“Control oil and you control nations; control food and you control the people.” – Henry Kissinger
‘Food security’ is a phrase one hears more often these days. When mainstream news or government sources discuss the topic, it’s generally in terms of subsidies for big ag, testing GMOs in Africa, tighter ‘safety’ controls on food production – clearly it is within the Oligarchy’s intent to control the world’s food, and they do it in the name of ‘saving’ us but in reality…well, if you’re here reading this, you know what’s really going on.
How simple to provide everyone their daily bread, in the form of federally regulated, poisonous, addictive, mass-produced, cheap and accessible goodies. We have already forgotten our grandparent’s knowledge of the land. We are too busy with chips and sodas, iPods and Idols to care about such fuddy-duddy things. We figure we won out, no longer isolated on a dirty, back-breaking farm, but free to roam the brightly-colored plastic prisons of our future. The entire scheme was brilliant, really, and took only about 50 years. Amazing how quickly – and happily – we forget.
Slowly, though, the pendulum is beginning to swing back, whether due to a rediscovered consciousness and respect for the land, or a lingering vision of a post-apocalyptic nightmare complete with marauding bands of cannibal zombies. Food security is something families and communities are beginning to rethink, at the local level. Down here in the trenches, is is dawning on many more people how unbalanced our present high-industrial, corporate system has become. It is fragile, because if for whatever reason any link in that mega-chain fails, millions of people will find their only source of food – grocery stores – empty. It is also toxic on multiple levels, from the chemical-laden, land-scorching, seed-stealing, slaughterhouse-nightmare production practices, to the preservative-laden, neurotransmitter-deadening, nutrition-parched, Frankenstein-food products themselves. Not to mention the millions of individual packaging materials that end up in landfills and floating in the middle of the ocean, or the loss of an important spiritual connection to our planet.
If evil aliens from outer space had planned the whole thing to lure us into their waiting arms, I certainly would not be surprised. It’s patently insane.
How could we have allowed this to happen; participate in it, even? In truth, we are already zombies. A la Hansel and Gretel, we have allowed ourselves to wander without thought towards the promise of cakes, candy and the ‘easy life’. And we wonder why cancer and obesity rates have spiked. It would be easy to remain lulled in this hypnotic trance with Cheetos and snack-paks. But it is time to wake up. There’s nothing ‘easy’ about discovering you cannot make your own food or find your own water.
Some are making the radical transition ‘back to nature’ in its fullest sense, but even the Amish use the occasional tractor. Ultimately, if there really were a massive frequency shift into a higher level of consciousness, we probably wouldn’t need to think about alternative fuel sources or recycling plastic. But until then, it just feels right to make little shifts, however we can, to hitch a ride on that giant pendulum. No one really knows yet what will happen. What we do know is that we absolutely cannot sustain the way of life that has evolved since our grandparents’ generation.
The good news us, these past 50 years did not go to waste – not by a long shot. Many incredible technologies and solutions have come of age which will make our transition back to a sustainable lifestyle less back-breaking than our grandparents could have imagined. We have the benefit of a massive revolution of industry and science behind us now, and I believe it’s possible to return to our roots, without losing some wonderful resources. We just need to get our priorities straight, make some compromises, and – well, do a little initial work.
I originally began this post by describing many of the sustainable efforts we are putting into practice around here in detail. But if you are keeping up with the subject, it’s clear that the p-t-b are apparently still not gung-ho about such endeavors, Obama or no Obama, and irrespective of any organic White House garden (though I must snicker at the Daily Show’s recent skewering of the big ag response to that.) So I deleted it. But since our efforts have been taking all of my extra time, which has left this blog sorely neglected, I decided my readers deserved more. I’m also reading Barbara Kingsolver’s Animal, Vegetable, Miracle and I am decidedly jealous. My vision far exceeds our tiny space, at least for now.
So I will say, we are sprouting all sorts of interesting heirloom vegetables and exotic fruits, have met some really helpful and knowledgeable local folk who have shared information on organic gardening in Hawaii, and even received various seeds and plants we are incorporating. Mind you, we live in a suburban neighborhood on a ¼ acre plot with two houses. But you’d be surprised what you can fit in. We also got a late start; it is Hawaii so our growing season is all year long, however we do have mini-seasons, and one does have to pay attention to what varieties grow better in any particular microclimate. We are definitely in the experimental stages, and I find encouragement from all the wonderful gardening resources both locally and online.
There are also some new additions of the common poultry variety to our blossoming backyard endeavor. We’re hoping the neighbors won’t mind. We won’t keep any roosters, but at least in Hawaii we can rest assured that with a goat over one fence and a beekeeper across the street – not to mention the rooster crowing up the street – we’re not likely to be too off the charts.
I am beginning to think about local networks of trade, it would be cool to trade some eggs or tomatoes for some ahi or honey for example, like a modern ahupua’a. Likely the old-fashioned coconut wireless and local farmer’s markets will be our best bet out here, but I was surprised at the lack of online resources in that regard. The Internet would be a great way to establish some new relationships, now that so many more people are getting involved (at least until the power fails ). I did find some which trade vegetables, but it would be nice to include other items as well, which they do not allow. Here is an interesting site on bartering all kinds of things. I will definitely be investigating further.
Our location makes true off-the-grid living only a dream, though the previous owners installed solar water heaters, we’ve switched to low-energy light bulbs, unplug our appliances when not in use and try to recycle every scrap we can. Hawaii has a redemption policy so we usually even make a few bucks. There are no curbside pickups here on the Big Island; we must cart it all to the local dump/recycling center, but it’s not far away and I simply can’t stand the thought of contributing to a landfill on such a limited patch of land in the middle of the ocean, apocalypse or no apocalypse.
The nuisance has got me thinking quite a bit about packaging. Walking into a Walmart, all I can see are the inevitable piles of rubbish, with all those ridiculous individual, throw-away boxes and bottles. Consider the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, one of the many truly tragic results of this way of life. Here is a short list of facts about plastic pollution that might surprise you, even if you think you already know how bad it is. Some communities are stepping up programs to eliminate the plastic shopping bag. Recycle This has some good suggestions.
Certainly it would be sensible to either 1) use 100% biodegradable plastic or 2) provide a way to refill the container, rather than buying an entirely new bottle. Soaps, shampoos, cleaning supplies, you name it; there should be refill centers in our local stores where we can make use of our containers and pay by weight. Or something. In the long run it would make a huge difference. I wonder why the “geniuses” who started this whole thing didn’t implement something sensible to begin with. (Oh, right, they didn’t care about sustainability; only profit, as well as the world government they would foist upon us to ‘clean it up’ and have us believe it’s all our fault. Sorry, I forgot.)
There is an eye-opening short called The Story of Stuff that is worth watching.
Some ingenious inventors are thinking outside the box. Free energy technologies continue to lurk in the background. One will know the government is truly ‘transparent’ when such knowledge is finally released to the public, instead of being either continuously blackballed or tightly controlled in secret. (Likely why UFOs are also still an enigma.) The wisdom of the ancients, if understood and used correctly for peace and harmony in the world, could be our saving grace. Some people close to me are quick to point out, however, that perhaps humanity is not yet ready for such power if it includes the power of destruction. Some are; many are likely not, if our world’s wars and conflicts are any evidence.
In the meantime, there are many, many other alternative technologies to look for. Solar ovens are a great idea, as are rocket stoves, and would be good additions to the emergency kit. How about a generator that runs on used vegetable oil? A student developed a solar fridge that is already helping people in developing countries. Researchers are making car parts out of coconut husks. Shipping containers are getting makeovers into affordable housing. Wind generators are becoming more affordable. How about a green cell phone, or at the least, a solar cell phone charger? Frankly, that last one should be de rigueur. And this is only the tip of the iceberg.
There are options out there, though they are typically not found at the local convenience store yet, and can be more expensive. One can find recyclable toothbrushes, for example. Put your used plastic bottles to work with the Solarbulb lamp attachment. Invest in a good reusable water bottle.
We must also think about the unthinkable. How about reusable toilet wipes? Here in Hawaii one can grow a Melocia tree or ‘toilet paper tree’, with large, soft leaves. Many Moons Alternatives can even suggest some ideas regarding women’s personal care. Important considerations not only for the environment, but for survival situations as well. Toronto’s “Green Bin” program is recycling not only the usual plastic and glass, but also kitty litter, animal waste and even dirty diapers. Kitty litter is actually a really big problem, as the clay mined for it strips the land, it’s toxic when inhaled and disposed of, and not typically recyclable.
Precycling, or simply not purchasing or using items in the first place, is a great thought. Little shifts, dontcha know. I would love to have the time to also make our own soap, toothpaste, cloth and much more…but alas, I, like many others, am still a slave to the society I was born into, though I am working on it. Perhaps we can merge into a balance at the center, supporting smaller companies who use local, nontoxic ingredients, a much smaller carbon footprint and eventually, little or no fossil fuels.
Initially this shift will take some expense, forethought and compromise. The journey of a thousand miles began with the first step, and if we make it that far, our grandchildren will thank us. Do zombies even have grandchildren? I don’t think so. Find local sources of fresh unadulterated vegetables, even meat and fish if you go there, and buy what you can when it’s in season. Refuse to buy packaged junk food and unnecessary trinkets, recycle and buy recycled goods if you must, get off the couch and water a tomato plant. That alone could move mountains, save you a few pennies, and even knock off a few pounds.
This series of small shifts could lead to a greater shift. It would be the start of a larger transition towards balance between city and farm, between humanity and the planet. We would have more time, and resources, to explore space – both inner and outer.
It has always been my vision that it is possible to reconnect with our land and our community in a profound and sustainable way, without losing access to some great innovations. First, we must seriously consider a return to local food sources, however we can manage. But if we were smart about it, we wouldn’t have to hitch our covered wagons on the way back to isolation at the homestead; we could just press the ignition on a small, solar-powered flying car, and continue to trade gardening tips with our friends in the Far East.
Here’s a delicious local tip the whole world can enjoy: Aliiorganics.com has delectable raw chocolate treats and other wonderful products and information, check it out!
Disclaimer: Links are provided as a courtesy to the curious; we take no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the information. Please report any broken links. If you want to add your link, email me at avmichaels @ surfingthetao.com. Please include a reciprocal link on your site. (Must be relevant in content.)
“Every act of creation is first an act of destruction.” – Pablo Picasso
Much is being written about 2012 and what changes that year will bring. The Mayan calendar and various other religious and spiritual prophecies have seeped into popular culture to the extent that much of the world will be holding their breath on December 21, 2012 at 11:11 PM Universal Time, like Y2K to the umpteenth degree.
I have often been asked what I believe will happen on that day, if anything. The way I see it, it is already happening; we are already knee-deep in the preamble web of events, from which the tendrils of our future will be created. Whether as a result of ancient prophecies coming to pass, our having to finally take responsibility for the excesses of the past century, or simply the full-blown noospheric power of the expectations of millions of psyches, 2012 promises to be a banner year.
Whatever the cause, I must admit to a sense of further quickening. Terence McKenna is likely smiling knowingly from Somewhere, as the lines on the graph of his Timewave Zero theory march their way towards the 2012 zenith. I believe we are now witnessing the rapid spiraling of current crises and scenarios into some terrific opportunities for nefarious solutions by our world’s elite, not to mention the documented potential for spectacular destruction within our solar system. Whether these events will happen, much less converge exactly on that 12/21/12 date, or even within that year, I could not say for sure, but the timing is notable.
Frankly it’s coming so fast and furiously right now that I can barely keep up with it, as the same quickening seems to be happening in my own life, on smaller scale, in some kind of ironic, synchronistic testimony to the scalable unified field. I simply don’t have time to write about it as I would like, because I’m so busy living it. Perhaps we all are, in our own ways, navigating the Eschaton, whether we believe in it or not.
We are certainly being inundated with a constant banter, which perhaps attempts to instill fear, though ought to only keep us focused and alert. Economic crisis, world currency, new world order, world war, civil liberties, socialism, artificial intelligence, nonlethal weapons technology, seed banks, UFO disclosure, 2012 solar cycle, prophecies, earthquakes, volcanoes, sustainability, self-sufficiency, gardening, alternative energy, free energy, consciousness shift, revolution, evolution…truth does seem to be stranger than fiction these days.
Another resonant topic which continues to haunt me is Planet X or a binary star/sister sun theory, though I cannot provide substantial third-dimensional proof, enigmatic Vatican probes and Antarctic telescopes notwithstanding. The only shred of mainstream scientific evidence could be that our ‘global warming’ phenomenon seems to actually be happening across our solar system, not just on Earth. Polar ice continues to melt, but Jupiter’s great red storm is shrinking too. Still others say we are headed for another ice age. How about this radical take at Rense: Evidence of Solar Manipulation and Solar Changes?
What doesn’t seem to be up for debate is the fact that our Sun’s behavior can be worrisome. Many of the ancient prophecies seem to include mention of the Sun, and/or other planetary movements, such as the Mayan belief that the 2012 date indicated the end of the time of the Fourth Sun, and the beginning of the world of the Fifth Sun. In Revelation 6:12, the sun turned black after a great earthquake. Other ancient prophecies, including the Koran, the Norse Ragnarok, the Egyptian Ipuwer Papyrus, the Kolbrin Bible, North American Indian prophecy and many, many other books in the Bible warn of a future time of destruction during which the earth will burn and shake violently. I enumerated many of these in my book in the chapter, Destruction by Fire. I noted the strange recurrence of these similar warnings across time and culture. Here’s a good overview of the Mayan calendar and the solar cycles.
Strange ancient hieroglyphics, now discovered in widely diverse locations around the globe from Colorado to Yemen, Australia and South America, all seem to be referring to “some event, possibly related to the Sun, which was prophesied to change human civilization.”
Currently our Sun is in a period of extreme quiet, with the lowest sunspot activity in nearly a century of recording, the great calm before what is now expected to be a great solar storm in 2012, when the sun reaches the apex of its 11-year cycle. Due to the weakening magnetic fields around both Earth and the Sun, it is expected to be more ferocious than usual. A recent report on severe space weather and its potential economic and societal effects has been making its way into the mainstream media. One can now find various releasing hair-raising alerts in this regard, one after the other.
From the Telegraph: Scientists are expecting a more intense solar cycle this time around. Jimmy Raeder, a physicist with the University of New Hampshire, explained it is “because the Earth’s and the sun’s magnetic fields will be in sync at the cycle’s peak, expected in 2012, that will cause an influx of solar particles”.
From NASA: A Giant Breach in Earth’s Magnetic Field, “NASA’s five THEMIS spacecraft have discovered a breach in Earth’s magnetic field ten times larger than anything previously thought to exist.” At first scientists couldn’t even believe it. Themis is working to determine the severity of the expected upcoming solar storm,and the magnitude of effects it will have on our electronic grids and satellite systems.
In December of last year, from Fox News: Powerful Solar Storm Could Shut Down U.S. for Months. Another recent Fox News report with physicist Michio Kaku is frighteningly clear. WATCH IT. I am familiar with Dr. Kaku and his calm intelligence, and this seems almost outrageous coming from him. He claims he and his fellow scientists made a mistake, and that the 2012 solar cycle will be far more disastrous than previously imagined. Wow.
Here’s a YouTube video of Jay Weidner at the recent 2012 conference talking about the sun’s reduced heliosphere and an inundation of radiation from the center of the galaxy by 2012. The warnings, he explains, are important, but he also separates himself from the ‘gloom and doomers’ by expressing that this change could be seen as an opportunity, even if it was forced upon us.
I find myself agreeing with that. Using a pending Apocalypse as an opportunity is the essence of Surfing the Tao. Whether anything will happen in 2012 or not, current world events are forcing us to take a hard look at how we are choosing to live on this planet. There are of course many people who are too conditioned to the trees to even notice the forest, much less discern any correlations and make adequate preparations within themselves. But more people are growing vegetable gardens this year than ever, and companies are even running out of seeds. Murmurs of alternative energy solutions are louder than ever. Communities are turning inwards for solutions, as well we all should. Networks espousing such thoughtfulness, teamwork and sustainability are springing up everywhere. Whether it’s to prepare for the End of the World, or just the end of an unsustainable world of bad habits, it’s all good.
Many believe there will be a shift, whether wholly on this day or as a beginning on this date (or perhaps now already started, to be completed then) from the third to the fourth density; in other words some kind of shift in consciousness, or dimensions. Of this possibility I have also received a kind of inner confirmation, though it remains nebulous as to what, how, where, and when. People seem to have their own theories on that, to be sure. Love is key; true unselfish compassion is essential, and perhaps if we can cultivate that, the rest will come. Personally, I suggest the teachings of Jesus remain the best wisdom to follow in that department, whatever your religious or spiritual beliefs, if any.
Indeed we are very much affected by magnetic fields; would a significant change in the field give us just what we would need to reach Beyond what we think of as reality? A “perfect storm” indeed perhaps? Creation from destruction? I might like to posit one additional intuition here as well. I have always felt that this ‘shift’ might also either require, or gain a significant boost, from some sort of technology, yet to be pinpointed. I’m not sure why I think that, or what it is, just the idea of some kind of portal, stargate or even shield has continued to nag at me. Call me crazy, but I think there are a lot of puzzle pieces still out there. Just take a look at the megaliths around the world. Seems a bit too contrived to be random. Anyway just a thought.
Whether events converge to create the perfect storm in 2012, or simply give us the perfect opportunity for a positive evolution, the best advice I can give is pay attention. Be prepared, but not fearful. Keep your ear to the ground, and use your inner discernment to find the thread of truth.
And love your neighbor. You might need him one of these days.
We are in the midst of planning a vegetable garden here in Hawaii. Here’s a video of Richard Ha speaking about food security on the Big Island.
Still quite a bit of scurfuffle about HR 875′s Food Safety Modernization Act mentioned in my last entry. To be fair, here is a debunking of the Monsanto/Big Brother fears from FactCheck.org. At Reality Sandwich’s article Organic Outlaws a commenter also attempts to allay the panic, citing a couple of interesting links to a blog about the recent Congressional hearings on topic. However, another commenter asks not to ‘sell out our children’s health’ and links to eye-opening instructions on how to register one’s farm with the FDA, and who is exempt: unless ALL your homegrown food is consumed ON PROPERTY you’re supposed to ‘register’. Huh. Does that include sharing your tomatoes with your neighbors??
Imagine my surprise to see Michelle Obama actually breaking ground the other day, to the delight of the media, a class of 5th graders and a lot of well-meaning folks out there.
Frankly the timing is suspicious considering the very hot current topic of bill HR 875. This bill, otherwise known as The Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009, was introduced by Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., in February. Her husband is Stanley Greenburg, who works for Monsanto, wouldntcha know. This bill threatens the very legality of organic farming, and the outcry is far and loud across the less mainstream Internet. Here is one typical discussion, but one can find raised hackles all over the place.
So is this Obama family garden plot a little publicity aimed to steer the public away from the truth about the administration’s apparent position on big ag? It raised an eyebrow over at Cryptogon, and forums are quickly picking up on the hypocrisy. It seems outrageous to clamor over the wonderfulness of a White House organic garden without at least mentioning the pending bill and its surrounding controversy.
This bill is sought by the current administration in response to recent food safety issues. The tragic problem of tainted food – spinach, peanut butter, etc – is creating quite a convenient ‘solution’. Could it be just another thing to add to the list of the dialectical chess game currently being played by the Oligarchy and the powers-that-be, in order to further consolidate and empower a centralized control mechanism? Namely, and likely, the The Codex Alimentarius and its current offshoots. An interesting podcast about the Codex can be found over at Red Ice Creations with Scott Tips of the National Health Federation, which seeks to protect individual rights to use dietary supplements and alternative health therapies without government restriction. Dad 2059 has been talking about it for awhile now, and has some interesting links and discussion.
It reminds me of another recent issue of contaminated toys from China, which led to, of course, The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, which now requires rigorous, and expensive, testing of all materials in children’s products. While some large American toy manufacturers are seeing their sales improve due to the new regulations, smaller crafters and second hand stores are going out of business by the dozen.
The Oligarchy is slowly but surely wiping out the little guys, all in the name of safety. Wonder how it got to be that way in the first place?
One wonders about Mrs. Obama’s position on HR 875, and whether she has discussed it with the hubby. Perhaps, as Cryptogon tentatively hopes, it’s her way of speaking out against HR 875. Maybe there are some interesting discussions going on in the White House living quarters at night.
Or, perhaps it’s just a ruse. One certainly wonders what she thinks about the monster likely behind the bill, Monsanto, their terminator seed technology and the suicides of thousands of farmers around the world.
“Organic” doesn’t necessarily mean not genetically modified. Therefore one naturally also wonders if the White House will be using heirloom non-GMO seeds, and if so, whether they plan on also saving the seeds they harvest themselves, which is the irreplaceable link in the chain to true sustainable living and survival. Teaching organic farming to 5th graders without mentioning this is like leaving fractions out of math class.
And if the White House IS growing heirloom tomatoes and saving seeds, for example, I reiterate: how now, brown cow??
While the White House garden is a good thing to see, as it may encourage others to go out there and grow a few veggies themselves, it sure would be extra-refreshing to see someone there speak out on the issue of non-GMO seeds and the seemingly hypocritical bill which is well on its way to further controlling and restricting the choices and freedoms of our natural heritage.
When taxes are too high, people go hungry.
When the government is too intrusive, people lose their spirit.
For those who follow the small world of Surfing the Tao, my switch from WordPress 2.1 to 2.7 went effortlessly but my theme does need updating. After some complaints about the difficulty of reading with the water background I believe I have found a good compromise. I hope this next incarnation to be cleaner and easier to read, as well as better organized.
I will be changing many of my categories into tags and reorganizing the categories. It will take me some time so please excuse the jumble meanwhile. If you can’t find something after these changes or just want to express your opinion, feel free to comment.
Welcome to my third installment of Links Added. Check out Favorite Links for the whole list. Have fun.
Disclaimer: Links are provided as a courtesy to the curious; we take no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the information. Please report any broken links. If you want to add your link, email me at avmichaels @ surfingthetao.com. Please include a reciprocal link on your site. (Must be relevant in content.)
New Category: I’ve been led to start collecting links to interesting and informative eco-environment-green sites, so we now have a new category called:
Aloha all, I am finally upgrading my WordPress installation to 2.7. I have been extremely delinquent in this task as I am still way back on 2.1. So expect some downtime and weirdness here for a bit until it all gets settled.
May also see a new theme here depending on how it goes. Been searching all around for appropriate themes for Surfing the Tao; any suggestions would be appreciated.
). I did find some which trade vegetables, but it would be nice to include other items as well, which they do not allow. Here is an interesting site on bartering all kinds of things. I will definitely be investigating further.
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