unplug

Time for Change: Ideas from Change.org

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 04:23:00 +0000

Change.gov recently announced their winning Ideas for Change on behalf of the Obama transition team. Let's hope they act on these very important issues...

From EcoLocalizer... the Winning Ideas for Change are:

Pass the DREAM Act. DREAM, Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors, would provide the children of illegal aliens a path to citizenship. The act would allow them to legally work, further their education, and attend school.
Make the Grid Green in Ten Years. Let’s hatch a plan to rid the U.S. of its carbon dependency by building a renewable energy infrastructure!
Appoint a Scretary of Peace. This idea also calls for establishing a Department of Peace and Non-Violence, which would be, “dedicated to training peace-keepers, educating our children, and suggesting non-violent alternatives to hostility, and war.”
End Marijuana Prohibition. The war on drugs is costly, and it’s filling our prisons with nonviolent offenders. Marijuana is also proven to help relieve the suffering associated with many chronic illnesses.
Free Single Payer Health Care. Free basic health care for all!
Restore our civil liberties. Give U.S. citizens their First and Fourth Amendment rights back by repealing the Patriot Act and ending the domestic spying under FISA.
Develop and Implement a National Strategy for Sustainability. Help the U.S. transition to a sustainable lifestyle. The typical American would require 5.2 planets to support that lifestyle. We need to take steps to make life in the U.S. more sustainable, and we need to do that quickly.
Save Small Businesses from the CPSIA. This act was intended to address safety concerns in childrens’ toys but is going to put many independent artists and crafters and small companies who make handmade toys out of business unless the language changes to account for them.
Health Freedom - Our First Freedom! We need to know what we’re putting into our bodies and the freedom to choose how we take care of ourselves.

One Day for Human Rights

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 02:35:00 +0000

December 10 is the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In celebration of this, and in solidarity with the people throughout the world whose basic human rights are being abused, a campaign called One Day for Human Rights is petitioning to have our rights printed in passports so that they'll be accessible to the masses.

In celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and in support of the Year of Human Rights as called for by the U.N., "One Day for Human Rights" is a project aimed to promote and support the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, by getting the Governments to print this document in our passports.

In honor of this day, I ask you to do one simple thing, read the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and think about it. As a nation and a planet, are we doing all we can to ensure that these basic rights are protected for every world citizen? Unfortunately, it appears we still have a long way to come before everyone on this planet has access to clean water, much less freedom, equality, and protection from abuse and torture. In the days of Guantanamo Bay, Proposition H8, and genocide and atrocity in every corner of the globe, we need these human rights more than ever.

Visit One Day for Human Rights for more information, and don't forget to ssign the petition!

Fight the H8! Nationwide Protests 11/15

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 20:24:00 +0000

The election was a bittersweet one for many progressive Californians like myself, since we elected the first African-American president and banned gay marriage all in one fell swoop. We're still trying to figure out how that happened. Gay marriage bans were also passed in Florida, Arkansas, and Arizona. The passage of these bans was a serious blow to equality and justice in this country. I am still in shock that Proposition 8 passed in California. I thought one of the most progressive states in the nation would know better. Unfortunately, the Mormon Church was behind the Yes on Prop 8 crowd, and funded a huge advertising blitz in the last weeks of the election.

Even though these measures passed, the fight for equal marriage rights continues. You can get involved by participating in the November 15th protest against hate. Here's a rallying cry from Join the Impact:

Let's move as one full unit, on the same day, at the same hour, and let's show the United States of America that we too are UNITED CITIZENS EQAUL IN MIND, BODY, SPIRIT AND DESERVING OF FULL EQUALITY UNDER THE LAW!

On the steps of your City Hall on November 15th at 10:30am PST / 1:30pm EST, our community WILL take to the streets and speak out against Proposition 8 and all of the other pro-equality losses that we have faced in our lifetimes, in our parents' lifetimes, and for many generations before us.

Find a protest in your area today, and fight the H8! You can sign a petition seeking to repeal Proposition 8 here.

Change Has a Chance!

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 22:50:00 +0000

What a historic, amazing election. I have never been prouder to be an American. We finally elected an African-American president, Bush and company will soon be history, and change will finally be possible. It's about time this election madness was over, and I'm glad there was a good outcome.

The election also brought a great victory for animals here in California - Proposition 2 passed! This historic ballot measure will make the cruel gestation crates, battery cages, and veal crates used by California's factory farms a thing of the past. The lives of 20 million farm animals will be improved in this great step in the right direction. Another victory for animals happened in Massachusetts, where greyhound racing was banned. Animals everywhere thank voters supporting these measures, and it looks like Obama will be a great advocate for animals as president.

California may have improved things for animals, but it's still uncertain whether things will improve for same-sex couples. Proposition 8, which makes a state constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman, narrowly passed. Opponents of the proposition are still hoping that when all votes are counted, things will turn around. I sure hope they're right. What a blow to equality and human rights. I guess the fight continues!

Hopefully Obama will make good on his promises to bring much-needed change to this country. I am definitely counting down the days until January 20th when we can finally have a changing of the guard. It has been wonderful to be a part of this historic process, now, viva la revolution!

Election Season is Making Me Sick

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 03:55:00 +0000

Seriously, can we be done with those melodrama? Trying to keep up with the tumultuous election season is worse than watching Jerry Springer. I do find it amusing that the McCain campaign has such a hard time coming up with anything substantial to say about Obama that they pull silly allegations and stories out of their butts. I guess it should be no surprise, just look at some of their supporters! The back and forth mudslinging is only clouding our vision and taking attention away from what we should be focusing on: the issues. And there are a lot of them.

I don't even know where to start when writing about this election. For starters, I am not a fan of the two party system. Especially when the two parties are so similar and they're both bought out by corporate interests. And, as much as I'd like a third party to win, with the way things are set up, it really can't happen. So if I really want to vote my conscience and choose the candidate I think would do the best job, I'll be taking that vote away from the major party candidate who most closely reflects my philosophy. Heh, now I guess you know who I'm torn between voting for. Although I'm also strongly considering sticking to the party I'm registered in and voting Green - just to add more confusion to the mix. (Oh, and speaking of Nader, the documentary about him, An Unreasonable Man, is really good).

Then there's the electoral college, which we all attempted to understand in 2000 but never quite got how it was still around. And don't even get me started on voting machines, disenfranchised voters, and all kinds of sketchy behavior that we've seen in the last two elections. This whole thing is just a giant anxiety attack waiting to happen. All I can say is, make sure you're registered to vote by Oct. 20th, and double check it even if you think you're already registered. And then, of course, get your ass out and VOTE on November 4th. (Luckily for me, in this itty bitty town all the ballots arrive by mail).

The debates have been interesting to watch, though not all that exciting. The polls go up and down and don't really tell us much. The media is all over every little development in the election while ignoring the multiple wars we've started, and I'm just about ready to be done with it.

So please vote, and let's be done with this thing. Oh, and if you haven't already, you really ought to watch the Sarah Palin interview with Katie Couric. Just wow.

Take Action Now: Change Begins Within

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 20:52:00 +0000

I'm not going to hide it, I want to change the world. Of course, I can't bring about the drastic changes I wish to see all on my own, but that doesn't mean I should give up hope and avoid taking action. One person can make a difference, but until you believe that, nothing is going to change. So, in the words of Gandhi, we must BE the change we wish to see in the world.

How can one person begin changing the world? It starts with changing yourself. In order to change yourself, you first have to know yourself. Examine who you are, what you believe, and what you stand for, and that should tell you how to live. Advertisers, the media, corporations, your family, friends and neighbors should not tell you how to live. That is something you have to decide for yourself, based on your ideals. Live like you give a damn, and your actions will be a testament to who you are.

If you're like me, you give a damn about protecting the beautiful planet we call home, and living this ideal would mean living as sustainably as possible. Being more eco-conscious and making greener decisions in every day life is a way to start the ball rolling towards a sustainable tomorrow. Every choice you make is an opportunity to be the change. You can start creating change by changing what you buy, what you eat, what (or if, or how) you drive or ride to get around, how you make a living, who you vote for, and especially, how you think.

Changing your life and the world definitely starts with changing how you think and how you view the world. Learn as much as you can about what's going on in the world, and especially about the issues important to you. Find out what you can do to help. It's important to keep your goals and ideals in mind every day, and truly believe you can achieve your goals and create change in the world. This starts with a positive outlook and an optimistic attitude. Combining your ideals, your skills, and your knowledge, take action and get involved!

One thing is for sure, the world needs change. Each of us holds the seed to change within us, and the time has never been better to let that seed grow.

Green Living Goes Mainstream

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 02:29:00 +0000

It's definitely been a while since I've posted, sorry about that! Summer has been busy with trips, moving into a new house, and plenty of projects. Sorry for the long absence, and hopefully they'll be less frequent.

Even without watching TV or living in a major city, I have noticed a lot more companies advertising that they're "going green," a lot more blogs and movements dedicated to covering green issues, and in general a lot of chatter about sustainability. Maybe it's just the high gas prices or the latest trend, but green living has definitely gone mainstream. I'm just trying to decide whether this is a good thing.

Increased visibility for any good cause is definitely a positive thing. I'm glad to see so much discussion on green topics. But with celebrities and corporations jumping on the bandwagon, I have a hard time believing they're all sincere. I also have my doubts whether some of them know what they're talking about. In a time when greenwashing is prevalent, it helps to be a conscious and aware consumer.

How do you make truly green choices when there are so many phonies out there? Do your homework, know which issues are most important to you, get information from organizations focusing on those issues, and vote with your dollars whenever you have to make purchases. Better yet, if you truly want to live green you'll not only examine the companies you're buying from, but whether you really need to buy something at all. Consumerism has us believe that we need to buy something brand new when a used, homemade, or borrowed item could work just as well. Always be on the look out for the simplest solution, because simple living equals green living, and accumulating more stuff only leads to more pollution and waste.

I hope that going green and living sustainably is more than just a fad. We've only just begun to scratch the surface of what sustainability is all about, so it's something we're going to have to study and work towards for a long time to come. What we truly need is a paradigm shift and a new way of looking at the world and living in it. It seems that Hollywood's version of "going green," with all the glamour and none of the tough questions and realizations, isn't going to get us very far. I'm still glad it exists, but now it's time to push it farther. Green consciousness is rising in our culture, which is a beautiful thing, but we've got to awaken faster if we're going to act in time.

The true green revolution will require more than just individuals living green, it will require green ways of doing business, governing, producing energy, and feeding and sustaining an overpopulated planet. None of this is possible without a new perspective and a mindshift, which can only happen one mind at a time. Albert Einstein was right: "No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it." If we're really going to change the world, the revolution starts within each of us.

The Story of Stuff

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Thu, 22 May 2008 23:02:00 +0000

In our consumer culture, stuff happens. It's hard to help it, but we buy, use, and throw away a lot of stuff. Mountains of stuff. And it's not just out of sight, out of mind - this stuff has to go somewhere, whether it's the ocean or the landfill. Even when trying to live as consciously as possible, it's hard to avoid stuff.

Today it seems we are defined not by what we do, or what we say, but by what we own. Our stuff. We accumulate and show off our stuff, play with it, lose it, break it, replace it. What did we ever do without it? Without a doubt, we are a materialist culture. We've become more consumers than citizens (much to the delight of the companies selling us all this stuff). This is just incredibly sad.

Since it's no fun to focus on the sad state of affairs that is society today, I turn your attention to The Story of Stuff. It's an informative, illustrated, and even entertaining look at stuff. Where it comes from, how it's produced, what it's made of, and where it goes after we're done with it. It shows quite nicely why our consumption based system just doesn't work in a world of finite resources. The site is made by the fine folks at Free Range Studios, a design/multimedia company fighting the good fight wile becoming mildly famous for Flash animated movies likeThe Meatrix and Store Wars. It's an eye-opening and empowering video, so make sure you watch the whole thing (it's only 20 minutes).

After watching The Story of Stuff, you'll probably be inspired to think a lot more about the things you buy, make, and throw away. You may want to start buying locally made products, boycotting big box stores, and re-using/recycling/composting every piece of waste that you can. Great, do it! The thought of a strip mall may make you ill once you learn about all the hidden, true costs of all the products that fill it. If not, watch it again. And then share it. Because we all use stuff, so we might as well know where it came from.

Consumerism and our own consumption are at the core of a lot of the problems we're faced with today: overpopulation, pollution, habitat destruction, worker exploitation, global warming, etc. We seriously need to get our consumption habits in check. Watching The Story of Stuff is a good way to start. There is more information on "another way" of doing things on the web site as well.

Legalize It!

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Thu, 08 May 2008 17:40:00 +0000

It's been a busy spring for me (hence my absence) and that means that while I wanted to write a nice "green" post for Earth Day, I was just too busy. So, I hope everyone did something nice for the planet Earth Day weekend. I was at Moscow Hempfest - amidst late April snow flurries - educating people about the misunderstood hemp plant and handing out PETA stickers all while selling my homemade hemp soap and jewelry. And although there are a million things I want to write about, I'm going to focus on one issue that's been important to me for some time: HEMP!

Cannabis sativa (aka hemp) is a plant that humankind has a long history with over 10,000 years. It is only recently that this plant has been demonized and its use criminalized by US drug policy. Cannabis was widely prescribed for many ailments and hemp grown domestically and used for many products, namely rope and canvas, in the US prior to 1937. In 1937, caving into pressure from lobbying groups that felt that hemp threatened their products (ahem, DuPont) and a media fueled by racism, the Marijuana Tax Stamp Act was enacted, effectively making cannabis and hemp illegal. What was once a lucrative, sustainable cash crop became an illicit substance, and a drastic eradication program began.

The penalties have grown harsher (gee, thanks Nixon, Reagan and Bush) and prison sentences today for cannabis-related "crimes" are now often longer than those for rape and murder. Prisons are overpopulated due to the drug war's insistence on arresting non-violent drug offenders and throwing them in jail instead of helping them overcome addiction. Marijuana is listed as a Schedule I drug, alongside heroin and other drugs that have "no medical value." This is despite the fact that science has shown otherwise. Many states have passed legislation allowing doctors to recommend cannabis to their patients. It has been proven helpful for many ailments such as cancer, glaucoma, severe pain, menstrual cramps, nausea, and many more. In fact, in 1988, DEA Judge Francis Young stated that "...marijuana is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to man." He recommended it be removed from the list of Schedule I drugs and rescheduled, which it was not. In the "land of the free," we're not even free to decide what we can put into our own bodies.

Hemp gets lumped in with marijuana (they're both cannabis sativa, but different strains), which is unfortunate, because hemp can't get you high, but it can certainly be used for a million other things. Hemp seeds are highly nutritious, providing all the essential fatty acids humans need. Pretty much all parts of the plant are useful for something, whether it's paper that's stronger and can be recycled more often than tree paper, strong and soft fabric, various plastics, building materials, paints/varnishes, rope, or bio-fuel. Since it has so many uses, is naturally pest and disease resistant, and easy to grow, it could help solve a lot of environmental problems and provide more sustainable alternatives for many products. This sustainable crop could honestly help save the world, and that is why the powers that be fear it so much and want it to remain illegal. The pharmaceutical, paper, lumber, cotton, agriculture, and petroleum industries all feel threatened by this versatile plant, even though industrial hemp could be a boon to our economy and especially to small farmers. Like most things in politics, it all comes down to money.

So, what can we do to end the war on cannabis and re-legalize this useful plant? First of all, as a society we need a massive hemp re-education. Through the years the lies about cannabis have been drilled into our brains, spreading reefer madness and creating hostility towards a plant that has never killed anyone in thousands of years of use. It starts with educating yourself and sharing your knowledge with family and friends. Hemp advocacy can be as fun as attending a Hempfest or as important as starting a local petition to make marijuana use arrests the lowest police priority in your city. Do some research and you're bound to find many resources, organizations, and activists to get you going.

There is currently a federal bill before Congress to re-legalize the cultivation of industrial hemp. This bill, the "Industrial Hemp Farming Act", H.R. 1009, has been introduced by Ron Paul (R-TX) and co-sponsored by a handful of other representatives. Ron Paul has also recently introduced the “Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act”, H.R. 5842, which would bar the Federal Government from intervening in doctor/patient relationships that violate no state law. For more information on hemp advocacy and legislation, see VoteHemp.com.

And in my local news, Mendocino county, California, is soon to vote on Measure B, which plans to repeal Measure G, protecting medical marijuana users and allowing law enforcement to focus on real criminals. Measure B is intended to reduce the amount of large-scale commercial cannabis production in a county with some of the most lenient cannabis laws in the nation. However, it will remove protections that Measure G provides medical patients (which was voted into law by a large majority of the public) and be a huge step backwards in hemp legalization. I find it silly that those supporting Measure B think that changing the law is going to affect commercial growers who obviously don't care about the law in the first place - they're already breaking it, so why would changing the law even affect them? So, if you're a Mendo local, please VOTE NO ON MEASURE B on June 3, 2008, and keep Mendocino County a leader in the fight for legalization!

In the words of Peter Tosh, quite simply, LEGALIZE IT!

Tibet Needs Our Support

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 22:19:00 +0000

I have been following the recent events in Tibet, growing increasingly worried as China cracks down on what began as peaceful protests started by monks to commemorate the anniversary of China's takeover of Tibet (and the Dalai Lama's subsequent exile) in 1959. I have posted on Tibet and the Dalai Lama before, and it's an issue dear to my heart. The protests in Tibet have turned into violent riots, with the Chinese using their full might against Tibetans who want their freedom.

With the coming 2008 Summer Olympics, the communist Chinese government wants to silence the Tibetan uprising in their usual fashion - with brutality, brainwashing, and violence. China has long been involved in human rights violations and cultural genocide in Tibet, and now the people of Tibet are crying out for their voices to be heard. They need the world to know what is going on there, but China is trying to silence them. Foreigners and journalists have been kicked out of Tibet, so eyewitness reports are hard to come by. The Dalai Lama continues to urge non-violence on both sides, even threatening to resign as leader of Tibet in exile if violence continues. His position is one of compromise with China, autonomy for Tibet but not complete independence. And yet China accuses him of "masterminding" this violent uprising.

How can we help? The most important thing we can do is learn about the situation in Tibet and urge China to negotiate with the Dalai Lama and Tibet instead of silencing them with violence. What follows is a list of articles for more information, organizations you can support to help Tibet and Tibetans, and petitions to the Chinese government.

Beijing Wide Open: the blog of a Tibetan activist living in Beijing. Lots of great information and updated coverage of the events in Lhasa and elsewhere.

Stand With Tibet: a petition to the Chinese President calling for restraint and respect for human rights, from Avaaz.org. Sign to help them reach one million signatures!

International Campaign for Tibet: this organization works with Tibetans inside and outside of Tibet, bringing coverage of the situation and offering many ways to get involved in the movement. One of their campaigns is Race for Tibet, protesting holding the olympics in China. They are holding a series of events in San Francisco, April 7-9, when the Olympic Torch passes through.

Alternet has a collection of stories about Tibet and the current events there.

So, stay informed, get involved, and help the voice of Tibetans be heard. I am hoping for the best possible outcome and an end to the violence. China is hardly deserving of the Olympic Games if they fail to uphold basic human rights, so time is certainly of the essence.

"Eco-friendly" Cars are Coming

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 04:55:00 +0000

I've been watching the posts on gas2.0, a Green Options blog about the bio-fuel revolution, and I suddenly have the desire to get new wheels. Some companies, like ZAP and Hybrids Plus are working on converting hybrids to plug-in hybrids for gas mileage up to 120 miles per gallon. The ability to plug hybrids in is even closer to all-electric vehicles, which are also on the horizon. And volkswagen has just announced that it will be releasing a diesel-electric hybrid, which I'm very excited about, as I dream of volksvegan II. It gets nearly 70 mpg and it's about time someone took an efficient diesel engine and combined it with hybrid technology to make the best of both biofuels and hybrids.

But after looking at all these shiny "greener" cars, and their price tags, I can't help but feel like maybe car lust really isn't all that green, no matter what kind of cars we're talking about. The American Dream is heavily based on car culture, and many families have more cars than drivers in their households. I'm all about having more sustainable choices, and like to use them whenever possible, but along with new choices comes the dilemma of what to do with old cars that these new ones replace. Planned obsolescence has long been marketing gimmick used by the auto industry, making old models seem outdated just by rolling out the new ones. This leads to cars, and countless other products, being put to waste long before their useful lives are truly over. It also leads to cheaper products that aren't built to last as long as they should, and "replaceable" or "disposable" products that in previous generations were used for decades or longer. In reality, nothing is ever truly disposable. There is no such thing as "out of sight, out of mind" on this small planet. We can't escape our waste.

We rely on cars more than we realize, and I don't just mean to get around. The way our communities are planned and structured is based on roads and the cars that travel on them. Suburban sprawl is very much a car-centric problem. It's rare to be able to work, go to school, live, and eat all within a few blocks. Cities are compartmentalized into zones for industry, business, retail, and living. This is not how things used to be, it's evolved along with the automobile.

Unfortunately, living without a car can be difficult if not damn near impossible for many people. This is why I'm glad that there are more sustainable cars being developed. However, I think all too often car ownership is seen as a right, not a privilege, and one that is often abused. Reducing our fossil fuel usage and its disastrous effects is an important part of combatting climate change. But just switching to different cars is not going to solve the problem. We need to re-think our relationship with cars, our public transportation system, even the way our communities are designed. And we need to get over our obsession with shiny hunks of metal with wheels that guzzle petrochemicals and spew pollution.

Here are some ways we can start re-thinking our relationship with our cars and reduce our use of fossil fuels:

Walk, skate, rollerblade, or ride your bike for shorter trips. Gradually work your way up to longer and longer trips via bike or foot. Not only will it give you some great exercise, but there are no emissions! Don't be afraid to walk in the rain (what are umbrellas for anyway?) and in winter, try sledding or snow-shoeing.

Use public transportation if possible. If your town doesn't have much of a public transit system, write to local politicians, bring up the issue at city council members, and gather fellow citizens together to raise awareness. Democracy only works if you use it, so get involved locally and see what you can change.

Get a bike trailer. It's a great way to run errands you'd usually need a car full. I can fit a full load of groceries in mine.

Carpool or Car-share. Share rides with neighbors and friends. Travel with as many people as a car can hold whenever possible. Post something on the employee bulletin board at work about organizing carpools. Talk to your kids about which of their friends live nearby and trade off days with other parents to take the kids to school. There are even car share companies popping up. This is a novel idea that works well in large cities, where people can just reserve a car for as long as they need it, and the company maintains it. Just google "car sharing" and you'll be surprised how many of these companies there already are.

Plan and combine trips. Instead of running to the grocery store today and the mall tomorrow, try running all your errands at one time. Plan out which errands are close to each other and group them to save time and gas. Plan a list well in advance so you can buy all you need at once. Shop less often and buy in bulk so that what you buy lasts longer and you don't have to return as quickly for more.

Eat locally. Locally-grown food doesn't have to travel around the world, burning fossil fuels along the way, to get from the farm to your table. Read labels and research companies so you know how far your food travels. When you can't eat locally, eat regionally, state-wide, and nationally as a last resort. Go to farmer's markets or learn about community supported agriculture in your area. It's a great opportunity to meet your neighbors and support your local economy as well. Of course, if you want to eat really local, you could grow your own food right in your very own garden! Even if you just grow a few herbs in pots on your windowsill, you'll end up saving a little more money and trips to the grocery store.

Telecommute or work from home. Imagine having no commute. Americans are commuting more and more miles all the time, so why not reverse that trend (and get a chance to sleep in) by working at home? Talk to your employer about whether your position would allow you to work from home via the internet. You can start by suggesting just staying home one day a week, and work up from there. Many times, this can save your employer money on overhead, office space, and energy use. It also saves you time, money, and gas. Or, start your own home-based business.

Use an electric scooter or moped for your commute instead of a car. Even gas motorcycles get great gas mileage compared to cars.

Call before you go. If you have any question whether a place you need to drive to is open or has what you need, call first. You may save yourself a trip.

And, I knew you were waiting for this one... eat less meat! Since raising animals for food takes a lot of fossil fuels (between transporting feed to the farms, running tractors and farm machinery, trucking animals to slaughter, taking the meat to be processed and packaged, and then shipping it all over the place, it adds up to a lot of gas). It's rare that animals are raised, slaughtered, and processed all in one place. The majority of animals are shipped around several times in the stages between farm and grocery store, ultimately being driven home to your table. Reducing your meat consumption even a little can have a huge impact. Not only will you reduce fossil fuel usage, but you can reduce pollution (since raising animals causes a lot of it) and improve your health. In fact, going vegetarian may have a far greater impact than changing what you drive or not driving at all, since livestock is responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions than all transportation.

Keep your car well-maintained and your tires filled up. Making sure your car runs as efficiently as possible helps you get better gas mileage and helps your car last longer.

There are lots of little steps you can take to reduce your fossil fuel usage. After you've reduced the use of your car, you can consider upgrading to a greener model when it's time. Don't get rid of the car you have (unless it's a Hummer, then by all means, replace that evil thing and start reversing your karma) unless it is absolutely time to replace it, or unless you have more cars then you need. Make every effort to repair and maintain your car to keep it on the road longer. New cars take a lot of new materials and pollution to make, so buy used whenever possible. Consider getting a diesel (the engines are more efficient) so that you can run bio-diesel in, or a hybrid. Sadly, the dreamy diesel-electric hybrids are still a few years away, so we'll have to keep dreaming (and saving) for those.

These suggestions are based on the premise that reducing should come before re-using and recycling. If we reduce our demand for fossil fuels by using our cars less (and by using fewer cars), that will have a greater impact than simply changing the type of car we drive. Question yourself every time you reach for your keys: could I walk instead? Do I really need to make this trip now or could I combine it with another? Could I carpool? Do I even need to own my own car when I could share one? There are countless ways to reduce pollution and gas usage, all it takes is a little ingenuity and the courage to change the way we think and live. A small step in the right direction is certainly better than stubbornly doing nothing. Change is good!

Starting a Green Business

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 02:47:00 +0000

I've always wanted to work for myself, and now I'm actually getting there. Of course, my business will be as green as possible. As I've come to find out, the process itself is a bit intimidating. But one of the things that is helping me keep on top of business planning is a series I just started writing on Green Options about starting a green design firm.

So, check out my first post about my dreams, and check in regularly where all my posts are archived if you're interested in starting a green business yourself or just want to see how the process is going!

Community Gardening and Local Food

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 23:12:00 +0000

It's been a while since I've posted, a lot has changed in the last month or so. I moved to the beautiful Mendocino Coast in Northern California and we're just settling in. So far I've been really impressed with the level of green consciousness here. There are quite a few organic and vegetarian restaurants, we actually get paid to recycle bottles (and we don't have to sort the recycling for curb-side pickup), and I've gotten involved with a great local non-profit group called Noyo Food Forest. My partner is taking a class on organic gardening from them, I am hoping to help them with some graphic design work, and they're starting a community garden near us that we are going to be a part of. We are really excited to be a part of the organization and get some organic veggies planted in the community garden. This area is certainly inspiring!

Being involved with Noyo Food Forest has been a great experience so far. They are an organization that began a learning garden next to the local high school where they teach classes on organic gardening, grow organic food for the high school cafeteria, and sell organic produce at farmer's markets in the summer. Their goal is to turn unused, empty fields in the area into thriving organic gardens that bring the community together.

Yesterday I volunteered with a group from Noyo to prepare a vacant lot for the community garden, where we hope to have a small plot of organic veggies and herbs. We cleared the land, shoveled poop (not a glamorous job but a big part of organic gardening and it really wasn't that bad), and started sheet composting over the garden site. The spot is beautiful and gets plenty of sun, and the workday went well. I met new people involved with the organization and learned a lot about organic gardening and what it takes to start a community garden.

Noyo Food Forest got me very excited about organic gardening and eating locally. Community gardens are a wonderful thing. Not only do they allow people to grow their own food (especially people who can't a garden at home), they're a great way to meet new people, get outside to commune with nature, and reduce your carbon footprint. Since eating locally helps reduce fuel needed for food transportation, it's a win-win situation. Many towns have community gardens and/or CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) programs, so even if you can't garden in your backyard, there are still lots of options for getting locally-grown organic food. CSAs are a great way to support local farmers. They usually entail subscribing to the program, and local farmers will provide a box of seasonal produce each week during the season.

In a world where even our food choices are political and every choice we make has enormous consequences, it makes sense to simplify our eating habits. Going back to agriculture's roots by gardening at home or in a community garden, buying locally-grown produce, and eating organic are all ways to simplify your food consumption all while reducing pollution and emissions. Green living has never tasted so good!

If you've ever had a garden, you know that not only is gardening a great stress-reliever and a way to connect with your natural environment, but garden-fresh produce tastes simply amazing. In your own garden (or a community garden that you're involved in), you know what is put into the soil and the plants. You have more control over what you grow, so you can grow organically to be sure there aren't any nasty chemicals getting into your body. There are so many benefits to being involved in a community garden or having your own. Stay tuned for more updates on our involvement with Noyo Food Forest and our forays into organic gardening. I hope that community gardens continue to increase in popularity and spark a true food revolution!

The Importance of Gratitude

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 03:31:00 +0000

In my travels this summer, I visited many delicious restaurants and sampled all kinds of yummy vegetarian grub. But my favorite restaurant experience was Cafe Gratitude in Berkeley. This cafe serves mostly raw, vegan, organic food prepared with love. I first heard of it when my friend Crystal traveled to the Bay Area for a summer and got a job there. When she got back, I could tell she was a changed person. And she brought with her the recipes for some of the most amazing live food desserts I've ever tasted. I had to check this place out.

We visited Cafe Gratitude with our friend Jake when we were visiting the Bay Area. It is a unique restaurant in that it is based more on attitudes and beliefs than food itself. According to their site:

Cafe Gratitude is our expression of a world of plenty. Our food and people are a celebration of our aliveness. We select the finest organic ingredients to honor the earth and ourselves, as we are one and the same. We support local farmers, sustainable agriculture and environmentally friendly products. Our food is prepared with love. We invite you to step inside and enjoy being someone that chooses: loving your life, adoring yourself, accepting the world, being generous and grateful every day, and experiencing being provided for. Have fun and enjoy being nourished.

The restaurant is based on a board game called The Abounding River that the owners invented to teach others about their view of "being abundance." This view is based on the concept that you create your own reality and that your perception of the world shapes it. The game encourages people to think differently about what they have and what they want - to adopt a view that we live in a world of abundance, not scarcity. Most important to this viewpoint is gratitude (hence the name of the cafe). Giving thanks and being grateful for what you already have is key to getting what you want in life.

Not only is the food at the cafe extremely delicious and interesting, the entire experience puts a smile on your face. All items on the menu are affirmations such as "I am Beautiful," "I am Rejuvenated," or "I am Abundant." When you place your order, you say these affirmations out loud, sending positive energy into the universe. The atmosphere is welcoming and warm, the food is nourishing and healthful, and the philosophy behind the restaurant is a unique perspective that is very much needed in today's world.

During the busy Holiday season, I find this message of abundance and gratitude especially poignant. With all the stress, wanting what we don't have, overspending, and consumerism, it's refreshing to take a step back from it all and count your blessings. There are so many things in life to be grateful for, and it's important to take time to acknowledge the wonderful things you already have before complaining or wishing for things that you don't. There will always be someone with less (and someone with more) but the only way to break the cycle of desire that leads to unhappiness is to be truly content with where you're at.

I'd like to take this opportunity to share some of the things I am grateful for this holiday season: time with family, the sound of my lover's voice on the phone, old friends I haven't seen forever, the warmth of my pets when they cuddle on my bed, the big fat snowflakes falling as I walk, an over-abundance of my favorite Christmas goodies, all-weather tires that keep me safe, the many wonderful memories I have of our travels this year, the fact that we were able to find a new place to live in a little over a week, the excitement of change, getting my old job back with ease, the understanding and patience of others, free time, hot organic vegetable soup on a cold day, warm clothes, the new snowboard I have yet to ride, new books I'm excited to read, and people who read my blogs!

May you find much to be thankful for this holiday season.

Tough Times Ahead: Surviving Peak Oil

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 00:17:00 +0000

Our current way of life is completely dependent on cheap oil. Despite knowing that it is a finite resource, we continue to use it in large quantities for just about every aspect of our lives, especially in America. Petroleum does not just fuel our cars, it fuels our entire agricultural system (fertilizers and pesticides are made with oil and natural gas, not to mention the fuel needed to harvest and ship food around the world) and is our main source of energy. It is even a major ingredient in many of the products we use every day - such as plastics, pharmaceuticals, beauty products, and cleaning supplies. It's not money that makes the world go round, it's oil.

Our petroleum addiction comes at a high cost: not only in the increasing costs of finding and extracting oil, but in the long term environmental effects of its use as well as the political and social harm that comes from fighting over a dwindling resource. Even though we may not run out of oil completely for hundreds of years, it is becoming more and more difficult and expensive to find and produce. If you've been to a gas station lately, you've obviously noticed the rising cost of oil. It's certainly not getting any cheaper. But what happens when oil is more expensive to produce than it is worth on the market?

That's where peak oil comes in. Simply put, peak oil is the point at which, on a global scale, we extract the most oil from the earth that we ever have or ever will. It represents a halfway point in the earth's oil supply, not an end. The problem is that the second half of the oil that we have not yet extracted is more difficult to get to and more expensive as well. According to wikipedia:

Peak oil is the point or timeframe at which the maximum global petroleum production rate is reached, after which the rate of production enters its terminal decline. If global consumption is not mitigated before the peak, the availability of oil will drop and prices will rise, perhaps dramatically. M. King Hubbert first used the theory in 1956 to accurately predict that United States oil production would peak between 1965 and 1970. His model, now called Hubbert peak theory, has since been used to predict the peak petroleum production of many other countries, and has also proved useful in other limited-resource production-domains. According to the Hubbert model, the production rate of a limited resource will follow a roughly symmetrical bell-shaped curve based on the limits of exploitability and market pressures.

Since our current lifestyles are so dependent on oil, a decline in its availability (and a rise in the cost of getting the last half of it) will have dramatic effects on society. America got a glimpse of peak oil in the early 1970s during the oil crisis, when there were long lines at the gas pump and President Carter began urging Americans to curb their energy usage. But when that crisis blew over, it seemed as if Americans forgot it ever happened. Instead SUVs surged in popularity and oil and energy use rose even more. It's as if we're ignoring our impending doom, and doing nothing to prepare for the drastic changes that peak oil will bring.

Of course, society does not have to be doomed by peak oil, which many scientists say is coming soon, if it's not already here. Some major changes will need to be made, most notably in the way we think and the way we live. But we can survive if we focus on alternatives for our energy, transportation, and agricultural needs. One group dedicating their time and resources to finding a solution to peak oil and climate change is The Community Solution. This organization advocates "culture change, conservation and curtailment" to survive this crisis. The Community Solution states:

Through reductions in resource consumption, dramatic conservation and curtailment of energy use coupled with an increase in local community living we can survive peak oil and create a sustainable world in its wake.

And they offer an example of a society that has had to face severe shortages in oil and lived to tell about it: Cuba. In 1991, the Soviet Union fell, and since the US placed a trade embargo on Cuba, a Soviet ally, their supply of petroleum was abruptly halted. Energy shortages and famine spread, but luckily Cubans have since figured out a way to get by on less energy and less petroleum. They returned to organic farming, creating small-scale local farms all over the island and in every empty plot of land in urban areas. They turned to bikes and public transit for transportation and alternative and more sustainable forms of energy production. Food production, education, and industry became much more localized. Cuban communities began to thrive, taking care of each other and supporting themselves. What happened in Cuba offers a glimpse of what a post-peak oil society might look like, if we learn to consume less, help each other, and return to more traditional and ecological ways of farming and living.

You can watch The Community Solution's documentary "How to Survive Peak Oil: The Cuba Model" as a six part series on YouTube. It shouldn't be surprising to anyone that reducing our energy consumption and finding alternatives to our petroleum addiction lead to a more sustainable way of life. This is what Cuba has done, and although their journey is still evolving, the rest of the world may soon be adjusting to peak oil's effects.

Let's hope that we can learn to live as sustainable, efficient, localized communities as the peak oil crisis approaches. The days of cheap oil will soon be over, but that doesn't mean that society will end. I believe we will learn from the "oil age" that we can't rely on finite resources or short-term solutions. If we're going to be in it for the long haul, we're going to have to work together, with each other and with the earth. We will have to learn to work with nature and not against it, and this learning process begins with a new way of thinking and seeing the world. Let's start now!

'Tis the Season

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 05:03:00 +0000

As the holiday season approaches, it's obvious the corporate consumerist machine is hard at work distilling desire in young and old alike. Christmas decorations and ads begin popping up before Halloween has passed, and each year they seem to come earlier and earlier. Their message: buy, buy, buy. As a result, many Americans end up deeper and deeper in debt, especially this time of year.

This is why time of year gives me a headache. Christmas means a lot to my family, and my mom always asks for a wish list, which I reluctantly put together although each year I feel more and more like the last thing I need is more stuff. Gift giving is part of our family tradition, and I do think gifts during the holidays are a great way to show friends and family how much you love and appreciate them. So it's always a dilemma at holiday time: to buy (supporting a system I don't agree with) or not to buy (possibly making myself look like scrooge).

Luckily, there are alternatives to buying into the corporate consumer holiday game. Instead of buying gifts from big box stores or corporations that get rich at the expense of people and the environment, the discerning holiday shopper can buy gifts from locally owned stores, local artisans, shops that focus on sustainability, or co-ops carrying fair trade and organic products. There are more and more choices for conscious consumers every day.

Other options include homemade gifts (although these take some time and preparation), home baked organic goodies, or "coupons" for services you can give to loved ones (such as a massage or yard work). I have given my homemade hemp soap, massage oil, or gemstone jewelry as gifts on several occasions, and food is always a good choice for someone that seems to have everything. I have also donated money to non-profit organizations in my gift recipient's name, a gift that can be very meaningful especially if the cause is something they are passionate about.

As "Black Friday" approaches and millions of people flock to the malls and the big box stores, I hope to stay at home and think up alternative gift ideas for everyone on my list. Black Friday has come to mean "Buy Nothing Day" (one of my favorite Adbusters campaigns) to me. It's certainly a perfect day to boycott consumerism. I hope you can resist the sales this Friday and start creating a more meaningful and less wasteful holiday season for you and yours.

On a related note, I must recommend a very delicious and completely cruelty-free centerpiece to your Thansgiving meal: TOFURKY! It has been my holiday staple for several years, and is entirely vegan despite its very convincing turkey taste. Give the turkeys something to be thankful for this year and try leaving them off your plate. (A hint from my kitchen: Tofurky is very easy to make if you follow the directions, but I recommend basting liberally and often with olive oil, soy sauce, and herbs for a juicy, delicious Tofurky even your meat-eating relatives will enjoy).

Election Season is Approaching

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 23:56:00 +0000

If you're anything like me, you are counting down the days until Bush leaves office (well, hopefully at least, although I fear he has something up his sleeve). However, I'm still a little undecided about which candidate I support. I tend to be pretty jaded with politicians in general these days. I do like what I hear from Obama, and I've always thought Kucinich was a badass who seems to think like I do. But who knows which of these will end up making it through the gauntlet that is the American election process.

If you're also having trouble figuring out this mess, try visiting Comedy Central's Indecision 2008 or taking an Internet Straw Poll to get an idea of how the candidates measure up.

Or, even easier, you may just want to wait and see who gets the party nominations. The two party system sucks, but it's all we've got, so get out there and educate yourself on the issues!

The Importance of Water

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 20:55:00 +0000

As I travel, I have been thinking a lot about water. It's hard not to think about it when I regularly have to worry about keeping our water jugs full of pure drinking water. This summer we visited water sources such as the Columbia Ice Field, a huge field of ice with several glaciers feeding major rivers that carry fresh water from the heart of the Canadian Rockies to the Arctic, Atlantic, and Pacific Oceans. We also visited Glacier National Park, where glaciers are receding at such an alarming rate that I've read the park's namesakes may disappear entirely within my lifetime.

Water of course is the source of all life and something that makes our planet unique. We are mostly water, after all. Visiting bodies of water like Crater Lake in Oregon and the Pacific Coast in California after seeing the glacial sources of it have reminded me how sacred and essential fresh water is, and how much I take it for granted. In the future, wars won't be fought over oil, but water. As global warming continues to change our lives and our planet, our great reserves of water will melt, and fresh water will become a scarce resource. Already water battles are being fought in the third world, where access to fresh water is limited, especially for the poor. And yet you can see it encased in plastic in machines all over America, a basic need and human right being sold and marketed like any other commodity.

Water is becoming an increasingly important issue, with many environmental and human rights implications. Like oil, it is a resource that is easily hogged by affluent nations and taken for granted by most people. When we need water, we just turn on a faucet, but it's not so easy to obtain fresh potable water in the slums of India or the desert villages of Africa. Meanwhile commercial farms gobble up water while polluting aquifers with pesticides and fertilizer residue, endangering the very lives of future generations. With our water resources dwindling, we’ll have to figure out new ways to feed ourselves and ensure that everyone has fresh water to drink. We'll have to answer some tough questions: Who owns the earth's fresh water? Who decides how to divvy it up? How can we justify watering our lawns when there are people who can't even get water to drink?

Thinking about water is, of course, not enough. I am increasingly trying to be more conscious about the water I use, conserving as much as possible. We'll all have to start conserving and paying more attention to how we use this precious resource as time goes on. Some ways to conserve water are:

Take shorter and less frequent showers. You can also get a showerhead filter that helps reduce water flow, and a timer to help you take shorter showers. Save even more water by showering with your partner.

Save gray water (from showers, doing dishes, cooking, etc.) and (assuming you're using biodegradable and completely earth-friendly soaps) use it to water your plants and lawn.

Fix leaky faucets and toilets immediately to avoid water waste.

If you're replacing a toilet, consider getting a dual-flush toilet that varies the amount of water flushed depending on if you go #1 or #2. Or you can use discretional flushing: if it's brown flush it down, if it's yellow, let it mellow.

Collect rainwater in a rain barrel for watering your lawn and garden. You can even get rainwater collectors that have hoses attached, or make your own.

Don't leave the faucet running when you're not using it - turn it off while soaping up your hands or brushing your teeth.

Eat organic food (or grow your own) so you're not supporting the water hogging, polluting habits of conventional commercial farms.

Speaking of food, eat less meat, or none at all. Raising animals for food uses far more water than plants, since it takes a lot of water to raise the plants to feed to the animals as well as to raise the animals themselves.

Purchase water and energy saving appliances, and be conscious of how you use them. For instance, make sure you adjust the water level when washing clothes and use the water saver option on the dishwasher (or wash dishes by hand, saving even more water.

Just be aware of the water you're using and make a conscious effort not to take it for granted.

Feel free to share your suggestions for conserving water by commenting! :)

Inspiration from Other Veg-Heads

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 21:42:00 +0000

Being on the road for the last couple of months (and about to be again as of tomorrow), I have found it sometimes difficult to stick to an organic vegan diet, especially when dining out. We have been blessed that our volksvegan van is equipped with a fridge, two-burner stove, and sink so we can prepare yummy vegan grub when we're camped out. But often, finding organic vegan options have been a challenge. Luckily, health food stores and Co-ops could be found in most larger cities throughout Canada and Montana, so we'd stock up whenever we ran into one. We did manage to find a few vegetarian restaurants as well, such as the wonderful Nourish in Banff, Alberta, and vegan restaurant Paradox Cafe in Portland, Oregon.

Since returning to Boise while our bus was in the shop, we have been visiting the Co-op regularly (although we certainly miss "our" Co-op in Moscow) and preparing some yummy vegan meals for my parents like spicy Indian dahl and seitan-mushroom stroganoff (the latter from one of my favorite cookbooks, Vegan With a Vengeance). We have also had the internet while we were here, so I've been seeking support from other veg-heads and found some great articles!

First up, I have been really enjoying Colleen Patrick-Goudreau's blog on Green Options, on the subject of compassionate cooking. From recipes to tips on being vegan in a non-veg world, Colleen is full of great ideas on how to eat well and help animals. And while I'm on the subject, Green Options is a great resource for living sustainably and greening your lifestyle. It's really grown since the launch in February, and I was lucky enough to be a part of it, writing on green art & design for several months before leaving on our trip. I hope to return once we settle this fall, so keep your eyes out!

I also stumbled upon a great article on the blog "pink rabbit says" by vegan animal rights activist Ari Moore. How to Get Vegan and Stay Vegan is an insightful look in transitioning to a vegan lifestyle without it being a pain in the ass. I know Ari through the Animal Rights group on flickr, so if you're a flickr addict who loves animals, be sure to check it out!

And in other news, unplug officially has a new domain name, so update your bookmarks: unplugmagazine.com. The old (longer) url will still work, but this is much nicer. I'm not sure how much work I will be doing on the unplug site until the volksvegan adventure winds down, but stay tuned for my observations during our trip on the blog!

Change for unplug!

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 03:29:00 +0000

I have finally started getting some long-awaited changes made to the unplug site. The most exciting (to me anyway) is the addition of an unplug store that I set up on CafePress. I'm hoping to add some more stores with other graphics in the near future, but for now you can show your support of unplug and remind your friends to "think outside the box."

I also plan to add some more imagery to the articles in the magazine section, make some general improvements to the site, and post some downloadable unplug posters in the near future, as well as moving the site to its own domain name very soon! The new domain will be www.unplugmagazine.org, and it should be up and running within the next few days. Stay tuned for some exciting changes on the site, and thanks for reading!

Some Reflections From My Volksvegan Adventure...

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 18:38:00 +0000

As you can probably tell, I haven't been getting regular internet access lately. As I travel around in the "volksvegan" with my partner and our pooch, I have had some great experiences and gotten a much needed break from civilization.

Our journey took us through Canada's Rocky Mountains and quite a few National Parks. The Rockies are beautiful and still rather pristine, although the footprints of humankind (huge golf courses, ski resorts, mining and lumber operations) are prevalent. We went to Kootenay, Banff, Jasper, Yoho, Glacier, and Mount Revelstroke National Parks. The best part was the chance to backpack through wilderness, see beautiful scenery and wildlife, and reconnect with the natural world.

The torrent of tourists we saw flooding the parks is evidence of humankind's need to connect with and experience nature. It's odd that people can have so much reverence for the glaciers, lakes, mountains, and wildlife protected in parks, but so little regard for the what's best for these places. We were disappointed by some of the scars left on the earth as we visited the parks. Parks Canada sets up backcountry campgrounds that minimize the impact caused to the natural landscape, but we were shocked at how some people tried to build extra fire rings, left trash, and eroded the trails with packs of horses. Well, we were also shocked by the price of the backcountry permits, but let's not talk about that...

One of the most enjoyable parts of my Canadian visit was seeing so many glaciers, icefields and pristine lakes. The glacier-carved mountains and lakes show the power and magnitude of ice and snow. I visited the Columbia Icefield's Athabasca Glacier and marveled at the sheer magnitude of the place, but I was saddened to see how quickly it was disappearing.

The Canadian Government is definitely not in denial about climate change, which I was happy to see. Signs around the Columbia Icefield explained how not all of the glacial melting is part of a natural cycle, global warming caused by humans is melting the glaciers faster than ever. The signs even mentioned ways people could help reduce their global warming impact and protect important glaciers and icefields that provide fresh water to so many people. The Columbia Icefield feeds many glaciers and is a triple continental divide, sending fresh glacier water to the Pacific, Atlantic, and the Arctic Oceans.

It was amazing to see such an important and precious place and walk upon a melting glacier. It reminded me how important it is to protect the delicate balance of nature and live in symbiotic harmony with the earth that sustains us. So, crowds of dumb tourists aside, I enjoyed my Canadian Rocky Mountains experience and continue my "volksvegan adventure" refreshed and enlightened by it.

Help Find Habeas Corpus

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Wed, 30 May 2007 20:37:00 +0000

Habeas Corpus is missing, and the ACLU has launched a campaign to find him.

Who is Habeas? Well, he's not really a missing person, but the ACLU has personified him in their campaign because he is indeed missing - ever since the Military Commissions Act of 2006 was passed. Habeas Corpus has been an integral part of democracy since the thirteenth century. According to Wikipedia,

"In common law, habeas corpus is the name of a legal action or writ by means of which detainees can seek relief from unlawful imprisonment. The writ of habeas corpus has historically been an important instrument for the safeguarding of individual freedom against arbitrary state action."

Since individual freedom and rights are (or at least should be) a central part of a democratic government, one would think that it would be too precious to remove from the lawbooks. But, just before the 2006 election, the United States government did just that. Certain detainees can now be legally imprisoned without being charged or given a justification for their imprisonment, denied court review or legal help, and tortured in ways that violate the Geneva Conventions. As part of the "War on Terror," the Military Commissions Act allows the horrible abuses at Guantanamo Bay to continue without consequence, and without due process, it is certain that we are holding innocent people behind bars. In fact, the Bush Administration has acknowledged that many Guantanamo Bay prisoners are not even terrorists!

For an inside look at what prisoners at Guantanamo Bay go through, I suggest watching The Road to Guantanamo, a movie about a group of friends who end up in Guantanamo simply for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. The human rights abuses that are very common at Guantanamo Bay have drawn outcry from many organizations, such as Amnesty International, that demand the prison be closed.

The dissolving of Habeas Corpus and the mere existence of a place as horrible as Guantanamo Bay beg the question: Is the United States even a democracy any more? At the rate things are going, we really can't call ourselves a democracy. It's starting to smell like fascism to me...

Dreaming of a Sustainable Summer Road Trip

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Tue, 22 May 2007 22:56:00 +0000

Well, I've posted about it on my life blog, our volksvegan adventure blog, and I pretty much can't shut up about it. So I might as well mention it here too. We're hittin' the road for the summer!

The best part of the trip, of course, is that we are traveling in a moving experiment in sustainable travel, our "volksvegan" bus that runs on waste vegetable oil and bio-diesel. I'm very excited about this trip and will be blogging from the road as often as I can. We may even document our trip on video and make a documentary. We're visiting sustainable communities and towns we're interested in moving to in the Northwest on our trip, and doing a lot of backpacking and basking in nature along the way.

We took the bus on a test run to the Okanogan Family Faire Volunteer Summit this past weekend, and you can read about that little adventure on Our Volksvegan Adventure, which I will be updating frequently on our trip. You can see some pictures of the process of converting our bus in this flickr photo set.

We hope to leave in mid-June, so there's just a few more weeks of planning and working out the volksvegan's kinks before we embark on a quest for greener travel and free fuel. Stay tuned!

Inspiration from The Dalai Lama

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Mon, 07 May 2007 00:18:00 +0000

His Holiness the Dalai Lama is a very important source of inspiration to me. I have read a couple of his books and I have a calendar of some of his teachings sitting on my desk. I definitely like the way he thinks and he never fails to give me food for thought. Some of my favorite quotes:

"The essential feature of true compassion is that it is universal and not discriminatory."

"In every part of the world, there are people who really speak about human rights, adn speak about the right of self-determination, and rights of animals. All of these are, I think, signs of positive change."

"Universal humanitarianism is essential to solve global problems."

"It does not matter whether you are a theist or an atheist, what matters is sincerity, forgiveness, and compassion."

"People who call themselves religious without basic human values like compassion; they are not really religious people."

The Dalai Lama is a very intelligent, compassionate, and happy person with a lot to share with the world. If you're ever seen the movie Kundun, which depicts his early life and his daring escape from Tibet when China occupied it, then you know about some of what this remarkable man has had to go through. Tibet has been taken over by China as the traditions, religious identities, and natural landscape of the Tibetan people are slowly being crushed. The Dalai Lama, as leader of the Tibetan people (even though he currently lives in exile), has never raised a fist towards China throughout their hostile takeover of his home. He is an example of leading with nonviolence, understanding, compromise, and peace.

His Holiness was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for his demonstration of peaceful leadership and his devotion to compassion and teaching. He was also recently awarded a Congressional Gold Medal from the US House of Representatives. I certainly think world leaders have a lot to learn from this humble Buddhist monk. and everyone can certainly learn from his ideas and his life.

Two organizations I currently support are The International Campaign for Tibet and Free Tibet Campaign. These and many other advocacy groups are trying to stand up with the Dalai Lama for the people of Tibet, and ask China to end the atrocious human rights violations and brutal occupation of this peaceful country. One campaign of particular note is Race for Tibet, an effort of the ICT to force China to own up to the tragic occupation of Tibet befor the upcoming 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

You can sign a petition to the International Olympic Committee on the Race for Tibet site, which reads in part:

In light of the IOC's Olympic Truce commitment "to create a window of opportunities for dialogue, reconciliation and the resolution of conflicts...and to encourage political leaders to act in favour of peace" (www.olympic.org), it is clear that the IOC ideals and values are very applicable for Tibet as we approach the 2008 Games. The IOC has long contended that awarding Beijing the 2008 Games will improve human rights in China, but as time passes, these assurances have not turned into concrete results.

The IOC should not let the Olympics be used by China to blatantly or insidiously try to legitimize their rule in Tibet or to promote a distorted view of the conditions there. Yet with China's selection of the Tibetan antelope (or chiru) as an Olympic mascot, we are already seeing the first results of a Chinese strategy to misuse Tibet in relation to the 2008 Olympics.

I hope someday to see the Dalai Lama speak and to visit his beautiful home country of Tibet, but I hope that I can visit a FREE Tibet, after the Dalai Lama reclaims his leadership in a sovereign country and the bloodshed and hardship China has inflicted can begin to heal. Until then, I'll keep speaking up for Tibet and learning from what the Dalai Lama has to say.

Kentucky Fried Cruelty

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 19:10:00 +0000

If you know me at all, you know that KFC is one of my favorite places to protest and boycott. There is a lot of hidden suffering behind every bucket of genetically modified, tortured KFC chicken. Find out more about KFC and why any compassionate person would boycott them on the all-new KentuckyFriedCruelty.com!

I'm especially excited about this site launching because I have been working on it for work for the last few months. I redesigned PETA's old KFC site and parodied KFC's look to show the truth behind KFC's lies... and of course, I couldn't have done it without my awesome co-workers! Check out the site and help us get KFC to listen and make a few minor changes that would greatly reduce the suffering of the chickens by signing the petition and boycotting KFC!

I leave you with a quote of Margaret Mead's:

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."