Ode : Exchange

Expanding the border of local food advocates

thayerd — 2011-08-17T11:59:43-05:00

By: thayerd

Thousands of people, mostly women and children, have been walking for days. Not just a day or two, they've been walking for fifteen to twenty days, bound for Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya. Many of the women have lost children to hunger during the trek or taken unaccompanied minors (likely orphans) found along the way into their care. All of these people were in utter desperation to leave their homes and come to a camp in such a remote place for food and water. There are now 400,000 people in Dadaab. The influx of 9,000 people per week is taxing on the resources of the camp.

The ongoing food crisis in East Africa, including Kenya and Ethiopia and the famine in parts of Somalia, is affecting over 11 million people and the result of a series of circumstances. In Somalia, a two-year drought devastated harvests and depleted livestock. This in turn led to record food prices beyond the reach of many. There is also internal conflict in Somalia, tied to a lack of basic infrastructure and social services.

Of course emergency humanitarian relief is needed to save lives now. But equally important is the need to address underlying problems to achieve long-term solutions.

Overall this is an issue of food and power. There is enough food produced to feed everyone but still nearly 1 billion people go to bed hungry every night. The food system is broken, and we need to change the way we grow and share food so everyone has enough to eat.

Here in the San Francisco Bay Area, there are many great efforts to change our local food system and how we eat. We have support for eating local and organic food through farmers’ markets and community supported agriculture, more people taking part in urban gardening in community gardens or their own backyard, many chefs in our restaurants who prepare local and sustainable foods, and efforts to reform school lunches. And from travels to other cities and regions, I’ve witnessed the local food movement’s presence from coast to coast.

Much like the benefits we will reap locally and nationally by moving to more sustainable agriculture and supporting local farmers, these same advantages are desirable to the global food system. Most of the hungry in developing countries are actually small-scale food producers (farmers, pastoralists, fishers). So in order to help those who are vulnerable to hunger, there should be investment in small-scale food producers, protection of their rights to land and other natural resources, and support to maintain resilience through climate change and food price increases.

When it comes to the food movement here, a common saying is “Think globally, act locally.” It’s time for local food advocates to embrace the global food system and to push for changes by focusing on local efforts here and abroad. “Think globally, act locally and support global reform.”

Oxfam’s GROW campaign aims to build a better food system: one that sustainably feeds a growing population (estimated to reach nine billion by 2050) and empowers poor people to earn a living, feed their families, and thrive. Learn more and take the GROW pledge on Oxfam America’s website. Take action today at www.oxfamamerica.org/grow

Photo: Neil Palmer (CIAT)

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Sharing optimism and joy with sidewalk chalk

mmlarsen — 2011-08-16T14:59:51-05:00

By: mmlarsen

Remember when you were a kid and you’d draw pictures and write happy thoughts with chalk in your driveway and down the sidewalks of your street? And the adults always smiled when they read the big, paste-colored messages? This is just like that. Only we’re bigger now. And we don’t have to go in the house when the street lights go out.

The idea is as simple as it was in childhood: write happy messages, have fun doing it, spread some joy while you’re at it.

Any day is a great day to spread joy, optimism and inspiration through the magical power of sidewalk chalk, but many efforts are most powerful when done in collectively. So, on Tuesday, August 23, 2011, spend 10 minutes outside writing an uplifting, positive message in chalk on your sidewalk, driveway or parking lot.

Then, share your message by posting it on Facebook, and Tweet about it with #chalkthewalks. By the end of the day, we’ll have a collection of images from (hopefully) all over the U.S. (or even the world!) spreading joy, optimism and inspiration through the playful, magical power of sidewalk chalk.

Chalk the Walks, a project of The Joy Team, is all about spreading joy, inspiration and optimism through the magical power of sidewalk chalk. Learn more at ChalkTheWalks.com.

Eleven lessons from Nelson Mandela

DavidCrane — 2011-07-19T17:45:35-05:00

By: DavidCrane

Yesterday we celebrated living legend Nelson Mandela’s birthday. Looking back on his 93 years, there are 11 lessons (from many) that I would like to share from his legacy which would help us make a small but positive mark in our society. Here they are:

1. Determination in fighting for the right thing. Nelson Mandela’s fought against apartheid for was a struggle of more than 50 years from 1943 when he joined ANC to 1994 when South Africa became independent and he became president. Of these years, 27 were in prison.

2. Never sell out on your beliefs. Nelson Mandela while still serving in prison had repeated offers from the apartheid regime to accept release for independence in small portion of South Africa called the Transkei, from where he hailed from. He simply turned them all down.

3. Be ready to change your tactics. In 1960 Nelson Mandela together with other leaders set up the military wing of ANC. After being released from prison in 1990, Mandela would eventually renounce all armed tactics and once again resort to peaceful negotiations.

4. Know the facts. Mandela was an astute lawyer and during his incarceration, his jailers in the 1980s, repeatedly attempted to get him to renounce militarism; however he remained adamant in his belief that prisoners cannot enter into contracts - only free men can negotiate.

5. Admit our mistakes. In interviews later in life, Mandela admitted that the ANC had committed some human rights abuses and even criticized anyone who attempted to deny it.

6. Reconcile with your enemies. Nelson Mandela worked on the setting up the Truth & Reconciliation Commission.

7. Sharing with others. Mandela has shared his life in books and through post retirement charity organizations that work on ills affecting the world today.

8. Lead from the front. When the Springboks rugby team won the 1995 rugby world cup, Nelson Mandela presented the winner’s trophy to the Captain Francois Pienaar while wearing a replica of Pienaar’s no. 6 Springboks t-shirt. This was a symbol that served to further heal the very tangible racial tension, in South Africa.

9. Letting go. Nelson Mandela became President in 1994 and in 1999 chose not to run for a second term , yet he could have won by a landslide. He instead handed over to Thabo Mbeki.

10. Smile. Mandela is also known for his big smile when he is meeting with people all over the world.

11. Serve humbly. Graca Machel once said, "I found this simple man," as she described him in 1998 just before they were married. Indeed his actions of "letting go" of a presidency, of forgiving his captors, serving tea to his guests, and many more are testament to the humility and person of Nelson Mandela.

If applied, these lessons would make the world a better place and for that may God bless Mandela and give him many more years to be inspire us.

LifeLines: A global community for good

opheliar — 2011-07-19T13:05:07-05:00

By: opheliar

You know how there is that little something in the back of your mind that keeps gnawing away at you? That "little something" can be negative, positive, or neutral, but it is always there. Years ago a small thought germinated in my mind. At first it was a fuzzy idea that wasn’t quite formed, then over time, it became a full thought. Initially, I discounted it as not possible, it was simply beyond my capability.

Yet, over the years this idea as never left me and I finally got to the point where the fear of doing something, and just thinking I can’t do it, was more painful than the fear of stepping forward. So, I’ve acted. I’ve started a website that I would like to share with you. This is my vision:

What if there was someone who had already walked through an experience you are just beginning and you could reach out to him or her for support and encouragement? What if you wanted to start your own business and wanted to communicate with someone who had successfully done so? What if you wanted to lead a more sustainable lifestyle but didn't know where to start? What if there was a global community of people helping each other?

I know this: as a planet, we cannot continue with artificial borders that divide us. Regardless of where we live, we all face similar challenges. We all have the same basic needs. Rather than isolate ourselves by family, by neighborhoods, by cities, by states, or by countries, what if we could establish an online community where we could reach out for an interchange of encouragement and a sharing of knowledge.

The name of my website is LifeLines. I choose this name because as we share our stories, they’re the lines of our life and as we reach out to each other it’s as if we are throwing a lifeline.

I started this website for two reasons: first, I want to share people’s stories, their lifelines, as an encouragement to others who may find themselves traveling the same road. And second, through these stories, I envision a global community of people helping each other for the greater good.

I am so grateful that I finally got the courage to step into something that truly is my heart’s purpose. The vision of creating a global community for good is hugely appealing. Wherever this road takes me, I am happy to be on it.

Right now I am collecting people’s stories and writing about them (I’m actively looking for more people’s lifelines). What I plan to do is to travel and video people’s stories. Ideally, I would like to offer a combination of print and video on this site. Of course, I need funding for this - if anyone knows of a funding source, I would so appreciate any assistance around this.

My site is a work in progress; I started it on Google’s blogspot because it was easy, but it doesn’t include the functionality or the polish I eventually would like to include. I’m quite new to this so I would appreciate any feedback, thoughts and/or comments you might like to share with me. I look forward to hearing from you.

Find out more. Visit lifelines-globalcommunity.blogspot.com

Photo by D. Sharon Pruitt via Flickr.

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Trekking to bring literacy to women in the Nepalese mountains

BrigitteMuir — 2011-07-11T15:23:13-05:00

By: BrigitteMuir

After you've climbed the world's highest mountains, including the mother of them all - Mount Everest - what on Earth is there left to do?

If you’re Brigitte Muir, OAM, the first Australian to climb the highest peak on every continent - and, after four attempts, Mount Everest itself - the next challenge is to bring literacy to village women in her beloved Eastern Nepalese mountains.

To raise funds for this literacy project, Muir is going to do what she does best. She’s leading an 18 day trek in the Everest region from October 8 to 25 , 2011. Twelve adventurous souls are invited to join her.

Trekkers will not only have the opportunity to contribute to the empowerment of village women through direct contact, they will have time to explore their inner selves in a physically, mentally and spiritually challenging environment. The trek will visit sacred Duhdkunda Lake, Lura and the Women’s Literacy Program, as well as the mountain monasteries of Chiwang and Thubten Choling. Bookings can be made through the offices of World Expeditions around Australia, or online at worldexpeditions.com/au

The literacy program component of the trek is fully tax-deductible. Trekkers are asked to raise a minimum of $300 to join the trek. Those wishing to contribute to the program but unable to trek can offer their support by making a donation through the Australian Himalayan Foundation here.

For more on Brigitte Muir, click here.

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Finding harmony through conflict

TrishLay — 2011-07-05T11:33:36-05:00

By: TrishLay

When I was three years old, my adoptive mother was holding me as we stood in line at the grocery store. A gentleman in front of us turned and said what a pretty little girl I was. I then replied with, "No I’m not…I’m adopted."

Being adopted weighed on my shoulders for decades. Rejection and abandonment coursed through my veins. My adopted fathers’ rejection, and the words "if you don’t behave yourself, we’ll take you back and get another baby" haunted my core being.

The searching for my birthparents began when I was 14 and ended when I was 25. My birthmother, due to her own issues, rejected me once again. After being raped, wrestling with my suicidal demons, and facing cellular rejection for the second time, I decided I would no longer play the victim in my own story. I chose life, to take responsibility for myself and be accountable. At that time, it became incredibly clear my birthmother was just the vessel to get me here; God had a much bigger plan for me, even before I arrived into this world.

So began the pursuit to create the foundation I am built on. Truly believing in my heart of hearts that if you change the negative mind patterns set by circumstances and individuals in the past, a shift will occur. Deciding people and experiences don’t define a person; I began to mold, transform and listen to my inner personal power and pulled my head out of the dark cellular abyss and started to believe I was a woman of worth. Granted, my resistance and horoscope stubbornness continues to be tested and constantly will as the cycle of life moves forward.

As a firm believer of street smarts vs. book smarts, I pounded the pavement searching for answers to my personal healing. Before I could lead anyone to his or her self, I needed to lead myself first. After mass consumption of information it all led back to: trust, forgiveness, compassion, integrity, faith, and love.

After years of informal counseling and being a professional sounding board for others, I decided to put my years of crazy life experiences, of which my friends titled My Life is a Chick Flick, into action. My daily intention is the vision of leading just one person to change and help them learn to love themselves without judgment, guilt, shame or humiliation. If I can inspire myself through love, faith, integrity and laughter I can do that for others. We were all brought here to give something back in one way or another and I want to leave this earth better than when I arrived.

Surviving life because of my sense of humor and ability to deal with what is in front of me; that strength gives me the ability to talk and listen to people from a real place and a patient perspective.

With sincere gratitude for my trials and challenges, every moment has led me to where I stand right now. Because of those moments my foundation of "who am I" was created. Through major forgiveness I am able to give an honest approach of compassion and empathy to those I encounter daily. And with a chameleon-like perception, I am able to reach people on their ground.

Everyday is an experience and a choice. Everyday brings up issues for us to look at. Once you are aware of those issues, you can identify them, bless them and let them go. There is a greater power that protects us, if we let it. We are all blessed with a story - a beginning and an ending - how will you write your story? What will your legacy be?

To read more, visit www.SoulsAtPlayProductions.com

How loss relates to success and happiness

Charlie_Badenhop — 2011-06-17T12:44:44-05:00

By: Charlie_Badenhop

I was sitting around having dinner with a few friends, about a month after the big earthquake and tsunami up north of Tokyo.

"Now is the time for the Japanese people to show their true spirit," Suzuki-san said. "You never really know the heart of another person during good times. It’s not until some form of disaster that you find out what people really believe, and what they base their life upon.

"In Japanese culture we are taught to celebrate success in a subdued fashion, keeping in mind that tomorrow brings a new set of challenges. We are taught that success is fleeting and doesn’t last all that long.

"As time goes on, I think Japanese people have come to misunderstand the meaning of success, and the happiness it can bring. It seems that these days people confuse success with winning, or being able to say, 'I am better than others.' In my mind, nothing could be further from the truth. I believe you can’t really understand success, until you’ve tasted defeat. Loss is an essential element of success and happiness."

I nodded my head and said nothing, knowing my friend was speaking an important truth.

"You see," Suzuki-san said, "I grew up as a farmer, and as a farmer you soon learn that a good crop is often followed by a bad crop the following season. Also, as a farmer you share the water used for growing your rice, with all your neighbors. Because each person needs to depend on the good will of another, you can’t celebrate a good harvest unless your neighbors also did well. In our rice growing culture we learned that water and success, are meant to be shared with the entire community. During hard times you also shared your food with your neighbors if they had none, knowing they would do the same for you.

"So now, as a nation we need to share with each other once again. Those of us with more, need to give to those who have less. It’s in the act of giving that you feel your connection to others. When you give you offer up thanks for all you have, and realize you don’t live this life as a separate individual.

"Times like now help you realize how fleeting success and happiness are. It’s only after losing everything that you can finally fully appreciate how much you had before. A healthy person tends to take their good condition for granted, until they get sick.

"These days it seems people don’t really experience appreciation, because they’re always wanting something more. People don’t seem to know what it feels like to be satisfied. I taught my children to not base their good feeling on something that will likely be gone tomorrow. I also taught them to not base their good feeling on what they can buy.

"As you’ve heard me say before, I believe losing World War II was a great gift for the Japanese people. A very harsh gift, but a great gift nonetheless, because losing tested the strength of the Japanese soul. We had to reevaluate our culture and discover what this defeat really meant for us. We had to dig deep to find our hearts laying underneath the rubble of the bombings.

"And now, I fervently pray we find the courage to accept this earthquake and tsunami as another gift meant to test our spirit. I’m hoping that the coming years are a time for great renewal in Japan."

Photo by Nattu via Flickr.

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Creating work that feeds the planet

greentarra — 2011-06-16T15:52:33-05:00

By: greentarra

"Our calling is where our deepest gladness and the world’s hunger meet." Frederick Buechner, theologian

Do you feel a calling to create meaningful work that feeds your soul and the planet? There is no greater legacy than sharing your unique contribution with the world. To create work that feeds the planet and ourselves, we must listen to the guidance that earth provides: What is the earth’s calling for you?

Answering this question means recognizing that we each have a part to play in stewarding a sustainable and socially just world. When you find that place where your joy aligns with something the world needs, you will feel an authentic gladness in your work.

Here are some practices to help you create work that feeds the planet:

Start with a vision quest. Many indigenous cultures hold the vision quest as a sacred element of finding one’s gift so that it can be brought into the community. Typically, the process involves a separation, an initiation, and a return to the community with a gift. Our fast-paced secular society rarely supports taking the time needed to find stillness, reconnect to the earth’s wisdom, and bring this gift into the world. But people who take a sabbatical from joyless work to evaluate their vision, values, and purpose often do find work that aligns with their authentic contribution. While extended travel may not be an option, it is possible for seekers to spend more time in nature or to visit retreat centers to find their vision. Even sitting outside with a contemplative question such as, "What is the earth’s calling for me?" can harvest guidance about one’s path.

Discover the sacred gift inside the wound. Our wounds have immense power to transform our lives - and the world. The great mythologist Joseph Campbell believed that the hero’s journey requires living in "the dark belly of the whale." Transforming wounds into sacred gifts requires a commitment to show up fully for our challenges with an understanding that they are the gateway to an initiatory journey. For example, Christina Pandolfo was passionate about health and wellness. She worked as an occupational therapist and went through a six-year period of chronic headaches, sensitivity to touch, and extreme fatigue. When her grandmother gave her an article about a woman who struggled with gluten, Christina, a pasta lover of Italian ancestry, resonated with it completely. She eliminated gluten from her diet. Her health - and life - transformed. Christina created a blog to help others live a gluten-free lifestyle. By turning toward one’s sacred wound, it is possible to transform it into work that feeds the planet.

Transform complaints to celebration. Many people ultimately discover great joy in doing something to address their biggest complaint about the world. The soul wants to alchemically transform lead into gold. For example, a corporate employee named Linda, upset that low-income kids in urban environments didn’t have access to nature - access that she treasured - decided to lead nature-immersion experiences for youth. How can you transform your complaint into a cause for celebration and work you love doing?

Practice self-care with earth care. Many people consider self-care to consist of personal practices that help them live with greater balance. However, personal sustainability and planetary sustainability are interconnected. Both are necessary ingredients for work that feeds the planet. Ellen Donald, executive director of an environmental nonprofit that works with young people, says: "We’ve become unbalanced in our personal lives, which has translated into an unbalancing of our entire system. Personal sustainability and planetary sustainability are iterations of the same idea: balance. To find this balance personally, identify what’s missing or what is unfulfilled and then create time for it - make it a priority." Ellen restores her balance and is able to give because of her focus on personal sustainability, including riding her bike to work and eating organic foods. What keeps you sustainable?

Thrive with your tribe. This time on our planet is one of building "beloved community," in the words of Martin Luther King Jr. Each person has a unique gift and talent to contribute to this "Great Turning," which Buddhist scholar and Deep Ecologist Joanna Macy describes as the life-sustaining civilization that is emerging on our planet. Imagine it’s 100 years from now, and you are looking back on your contribution. What do you want it to be? How do you want your family, especially your children, to remember you? What about your communities? With that in mind, what’s the one thing - big or small - you feel called to do? How can you create your authentic expression of work that makes a difference?

Tarra Christoff, MA, is an international career and leadership coach helping people create work that makes a difference. Reprinted from Common Ground Magazine. Learn more about Tarra at WorkThatMakesADifference.com

Photo by Emily Aviles

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Choosing happiness over unhappiness

ruchiraa — 2011-06-15T16:45:13-05:00

By: ruchiraa

The other day I came across the quotation, "Happiness is a state of mind." Though I agree, I think it is a state of mind that needs to be fed and nurtured regularly. After all, we are human beings and thus have feelings that tend to fluctuate. Some days we are happy while at other times something can happen to rock our boat and we can slide a little backwards. Even though we may want to be happy all the time, is this really possible?

Happiness, I believe, is a choice: you have to want to be happy and make the decision for yourself. Both in my personal life and now as I coach others, I have observed the power of the Law of Attraction: you attract what you pay attention to. If you consciously indulge in things and associate with people who have a positive outlook you will notice that things will automatically start to align. You will not only start attracting positive events and situations but will also start making your choices accordingly.

If you want to create more happiness in your life, begin by paying attention to your thoughts. What kind of thoughts go through your mind daily? Are they encouraging, uplifting, and positive or do you beat yourself down and lean towards focusing on the negative side of things? Next, ask yourself, "Do I really want to be happy?" Though you may think the obvious answer is "yes," the actual answer might surprise you. Maybe you’re not 100% convinced that it is possible to be happy or perhaps you don’t know quite how to get there.

So what are the circumstances in which people choose unhappiness over happiness?

Let’s say someone is going through a loss of an emotional nature: their relationship just ended, they just got divorced, they lost a parent or a child or any other grief-related incident. In these circumstances, the person is probably distraught, heartbroken, devastated and experiencing pain. An individual may even make a conscious choice during this time to stay away from anything that represents happiness simply because they are not ready. In other situations, people can be afraid to strive for happiness, thinking that something bad will happen and they will be disappointed. At other times, some may feel they do not deserve to be happy. When someone actually believes this, they start to attract and create things accordingly.

In almost all situations choosing unhappiness over happiness is a conscious decision. If you are looking to increase happiness in your life, start by paying attention to what you think and believe in as well as what you choose on a daily basis - happiness or unhappiness. The first step towards being happy is to choose happiness!

Photo by Jessica Tam via Flickr.

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Around the world on rubbish

Samuel Rosenzweig — 2011-06-13T12:32:04-05:00

By: Samuel Rosenzweig

When Ode’s managing editor Marco Visscher announced that he would be taking a sabbatical to travel the country with his family, a few heads turned. Not just because Marco would be leaving his San Francisco post to return to the Netherlands with his wife and daughters after a four-year stay, but also because he intended to navigate much of the western United States in a 1985 VW Vanagon whose reliability seemed a weak spot.

So it wasn’t really a surprise that one day, the Visscher family found themselves on the side of a deserted highway near Death Valley, inside the heat of a van no longer able to continue. Being in the desert, Marco knew that without a savior of some kind, things could get complicated. Luckily for the clan, out of the blazing desert heat came a strange object, was it a truck? A bus? A pile of re-cycled scrap-metal? It turned out to a combination of all three - it was the BioTruck Expedition - a re-cycled school-bus traveling the world, slowly but surely, on vegetable oil.

The BioTruck Expedition’s Andy Pag and Christina Ammon have been motoring around the globe on waste-cooking oil for a while now. Currently in Ashland, Oregon, the truck has already driven through Europe, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, India, and South-East Asia, all from its London point of origin.

As a boy, Pag dreamed of driving around the world, so the BioTruck Expedition is both the realization of Pag’s childhood fantasy, and an experiment in sustainability, alternative fuels, and guerilla mechanics. The goal isn’t to start a large campaign or create a model for the future of transportation. Instead, Pag and Ammon want people to realize the potential of the things we throw away. “Garbage can literally get you around the world,” says Ammon, “If you are a good mechanic, that is.”

He’s surely proven to be a good helper. Pag drove Marco and his frantic family members back to the nearest town, where he could make some phone calls to have the van towed and prepared for the rest of their trip.

One piece of advice from his co-workers: Please follow the BioTruck Expedition’s blog closely to make sure help is never far away. Safe travels!

Follow the adventure here: biotruckexpedition.org

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