The Self: a poem by Friend

The Self

"It is only the self that can profit
it is only the self that can gain
it is only the self that sheds its tears
from laughter love and pain.

It is only the self that gets lonely
as it is only the self that can care
and it is only by self realization
that the self can become self-aware.

So it is only the self that is selfish
as only the self can be less
and it is only the self that is everything
that's why I'm in such a mess.

For only the self can cause doubt
and only the self can cause fear
and it is only the self that can fuck things up
the things the self holds dear.

So if only the self learns the lessons
before it leaves it too late
or the self by not recognizing
will doom itself to an unconscious fate."

by Friend

Know: a poem by Friend

Know

"Know one can make a difference
Know one can change it all
Know one can learn the lessons
or know one in fractions will fall

Know one can look to the future
Know one can learn from the past
Know ones' free will is al they have
and know one can change really fast

Know one can look in the mirror
Know one can see their own fate
Know one can truly love and care
or know one will leave it too late

Know one can live without envy
Know one can wake from the sleep
Know one can stop all the violence
and know one can take faiths leap

Know one can stop all the wars
Know one can stop all the crime
Know one can take the right action
or know one will run out of time

Know one can live in freedom
know one can truely share
know one can open up one's heart
and know one can be aware."

by Friend

Carta á Camara Municipal de Penafiel

(Enviado a 19 Fevereiro 2011)

Cara(o) Sr(a),

Camara Municipal de Penafiel

Venho por este meio comunicar-lhe uma proposta simples e grátis para o melhoramento ambiental, de saúde e social do conselho de Penafiel.

Descobri recentemente que a Camara de Penafiel está a promover a agricultura biológica e a disponibilizar alguns apoios para novos aderentes deste tipo de agricultura ainda em fase emergente em Portugal. Gostaria antes de mais de aplaudir os responsáveis pela introdução desta visão progressiva e importante em múltiplas vertentes, com vantagens incalculáveis para o concelho, país e planeta.

Contudo, sinto que seja o meu dever alertar o governo local que para esta iniciativa suceder é crucial salvaguardarmos a certificação dos nossos agricultores biológicos, para que estes não sejam contaminados por transgénicos ou organismos geneticamente modificados (OGMs). Os perigos destes foram á muito documentados(1) mas Portugal ainda é dos países Europeus menos informado acerca de OGMs, como se pode verificar nesta sondagem recente: http://stopogm.net/content/nova-sondagem-sobre-preferencias

Venho portanto propor que a Camara Municipal de Penafiel declare o conselho como Zona Livre de OGMs e se junte á lista Europeia de países, concelhos e localidades conscientes dos perigos dos trangénicos, listados neste mapa: http://www.gmo-free-regions.org/gmo-free-regions/maps.html

Esta simples acção enviaria uma mensagem forte, não só de suporte pela agricultura biológica atraindo assim mais investimento nesta área, mas especialmente uma mensagem séria, do presente governo da Camara, de preocupação pelo bem estar de saúde, ambiental e social de cada cidadão deste concelho. Espero que considerem esta proposta com a seriedade que merece, pois cada vez mais o nosso futuro depende dela.

Aguardo atentamente uma resposta.

Com os melhores cumprimentos,
António C. F. Luís
(BI XXXXXXXX)
Boelhe, Penafiel

P.S. - Caso esta mensagem tenha chegado ao recipiente “errado”, por favor re-envie-a para o recipiente relevante.

(1) O documentário “O Futuro da Alimentação” relata de forma concisa e acessível, a tecnologia por detrás da manipulação genética, fazendo perceber assim os seus óbvios perigos. O documentário está disponível livremente nesta página: http://stopogm.net/?q=node/572

---

(Recebido a 22 Fevereiro 2011)

Ex.mo Sr. António Luís,

Incumbe a Ex.ma Vereadora responsável pelo Pelouro do Desenvolvimento Rural, Dr.ª Susana Oliveira, de acusar a recepção do V/e-mail e informar que o mesmo mereceu a sua melhor atenção.

Assim, agradece-se o contacto e a mensagem, bem como o conselho deixado.

Mais se informa que, estamos a avaliar a situação e a fazer os contactos e as diligências necessárias para conhecer exactamente o âmbito do proposto.

Sem mais de momento, subscrevo-me ao dispor de V/Exa. para qualquer outro assunto,

Ana Margarida Mota Fernandes
Gabinete de apoio à Sr.ª Vereadora Dr.ª Susana Oliveira
Tel: 255710700 | Fax: 255711066

O tabu emocional

A sociedade humana, em média, tem evoluído tremendamente nos últimos milénios. Os desenvolvimentos científicos e tecnológicos são inegáveis, assim como são os progressos gigantescos nos campos dos direitos humanos e da liberdade de expressão. Contudo, quando olho para toda esta passada [r]evolução, encontro uma área que me parece ser rodeada por um certo nevoeiro cerrado de tabu. Refiro-me aqui á evolução emocional, no contexto de liberdade de expressão. Enquanto que quase todos os aspectos intelectuais são encorajados na sociedade actual, a faceta emocional do ser humano parece-me extremamente ignorada, marginalizada e até mesmo reprimida.

Na escola aprende-mos a ler e a escrever, aprendemos matemática, história, geografia e biologia. Ou seja aprendemos tudo o que já para aprender acerca do mundo exterior. Mas quem nos ensina a nos compreendermos a nós próprios? Quem é que promove a auto-analise? Ninguém. O que não surpreende uma vez que o ensino escolar não existe com o intuito de criar humanos auto-suficientes (salvo seja!), mas sim humanos moldados e prontos a encaixarem na máquina de produção industrial capitalista. E assim passam gerações de humanos, muitos deles até relativamente cultos em matérias do exterior, inconscientes deles próprios, cada um lidando com crises interiores como pode.

Alguns contam com a ajuda, feliz ou infeliz, de um “perito” da matéria, o psicólogo da mente humana. Este analisa a superficialidade, em vez de compreender a profundidade. Distribui opinião, em vez de compaixão. Receita medicações, em vez de meditações. E assim pergunto-me, não seria o mundo mais sincero e mais saudável se a expressão de emoção fosse encorajada, suportada e conversada? Se berrar alto quando estamos furiosos; se chorar em bica quando nos sentimos fracos; se rir á gargalhada sem razão aparente, fosse não apenas aceite mas também celebrado no meio social? Isto, claro, desde que não magoe e de preferência que não ofenda ninguém, pois para isto se inventaram as almofadas.

Emoções ditas “negativas” não são bem vindas, são especialmente proibidas. Fúria, ódio, ciúme, tristeza, saudade, etc. Quantas vezes perguntamos “Como estás?” sem querermos ouvir a resposta realmente honesta? Quantas vezes respondemos “Bem, obrigado!” porque sabemos que se disséssemos a verdade, não seria apenas socialmente “incorrecto”, mas pior, levaríamos com uma carrada de julgamento (ainda que não expressado) que não ajudaria em nada como nos sentimos cá dentro. A verdade é que todas as emoções são validas. As razões porque nascem podem não ser lógicas mas não acredito que seja benéfico ignorar ou reprimir algo sob o qual parece termos pouco o nenhum controlo. E uma vez que “sou o que sou, por causa do que todos nós somos” porque será que não nos interessamos verdadeiramente com o bem estar do vizinho quando perguntamos “Como estás?”

French environmental poster campaign stirs up controversy

The environmental organization, France Nature Environnement (FNE) made up of over 3000 environmental associations, is running a poster campaign in the underground of Paris, putting the spotlight on the problems of intensive farming. Pesticides and genetically modified organisms are the main targets. Needless to say that big agri-business are furious.

Le Figaro has an article regarding this campaign and a video interview with FNE's Benoît Hartmann, if your French is up to scratch.

IT'S RISK FREE
"On genetically modified organisms, has yet to drop..."

BIG LIAR
"The law does not require special labelling for animals fed genetically modified food."

KILL BEES
"Certain pesticides carry a mortal risk for bees and it's not the cinema."

THE END OF BUZZZZZ
"Certain pesticides carry a mortal risk for bees."

HAVE A NICE VACATION
"Intensive industrial hog farms and fertilizers promote the growth of green algae."
"Their decomposition emits a gas which is lethal for man."

STOP YOUR SALADS
"Intensive industrial hog farms and fertilizers promote the growth of green algae."
"Their decomposition emits a gas which is lethal for man."

Concentrated wisdom

Eckhart Tolle

Some favourite quotes by Eckhart Tolle, from his books A New Earth and The Power of Now.

"If her past were your past, her pain your pain, her level of consciousness your level of consciousness, you would think and act exactly as she does. With this realization comes forgiveness, compassion, peace. The ego doesn’t like to hear this, because if it cannot be reactive and righteous anymore, it will lose strength."

"One conscious breath is meditation."

"Worry pretends to be necessary but serves no useful purpose."

"...sometimes letting go is an act of far greater power than defending or hanging on."

"Identification with your mind creates an opaque screen of concepts, labels, images, words, judgements, and definitions that blocks all true relationship."

"Whenever anything negative happens to you, there is a deep lesson concealed within it, although you may not see it at the time."

"Be at least as interested in what goes on inside you as what happens outside. If you get the inside right, the outside will fall into place."

"Power over others is weakness disguised as strength."

"The most common ego identifications have to do with possessions, the work you do, social status and recognition, knowledge and education, physical appearance, special abilities, relationships, person and family history, belief systems, and often also political, nationalistic, racial, religious, and other collective identifications. None of these is you."

"All the things that truly matter — beauty, love, creativity, joy, inner peace — arise from beyond the mind."

"...relinquish, for a moment, your desire to explain and label..."

"The reason why the romantic love relationship is such an intense and universally sought-after experience is that it seems to offer liberation from a deep-seated state of fear, need, lack, and incompleteness that is part of the human condition in its unredeemed and unenlightened state."

"Life is now. There was never a time when your life was not now, nor will there ever be."

Zeitgeist Movement: doubts and reservations

In January 2011, the movie Zeitgeist III: Moving Forward was released online, for free and for anyone willing to invest two hours and forty minutes of viewing time. The movie is divided in two distinct parts. The first half analyses the current economic and social condition of humanity as a whole, while the second part presents and proposes a possible solution, known as The Venus Project.

Whether people like the movie or not, one thing is sure, it makes them question themselves and things they take for granted, as well as sparking debate on what is possible. Regardless of whether The Venus Project is the future or not, seeking alternatives to an obviously unsustainable and corrupt system nearing a collapse is, in my view, not only a healthy exercise but an ever more urgent one, if we care about the future.

From what I understood (please correct me if I'm wrong), The Venus Project core, is the idea of a Resource Based Economy. Since we live in a finite planet, all of the world's resources become heritage of everyone on the planet and are then allocated on a per need basis. There are no politicians, as there are no decisions to be made, instead all decisions are arrived at through scientific methods. There's no money in this system as people have always free access to what they need.

After watching the movie, most people seem to agree that the first part is an accurate analysis of our current conditioning and relative problems. However, when it comes to the proposed solution, the consensus is not as prevalent and so the aim of this post is to present the reservations I have regarding The Venus Project also known as The Zeitgeist Movement. These are probably common questions that the Zeitgeist Movement supporters hear on a regular basis, so hopefully someone will be able to jump in and clarify them with ease.

In a resource based economy:

1. What happens to people who don't agree with it and therefore don't want to be a part of it? We all know we can't please everyone all of the time, so how does it deal with dissent? Or for example, what happens to people who don't want to live in a city, who want to be self-sufficient, growing their own food, generating their own power, etc?
2. I keep hearing that nobody makes decisions in a resource based economy, that decisions are arrived at. But someone would have to define the education curriculum for example, no? And who would allocate jobs for example? A central computer would? Based on people's qualifications and skill sets? How about skills that can't be accurately measured, say due to their subjectivity? Right now I'm thinking of creativity as an example but I'm sure there are many more.
3. Who defines and how is it defined, how much is enough? For example, lets say I want or need a second computer? Would I be allowed one? What if someone wants a much bigger house and a swimming pool than everybody else, using therefore more energy and water? Who's going to tell him/her that and they can't have it?



Cybernated Government

4. Whoever has access to the central resource management computer, has incredible power, be them programmers, engineers, etc. How is corruption prevented in this centralized system?
5. What happens when there are bugs, errors, breakdowns of the system and what would it be its global impact? Same question goes for an entire society living of the grid, what happens if/when the grid fails? How is resilience achieved in a grid system?
6. Something that concerns me deeply is Genetically Modified food and I know many who avoid it at all cost. Even if the technology was safe, I would rather not eat GM food for ethical reasons. What if scientists found that this was the only logical way to grow food, despite there being other options? What choice does the individual have? I mean, how do ethics meet logic in a world where scientific progress rules all?
7. (This is an organic list so expect updates. Update 1 starts here.)
8. Great, so everyone can choose to be or not to be in the RBE. So this would allow parallel systems to coexist or compete with the RBE? Does the RBE then account for the resources used outside of itself? Would it still be sustainable this way?
9. The decision making process is still unclear to me. I like all of the examples I read but they don't answer my question specifically. Even if just for the transition period or the duration of construction of the first city, won't someone have to call the shots? I can't see how the project will get off the ground without some sort of leadership and decision making. This is a question that I have seen Jacque 'dodging' before, which seems out of character for him.
10. It sounds like a lifetime holiday, nobody being coerced to do anything they don't want to do, everyone working and spending their time as they wish, great! In this case, what are the chances that what people want to work on will match the RBE's needs? And what happens when there's a gap in the human skills resource? Yes, because humans are also a resource in the RBE, right?
11. A few friends told me that if they could live this way they'd love to have large families and just enjoy the time with them. They seem to believe that this is what everyone would naturally do. What's preventing a sharp rise of population? And what happens when/if the population grows beyond the carrying capacity of the Earth?
12. I understand that a lot of these questions are coming from a mindset of the current system and that in the future people will not want the things we think we want now. However if the RBE is to ever materialise it must account for the transition period where all that people are equipped with is their experience so far. This is why I ask how is calculated the amount of resources each citizen is allowed to use and how is that enforced? I gave the example of a second laptop or a bigger house but it could be anything, at some point someone will want something ridiculous. How do you deal with that?
13. I'm happy with the open source and transparency approach to the Resource Management System as well as all technology. It seems that alone would have an incredible positive impact in today's world, but how many of you still use windows? (There's no need to answer this, the Ubuntu folks paid me to plug Linux ; ) My point is, there are a lot of personal choices available to us today and I wonder how many in the movement are aware of these.
14. I was relieved to read that people in the movement are aware of the dangers of Genetically Modified food. Even if the technology ever becomes 'safe' and stable, does anyone care to discuss the ethical implications of taking a gene, lets say, from an animal and inserting it in a plant and then releasing this into nature allowing it to cross pollinate with the local species and eventually extinct what took millions of years to evolve? Fact: 97% of all varieties of food crops in the US have already gone extinct since the industrial revolution. Over 95% of corn grown in the US is already GM, and new GM crops are approved frequently. Isn't the mechanistic approach to nature not just a side effect of the current society but the core of science in general? 
15.  I see the current human problems as a symptom of human consciousness, or rather the lack of it. However, it's from within the current Zeitgeist that we must try to abstract ourselves from, if we're not to transfer our current inhumanities to the new one. And although I can see the possibility of this happening in small steps, isn't the Venus Project hundreds of years ahead of its time?
16. (This is an organic list so expect updates.)

The way I understand it, any system is only as morally ethical as the people running that system. Sure, some systems may promote more moral corruption than others, however is a science driven society by definition free from corruption? Isn't science only as accurate and as ethical as the human mind (or ego) of the time allows? My opinion (which in a RBE would have no value) is that decentralization of power, regardless of the system, is the only way to prevent corruption on a massive scale. The Internet is the best example of this today.

Yes, the Zeitgeist Movement is incredibly ambitious but making people wonder about what kind of world they'd like to live on, instead of merely point out the problems, can't be a bad thing. Critics are everywhere (including myself) but I don't hear them coming with better solutions. Even if it never comes to be, the Venus Project is promoting a discussion and a mental exercise long overdue, to dream of a humanity in harmony with the planet and itself. What's the harm in that?

A Venus Project city

Anonymous can has humour?

Continues at anonnews.org

The downside of the end of deception

The Big Bang Theory S04E14 easter egg

Fantasmas e montanhas!

Tudo o que eu queria

Tudo o que eu queria era nascer,
brincar e correr,
mas porquê morrer?

Tudo o que eu queria era aprender
o jogo de viver,
mas e se perder?

Tudo o que eu queria era sinceridade
seriedade sem piedade,
mas será verdade?

Tudo o que eu queria era sentir
as asas a abrir,
mas para onde partir?

Tudo o que eu queria era voar
além do luar,
mas para quê voltar?

Tudo o que eu queria era amor
com todo o furor,
mas sem dor, por favor!

Tudo o que eu queria era conseguir
te deixar ir,
mas sem fingir.

Tudo o que eu queria eras tu...

AL 05/02/11

How nutrition affects behavior

In this short presentation (48mins), doctor Russell Blaylock explains how nutrition affects behaviour. How a deficient diet relates to higher crime as studies show a correlation between violent criminals and nutritional deficiencies. How sugar intake leads to a higher incidence of Alzheimer's disease. How aspartame and mono-sodium-glutamate (MSG) contribute to hypoglycaemia and cause other health problems. How vitamin deficiencies and unsuspecting food allergies effect how the brain functions. How vaccines provoke immune reactions that go on for years causing brain dysfunction and creating certain mental related diseases. The talk concludes with a list of environmental toxins to avoid, as well as a shocking fact regarding pesticides.