Eco-Pioneers : Community Cultivators's topics - tribe.net

Permaculture video

Tinkles — Thu, 29 May 2008 05:22:12 GMT

http://video.stumbleupon.com/#p=495ntje2mt

:)

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online book Mobilizing to Save Civilization

libramoon — Thu, 08 May 2008 21:24:37 GMT

http://www.earth-policy.org/Books/PB3/Contents.htm

Lester R. Brown

Plan B 3.0:
Mobilizing to Save Civilization

2008

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Panama paradise pictures and opportunity.

Steven — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 02:22:52 GMT

We continue to move forward on the Panama property and have yet another investor who will join us pending his visiting the property the last week in April.
Also, there is a new link for the Google video showing the beautiful meadows - see below.
It looks like we have another 2 week window of opportunity to get those who are interested to see the property and/or place their investment in the safe escrow account for procuring the land once clear title can be obtained. Let us know if you would like to visit during this time.
This is a spectacular 400 acre property in Panama for intentional community with rivers & waterfalls & year round springtime. And, it backs up against the La Amistad National Park, one of the most biodiverse environments in South/Central America - a tremendous asset for hiking and an ecovillage. We want you as a community member & investor. Present owner needs to sell immediately & could sell it to a developer if we don't purchase it NOW! It's only $3250 per acre! See the slide show at:

http://s251.photobucket.com/pbwidget.swf?pbwurl=http://w251.photobucket.com/albums/gg311/docvogue/adfa474e.pbw

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=841879949869730133&q=paradise+haven&total=67&start=0&num=100&so=0&type=search&plindex=0

We presently have a number of committed & we need more $50k to $100k investors (safe in escrow) to move forward, particularly in the next 2 weeks.
If you are inspired by what you see & would love to be in community on a property that is divine & will skyrocket in value, contact us at your earliest convenience at sacrednamaste@gmail.com We will call/write to you asap. There’s much more information to share. Namaste!
Our mission/vision includes, Building a community which is sustainable on all levels: (ecological, financial, & social), Creating a quiet, peaceful, mindful, spiritual environment, Maintaining an on-site medical/healing center, Ensuring freedom of lifestyle for all members in their lifestyle choices, Shaping a living landscape which is spacious/open, ecologically sensitive, & architecturally beautiful & natural, Creating opportunities to celebrate & have fun, Fostering the arts & culture (music, photography, writing, fine arts, & performing arts), Ensuring that members are encouraged to act in integrity & transparency in their continuous support of building an emotionally-healthy community.

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Looking for living communites!

childofthecedars — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 07:39:29 GMT

Hello!

This summer I am planning a short travel around the pacific northwest and some of the states closer to washington, and I was wondering if there are good communities that I can stop by for a few days, work, eat, and socialize with people. I'm a good worker and honest, so dont worry about sending some deadbeat off of tribe.net to this community you really love. I grew up on a farm, I know work well.
Thanks for any info!

~Seb

posted in Eco-Pioneers : Community Cultivators - 3 replies

Invitation to an EcoVillage in Belize

Indra — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:03:10 GMT

Hello Eco-friendlies,

On Christmas day of 2007 I headed down to Belize. Here in Belize I have been working on a few interesting projects, the focus of which is building a permaculture ecovillage in the tropical rainforest jungles of Belize within the heartland of the once powerful Mayan empire.

The rainforest here is filled with an abundance of foods, medicines, beautiful animals, and of course sun, rain, and very rich soil.

As part of the founding member team that is creating the ecovillage on 130 acres of pristine jungle, I would like to invite any and all who may be interested in coming down to visit and/or do a work-trade helping to co-create this wonderful place. Whether you'd like to actually come for a visit or not, I recommend at least becoming a member of the Better In Belize tribe at:

http://tribes.tribe.net/betterinbelize

We're particularly looking for people who have knowledge of permaculture, gardening, eco-friendly off-grid living, and of course lively fun-loving spirits who are willing to learn and help. Spread the word to friends if you know someone who may be interested. ;)

The property is located on one of the major rivers (The Macal) which flow out of the Mayan mountains. The site already has tropical fruits growing (Bananas, Jackfruit, Breadfruit, and more). Lots within the ecovillage are being sold for $29,000 an acre with specific rules for keeping 50% of it as greenspace, and any house plans must be passed by the community before allowing construction to make sure they fit the standard of eco-friendly. For $129,000 one can purchase 1 acre and get a 2 bedroom eco-home built as well that is fully self-sufficient on eco-power (Hydro/solar), bio-digester plumbing (includes methane production), and either filtered water from the river or a rainwater catchment system depending on the location within the community. It also comes with high-speed satellite internet hooked-up as well as access to other community resources.

If you'd like to learn more, please check out the evergrowing website at: http://BetterInBelize.com

and be sure to join the Better In Belize tribe at: http://tribes.tribe.net/betterinbelize

Peace, Love, Unity, Respect,
Indra

posted in Eco-Pioneers : Community Cultivators - 2 replies

04/19-04/24 Introduction to Cob and Natural Building Prescott, AZ

transcendance — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 22:05:56 GMT

Hey folks, a Friend of mine is hosting a workshop in AZ building a cob/natural building greenhouse. Whether you want to build a cob oven, bench, studio, or other such space...or are inspired by the ecological/community awareness, while simultaneously creating a tangible product you should check this out. If anyone is interested either personally or professionally in such a workshop you should look into www.SGNB.com (thats for Seven Generations Natural Builders).

Instructor:
Sasha Rabin (sasha@sgnb.com)
Sasha Rabin has a degree in Ecological Design from Evergreen State College. She has studied natural and traditional methods of building in Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Indonesia, and the southwest United States. Following an apprentice at the Cob Cottage Company she worked with them as an assistant instructor(2001) and went on to co-found Seven Genereation Natural Builders in 2003. She built a cob dwelling in the southwest US that she is curently living in. She contuinues to teach with SGNB, as well teaching as a guest instructor at the Real Good Institute for Solar Living(www.realgoods.com) / and Yestermorrow Design/Build School. (www.yestermorrow.org/)

(She is also flexible on the price if that is an issue but for a workshop that is a fair number!!!)

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Looking for an Earth Woman Friendly community style living solution?

Temeluch — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 22:41:52 GMT

Looking for an Earth Friendly community style living solution?

There is a Meeting of the Kindred Spirits coming up March 29th! And
we do need to see some more Positive well integrated Female Energy in
this group who can work closely with others.

http://edenvillage.net/18.htm

We are still looking to organize a group of volunteers to
help out some good folks one day out of the week, with some
organic gardening and we still do need someone to take Minutes
at the next meeting.

It would be possible, I would think, if there is a single female or
two out there who is cool about living closer to the Earth then
I may be able to provide a place for you to live, for
maybe 6 months out of the year up where I live in Northern
California.

If you can simply come to our next meeting on March 29th. - T

http://edenvillage.net/18.htm

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Intentional Community Paradise property available immediately

Steven — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 00:46:18 GMT

Spectacular 400 acre property in Panama for intentional community with rivers & waterfalls & year round springtime. We want you as a community member & investor. Present owner needs to sell immediately & could sell it to a developer if we don't purchase it NOW! It's only $3250 per acre? See the slide show at:
http://s251.photobucket.com/pbwidget.swf?pbwurl=http://w251.photobucket.com/albums/gg311/docvogue/adfa474e.pbw

We presently have four $100k investors committed & we need more $50k to $100k investors to move forward.
If you are inspired by what you see & would love to be in community on a property that is divine & will skyrocket in value, contact us at your earliest convenience at sacrednamaste@gmail.com We will call/write to you asap. There’s much more information to share. Namaste!

Our mission/vision includes, Building a community which is sustainable on all levels: (ecological, financial, & social), Creating a quiet, peaceful, mindful, spiritual environment, Maintaining an on-site medical/healing center, Ensuring freedom of lifestyle for all members in their lifestyle choices, Shaping a living landscape which is spacious/open, ecologically sensitive, & architecturally beautiful & natural, Creating opportunities to celebrate & have fun, Fostering the arts & culture (music, photography, writing, fine arts, & performing arts), Ensuring that members are encouraged to act in integrity & transparency in their continuous support of building an emotionally-healthy community

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2008 Communities Conference at Twin Oaks Community

Suede — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 17:46:01 GMT

My name is Suede and I live at Twin Oaks Community in Louisa, VA. This year I'm co-organizing the Communities Conference at Twin Oaks for my 2nd year, though the conference has been happening for many years now. Thought I'd post some basic info on the conference for those interested in learning about community, expanding knowledge or just meeting new people. Feel free to contact me with any questions about Twin Oaks or our conferences.

In Community,
Suede Machete

Here's the info:

The Communities Conference is a networking and learning opportunity for anyone interested or involved in co-operative or communal lifestyles. Join us for a weekend of sharing and celebration!

Friday August 15 through
Sunday August 17, 2008
$85 (sliding scale) includes
meals and camping

With workshops and events focused on
~ Intentional relationships
~ Group process
~Collective child raising
~ Creating culture
~ Forming communities
~ Sustainability
~ Appropriate technology
~ Community economics

Music
Dancing
Slide shows
Campfires
Swimming
Magic
More!

Respond to:
Twin Oaks Communities Conference
138 Twin Oaks Road, Louisa, Virginia 23093
540-894-5126

conference@twinoaks.org

For More Information, check out our website:

www.communitiesconference.org

Twin Oaks also hosts a Women's Gathering! Check that out at :

www.twinoaks.org/community...index.html

posted in Eco-Pioneers : Community Cultivators - 1 reply

some interesting sites/efforts

LanSing — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 08:42:15 GMT

Probably familiar to many here, maybe new to some...

First of all, being a city dweller, I'm very inspired by Kevin Danaher's vision for a global citizen center. I believe this is the kind of urban synergy that can help shape a sustainable future. Check it out & watch the video!
http://www.globalcitizencenter.org/

Suprisingly, I don't recall seeing mention of Bioneers here on this tribe. Maybe I just missed it. It's an important hub of eco-pioneers. I'm excited that the big event will be beamed into Seattle this year, just a couple weeks away.
http://www.bioneers.org/

Another very important networking hub is Wiser Earth.
http://wiserearth.org/

Green dreams!

posted in Eco-Pioneers : Community Cultivators - 1 reply

Greenpeace is Hiring an Online Community Organizer

Exodus — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 22:36:11 GMT

Greenpeace is Hiring an Online Community Organizer

Hey Friends!

Are you fascinated by the wonderful world of Web 2.0? Obsessed with Myspace, Facebook, Flickr, and Youtube? How about saving the planet?

Greenpeace is looking for a talented Online Community Organizer to join our growing online organizing team. You will refine and execute our organizing and communications strategy in social networking sites like MySpace, Facebook, Care2, Flickr and YouTube with an aim to promote priority campaigns, recruit new online and on-the-ground activists, and amplify grassroots output to win .. environmental issues.

Greenpeace's work in online social networks goes beyond marketing -- we invest time and energy in implementing organizing strategies, building relationships, empowering influencers, and getting measurable results. You are someone who enjoys a creative challenge, thinks outside the box, has exceptional writing chops, and you're willing to do what needs to be done, from top-level strategizing to cutting and pasting and plugging away.

This is a great position if you want to develop expertise in the most cutting edge online organizing, communications, and marketing skills in a rapidly growing non-profit field.

Responsibilities:
Write and post blogs, bulletins, and updates
Maintain profiles and groups with fresh content daily
Grow our presence in key online social networks
Build relationships with key online influencers, online and on the phone as needed
Stay up to date on the latest social networking tools, applications and features
Train and support staff and activist leaders in best practices in social network campaigning
Promote press releases in blogosphere
Databasing and writing reports as needed
Conduct online research

Qualifications:
Excellent written and verbal communications skills
Strong online research skills
Experience with online social networks
Familiarity with blogs, RSS feeds, html a plus
Tech savvy and always looking for the next thing.
Competency with excel and web databases
Ability to learn quickly in a fast-paced environment
Intellectual curiosity and creativity
Analytical and problem solving skills
Commitment to protecting the planet
A sense of adventure
On the ground organizing and activism experience preferred.

Location:
New York City or Washington, DC

Salary:
$30,600/yr

This is a contract position through the end of 2008, with a strong likelihood of becoming a permanent position thereafter.

Excellent benefits package included.

Deadline to Apply: February, 27, 2008

To Apply:
Please send cover letter, resume, and a brief writing sample to: organize@wdc.greenpeace.org.

Please Repost Widely!

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Forced Sale

Esteban — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 01:58:59 GMT

$440,000.00

Forced Sale....Private Reserve of Pacific Coast...Perfect for Ashram

Once in a lifetime opportunity

Own a slice of Costa Rican Pacific Jungle Paradise....

La Mona en Seda Reserva Privada
Las Delicias de Cobano
Horizontes de Montezuma
Costa Rica

This private monkey reserve is just under two hectares of jungle
canopy and pasture situated at the southern tip of the
Nicoya Peninsula above the world famous beach town of Montezuma.

The house of concrete and native hardwoods construction on a
private hilltop boasts fabulous ocean views and cooling breezes in
the front and monkey-filled mature canopy over a river with natural
swimming pool and waterfall in the back.

There are extensive gardens with hundreds of butterflies and a
three tiered fountain for the animals enjoyment.
There is chan for the parrots, papayas for the toucans and bananas
for the monos.
You will find over a thousand plantings. Many fruit and nut trees
along with mature Guanacaste and Roble trees shade the property and
provide food for the monkeys.A huge native orange tree will keep you
and the parrots in juice all season.Sitar music and chants are
played daily for the health of all.
The reserve has been managed organically for four years and is a
vegetarian property as well.

La Mona has been groomed to create an ashram, vegetarian
restaurant,healing center,yoga retreat or other conscious works.

La Mona is just minutes to the beach and town by foot, horse or car
and still has the lowest property taxes in the region.
There is a caretaking family and gardener in place who would be
willing to work with the new owners.

This titled property may be purchased with its exisiting corporation
to avoid taxes.

http://www.flickr. com/photos/ monkey_lover/ 2185661385/

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Surplus: Terrorized into Being Consumers

Alexander — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 01:24:45 GMT

Surplus: Terrorized into Being Consumers

This is a documentary featuring John Zerzan the infamous anarcho-primitivist from Eugene Oregon. Zerzan talks of the alienation that technology has delivered while advocates of technology have promised ease of life and the potential for more leisure time. Personally I agree with John about technology alienating, but I also know that we can not with 6 billion people return to a hunting and gathering way of life. That even in when the human population was at 1 billion in 1800 we could only support that number of people without total inhumane institutions from slavery to child labour and from gender oppression to outright genocide of whole populations. We need alternatives that are not just idealistic looks at hunting and gathering people and at the same time must deal with huge global issues in a just and fair way. Issues such as global climatic change, over population, social injustice and alienation.

Surplus: Terrorized into Being Consumers

Wiki entry:

Surplus: Terrorized Into Being Consumers is a 2003 Swedish documentary film on consumerism and globalization, created by director Erik Gandini and editor Johan Söderberg. It looks at the arguments for capitalism and technology, such as greater efficiency, more time and less work, and argues that these are not being fullfilled.

Surplus - Terrorized into Being Consumers (in 10 parts from google.ca video)

Part 1
http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=-2017292946244076538&q=Surplus&total=1246&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=1

Part 2
http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=-2017292946244076538&q=Surplus&total=1246&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=1

Part 3
http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=-2017292946244076538&q=Surplus&total=1246&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=1

Part 4
http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=-2017292946244076538&q=Surplus&total=1246&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=1

Part 5
http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=-2017292946244076538&q=Surplus&total=1246&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=1

Part 6
http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=-2017292946244076538&q=Surplus&total=1246&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=1

Part 7
http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=-2017292946244076538&q=Surplus&total=1246&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=1

Part 8
http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=-2017292946244076538&q=Surplus&total=1246&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=1

Part 9
http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=-2017292946244076538&q=Surplus&total=1246&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=1

Part 10
http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=-2017292946244076538&q=Surplus&total=1246&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=1

posted in Eco-Pioneers : Community Cultivators - 1 reply

A Beautiful video about the Flow of Water

in-PHI-net — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 23:28:59 GMT

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1598503208400404583

posted in Eco-Pioneers : Community Cultivators - 1 reply

Call to Action - Please support election transparency!

beaudha — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 16:27:45 GMT

Please support the initiative for a hand recount in NH!

http://grannywarrior.grannywarrior.chipin.com/recount

this is very important as there is a deadline of 3pm (central) today (Jan 15th) to raise over $10,000 to initiate the recount... but the good news is that if any candidate pulls ahead of any other candidate all money you donate to this cause will be returned!! There could really be no better way to show your support for an open and honest election than to contribute to this cause!

Please send this message as far and wide as you can within the next 5 hours! ---> as broke as I am these days I managed to scratch a hundred bucks up to donate to this... but even if you can only muster $10 wouldn't that be a small price to pay to know that our elections are being performed in a transparent and honest manner?

http://grannywarrior.grannywarrior.chipin.com/recount

posted in Eco-Pioneers : Community Cultivators - 0 replies

Hawaii Eco Community land being offered - Cheap

Zen — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 02:46:45 GMT

The next door property is up for sale. 3 acres, asking price is $30k. get more info here;
http://tribes.tribe.net/ecoark/thread/5349dc1d-b403-41c0-94a8-f0a46d1ff452

posted in Eco-Pioneers : Community Cultivators - 0 replies

phase 3

beaudha — Fri, 14 Jul 2006 05:47:13 GMT

this is it folks...
phase 3!

and although that sounds cool...
it means nothing to those who might be new to the group.

to better explain,
we are working within a 4 step system...

1st we take what we value from the past...
good and bad...
and we take some time to think about how it has helped us.

2nd, building off our past we develop our vision of the future,
culminate our goals...
express our dreams!

for most of us this is all stuff we have done before...
we might be the type that has notebooks full of this kinda stuff.
if this is the case...
then, no doubt, you probably already do a lot of work within the 3rd stage as well...

phase 3 asks...
where are you here and now?
what are you doing to make your vision a reality?

what things to you do,
be them big or small,
to cultivate your dreams?

posted in Eco-Pioneers : Community Cultivators - 59 replies

Did RAND Corporation Pen the Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act?

Alexander — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 14:17:33 GMT

Did RAND Corporation Pen the Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act?
Published on Friday, November 23, 2007.

AddThis Social Bookmarking Widget

By Kurt Nimmo

According to Jessica Lee of Indypendent and Kamau Karl Franklin of the Center for Constitutional Rights, the Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act was penned with plenty of help from the RAND Corporation.

“Rep. Jane Harman, Democrat from California, has had a lengthy relationship with the Rand Corporation,” Lee tells Democracy Now, although she was unable to determine if RAND wrote the bill. On the 12th anniversary of the OKC bombing, Rep. Harman, as chair of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Intelligence, Information Sharing and Terrorism Risk Assessment, introduced the bill in the House of Representatives.
“The ‘Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007' seeks to address the roots causes of radicalization, and would establish a grant program to provide funds to States to foster badly needed vertical information sharing from the Intelligence Community to the local level and from local sources to state and federal agencies,” explains Harman’s website. “It also creates a Center of Excellence for the Prevention of Radicalization and Home Grown Terrorism to examine the social, criminal, political, psychological and economic roots of domestic terrorism and to propose solutions, and promotes international collaboration on strategies to combat radicalization."

Franklin mentions Brian Michael Jenkins, an “expert” on “terrorism, counterinsurgency, and homeland security,” according to RAND. Jenkins is “someone who helped the United States in counterinsurgency measures in Vietnam,” states Franklin. “In addition to that, he wrote a book, and in his own book” Jenkins declared that “in their international campaign, the jihadists will seek common ground with leftists, anti-American and anti-globalist forces, who will in turn see radical Islam comrades against a mutual foe.”

In short, according to Kamau Karl Franklin, the Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act is more about domestic political activism than Islamic terrorism, although it appears Jenkins—and neocons such as the former Marxist David Horowitz—are attempting establish a link between the two, an absurdity at best, as the best way to discredit both the antiwar and patriot movements.

According to a Center for Constitutional Rights factsheet, RAND is a key player in the “domestic terrorism” prevention effort detailed in this draconian bill. A RAND study “Trends in Terrorism,” Chapter 4 on “homegrown terrorism,” advocates “special attention to environmentalist, Anti-globalization activist and anarchists as potentially new terrorist in the making.”

Not surprisingly, RAND is intimately connected to the global elite and the military-industrial-intelligence complex: “The interlocks between the trustees at Rand, and the Ford, Rockefeller, and Carnegie foundations were so numerous that the Reece Committee listed them in its report (two each for Carnegie and Rockefeller, and three for Ford). Ford gave one million dollars to Rand in 1952 alone, at a time when the chairman of Rand was simultaneously the president of Ford Foundation,” notes SourceWatch (Rene Wormser, Foundations: Their Power and Influence, p65-66). “Two-thirds of Rand’s research involves national security issues. This is divided into Project Air Force, the Arroyo Center (serving the needs of the Army), and the National Defense Research Institute (providing research and analysis for the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Staff, and the defense agencies).”

As Lee Rogers notes, the Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act, in its effort to flush out “terrorists,” including those opposed to the sort of globalism supported by Ford, Rockefeller, and Carnegie foundations, will perform an end-run around the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The bill “states in the first subsection that in general the efforts to defeat thought crime shall not violate the constitutional rights, civil rights and civil liberties of the United States citizens and lawful permanent residents. How does this protect constitutional rights if they use vague language such as in general that prefaces the statement? This means that the Department of Homeland Security does not have to abide by the Constitution in their attempts to prevent so called homegrown terrorism.”

This bill is completely insane. It literally allows the government to define any and all crimes including thought crime as violent radicalization and homegrown terrorism. Obviously, this legislation is unconstitutional on a number of levels and it is clear that all 404 representatives who voted in favor of this bill are traitors and should be removed from office immediately. The treason spans both political parties and it shows us all that there is no difference between them. The bill will go on to the Senate and will likely be passed and signed into the law by George W. Bush. Considering that draconian legislation like the Patriot Act and the Military Commissions Act have already been passed, there seems little question that this one will get passed as well. This is more proof that our country has been completely sold out by a group of traitors at all levels of government.

“With overwhelming bipartisan support, Rep. Jane Harman’s ‘Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act’ passed the House 404-6 late last month and now rests in Sen. Joe Lieberman’s Homeland Security Committee. Swift Senate passage appears certain,” write Ralph E. Shaffer and R. William Robinson for the Baltimore Sun. “Not since the ‘Patriot Act’ of 2001 has any bill so threatened our constitutionally guaranteed rights.”

Harman’s “proposed commission is a menace through its power to hold hearings, take testimony and administer oaths, an authority granted to even individual members of the commission—little Joe McCarthys—who will tour the country to hold their own private hearings. An aura of authority will automatically accompany this congressionally authorized mandate to expose native terrorism.”

Ms. Harman’s proposal includes an absurd attack on the Internet, criticizing it for providing Americans with “access to broad and constant streams of terrorist-related propaganda,” and legalizes an insidious infiltration of targeted organizations. The misnamed “Center of Excellence,” which would function after the commission is disbanded in 18 months, gives the semblance of intellectual research to what is otherwise the suppression of dissent.

While its purpose is to prevent terrorism, the bill doesn’t criminalize any specific conduct or contain penalties. But the commission’s findings will be cited by those who see a terrorist under every bed and who will demand enactment of criminal penalties that further restrict free speech and other civil liberties. Action contrary to the commission’s findings will be interpreted as a sign of treason at worst or a lack of patriotism at the least.

While Ms. Harman denies that her proposal creates “thought police,” it defines “homegrown terrorism” as “planned” or “threatened” use of force to coerce the government or the people in the promotion of “political or social objectives.” That means that no force need actually have occurred as long as the government charges that the individual or group thought about doing it.

As Shaffer and Robinson note, examples of “resulting crackdowns on such protests include the conviction and execution of anarchists tied to Chicago’s 1886 Haymarket Riot.” Additionally, we might add that the FBI’s COINTELPRO—targeting civil rights, antiwar, and national liberation movements—may serve as a template for “insidious infiltration of targeted organizations.” Although the official history would have us believe COINTELRPO was shut down in the 1970s, events since that time reveal the government is still in the business of illegally going after Americans who exercise their constitutional right to petition the government. For more on these recent events, see Brian Glick’s COINTELPRO Revisited: Spying and Disruption.

Thus it makes perfect sense that the corporate media—compromised by the CIA under Operation Mockingbird beginning in the 1950s—would employ the likes of Glenn Beck and Bill O’Reilly to characterize the antiwar, truth and patriot movements—and even supporters of Ron Paul—as potentially violent advocates of “domestic terrorism.” No doubt, in the weeks and months ahead, we should expect more such propaganda as Harman’s “proposed commissions,” little more than federally mandated inquisitions, get up to speed.
Finally, as noted above, it is only a matter of time before the so-called Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007 becomes law. The bill has been referred to the Senate where it awaits scrutiny from the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and is almost certain to pass.

http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/november2007/231107RAND.htm

posted in Eco-Pioneers : Community Cultivators - 0 replies

Bioneer's podcasts 2007

Zorro — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:03:37 GMT

Hello friends,
here you can listen to short interviews with some of the speakers at Bioneer's 2007(Marion, MA)
http://www.futureprimitive.org/Bioneers.html
I hope you enjoy
Warm regards
Joseluis

posted in Eco-Pioneers : Community Cultivators - 0 replies

Humancar on TV!

djembemon — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 20:37:53 GMT

Put your money where your mouth is!
Promote sustainability!

Tonight on "Invention Nation" which will feature HumanCar airs 10:30 p.m. (pst) on the Science Channel. It will repeat at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday and at 3:30 p.m. Sunday!

www.humancar.com.

Check out this link to see some of our publicity:
http://www.bendbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071119/BIZ0102/711190360/1011&nav_category=

Check out:http://www.greenteamtv.com, http://www.greenearthvision.com, http://agreenevolution.blogspot.com, http://www.seriousyurts.com, http://www.greenmatecafe.com

Don't forget to PRE-ORDER!

posted in Eco-Pioneers : Community Cultivators - 0 replies

The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil

Alexander — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 14:35:39 GMT

The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil

In 1991 after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Cuba experienced an 'energy famine.' Transportation and agriculture virtually came to a stop due to lack of diesel fuel and fertilizer shortages. This film explores what changes were put in place. The makers of the film "The End Of Suburbia" went to Cuba to explore it as a test case for what the conditions after Peak Oil would look like. This is that story.

This documentary takes you through various aspects of life in Cuba - Economy, transportation, health-care, agriculture, education - and explores how they dealt with the dramatic reduction of fossil fuels to a mere fraction of their pre 1990 levels. It was nice to meet the people, see the sights, and hear the sounds. The overall feeling was that the Cubans had improved the quality of their life (after a difficult "Special Period"). Their health was better, greater sense of community, better food and healthier land. I was left with the question: Why should we wait until we run out of oil? Let's do it now. The part that I did not expect was how it challenged my understanding of the difference between a Communist country and Capitalism. Did you know that a greater percentage of Cubans own their own home than in America? More farmers now own their own land? Sort of turns the notion of what a "Free-Market" is on its head!

http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=4981871524314644822&q=peak+oil+cuba&total=18&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=1

posted in Eco-Pioneers : Community Cultivators - 3 replies

Intentional Community looking for people

djembemon — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 18:27:46 GMT

Hi,
One of my tribes is Ecovillage check it out sometime. I'm part of www.greenearthvision.com and we're starting an intentional community in the Powell Butte area. It's located in Central Oregon about 15 minutes outside of Bend. If your interested in getting involved and want to check out Central Oregon give me a holler.
Thanks,
Forest

posted in Eco-Pioneers : Community Cultivators - 0 replies

Something Earth-changing is afoot

beaudha — Thu, 17 May 2007 17:36:26 GMT

I just read this inspirational little article by Paul Hawken and thought I would pass it along to you all...

To Remake the World
Something Earth-changing is afoot among civil society
by Paul Hawken

I HAVE GIVEN NEARLY ONE THOUSAND TALKS ABOUT the environment in the past fifteen years, and after every speech a smaller crowd gathered to talk, ask questions, and exchange business cards. The people offering their cards were working on the most salient issues of our day: climate change, poverty, deforestation, peace, water, hunger, conservation, human rights, and more. They were from the nonprofit and nongovernmental world, also known as civil society. They looked after rivers and bays, educated consumers about sustainable agriculture, retrofitted houses with solar panels, lobbied state legislatures about pollution, fought against corporate-weighted trade policies, worked to green inner cities, or taught children about the environment. Quite simply, they were trying to safeguard nature and ensure justice.

After being on the road for a week or two, I would return with a couple hundred cards stuffed into various pockets. I would lay them out on the table in my kitchen, read the names, look at the logos, envisage the missions, and marvel at what groups do on behalf of others. Later, I would put them into drawers or paper bags, keepsakes of the journey. I couldn’t throw them away.

Over the years the cards mounted into the thousands, and whenever I glanced at the bags in my closet, I kept coming back to one question: did anyone know how many groups there were? At first, this was a matter of curiosity, but it slowly grew into a hunch that something larger was afoot, a significant social movement that was eluding the radar of mainstream culture.

I began to count. I looked at government records for different countries and, using various methods to approximate the number of environmental and social justice groups from tax census data, I initially estimated that there were thirty thousand environmental organizations strung around the globe; when I added social justice and indigenous organizations, the number exceeded one hundred thousand. I then researched past social movements to see if there were any equal in scale and scope, but I couldn’t find anything. The more I probed, the more I unearthed, and the numbers continued to climb. In trying to pick up a stone, I found the exposed tip of a geological formation. I discovered lists, indexes, and small databases specific to certain sectors or geographic areas, but no set of data came close to describing the movement’s breadth. Extrapolating from the records being accessed, I realized that the initial estimate of a hundred thousand organizations was off by at least a factor of ten. I now believe there are over one million organizations working toward ecological sustainability and social justice. Maybe two.

By conventional definition, this is not a movement. Movements have leaders and ideologies. You join movements, study tracts, and identify yourself with a group. You read the biography of the founder(s) or listen to them perorate on tape or in person. Movements have followers, but this movement doesn’t work that way. It is dispersed, inchoate, and fiercely independent. There is no manifesto or doctrine, no authority to check with.

I sought a name for it, but there isn’t one.

Historically, social movements have arisen primarily because of injustice, inequalities, and corruption. Those woes remain legion, but a new condition exists that has no precedent: the planet has a life-threatening disease that is marked by massive ecological degradation and rapid climate change. It crossed my mind that perhaps I was seeing something organic, if not biologic. Rather than a movement in the conventional sense, is it a collective response to threat? Is it splintered for reasons that are innate to its purpose? Or is it simply disorganized? More questions followed. How does it function? How fast is it growing? How is it connected? Why is it largely ignored?

After spending years researching this phenomenon, including creating with my colleagues a global database of these organizations, I have come to these conclusions: this is the largest social movement in all of history, no one knows its scope, and how it functions is more mysterious than what meets the eye.

What does meet the eye is compelling: tens of millions of ordinary and not-so-ordinary people willing to confront despair, power, and incalculable odds in order to restore some semblance of grace, justice, and beauty to this world.

CLAYTON THOMAS-MÜLLER SPEAKS to a community gathering of the Cree nation about waste sites on their native land in Northern Alberta, toxic lakes so big you can see them from outer space. Shi Lihong, founder of Wild China Films, makes documentaries with her husband on migrants displaced by construction of large dams. Rosalina Tuyuc Velásquez, a member of the Maya-Kaqchikel people, fights for full accountability for tens of thousands of people killed by death squads in Guatemala. Rodrigo Baggio retrieves discarded computers from New York, London, and Toronto and installs them in the favelas of Brazil, where he and his staff teach computer skills to poor children. Biologist Janine Benyus speaks to twelve hundred executives at a business forum in Queensland about biologically inspired industrial development. Paul Sykes, a volunteer for the National Audubon Society, completes his fifty-second Christmas Bird Count in Little Creek, Virginia, joining fifty thousand other people who tally 70 million birds on one day. Sumita Dasgupta leads students, engineers, journalists, farmers, and Adivasis (tribal people) on a ten-day trek through Gujarat exploring the rebirth of ancient rainwater harvesting and catchment systems that bring life back to drought-prone areas of India. Silas Kpanan’Ayoung Siakor, who exposed links between the genocidal policies of former president Charles Taylor and illegal logging in Liberia, now creates certified, sustainable timber policies.

These eight, who may never meet and know one another, are part of a coalescence comprising hundreds of thousands of organizations with no center, codified beliefs, or charismatic leader. The movement grows and spreads in every city and country. Virtually every tribe, culture, language, and religion is part of it, from Mongolians to Uzbeks to Tamils. It is comprised of families in India, students in Australia, farmers in France, the landless in Brazil, the bananeras of Honduras, the “poors” of Durban, villagers in Irian Jaya, indigenous tribes of Bolivia, and housewives in Japan. Its leaders are farmers, zoologists, shoemakers, and poets.

The movement can’t be divided because it is atomized—small pieces loosely joined. It forms, gathers, and dissipates quickly. Many inside and out dismiss it as powerless, but it has been known to bring down governments, companies, and leaders through witnessing, informing, and massing.

The movement has three basic roots: the environmental and social justice movements, and indigenous cultures’ resistance to globalization—all of which are intertwining. It arises spontaneously from different economic sectors, cultures, regions, and cohorts, resulting in a global, classless, diverse, and embedded movement, spreading worldwide without exception. In a world grown too complex for constrictive ideologies, the very word movement may be too small, for it is the largest coming together of citizens in history.

There are research institutes, community development agencies, village- and citizen-based organizations, corporations, networks, faith-based groups, trusts, and foundations. They defend against corrupt politics and climate change, corporate predation and the death of the oceans, governmental indifference and pandemic poverty, industrial forestry and farming, depletion of soil and water.

Describing the breadth of the movement is like trying to hold the ocean in your hand. It is that large. When a part rises above the waterline, the iceberg beneath usually remains unseen. When Wangari Maathai won the Nobel Peace Prize, the wire service stories didn’t mention the network of six thousand different women’s groups in Africa planting trees. When we hear about a chemical spill in a river, it is never mentioned that more than four thousand organizations in North America have adopted a river, creek, or stream. We read that organic agriculture is the fastest-growing sector of farming in America, Japan, Mexico, and Europe, but no connection is made to the more than three thousand organizations that educate farmers, customers, and legislators about sustainable agriculture.

This is the first time in history that a large social movement is not bound together by an “ism.” What binds it together is ideas, not ideologies. This unnamed movement’s big contribution is the absence of one big idea; in its stead it offers thousands of practical and useful ideas. In place of isms are processes, concerns, and compassion. The movement demonstrates a pliable, resonant, and generous side of humanity.

And it is impossible to pin down. Generalities are largely inaccurate. It is nonviolent, and grassroots; it has no bombs, armies, or helicopters. A charismatic male vertebrate is not in charge. The movement does not agree on everything nor will it ever, because that would be an ideology. But it shares a basic set of fundamental understandings about the Earth, how it functions, and the necessity of fairness and equity for all people partaking of the planet’s life-giving systems.

The promise of this unnamed movement is to offer solutions to what appear to be insoluble dilemmas: poverty, global climate change, terrorism, ecological degradation, polarization of income, loss of culture. It is not burdened with a syndrome of trying to save the world; it is trying to remake the world.

THERE IS FIERCENESS HERE. There is no other explanation for the raw courage and heart seen over and again in the people who march, speak, create, resist, and build. It is the fierceness of what it means to know we are human and want to survive.

This movement is relentless and unafraid. It cannot be mollified, pacified, or suppressed. There can be no Berlin Wall moment, no treaty-signing, no morning to awaken when the superpowers agree to stand down. The movement will continue to take myriad forms. It will not rest. There will be no Marx, Alexander, or Kennedy. No book can explain it, no person can represent it, no words can encompass it, because the movement is the breathing, sentient testament of the living world.

And I believe it will prevail. I don’t mean defeat, conquer, or cause harm to someone else. And I don’t tender the claim in an oracular sense. I mean the thinking that informs the movement’s goal—to create a just society conducive to life on Earth—will reign. It will soon suffuse and permeate most institutions. But before then, it will change a sufficient number of people so as to begin the reversal of centuries of frenzied self-destruction.

Inspiration is not garnered from litanies of what is flawed; it resides in humanity’s willingness to restore, redress, reform, recover, reimagine, and reconsider. Healing the wounds of the Earth and its people does not require saintliness or a political party. It is not a liberal or conservative activity. It is a sacred act.

http://www.orionmagazine.org/index.php/articles/article/265

posted in Eco-Pioneers : Community Cultivators - 5 replies

Permaculture Credit Union

brando — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 23:04:47 GMT

Permaculture Credit Union: http://pcuonline.org/index.html

want to know why credit unions are so much better than banks?: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-9050474362583451279

want to know more about permaculture?: http://www.permaculture.org/nm/index.php/site/index/

posted in Eco-Pioneers : Community Cultivators - 0 replies

A new group for Eco Sustainable Alternative Tech. Mud Junkies

Zen — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 22:01:13 GMT

Well, I have pulled myself out of the Hawaiian rain forest once again. With months of computer time ahead of me as I write my second book, I decided to finally start a gr
oup focused on the Eco-Ark Project. Its multiple purposes include raising awareness of the Eco-ark being built in the Puna Rain Forest, encouraging others to start similar projects in their own area, sharing ideas and methodologies for accomplishing these goals, spreading ideas concerning sustainable, Eco-friendly technologies and off grid community living. Spreading knowledge of organic permaculture techniques, to encourage the building of community gardens and the growing of food in publicly accessible places (Green Ribbon Project). And helping each other to restoring this planet to its divinely intended Edenic state before it is too late.

This group will also act as a central meeting place for individuals wishing to join in the continued building of the ark on Hawaii Island next summer.

Check out http://tribes.tribe.net/ecoark? to reach Builders of the Arks! Poke around and see if it sounds like a group you would be interested in participating in. We would enjoy input from all positive, creative souls in resurrecting the balance between humanity and our planet. Aloha!

posted in Eco-Pioneers : Community Cultivators - 0 replies