Sunflowers are packed and ready for distribution

March 19, 2009 by 3 Comments

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Sunflowers!

Ann Sherman and Susan Cerf get the sunflower of the year award for coming over and helping me pack 500 packs of sunflowers the other day.  Now, time to get them out to the neighborhood and beyond.  Sunflowers have been sent to Victoria, BC, and Vancouver, BC – Canada, Virginia, PA, NY, and lots of other places.  I’m so excited about this year’s seeds – they were drawn from nearby farms and if grown right, will be mammoth monsters! Send me your address if you’d like some seeds.

I thought I’d be adventurous and put some in the ground yesterday, ya know, just to see if I can get some going early 🙂  While there planted some lettuce and cabbage I’ve grown from seed – thanks for the sun, yesterday!

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the Eleven – March 2009

March 11, 2009 by Leave a Comment

The Eleven – March 2009

is located here – and below 🙂

Albertideation Small
AlbertIdeation Newsletter
The Eleven March 2009
In This Issue
Lobby Day – Take Supportive Action
Sunflowers, Family Visit and Positive Vibrations
Quick Links
Forward to a Friend
Welcome to this month’s The Eleven, my e-letter about life on planet Earth.  I try to include an action item and am open to suggestions on that front – if you have one, please send it my way.  To unsubscribe, please use the link below. I also welcome you to forward my newsletter on to friends and family – there is a link to the newsletter (and past versions) on my website, as well.  This month I’ll mostly be talking about my passion for activism on population growth issues and share some family news.

Capitol BuildingLobby Day for Americans for UNFPA – March 2009

For the past 15 years, I’ve chosen the issue of our world’s population as my activism focus. This has led to leadership in Population Connection (formerly ZPG – Zero Population Growth) as well as activities on behalf of other groups such as the Population Media Center, VHEMT, Planned Parenthood, NARAL, and the Sierra Club. I have led lobbying trips to Washington, DC and State Capitols in Oregon and Washington sent a slew of letters to editors, and kept up an e-mail list for the topic with about 300 subscribers (ask me if you’d like to join) for the past 12 years.With all of the talk about climate change and how we’re doomed, you’d think that there would be more mention in traditional media about the root cause of increased amounts of carbon in our atmosphere – population growth. Instead, this topic is mostly taboo, though its mention is increasing – for instance, Al Gore does talk about it in “An Inconvenient Truth“. But still, most politicians and journalists would prefer to talk about how this band-aid (wind power) or that fix (green building) will get us back to greenhouse gas levels of the 1990s. Don’t get me wrong – wind power, green building, planting trees, and the million other efforts we can make to reduce carbon are all good and important. But if we continue to grow at 75 million people a year (current growth rate) we’ll increase beyond our current level of 6.7 billion to who knows how high? The UN has predicted that we’ll level off at 9-12 billion – but who wants to live in such a crowded world, and with everyone on the planet wishing for an existence as we have in the US – cars, eating meat, and wearing a different pair of shoes each day… we have to take population growth seriously. The UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund) is one organization that takes this issue seriously and I hope someday they’re as well-known as UNICEF.Last week I flew to Washington, DC for the organization, Americans for UNFPA to lobby for more funding for the UNFPA. The UNFPA provides services to women and families in some of the least developed countries around the world. The places with the highest levels of unmet needs for contraception and reproductive healthcare. Places, where many women die in childbirth because giving birth, is still unsafe. During the Bush years, the US contribution to the UNFPA was $34 million, but though congress repeatedly allocated this money, Bush refused to send it on, and so our contribution for the past 8 years has been 0. This year we were asking for $50 million (this was listed in the Appropriations bill that has already passed the House and is has just (3/10!) been passed by the Senate). Interestingly, there was an amendment (Wicker) that would have affected future UNFPA funding which came up for a vote while we were visiting our Senators – which was, luckily, defeated 35-65. Our other “ask” was for $65 million for the 2010 budget. This was the first time of my 8 visits to the lobby on Capitol Hill where something I was lobbying about was being decided that day – very exciting. During a lunch with Democratic Rep. Nita Lowey (NY) who has been a huge supporter of women’s rights, we learned that the amendment had been defeated, and it was a rousing moment for everyone in the room.I got to meet Will White who is the new Senior Advisor to Oregon Democrat Senator Jeff Merkley. Will agreed that our issue is important and assured me that Senator Merkley would most likely support these levels of funding. After working on the Merkley campaign in 2008 (voting party, fundraiser, phone-banking, and a Merkley-pumpkin-carving party with friends) it felt fantastic to walk into his office. Though his staff is crammed into some space in the basement, for now, I took pride in knowing that I, and so many others, worked hard to defeat the previous incumbent 2-term Republican schmuck from Oregon and replace him with a progressive Democrat. I look forward to great things coming from Senator Merkley and his staff.Next up I met with staff from Oregon Democrat Senator Wyden’s office – Ben Widness (Legislative Aide) and Mary Polce-Lynch, Ph.D. who is an APA/AAAS Fellow. Senator Wyden has always supported UNFPA funding, so mostly our visit to his office was to thank him for his votes and support in the past and to let him know of our request for 2010 funding. Again, we met supporters on our issue. I also went on three other Senate visits of which 2 were a little less welcoming – Ohio Republican Senator Voinovich’s office (Pro-Life, retiring in 2010), NC Republican Richard Burr (foe of choice and other related issues) – my sense is that a lot of Republicans are basically against contraception, not just reproductive healthcare. I also visited NC Democrat Senator Kay Hagen’s office which was a great visit. So, my ask to you is this: please find your Senator and Congressperson’s contact information and write them a short note asking for $65 million to be included in the 2010 budget for the UNFPA. And, if you’re feeling inspired, please become a friend and/or donate $ to the organization Americans for UNFPA. They ran a great lobby day, and are doing important work to make the world a better place.Washington, DC really feels different to me on this visit. It’s almost as if the wicked witch is gone (ding, dong the wicked witch – which old witch? the wicked witch…). Talking to staffers of the Republican Senators who do not have much power in DC right now was a very different experience from how things stood when they held the White House and could count on Bush to veto, well, almost everything in the end – but most things progressive, all during his term. I stood for a while in front of the White House and sent President Barack Obama positive energy – gave him and his family the thumbs up and waved. Just standing there felt different. Being in the House and Senate buildings felt different. The airport felt different. It’s as if a sea change is going on – and though I missed the inauguration, I am so glad I got to visit the city during the early days of the Obama administration. Just waking up to the forward progress printed in the daily Washington Post (am so pissed that I can’t get a subscription here in Portland…) was refreshing. And, I met a friend who works for an Executive Dept. agency, and his tales of how his agency has been holding on for 8 years and now is so relieved at the positive change – was also refreshing.If you get a chance to visit DC anytime soon, I would recommend it – and going to lobby for a day gives you a great feeling of empowerment and participation – some direction on what to see, and a chance to effect change in our world.

sunflowers this big!Sunflowers, Family Visit, and Positive Vibrations For a few years I’ve been growing sunflowers and saving the seeds.  Last year I decided to take it to a new level and created 500 seed packets and gave them out to friends and neighbors.  I decided to do it again – these seeds are from a few farms in Washington County – Thanks Syd, Brian, and Edie, and my own effort last year.  There are reds, and mammoths in the mix and I would be happy to send you some if you’ll provide your address.  A good planting time is April/May for most of the US – and add sun and water regularly and you will have some pretty nice sunflowers gracing your world. (save the seeds and join the project 🙂 I also decided to step up my gardening efforts this year and planted garlic and cover crop last fall.  This Spring I’ve planted lettuce, tomatoes, cabbage, and broccoli by seed and am looking forward to moving the starts outside soon – to be joined by peas, beans, and kale (comfort food for some 🙂  Through Twitter, I found a woman who is coordinating a site where people are exchanging seeds, and I’m looking forward to seeing where that takes me. In the past month, I have been reminded of a friend’s clear direction that if you’re not working, work out.  This has led me to spend more time at the gym (always looking for workout buddies) and yoga (mostly at the Yoga Space studios on 29th and Stark).  Thanks to Kristi’s recommendation of the book, Younger Next Year, I am also trying to remind my father who is very sedentary (72) that movement is the best way to fight aging, disease, etc.

I also read the book The Four Hour Work Week recently, which has a lot of great ideas on time management – one of the author’s recommendations is to go on a media diet, and I have cut back on my Oregonian habit in the last month, significantly.  Another positive change is that I’m finally licking, excuse the pun, my coffee addiction.  I’m down to drinking it once every 2 weeks or so, and if I’m about to order some, I welcome reminders that it’s not doing great things for me.  Thanks!

My visit to the East Coast was also a chance to catch up with my brother, Dan in Arlington and to work side by side in his office.  We also drove to Wyncoate to visit my parents and my sister, Liz, and her family (picture of my niece, Sophie, who turns 4 soon) who are doing very well.  I think it was probably the easiest visit I can remember – and especially nice was the dusting of snow we got which slowed things down for a couple of days.

Sophie Taylor


Like everyone, I am experiencing an economic slowdown.  I’m partly excited about our economy, and the world economy shifting away from the precipice of over-consumption I think we were headed towards.  And, at the same time, I recognize that this change is having real, hard effects on peoples’ lives – additional stress, hunger, unemployment, underemployment – all of these are real.  It really struck me how lucky we in the West are at the moment when I read this article on migration in the WA Post (yes, you need to subscribe, but it’s pretty quick).  I am excited at all of the talk and organizing towards a new society – a more equitable and interesting one – more on this topic in the next issue. I am also looking forward to the end of our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan – thanks to Todd who just sent me this link on how to move us towards peace.

It’s good to be alive. Right now. I hope things are going well for you and that you are loved and supported.

To close, I want to offer something that was in a friend’s e-newsletter Core Source News – Carolyn Campbell, a great life and business coach wrote this as the 8th item in the list of things to help us through these times, and life, in general.  I recommend signing up for her newsletter.

8) Have & nourish a community of support. And last, but certainly not least, have a community of support that nourishes your soul and supports your vision. Just as you can’t rely on your partner for all your companionship needs, nor should you rely on one group for all your support. Instead, imagine being part of multiple threads of connections, all of which enrich one or more aspects of your life. In the end, you will create a rich tapestry that provides solace for your soul, inspiration for your spirit, and success for your business.

Happy Spring!

Albert Kaufman
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Albert on Workshop Hike in Israel, 1979PS – From Facebook comes life in the past – my friend, Larry, posted this neat picture of me from a hike in the Sinai desert in 1979.  I haven’t changed a bit 🙂

 

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Monument to Bush shoe-throwing shines at Iraqi orphanage

January 30, 2009 by 1 Comment

Thank God Bush is no longer president

shoe
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) — For the war-beaten orphans of the northern Iraqi city of Tikrit, this big old shoe fits.

A monument to a shoe thrown at former President Bush is unveiled at the Tikrit Orphanage complex.

A monument to a shoe thrown at former President Bush is unveiled at the Tikrit Orphanage complex.

A huge sculpture of the footwear hurled at President Bush in December during a trip to Iraq has been unveiled in a ceremony at the Tikrit Orphanage complex.

Assisted by children at the home, sculptor Laith al-Amiri erected a brown replica of one of the shoes hurled at Bush and Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki by journalist Muntadhir al-Zaidi during a press conference in Baghdad.

Al-Zaidi was jailed for his actions, and a trial is pending. But his angry gesture touched a defiant nerve throughout the Arab and Muslim world. He is regarded by many people as a hero. Demonstrators in December took to the streets in the Arab world and called for his release.

The shoe monument, made of fiberglass and coated with copper, consists of the shoe and a concrete base. The entire monument is 3.5 meters (11.5 feet) high. The shoe is 2.5 meters (8.2 feet) long and 1.5 meters (4.9 feet) wide.

The orphans helped al-Amiri build the $5,000 structure — unveiled Tuesday — in 15 days, said Faten Abdulqader al-Naseri, the orphanage director.

“Those orphans who helped the sculptor in building this monument were the victims of Bush’s war,” al-Naseri said. “The shoe monument is a gift to the next generation to remember the heroic action by the journalist.”
Don’t Miss

* Bush shoe-thrower trial delayed

“When the next generation sees the shoe monument, they will ask their parents about it,” al-Naseri said.

“Then their parents will start talking about the hero Muntadhir al-Zaidi, who threw his shoe at George W. Bush during his unannounced farewell visit.”

Saddam Hussein, the former Iraqi leader toppled by the United States in 2003, was from the Tikrit region.

Al-Zaidi marked his 30th birthday in jail earlier this month. One of his brothers said he is “in good health and is being treated well.”

Al-Zaidi’s employer, TV network al-Baghdadia, keeps a picture of him at the top left side of the screen with a calendar showing the number of days he has spent in detention. The network has been calling for his release.

By tradition, throwing a shoe is the most insulting act in the Arab world.

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President Obama Rescinds Global Gag Rule!

January 24, 2009 by Leave a Comment

gag_ruleObama

We are thrilled to announce that only moments ago, President Barack Obama rescinded the notorious Global Gag Rule. As of today, the US government will be able to restore funding to dedicated and experienced family planning groups around the world—many of whom were forced to scale back their services or cease operations altogether under the strictures imposed by the previous administration.

WA Post article

Today’s action by our new president is the first step in restoring America’s image around the world as a leader in reproductive health and family planning, and it signals a sharp break with the policies of his predecessor. However, this act alone will not solve the problems associated with a rapidly growing population:  resource insecurity, social instability, and maternal and child death.  To confront these and other problems, the US must commit to a return to real investment in international family planning.  With a friendly administration in the White House and your help, we have the opportunity to make real progress on issues that impact not only all the world’s citizens, but the planet itself.

Please take a moment to thank the President for this first action and encourage him to pursue other policies in support of women, families, and the environment.

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Growthbusters Short

January 12, 2009 by Leave a Comment

growthbusters headerGrowthbusters

We can begin to voluntarily limit family size and start reducing world population now. Population reduction is an essential part of minimizing climate change, famine, poverty and ecosystem collapse. It is time we acknowledge population’s role in the sustainability equation and begin to implement truly sustainable population policies.

Growthbusters Short

We produced this PSA specifically to submit to ABC News for their network television special, Earth 2100.

Please visit https://www.growthbusters.com for more information about helping the world kick the habit of growth addiction.

6.25.2020 – Now a great podcast!

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Jan 2, 2009 – Connecting Organizers of Community Conversations for Connecting and Planning

January 10, 2009 by Leave a Comment

Connecting Organizers of Community Conversations for Connecting and Planning

Notes – Jan 2, 2009 – Connecting Organizers of Community Conversations for Connecting and Planning (event on Sunday, 1/11/09 in Portland info below.)

Jas: hosted community conversation. Had five areas: housing, shelter, food, finances, health, well being. conversation at Awakenings the week before thanksgiving. Reports came out of it – resource sharing website created by brian and a sense of regular gatherings coming together from abundance and sharing and helping each other: Art, healing, nurturing touch, food share, clothing share, networking needs board and a time for council to discuss what’s up for each of us. Event sponsored by several non-profits.
Also, as individual, been involved with community activism for decades, political management… neighborhood activist, chair of Multnomah county citizen involvement, etc. also a web designer and made neighborhood networking site. Wants to take that model and develop it for everyone. Urbanvillages.net

Sharon: new to this group. Working on the Vision into Action coalition – cross between city and community. Got 17,000 people engaged in sharing their vision. Now the coalition is a group of individuals and organizations working to move forward to that vision. Hybrid of city and community – interesting position. We need the City but it can’t be only the City. The three values from the community: community, equity and sustainability. The coalition is made of two full time staff people in the bureau of planning, a steering committee of 20 volunteers, a coalition of ? organizations. Event in early December had 150 people.

Rebecca: with Theodor, part of A Circle Group collective, offshoot of eco-psychology conference at Lewis and Clark last year. ACG interested in relationship building and social change, supporting activism. Everyone in group one foot in social work, counseling, therapy and another foot in community organizing. Interested in what helps groups thrive and what creates conflict – facilitate a process where orgs don’t get stuck. In the recent econ crisis, sent some emails asking how people are responding in an emotional way… this led to a community conversation at people’s coop with 100 people there. The energy in the room was very positive, hungry for community. People wanted more so we held another at st. francis church. 50-60 people showed up. Third one coming in late jan. people interested in relationship building and also training themselves to organized their own neighborhoods, communities, scenes. Social skills and information. Strong demand and hope.

Jeremy: CNRG co-chair and Portland Peak Oil – Peak Oil task force. Also permaculture designer. In his own house got all fruit needs last summer. Emergency response and sustainability has connections … going to expo gun shows and talking sustainabiliut

Albert: most recently thinking about Portland 3000. Part of sacred circle dance community. Rabble rouser. Started Freecycle Portland. Interested in helping catalyze this movement, transitioning from this society to one that shops less, makes less stuff. Transitioned own life out of consumption years ago and can support others now. Writes a lot on it.

Brian: working with Jas. Two things: food project, organizing local communities to grow more of their own food. Really interested in what others are doing. Looking at one block in a neigborhood and helping organize that block to grow more food. Help with seeds, worm bins, etc… share. Second: ran in southern Oregon 30 years ago—sharing network. People come together with different skills and share – no tracking and no accounting. Got 80 professionals to join in two weeks. Incredible response. Good way to spread people with high needs and low skills with this kind of economy. Plugged into a network of high producers, loosens the charitable act idea and more into co-supportive system. Will post to community support network: supportpdx.com . sections for food, shelter, health care, etc. social networking site. Post resources. Make requests.

Edie: economic downturn good for people consuming less stuff!

Howard: working as a writer at Ecotrust for 9 years. Touched on a lot of all the activities at Ecotrust – systems level type projects. Recent project: writing and editing an online journal called People and Place. Interested in what about what’s going on is replicable elsewhere, worth spreading. Upcoming issue of People and Place on that topic. Looking for writers. peopleandplace.net

Melora: work with ReCode – city and state level to change building codes to legalize sustainability and remove barriers to sus dev. More community networks so that the community can inform the city on what they want. Talked with Judith on facilitation training, getting those skills out to as man people as possible. Build basic foundation of communications. Personally into urban agriculture. People have fear because they don’t know where their food comes from, basic processes.

Jenny: here as a Cross-Pollinator. Spent the last two years listening and meeting with groups and people working on all types of grassroots social change, seeing redundancy… so many similar ideas and challenges but we don’t connect, link, talk, share, listen. Finding creative ways to do this. Through working at Southeast Uplift, City Repair and TLC Farm, connected with so many groups and now seeing network level patterns and opportunities. Also, was out of the country during election and economic collapse – missed it all! And was in Zimbabwe witnessing FULL systems collapse. Perspective.

Judith: at ONI – Effective Engagement Solutions. Try to come up with ways to systematically address places of conflict, engage civically for higher good focused on chronic issues between developers a land use chairs. Sene f what people don’t want to change. Restorative listening project, restorative justice principles looking at racism in NE Portland. Interested in what is it that makes us decide that you are the other and worth more or less than me, please to continue to perpetuate oppression. We have a lot more common in our interests and needs than separate but live in boxes. Project: six conversations on change with the neighborhood coalitions. Talk about what change means to all of us and our picture of the world. E example: historic preservation proponent talking about outer southeast small houses, unpaved – not “livable” like mount tabor houses but much more sustainable. Invite people to become critical thinkers and curious. Have us determine what govt does. Usually public involvement means that the ask each person or group what’s important but not prioritize together. Also interested in progressive fringe thinkers and groups to connect into city system so that they can shape policy more. Example: in black community the idea of consuming less hits a cultural issue about people having less historically. Talking with Melora about creative a network of facilitators. Was a mediator/facilitator or 20 years and good facilitation skills are undervalued – can make a really big difference.

Kate: works with Our United Villages.—local non-profit on N. Mississippi. Community outreach is three people – convene, consult and catalyze community building. Historically worked with one neighborhood at a time . now working with individuals. Hosting dialogues on improving race relations in Portland (all dialogues chosen by community). Second one tools for community building. Now in series called working together though challenging times – had two and next one is Jan. 10. Two more scheduled in southeast in diverse areas. Workshop on feb. 7. We do our work in ways that honor that some people want to get together to talk and others are project, action oriented… separate opportunities. Consulting: we are available to any individual or non-profit – we listen and see if there’s any way we can help. Maybe it looks like we give them a survey hat we’ve created or lessons learned or linking people together… any way to help. Free service.
Judith adds: OUV is funded through the ReBuilding center. RBC created so that the community work had a funding source that’s not outside. Social enterprise model.

Kerry: worked for 35 years with battered women and abused children. Concluded that without hands on mentoring and walking people through a process where people gain ownership in the things they want to change, they can’t change. They need to rewire themselves – give away ownership. Decided that watching people cycle in and out of the system is not rewarding and there has got to be another way. To be successful it must be open ended, not exclude. Poverty and violence will get worse unless people feel safe. Sharing food with community means less likely to steal it. There are so many languages that people use. Somewhere on the way we decided that we don’t have enough. Working with Judith on Restorative listening Project. Homelessness huge issue. Was at the homelessness protest at City hall. Saw Commissioner Leonard talking to someone who said “I have one question: if there was a natural disaster, what is the plan to take care of all you rich people? That would be a great solution for the immediate need.” It’s al one big system. We are all connected. If we don’t all succeed we all fail. If we can’t go to the gun show, then we lose a huge part of the population.

—————–

Our first Abundance Gathering (aka Hope Gathering) is coming up THIS
Sunday and we’d love for you to be there to help co-create this
community support event.  The two main initiators of this event (Jas
and Brian) have recently been manifesting Nirvana last weekend, but we
are looking forward to next weekend now and would love your help!

We have amazing people in our community who can help facilitate each
of the following areas. We are all artists, healers, facilitators and
networks.  Any one of us can help create the areas below.  Please
volunteer if you feel inspired to help create any of the following!

Food (and clothing) exchange / potlatch area

Networking Board area (should have paper and pens and a way for people
to post and respond to needs)

Healing and nurturing connections area (can anyone help haul mats and
blankets from Awakenings)

Art and self-expression area

We also need a facilitator for the Council at 4pm

Please reply to brian @ nanotech-now.com

Thanks!

jas

Come share in Abundance and Hope with Food, Art, Healing and Community:

Because when we share, we all have more!

ABUNDANCE of HOPE GATHERING
Sunday, January 11 ~ 1:30 – 6:30 PM
John’s Healing Oasis ~ 537 SE Ash #42

A month ago, we held a Community Conversation at Awakenings where over
50 participants focused on how we can come together as community from
a place of well-being and abundance to face the challenges and changes
ahead. Sacred Circle was one of the sponsors of that gathering, and
the report from that event is included below. A clear desire among
those gathered was to come together periodically to share resources,
our healing gifts, food and community.

Our first Abundance Gathering will be Sunday, 1/11, at John’s
Healing Oasis located at 537 SE Ash #42. Please spread the word!

We will designate separate spaces where we can enjoy food, engage in
art, share our healing gifts, and post requests and responses on a
networking board. There will also be a Potlatch Table where you can
leave food and clothing for others to take.

At 4pm, those who wish are invited to sit in Council together to
explore how we (individually and as community) deal with the huge
changes our society faces as we seek to live in greater harmony with
our fellow human beings and the planet.

Bring food, your artistic talent, your healing gifts, and an open mind.

If you have any questions, please call or email Jas or Brian.

See you next Sunday!

Also check out the new support website: https://www.communitysupportnetworkpdx.com (no longer active – 1.7.13

Contact Info:
Jas: jimjas at gmail.com / 503-544-3838
Brian: brian at nanotech-now.com / 541-840-8155

Portland

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