Health-the rediscovery and journey

Give Thanks Each Day

noreply@blogger.com (Roger) — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 18:19:00 +0000

As we move into the season, it becomes imperative that we live with a vision. In order to understand our message and our purpose, we must believe. Life is not waiting for us to change, but instead it continues to move. This motion that we experience everyday is part of the gift of our divine being. Our spiritual connection empowers and initiates our awareness into action.

In this life each day must be lived with gratitude and thanksgiving and we must move with purpose. The desires of our heart are manifested in our present reality with conscious thought. Everything that we believe is part of our will and will determine the outcome of our life. I now understand that we create our reality. Happiness is not something that is separate from our reality and we have to search for it. It is something that is already inside of you, and how you approach and live each day determines your degree of happiness.

The more that you give thanks each day, the more you will have to give thanks. The more you have, the more you give. The more you give, the more you have. Create visions in your life that attract and paint pictures that identify who you are. Each of us has a purpose and reason for being here in this time and space. Live with confidence and accelerate our divine purpose.

Remember we are not alone and there is help. Give thanks for our families and families have a divine purpose. The people who are there through blood or marraige are not a mistake. Love your entire family and develop a stronger and more meaniful experience. If you have a partner give more and if you didn't have one get one. We all must become whole because the universal laws exist for a reason.

Pray for the season. We must move to oneness. Live the year as the season. Give to live, and live to give. Thank you Lord. Amen

Fixing the Healthcare System

noreply@blogger.com (Roger) — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 02:10:00 +0000

The future of health care is in our grasp and as a nation we must move with confidence. A new poll shows that Americans are worried about rising health care cost and their effect on the family budget. The fear of having to pay for procedures out of pocket keeps 50% of all Americans, under-insured or uninsured. There is finally an issue that all Americans agree that there is a need for major reform.

The cost of health care will continue to increase in the future and presently we spend more than any other nation, and receive inefficient and poor service. Nearly 50 percent of Americans do not get recommended care when they seek treatment and many are subject to medical errors. The complexity of the system is confusing with the different layers of administration. We now spend 15 cent for every dollar on health care and that number will rise.

It is time for the nation to develop a dialogue and shift control into trust. Everyone has an idea but each sector is afraid to expose the truth. The truth is that everyone is afraid to say that they just do not know. The experts and the politicians must start from a place that they do not know. They will have to try different approaches and apply what works and discard what doesn't work. As we move to tackle a major crisis, we can not be rigid.

Private health care will not go away because some people can afford the state of art and the most modern technological treatments on the planet. But there will be some who need government support because they are poor. There are others who will be in the middle and adjustments will have to be made to fit their circumstances. Americans will be forced to create a system where we will all become connected.

As we shift to a system where that is trust our leaders will operate with a sense of character and honesty. Fixing the health care system must start with a sincere commitment from a coalition of organizations who are flexible. No one organization should have more power, but it should be a collaborative effort to solve a national problem.

As we move together to solve the health care system, we will learn that we have more in common as opposed to differences. There are many different cultures that dress differently and eat different foods. But when it comes to getting well our bodies operate the same. Health care is not going away and we can learn from other countries. As a nation we have to believe that we can solve this problem in our lifetime, and there is no need for fear and doubt.

Let your voice be heard!!

How Healthy Is Our Justice System-Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Roger) — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 03:22:00 +0000

Former Gov. George Ryan is due to report to prison on Wednesday to start serving a six and a half year sentence. Ryan is 73, and was convicted last year of steering contracts to co-defendant Larry Warner and other friends. Prosecutors traced $170.000 of bribe money to the Citizens for Ryan campaign fund which has itself been convicted of racketeering.

It appears that corruption in Chicago started with the governor and was organized and institutionalized. Again we would like to look at this as an isolated incident and there is integrity in every other large city in the country. But we know that this is the excepted and accepted way to run a political machine.

In every major city deals are made by friends who operate in a closed circle of privilege. Some of the deals are legal and some are questionable. When the deals are questionable money helps to make the deal legal. The justice system has learned to close their eyes and keep their mouths close.

It is ironic that the governor was caught when he was 72. That would indicate that he became corrupt when he turned 71. But it is my guess that the governor was corrupt when he first started in politics, and he continued to grow in power as he become more corrupt. The abuse of power appears to be a reality in American politics. Can a politician stay clean and work in the system?

The governor and his friend has been free on bond since their April 2006 conviction. They have yet to spend time in prison and now their lawyers are trying to get a bond from the U.S. Supreme Court. It would not surprise me if their request are approved while they wait for the Court of Appeals.

I always thought that once you were convicted you were sent immediately to prison. The justice system responds differently want they convict someone who is a part of their inner circle. The prison that the governor is assigned to is a comfortable and cozy away from home. It will be interesting to see if the governor will be forced to report to prison.

Corruption has become institutionalized and it is hard to tell the good guys from the bad guys. The goal is to keep the system closed and no one has to try to correct the system. The old saying goes is that you can't change or beat city hall.
Roger

How Healthy is The Justice System

noreply@blogger.com (Roger) — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 01:45:00 +0000

Today I was reading about a sheriff in California that says all the charges against him are false and untrue. This means that he never accepted bribes and has never exchanged political favors in office. Everyone knows to get to the top you have to collaborate with some shady characters to keep everyone happy.

It is kind of humorous to believe that this sheriff believes that he is doing everything by the book, when he has a mistress and a wife. All three have been indicted, but the sheriff says he is innocent and has never misused his office. The southern California county which he heads is the fifth largest force in the country. When the head is caught accepting bribes, than I wonder what the rest of the force is doing to make ends meet.

Once the sheriff was elected a wealthy businessman paid for a vacation, and gave the sheriff a boat, and let him use his yacht and private plane. The businessman also paid the sheriff 1000, dollars a month to be an assistant sheriff and help his friends circumvent the system. This started in 1998 and the sheriff is still in office.

Maybe everyone was blind but someone before now should have noticed that something was wrong. Is it possible that breaking the law is okay if you are in power? Maybe it is okay to lie steal and cheat if you have a badge and a gun. What is wrong in our society when the people that we are suppose to trust have stole so long that they think they are doing things right?

How healthy is the justice system in this country when the leaders have no idea what is right. We would like to believe that this is an isolated incident and this is not the general rule. However this sheriff was blatant with his stealing and his friends could not cover his tracks. Everyone knew he was corrupt from the beginning he was elected to office. But everyone closed their eyes because no one wanted to tell the truth. In how many cities and counties across the country do we have one eye closed and the other eye with shudders?

We only open our eyes when someone who is honest with a sense of integrity forces the system to respond to the obvious. The justice system is broken and sick, but where are the doctors?
Roger

Is Our Food Safe-Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Roger) — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 03:35:00 +0000

Yesterday I was talking to a friend and she stated that her daughter has been sick for two days. Her daughter has been throwing up and cannot hold anything in her stomach. My friends feels that her daughter is sick because of the fast food restaurant she ate in. My friend did not report this incident to the county health Department. As a result an inspector will probably not inspect the establishment.

Every time we eat in a restaurant we are rolling the dice. We would like to believe that restaurants are safe, but after looking at the movie "Fast Food Nation" I wonder. If you have not looked at the movie check it out. The movie is fictional but sometimes messages are given that way because it is easy to swallow. The message in this movie is that everyone in the town is controlled by a major fast food empire that exploits every aspect of the communities life. The company is like a big machine that dictates and establishes the mind-set that the working/poor must endure.

The company is a beef processing plant where the fesses from the animals are included in the meat because the machines are running to fast for the employees. At any time an employee can lose an arm or leg because production is put ahead of safety. The animals are drugged and we wonder if our food is safe?

We have to remember that the movie is fiction but if you want to learn the truth about the fast food industry read Eric Schlosser's book. The food that our children eat in fast food restaurants have no nutritional value. The food that we eat is contributing to an unhealthy lifestyle. We must began to ask questions what the large companies are putting in their food to make it last for months. We will also need to ask why there is only one small aisle where there is health food in supermarkets?

For some reason mothers have forgotten how to cook real food. Most of the time we are on the run, so we eat on the run. When we ask the question is our food safe, maybe we really don't care. Maybe in the future we will drop a pill instead of eating food and that is how we will get our nourishment. There is something wrong when we know we are eating fesses from the plant and the plant continues to serve the product.

My friends daughter has been sick for two days but soon she will get better. No one will complain and the restaurant will continue serving rotten food. Considering all the restaurants they do a good job. But we have to make the companies more responsible to health. These enormous food empires can make a change and become more health conscious. We all need to demand healthier foods and force the companies to stop destroying the nutritional value of their foods.
Roger

Is Our Food Safe-Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Roger) — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 16:26:00 +0000

We understand in American society everyone is running. Everyone is working and there is no time to cook. As a result we live in a fast food society. Everywhere we look there is a restaurant that we can go and get a quick meal. But is the food safe?

We trust federal agencies to inspect the food and we believe that companies have a sense of integrity, and they follow federal guidelines. We believe that companies would not sell food that is contaminated or of inferior quality. We believe that people's welfare is more important than profit. But we know that pharmaceutical companies were selling medicines whose side effect could injure and kill certain people. We know there are law suits against these companies that run into millions. But how could fast food companies act irresponsible also?

The fast food companies know that people need to eat to live. The question that I am raising is the food safe? Would companies put profits first and people's welfare third or fourth? We know in this innovative and digital world food is a commodity like clothes and technical gadgets. We serve them something that looks kinda like food, but has been transformed to resemble something else. Many times it looks like fish but the outside cover resembles something else. We eat it because we are hungry, and if it settles without any problems than we are fine.

The only time we get upset when the food does not settle properly and we end up at the hospital, or we get sick. When that happens we call the county agencies to make a formal complaint, and an inspector is sent to the establishment. The inspector in theory is suppose to inspect this restaurant every six months but it never happens. Some restaurants are inspected once every two years, and we wonder why there are violations?

When we get sick twenty four hours after eating at a restaurant, it is considered the restaurant fault. But if you get sick two or three days after eating at an establishment, it is not considered their fault. Every time we eat at a restaurant we are taking a chance, because the problem can start at the processing plant. The product that was shipped to the restaurant may be contaminated. As we explore the food that we eat, there is information that is keep from the public. Food companies know that their food is contaminated, but they still sell it to the public.

As long as there are only minor problems, than the fast food industry can continue to ignore the critics. They can continue serving food that is slowly making people sick. If everyone eats it than it can't be that bad. Tomorrow we will continue with the fast food society and our children who we are raising on fast food. Why do we buy it?
Roger

Why Should Vick Give Back 20 Million

noreply@blogger.com (Roger) — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 03:18:00 +0000

When in America do we stop kicking a person, when we know that person is down? When are we satisfied? There appears to be no logical explanation when enough is enough. People who live in glass houses should not throw stones. Today Micheal Vick is the villain and everyone is looking for dirt.

It is always easy to find dirt. Once we find dirt it is always easy to find more. Everyone has forgotten the days when he worked his butt off to become the highest paid NFL player. We forget when he deserved all the glory and everyone talked about his greatness. Somewhere we forgot that the young man needed help. What happened to the American soul?

When a star is down do, we ever ask how we can help? There is something in the American psyche where we hate to see a success. We tend to want to see someone fall on their face. The news media thrives on dirt and the problems of success. As a star spirals downward into desperation and despair the news media appears to be ecstatic. This appears to be their lead story and if they can embellish the story with a big lie, that can get a bonus.

Micheal Vick is the lead story this month and if we can find a dirty story to embellish, we have done our job. The truth of the matter is that Vick has no idea how to improve his image and he continues to behave immaturely. He needs a team of polished professionals who know how to navigate through enemy territory. The enemy is serious about sending him to jail.

The enemy is serious about taking every penny that they can find because his glory days at this point are over. The 20 million was a bonus for all the work he had done to get is team ahead. Now that society says he is a criminal. (He never robbed or stole from anybody.) He must give back something that he worked for five years and really his whole life. We live in a sick society when we are put in jail for killing a dog. I am not condoning dog fights but there is an audience for that sick sport.

In the final analysis is America still a racist society? There is something wrong when African-American young men are put in jail for fighting and the white young men for hanging a rope are let go. In Florida a group of policeman are told that they did nothing wrong when an African-American teenager dies because of a boot camp. There is nothing wrong when a New York professor finds a rope hanging on her door to her office. I know it was dumb to fight dogs but when do we stop destroying a man dignity?

We all make mistakes. Is there a difference in an African-American mistake as opposed to a white person's mistake? Give Michael Vick his money and let him play football. He earned his money by working hard. He did not hurt a human being. We need to stand up for what is right and what makes sense. It appears to me his major crime is that he had to much money for a Black Man.
Roger

Vick Caught Again

noreply@blogger.com (Roger) — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 15:16:00 +0000

The reality in America is when things are bad they continue to snowball. When your star starts to fade it disappears. In America one day you can have so much money that you are throwing it away. The next week you can be so poor that you can't find a penny. Michael Vick is a person whose star has faded and the hole he finds himself in, gets deeper and deeper.

This week he was caught with marijuana. He actually was not caught smoking but his test was positive. Now he will be required to wear an electric monitoring device and his movement will be limited and controlled. He is now a criminal and the system can justify throwing the book at him. When you tend to be radical, hispanic or black and you make a mistake, there is a price you must pay.

Smoking weed when you know that the entire world is monitoring your every move is an immature way to behave. However when you are 27 you think you can get awaywith everything. The abuse of drugs and alcohol has reached epidemic proportions but people continue to abuse drugs. Michael Vick is an example of someone who could not keep his fingers out of the cookie jar.

He knew that at any time the authorities could call him up and tell him to come and take the test. But he took a risk and now he is caught again. The system or authority has the power, and when they are in control you listen. The system does not care if you were a star the other day but when you mess up you are no better than the rest of us.

The abuse of drugs and alcohol is a sickness. There is something wrong when the same people who judge us, behind close doors do the same thing. Most people who have a problem do not admit the problem until they are caught. Michael Vick was a celebrity who was caught and he has no idea how to solve his problems without professional help. How do your handle your problems when you where on the top of the world and now you are on the bottom? Who do you turn to when you are falling and you can't get up?

The Doctors are Upset with the System-Part 4

noreply@blogger.com (Roger) — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 02:42:00 +0000

The academy of doctors issued a report that America must increase family physicians by 39% by the year 2020. Thirty nine percent is a huge number when most doctors refuse to go into a family practice because it is difficult to pay their bills. It was unheard of a doctor not being able to pay his bills.

Now it is normal for doctors to say that they cannot meet their payroll. Many doctors are leaving certain states because the malpractice insurance rates makes it unprofitable to work in that state. As we move into the future informed Americans know there is a need for reform. A collaborative movement is necessary to prevent a health care disaster.

Many doctors are beginning to charge their patients a surcharge to help defray the cost of doing business. Some doctors are having patients sign waivers that they will only receive certain amounts if they sue. There are other creative and innovative plans that doctors are trying, and many do not know if they are legal. Doing the doctoring business is risky business today.

As we move to the future medical doctors will become a socialized function. As the cost to become a doctor escalates most individuals will not be able to afford their educational bill. It now takes $350,000 and more to pay for an education and soon it will cost over a million. The future is in five or ten years. Educating doctors will become a joint endeavor with the federal government helping to finance our future doctors.

At this point many of the doctors are not vocal and not petitioning political reform. As the health care system and medical profession continues to worsen the patients and doctors must collaborate. It is necessary that doctors operate with a sense of integrity, and social leadership, and be truthful about their condition. Doctors have a responsibility to heal the sick.and stop being a puppet for the pharmaceutical conglomerates.

Doctor have a right to be upset. Their careers and livelihoods are being challenged and destroyed, because they are being swallowed up by politics and conglomerates. There is something wrong when the cream of the crop are forced to claim bankruptcy. Who will deliver our children in the future? Who will heal our sick? Who will pay the million dollars to train our doctors?
Roger

The Doctors are Upset with the System-Part 3

noreply@blogger.com (Roger) — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 03:00:00 +0000

There is a problem with the system when the cream of our society is upset. Lawyers say there is no crisis in the medical profession because damage awards continue to escalate. In some states where there is no cap on damage awards they continue to grow. The lawyers continue to make exorbitant pay outs and their bank accounts swell. The question that doctors keep asking, is when will it all slow down?

Premiums continue to rise all over the country and doctors have staged work slow downs. It is hard for me to contemplate doctors consciously protesting their profession. Everyday we put our life in their skilled hands and we have no idea that they cannot pay their bills. Many doctors are emotionally angry and they hold our fate with their decisions. When financial obligations take precedence over professional decisions the patient suffers.

The horror stories continue. Three doctors in Illinois pay $345,000 a year in liability insurance and in July their insurance will increase to $510,410. An obstetrician/gynecologist in New Jersey will have to pay $125,000 this year, which will force her to deliver 5 babies a month to pay her liability insurance. After she is able to cover her liability insurance then she can pay the rest of her bills. The cream of the crop is mad.

Doctors are the cornerstone of our health care system. They have dedicated their entire life to treating the sick but they now feel red tape, insurance, and bureaucratic procedures are making their practices unprofitable. There are 12 states where practicing medicine is a risky business. In New Jersey, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Washington, and West Virginia there is a crisis. The doctors in these states are moving or they cannot find reasonable premiums. There is a need for reform but many of the laws are being controlled and made by people who say there is no crisis.

The lawyers are correct when doctors make major errors in judgement. But the lawyers know that there are problems with the present system. There is a need for tort reform and a cap on malpractice suits throughout the country. However change in America many times is very slow and the system refuses to acknowledge a need for change. There is becoming a critical shortage of doctors in our country, and who will care for our sick? What happens when doctors refuse to pay insurance premiums?
Roger

The Doctors are Upset With The System-Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Roger) — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 01:26:00 +0000

I always thought that once you become a certified doctor financially this person was set for life. There was one thing I didn't take into consideration, and that was malpractice insurance. I never realized that a doctor could be sued and everything they had worked for was down the drain. One mistake and their career was over.

Many doctors are refusing to treat certain situations, and are asking the patient to sign a waiver that they cannot be sued. Many doctors are having problems finding malpractice insurance which is reasonable and cost effective. In our country there is a lawyer mindset and lawyers look for loopholes to initiate litigation.

In Las Vegas a hospital was closed down for a few days because over thirty doctors could not find liability and malpractice insurance. It became necessary for the state to get involved in order to help the doctors secure insurance. In Sanford, Florida a group of surgeons quit for a week, and one local hospital had one general surgeon. This one surgeon was responsible for all emergency operations while the group of surgeons found insurance. The horror stories continue to pop up all over the country and the doctors are furious.

The mass media puts a little burp in the newspaper, and very little is said on television. There is a shortage of doctors in many parts of the country. There are hospitals closing their doors because they cannot cover their expenses. The doctors are caught in the middle and they find it hard to meet their expenses.

There is something wrong with the system because becoming a doctor was a secure career and doctors were assured a financially rewarding income. But now doctors are being forced to close their office and retire early. Many doctors are upset with their income because they are making less money than they were making three years ago. Insurance companies continue to raise their preminuns and they also say they are not making any profits.

I was reviewing the salaries that the CEO of insurance companies are making. Some of the CEO's were making 30 million dollars in one year and there was no salary listed for the different vice-presidents. There is obviously a need to investigate the actual salary that the executive groups in these companies are receiving.

The doctors are right when they feel that there is corruption and corporate robbery. The doctors are forced to pay their insurance peminuns even though they feel it is too high. They also smell a rat but they stay quiet. There is a need for medical malpractice reform and health care to decrease. Will the doctors have to get angry and refuse to treat their patients? Who will be able to afford the price of insurance in a few years?
Roger

The Doctors are Upset With the System-Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Roger) — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 03:13:00 +0000

A couple of days ago I was in my doctor's office and there were patients everywhere. I didn't really pay any attention to the situation because my doctor is always busy. Recently I had changed my insurance and I knew that my doctor was not taking any new patients. My doctor is a great doctor and you expect to wait for his service, but why is he so busy!

Just the other day I was on the internet and an article concerning doctors was titled "fewer primary care physicians in America". Basically it stated that many family practices are closed to new practices and many doctors are refusing medicaid and medicare patients. Doctors feel there is to much red tape and administrative and bureaucratic procedures with these patients. They also feel that the government wants the doctors to take to large a discount on their normal charges.

The article was also discussing the increase in doctors liability insurance. One doctor stated in 2000 has insurance was 20,000 dollars and the next year it was increasing to 33,000 dollars. Each year his insurance continued to increase and now it is increasing to over 100,000 dollars. His insurance has tripled and he feels that he may take an early retirement because of the expense of insurance.

Many of the doctors feel that their profits are being eaten up by insurance, overhead, technology, and red tape. In order to stay current my doctors has been forced to make his office digital. This I am sure was a very expensive investment, but information is more accurate and faster. He is able to see more patients but is his practice more profitable. His business appears to be excellent yet the bottom line probably is decreasing.

At medical schools the students don't want to go into the area of family medicine or a generalist. They realize that they can make more money by being a specialist. At one time you could make an appointment to see a specialist in 7 to 10 days. Now it takes 4 to 6 months and in some parts of the country you have to travel to even find a specialist.

Maybe my doctor is working so hard because he is just trying to pay his bills. On the outside it appears that he is making money and he has reached a level of success. But in the article many doctors are leaving the practice and new doctors are worried if they can pay the exorbitant insurance rates. I was always under the impression that once you spent all the money in school to become a doctor you had achieved a level of privilege and success. However the reality was that now you have to work harder to pay back your debts and borrow money to start a practice.

Now I understand why my doctor at times is sarcastic. Now I understand what it takes to maintain. Now I understand when they get there, they have no time to breath. What happened to the pie, when they became a Doctor? Did someone lie to them too?
Roger

Thumbs Up For Medical Science

noreply@blogger.com (Roger) — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 22:30:00 +0000

There are times that I question the effectiveness of traditional and conventional medicine and pharmaceutical solutions. Many times I feel there is a reliance on medications and no other option is explored. But when I read the amazing work that is being done with Kevin Everett it is truly a medical breakthrough. Kevin Everett was a football player who sustained a life-threatening spinal cord injury. Initially the prognosis was that he would never walk again with such a catastrophic injury.

However the team of doctors in Buffalo have collaborated with with a team in Florida named the Miami Project who specialize in spinal cord injuries and paralysis. Kevin Everett voluntarily moved his arms and legs prompting doctors to change their original prognosis. The key was the Buffalo team ran an ice-cold saline solution through Everett's system that put the player in a hypodermic state. Doctors at the Miami Project have demonstrated that such action significantly decreases the damage to the spinal cord injuries due to swelling and movement.

This innovative procedure is appearing to help accelerate his recovery because of the unexpected movement of his body. There also appears to be touch sensation throughout his body and even the doctors are proclaiming that this is a miracle. The spectacular progress that medical science has made in the last five to ten years is amazing. The breakthroughs that university research teams continue to find answers too move human development and knowledge to a new level.

It is too early to make definitive statements concerning to what degree Everett will improve. We know that medical science has positioned itself to make monumental strides in healing. Problems that before took months and years to correct can now be corrected in weeks. As we project in the future I know that today's crisis will become yesterday's headaches and challenges. There are amazing breakthroughs and solutions that will enhance and improve living. This is an exciting time to be alive. Live Life
Roger

Depression A Cry For Help-Part 6

noreply@blogger.com (Roger) — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 02:02:00 +0000

As I end this series of articles on depression,I understand that the solution is different for each individual. There is a wealth of options available for anyone with a major depressive disorder. It is important that an individual is not paralyzed by inaction, and makes an attempt to change the way they think. It is necessary to heal the whole person which will result in a lifestyle modification.

Depression cannot be healed by just using medications and psychotherapy. Wellness must include herbal, dietary holistic treatments, exercise, and a spiritual grounding. As I continue to explore contemporary lifestyles I find that anger and self-hatred is a reoccurring theme with people who have depression. Negative thoughts coupled with painful emotions are a major cause in depressive episodes. It is necessary to change cognitive thinking and behavior to make an impact in depression which is a cry for help.

There are roughly 28 million Americans who have taken Prozac, Zoloft, or Parcel or similar anti- depressions and the doctors and therapist continue to prescribe them as their solutions. There is something wrong when you keep making the same mistake and you keep bumping your head. The paralysis in the psychiatric industry everyone refuses to talk about because the conventional methods are not working.

Mental, spiritual, and physical wellness and health must become the number one priority in our contemporary lifestyle. We must not be ashamed that there is a need for a new approach to solving depression in America. There is a need for a divine correction where people get back to living healthier and make the family important again. We need to edify and recognize each other and build positive self-esteem. The things that we never have time for are the things that make our life richer and more fruitful.

Depression is a cry for help but who is listening? We can send people to the moon but how many people speak and talk to their next door neighbor. When was the last time you tried to help someone and you did not care about a financial reward? We live in one of the greatest countries in the world but we are addicted to our anti-depressions. It is time to switch the script and slow down and change our negative thoughts. It is possible to feel again and listen to a positive voice inside. Everyone has the ability to be great and make a positive impact in their life, and live without depression. Wellness is your right and your responsibility on the planet.
Roger

Depression A Cry For Help-Part 5

noreply@blogger.com (Roger) — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 14:38:00 +0000

As I/we continue to discuss alternative treatments for depression, it will become necessary to integrate new approaches. Our modern lifestyle has adversity contributed to many of the problems that link to society's mental health. Steve Ilardi believes based on his studies that there are six lifestyle changes or corrections necessary to begin to make a positive impact on depression. The six changes are as follows; 1) exercise, 2) omega-3 consumption, 3) light exposure, 4) sleep, 5) social connectedness, 6) anti-ruminative behavior.

There was nothing in his study that was innovative, ground breaking, and new. It appears that the basics and the fundamental principles that the old folks lived by allowed them to be physically, mentally, and spiritually grounded. There is nothing new and different about exercise because a consistent program has life affirming benefits. Omega-3 is connected to a healthy diet, instead of the processed diet which is common in our modern society. Sleeping and being exposed to the sun is nothing new. Instead of taking drugs to sleep exercise and hard work forced people to go to bed, because they were tired and tomorrow would be a repeat of yesterday.

In no way do I want it misconstrued that I want a return to the good old days. However the social networking and principles that made families the focal point of society has somehow been lost. Respect for the different generations kept people focused and consumed with relevant social interconnectedness. Now it appears that people no longer have time for family members and friends. They are more concerned with their personal agenda which can become discombobulated, confused, and not grounded. The inability to communicate and respect substance and wisdom, they turn to drugs, sex and violence. A large percentage of people struggling with depression feel they are alone, and forget they are connected to a social fabric that cares.

Finally there is the anti-ruminative behavior which I had no idea what it meant until I explored a little further. Basically it means that many people walk around with a doom mentality and bad things are getting ready to happen. Obliviously if you spend an inordinate amount of time looking at the news, you are justified in this belief. Many times depression is a self inflicted illness, because much of our information has a negative twist or violent focus. We must come to gripes with the fundamental causes of depression in contemporary society. The cry for help is a cry for sanity in a society gone mad. What can we do to reverse the problems of depression? If you are not part of the solution, then you are part of the problem.
Roger

Depression A Cry For Help-Part 4

noreply@blogger.com (Roger) — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 15:48:00 +0000

Relying on antidepressants to solve depression is at best a temporary and imprecise solution says "Deepak Chopra". Traditional approaches to treating depression in contemporary America is not working but the therapists and doctors continue to use therapies and drugs, and the problems continue to climb. Antidepressants in the last two decades have increased 800 percent yet many of the doctors and therapists believe that the traditional approach to treatment is the correct path.

The pharmaceutical companies continue to claim that psychotherapy and antidepressants is the way to solve our society's mental health emerging crisis. Their bottom line and profits continue to increase while the clinically depressed crisis continues to increase. It would appear to me if their approach was working there would be a decrease in the need for pharmaceutical drugs. The question that many people in the country is asking do the pharmaceutical companies really want the people to get better or continue to stay sick?

When I had my depression episode the initial response from my doctor was to put me on an antidepressant drug. There was no discussion or alternative treatment suggested and I was given no other choices. I had no idea what the side affects of the drug I was using, and I didn't know the name of the drug. It is my belief that recovery is a collaborative partnership and the therapist, the doctor, the caregiver, and the patient is a team committed to the health of the individual.

Eventually I decided after taking the drug for three months that I no longer needed the drug. I realized that my spiritual and mental health was determined by my inner awareness of self. I began to understand that my happiness was not determined by a drug, but my contentment was determined by my connectedness with God and my family. My belief and the determination of my will directed my success coupled with work and exercise. When I told the doctor I no longer needed the drug, eventually the doctor agreed with my decision.

Depression cannot be healed by using antidepressants alone. Antidepressants are helpful many times as a temporary treatment to help restore the chemical imbalance in the body and mind. Initially it is necessary to relieve the initial trigger of a traumatic episode in a persons life. The depression episode is only a result and not the fundamental cause of the problem. The result of the problem is projected many times with the use of drugs, alcohol, sex, and anger. There is a need for new empowering approaches to treatment that treat the whole person. Is living in the big city the reason for our emerging depression crisis?
Roger

Depression A Cry For Help- Part 3

noreply@blogger.com (Roger) — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 22:41:00 +0000

There is a trend in America that many individuals forget that there is consequences with children and teen behavior when the parents have mental health issues. We tend to forget that the problems, we have created in our families are lifetime scares. Insanity and depression are part of the family history and will affect the children because the have been born into that particular family unit. The history of the family unit coupled with the stress of the society is helping to make mental health an emerging crisis in our schools.

For some reason parents think they can call each other any name and this will have no affect on the children. Some parents abuse drugs and alcohol, and there is continuous violence in the home, and the parents wonder what is wrong with our children? The problems that exist with our children begin with the dysfunctional families that our children are forced to live in.

Statistically the experts claim that one out of every five of our children need psychological help, and one out of ten have serious mental problems. There is a major need in our society to understand the fundamental reasons why depression exist at an alarming rate. The cry for help is not a quiet voice in the distant forest, but a loud scream that is roaring with no answer. A transformation is needed for our society to recover. The pervasive mental sickness exist because the balance that existed with mother nature no longer exists.

There is no answer with the need for progress. We cannot expect that the digital universe to stop and wait for the complacent and lethargic folks to keep up. The question or issue becomes how can the informed and educated collaborate with the people with mental disorders, and make a positive impact in the society. Is there another alternative to treating depression without the pharmaceutical dependence on drugs. Depression continues to be a major problem in our society but where are the solutions?
Roger

Depression A Cry For Help- Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Roger) — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 14:56:00 +0000

As we continue our discussion on depression, there is no cookie cutter solution to depression because one out of five people in the society will experience an episode of the illness. My particular depression was triggered by my stroke and I was not aware of my depression. As more people understand depression, an inner transformation of life's choices will be a starting point to resolve depression issues. Contemporary American society is angry about a multitude of issues and believe that medicine and therapy is the correct formula for treating depression. It is necessary to examine the fundamental paradigm in contemporary society that answer the question"how are we living"?

Living in 2007 is difficult and hard. Families have no time and women have no time to be females. The reality and relevance of finances is the driving force of insanity and depression in our society. The cry for help is falling on death ears. Somewhere we forget the ability to feel and experience joy. There was a time when people enjoyed getting engaged and was proud of their family's heritage and legacy. Eventually the only thing that was important or significant was the size of your bank account, and the size of your house.

Somewhere we lost the joy we experienced when we were around the older generation who did not have much. Our grandparents were never concerned with the newest gadget, but was always concerned with helping someone in the family who was down on their luck. It appeared that their commitment to the stability of the family was their focus and they received joy from this endeavor. There was never a problem of something to do because there was always someone to help. Our grandmothers also understood the importance of healthy food, and when they were not cleaning, or helping someone, they were cooking.

Depression is a contemporary illness which I believe is connected to our lifestyle choices. Genetics and life altering events play a major role in depression, but unhealthy life choices I believe are the determine factors which impact contemporary depression. Many people in contemporary society have forgotten the secrets and joys that the older generation shared. The three questions that they asked themselves were as followed; one did they live life fully, two did they love, and three did they matter. The other aspect that I would add to the equation is that it is necessary to be spiritually grounded. The older generation was spiritually grounded and when there was a huge problem, they knew how to ask for help. They understood their metaphysical connection and trusted in the spiritual solutions to their problems.

There is a metaphysical aspect of living that people can not understand and the finite mind cannot comprehend. Depression is a disease which is connected to the spiritual and metaphysical aspects of living. In our contemporary society we believe that pharmaceutical solutions will eventually treat and cure almost any disease. The increase of depression in our children and the society as a whole indicates that our solutions are not working. The insanity that is prevalent in our society continues to grow and the experts continue to struggle and grapple with contemporary concerns.

We are extremely intelligent in our sophisticated society, but depression and insanity continue to increase. I was just reading in a journal of medical health in Mass there are 1.5 million children and 146,000 need mental health services. I ask myself is this a unique microcosm of one state in America, or is this a general description of the mental health statistics across the country. How are our children reacting to the mental health of our society, and the depression running rampart in our families?
Roger

Is Michael Vick Being Treated Fairly

noreply@blogger.com (Roger) — Sat, 25 Aug 2007 02:30:00 +0000

At times I feel it is necessary to go on a tangent and speak on the health of our society. Michael Vick is an extremely talented, successful, and wealthy African American athlete. His records on the football field are outstanding and he is the highest paid athlete in the NFL. His contract was 113 million dollars for 10 years and this does not include his endorsements. He made a mistake!

This mistake he made was fighting dogs. It was cruel. When dogs don't perform to a particular standard, they are discarded. This is a bloodthirsty sport but people enjoy different sports that end in killing. In Spain the matador displays bravery when he kills the bull. It is an accepted behavior and matadors learn this skill as a child. The matador is held in high esteem in the society and it is a way to channel the aggressive nature in men. I am not condoning this behavior, but a dog is an animal and not a human being. Is 12 to 18 months 1n jail and destroying a man's ability to provide for his family fit the crime? In other words does the sentence fit the crime?

High profile superstars sell newspapers, and if they happen to be a successful African American there is a certain degree of satisfaction when their name can be dragged through the mud. Justice in America many times is just us. Many times African Americans receive the worst treatment for a insignificant infraction because of sidle racism. We now live in a color blind society but when something happens to us, it is blown out of proportion.

Jamie Fox states "that cruelty to animals is bad but sometimes people shoot people, and kill people and don't get time". We are many times consumed by situations that have nothing to do with human crimes and violence. Sometimes we are concerned with a movement such as violence to animals, or killing minks for coats. The movement becomes more important than the deaths of our children in the war. Michael Vick is an escape into a false sense of reality because the powers that be convince us that they are doing their jobs. The resources and time that are wasted could be better utilized fighting real criminals. Killing animals is sport that people put their trophy in their game room. There is no difference killing dogs or when sportsmen go hunting.

Michael Vick needs support and more stars need to speak in support of him. Dog fights in many communites is an accepted behavior and receive support from the police. It is done on a smaller scale and most people don't know it is a federal offense. It was done on a grander scale because this individual was the highest paid athlete in the NFL. If he was wrong let him pay a fine and then let him play football. We all have made dumb mistakes when we were young, and consider we were having fun. Let him play football and let him continue to learn the rulebook for super stardom. It is a dumb lesson to learn over dog fights, but I think he now understands the example and role model that is expected of a person in his position.
Roger

Depression A Cry for Help-Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Roger) — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 01:50:00 +0000

There are 20 million Americans each year who are afflicted with a major depressive disorder. This depressive disorder is a disease that anyone regardless of age, gender, race, or socioeconomic status is at risk. As a disease depression is misunderstood and most people are afraid to get help because of the stigma attached with this illness. Most families refuse to discuss the reality of a family member who is struggling with the challenges of the disease. There is definitely a connection with the pace and stress of trying to be successful in a society that is not spiritually grounded.

People are not content with their living and life arrangements and turn to drugs, sex and alcohol as a replacement. Depression many times is triggered by a traumatic event that the person had no idea was coming. I am a stroke survivor and I knew I was at risk. I lived my life in a reckless manner but I still had no idea, that I was going to have a stroke. Eventually the poor health choices that I made accelerated my stroke. Once I had my stroke it triggered a depression, that forced me to think of death and suicide. During this low period of my recovery, I learn the truth about depression.

No one told me that depression is common for a patient that has a life changing event that will alter the rest of their life. I learnt that at times a person can get so low that they feel it is no point in moving forward. I felt that it was no use in me trying to get better, because my condition was never going to improve. These are the thoughts that were crystallized in my mind, and I refused to communicate my most intimate revelations. As this cloak of secret thoughts of suicide consumed my thinking, I was lost on my own private island. I never remember anyone asking me or telling me that I was going through a period of depression.

The problem that I was confronted with, was I did not know how to ask for help. All my life I was thought of as a successful individual. As a successful individual, I was successful because I was independent. Problems were hurdles that I either went over or around. Eventually I was confronted with a stroke and this was something that I could not circumvent. I was stuck with this condition for the rest of my life, and I was depressed. Depression is a cry for help and I would like to explore the fundamental causes of depression. Hopefully together we can move to a better understanding of why so many people are clinically depressed.

In the greatest country in the world there is a lack of motivation and drive to excel. A large percentage of the average American citizen prefer to use drugs, sex, and alcohol to resolve their problems. When these solutions don't work they result to violence and crime. Depression continues to increase each year and now the younger generation is being affected. What is wrong with our lifestyle? There is a cry for help, but who is listening?
Roger

Is There A Teenage Pregnancy Crisis In America-Part 4

noreply@blogger.com (Roger) — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 02:37:00 +0000

In this teenage pregnancy segment, I have been discussing a need for consequential thinking. When a teenager has unprotected intercourse the result will be pregnancy. This is the logical conclusion, but for some reasons our teenagers feel they can beat the odds. Their decisions are based on cognitive immaturity and this is why a teenager will drive their car at 100 miles an hour. They feel that they will beat the odds and will not get hurt. The mindset of the teenager many times has a complete disregard for the accountability aspect of their decisions and lifestyle. There is a gap between the communication connection of the parent and child.

There is an identity challenge, because there is a lack of respect for the new paradigm with the contemporary family configuration. The single family configuration is now the norm and teenagers are looking for direction. The single parent has a responsibility to make a positive impact and be focused and engaged in their teenagers development. We cannot use the modifications in the contemporary family paradigm as an excuse to not build emotional intelligent individuals. The challenges are greater and the decisions complicated, but the teaching and training of teenagers is a collaborative effort for the older generation. Making life affirming decisions from a global perspective gives our teenager insight into the future.

The reality of the information technology that is at the finger tips of teenagers allows parents to have greater roles in their lives. Parents can stay in contact with their teenagers with the touch of a phone call. Teenagers can avoid a bad situation if they trust and stay connected to their parent/parents. Technology has altered the way teenagers handle their relationships, and when teenagers are in negative situations, they have made the choice. Parents need to talk to their teenagers to find out what they are doing with free time. Can a concerned and engaged parent curtail sexual experiment?

The answer to that question is absolutely. An engaged parent keeps their teenager busy and the child has little free time. The teenager who is not busy has to much time on his hands, and his time is a playground for the devil. Basically the teenager will get into trouble because he/she has nothing constructive to do with their time. Keep teenagers involved with positive experiences, and positive role models that they can grow and develop positive characteristics. We have an awesome responsibility to help our teenagers moving forward.

The informed and consumed teenager who has a vision and goal is less at risk of getting pregnant. Teenagers who have a spiritual foundation and a caring family are also less at risk at getting pregnant. The challenge is for our teenagers to use emotional intelligence when handling intimate relationships. Our teenagers need to slow down and drive the speed limit. The world is traveling at the speed of thought but our teenagers need to take their time. Families must stop being inculcated with the images that they see on television. It takes time to grow and teenagers must enjoy and maximize each period of their development. There is a season and time for everything under the sun. Teenager need to enjoy being a teenager, and let the older generation
worry about old folks problems.
Roger

Is There A Teen Pregnancy Crisis In America-Part 3

noreply@blogger.com (Roger) — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 01:47:00 +0000

Cognitive immaturity exist because our teenagers are not taught to use consequential thinking. Our teenagers live for the moment and spend much of their time thinking about the next party. Alcohol and drug use is extremely high, and our young men and women who are living without positive role models have no goals and future aspirations. The liberated world that we have left for our children has left a bad taste in many parents mouth.

Teenage pregnancy is down but families are dysfunctional and many teenagers make their own rules and determine their own lifestyle. They make their own decisions about their sexual partners and the risk of sexual transmitted diseases is always a present risk. The single parent is a reality today and one in 250 is HIV positive, and one in every 500 know. Educating teenagers about the use of condoms and contraceptives is a responsibility which is essential for all of the older generation. It becomes significant that our teenagers understand that 5 minutes of pleasure can end up in death. One individual can contaminate an entire community if discipline and restraint does not exist.

We live in a privileged society where the less fortunate are the first to get pregnant. The lower income have a lower self-esteem and more likely to be depressed. The lower income have a lower educational level, and are less informed with knowledge of risky behaviors. Older men are able to take advantage of lower income teenagers with the opportunity for increased material benefits. Some teenagers believe that these sexual conditions are permanent, and these older men actually care. However because of the cognitive immaturity of their thinking they are setting themselves up for failure. Their inability to communicate with positive role models and caring parents force certain teenagers into thinking that a baby is an indication of their initiation into womanhood.

As parents and positive role models, we can no longer be afraid to discuss sexual subjects with our teenagers. Our conditions are dysfunctional because we refuse to take time with our teenagers. The teenage years are very short and as a society our inability to have meaningful and constructive dialog with our children is our failure to build bridges. The generation gap that exist in our minds must be destroyed, and mutual respect and understanding initiated. It is important that we learn from each other and believe that each generation has something to give. We can no longer hide relevant information and knowledge from our teenagers.

When teenagers have ideas to build businesses and start organizations, we need to listen and help their idea come into fruition. When teenagers make the decisions to fall in love there is nothing that is going to change that decision. The more informed and the use of consequential thinking will help our children make positive and mature decisions. As we continue to teach principles and positive family values, our teenagers began to have respect for our legacy and heritage. We have to believe that the older generation can make a difference.
Roger

Is There A Teen Pregnancy Crisis in America-Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Roger) — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 02:26:00 +0000

There is a natural order to development in teenage girls. As a parent our children will continue to explore and experience every aspect of life. Victor C. Strassburger MD states "that almost in all human history women began their careers as mothers when they were teenagers". This dispels that notion that teenage mothers is a new phenomenon and it is something new to have a baby at 15. There were more teenage mothers in the 50's and 60's having babies, because it was expected by society and parents. Most mothers expected their daughters to have a child by the time they were 18 or 19.

Abortion was not an excepted option by most families, therefore the girls usually got married as a teenager or when they got pregnant. Most women a few years after reaching their first menstrual period they were expected to get married. There was no waiting around for women to complete their degree and start their career. There was no birth control pill and women philosophically believed in two parent families.

As the birth control pill liberated the females behavior and philosophy, the birth rate for teens also declined. Women no longer had to get married right after or before they finished high school or got pregnant. With the birth control pill and the power of the abortion, women could began to control their future. They were no longer relegated to an inferior status and they could compete with the male. This radical shift has forced America to accept the modern female and accept the notion of single motherhood.

Victor C. Strasburger MD states "that one million teens in the United States will become pregnant over the next 12 months. Ninety-five percent of those pregnancies are unintended. About one third will end in abortion; one third will end in spontaneous miscarriage; and one third will continue their pregnancy to term and keep their baby. More than half of them are 17 years old or younger when they have their baby". The reality today is that most of these mothers will be single mothers whereas before there were two parent households. This new paradigm makes educating teenagers about contraception more essential because the informed female can help control pregnancy.

The informed teenager has a better chance to navigate through risky behavior and sexual decisions. It is essential that parents, educaters , role models, older relatives, and spiritual leaders, began to open up the dialog through communication. We can no longer delude ourselves and think that our teenagers are not having intercourse. It is time to develop cognitive maturity and tell our teenagers the truth about sex. Our teenagers must understand the consequences of their actions, and stop living for the moment.

There is a natural order in the development of our teenagers and boys and girls desire each other. Because of birth control and abortions our teenagers can now make decisions about casual sex and intercourse. Our teenagers can make informed decisions about sex and they are no longer held in bondage if the wrong decision is made. However we still have the highest teen pregnancy rate in the western world. For many different reasons, we still live in a puritanical society that refuses to have candid discussions about birth control and sex education. The older generation has a problem communicating with the younger group and there is a breakdown of information.

The teenage pregnancy crisis may be a communication problem that has escalated to society's escape from its challenges and responsibilities. It could be possible that the refusal to confront this different generational paradigm and new extended family configurations has people wondering who or what to turn to. Has our new liberated women and teenager reached a point where they are not happy with their new liberation?
Roger

Is There A Teen Pregnancy Crisis In America-Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Roger) — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 14:05:00 +0000

Lately I have been reading in the newspaper that teen pregnancy is declining each year. Does that mean that our children are having less intercourse? However when I talk to mothers I get a different response. They tell me that teen pregnancy is on the incline and children are getting pregnant at an earlier age. Young girls no longer have respect for their values and no longer treat their body as a temple. Many believe that our society has corrupted the minds of our teenagers and the complex challenges in this new technological age is overwhelming. Parents are too busy working and where can children turn for information and knowledge.

The new reality of our society is every time our children have intercourse there is the risk of a sexually transmitted disease, or HIV/Aids. We are no longer under the illusion that our young ladies are afraid to experiment with sex. But many people who are older and have a responsibility to teach teenagers refuse to talk. It appears that the least amount of dialog initiated by the older generation will somehow curtail the problem, and it will go away. The reality is the United States has the highest teen pregnancy rate in the western world. This statistic is alarming because in the most educated and sophisticated society, there should be information to help our children make the right decision.

Somehow we are missing the connection and communication with our children. We are leaving the responsibility to their teachers, the government, the churches, social agencies, instead of at home. Parents have a time management problem and discussing sexual issues with our children is at the bottom of the list of priorities. The truth of the matter is that a collaborative effort from all these different agencies will began to make positive steps and inroads into a complicated problem. It is time to tell our children the truth and teach cognitive maturity and consequential thinking.

This week we will focus on teen pregnancy and destroy some of the myths that exist with the subject. As an individual in a complicated society where our children are asked to make a hundred decisions each day, we sometimes do not help. Many times our children want to ask the question, but they are afraid or they don't feel a connection. The other times we are too busy fusing, arguing, hollering, instead of listening and talking.

Intercourse between man and women has been with us since the beginning of time. My grandmother and grandfather had intercourse and my mother and father had intercourse. There is nothing new under the sun but every generation has a different challenge and a different focus. Intercourse and pregnancy is one of the miracles of the universe, and our responsibility is to teach and train.

Stay tuned to part 2 because the goal is for everyone to learn. Do you talk to your child each week about the risk of pregnancy and intercourse or do they talk to their friends!!!!!!

The Magical Properties Of The Banana-The Future

noreply@blogger.com (Roger) — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 01:37:00 +0000

The banana will continue to create a controversy on global markets and continue to force multinational corporations to plunder the environment and create social disasters. The disputes between the banana workers and the banana plantation owners will continue to exist because of exploitation and greed. The banana which is produced in 129 countries will continue to be the most popular fruit in the world. The future of the banana is extremely complex and will impact the human condition significantly because it is the third or fourth largest food group produced. The banana war will intensify because the control of the industry is in the hands of a few men who refuse to understand the deterioration of the human condition and the ecosystems.
The lives and livelihoods that have been destroyed because of mass production has forced many families to resort to drugs as a means of survival. Entire communities who have a long tradition of growing bananas now grow fields of marijuana, poppy and cocaine. The youth have turned to gangs and crime as a way to make a livelihood and the women prostitution. Many of the Caribbean countries believe America has a hidden agenda to destroy the proud legacy of their financial and economic independence. Fyffes has tried to protect the rights of the APC but pressure from the multinational corporations has forces these countries to give up and surrender. The use of pesticides in the countries that are successful is destroying the natural balance and order in the land. The workers are petitioning the government for better conditions and some governments are responding.
There is a higher standard for bananas in some countries and there is a beginning of the organic banana. The collaboration between governments and farmers is assisting them to challenge traditional markets and create a healthier and better tasting banana. Many people in certain countries and markets understand that a higher value of the product creates healthier children and individuals. We now understand in order to protect our planet for future generations, we must began to curtail the contamination. Multinational corporations must be held responsible for the deterioration of the ecosystems and begun to curtail the use of pesticides. They must find better ways to produce the banana and be concerned for the plight of the banana worker.
Politically and globally the banana wars must come to a resolution where financially all the countries can share in the profits. This is an extremely complicated and fragile entanglement where no one side should have complete power and control. The multinational American corporation can no longer control the markets because they have financial and economic control. The reality that we live together on this planet and the banana is a food source that will continue to feed billions on a daily basis. Therefore there is a need for countries to create a dialog and come together and share the markets. As we move into the global millennium more countries will expect a larger share of the market and now is the time for dialog. One group can try to dominate the market but the problem will escalate into a crisis.
America who has the most to lose must begin to collaborate globally and initiate the sharing of the markets. Improving the workers wages and eliminating contamination and pesticides will improve our image in the world. The magical powers of the banana can help make the world a better and healthier world to live in.
Roger