October/November
We
Can't Separate the Inseparable
Robert Rabbin
How
to Take Back Pubic Discourse
George Lakoff
Journalism
Under Fire
Bill Moyers
Hijacking
Catastrophe
Shri Estes
A
Tale of Two Companies
Sara Schley
Choosing
a President in a Time of Terror
John Darling
Democracy
Against Empire
Tom Hayden
The
Impossible Will Take a Little While
Paul Rogat Loeb
What
if Our Political Leaders Talked to Us As if We Were Grownups?
Jeff Golden
Swami
Launches Swing State Swing
Exclusive to the Natural Enquirer!
From
Hurt to Heart
Eryn Kalish
Accessing
the Wisdom of Nature
Christan Hummel
Should
Schools Ban Genetically Engineered Foods?
Jeffrey Smith
Cosmic
Calendar
Salina Rain
Deborah
Mokma, Editor
“Throughout
history people have felt powerless before authority, but at certain times
these
powerless people, by organizing, acting, risking, persisting, have created
enough power
to change the world around them, even if a little.” - Howard Zinn
Every thought counts, as quantum physics has proven. Every vote counts, as the 2000 Presidential election showed so clearly. Actions speak louder than words. And love, always, is the answer.
Sara Schley, who teaches sustainable systems using The Natural Step, explains how she feels about the upcoming Presidential election: “I know that John Kerry does not meet our utopian ideal of a leader. But let’s be clear, he is a sane, moderate, honest politician. By contrast, as political scientist Dr. Lawrence Britt illustrates, the regimes of Hitler, Mussolini, Pinochet, Franco and Suharto had the following characteristics in common: supremacy of the military, decimation of human rights because of ‘security risks,’ leaders using religious rhetoric to justify their cause, hostility towards intellectuals and the arts, obsession with crime and punishment, fraudulent elections. Sound familiar? We Americans are in a time of great moral crisis. George Bush is waging a catastrophic and unnecessary war in Iraq, poisoning the environment, showing broad disregard for human rights, spending our children’s inheritance on destruction. I want everyone who might be sitting on the fence, or perhaps not planning to vote at all, to act on behalf of justice. We’ve got to wake up, speak out, and act strategically. We must support John Kerry, with all our heart, even though his moderation may not match our ideals.”
Susan Skog, author of Peace in our Lifetime, Insight from the World’s Peacemakers, believes the first step towards creating a more peaceful world is to elect John Kerry. Susan explains “As an author, activist, and former science writer I enjoy the intersection of physics and culture. And what today’s most sage scientists are saying is that when we focus on something, we attract more of it. So, we need to focus on what we really want. Let’s join together in a 60 Seconds a Day Campaign—to turn the tide now, we need to do something unstoppable. We need a critical mass of us to stop railing against what is and reach for what we want. What do we want? We want John Kerry as our next President. We have to do something unstoppable. In the legacy of Einstein and all great thinkers, we have to harness the power of our thoughts to get the outcome we desire in November. If only 3 percent of the US population does this exercise every day, we can make a massive difference: Visualize John Kerry elected as our next President of the United States. See the celebrations and excitement and sense of fulfillment all across America. See yourself rejoicing with people in your home, neighborhood, and workplace. See us all rejoicing with people all over the world! See John Kerry being sworn into office. Feel the hope, joy, and gratitude. Feel it in your hearts. Believe it is possible. Now, imagine John Kerry restoring greater well being in America. See people streaming back to work. See young children getting the support they need. Visualize our teachers, police officers, single parents, the mentally ill, and many others getting the help they deserve. See our soldiers coming home to their families. Imagine our leaders establishing greater trust and good will with other nations. See peace spreading across the world. See the Iraq conflict ending. Feel how good it will be for the environment to be protected and renewed. See hope rising across the world in the hearts and souls of all of us. See these pictures in your mind for 60 seconds every day between now and November 2nd. Be grateful that you have the gift of participating in shaping a greater country. Be grateful that you care. Believe that all this is possible—and more—and be sure to vote!”
And I offer these words from the Dalai Lama in conclusion: “Never give up, no matter what is going on. Develop the heart. Too much energy in your country is spent on developing the mind instead of the heart. Develop the heart. Be compassionate. Not just to your friends, but to everyone. Be compassionate. Work for peace, in your heart and in the world. And I say again, never give up. No matter what is happening. No matter what is going on around you. Never give up.”
