hope for the future?

In response to Father Joe's essay about what he would do if he was 12 1/2 again instead of 87 1/2
- learn accounting, computing, get a pHD, and set up a small business growing and planting fruit trees.

The combination of accounting and planting trees particularly fruit trees is very worthwhile for survival. But if society heads in a more sustainable direction we might end up with a barter system rather than $ so nothing for the accountants to count.

I would dearly love to see more of our parks filled with fruit trees for all to enjoy and eat the fruits. In Spain they had orange trees everywhere and people were able to gather the fruits - considerately of course.

I also think there is a need for all good citizens to have an understanding of science so we can contribute knowledgeably about the peak oil and climate change debate, as well as make informed decisions about our health and well being - which products to buy and which to avoid; how to avoid polluting our environment and live holistically.

Our society has forgotten that we live in an interconnected web where each action influences all other actions The forest fire in Indonesia not only pollutes the immediate environment but also influences the weather in the rest of the world. We all live under the same stratosphere but people seem to think they have their own personal bubble in the environment which they can pollute without any effect on other creatures. David Suzuki writes about how water molecules travel throughout the globe.

The water molecule someone pees out in the Northern hemisphere can end up in our rainwater here in Dunedin....somewhat worn out I guess but still the same molecule. His website is at: http://www.davidsuzuki.org/

Have you read much about the principles of Gaia, Joe, by James Lovelock? He has written about the idea of earth as an holistic entitiy.

See: http://www.ecolo.org/lovelock/what_is_Gaia.html .
His website is at: http://www.ecolo.org/lovelock/ There are lots of links to his writing there.

Also don't forget about psychology which we will all need so we can understand the mentality of the human race, and the psychologists who will be needed to help people accept the stuff that is happening. :)

And also some awareness of social justice and human cultures so we can treat each other humanly when the crunch comes.

My band wagon at the moment is sustainability and this is not only about the environment but also in every area of society. The organisation where I work, is including sustainability in all areas of the educational curriculum. For example, when students learn about computing, they also have to consider whether computers are made ethically, and disposed of in an environmentally friendly way.

We have each been given a "recycled" plastic tray for our used paper so it can be recycled. A small step but an important one. Next a worm farm for the staff kitchens. Also they are running expos about sustainable products (What's Best?) (see http://www.otagopolytechnic.ac.nz/), and talking about setting up a pool of bicycles for getting around campus and the city. A group of us at the polytechnic are starting workshops around building a Cob oven and permaculture. At least we will eat well, slow food yum.

There are also local sustainability action groups setting up - organising for peak oil. Yes we take it very seriously down here in kiwi land. The farmers are still spraying and dosing and polluting but there are regulations around polluting streams. And unfortunately organics is still a very small industry but growing.

Misha - kitten extraordinaire

Misha ventures out in the snow

Our adopted grand-kitten is adorable. In the picture she is about 9 months old and discovering snow for the very first time. She has so much character and demands so much attention. I am constantly amazed at how she defends herself from the attentions of the dogs - who harrass her mercilessly. She has a mighty cuff with those feisty paws of hers. She loves to snuggle under the covers which she gets to do as a treat in the mornings. She is a great hottie when reading in bed at night when she prefers to lie on top of the bed. When her "mother" comes to visit, they cuddle all night to make up for lost time. We hope that she wont have her first and only batch of kittens too young....there was a ginger tom hanging around so we may have kittens for xmas. Irresponsible but fun.

my birthday

I had a wonderful Bronwyn-day on my birthday. Lots of phone calls from friends and lovely family; this kept me chatting til late morning. Then I spent some time admiring the beautiful flowers which arrived on my pre-birth day from him and her and her & him in Oakura. I also spent some time meditating on the last 55 years, thinking back to my very first memories s a child and some of the milestones. I believe my earliest memory dates back to the day of my sister's birth, when our Dad brought my brother and I a pack of Rolos each; we were staying with Nana and Grandad while Mum was in "the home". Rolos have always been my favourite sweet.

In the afternoon, I had lunch at Custom House with two of my favourite people even though they were both suffering from bad colds. Something strange about the smell of the moki in batter though; I'm pretty sure it is a strong fish but not that strong - no ill effects so the frying must have killed the bugs. Unfortunately for me or fortunately for the others, my smell wasn't impaired.

Then out for sushi & a movie with J - an emotional wrenching tale about a kidnap victim - Daniel Pearl; A Mighty Heart (Wikipedia, 2007). The film was based on Marianne Pearl's memoirs. Angeline Jolie's acting was stunning and she looked a lot like Marianne Pearl; she was especially amazing in the scene when she screams out her loss and grief.

It was so good to take the day off completely and not even look at my computer. I must do more of that even on unbirthdays.