Friday, February 24, 2012

WHO BENEFITS FROM GLOBAL DISASTERS?



While cleaning out the horse stalls thin morning I began to ponder some of the more recent news about the planet. The surge in volcanic activity, the increase in earthquakes, arctic/glacial melting, sea rise and acidification, dead birds, fish and sea mammals, the rise in resistant bacteria, strange Earth noises, solar flares, etc, and I asked myself, "Why is no one paying attention? Why are there not more headlines about these things?"

And then it hit me, it's because there are certain interests in the world that are or will actually benefit from these disasters. These same interests control the vast majority of the world's wealth. And, these interests may actually be either covertly, or inadvertently by design, creating these events. Yeah, I know, conspiracy, nut case, whack job, blah, blah. But, let's talk oil for a second. Many scientists claim that we have passed peak oil production, i.e., what we demand exceeds what's left. Then you look at all of the big oil companies and nations scrambling to get rights to drill in the arctic as it melts as we speak. Clearly, billions of $$$ are at stake in this race to control one frozen oceans and lands. Who benefits?

Look at the effects of droughts and floods on food production. Well, does this not open the door to promote more genetically modified crops; the use of even more fertilizers, and even pesticides? Who benefits? How about an increase in disease from warming climates. So now we need more and newer drugs. Who benefits? Loss of land to sea rise means re-building and higher land values. Who benefits? Rising deaths in third world nations? Perhaps a way for nations to cull out of control population growth?

You have to ask why the world is doing so little in the face of insurmountable evidence that the planet is in rough shape? You have to ask why people aren't up in arms over the raping of the environment and the fact that is falling apart. Who benefits? Why would they care if millions die, there's plenty more. Why would they care if the polar caps melt and the planet gets hotter? It's not like they will suffer. Why, at every turn, do these vested money interests fight tooth and nail every attempt to stop the pollution, the madness, the insane destruction of our only home?

We have seen that vested interests like to bet. They bet on the housing collapse, weather you can re-finance your home, on national stability, on economic failure--perhaps they are betting on how far they can go to disrupt life on Earth, how many people will die, how high the temperature or sea levels will rise.... Or, is it possible that humanity is just too stupid/ignorant to give a damn? Do they believe that someone will just solve all the problems and that it will all just work out?

I can't help but wonder what the betting odds are on 12/21/12.

URBAN FRONTIERS



About Utopian Frontiers – The Book
What if there was a secret city at work on finding answers to the survival of humanity? Technologies beyond your imagination; a city expanding, recruiting and evolving. There is no government, no money, no bosses, institutions, cars or roads; and age takes on new meaning.
This “facity” is one big research product in and of itself, and nothing else quite like it exists on this Earth. This is the city that Erwin Sharp and his family are drawn into on the fringes of a national park. They fall headfirst down the rabbit hole into a world of space probes, cancer cures, and a core myth that defies belief. They soon realize that some doors are only meant to swing one way. This is a parable of trust and hope–a flashing beacon of hope in a world hell-bent on destroying itself. It is ultimately a story of ambition, of owning up to life, showing up and trading up. In a story that is as controversial as it is reassuring, sometimes it is possible to find something you always hoped existed, and in finding it, you confront your own truth as much as that of the world you live in.
About Utopian Frontiers Non-Profit Organization
UTOPIAN FRONTIERS FOUNDATION is a non profit organization dedicated to developing multi-media works intended to educate and provoke meaningful discourse on global environmental concerns – including the relationship between humankind and technology.
To educate and increase the public’s understanding of the environment and its importance by offering courses, seminars, conferences and meetings and by collecting
and disseminating information on that topic.

EXCERPT
“This research city explores the relationship between human- kind and technology, in service to ecology. Most people think that technology is a laptop or the cockpit of a fighter jet. Technology is the use of tools and techniques, methods and systems to solve a problem or serve a purpose. Meditation is incredibly sophisticated technology.”
She led them out of a side door and into a landscaped garden with benches and water features, plants and drinking fountains. A path wends through the trees out of sight, and Beth spots it coming back into view by a rose garden near a rock outcrop.
“This is just so sublime,” said Beth taking in the full measure of the landscaped gardens. “And inspiring, and peaceful.”
“You can’t put a price on beauty and peace… and you shouldn’t try.”
They both sat together on a bench by an arbor overlooking a section of the undisturbed outer valley, taking in the view for several minutes. Barbara broke the silence.
“Elizabeth, have you ever had an experience that you willed to happen, and when it did you just accepted that you’d brought it into your life because there was no other explanation. It could be a chance meeting, phone call or email out of the blue, a gift of money, whatever?”
“Many times. Too many to count.”
“You created that. YOU created that. This is why energy consciousness is so important. Consciousness is real, it has an impact. Every single one of us creates the reality we see around us, in some small or large way, bringing it into being. We are what we think, and because all energy is connected, changing from one form to another, our thoughts are critical to the survival of our species. We attract into our lives that which we place our focus upon. Good luck, bad luck—they’re two halves of the same coin.”
“I strongly believe that too,” said Beth.
“Which is why you’d fit in well here. I can tell. But many transplants reject Vipassana without ever trying it, or they try it and leave on the first or second day. It’s hazardous.”
“To whom?”
“To themselves, and to everyone else. It’s like surgery. You go in deep, through the cutaneous, the fat and muscle, into the bone, inside the bone marrow, into the blood. This isn’t a game or a social activity. This is serious work. Never underestimate the power of our thoughts. If we collectively accept the perceived reality that this planet and all its inhabitants are doomed, we invite war and chaos to feed that reality. In the natural law, there is a cycle of destruction and creation. It’s not good or bad, it just is; and we summon either one, because we can be either one.”
“And you’re saying that Vipassana can do this, can influence this? I’m a big believer in meditation, for tranquility, to reduce stress. I had no idea of its potential to divert chaos in the world.”
“Vipassana means to ‘see things as they really are.’ To strip away the untruth to the ripened fruit of truth. The mind and the universe are one in the same thing, and it’s structured in layers. If we live our lives in the outer layer, we have limited influence to change things. But if we go within, into the potent rivers that bind us all into one vast ocean of conscious energy, we can move mountains like chess pieces. And the truth is that you, Elizabeth Sharp, and me, or a fisherman in Indonesia, are all spiritual beings of infinite potential. To hurt yourself is to hurt us all.”
“You mean in the collective conscious?” said Beth, enjoying their conversation and trying to keep pace.
“I should ask if you’re a religious person before I explain any further. I need to be careful as I have offended some people before.”
“No, I’m not religious, and you won’t offend me whatever you say. In fact, sometimes I long for someone to offend me just to prove to myself that I have a framework in place for what I do believe in.”
“I’m not a religious person either, in the sense of following an organized religion,” said Barbara. “But we respect religious practice here. I believe the true pursuit of religion is love, and love is positive energy. The negative references to religion you see in the media are when people claim religion as a motive for actions of non-love.”

Excerpt from Utopian Frontiers by Drew Tapley
For information about Utopian Frontiers, the book, the organization or the music, visit http://www.utopianfrontiers.com. To learn more about the book and to get your copy, visit http://www.amazon.com/Utopian-Frontiers-Story-Drew-Tapley/dp/1927005124/.




 









Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Out of the Classroom Lessons in Success

What do you want in

life?

If you have children, you'll really want to read this book-it matters!

Happiness, Health and Wealth?

Yet, 67% of Americans are overweight or obese – so much for health, only 39% of Americans are happy, and only 12%of workers really like their jobs.

Are you headed in the right direction? 

 

In our grade-focused school years, the rules of success seemed as simple as making all As. However, in the working world, success is far more complex. Now, a self-professed over-achiever shares how her professional triumphs wildly strayed from her honor roll tactics in an eye-opening, easy-to-read compilation of truisms from the trenches of real life. Out of the Classroom Lessons in Success: How to Prosper Without Being at the Top of the Class offers hard-won wisdom on achieving professional glory that will serve as an invaluable resource to anyone who is contemplating a career, or for parents who want to help their children lay the groundwork for success in the workplace. Weaving in illustrations and short poetry, this ingenious book delivers concepts that are easy to understand.
In today’s global, hypercompetitive marketplace, the rules for success have changed dramatically. Inspired by the experience of her own daughters in school and her work with entrepreneurs in start-ups, Cynthia realized that many young adults graduate completely unaware of a new playing field that no one has bothered to tell them about—and that is not always predicated by superior grades or talents. In eighteen concise and revelatory chapters, the author draws from her own professional achievements and challenges to debunk common myths that can lead astray aspiring professionals in their early years of forging a career. From the overemphasis of “practice makes perfect” to the often parroted insistence that winning doesn’t matter, Cynthia provides straight facts, anecdotes, and examples that will enable young adults, as well as their parents, to have the information they need to launch a career on solid footing.
Among the concepts that are included in Out of the Classroom Lessons in Success, readers will learn that
  • How can the average student be highly successful?
  • Can common beliefs you learn in school have a negative impact on your later success?
  • How does the game change once they hand you a diploma?
On page after page of this insightful roadmap to success, Out of the Classroom Lessons in Success: How to Prosper Without Being at the Top of The Class serves up a host of “aha!” moments that will forever change the way young hopefuls view the world ahead of them. Is it really true that good things come to those who wait? Is fitting in a fruitful goal? Is it enough to know what you want to become, or would it be more effective to actually set a plan in motion to achieve it? Inspiring and uplifting, this simply brilliant take on creating a career will help anyone realize their goals, avoid common pitfalls, and lay the groundwork through the secondary talents, skills, and mindset necessary for optimal success.

Review

“If you’re inspired to make a great living by doing what you love – then this is the book for you. It packed with insights about discovering your passion, nurturing your talents, developing valuable life skills, achieving your goals and most importantly actually living your dreams. Cynthia Kocialski shares her many years experience in the corporate world as well as her own personal achievements to reveal the ‘keys’ to life success. You don’t have to be a grade A student  - but you do have to read and apply the ideas in this book – if you want to create a life you love!”
– Dr Rosina McAlpine, Director Inspired Children www.inspiredchildren.com


http://www.amazon.com/Out-Classroom-Lessons-Success-Prosper/dp/1466404787/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1329246138&sr=1-1
http://www.amazon.com/Out-Classroom-Lessons-Success-Prosper/dp/1466404787/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1329246138&sr=1-1 

Monday, February 6, 2012

1/2 TIME IN AMERICA & THE WORLD

Truly,in the past, we have pulled together to solve pressing problems and to deal with pressing issues. The ad during the Super Bowl indicates that America can do what it sets out to do when we work together. Yes, America is at 1/2 time, trying to figure out what went wrong and how we can fix it. How can we change our game strategy and pull out a win, not just for jobs, but for the environment, our schools, our health care system, our safety net, the poor, homeless and perhaps even the world?

We cannot play the game as we have in the past. We cannot listen to those voices that would deny that the rules have changed. The game is no longer about money, it's about survival of the species. It is not about profit, it's about caring and helping. It's not about how many resources we can consume, but rather it's about how we save and re-use those resources. It's not about drilling, it's about the renewable alternatives. It's not about how much we can take, but about how much we can give. We came out of the locker room only to find a totally different field, with different rules, different players, and different ways to win and lose.

Can we change our game plan? We have to!

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

VOLCANIC ACTIVITY

So if you look at the previous post on earthquakes and then look at the above-do you see a possible cause for concern?