100 mile radius from my home. About 60% of what I eat, and buy, comes from inside the circle. Not enough.
Globally, Things Keep Spiraling Out of Control...
Canada's Cops Continue to Slide into US-style Corruption and Brutality:
For the last year, starting with the report of how the RCMP was
complicit in the US arrest and deportation to Syria for torture of
Canadian businessman Maher Arar, there has been a depressing litany of
reports of bad police behaviour at every level: the beating and murder
of First Nations people, widespread corruption, kickbacks, theft and
extortion, the use of excessive force in making arrests and
extracting confessions, and more. This week we learned that the Quebec
police planted masked agents impersonating demonstrators to try to
foment riots at the anti-SPP-North-American-Union protests there.
One informant said this is 'normal' police practice across North
America -- riots allow the cops to discredit peaceful protests,
demoralize the protesters, and 'try out' their anti-riot equipment.
Shameful, but alas, not surprising.
The US/China Conspiracy to Keep Standards Low:
Probably news to no one, but there's overwhelming evidence that the
government of China is incapable of cracking down or even modestly
regulating the flood of poisoned, dangerous and flawed goods being
produced there, and that the government of the US (its co-dependent economy) has no intention of stepping in to protect Americans from the growing mountains of Chinese crap. Meanwhile, the widespread slavery and employee abuse that fuels Chinese industry continues unhindered.
DDT Re-Emerges as Anti-Mosquito Poison of Choice, Despite Dangers:
Yes, it's toxic, extremely persistent, poisons everything it
touches, and, as a destroyer of nerve cells, probably contributes to
the epidemic of chronic environmental illnesses in our world. And yes,
as soon as and wherever it is widely used, mosquitoes build up immunity
to it. But despite this, DDT has re-emerged as the insect toxin of choice in Africa,
and a heavily-financed campaign from several industries is lobbying for
restrictions on its use to be lifted. When will we ever learn?
...but There's Some Good News on Sustainable, Responsible Living...
Powell River BC's 50-mile diet challenge:
HtStW reader David Parkinson, who heads the food security project in
Powell River on Vancouver Island BC, points to a recent write-up on
their community's success working towards buying almost all their food from responsible local producers. We need to get working on such initiatives in every community in the world. Get your 100-mile diet map here.
Cowichan BC's Caregiver Society: Already 8% of North Americans are looking after ill or disadvantaged adult
family-members. This percentage is expected to quadruple in the next
generation, as the population ages. Most of us have no idea what we
will do if/when we face this situation, and some of us won't be able to
cope with the stress. A great model is Cowichan BC's caregiver society,
which provides materials and resources and peer-to-peer connection to help caregivers of adults and seniors handle the challenge. Thanks to Prad for the link.
A Personal Story of Radically Simple Living: Tyra and James Arraj's online book Radical Simplicity and the Fourth Step
is an engrossing read, full of first-person anecdotes of home
schooling, building simple forest shelters, growing their own food,
etc. The resource guide link at the end of the book is also
valuable, especially the intriguing resources and links to natural
building. The book conveys, without preaching, the philosophy of simple, responsible, natural living, and how to live true to that philosophy.
...and in the same vein, here's a letter from HtStW reader Paige Porter, for those looking for inspiration to move from thought to action:
My name is Paige Porter. I'm seventeen and from Connecticut, and want to save the world. I'm
doing a world-wide community service program next summer, and have
multiple Greenpeace and Habitat for Humanity volunteer work experience,
but I know it's not enough. When I grow up, I want to be a
cardiothoracic surgeon, working as part of Doctors Without Borders. I'm
planning on adopting as many kids as I can afford, and as many animals
as I can afford and house comfortably. I don't eat meat, and because I
have Celiac disease I can't eat many manufactured or dairy based
products, so I'm basically on a vegan diet. My family uses only
earth-friendly products, and nothing in the house is tested on animals.
We're sponsoring kids from all over the place and take in animals
whenever the need arises, but I don't feel like I'm making a big enough
impact. I started wanting to save the world after winning some high
school debates on bio fuels, global warming, immigration, etc., and
graduated high school early so I could continue doing as much as
possible to help the world. I finished high school in February of last
year, and am now doing a prep-pre med program in a homeschooling
program based out of PA. I've listed all the things I'm doing so you
could possibly suggest more? Are there any other ways to help? I
haven't looked into anything other than what's listed above, because I
don't know of anything else. If there is any organization or anything
more I can do, please let me know.
Wow. |
MADE IN CANADA
trust your
instincts 
