Th fiscal year 2009 budget proposal by President Bush includes many cuts
to environmental programs, along with increases in
non-environmentally-friendly energy programs. These include:
An overall cut of almost $500 million from energy efficiency and
renewable energy programs, while increasing funding for fossil fuels and
nuclear energy by more than $350 million.
$8 billion in loan guarantees for coal (including liquid coal projects),
$18.5 billion in loan guarantees for new nuclear facilities, and $2
billion for reprocessing nuclear waste.
Cutting $104 million from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, the
principal source of funds
for acquiring lands for parks, wildlife refuges and other conservation
use. The proposal would leave the fund with only $45 million, less than
one-third of its current level.
Cutting $134 million from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund.
Congressional committees have begun holding budget oversight hearings.
Please inform the Kentucky congregational delegation of your feelings
about these changes.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Saturday, February 23, 2008
3 new poems
| my muse, natura is a tree more alive than most she dances with legs of soft wood each mighty wind she stretches her branches far, as i move swift, tai chi under her lurid branches my muse, natura leads me into the lone groves to lift my voice in awe of the glory surrounding me my muse is the protector of this land and i her sheep my godself convenes with her daily in the trees beneath the water I drink deep the noise from her flute her intonations singe my eyebrows her loudness crashes my eardrums though the pitch is so familiar natura sings sweet while I inscribe celebratory syncopations on her frame in subsequent days she will shed this shell all of my rough drafts but for now they incase her | ||
 | ||
voices for justice
tonight we break the silence
because the stories can no longer be denied
the silenced voices needing justice
we want to sing their songs loud
tonight, we want to sing to the people keeping them down
we want to sing to those like us
who haven’t heard the solemn sounds
sing songs, break down the walls
the rumble comes from the souls
the hum rises above each home
as we join hands in solidarity
the truth surfaces
and this clamor cannot be silenced
tonight, we sing songs of prejudice, dishonesty, and blindess
of those tired of being lied to
and those tired of being hidden
their weary souls can find rest here
as we raise our own voices
for justice
tonight, my voices is for justice
tonight, our voices will sing
sing the stories
You left the light on, baby
The soup got cold
the day you left
it on the stove.
One of those yummy
soups my tummy really
loved, warm.
Soup just isn’t the
same cold.
The wind is cold
and you aren’t the same.
The crackers went stale
when you left
them out on the counter.
You never seem to put
things away.
You tucked our dreams
away, and forgot the crackers
and left our dreams out
to get stale.
I came home to the TV
the day you left
it on in our bedroom.
I always turned
your lights off.
But then you never
came back.
You tucked the pillows
and left our dreams
out on the bedside table
to spoil.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Protests, protests everywhere!
So I am totally proud of my state right now. I have noticed a great uprising on this campus and in my state. Last week a group went to Frankfort for I love Mountains day. Today they are up there talking about the funding being cut for higher education, and I just got an email from KFTC about another one on Feb 28th. This one is about restoration of voting rights. I totally wish I could be involved, but my dedication to Mountain Justice is keeping me from missing more class!
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Going greener vol. 1
I have noticed mostly in the past year that "going green" is becoming a fad. People are so proud of recycling and not using plastic bags at the grocery store, but they pay no attention to the chemicals that they are eating or using in their house, where their clothes are coming from, or even how much water they use in each shower. It is not enough to be aware of what is going on. We all need a change of mind and a change of lifestyle. I am in no way saying that everyone should adopt this lifestyle. I am just suggesting some tips based on what I have seen work for myself and others.
1)food-organic/fair trade/LOCAL/grow your own/cook it yourself
I know that organic is a rip. Sometimes you can't trust the FDA when they say it is organic. Don't pay the price..that is why self checkout is there. Start memorizing produce codes. The more we support it, the more we have to choose from. If you are not poor like me, and you honestly have the money to pay for it please do. Fair trade insures that the people who produced your food are not living under slave wages. Local farmers need your help and support more than Kroger and it's subsidizers. They are usually more honest about their products, and you can put a face to the people who produced your food. Having your own farm and building a relationship with your food is even better. Don't have other people cooking for you. You have no control over what you are eating if you aren't cooking it yourself. Plus, its fun, and tastes much better!
2)Drink-water/juice/tea/coffee/organic soda
Clearly water is best for you considering 80% of your body is water. Juice is also good, but look at the ingredients, it shouldn't be much more than fruit and water. Tea is great for your body. It is full of antioxidants, which helps with cholesterol and the reduction of cancer risks. Green tea is best for this! Coffee should be fair trade if you must have it, just watch out for caffeine. They also make organic sodas, if you are having a craving, that don't contain all of those harmful chemicals like high fructose corn syrup.
3)Clothes-take care of the ones you have/thrift shop/organic/fair trade/US made/make your own/trade with friends
You probably have enough clothes right now that if you stay the same size, you won't really need to EVER buy anymore. So why is it that people are so obsessed with shopping for clothing? If you don't over wash your clothes they will not be so worn, if you get a hole in them, patch or sew them up. I f you really need new clothes go to goodwill or a second hand shop, which helps you and the community, and they have cool retro styles! If you must get new clothes there are plenty of hip new websites with made in the US, fair trade, and organic clothing. The coolest thing to do is make your clothes. Then you don't have to worry about every other person wearing the same clothes as you are! DIY rocks! I am sure you have clothes that you want to get rid of, so why not trade them with a friend for something you might like better, or better yet have a swap and trade in all that stuff laying around that you don't need!
I have tons more ideas...more blogs to come!!
1)food-organic/fair trade/LOCAL/grow your own/cook it yourself
I know that organic is a rip. Sometimes you can't trust the FDA when they say it is organic. Don't pay the price..that is why self checkout is there. Start memorizing produce codes. The more we support it, the more we have to choose from. If you are not poor like me, and you honestly have the money to pay for it please do. Fair trade insures that the people who produced your food are not living under slave wages. Local farmers need your help and support more than Kroger and it's subsidizers. They are usually more honest about their products, and you can put a face to the people who produced your food. Having your own farm and building a relationship with your food is even better. Don't have other people cooking for you. You have no control over what you are eating if you aren't cooking it yourself. Plus, its fun, and tastes much better!
2)Drink-water/juice/tea/coffee/organic soda
Clearly water is best for you considering 80% of your body is water. Juice is also good, but look at the ingredients, it shouldn't be much more than fruit and water. Tea is great for your body. It is full of antioxidants, which helps with cholesterol and the reduction of cancer risks. Green tea is best for this! Coffee should be fair trade if you must have it, just watch out for caffeine. They also make organic sodas, if you are having a craving, that don't contain all of those harmful chemicals like high fructose corn syrup.
3)Clothes-take care of the ones you have/thrift shop/organic/fair trade/US made/make your own/trade with friends
You probably have enough clothes right now that if you stay the same size, you won't really need to EVER buy anymore. So why is it that people are so obsessed with shopping for clothing? If you don't over wash your clothes they will not be so worn, if you get a hole in them, patch or sew them up. I f you really need new clothes go to goodwill or a second hand shop, which helps you and the community, and they have cool retro styles! If you must get new clothes there are plenty of hip new websites with made in the US, fair trade, and organic clothing. The coolest thing to do is make your clothes. Then you don't have to worry about every other person wearing the same clothes as you are! DIY rocks! I am sure you have clothes that you want to get rid of, so why not trade them with a friend for something you might like better, or better yet have a swap and trade in all that stuff laying around that you don't need!
I have tons more ideas...more blogs to come!!
Voting with your money...
You might think that you are anti-slavery and that it all ended with the abolition of slavery and with the 13th amendment. What you may not know is that with your dollars everyday you could be promoting slavery all over the world. Slavery runs most rampant in clothing and textiles, so when you are buying your clothes think about looking at the tag. I received a gift for Christmas from JC Penny and I took it back to get something else. When I looked around at all of the clothes every tag said made in Vietnam. I had just quit a job working with many Vietnamese people and knew that they had come here for freedom. I did not want to be responsible for promoting the slavery that goes on there, or anywhere else for that matter.
Do you drink coffee? Eat bananas? Buy flowers from the florist? You very well may be promoting the enslavement of people around the world. There are even sweatshops in the United States that somehow go under the radar. This race to making the cheapest products fastest is clear and obvious when evaluation the quality of many products mass produced in the United States and abroad. You can't buy anything that will last more than a year or two, even if you get what you think may be the highest quality item. This is only a tiny aspect of the wrong in the way things are manufactured in our society. Greed is all that is to blame.
The reason that the US goes to foreign countries to seek out employment is because they know that the same rules don't apply. They can pay people basically nothing to do the same work they would have to at least pay minimum wage or more for in the US. People say that the people working are lucky to have jobs, and that they don't need to make as much as we do. Say whatever you need to say to make yourself feel better, but these people cannot live off of their salary. Walmart's rate for sewing clothing in Honduras is 43 cents and hour. These people can barely eat and get to and from work on this salary, much less pay other bills or get healthcare. The US is not ignorant of the things going on. They track their products closely to make sure they are getting the most from their money, so they are very aware of what is going on.
I made the decision a few years ago to boycott walmart, even if it means spending double what I would pay there. Research good and bad companies on this site...I got most of my info on sweatshops from here. Don't support slavery...you have a choice!!
Do you drink coffee? Eat bananas? Buy flowers from the florist? You very well may be promoting the enslavement of people around the world. There are even sweatshops in the United States that somehow go under the radar. This race to making the cheapest products fastest is clear and obvious when evaluation the quality of many products mass produced in the United States and abroad. You can't buy anything that will last more than a year or two, even if you get what you think may be the highest quality item. This is only a tiny aspect of the wrong in the way things are manufactured in our society. Greed is all that is to blame.
The reason that the US goes to foreign countries to seek out employment is because they know that the same rules don't apply. They can pay people basically nothing to do the same work they would have to at least pay minimum wage or more for in the US. People say that the people working are lucky to have jobs, and that they don't need to make as much as we do. Say whatever you need to say to make yourself feel better, but these people cannot live off of their salary. Walmart's rate for sewing clothing in Honduras is 43 cents and hour. These people can barely eat and get to and from work on this salary, much less pay other bills or get healthcare. The US is not ignorant of the things going on. They track their products closely to make sure they are getting the most from their money, so they are very aware of what is going on.
I made the decision a few years ago to boycott walmart, even if it means spending double what I would pay there. Research good and bad companies on this site...I got most of my info on sweatshops from here. Don't support slavery...you have a choice!!
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Overdue update...busy busy
Well the news is in on the latest big tobacco travesty. Along with that I also received news on what Coke has been up to.
They say by 2020 ten million people will be dying annually from tobacco use or a related disease. Should population control come in the form of corporate mass murder?
They say by 2020 ten million people will be dying annually from tobacco use or a related disease. Should population control come in the form of corporate mass murder?
Friday, February 1, 2008
Lets do some of this...
Julie and I already have plans to sabotage walmart by putting animal cruelty stickers on the meats and such, but this web site has a bunch of awesome ideas of how to sabotage corporate culture. These are the idea that I like the best...
"Glass etching cream may be screenprinted onto glass, leaving behind an image that cannot be removed. Design a small device that contains a screen, a squeegee, and glass etching cream, then print intricate and beautiful anti-corporate messages on expensive plate glass windows. Owner will have to decide whether to spend huge to replace glass, or leave message up." (Sample design here.)
"If you work for a company that uses a paper shredder and you want to stop it from working, feed it a baggy of peanut butter."
"Go into a store or fast-food chain, and attempt to barter for goods/services. Offer to trade livestock--best if you actually bring something like a live chicken into the store."
"'Warning: Cars destroy your planet.' Produce a series of stickers similar to the warnings on cigarette packages, but the size of car windshields, and place them on parked cars in any large city. The stickers should be non-removable."
"Glass etching cream may be screenprinted onto glass, leaving behind an image that cannot be removed. Design a small device that contains a screen, a squeegee, and glass etching cream, then print intricate and beautiful anti-corporate messages on expensive plate glass windows. Owner will have to decide whether to spend huge to replace glass, or leave message up." (Sample design here.)
"If you work for a company that uses a paper shredder and you want to stop it from working, feed it a baggy of peanut butter."
"Go into a store or fast-food chain, and attempt to barter for goods/services. Offer to trade livestock--best if you actually bring something like a live chicken into the store."
"'Warning: Cars destroy your planet.' Produce a series of stickers similar to the warnings on cigarette packages, but the size of car windshields, and place them on parked cars in any large city. The stickers should be non-removable."
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