The Earthkeepers

This is an old story but worthy of coverage because we still live with the consequences.  It’s about rBST and Monsanto.  Since this story ran, milk product producers, knowing that the word on the dangers of rBGH or rBST is growing began labeling their products as rBGH or rBST free products. Monsanto in turn, sued to have the labels removed. The final result was any product that has that label also has a disclaimer that rBGH or rBST produced milk is essentially no different than other milk. Look at the labels next time you’re in the market. So, the rubber stamp of safety given by the FDA opened the door for this result as well.

There’s more heartbreaking news. President Obama hired Monsanto executives to work in high positions at the FDA during this term. Even a President, who gets heckled as a supposed socialist, is influenced by corporate power in ways that aren’t always apparent, and you won’t see if you get your news from the teevee set.

Another thing about the rBST. What happens is that the rBST makes the cows produce more milk, it makes their udders larger. And also, they get more infections. So there is a higher chance you will get milk with pus in it. When the milk is pasteurized, the bacteria is killed, but you are still drinking pus. Brought to you by our friends at Monsanto. Use only organic dairy products or those labeled rBST free, that’s the only way, or stop using them. Otherwise you may get unwanted hormones and pus in your milk.

This is great. A guide that helps you buy Non-GMO foods.

If it involves Monsanto, you know there’s a good chance it will have some nasty effect on people and the environment. From Mother Jones:

During the late-December media lull, the USDA didn’t satisfy itself with green lighting Monsanto’s useless, PR-centric “drought-tolerant” corn. It also prepped the way for approving a product from Monsanto’s rival Dow Agrosciences—one that industrial-scale corn farmers will likely find all-too useful.

Dow has engineered a corn strain that withstands lashings of its herbicide, 2,4-D. The company’s pitch to farmers is simple: Your fields are becoming choked with weeds that have developed resistance to Monsanto’s Roundup herbicide. As soon as the USDA okays our product, all your problems will be solved.

Read more…

From the folks at Climate Change crock of the Week:

Hope from the evangelical community on climate change. Some wisdom from climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe

The data speaks for itself. From NASA:

The global average surface temperature in 2011 was the ninth warmest since 1880, according to NASA scientists. The finding continues a trend in which nine of the 10 warmest years in the modern meteorological record have occurred since the year 2000.

NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) in New York, which monitors global surface temperatures on an ongoing basis, released an updated analysis that shows temperatures around the globe in 2011 compared to the average global temperature from the mid-20th century. The comparison shows how Earth continues to experience warmer temperatures than several decades ago. The average temperature around the globe in 2011 was 0.92 degrees F (0.51 C) warmer than the mid-20th century baseline.

Read more…

Several movements to overturn the SCOTUS Citizen’s United decision are underway. One in particular called Amend2012, spearheaded by former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich and Common Cause looks interesting. This issue is a pivotal issue in American politics, I believe. if large corporations and billionaires are allowed to funnel unlimited funds into elections, our democracy is truly lost. Did you know that the higher money spender wins over 90% of the time in congressional races?

So get off your butt and get busy. If we don’t fight to take our country back, our children and their children will suffer the consequences of living in a neo-feudal society. It’s just that simple. Visit Amend2012

Barack Obama, who often sounds like a progressive but sometimes acts like a moderate Republican or even a corporate fascist, recently signed NDAA. If you don’t know what this is yet, turn off the TV and read, you won’t hear about it on Corporate TV.  Chris Hedges, a foreign correspondent, who has seen the effect of indefinite military detention of civilian citizens in oppresive nations firsthand, has sued Barack Obama over this law.

This is courageous and noteworthy.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m a voter, and will vote again for Obama. The alternatives, including Ron Paul who has some good ideas and some deeply delusional ones, are non-starters, period. I think that we as Americans better get used to the idea that we have to hold the people we voted for accountable in the same way we would want to hold those we would never vote for accountable. None of these folks are trustworthy, I just want to keep the objectivists, plutocrats and sociopaths out of office, that would be a miracle unto itself.

I still value hope and change. I hope Barack Obama changes.

Please read…

SOPA, the really bad idea about how to stop people from sharing copyrighted entertainment products, has been stopped. The Senate version, PIPA, is still alive. Our work isn’t done. If legislation isn’t passed to protect net neutrality, attacks on how we use the Interenet will arise again and again. Sony, News Corp, RIAA, etc. aren’t interested in your welfare or liberties, they want to protect their capital investments. period.

The folks who bring you the Firefox browser want to stop PIPA too, here’s how you can help: STOP PIPA.

I found this from D. Chopra and friends:

SAGES + SCIENTISTS SYMPOSIUM 2012

The Merging of a New Future will explore a series of fantastic emerging facts – the only genuine currency of science – and a contemporary synthesis where science and soul coexist comfortably. Without such a merging, our world cannot survive. Some of the most urgent questions facing our future evolution will be addressed.

Acko. Then I see it costs $1995 to attend plus a grand for the reception dinner. Definitely not for us plebians. Somehow promoting a peaceful, just and sustainable world at a lavish resort with $1000 per plate dinners doesn’t seem congruent. ya know?

Nevertheless, I like the spirit of the idea. Science without soul can be dry and lifeless. Soul without science can lead to delusion, superstition or fundamentalism.

Read more…

Then Mr. Chopra goes on to talk about how money can’t buy happiness. While lots of money may not buy happiness, it is a certain necessity to attend Mr. Chopra’s events.

EarthDance is a celebration of life.

Movement in the form of dance stimulates, enhances and focuses the Earth’s lifeforce. This manifests in better health, more prosperity, and better relationship between the people. It also heightens our awareness, our concentration, and our commitment to our Spiritual Path.

EarthDance is a about dancing together

The EarthDance ceremonies have the great advantage of reproducibility. They are easy to learn. They are easy to dance. People who EarthDance together feel a very special sense of belonging together. It is as if they set aside those things that separate them and focus on what brings them together.

The power of the dances is magnified when done simultaneously or contemporaneously by groups in different parts of the country. The planetary grid is strengthened and often people comment on the elevated intensity of the dances when done in conjunction with other groups around the country.

EarthDance is about the children.

The Children’s Honoring Dance is a special part of the EarthDance cycle. It is so important that today’s children receive fully our love and support ; that they feel the value we place upon them as our representatives to the future.

The Dances

Mixed Dances

The Blanket dance- This is a friendship dance and then some. People dance around the fire under a blanket. It can be very cozy for couples, people wanting to meet each other or for old friends to get under the blanket together to goof on each other. The symbology is strong. Used towards the ends of gatherings and ceremonies involving the balancing of male and female energies. Very much a celebration. Song

The Pipe dance This dance is used to bring several pipes together. It allows each Pipe Carrier to step out and share his/her way with the circle. The circle then honors each pipe carrier. This does allot for bringing together various factions of the community.

The Blessing or Honoring dance- This is a universal dance because it can be used in many different settings. It allows the circle to bless a person or persons with their touch and good hearted well wishes. Used in Wedding Ceremonies, receptions, and rehearsal dinners. Used also as part of the Children’s honoring dance. Used when wanting to note a persons contribution to the community. Song

The Women’s Dances

The Maidens Dance- A dance of lighthearted self discovery, punctuated by the power of awakening sensual and sexual expression. Calling for renewal and spontaneity in all of us. This is a very free form dance with allot of self expression. Song

The Woman’s Dance- This is a dance of balance, grace, honoring and relationship to all of those around us. It is disciplined but very expressive. This a beautiful dance to allow women express their deeper commitments to relationship and spirituality.

The Shawl Dance- a dance of stability, and wisdom. The women show the close cooperation of a community of equals holding the world in order and gratitude. They dance together to love the world into wholeness. The shawl represents the safety and comfort of their spiritual faith. The shawl dance eventually enfolds everyone in the circle and leads them towards the source of all things represented by the sacred fire. Creating the Shawl is a really powerful way of preparing for the dance. Song

The Men’s Dances

The Men’s Rattle and Shield dance -The rattle dance is used at the beginning of ceremonies and to prepare the space for the Shawl dance. Men work on shields and rattles as preparation. Song

The Transmutation Dance- This is the fire jumping dance. It symbolizes how each of us may have to make a leap of faith if we are to turn “poison into medicine.” Song

The Brazilian Village Dancesfrom the Amazon fire and spirit keeper dances this dance is about men working together to bring the power of life and safety to the village. Song