"Wake Up, Freak Out - then Get a Grip," an excellent video on global warming from Leo Murray on Vimeo.
See also: Wake Up, Freak Out – then Get a Grip Web Site

The Courage of the People of Iran

As I write this, on Saturday morning, June 20, 2009, the people of Iran -in Tehran and probably elsewhere in Iran- are defying their leaders and seeking justice and even martyrdom in the pursuit of justice. Boiling water or acid is falling from helicopters, protesters are being tear gassed and beaten- hundreds are being rushed to hospitals. Mousavi is saying that the election was null and void. He is saying that the leadership is corrupt and that the election was rigged many months ago.

Please pray for peace and the end of bloodshed.- Lowell Greenberg

TEHRAN Students Shot In Front Of A Camera, 6/20/2009: http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-276292

Iran police disperse protests, BBC, 6/20/2009

Iran’s Children of Tomorrow, 6/22/2009

Death in the era of modern medicine

"Health care is not a political issue or a campaign promise. It is a human right. They had no health insurance. This is a true story."

"...They made a pact. When they could no longer bear the pain or the disability they would leave together. They started collecting the pain medications.
She fell again and shattered her shoulder. They had no health insurance. She delayed going to the clinic. Finally, somehow, someone X-rayed the shoulder. They told her they could pin it back together through surgery, but it might not work. It would remain very painful.
She had no health insurance.
They owned their home and had enough money to live on, but not to buy health insurance with their pre-existing conditions; they didn’t think they could go to a doctor and to the hospital.
They were sick. Their minds were clouded with drugs to mask the pain. They didn’t think anyone could help them. There were no answers, only pain.
In pain, they gathered all of the pills they had saved, went to the store and bought a cake and rented a video, and went home to travel together into eternity. They watched the movie, ate their treats, and munched on the pills like popcorn.
He wasn’t supposed to wake up, but he did..."- From "Death in the era of modern medicine," by Bonnie Tinker, The Portland Alliance, 4/2009. See also: Obama's Health Reform Waterloo by Dave Lindorff, 6/21/2009 & Physicians for National Health Program

In the United States,185 former congressmen and senators are corporate lobbyists, therefore it is not surprising that single payer universal health care is dead in the water. Is what works in France, Canada and Britain not suitable for the United States? Why? Are American's less entitled to health care? Is the demise of the American economy inevitable given the spiraling of health care costs coupled with the demographics of an aging of the population and rising inequality?

Why are we Fighting in Afghanistan?

Why are we (The United States) fighting in Afghanistan? Al Qaeda can reconstitute anywhere in the world. We can never entirely prevent terrorism. We can never with 100% certainty keep WMDs from small splinter groups inside and outside this country. Collectively we don't even have control over the actions of our own government- our own terrorism. Our blind support of the Israeli occupation of Gaza- the senseless use of killing drones and iron fragmentation bombs- the millions of lives lost in Iraq due to our killing machines. We imagine and exaggerate threats- projecting our own aggressive intentions on others.

Our leaders are not strategic thinkers- our use of force around the world appears heavy handed- we embolden our enemies- disrupt alliances and lose public support. We cannot win in Afghanistan without the support of the Afghan people anymore than we can wage a war without the support of our own people.

We say we do not negotiate with terrorists- then why should they negotiate with us? How is the crisis to end? We can't kill every terrorist. What is a terrorist? A 12 year old boy who carries a bomb? A university student who sees his country being exploited by foreigners? A citizen who sees his government's repressive, violent regime propped up by corrupt leaders and foreign powers? We don't even understand the people and groups we seek to destroy- instead we assume the mantle of terrorism in an effort to destroy it- rather than understanding the cause and working towards real peace. We become in effect a United States of Terror. See also: "Villagers in Afghanistan Describe Chaos of U.S. Strikes," Carlotta Gall & Taimoor Shah, NY Times, 5/14/2009

Made in America – War

WASHINGTON - June 16 - Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) today made the following statement against the war supplemental on the House floor:

"We are destroying our nation's moral and fiscal integrity with this war supplemental. Instead of ending wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan now by appropriating only enough money to bring our troops home, Congress abdicates its constitutional authority, defers to the president, and asks for a report. That's right, all we are asking for is a report on when the president will end the war.

"There is also money for the IMF, presumably to bail out private European banks. Billions for the IMF so they can force low and middle income nations to cut jobs, wages, health care and retirement security, just like corporate America does to our constituents.

"And there's money to incentivize the purchase of more cars, not necessarily from U.S. manufacturers because a ‘Buy America' mandate was not allowed.

"Another $106 billion dollars and all we get is a lousy war. Pretty soon that is going to be about the only thing made in America - war.

A Wartime Mobilization

"There are many things we do not know about the future. But one thing we do know is that business as usual will not continue for much longer. Massive change is inevitable. Will the change come because we move quickly to restructure the economy or because we fail to act and civilization begins to unravel?

Saving civilization will take a massive mobilization, and at wartime speed. The closest analogy is the belated U.S. mobilization during World War II. But unlike that chapter in history, in which one country totally restructured its economy, the Plan B mobilization requires decisive action on a global scale."- Lester Brown- A War Time Mobilization, 12/3/2008

Beyond the Green Economy:
The End of Capitalism As We Know It

The latest world economic crisis is not just caused by: Greed and corruption at all levels of society; Irresponsible sub-prime lending; Lack of regulation of credit derivatives; Domination of governments by corporate interests; Excessive energy consumption; Unfair taxation policies; Excessive debt; Unfair global corporate competitive practices; Uninformed electorates; Destruction of local economies; and Social and economic inequality. Most of these are not so much causes as symptoms.

At the root of capitalism is the notion is that the world has infinite resources. That no human actions can fundamentally alter the environment and affect the planet’s health. That natural resources- air water, oceans, land, animals and plants are unlimited and are only negligibly affected by human actions.

This notion of infinite resources is fundamentally flawed. All of our collective and individual actions are interrelated. The crises we face now and in the future are global in scope. Air, water, earth and sky are not owned by individual countries- they are global interconnected resources with universal rights of ownership.

Fundamentally, global corporations, governments and individuals must be held responsible and accountable for the costs required to address and correct the damage they cause to the world’s ecosystems. Conversely, actions that renew and sustain the environment and have ancillary public health benefits, should be rewarded and incentivized. New policies must be shaped that renew the environment rather than destroy it.

Whether through taxation, a new form of global environmental currency, etc., every action that adversely affects plant and animal diversity- affects the drinkable water supply and quality of air; affects the ability of the earth to sustain long term agriculture; destroys old growth forests, etc. must come at a price proportionate to the damage caused. I will repeat- the full price of environmental destruction must be factored into the economic decisions of corporations, governments and individuals. When this takes place, actions that today are considered profitable will become extremely unprofitable and impossible to undertake.

Corporations, governments and individuals must be forced to think strategically about the best use of limited, finite resources and begin to act responsibly, factoring in human and environmental rights into their decision making and planning. Environmental costs can be determined by looking at the nature of the damage, its permanence, its effect on human health, climate change, etc.  Human  costs- lost lives, destroyed communities and cultures, economic and political dislocation, illegal imprisonment- these are only a few of the human costs of irresponsible corporate, military and governmental power.

New international bodies must be formed that can create the currency and regulating mechanisms to enforce full recognition of these costs and basic rights throughout the world economy. Fundamental to this recognition must be a respect for life and the interrelatedness of all life.

Inherent in this almost exclusive pursuit of profit is a fundamental disrespect for life. The notion of nature as the survival of the fittest is fundamentally false. While this belief may be at the root of capitalism- in nature there are cooperative systems that have evolved over thousands and millions of years to preserve and perpetuate diversity. Each form of life, from the smallest to the largest- serves a key niche in preserving the balance of the whole.

If collective global action does not take place, then environmental disasters will grow exponentially over the next 100 years- year by year- decade by decade. Once great economies will collapse and/or become even more militaristic in an effort to control remaining global resources. Economic inequalities will become more glaring and potentially world population will decline due to disaster and war- not self-regulation.

There is nothing more costly to life on Earth than war. Yet war could very well be the consequence of a failure to address global environmental issues. Restoration of environmental and human justice requires the abolition of war and a genuine respect for human life.

This is not a rich versus poor, developed versus less developed country issue. For example, if the United States decides to engage in more offshore drilling it should pay a steep economic price for the environmental impact. If Brazil or Ecuador chooses to preserve its rain forests for the preservation of world climate and indigenous life and wisdom, it should be rewarded. In fact, some of the world's poorest communities engage in some of the most sustainable environmental practices- and should be rewarded accordingly- not forced to adopt Western inspired exploitative practices that undermine local communities and deplete natural resources.

Also, an equitable and universal system will not result in one country or corporation paying a disproportionate share of the cost. Rather it will share the burden equally and shift the incentive from short term profits to environmental (aka human) sustainability throughout the world's economic system. Currently we have a system that rewards the almost exclusive pursuit of profit, power and exploitation. Regulation, at best, is inadequate and routinely circumvented over time. We need to restructure the system, so that rewards shift to the protection of human and environmental rights. With this change in incentives there will be a need for less, not more regulation. There will be less, not more economic dislocation. 

Some may feel that these ideas are unrealistic- however the necessity of our times dictates solutions on a global scale. The alternative is global disaster. Some may feel that these ideas would erode national sovereignty. However, this has already occurred. Global corporations care very little about individual nations and their workers- they will exploit wherever they have the opportunity and can gain temporary advantage. They already effectively control the world's governments and militaries. Still others may believe these recommendations require full nationalization of industry or would otherwise be unenforceable. However, there are benefits to retaining competitiveness and innovation in the system- two potential benefits of non-state ownership. Smaller companies in particular represent great potential sources of innovation. Again, some may feel that imposing environmental sustainability requirements will restrict economic growth. This may occur in the short run, however in the long term there would be more sustainable growth. Also, nothing precludes a phase in, where it is responsible.

No economic system is perfect and completely fair- however the current one is not merely less than perfect- it is unsustainable and self destructive. - Lowell Greenberg, 12/7/2008; See also: Calif. adopts sweeping global warming plan, 12/11/2008


Accountability

What is the common thread between the government's coddling to the banks mentioned below and the failure to hold Cheney, former President Bush and other government officials responsible for acts of corruption and possible treason? Is it really the desire to avoid distraction and go forward with "solving" the nation's problems. Or is it complicit corruption, i.e., the federal government will not pursue justice because to do so would implicate current officials in both parties. Yet, without accountability the rule of law breaks down and past mistakes will inevitability repeat as the old players resurface in a new venue. With a servile press and the manipulation of the media by elites, the American people never understand the truth and each year freedom erodes and is replaced by an Orwellian fascism.
 

Obama's Problem

There are at least two key areas where Obama and his administration are demonstrating weakness- catering to special interests, entrenched military leaders and other "powers that be."

Over the last year banks and other financial institutions have been given trillions of dollars to help remedy a financial crisis of their own doing. Yet instead of using the powers of the FDIC and other governmental agencies to remove ineffective management, remove bad debt and change business practices, we have emboldened these very financial institutions. Emboldened- they have given their top executives hundred of millions of dollars of bonuses- signaling that it is business as usual and that if nothing else they seek to profit from the misfortunes of others, i.e., the misfortunes of the majority of Americans whose standard of living has declined over the last few decades.

In Afghanistan, we seem committed to listening to generals who are unable strategize and have no understanding of history. Providing more troops while perpetuating corruption and the unnecessary loss of civilian life-  is a recipe for disaster. Committing billions to a conflict that is militarily unwinnable at a time when the federal government is essentially bankrupt flies in the face of reality.

One would have thought Obama would have learned from his experience with the economic recovery package- he could barely muster a few Republican votes. Those few Republicans who voted with him, did so not because they liked him- but because they believed that his policies were correct and would be supported by their constituents.

Governing is not about popularity- eventually sound decisions will be rewarded by public support. However, while Obama uses his triangulation and political skills to build a consensus he already has- key decisions are being made that maintain a very dangerous status quo. See also: The Crisis That Could Bring Down Obama, 4/15/2009 by Ruth Conniff & Geithner's Stress Test "A Complete Sham," Former Federal Bank Regulator Says, 4/6/2009
 

"The US Army School of Americas (SOA), based in Fort Benning, Georgia, trains Latin American security personnel in combat, counter-insurgency, and counter-narcotics. SOA graduates are responsible for some of the worst human rights abuses in Latin America." See also: Operation Condor.

Comments: Perhaps the reason why the United States continues the SOA, is because the US government condones these activities. Read what Seymour Hersh, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist revealed in a Great Conversations Event at the University of Minnesota on 3/11/2009:

"...Seymour Hersh then went on to describe a second area of extra-legal operations: the Joint Special Operations Command. "It is a special wing of our special operations community that is set up independently," he explained. "They do not report to anybody, except in the Bush-Cheney days, they reported directly to the Cheney office. ... Congress has no oversight of it."

"It’s an executive assassination ring essentially, and it’s been going on and on and on," Hersh stated. "Under President Bush’s authority, they’ve been going into countries, not talking to the ambassador or the CIA station chief, and finding people on a list and executing them and leaving. That’s been going on, in the name of all of us."

Atrocities Against Children in Gaza

"Out of all the devastation I have seen so far, there is one story in particular that I think the world needs to hear. I met a mother who was at home with her ten children when Israeli soldiers entered the house. The soldiers told her she had to choose five of her children to "give as a gift to Israel." As she screamed in horror they repeated the demand and told her she could choose or they would choose for her. Then these soldiers murdered five of her children in front of her. The concept of "Jewish morality" is truly dead. We can be fascists, terrorists, and Nazis just like everybody else."-Barbara Lubin, founder and executive director of the Middle East Children's Alliance. 1/25/2009; See also: Dr. Mads Gilbert: A Physician in Gaza, 4/28/2009

Comment: I want to believe that this incident is untrue. Yet these kinds of atrocities do occur in wartime. It and others like it must be thoroughly investigated by an international tribunal- and if they are found true, then those responsible must be removed from power and punished.

Yet, I have yet to hear these charges addressed- even as US senators and congressmen visit the worn torn areas and comment on the devastation and tragic loss if human life. A right wing conservative government is poised to take control in Israel-yet the US congress and executive branch do nothing more than offer unmitigated support to the Israeli apartheid state. In fact, we seem to have modeled our response to terrorism on how Israel  treats the Palestinians- brute force, total domination, and little respect for human rights, international law and the lives of woman and children. 2/23/2009

10 things you should know about Obama's plan (but probably don't)

Last week, President Obama unveiled his budget—his blueprint for America—and it's ambitious, amazing, and unapologetically progressive. As Paul Krugman said, it will set America on a "fundamentally new course."

President Obama called his budget "a threat to the status quo," and trust me, the status quo noticed. Oil companies, big banks and insurance companies are already mobilizing to stop it.

The plan:

- Makes a $634 billion down payment on fixing health care that will go a long way toward paying for a more efficient, more affordable health care system that covers every single American.
- Reduces taxes for 95% of working Americans. And if your family makes less than $250,000, your taxes won't go up one dime.
- Invests more than $100 billion in clean energy technology, creating millions of green jobs that can never be outsourced.
- Brings our troops home from Iraq on a firm timetable, finally bringing the war to a close—and freeing up almost ten billion dollars a month for domestic priorities.
- Reverses growing income inequality. The plan lets the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans expire and focuses on strengthening the middle class.
- Closes multi-billion-dollar tax loopholes for big oil companies.
- Increases grants to help families pay for college—the largest increase ever.
- Halves the deficit by 2013. President Obama inherited a legacy of huge deficits and an economy in shambles, but his plan brings the deficit under control as soon as the economy begins to recover.
- Dramatically increases funding for the SEC and the CFTC—the agencies that police Wall Street.
- Tells it straight. For years, budgets have used accounting tricks to hide the real costs of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Bush tax cuts, and too many other programs. Obama's budget gets rid of the smokescreens and lays out what America's priorities are, what they cost, and how we're going to pay for them.-From Moveon.org, 3/1/2009

Comment: In the United States,185 former congressmen and senators are corporate lobbyists. It is now common practice to pass legislation that earmarks hundreds of millions of dollars to businesses requesting favored treatment/special help. Last year, over 40 million dollars was given to legislators by the financial companies that benefited from TARP- the financial system bailout. While the real wages of the majority working Americans have remained stagnant over the last 30 years, the wages of the very top earners have risen astronomically. Frequently we here the argument that certain companies are too big to fail- implying that irresponsible and/or illegal actions by these companies will be funded by tax payers- in effect creating what is unmistakably corporate socialism- yet a socialism that instead of defending the rights of ordinary citizens- defends the rights of the oligarchy- the corporate elites.

If the current economic crisis is to be solved then the stranglehold of the oligarchy must be broken and the government must be truly become- of the people, by the people and for the people- yet is this even possible when the said government is controlled by the oligarchy that has caused the current crisis and only seeks to benefit from it? 2/23/2009

A Time to Work Together & A Time to Fight

It is now time- and it has always been time- for groups and individuals committed to fundamental progressive change to band together. We must recognize that our challenges- environmental sustainability; human rights violations; minority, gay, indigenous, immigration and labor rights; children and woman's rights; unjust wars; animal welfare rights; consumer protections, etc. - are all interrelated. Fundamentally, our problems stem from a lack of spiritual awareness of our interconnectedness and a lack of respect for all life. As we elevate our spiritual awareness of our connection, we must also take the fight to the global corporate/governmental elites who support repression and the destruction of the individual and community. There is nothing radical in this notion. Rather it is fundamental to our survival as a species.- Lowell Greenberg 

The Global Economy

"...The idea of an economy based upon several kinds of ruin may seem a contradiction in terms, but in fact such an economy is possible, as we see. It is possible however, on one implacable condition: the only future good that it assuredly leads to is that it will destroy itself. And how does it disguise this outcome from its subjects, its short-term beneficiaries, and its victims? It does so by false accounting. It substitutes for the real economy, by which we build and maintain (or do not maintain) our household, a symbolic economy of money, which in the long run, because of the self-interested manipulations of the "controlling interests," cannot symbolize or account for anything but itself. And so we have before us the spectacle of unprecedented "prosperity" and "economic growth" in a land of degraded farms, forests, ecosystems, and watersheds, polluted air, failing families, and perishing communities."

"...In default of government protections against the total economy of the supranational corporations, people are where they have been many times before: in danger of losing their economic security and their freedom, both at once. But at the same time the means of defending themselves belongs to them in the form of a venerable principle: powers not exercised by government return to the people. If the government does not propose to protect the lives, livelihoods, and freedoms of its people, then the people must think about protecting themselves.- From, "The Idea of a Local Economy," by Wendell Berry, Orion Magazine, 2002

Beautiful Earth

Love is eternal.
Love is silence.
Always act from the heart.
Gentleness, Peace, Holiness and Light.
All creation is part of the tree of life.
Become dead to the world to be truly alive.
When free of all attachment, there will be compassion.
Knowledge and truth remain forever.
All is spirit. All is beautiful. Love all.

A Prayer for Peace & Awakening

May we awaken to the sea of love that immerses us- that engulfs us- removing fear from our lives and seeking peace- peace within ourselves, peace in our families, peace in our communities, peace within nations, peace in the world- in the universe. May we understand and experience our true selves and manifest in the world as beings of light and joy- learning how to end suffering, heal the wounds we inflict on ourselves and others and rediscovering our connection to all spirit and love.

"In a time when the survival of the human race is in question, to continue with the status quo is to cooperate with insanity, to contribute to chaos."- Vimala Thakar, Awakening to Total Revolution: Enlightenment and the World Crisis

"The people who are aware of the domestic and foreign crimes of state, and the incredible exploitive base supporting the U.S. lifestyle, or the American Way Of Life (AWOL), have special obligations, both under international and U.S. domestic law, as well as conscience, to stimulate local, regional, national and global debates about these life threatening, unprecedented threats to justice and genuine democracy. This would include articulating and experimenting with alternative economic and political theories and practices."- Brian Willson, 2000

Pray for peace, calm and wisdom in the Middle East- the averting war with Iran. The US and Israeli plans for a tactical nuclear or non-nuclear air strike against Iran would be an unmitigated disaster for the United States, the Middle East and the world. It will destroy the possibility of peace in the Middle East for a quarter of a century or more It will lead to a chain of events that will cause an untold loss of life in and outside of the region. It will significantly increase the likelihood of wars and attacks using WMD (Weapons of Mass Destruction) in the region and throughout the world. It will embolden the forces of fear and repression in the Middle East and the Western democracies.

Pray and work in solidarity for the people of Oaxaca, Mexico who are standing up to government oppression and seeking the ouster of Governor Ulises Ruiz. Work for the release of prisoners that are unjustly held. Pray for the work of organizations such as the Popular Assembly of the Peoples of Oaxaca (APPO), the Women's Commission (COMO) and CIPO (Council of Indigenous People of Oaxaca). Pray that they remain non-violent and that the cause of justice for the poor and indigenous people become a rallying cry through out Mexico and the world.

Pray and work to end the fear and exploitation of  immigrants that sometimes is tantamount to slave labor. Pray and work for immediate and unconditional amnesty for immigrants and open borders for people of all races and nations.

Pray and work for peace in Tibet and the end of Chinese oppression and corruption.

Pray and work for the end of the Israeli occupation of Gaza

Pray and work for the end of genocide in Darfur where more than 450,000 people have died and 2.5 million made refugees. Divest for Darfur; Save Darfur; Sudan Disinvestment Taskforce

Pray for the ending of civil war in Iraq. Pray for the Iraqi people, who over the last thirty years have experienced the loss of millions of lives, enduring a barbarous regime, three bloody wars, a long period of inhumane sanctions and a humiliating, deadly occupation. At least 655,000 Iraq civilians and almost 4,000 Americans have died as a consequence of the March 2003 invasion of Iraq. Pray for tranquility in Lebanon and peace between Palestinians and Israel and an ending of the atrocities in Gaza.

Pray that U.S. leaders be brought to justice for crimes against humanity, the erosion of civil liberties and other illegal acts that contravene international and U.S. law. Pray that the innocents imprisoned and tortured in Guantanamo Bay and elsewhere are freed. See: For His Treatment of Children in the 'War on Terror,' Bush is a War Criminal; 35 Articles of Impeachment against George Bush, 6/9/2008 & General who probed Abu Ghraib says Bush officials committed war crimes, 6/18/2008.

Free the San Francisco 8 and others the U.S. government is holding illegally and unjustly.

Pray that Troy Anthony Davis, who may have been wrongly accused of murder, receives a new and fair trial.

Pray that all peoples wake up to the threat of global capitalism whose goal is to maximize the wealth and power of its elites and destroy man's connection with spirit and life. Pray that the environmental devastation and suffering they wreak will end. Pray that together we end the global food crisis.

Referring to the Niger Delta in Nigeria, Sandy Cioffi, film director of Sweet Crude writes:

"Here, citizens of an oil-rich nation struggle to eat in a land that can no longer support them. The Delta’s water and soil have been fouled by the same oil production that accounts for more than 80 percent of the country’s revenue. Traditional fishing and farming livelihoods are all but gone. Potable drinking water is rare. So is electricity. With pitifully few clinics and schools, curable conditions go untreated and illiteracy is high. Families are broken up, as men die young or take off for the cities to find jobs." See also: Crude Times in the Niger Delta.

 "...People, who lost their love and forgot the respect for our mother earth. People, who love the money, they murder our mother earth..."- Don Casimiro Mamallacta, medicine-man/shaman from the comunidad Mariposa (community of butterflies) located in the upper Amazon basin. See also: Mariposa-Community of Butterfies

"...I would hope that the destructive results of the civilized world would result in some relinquishment of dominion and that those who destroy this way of life and continue to forbid it could find reason to begin to allow those of us who can to engage in a socio-environmental experiment to show once again how I and others can be effective in enlivening the natural world."- A letter from Finisia Medrano in jail...to the Lemhi County Court.

Pray and work for a 70%-80% reduction in global warming gas emission to avert worldwide climate catastrophe. Pray that this generation and future generations are spared the pain and suffering. May they forgive us for what we have done.

Pray that mankind awakens to the interconnectedness of all life and halts human- caused extinctions that could result in the loss of half of the Earth's species by the end of the century.

O Great Spirit
grant me a vision. Let it be good. Let it bless all people.