American Disillusion

I grew up with the idea that the USA was the greatest nation on Earth. That this is a land of equal opportunity, a land of altruism. It's easy to see why that story could get confusing in light of the historical realities of the enslavement of Africans and the virtual genocide of Native Peoples. It's hard to know what to believe, I suppose. But the reality on the ground is that America is a very violent place. Ranging from domestic violence to state violence against civilians. Ranging from harmful economic activities to colonialism and outright wars of aggression.

When Obama was elected, and inaugurated, it would have been hard not to feel hopeful. The rhetoric, if not completely correct, was in a pretty good place. But in what's now over a year since the Obama Administration assumed power, there has been a degeneration in the rhetoric, and certainly a widespread feeling of disappointment with the real politic. An example of degeneration of rhetoric is the difference between talking about opportunity and prosperity for all, to the more recent focus on propping up the "middle class." The degeneration has been gradual, like the flim-flam approach to Universal Health Care, and the Obama plan to increase military spending; and yet it has also been spiked with notable events, like the use of the Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance speech to advocate America's supposed need for war, and the dreadful showing at the Copenhagen Climate Conference.

The disillusion is driving home some simple and chilling truths. The socio-economic political system of the United States is broken. It is corrupt. I have been saying this for over 10 years. And articles like the following only make it more and more clear. So what to do...

The fact is that human activities - industrial activities - over the past 200+ years have done tremendous damage to the living systems of this planet Earth. Earth is our home. We would be wise to take care of it. After all it either belongs to all of us, or to none of us at all. The policies coming out of Washington D.C. and other locusts of political power in the USA (as well as other places in the world) make little to no sense. A drastic change in focus is needed. A change toward the direction of taking care of the planet, and taking care of each other. The adversarial, profit-oriented model of destructive competition endangers the future of humanity and most of the life on this planet. Change is due.

First, there needs to be a disruption of the two-party duopoly that represents the amoral corporate profit motive.

Then there is the need to remake the system anew - to make a system that is altruistic and grounded in the intention to serve life.

Yep. So, check out this article for more reason to challenge and oppose the unmanageable and amoral status quo:

February 9, 2010

Obama's "Change" Drops Its Mask

The Democrats are Coming After Social Security

By SHAMUS COOKE

It’s official: the Democrats are coming after Social Security and Medicare. All the backroom scheming and political conspiring is finally out in the open.

In an unusually long, 1,800 word editorial, entitled The Truth about the Deficit, published February 7, The New York Times -- cheerleader for neoliberalism -- gives its solution to the country’s debt problems. The main idea is summed up thus:

“To truly tame deficits will require serious health care reform [Obama’s plan slashes Medicare], the sooner the better. Other aspects of the long-term fiscal problem — raising taxes and retooling [reducing] Social Security — must take place in earnest as the economy recovers.”

read more: http://www.counterpunch.org/cooke02092010.html

Global Village Slideshow

I received this great slideshow today from my Mom. Thanks Mom! Check it out:



Regarding the information contained in the above power point; we, as a humanity, can do better. I know it.

There is no good reason why 80% of human beings (or any human beings) need to live in poverty.

Have a good day,
-Berd

Hope for the Earth and Moon

March 10, 2009
nearly full

What a special planet is this — this planet Earth...and with that big old moon going around — Wow!

Astounding to think of the planetary physics involved - and surely the moon has played in integral role in the development of life on Earth.

What a magical place, this planet Earth, with so much diverse life teeming about its surface.

I hope we can truly protect all life on Earth, and not squander the wealth of diversity...

(Did you know that there is currently a mass extinction in process - relating to human activities?)

Human beings are sacred. Part of that sacredness are the tremendous powers, which we bear: phsyical, emotional and mental (spiritual.)

Let's worship ourselves and each other, as the illumined beings we are - and recognize our power, our potential, our promise, and our responsibility.

Humanity has so much potential, it is sad to see the condition of humanity today. It is sad to see the destruction, the oppression, the exploitation (of Earth and each other), the violence, the various profligacies and tyrannies.

There is another way. I believe that humanity is capable of change. A world of peace, justice, sustainability, dignity and respect awaits.

Change begins within. Within the heart and mind of each one of us. Peace be with you on this journey.

inthecourseofevents.blogspot.com/2009/03/stimulating-economic-change.html

True Freedom

No one is free when others are oppressed. No one is free when human activities are destroying the conditions for human life. True freedom exists in ecological sustainability and social justice.

True freedom exists in a harmonious relationship between humanity and nature.

Bohemian Grove Summer Encampment with the Cremation of "Dull Care"

Every Summer, about 2,500 of some of the world's richest and most powerful men gather at the Bohemian Grove. During the encampment's opening ceremony, a ritual sacrifice is performed. It's called the "Cremation of Care." In the initiation, the effigy of a human child named "Dull Care" is ritually sacrificed, and then cremated.

Rumors abound that in times past the ritual involved the sacrifice of a real actual living human child. I don't know if that's true or not. But whether or not that's actually the case, this ceremony is disturbing on many different levels. Two ways in which it is disturbing are: one, the basic idea of human sacrifice, and two, the notion of wanting to do away with care (via cremation.)

Ritual human sacrifice, and cremating care - that is the effigy of a child named "Dull Care": this seems strange to me. What's behind it? - I wonder.

Personally, I think it is wrong. The idea of some of the world's most powerful men gathering, performing ritual human sacrifice, and celebrating the concept of doing away with care: it's just wrong.

Care is a virtue. Care is a form of love - not something to be lightly or gaily discarded. Children are not to be sacrificed. They are to be protected, to be cared for, to be treated with love, understanding, respect, and kindness - to be taught about the magic of life, and the deep and sacred majesty of the planet, and their fellow humankind.

So Please - Don't sacrifice people (even for pretend.) And don't cremate care!

The Human Spirit of Reconciliation

This is from a book of daily wisdom that is composed of statements made by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. It's called "The Path to Tranquility," and is compiled and edited by Renuka Singh.

One aspect of compassion is to respect others' rights and to respect others' views. That is the basis of reconciliation. The human spirit of reconciliation based on compassion is working deep down, whether the person really knows it or not.

Our basic human nature is gentleness; therefore, no matter how much we go through violence and other bad things, ultimately the proper solution is to return to human feeling and affection. So affection or compassion is not only a religious matter, but in our day-to-day life it is quite indispensable.

Want for an End to War

The USA has a new President. Obama's victory over McCain signals a mandate for change - for deep and substantial change - a mandate to end war. We are very much experiencing a different America; the new President does not refer to other nations as components in an "axis of evil," but he instead pushes for dialogue between nations.

Do you want an end to war. Can you imagine another world? What might it look and feel like?

I want an end to war. I can imagine another world. Among other aspects, it's a world without the fear that is created by violence between humans.

How can we make the possibility of another world into the reality of another world? How can we best effect change in the direction of a world where human beings do not hurt each other?

Talk about it.

Stimulating Economic Change

Instead of using efforts toward economic stimulus to address the symptoms, and to prop up a system which is essentially broken and corrupt —— use economic stimulus to promote fundamental economic change - and economic justice. Move toward a stable, and sustainable steady-state economy. Move toward an economy where everyone has opportunity to live dignified and prosperous lives. Move toward an economy that does no harm - an economy that does not harmfully exploit people or planet...

Yes. It's a radical notion to do no harm. But what's the sense in cutting short our potential. Humans are wonderful and sacred creatures.

We are each complete and sufficient wholly within our own selves...

Let's honor each other and this magical planet. Let's lift each other up. There is another way. Another world is possible. A world of peace, justice, dignity, respect, health, prosperity, sustainability, egalitarianism. We are all one human family.

Yesterday I blogged about the juxtaposition between harmful economic stimulus spending, and harmful human economic activities in general - specifically in regard to the serious problem of ocean acidification. olyblog.net/carbon-emissions-cause-ocean-acidification-unprecedented-time-dinosaurs

Billions Face Food Shortages

This is a big problem. Food shortages. People starving. This study doesn't even take into account the problem of dwindling energy supplies, which will also negatively impact food production. If human were to take this issue seriously, then it will begin intensive programs in earnest—and starting now—to address the problem of overpopulation. With adequate efforts toward education and economic equity, the problem of overpopulation can be rectified with a minimum of harm over the course of a few generations. What it is going to take is intentional curtailment: the conscious awareness of the problem by most people, and the subsequent decision to limit reproduction to one child per couple. This is just plain necessary to bringing the needs of the human population back into line with the abilities of the planet to provide for them. Check out this article I found on Truthout.org:

Billions Face Food Shortages, Study Warns

Friday 09 January 2009

by: Ian Sample, The Guardian UK

Climate change may ruin farming in tropics by 2100. Record temperatures to become normal in Europe.

Half of the world's population could face severe food shortages by the end of the century as rising temperatures take their toll on farmers' crops, scientists have warned.

Harvests of staple food crops such as rice and maize could fall by between 20% and 40% as a result of higher temperatures during the growing season in the tropics and subtropics. Warmer temperatures in the region are also expected to increase the risk of drought, cutting crop losses further, according to a new study.

The worst of the food shortages are expected to hit the poor, densely inhabited regions of the equatorial belt, where demand for food is already soaring because of a rapid growth in population... http://www.truthout.org/011109A

It's Peace!

[cross-posted from flickr]
photo by Bob Ziegler

We declare peace. Not war.

We declare peace instead of war.

Humankind has engaged in war and other acts of violence for centuries, if not millenia. Thus far, neither war nor violence has brought any lasting or true peace to our lives. War isn't working; it has not resulted in peace. War is not the answer.

Do the ends justify the means? I believe that they, the ends, do not justify the means.

Rather, the means inform the ends. The means create the ends. If we want a peaceful end, then we must utilize peaceful means. The means are the ends.

So if we want peace, then we must live peacefully. Peace is, indeed, the way.

Too often war is pursued with the idea of peace as end product. The problem is that war is coercive and violent. War is often times the end product of policies or mindsets that are exploitative and domineering. Throughout human history, war has not brought a truly peaceful condition to society.

So, peace must be understand as not only an end, but also the means to an end. Peace is the way! Declare it! Ask yourself how you can live peacefully - please, for the sake of the health and prosperity of the planet and future generations. Can you do that?

Some questions that we all deserve to ask of ourselves are:

"Do I have peace in my life?"

"Is my lifestyle peaceful?"

"Do my actions promote or inhibit a peaceful society?"

John Woolman, an American Quaker who lived from 1720 to 1772 asked that we may examine our material possessions to determine if they contain nourishment for the seeds of war.

War has not brought peace to our lives. Indeed, violence has not brought peace to our lives.

Peaceful means; practicing peace in daily life; understanding peace not only as and end, but as a means to an end: therein lies hope and possibility.

Living peacefully also feels good. It really does. Being open and honest, looking each other in the eye, making eye contact with strangers, exchanging friendly and warm greetings, demonstrating and exuding positive regards for others, friends, foes, neighbors and strangers - each alike: the path to peace awaits.

We, members of humanity, are connected. All of us are inextricably interconnected. We are connected with each other. And we are connected with the bio-sphere - that thin and relatively fragile layer where life on Earth persists.

We have the power to make, and we have the power to break.

Reverend James Lawson said that violence has not brought peace to our lives. History proves him correct.

But perhaps, now, in the 21st century, there is the possibility to learn from our mistakes and make real substantive changes. Perhaps in the pursuit of truly peaceful and nonviolent means (economic and political) we can find the very real possibility of a genuine outbreak of peace.

Dear friends and neighbors, acquaintances and strangers, have hope. Have hope in the development of peaceful and nonviolent daily modes of operation. Have hope in the creation of social structures, customs and institutions that are based in the wisdom of kindness, moral reciprocity (the Golden Rule), truth, compassion, and nonviolence.

We can reject meanness. For example, we can decide to refuse to say things about other people that we would not say to directly them face to face. We have the power to make real substantive changes in our own lives. And we have the power to change the world. We can create a way of life that respects life. We can heal ourselves. We can heal the world. We can.

It's Peace. I declare it.

With love,
Berd

Let Wisdom Guide Our Lives and Humanity

The following is cross-posted from OlyBlog (i.e. I already published it there and I am re-posting it here):

I want to share some wisdom that was recently shared with me. A friend printed up a couple cards, and the information that they contain really resonates deeply with me. One is some wisdom from Marshall Rosenberg, author of Nonviolent Communication. The other is wisdom from Buddhadasa, a Thai monk.

By the way, there are nonviolent communication courses being offered at locations throughout the Puget Sound region. Northwest Compassionate Communication

Here's the card on Buddhadasa, according to my transcription:

know the heart

know the heart
or essence
of your own
spirituality,
and encourage others
to know theirs.

share with others
at deeper levels,
don't dwell on the
differences,
recognize those things
held in common
and build on that

work together to
"drag humanity out from
under the power of
materialism."

sharings from
buddhadasa

servant of the
buddha

a thai monk

Now for the card based on Marshall Rosenberg's theory of nonviolent communication:

basic

human

needs

marshall roseburg
author
nonviolent communication

"at every moment we have the
power to make life wonderful"

"basic needs are never in conflict,
get past enemy image"

some basic human needs:
sustenance,
protection,
understanding / empathy,
honesty,
celebration,
autonomy,
contribute (meaningfully to life),
power (influence one's space),
fairness,
love,
justice (restorative...)
respect,
belonging / community

"when we interact
on the level of
basic human needs
there is no conflict"

And be sure to watch this video with Marshall Rosenberg:

Disaster, Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza, Palestine

go to original:

MIDEAST: Anything for a Bath, Anything for Fuel
By Mohammed Omer

GAZA CITY, Jun 18 (IPS) - The girl, about 16, is wandering about Jebaliya refugee camp, picking up anything she thinks can burn. She cannot find enough bits of wood, so she gathers plastic bags, old notebooks and even a pair of broken plastic sandals.

"I want to heat some water," she said. "I want a bath."

Not far away, Mohammed Abu Elenin, 23, exhaustion all over his face, prepares for a fourth night outside a gas station to refill his canister. His brother Nour has sat up with him. Earlier he could get half a fill. Now he doesn't know what may come, but waits.

"Some weeks ago, I managed to get a half cylinder of cooking gas," he says. "It lasted just one week. Now we have nothing to cook with."

His family, like others, have turned to cooking over makeshift fires. That fills houses with smoke, and it is dangerous. And now firewood too is scarce.

Umm Othman, 43, mother of nine, waits like the others. "It's become impossible for me to feed and take care of my children and my husband," she says. Her sons are not at home, she has sent them to queue for gas.

And amidst all this, come questions who is to blame, Hamas or Israel. "I can't stand it," says a woman sharing a crowded taxi on way from Rafah border crossing to Gaza City. "There is no gas, and there is no space to make a fire." "This is Palestinians' choice," says a man in the taxi. We voted for Hamas, and now we should take the consequences."

At once, several passengers turn against him. They accuse him of trying to turn people against the democratically elected Hamas. Another passenger, Mosbah Abu Dayiah, 43, speaks against Hamas. "If they can't manage, they should leave the government to others who can." The others turn now against him, and insist they will stand by Hamas.

Gaza is on the brink, and Israel is keeping it that way. Israel makes sure Gaza gets just a fraction of its needs of fuel, says Mahmoud al-Khozendar, vice-president of the Petrol Station Owners Association. And when it does come in, the priority is fishermen, bakeries and farmers.

But he finds this is doing Hamas little harm. "The fact that Israel has created the cooking gas and fuel shortage is actually helping Hamas maintain support," he says.

Following the visit by the UN fact-finding mission led by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Israel has allowed a little more fuel in, says Khozendar. But shortages are being exacerbated now by a diversion of cooking gas to run cars.

One taxi driver began running his car on expensive olive oil. He asked his passengers therefore to pay more. And that led to arguments with passengers. "I also have a family to feed," he pleaded. He begged the passengers to consider also that his car will be ruined if he uses too much olive oil.

In home after home, in street after street, such struggles continue. Abu Dayiah doesn't see it getting any better. "The world doesn't care." (END/2008)

Human Behavior: Consequences

Human behavior is having some downright harmful consequences for the Planet Earth, as well as the many and diverse species, which make the Earth home. Human behaviors are causing climate change. Industrial growth has benefitted some amongst humankind, some much more than others. But for many, amongst humanity as well as other species and the very Earth itself, the consequences have been downright harmful and destructive.

Whatever happens with climate change, I think humanity will be capable of dealing with the consequences, and of adapting (i.e. survival).

However, that doesn't give us, as human beings, an excuse to go around polluting and causing death and destruction for the less adaptable, both amongst humanity as well as other species.

Think of the extinctions that industrial society has caused. It's unacceptable. I have a vision of humanity assuming the role of stewards of the Earth, human beings as protectors of all species and of bio-diversity.

What humanity is currently doing to the planet is unacceptable to me...

What It Is and What To Do About It

It's scary - what is happening in the USA. The last 7 some years of the Bush Administration have seen America change significantly. The nation has become polarized. Fear is coming to dominate society and not without good reason. The USA is weakened economically. Select members of the Bush Administration, in the face of a genuine environmental crisis, have opted to feast on their political aspirations for global military and economic "dominance." Money is being spent on conquest and furthering corporate hegemony.

Money is not being spent on answering the pressing crisis of ecological collapse and the massive lack of sustainability of the current economic system.

The Bush Administration is leading the USA down the path of destruction. It's quite possibly criminal and the USA deserves to prosecute the actions of the Bush Administration as such - as criminal actions.

Some examples:
- voting irregularities which resulted in two Bush Admin electoral victories
- the lack of credible evidence that Iraq possessed WMD (threatening US security) in the face of much more credible evidence that Iraq, in fact, did not possess weapons to threaten the security of the USA.
- exhibiting a specific disregard and a lack of concern for the welfare of humanity in terms of future generations.

I could go on and on. But I want to plug a couple of stories worthy of mention.

First, the text of a speech by Daniel Ellsberg in which he likens the Bush Administration's presence in the White House to a coup. It's a really good article, here's the intro:
link to original

I think nothing has higher priority than averting an attack on Iran, which I think will be accompanied by a further change in our way of governing here that in effect will convert us into what I would call a police state.

If there’s another 9/11 under this regime … it means that they switch on full extent all the apparatus of a police state that has been patiently constructed, largely secretly at first but eventually leaked out and known and accepted by the Democratic people in Congress, by the Republicans and so forth.

Will there be anything left for NSA to increase its surveillance of us? … They may be to the limit of their technical capability now, or they may not. But if they’re not now they will be after another 9/11.

And I would say after the Iranian retaliation to an American attack on Iran, you will then see an increased attack on Iran – an escalation – which will be also accompanied by a total suppression of dissent in this country, including detention camps.

It’s a little hard for me to distinguish the two contingencies; they could come together. Another 9/11 or an Iranian attack in which Iran’s reaction against Israel, against our shipping, against our troops in Iraq above all, possibly in this country, will justify the full panoply of measures that have been prepared now, legitimized, and to some extent written into law. …

And secondly, a call by Garret Keizer for a General Strike on this coming First Tuesday of November, election day, the 6th. In response to the (potentially) felonious assault on the American People and the economy of the USA, Keizer advocates for a full scale General Strike:
link to original

Of all the various depredations of the Bush regime, none has been so thorough as its plundering of hope. Iraq will recover sooner. What was supposed to have been the crux of our foreign policy—a shock-and-awe tutorial on the utter futility of any opposition to the whims of American power—has achieved its greatest and perhaps its only lasting success in the American soul...

...If someone were to suggest, for example, that we begin a general strike on Election Day, November 6, 2007, for the sole purpose of removing this regime from power, how readily and with what well-practiced assurance would you find yourself producing the words “It won’t do any good”?
...
...[It would be] better if we could say to our next administration: Don’t talk about Bush. We dealt with Bush. We dealt with Bush and in so doing we demonstrated our ability to deal with you. You have a mandate more rigorous than looking good beside Bush. You need a program more ambitious than “uniting the country.” We are united—at least we were, if only for a while, if only in our disgust. If only I believed all this would happen.

I wrote this appeal during the days leading up to the Fourth of July. I wrote it because for the past six and a half years I have heard the people I love best—family members, friends, former students and parishioners—saying, “I’m sick over what’s happening to our country, but I just don’t know what to do.” Might I be pardoned if, fearing civil disorder less than I fear civil despair, I said, “Well, we could do this.” It has been done before and we could do this. And I do believe we could. If anyone has a better idea, I’m keen to hear it. Only don’t tell me what some presidential hopeful ought to do someday. Tell me what the people who have nearly lost their hope can do right now.

It's scary to hear this kind of talk. Talk about police states and about losing hope. Let's resist apathy as we muster the courage to keep talking - to keep resisting. Please, dear reader, ask yourself what specific actions that you can take to roll back the Bush Administration assaults on personal liberties, the environment and humanity itself. Then take action!

Never Throw Out Anyone

“People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone.” - Audrey Hepburn

E. O. Wilson - Celebration of Life

"We need to settle down before we wreck the planet."
- E. O. Wilson