we are saying...

You Are The Reason (Peace Song)

2008-11-02T01:48:00.001-07:00

Absolutely beautiful!

Peace

2008-10-05T23:48:00.000-07:00

As I am currently expecting, I have deviated from the normal run of the mill baby and toddler books and instead I am reading books with names like 'Green Babycare', 'Children of NOW', 'Make It (which is a craft book for kids using recyclable materials) and 'Positive Parenting for a Peaceful world'. It is my believe that the strongest tool we have for a peaceful world will be our kids.

Currently I am reading Positive Parenting and amongst other things, the author says the following:

- Peace is never won through violence. Violence, bullying and war breed more violence, anger and war and a vicious circle of suffering.
- Peace cannot be won by ignoring violence, oppression or injustice. Pretending all is well does not make the problem go away.
- Peace can only be won when all parties build bridges toward each other. This is as true of the family and the school as it is of neighbours, communities and countries.

We cannot bottle peace and say 'apply this and all will be well'. Nor can we capture it and hang a label around it saying 'please do not disturb'. People who want to keep things 'peaceful' all the time will find that they are chasing an impossible dream. They may be dispirited or disappointed. Or they may try to control everyone and everything by imposing their views and closing their minds to other possibilities. This imposed peace is not real peace. Peace is about active engagement with people and problems so that we are better able to understand one another and find solutions that value our differences and common needs.

Peace:
- Respecting ourselves and others.
- Relating well to one another.
- Reconciling differences.

Blessings to all.

Perfect Action

2008-10-02T01:59:00.000-07:00

A perfect action means "an action that benefits someone and harms no-one". It is an action rooted in non-violence and compassion coming from a deep source within.

Namaste

Gratefulness

2008-10-02T01:27:00.000-07:00

This morning one of the many newsletters that crosses my email, brought to my attention that if we were truly grateful for what we received and the favours that others show us, we would return the favour.

So for the next week, make it your aim to show your gratefulness in action to the universe and the person who bestowed you the favour or gift by returning it in like to someone else who might be in need. In this way you are not just saying you are thankful, but showing it in action.

Blessings to all.

Let-It-Be*Peace

2008-09-29T04:07:00.001-07:00

Peace One Day - A Short Video Explaining Peace One Day

2008-09-21T23:25:00.001-07:00

World Hunger

2008-08-15T18:57:00.001-07:00

For all of us who are so comfortable in our own lives that we cannot see the real world because it might disrupt our own...

Demartini Institute Newsletter

2008-08-06T00:53:00.000-07:00

When someone believes in you, you increase in self worth and rise to the occasion. Long-term visionaries know to stay the course. They don't focus on how things aren't being done; they wisely look at what is being done and what can be done. They are solution orientated, not problem focused. As a nation, hold a vision for South Africa, don't let outer forces deter your vision and actions towards it; look for what is working; acknowledge the heroes; be grateful for the men and women who put their lives on the line to protect and serve South African society.

When you see the genius in another, you have the power to awaken the genius you see. Acknowledge the heroes and show your gratitude, for when you are grateful, you get more to be grateful for.

Freedom is for everyone

2008-08-05T01:18:00.001-07:00

Join the network and be a part of a non-violent light revolution

Visit Candle4Tibet

You don't have to be a superhero to save the planet

2008-06-17T01:41:00.001-07:00

How to change the world

2008-05-26T02:37:00.000-07:00

I have taken note that the last few weeks in my life have been filled with turmoil (of course in smaller doses than that of the world) and struggle to promote peace or convince others of peace. War, unrest and violence seems to be the theme of the month though and it has been a trying time trying to find my own inner peace, as well as trying to manifest it in my life. What I know for sure is that eventhough we do not have any control over the actions of others, we are all the masters of our own REactions. It is so vitally important for this small little rock we live on that we start to choose wisely and effectively, from the heart and from love instead of from the ego and fear.

It seems to be that everyone is preparing for in case someone else chooses to attack them and thereby wasting precious energy that, if filled with love, could have been re-directed causing so many brighter ripples in the world than the mis formed ones that are currently part of our systems, and really, there does not seem to be one country that is truly at peace anymore.

Therefore, it seemed like real magic when this email came across my screen this morning. Reading it I remembered Ghandi saying: 'Be the change you want to see in the world' and Oscar Wilde: 'We are all in the gutters, but some of us are looking up at the stars' and then there is one of my favourites by Edmund Burke: 'Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little'.

The truth that has dawned on me so many times before is that we need to stop waiting for the masses in order to fit in, or for the leaders to show us how. We have become lazy as the masters of our own destiny and sleepy to the world around us. Most of our actions are sub-conscience automatic responses, programmed by society instead of intelligent and emotional choices based on the real life current information that we are receiving. We have become a race based on assumptions and pre-dispositions instead.

I hope everyone can take a little self-improvement away from this piece and perhaps realise that unless we stop blaming and throwing harmful words around, we will never have inner or worldly peace:

How to change the world

It seems perfectly appropriate to be e-mailing you from Argentina when the topic for this week’s lesson is social and global transformation. In the words of a local, Argentina has been going through a silent civil war for decades and is suffering. No matter where I travel, it is clear that our countries are facing their own peak challenges right now. We can no longer separate ourselves from our world. What used to happen “over there” and “to them” is now “over here” and “to us”.

Our sense of family is expanding to include a much larger collective global family. Though cultures and languages may differ, we bleed the same, cry the same, laugh the same and need the same.

So as I sit here looking out of my hotel apartment in Buenos Aires, having struggled to speak to the few Spanish-speaking people I have just met, I am filled in awe once again that no matter where I go, when you learn to open the heart you will find family.

Given half a chance, if you offered most people the opportunity to change the world they would want to. Do you?

So the question is how? How do you make your life count towards a better world for us all?

Here are 3 real and deep truths that will help you to help your world.

1. Don’t look outside without also looking “in”.

When we look outside of ourselves at the world, we can feel overwhelmed at the sheer size of world problems. Because it all looks too big, we don’t believe that we can do anything of real value. We also go into a denial born of hopelessness, and then we close our eyes and hearts, to just focus on our own survival. We separate our hearts from “them” to try to feel safer.

TIPS:

a. Become aware of when you do this, and ask yourself to not let fear push you to close your eyes or your heart.
b. Then go inside of yourself to build the peace and the strength to not shrink back from the world.
c. Go inside with prayer or meditation to share the emotional burdens you carry with peace. Sharing the load is powerfully healing.

2. Don’t ask “What can 1 person really do?” Rather ask, “What can I be?”

There is simply too much for any 1 person to do. By focusing on what needs to be done you will feel inadequate and overwhelmed. Rather focus on being the person you were born to be, trust that when you do this, your presence will make the difference you were born to make. Ironically from this perspective you will also likely DO more for the world, but it will feel natural and based on inner peace rather than fear.

3. Your personal and spiritual growth is your greatest contribution to world healing.

Social transformation is a result of personal transformation. Because we are all connected, like drops in the ocean, know that:

• Your greatest contribution to world peace is inner peace.
• Your greatest contribution to world healing is personal healing.
• Your greatest contribution to global financial empowerment is personal financial empowerment.
• Your greatest contribution to world spiritual awareness is a personal experience (not concept) of spirituality.

We make a difference. You make a difference. Just like science tells us that the flap of butterfly wings can change weather patterns on the other side of the world, your personal healing and growth can ripple to contribute to new futures and global healing.

This week's on campus course: Social Transformation - Wednesday morning 28th May at The Academy of Metaphysics and Wednesday evening at The Naturally Yours Institute in Bryanston. Please e-mail pages@iafrica.com or call 011 469-1666 for bookings. Seats are limited.

Look out for next week's teaching until then...
Be all you were born to be!

All my best,
Colleen-Joy

The Colleen-Joy Company
Tel: (+27 11) 469-1666
www.colleen-joy.com http://www.colleen-joy.com
Enrol for Colleen-Joy's free weekly teachings, enjoyed by +6500 online students for over 6 years.

Written by a Teary Black African

2008-05-23T03:26:00.000-07:00

I might not be a South African

But I’m black, my skin is the same as yours
My colour is the same as yours
My genes are African, nothing but African
When your leaders were beaten by whites
I was there to shelter them
I was patient with them
I offered them food, shelter,
Most of all, I offered them protection

I might not be a South African

I can’t speak Zulu, cause I’m Vhenda
I can’t speak Zulu, cause I’m Shangaan
I don’t know what an elbow is in Zulu
As much as you don’t know it in my language
Since when was Zulu the only South African language?
Yes……………I’m not from Gauteng
I was not born here, but I’m South African
Where should I go if you beat me
I’m not beating your father, mother, brother or sister who works at my area in the mines
I’m not calling them makwerekwere though they can’t speak my language.

I might be dark in complexion

I might have the foreigners looks
I might have the foreigners body structure
Now I am scared to go to the only place that I call home
I’m scared of working down the street without my ID
Whites wanted me to do that centuries ago
Now you, my black brother is acting white

Why should you Black South Africans do this?

What makes you think that you better than me?
Who told you that I’m responsible for your unemployment?
Who told you that I’m less human
If I need to go back to Vhenda……..let all the Zulus go back to KZN
Let all the Tswana’s go back to Botswana
Let all the Sotho’s go back to Lesotho
Let all the Ndebele’s go back to Kwandebele
Let all the Xhosa’s go back to Eastern Cape
Yes…………let all the Swati’s go back to Swaziland

Is this not ignorance?

Your unemployment is your responsibility
Use your intellect
Get up and work
Let education empower you
Seek humanity

Before 1994 you blamed whites
Now you are blaming me
Who are you going to blame after chasing me away?
Who are you going to blame after killing me?

For what it’s worth…………………..

I’m sorry I was not born here
I’m sorry I can’t speak Zulu
I’m sorry for being too dark for your Joburg
I’m sorry for cleaning the toilets you don’t want to clean
I’m sorry for doing your garden
I’m sorry for repairing your shoes
I’m sorry for protecting your leaders while they were in Exile
Yes…………………what you call Exile………..is my country
And most of all…….I’m sorry for building South African infrastructure

Please my brothers let there be peace and prosperity amongst black African people.

Written by a Teary Black African

The Gathering of One ... Sow the Seeds of Peace

2008-05-20T06:04:00.001-07:00

It is about time for all to come together.

Doctor Exposes Fluoride as Poison

2008-05-19T02:05:00.001-07:00

You have to ask yourself 'How did we start?' when you see these everyday poisons coming to light. For me personally, it is a case of KNOWING - no one should put stuff in you without you saying yes to it, knowing fully what the pros and cons are. For years doctors, scientists and the government have allowed various compounds to be used in substances that the consumer requires or needs, based on the fact that they are scarcely hazardous. No one gave the consumers a choice or even fully informed them simply because there was money to be made. I don't want to sound like a conspiracy theorist or a paranoid citizen, BUT I do believe that my rights are to know what goes where and EXACTLY what effects they may or may not have on me, my body and my children. I also want to know that full tests and long-term testing has been done and what the percentage of damage and negative effects are.

These should be every person's rights so that 50 years along the line I am not surprised by someone coming forth to state that something is actually fairly dangerous and should not have been allowed back when.

Suddenly there are a lot of paranoid conspiracy theorists going 'See! I told you so!'...

The Secret - Planet Earth

2008-05-07T00:39:00.001-07:00

After the previously harrowing movie of earthlings, which showed us the worst that humans can do, this movie will show you all the wonders of our planet and reasons to fight for each being's right to live...

This is Canada's 'Humane' Seal hunt?

2008-04-22T04:46:00.001-07:00

The Canadian authorities making no attempts to enforce the legislation, they are also desperately trying to prevent the media and other observers witnessing what really goes on. And while everyone gets upset with seeing these images, no one is actively taking a stand and the need for fur does not lessen. STOP BUYING FUR! Of any kind. You don't look beautiful in the skin of a dead animal that was granted no grace. STOP SUPPORTING THOSE THAT WEAR FUR! They may be your favourite artist, performer, singer or other celebrity, but if they are wearing it or buying it for their wives or children or friends, they are a part of the problem. Watch these images and tell me you still feel good about being the supporter of the FUR industry.

read more | digg story

Earthlings

2008-04-21T06:50:00.000-07:00

I sat right through this video, crying my eyes out, but refusing to ignore what I have comfortably denied for so long. Everyone needs to see this. What choice you make after it will be an informed one, one based on knowledge and not denial. And if you cannot watch this, ask yourself WHY?

A Different View of South Africa - Interview with John Demar

2008-04-17T00:52:00.001-07:00

South Africa has been through some hard times and it seems the struggle is far from over. When dealing with people that carry so much anger about what happened in the past and so many people who carry anger about what is happening now, everyone becomes too blind too see. Often times we need to see what other people see. We do not have less foreigners coming into our country (and I am not just talking about refugees from Zim). In fact we mostly have more people that are clearly seeing investment opportunities that we ourselves are not focusing on. When you become focussed on the anger, hate and bad things that are happening, you so very often miss the good things.Create your own environment. Know what others see and count your blessings daily.

read more | digg story

Noise pollution

2008-04-15T00:42:00.001-07:00

Silence is something that is essential to humans and it is proven in people who meditate or make space for silence in their lives. The benefit to our physical (as well as spiritual and mental) bodies can not be ignored. But trying to get to silence in our busy cities is not often an easy task, no matter how essential it might be.This article smartly deals with ways to lessen the noise pollution in our immediate space, whilst also given a wonderful overview on the ways that noise pollution affects not only us, but our friends in nature as well.

read more | digg story

Buying more is good

2008-04-15T00:39:00.001-07:00

When purchasing the wares for our homes, we are often blinded by the better prices on bulk items. This article gives hints to those people who think they might be saving a penny or two from buying in large quantities. Often buying more at any given time results in more waste and therefore a larger heap filling up our junkyards.

read more | digg story

Recycling 101

2008-04-10T23:50:00.001-07:00

Quick and painless overview about recycling, it lists all the benefits, but also highlights the facts that recycling is not all about putting your cans on the curb. It is also about lessening the waste and reusing or repairing some of the things we would normally throw away, because, let's face it, we have become a wasteful race.

Some people don't have any and others throw away anything that they deem not fit.

By now, everyone should know that recycling benefits the world, but before you throw out anything, consider fixing it first or finding out from friends if maybe they have a need for it. Before you buy anything new, consider whether you really need it or could do with borrowing one from a friend, or scan the junk mail pages for someone who wants to get rid of theirs.

Our landfills are filled with junk that someone thought no-one needed whilst another person goes and buys a new one. We need to start thinking and considering more carefully.

read more | digg story

Jay's Tiny House Tour

2008-04-10T23:48:00.001-07:00

This is a really cool little house, although some people might get slightly claustrophobic. But it does beg the question to be asked: How much space does one human really need?

TV Goes Green

2008-04-09T23:58:00.001-07:00

Finally! A Channel that keeps us all informed about our world and its current condition. Our world is based on knowledge and we need to stop being fools that just blunder into oblivion pretending that we don't know. There are no excuses any more, you can even download episodes of the website as podcasts.

read more | digg story

SHI Video Clips

2008-04-08T02:39:00.001-07:00

I look at the pictures in the intro of the clip and I wonder what kind of mind can destroy that, justify the destruction and feel good about the money they make.

I see the people and their attitude towards the forest and I know that those that destroy it do it out of desperation because we no longer care about one another...

FAREWELL, MY SUBARU - Doug Fine

2008-04-08T02:23:00.001-07:00

This is an absolutely hilarious story from a guy with a sense of humour about going green. I really enjoyed watching the story and I am definitely getting the book.

SHI - The Don Cheyo Story

2008-04-08T02:10:00.001-07:00

If everyone in the world had an attitude like this guy's, there would be very little problems left for anyone to try and solve...

The story of Don Cheyo

2008-04-08T01:57:00.001-07:00

A mini-documentary about Honduran farmer Don Cheyo, who grows organic crops and lives sustainably thanks to help from Sustainable Harvest International (SHI).

read more | digg story

Getting Unplugged: How to Break the TV Habit

2008-04-02T23:24:00.001-07:00

Television has stolen the minds of the human race!

OK, so maybe that is a little far-fetched, but it seems that the largest part of our society cannot see relaxation in any other form. Isn't it time we took our lives back? Isn't it time to start redeveloping our creativity, our families and our minds? When watching television, your brain waves are even less than while asleep. That should tell you something.

We are by no means saying that it will be easy to break the habits of a life-time, but try these simple tips to help you get over watching too much television.

read more | digg story

Recession buster - go green

2008-04-02T03:15:00.001-07:00

One great myth about going green is that only the rich can do it. Well, good news! By spending less on STUFF that you really don't need, you are in truth contributing to the well-being of our planet.

Everything that we create, uses resources on our planet and humans are very wasteful creatures: What we need today, end up in the landfill in a few months, so think very carefully about similar items purchased, as well as the timelessness of the item. Maybe try saving for the item in a better quality so it will last longer i.e. instead of buying 10 dresses, save up to have one well-made unique dress (if you can have this made for you, you will also be supporting local business) or instead of buying cheep pots and pans, save up to buy one good set that will last you a life time.

More tips in the article.

read more | digg story

Mothball alternatives

2008-04-02T01:59:00.001-07:00

Mothballs are not a very good invention in either smell or environmental or human safety. There are however (as with all human inventions) ways to keep the crawlies at bay without coming in contact with these harmful chemicals. Some of these tips include cedar blocks, ways to pack materials, etc. Add to these: keep the last bit of soap, let it dry out and stick it between clothes; put twigs of lavender between the material or use a lavender linen spray.

Get rid of the smell of mothballs with these great tips.

read more | digg story

Old world lessons

2008-04-02T01:33:00.001-07:00

Written from an American point of view, but some real essential lessons that could we would do well do implement. America is a very rich country but essentially, very wasteful as well and it is a well known fact that the USA is responsible for the largest amount of pollution in our world.

In South Africa we are doing well in following the examples of the Americans, but without the necessary space that they have as a country.Either way, having the resources or the space, or even not having it, is never an excuse to be wasteful. Neither is oppression, feeling like a victim or having an unhappy childhood. As a race we need to pull ourselves together and realise that we can indeed be a happier, healthier people if we simplified and implemented at least some of these ideas.

And take note that living a simpler or greener life does not mean that you have to go without your normal luxurious items. It simply means that you slightly adjust your thinking (or maybe START thinking altogether), realise that God create one huge, wonderful system that is co-dependent on each component and also to slightly adjust the way that (or with what) you do certain things. None of these things will take away your comfort or your survival. In most cases, it will provide for you a healthier and happier life style that you can truly enjoy for the longest time in comfort with the ones you love.

read more | digg story

Service allows you to offset environmental impact of books

2008-03-31T03:38:00.001-07:00

If you collect books, you've probably noticed that they're made of paper, and that paper comes from trees. Raz Godelnik noticed -- he thinks green (not Irish, eco-ish) -- and he wanted to balance his books with new trees. So he started the website Eco-Libris; there, anyone can donate money to plant trees to offset book purchases.This is a great way to give back.

read more | digg story

Save our rainforests

2008-03-30T23:07:00.000-07:00

Roofs Gardens for Greening the Environment

2008-03-26T23:57:00.001-07:00

Everyone today is aware of our battle to save our planet, although I do not like to think of it as a battle, but rather a choice in change. Our planet has always been capable of recycling our mess, much as she does with all other beings that reside on her, but the people population exploded overnight and the problem became the quantity in which we expected her to resolve our mess.The link below is for an article on green roofing. As you might've guessed, it is about planting trees and plants on our roofs. This is such a great method to green our planet once more without necessarily giving up our space. It also keeps the space beneath it naturally cool, or naturally warm. Of course the ideal is that you also incorporate only indigenous plants and vegetation for this project. If you can find the time, read the rest of the article which will also contain more of the technical aspects of this wonderful endeavor. Happy planting!

read more | digg story

Tesla Electric Car

2008-03-12T14:57:00.001-07:00

For all those who are of the opinion that going green means you have to look like a dork, here is the car to prove otherwise. There are great days ahead of electrical and other concept cars when people start getting the idea that going green means you can take the shell of the old and replace it with the inside of the new.

Air Car! Runs on compressed air!

2008-03-12T14:48:00.001-07:00

Whatever the ideas and whether you like them or not, these cars show that we are well on our way to cutting our dependency on oil.

Saving trees

2008-03-12T00:24:00.001-07:00

Blogged with Flock

Vote for trees!

2008-03-11T13:03:00.000-07:00

Here's your chance to show your support for our tall, leafy friends during SXSW Interactive, just by voting YES for trees. The idea is simple, really. You vote for trees, we count your vote. If the tally reaches 1,000 votes during the festival, we'll plant 1,000 indigenous trees in a non-harvest location in the U.S. (with the help of the fabulous reforestation non-profit Plant-It 2020).

Ready to do your part?

Here's how it works:
1. Vote YES for trees.
2. Pat yourself on the shoulder.
3. Tell that dude sitting next to you to vote, too. (Don't worry, you don't have to pat his shoulder.)

If you are unsure about any of this, please visit their site http://www.myemma.com/sxsw/. They have a nice detailed explanation of what exactly a tree is (lol).

What I have found that I like

2008-03-11T12:53:00.000-07:00

As most of you will know, I am a huge fan of reading and of books as well as my home, the Earth. My greatest desire is to bring these two together and to find an e-book reader so that I can stop depleting our trees. South Africa is a little behind, so having seen a great number available in the USA and such, I trust it will only be a matter of months before they become available here.

I have tried libraries, but they often do not have exactly what I am looking for and the turning point was when I had read a book and found half of it missing. Some people can just not take care of anything. The other thing that also bothers me is that I always end up paying fines, because I like to read things in my own time.

Audiobooks are great, but they are no replacement for reading. I found they only work well for old classics that can get tiring on the eyes, or books that I have read before.

In the meantime, I buy what I need and keep mostly reference books or the books written by my favourite authors (being Terry Pratchett, Margaret Atwood, John Irving, Fanny Flagg and Deepak Chopra) and the rest I drop off at 2nd hand bookstores (I buy books there as well) or children's homes.

But this is not what this blog is about, entirely. I am here to tell you what I am currently reading that I have found to be great, or at least life-enhancing.

For some reason I have recently found myself being plagued, or maybe founded, by child raising books. We have no children yet and are only making plans for about 3 years in the future, and yet, these books have found their way to me. Not all the books are for children only though, so do read on, even if you are not planning to ever have a little pink-foot.

The 1st one that I will mention is for all the environmentalists out there, or anyone who wants to teach their kids a healthy respect for our world. The book is called Eco Kids and it is written by Dan Chiras - rasising kids who care for the earth. Think you can do this yourself, no way. You have no idea about the mistakes you are making already and this guy is not afraid to enlighten you and to tell you that he has made the same mistakes. This book is written mostly from experience of a environmental studies teacher (with 2 sons of his own) and filled with examples of how to teach your kids or how kids have made a difference in this world. It sheds a lot of light even for me in dealing with my siblings and other people that I would like to teach to respect our earth.

The 2nd and 3rd book is called Baby Sense and Toddler Sense by Ann Richardson. These books are an absolute must for any new parent or anyone who is pregnant. It is a simple, thin book that contains almost everything you will ever need to know and simple advice on how to establish healthy habits or how to eradicate the unhealthy ones. It is in easy to understand language as well and she really does not write in a preachy way so the book never becomes an ordeal to read and you can read it as your child grows.

The 4th book on my list is called Raising Kids the Natural Way by Mary-Anne Shearer. She has a website called http://www.mary-anns.com/ if you want to go and check it out. She has a very different and natural way for getting your kids to eat healthy, which is what we all want in long term, right?

Lastly I have on my list the book that was made famous by Oprah, You the Owner's Manual written by several doctors amongst which the infamous Dr. Oz. As the title suggests it is a manual on how your body works. There are one or two things that I will not incorporate in my life, but I have alternatives that I abide by which I believe are best for me. What makes this book so great is that you get a complete look at how your body works and how various things might affect it. For the physical side of our bodies (lest we forget in our spiritual quest that we have the physical to take care of as well) this book is brilliant. It has a lot to cover, but the writers were not stupid and they allow for the cheaters as well. If you have no desire to know how or why, just skip to the end of each chapter where you are given a shortlist of what to do to get your body in tip top shape.

I have covered a lot of factual books in this blog and I hope that someone will find at least one of them helpful. They have been real eye-openers for me even if they have not been the most binding books I have ever read.

Happy reading!

When is Biodiesel, Not Biodiesel? When You're Being Conned!

2008-03-10T05:16:00.001-07:00

Everyone knows that living a sustainable life, is the wave of the future, BUT the top guns have also realised that this movement is something that can be capitalised on and they are not always wiling to do so honestly. In a lot of areas, Biofuel is being produced, but without guiding legislation to keep it honest and true. Another problem that might also arise (and has already arisen to some degree) is that Biofuel is being imported from other countries that violate basic human rights in order to produce.There are many factors tied into this new product and it is up to society to do its research and not just accept everything as it appears.

read more | digg story

Recharge With a Power Shirt

2008-03-10T04:45:00.001-07:00

Our world creates so much for us, if we would just learn to harness what is given naturally and safely, we would live comfortable and sustainable lives with the least amount of effort. And these are the type of inventions that we are looking for! It is simple (well probably not that simple) nano-technology that allows kinetic energy from human movement to be harnessed anywhere. There are simple ways to harness the energy that is already being generated in the world by movement, solar and other means, we just have to find them and be willing to use them in larger quantities. If you would like to know a little more, do read the article.

read more | digg story

Deadly Junkyard in Space

2008-03-10T04:29:00.001-07:00

It seems that our junk has finally overflowed into space. Although most of the people on earth will not see this as a major problem, scientists have realised that this poses a huge problem and in fact, it has already been the reason for 2 in-space collisions. It seems that humans are making a habit of waking up too late and not being willing to give up the current activity in order to save themselves...We have to ask this: Where will our destruction end?

read more | digg story

Get the Lead Out

2008-03-10T03:12:00.001-07:00

Protect Your Children | Lead in Your Area | Take ActionChildren are particularly vulnerable to lead poisoning. Follow these guidelines to help keep kids safe.

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A card for everything

2008-03-07T09:32:00.001-08:00

The trick to sustainable living is the 3 R's: recycle, re-use and repair. With Re-use in mind, here are some great tips on how to use all those old and invalid plastic cards. Who says you can't survive in the wild with your credit card?

read more | digg story

New Eco-bus Showcased in San Francisco

2008-02-29T01:38:00.001-08:00

This is the ultimate in public transport: 95% emission free, Wi-Fi enabled (you can work on your way to work :-)), traffic signal priority system (shortly it means that in order for the bus to idle less it has a system in to signal traffic lights). We are now really catching on on how to make environmental care work for us!

read more | digg story

Ultimate Life Style Change

2008-02-29T01:05:00.000-08:00

I have been blogging now for the better part of a year or two, sometimes stopping and other times blogging furiously several times a day. This blog was created from the point of view that people need to change the way they live in order to save the world we live in. Some people say these changes will never take place whilst other people are already practicing these changes 'that will never happen'.

Here are the changes that I would like to see happen in our world and that I believe is possible if everyone would just let go of themselves for a little while and realise there is a greater picture:

- Our world needs peace. War devastates people as much as countries and it leaves devastation for those that are not even aware of the reasons for the fight. Peace ripples every time you use it, so practice peace as much as you can towards everyone that you meet. It does not mean that you allow people to trample you. It does however mean that people get treated with respect even if you disagree, that all people are allowed their beliefs as long as they harm none and that everyone is given an equal opportunity.

- Our world needs respect. It is our home after all and we have been dumping all our garbage without any concern for her care. Now we are faced with a dilemma and unless we step up, face the problem and take responsibility, doing the little we can to help out and teaching our kids the same.

- Our world needs love. We have lost the human ability to show love to those that need it and to speak up for them that have no voice. We ignore the problems of the world thinking that they will go away or that they are not applicable. All problem eventually find their way to everyone. Lend a helping hand when you see or hear of it being needed somewhere, give a hug or comfort and share what you can.

These are 3 simple things that would change our world forever, yet we all cling to the idea that to change our world would be to change our lifestyle and give up our comfort.

All that is required for these 3 steps to work is for each person to take their mind of autopilot and set it into conscious thinking mode. Be aware of those around you. Be aware of what you can give. Be aware of what you take. Be aware of what you return. Be aware.

World's Largest Solar Plant to be in Arizona

2008-02-29T00:52:00.001-08:00

Our planet is ultimately built to help us in the best most harmless possible. Up until now, we have just being using the quick and easy methods which also turned out to be non-renewable and most harmful methods possible. With most humans finally waking up to the call, Solar energy is being invested in slower than is desired (probably due to power battles), but we are smiling, knowing that at least it is starting.

read more | digg story

A Social Project is Launched to Help Reforest the Amazon and

2008-02-29T00:31:00.001-08:00

Quick and painless. Fill in a questionnaire about your current energy usage habits and they will help you identify ways in which you can help even more. For every questionnaire filled in they donate 1Euro to Accion Natura. Even more is donated should you decide to mention them in your blog, not to mention that they will post a link on their site to yours.

¿WHAT IS ACCIÓNATURA?Acciónatura is a Spanish NGO specialising in the protection, improvement and restoration of natural ecosystems. At UNION FENOSA we want to make society aware that rational energy use favours sustainable development and is environmentally beneficial for all of us.

What will they do with the donations, you might be wondering. Here is the short list:

- CO2 OFFSET PROJECT (consisting of reforestation and sustainable management of forest land)

- The restoration of a degraded and threatened area

- Flora and fauna conservation

- Long-term sustainable development for local populations

read more | digg story

Free Hugs Campaign. (music by Sick Puppies.net album out)

2008-02-26T00:55:00.001-08:00

We would like to thank and hug every one of you for making this video Youtube video of the year! Check out our video thank you message here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99CuM6abT2Q

Sometimes, a hug is all what we need. Free hugs is a real life controversial story of Juan Mann, A man who's sole mission was to reach out and hug a stranger to brighten up their lives.

In this age of social dis connectivity and lack of human contact, the effects of the Free Hugs campaign became phenomenal.

As this symbol of human hope spread across the city, police and officials ordered the Free Hugs campaign BANNED. What we then witness is the true spirit of humanity come together in what can only be described as awe inspiring.

In the Spirit of the free hugs campaign, PASS THIS TO A FRIEND and HUG A STRANGER! After all, If you can reach just one person...

Music by Sick Puppies. Their album is out April 3rd called "Dressed Up As Life". Go out and support these guys.
(Visit http://sickpuppies.net or http://myspace.com/sickpuppies for the music)

Peace Choir - Give Peace A Chance 1991

2008-02-26T00:54:00.001-08:00

ALL WE ARE SAYING IS GIVE PEACE A CHANCE

Jamie Oliver - sad reality suffocating chicks everyday

2008-02-25T23:50:00.001-08:00

If you have any concern about our environment and/or the animals and all beings in it, you would've maybe considered eating no red meat as an environmental care. But the truth behind our chicken meat is very neatly obscured (as always when there is money to be made).

The sadness behind being a chicken.

How Can I Contribute Towards Making Our Planet Greener?

2008-02-25T23:13:00.001-08:00

These are tips that people are probably sick of hearing, but look at it this way: If you are already complying to all the tips given, you are making a huge difference already, if you are not well then, what's keeping you?

read more | digg story

Ten Commandments for a Simpler Way of Life

2008-02-24T23:16:00.001-08:00

Now hear this! Since you humans refuse to accept that which you really know makes life simpler and therefore sweeter and therefore more enjoyable, these commandments have been issued. They have been issued before and will probably have to be issued again, but keep to them and you will see the benefits in your life. Heck, you might even start to really enjoy life... :-)The key to greater pleasure is going simpler.

read more | digg story

The Gratitude Dance

2008-02-22T11:30:00.001-08:00

Let's have fun once more...

Don’t Toss Those Peels!

2008-02-22T10:50:00.001-08:00

Once again some kind advice on how to use materials that would've otherwise filled your trash.

read more | digg story

Green Uses for Lemons and Lemon Peels

2008-02-22T10:49:00.001-08:00

Using and re-using is an essential to environmental care and lemons as well as their peels can be used in many effective ways. Even if you only find one usage for lemons and/or their peels it may save the environment from another unfriendly product that you would've bought or used, so implement the one thing that you can and feel proud of it.Get the full scope on different uses for lemons and their peels in this article.

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Green hair without Dyeing

2008-02-22T10:41:00.001-08:00

Goodness only knows what is chasing women that they feel the constant need for improvement, but the constant fear of being unpretty may have very detrimental effects on our health as well as our eco-system (my opinion is that all women are aware of this but are comfortably choosing to ignore all the facts that stare them in the face each day). Choose to know what you are spreading on yourself, starting with your head. At least if you know you can make the personal chose based on knowledge instead of ignorance.Read the facts in the article.

read more | digg story

Choosing greener furniture

2008-02-22T10:34:00.003-08:00

Start looking at all areas in order to lighten your print on our earth. Buying furniture is just one area to start and the 1st question should always be 'Do I really need this?'.

read more | digg story

Green Tips to Furnish Your Eco-Conscious Home

2008-02-22T10:34:00.001-08:00

There are always ways to lighten your steps on our earth, buying furniture is just one area but with care and a few pointers it can become an invaluable one. The first thing that you should ask yourself (as with any consumer related efforts) is 'Do I really need this?' and the enxt thing you should do is to see if you can source it second hand. Read these easy tips on how to keep your home green.

read more | digg story

Bicycled Powered Super Bowl

2008-02-22T10:27:00.001-08:00

Once more, innovation and a little fun had great benefits for the environment. These guys all got together, peddled for a few hours and built up energy to run the super bowl. These are the types of stories that should run in the headlines so that people realise it can be done and even corporations and institutions are giving it their best shot. Read the whole story on the link provided.

read more | digg story

Toronto to Hold Inorganic Market - Feb 24

2008-02-22T10:23:00.001-08:00

A great idea for everyone who don't know what to do with their unused inorganic material. Everyone should do this....

read more | digg story

Canvas Bags by Tim Minchin

2008-02-21T03:55:00.001-08:00

This is just some good clean fun by some people who want you to implement the simplest rule in environmental care.

Environmental Hero

2008-02-21T03:45:00.001-08:00

IT can be done people, with a little effort. If this person can do so much, imagine the bits that each of us can contribute.

Synthetic Sea - Plastic in the open Ocean

2008-02-04T02:37:00.001-08:00

It is disgusting the mess that we have caused in this world. Lets start cleaning it up.

Little Tips

2008-01-31T00:23:00.000-08:00

We all know that our earth is precious and most of us are getting into the spirit of trying to help her dissolve the mess that we have caused. Here are a few simple ways to help out even if recycling is beyond your means or if driving less is not an option:

1. Get into the habit of taking re-usable bags to the store. It really is only a habit that you need to create in yourself.
2. Use biodegradable plastic bags to line your bins.
3. Try and reuse everything in your house rather than throwing it away, even old toothbrushes can be reused as helpful little tools around the house.
4. If you get a lot of junk mail or catalogs in the post, phone the sender and let them know that you are not interested and they must take you off the mailing list (this is a real biggy - in USA it is estimated that each year 19 billion catalogs flow through American mailboxes, which equals around 53 million trees and the use of 53 billion gallons of water and South Africa is fast following this lead in advertising). So reassess the mail that you are receiving and get rid of that which doe snot interest you or which you really don't use.
5. Opt for organic as much as possible and also opt for the local products instead of the imported ones.
6. Change your light bulbs to energy saver (how many times do we have to ask this).
7. Switch of the lights when you leave the room.
8. Switch of all appliances that aren't in use and refrain from putting your laptop or computer on hibernate.
9. Opt for indigenous plants for your garden.
10. Grow some herbs on your window sill if you do not have a garden. Fill your house with plants (indigenous preferably) as much as you can. Not only do they beautify your house, but they also keep your air clean.
11. Refrain from buying cut flowers as this is one of the biggest markets for pesticides, water usage (wastage) and plant hormones. Rather buy a pot plant. It will last longer and makes less of a mess.

These are just a few simple ideas for those that want to do something, but find that all the extremists attitudes towards environmental care a little daunting. Everyone can do something, all it takes is a little adjustment or a little attention.

Innovate or Die - Aquaduct: Mobile Filtration Vehicle

2008-01-30T23:18:00.001-08:00

A recent bicycle technology competition, held by bike manufacturer Specialized and Google, challenged inventors to create a pedal powered machine that did more than just get riders from A to B.

The competition attracted over 100 entries from inventors across the globe, including team entries from engineering universities such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Georgia Teach and the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg - all attempting to harness the energy generated from the simple mechanics of pedaling, in order to put it to additional uses other than just forward motion.

The overall winner, however, announced in January, was a contraption from a US team of designers named the Aquaduct: Mobile Filtration Unit, a bicycle designed to solve two problems for communities in developing countries – clean water and cheap transportation. Two water storage tanks built into the machine enable water to be drawn from one tank, through a filtration unit and into a smaller, clean tank – all while the user is traveling. The clean tank is removable and can be stored in the home, and the bike can be used as a filter while stationary too.

Read complete article here: http://www.aboutmyplanet.com/alternative-energy/innovate-or-die/

Quote

2008-01-30T11:53:00.001-08:00

The value of life does not depend upon the place we occupy. It depends upon the way we occupy that place. -- St. Thérèse de Lisieux

Poets

2008-01-30T11:43:00.000-08:00

"A poet is someone who is astonished by everything."

Amazon.com: Kindle: Amazon's New Wireless Reading Device: Kindle Store

2008-01-25T01:29:00.001-08:00

Amazon.com: Kindle: Amazon's New Wireless Reading Device: Kindle Store

How to save a tree and still read all the books you want. This device should pave the way for the future of a paperless society. It is a fairly expensive start off amount, but the savings of our future is immense and I think it is one of those savings that will add up in due time as well as get a little less expensive as more people purchase this beautiful device.

If you happen to have one, please do let me know. I would be really interested in knowing how you have found it so far.

Blogged with Flock

Weather Wise

2008-01-21T10:49:00.000-08:00

Once more this year is filled with rain for me. Beautiful, glorious rain that fills my soul, my heart and the earth with song. I have stopped breaking into song every time it rains because
1) It has been pointed out to me that I am indeed NOT trapped in a musical
2) My voice would quickly go hoarse during our summers these days and
3) The songs that I can sing verbally is not the one that flows in me or the earth when it rains. If you have ever seen City of Angels and heard the song that the Angels listen to at sunrise, you will probably know that as beautiful as that song was, if angels really heard song at sunrise, that music was simply our human portrayal of it and we could NEVER do the real heavenly song. Well, that's the way it is with the song of our world when it rains. And when it rains it spreads through the same way that goosebumps spread over your body.

I love opening my doors, closing my eyes and feeling the song of the rain...

Sometimes I get to call the rain and I have found the following methods work well:
1) Having Eric wash his car :-)
2) Watering my garden
3) Dancing for the sky (nudity is not mandatory)
4) Imagining the exact type of rain that I fancy starting up in the area and region of my heart chakra or, if you will, my universe
5) I have also been known to beg...

After several weeks of intense heat, me and God had an intense discussion about rain. He sent me my first burst filled with lightning and thunder. He also complied and sent me every single type of rain we had talked about after that: drizzle, sunshine rain, cloud break, wind and rain, cold rain and eventually misty rain.

I have also come to realise why He likes to let it rain as much as I desire: Every time it rains others complain while I sing and praise the heavens. And everyone else just wishes the sun will shine whilst I bask in the glory of what is heavensent. Then when He finally complies and lets the sun shine no one says thank you and sometimes they even complain that it is too hot! So when I ask for rain He complies with pleasure because I always say Thank You.

But please do not for a moment think that I do not love all types of weather, far from it! I respect God's choice and knowledge to know what is best and I only ask for rain when I feel a little dried out or it has been exceptionally hot (water form heaven is so much more of a blessing than that from a tap). I also love it when the sun shines and makes my plants grow and the world gets a little lazy. I love it when the wind blows and I can hear God's voice in the wind....

But rain is like the heart of our operation, the Diva of our world. It is glamorous, mysterious, emotional, dramatic and sensuous whilst at the same time being temperamental and nurturing. I think our world has its own Chakras and rain is its heart.

I do love it when it rains, with my whole heart I give thanks. I also love the touch of the sun and the sweep of the wind knowing that God will never give me excess of any of these and all is always as it should be....

Save animals in china

2008-01-07T01:38:00.001-08:00

Suddenly I understand why people march against fur...

The more I see of how much value the Chinese have for our wonderful earth, the less I want to ever go there. Of course the problem starts right up to the big powers in the game who just pretend that they are unaware of anything.

Next time you see or feel inclined to wear fur,please remember those that sacrificed their blood for a fashion statement.

This could be the reason why we may lose the earth... because we fail to care.

Saltwater Burns - John Kanzius

2008-01-06T09:39:00.001-08:00

Free Hugs Campaign. (music by Sick Puppies.net album out)

2008-01-06T08:33:00.001-08:00

Humans flourish in love... Realise this now. We need it and once we stop being afraid of it and realising that love is always there and true love is never painful or hurtful, only then may we stop hurting our wonderful world.

Sarah McLachlan - World On Fire

2008-01-06T08:26:00.001-08:00

Not knowing what to do for a music video, Sarah decidedto spend $15 on her video and spend the rest on the needs of the world... finally someone who put the needs of the world before their personal 'prettiness'.

Peace on earth

2008-01-04T03:14:00.001-08:00

As the years of my life have passed, I have grown less and less fond of the holidays that are marked for peace and love and give us an excuse to be giving for one day instead of putting in the effort all year round. Especially around the Christmas season a lot of silliness seems to become the norm: People stop functioning the way they are suppose to, plans are made to avoid certain family members, lists and budgets for gifts are drawn up, budgets for gifts are drawn up AGAIN, financial pressures are felt and feelings of inadequacy are felt by poorer families.

Another great invention that human beings have come up with is resolutions that can only be started and kept from the 1st day of the New Year which also leaves us feeling slightly hopeless and inadequate around February and also inactive until the next New Year. When did we become so attached to time that we forgot our universe is our own to master and we can clean the slate as much as we require without having to wait for a specific date. We can even clean it every single day if need be. But procrastination is a human excuse and dis-ease that has conquered us all: I can start on Monday; I will start in the New Year; I will try again next month. Or ever so often if we fail once, we just stop all together not realising that ours is the power to start all over if we choose to or just accept the small mistake and continue with the greater effort.

Of course this is the worst of it all and through we are able to see what we have let these holidays become to us which is mostly a commercial event filled with various reasons for people to either feeling guilty or good about themselves.

For me, this past season was one of peace and restfulness. Having just been married on the 24th of November and coming back from our Honeymoon on the 8th of December whilst still having leave until the leave until the 18th of December, we never fully got into the whole holiday season.... And it was probably the most pleasant Christmas I have ever had, even including my childhood ones. We had friends over for Christmas lunch on the 24th and spent the whole 25th in our pajamas reading, lounging and watching movies.

Then we relaxed and took the same laid back attitude towards New Year: We had my brother, his girlfriend and another friend over and we played poker the whole night through (which got terribly interesting the drunker the people got).

During all this peacefulness and relaxing that took us over, it suddenly dawned on me that I had forgotten about myself somewhere during the last period of time we measure as a year. How do you do that? Most of us do it for a whole lifetime and never even notice it. Women of the previous era did it as soon as they got a family and providers of poorer families do it still.

In the past year, I have forgotten to take care of myself, to relax, to eat healthy because I feel good, to do yoga when I can instead of feeling guilty when I don't, to buy things that are beautiful for me and gifts that are small and personal for the people I love. The most important thing in my life that I so very often spent the most time on, had disappeared from my radar and instead of doing things that I loved, I was suddenly taking up things that I felt an unexplained responsibility to do.

At the end of 2007 I was at a loss for why my body was aching, why frustration had been plaguing me and my colleagues for over 6 months and where my usual routine of health, wealth and peace had gone to. Although I realised the disruption in my life, I am still at a loss for the general identicalness of problems that seemed to have taken place everywhere and with everyone (were the planets out of sync I wonder and hope that this could be my easy explanation). After taking careful assessment of everything in my life I realised that it was because I was for some reason, pressured into doing things that I felt I had to. Who did the pressuring? Me of course. Why? Heaven only knows, but it is a social tendency for our race and world in its current state to accept responsibility for things that aren't given to us first of all and then we are guilted and pressured for things that do not matter to the universe as much as we make them out to.

So after Christmas I made my decision to go back to taking care of me. Not me at the expense of others for that is ultimately the worst form of self-care. Me evaluated and prioritized. For me this means taking time to watch sunrises and sunsets instead of tv. To spend time with my journal and husband instead of the internet. To reconnect with my spirit through drawing and writing instead of finding ways to not create in my life. For me it means taking care of my eating habits and exercising in ways that are pleasing to both my soul and my body and sometimes even the environment as well.

I suppose taking care of yourself means something different to everyone but ultimately it should be a means for you to connect with the silence where your spirit resides. These decisions should be made daily instead of waiting for an event or a date to take place. These decissions should be made knowing that you are the maker of your world and you have the power to make these decisions as many times as you need or even change them as much as is right for your being.

Having said all this, I wish to give the world my wishes of love and blessings throughout every day of their lives and should you feel that these blessings run out towards the end of the year, I hope that the next year the realisation will find you that God's love and blessings are still just as strong as ever everyday without fail.

Peace to all

Blogged with Flock

About my Planet

2007-12-24T12:04:00.000-08:00

http://www.aboutmyplanet.com

For all those interested in helping our planet as I am, this is a great website. It is positively filled to the brim with stories about all aspects of our wonderful planet including science and technology and how to help this wonderful world of ours to be the best it can be.

Subscribe to the feed on the blog page and you will never wonder about what is happening on this planet or what we are doing in relation to it.

Minfulness over matter

2007-12-23T08:59:00.000-08:00

This is (once again) from a news letter I subscribe to calles THIS GREEN LIFE:

I have a theory about why the holidays have become so commercialized in the United States, and it is not materialism. It is the need to celebrate together as one community during the season of rekindling and rebirth.

Gift-giving serves to bind us together — not just to the individuals with whom we exchange gifts, but to all the people who follow the same practice with their own family and friends. So what if some of them observe other holidays — or observe the holidays differently or not at all? They are still swept up in a ritual of giving. Ergo, they must be like us at heart.

So, let us grant that there is value to the gift-giving ritual, while also admitting that it has gotten entirely out of hand — first, because it threatens to overwhelm the meaning of the holidays; second, because it leads to prodigious and unsupportable waste.

I am not just talking about waste in the literal sense (25 percent more trash from Thanksgiving to New Year's Day). I mean the waste of buying so much stuff that isn't needed, wasn't wanted and may not even be liked.

It is just this kind of heedless consumption that eats up forests, squanders water supplies, ravages habitat and destroys the climate. By the way, "eat up," "squander," "ravage" and "destroy" are all dictionary meanings of the word "consume." They are, by definition, what our "consumer culture" does. And there is no time of year when the culture does it with such a vengeance as the holiday season.

The question is: what would holiday giving look like if it were not consumptive, but life-supporting? If it betokened love and respect? If — dare we dream — it helped to make the world a better place?

I think our gifts would include more handmade items and home-baked goods, possessions of our own that friends have admired and family heirlooms for the younger generation. The gifts we buy would address real needs and would speak to the best in the people they were meant for. Gadgets and gift cards would not be on the list. Choices would be made with mindfulness and "intention" — what in my own, Jewish, tradition, in the context of prayer, is called "kavanah." We would focus not just on what would please, but on what the giving was for.

Among those of us who are comfortable, money would be spent differently. Instead of lavishing it, for the sake of momentary thrills, on people who already have enough, we would bestow it on people who don't. We would turn our generosity outward where it could do good. We would use it for repair of the world.

Is it possible to move a little closer to this ideal without causing disappointment and offense? There may be ways.

Try telling your nearest and dearest that your greatest wish this year is for... the recipe for that fabulous chocolate cake... a copy of the old picture of Great Aunt Sadie... the music playlist from Halloween... guidance on what computer to buy... you get the idea.

To the extended family, float the idea of capping the amount spent per gift.

At work, suggest Secret Santa.

Among friends that like movies, propose an exchange of DVDs. If they're music lovers, make it CDs; if readers, books.

Limit the number of gifts for the kids to one apiece, but make each one extraordinary.

Or how about this: suggest to the grown-ups in your life that instead of wasting time shopping for one other, you spend those couple of precious hours enjoying each other's company. Now, who could refuse you that?

—Sheryl Eisenberg

Another Reason to Eat Less Meat

2007-12-23T08:17:00.000-08:00

This is from a newsletter I subscribe to called THIS GREEN LIFE.

Another Reason to Eat Less Meat

A year and a half ago, I caused a minor stir by suggesting in my Down with Meat column that people eat less meat. Some environmentalists fretted that I'd gone too far by getting into people's personal business. I guess they were concerned about alienating the troops. At the same time, I was attacked by some vegetarians for not going far enough. They couldn't see that something was better than nothing -- or, in this case, that less was better than more.

My question is: what if we added global warming to the mix? Could everyone get behind the idea of changing our diets -- not completely, but just a little -- if it would help with the biggest, scariest environmental problem of all? Because it could.

As surprising as it may seem, the livestock business is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions, contributing even more to global warming than transportation, according to a 2006 United Nations report. One reason is the carbon dioxide released when forests are cleared to create land for grazing or the growing of feed crops. Another is the emission by ruminants, through their digestive processes and manure, of potent greenhouse gases.

The U.N. is pushing a number of steps to bring the rate of emissions down. These include improvements to animals' diets, methane capture systems and restoration of carbon in soil through a variety of esoteric (to me) agronomic measures. Of course, I am all in favor of any technical changes that would help. However, I also believe that some restraint in our personal eating habits is in order.

The Worldwatch Institute reports that in 2005, those of us living in the industrialized world ate 85 kilograms of meat per person -- or approximately half a pound a day each -- which is almost three times as much as the 31 kilograms consumed in the developing world. That is more than our share, more than our climate can afford and more than our hearts can stomach.

Meat isn't the only problem. Whether we over-consume the animals themselves or just their byproducts (dairy and eggs), the impact is similar. The answer isn't milk in place of meat, but a more plant-based diet overall.

I can tell you, from personal experience, it isn't that hard to achieve. Two years ago, my daughter became a vegetarian. I decided at the time to take the opportunity to do my part for the planet as well -- and for the vast population of animals living on factory farms under cruel conditions. (Yes, I do think animal welfare is an issue worth consideration and personal change, too.) While I did not go so far as to become a vegetarian myself, let alone a vegan, I did significantly decrease the amount of animal products my whole family eats.

Prior to that time, I would serve a traditional American dinner -- consisting of a piece of meat, chicken or fish, accompanied by one or two vegetables and a starch -- around four nights a week. Since then, I do it about half as often. The rest of the time, I prepare meals that use meat as a condiment or are completely meat-free.

Here, by way of example, are the last few dinners I cooked:

Pasta with cauliflower, tomatoes and black olives, and a green salad on the side. (Animal products used: 1 1/2 tablespoons of cheese per person.)
Curry coconut noodle soup with vegetables, tofu and hard-boiled eggs. (Animal products used: one egg per person.)
Tacos stuffed with black beans and peppers, with sides of rice, salad and sweet plantain. (Animal products used: 1 tablespoon of cheese per person.)
Mozzarella rice and braised fennel and carrots. (Animal products used: 4 tablespoons of cheese per person.)
Warm potato salad with celery and mustard, a cucumber and chick pea salad and bruschetta. (Animal products used: 3/4 tablespoon of cream per person.)
Braised beef with celery and onions over pasta with glazed, roasted carrots and turnips. (Animal products used: 1/3 pound beef per person.)

All six meals were nutritious, all filling and all flavorful. Though the braised beef was good, it wasn't anyone's favorite. My son liked the tacos best, while my daughter preferred the curry coconut soup, as did my husband and I.

Admittedly, the change to a more plant-based diet was made easier by the fact that my husband and I saw eye to eye on it. My son, who is constitutionally opposed to the idea of plant food (bread, pasta and potatoes excepted), was another story. If I'd ever explained the new diet to him, I'm sure he would have complained. But I never did and he never noticed. Whenever the food gets a little too foreign, I give him cheese to sprinkle on top or a small piece of meat on the side. He does ask longingly for chicken parmesan from time to time -- and from time to time, I make it for him.

—Sheryl Eisenberg

Change the world

2007-12-23T08:16:00.000-08:00

In 1913, a young man about twenty years old took a walking tour in the rural province of Provence (pronounced Pró-váhnce), in southern France. A walking tour is when you hike through the countryside with a backpack and sleeping bag, walking mainly on the back roads or trails and sleeping at campsites or local farms or villages.

Provence was a rather barren and desolate area at the time, as it had been almost totally denuded of trees due to over-cutting and too-intensive agriculture. The topsoil had then been washed away by the rains, as there were no tree roots to hold it in place.

Little farming was being done now because of the poor condition of the land. The villages were old and run-down and most of the villagers had moved elsewhere. Even the wildlife had fled, as without trees the protective undergrowth had thinned, food was scarce, and few streams and ponds remained.

The young hiker stopped one night at the humble cottage of a shepherd, who, although gray-haired and in his mid-fifties, was still strong and stalwart. The young man spent the night there, enjoying the shepherd’s hospitality, and he ended up staying several days with him.

The visitor observed with some curiosity that the shepherd spent his evening hours sorting nuts by lamplight-acorns, hazelnuts, chestnuts, and others. He would lay them down in a row, carefully examine them, cull out the bad ones, and, when he had finally finished his evening’s work, put the good nuts in a knapsack.

Then, as he led his sheep to graze the next day, he would plant the nuts along the way. While his sheep were pasturing in one area, he would walk several paces and thrust the end of his shepherd’s staff into the ground, making a shallow hole. Then he would drop in one of his nuts and use his foot to cover it over with earth. Then he would walk several paces more, push his staff into the dry ground, and drop in another nut. He spent all his daylight hours walking over this region of Provence as he grazed his sheep, each day covering a different area where there were few trees, planting nuts.

Watching this, the young man wondered what in the world the shepherd was trying to do, so he finally asked him.

"Well, young man," the shepherd replied, "I’m planting trees."

"But why?" the young visitor asked. "It will be years and years before these trees ever get to where they could do you any good! You might not even live long enough to see them grow!"

The shepherd replied, "Yes, but some day they’ll do somebody some good and they’ll help to restore this dry land. I may never see it, but perhaps my children will."

The young man marvelled at the shepherd’s foresight, vision, and unselfishness, that he was willing to prepare the land for future generations, even though he might never see the results or reap the benefits himself.

Twenty years later, when in his forties, the hiker once again visited this same area and was astounded at what he saw. One great valley was completely covered with a beautiful forest of all kinds of trees. They were young trees, of course, but trees nevertheless. Life had sprung forth all over the valley! The grass had grown much greener, the shrubbery and the wildlife had returned, the soil was moist again, and the farmers were again cultivating their fields.

He wondered what had happened to the old shepherd, and to his amazement found that he was still alive, hale and hearty, still living in his little cottage-and still sorting his nuts each evening.

Our visitor then learned that a delegation from the French Parliament had recently come down from Paris to investigate what seemed to be a new natural forest. They eventually learned that the entire forest had, in fact, been planted by this one shepherd as he watched his sheep, day by day and year after year. As a result, the whole valley was covered with beautiful young trees and underbrush. The delegation was so impressed and grateful to this shepherd for having reforested this entire area single-handedly that they persuaded Parliament to give him a special pension.

The visitor said he was amazed at the change, not only in the beautiful trees, but also in the revived agriculture, the renewed wildlife, and the beautiful lush grass and shrubbery. The little farms were thriving, and the villages seemed to have come to life again. What a contrast from when he had visited there twenty years before, when the villages had been run-down and abandoned!

Now all was thriving, just because of one man’s foresight, one man’s diligence, one man’s patience, one man’s sacrifice, one man’s faithfulness just to do what one man could do, day by day, day in and day out for a number of years.

But that’s not the end of the story. Remember how the young man told the shepherd, "You’ll never live to see if you accomplished anything good or not"? Well, as it turned out, the shepherd lived to be eighty-nine. He did live to see his forest fully-grown and beautiful, transforming an entire region. God blessed him with seeing the results of all his hard labours, how he had succeeded in changing his world. He lived to see what God had done through him.

It reminds me of what Paul wrote in the New Testament: "And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart" (Galatians 6:9). So who knows? You too may live to see the day when the world is changed and was changed through you.

So if you’re sometimes discouraged with the world the way it is, don’t give up! We read that great empires and governments, armies and wars change the course of history and the face of the earth, so sometimes were discouraged and think, "Well, who am I? What can I do? It all seems so hopeless and impossible! It looks like there’s nothing that one person can do to change things for the better, so what’s the use of trying?"

But as proven by this humble shepherd, over a period of years one man can change the world! You may not be able to change the whole world, but you can change your part of the world. You can start with your own heart, your own mind, your own spirit, your own life.

It may seem only a tiny little bud at first, just a little sprig, just one insignificant little green shoot. What is that to the forest that’s needed? Well, it’s a beginning. It’s the beginning of the miracle of new life, and it will thrive and grow and flourish and become great and strong, a whole new "tree," a whole new life, and maybe a whole new world!

Spirituality of Marriage

2007-12-23T08:11:00.000-08:00

In lieu of the fact I have just gotten married, I have decided to post a piece about the meaning that this wedding and marriage has for me. It is not only marriage specifically that I feel this way about. It is any type of commitment to a loving relationship, whether you do it in your heart and soul, in private to the other person or in public with a big ceremony, the essence remains the same.

For me a marriage and commitment is essentially about an earthly bonding of heavenly purposes. Marriage is the support system that God puts on earth for each person to remind them on an individual scale of the global purpose that each of us has. Marriage is our reminder that we can reach peace, love and harmony with other people when we believe in it enough, and if it is available to us on the small scale, God wants us to remember that it is available to us on a large scale as well.

Our friends and our parents and family fulfil the same purpose in our lives, but in different areas and often times we have to overcome greater differences with friends, but less frequently.

With marriage also we enter the realm of sex, which is God’s greatest gift to us and then it is no wonder that we all crave it so desperately, but also that it often becomes our biggest problem in life. With the miracle of sex of we enter the realm of becoming one as we were destined to be. We experience the essence of what we believe in and we enter the glory of God through this one act. It is the most perfect act that humans could ever partake in if done in purity and with peace and not because you are chasing or running away.

Your partner in life must also be the greatest motivator of your spiritual growth, even if it means honesty when it is least desired or kindness when it is least expected. Your partner should give you the space required to be yourself, with enough support and motivation to encourage growth at all times.

Marriage, as a mirror to this life, means the balancing of both the physical and the spiritual, which means that one and one still make 2 in body. In spirit though, the purposes intertwine and become the truth of the relationship as well as its growth and meaning.

For some people there are many partners as their growth needs change, others will settle and decide to be content, some will find greatness in passion or peace in stillness, still others will find a partner in their global purpose and never need the support of a human partner. There are still many more variables out there in the world simply because people are all different and unique and all of these are fine too and will serve their purpose to your life as long as they come from your heart as the message from your soul.

In the end the essence of marriage needs to find its way to all of us, that being peace, love and truth so that we can bring it to the world.

Forgiveness

2007-12-23T08:10:00.000-08:00

We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies. - Martin Luther King Jr

The 7 Deadly Sins

2007-12-23T08:09:00.001-08:00

The Seven Deadly Sins. Wealth without work, pleasure without conscience, knowledge without character, commerce without morality, science without humanity, worship without sacrifice, and politics without principle. - MK Gandhi

The truth about Leather and the alternative

2007-12-23T08:06:00.000-08:00

This was an article on www.harmoniousliving.co.za, a great site with a lot of recommendations and information about living harmoniously with our planet. For those that live in South Africa, it also has a lot of recycling depots info.

But anyway, now for the article: What you need to know about leather production:

The truth about Leather and the alternative

by Maureen Cram

Are you a vegan? Vegetarian? If so then I expect that you already have your views on why leather is ‘bad’. It is a by-product, sometimes referred to as a co-product, of the animal food industry. This article explains more about the ‘down’ side to leather - the well-known product that is used for all sorts of items, from furniture, car seats and belts to shoes, clothing and handbags.

First of all, what is it? Leather is a material created through the tanning of hides, pelts and skins of animals, primarily cows – but... whose skin are you in? When the milk production of cows on dairy farms decreases, the cows are killed and their skins are made into leather. The hides of their calves, who are frequently raised for veal, are made into high-priced calfskin.

Leather is also made from horses, sheep, lambs, goats, and pigs who are slaughtered for meat. Other species of animals are hunted and killed specifically for their skins, including zebras, bison, water buffaloes, boars, kangaroos, elephants, eels, sharks, dolphins, seals, walruses, frogs, turtles, crocodiles, lizards, and snakes.

But, you say, it looks good and feels good – sitting in your leather couch, your leather car seat, paying your bills with that calf-skin wallet, carrying that leather handbag or briefcase. How about that it wears well? Kangaroo leather is favoured by motorcyclists specifically because of its lighter weight and higher abrasion resistance as compared to cowhide. Leather car seats last longer than material ones, don’t they?

There are yes and no comments to that. Leather needs to be chemically treated to ensure it does not rot. Lots of chemicals...

Since ancient times, human beings used animal skins and learned to make them into leather through the chemically intensive process called tanning. The leather making is a combination of series of processes that starts from skin recovery to curing, soaking and unhairing, deliming and bathing, to vegetable or mineral tanning, lubrication and dyeing, and finally to finishing.

Leather Is Bad for Human Health

Mordants and other chemicals often used to treat leather are linked to nervous disorders, asthma, premature death, gynaecological disorders, weakness, dizziness, headaches, abdominal pain, nausea, constipation, skin and respiratory infections, cancer and other serious illnesses.

According to an investigation by the New York State Department of Health, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and other agencies, those who work in tanneries may be greatly increasing their risk of testicular cancer. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that in an area near one Kentucky leather tannery, the incidence of leukaemia was five times the national average.

Hmm... perhaps we shouldn’t be so quick to purchase that leather lounge suite?

Leather Is Bad for the Environment

Although some leather makers deceptively tout their products as "eco-friendly," turning skin into leather also requires massive amounts of energy and dangerous chemicals. Often, animal skins used for leather are kept from biodegrading (going rotten) by using a variety of dangerous substances, including mineral salts (chromium, aluminium, iron and zirconium), formaldehyde, coal-tar derivatives and various oils and dyes, some of which are cyanide-based. All waste containing chromium is considered hazardous by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other bodies.

In an attempt to appear environmentally conscious, some tanneries are now trying to make improvements, but even if tanneries did not create any pollution, leather would still be bad for the environment. A spokesperson for the largest supplier of leather to automakers in the US said, 'The last thing we want is people thinking we're burning down rain forests for cattle just to put leather in big sport-utes'. But consider this: nearly half of all water used in the US is used to raise animals for meat and leather!

According to the EPA, factory farms are the biggest source of pollution of rivers, streams and lakes. In December 1997, the US Senate Agricultural Committee released a report that stated that animals raised for food and leather produce 130 times as much excrement as the entire human population - without the benefit of waste-treatment systems. A Scripps Howard synopsis of the report stated, 'Catastrophic cases of pollution, sickness, and death are occurring in areas where livestock operations are concentrated'.

Locally, since 1988, some 30 tanneries in Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, the Sudan, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe have received assistance in pollution control focused on the establishment or upgrading of effluent treatment facilities.

Hmmm... it all sounds yucky to me. But what can we use instead of animal leather that is better for us, the animals, and the planet?

What about the alternatives?

Many pseudo-leather materials have been developed, allowing those who wish to wear leather-like garments to do so without actually wearing leather. One example of this is vegan microfiber, which claims to be stronger than leather when manufactured with strength in mind. Vinyl materials, Pleather, Durabuck, NuSuede, Hydrolite, and other alternatives exist, providing some features similar to leather.

Faux leather made by Ultrafabrics has, according to the company's Web site, 'features to protect the environment like a 100% biodegradable backcloth, no plasticizers, no stabilizers, no adhesives, extensive recycling in the manufacturing process-and no need for potentially toxic after-care'.

You want non-leather handbags, shoes, wallets, belts... there are many reputable companies out there to help you with your new choices. Check out the Internet for names. Yes a lot are in the US and the UK but you can order safely on line. There are plenty of places in South Africa where you can buy faux leather articles... do a search on Google to find out for yourself!

When you buy shoes, check out what they are made of. There should be a label on the bottom or the inside to tell you if the shoe is produced from man-made materials or leather. If you don’t see the label, just ask the store manager what they are made from. That is what I do. I always explain that I need to know because I am allergic to leather (morally allergic that is).

What about the leather car seats? Can’t order faux leather for them. True. But there are alternatives. Even in high-end vehicles, leather seats are becoming something of an anachronism. Leather seats are hot in the summer and very cold in the winter. Yes I know you can get them heated and cooled... but why not help the environment (and the animals too if you care for them) by buying non-leather seats.

Final thought

Wearing leather hurts animals, the environment, and the people who produce it. Care for the planet and all the species who inhabit it by buying readily-available alternatives.

Check out the articles and the writer's credentials on http://www.harmoniousliving.co.za/Wellbeing/Vegetarian/The-Truth-About-Leather-What-s-the-Alternative/

10Things to do

2007-10-22T02:04:00.000-07:00

So you are wondering what to do in order to help with the environmental and global warming problems? Here are 10 simple things that you can do quickly, daily or once off.

1. Change a light - Replacing one regular light bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb will save 150 pounds of carbon dioxide a year.

2. Drive less - Walk, bike, carpool or take mass transit more often. You'll save one pound of carbon dioxide for every mile you don't drive.

3. Recycle more - You can save 2400 pounds of carbon dioxide per year by recycling just half of your household waste.

4. Check your tires - Keeping your tires inflated can improve gas mileage by more than 3%. Every gallon of gasoline saved keeps 20 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the air.

5. Use less hot water - It takes a lot of energy to heat water. Use less hot water by installing low flow showerhead (350 pounds of CO2 saved per year) and washing your clothes in cold or warm water (500 pounds saved per year).

6. Avoid using products with lots of packaging - You can save 1200 pounds of carbon dioxide if you cut down your carbage by 10%.

7. Adjust your thermostat - Moving your thermostat just 2 degrees in winter and up 2 degrees in summer. You could save about 2000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year with this simple adjustment.

8. Plant a tree - A single tree will absorb one ton of carbon dioxide over its lifetime.

9. Turn of electronic devices - Simply turing off your television, DVD player, stereo and computer when you'r not using them will save you thousands of pounds of carbon dioxide a year.

10. Change your search engine to Blackle.com instead of Google - Blackle saves energy because the screen is predominantly black. "Image displayed is primarily a function of the user's color settings and desktop graphics, as well as the color and size of open application windows; a given monitor requires more power to display a white (or light) screen than a black (or dark) screen." Roberson et al, 2002. It's a small saving, but the more people use it, the bigger the energy amounts save.

These are the easy, low cost and effective ways to save energy around your house. We just need to reduce the quantity in which we do things, not necessarily take them out of our lives for good, in order to help mother earth to sustain us.

One final piece of advice (although it might be the greatest piece still) - SPREAD THE WORD! The more people help, the more visible the effect.

Starting the Perfect Garden

2007-10-22T02:03:00.001-07:00

A perfect garden is an asset to any home, not just for resale value, but also for spiritual value and it need not cost a fortune at all. Not even the upkeep should result in any exuberant fees.

The first thing you need to know is that the perfect garden is the one that has the least amount of hassles and upkeep. While you might (or might not) like to dig and shuffle around in your garden over weekends, you need to know that your garden is not going to die on you if, for some reason, you are not able to take care of it anymore.

There are a few ways to start a perfect garden, but the first item on your list should be to find out which plants are indigenous to your country and area. With indigenous plants your garden will not need special care. The weather will provide for its watering needs and the ground for its nutrients, so in the end you will need to do a minimum amount of watering and composting (which is also an environmental plus).

The next item on your checklist should be to look at how long each plant lives. Some plants live for a year, some for two and some for as long as they have roots. Also take into consideration whether they are green all year round, tend to loose leaves, when they flower and if they bear fruit. These things will all add to your upkeep. If they shed leaves or bear fruit, you will have to pick these up. If they flower only in summer, try and find another plant that only flowers in winter and plant them next to each other. Avoid plants that only live for a year or two as they will need to be replaced.

Put a little investigation into certain plant types that will cover your bedding and open areas and also plants that might repel insect. Strawberries are a great creeper and will cover your whole garden, while onions and spring onions are items to plant to repel insects (yes, fruits and vegetable plants are wonderful accessories to any garden so include as many as you can). Creepers also keep the ground moist and when other plants shed leaves, it is hidden by the creepers thereby aiding natural compost of your garden.

Once you have the list and you have decided which ones you like best and want in your garden, you need to divide the list into three categories: Plants that desire constant sunlight, plants that desire some sunlight and plants that desire shade. This will be important as it will determine where in your garden your plants will go. Map out your garden and spend some time figuring out when which areas of your garden have sun, which areas get no sun and which areas get full sun. Now you can just place the chosen plants into there designated areas.

Be creative when deciding which plants go where. If for instance you do not have shade in your garden, plant the plants that want shade under larger trees or shrubs. If you have chosen a lot of flowering plants decide whether you want to mix and match or want each color on its own. Also take into consideration how big or tall a tree will grow and do not plant them in areas that will hamper their growth or get in the way of, for instance, painting the gutters or putting in a fence.

Once you have decided where each plant should go, go out and buy them or, better yet, get a samples or seeds from your friends. Plants that are not grown in nurseries are generally a little tougher since their living conditions have never been perfected. If you do buy from a nursery, try to find one that grows their flowers in their own back-yard (or the equivalent of) and not in perfected conditions. Your plants will not have perfected conditions and you need a plant that is tough (this is almost the same principal when it comes to dog-breeding: the bastards are always tougher than the thoroughbreds).

Once you have planted your specially chosen assortment, it should be no time before they take root and start shooting for the sky or, in the case of creepers, for the control of the earth. You will find pleasure in a garden that is a joy and not a burden. It will also serve a purpose if you decide to plant a few veggies or fruits.

Happy Gardening!

Yuwie Away

2007-10-01T06:32:00.000-07:00

Get paid to do the same thing that you do on Myspace and other social network sites!

Expanding on Peace

2007-09-27T23:42:00.000-07:00

Much of my life and my ideas have been held up to very tough scrutiny by people that do not want to see a different way of life for fear of leaving what they find comfortable. Even if this comfort meant the exploiting of many and even if it meant we were losing our most precious commodity: Our humanity. Even loved ones have often times been very cruel in their criticism of what I hold dear and what I want to manifest in this world.

Through the many paths that I have walked, or tried to walk through, I have realised that whatever I might have thought I was, I am a teacher first and foremost. This does not mean that I preach (although I do sometimes get a little carried away by my passions) and it does not mean that I give people the information that they need and test to make sure they get it my way 100%. It means that I try and give people advice, options and opinions in order to help them make an educated decision instead plundering ahead with their old ways, but it also means I cannot make people grasp the knowledge that I have to give. It also means that like any great teacher, sometimes I have to get educated as well.

The lesson that I struggle the most to teach and which saddens me the most when it is not accepted or grasped, is the lesson on how to achieve peace into this world of ours. Have we honestly lived so long with war and violence that we believe this is the way it should be? Have we spent our time in the shadows so long that we can no longer see the light? Do we fail to see how people blossom when they are enveloped by love and care instead of negativity and hostility?

Personally I can’t stand living in the shadows. I want to feel the glory of the sun on my face and in my life. Peace is the next step in our humanity and I believe we can see this shift all over the world all over the world if we just look for it. But the concept of peace is often misinterpreted as some Eutopia where people never argue and everyone converts to one world system and there are never any disagreements or differences or uniqueness. So just to clarify some simple concepts around the idea of peace:

Peace does not mean that we will never argue or that we will always agree.
Peace does mean that we will treat our enemies with dignity.
Peace means no war. It means that the adults who are in disagreement will stop sending children to fight their battles and sort their problems out themselves.
Peace means that we will be kind to one another as much as we can.
Peace means honesty and integrity.
Peace means that we are tired of knowing someone who has lost someone or has been lost due to war.
Peace means that we are willing to make the effort in order to achieve what we desire.

It is such a simple concept, yet it has so much power.

Deepak Chopra gave the following principles for living in peace, and although this is not written on stone, I believe it is a good place to start:

9 Principles for Conflict Resolution and Peace Negotiations as follows:
1. Agree that you will treat each other respectfully.
2. Recognize each side feels victimized by a sense of injustice.
3. Be ready to forgive and ask for forgiveness.
4. Refrain from belligerence.
5. Practice emotional intelligence.
6. Recognize that the other side may have values different from yours or foreign to you.
7. Don't make the other side appear wrong.
8. Refrain from bringing in discussions about ideology.
9. Recognize fear as a factor on both sides.

Fuzzy Edges

2007-09-20T06:10:00.000-07:00

More often than not a society tends to be blind to its own core of faults. More often than not, we are blind to our own demise. The human race has convinced itself of its superiority and enlightened state which is probably the surest sign of our primitiveness.

As a race we have had great advancements in technology, science and even a little in spirit, but at what cost? What good is all the technology in the world if it fails to co-habituate with the natural environment or even with human beings? Especially when we finally realised that we cannot live without nature in its most wondrous state…

In our most natural state humans find the most value and respond the best to care and love. We are three part beings: body, spirit and mind and not one of these things should be neglected. Looking at our world these days we see clear evidence of supporting the body 100%, with a little effort put in for the mind up until about 30 years of age and next to nothing left over for our spirits. This has left us with clear evidence of a race that is hugely lacking.

I have to admit that I do not watch her show often, but from time to time I do enjoy a good Oprah show. By chance I caught the last bit of a show that she did on children that had been kidnapped and either raped or molested or abused in some form. This is our world today where paedophiles can place information on the internet that gives detailed information on how to lure a child and psychologically manipulate a child. Yet the law prohibits us from putting the names of said criminals on the internet. It also prohibits us from taking action against these people since they have freedom of speech. Has it ever been clearer that we have lost our way?

We cannot heal without poisoning our bodies.
We fail to share our wealth for fear that we might lose.
We cannot protect our children any longer.
We no longer grow healthy food and our water is contaminated.
We think that it is okay not to work for a better world because we will not be here tomorrow.
We also assume that as long as we have trust-funds in place, our children’s future is secure.
We are no longer sure if we are the puppets of those in power.
We fail to feed the hungry, give shelter to the poor and education to all.
We no longer take care of our elderly and sick because someone will lose some profit.
Long term effects are not studied because someone will lose money in the process.
As long as someone is making money, everything can be justified,

And our governments are not to blame. No they most definitely are not. Government’s main reason for existing should have been to regulate the services that needed to be given to the population. Instead they have been forced to regulate the people instead of the services. We are unable to govern ourselves. Had we governed ourselves they would have been able to spend time on the well-being of all instead of trying to sort out pettiness. Had we governed ourselves we would not have needed all these basic laws to show us how take care of each other.

State pension had to be instituted because we fail to take care of the elderly.
Slavery had to be abolished by law and war.
A minimum salary had to be made law because we do not take care of our employees.
The fight is still on to put a stop to sweetshops in poorer countries that are easily taken advantage of because someone always has to make money at the expense of someone else.
We ignore the origin of the items we most desire even if it was made by a child in a sweetshop or caused by the death of baby animals.
We have to be told how a child needs to be taken care of.
We need to be told that piracy, fraud and theft are detrimental to people’s well-being. For that matter we have to be told the same about killing someone.
We have to be asked to support the government and then we still find a loophole to pay less TAX.
Our driving skills have to be monitored.
Our toxin intake has to be monitored, especially when we are driving and around children because apparently we are not clever enough to notice the negative effects ourselves.

But the government can instate as many laws as it wants, people cannot be forced to take care of each other. Take note that the laws have only become more and not less during our time of evolutionary sophistication in the 21st century.

As a society the human race has very ungracefully failed to be an enlightened society and to govern ourselves. Had we operated from our deepest spirit-based need we would’ve realised that being good is good, not only for others but also for ourselves. Loving all and wanting the best for all might have left our government with more time to sort out things like education, food-resources, medical care and shelter. Instead they are so busy trying to stop all humans from killing each other, whether physically, emotionally, slowly or quickly. They are so completely absorbed in making sure that the right amounts of laws are in place and that most loopholes are covered, that they no longer care because it has all become too complicated and more often than not, the laws instituted to prohibit the loophole, actually becomes the loophole.

Life, which would really be so simple if we all lived from our hearts, has become so complicated that we have all started to ignore it.

Instead of living from love, we live from the hammer: You have hammer, I have hammer. No intelligent being would hit himself with the hammer, so I hit you with hammer. But I know that if I hit you long enough with hammer, you will hit me back with hammer. That’s okay. He who has biggest hammer wins.

How very ironic and fundamentally stupid are we not? Instead of competition at all costs, maybe we can start to preach co-operation. Maybe instead of hogging, we can start to share.
I am by no means advocating a system of communism. What I am advocating is that we start caring and loving who we are, what we are and all that we are connected to. Maybe if people had all their basics cared for (medical, shelter, food, education) people could really start to evolve. This is what true equality entails, making sure that everyone starts form the same basis and that all are cared for and no one is operating from survival mode anymore. Then those that want to work themselves up can do so and those that don’t, do not need to but will not be detrimental to society either. When your basic needs are cared for, you will no longer operate from fear, but from love.

There is enough money, clothes, food and water in the world to take care of everyone, yet someone out there is so scared of losing more than they care to, that they refuse to take care of anyone.

No one is to blame for our complete primitiveness of spirit except us. We gave away our power to people that do not care for our spirits. We are living in a world filled with fuzzy edges and we need to redraw our priorities.

Peace is the way

2007-08-29T09:23:00.000-07:00

It is most sad that most people do not believe that there will ever be peace in this world. It is very tragic that others will never see it manifest either.

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I believe that peace is something that we can all have, as long as we realise it is a goal that needs to be worked for. It is easy to go to war because you do not agree with someone. It is much harder to try and work things out.

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Peace has always been an objective throughout history, but never at one point has the need for it been so great. And never in history did we realise that peace is the way: Person by person we can reach the goal. (Please have at a look at the link provided for the Chopra site PEACE IS THE WAY for practises for Peace Makers http://www.peaceisthewayglobalcommunity.org/Masters/SevenPractisesForPeaceMakers.aspx?Username= )

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I know that even in my own life, it becomes so hard from time to time just to push on through and get to that space where you know you have peace and where you can feel the love. With life taking a constant spin and aim at stress, how do you keep from breaking every person that crosses your path, and how do you keep from blowing up yourself?

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Far be it from me to say that I have the answers, but I will tell you this:
The Peace practises of Deepak Chopra is a way to start
And person by person is the only way to achieve this goal

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Everywhere around us there are a million little tell-tale signs that Peace is achievable. If you can befriend one person that you never thought possible, maybe someone from another religion, race, creed, sex, etc., you are well on your way.

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God gives us the little reminders of love, peace and harmony to remind us what we are aiming to achieve, what the goal is here. Truly there cannot be a truer expression of who you are, than that of perfect love….

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Myspace Graphics

Peace

2007-08-14T07:29:00.000-07:00

This movie was made for each and every South African, but it really leans on every citizen in the world... We have to decide, are we going to wait for someone else to do it, or do we have the guts to go for everything that we talk about....

'This is a movie to call on each and every South African to do SOMETHING! Get involved - from abroad, locally, wherever - do SOMETHING ! Because if we ALL do one thing - we can change our country. As Mother Teresa says- don't wait for leaders, do it yourselves - person to person!!'

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=5479181791&oid=2414630914

My trip to Zanzibar, Tanzania

2007-08-08T13:09:00.000-07:00

It is a characteristic of our family that we get extremely frustrated in the event that we have nothing to do. Zanzibar is a place that has nothing to do. This is the place you travel to and visit because you need to be forced into the position of doing absolutely nothing. After the initial withdrawal symptoms and the settling of the incontrollable twitches and spasms, I found that this experience was truly heaven.

We stayed in a private villa named Ze Villa. It was a beautiful place right on the beach with steps that led down onto the sand and, at high tide, our own private little alcove. Most of the island is surrounded by a reef where the waves would break; creating a little lagoon type body of water that stretched to the beach that was laid with the finest white sand that sparkled in the sun each day.

The villa was completely fitted out with all we would need including DSTV and cooking staff. The staff provided 3 meals a day unless otherwise specified. During our 6 day stay, we had the most delicious food I have had in a long time. The food consisted of simple meals with no extravagant cuisine; it was home-cooking that anyone would appreciate. Red meat presented a bit of a problem since they prepared it extremely well done and our meat eaters liked theirs medium to rare. On the island, the sea is the main source of life and therefore red meat is a delicacy that is not experienced widely so ‘rare’, ‘medium’ and ‘well done’ are not terms that the people are aware of. I remained unaffected by this problem since I am vegetarian. I do not eat any food with a face, but I am told that their fish dishes were absolutely wonderful, and this by my fiancé who is not a great lover of fish. The variety presented on a daily basis was very good, but it was more or less the same variety everyday with one or 2 dishes added or substituted. This did not matter at all since the quality and preparations were exquisite to my mind.

In the early hours of the morning the women would wade into the water up to the reef and gather seaweed, urchins, crabs and anything else they could either sell or eat. The men would be out on fishing boats catching their dinner and maybe a bit extra to sell as well.

Several mornings I was woken up by God in order to bear witness to the amazing things He could do with a little bit of turquoise water, white sand, blue sky and some gold colouring. I was awed every time and I applauded the greatness of His creativity and for sharing this wonder with me.

The people that live here make their living by the sea as stated before. There is very little shopping to be done, even in the main shopping area which is called stone town. Most of the items are imported as well, so we came back with nothing extra save a few sarongs and a pin for my travel bag. When shopping though, be careful of purchasing hard wood items as these trees take centuries to grow and are often cut down in ignorance of their true value. One item that is unique to their country is the tanzanite gem, but be well educated in seeing the value of a stone before purchasing as they will try and make a deal.

Everyone is very willing to help and very friendly, but the understanding must be reached that they are a different culture to ours and therefore not going to run around to help you, and often times they simply fail to understand you.

Cows are mostly used as labour and we saw very few herds. Most of the little towns had an array of goats, geese, turkeys and chickens running around and I am guessing that it would have to be a collective ownership because I could certainly not ascertain which belonged to which house. Even with the children, it was as if they all belonged to everyone.

In Zanzibar we all learned a few lessons amongst which the following:

You do not need good driving skills, you just need a hooter and a blind faith that you are protected (this actually seems to be a predominant factor throughout Africa).
You can actually fit in 3 cars in a two lane road as long as you hoot yourself through.
Respect is given to all items that are on the road and bribes are given to cops.
Whether it is breakfast, lunch or dinner, supper is what is available.
No one understands what you are asking. The language gap is too great and English words like economics, population size and major export product, makes no sense.
A 4x4 trail does not need to be driven by a 4x4 vehicle. Indeed, not even shocks are needed.
Realize that there is no speed limit, but if you are from a western society, just learn to shut your eyes and reach for your Zen center.

Zanzibar is not devoid of any western influence; in fact they even have an internet café, although we were unable to bear witness to the actual operations of this technological cubical. Everywhere you look, you can see little parts of the west creeping in: plastic bags, internet, housing, cars, etc. The problem is that although the influence is there, the necessary knowledge transference is not.

As an example: Everywhere you look you see plastic bags thrown around. Westerners are quick to judge and call this island and its people careless and dirty, when the truth is they are operating on 2 systems. On the one hand they have always been taken care of by nature; on the other hand they are given luxury items from the west. They just assume that nature will recycle the mess as she always does because no one has bothered to inform them that plastic is semi non-biodegradable.

The people here live of the sea and from day to day. There is no urgency, no haste. As with most of Africa, they do not understand the meaning or reasoning behind rushing or, for that matter, the concept of time. For any westerner, this is very hard to understand and the people of Zanzibar (indeed, most of Africa) are very much ridiculed for their lack of ambition and failure to make a success of their lives or their island.

The truth of the matter is that these people have the life that most enlightened people are only now realizing, is the way to live. They live in the now, without worries, fear or stress. They go out each day, gather what they can, sell what they are not going to eat or use themselves and build small, but efficient lives for themselves. The people of Zanzibar have learned to use what the sea and nature gives them.

But slowly the west is seen to intrude on these value systems. The west can not approve of this type of lifestyle since we have worked eons as a society to build up the technological empire and the waste monster that we have today. Put simply, we simply fail to understand and therefore argue that they have to change and move forward.

What the people of Zanzibar really need is someone to help them incorporate the western advancements, including the recent realization and findings on how to do this in an environmentally safe way without spoiling what is already such a centered lifestyle.

Overall the trip to Zanzibar was very interesting, culturally informative and peacefully relaxing. I enjoyed the experience and would recommend this type of holiday to anyone who feels that they need to be cut of from the ‘normal world’ for a while.

Lastly

2007-07-26T02:22:00.001-07:00

I have done a few shorts on the value, meaning, findings and facts about water, but the truth is that we all know intrinsically how important water is for us. We can, after all, feel it in our blood and in our bones.

Water is not only a means to sustain life, we use it symbolically, religiously, spiritually and daily without fully contemplating the value it has. We can not live without water and yet we often treat it like dirt.

The simple way to show your appreciation for water is to site this small prayer everytime you drink it, use it, or come in contact with it:

'With these hands, with this heart and with the pure intentions of God, this water is now blessed, removing and transmuting all impurities and returning them to the Light Forever. Peace.'

And for most of you, this is where it just got weird - :-). Rest assured that you do not have to go all hippy in order to show your love. Just try a simple thank you every time you come into contact with water and remember its importance in your life.

* LoveLightBlessings *

Your Garden and the World's Water

2007-07-25T05:59:00.000-07:00

Did you know that all life on earth is sustained by only one percent of available water. Isn¹t that a miracle? While most of the earth¹s surface is covered in water, 97 percent is seawater. Most of the remaining three percent is locked up in ice caps and glaciers, deep underground or suspended as vapour in the air.

(You can find this full article at http://www.greatergoodsa.co.za/causes/catdisplay.jsp?article_id=1000022742)

Now that you know this, try these important tips for your garden in order to help conserve the water we can use, as well as minimizing the effort that you put into your garden. All that you have to do is put a little startup effort into the design. Here are some pointers (see the whole article on http://www.greatergoodsa.co.za/causes/catdisplay.jsp?article_id=1000002784)

- Group plants with similar water requirements in the same beds. Many sought after plants may require regular watering and should be grouped together in the most prominent part of the garden, where they are frequently seen and admired.

- Plants which may need watering only once a month should be considered for the rest of your garden.

- Don't cut your lawn too short during the growing season. Grass retains water better if it is slightly longer.

- Opt for indigenous grass types instead of the more expensive, tiresome international grasses being sold.

- Lawns are huge consumers of water. Therefore look at how much lawn you actually need for entertaining, children playing and pet exercising, and consider reducing the area without reducing your enjoyment, without paving the area with bricks or similar surfaces which result in too much heat going back into the atmosphere and negatively affecting the climate!!! Some narrow strips of grass may look better as flower beds or mulched walkways.

- Automatic sprinklers should irrigate lawns during early mornings in the summer months and late afternoons in the winter months.

- If it rains, override your irrigation system and remember that too much water results in shallow root growth and encourages fungal and other attacks on the grass.

- Light fertilising will reduce a lawn's need for water considerably and hollow tining compacted lawns allows more effective penetration and reduced run-off.

The main features, as always, is appreciate what you are given (like the rain), use only what you need (do not over water) and conserve what you have (overriding sprinklers and watering in the morning). Keep things in their natural place (use indigenous plants and grass) and don't be mean (cut grass too short). These things will keep your life and your garden, a simple pleasure.

Welcome to the world of WATER

2007-07-24T00:08:00.000-07:00

We all know and have felt the effects that words have on us. There are words that lets your soul soar and there are words that makes your heart weep. The same thing can be said for pictures, music, prayers, events... in fact a everything in our environment affects our energy levels to some degree. What we do not know, however, is what effect these elements have on us at a cellular level.

Dr Emoto and his supporters have been investigating these effects on our prime source of substance: WATER. He has also taken the liberty of adding some pictures of these for those that need physical ecidence of these findings, because as humans, we always need proof that our eyes can see before our minds will accept and our hearts will be allowed to believe that which we already know to be true.

These are some of the most beautiful pictures in the world and they can be viewed on his website: https://www.hado.net/. They can also be bought for a donation that will go straight to the project fund.

Dr. Emoto had a theory that since everything that exists is at its core resonating energy, if you change the vibration, you change the substance. He attempted to prove this by various expirements, of which the most well known is the experiments he did with crystalised water. He has shown us that water is significantly affected by the words that we see, the words that we hear, images and emotions and anything else that consciously and subconsciously affects our world. On his website you will see pictures of water crystals (As well as an explanation of how to take them) and several other experiments.

The complicated impact of his experiments are that if words and images affects water to this degree, what happens to our food which contains high percentages of water, or our bodies and our earth, which is also 75% water? What real and cellular effect does it have when we make war? When we have an argument at the dinner table? When we pray before we eat? When we are peaceful and in harmony with nature?

The truth is that we are only now realising these effects and we have barely started to skim the top of these findings. The true extent of his findings, will only be known once we have a global shift of consciousness in order to affect our world and ourselves, for the higher good.

(Do take the time to view some of the water crystal pictures and to see teh true beauty of water and what it can be, ultimately, what we can be as well http://www.hado.net/watercrystals/index.php)

Water and Food

2007-07-22T10:41:00.000-07:00

When you sit down to your next meal, consider the following water use production figures:

• One cup of lettuce: 11 litres.
• One slice of white bread: 28 litres.
• One bottle wine: 360 litres.
• One potato: 500 litres.
• One 250 g steak: 4,660 litres.
• A standard meal of steak, potato and salad with two glasses of wine uses approximately 5,000 litres of water!

PRACTICAL WAYS TO KEEP WATER IN THE GROUND

2007-07-21T13:02:00.000-07:00

Build soil Add organic matter to soil, as it acts like a sponge, holding water near the plant roots.

Reduce drainage If you live in a dry region, trench beds may be a good idea.

Reduce evaporation Mulching the ground protects the soil from drying out.

Create wind barriers Strong wind dries leaves and soil out very quickly. Windbreaks help to protect both soil and plants from the wind¹s drying effects. Use indigenous trees or shrubs for your windbreaks.

Use indigenous plants These are plants that are already well adapted to your region, so they will need less added protection.

Water wisely Water deeply once or twice a week, rather than once a day. As the water sinks into the ground, the roots will grow deeper into the soil to chase the water.