Been home for a couple of weeks and deep in transition, which means, as is too often the case, crazy running around trying to catch up. With what, of any real substance, I am progressively unsure.
Load shift
Lisa has been carrying the brunt of blogging since we returned to the East Bay. If you haven't checked out her blog lately, there is a bunch of good new stuff there.
Intrepid as always, Lisa has become part of a bike team riding for funds toward MS research.
Her Montessori training moves forward apace and I find the renewed nearness of that pedagogy existentially reassuring in a way that is both pre-rational and post-literate, by which I mean it is a supportive and nostalgic reminder of the innocent world of my childhood and comforts the reflective consciousness of the adult activist working for education and thereby understanding beyond the functional literacy required to read traffic signs and draft notices and calculate and pay taxes to fund empire building wars.
And I am, appropriately, now in charge of creating most of our income while Lisa is in school. I'm back providing some in-home support to Iris (time well spent), working for Jim Shultz from Epworth as he develops his rental properties, working for CRS recording conferences all over the continent and studying the Process Arts as they develop. I'm looking for 20hrs of work at $30-$40/hr in a direction at least parallel to my vocation. Help?
This past weekend in D.C,. was the International Forum on Globalization conference an "IFG Teach-in:Confronting the Global Triple Crisis - Climate Change, Peak Oil, Global Resource Depletion & Extinction." At the breakfast table (in the fabulous Tabard Inn) Richard and I spoke with several ecology luminaries: Wes Jackson and his wife, whose first name I am embarrased to admit I have forgotten, David Korten, and Wolfgang Sachs. I suggested in the middle of a conversation about what holds The Movement back, probably a it too passionately, that the reasons behind people in general ignoring the rather obvious facts about climate change, the end of cheap energy, resource depletion, etc. had to do directly with the story being lived in our historical moment. There is certainly no dearth of people willing to live and die in extremes for their belief about the world. If the primary shared myth were communitarian it would be obvious and obligatory to set limits on consumption, no less certainly than rationing and Victory Gardens were a part of WWII. The difficulty is not in the communication of scientific facts, though that is undeniably important, but in the transmission of a new heroism that values both specific, local life, and that which reaches beyond the tribe, not because it is All of The Truth but because there is survival truth and living beauty in it. David seemed a bit gruntled but also slightly dis- as the theme leaned nearer his regular territory. Also Richard made a joke about smugness and the motor on David's bike, which seemed to irritate him. Wolfgang seemed quite well disposed, as did Wes.
During the conference I felt particularly impressed with
and
I'll see what I can do about a lengthy podcast featuring these guys.
During the conference I felt particularly impressed with
JOSHUA FARLEY
The Gund Institute for Ecological Economics
University of Vermont
An assistant professor in Community Development & Applied Economics and Public Administration, Joshua Farley is also a fellow of the Gund Institute for Ecological Economics (GIEE) at the University of Vermont. His interdisciplinary academic background includes degrees in biology, international affairs and neoclassical economics. Distressed that neoclassical economics ignores physical and ecological principles as well as issues of social justice, Joshua taught himself ecological economics, and with Herman Daly has authored one of the first textbooks in the field. Interested in both theory and applications, he has been involved with a number of problem-based projects around the world. Prior to his current job, he served as program director of the Centre for Rainforest Studies in Yungaburra, Australia, and executive director of the University of Maryland Institute for Ecological Economics. He serves on numerous boards— the Robert Schalkenbach Foundation, EarthEconomics, and the U.S. Society for Ecological Economics, as well as the directory board of the Scale Project.The Gund Institute for Ecological Economics
University of Vermont
and
DAVID BATKER
Earth Economics
David Batker is the founder and executive director of Earth Economics. He completed his graduate training in economics under Herman Daly, one of the world's foremost ecological economists. Dave has taught in the Training Department of the World Bank, and has worked for Greenpeace International, specializing in trade and international finance. He also worked for two years with the Rural Reconstruction Movement, a Philippine non-profit group dedicated to ecologically sound community-based development. David's responsibilities as a member of the board of directors are focused primarily on fundraising, outreach, public relations, administration, budgetary management, strategic planning and board development.Earth Economics
I'll see what I can do about a lengthy podcast featuring these guys.
At the same time as the conference was in progress the huge impeachment march was happening nearby. Hannah Johns returned from it with a harrowing story about a friend being assaulted by the "Gathering of Eagles" (listen to podcast here >>). The vets staging the "die-in" on the steps were arrested, but there was less official (police) violence than expected. To contact Hannah directly email create dot peace at yahoo dot com (permission granted to release contact info).
Glad this gig will pay a month's rent for us. What was I supposed to be doing? Oh, yeah, writing my dissertation.
This week will involve:
- Monday - fly home.
- Tue with Iris, taking a free Gears class at the Missing Link bike co-op so I can begin working on our new modes of transport, and preparing for the BDay party Wed night.
- Wed. working all day with Jim and then the party.
- Thu writing all day!! and then lovely training at AiBerk.
- Fri apt. and administration tasks (money, bills, etc.) then writing.
- Sat I teach the new Basics class at AiBerk.
Somehow there must be a way to hold on to the feel of "wake up, brush teeth, drive to next destination with loving people, rest, write/adventure, repeat." Since we returned home it has seems more like the familiar "work until power-decompressing with late food and too little sleep, and then repeat." Time-off suggests being long enough between obligations to feel guided from within. Right?
- shrimp and manchego croquettes
- charcuterie including house-made pork terrine and duck pâté
- jumbo crab cake with tasso ham, fried okra (the only let-down), sweet potato, and crawfish coulis
- pan-roasted moulard duck breast, plums, duck ham, rapini, gastrique
- and a bottle of lovely Beaujolais I can't remember more about just now.
Labels: conference, CRS, daily, travel
| posted by Unknown @ 8/29/2007 02:32:00 PM
My earlier post dwelt mostly on the politically motivated demagoguery during the Women's Peace Conference that put me in mind of the contemporary devaluing of authentic criticism. This post attempts to range more widely and tell more of my experience of the event as a whole.
The event began with a ritual in which dozens of women (and men) carried a flag from each of the entities with U.N. recognized sovereignty and led the group antiphonally intoning "May Peace prevail in _______" for each. My mother represented the Maldives and was a bit mortified at not knowing how the country's name is pronounced. Everyone followed her lead loyally, however, wishing that Peace might prevail in Mald~..*_s. Despite the conspicuous absence of the Duchy of Grand Fenwick, the whole thing was rather moving.
Dr. Nia MacKay buslted about being a most effective Director of Communications for the Conference, and took care of everyone in grand style. At one point I had the pleasure of saving the day for an Israeli delegate named Hagit who had not brought her laptop and could therefore not show her presentation. I overheard an advocate for her telling the story of her dilemma and finally offered to provide my laptop for the length of her presentation. Later she came by and graciously thanked me, after which we entered a conversation about the Conference and it's worth, during which she insisted on teaching me that there is no need for teachers. This oft repeated lesson is almost always appreciated.
Dr. Patricia Dodd from Brookhaven Community College found herself hanging out at the CRS table and blowing off steam on the first day. She had submitted a paper for consideration to present and had been sandbagged, she believes, because it made no bones about the ethnic cleansing in progress in Palestine. The Conference organizers decided in advance that they would exclude and discourage talk about the war against the people of Iraq and the current activities of Israel. This they couched in terms of being "non-partisan" which, of course, makes her irate, as she spend time in the middle east on a semi-regular basis and feels pretty alone among folks who talk about peace and then stay home.
After Betty Williams expressed her ire (see previous post) several women in the power structure stomped around as though they had received a personal affront. I suggest that nobody involved is stupid. A significant quantity of the middle aged, white, wealthy women at the helm (it is Dallas after all, and that is how moderately "progressive" things most often get done) are more and less aware of strategy and tactics, and more and less identified as activists. They knew, as they chose to be "non-partisan" and quash certain voices that every laureate would speak against the atrocities the U.S. is committing under the banner of the agenda abbreviated as "BUSH." Betty Williams was followed by Jody Williams who beat that drum as well, not till the skin was peeling back but sufficiently to let everyone know where she stands. I don't agree with where they drew their line but I'm certain it was consciously scribed.
One of the highlights in my experience of the conference was my interview with Sharon Welch, who outlined several of the more vital points of my dissertation during her keynote. If you'd like to hear it click "POSTS" on the Gcast player on the right and chose "In the Midst with Integrity"
Here is a list of authors mentioned:
The Moral Imagination: The Art and Soul of Building Peace by John Paul Lederach
The Truth About Stories: A Native Narrative (Indigenous Americas) by Thomas King
Manifest Manners: Narratives on Postindian Survivance by Gerald Vizenor
Also my mother introduced me to Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela, from the South African Peace and Reconciliation process. Lovely woman with whom I'd love to speak more about her take on the psychologies of conflict currently in vogue.
Peace laureate and candidate for the Presidency of Guatemala, Rigoberta Menchú Tum, was a pleasure to hear, if done a profound disservice by mistranslation during her keynote.
Local guitarist, Christopher McGuire, presented an amazingly virtuosic classical guitar concert, in beautiful counterpoint with the next evening's performance by Sara Hickman who has always been a favorite of mine. In the "Blast From The Past" category, I ran into two regional theater actors from my past at the Dallas Theater Center, including Pam Hoffman who directed Tall Texas Tales and was one of my children's theater instructors even before that adolescent success.
Finally, it was my pleasure to speak with and videotape Lucy Mashua. A Kenyan who "has worked for African women throughout her life on the issues of female genital mutilation, early childhood marriage, forced abortions, human rights abuses, and the abuse of women...has worked with the International Somalia Rehabilitation Association and is a member of the United Nations Association Dallas. I will post the video to YouTube and here as well so she can use it to appeal for greater attention for her work and the women and men she wants to reach. I'll bring this post back to the top of the blog when that happens.
This post took some time to complete and is out of chronological order as a result. After the time it needs to be the lead post I will return it to it's original place in the vicinity of 7/17/07
Labels: acting, activism, audio, conference, CRS, Dallas, peace, video, walkabout
| posted by Unknown @ 7/22/2007 10:25:00 PM
I've had 3-4 hours of sleep every night since May 8th and been working rather hard. Sacred Activism was much better than I expected and offered some seriously heavy hitting, social justice speakers from the spiritualigious and political world. I should, at least, stream Robert Kennedy Jr.'s speech. It was 90 minutes of non-stop political insider content - almost without a breath, and profoundly evidential in speaking to current national and international dilemmas. Also Paul Ray's work on the "cultural creatives" subculture in the U.S. was clear and powerful as always.
Anyway, I'm exhausted and just starting the Weill Nutrition and Health conference in San Diego.
And I'm wanting the integrative practice of blogging since there is so much simply happening at light speed without the opportunity for public reflection. Dilemmas galore.
Anyway, I'm exhausted and just starting the Weill Nutrition and Health conference in San Diego.
And I'm wanting the integrative practice of blogging since there is so much simply happening at light speed without the opportunity for public reflection. Dilemmas galore.
Labels: activism, conference, CRS, daily, spiritualigion, work
| posted by Unknown @ 5/13/2007 12:11:00 PM
