The Illusion Of FREE -dom

The ultimate symbol of "freedom" in North America is the car. Getting ones' license and then finally, one day, a car...wow.....that certainly makes a real man out of the male.

So let's "unpack" this a little. So the real man will now be in debt much of his life [and the car's life]. He will be a slave to his job. OH....first he has to get a job. His slavery will help pay off his real boss: the bank. So he will live in fear: of his bosses, of losing his job...of his "baby" getting damaged....gas prices going up...free-dom indeed!

He will now possess the leading murder weapon of children - i.e. the number one thing that kills kids! Also the numero uno killer of adults: wars are fought...invasions "launched" to supply our real man's car with fuel. Iraq had about 2,000,000,000 murdered for him....and about 5,000,000,000 refuges still suffer. But let's not talk about real-it-y. "Don't touch my car".......He lives in fear..

Then we have very destructive other sources of fuel: the Tar Sands and fracking. Both are very destructive and use immense amounts of water. And the emissions from the Tar Sands are the number 1 contributor to greenhouse gases in Canada, perhaps the world. And Harper has failed to show any concern.

The resources to build cars and the roadways are beyond imagining. Wiping out habitats, roads, invade and devour ALL!

Climate change....heck.....pollution....huh....the greed and deluded Canadians and Americans....justify our extremely selfish "way of living"...by ignoring the most important truths of today. We use most of the resources of the world...and most just don't care. And yet, there is not even a second thought as we devour each other, the air, water, land....

Sounds like insanity to me...not free-dom. The worship of "freedom" must end. Responsible, sustainable and fair use of our habitat must take precedence....replacing the idolatry of materialism, individualism and "freedom".

"I Don't Consider Them [Muslims] People" - White Trash: SHAME

Note: Most estimate the Homeland Security [oxymoron] War Machine at 10,000,000,000,000$$$$
- enough to feed all the world, give solar panels/wind turbines to all, etc.....oops. That is sharing/caring. No room for that in a "Christian" nation. I'm sure God is weeping or filled with rage. Let it rain."They do not know how to do right," declares the LORD, "who hoard plunder and loot in their fortresses." - Amos 3

Keep Lying

Um, no I don't smell any-thing
come out of my exhaust pipe

How could pollution from humans
affect anything?

What about the jobs?

The economy is more important than ____________--.....

Don't you know climate scientist just want more money?

I only believe facts that the oil industry tells me.

Mass Media has no vested interest! They would never censor any-thing. They would NEVER lie.

I am very trusting of those well dressed, in uniforms, and especially white people.

Facts are the first casualty in the war of words
                                and profit
they are unclean

Follow "your" leader, instead:
...."your" business leaders, "your" president, "your" religious leaders, "your" teachers, "your" police... 

Note: we like to think these entities are "owned" by us in some way...or have allegiance to us...dream on. Look at the recent events in Ferguson, USA, for an example of how the police are an entity unto them-selves...not "ours"....and the courts are ruled by them, preventing any charges. Who gets charged when a black man in NYC is choked to death by a cop...the cop doesn't get charged but the man who filmed it did!!! Click here for more.

Class Struggle Denied And Replaced With Super-ficial Politeness

We must like our bosses. We must obey our bosses.
They are nice people.

We are well programmed [like any tech device]
There are no options but obedience
And denial of our own needs/desires/wishes/thoughts...

We replace our-selves 
With what we are told to

Lost is our imagine-ation
Lost is our child-like fascinate-ion            with our bodies
   our minds             our desires         our......

It's not too late....

Kill What You Can Not Control

And, of course, this applies to who you can not control! Killing may be replaced with "silencing"/repressing/oppressing...Again we see the 12 year old black boy shot by a cop for not dropping his toy gun...and one shot in Walmart for the same reason...We see torture being practiced by, and the training in the techniques, by the U.S. ...We see Nature being Repressed by "civilized man"....And the real-it-y of climate change and "our" responsibility by selfish, greedy "Christians" and Republicans and Conservatives.....you fill in the rest...

Remember to repeat: "Have A Nice Day"!

"The War To End All Wars" Lest We Forget!

Isn't it "odd" that we get all sentimental about WWI. Yet "we" - i.e. Canadian and American governments, industry, business - forget the horrors of that and all war.

When the "attack" on 2 Canadian soldiers happened last month, Stephen Harper quickly said we need MORE war against Canadian people - through greater surveillance, increased power to CSIS and the police. Are people so brain washed to give up their civil liberties so quickly. Usually we hear the chant: "we are so free in a democracy such as ours"...

Yet doesn't anyone question the narrative provided ad nauseum by the corporate media. The CBC was sick....like the end of the world was happening...but "Canada" was uniting...Huh? Harper has been at war for 13 years...isn't it time their was reprisal?

But who defines "terror". Normally it is defined as attacks on civilians. Yet here, the loud voices want to exploit the compliant Canadians with more lies.

And who questions the narrative that this was a tragedy. Of course all death is. But perhaps this was staged. What?!!! Blasphemy! The nature of war/greed/propaganda rationalizes all such actions. Just look at the present and history. How many Iraq war vets commit suicide daily? 2? No! 22!!!

Does anyone wonder why the "events" happened right before the passing of more funding/powers to CSIS?
Hmm..."Get the people filled with fear...and they will do anything you tell them..." [I think I heard Harper whisper]...

Lest we forget how easily we are brain washed...and may we "get off our high horses" and be moved to compassion of the victims of war [including the soldiers]:

After 13 years of war, Canada is shocked that a 'terrorist' attacked its soldiers | rabble.ca

After 13 years of war, Canada is shocked that a 'terrorist' attacked its soldiers | rabble.ca

Festival of Dangerous Ideas 2013 Vandana Shiva Growth = Poverty You...

Give Me Convenience Or Give Me Death

As the warmer months begin to disappear, our animal friends gather food for the winter. Yet many don't make it...rather they are "hit and run" by "civilized" humans. About 1,000,000 die per day on U.S. roads.

Isn't it time we change? Things continue to worsen. Destruction of habitat, the "rush rush rush" of "life"...roads everywhere...But it's not the walkers or bicyclists who murder. What can you do? How can you change your neighbourhood, city, nation...? We need both individual act-i-ons and societal...

Click for more pics and info...

U.S. And Israel Sitting In A Tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G...

Is this a love affair going on between the U.S. and Israel? It certainly qualifies for adultery. Both "countries" have forgotten the poor and the weak. Ruled by a few "macho" MEN....with very big egos, lies, armaments....and small hearts.

Almost 2000 Palestinians have been killed. Over 10,000 homes destroyed and more than that damaged. The estimated damage of $4,000,000,000 is to be paid for by the international community! Absurd. Israel should be paying for it, just as Germany was responsible after WWII. That was different since Germany was the enemy of the U.S. and Israel is the "friend" of "America".

An illegal occupation for about 50 years! About 600,000 "settlers" moved in to take over the West Bank. Guess Russia wasn't good enough.

Contact your government to get Israel out...and to lift the 7 year blockade of Gaza. Watch Democracy Now and be informed. The mass media lies and supports only Israel. The colonizer must be silenced.

The U.S. continues to send arms to Israel. They used so many against the defenseless civilians that the U.S. "had to" replenish their stocks. Where is the human-i-ty? Where is the com-passion? Obama has great rhetoric...but where is the ACT-I-ON? Get in-volved NOW. Click for more.

Buy Your Self

Conflict Is Essential In Close Relationships

While many of us run from conflict, it is a vital part of all close relationships. It is how we handle it that is key. Using non-violent "I messages" help us to communicate clearly in a loving manner. It is essential that we don't just employ a technique but care. And we need to express that care even when, and especially, when we are hurt, upset, etc.

Conflict in close relationships is not only inevitable, it is essential. 

Intimacy connects people who are inevitably different

 - as the saying goes, if two people agree about everything, one of them is superfluous. 

Conflict is the mechanism by which we set boundaries around these differences, 

so that each party feels safe with the other. 

 - Martha Beck, life coach.

The Poor Suffer Most From Environmental Injury

Who works in the factories? Who lives in the most polluted parts of the city? Where are the incinerators located [and yes they spew out dioxins if burning plastic...or other toxins]? Where is there increased stress from constant traffic noise? Who lives here?

Who can "cut and run"? Who benefits from polluting the streams? Who builds huge dams? Who diverts the water flow so that no water even reaches the ocean anymore? Who eats the food they grow? What vehicle gets more "nutrition" than many humans?

Who cuts the ancient forests? Who flies off to a remote paradise behind guarded walls?

Who is left in the grime? Who is breathing the polluted air even on high smog days? Who created the smog?

Who owns the means of production [factories, stores, land, us]....?

When will we revolt? When will we say enough is enough? Who will have the courage and rage to step up...to step on the masters?

I Am [And The NSA] Listening, Please Continue...

Freedom
Free-dom
Freedom

We Canadians and Americans value, if not worship our freedom...or at least the illusion of it.

Thanks to a true patriot, Edward Snowden and Wiki-leaks we have become aware that we are not alone! All communication: email, telephone, cell, skype,...are being monitored and collected.

Is this "freedom"? Oh yea - "they" are protecting us from the "terrorists". Ha.

The NSA and the Canadian equivalent, the CSEC spy on us - are right now. But, remember, it's for our own good. You never know who is a terrorist. Well, actually, the largest state terrorists are the U.S., as Edward Herman and Noam Chomsky noted decades ago!

Obama reassures the Americans "we would never spy on American citizens". Lie. He soon was found, again, to be lying. The Canadian government reassures stupid Canadians "Oh don't worry we love you - we will protect you". Yes sir!

Besides, other countries spy on us, and our government conveniently "trades" information with them [Canada, U.S., UK, Australia, New Zealand].

 Much of the spying is done for economic reasons also...that is, spying on foreign companies/governments to know their secrets [ah, the spying on  Brasil scandal].

Tax cuts for the rich we hear more about. Meanwhile CSEC spend $1.2 BILLION on their new building. Don't you feel better.

The NSA has spied on Americans via webcams - even when offline.

The NSA has interrupted routers being shipped from Cisco and put tracking devices in the units.

BELL Canada is collecting meta-data. Did they ask you for permission?

The Border "Police" hassle, deny access, interrogate, intimidate people who report on the issues above, such as Amy Goodman of Democracy Now.

Those who open our eyes to the truth are considered unpatriotic! 

We are in a frightening time when many, if not most, Canadians and Americans trust their government/big businesses and will hand over their rights to them.

Get informed. Demand freedom for all - especially those with dissenting views. This is a "democracy" isn't it?
Write your local newspapers. Contact your government officials. Educate others.Watch/listen to Democracy Now.org....become the media.....

Running From Un-comfortable Feelings

This cult-u-r-e worships pleasure. Like an infant we seek it constantly. Freud called this the pleasure principle. At the same time, we run from un-comfort-able feelings. How many times do you try to repress what somebody says or feels because you don't "like" it? Rather than have empathy or compassion - we are afraid [but who can admit that?!].

Com-passion means to "feel with". And John Gottman notes that when people make amends and get closure after an "uncomfortable" time/argument, the memory of that pain actually diminishes. But if things are not resolved, we hash over things over and over. This is know as the Zeigamik Effect. The superficial "just let go" philosophy doesn't work! That is repressive and doesn't deal with the pain of what happened and no responsibility, healing nor problem solving occurs.

We have so little tolerance for uncomfortable feelings.

I'm not even talking about unpleasant outer circumstances,

but that feeling in your stomach of I don't want this to be happening.

You try to escape it in some way, 

but if somehow you could stay present

and touch the rawness of the experience,

you can really learn something.

-Pema Chodron, Buddhist nun

This spider illustrates how some deal with conflict - devour the other - or silence the other. At least the spider is doing good by killing this fly. Spiders kill about 2000 "pests" in their lives! What a great natural "pesticide"!

Religion AND Science Violate Women And The Earth

Violence against women 

and violence against the Earth, 

legitimated and promoted by both patriarchal 

religion and science, 

are interconnected assaults 

rooted in the eroticization of domination. 

The gynocidal cultures’s image of woman 

as object and victim 

is paralleled by contemporary representations 

that continually show the Earth 

as a toy, machine, or violated object, 

as well as by the religious and scientific ideology 

that legitimates 

the possession, 

contamination, 

and destruction 

of Mother Earth.

– Jane Caputi

Above, coltsfoot struggling to be seen....click for more...

Insanity: Destroying Your Habitat: The Air, Water, Soil, Living Be-ings....

Today is one of the first warm days. It's been a cold and wonder-full winter as the pics on the blog replicate.

With the warm weather comes the stupid-i-ty and dis-connect-edness of modern man. MM just got back from a warmer climate yesterday! First day back, he gets out his snow blower, turns it on, and leaves it on. Hmmm. A waste of fuel you might think. Polluting without a qualm you might guess. Hmmm. I wonder too. The noise is very irritating. Is there not a more responsible and moral way to empty a tank of gas?

But how dare one MM to approach another MM with such concerns. MM is a rugged individual and only thinks of himself. But he has not learned to think. Neither has he learned to think for himself. Nor does he look at his connect-i-on to the world a-round him. Nor does he connect to his senses. He is only left with his pride, arrogance and stupidity.

He takes his cue from TV ads, from industry men, and the like.

What has such a small number of people been able to destroy their own, and others habitats without even a thought? MM, of course, does this through resource exploitation and dropping bombs. The inhabitants - human and non-human suffer as a result. The cancer rates in Iraq from the U.S. dropping depleted uranium bombs testify.

One of the last ice formations for the year...sad in some ways....like losing an old friend. But that friend will return. Click for more

The Difference Between The Indigenous And The Civilized

[R]eligion rather than business being the principal business;

living to live rather than to get;

belonging rather than belongings 

as a reigning value;

apparently frivivolous nature of much religious service

tending to disguise the possibility 

that it may have been enforced;

group owndership of land and wealth,

and consequent tendencies toward individual 

cooperation rather than competition,

and apparent rarity of the police and lawsuits necessary

to regulate individual possessions;

dualism and institutionalized factionalism

with consequest tendencies toward reciprocationg government,

toward a world balance of two opposing forces,

whether the world of thought

and the spirit or the world of practicial politics, 

rather than the Old World comulsion toward one party rule, 

insofar a possible, whether it be religion or politics."

- Brandon, William

Forget The Play - Ground: Let's Build A Walmart

Fishes and birds

Can't live at all.

They're tearing down a playground

To make room for a mall.

The sun is crying raindrops,

Raindrops, big and small.

And the last tree is dying,

Dying, that's all.

-Charles Anflick, Grade 5 Hillel Academy, CT

Click for more pics

Quantum Physics And You

A human being, too, is many things. Whatever makes up the 

air, the earth, the herbs, the stones

is also part of our bodies.

We must learn to be different,

to feel

and to taste

the manifold things

that are us. 

-Lame Deer

Rule #1: Big Boys Don't Cry

Wow. When was the last time a male said "I'm hurt by what you said/did...." or "I cried last night..."

We live in such a repressive, macho society. Males are i-solated and a-lone. And lone-ly [but who would admit that? - a big boy would! - and somebody who was in touch with him-self and honest]

How many males never, in their entire lives connect with their vulnerable/feminine? [why categorize this as feminine?] side and has the courage to share it?

It's "okay" for a male to yell, hit another male, swear...[at least amongst other "equal" males].

But when is it okay for a man to show an emotion of sadness, pain,...in a way that makes him appear "weak".

In real-it-y it takes a lot more "balls" to say something gently and to be vulnerable - than it does to say to oneself or another: "just get over it"..."what the big deal"..."don't be such a pussy/girl"...etc., ad nauseum.

Re-press-i-on
Violence to one-self [and to others as a result]

Isn't it time that the glorification/idolatry of violence in sports/hollywood crap movies/video games/war/police be replaced with genuine vulnerability, honesty [in an "I message" form] and care?

Shame how very little change we see/feel/hear today.

Big boys DO cry and have the courage to admit it!

Cold-ness like this pic needs to be re-placed with warm ex-changes. But doesn't the ice look amazing! See here for more.

Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Moe...Don't Say Nigger Or.....

There is much silence during Black History Month. Most white middle class Canadians have no idea nor concern - for the past nor present. "Life goes on"...

It is hard to believe that at least 50,000,000 Blacks were uprooted from Africa, with about 15,000,000 making it to the New World, according to "Let The Niggers Burn". The state and church fully supported, enable and justified doing this. Even during Apartheid, the same players did the same thing. Not only were you breaking the law if you disobeyed the White Man, but you were breaking God's law. For more see authority is to be obeyed.

But the plight of the African American is still dire. Ex-felons still cannot vote in many states like Florida, Kentucky and Virginia. Considering African Americans make up 80% of the prison population - due to racism and poverty - they have lost many rights of citizens. And that is just one of the issues still facing them.

A poem by Ted Joans from an out of print book "Let The Niggers Burn" - Black Rose Books.:

For more see here and to read more on the role of the church.

Syrian Nun: Love One An-other

 

Last December [2013] Syrian nun Agnes Mariam of the Cross spoke in Hamilton, Ontario. Surprisingly she kept the message very simple: love one another. She took her inspiration from a fab section of Isaiah [58] in the Jewish Scriptures. Here are some highlights [NIV]:

Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please

and exploit all your workers....

Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:

to loose the chains of injustice...

to set the oppressed free

and break every yoke?

Is it not to share your food with the hungry

and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter-

when you see the naked, to clothe him...

Then your light will break forth like the dawn,

and your hea ling will quickly appear...

Then you will call, and the Lord will answer...

Don't we all need to "heed this call"! To see videos from the tour and more about ongoing issues in Syria click here

Winter Kept Us Warm

Winter kept us warm, covering

Earth in forgetful snow, feeding

A little life with dried tubers.

-Eliot 1

Water Shortages Worse Than Ever

While most Canadians and Americans don't think or care much about the water they use, 1,200,000,000 people are in dire need of water, according to the UN. People flush away their "waste" without thinking about all the water used...nor the alternatives. Composting toilets use little or no water.

But the main users of water are industry - both industrial agriculture and other types of industry. Oil extraction and fracking use massive amounts too - another reason to not drive and to work toward more sustain-able forms of transportation. Growing your own food, or buying local and especially organic food makes a big difference.

Any talk of the population explosion must take seriously this precious "resource".  A film to take seriously is How Many People Can Live On Planet Earth? A clear distinction must be made between those who use hardly any resources/energy and the "fat cats" of developed countries. For example, the earth could sustain 15 billion people if we lived like those who use few resources. But it can only sustain 1 billion of good consumer citizens of North America.

Shame that many supposed "Christians" live in North America and proudly proclaim concepts like "loving your neighbour" close to their hearts. Yet, from their act-i-ons, do more to harm their neighbours than helping them! Well, the 2,000,000 dead Iraqis may slightly disagree with me.

The extensive droughts recently should make us think and change our way of farming and living. Soaring food prices have been and will be a reality. Many poor countries, especially in Africa are essentially being bought to grow food for the rich "developed" countries. We need to heed the call and warnings. No one can deny the damage done to the earth [including people] by unfettered capitalism and consumption. It is time to stop being greedy and think about others who have little or nothing.

Fortunately this winter has provided a fair bit of precipitation as evidenced in this pic. See here for more.

The Right To Exploit

Our culture thinks and operates

on an unexamined 

self assured

right

to exploit

everything and everyone.

Why would you

think about the effects 

of your actions on others [humans and non-humans]?

Last week an American cop killed his mother in law, wife and 2 daughters. Then he killed himself. Otherwise he may have just been charged with a misdemeanor. The judge says tissue wounds don't matter. Broken bones perhaps do. Rape, kidnapping, ...not so bad. But a broken bone...More...

What kind of country/world allows/sactions violence against women or anyone. But when violent sports are glorified, war is glorified and unquestioned, police are given ultimate authority [in Ontario, cities must give them whatever their budget demands], ...what can we expect?!

Everything/one are only valued if they produce something for me - if I profit = capitalism. Who needs air, the poor, water, ...if no one is making money from them - they are use-less. Wipe out regulations to protect them [=us] - is the cry of conservatives in Harper's government and the U.S. 

When will we take control of our countries? 

How Have You Defiled The Land?

"I brought you into a fertile land

to eat its fruit and rich produce.

But you came and defiled my land

and made my inheritance detestable."

- Jeremiah 2 [NIV]

Click here for more

Biking For Transportation: Seeing, Smelling, Feeling - Experiencing

When you bike for transportation you can really experience the world a-round you. You get to see things you wouldn't notice [like anything other than the car in front of you!], smell things like flowers, feel the world you are part of...It also allows you to stop easily and take pictures to share with others so they can experience it a little [not the same as be-ing there, of course].

And, of course, riding for transportation means you aren't polluting, saving lots of money, getting/staying in shape and not contributing to wars for oil, the 'tar sands', etc. Enough reasons?

And here's one of the few great images...see here for more:

Incredible

The wonders of creation never cease. May we be thank-full we have eyes to see, ears to hear...food...

More ice pics

Climate Change Is Real And Extreme Weather Is Evidence

Good thing Donald Trump's hair trumps the legitimacy of what he says! Oh yes, cold weather proves global warming isn't real. Just check the heat in Australia and the massive heat waves and droughts the last 10 years! Localized temperatures for a few days have little significance.

But Fox news and the like will take any opportunity to deny what almost all [95%] scientist agree on - climate change is real. No peer reviewed journals contradict this! Only stupid - yes, stupid and self interested TV people [not real journalists] and heads of large polluting corporations deny the fact[s]. Why? Vested interests!

The greedy continue to push for domination of nature, their fellow humans...resources, money, status, wealth is at stake. Mean-while many already are effected by massive droughts. From the Masai of Africa to farmers in North America, crops and animals have been devastated!

We need to change NOW - or there will not be enough water, land, food. The "first world" uses most of the resources. Yet people stubbornly and greedily refuse to listen/change. Let love for our fellow creatures guide us - not self-ishness.

Here's a beautiful pic from the recent cold - see any likeness to "real" things? See also here for more pics:

Flow-ing

The evaporating

flow 

gets stopped 

by the cold 

forming 

instant 

crystals 

of beauty:

Stop, Breathe, Feel, ...

Hard to believe this is a totally untouched photo! See here for more.

Ice, No Power And Beauty

While losing power may be an issue to some...the beauty of the ice on EVERYthing is fab! And as the ice melted it created big bangs and gentle clanging sounds.It's all about perspective. We can either bitch about the weather or en-joy it. Your choice.

It's especially "odd" that religious folks that believe that God created the earth and, hence, the weather - complain and thereby insult the Creator. For apparently God "blesses" the obedient with rain and good crops. Oops...a little different than sun and beaches for rain haters. But beaches don't provide food or water to drink!

Check out here for more wonder-full pics..