Solutions(?)

[pan]

A thread dedicated towards possible solutions rather than the rather pessimistic fare we engage in with much of our other communication.

[curt]

Wipe that smile off your face, Mark. Read this.....

http://www.alternet.org/healthwellness/142908/the_green,_clean_art_...

and then this...........

http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2007/04/23/sheryl_crow_urges_yo...

Little does Sherly Crow know the effect 2 Litres of beer can have on your daily output at the toilet. One square per visit? Sure, but only if I can go the Turkish way.

Looks like the zero toilet paper idea is catching on.

Looks like a fun film. Sounds like one everybody needs to see.

http://www.noimpactdoc.com/index_m.php

[pan]

My sister-in-law forwards a lot of useless, sappy stuff but I liked this one:

[BO]

Pushing back against the zeitgeist. Very clever and elegant in its restraint. Well done.

[Mouse]

Elizabeth Woodworth, Professional Librarian -
"Entire February 2010 Issue of the American Behavioral Scientist Devoted to State Crimes Against Democracy.
Papers Listed in the February 2010 Issue of American Behavioural Scientist:

Matthew T. Witt and Alexander Kouzmin, "Sense Making Under 'Holographic' Conditions: Framing SCAD Research." American Behavioral Scientist 2010 53: 783-794. (What are SCADS? State Crimes Against Democracy. SCADs differ from earlier forms of political corruption in that they frequently involve political, military, and/or economic elites at the very highest levels of the social and political order," explains one essay.)

Lance deHaven-Smith, "Beyond Conspiracy Theory: Patterns of High Crime in American Government." American Behavioral Scientist 2010 53: 795-825.

Christopher L. Hinson. "Negative Information Action: Danger for Democracy." American Behavioral Scientist, 2010 53: 826-847.

Laurie A. Manwell, "In Denial of Democracy: Social Psychological Implications for Public Discourse on State Crimes Against Democracy Post-9/11," American Behavioral Scientist 2010 53: 848-884.

Kym Thorne and Alexander Kouzmin, "The USA PATRIOT Acts (et al.): Convergent Legislation and Oligarchic Isomorphism in the 'Politics of Fear' and State Crime(s) Against Democracy (SCADs)," American Behavioral Scientist 2010 53: 885-920

Matthew T. Witt, "Pretending Not to See or Hear, Refusing to Signify: The Farce and Tragedy of Geocentric Public Affairs Scholarship," American Behavioral Scientist 2010 53: 921-939."

http://www.ae911truth.org/info/179

OH tra la tra lee, tra liddle de dee!

[BO]

When you've lost all hope for humanity, there is something you can do on a personal level. Personally, I don't find this approach to be fatalistic or depressing. Quite the opposite, actually. I see it as the only rational solution for saving the planet.

The Voluntary Human Extinction Movement

“May we live long and die out”

"Phasing out the human race by voluntarily ceasing to breed will allow Earth’s biosphere to return to good health. Crowded conditions and resource shortages will improve as we become less dense."

[Mouse]

I'm still laughing at the stolen nest and the flying eye. Couldn't face extinction if I tried.

[Cal]

That's one of my favourite movements. I regard myself as an honorary member -:)


VHEMT (pronounced "vehement")...

A spokesman for the Archdiocese of New York, Joseph Zwilling, claimed the notion that it is "absurd to suggest that the world would be better off without the human race."[

[BO]

Well, it certainly would be better off without christians.

[Cal]

I knew quite a lot of guys when I was over there in the late 70's that had vasectomies so as not to contribute to the population ... the Darwinian problem with it all was that they were all really nice bright people ...

[littleoldme]

I couldn't agree more.

[Mouse]

This is not the time to be demoralised, save that for later, hollow victories leave so much scope for marvelling at the scale of the absence.

There is so much work to do of one kind or another.
Here it is like heaven, even the birds are happy and hidden in their silver pear tree, which is pale green with leaf and privacy against the cat hissing at me on the shed roof when I place an old tin can on the top of the fence to break her gaze upon the approximate whereabouts of the nest. Their nest, my happy sparrows.

Here in England these house sparrows are known for the pleasantness of their company, in small flocks. They sing and chirrup, tossing the sounds around the back.

Thank God this pair managed to survive the surprises of spring, where the rest of them perished. They were suddenly bereft of cover when I made a mistake and cut the trunk of the ivy , which died nearly two months before the leaves of the pear tree opened for the year, so a crow came here. And a magpie. They took it in turns to watch for dinner, and that cat took one too. I saw.

So there was one pair left. Now they are four, a family. I have tried to photograph them feeding the fledglings in the branches of the flowering may tree for you to see. All dappled and small and quick their flutteriness evades the lense just like her, and those others.

Until I was 31 I had no expectation of having a child, nor any intention of doing so. Then I found out about what had happened, my auntie told me about my early years, and everything changed. I wanted that little person to tell my secrets to. I wanted to pass on some things, and I did. Precious things that are now still in the gene pool.


So busy of late, looking after Smallest and Small while my pixie daughter walks eight miles a day between meetings and youth clubs. The amalgamated church youth administrators and local authority people have given this "part-time" job to her and she is in her element and has mild sunstroke today after organising and participating in a 17 mile sponsored walk yesterday to raise funds for the youth enterprises.

She grew up here in a street that was very ill-regarded by snobs and the police and social services. Didn't tell you my good news at the beginning of spring. I was awarded disability living allowance. It makes an incredible difference. And now I am playing more of a part in the scheme of things in my own way, and that gives a girl so much more aplomb.

There are changes afoot. At times like this it really matters that we keep firmly aware of the best we know of and tend it.

Didn't tell you we have blue skies.
We have blue skies

Blue blue blue blue blue blue blue
blue blue blue blue
blue
blue
blue

There's the B.A. cabin crew strike
and that volcano in Iceland

and all the time the presence of the dark stuff bursting out of the sea bed billows and bids much thought for all concerned. Still thinking of the tortured and the torturers.

I promise to send you some pictures soon of the garden, which calls me. So now I'm going to plant lilies and foxgloves, evening primroses, poppies, hardy fuchsias, hardy geraniums
and a blackberry called Waldo.

[Cal]

Enjoy your spring Mouse! We are heading into the middle of winter here ... I am counting the days until the solstice when things will start to turn around again & I can start planting again. I would love to see your pictures and thanks for sharing it all.