11-28-2009, 12:00 AM
Well, it is true that the Corporate/Financial cartel has a stranglehold on the world. What is worse is that most human beings have been drawn into Consumerism,
dependent upon continued exploitation and destruction of, Earth's lifeblood. As I am learning, this is beyond politics, this is about the survival of all
humanity, if that is to be.
This October, United Nations research concluded that, in 50 years, there will not be enough food available for the world's population. How much of this is
due to political and corporate manipulation, I do not know.
I heard a statement, from Greenpeace, I do believe, that, for all people on Earth to live at the (outdated) USA poverty level, would require the resources of
another planet. I am thinking Easter Island. In October, over one ton of bloodstained ivory was confiscated in Africa, probably Kenya. The unknown comes
nearer to the know. I could never imagine a world without elephants, although India has taken steps to protect theirs, a different species
I have been passing the following quotes around, concerning an approach to environmental issues (and some resonances with the Castaneda books and some
personal views):
... the idea that pre-industrial humans may have had some advantages over modern man. Fifty years ago, before true environmentalism became apparent, Carlos
Castaneda began his apprenticeship to Juan Matus. What he learned only seemed alien because of the altered culture of the Industrial Revolution. Outside of the
specialties of Shamanism, everything don Juan taught was once as common to humans as, well, cell phones are today.
And all those long walks in the desert! In and of themselves, they were a catalyst of concioussness renewal, as I once found within myself, and is the core of
those most commited to preservation; that industrial civilization has no divine mandate to control, pave, develop, conquer, every square inch of this planet;
that, human beings have stepped beyond the bounds; we are destroying the very process of life.
The following are statements from "Confessions of an Eco-Warrior", by Dave Foreman, co-founder of Earth First! (now inactive)
Deep Ecology or, biocentrism: all living creatures and communities possess intrinsic value, inherent worth.Natural things exist for their own sake; Animal,
plant, river, mountain, are NOT placed here for the convenience of human beings. ( here is the Nagual teaching of getting rid of self-importance, and,
universal equality). All dominant philosophies of our time place human beings at a pre-Copernican center of the universe, separate from nature, with separate,
higher value.
Wilderness is the REAL world
There are too many people on Earth
There must be a deep questioning of, and even antipathy to, 'progress' and 'technology'. We have lost more to civilization than we have gained.
Life in a hunter-gatherer society was on the whole healthier, happier,and more secure than our lives today as peasants, industrial workers or business
executives. (once again, I see the teachings of the nagual here). Foreman qualifies this with....this does not mean we eschew all facets of civilization. We
are of it, and use it; we can still critique it.
A refusal to accept Rationality as the only way of thinking.(don Juan again, and a door to the Second attention!)
A lack of desire to gain credibility or legitimacy with the gang of thugs running human civilization (!)
An unwillingness to set any group of humans on a pedestal, immune from questioning; be it race, political, class.
An awareness that we are animals; primates, mammals, vertebrates. reject New Age babble that says we must transcend our animal nature...struggle against the
modern compulsion to become dull, passionless androids. (don Juan again!)
Earth First! is (was) a warrior society.
All good things are wild, and free.--Henry David Thoreau. And, so be it!
dependent upon continued exploitation and destruction of, Earth's lifeblood. As I am learning, this is beyond politics, this is about the survival of all
humanity, if that is to be.
This October, United Nations research concluded that, in 50 years, there will not be enough food available for the world's population. How much of this is
due to political and corporate manipulation, I do not know.
I heard a statement, from Greenpeace, I do believe, that, for all people on Earth to live at the (outdated) USA poverty level, would require the resources of
another planet. I am thinking Easter Island. In October, over one ton of bloodstained ivory was confiscated in Africa, probably Kenya. The unknown comes
nearer to the know. I could never imagine a world without elephants, although India has taken steps to protect theirs, a different species
I have been passing the following quotes around, concerning an approach to environmental issues (and some resonances with the Castaneda books and some
personal views):
... the idea that pre-industrial humans may have had some advantages over modern man. Fifty years ago, before true environmentalism became apparent, Carlos
Castaneda began his apprenticeship to Juan Matus. What he learned only seemed alien because of the altered culture of the Industrial Revolution. Outside of the
specialties of Shamanism, everything don Juan taught was once as common to humans as, well, cell phones are today.
And all those long walks in the desert! In and of themselves, they were a catalyst of concioussness renewal, as I once found within myself, and is the core of
those most commited to preservation; that industrial civilization has no divine mandate to control, pave, develop, conquer, every square inch of this planet;
that, human beings have stepped beyond the bounds; we are destroying the very process of life.
The following are statements from "Confessions of an Eco-Warrior", by Dave Foreman, co-founder of Earth First! (now inactive)
Deep Ecology or, biocentrism: all living creatures and communities possess intrinsic value, inherent worth.Natural things exist for their own sake; Animal,
plant, river, mountain, are NOT placed here for the convenience of human beings. ( here is the Nagual teaching of getting rid of self-importance, and,
universal equality). All dominant philosophies of our time place human beings at a pre-Copernican center of the universe, separate from nature, with separate,
higher value.
Wilderness is the REAL world
There are too many people on Earth
There must be a deep questioning of, and even antipathy to, 'progress' and 'technology'. We have lost more to civilization than we have gained.
Life in a hunter-gatherer society was on the whole healthier, happier,and more secure than our lives today as peasants, industrial workers or business
executives. (once again, I see the teachings of the nagual here). Foreman qualifies this with....this does not mean we eschew all facets of civilization. We
are of it, and use it; we can still critique it.
A refusal to accept Rationality as the only way of thinking.(don Juan again, and a door to the Second attention!)
A lack of desire to gain credibility or legitimacy with the gang of thugs running human civilization (!)
An unwillingness to set any group of humans on a pedestal, immune from questioning; be it race, political, class.
An awareness that we are animals; primates, mammals, vertebrates. reject New Age babble that says we must transcend our animal nature...struggle against the
modern compulsion to become dull, passionless androids. (don Juan again!)
Earth First! is (was) a warrior society.
All good things are wild, and free.--Henry David Thoreau. And, so be it!