Environment @ MindSay 
pollution
NURTURE LIFE -- NOT HURT OR DESTROY IT
An early morning walk does wonders to one's soul --- if you let it. This one morning cool and crisp brought me to usual paths and neighborhood. A familiar figure caught my attention as I walked passed by. ----
- A middle-aged housewife watering her small modest garden … Such a lovely garden kept lush and green, flowers in bloom in every nook and cranny of the small lot all cared for by her nurturing hand. She looked happy, content, serene, at peace in and with her little corner of the world. I am sure that the plant kingdom feel that way too. But who wouldn't be when touched by gentle caring nurturing hands?
Come to think of it, isn’t that quite so much what a human being needs– this kind of nurturing of body, mind, and soul?
A human being can’t always cope fully alone by himself in this world of continuing change and challenge. Can you imagine just how and what a well-meaning word of encouragement, hope, faith, care, inspiration, stimulation, motivation can do to another person weak in his own resources, power, and strength? It can take so little to create miracles. Believe this. The power is in you to do just that.
People need nurturing too and other things besides– homes, family, children, old folks, friends, relationships, ambition and dreams, business, projects, organizations, companies, towns, countries, pets, environment, etc and etc. Life and all that it affects undoubtedly need nurturing and constant care no matter what.
How can there be continuity in our lives if everything is allowed to wither away and die alone all by itself? Continuity or life is sealed with a huge hunk of nurturing. And I'll say it again --- the power is in you, me, us --- to do just that.
An early morning walk does wonders to one's soul --- if you let it. This one morning cool and crisp brought me to usual paths and neighborhood. A familiar figure caught my attention as I walked passed by. ----
- A middle-aged housewife watering her small modest garden … Such a lovely garden kept lush and green, flowers in bloom in every nook and cranny of the small lot all cared for by her nurturing hand. She looked happy, content, serene, at peace in and with her little corner of the world. I am sure that the plant kingdom feel that way too. But who wouldn't be when touched by gentle caring nurturing hands?
Come to think of it, isn’t that quite so much what a human being needs– this kind of nurturing of body, mind, and soul?
A human being can’t always cope fully alone by himself in this world of continuing change and challenge. Can you imagine just how and what a well-meaning word of encouragement, hope, faith, care, inspiration, stimulation, motivation can do to another person weak in his own resources, power, and strength? It can take so little to create miracles. Believe this. The power is in you to do just that.
People need nurturing too and other things besides– homes, family, children, old folks, friends, relationships, ambition and dreams, business, projects, organizations, companies, towns, countries, pets, environment, etc and etc. Life and all that it affects undoubtedly need nurturing and constant care no matter what.
How can there be continuity in our lives if everything is allowed to wither away and die alone all by itself? Continuity or life is sealed with a huge hunk of nurturing. And I'll say it again --- the power is in you, me, us --- to do just that.
We Need To Move Forward...
Just some food for thought:
"We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect."
~Aldo Leopold (father of wildlife management)
The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature.
~Anne Frank
If a man walks in the woods for love of them half of each day, he is in danger of being regarded as a loafer. But if he spends his days as a speculator, shearing off those woods and making the earth bald before her time, he is deemed an industrious and enterprising citizen.
~Henry David Thoreau
"Our sense of community and compassionate intelligence must be extended to all life forms, plants, animals, rocks, rivers, and human beings. This is the story of our past and it will be the story of our future.”
~Terry Tempest Williams
'Earth Hour' and Armchair Activism
In just 17 days, 'Earth Hour' will be upon us once more. We are already being subjected to advertising for this event, encouraging us all to turn our lights out for a period of 60 minutes and feel good about ourselves for doing so. I can't help but wonder if this is somewhat counter-productive: after all, think how much methane is going to be produced in the creation of this much bullshit.
I'm not being pointlessly cynical about this - most of us know that climate change is a problem, and some will argue that building grassroots awareness can only be a good thing. Still, I can't help but wish that the public didn't have to be treated like idiots in the process.
Firstly, the benefits of this exercise are tenuous at best: tangible goals are out of the question, as nobody is suggesting that a certain proportion of the world's population switching their lights off for an hour is actually going to have any effect on global warming. Secondly, 'Earth Hour' seems to fit the recent trend of 'events' (Live 8, Live Earth, etc) that encourage large participation without any expense or sacrifice; without anything other than a nominal contribution. Sure, the less of an inconvenience, the larger the participation, but for what? You may as well get everybody to join a facebook group.
The end result is simple: masturbation, figuratively. Everybody dutifully dims their lights for an hour, feels good about themselves, then returns to their day-to-day life. Do some of them learn their lesson, and become more conscientious with energy use in the future? Perhaps, but most such people probably didn't need 'Earth Hour' to convince them - there is more than enough material and advertising about global warming around at the moment for such people to be motivated. I very much doubt that 'Earth Hour' itself is going to inspire anybody to do their bit for the environment.
So, what are we left with? Self-promotion for corporations; unwarranted smugness that might be earned in a myriad more productive ways for participants; and a few million people subjecting themselves to an hour of darkness for no discernible reason.
Perhaps it is better to let the website speak for itself:
www.earthhour.org
930 cities and towns in 80 countries have already committed to VOTE EARTH for Earth Hour 2009, as part of the worlds first global election between Earth and global warming.
Earth Hour To Create Wave Of Participation Around The Globe
Over 930 cities and towns in 80 countries, across 25 time zones to power down for Earth Hour 2009
Global icons add to lights out spectacle
March 10, 2009: At precisely 8.30pm on March 28 the diesel generators will be switched off on the Chatham Islands, a small archipelago off the east coast of New Zealand, heralding the start of the greatest community event the world has ever witnessed - Earth Hour 2009.
As the first country to flick the switch for the global event, WWF New Zealand's Earth Hour organiser, Dairne Poole sees her country as playing a vital role in Earth Hour’s journey to reach one billion people in over 1,000 cities, across 25 time zones.
"New Zealand will be the first country in the world to turn its lights off for Earth Hour 2009 with 43 councils and local bodies taking part. Even though we are a small nation, we are setting an important example for others to witness and hopefully follow," says Ms Poole.
The global wave of participation will gather momentum through Asia Pacific with major cities such as Sydney, Seoul, Beijing, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Singapore, Bangkok, Jakarta, Mumbai and Delhi dimming the lights as millions flick the switch to express their concern for the planet.
Across the globe Earth Hour will provide the platform for a collective voice to be heard from each and every time zone. From the streets of Cape Town to the Hills of Los Angeles, Earth Hour will unite people from all walks of life as the call for action on climate change makes its transglobal journey.
Paris, the ‘City of Lights’ will make a powerful statement by turning off its famous lights, including the Eiffel Tower, for Earth Hour. In the birthplace of democracy, thousands of Athenians will gather to watch the lights go out at the Acropolis in acknowledgement of their vote for action on climate change.
Metropolises across the Americas including New York, Rio de Janeiro, Toronto, Buenos Aires, Chicago, Mexico City and Las Vegas will see their united voice accompanied by unfamiliar lighting – stars.
Earth Hour Executive Director, Mr Andy Ridley, said that Earth Hour signals the beginning of the journey to Copenhagen, where the future of the planet rests with world leaders.
“Earth Hour will focus global attention on addressing the issue of climate change. We are asking one billion people to take part in what is essentially the first global vote for action on climate change by turning off their lights for one hour and casting a vote for earth,” he said.
“Earth Hour hopes to provide a global mandate for action on climate change to the world’s leaders at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December this year, where an agreement will be made to supersede the Kyoto Protocol.
“It is imperative this agreement leads to a sustainable outcome that suitably addresses climate change. Earth Hour presents an opportunity for every person in the world to have a say in that agreement’s outcome and ensure it isn’t merely an insubstantial token effort by our world’s leaders,” said Mr Ridley.
Yes, Mr. Ridley, I am sure that your Earth Hour spectacle will send a powerful message to all involved: the message that one can 'take action' without actually doing anything; the message that people will swallow any old populist tripe that governments and corporations manage to concoct, just as long as it makes them feels good. It clearly doesn't take much.
I'm not being pointlessly cynical about this - most of us know that climate change is a problem, and some will argue that building grassroots awareness can only be a good thing. Still, I can't help but wish that the public didn't have to be treated like idiots in the process.
Firstly, the benefits of this exercise are tenuous at best: tangible goals are out of the question, as nobody is suggesting that a certain proportion of the world's population switching their lights off for an hour is actually going to have any effect on global warming. Secondly, 'Earth Hour' seems to fit the recent trend of 'events' (Live 8, Live Earth, etc) that encourage large participation without any expense or sacrifice; without anything other than a nominal contribution. Sure, the less of an inconvenience, the larger the participation, but for what? You may as well get everybody to join a facebook group.
The end result is simple: masturbation, figuratively. Everybody dutifully dims their lights for an hour, feels good about themselves, then returns to their day-to-day life. Do some of them learn their lesson, and become more conscientious with energy use in the future? Perhaps, but most such people probably didn't need 'Earth Hour' to convince them - there is more than enough material and advertising about global warming around at the moment for such people to be motivated. I very much doubt that 'Earth Hour' itself is going to inspire anybody to do their bit for the environment.
So, what are we left with? Self-promotion for corporations; unwarranted smugness that might be earned in a myriad more productive ways for participants; and a few million people subjecting themselves to an hour of darkness for no discernible reason.
Perhaps it is better to let the website speak for itself:
www.earthhour.org
930 cities and towns in 80 countries have already committed to VOTE EARTH for Earth Hour 2009, as part of the worlds first global election between Earth and global warming.
Earth Hour To Create Wave Of Participation Around The Globe
Over 930 cities and towns in 80 countries, across 25 time zones to power down for Earth Hour 2009
Global icons add to lights out spectacle
March 10, 2009: At precisely 8.30pm on March 28 the diesel generators will be switched off on the Chatham Islands, a small archipelago off the east coast of New Zealand, heralding the start of the greatest community event the world has ever witnessed - Earth Hour 2009.
As the first country to flick the switch for the global event, WWF New Zealand's Earth Hour organiser, Dairne Poole sees her country as playing a vital role in Earth Hour’s journey to reach one billion people in over 1,000 cities, across 25 time zones.
"New Zealand will be the first country in the world to turn its lights off for Earth Hour 2009 with 43 councils and local bodies taking part. Even though we are a small nation, we are setting an important example for others to witness and hopefully follow," says Ms Poole.
The global wave of participation will gather momentum through Asia Pacific with major cities such as Sydney, Seoul, Beijing, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Singapore, Bangkok, Jakarta, Mumbai and Delhi dimming the lights as millions flick the switch to express their concern for the planet.
Across the globe Earth Hour will provide the platform for a collective voice to be heard from each and every time zone. From the streets of Cape Town to the Hills of Los Angeles, Earth Hour will unite people from all walks of life as the call for action on climate change makes its transglobal journey.
Paris, the ‘City of Lights’ will make a powerful statement by turning off its famous lights, including the Eiffel Tower, for Earth Hour. In the birthplace of democracy, thousands of Athenians will gather to watch the lights go out at the Acropolis in acknowledgement of their vote for action on climate change.
Metropolises across the Americas including New York, Rio de Janeiro, Toronto, Buenos Aires, Chicago, Mexico City and Las Vegas will see their united voice accompanied by unfamiliar lighting – stars.
Earth Hour Executive Director, Mr Andy Ridley, said that Earth Hour signals the beginning of the journey to Copenhagen, where the future of the planet rests with world leaders.
“Earth Hour will focus global attention on addressing the issue of climate change. We are asking one billion people to take part in what is essentially the first global vote for action on climate change by turning off their lights for one hour and casting a vote for earth,” he said.
“Earth Hour hopes to provide a global mandate for action on climate change to the world’s leaders at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December this year, where an agreement will be made to supersede the Kyoto Protocol.
“It is imperative this agreement leads to a sustainable outcome that suitably addresses climate change. Earth Hour presents an opportunity for every person in the world to have a say in that agreement’s outcome and ensure it isn’t merely an insubstantial token effort by our world’s leaders,” said Mr Ridley.
Yes, Mr. Ridley, I am sure that your Earth Hour spectacle will send a powerful message to all involved: the message that one can 'take action' without actually doing anything; the message that people will swallow any old populist tripe that governments and corporations manage to concoct, just as long as it makes them feels good. It clearly doesn't take much.
Life is OK
I figure that this is as good of a day as any to start a blog.
For now, I'm biding my time... trying to enjoy myself as much as possible while dealing with the stresses of living at home and being in high school. None of it's really that bad, I just am yearning for something different.
Anger has a tendency to hold me hostage, sometimes. Sadness too. I'm trying to uproot anger, trying to be more compassionate, trying to live simpler, trying to not hold my surroundings up to any unachievable ideals. I think it's going okay. When you're living your life in a place where you have so little control over what's going on around you, you find it so much harder to control what's going on inside your mind and body.
I'm sober; remarkably so.
I greatly miss my daily rituals of Cannabis consumption, as I haven't been partaking in the last two months or so. That's alright though, as I'm high on life.
I'm starting to see firsthand that life is a trip and I'm in for a great one.
I'm tired. Really tired.
This week has been ridiculous my Caffeine intake has been through the roof.
I just need to be alert, awake and paying attention to everything that's going on throughout my entire day... It's hard to NOT use Caffeine as much as I do. Been trying to ween myself off of it over the last two days... Went from a consistent 500mg+ per day to a half a cup of coffee yesterday and nothing today. I've certainly had worse headaches, but this one is so persistent.
The world is beautiful.
I love our Earth, I love every season and I love spending time in the midst of it all.
We're all connected to each other and every speck of matter that makes up this world and this universe. The universe is everything that exists or has the potential to exist, the symbiotic relationship between space and time. Ideas are as real to me as anything I can hold.
Our environment is deprecating... fast.
As the cause of many of our environmental issues and supposedly the most rational beings inhabiting this planet, we Humans absolutely MUST conserve and be true stewards to this beautiful rock we were lucky enough to gain control of.
People amaze me.
Human nature never ceases to blow my mind. So predictable and yet... so spontaneous. I often zone out when watching people going about their lives, amazed at the complexity of our mind and body.
As much as I'm a fan of the winter, I'm about ready for it to get warmer.
The Sun is really, really nice.
Anyway... this was sort of a big ramble. I'll get more specific once I gather my thoughts.
For now, I'm biding my time... trying to enjoy myself as much as possible while dealing with the stresses of living at home and being in high school. None of it's really that bad, I just am yearning for something different.
Anger has a tendency to hold me hostage, sometimes. Sadness too. I'm trying to uproot anger, trying to be more compassionate, trying to live simpler, trying to not hold my surroundings up to any unachievable ideals. I think it's going okay. When you're living your life in a place where you have so little control over what's going on around you, you find it so much harder to control what's going on inside your mind and body.
I'm sober; remarkably so.
I greatly miss my daily rituals of Cannabis consumption, as I haven't been partaking in the last two months or so. That's alright though, as I'm high on life.
I'm starting to see firsthand that life is a trip and I'm in for a great one.
I'm tired. Really tired.
This week has been ridiculous my Caffeine intake has been through the roof.
I just need to be alert, awake and paying attention to everything that's going on throughout my entire day... It's hard to NOT use Caffeine as much as I do. Been trying to ween myself off of it over the last two days... Went from a consistent 500mg+ per day to a half a cup of coffee yesterday and nothing today. I've certainly had worse headaches, but this one is so persistent.
The world is beautiful.
I love our Earth, I love every season and I love spending time in the midst of it all.
We're all connected to each other and every speck of matter that makes up this world and this universe. The universe is everything that exists or has the potential to exist, the symbiotic relationship between space and time. Ideas are as real to me as anything I can hold.
Our environment is deprecating... fast.
As the cause of many of our environmental issues and supposedly the most rational beings inhabiting this planet, we Humans absolutely MUST conserve and be true stewards to this beautiful rock we were lucky enough to gain control of.
People amaze me.
Human nature never ceases to blow my mind. So predictable and yet... so spontaneous. I often zone out when watching people going about their lives, amazed at the complexity of our mind and body.
As much as I'm a fan of the winter, I'm about ready for it to get warmer.
The Sun is really, really nice.
Anyway... this was sort of a big ramble. I'll get more specific once I gather my thoughts.
ahh! X[
I have a question. Does it make me stupid to fight for what I believe in?
Apparently it does in my house.
All I ask is that people not have their tv's and playstations on at the same time (ehemm, Cory). Just because he has two tv's in his room doesnt mean he should use them both at once. And I also just want people to turn off lights when they leave the room. I dont see whats so hard about that. It must be because nobody does it. And when I tell Cory to turn off his tv because he's not watching it, he screams at me and calls me stupid. And when I tell my dad to recycle for once and turn off his lights when he's asleep, I get laughed at and called a tree-hugging freak. My grandparents just look at me and tell me that being vegetarian isn't helping animals, its only hurting myself. My mom doesnt agree with my eating habits, but she does understand me wanting to help the enivironment and saving money by not wasting energy and water. These people need to open their eyes and do some research. Maybe then they'll understand why I do the things I do.
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