Zaadz: Envision Magazine

Holy Cross Holiday update

Mon, 25 Dec 2006 14:23:56 -0000

HOLY CROSS ANGLICAN PRIMARY SCHOOL

UPDATE: December 18, 2006

Can it possibly be Christmas?!? Seems like only yesterday we were frantically trying to complete three classrooms for the September 4th opening of school in San Pedro. Now 118 students have finished the first term of the 2006-07 Holy Cross Anglican School year and have happily embarked on Christmas vacation…wow…truly a miracle!

And, speaking of miracles (which we do often at Holy Cross!), I’d like to share just a few Belizean-style ones that your prayers and donations have helped bring about…….

* After days of drenching rains, the sun shone brightly on Wednesday, December 6th as Bishop Philip Wright ‘Blessed and Dedicated’ two new classrooms at Holy Cross!! The paint wasn’t dry on the walls but the entire community - parents, students, friends and local officials - joined in celebrating the first (and only!) Special Education Center on the Island and one of only seven Special Ed centers nationwide. Fourteen special needs children have joined the Holy Cross family and a new era in the education of the handicapped has begun…wow…truly a miracle!

The other classroom quickly became home to our second class of Infant I students. With 63 students in Infant I, little bodies were packed into the original 20’by 25’ classroom like sardines and effective teaching had become an impossibility. Now Miss Sharon, Miss Laura and their students have room to grow and learn and flourish in two separate classrooms…wow…truly a miracle!

* On Thursday the 7th, one of our students came to school with what appeared to be a terribly infected hand the result of a recent cat scratch. Off we went to the PolyClinic (don’t try this in the States!) where he was diagnosed and treated for a parasitic worm - ugh! A few pills and just a week later, his hand was as good as new…wow…truly a miracle!

* Later that day at our weekly staff meeting local resident, school volunteer and psychologist Marilyn Marx was leading our group in team building exercises. Of course we got off the topic and soon were discussing all the needs we have at the school. Marilyn suggested we consider a community-wide fundraiser …a 2007 calendar with pictures of our beautiful students might be just the right thing!

I must admit we looked at her like she was crazy but 8 days later off we went to the printer and the Holy Cross ‘Faces of the Future” 2007 calendar will make it into the local stores before the new year. Now that’s a miracle that ranks right up there with the parting of the Red Sea!   Special thanks go to Marilyn, Cullen Walker, Richard Jacobs and Marie of Gecko Graphics who all generously donated hours of their time!

* Sunday the 10th - another day of pouring rain and prospects were dim for a good turn out for the first Holy Cross Christmas Pageant. Roads were a sea of mud and since most of our families walk everywhere, we were worried! But once again, God was at work. Bishop Wright arrived a little late (remember those roads!) as did most of our families but by 2:30 our borrowed Church was filled to overflowing. Shepherds and angles once again joined in the joy of that first Nativity, carols were sung, the Eucharist celebrated and the official Holy Cross School crosses were blessed and given to the children…wow…truly a miracle!

And those crosses are a miracle story in and of themselves!   Vernon (my husband and a retired goldsmith) teaches jewelry design and manufacturing at the National Prison. Since the teachers wanted a special cross for the school, Vernon held a design competition in his class.   All his students submitted drawings for a potential cross and the teachers at the school selected the winner. The three men who created the best designs were allowed out of prison for the day, under Vernon’s supervision, to attend our Christmas Pageant (don’t try this in the States either!). As they shared their stories of the transforming power of God’s love and the value of learning, the children were hanging on every word. Somehow, I think the entire day made Jesus smile!

* Wednesday evening December 13, I was privileged to hand out certificates of completion to twelve adults in our ‘English as a Second Language’ class. Teacher Laura’s eyes shown with pride as her students shared - in English! - what the class had meant to them. Your contributions enable us to offer this much needed class as well as the Saturday morning English class for our school children. Belize is an English speaking country and folks who don’t speak the language are discriminated against in all areas of life - especially in the employment sector. Learning English is the first and most critical step in the climb out of poverty and you are an important part of that process for our families at Holy Cross…wow…truly a miracle!

* And then our incredible Christmas Party and Celebration was held on Friday afternoon, December 15! Organized and coordinated by local residents, Laurie Ann and Paul, our children received Christmas stockings overflowing with goodies donated by local merchants, feasted on delicious cakes given by Casa Pan Dulce Bakery, received hand made school bags filled with school supplies sent by St. Philip’s Lutheran Church in Glenview, IL, and got to sit in Santa’s lap - unbelievable!   One little girl, with tears in her eyes, told me she had never received more than one present for Christmas, ever. How blessed we are to share in these miracles!! see pictures at following link...

http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=4431970&a=32399715&f=

* Saturday December 16th found us embarking on a three week ‘clean-up, fix-up, finish-up all the projects we hadn’t had time to complete’ campaign as we prepare for the resumption of classes on January 8, 2007. And best of all we began construction on the new school kitchen/canteen/temporary Church building…WOW…TRULY A MIRACLE!!!

Please continue to support the students and staff of Holy Cross Anglican Primary School in your Christmas prayers and in your Holiday giving. Miracles happen a lot more often when we join together to do the work God has given us to do!

And, our Holiday prayer for each of you is best reflected in the words of Fr. Potter of Peckham…

    May the babe of Bethlehem bring you PEACE;
    May the child of Nazareth bring you JOY;
    May the man of Galilee bring you STRENGTH;
    May the Christ of Calvary bring you COURAGE;
    May the Risen Jesus bring you HOPE;
    May the Ascended Christ bring you a fore taste of GLORY.”

Much love and blessings, Francis

Donations to Holy Cross can be made by check payable to “Holy Cross Anglican School” and sent to:

    Francis Wilson
    Anglican Diocese of Belize
    PO Box 535
    Belize City, Belize

Greetings

Sat, 06 Jan 2007 16:51:32 -0000

Hey everyone. You can call me shaman sun. I am a writer. I bumped into Zaadz while surfing Integral Institute; great place here! I am deeply interested in the idea of mapmaking, pioneering new waves of consciousness and a direction for our species to be evolving in (Hopefully). I read alot of books, mainly philosophy or spirituality; from zen buddhism to Jiddu Krishnamurti, to Thich Nhat Hanh.

I'm here to share experiences, learn a little, and maybe contribute what I can as a writer to help this community. Looking forward to meeting you all via discussion. :)

Re: Greetings

Fri, 02 Feb 2007 02:15:31 -0000

I'm not necessarily super intelligent or anything. I just wanted a positive place to come, after beating my battle with depression. I am starting to see how wonderful living can be, and how amazing everything is. I would like to ask you all a question: What do you love, find amazing, take wonder in, or enjoy everyday? I would like to know! Tejah

Re: Introducing Zaadzines

Mon, 12 Feb 2007 19:01:36 -0000

This Pod recently merged with MFA on Zaadz. Please check it out!

Latest from Uganda

Wed, 21 Feb 2007 19:31:34 -0000

Namaste!

DID YOU KNOW...

1 - With funds raised from Zaadzsters like you, Clovis has started his real life Vision Cafe? Yep, and he bought furniture and a couple of computers!

2 - He now earns money at his cafe selling computer services, including typing and printing? Yep, and he's saving it to buy more computers!

3 - With funds raised from Zaadzsters like you, Clovis bought 3 grills and supplies to make and sell an egg-burrito-like food that people in Kampala love, called ROLEX? Yep, and he employed 3 people in the process!

4 - Clovis has been training dozens of Ugandans how to think like visionary entrepreneurs and leaders? Yep, and some come from 6 hours away to attend! The hosted their first workshops outdoors, before they had the cafe!

5 - Clovis has spoken on Uganda national radio for 3 hours, inspiring fellow Ugandans with his vision? And that's just the beginning. He is published in on-line news magazines, keeps a Zaadz blog, and more.

6 - Clovis is very close to having a high-speed internet cafe that connects his fellow Ugandans to the worldwide community?

And he has just begun! He sees a day when Africa lifts itself to new heights through vision, entrepreneurship and technology... and he's on a mission to help his fellow Ugandans and Africans create peace and prosperity through entrepreneurial initiatives like his Vision Cafe.

We're all pitching in this month to help Clovis succeed with his vision.

A $2 donation goes a LONG way. A $20 donation goes much farther. Either is splendid! Ad very much appreciated by Clovis and all his students.

Please take a moment to contribute right here:

WIRING UGANDA

Several Zaadzsters have been talking about us going to Uganda this summer, each one bringing a computer for Clovis' cafe. That would be a BLAST! And it's in the planning stages. But right now, we need to get him WIRED!

Please contribute whatever amount you can, large or small.

Thank you for considering this.

Clovis

DNA MONTHLY Seeking Article Submissions

Thu, 22 Feb 2007 00:04:46 -0000

DNA Monthly,
your FREE online resource for cutting-edge news about who you truly are

is seeking article submissions in the following categories:

DNA Activation * DNA News * Consciousness * Conscious Evolution * Healing * Enlightenment * Mastery * Human Potential * Book Reviews

Submissions. If you would like to submit an original article, excerpt, book review or letter to the editors, please copy and paste it into an email and send to DNAmonthly@fastmail.fm. Be sure to write “submission” in the Subject heading. We offer no financial remuneration for articles we choose to publish, but authors can include a bio and full contact information, including their website. While authors retain all copyrights to their work, DNA Monthly reserves the options 1) to edit any submission for clarity, length, grammar, and spelling; 2) to excerpt portions of articles; 3) to archive articles electronically; and 4) to reprint popular articles in future ezines. Please limit submissions to 2,500 words or less.

Mission. DNA Monthly seeks to empower readers with vital information relative to their divine genetic endowment: DNA. This information may range from generalized articles on DNA to news releases on breakthrough genetic research to educational materials devoted to specific DNA activation methods and concepts.

[DNA Monthly is sponsored by the Phoenix Center for Regenetics, facilitating conscious personal mastery as a bio-spiritual healing path through integrated DNA activation. For information on our unique services, click here. To receive your FREE subscription to DNA Monthly, click here.]

If you want to rekindle your dream, then read this: IT IS real

Sun, 25 Feb 2007 21:18:58 -0000

Hi Guys and Gals, This is NOT a spam, it IS for real..and IT IS free…To good to be true?
Well, sometimes guys and gals, it happens…
So here I am. Pascal Gillon, founder of infogatherer and I am introducing to you, a service that seems to (already) gain a LOT of people interested in it (and, no, I do not need a plug in, so it is a friendly invite that will benefit YOU really…)

For showing people how to realize their dream ASAP:

infogatherer.com is unique: unlike, for example, Kasamba (which is an “ask an expert” service) or Yahoo Answers (which is whoever want to answer any questions and
quite often do not do so directly or with opinions and not always facts)…
infogatherer.com shows people how to realize their dream using a lot of ,not only facts, but intuition (for finding what suits who they are the best) as well as showing them indirect doors to achieve it and neither Yahoo Answers or Kasamba do that…It does not mean that they are not good at what they do offer, it is just not what we do.

On top, and that is another big difference, we pump people up with tips of inspiration when they try their dream, on top of what we give them as information..This formula is unique and does rekindle the people’s light of their dream…
For sharing tips to use everyday for en easier life
…look at that page (MANY people now come and use it every day):

http://www.infogatherer.com/extras.html

You can visit it as many times as you want…even download it!
So infogatherer is a guide/mentor/pump up coach that gives you answers in one e mail. Besides it is FREE to people that belong to ANY church, charity, .org sites or positive social sites like lime.com, care2.com, urth.tv even zaadz.com!

When people are ready to send their wish for a dream that they want to achieve, they can do so by sending it to (not forgetting to mention that they belong to zaadz) :

admin@infogatherer.com

Then, within 24 hours magic happens as they receive AMAZING tips, info and guidance that works right away (if they act upon it). We do not keep the info we send either (the person receiving it must save it) as we respect privacy. This is why it is getting rapidly popular because there is a big need for it.

One more thing, if you want to see what lately people say (following are only A FEW examples) go there:

http://www.infogatherer.com/contactus.html

Click on View Guestbook and see for yourselves

Re: If you want to rekindle your dream, then read this: IT IS rea

Thu, 01 Mar 2007 22:58:58 -0000

dunkashane i shall journey the adventure!!:o)

Re: November/December Issue of Envision Magazine

Sun, 18 Mar 2007 19:38:52 -0000

HI There,
I'm a New Member. No downloads of Envision magazine are working it seems. Thought you should know. I'd love to see it.

Thanks

Mark

Re: Latest from Uganda

Fri, 30 Mar 2007 15:25:29 -0000

Hi Clovis great to hear what you have been accomplishing. More power to you.

So wonderful for people like you to inspire people around them and far away too.

Peace
Laurie

Re: November/December Issue of Envision Magazine

Fri, 30 Mar 2007 15:28:32 -0000

Hi Mark

Did you try downloading by going save as? Usually that can help, if not let me know and I will try to help you be able to get a copy.

peace
Laurie

I need help!

Sun, 01 Jul 2007 05:18:52 -0000

This is taken from an E-mail to Praveer (and others):

Lately, I've been listening more to the big-everything with every ounce of my being, and it keeps telling me the same thing; "Show the world the world".
At first, I wasn't sure exactly what that meant, so I made it my point to stay away from the computer and go deep into the heart of that issue, and also Kansas City...
As usual, the city of Fountains and Blues showed me what I need to do.
Today, my buddy Phil and I had our first meeting with the head social worker for the HSC (homelessness services coalition) to discuss a new project, gonzo journalism among the homeless via film and art. We got Corporate backing from H&R Block, however, not much money from them. Our goal with this project, as with any form of documentary, is to raise awareness. We're going to be hosting a gallery that shows art of homeless people, or by homeless people, also featuring the film we are soon going to begin production on. Also, we're going to be publishing a book of writings by the homeless of the greater KC area. So far we have representation from about 80% of the non-profits that work with homeless, so we'll be able to have them at our benefit so people can get involved in whatever level they feel compelled.
On top of that, I leave for Kenya on Sunday to work with the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas, and Comfort the Children International to spend time with HIV positive orphans. It's sad; so many people throw money at Africa without looking at where it goes to, just so they can feel good about "pitching in", but these kids aren't a worthwhile investment. The thought process that i read out of that is "Well, these kids are already doomed to die early, why waste money on a lost cause?"... Well, I don't feel that that's what we as human beings should be about...but hey, that's why I'm going, right? I'm planning on taking an ass load of pictures and interviews and compiling it in some form... perhaps another book if I can get the proceeds for it.
As you can see, I feel as though everything is starting to fall into line... perhaps the Mayans were right? The other day, I felt the need to go to Westport, a small part of town here in KC, because I knew that I was supposed to meet someone new... I sat and people watched for several hours, talking to random folks as they walked by. But then something amazing happened! This older gypsy man was walking by and noticed me. Immediately he asked me if I was ok, and then if I was a traveler. "I'm trying to be" I said with dead honesty. He then told me that he was going to help me out, and with that, he pulled out a stone with a line of crystal running through it. I've never been one to buy into the "power" of stones, but I guess this made me a believer, because at once, I felt the power and energy of good vibes pass through me. He told me to keep the stone safe and it would keep me safe, and then called me by my name (which I hadn't told him) and told me to "Do it." I have never had psychic abilities to my knowledge, but somehow I knew to call him by his name (John) and we mused about how we just knew. " Isn't that wild?" he said as he walked away. And it is...the worlds energy is just heating up, and I'm sure you can sense it too, but I just can't sit still any longer, which leads me to my next point;

Phil (who i mentioned before), Cathryn (who is on Zaadz), and myself are ready to help "show the world the world." As we acquire a video camera from the homeless project, and we have begun to realize that KC is pushing us to go (even being so scary), we feel the need to become Gypsies, nomads, outlaws of sorts... to experience what this continent really has to offer, from bums to millionaires, Christians to witches, cowboys to campers, farmers to stock-brokers... from the small towns of Kansas to the sweat shops of Mexico, and the booming metropolis of NYC... and to show it to everyone we can. Filming every step of the way, talking to everyone we can. Go to peace rallies and then to bar fights... see it all. The Ghettos and gardens. "Show the world the world"... i continue to meditate on that; it doesn't say to show the world MY world... but to show us us. Dr. Hunter S. Thompson did that by developing Gonzo Journalism, the mix of participant anthropology and documentation combined, and he's inspired 3 generations so far, and think of how many more to come... But the common man doesn't read anymore if they can help it... but they sure as hell watch TV and films... so imagine, what if HST had had a camera?

And that's what we want to do... but finding the means is hard. Money is tight with 3 college drop-outs who want to change the world. And now I turn to you, not for money, but for help. We need to figure out ways to cut costs, to find sponsorship and exposure, and as a PR major I understand that networking works best... who do you know? how can you help? I beg of you, help me on my starting block of my mission, and help me show the world the world... something tells me that the world needs itself, and since we are one, I need you.

I know it's a lot to ask, but please! help me.

Sleeping by the way-side of tomorrow,

Christian

Re: I need help! (here is a launching pad for you here, for free.

Tue, 03 Jul 2007 15:18:04 -0000

Very cool story Chris, Well, if you do what follows, you WILL have quick exposure AND results: I am a great believer in having a site which is strong, simple enough and easy to use: the rest for success then will come...I guess you can create your own webpage, with a Yahoo Account and it is so easy! http://geocities.yahoo.com/ps/learn2/HowItWorks4_Free.html You do not need to be a programming genius to do it and it is VERY self explanatory plus Free. For what you want, only about 2 to 3 pages (main) is enough. Put what you did, you do, and how you believe in integrity for this project you wish for. Put photos, some text of your venture...even some vlog? that you may upload? At least photos, and an AMAZING inspiring text of WHY you adore to do what you do. Then put it in the signature of your Yahoo! e mail. Yes, you must belong to yahoo! to have a yahoo! e mail and do a free geocities website BUT it is for free! No computer? A lot of libraries, nowadays, library will let you in for free to use a computer up to an hour. So, when you e mail people for finding out about work, do a signature that shows your website address (it shows you how to do it in mail options, you can even click on help (top right of your new Yahoo! e mail main page) and all is answered). Then put it there: http://searchwarp.com/ (register and put a article on what you do!) http://www.goarticles.com/faq.html So, already by submitting what you want to share in those, that should be cool. Also, why not contact these: http://www.articlegeek.com/contact_us.htm http://www.free-articles-search.com/contacts.php prefer to do a vlog or podcast and put it out there,for FREE, sure: http://www.clipshack.com/ http://www.odeo.com/ http://www.podcastpickle.com/ http://vlogdir.com/suggest.php?action=addlink Sponsorship? all right... http://www.youare.tv/ (put your video that you do here and ask...) http://www.filmarts.org/about.php ( contact: Holly Million Director of Development & Marketing hollymillion@filmarts.org ) http://www.fundable.org/examples (an idea, in between) http://www.ireuse.com/index.aspx# (if you need stuff for free) http://www.gobignetwork.com/ (another funding way which seems cool) And remember, as I say too : * Everything takes time, even instant coffee: nothing comes right now! And the higher the goal, the longer it takes. Be patient and it shall reward you big time. * If no success, do it again, you certainly have got the brain: that saying even rhymes! Failure is only if you do not do your best or do not try. Anything else is true success as you cannot do better. Point. Be good! Au revoir... Pascal Gillon, BASc Founder infogatherer.com

My adventures

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 21:09:39 -0000

A few months back I started a blog on blogger site and the response has been overwhelmingly good. Since I started tracking in June, I have had 2223 visits and 912 unique visitors. It has been viewed in 5 countries so far and every state but Alaska. http://tacogirlblog.blogspot.com/ Going for world wide readership :)

Motivation & Inspirational Messages

Thu, 25 Oct 2007 09:02:18 -0000

Hi Everyone,

I post one Motivational or Inspirational message, everyday on my blogs everyday.

Please add me as a friend to read them.

Thank you very much, Everyone.

With Lurve,
Alice

Boycott 2008 China Olympics

Sun, 28 Oct 2007 13:39:47 -0000

The total disregard by the Chinese authorities to the atrocities in Burma should be reason one to boycott the 2008 Olympics.

The Chinese authorities' response to the U.S. award given to the Dalai Lama, saying it seriously undermines relationships with the U.S., should be reason number two to boycott the 2008 Olympics.

Anyone who goes to 2008 Olympics is either missing a brain or a soul, or both.

Burmese monks and nuns have been murdered because they peaceably protested the military regime.

The Dalai Lama has only ever advocated peace.

Supporting the Cina Olympics in any way, gives tacit approval to violence against buddhists everywhere and complicity in the bloody actions in Burma.

Ode to Monotony

Sat, 01 Dec 2007 09:06:29 -0000

I, I took the road less traveled, and that has made all the difference. It has made my feet lacerated, bruised, and bloody. Sometimes it seems that the road more traveled is that way for a reason, but stupidity, which has some phantom grasp on the space right behind my eyes yanks me forward. Some deeper, compelling screaming of an inner adult of virtue, fighting with an inner child with a spirit of adventure. Both want to go the same rout against logic, but fight over the reasons why. Feel the explosion of the rage in your mindful soul. It fights logic, it fights reason, it fights the tangible titles of ideas of intangible concepts of a material world of a philosophical mind. Bound not only by society, but by ones own fears... every step being afraid. Every step meeting fear face on. No time ever to relax or regret, for a new challenge is always at hand. No time to stop and find out who you are, you're to busy making who you'll become. Work all your life for a retirement, now what? Next adventure, next endeavor. Welcome to an ADD society with no Ritalin, no Addoral, no sleep. A sleepy, grumpy, ADD society in it's speeding mini-cooper world. "The Man" says you must hop like this and say these things and like these things and you hop or you jump or you skip and you like those things without stopping and saying "what am I doing"... Merchants of cool and merchants of fools, the red tape of a corporate (insert your country/company here). The new fashion is to be unfashionable, the new cool is to be uncool, the new norm is to be an individual... sell what you can, learn the ropes, tease the mobs, make them think that they are in charge. Rock the boat, but not to much. I pledge allegiance to Mickey Mouse, the face I can trust, right? Become a pirate of unstable business waters, and scoop the foam of the vivacious whitecaps that crash back into the sea, but make sure you have your cut. This "Evil Empire" fights it's "Evil Axis" But who is right when all the fingers are done being pointed, and every one is broken... who is right when the game of "they started it" flows all the way back to a primordial ooze... too which we seem to want to return... Screw the clothes, boobs and butts and tights are in... less is better...but more is less and less is more... grab on, round and round it goes till when looking at fashion, no one knows... But the merchants are back and aren't going away... buy this 90 piece chicken McNugget for 50 cents more then spend $500 on a dress you cant fit to now that you wear once. "Rebel" some yell at the top of their lungs, and one might expect me to do the same... the same as the wise ones before me... but when anger is today's style, and conformity is an underlining cool of uncool, what does one do? Embrace the system. Milk that fatling for all it's worth. To grab the bull by the horns, you must first get close enough to touch them. Danger, danger Will Robinson, your life is in danger of becoming syndicated in a decade of sin... sin is in. Movies with blood and heads flying high. No plot needed, just know who did who, and who's doing who in, seems to be the repeating pattern of life... We should be proud... same situations with new complications happened for years, but now we have simplified, diversified and figured the formula that works... bringing stories to the simplest of reasons... a 5 hour Shakespearean play can be retold these days in 30 minutes with a 5 minute commercial break... commercial break... a 30 second story with no bearing, but somehow I now can't live without 40 of those. Money can't buy happiness, but rent it now, with a lease on a new car, a new house, and the world will be yours. So many worshipers of the new god of plastic and commerce, Ve-saaah. Danger, danger! But we'll see you thru. To hell with reason. To hell with this and that. Throw away your reason and logic for $8 an hour, you must hop like this and say these things and like these things and you hop or you jump or you skip and you like those things without stopping and saying "what am I doing" because that is wrong. It's hard to be an optimist in a pessimist world. So now what should we do? Junk the system, the source of all confusion and evil? No. Never, make it live, make it thrive, make it breathe. Without evil we have no one for our heroes to champion over, and therefore no heroes. Without struggle and strife our lives are meaningless pools of baby fat. Welcome to a world where 3 white Jewish guys changed the face of rap forever. Where the eternal flame has fire insurance... Embrace this system... take what you can... laugh at its stupidity and play along. Remember that there are no rules for this life. Just that it ends. The road less traveled is more alive with the grass of a system planted in firm foundations and rich soil... and why disturb that? Embrace the system of monotony, live your life, help others and make your contribution. You will be cornered, so make it that you are cornered in a place you don't mind staying with people you don't mind staying with... and please ladies and gentlemen, remember... I, I took the road less traveled, and that has made all the difference...

~Christian

Re: Contributors

Sun, 06 Jan 2008 22:05:50 -0000

I'm not so sure what this is all about quite yet.. I haven't gotten a chance to check it out that much, but I am in college right now, majoring in photo-journalism, so I would love to help out with this, if I can, or just hear more about it and read some of it.

Polar bears face certain extinction and yet...

Sat, 16 Feb 2008 05:26:09 -0000

the federal administration saw fit to auction off an enormous tract of Alaskan territory to big name oil companies for oil drilling (http://www.adn.com/front/story/307588.html).

If the malignant greed of the government ignores the many voices of protest and disregards the imminent peril of wildlife, what can be done? As polar ice-caps diminish, bear cubs drown. More drilling for oil in their habitat greatly increases potential for hazardous oil spills, no guarantees to protect wildlife and the rapid demise of one of the world's fierce and majestic animals.

I wonder what parents will tell their children a few years hence when asked, "What did you do to help the polar bears?" Will we be able to say we resolved to drive our cars less, we used public transport, we actively worked to advance more eco-friendly fuel options, we refused to buy from environmental terrorists?

Our failure to be respectful stewards of this most precious and beautiful earth will not be easily forgiven by our offspring. And if they indeed survive, they inherit a desolate, ravaged planet, testimony only to our arrogance and self-absorption.

Doing nothing is criminal and complicit in the mindless voraciousness and disrespect for the sanctity of life that characterizes the current U.S. leadership.

hi there! say hi and take one of my books. :-)

Wed, 07 May 2008 19:03:04 -0000

hi all - my name is Dori, and I just joined gaia in this entity yesterday (i have a personal profile on here somewhere, too, though i haven't used it much if only because if it weren't work-related it wouldn't be cool for me to be here and i don't have much time outside of work for online social networking - yay for work-related!)

i'm the PR department for a small indie press here in Portland, OR called Visionary Networks Press. We are funded by a grant from the Divination Foundation - find out more about us here - http://www.divination.com

We exist to promote divination systems as way to stimulate your intuition and make better decisions, and also to research divination systems around the world (my favorite part of the job, lol).

while i am here i would like to give away BOOKS! FREE!

Our first title is called Divination: Sacred Tools for Reading the Mind of God. I am looking to mail out some copies of the title to those of you willing to give it a read, add it to your bookshelves here, and provide us with a short review on Amazon.com.

If you're interested just drop me a private message here on gaia.com and let me know where to send your copy.

thanks, and nice to meet you!

dori

(p.s. my life outside of this job involves tarot, jewelry design and metalsmithing, yoga, and writing. i'm also a tattoo "shop girl" a day a week, and when i'm not doing PR for small, independent presses publishing titles i believe in, i can often be found wandering the globe).