Around the world, a shadowy army of plant lovers is on a mission: to make their dull, grey neighbourhoods more beautiful places to live. Armed with seedbombs and spades, these green-fingered outlaws are stealthily filling neglected public land with flowers and shrubs. Richard Reynolds explains how he joined their ranks and became a guerrilla gardener.
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I want to thank publicly those who have been keeping up the peace vigil every Friday, and much as I’d like to name every one of them, I won’t -but I could- and so, I will just say, “THANK YOU ONE AND ALL!!”
I noticed a shift there last summer when much was being made of the Bush Administration’s efforts to cloak and subvert our government’s processes so as to keep impeachment off the table, keep more money flowing into this and many other wars, keep the public in the dark, but their wallets open… the usual. Those of us who were there early in 2002 protesting the advent of this Iraq war were being badgered and harassed by many passers by, but now there is a beginning of some shift happening, in that the majority of folks passing by are happy that we are there, and thankful for our having been so willing to stand for peace all along.
In an effort to increase our body of knowledge I have prepared a page of links to information you might need to know. It will follow these ideas, and I hope you will use this blog space to comment upon them and to open up a dialogue here for our community to grow and to discuss issues we need to get ideas out to the public. Democracy does not occur without discourse. I have been thinking a great deal on the idea of democracy, what comes up for me is that it isn’t something given to any of us; but rather, it is a gift we earn by becoming informed and by sharing our own experiences with others. It is a matter of consideration, carefully weighing opposing views, and listening very deeply for insights to how best to pursue happiness so as to increase all of our lives’ experiences for the better.
Lately, it seems to me, that the rich have had a glut of great times, but the poor and even what was our middle class, are suffering miserably for that increase. This is not tolerable…
I think we can put our minds and bodies to better use. I would like to hear from any of you who would be willing to start a weekly demonstration with me whereby we offer coffee in the mornings and afternoons along with information pertinent to being peace-loving, prosperous, compassionate an actively democratic. WE WILL CALL THIS ACTION -WAKE UP, AMERICA!
Consider the following and please share your own favorites here:
WAKE UP AMERICA - HELPFUL WEBSITES:
Healthcare
http://www.aflcio.org/issues/healthcare/survey/
http://www.onecarenow.com
Peace, activities for social justice, and political interventions
http://www.codepinkalerts.com
http://www.americanfreedomcampaign.org/
http://www.afj.org/
http://www.amnestyusa.org/
http://www.defconamerica.org/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com
http://www.ccrjustice.org/
http://www.hrw.org/
http://www.avaaz.org
http://AngelsForTruth.com
http://www.ResurrectingLiberty.com
http://www.zeitgeistmovie.com
http://ivaw.org/wintersoldier/testimony
Environment
http://www.defenders.org/index.php
http://www.earthjustice.org
http://www.ecospace.cc
newdream-news@newdream.org
gender justice
http://www.hrc.org
http://www.tgijp.org/
http://www.youthgenderproject.org/
www.ProChoiceAmerica.org
news
www.infowars.com
www.golefttv.com
http://www.guardian.co.uk
http://www.SedonaObserver.com
http://peaceblog.wordpress.com/
financial interests
http://www.solariactionnetwork.com
http://financial-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/
http://tinyurl.com/2w2up3
www.npr.org/programs/atc/features/2003/jan/debt/index.html
http://www.agora-inc.com/reports/DRI/WDRIF219
http://www.dailyreckoning.com/Issues/2005/DR021705.html
Philosophy/Psychology/Sociology
http://www.co-intelligence.org/CI-TheoreticalArticles.html
www.ted.com
www.global-mindshift.com
peace to you and to us all around the globe and beyond, if there is anyone out there with intelligent life….
I am going on the air today with Bill Durham, 1-4 pm in an effort to look for some positive things we each and all can do to make life easier, sustainable, and better for our local area, ourselves, and our nation.
I hope you will come to the MEC 106 Standley at 7 pm. for a talk by Professor Luis Fernandez; Policing Dissent:Â Social Control and the Anti-Globalization Movement.
Here are some of the sites that I plan to mention on the air/show:
POLITICs
Codepink   www.codepinkalert.org
Human rights watch    www.hrw.org
Amnesty International
Oxfam
www.publicintegrity.org
www.smirkingchimp.com
www.leadingtowar.com  72 min. film chronicle of events leading us into Iraq
GREEN ACTIVISTS
 scientists concerned with our oceanic health     www.oceana.org
 auto club which does not invest in war and works for green solutions     www.betterworldclub.org
 zero emissions vehicles     www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/zevprog/zevprog.htm
 LOCAL MEAT ‘GROWERS’
MCFadden Farms 743-1122
MCGruder’s 743-1539
Masut 485-5466
Frasier Lane Organics 983-6010
John Ford Ranch 480-2102
MENTAL FLOSS:
www.global-mindshift.org
conversationcafe.org
www.ted.com
www.gogratitude.org
Food is the one consumer choice we have to make every day. We can use that buying power in a transaction that burns excessive fossil fuels, erodes topsoil, supports multinationals that pay their workers just a few bucks a day — or the same money could strengthen neighborhood food economies, keep green spaces alive around our towns, and compensate farmers for applying humane values. Every purchase weighs in on one side or the other. ~Barbara Kingsolver
Audio files are available now from “Masonite, The Discussion,” a lively presentation and discussion about the consequences of our upcoming decision about zoning for the former Masonite site. Should the property remain industrial land or should it be rezoned to allow for large scale retail development? How might these different outcomes affect Mendocino County in the long-run?
Govinda Dalton, Simka Leha, Dave Smith, Tonya DiAndrea and Sean Re of MEC/KMEC handled the live broadcast. The audio can be downloaded from KMEC-LP 105.1FM’s Homepage (viewers may also play either hour directly from the webpage also.)
The program featured a presentation by Michael Shuman. Mr. Shuman is an economist, attorney, nationally acclaimed author (The Small-Mart Revolution and Going Local) and is a co-founder of the Business Alliance for Living Local Economies (BALLE). Time then was provided for perspectives from local planning and land use professionals. Audience questions followed the presentation. Moderated by KC Meadows, Editor of the Ukiah Daily Journal.
Event was sponsored by the Ukiah Main Street Program, City of Ukiah, Greater Ukiah Localization Project, Ukiah Valley Chamber of Commerce, Ukiah Valley Smart Growth Coalition, The Hampton Inn, Penofin Performance Coatings, Inc., and Tribal Economic Development.
