Peace¹⁰⁸

Patricia January 26th, 2008

What if corporations converted to sustainability, zero, waste, green products and local grown organic foods?

I’ve just heard Wal-Mart’s new environmental strategist Adam Werbach speak at a conference for sustainability design in San Francisco. Adam is considered one of the worlds leading experts in sustainability. He was formerly the youngest president ever of the Sierra Club. Alan’s company Act Now Productions is training Wal-Mart employees nationwide and inspiring them to create their own environmental action groups in their community. Wal-Mart has met with 200 CEO’s of their top suppliers and initiated a five year plan to move the majority of their products and packaging to sustainability. This will have a huge impact on the designers of packaging and products. Many of the designers attended the Compostmodern Conference in San Francisco last week. This was sponsored by AiGA San Francisco and the AIGA Center for Sustainable Design.

My Mentor Susan Morrison and Wal-Mart

Having worked for Wal-Mart myself in 1991 on a transition of their environmental education project Animal Tracks to a non-profit I think chances are quite good the retail giant will lead manufacturers in the direction of sustainability.

Wal-Mart started as one little as a dry goods store for Arkansas residents and Sam Walton hauled goods in his red pickup. Years later, Sam had an idea for environmental education that he shared with my friend Susan at his wife Helen’s birthday party that was hosted by Susan’s friend Alice Walton.

Her book Animal Tracks identified environmental issues, action steps and the power of Susan’s wildlife drawings to inspire youth to make a difference in their own community. Animal Tracks was distributed to 25 million Wal-Mart customers and 180,000 Animal Track’s books were given to teachers and schools who adopted the plan in their classrooms nationwide. Teachers still use that program today.

Note: Animal Tracks was adopted by the Wildlife Federation in 1992.

David and I spent a fun day with Susan and Randy on a Northern California Beach before they set off on their next venture — the first American Wildlife Expeditions.

Read Susan’s journals and see Randy’s photography of beautiful wildlife and the sensitive feeling drawings by Susan.

Here’s David, Patricia, Susan and Randy with the American Wildlife Expeditions RV behind us.

• Peace
• Comments(0)

Patricia January 23rd, 2008

An interesting article in the Independent newspaper on Monday reveals that UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown is in

talks with other world leaders on far-reaching reform of the United Nations Security Council as part of a drive to create a “new world order” and “global society”.

This might be seen by some as extremely controversial… but it could also be a step toward global cooperation.

Recently I heard UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon speak in San Francisco at a World Affairs Council event. San Francisco is the city where the United Nations was founded and Moon made a pilgrimage to the site where the first charter was signed.

Moon impressed me as an intelligent, strong but humble, man. During his early years as a college exchange-student he told us he lived in Novato California with the Patterson family. He was reunited with the Pattersons during this visit to California. Earlier that day he told us he had visited their house in Novato and that evening he expressed his deep affection and appreciation to Mrs. Patterson & the family who were sitting on the front row in front of the San Francisco community. He thanked them for welcoming and embracing a shy young man from South Korea who spoke little English. At that time even he couldn’t imagine his future.

Moon impressed me as a person of integrity. He may well be one of the individuals who can help guide a consideration of a new world order and global society that would demonstrate unity and cooperation of all between all mankind.

Let me know what you think.

• Peace
• Comments(0)

Patricia January 21st, 2008

Watch Satish Kumar online
Elegant Simplicity-”Resurgence” is the Best Environmental Magazine!Living simply doesn’t mean austerity or doing without. Quite the opposite, in fact. Move away from materialism and you can have much more not less. Hear Resurgence Editor, Satish Kumar, discuss connecting with nature and living a life of elegant simplicity with more joy, more delight and more fulfilment. Watch the podcast Want to hear more? On Jan 18 Satish presented a BBC 2 Documentary called Earth Pilgrim, part of the new Natural World series. Satish introduces Eastern philosophy to a very Western landscape – Dartmoor. Through the film he shares the sights that most inspire him and contemplates the lessons they hold for humanity. www.resurgence.org
Elegant Simplicity

• Peace
• Comments(0)

Patricia January 16th, 2008

Best New Year’s Resolution for Peace 2008

I find Jame’s O’Dea’s letter Find Your Voice in 2008 (below) extremely useful. James is the President of The Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS) founded by astronaut Edgar Mitchell and former director of Amnesty Internationale’s Washington DC office. IONS is a leader in research and education on the science of Consciousness. Mitchell founded IONS as a result of a profound experience he had when aboad the Appolo moon-flight. Mitchell said he became full of a sense of oneness and bliss and no sense of being a separate body-mind. He briefly wondered if the other astronauts were having the same experience (they did not). This experience was life changing and Mitchell has pursued the science of conciousness through IONS work.

I met James and heard him speak in Dubrovnik. IONS was a co-sponsor of the Peace conference. His topic Evidence of a World Transforming: From Disintegration to Re-enchantment was inspiring. What I appreciate about James is his voice of optimism coupled with a passionate understanding of the complexities of this planet’s and mankind’s needs at this time in history.

The IONS Shift Report is a valuable resource for anyone interested in exploring this topic further.

Find Your Voice in 2008

When we understand that the core impulse of every religion is good and noble, we find our way to unity and peace. Underneath them all is the human quest for truth. In the year ahead, be a voice that honors and respects that quest; be a voice for interfaith dialogue and reconciliation.

When we understand that human rights are universal and indivisible, then we can celebrate and affirm the historical and cultural diversity of all of Earth’s peoples without compromise. In the year ahead, be a voice for the fullest expression and implementation of human rights by all nations.

When we understand the interdependence of all life on Earth, we thrive in the context of creative collaboration with each other and with Nature. Only resourceful collective action can prevent severe environmental degradation, toxic poisoning and climate imbalance. In the year ahead, be an urgent voice for ecological and sustainable development.

When we understand how paradigms change, we can explore a future that is radically different, a future that supports our highest values. Human civilization requires that scientific exploration serve our highest evolutionary potential, not the paradigms of crude materialism, militarism, and exploitation. In the year ahead, be a voice for scientific explorations that help us shift to higher creativity and more evolved consciousness.

When we understand the nature of choice and the power of intention, we will choose our leaders wisely. We cannot have enlightened societies without visionary, compassionate and emotionally intelligent leaders. In the year ahead, be a voice for choosing leaders who are worthy exemplars of these qualities.

When we understand the potential within each human being we will wake up to the importance of developing the inner life. In every age, mystics, sages, and teachers have shown us how to go deep within and, by doing so, experience the great gift of awareness itself. In the year ahead, listen to the voice within.

The world is waiting for you to find your voice.

Yours,

James O’Dea, President
Institute of Noetic Sciences

• Peace
• Comments(0)

Patricia January 14th, 2008

Activism-From a lifelong activist who Walks the Walk and can talk the talk!

Tom’s book is the best solution For Ending The War In Iraq.

I was fortunate to meet Tom Hayden and hear him speak at the Dubrovnik Peace Conference. Tom is a former 18-year member of the California State Legislature; an activist who co-founded Students for a Democratic Society; the author of 13 books and currently teaches at Pitzer College and Occidental College. He’s done some very impressive inner-city work in LA. He’s on the editorial board and a contributing writer of The Nation Magazine.

His topic at the conference was Social Movements Against The Machiavellians was fascinating.

He was sitting on the edge of the stage waiting for things to settle down when I approached him. He asked me What does it take to get started here? I’m an on-time kind of guy! I went to my friend, the conference director Georgia Kelly, and she immediately took the stage and introduced him.

He told us he would need to sit because he had an ear infection and the doctor told him he might fall because his balance was off. At his book signing I told him he should run again, to which he replied, I have already done that!

Tom was at the conference most of the week and sat in the audience at the back and really listened.

By coincidence, I was on the same bus and airplane to Rome with him, his beautiful wife Barbara and his handsome young son. Tom was standing on the bus so I offered him a seat next to me. He had an appointment to get his ear infection treated by a doctor in Rome and was not sure if the flight would be tolerable to his ear…it was! It was his first trip to Italy and I asked he and Barbara if the would like to come to Venice to a preview opening at the Ciprianni Hotel for the artist I was doing public relations for. Barbara had attended The Venice Biennale before and really wanted to go but with Tom’s ailment it was too risky to consider adding more travel to the schedule.

Two things he said that impressed me, especially given his background:

• Don’t worry who is the next president of the US. There are other ways to make change for peace.
• Don’t worry about impeaching George Bush as he is suffering impeachment by a 1000 cuts.

Tom is a thoughtful, wise, calm and very intelligent…a man with a sensible plan that would work for peace…if we get involved.

Tom Hayden has been called “the conscience of the senate”, and credited with “creating the blueprint for the Great Society programs”.

Help End the War in Iraq

Quote: Apply Pressure to these Pillars of the Bush Administration’s policy: If the U.S. cannot be persuaded to accept failure in Iraq, the only strategy for ending the war and occupation is to apply people pressure to the following Pillars of the Bush Administration’s policy:

1. Iraqi Support
2. American Public Opinion
3. American Media
4. Political Support
5. U.S. Military Capacity
6. U.S Financial Capacity
7. Moral Reputation
8. U.S. Global Alliance

(Tom Hayden Ending the War In Iraq)

• Community , Peace
• Comments(0)

Patricia January 12th, 2008

Famous Reflections on the Bhagavad Gita

By Bhaktivedanta Ashram | Published 09/1/2005

Albert Einstein: When I read the Bhagavad-Gita and reflect about how God created this universe everything else seems so superfluous.….. . . . Mahatma Gandhi: When doubts haunt me, when disappointments stare me in the face, and I see not one ray of hope on the horizon, I turn to Bhagavad-gita and find a verse to comfort me; and I immediately begin to smile in the midst of overwhelming sorrow. Those who meditate on the Gita will derive fresh joy and new meanings from it every day.

• Peace
• Comments(0)

Patricia January 9th, 2008

1. Read this book on the Environment. Best yet!

Plan B 3.0, Mobilizing to Save Civilization
by Lester R. Brown, President of Earth Policy Institute

Buy this book from www.earthpolicy.org

“We should all heed Brown’s advice –” President Bill Clinton

.

.

.

.

2. Must Read! A Radical Vision for Peace 2007

Not-Two Is Peace–The Ordinary People’s Way of Global Cooperative Order
by World Friend Adi Da

To find out more and to purchase a copy visit ispeace723.org

“This book by Adi Da is outstanding as a unique and radical message oriented to meet the global state of emergency through a new modus operendi, the working presumption of prior unity–” Ervin Laszlo, Founder and President of the Club of Budapest

About-Click on About for more information on the groups I participate in!

• Peace
• Comments(0)

Patricia January 9th, 2008

Let’s start 2008 with a Worldwide Celebration of Peace Activism that continues all of this year

Let’s invite everyone on the planet — on all continents, in all countries, cities, townships, villages, to come together now for Peace with our circle of friends, family, associates, business colleagues and all humankind.

Sounds good?

If you’d like to support this idea it’s important to get the word out.

Get the Word OUT

I’m asking everyone to call your local newspaper, radio or television station and ask them to print your invitation to all to celebrate your events for peace in 2008.

Celebrating Peace and take Action in 2008

Come together. Pick up a light shine it for peace. Do it right in your home, neighborhood, church, school, business, local park or public places. Connect your circle to a cause that will magnify important issues for this planet’s environmental and human peace right where you stand.

Connect the Celebrations Worldwide

Link the Celebrations for Peace and grow this movement until it covers the earth and brightens this planet and all beings both human and non-human. Connect this to important issues of healing this planet environmentally, culturally, spiritually, and economically.

Art for Peace

Decorate your homes, community buildings, businesses with displays Celebrating Peace. Invite local artists to lead the way and inspire this demonstration. I saw a very small chapel in southern Vallauris France that Picasso had painted the walls and curved ceiling with his mural “War and and Peace”. This mural inspired me deeply.

What art inspires peace in you?

I would like to hear what you think. Simply leave a comment below. If you’d like to become a guest editor on my blog. Please email me and describe what you’d like to share. It might be a posting about your ideas, a photograph, quote, book, an organization or link to a website or blog that inspire and further Peace for all creatures and this earth.

I will be writing more about the conferences I attend, the experts I meet, the books I read and causes I support.

Remember: “Leaders don’t start movements, movements create leaders.”

In Peace for the future of this planet and all beings

Find your cause for Peace and take action, create a circle now!

• Peace
• Comments(0)

Patricia January 5th, 2008

Hello all and welcome to Peace¹⁰⁸.

I am Patricia Royman. This year I have been privileged to meet, hear and work with some of the best thinkers and activists in the arenas of peace, environment, science and politics. My travels this year took me to diverse countries to participate in environment and peace conferences in Dubrovnik Croatia, Venice Italy, San Francisco California and Dallas Texas. In Croatia, I met survivors of the war in Bosnia…brave people who had witnessed and suffered atrocities and abuses that still exists in this world today.

One person, who moved me deeply, was a survivor of the Bosnian war. He was formerly head of a large forensics department, has degrees in psychology and philosophy, and was a soldier in his country’s war. During the war he sustained several injuries. He lost a leg. He still has shrapnel in his body and was shot in the chest by a neighbor at a community meeting during the war. He said he did not want to fight but he had to fight to protect old people and women and children. He was the first non-American to receive a purple heart. He has met with President Bill Clinton and other leaders of the free world.

While attending the peace conference in Dubrovnik this man also gave a lecture on the Balkans at the local university. We were in the same cafe group which met between major plenary sessions to discuss the theory or practices the speakers had presented.

In our breakout group he and others had stories that were real, honest, and in need of real solutions.

I will be writing about Mursod and others in the coming weeks.

Happy New Year!

• Community , Peace
• Comments(1)