The War on "Terra" by Juice Media

"The War on Terra.  It's 2013 and the world did not end by meteorite or by Mayan calendar.  But fear not: we might just be able to get the job done ourselves.  Join Robert Foster as he sets out to discover where Civilisation™ is making the fastest progress towards annihilation.  In this edition of the Civilisation Report, Robert learns about Australia and Canada - two oft-neglected pioneers of peace, progress and prosperity - in conversation with our antipodean colonial correspondent Ken Oathcarn and his Canuck counterpart, Fagin Heighbard.  Dear viewers, consider this a fair warning that in terms of language and affront to the dominant culture this could get fucking messy. Written & created by Giordano Nanni & Hugo Farrant in a suburban backyard home-studio in Melbourne, Australia - on Wurundjeri Land." ‪~ http://thejuicemedia.com


Community Friday - Self Reliance Saturday - Meaningful Make it Yourself Monday: Unplugging from Mass Consumerism.

Thanksgiving is over, and everyone knows what that means. Black Friday, happens. The craziness ensues.  And then the official "Holiday Shopping Season" begins.  Apparently we don't shop enough every day of every season, and this is a SPECIAL time, to buy even MORE.  

For the more liberal minded, for those not into the crazy, or for those who want to support local home town businesses, then perhaps, "Small Business Saturday" is more your speed.  A great idea, don't get me wrong.  Shopping at small local businesses is certainly a hands down, vastly better choice than shopping at large mega corporations that do not help the local economy and destroy the environment.  But still, it's shopping.  It requests your continual participation.  Please RSVP.

I guess um, Sunday...we take the day off?  I dunno, nor do I care.  Stores are still open I'm sure, but I dunno if Sunday gets a special name. However, fear not! On Monday, if you still haven't shopped enough yet, or if you weren't into the holiday crowds, you get the opportunity for "Cyber Monday."  Lucky you!  Ca-ching!  Get out the credit cards and get shopping!

Ok, so the small local business groovy option is my favorite, if I have to choose.  But wait!  What if I don't wanna choose?  What if I don't wanna do any of it?  What if, even though I love my local candle shop, I have no need for a candle right now, beeswax or otherwise?  I may love my local crafts people, but what if I really do not need any more chatckas, none whatsoever.  Nor do I want to buy these things for my loved ones, considering I am perfectly capable of making them cool things on my own.  Not to be a buzz-kill.  But as always, I like to take things a step beyond the "fitting into the system, but doing things differently" option.  

So, yeah.  Here's my choice.  How about NOT shopping, at all?  And while we're at it, how about re-naming the days?  I'm proposing, "Community Friday", "Self Reliance Saturday", and "Meaningful Make it Yourself Monday". I am also a strong supporter of replacing the reigning title "Holiday Shopping Season" with the simple yet traditional, "Autumn".  A time where you stay at home, often, with your friends and family.  Making apple cider and mead, sewing sweaters and making stew.  Buying nothing except the regular essentials, stepping off the hamster wheel of this money based society for just a minute. Initiating a bold, yet practical act of resistance.  What if all the crazed holiday shopping just stopped, period, and like my wise little brother said the other day, we put our collective energy into our communities instead? 

Regular person: "So, how do we even begin doing what you are suggesting?  Money is our means of survival and there is no way to change that.  Shopping locally is the best we can do.  You're just an Idealist."

Idealist: "Well, regular person, here are some very practical ways that you can start unplugging from mass consumerism and start plugging into a culture of co-operation and sustainability.  Enjoy." :)

Step One- "Community Friday": 

Instead of participating in "Black Friday", create "Community Friday" in your town.  Organize the event at your local community garden or community center.  Request that everyone bring their Thanksgiving left overs or if left overs are already over (or if one does not participate in the holiday), ask folks to bring some other delicious dish to share. 

Also request that everyone able, bring items they no longer need or want, to give away to those in need or to barter.  Blankets, electronic equipment, clothes, bikes, children's toys, tools, canned goods, anything that is usable.  Also crafts or homemade goods to barter like herbal salves and tinctures, jams and sauces, pickled/ lacto-fermented goods, leather products, pottery/ glass works, handmade clothes or blankets, woodwork, anything you made yourself.  Especially great if the ingredients were grown by you and materials were recycled or acquired sustainably or locally. Give your kids the opportunity to get involved by having them bring or make things they can barter as well.  Stuff like lemonade, cookies, cool shells or rocks they found and decorated, pretty dried leaves or flowers, drawings or artwork, toys and dolls they have grown out of, stuff from your farm like eggs or milk that they helped collect.  

If you are having the event at the community garden, have everyone harvest some veggies to take home with them. If there are chickens, then give all some eggs to take home as well. Make sure to give the kiddos their chance to do some harvesting, and to get eggs from the chicken coop.  Help them understand the connection between food and community.  Let em have the opportunity to see how enjoyable it is to connect with their food in such an intimate way.

Set up workshops, or lectures (see below links for content), or just sit and talk about possible community projects and activities. One idea is to create a discussion on what a strong local barter and/or local currency could look like longer term. Ask questions like, what would happen if we started viewing our economy in a different way?  What if the economy we know now, no longer supported us, how would we make the transition?  What if we considered ourselves and our human community as part of the larger ecosystem, as opposed to an isolated economy?  And, if you succeed in creating a strong local barter system or local currency, invite your small local businesses to participate.

Some ideas and resources for long term change and sustainability in your town: 

How to build a Community Garden if you don't already have one: http://www.communitygarden.org/about-acga/

How Todmorden England is growing all it's own vegetables: http://www.incredible-edible-todmorden.co.uk/ and http://www.guardian.co.uk/theobserver/2012/feb/18/50-new-radicals-incredible-edible

How to become a Transition Town: http://www.transitionus.org/about-us

How a Massachusetts County Created a Local Currency: http://www.berkshares.org/whatareberkshares.htm

How a Greek town developed a Local Barter System: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17686384

How Santa Fe, New Mexico Utilizes the Barter System: http://www.santafetimebank.org/SFTB/SFTB.html

Step Two- "Self  Reliance Saturday":

"Small Business Saturday" has an important place and function. We all love our local businesses and many of us have one of our own.  Supporting them and ourselves, is important.  However, there are many ways we can become more self reliant and less dependent on the monetary system.  So, in addition to "Small Business Saturday", try also creating "Self Reliance Saturday".

"Self Reliance Saturday" can be another day spent in the community garden together, or at a community center, or even at home with a large group of friends and family.  Instead of shopping all day, dedicate most of the day to learning from your community and teaching your special skill sets.  Sewing, cooking, canning, herbal medicine making, proper use of tools, DIY projects, etc.  Organize a wild food walk with a local person in the know. Become acquainted with your natural "community" as well, and what it has to teach

Set up classes or workshops for the day, and have the community sign up for what classes they want to take and what they would like to teach.  Or do it more informally at home with your family.  Make beautiful gifts together or simply learn how to craft the simple necessities.  Teach your kids how to knit a scarf or take them fishing.   Build a tree house together.  Make a special doll with natural materials together.  Milk the goats and make cheese together.

All that you harvested from the community garden on "Community Friday", can now be utilized in what you make on "Self Reliance Saturday" and again, include the kids.  Instead of dragging them from store to store, teach them where things come from and how it's done.  Incorporate projects you know will excite them, engage them in activities that peak their interest and get their creativity flowing.  

Many stores, even some local small businesses, buy their stock from overseas factories, who employ local people who are often hired because they can still utilize basic self reliance skills.  We can re-learn these skills ourselves.  Sometimes buying from grassroots organizations that support poor villages or who enforce safe working conditions can help support the impoverished.  However, more often than not, our global economy is what is impoverishing other nations.  Ultimately, local self reliance helps us all.   

Step Three- "Meaningful Make it Yourself Monday":

Short and sweet.  Don't spend all of your time shopping online on "Cyber Monday".  Let the day instead, be "Meaningful Make it Yourself Monday". Sure there will be some deals you can't pass up at places you regularly shop online, small businesses even.  But here's the thing.  Email a friend, while you are online and tell them you love them.  Call a family member and say hi.  Make it a meaningful day.  Put your skills to work that you learned on "Self Reliance Saturday". Finally make that homemade mascara recipe you saw online, that natural homemade deodorant, or the amazing looking homemade shaving cream.  If it comes out great, make a couple more for friends and family as gifts.  Invite the neighbors over, and do it together.  Keep the momentum going.

I actually do want to make all the things I just mentioned.  Here are the links, if you want to make them too... :)

Homemade Mascara: http://thankyourbody.com/all-natural-homemade-mascara/ 

Natural Homemade Deodorant: http://frugallysustainable.com/2011/11/homemade-probiotic-deodorant-that/ 

Amazing Looking Homemade Shaving Cream: http://earthchangesnetwork.blogspot.com/2012/11/for-guysrosemary-mint-shaving-cream.html

And here we are.  Overall, try spinning the wheel differently this year.  Put the breaks on the fast car and bring it to a stop. Or at least slow it down enough so that someone you care about can walk alongside you. Take in the view together.  Stop for a picnic.  This is about reclaiming our natural rhythms, returning autumn to it's well earned roots.  This is a time to reflect, to go inward, to find peace, to nest with the family.  I think it's way past time to take back the holiday, the once considered holy-day, season.  Go for it. 

~ECN  © 2012 All rights reserved

52 Uses For Coconut Oil!

 

Click here to Read Article: http://www.deliciousobsessions.com/2012/01/52-uses-for-coconut-oil-the-simple-the-strange-and-the-downright-odd/:

What GMOs and Fund-Raising for Disease Have in Common

Before the clock runs out on this month’s breast cancer and GMO awareness, I’d like to point out some facts that may not be obvious to some consumers.

No doubt you’ve seen the pink ribbons all over food labels in the grocery store or on fast food products like KFC.  These labels are easy to spot on packages, cups, cans, boxes, and other containers of many foods and beverages.

But there’s something else to notice too – a majority of these foods bearing the pink ribbon for cancer awareness are full of harmful, toxic ingredients. Don’t believe me? Just pick up one of these food products and have a look.  Read Full Article Here.

Indonesia’s Mt. Rokatenda spews ash, hundreds evacuated

Mount Rokatenda in Sikka regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), continues to spout volcanic ash.

Residents living around the volcano have reportedly been evacuated to the shelter at Hewuli village administrative office in Alok Barat district.

The Sikka Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) reports that 196 residents living around Mount Rokatenda had fled to Maumere city.

The ash cloud from Mount Rokatenda has affected water kept in tanks on the roofs of houses around the volcano. Residents have collected rain water to offset the impact of an eruption. As many as six of 109 Awa village residents in the shelters have been taken to Maumere regency hospital suffering from various illnesses, such as respiratory, eye and skin irritation.

A team from Sikka Health Office recently provided evacuees with medical treatment against influenza, cough and respiratory infections. Sikka BPBD head Silvanus M. Tibo said the alert status of the volcano remained at level 3, with the highest being 1, according to the report from the Rokatenda volcano observation post in Ropa, Ende regency, so the volcano is not yet considered dangerous. -Jakarta Post

Magnitude 6.8 earthquake Kuril Islands, Russia

Strong earthquake measuring M 6.8 struck Kuril Islands, Russia at 18:12:42 UTC on November 16,2012 according to USGS. This is still preliminary magnitude, updates will be available soon. The epicenter was located 162 km (101 miles) SSW (198°) from Severo-Kuril’sk, Kuril Islands, Russia (49.200°N, 155.700°E) at depth of  4.9 km (3.0 miles). EMSC registered M 6.0 at the  depth of 60 km (37.3 miles).  Read Full Article Here

What the Mayan Elders are Saying About 2012- By Carlos Barrios

 

This is one of my favorite pieces of information shared, if not my favorite, on the subject of Mayan Prophecy and 2012.  I have been referring to this same piece of writing and Carlos Barrios's work in one form or another for the past few years and his offerings continue to unfold as truth.  He offers some profoundly deep and balanced insight and guidance and I trust it, so I share it time and time again. There is so much misinformation and fluff out there, I feel this really gets to the heart of the matter.  Please read and share.. Peace...ECN*

 

Originally Published in SERI-Worldwide

Carlos Barrios, Mayan elder and Ajq'ij (is a ceremonial priest and spiritual guide) of the Eagle Clan. Carlos initiated an investigation into the different Mayan calendars circulating. Carlos along with his brother Gerardo studied with many teachers and interviewed nearly 600 traditional Mayan elders to widen their scope of knowledge. 

Carlos found out quickly there were several conflicting interpretations of Mayan hieroglyphs, petroglyphs, Sacred Books of 'Chilam Balam' and various ancient text. Carlos found some strong words for those who may have contributed to the confusion: 

Carlos Barrios: "Anthropologists visit the temple sites and read the inscriptions and make up stories about the Maya, but they do not read the signs correctly. It's just their imagination. Other people write about prophecy in the name of the Maya. They say that the world will end in December 2012. The Mayan elders are angry with this. The world will not end. It will be transformed." 

"We are no longer in the World of the Fourth Sun, but we are not yet in the World of the Fifth Sun. This is the time in-between, the time of transition. As we pass through transition there is a colossal, global convergence of environmental destruction, social chaos, war, and ongoing Earth Changes." 

He continues: "Humanity will continue, but in a different way. Material structures will change. From this we will have the opportunity to be more human. We are living in the most important era of the Mayan calendars and prophecies. All the prophecies of the world, all the traditions are converging now. There is no time for games. The spiritual ideal of this era is action." 

Carlos tells us: "The indigenous have the calendars and know how to accurately interpret it -- not others. The Mayan Calendars comprehension of time, seasons, and cycles has proven itself to be vast and sophisticated. The Maya understand 17 different calendars such as the Tzolk'in or Cholq'ij, some of them charting time accurately over a span of more than ten million years. 

"All was predicted by the mathematical cycles of the Mayan calendars. -- It will change --everything will change. Mayan Day-keepers view the Dec. 21, 2012 date as a rebirth, the start of the World of the Fifth Sun. It will be the start of a new era resulting from and signified by the solar meridian crossing the galactic equator and the Earth aligning itself with the center of the galaxy." 

At sunrise on December 21, 2012 for the first time in 26,000 years the Sun rises to conjunct the intersection of the Milky Way and the plane of the ecliptic. This cosmic cross is considered to be an embodiment of the Sacred Tree, The Tree of Life, a tree remembered in all the world's spiritual traditions.  

Some observers say this alignment with the heart of the galaxy in 2012 will open a channel for cosmic energy to flow through the Earth, cleansing it and all that dwells upon it, raising all to a higher level of vibration. Carlos reminds us: "This process has already begun. Change is accelerating now and it will continue to accelerate.  

If the people of the Earth can get to this 2012 date in good shape without having destroyed too much of the Earth, we will rise to a new, higher level. But to get there we must transform enormously powerful forces that seek to block the way." 

The date specified in the calendar Winter Solstice in the year 2012 does not mark the end of the world. Many outside people writing about the Mayan calendar sensationalize this date, but they do not know. The ones who know are the indigenous elders who are entrusted with keeping the tradition. 

Carlos tells us: "The economy now is a fiction. The first five-year stretch of transition from August 1987 to August 1992 was the beginning of the destruction of the material world. We have progressed ten years deeper into the transition phase by now, and many of the so-called sources of financial stability are in fact hollow. The banks are weak. This is a delicate moment for them. They could crash globally, if we don't pay attention. Now, people are paying attention." 

The North and South Poles are both breaking up. The level of the water in the oceans is going to rise. But at the same time land in the ocean, especially near Cuba, is also going to rise. Carlos tells a story about the most recent Mayan New Year ceremonies in Guatemala. He said that one respected Mam elder, who lives all year in a solitary mountain cave, journeyed to Chichicastenango to speak with the people at the ceremony. The elder delivered a simple, direct message. He called for human beings to come together in support of life and light. 

"Right now each person and group is going his or her own way. The elder of the mountains said there is hope if the people of the light can come together and unite in some way. We live in a world of polarity -- day and night, man and woman, positive and negative. Light and darkness need each other. They are a balance.

"Just now the dark side is very strong, and very clear about what they want. They have their vision and their priorities clearly held, and also their hierarchy. They are working in many ways so that we will be unable to connect with the spiral Fifth World in 2012." 

"On the light side everyone thinks they are the most important, that their own understandings, or their group's understandings, are the key. There's a diversity of cultures and opinions, so there is competition, diffusion, and no single focus." 

Carlos believes the dark side works to block unity through denial and materialism. It also works to destroy those who are working with the light to get the Earth to a higher level. They like the energy of the old, declining Fourth World, the materialism. They do not want it to change. They do not want unity. They want to stay at this level, and are afraid of the next level. 

The dark power of the declining Fourth World cannot be destroyed or overpowered. It's too strong and clear for that, and that is the wrong strategy. The dark can only be transformed when confronted with simplicity and open-heartedness. This is what leads to unity, a key concept for the World of the Fifth Sun. 

Carlos said the emerging era of the Fifth Sun will call attention to a much-overlooked element. Whereas the four traditional elements of Earth, Air, Fire and Water have dominated various epochs in the past, there will be a fifth element to reckon with in the time of the Fifth Sun --- that element is 'ETHER'. 

The dictionary defines Ether as a "hypothetical substance supposed to occupy all space, postulated to account for the propagation of electromagnetic radiation through space." Perhaps it could be defined as the "space between space". I would suggest it could be manifest as the alignment of charged particles from our solar system (Sun), and our galaxy (Milky Way) surge. The Ether element represents spiritual energy. 

"The element of the Fifth Sun is celestial. Within the context of Ether there can be a joining of the polarities. No more darkness or light in the people, but an uplifted unity. But right now the realm of darkness is not interested in this. They are organized to block it. They seek to unbalance the Earth and its environment so we will be unready for the alignment in 2012." 

"We need to work together for peace, and balance with the other side. We need to take care of the Earth that feeds and shelters us. We need to put our entire mind and heart into pursuing unity and unity now, to confront the other side and preserve life." 

"We are disturbed -- we can't play anymore. Our planet can be renewed or ravaged. Now is the time to awaken and take action. Everyone is needed. You are not here for no reason. Everyone who is here now has an important purpose. This is a hard but a special time. We have the opportunity for growth, but we must be ready for this moment in history." 

Carlos says: "The prophesied changes are going to happen, but our attitude and actions determine how harsh or mild they are. We need to act, to make changes, and to elect people to represent us who understand and who will take political action to respect the Earth." 

"Meditation and spiritual practice are good, but also action. It's very important to be clear about who you are, and also about your relation to the Earth. Develop yourself according to your own tradition and the call of your heart. But remember to respect differences, and strive for unity. Eat wisely --- a lot of food is corrupt in either subtle or gross ways. Pay attention to what you are taking into your body. Learn to preserve food, and to conserve energy. Learn some good breathing techniques, so you have mastery of your breath. Be clear. Follow a tradition with great roots. It is not important what tradition, your heart will tell you, but it must have great roots." 

"We live in a world of energy. An important task at this time is to learn to sense or see the energy of everyone and everything -- people, plants, animals. This becomes increasingly important as we draw close to the World of the Fifth Sun, for it is associated with the element 'ether' -- the realm where energy lives and weaves. Go to the sacred places of the Earth to pray for peace, and have respect for the Earth which gives us our food, clothing, and shelter. We need to reactivate the energy of these sacred places. That is our work." 

"One simple but effective prayer technique is to light white or baby-blue colored candles. Think of a moment in peace. Speak your intention to the flame and send the light of it on to the leaders who have the power to make war or peace."

Carlos reminds us this is a crucially important moment for humanity and for Earth. Each person is important.  

He said the elders have opened the doors so that other races can come to the Mayan world to receive the tradition. "The Maya have long appreciated and respected that there are other colors, other races, and other spiritual systems. They know that the destiny of the Mayan world is related to the destiny of the whole world." 

"The greatest wisdom is in simplicity. Love, respect, tolerance, sharing, gratitude, forgiveness. It's not complex or elaborate. The real knowledge is free. It's encoded in your DNA. All you need is within you. Great teachers have said that from the beginning. Find your heart, and you will find your way."

Click here to listen to El Vuh: Mayan Hip Hop