Laying Out the Framework for a New Society

Gather Around Boys & Girls!

I'm thrilled to announce that Brother Canary Alan is back on my blog today. Yes, he is a regular guest and it's always a joy to have him on the blog. Below are some of his thoughts from the Atlanta Leavers discussion list. My comments are in black. Really, I wish some of my Canary friends would write books or at least keep blogs. They have some great things to say, and it is an honor to share some of their ideas.

From Canary Alan:

I have a love/hate relationship with my own species; I like people and find some truly wonderful things about this culture, Warm cozy meals with friends including coffee, wine, and fish and many things that would not be available without commerce...

I like Christmas with its warm and friendly gatherings of people, but I don’t need a $1000.00 worth of gifts. A pretty seashell that my granddaughter gives me will do nicely. I like electricity but I don’t need 1000 devices to make my life easier and more complicated at the same time. I wouldn’t mind electricity being rationed so I could choose between the computer, music and moderate lights at night.

I believe family as the only true way to organize the human culture, but many of us have had bad experiences with family. That’s not because family is bad, it’s because this culture pulls them apart instead of ensuring their survival. This is the main failing of our civilization. We must have children in moderation and their well being must come first, this mean sacrifice from everyone else in the tribe especially mom and dad, all day long. I believe you must build a new culture from the ground up not by throwing a bunch of enlightened intellectuals together from various living situations. Culture is not about individuals it is about the collective good, and that’s where mother culture fails at an ever increasing rate.

I dislike the human race as it forms our culture, but the pieces could be reorganized into a modern thinking groups with traditional family valves without the religious superstitions.

I think we need a new religion, but our track record isn’t good. For example you start out with a pacifist healer who preaches love, charity, giving unconditionally, and you end up with religions in his name that are so twisted it can produce a Pat Robertson, creationism, no birth control, and the Klan, how lovely.

For me [Daniel] Quinn was an epiphany, but I still disagree with him on some issues. Our present Culture is not the only thing preventing us from taking the next step to a more civilized perspective on who we are and where we fit with universe. I think we are basically animals driven by instinct a lot more than we care to admit, and many of the things that helped us survive in the Pleistocene Period must be modified if we are to survive now. We need to look at what works in Leaver cultures and what works in modern cultures and blend the two for the future. Then we can consider what is a reasonable use of sunlight for human activities, and build our culture based on that prime limitation.

Also these are collective ideas and I’m very much an individualist so all this must be done while ensuring the individual in all of us can flourish. But I believe that a little group collectivism can create more opportunities for meaningful individualism through art, gardening, cooking and creative problem solving on at the personal level.

Yellow Canary Seys: Wow, this is really excellent. I just want to leave this as is and read it again and again. It is like a fine piece of perfectly seasoned food that you want to smell and admire before gobbling. The thoughts above really give me some clarity for the next steps I need to take in my crazy, insane, cocked, plan to save the World.

In Today's Gloom There is Opportunity for Tomorrow

Ahhhh, a target.

First, a Canary rant...

Like most tree-huggers, I love riding my bicycle. However, it's extremely dangerous on the road because so many people disrespect cyclists. Even though there are signs in my community that say, "Share the Road," and even though cyclists are mentioned in the driver's handbook, a lot of driver's don't think we have a right to be there and regard us a nuisance. It's funny, because I notice that auto drivers who are more health-conscious looking are more respectful and courteous. It is usually the pot belly types who see you as another squirrel to flatten. I mean, these are the same folks who get in their car to check the mailbox at the end of their driveway, and here they are trying to run me down? I would like to especially point out the guy in the red minivan who honked because my daughters and I were crossing a road and he had to wait five seconds — come on! You wouldn't honk at another car, so why did you honk at me? I pay taxes, and whether my vehicle is motorized or not, I have a right to the road. Work with us, man. Or better yet, maybe you could get on a bicycle yourself and lose a few tons. Sheesh.

Now for the news ...

This letter to the editor in today's newspaper says it all:

No need for shades in gloomy future

For the first time in my life, I feel a sense of dread about my future and that of my children. It's economic but even more it's a sense that this is the the America we were once so proud to claim as our own.

It's the cynicism in government, the lack of concern for the environment, the huge gap in wealth distribution and the government's promise that it intends to make the gap even more dramatic. It's the dishonesty of a president who makes a show of honoring our brave troops but whom you know sees them as just another commodity.

It's the failure of so many Americans to be informed and make good choices about who represents them in government. It's the idea that we have major problems that we need to work together to solve and so many Americans allow themselves to be divided and manipulated based on their prejudices.

I have my doubts about our ability as a nation to pull ourselves out of this mess. I think life will probably turn even more tragic before we are roused enough to demand and work for change. Worse, I fear if and when that change is finally demanded, it will be too late.

— Sharon Libert, Columbus, GA

Okay, SEE! So when you Righteous Ones out there make me out to be a looney psychopath, I'd like to point out that there is at least ONE OTHER person who feels the same way as I do, so that makes two of us. I have the same feeling of despair about my country. I no longer trust my government or the wisdom of my leaders. I no longer trust the voting process. I no longer trust religious leaders (as if I ever did) because there is always a hidden motive. I no longer trust the media — it's controlled by corporations.

Anyway, in coming months I want to start outlining what I think can be a new, sustainable society. It will not be nirvana or utopia, but it will be a life that no longer destroys the future. As I think out and plan this project, I will share more with my millions or loyal readers out there in blog land. Until next time, Godspeed and God bless.

Yellow Canary

Something Positive for a Change

For Once...

I just want to stop a moment and admire this photo of a thistle. It's really beautiful, colorful, and sort of peaceful in a way.

Whew, I mean it's like 24/7 that my brain is racing and I'm trying to figure life out. I have studied various religions, read books, participated in discussion groups, and mostly I have taken long walks and just pondered. I look around and there is so much I see in society that disgusts me. Now, I'm not talking about Hollywood, porno, and the usual crap. That's absolutely nothing. No, what disgusts me more than anything is the greed, selfishness, hypocrisy, and moral hollowness I see among my fellow Americans. Sure there are little sprouts of beauty like the thistle above, but that beautiful plant is in a vast field of wicked weeds.

In regards to the religion I grew up in, I really had it all wrong. I pictured Christians as these completely humble people who lived in harmony with each other and only cared about helping others. The Christians I envisioned did not care about material wealth — their existence was on a spiritual level. Yes, there are a few Christians like this, but man, what about the rest of you? What happened? What I see now are a bunch of materialism addicts who bash gays, subtly bash the poor and people of color, who worship sports and big screen TVs, who will kill you over a parking spot during Christmas season, who cozy up with the industrialists, who hate the environment, who are totally intolerant of people who disagree with them, who support the war and torture, who live for themselves, and then turnaround and judge me as a backslidden heathen.

Yes, if you think I'm a jaded idealist, that's because I am. That's because eight years ago I thought I could go out into the civic groups and churches and make a reasoned argument, and people would say, "Oh yeah, that makes sense" and then DO SOMETHING! For several years I gave slide presentations on urban sprawl. I spoke at various groups and made a convincing argument. I thought that the sprawl issue would be the first step toward the "waking up" of America. But even the activists, moderates, and progressives I spoke to said, "Wow, that's really a good slide show," and then went back to their ruts. I gave my slide show in front of local politicians, religious leaders, and even the freakin' Optimist Club! But what became of all this? Are growth patterns and development changing in my region? Not by much.

So, again, I just want to look at the picture above and just stare at it, and just feel happy. I want to pray for it, and I want to love it. Most of all, I want to pray for my two daughters because I love them most of all. I hope the world will be a better place for them.

The Yellow Canary

Ode to McMansions

Thy reward has come to you, they good God-fearing American.

Here I Was ....

Last night I was taking my daughter's friend home. As I was driving through this McMansion neighborhood, I couldn't help but notice that many homes were illuminated by "mood" lights. What the heck? The affluent neighborhood was already well lit with streetlights, so what's with the extra lighting? Are you wealthy American yuppies trying to light your house at night to rub your success in my face? Why do I have to look at your big, overstuffed house at night as well day? What are you trying to tell me?

Last week I listened to a Podcast that told how the gap between rich and poor in America is widening. Just look at all these Americans living in their McMansions. Many of them have made their money by cashing in on our broken legal system, on our broken medical system, or from raping the environment or exploiting workers.

I have zero problem with rich people, as long as you haven't earned your wealth by hurting others or the Planet. Simple. I have no problem with Bill Gates — he just got rich from his nice, honest monopoly and from buying up competitors. No problem.

But so many Americans have sold their soul and "cashed in," often by selling their grandparent's land or whatever. But really, wealth is not good and it does not fit into my vision for the future. More people need to have less so others can have a warm meal, decent clothes, and a roof that doesn't leak. Am I supporting socialism? Well, sorta. Or maybe just a highly restrained capitalism.

Yikes. Even my sisters and sister-in-law are getting their McMansions. They are so wasteful to heat and cool, yet everyone has to have a "big house." And then they have to waste more energy by shining stupid lights on them. Don't you know that you are using more energy, making some coal-burning power plant work harder, and contributing to global warming?

"Ah so what, maybe we can start farming Canada."

How can you justify all the waste? How can you sleep at night? Where is your sense of responsibility. Don't you know I'd respect you more if you lived in a box, or a tent like my friend Günther, or a shack like my friend Chris? Are you trying to impress me? Hell, you are probably up to your ears in debt, and I really don't care about your two SUVs in the driveway and your banal brick house. I just don't care.

"Oh, but I grew up poor. I'm entitled to this."

And it's more honorable that you die poor. You've sold your soul to materialism. If your wealth has just come naturally from the love of your career, give it to the needy. Give it to a good cause. Just give it away before it corrupts you.

I particularly find it ironic that one of my sisters is moving from one McMansion to a bigger McMansion. See, she's married to a Christian music star. Yes, that's right, they are making their money off God — they call it a ministry, but it sure sounds like a business. When I was a kid people gave "love offerings" to a visiting singer. Now they charge comfortable prices for their concerts, CDs, and merchandizing. I am told that God has blessed them. Why is God blessing them with a McMansion while 1 billion people in the world are undernourished? It just doesn't make sense to me. Come on, God, can't you spread your blessings a little more evenly?

Anyway, back to the lights on the big houses. Sheesh, maybe you should go to the following website to determine your footprint (impact on the Earth): http://www.myfootprint.org.

As for me, I'm going to bed. The Yellow Canary is tired.

People Are Like Air

Where I'm At

I had two great experiences last week. On Thursday, I went to a meeting of the Atlanta Leavers, which was the first meeting I've made in about a year. The Atlanta Leavers is a discussion group that uses the writings of Daniel Quinn as a starting point to discuss world issues. At the meeting on Thursday, we also talked about another author whom I believe is on a similar wavelength — Neale Donald Walsch, author of Conservations With God.

On Friday, I had more fun. After having lunch with some Sierra Club friends in midtown I then traveled to nearby Decatur to see two of my wonderful Canary friends — Brothers Günther and Fida. We enjoyed a great afternoon sipping on tea and having "save the world" type discussions on the back porch. Brother Günther, by the way, lives in a tent in Fida's backyard, which I think is really neat.

The Piece of the Puzzle For This Week

While the events on Thursday and Friday gave me tons to blog about, Brother Fida gave me a great analogy that ties into my search for ways to save the world.

Brother Fida told me that humans are like air (I am paraphrasing here):

• Seventy-eight percent of people are like Nitrogen, an inert gas. They are just there.
• Twenty percent of people are like Oxygen — they have the potential to breathe life.
• About 2 percent of the people are like Argon, Carbon Dioxide, and the various trace elements. They are the activists.

Nothing can ever be done with the 78 percent of people who are inert. Thus, the goal is for the 2 percent of people who are the Trace Elements to activate the 80 percent who are Oxygen.

I asked Fida where he heard this, and he said, "My father. "

Wow, A Great Epiphany

We then had a great discussion about this analogy and I've been thinking about it ever since. I told him that I have been in many churches over the years to give my Sierra Club presentations on sprawl and population. In the moderate churches I visited, like Presbyterian and Methodist, I see lots of Oxygen — more open-minded people who will join us in our journey if inspired and led. As for the Baptist church I grew up in, they will always be inert because their literal interpretation of the Bible and other strict beliefs makes it difficult for them to take responsibility for the Planet and Future.

Along with the Baptist, there are many other folks in the 78 percent Inert group — the people who hang out at Hooters, the people who don't vote or read a newspaper, the guys who are totally obsessed with sports, etc... But that's okay.

Moral of the Story: Don't Worry - It Only Takes A Few of Us




I often think about one of my favorite Bible stories where the Israelites are about to fight the Midianites. The Israelite leader Gideon gathered his army for the great battle (Judges 7:1-7).


But God said to Gideon, "You have too many men. Anyone who is afraid may turn back (go home)." Most of Gideon's men went home. God said to Gideon again, "There are still too many men. Take them down to the water and I will test them for you." So Gideon took his men to the water to drink. Many of the men knelt down and drank the water as a dog drinks. Only 300 men drank the water from their hands. Then God said, "By the 300 men who drank from their hands I will defeat the Midianites."

This story pops in my head all the time when I'm doing activist work. When I first began my journey in 1997, I was shocked that so many people didn't "get it" and never would — even my own family and relatives. Now, I've come to accept this as a way of life. As an Activist, my goal is to inspire and empower the 20 percent of people who are Oxygen. They are the moderates and the level-headed folks who we need. They are the ones who will assume the top roles in government and introduce the initiatives that will take us on the road to sustainability. As for me, I can't do all that. I'm just the spark — I just want to light up all that centrist, middle road Oxygen out there. These people are the great progressives of our time, and we Canaries need them.

As for the Inert people, it is a total waste of time trying to "convert" them — I don't think it's possible. They didn't do much to resist slavery or Hitler's Germany. They have made zero contribution to history. They are just there, singing in the choir or watching NASCAR races. Most of them are good people and I love them all, but God has not given them the vision, intellect, or the analytical mind needed to save our Earth. They are simply the sheep grazing in the pasture.

A Quote from one of the Top Canaries of All Time:

We are living beyond our means. As a people we have developed a lifestyle that is draining the earth of its priceless and irreplaceable resources without regard for the future of our children and people all around the world.
—Margaret Mead, famous anthropologist

Global Warming & Overpopulation - Why Can't Anyone "Get It?"

Cook, cook, sizzle, sizzle.

An Opening Line ....

From today's Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

There is an article titled "Electric Supplies A Worry in West." Here is a quote that got my attention:

Phoenix added more people—and more air conditioners—than any other city in the country last year. As a result, on a typical 100-degree-plus summer day, Phoenix and surrounding cities now use more electricity than Manhattan.

This is typical of the paradox taking place around the world. This is important for all of us, so please read this carefully:

We are caught in a vicious cycle: Global Warming means more power (often from coal burning plants) for air conditioners. More air conditioners, and air conditioners working harder, means more power demand, and MORE Global Warming.

Now, add to this the craziness of rapidly developing cities in the desert, like Phoenix, where people use mass amounts of electricity so they can be cool and comfortable in their desert homes. If there are more "rolling blackouts," of course they will blame it on us evil environmentalists for making it difficult to build more coal plants.

Now, add to this the exploding U.S. and world population. The United States population was 177 million when I was born in 1960; now it's at 295 million. This means more cars, air conditioners, appliances, factories, etc... Many people just want to solve the problem by stopping immigration. But that is only a Band-aide solution to addressing the overall world population crises.

We humans are multiplying like crazy, pumping millions of tons of carbon into the sky, sucking up the world's resources, and doing things to our planetary home that may cause irreparable harm. Yet, even the most passionate environmental activists don't make the connection between babies and environmental ruin. I guess no one wants to be thought of as an extremist or weirdo. I mean, who wants to stand up at a public hearing and say, "Everyone needs to have fewer children, so that we don't have to widen roads, build more power plants, and destroy green space." While it makes perfect sense to me, many citizens and local politicians would freak out. "OH NO, you can't tell people how many children they can have. Why, why, that's just too personal." And sadly, the good Religious Conservatives want to cut off or restrict family planning funding and ban comprehensive sex education — it's almost as if they are condoning population growth when the Earth is already starting to crack under the pressure.

Will It Really Help?

While I love being in the environmental movement and I LOVE my fellow tree-huggers, I must admit that 95 percent of the issues we work on are responding to population growth. Right now my local Sierra Club Group is trying to stop some bad rezonings, trying to prevent a road widening, etc.. See, most of what we do is try to mitigate the impact of GROWTH. A fellow environmentalist contacted me today about two cell phone towers proposed for the Chattahoochee River Recreation Area. While that is a valid concern, it does point out something I see with a lot of my fellow Sierra Club members — they see their role as merely protecting public lands. So, when the rest of the country is completely packed with high-density developments, at least we will have a few small islands of green thanks to their good work. I'm not knocking the more traditional environmentalists, I'm just saying that you can protect your little park and win the battle, but we will all ultimately lose the war to save our Planet.

A Letter With Edge

I am a former member of Population Connection. I let my membership drop simply because I don't have the money to support all the worthy causes out there — I wish I did. Anyway, they sent me a really edgy letter and it's so good that I think I'm going to rejoin. Allow me to quote from Population Connection president John Seager:

Look at what's happening. Global warming threatens our very Planet. We're witnessing species extinctions not seen since the days of the dinosaurs. One billion people live on less than $1/day. Overpopulation kills 20,000 children every single day.

Today, we have a national government that denies science at every turn. George Bush has embraced the know-nothing crowd, a bunch that opposes sex education, wants to ban contraception, and believes in creationist nonsense.

Pretty ballsy, huh?

Word of the Day

I love this word. It is a major reason why we are in our current mess. We humans just like to pass on our way of living, even if it no longer works.
meme |mēm| |mim| |miːm|
noun Biology
an element of a culture or system of behavior that may be considered to be passed from one individual to another by nongenetic means, esp. imitation.

It's All About Me - Me Good American!

Rep. Richard Pombo is a big property
rights guy who's looking out for
number one.

We Gonna Gut That Endangered Species Act

"I don't care about them dumb animals. I want to develop my land and make money. Because it's all about money. It's all about private land rights — not the better good of the community. I got me a ranch and I can do anything I want with it."

Yep, this summer Rep. Pombo (R-CA) led the drive to gut the Endangered Species Act. The Pombo bill has passed the House and may soon go to the Senate. Good boy, Pombo — just like all those other GOP people, you are feeling empowered to destroy what's left of U.S. environmental laws.

It's all about you. It's all about the American Lifestyle. Who cares about protecting all the other animals that we share the Planet with — the important thing is that Richard Pombo must have the right to plow up his land, sell it off to build condos, or whatever. Because it's not about the Earth, the Future, or anything else. It's all about Pombo and his sacred rights.

Now I hear that Pombo is going after the National Environmental Policy Act, one of our nation's most important environmental laws. Yep, those good GOP members who hate the environment with a passion (but give conservation lip service) are now having a feeding frenzy. They are settling their vendetta's with Mother Earth, all for a few pieces of silver and the blessings of their capitalist masters.



Ain't nobody gonna tell me what
to do with my land. This is MY LAND
and I'm a third generation rancher
with a giant chip on my shoulder.


Surprise!

Okay, this may come as a shock to you, Congressman Pombo and all you gun-toting land rights folks. The World is owned by GOD! Nobody can own land. Whoever thought that idea up hundreds of years ago is just plain wrong. We humans and all other animals must share the LAND — humans don't have any special entitlement to take it over and kill or run off everything else on it.

Canary, you're sounding radical tonight. Not even Left Wingers go this far.

Sorry, but at the very most, we are given the privilege to take care of a piece of land for the brief period we are alive. Maybe Rep. Pombo claims that, but what it's really about to him is the rights of the Individual at the expense of the Community of Life and the Future.

"Ain't no government going to tell me what to do on my land. It's mine, damnit, mine! All mine. I paid fer it. I own it. And I got me this shotgun to prove it."

Yeah, right. Every time I hear about these property rights activist, I realize that humankind still has a long way to go.

That's all for tonight, folks.

The Yellow Canary