Redwood Musings

Hearts beating, the earth is
virgin Forest trembling.
(how do I)
Sweep my arms
around the Trees to protect them?
--by Redwood Mary

EARTH SONG- Thank you Michael Jackson

A song for the Earth... Animal Rights, Human Rights, Earth Rights~ " What have we done" sings Michael Jackson? He gave us his heart in this song - asking us to wake up. R.I.P. Michael....the rest is up to us. How badly do we wish
to turn things around? It is up to us!



From LastFM " “Earth Song” is the third single from Michael Jackson’s album HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I. It is a ballad that incorporates elements of blues, gospel and opera. Jackson had a long-standing history of releasing socially conscious material such as “We Are the World”, “Man in the Mirror” and “Heal the World”. However, “Earth Song” was the first that overtly dealt with the environment and animal welfare. The song was written and composed by Jackson; the task of production was split between Jackson, David Foster and Bill Bottrell."
Songwriters: Larson, Melvin E.; Marcellino, Jerry A.
http://www.last.fm/music/Michael+Jackson/_/Earth+Song

Planting Trees & Changing the Political System

Standing for Peace,
Taking Care of The Earth
Unbowed: A Memoir

by Dr. Wangari Maathai
hosted by Cody's Books and First Congregational Churh in Berkeley California
October 30, 2006

http://fora.tv/2006/10/30/Wangari_Maathai

I Want To Sit At The Left Hand of God

Songwriter & Musician Sharon Abreu's Original Song:

http://www.sharmuse.com/sharmuse/left_hand_of_god.mp3

.....Inspired by Michael Lerner's The Left Hand of God

http://www.ecospeakers.com/speakers/abreus.html

We Are All One - We Are The World - We Are All Brothers & Sisters- We Can Choose Peace

PEACE PEACE PEACE
FREEDOM

PEACE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmxT21uFRwM

Life without liberty is like a body without spirit~Kahlil Gibran

Berkeley Oak Grove- R.I.P.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/06/BAJH12PDUE.DTL

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/object/article?f=/c/a/2007/01/30/MNGQUNRE281.DTL&object=%2Fc%2Fpictures%2F2007%2F01%2F30%2Fmn_treesit_040_lh.jpg

Thank you to all who helped in any way in this grand noble effort. Even though the Oak Grove is no more,

the spirit of what existed here is still alive. There are thousands of people who participated in the struggle over the two year endeavor to save this Beautiful and Healthy Grove. All who were involved have lived and experienced what so many are called to do—to participate in issues that are important to them and to the common good.

This website is a testimony to a Movement that brought together a whole community – The Save the Oaks effort was a convergence of a movement of residents, students, faculty, visitors, kids, moms, dads, grandmothers, grandpas, sisters and brothers and alumnae, to stand for something together. We did what many people talk or write books about: Making a Difference TOGETHER.

Did we fail? No? Did we win? Of Course we won? Why? Because we did what politicians have failed to do- we connected together in a common noble goal? We stood together outside of our own selfishness as human beings.

We stood for sovereignty of our local laws and community goals, we stood for our Oaks Moratorium Ordinance, and for environmental sustainability, for a safe site for the UC Student High Performance Sports Facility, for Native American Recognition and Land Rights, for saving an ecosystem that was a home to many species that could not speak for themselves and we stood for free speech.

We were perfect in our efforts? Maybe not—and in that, we proved to the world that we could include those of working class, those of means and wealth and even the homeless and poor, all colors and races, faiths, and abilities and professions and still have impact.

We did not Save the Oaks- but we showed what the University of California along with its elite corps of associated philanthropic powers had stood against.

This is how democracy works- it's messy and it's alive and not sponsored by a Corporation or a non-profit. We did not have a well funded Corporate Media Team. In many instances we did not even get fair coverage.

Be it known that this was a people’s effort funded by people’s money.

And most important of all this was all fueled by of love and to hold something sacred—the Trees, the idea of citizen participation and self determination to save this grove for future generations, to provide for nature to thrive, to honor Native Americans, Grandmothers for the Oaks and Veterans. This was truly an intergenerational Movement.

Show me a Movement that can speak to that.

Redwood Mary

Save the Oaks Supporter, Former Tree Sitter,

Monday September 8th, 2008

Friends,

We just heard that UC police are right now (5pm Monday) beginning to move to extract the treesitters.

Also, the treesitters released the statement below. We're passing it on.

===============

What the Treesitters Want
By Dumpster Muffin, Huckleberry Finn, and the Oak Grove Treesitters
(Call Ayr at 510 938 2109 for questions)

UC has cut down Memorial Oak Grove. Now that it’s gone, you probably want to know: what do they want? What do the treesitters want in order to come down?
UC has a systemic problem: it does not involve the community in its land use decisions. Community members can make public comments after decisions are made, but have no role during the brainstorm phase or planning process.
We are asking for UC to create a “Community Land Use and Capital Projects Committee” – which will be systematically involved in land use, land management, and development planning decisions, both at the conceptual phase of projects and on an ongoing basis. The committee will be comprised of students, community members, representatives from the neighborhood associations, a Native American representative, and city government representatives.
This committee would be a win-win-win for all parties. Community members would have substantial and serious input into decisions that affect their environment; and UC would ensure a more co-operative spirit and avoid the drawbacks of lawsuits and protests. UC is supposedly a public institution, and it should be governed in a more democratic way involving the public.
We are further asking for UC to set aside a non-trivial amount of money from future football revenues to be utilized to benefit land conservation as well as the Intertribal Friendship House, which serves Native American communities.
Finally, we want UC to return the remains of the “Grandmother Oak” – a tree who was older than the University – so that Native Americans will be able to make drums or other religious artifacts.
Our hope is that these proposals build toward a positive long-term future of a more sustainable, democratic, and co-operative University.
UC has claimed that we were on the verge of coming down Saturday, and the only reason we didn’t is that our ground supporters asked us to hold out for more. Nothing could be further from the truth. UC Police Chief Victoria Harrison told us Saturday morning that the local Native American community would be permitted to enter the grounds of the grove and place tobacco offerings and have a religious ceremony at the stump of the Grandmother Oak on the condition that we came down first. We saw this as an attempt to threaten us, and hold hostage the Native community’s religious rights. We never saw this as a serious offer. Furthermore, Harrison said that our presence in the trees made the ceremony impossible to hold, but we were right here when the Longest Walk was permitted to enter the grove earlier this year, which proves that Harrison’s attempt was simply to bully us.
UC told us that they would meet to discuss our concerns, but only after we came down. Tree-sit supporters have tried to establish a meeting with UC for over 600 days, and UC has continually ignored our requests. We had no reason to trust that UC would seriously address our concerns once we came down.
We remain willing and available to continue the mediation process to bring about an end to the protest and generate a positive outcome that respects the concerns of all parties.
We loved the Oak Grove dearly, as did so many others. Its loss will be a tragedy for this place. We hope that UC will find a way to do something good to show respect for those who dedicated so much for this sacred place.

______________________________

Time for Patriots to Take Back America!

It is BROKEN ! So FIX IT!

The Problem:
We are being ripped off, our health care is gutted and we are working harder and falling behind- while our constitution is being undermined, while our own government is fencing our borders and U.S. based gun and weapons manufactures and surveillance manufacturers and the Halliburtons of America are being fed fat contracts after fat contracts paid with our taxpayers money. Meanwhile we are supposed to shut up and shop-- tune into Ipods and bipods and HDTV and get sucked into the game of DENIAL.

It isn't about waving a flag and claiming to cherish our freedoms and a right to bear arms. What good is a gun when the air is polluted, you can't drink the water and global warming is whipping our you know what. PLEEZE ...-- What freedoms? Freedoms for mortgage companies to fleece the American People? Freedom to torture animals in laboratories? Freedom to build more Nukes? Freedom for drug companies and insurance companies to lobby away our rights to health and vitamins? Freedom for Corporations to sell and swap our private information? Freedom for union busters, freedom to build more prisons, fredom for sick elders to fall into poverty, freedom for children to go hungry because most wages can't pay the rent? Freedom for Developers to charge insane prices for apartment dwellings-- and for working people to scrounge while making minimum wage.? Condo Developers in San Francisco are touting 450 Square foot Condos and charging $250,000-$270,000 per condo and calling them a perfect starter home ... for those who don't own anything they don't even have closet! Get Real -- you are getting ripped off. Put down the beer, the Coke, the Evian, get off the stool at the wine bar. OK..I am ranting...but there are some great solutions....but first I need to rant some more.And don't get me started on the oil companies! Clean Coal? Yeah right!

I cannot understand how anyone in America can watch our health care disappear, our schools go on with brain deadening testing without creative thinking without creative arts and sports programs for kids. I can't believe the youth of America buys into the $60,000- $100,000 debt to get a 4 year college education. I can't understand how we can or watch our elders and veterans suffering with inadequate health care-- and we are still sending our kids off to a war...a war that was based on a BIG FAT lie and promising them that they will be heroes and defending what? Eight years of the Bush/Cheney regime? Enough is enough! Chemical spills, oil spills, toxic spraying-- toxics in or toys and food. How did this happen?
By the same Red, White and Blue Flag waving RICH Corporate fat cats - that have made money off all working people- and ripping off your pensions plans and now telling us to invest in their STOCK Market Ponzi game for our retirement! Get Real-- this is not what America is about.

And remember we are a nation of immigrants! HELLO! U.S.A was not founded by the First Nation peoples! We all came from somewhere else-- either booted out of Europe, or as indentured workers, slaves or expats who suffered a land grab, famine or unspeakable poverty- but that does that give us a right to screw others-- heck no! Stop the pecking order and the addiction to victimhood. We are all humans trying to get away from somewhere else to make a better living except there are fewer and fewer places to go. So here we are-- calling on Jesus, Allah and Buddha and there about 167 religions in the world fighting it out for your attention and some have guns or throw bombs in the name of their God when they get pissed off at you.


HOW TO START FIXING IT?

Most people are tired of this system of economic shyster hit men and women, be it religious fanatics, marketing bozos, and etc. People are tired of war after war and violence in the hoods. It is not about upbringing or environment-- it is about mindfulness and egos and emotional baggage and FEAR that we are all operating out of. We all make choices based on our own thoughts-- from joy to anger ... So when you get home from Burning Man or Disneyland or shopping or the war go read the New Earth by Eckhart Tolle OR listen to him and Oprah discuss it--- go to Oprah's Soul Series and give your soul inspiration and take a vacation from the negative fear based news. IT IS FREE! All you have to do is get to a computer sign up for the Webcast On Demand and listen to this groundbreaking international happening with

Oprah and best-selling author Eckhart Tolle leading 10 online classes that take you through A New Earth chapter by chapter. Watch the webcasts on Oprah.com or download them from iTunes and take them with you. Plus, get transcripts, listen to audio meditations and the theme song for the A New Earth Web classes. Then once you realize that you have power stop giving it away.

SPEAK OUT AND FIND YOUR TEAMMATES!


At the Speak Out on 45th Anniversary of Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” Speech San José State University students Latu Tapaatoutai and Diana Victa spoke out about the fading American dream after Hurricane Katrina expelled hundreds of thousands of residents of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. While the U.S. government has squandered a trillion dollars on endless wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, vast tracts of New Orleans remain devastated and deserted three year later. Tapaatoutai and Victa are members of the Gulf Coast Civic Works Project, which seeks federal funding to fully rebuild the Gulf Coast and enable all displaced persons the opportunity to return to their original communities and jobs. Check it out at: http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/08/31/18531443.php

GO GREEN!
Want to change the world? Stop doing the same old thing! Get a Green MBA, study accupunture,
organic permaculture farming and for goodness sakes stop shopping and giving your dollars to the very corporations that are poisoning our food, our water, our air, our environment and your mind!

And all you brillant young people -- don't fall for the same old trap-- don't let the corporate machine entice you and then spit you out after they use you. Create your own alternative economic system that recognizes natural capital and social capital not just elite capital that is sucking everything out of people, places and things until we have dead earth.

BE A HERO!
From U.S. Congressman Dennis Kucinich:

"On August 1st, I delivered to Speaker Nancy Pelosi; a petition bearing the names of over 100,000 Americans that, like us, feel that the President must be held accountable for abusing executive power and disregarding his Constitutional obligations.

Our voices have been heard and your support continues to send a powerful message to lawmakers. That is why I call on you again to help us in a new effort to deliver 1 Million signatures to Speaker Pelosi on September 10, 2008.

Send a history-making message to Congress:

1,000,000 signatures for impeachment.

On September 10, 2008, we want to deliver ONE MILLION signatures to
Congress urging them to exercise their Constitutional authority and mandate to
hold this President - and all future Presidents - accountable."

I say JUST DO IT! http://kucinich.us/

It Is Time For Change!

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/28/us/politics/28text-obama.html

To Get Involved:
http://www.barackobama.com/index.php

Yes- I still entertain that a U.S. Dept. of Peace--(at the Cabinet Level) that Rep. Dennis Kucinich has introduced into Congress-- becomes a reality. Yes I do wish that America will elect more qualified progressive women (Hillary, Cynthia McKinney, etc.) to Congress and some day one will become President of the United States.

It is time for change – It has been eight miserable years with the extreme right wing Republican agenda undermining our constitution, destroying the economic stability of America and tearing this nation apart. This patriot has had enough! I want my Constitution, and health care back! I want veterans home from Iraq and taken care of as they deserve.

It is time to move forward and away from the political machinery that has undermined our Democratic process and the Corporate practices that are destroying our Earth!

It is time for America to regain our credibility and honor in the world. It is time to
abandon the belief and willingness that to use force is the mainstay of determining the basis of our foreign policy. America must turn around and lead the world away from
desolation of a doomsday arms race.

And another thing-- it is not OK to torture (and off the topic I wish the students at the University of California (UC) Berkeley would rise up and demand that John Choon Yoo step down from the faculty of UC Berkeley's Law School at Boalt Hall (--Remember Anita Hill who testified under oath that Thomas had made provocative sexual statements to her while being her supervisor?!...Yoo clerked for Justice Clarence Thomas )

It is time to end our stubborn support and dependence on environmentally lethal fossil fuels. pesticides and chemicals (derived from oil) and gas guzzling high speed cars. The oceans are choking with our plastic refuse!

It is time to support the backbone of America: small businesses and to end corporate socialism via tax subsidies when nearly two-thirds of U.S. companies and 68% of foreign corporations do not pay federal income taxes (according to Government Accountability Office (GAO) report to Congress). Give those subsidies to GREEN Environmetally friendly innovative businesses!

OK—The acceptance speech by Barack was stellar. Yes—it was in a football stadium with all the hoopla and high tech that we could muster. But do we ever need a party with positive visions! Yes—there are a great deal of problems to solve and much to clean up after the Bush-Cheney mess. Yes, there are Corporations like Chevron, Halliburton, and etc. that should be hung by the noogies for their parts in highly reported destructive and deceptive modi operandi ("modes of operation") You can Google reports on all that!

Barack is now charged to run for office in a quest to lead our Country in a rejuvenation of multilateralism and to engage us back to international cooperation and honoring our international obligations.

Here at home America is being surrounded by fences—rooted in the fears and propaganda that the right wing machine and its pundits have fed us rather than a bridge between neighbors and return to a model of persuasion and generosity.

But Barack cannot do it alone. We are called to the front of center of this American life –

It is time to get cracking –to embrace tolerance and celebration of diversity rather than cutting ourselves off geographically and culturally and get that man elected.

It is time to get off the blame game, pull each other up by the boot straps and help others get those boots if they have none and teach ourselves to make boots that fit!

And on this historic day with Barack accepting his party’s nomination for President of the United States on the 45th anniversary of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech I think we should step up to send Barack Obama and his family to take their place at the White House

By the way Kathleen Hensley Portalski, Cindy McCain's Half Sister, in her recent interview with US magazine stated:

"I wouldn't vote for John McCain if he was a Democrat," http://www.usmagazine.com/news/cindy-mccains-half-sister-im-voting-for-obama

Rock Star Bon Jovi will be hosting a mega fundraiser at his house in NJ. How about you?

It is all about attitude- I invite you to go out and make some positive change of your own at the local Senior Center, literacy center or hospice care or animal shelter.

Everybody Needs Places To Play And Pray In...

Everybody

needs beauty as well as bread,

places to play in and pray in where nature may heal and cheer and give strength to the body and soul. - John Muir

The tree which moves some to tears of joy is in the eyes of others only a green thing that stands in the way. Some see Nature all ridicule and deformity, and some scarce see Nature at all. But to the eyes of the man of imagination, Nature is Imagination itself.- William Blake, 1799, The Letters

“See how nature - trees, flowers, grass - grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence...we need silence to be able to touch souls.” Mother Theresa of Calcutta ( 1910-1997)

The more we pour the big machines, the fuel, the pesticides, the herbicides, the fertilizer and chemicals into farming, the more we knock out the mechanism that made it all work in the first place. David R. Brower

and I say "SAVE THE OAKS....AT UC Berkeley"s Memorial Oak Grove ...We Can Have A GYM (at another appropriate site identified by the City of Berkeley) and Save The Oaks Too!! go to : www.saveoaks.com

When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe. John Muir

War Not In My Name

Life in Times of War~ What are we willing to do?
JOHN LENNON AND YOKO ONO ON PEACE
(Source-John Lennon Dream Site)
Question: I remember you saying you thought we'd have peace by the year 2000. Do you still believe that?John: I'd sooner say 1970. You see, I believe in positive thinking. I think we'll get it as soon as people realize that they have the power, and it doesn't solely belong to Mr. Trudeau, Mr. Wilson, or Mr. Nixon. The people are the power, and they can have whatever they want. And if it's a case of people not knowing what to do, then let's advertise and let them know they have a real option.Question: But what can they do?John: They've got the vote haven't they? I mean, the youth will be the establishment soon, so there's no point in breaking it down, because we'll have to build it back up again. That's all we're saying.Question: Are there any circumstances in which you personally could support a war?John: No. I don't believe in killing, whatever the reason.Question: What is the possibility that your manner of clothing and hairstyle will tend to alienate more people than it would ever convince to come over to your side?John: Yes, I understand that. Many people say to me, "Why don't you get a butch haircut and a nice suit." [Laughter] But that's what the politicians do! I just try and be as natural as I can under the circumstances. We both do.Question: John, you are now endowed with more influence over young people in the young people in the world than all the bishops, rabbis, and priests put together. Do you ever feel any sense of fright at the power you have?John: It's a very abstract power though. Say we wanted to plug a certain product that wasn't peace, and I contacted the press people I know and tried to get it over, there's a good chance it wouldn't work. So I haven't really got a power I can get hold of.Question: Do you believe in God?John: Yes, I believe he's like a vast powerhouse, but he's neither good nor bad nor left, right, black, or white. And that we can all tap into that supreme source of power and make of it what we will. With electricity, you can kill people in an electric chair or you can light the room. I think God is.Yoko: Also, we talk about having a great belief in youth, but you know youth includes everybody that is mentally or spiritually youthful.Question: It has been said that Jesus made the mistake of trying to save the whole world as one man. Is this why don't believe in leadership?John: I just believe that farther figures are the big mistake of all the generations before us, and we can't rely solely on Nixon or Jesus or whoever we tend to rely on. It's just a lack of responsibility on our part to expect someone to do it for us. The Beatles were never leaders, you know but people imagined we were, and now they're finding out the truth.Question: Could you give us your personal definition of peace?John: Peace? Just no violence, and everybody grooving, if you don't mind us using the word. Of course we all have violence within us, but we must learn to channel it. We have a hard time making people think we mean what we say in Britain. It's like telling your parents, "Look, I want my hair long." We consider this like our Cavern period now. We haven't really gotten out of Liverpool with this campaign yet, and we've got to break London and America. It's like that. I don't care how long it takes or what obstacles there are. We won't ever stop, you know.Question: Is there one particular incident that got you started on this peace campaign?John: It just built up over a number of years actually, but the thing that really struck it off was a letter we got from a guy called Peter Watkins who made a film called The War Game. It was a very long letter stating just what's happening - how the media is really controlled, how it's all run, and everything else that people really know deep down. He said, "People in your position have a responsibility to use the media for world peace." And we sat on the letter for about three weeks thinking, "Well, we're doing our best. All you need is love, man." That letter just sort of sparked it all off. It was like getting your induction papers for peace!Question: Are you still as involved in eastern philosophy as you once were, John?John: If I'm involved in anything, it's Yoko's version of Zen Buddhism. All the philosophies have good basis, and all the religions are right. But just haven't the time or capability of reading through two million years of philosophy. Because to me the only answer is "yes" and "now".Question: How about meditation?John: Occasionally I use it. I'm not really very good at getting up in the morning and doing my exercises, you know. Meditation is a mental exercise. It works all right, it definitely does all they say.Yoko: And our mantra is "peace" thankfully.Question: Do you think the peace movement could be a solution for the problems that a lot of young people are having today with drugs?John: Everybody seems to need something, the way society is, because of the pressures. I know the only time I took drugs was when were without hope. If we can sustain that, then we won't need drugs, liquor, or anything.
Gandhi once said we have to be the change we wish to see. Easily said.
We have a moral obligation to open our eyes and wake up to our complicity in the suffering that is
happening within and outside our own borders.
You can choose to use your Bush Economic Stimulus Tax Rebate to support those working on the front lines for political and social change and buy local, fair trade products, from organic farmers markets and support a different dream.

You can CHOOSE to educate yourself on the basics of treaties we have signed onto:
These are your legal instruments to utilize as a citizen and a taxpayer:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuremberg_Principles
http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.overview.html
http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/beijing/platform/declar.htm

TAKE ACTION
WAGE PEACE CAMPAIGN http://www.afsc.org/iraq/default.htm
Wear a Shirt that states your stand for Peace:
http://www.emmasrevolution.com/merch.cfm

http://www.codepink4peace.org/article.php?id=1825

The Not In Our Name Pledge of Resistance was created collectively by artists and activists in April 2002 as a means of inspiring protest and resistance. It is at the heart of the Not In Our Name Project.
The Pledge was not intended to be signed, rather, it is a tool to be used by individuals, organizations and communities to inspire and strengthen individual and group resistance.
Pledge Pledge of Resistance
We believe that as people living in the United States it is our responsibility to resist the injustices done by our government, in our names
Not in our name will you wage endless war there can be no more deaths no more transfusions of blood for oil
Not in our name will you invade countries bomb civilians, kill more children letting history take its course over the graves of the nameless
Not in our name will you erode the very freedoms you have claimed to fight for
Not by our hands will we supply weapons and funding for the annihilation of families on foreign soil
Not by our mouths will we let fear silence us
Not by our hearts will we allow whole peoples or countries to be deemed evil
Not by our will and Not in our name
We pledge resistance
We pledge alliance with those who have come under attack for voicing opposition to the war or for their religion or ethnicity
We pledge to make common cause with the people of the world to bring about justice,freedom and peace
Another world is possible and we pledge to make it real.

Environmental Justice? Social Justice? Green Business?

A six year study, the Western Airborne Contaminants Assessment Project, was just released. According to today's San Francisco Chronicle article summarizing the study Mercury- from Coal Fired plants, PCBs from industrial plants and banned insecticides dieldrin and DDT and 70 contaminants (including from agricultural operations/pesticides) were found in air, snow, lakes on plants and in fish at 20 national parks.

This is an important study relating to the conversations of economic development- economic development for whom?

Check out the roots- who are making the profits? With that said—if we have the same underlying economic system in place-- nothing will indeed ever change. There will still be land monopoly, labor exploitation, land speculation, developers and corporations and non-profit corporations operating under a “dead world” economics – be it in San Francisco, Hong Kong or Jakarta. And don't forget war over resources and land!

Our insistence on continuing with our economic paradigm and the Military Industrial Complex (as Marilyn Waring, ex-MP in the New Zealand Parliament first pointed out and as Helen Caldicott reminds us of) and business as usual is contaminating all of us and our planet.

To view the Western Airborne Contaminants Assessment Project report go to:
http://www.nature.nps.gov/air/Studies/air_toxics/wacap.cfm
Read: How the Food Industry Is Killing Us by Christopher Cook
See: Restructuring the Global Economy: Eradicating Breton Woods and Creating New Institutions by Randy Hayes: http://www.undueinfluence.com/restructuring.htm

A Logo for the Environment

The Gyalwa Karmapa, head of the Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, designed this logo for the 25th annual Kagyu prayer festival for world peace in December at Bodhgaya, India where the Buddha attained enlightenment over 2500 years ago. It is a very elegant plea for treating our Earth home with the deepest veneration and respect.

A Logo for the Environment (29th December, 2007)
Transcript: An Explanation of the Kagyu Monlam logo by the Gyalwang Karmapa December 29, 2007

On December 29, 2007, His Holiness talked movingly about protecting the environment in a speech in Bodhgaya: "There is a new logo for the Monlam this year, and I would like to explain it।"Throughout my life I have always felt that the outer natural elements and my own mind are close। I have a special connection with the four elements. I am not being superstitious and saying I can talk to the elements, but sometimes it feels that way.

A new logo of the Kagyu Monlam designed by His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa
"Ever since the human race first appeared on this earth, we have used this earth heavily। It is said that ninety-nine percent of the resources and so on in this world come from the natural environment। We are using the earth until she is used up. The earth has given us immeasurable benefit, but what have we done for the earth in return? We always ask for something from the earth, but never give her anything back."We never have loving or protective thoughts for the earth. Whenever trees or anything else emerge from the ground, we cut them down. If there is a bit of level earth, we fight over it. To this day we perpetuate a continuous cycle of war and conflict over it. In fact, we have not done much of anything for the earth."Now the time has come when the earth is scowling at us; the time has come when the earth is giving up on us. The earth is about to treat us badly and give up on us. If she gives up on us, where can we live? There is talk of going to other planets that could support life, but only a few rich people could go. What would happen to all of us sentient beings who could not go?"What should we do now that the situation has become so critical? The sentient beings living on the earth and the elements of the natural world need to join their hands together—the earth must not give up on sentient beings, and sentient beings must not give up on the earth. Each needs to grasp the other's hand. So doesn't the Monlam logo look like two hands clasping each other?"Its shape is also similar to the design of the Sixteenth Gyalwang Karmapa's Dream Flag of peace and serenity, which is used regularly among the Karma Kamtsang. If I were to make up everything myself, I doubt it would have any blessings, but using the previous Karmapa's design as a model probably gives this blessings."This is a symbol of the Kagyu Monlam. We hold the Kagyu Monlam for the benefit of the entire world. We will not give up on the earth! May there be peace on earth! May the earth be sustained for many thousands of years! These are the prayers we make at the Kagyu Monlam, which is why this symbol is the logo of the Kagyu Monlam. I also think this might become a symbol of people having affection for the earth and wanting to protect it."Now I will boast a bit. As I mentioned before, I am the one who designed this logo. I have the strong feeling that I am connected to the natural elements. Technological devices do not agree with me. I feel most comfortable using natural things. When I use technological devices, my body feels rather uncomfortable, although I have no choice but to use them."Both the body and mind are strongly connected to the unaltered, natural elements. Because I made this logo, I think it could probably provide some protection against dangers from the natural elements of the external world. But do not think that this logo alone will protect you: if you jump into fire or water while wearing it, you will still die. It is first and foremost a symbol that we are not giving up on the earth."Thank you"- reported by Tashi Paljor

Photos and Update on Kenya

How to help in Kenya ?


click on:

http://www.icrc.org/web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/iwpList2/Help_the_ICRC?OpenDocument and select Kenya


International Red Cross
click on: Kenya: relief efforts continue as situation remains tense
The situation remains tense in Kenya, where more than 115,000 people are displaced. The ICRC is supporting efforts by the Kenya Red Cross to provide relief and medical supplies. See latest update

Petition in English and Swahili to stop the violence!

• Embassy of Kenya, 2249 R Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20008Telephone: (202) 387-6101 Fax: (202) 462-3829 Contact Us

• His Excellency The Hon. Emilio Mwai Kibaki, president@statehousekenya.go.ke

or send mail : c/o C.G.H., M.P.State House Nairobi,Kenya

• Republic of Kenya
  Office of Public Communications KICC Building, 3rd Floor 8 Harambee Avenue P.O.Box 45617-00100 Nairobi Kenya
  Tel: +254-020-240488 +254-020-2223521 Fax: +254-020-240600E-mail: comms@comms.go.keSMS (Celtel/Safaricom): 2888
  Click here to talk to Us

• Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Hon. Martha Wangari Karua, E.G.H., MP
  c/o comms@comms.go.ke

Presidential Election Disaster and Civil Strife in Kenya Documentation of the developments
Compilation of news showing the making and development of the unrest:

PART 1 - 11th Dec. 2007 until 20. Jan. 2008
click on: PART 1 PART 2 PART 3 PART 4
Facts of the post-election violence
Short chronology of the crisis
THE NATIONAL DISASTER IN SAD PICTURES


ECOTERRA has managed to provide phone-credit to key groups in order to strengthen the communication network, and some food has been delivered, but more assistance (food, shelter, medicine) for the displaced Ogiek, who are effected the most in Naswit (Mau Forest) and Mount Elgon, is urgently required.
HOTLINE: International: +254-729-871-571 National: 0729-871-571Or send e-mail messages to africanode(at)ecoterra.net

http://www.ogiek.org/

The Daily Nation (daily newspaper for news)
http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgindex.asp

Trash Talk! Trash- Trash and more Trash!

I was having a conversation last week with a friend, who is a former elected official up on the Northern California Coast. We were talking about trash! Trash disposal was then, as now, one of the beleaguering problems facing local governments. Interesting how government is blamed for many things that we citizens contribute to as the problem.

When I lived in a small village area in the wild lands of Mendocino County we did not have the luxury of garbage pick up. We had to resort to a very mindful system of trash disposal—a collective endeavor of neighbors to make a run to the dump once a month. We had a compost heap for food scraps or fed them to our barn yard animals. We had a recycling sorting system for paper, cans, bottles and plastics. Yeeks… and we even had to burn some non-toxic things in a controlled burn pile or the wood stove! Ashes were then used for our outhouses (yes… no indoor plumbing in some places!) or along garden beds to discourage slugs.

We kept jars to store food in instead of trashing the jars. The jars are a great way to replace “plastic containers” for storing food. The question we had to always ask ourselves if we purchased something—what part of it would we have to throw away and then how to dispose of it?

I live in an urban area now and it is like being a salmon trying to swim upstream. Trash is everywhere—on sidewalks, parking lots, in the streets, on the side of highways and what I see being thrown away makes me wonder, are people thinking?

I was walking past Berkeley High School one day and there it was…trash! Candy wrappers, potato chip bags etc. There were some students sitting on the concrete wall. I started picking up the trash right under their swing feet as they sat— not saying anything while I was doing it. One guy said “What are you doing?!” I replied, “I am keeping my neighborhood clean”. They were young guys and a few were starting to razz me. Then one brave soul amongst these guys stepped up and said, “She is taking care of the environment bro” --you know-- pick it up bro.” Ah! A poet … and he didn’t even know it. Then the young men started discussing “No one cares where I live – it is all trash everywhere.” I smiled at them and replied, “Sounds like you care so you all can do it right?” Then I walked away- pondering why no one cares, as they had told me.

Now let’s talk a bit about “stuff”. Since I moved to the urban wild lands, I have accumulated stuff—mostly books and almost everything else I can recycle or someone can re-use. Most of my acquisitions have been casts-offs or pass-alongs. I live in a University town and it is amazing how much of what I own comes from student cast offs. I can imagine what actually goes to the landfill!

Speaking of landfills. Where is it going? What are the true costs?
I am borrowing this pie chart from the EPA and wow I say!

http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/reduce/catbook/what.htm

General Overview of What's In America's Trash
According to the U.S. EPA Durable goods (tires, appliances, furniture) and nondurable goods (paper, certain disposable products, clothing) account for several million tons of the solid waste stream. Container and packaging waste is a significant component of the nation's waste stream as well. This material includes glass, aluminum, plastics, steel and other metals, and paper and paperboard. Yard trimmings such as grass clippings and tree limbs are also a substantial part of what we throw away. In addition, many relatively small components of the national solid waste stream add up to millions of tons.

With our globalized economy we have stuff shipped to and from everywhere. I still can’t figure out from an economic cost/benefit analysis how we can get such cheap goods just based on the cost of production and the cost of oil to transport the stuff! Then there are the social costs to consider and that is whole other topic.

There are over 2.5 million container ships a years traversing our oceans to get all this stuff around! Ships use a dirty and cruder oil to power their travel on the high seas. “Spills from these ships are more common than one thinks”, I was told by a seamen that I had recently met. We were discussing the cargo ship oil fuel disaster spill in San Francisco Bay. He added, “And when these spills happen, you rarely hear about them”. “Very interesting”, I replied.

The cartons, sacks, bales, pallets, drums and boxes wrapped in plastic are placed in huge box containers that look like railroad cars. In fact, many are placed on railroad cars and then shipped across America. So what happens to these containers after they arrive at their destination? Many of the 20ft. & 40ft. box containers and tank containers for bulk liquids are abandoned after being emptied because it is too expensive to ship them back. Linerboard--the inner and outer layers of a container—is usually made of hardwoods. Now the floors of these containers—are made of hardwood. Oh my! Think of all the trees worldwide that are involved in this! Entire forests go into shipping stuff as cargo! And we have not even discussed the impacts of forest loss on species habitat, watersheds and shipping that timber to the mill!

Most stuff is packed on pallets. Pallet materials are supposed to be made of materials that will not be a prime habitat for hitchhiker invasive species or that can harbor diseases that would wreck havoc on our plants. The majority of pallets are made of softwood and hardwood…from trees. Some pallets are made of plastic. And we all know plastic comes from oil. Pallets that are made of wood, if not heat treated, are fumigated with methyl bromide (also used on strawberries and golf courses!). By the way methyl bromide use has been curtailed by an international treaty but the U.S. has succeeded in claiming exemptions to this treaty. California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR) reports that in 2006, 6.5 million pounds of bromomethane (key ingredient in methly bromide) was applied to California crop fields. I wonder who tracks the other uses of methyl bromide as in pallet spraying?

Everything is interconnected here! So what to do?
You guessed—think before you buy!

“Well…” you may say, “how about the thousands of pallets and containers that are sitting around and still on their way”? O.K. I did some research.
Now here are some real interesting links.
Lay Your Pallet Down, Don't Burn It!
Earthaven Ecovillage and Clement Pappas Cooperate on Juicy Green Building Solution
http://sohodojo.com/earthaven-clement-pappas.html

In 2005, North Carolina enacted House Bill 1465, which bans the disposal of wooden pallets in municipal solid waste landfills by October 2009.
http://www.p2pays.org/BannedMaterials/WoodenPallets/FSprivate.asp

Here is an interesting solution: With approximately 250 million scrap tires being generated annually in the United States and the existing piles estimated at between 2-3 billion, this represents a serious problem. ATP-Advanced Technology Pallets a Nevada Corporation (ATP), has patented RST-PAL Pallet, a new pallet made from recycled scrap tire rubber. They say that the “RST-PAL Pallet" is strong, durable and reusable, providing an alternative to wooden pallets and the expense associated with replacing, repairing and discarding wooden pallets. RST-PAL Pallets might be serial numbered and bar-coded to insure tracking and retrieval so that they can be used over and over again for many years.
My question is why hold patents on ideas and products that can provide large scale immediate solutions. New job creation and solving ecological problems are needed. And I am sure there are many more great ideas out there.
Another item to take note of is high tech trash. For an eye opening read take a look at:
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/2008-01/high-tech-trash/carroll-text.html

So I challenge bloggers everywhere~ Let’s do it- let’s get into trash talk! Send me some solutions and I will post the best solutions that I receive by April 1st, 2008.

FYI

The world's rubbish dump: a garbage tip that stretches from Hawaii to Japan By Kathy Marks, Asia-Pacific Correspondent, and Daniel HowdenTuesday, 5 February 2008 http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/the-worlds-rubbish-dump-a-garbage-tip-that-stretches-from-hawaii-to-japan-778016.html

Crisis In Kenya- Peace Is Possible

In 1999, I had the privilege of traveling to Nairobi, Kenya as part of an International Delegation of Grassroots Women to attend the U.N. Commission on Human Settlements 17th Session. Dr. Wangari Maathai and other women from Kenya, Germany, Palestine, Bosnia, Uganda, Tanzania, etc. joined with us. During my 18 days in Nairobi, our delegation walked to the slums of Mathare to be hosted by our grassroots sisters. We traveled to the Rift Valley and to Lake Naivasha. We joined Wangari in planting trees for peace at the gates of Karura Forest despite being met by police in riot gear. We were there advocating for gender and housing rights with governmental representative delegations from around the world.

I had fallen in love with Kenya, the people, their potential. I hope you join with me in praying that peace returns to Kenya. This beautiful country and its people deserve peace. I believe in the power of prayer and power of peace!

Nobel Laureates initiate Peace Efforts

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-pn_niDqe4

January 3, 2008
Kenyan political activist and Nobel Peace Laureate Wangari Maathai speaks about the political clashes in Kenya.Source: CNN January 3, 2008 Listen to Wangari Maathai speak about the unrest in Kenya

Humanitarian crisis in the Rift Valley
The Red Cross has a difficult time trying to offer humanitarian aid as violence persists in the Rift Valley. Wangari Maathai's plea. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VbgGqYu5d4

A New Year! ~Create in 2008!

We have violent conflicts the world over -- over access to or ownership of natural resources, or about land rights, or rights to minerals, water, oil…. and how many precious resources are wasted in the production of what we think will solve our problems (oil, ethanol, bio-fuels which are all energy intensive)?

What are our intentions for creating the positive communities that we wish to experience here on planet Earth? Solar power is everywhere. There are even solar panels that now capture sun energy in foggy areas. Communities in California won the right to take control of their energy with the landmark AB 117 Community Choice law in 2002. Cities and counties can act as buyer-cooperatives in purchasing their own energy via the open market, or by issuing tax-free bonds to invest in their own new energy facilities. In Massachusetts, we have the success of the Cape Light Compact which serves 200,000 customers. Cape Light Compact's transparent energy efficiency programs has installed solar installations on Cape Cod schools, fire stations and libraries.

I was at the United Nations last year to attend the U.N. Commission on Sustainable Development 15th Session. There was a great deal of discussion about "Clean Coal" ! Yes the new buzz word by the coal industry is "Clean Coal"! The spin masters have gone overboard with this one!

Coal is like a sponge. It absorbs cadmium, mercury, etc. -- all released when processed and burned. The nuclear power industry is claiming to be clean too! Nuclear Power is the most expensive to produce and the most dangerous fuel on the planet. Need we say more?

Oil? Here in the San Francisco Bay we experienced a major cargo ship accident where over 58,000 gallons of toxic dirty fuel spilled into the San Francisco Bay impacting wildlife and also birds on their annual migration. Chevron is located here in the San Francisco Bay Area and the price that we pay for petrol is the highest in the U.S. The social price that other communities pay around the world so oil can get to the U.S. and China etc. is even higher!

Our greatest power in changing and shifting the system is to first understand how the economic policies are skewed to benefit major corporations and not the rest of us. According to the World Bank, 1.1 billion of the world's 6.5-billion people live on less than a dollar a day.There are over 9,000 families homeless in NYC. We have people living on the streets in San Francisco, Berkeley, Calcutta, Paris, -- where wealth abounds. Slums exist all over the developing world. So…who owns the wealth? The concentration is getting smaller while we fight amongst each other around the world for the crumbs. The greatest end to war is people educating themselves and each other-- not with folk tales and misinformation or keeping old grudges alive--- but on what is really going on --and by taking hold of solutions and moving on past the systems that are impoverishing us and the natural resources of earth! Yes- the past and our stories that keep us in the past is our ball and chain. How can we free ourselves?...how can we forgive the atrocities of twenty five …hundred.. a thousand years ago? How can we stop buying into those stories that keep us separated by race, class and gender, etc.? How can we create new stories that empower all of us?

In-fighting is applauded by the powers that be- we know that. They count on that many people will act like sheep. Those who control the information want to make sure we are kept distracted with conflicts and fear. We know that they are wrong. How do we step up empowering ourselves and each other? The Iowa caucuses has shown that people are waking up to critical thinking. We need to ignite this "critical thinking" revolution around the world!

What are the impacts of our actions? Is the wealth acquired by an ethanol corn producing farm really worth it when the water is polluted and poisons have to be used to sustain a mono-crop that eventually depletes and sterilizes soil? Why not integrate perma-culture and cooperative organic methods if we have to grow this stuff? Our aim should be not only to question but to make it unprofitable to carry on with economic policies that are poisoning us and the planet.

Whether you are a blue collar worker or bio-tech scientist...Stop buying into the machine. Dare to change it! How? Speak up and question! Is there a better way?

How about putting your dollars into products that are local or produced by sustainable methods. Disable the destruction machine by taking action as a citizen of your village, town or city by asking for systems and policies that we know will sustain our ecosystems. Ask once, twice- and keep at it! Is your apartment building spraying toxic pesticides? Ask why? Find out what are the alternatives. Hold a meeting- be peaceful- find solutions together!

Does your store carry affordable organic products- no? Ask why not. If not --start a neighborhood once-a- month buying club and find an organic farmer that will deliver to you and who will provide healthy choices.

Remember that we can clean up this way of our consuming and living in a toxic soup that is speeding us on our way to a dead planet.We can challenge each other and ourselves. The world needs us! The world needs us to release all those behaviors and clinging to all that which holds us in bondage. We are the ones who can make the difference by taking action.
If our country was able to pull together during World War II with great personal sacrifice and innovation on the part of all segments of society.

What is stopping us from acting in peaceful constructive ways to use our wealth and technology to get back in balance with our planet's live giving systems?

PRESS RELEASE December 24th, Monday 2007

Announcing:

On December 25th Tuesday Grandma Santa Claus & Auntie Santa Claus will visit the Memorial Oak Grove adjacent to UC Berkeley Memorial Stadium at 12 noon.

Grandma Santa Claus and Auntie Santa Claus will be bringing a message from the North Pole to deliver to the Citizens of Berkeley and The University of California Regents.

Grandma Santa Claus and Auntie Santa Claus have journeyed here to especially applaud the Community and to present presents to the Tree Sitters.

"I know that many of you have been so nice and caring ...to stand up and protect these trees and to do what you can to stop Global Warming. but some of you have been naughty and not nice",

said Grandma Claus. "Yes!" chimed in Auntie Claus...Santa Claus said that we should go to Berkeley and tell them that they are doing the right thing but that

University of California won't listen to any one not even me--and maybe they would listen to you Grandma Claus and Auntie Claus! The North Pole is melting and we

are becoming homeless! Building buildings and cutting down trees to do it is not OK with us."

"So here we are to take a stand with all those good people but homeland security won't let the reindeer in with us-- some type of silly terrorist law" commented Grandma Claus.

"Yes, and Rudolph and all the others are quite upset for what are we to do when we become homeless? And then there are the elves and Santa's workshop,

we don't contract out our work and we don't do sweat shops you know!” And then there are the polar bears, and penguins and many other of our

brothers and sisters around the world that are threatened! It's bad enough that all the California San Francisco Bay Area bears are gone ... we see they are only on T-Shirts and Notebook covers now –

and how sad that you have these people running around calling themselves the Cal bears!

Grandma and Auntie Claus insist that this is still the season of giving... and that means giving back to the earth that supports all of us.

Grandma Santa Claus and Auntie Santa Claus were informed that it was illegal to act in concert with the Tree Sitters. Grandma Santa Claus and Auntie Santa Claus were reported to exclaim: “We can be arrested for giving gifts on Christmas Day, are you serious? Does Santa know this??"

The public is invited to join Grandma Santa Claus and Auntie Santa Claus.

celebrating the spirit and colors of Christmas-

a holiday and a holy day that has many meanings for many people going back centuries.

Auntie Santa Claus added, “If you really want to stop Global Warming you can make it happen- if you want to save the Memorial Oak Grove-- there is nothing stopping you!".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hod2kt36Aw
Grandmothers for the Oaks Winter Solstice Party... Grandmothers for the Oaks Winter Solstice Party

Berkeley December 23, 2007--Today the Berkeley Grandmothers for the Oaks hosted a Winter Solstice Party at the Oak Grove.

For the last several weeks, the group has met outside the barbed wire fence to supply the tree sitters with food and water. This ongoing community action has been in response to the University Regents' policy of citing all those who try to supply food or aid to the tree sit. The solstice event was marked by a visit from Auntie Santa Claus and Mrs. Santa Claus who thanked the tree sitters for being good and saving the oak grove from destruction by the university. The event, like most of the recent activities at the grove, was videotaped by the campus police and their security force. Berkeley grandmothers resorted to using a large canvas screen to block the view of the food lift and prevent anyone from being singled out by police. A citation comes with a $1000 fine and/or 5 days in jail.This was the second Winter Solstice observance at the Memorial Oak Grove since the beginning of the tree sit, 386 days ago.Berkeley's Internet NEWS (less)