Peace¹⁰⁸

Patricia February 18th, 2008

Capitalism 3.0: A Guide to Reclaiming the Commons
by Peter Barnes

Society is indeed a contract…between those who are living , those who are dead, and those who are to be born.” Edmund Burke 1792, Introduction Chapter One

“Barnes has opened the dialog of the 21st century. He takes the traditional concept of the commons and marries it to the institutions of modern capitalism. In so doing he exposes those who take fromthe commons without paying, then make the rest of us buy back what we already own.”

I heard Barnes speak at the SF 2006 Green Business Conference in SF sponsored by Co-op America.

The Real Wealth of Nations by Rianne Eisler

“The Caring Revolution–A New Economics that Works for Businesses, Families and the Planet”

“The greatest problems of our time–poverty, inequality, war, terrorism, and environmental degradation–can be traced to flawed economic systems that fail to value and support the most essential human work: caring for people and the planet. Renowned social scientist Eisler introduces a bold reformulation: a “caring econonics” that transcends traditional categories like “capitalist” and “socialist” and offers enormous economic and social benefits. She provide a blueprint for putting this more humane and effective economic system to work. (Back Cover)

I heard Riane speak the beginning of December at the Praxis Peace Institute annual benefit. I feel Riane offers solutions based on solid research that are sustainable, compassionate, and practical.

Communities around the world would do well to adopt the economics recommended by Barnes and Eisler.

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Patricia February 6th, 2008

Photo: Roberto Zingales  (Flickr Creative Commons)

URI: United Religions Initiative

I recently met with Sally Mahe who is the organizational and regional development director of the United Religions Initiative. Sally tells me since 2000 URI Cooperation Circles have grown at a dizzying pace expanding to over 60 countries around the world. However, home office in San Francisco’s Presidio is staffed with a team of 10 individuals who work for a very low stipend. URI is non-denominational and embraces all beliefs. It was started by Reverend Bill Swing, the Episcopal Bishop of California.  Check out this supportive organization.

Have an impact in your own community by starting a Cooperation Circle

URI’s Purpose

Our purpose is to promote enduring, daily interfaith cooperation, to end religiously motivated violence and to create cultures of peace, justice and healing for the Earth and all living beings.

I am impressed with URI’s Charter, Preamble and Principles and the work they are doing with cooperation circles around the world.

Do you know of other organizations doing grassroots work that  exemplifies cooperation, tolerance and peace?

Please let me know.

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Patricia February 1st, 2008

108 Bead Mala

Linking Peace, the Planet Earth and the Mystery of the Cosmos

The number 108 is associated with a wide range of sacred as well as mathematical properties. It is confirmed by astronomers that the diameter of the Sun is 108 times the diameter of the Earth; the distance from the Sun to the Earth is 108 times the diameter of the Sun. The average distance of the Moon from the Earth is 108 times the diameter of the Moon.

My mala has 108 prayer beads and a master bead and was blessed by my guru who transmits perfect peace and stillness to my heart. Many traditions consider the number 108 to be spiritually auspicious.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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)

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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.

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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

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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!

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