After posting my previous entry, 'Stupid and Stupider', I went to the book I am currently reading (The Great Work: Our Way Into the Future - Thomas Berry 1999) and within a couple of pages, ran straight into one of the author's explanations for the diminishing consciousness prevalent in our industrial world:
"In every phase of our imaginative, aesthetic, and emotional lives we are profoundly dependent on this larger context of the surrounding world. There is no inner life without outer experience. The tragedy in the elimination of the primordial forests is not the economic but the soul-loss that is involved. For we are depriving our imagination, our emotions, and even our intellect of that overwhelming experience communicated by the wilderness. For children to live only in contact with concrete and steel and wires and wheels and machines and computers and plastics, to seldom experience any primordial reality or even see the stars at night, is a soul deprivation that diminishes the deepest of their human experiences."
It is no wonder that our kids' collective consciousness is less than complete, growing up as they do out of touch with nature, with humans other than their group of electronic 'Facebook Friends', with the Earth, the Universe and especially out of touch with reality. We have spawned an industrialized world of 8 year-old Barbies and 10 year-old Bart Simpsons and, as they age without maturing, we wring our hands in distress over their inability to function.
Take a look at this story about Barbie getting functional knees for the first time at age 53 - could this be a sign of progress? Bart is still a long way from World Leader material but he is only 24 so there may still be time for some improvement. in the meantime, keep trying to get the kids into some kind of contact with reality and . . . . . Good luck.
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Monday, January 2, 2012
Stupid and Stupider
An American story about the 'Walmarting' of the world (literally). This woman has a mid-level job but, because of Walmart's 'Need to Compete', her government has to help feed her and her son. This is not just about Walmart, the entire social structure of the industrial world is quickly crumbling into dust.
And yet, people still buy into the whole "Vote-for-me, I'll-grow-the-HOLY-ECONOMY, You-will-have-a-job" BS that the distinctly UNHOLY Business-Corporate-Military conspiracy hands out as the ultimate in having a good time.
THIS WOMAN HAS A JOB - SHE CAN'T FEED HERSELF !!! . . . . DUH !!!
I have not yet watched "The Age of Stupid" yet but I'm going to very soon, by the title I think it will finally give me some insight into the world around me. More movies about global stupidity at this site.
"The Age of Stupid" is on Netflix for sure so use the microwave to pop some corn that has traveled twice around the world to be grown, processed, packaged and delivered to your local retailer (and has supported dozens of workers along the way for only 49 cents a package BTW) and let's learn about the world together.
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And yet, people still buy into the whole "Vote-for-me, I'll-grow-the-HOLY-ECONOMY, You-will-have-a-job" BS that the distinctly UNHOLY Business-Corporate-Military conspiracy hands out as the ultimate in having a good time.
THIS WOMAN HAS A JOB - SHE CAN'T FEED HERSELF !!! . . . . DUH !!!
I have not yet watched "The Age of Stupid" yet but I'm going to very soon, by the title I think it will finally give me some insight into the world around me. More movies about global stupidity at this site.
"The Age of Stupid" is on Netflix for sure so use the microwave to pop some corn that has traveled twice around the world to be grown, processed, packaged and delivered to your local retailer (and has supported dozens of workers along the way for only 49 cents a package BTW) and let's learn about the world together.
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MY WEBSITE — ANewHumanity.CA
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Happy New Year !
We should probably be wishing each other a Hopeful, rather than a Happy New Year. I don't run into a lot of happy people most days and I SURE didn't notice many in the stores over the holidays. Why do we do that to each other and the world every year? Putting an end to the nauseating orgy of holiday consumerism would be a great start to a New Year, not to mention a New Humanity.
Despite the gloomy tone of my last post (December 19), my wife and I were blessed by spending New Year's Eve with a group of people who seem to be happier than most - it was really good. Many of these folks gather on a regular basis and could be considered as 'Community', I'm pretty sure there's a clue to that happiness in there somewhere.
We dined together, read and listened together, sang together and entered into many and varied conversations together. There were people with significant disabilities and people with none in the group. There were people from diverse ethnic backgrounds and a wide range of ages. The core of the group were people of the Bahá’í Faith although my wife and I and a number of others were not. Still, we were all quickly able to find common ground to discuss and differences to celebrate.
Yes, we had some religious conversations as well as some non-religious conversations and I was even fortunate enough to find a few people who wanted to discuss the material on my website (below). There was a spot during the reading and singing (Devotions) part of the evening set aside for those who wished to read, sing or speak original material or to quote others on the evening's theme of World Peace so I had written a prayer, a kind of bridge for all who are working for Peace and Justice to use to visit each other and our common Creator:
Creator of this wondrous and infinite universe,
We ask for the will to cast off our weaknesses,
The strength to stand up against our oppressors,
. . . . . and most importantly,
The wisdom to use the tools we have been given.
Concerning the task of bringing Peace and Justice to humanity,
We do not ask for forgiveness of our transgressions,
Nor for redemption from our errors,
. . . . . and finally,
We do not ask for relief from the hard work required.
We believe that if we accept the challenges,
We make our plans diligently,
We choose our leaders wisely,
. . . . . and work vigorously,
Then we can achieve the New Humanity for which we were created.
. . . . . and I was even able to share one of my favorite quotations, one that has a very interesting attibution:
"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace" - Jimi Hendrix, 1942 - 1970
H A V E A H A P P Y A N D A H O P E F U L 2 0 1 2 !
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Despite the gloomy tone of my last post (December 19), my wife and I were blessed by spending New Year's Eve with a group of people who seem to be happier than most - it was really good. Many of these folks gather on a regular basis and could be considered as 'Community', I'm pretty sure there's a clue to that happiness in there somewhere.
We dined together, read and listened together, sang together and entered into many and varied conversations together. There were people with significant disabilities and people with none in the group. There were people from diverse ethnic backgrounds and a wide range of ages. The core of the group were people of the Bahá’í Faith although my wife and I and a number of others were not. Still, we were all quickly able to find common ground to discuss and differences to celebrate.
Yes, we had some religious conversations as well as some non-religious conversations and I was even fortunate enough to find a few people who wanted to discuss the material on my website (below). There was a spot during the reading and singing (Devotions) part of the evening set aside for those who wished to read, sing or speak original material or to quote others on the evening's theme of World Peace so I had written a prayer, a kind of bridge for all who are working for Peace and Justice to use to visit each other and our common Creator:
A Prayer to Equip Oueselves for the Work of Bringing
Peace and Justice on Earth
Creator of this wondrous and infinite universe,
We ask for the will to cast off our weaknesses,
The strength to stand up against our oppressors,
. . . . . and most importantly,
The wisdom to use the tools we have been given.
Concerning the task of bringing Peace and Justice to humanity,
We do not ask for forgiveness of our transgressions,
Nor for redemption from our errors,
. . . . . and finally,
We do not ask for relief from the hard work required.
We believe that if we accept the challenges,
We make our plans diligently,
We choose our leaders wisely,
. . . . . and work vigorously,
Then we can achieve the New Humanity for which we were created.
— — — — —
. . . . . and I was even able to share one of my favorite quotations, one that has a very interesting attibution:
"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace" - Jimi Hendrix, 1942 - 1970
H A V E A H A P P Y A N D A H O P E F U L 2 0 1 2 !
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Monday, December 19, 2011
Justin, could you shout a little louder please? Oh . . . . and use some stronger language too!
Justin Trudeau's break with decorum as he shouted "YOU PIECE OF SHIT" at Peter Kent across the floor of the Canadian House of Commons should serve as a wake up call to every Canadian who cares even slightly for anyone or anything other than themselves. Kent, who is laughingly referred to as "Canada's Environment Minister", is instead a despicable salesman for perhaps the worst environmental disaster to be perpetrated by humanity against our home planet, Earth. "Piece of Shit" seems entirely inadequate and Justin Trudeau's shout far too muted to give form to the current state of Canadian affairs.
British Columbia based Environmental Consultant Matt Price has written a series of articles for Huffington Post(CA) about the Harper Government's complicity in the marketing of Alberta's Tar Sands. In the latest, he identifies three things which the people of Canada must grapple with if we are to have any success in countering the Harper menace and beginning to repair our country's reputation.
1) The government in Ottawa doesn't care what you think.
2) The Opposition is letting Harper have his way.
3) Most of us are sheep.
There are still opportunities to stop the full destructive potential of the Tar Sands from being brought to bear on the worldwide environment. Every effort should be made to co-ordinate ALL actions against the Tar Sands under the auspices of a single group with a clearly stated mission and a highly identifiable logo:
a) Continue the dialogue with sympathetic elements within the US.
b) Demonstrations at Canadian diplomatic missions in Europe.
c) Demonstrations at the UK Tar Sands sales office in Alberta.
d) Action against the Keystone XL Pipeline on the Canadian side of the border.
e) Actions against the Enbridge Gateway pipeline in both Alberta and British Columbia.
f) Demonstrations in Kitimat and along the entire BC coast against the tanker traffic.
g) Co-operation between First Nations People and Non-First Nations activists at the Tar Sands and along the whole route of both the pipelines and the tankers.
h) Demonstrations every time one of the Cons shows up in BC for a photo op, funding announcement or whatever.
One last kick in the ass in case you are still sleeping - a story in The Guardian by Heather Mallick about the on-going destruction of our country at the hands of a group of ideologues we were stupid enough to elect with our antiquated electoral system. I hate to remember that I had parents who fought in wars (WW 1 and 2) with the hope that Canada would remain a beacon of trust and peace in the world. If they were still alive, I'm sure watching this so-called government drag our country through the sewer would do them in.
So, lets raise our glasses and prepare to welcome 2012 with a rousing - "YOU PIECE OF SHIT"!!!
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MY WEBSITE — ANewHumanity.CA
British Columbia based Environmental Consultant Matt Price has written a series of articles for Huffington Post(CA) about the Harper Government's complicity in the marketing of Alberta's Tar Sands. In the latest, he identifies three things which the people of Canada must grapple with if we are to have any success in countering the Harper menace and beginning to repair our country's reputation.
1) The government in Ottawa doesn't care what you think.
2) The Opposition is letting Harper have his way.
3) Most of us are sheep.
There are still opportunities to stop the full destructive potential of the Tar Sands from being brought to bear on the worldwide environment. Every effort should be made to co-ordinate ALL actions against the Tar Sands under the auspices of a single group with a clearly stated mission and a highly identifiable logo:a) Continue the dialogue with sympathetic elements within the US.
b) Demonstrations at Canadian diplomatic missions in Europe.
c) Demonstrations at the UK Tar Sands sales office in Alberta.
d) Action against the Keystone XL Pipeline on the Canadian side of the border.
e) Actions against the Enbridge Gateway pipeline in both Alberta and British Columbia.
f) Demonstrations in Kitimat and along the entire BC coast against the tanker traffic.
g) Co-operation between First Nations People and Non-First Nations activists at the Tar Sands and along the whole route of both the pipelines and the tankers.
h) Demonstrations every time one of the Cons shows up in BC for a photo op, funding announcement or whatever.
One last kick in the ass in case you are still sleeping - a story in The Guardian by Heather Mallick about the on-going destruction of our country at the hands of a group of ideologues we were stupid enough to elect with our antiquated electoral system. I hate to remember that I had parents who fought in wars (WW 1 and 2) with the hope that Canada would remain a beacon of trust and peace in the world. If they were still alive, I'm sure watching this so-called government drag our country through the sewer would do them in.
So, lets raise our glasses and prepare to welcome 2012 with a rousing - "YOU PIECE OF SHIT"!!!
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MY WEBSITE — ANewHumanity.CA
Friday, December 16, 2011
Jack up the radiator cap.
"Don’t let legal wrangling distract from Occupy’s message"
Legal/Schmeegal - arguing about the legalities of use of public spaces by the public has nothing to do with the real meaning of the Movement. Nothing less than a complete, frame-off rebuild of The World is what's needed.
Car-guys used to have a saying that went, "Jack up the radiator cap [and re-build everything else]" for a vehicle that was completely unusable, but still worth working on. In this case the 'radiator cap', the only part that is worth saving, is people's ability to conduct non-violent revolution.
It's way past time to get going on re-building the rest.
This Magazine a really good, alternative news source for Canada.
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Legal/Schmeegal - arguing about the legalities of use of public spaces by the public has nothing to do with the real meaning of the Movement. Nothing less than a complete, frame-off rebuild of The World is what's needed.
Car-guys used to have a saying that went, "Jack up the radiator cap [and re-build everything else]" for a vehicle that was completely unusable, but still worth working on. In this case the 'radiator cap', the only part that is worth saving, is people's ability to conduct non-violent revolution.
It's way past time to get going on re-building the rest.
This Magazine a really good, alternative news source for Canada.
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MY WEBSITE — ANewHumanity.CA
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Become your neighbours' "Close Encounter"
To my Family and Friends:
I have a grave concern that, as you feel the world closing in around you, you will assume that those we have elected will work on your behalf. This is simply not true.
For those of us who live in British Columbia, the two, senior levels of government do not have your interests, or mine, at heart. As each day goes by and I dig deeper into reality as presented by another author, journalist or alternative news service, I am convinced that these governments serve those that are light-years above my financial and social status - and for that I am truly thankful. However, that leaves us all with the dilemma of how to approach these crises as individuals or local groups.
Just to recap some of the components of the gathering storm: Global Climate Change - Peak Oil (and natural gas) - Soil Degradation - Over Population - Ocean Acidification - Lowering Water Tables - Permafrost Thaw - Continuing Mass Extinction (>50 species/day) - Topsoil Erosion - Glacial Melt - Loss of Arctic Sea Ice - Extreme Weather Events - Relocation of Climate Refugees . . . and more. Expressions of these stressors can emerge at the bottom of a food chain (phytoplankton), the top (sharks) and every point in between. Ultimately and simply, humans are at the top of such a food chain.
These problems are all inter-related which magnifies the danger but also increases the opportunites for individuals to contribute. The first, and most critical step is to make ourselves aware of both the crises and the solutions. There are massive numbers of sources online, lots at your local library, documentaries for rent, online streaming and public showings. So, read a book, watch a video (YouTube has lots) and bring it into your conversation with friends and neghbours. They may look at you as if you are an Alien from Outer Space — get over it.
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MY WEBSITE — ANewHumanity.CA
I have a grave concern that, as you feel the world closing in around you, you will assume that those we have elected will work on your behalf. This is simply not true.
For those of us who live in British Columbia, the two, senior levels of government do not have your interests, or mine, at heart. As each day goes by and I dig deeper into reality as presented by another author, journalist or alternative news service, I am convinced that these governments serve those that are light-years above my financial and social status - and for that I am truly thankful. However, that leaves us all with the dilemma of how to approach these crises as individuals or local groups.
Just to recap some of the components of the gathering storm: Global Climate Change - Peak Oil (and natural gas) - Soil Degradation - Over Population - Ocean Acidification - Lowering Water Tables - Permafrost Thaw - Continuing Mass Extinction (>50 species/day) - Topsoil Erosion - Glacial Melt - Loss of Arctic Sea Ice - Extreme Weather Events - Relocation of Climate Refugees . . . and more. Expressions of these stressors can emerge at the bottom of a food chain (phytoplankton), the top (sharks) and every point in between. Ultimately and simply, humans are at the top of such a food chain.
These problems are all inter-related which magnifies the danger but also increases the opportunites for individuals to contribute. The first, and most critical step is to make ourselves aware of both the crises and the solutions. There are massive numbers of sources online, lots at your local library, documentaries for rent, online streaming and public showings. So, read a book, watch a video (YouTube has lots) and bring it into your conversation with friends and neghbours. They may look at you as if you are an Alien from Outer Space — get over it.
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MY WEBSITE — ANewHumanity.CA
Our money-drunk model of deregulated capitalism
This article by Guy Dauncey, an author well respected in the field of solutions to major crises, is a must read for those who love the world, or their kids, or both.
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