So, I’m up at 7 am (blech) trying to keep myself awake, fishing for some good news for my radio show this evening, and I come across an article about the Dongria Kondh tribe in a battle with Vedanta Resources. After spending the last four hours learning all I could about this issue, I have written letter to send to the Indian Government, and now I’m writing to you, to let you know what’s up.

I’m so sick of corporate bottom lines overriding the human heart I want to find a wardrobe and head over to Narnia. Perhaps I’m a little sensitive to this topic because fucking BP has spent the past 100+ days, blatantly lying, burning sea animals alive, killing eco-systems, and dumping Corexit into the gulf of Mexico for no good reason (however I will say, thank you for capping the well, now stop drilling for oil. New way time people, new way).

Despite my desire to leave this place at times, I remain because we will prevail. So let’s get back to the topic at hand; why you should care about the Dongria Kondh. And you should care, because this is a prime opportunity to lend your voice, and your love not only our home (planet earth), but to the shared people who occupy it. A people who worship nature, who hold it in great respect, who live off its fruits and abundance and ask nothing from any one.

Except your help, right now.

Here’s the situation in a very brief nutshell.  Vedanta Resources is a mining company. Iron. Bauxite, shit like that. A company that has a very shaky history in regards to ethics and respect for both people and planet. This may sound like your typical corporate story, and that right there is a problem in of itself. It’s typical. We need to stop making it typical. We need to start shouting very loudly, “I don’t give a damn how much money is involved, if anit right, is just aint right.”

There is about $2 billion worth of Bauxite in the Dongria Kondh’s sacred mountain in Niyamgiri hills. Vedanta thinks it can just steam roll in and take it with complete disregard to these people. However, not only is this a, let’s do the right thing issue, it is also a legal issue. Very simply, under Indian law, the tribe can claim  rights over their land. Therefore, it doesn’t matter how many billions of trillions of dollars is sitting in that mountain, if the people don’t want you there, roll out. http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1007/S00342.htm

And it’s not just the people, or human rights organizations shouting that something is effed up. The UK Government has flat out said that Vedanta; “did not respect the rights of the Dongria Kondh”; “did not consider the impact of the construction of the mine on the [tribe’s] rights”; and “failed to put in place an adequate and timely consultation mechanism”. “A change in the company’s behavior’ is ‘essential”. http://www.survivalinternational.org/news/4980

In light of the recent uproar ( that needs to get louder, btw), stockholders of Vedanta are paying attention. The Church of England sold its shares. Dutch pensions giant PGGM pulled back $16 million worth of investments.  However, Vedanta isn’t going to go bankrupt anytime soon, nor are they going to stop pushing for this unless we remain diligent and loud. They’ve got the time, and the money to ride this out, so we must help these people.  Vedanta’s first quarter earnings were around $793.9 million http://www.marketwatch.com/story/vedanta-resources-quarterly-ebitda-surges-2010-07-30

Aside from the company’s do whatever I want because I’m a billion dollar company attitude, their mindset is boggling to me.  How lost are these  CEO’s and Senior Management people? Look I’m sure they’re not bad people, but their thinking has gotten so screwed up its crazy. It’s scary, and its unacceptable. What are they teaching their children? What kind of example are they setting for upcoming entrepreneurs?

Vedanta claims: “…the mine in the Niyamgiri mountain forests, beneath which lie 78 million tons of bauxite, will not violate the rights of local tribes and the company is also funding schools, clinics and income-generation projects in the area.” http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/vedanta-faces-protests-over-orissa-mine-project/103033/on

Vedanta’s chief executive , Mr. Mehta has said: “Maybe we’ve been naive not to talk more in the past, but I would not like to hazard a guess about why Vedanta is targeted in this way. The region is one of the most backward in India. We have provided schools, hospitals and infrastructure for the Dongria Kondh and have offered financial support far beyond the necessary levels.” http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=10272

……really? Really?  If you’re offering these people things they don’t want it just doesn’t matter. You could be building them a temple, a monument, the best energy efficient housing money can buy, what does it matter if they don’t want, or need it? The Dongria Kondh are accomplished horticulturists.  They live right off the land, nature in all its abundance provides them with ample food, and medicines. They number at around 8,000. And in return, they offer respect, reverence and love for their home. They are happy, they are proud, and we could all learn something for them. Who the hell are we, or Vedanta to tell these people they are backwards? Half of us would be up shits creek if we couldn’t go to a grocery store, or run into the CVS to pop a pill.  We are backwards.

When I’m off traveling the world, learning new things, I’m going to have to make it a point to visit the Dongria Kondh. It would be a honor to do so. I’d advise that a few levels of senior management at Vedanta do the same because they simply don’t get it. Until they do , we need to do our part to make sure Vedanta stays away from this mountain, and respects the Dongria’s home.

It is the least we can do. http://www.survivalinternational.org/films/mine

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….to me

We take relationships to our partners pretty seriously. But how much weight, time, and attention do we give to the relationships with ourselves?

Through my own trial and error, I have become a firm believer in some very simplistic, personal truths. I believe that I can only attract to me something of equal of lesser value. That’s just the way energy works. I believe that in order for any relationship to ultimately be successful you have to be able to do a few things:

1 – Be completely in love with yourself

2 – Know how to make yourself happy

Why do I say that? Too often, (in my humble opinion) we get into relationships looking for our partner to fill some gap. The other half our heart. Our better selves. But that is all an illusion. We’re the only ones that can fix us. We’re the only ones that can fill the holes. If we can’t feel completely at home in our skin, utterly accepting of our little quirks and demons, sitting on the undeniable knowledge of what lights us up, able to manifest and enflame our own passion, how we can expect anyone else too?

I’ve given a lot of thought to relationships this past month. It’s a good astrological time for it, but that’s beside the point. I’ve been thinking a lot about what I want in a life partner, and why I want those things. I keep asking myself: what do you feel is missing in your life that you think someone else can give you? And what I keep coming back too is, well, me. Have I made a commitment to my life, to my passions, to my dreams? I keep coming back to Samantha and the second sex and the city movie,  (don’t laugh, follow along). She’s breaking up with her man and says something that I really resonated with: “I’ve been having a 50 year relationship with myself and that’s the one I need to work on.”

How often do married couples get divorced because they’ve lost their sense of selves? Because they were so busy giving their time and energy to WE, they forgot about I? Selfish? Absolutely, but in this instance we have to be. If we don’t spend a portion of our lives being selfish. If we don’t take that time to really understand what lights us up, if we don’t make that commitment to ourselves, how can we partner with someone else and except it to work?

Trust me I’m not against a life partner, or relationships, or romance or any of the above. I’ve got such a tight knit group of friends, they are my family. I’m not lonely, I AM.  I’m all for a husband and a wife, when the time comes. But right now, the relationship with I is very important and that’s what I’m going to focus on.

I think that it is something to take just as seriously as a commitment to another person. I also think it is something to be celebrated. So, this weekend I’m going to get myself a ring. I’m going to set a date, I’m going to write some vows, and I’m even going to go on a honeymoon. I’ve got the perfect place in mind.

Perhaps this blog post has confused you. Perhaps you resonate with it. Either way, it’s all good. This is a difficult feeling to explain, but I can’t say I’m not excited, or that I’m not going to have fun with it. When it’s time to widen my marriage circle to include others, those relationships will be all the better for what I’m accomplishing now.

So send your congratulations cuz I’m getting married! To Me.

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You know I’m a pretty passionate person.  I can get riled up fairly easily on issues I feel strongly about. Just last evening I posted to my facebook page a link for signing a petition that asks our elected officials to take seriously a move forward from our dependence on oil. Within the next day or two, I’m going to rant about that. But this morning I bring up Yahoo and there’s an article about how Obama needs to pick a side in the same-sex marriage issue, because a judge just overturned Proposition 8. Same sex marriages are okay. That, in my opinion, is awesome. But it struck me that I just couldn’t understand why people were so against it. So, I ventured over to the National Organization for Marriage website so find some answers.

The article that stood out for me was an opinion piece by Maggie Gallagher, Chairman of the National Organization for Marriage, entitled Prop. 8: Judge Walker’s bias will be overruled.

So I read it. And now I’m sitting here angry, and sad, and utterly frustrated with we as a society. The same way, no doubt the people who think same sex marriages should be outlawed feel. I’m trying to be understanding. I’ve cautioned before that we who are fighting to end intolerance must be careful that we don’t become like those we are fighting against. This whole thing is about fear of change. It’s about mis-understanding. It’s about unnecessary hatred.  I don’t hate people who think same sex marriages should be outlawed. I can’t claim I get you, but I don’t think you’re bad people. I think your misinformed, misguided people who need to release your fear and accept change. I think you truly don’t understand what the concept of freedom entails, that the constitution is a document to protect all people’s rights, not the popular moral opinion of the day.

So, like a true policy debater I’m going to take Gallagher’s article, and some of the arguments she makes and we’re going to talk about them.

Gallagher states: “Did our Founding Fathers really create a right to gay marriage in the U.S. Constitution? It is hard for anyone reading the text or history of the 14th Amendment to make that claim with a straight face, no matter how many highly credentialed and brilliant so-called legal experts say otherwise.”

My Answer: Do not presume to tell me that the founding fathers wouldn’t have allowed this. One, you didn’t know them. Two, let’s get real here, the founding fathers were a bunch of rich, white slave owners. The morals of those who wrote the constitution could be seriously debated. If you need a re-education into the real history of the United States and its founding fathers I suggest reading Howard Zinns Voices of a People’s History of the United States.

Gallagher states: “Judge Walker has added insult to injury by suggesting that support for marriage is somehow irrational bigotry, akin to racial animus. The majority of Americans are not bigots or haters for supporting the commonsense view that marriage is the union of husband and wife, because children need moms and dads.”

My Answer: This is not a commonsense view. It is a limited, intolerant view. Children need parents who will teach them love, and understanding more than mothers and fathers. Can a single mother not raise healthy children when there is no father? Can a single father not do the same? Is a mother and a father the ideal situation? Maybe. But I daresay, maybe not. If there are two loving parents in the household (whatever they’re sex may be) how does that not provide a stable environment for a child to learn and grow? I’ll give you a perfect example. In 2009 in Vermont Evann Orleck-Jetter, a twelve year old middle school student testified before the Vermont legislator about her home life with two mothers. I will quote sections of her testimony:

“My name is Evann Orleck-Jetter. I’m twelve years old and I live in Thetford Center. I have a wonderful family. I live with my little brother, my grandma, and two moms who are with me and support me in whatever I do. I love them very much and I wish that having to stand up here right now in front of this committee wasn’t an issue anymore. We should be past this. I work really hard in school, I have good friends, and I’m really happy with two loving parents who help me in everything I do….

Feeling accepted in a society where gay and lesbian people aren’t represented in daily life – like on television and in the media – is a real problem. There aren’t any examples of a family like mine. If my parents could just have the right to get married, this would make such a difference. It hurts me sometimes when I feel invisible, because few people understand my feelings about my family, and few people want to ask about families with two moms. It’s time to ask. It’s time to understand. And it’s time to accept and honor families like mine.”

So I ask you, how much damage are you doing to children by continually shoving your intolerant fear based view down people’s throats? No one’s trying to overturn single sex marriages. No one’s trying to say that you’re wrong for being heterosexual. How can you as parents, as people, sleep at night knowing that your teaching your children its okay to hate other people based on who they love?

Gallagher states: “Judge Walker’s view is truly a radical rejection of Americans’ rights, our history and our institutions that will only fuel a popular rebellion now taking place against elites who are more interested in remaking American institutions than respecting them.”

My Answer: Please explain that to me in more depth. How is ruling that same sex marriages are okay a rejection of American’s history? America’s history is forever changing. At one time we believed a woman shouldn’t vote, that she shouldn’t have the same rights as her husband. At the time, to think otherwise was radical. At one time we thought it was okay to treat people differently because of skin color. And now here we are again, with the same limited, fear based thinking because two people of the same sex want the same rights as people of different sex. Why do you refuse to see that? What are you so afraid of?

Gallagher states: “If this ruling is upheld, millions of Americans will face for the first time a legal system that is committed to the view that our deeply held moral views on sex and marriage are unacceptable in the public square, the fruit of bigotry that should be discredited, stigmatized and repressed. Parents will find that, almost Soviet-style, their own children will be re-educated using their own tax dollars to disrespect their parents’ views and values.”

My Answer: You’re over-reacting. You simply are. It is your intolerance and discrimination against two people who love each other that is unacceptable. Look, I may not agree with what you say but I will defend to the death you’re right to say it. You want to form organizations that preach your morals and religious beliefs to each other, that is your right. But when you attempt to take your intolerant, fear based opinions and make them law, then we have a problem. Explain to me logically how in the world allowing a man and a man, or a woman and woman to get married disrupts anything? How does it not heal instead? Let me explain why it does. By allowing a man and man, or a woman and woman to get married, you’re expanding the bounds of freedom. There is no good, legal, constitutional reason not to allow it. There is only a religious and moral one, and that is a personal opinion, not the majority of the United States. And even if it was how can you support a government that would discriminate against any kind of people who were operating within the law? Allowing same sex marriages does not stop allowing a man and a woman to get married. If you believe that the ideal family is a man and woman, that’s great, good for you. That’s what you should have in your life, in the community you choose to live in. Awesome. However, not everyone feels that way. Change is coming. There is no reason for your fear. It’s going to be okay, and we as a society are going to be better for it. I promise.

Gallagher states: “Those in power will call it tolerance, they will call it pluralism, but in truth same-sex marriage is a government takeover of an institution the government did not make, cannot in justice redefine, and ought to respect and protect as essential to the common good.”

My Answer: Your argument is flawed on multiple levels. Firstly, if the government didn’t make it, then we shouldn’t have a legal issue at all. If, as you say, the government should stay out of this debate all together, then all marriages of any kind should be allowed and it is religious leaders and communities that should decide. I’m down with that. However, because you also claim in the same breath that the government out to respect and protect the common good, then, if you allow one type of person to marry, you should also allow the opposite type of person to marry. To do anything else is discriminatory, and unconstitutional. There is no government take over here. A takeover would be the government picking ONE side as they are doing by supporting heterosexual marriages only.  Again I say no one is stopping your view that same sex marriages are wrong. The ruling wasn’t: “you’re not allowed to think that way anymore.” Think whatever you want, that is your right. The ruling is that the government has no right to discriminate against same sex couples, and it doesn’t. How can you logically and legally claim it does? By your very arguments this is a moral/religious issue, not a legal one and that is the difference.

I don’t know what else to say to try and break through. Sure, I wish you’d change your mind and be more accepting but it’s okay. What is not okay is lawful discrimination, period. Keep your moral and religious views. That is your right. It is the law that has too, and will change. It is my intention, that we the people will change along with it. There is no reason not too. Its time to come at this issues from a place of love, not fear.

Namaste (I honor the light in you),

DCS

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Starting at 11am PST tomorrow, Dr. Masauro Emoto a pioneer in how consciousness affects water, will be hosting his annual Love and Thanks to the Water Ceremony.  In a time where our Gulf waters are desperately in need of healing, it’s a wonderful opportunity to send some love and support to something that nourishes us all.

I am deeply honored that I was asked to participate in this event. At 4:45 PST a video that I recorded specially for this event will be aired world-wide. I’m terribly excited, and so very touched to be able to share my thanks, love, and energy with so many people around the globe.

Its a jam pack day, filled with wonderful speakers and musical talent. You’ll find the events schedule below. To participate live, anywhere in the world visit: http://theeverythingcompany.com/waterblessing/

Namaste!

Sunday, July 25th schedule:

11:00am LIVE from Mystic Garden Party – Main Stage
Grandma Aggie & others
Dr. Emoto from Brazil via Internet
12:25 - Nikita Gearing- Brief Explanation of Intention
12:30 - Karen Coffey
12:45 - Excerpt from Dr. Emoto Documentary
1:00 - James Twyman
1:30 - Wilderland - ”Fragile Day”
1:37 - Water.org
2:00 - Jeffrey Weissler
2:30 - Water for Life
3:15 - Nikita Gearing - Segment 2
3:30 - Regina & Scott Meredith
3:45 - Katherine Woodward Thomas
4:00 – Saida Désilets, Ph.D
4:15 – Sol Sebastian
4:30 – Kerri  Kannan
4:45 – DCS
5:00 – Neale Donald Walsch
5:15 – JR Westen
5:30 – Eddie Rodriguez
5:45 – Cornflower
6:00 - Richard Moss
6:30 - DavidPaul Doyle
6:45 - Eric DelaBarre
7:00 - Day Out of Time Movie (20 min)
7:30 - Eden Skywalker (DOOT) “2012: WE ARE THE LIVING PROPHECY”
7:45 - Vision Dancer (DOOT)
8:00 - Gangaji
8:30 - Daphne Rose Kingma
8:45 - Susan Schachterle
9:00 - James O’Dea
9:15 - Will Wilkinson
9:30 - Philip Coppens
9:45 - Wilderland -  ”Fragile Day”
10:00 LIVE from Mystic Garden Party – Main Stage
Closing Celebration

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Namaste my loyal and wonderful blog readers! I know I’ve been MIA, I’ve just been hella busy. But, there is a lot swirling around in the mind of DCS so you can expect a few rants, informative posts, and updates on Synarchy Book 2: The Ascension very soon.

In the meantime, there is something I must share with you all. Please go to: http://www.restorethegulf.com/ and sign this petition. The petition demands that a plan be implemented now to restore the gulf waters and the damage done by the Oil Spill. More important than the demand is you adding your voice, stepping into your power, and letting the powers that be know we are paying attention, we do care, and we will not stand for anything less than fixing what has been broken.

You can also watch a fabulous youtube video promoting the petition. Take a look, then go sign. Much love to you!!

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One day last week as I was doing research on the oil spill I realized that in all the articles, and videos and such that what was lacking in the discussion was the spiritual perspective on all this.  And that bothered me.  I felt like the teachers that helped me so much on this journey were all talk, and at the moment of crisis where their light was so desperately needed they were  nowhere to be found.

I couldn’t have been more wrong.

I wrote a letter, which I’m going to share with you below. Following it, you’ll find the response I got a few short days later.

Hello Evolutionary Leaders!

My name is Crystal Storm.  I consider myself a spiritual activist, another
soul on this amazing journey of conscious evolution.  I’m writing because
I have a concern, and a question for you all.  I live in New Orleans, and
a lot of my attention is focused on this oil spill.  Now, let me say that
I can see the light at the end of this tunnel. It is my sincere hope, and
intent, that this disaster will help wake people up to a few things.  One,
that we can’t keep doing what we’re doing to our home, and two it will
push people to start creating the demand for renewable energy, the
technologies that can co-exist safely with this wonderful planet. They are
already out there, we just have to grasp them. Three, I think it will help
awaken us to understand how connected we all our, not just with each
other, but with the Earth.  So, I do know that a lot of good can come out
of this.

However, I am also a practical revolutionist.  There are major, major
concerns regarding this oil spill that I don’t believe should be ignored.
I’m not one to just sit around and meditate on it.  I have sent out my
prayers, I continue to do so. I have sent out my love, I will continue to
do so. However, intent also needs action for manifestation (at least I
think it does anyway, hehe.)  So, while I’ve scoured the alternative news
to find as much real information as I can get on what’s going on I find
that there is utter silence from what I’ll call the spiritual community
and that bothers me. It’s very possible that I’m missing it, the internet
is a big place. If I’m looking for information you’ve already posted
somewhere else if you could toss me a link or two that would be awesome!

An idea popped into my head this evening that since I am a radio show
host, and a writer, I’d like to share your voice on this matter with as
many people as I can. There is so much fear, and despair, and loss of
hope, especially from so many people who live in these areas. I respect
everyone’s journey and I know that a lot of times suffering is the
catalyst for evolution, but there still needs to be a light.  So, I’m
hoping you’ll be able to take a moment out of your terribly busy schedules
and tell me;

What do you think of this disaster?

What do you think we, as a collective should be doing to combat it?

What do you see as the end result?

Thank you so, so much for your time, and for everything that you do!

Namaste,
Crystal

And the response:

Join The Gulf Call to Sacred Action

The Evolutionary Leaders: In Service to Conscious Evolution have joined
together to be a loud and important voice for all who feel powerless.

The People Need You ~ The Gulf Needs You

Join the Evolutionary Leaders for three FREE inspiring, profound and
world-changing, global, 70-minute gatherings via telephone and internet

When tens of thousands take one small collective step, there will be a
powerful impact for the good of humanity.

You have the opportunity here today to make dramatic change. Let people
know who you are and what you stand for.

Sign up today to participate in The Gulf Call to Sacred Action

http://www.evolutionaryleaders.net/gulf/

Setting Our Sacred Intention
Saturday June 26th
10:00 AM Pacific/1:00 PM Eastern
with Deepak Chopra, Lynne McTaggart, and Jean Houston

We begin by setting our collective intention. Join Deepak Chopra to set
our powerful vision and participate in a worldwide Intention Experiment
with renowned author and scientist Lynne McTaggart. Explore how our
collective intention, our voice and our commitment can impact the
cleanup of the oil spill. And then we will be graced by Jean Houston who
will share with us why this time matters and why we matter.

The Power of Sacred Prayer
Tuesday July 6th
5:30 PM Pacific/8:30 PM Eastern
with Reverend Michael Bernard Beckwith, Joan Borysenko, and James O’Dea

Our collective prayers and thoughts have the power to cause a profound
shift on the planet. Pray with some of the most powerful spiritual
thought leaders — Reverend Michael Bernard Beckwith, Joan Borysenko,
James O’Dea and more. Together we discover that we have the power to
change the world.

The Heart of Sacred Activism
Tuesday July 13th
5:30 PM Pacific/8:30 PM Eastern
with Barbara Marx Hubbard, Gregg Braden, and Andrew Harvey

Open up and connect to the deeper heart of our planet where we hear our
individual and collective call to action. Together with sacred activists
Barbara Marx Hubbard, Gregg Braden, and Andrew Harvey, we will take back our power and move into powerful action that will forever change our
lives and the lives of generations to come.

“Hi, I’m Debbie Ford, one of the Evolutionary Leaders, and I’ll have the
honor of hosting and moderating these three world-changing calls. Please
join all of us by signing up today and then become an Agent of Change by
sharing this message with your friends. (Email it. Share it on Facebook.
Tweet it.)”

Sign up today to participate in The Gulf Call to Sacred Action

http://www.evolutionaryleaders.net/gulf/signup.html

Participate in any of the conversations live on the phone or on the web.
If you miss a call, podcast recordings will be available.

You are important. Your life and your actions make a difference. Please
know that we need you to join us.

The calls are FREE but we are asking that if it is possible for you to
donate even a $1, $10, or $20, the Evolutionary Leaders will deliver
your contributions to the local communities directly affected by the oil
spill. All donations will be taken through the Chopra Foundation.

Donate today and be an Agent of Change!

http://deepakchopra.com/chopra-foundation/donate/

A special opportunity to give and participate

If you donate over $2,500, come with Andrew Harvey, Debbie Ford and some of the other Evolutionary Leaders to Louisiana and be a part of ceremony where we will deliver the funds. This will be a life-changing experience for you and your loved ones.

The Gulf Call to Sacred Action is your opportunity to connect with the
spiritual warrior inside who knows you matter, you make a difference,
the world needs you, and you are part of something greater than
yourself.

Sign up today to participate in The Gulf Call to Sacred Action

http://www.evolutionaryleaders.net/gulf/signup.html

Evolutionary Leaders: In Service to Conscious Evolution invite you in.

I urge everyone who reads my blog and is concerned about this Oil Spill, please sign up and listen to the calls.  We must tackle this from so many angles and as we go forward we cannot, simply cannot forget the spiritual aspect of all this.  It is because of our disconnection that this has happened in the first place.  Please participate in the call, we need you.

Namaste

DCS

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About the excuses as to why we can’t change.  About the excuses as to why common sense solutions to cleaning up the oil spill as it hit lands aren’t being used.  Until someone explains to me a really good freaking reason why oil eating microbes, hay, corn cobs and other methods that don’t lead to sea turtles and other wildlife being burned alive, shouldn’t be used, any excuse to contrary is no longer acceptable.

I don’t give a damn that we’ve been dependant on oil for so long. It’s time to change.  I don’t want to hear that we can’t do this while republican and democrats are in charge, or that big business is too powerful, or blah, blah, blah.  We must stop making excuses for the things that are killing us. There is no excuse, no reason, for BP to be using chemical dispersants that are so toxic that have been banned in Europe.  The EPA is stupid. This was proven during 9/11 when they claimed that the air was safe for rescue workers to breathe; we all know how that turned out.  We have various reports that those who are cleaning up this oil spill are getting sick too. It’s enough.

Yesterday, a Louisiana Judge lifted the six month ban on deepwater oil drilling. I’m not surprised, nor was I surprised that he owns stock in Transocean.  Look, I understand these rig workers have been doing this their whole lives.  I get that.  I understand that no deep water drilling will have serious economic effects to the region and the country. I live here. I work in the service industry.  I live pay to pay check. I’m part of the same system. But when one persons job leads to the destruction of the environment, the very planet we need, and could potentially destroy the way of life for others, I’m sorry but it’s time for a career change.

Shamus Cooke wrote an article yesterday entitled, Why the Oil Spill Will Change Nothing.  I don’t agree with him on a lot points, but I understand where he’s coming from. One thing Cooke wrote yesterday that I do agree with is this paragraph: “Millions of jobs could easily be created if closed auto plants and other factories were retooled to massively produce solar panels, windmills, energy-efficient windows, high-speed trains, busses, etc.”

Exactly!

What if, slowly but surely, we took all those oil rig workers, great hard working men, and retrained them? Why can’t we? Don’t give me a list of excuses, I want hear how it can be done, not why it can’t because can’t is unacceptable. It’s time we stopped living stupidly. It’s time we stop clinging to ways that don’t make any fucking sense just because we’re afraid of change. Newsflash: it’s already changing. You can’t stop it. Its either going to change for the better, or Mother Nature is going to take appropriate measures.  Children who act up cannot be allowed to continue to do so, especially if their actions are harmful to themselves, each other, or their environment. Wouldn’t you agree? How much more do you think mother earth is going to allow? Hmm? How much would you, if placed in her shoes?

So, let’s talk about what we need to do right now to start cleaning up this oil spill.

1 – Assess why rescue workers are getting sick and come up with counter measures. This is being discussed as I write this article by the Institute of Medicine’s conference on human health impacts. Follow this link to watch the live webinar feed: http://live.prolibraries.com/streaming/iom_effects_of_the_oil_spill/?utm_medium=etmail&utm_source=Institute%20of%20Medicine&utm_campaign=06.10+Oil+Spill+Webcast+Reminder&utm_content=Oil%20Spill%20Webcast%20Notification&utm_term=Unknown

2 – More grassroots, and small business help in cleanup efforts – Enough with the red tape. I don’t give a damn what the excuses are concerning why more volunteer workers and companies willing to help with the spill aren’t being utilized. Start. Even Kevin Costner said, “I believe there are other small companies out there in the private sector just like us. You should know that negotiating your way through the bureaucratic maze that currently exists is like trying to play a video game that nobody can master.”  WTF. The article went on to further state that: “Heather Baird testified about just how impossible that bureaucratic video game can be. Baird is the vice president of communications for Microsorb Environmental Products, a Massachusetts company that uses non-toxic, oil-eating microbes to clean up spills.

BP (BP) has used Microsorb on past spills, and the technology is on the Environmental Protection Agency’s approved product list for emergencies like this one. But Microsorb can’t get its little microbes into the Gulf of Mexico. The company’s executives have spent thousands of dollars traveling to the Gulf, pitching every BP executive and official they can reach on the efficacy and safety of their product. “We have ceased all other business in an attempt to do what we know is the right thing to do,” said Baird. “At each one of these touch points we were told that our technology was needed and should be deployed.” http://money.cnn.com/2010/06/17/smallbusiness/small_business_bp_hearing/index.htm?section=money_latest

 What’s the hold up? Why aren’t they being used? Unacceptable.  Utterly, completely, unacceptable.

Now let’s talk about what we need to do. Hay to clean up the oil is also a viable solution. It was used in 1969 in the Santa Barbara oil spill cleanup.  We just need to get down there and start doing it.  If there are health concerns, and there are, state them. If we need training, and of course we do, provide it. Bottom line, grassroots groups need to step up and demand that they be allowed to help, because BP needs our help, and we are more than willing to give it. I don’t give a damn about the money BPs going to lose, and all the cover up nonsense. Enough now. 

If BP won’t provide the training courses, we need to find someone else who will.  I’m sure there are groups that that can teach us how to be safe while cleaning up the oil. And after our training, we meet with logistics experts, the coast guard, and other forces already on ground and come up with an action plan to get started. And then, we get together, armed with our training and our solutions, and we tell BPs security officers on the beach to step aside. And if they won’t we walk right past them and get to work. 

We can do this people. We must do this. I’m done waiting on BP and the Government. It’s obvious that a corporation who has the audacity to write in their newsletter, “Much of the region’s [nonfishing boat] businesses — particularly the hotels — have been prospering because so many people have come here from BP and other oil emergency response teams,”– doesn’t give a shit about us, or the wildlife they are killing. http://blogs.wsj.com/source/2010/06/22/bp-magazine-discovers-a-bright-side-to-the-oil-spill/?mod=e2tw

And while we’re cleaning up the oil spill, we’ve got to take this change to our communities too.  I’m not asking you not to drive your car; I’m asking you drive it a little less.  I’m asking you to reach out to your neighbors, to your community, to step out of your comfort zone a little, and do something that will only make us stronger, wiser, and more in tune with the planet and ourselves.  The solutions are out there. Your community needs will not be the same as the one 10 miles away. That’s okay. Sit down and figure out what they are. Make some phone calls. Start small.

If you have the money to support alternative sources for fuel, do it. If you have the means to promote, market, or offer your business expertise to those firms so they can start getting more attention, and we can start getting a product that will survive in the changing market, do it.

Change is coming. Resistance is futile. Your energy is better spent directing where that change will go. It’s our choice, not theirs, ours. Yours. Let’s get together and make it.  I welcome your comments. Share your information and voices and let’s get this party started.

Photographs copied from this article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/ynews_sc2694

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A few very wise astrologers told me that I was going to be riled up for the next six months or so.  They weren’t kidding.  Aside from the oil spill that makes me so angry my tiny self might destroy a punching bag if I were to start laying into it, now I hear that suddenly the NOPD has decided to begin enforcing a very old city ordinance that is shutting down street musicians who play after 8pm.

Now, if you’re not from New Orleans, have never lived here, or have just come on a quick visit you’re may not get why we’re so upset.  So for those of you who haven’t experienced the amazing, beautiful phenomena that are the jazz brass bands I’m going to try and explain it to you.

First, check out this video -

  The French Quarter of New Orleans is an amazing, utterly unique place of architecture, antique shops, art galleries, and various locally owned stores that have anything from a to z. When you come to New Orleans, you know you’re in New Orleans. And then you have Bourbon street, a long strip of daiquiri shops, titty bars, and nightclubs. Most people are familiar with Bourbon street and they think that’s all New Orleans is. They couldn’t be more wrong.  What makes this city so wonderfully unique is not just the architecture, or Bourbon Street. It’s the street musicians. It’s the Brass Bands.  Too many of our local legends have started out playing on street corners, to crowds of adoring fans who suddenly get it. And now, on a corner of Bourbon and Canal, where not many, if any residences live, police have suddenly decided to start shutting down these groups.  Not only there, but in another section of town, Frenchman and Charters.  Now, Frenchman is the spot to be if you want to hear real New Orleans music. And yes, there are apartments nearby, however, if you’re going to live either in the French Quarter, or near Frenchman you go there understanding the tradition; basically its loud. If you like quiet there are select area’s in the quarter that are, but more importantly there a ton of places in the surrounding area’s to go if you don’t want hear a brass band playing at 9pm (and they’re less expensive).

 The recent Disney movie, The Princess and the Frog did a wonderful job of illustrating the sounds of New Orleans. They got it right.  There is a great scene in the move where Prince Navine is jamming out with a brass band. That is classic New Orleans. The music is the heart and soul of this city.

 In a city plagued with corruption, crime, unemployment, and now the ramifications of this goddaamn oil spill, the street musicians add a wonderful. much needed, positive creative energy.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve walked past these bands on my way home from work and was uplifted by their sounds and their energy.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve smiled happily as I watched all kinds of people, white people, black people, yellow people, no leg people, drunk people, sober people, tourist, local, businessman, service industry professional whoever, shaking their hips, bopping their heads, tapping their feet, and looking happy as hell they’ve come across something you’d be hard pressed to find any where else in the US of A.

 Police have said that they’ve received numerous complaints. We’re still waiting to find out where those mysterious complaints are coming from.  Several independent reporters have reached out to a few hotels nearby and their owners have gone on the record to state that they don’t have a problem with it. I’m sure the occasional tourist will complain about the noise, but they don’t get it. It’s understandable. The next time they come down, they’ll move further into the quarter away from the noise.

 The facebook group, Don’t Stop the Music Let Orleans Street Musicans Play has over 7,000 fans gathered in the last seventy-two hours. I’ve read numerous news articles and the comments are amazing. Locals and people who come here to visit are appalled at this sudden move by city officials. Mayor Landrieu has promised he will review the ordinance with the city council and find a solution and he certainly better. A very popular brass band To Be Continued that has played on the corner of Bourbon and Canal for the last nine years refuses to be shut down, as do the rest of the bands. Just this morning, New Orleans trombone player Glen David Andrews led a protest around Jackson Square. Andrews has played himself in the HBO series Treme.  His protest this morning drew a heck of a crowd and several news crews. I damn near cried when I read this statement that he gave: “We’re not going to have another musician getting arrested,” said Andrews. “We’re not going to have another musician getting a ticket, and if we get word, if I get word of any other musicians being harassed, we’re going to get Trombone Shorty, Lenny Kravitz, the Andrews [Brass Band], Rebirth [Brass Band], Dr. John, and we’re going to march on City Hall.”

 That’s what’s up. And they have the full support of the New Orleans people. To Be Continued was out last night, they’ll be out tonight, and they’ll be playing until the NOPD shut them down. In the meantime, there is a whole lot of civil disobedience going on, and I couldn’t be prouder. Too often people think of New Orleans as city of people who do nothing but complain, and that’s such bullshit.  I’ve never seen a city more ACTIVE in their own survival, and more vocal about things they feel are wrong. If more cities within the nation followed this example, maybe the country wouldn’t be as screwed up as it is.

 I’ll be replying to this post tomorrow with the letters I’ll be sending to City Hall.  I invite everyone who loves New Orleans music to check out the facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dont-Stop-the-Music-Let-New-Orleans-Street-Musicians-Play/122022824505942?ref=ts

Additionally to voice your own protest here are the names, phone numbers and email addresses you need to get in touch with:

Mayor’s Office Phone: 504-658-490

Click this link for a contact form to send an email: http://www.cityofno.com/Portals/Portal35/portal.aspx?portal=35&load=~/CNO/Modules/ContactUs.ascx&contacttype=message&contactid=207

Mitch Landrieu’s Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/mitchlandrieu

Police Chief Serpas
NOPDChief@cityofno.com

Quality of Life Officer for 8th District
Ofc. Roger Jones, 8th Dist PD
rjjones@cityofno.com
504-301-7667

Arnie Fielkow/City Council Counsellor at Large
afielkow@cityofno.com
504-658-1060

Jackie Clarkson/City Council Vice President
jbclarkson@cityofno.com
504-658-1070

Kristin Palmer/District C Councilmember
kgpalmer@cityofno.com

On July 8, 2010 at 6 p.m. at the Maison Dupuy Hotel, 1001 Toulouse Street, there will be an action meeting. If your a musican, or love em, come on out and show your support.

NO STOP MUSIC!!!

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It’s time we brought our survival down to a personal level.

Look, I’m in the same boat as a lot of you.  I live pay check to pay check.  There’s not always a full fridge in my house.  I’m certainly not starving, but there’s not excess.  Even so, I enjoy what I’ll call a few luxuries.  I can afford to attend school, and take tai chi, and I don’t work at the hotel full time.  I’ve got the time to work on my book, and other independent projects I’m intending will turn some sort of profit one day so I don’t have to work at the Soniat House anymore.  I’ve got a killer family support system so I know if I really needed anything that backup is there.  I am admittedly, a little spoiled.

 However, I am well aware that we are on a sinking ship.  The luxuries I have now will not always be around, and the way the world is shaping that collapse is coming sooner than later.  I don’t feel a sense a panic, but one of urgency.  And that’s the same fire under the ass that we all need.

 I have no idea how to grow my own food.  I’ve waved to my neighbors a few times, I do chat occasionally with the guy next door, but I don’t really know them.  There are basic things that I’ve relied on other people for for years, and very quietly but persistently a little voice is telling me that its time I learned a few basic things.  That, is where we all need to head. 

 I understand times are tough, but our reliance on the powers that be no longer serve us.  We need to start forming communities that have shared interests, (whatever those community interests are) and start relying on ourselves to do what’s right.  I have heard that urban homesteading is not terribly difficult, and it’s inexpensive.  I’m going to do a radio show on Saturday afternoon to help people get started (myself included) a basic 101. My lease is up soon, and I need to start thinking about making the shift to either get to know my current community, or finding one where I vibe with the energy, and share some of the same goals.

 I understand that moving might not be an option for people.  I understand that a lot of people have hardships, and problems, and are scrapping by.  However, our excuses are no longer reasons for not acting.  If anything, those hardships need to be the reasons that we start taking matters in our own hands and stop waiting for someone else.  We need less fear and more information. 

 I know that working together has become an alien type thing.  I know it will be hard because we’ve become very isolated from each other, and a million other reasons.  What we need to beat into our heads is that the past is just that, the past.  We must move forward in much more loving, much more informed way.  We must start thinking of not only ourselves but each other. That is the only way we are going to turn an impending disaster into a time of transition.  Transition can be messy, sure.  But once we have broken through what is breaking down we have the opportunity to create something magical, sustainable, and that makes sense to our needs.  Those needs will be different from area to area.  It’s not a one size fits all solution.  We are different but we are not alone.

 I was reading the Times Picayune this morning, and went to the opinion pieces. A few letters to the editor caught my attention and then lead to the urge for me to write this piece.  One gentleman wrote that we cannot expect corporations to act morally.  He listed some good reasons such as shareholders and investors that watch profit margins from afar and don’t particularly care how the company is working so long as they get their money.  What annoyed me about the article was not the truth, but our reaction to it.  For so long we’ve seen this as being a fucked up way of doing things, but let it slide because we believed we couldn’t change it.  Now we’re sitting on the brink of disaster, still crying out for someone to save us instead of taking steps to fix it ourselves.  Do we need safer regulations on oil rigs, or do we need to stop our dependence on something that has never done us any good on that moral level?  We don’t have to reinvent the wheel.  The beauty of this is that alternatives already exist we’ve simply never created the demand for them.  I don’t want the government pushing for renewable energy, I want US too.  I want communities to get together to contact these alternative resource companies and discuss first hand their needs, and how they can make it a viable solution.  I want us, who all need our modes of transportation for various reasons to demand that that our gas guzzlers be replaced by cleaner, more environmentally sound solutions for the same price.  Hydrogen cars. Electric cars. Soy bean oil cars.  Car pooling.  Walking when we can.  Riding our bikes when we can.  These don’t have to be hardships.  You gotta go the grocery store that’s cool find out who else does and ya’ll can go together.  You gotta run out for milk?  Is there a little local store around the corner you could visit, and instead of driving grab the dog and the hyper active children and wear both out?  I know at first these may seem like difficult inconveniences but hey, that always happens when breaking a bad habit. Trust me I know, I’ve got to change just like the rest of you.  But I’ve got to change.  If we put our minds and our hearts in the same place it won’t become such a bad thing after all. 

 Another opinion piece in the paper this morning was a gentleman who stated that if the moratorium on oil rigs down here doesn’t lift the end result will be more people dependant on the government for welfare, higher prices at the pump, and fewer people who can afford to heat and cool their homes.  He may very well be right.  And that is prime reason for us to change the way we do things, not demand we go back to the same suck ass solution that got us into this mess in the first place. 

 It’s not going to be easy, I’m not saying it is.  But that the fact that it’s going to be hard is no reason not to start.  It’s hard now.  It can either get worse, or we can get wise.  It’s our choice.

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