Yet another example of why Free Trade doesn't work. Free trade is bullshit. I will never let anyone tell me its good. I cringed like mad when I heard Barack Obama say, "I believe in Free Trade, I believe in capitalism."
WHY?! Why believe in it? Is it only because we're on the winning end? Bottled water is a perfectly good example of why corporations should not be allowed to make money in whatever way they see fit. Stealing water out from underneath the people who need it in order to put it in expensive bottles is NOT in the interest of the people. Tap water is practically free, and its just as good. If water quality in your town is an issue, then the answer is NOT to steal someone else's water.
Profit on the scale of Nestle and Coke always comes with loss of human liberty, enviornmental degradation, and a departure from thrifty, practical living. How have Nestle and Coke managed to sell something to us that we could get for free from a tap? I'll never know.
The argument in favor of advertising is that it keeps consumers informed about products, therefore making markets more competetive. Competetive markets maximize welfare. The argument against advertising is that it creates a demand for a product that is unnatural, or irrational.
I really wish I didn't have to fight this battle. Bottled water should be outlawed.
Get your own town, school, office or what have you, to kick the bottle and you'll do a big favor for the environment and human rights at the same time.
This reminds me. on Saturday Baba Ganoush played a show at a diabetes walk. We just played barefoot in the grass with no microphones, but everyone seemed to enjoy it. I think we played angeline the baker five times. Anyway, the radio announcer who oversaw the event said that one of the corporate sponsors was Coca-Cola!
If you didn't know, Type 2 Diabetes is a preventable disease caused by too much sugar intake. Coke spends 99.9% of its time trying to make everyone buy their pure corn syrup liquid, and .1% trying to cure diabetes?
All this corporate greed is tearing me apart inside.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Montana
What makes this country great? The freedom to go camping on a Tuesday. My friend Sky and I met each other last friday on campus. We had agreed to go camping together at some point, but neve made definite plans. He suggested we go out this week. I don't have a phone, so we could'nt micromanage ourselves on the fly, and so we agreed to meet at the trailhead of the Rattlesnake at 5:00pm the following tuesday, which turned out to be Earth Day...
I rode my bike up the miles of hill to get to the trailhead with a light pack. The sun was shining and even though I was slower than the cars, i think they could probably see my happiness shining through the wool and plaid; much brighter than that shining through their car windows.
I laid down under some Ponderosas at the trail head, without a timepiece, I had no idea if I was early or late. So I just waited. Sure enough Sky rolled in on his bike, it was the first time I had seen him since we decided to do this. It really pays off to be old fashioned sometimes. We marvelled together in the instant relief of the forest. No stress at all. Then we locked our bikes and hiked up the creek.
We joked and joked and joked. We imagined if there was no civilzation at all. The only food I had was quinoa and lentils with no flavoring, he had stale bread and cheese with some hard nutella. We had a camp fire, which I lounged next to with my wool blanket. I went to get water to boil and I stepped in the creek, which made me laugh very hard. Sky made straws out of snake grass for us to drink hot water with. We watched the stars. We spoke french at length. We ate very slowly since our food was nothing to get excited about. As I was drifting off I saw the clouds start to roll in. We had no tent.
I woke up in a snow flurry. The clouds had closed up but it wasn't very cold or windy. We just packed up and hiked out. Scattering and disguising the remains of the fire. We decided to jump in the creek. As we approached the water, stepping over hard patches of dirty persistent snow, I saw a bald eagle soar downstream just thirty feet away. That kind of thing happens in Montana. We stripped and dunked. The water was so cold that I felt I was being reborn as a fish. We then proceeded to bike to campus for our classes. I had missed my first two, but I reckon if a man worries about missing class when he's out camping, he's gone soft. The blizzard picked up during the bike ride. I'm snow soaked even as I write this, sitting in the first building since leaving home yesterday, the UC. Now I'm off to microeconomics, Maybe I'll give those business majors a whiff of Eagles, grass, and smoke as I sit next to them in the dark lecture hall.
This is why I came out here. I can't wait for eight weeks of camping this summer.
I rode my bike up the miles of hill to get to the trailhead with a light pack. The sun was shining and even though I was slower than the cars, i think they could probably see my happiness shining through the wool and plaid; much brighter than that shining through their car windows.
I laid down under some Ponderosas at the trail head, without a timepiece, I had no idea if I was early or late. So I just waited. Sure enough Sky rolled in on his bike, it was the first time I had seen him since we decided to do this. It really pays off to be old fashioned sometimes. We marvelled together in the instant relief of the forest. No stress at all. Then we locked our bikes and hiked up the creek.
We joked and joked and joked. We imagined if there was no civilzation at all. The only food I had was quinoa and lentils with no flavoring, he had stale bread and cheese with some hard nutella. We had a camp fire, which I lounged next to with my wool blanket. I went to get water to boil and I stepped in the creek, which made me laugh very hard. Sky made straws out of snake grass for us to drink hot water with. We watched the stars. We spoke french at length. We ate very slowly since our food was nothing to get excited about. As I was drifting off I saw the clouds start to roll in. We had no tent.
I woke up in a snow flurry. The clouds had closed up but it wasn't very cold or windy. We just packed up and hiked out. Scattering and disguising the remains of the fire. We decided to jump in the creek. As we approached the water, stepping over hard patches of dirty persistent snow, I saw a bald eagle soar downstream just thirty feet away. That kind of thing happens in Montana. We stripped and dunked. The water was so cold that I felt I was being reborn as a fish. We then proceeded to bike to campus for our classes. I had missed my first two, but I reckon if a man worries about missing class when he's out camping, he's gone soft. The blizzard picked up during the bike ride. I'm snow soaked even as I write this, sitting in the first building since leaving home yesterday, the UC. Now I'm off to microeconomics, Maybe I'll give those business majors a whiff of Eagles, grass, and smoke as I sit next to them in the dark lecture hall.
This is why I came out here. I can't wait for eight weeks of camping this summer.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Correction:
I have said that the only technology we need to save the world is the off switch. In fact this is not the case. We need the will, to use the off switch.
This requires a cultural change much like Micheal Pollan speaks of in his piece "why bother" in the Times which I have linked to below. Pollan suggests the change will spread virally if enough of us bother to bother about our climate crisis.
Even Garrett Hardin said our environmental crisis was one that we cannot overcome with a technological solution. I challenge this by challenging the very definition of technology.
In John Young's tape series, "Seeing through Native Eyes" he begins with the thanksgiving adress. It is an old Haudenosaunee tradition, but apparently important to the mohawk tribe as well. Your own research may yield more information on the thanksgiving address, but here I'd like to comment on its content, purpose, and its role as technology rather than its specific tribal roots.
If you are interested in reading the address, I have copied it below from http://www.peace4turtleisland.org/pages/Thanks.htm
It is recited at sunrise, and at the beginning and closing of legal/spiritual gatherings. It takes time to thank all the forces that sustain life and all the forms of life that sustain people. It is a humbling recitation and greeting of all things to remember that we are all connected. It serves to center and unite people as in the meetings, and to bring peoples minds together into a group context rather than self centered thoughts that may have been there before. It has survived for a very long time. Its persistence proves its utility. It is a form of technology because it is a human invention that humans have found continually useful.
The only technology we need to solve our environmental crisis, is a culture of using the off switch. Perhaps that is a little bit better of a statement. I'll keep trying.
~*~ The People ~*~
Today we have gathered and we see that the cycles of life continue. We have been given the duty to live in balance and harmony with each other and all living things. So now, we bring our minds together as one as we give greetings and thanks to each other as People.
Now our minds are one.
~*~ The Earth Mother ~*~
We are all thankful to our Mother, the Earth, for she gives us all that we need for life. She supports our feet as we walk about upon her. It gives us joy that she continues to care for us as she has from the beginning of time. To our Mother, we send greetings and thanks.
Now our minds are one
***
~*~ The Waters ~*~
We give thanks to all the Waters of the world for quenching our thirst and providing us with strength. Water is life. We know its power in many forms-- waterfalls and rain, mists and streams, rivers and oceans. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to the spirit Water.
Now our minds are one.
*****
~*~ The Fish ~*~
We turn our minds to all the Fish life in the water. They were instructed to cleanse and purify the water. They also give themselves to us as food. We are grateful that we can still find pure water. So, we turn now to the fish and send our greetings and thanks.
Now our minds are one.
~*~ The Plants ~*~
Now we turn towards the vast fields of Plant life. As far as the eye can see, the Plants grow, working many wonders. They sustain many life forms. With our minds gathered together, we give thanks and look forward to seeing Plant life for many generations to come.
Now our minds are one.
*****
~*~ The Food Plants ~*~
With one mind, we turn to honor and thank all the Food Plants we harvest from the garden. Since the beginning of time, the grains, vegetables, beans and berries have helped the people survive. Many other living things draw strength from them too. We gather all the Plant Foods together as one and send them a greeting and thanks.
Now our minds are one.
*****
~*~ The Medicine Herbs ~*~
Now we turn to all the Medicine Herbs of the world. From the beginning, they were instructed to take away sickness. They are always waiting and ready to heal us. We are happy there are still among us those special few who remember how to use these plants for healing. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to the Medicines and to the keepers of the Medicines
Now our minds are one.
~*~ The Animals ~*~
We gather our minds together to send greetings and thanks to all the Animal life in the world. They have many things to teach us as people. We see them near our homes and in the deep forests. We are glad they are still here and we hope that it will always be so.
Now our minds are one
*****
~*~ The Trees ~*~
We now turn our thoughts to the Trees. The Earth has many families of Trees who have their own instructions and uses. Some provide us with shelter and shade, other with fruit, beauty and other useful things. Many peoples of the world use a Tree as a symbol of peace and strength. With one mind, we greet and thank the tree of life.
Now our minds are one
~*~ The Birds ~*~
We put our minds together as one and thank all the Birds who move and fly about over our heads. The Creator gave them beautiful songs. Each day they remind us to enjoy and appreciate life. The Eagle was chosen to be their leader. To all the Birds-- from the smallest to the largest--we send our joyful greetings and thanks.
Now our minds are one
*****
~*~ The Four Winds ~*~
We are all thankful to the powers we know as the Four Winds. We hear their voices in the moving air as they refresh us and purify the air we breathe. They help to bring the change of seasons. From the four directions they come, bringing us messengers and giving us strength. With one mind, we send our greetings and thanks to the Four Winds.
Now our minds are one
*****
~*~ The Thunders ~*~
Now we turn to the west where our Grandfathers, the Thunder Beings, live. With lightening and thundering voices, they bring with them the water that renews life. We bring our minds together as one to send greetings and thanks to our Grandfathers, the Thunders.
Now our minds are one.
*****
~*~ The Sun ~*~
We now send the greetings and thanks to our eldest Brother, the Sun. Each day without fail he travels the sky from east to west, bringing the light of a new day. He is the source of all the fires of life. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to our Brother, the Sun.
Now our minds are one.
~*~ Grandmother Moon ~*~
We put our minds together and give thanks to our oldest Grandmother, the Moon, who lights the nighttime sky. She is the leader of women all over the world, and she governs the movement of the ocean tides. By her changing face we measure time, and it is the Moon who watches over the arrival of children here on Earth. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to our Grandmother, the Moon.
Now our minds are one.
*****
~*~ The Stars ~*~
We give thanks to the Stars who are spread across the sky like jewelry. We see them in the night, helping the Moon to light the darkness and bringing dew to the gardens and growing things. When we travel at night, they guide us home. With our minds gathered together as one, we send greetings and thanks to all the Stars.
Now our minds are one.
~*~ The Enlightened Teachers ~*~
We gather our minds to greet and thank the enlightened Teachers who have come to help throughout the ages. When we forget how to live in harmony, they remind us of the way we were instructed to live as people. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to these caring Teachers.
Now our minds are one.
*****
~*~ The Creator ~*~
We turn our thoughts to the Creator, or Great Spirit, and send greetings and thanks for all the gifts of Creation. Everything we need to live a good life is here on this Mother Earth. For all the love that is still around us, we gather our minds together as one and send our choicest words of greetings and thanks to the Creator.
Now our minds are one.
*****
~*~ Closing Words ~*~
We have now arrived at the place where we end our words. Of all the things we have named, it was not our intent to leave anything out. If something was forgotten, we leave it to each individual to send such greetings and thanks in their own way.
Now our minds are one.
**************
This requires a cultural change much like Micheal Pollan speaks of in his piece "why bother" in the Times which I have linked to below. Pollan suggests the change will spread virally if enough of us bother to bother about our climate crisis.
Even Garrett Hardin said our environmental crisis was one that we cannot overcome with a technological solution. I challenge this by challenging the very definition of technology.
In John Young's tape series, "Seeing through Native Eyes" he begins with the thanksgiving adress. It is an old Haudenosaunee tradition, but apparently important to the mohawk tribe as well. Your own research may yield more information on the thanksgiving address, but here I'd like to comment on its content, purpose, and its role as technology rather than its specific tribal roots.
If you are interested in reading the address, I have copied it below from http://www.peace4turtleisland.org/pages/Thanks.htm
It is recited at sunrise, and at the beginning and closing of legal/spiritual gatherings. It takes time to thank all the forces that sustain life and all the forms of life that sustain people. It is a humbling recitation and greeting of all things to remember that we are all connected. It serves to center and unite people as in the meetings, and to bring peoples minds together into a group context rather than self centered thoughts that may have been there before. It has survived for a very long time. Its persistence proves its utility. It is a form of technology because it is a human invention that humans have found continually useful.
The only technology we need to solve our environmental crisis, is a culture of using the off switch. Perhaps that is a little bit better of a statement. I'll keep trying.
~*~ The People ~*~
Today we have gathered and we see that the cycles of life continue. We have been given the duty to live in balance and harmony with each other and all living things. So now, we bring our minds together as one as we give greetings and thanks to each other as People.
Now our minds are one.
~*~ The Earth Mother ~*~
We are all thankful to our Mother, the Earth, for she gives us all that we need for life. She supports our feet as we walk about upon her. It gives us joy that she continues to care for us as she has from the beginning of time. To our Mother, we send greetings and thanks.
Now our minds are one
***
~*~ The Waters ~*~
We give thanks to all the Waters of the world for quenching our thirst and providing us with strength. Water is life. We know its power in many forms-- waterfalls and rain, mists and streams, rivers and oceans. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to the spirit Water.
Now our minds are one.
*****
~*~ The Fish ~*~
We turn our minds to all the Fish life in the water. They were instructed to cleanse and purify the water. They also give themselves to us as food. We are grateful that we can still find pure water. So, we turn now to the fish and send our greetings and thanks.
Now our minds are one.
~*~ The Plants ~*~
Now we turn towards the vast fields of Plant life. As far as the eye can see, the Plants grow, working many wonders. They sustain many life forms. With our minds gathered together, we give thanks and look forward to seeing Plant life for many generations to come.
Now our minds are one.
*****
~*~ The Food Plants ~*~
With one mind, we turn to honor and thank all the Food Plants we harvest from the garden. Since the beginning of time, the grains, vegetables, beans and berries have helped the people survive. Many other living things draw strength from them too. We gather all the Plant Foods together as one and send them a greeting and thanks.
Now our minds are one.
*****
~*~ The Medicine Herbs ~*~
Now we turn to all the Medicine Herbs of the world. From the beginning, they were instructed to take away sickness. They are always waiting and ready to heal us. We are happy there are still among us those special few who remember how to use these plants for healing. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to the Medicines and to the keepers of the Medicines
Now our minds are one.
~*~ The Animals ~*~
We gather our minds together to send greetings and thanks to all the Animal life in the world. They have many things to teach us as people. We see them near our homes and in the deep forests. We are glad they are still here and we hope that it will always be so.
Now our minds are one
*****
~*~ The Trees ~*~
We now turn our thoughts to the Trees. The Earth has many families of Trees who have their own instructions and uses. Some provide us with shelter and shade, other with fruit, beauty and other useful things. Many peoples of the world use a Tree as a symbol of peace and strength. With one mind, we greet and thank the tree of life.
Now our minds are one
~*~ The Birds ~*~
We put our minds together as one and thank all the Birds who move and fly about over our heads. The Creator gave them beautiful songs. Each day they remind us to enjoy and appreciate life. The Eagle was chosen to be their leader. To all the Birds-- from the smallest to the largest--we send our joyful greetings and thanks.
Now our minds are one
*****
~*~ The Four Winds ~*~
We are all thankful to the powers we know as the Four Winds. We hear their voices in the moving air as they refresh us and purify the air we breathe. They help to bring the change of seasons. From the four directions they come, bringing us messengers and giving us strength. With one mind, we send our greetings and thanks to the Four Winds.
Now our minds are one
*****
~*~ The Thunders ~*~
Now we turn to the west where our Grandfathers, the Thunder Beings, live. With lightening and thundering voices, they bring with them the water that renews life. We bring our minds together as one to send greetings and thanks to our Grandfathers, the Thunders.
Now our minds are one.
*****
~*~ The Sun ~*~
We now send the greetings and thanks to our eldest Brother, the Sun. Each day without fail he travels the sky from east to west, bringing the light of a new day. He is the source of all the fires of life. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to our Brother, the Sun.
Now our minds are one.
~*~ Grandmother Moon ~*~
We put our minds together and give thanks to our oldest Grandmother, the Moon, who lights the nighttime sky. She is the leader of women all over the world, and she governs the movement of the ocean tides. By her changing face we measure time, and it is the Moon who watches over the arrival of children here on Earth. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to our Grandmother, the Moon.
Now our minds are one.
*****
~*~ The Stars ~*~
We give thanks to the Stars who are spread across the sky like jewelry. We see them in the night, helping the Moon to light the darkness and bringing dew to the gardens and growing things. When we travel at night, they guide us home. With our minds gathered together as one, we send greetings and thanks to all the Stars.
Now our minds are one.
~*~ The Enlightened Teachers ~*~
We gather our minds to greet and thank the enlightened Teachers who have come to help throughout the ages. When we forget how to live in harmony, they remind us of the way we were instructed to live as people. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to these caring Teachers.
Now our minds are one.
*****
~*~ The Creator ~*~
We turn our thoughts to the Creator, or Great Spirit, and send greetings and thanks for all the gifts of Creation. Everything we need to live a good life is here on this Mother Earth. For all the love that is still around us, we gather our minds together as one and send our choicest words of greetings and thanks to the Creator.
Now our minds are one.
*****
~*~ Closing Words ~*~
We have now arrived at the place where we end our words. Of all the things we have named, it was not our intent to leave anything out. If something was forgotten, we leave it to each individual to send such greetings and thanks in their own way.
Now our minds are one.
**************
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Only a FOOL stands between me and the blood wine!
Dear Evan,
Yesterday's blizzard was a time machine back to February and today was earth day with everyone in parkas at Caras Park. I volunteered for the Global Warming Solutions.org table. I talked to a lot of people very intelligently (in English) and felt like I was on wild civ field trips again grilling people at their booths about the one thing they know the best. It was empowering, in a totally non-fossil fuel sense of the word.
Except the people are still weak. They need to drink blood wine and turn Environmentalism into something to be proud of. I would not mind suffering. I think I'm going to try and save the earth. Oh wait you already knew that. But how... Well I'll need your help. Next year, when you and I live together in the perfect little cottage in the Rattlesnake, we'll organize our community until it sings with the joy of the earth. There will be pot lucks and hot ducks. There will be sustainable entertainment every night and there will be GOATS to trim the grass. We can do it. It'll be a good time. I want systems that are indestructible. If all the trucks stopped driving, the supermarkets would be empty in three days. three days after that the warehouses would be empty. Then what? We gotta be ready. Ready for peak oil, ready for hollywood to wash away and ready for the ice age to rise. I'll drink blood wine and sharpen my shovel. Gardening shovel.
Yesterday's blizzard was a time machine back to February and today was earth day with everyone in parkas at Caras Park. I volunteered for the Global Warming Solutions.org table. I talked to a lot of people very intelligently (in English) and felt like I was on wild civ field trips again grilling people at their booths about the one thing they know the best. It was empowering, in a totally non-fossil fuel sense of the word.
Except the people are still weak. They need to drink blood wine and turn Environmentalism into something to be proud of. I would not mind suffering. I think I'm going to try and save the earth. Oh wait you already knew that. But how... Well I'll need your help. Next year, when you and I live together in the perfect little cottage in the Rattlesnake, we'll organize our community until it sings with the joy of the earth. There will be pot lucks and hot ducks. There will be sustainable entertainment every night and there will be GOATS to trim the grass. We can do it. It'll be a good time. I want systems that are indestructible. If all the trucks stopped driving, the supermarkets would be empty in three days. three days after that the warehouses would be empty. Then what? We gotta be ready. Ready for peak oil, ready for hollywood to wash away and ready for the ice age to rise. I'll drink blood wine and sharpen my shovel. Gardening shovel.
Go Micheal Pollan!
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/20/magazine/20wwln-lede-t.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2
This is a real good article that really addresses my brother's questions. Micheal Pollan is a very smart guy, very famous and very influential. He is the author Omnivore's Dilemma, Botany of Desire, and his newest one is the Eaters Manifesto, or something like that.
Not to brag, but I believe that Pollan is saying a lot of the same stuff I have been on this blog. His comments about Adam Smith, his comments about the significance of small changes like switching light bulbs, were reminiscent of my own views, if better written. Its a little long, but go ahead and read it. What You're afraid of a little reading?
This is a real good article that really addresses my brother's questions. Micheal Pollan is a very smart guy, very famous and very influential. He is the author Omnivore's Dilemma, Botany of Desire, and his newest one is the Eaters Manifesto, or something like that.
Not to brag, but I believe that Pollan is saying a lot of the same stuff I have been on this blog. His comments about Adam Smith, his comments about the significance of small changes like switching light bulbs, were reminiscent of my own views, if better written. Its a little long, but go ahead and read it. What You're afraid of a little reading?
Friday, April 18, 2008
Dear University of Montana
Above: the nine students who were arrested for sitting in Dennison's office. They look pretty dangerous, no? The real fun was going on outside, where my band, Babaganoush played in support of the Designated Suppliers Program, or DSP that ensures University apparel is made in fair working conditions. The university didn't sign on to the program.To Whom it May Concern:
I am writing to urge you to drop the charges against the nine students who sat in President Dennison's office this Wednesday. Yet again, the university has been given the opportunity to fight sweat shops by signing the DSP, but it has chosen to react to this peaceful and organized protest with police involvement. Was the intention of the arrests to allow University business to proceed as usual by removing the protest from the work place? If so, then that end has been achieved and Main Hall is quiet again, quiet enough for you to rethink what you have done and what these actions imply for UM's image and for workers' rights. I do not want to attend a school that punishes honor; that would rather arrest its own students than do its moral duty. If you believe in what these students stand for, it is not too late to release them from the charges.
Every day on campus I see hundreds of people sporting UM's colors with pride. The football games paint the streets maroon and silver for blocks in all directions of the stadium. The economic weight of this apparel is considerable. Why not place that weight squarely on the side of the scale that stands for justice? Use it to crush unethical, exploitative manufacturers. Use it to pressure them toward standards you would demand for your own workers. Why not join the 42 other schools that have adopted the DSP in an organized boycott of injustice?
On the basis that it is an institution of higher learning that stands for world awareness, personal enrichment of students and equal opportunity, I whole-heartedly believe that UM's administration is by default opposed to worker exploitation and should be required to combat this exploitation within its power. Failure to sign the DSP demonstrates conscious endorsement of sweatshops and studied non-observance of the university's moral obligation to put these hurtful systems to their end.
Your decision to involve the police to end a peaceful, organized protest was a political one that definitively categorizes UM as an enemy of workers' rights. These nine students, after two years of work, saw no alternative to their action. They are tired of waiting, and so are the workers of the third world. These nine have engaged in "disorderly conduct" and "criminal trespassing" in order to prevent the far greater crimes of social injustice in Asian and South American sweat shops. This necessity justifies their crimes. What justifies yours?
Like the heads of the Hydra, those who were arrested will be replaced.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Put your Senators on SPeed Dial
My brother, John wrote,"Hey, Adam. I really like reading your blog, and getting some ideas of what our economy and environment might look like far in the future. I'm wondering what we might be looking at as intermediate steps to help us get there, and what information sources you would recommend for individuals hoping to tread a responsible path."
I gave this a lot of thought. And I think I'll answer these questions with poetry and rants... like always.
#1, The intermediary step is starting at home. I recommend finding out if your neighborhood, school, or job has an action group of some kind, whether environmental or community building, or what have you. One need never work alone on these kinds of things. If you need to, though you can start an action group. When I was pondering this, I came up with the following dialog, like a poem.
"Good thing I've got this shovel!
And what a shovel it is!
It shines as bright as acorn shells and glistens in the sun,
I got it cause I wanted holes, it hasn't dug me one!"
"Good thing we've got democracy!
And what a system, oh boy!
We got it for to garner peace and bring self determination,
ol' democracy just sits there, though, I thought it ran the nation?"
Asking a Shovel to dig a hole for you is like asking Democracy to represent you. The government only asks you what you think a couple of times a year. I believe that voting is necessary, but it is possibly the weakest form of democracy there is.
"Cast your whole vote, not a strip of paper merely, but your whole influence."
-Henry David Thoreau, Civil Disobedience
No one who works at the grocery store is going to knock on my door and ask me if its okay that they import all of their food from an average distance of 1800 miles away. That item will not appear on the ballot any time soon either. But its something I care about, so how can I be heard? Well, just speak your mind. Join a group. Talk to them, ask if there is anything they want to do with regards to your issues. Organize fasts, boycotts, sit ins, put up posters, call your senators, go door to door. Don't wait for democracy to ask you what you want, It's a tool that only works once you pick it up and use it. In my brother's case. I encourage you, John to chase that dream of a sustainable theater. Make it work, make it appealing, and sell it to every theater in the world.
#2 In terms of Treading a more sustainable path, I recommend deciding what you need for your lifestyle, rather than what you are accustomed to.
To nurture hearts, make songs and arts,
to keep us fed, farms and bread.
To give us heat, tend woods and sheep,
with Thrift and Peace to safely sleep.
That can be my epitaph if I die before coming up with anything better. I think that your question John, would be likely to direct you to a book called "Tips and Tricks for Sustainable Living." By Papa Greenbeard. This book is hypothetical, but it exists in various forms throughout the environmental movement. The real answer to your question isn't to explain methods of reducing your footprint, its to recognize that rather than using your foot to make a print, you can use it to kick things.
Kick things onto the floor of congress for example. Put your Congressional delegation on Speed Dial! Don't just save oil by insulating your windows, save oil by fighting for a green building code in your state. Don't just carpool, make an oath to never fly in an airplane again. Do huge things that matter, rather than small things that don't.
Most of the tips and tricks out there only end up providing self satisfaction, self motivation's worst enemy.
I've said it before. The only technology we need to save the world is the off switch.
I gave this a lot of thought. And I think I'll answer these questions with poetry and rants... like always.
#1, The intermediary step is starting at home. I recommend finding out if your neighborhood, school, or job has an action group of some kind, whether environmental or community building, or what have you. One need never work alone on these kinds of things. If you need to, though you can start an action group. When I was pondering this, I came up with the following dialog, like a poem.
"Good thing I've got this shovel!
And what a shovel it is!
It shines as bright as acorn shells and glistens in the sun,
I got it cause I wanted holes, it hasn't dug me one!"
"Good thing we've got democracy!
And what a system, oh boy!
We got it for to garner peace and bring self determination,
ol' democracy just sits there, though, I thought it ran the nation?"
Asking a Shovel to dig a hole for you is like asking Democracy to represent you. The government only asks you what you think a couple of times a year. I believe that voting is necessary, but it is possibly the weakest form of democracy there is.
"Cast your whole vote, not a strip of paper merely, but your whole influence."
-Henry David Thoreau, Civil Disobedience
No one who works at the grocery store is going to knock on my door and ask me if its okay that they import all of their food from an average distance of 1800 miles away. That item will not appear on the ballot any time soon either. But its something I care about, so how can I be heard? Well, just speak your mind. Join a group. Talk to them, ask if there is anything they want to do with regards to your issues. Organize fasts, boycotts, sit ins, put up posters, call your senators, go door to door. Don't wait for democracy to ask you what you want, It's a tool that only works once you pick it up and use it. In my brother's case. I encourage you, John to chase that dream of a sustainable theater. Make it work, make it appealing, and sell it to every theater in the world.
#2 In terms of Treading a more sustainable path, I recommend deciding what you need for your lifestyle, rather than what you are accustomed to.
To nurture hearts, make songs and arts,
to keep us fed, farms and bread.
To give us heat, tend woods and sheep,
with Thrift and Peace to safely sleep.
That can be my epitaph if I die before coming up with anything better. I think that your question John, would be likely to direct you to a book called "Tips and Tricks for Sustainable Living." By Papa Greenbeard. This book is hypothetical, but it exists in various forms throughout the environmental movement. The real answer to your question isn't to explain methods of reducing your footprint, its to recognize that rather than using your foot to make a print, you can use it to kick things.
Kick things onto the floor of congress for example. Put your Congressional delegation on Speed Dial! Don't just save oil by insulating your windows, save oil by fighting for a green building code in your state. Don't just carpool, make an oath to never fly in an airplane again. Do huge things that matter, rather than small things that don't.
Most of the tips and tricks out there only end up providing self satisfaction, self motivation's worst enemy.
I've said it before. The only technology we need to save the world is the off switch.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Coal Train!
Cars and cars on hard, thin rails.
Heat and smoke fill heavy sails.
What's creaking by is blood-black coal,
taken direct to Santa's pole.
Thousands of decades of moving tons,
just to punish the naughty ones.
As fast as they can dig the stuff,
use it to fill their stockings up.
Coal Train is a dragon's name,
With spray paint scales, headlight flame.
Like the wyrm, coal made no friends,
and like the wyrm, coal must end.
Shot by Bard, through one weak scale,
or creaking, die upon the rails.
With no one left, not a soul,
just ever-belching, blood-black coal.
We played a show today! Babaganoush was supposed to have a show at a bar tonight, but instead it was cancelled so we played at an ANTI-COAL rally! Right by the train tracks. We turned what would have been just a bunch of cold people holding stark signs, into Bluegrass, party with a small crowd of people. It was great! I adjusted some of our lyrics on the fly to apply to the protest:
Let me tell you where I am.
I'm right next to a Railroad!
Let me tell you what I can
I don't want no more Coal!
It worked better in lyrical form. Anyway we had a blast. 32-96000 TONS of coal go through Missoula every single day. For each pound of coal, there is an output of 2 pounds of atmospheric Carbon. I don't know how... I'm no chem wiz. Well, Then the band just went and had a slice of pie. It was delightful. Our fingers froze off, but we sure were smiling.
Heat and smoke fill heavy sails.
What's creaking by is blood-black coal,
taken direct to Santa's pole.
Thousands of decades of moving tons,
just to punish the naughty ones.
As fast as they can dig the stuff,
use it to fill their stockings up.
Coal Train is a dragon's name,
With spray paint scales, headlight flame.
Like the wyrm, coal made no friends,
and like the wyrm, coal must end.
Shot by Bard, through one weak scale,
or creaking, die upon the rails.
With no one left, not a soul,
just ever-belching, blood-black coal.
We played a show today! Babaganoush was supposed to have a show at a bar tonight, but instead it was cancelled so we played at an ANTI-COAL rally! Right by the train tracks. We turned what would have been just a bunch of cold people holding stark signs, into Bluegrass, party with a small crowd of people. It was great! I adjusted some of our lyrics on the fly to apply to the protest:
Let me tell you where I am.
I'm right next to a Railroad!
Let me tell you what I can
I don't want no more Coal!
It worked better in lyrical form. Anyway we had a blast. 32-96000 TONS of coal go through Missoula every single day. For each pound of coal, there is an output of 2 pounds of atmospheric Carbon. I don't know how... I'm no chem wiz. Well, Then the band just went and had a slice of pie. It was delightful. Our fingers froze off, but we sure were smiling.
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