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January 20, 2009 NonViolent Thought
--James Keane As we are summoned to a new era of our lives, led by new technologies, new visions, new visionaries, and the great ticking clock, I'm asked to write a piece for this month's 'NonViolent thought' section of our newsletter. The topic is supposed to be something about the 'dwindling honeybee population' & 'how planting wildflower seeds can help'. Frankly, I know little about honeybees (except what I see here in this video) or wildflowers, or how the changes they need really affect us. All I know is, I am thinking many, many thoughts all the time, the situation for humanity looks both grim & ecstatic, & I want a better world for myself & future generations. When the idea was proposed to distribute our album digitally in conjunction with 'seedcards', my vote was 'sure, why not'? CD's have exposed themselves as wasteful in our current standards, let's turn the page, eh? What I want to express here is a desire to turn to the next phase of humanity that considers our mistakes & paves the way for hope & prosperity. Not just with regards to bees & flowers, but comprehensively for all living things. How about considering future generations in our scheme to prosper? This isn't just about honeybees & wildflowers, but they sure as hell have something to do with it. This isn't just about you & me, but we sure as hell have something to do with it! The above referenced video about bees is from a website called 'TedTalks' which hosts many videos of contemporary thinkers discussing a wide range of today's issues. I discovered this site amidst a conversation I was having with a friend regarding the benefits of a home garden, planting herbs, collecting rainwater, raising chickens, etc. After we'd been conversing for some time about all the hopeful actions we can take as individuals, an old familiar dark cloud crept in the back of my mind. It's the same one that's been there since my early adolescence, lurking always in my periphery, waiting for every hopeful moment to shed it's dark fury. I mentioned to my friend "yeah, but the situation for humanity seems irreversible from a certain perspective." (Meaning, "I've seen the projections--- we're doomed!!) To this my friend didn't even bat an eye, but recommended I check out a video on '6 ways mushrooms can save the world' (http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/paul_stamets_on_6_ways_mushrooms_can_save_the_world.html). Upon seeing this I was rejuvenated and hopeful, if not convinced. From here, the thought emerged "there is so much that I don't know... who am I to stake a claim in the fate of humanity?" This question marinates in my mind as I resolve to know that I cannot save the world, but I welcome the responsibility to do what I can to help. I thank those people around me who remind me of this calling and motivate me to live up to it. Most recently I've just read Naomi Wolf's The End of America: A Citizen's Call to Action, and just begun Natural Capitalism (Hawken, Lovins, Lovins). This book, and every book I've read over the past decade, reverberates the same message to me, "if you don't change your ways, you're doomed". Or, stated otherwise, "if you change your ways, a wonderful blessing awaits you". From Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, to Fast Food Nation, to The Omnivore's Dilemma, etc, etc, the same theme re-emerges and smacks me in the face, "the current system is flawed, if you change your ways, a better world awaits you". It's the same dream that Bob Marley, Bunny Wailer, Neil Young, & countless others sing about. A world with peace & integrity. To me, it's the message of the Buddha, the Christ, Thich Nhat Hahn, Barack Obama, my brothers, family, & friends, etc, etc. To me, life is a spiritual journey, we make a difference, & change must be for the better. So, rather than over emphasizing any given issue, I recognize a world in need & resolve to do my best to make it better, even if it means something as simple and enjoyable as planting seeds in the ground, and hoping for the bees. Blessings to you & yours in this coming year! |
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Becoming sustainable is a process that every band and industry should consider. It's paramount to our survival, so inform yourself--the rewards are incredible. It simply takes forethought, and a proactive commitment in each area of your work and lifestyle. First, assess what changes you can make. Fuel is important, and so are local partnerships. Talk to non-profit organizations about solutions, engage in conversations everywhere, write your action plan, then follow through with it. There's no shortage of role models, solutions and resources to live and tour sustainably. We feel it's important to connect people to local issues they care about and the proper resources so they can take action. We're spearheading a new initiative to make it easy for local organizations to engage fans at our events with information and solutions. Support anything you can verify as local, organic, fair-trade, shade-grown, low impact, and generally conscious. You are what you eat, hear and watch, so choose your media carefully. Embrace cultural diversity, especially in poetry, music, art and dance. Be kind to yourself and others. Love your community through thick and thin, and never forget your roots. They make up your existence and will forever be connected with you. Dubconscious is fueled by the passion, love and encouragement from our family of fans. The positive spirits, smiling faces and kind words of gratitude we find at each show are the seeds of inspiration that keep our tribe in motion. We're also deeply moved by the widespread suffering endured by people and the world today. We can't turn a blind eye to the health of our planet any longer. It's time for us all to be truthful about our individual impact and compassionate enough to make change. We have deep respect and gratitude for our friends everywhere working for humanitarian and environmental progress. They are the true heroes today. We are committed to bettering our planet, locally and globally. Through our own initiatives and work with other like-minded organizations, we strive to leave a positive impact where ever the road may take us. Please take a moment to visit the organizations that are listed below. These are outstanding companies who have made great strides in their respective fields to effect our lives and this planet positively. |
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