Hello Everyone
Imagine if our local councils granted rights to nature. Imagine them saying ‘no’ that development cannot go ahead because we value the trees, we value the natural beauty of the landscape and scarring the landscape with industrial monoliths disturbs the rights of other living things.
But, in fact a group of people, indeed a whole country can take a stand for sustainability and balance with nature.
Bolivia is set to pass the laws granting nature equal rights to humans. It is called the Law of Mother Earth.
This is one of the most significant laws in the history of human kind and its relationship to the Earth. And yet it has received almost no attention in the media.
According to the journalist John Vidal and the Guardian, the law will establish 11 new rights for nature.
They include: the right to life and to exist; the right to continue vital cycles and processes free from human alteration; the right to pure water and clean air; the right to balance; the right not to be polluted; and the right to not have cellular structure modified or genetically modified.
The controversial part of this is that it will enshrine the right of nature “to not be affected by mega-infrastructure and development projects that affect the balance of ecosystems and the local inhabitant communities”.
This is a major mind shift. The challenge for sustainability on the planet is for us to fully take on that we are no longer the owners and dominators of our environment. The shift will be to see ourselves as caretakers in harmony and balance with living entities around us.
I have often heard the owners of beautiful properties and houses in our community state that the property is not really theirs rather they are looking after it for other generations to enjoy. Imagine if that was the mind shift for all – we are caretakers not owners. This is the underlying philosophy of many indigenous people. Imagine that!!
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Monday, April 11, 2011
Roz Townsend- Author Meta Coach Corporate Trainer
Roz Townsend- Author Meta Coach Corporate Trainer:
Hello Everyone
I met a very interesting lady at one of our courses at Rahamim. We were talking about animals and she said that when her dog died she received more than 100 condolence cards.
I must admit that I found it incredible that someone should get 100 card over the death of a dog!
How could a dog’s life create so much I asked? She went on to share some of her stories. The lady was an epileptic and the dog would warn her a minute or two before she was to have a seizure. If she was out and about when the seizure occurred the dog would stand guard over her and not allow anyone near her unless they could assist. No matter where she was she was always safe and her handbag or whatever was not at risk.
The dog also had an uncanny knack of creating peace between other dogs. A an alpha dog , he would often step in the middle of fighting dogs to separate them and send them off to mind their own business. Even as an old dog he continued to do this until he a week or so until he died.
Yes, I think if I had known that dog I would want to have sent a condolence card to his poor owner too.
And recently many Japanese rescuers and the public were brought to tears when a dog had survived three weeks in the water after the tsunami. His rescue brightened everyone and brought emotions of hope and gratitude to so many.
Why am I sharing these stories with you? Because we are increasingly aware that we have a strong connection with all beings on the planet. We also believe that we need to bring forth a human presence that respects all life forms. We celebrate life in all its rich variety.
Hello Everyone
I met a very interesting lady at one of our courses at Rahamim. We were talking about animals and she said that when her dog died she received more than 100 condolence cards.
I must admit that I found it incredible that someone should get 100 card over the death of a dog!
How could a dog’s life create so much I asked? She went on to share some of her stories. The lady was an epileptic and the dog would warn her a minute or two before she was to have a seizure. If she was out and about when the seizure occurred the dog would stand guard over her and not allow anyone near her unless they could assist. No matter where she was she was always safe and her handbag or whatever was not at risk.
The dog also had an uncanny knack of creating peace between other dogs. A an alpha dog , he would often step in the middle of fighting dogs to separate them and send them off to mind their own business. Even as an old dog he continued to do this until he a week or so until he died.
Yes, I think if I had known that dog I would want to have sent a condolence card to his poor owner too.
And recently many Japanese rescuers and the public were brought to tears when a dog had survived three weeks in the water after the tsunami. His rescue brightened everyone and brought emotions of hope and gratitude to so many.
Why am I sharing these stories with you? Because we are increasingly aware that we have a strong connection with all beings on the planet. We also believe that we need to bring forth a human presence that respects all life forms. We celebrate life in all its rich variety.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Hello Everyone
I was interested to hear a number of my friends commenting on how healthy I looked after returning from India. This really intrigued me, as the extremes of air conditioning and summer heat gave me a mild asthma attack. The lack of mosquito netting had me covered in mozzie bites, some of which became quite irritated – thank goodness for those malaria tablets! What on earth could I have been doing to make me appear so healthy?
Chennai in India is a strongly vegetarian area where rice and other flours are used in preference to wheat. Also, women, do not usually drink alcohol, men sometimes drink spirits and beer. My diet was therefore heavily based on curried rice, curried lentils and curried vegetables – for breakfast, lunch and dinner! One of the most memorable meals presented to me after a workshop at one of the universities was of very spicy, green, spinach rice dish, accompanied by less spicy yellow, saffron rice with a side dish of rice porridge!
Even the odd omelette I ordered was curried! I was not too fussed on Indian coffee or tea as they were made with condensed milk and very sweet, so my main drink was water. Who would have thought that all of this wheat-free, alcohol-free, caffeine-free diet would have had such an impact in such a short time?
Then in Malaysia we saw the Muslim attitude to food. Although we did not observe Ramadan I enjoyed eating the Halal meat. And like the fact that the animal was blessed before it was slaughtered.
But it did get me thinking...what if we became more vegetarian? What would it do for our own individual health and that of the planet? Certainly all the research suggests that a more vegetarian diet would be one of the easiest ways to have a more sustainable planet.
The movies on the plane got me thinking too. There is a scene in Avatar where meat is blessed before it is eaten and the animal acknowledged for giving up its life to feed us.
How many of us really consider the origin of the food we eat? And the life that has been sacrificed to sate our hunger? As a farmer’s daughter I remember well the number of animals my Dad killed to feed our family in fact I was quite adept at preparing chicken and turkeys from his training. But I never once stopped to acknowledge that animal and thank it for giving up its life to feed us. If you have ever seen the film “The Gods Must Be Crazy” you will recall that the tribesman always thanked his prey for the food that it would give his family.
It seems that we are very disconnected from our food supply. Once upon a time every family had their own vegetable garden usually accompanied with a chook yard too. Children got to plant vegetables, in my case the first experience was radish as it was foolproof. Community gardens are a way that we can contribute to reconnecting to the land. In using permaculture principles conserving our resources and applying sustainability techniques we can all share our knowledge and produce with the community.
Live! Love! Laugh! ...and Share!
Till next time
Roz Townsend http://www.roztownsend.com/
I was interested to hear a number of my friends commenting on how healthy I looked after returning from India. This really intrigued me, as the extremes of air conditioning and summer heat gave me a mild asthma attack. The lack of mosquito netting had me covered in mozzie bites, some of which became quite irritated – thank goodness for those malaria tablets! What on earth could I have been doing to make me appear so healthy?
Chennai in India is a strongly vegetarian area where rice and other flours are used in preference to wheat. Also, women, do not usually drink alcohol, men sometimes drink spirits and beer. My diet was therefore heavily based on curried rice, curried lentils and curried vegetables – for breakfast, lunch and dinner! One of the most memorable meals presented to me after a workshop at one of the universities was of very spicy, green, spinach rice dish, accompanied by less spicy yellow, saffron rice with a side dish of rice porridge!
Even the odd omelette I ordered was curried! I was not too fussed on Indian coffee or tea as they were made with condensed milk and very sweet, so my main drink was water. Who would have thought that all of this wheat-free, alcohol-free, caffeine-free diet would have had such an impact in such a short time?
Then in Malaysia we saw the Muslim attitude to food. Although we did not observe Ramadan I enjoyed eating the Halal meat. And like the fact that the animal was blessed before it was slaughtered.
But it did get me thinking...what if we became more vegetarian? What would it do for our own individual health and that of the planet? Certainly all the research suggests that a more vegetarian diet would be one of the easiest ways to have a more sustainable planet.
The movies on the plane got me thinking too. There is a scene in Avatar where meat is blessed before it is eaten and the animal acknowledged for giving up its life to feed us.
How many of us really consider the origin of the food we eat? And the life that has been sacrificed to sate our hunger? As a farmer’s daughter I remember well the number of animals my Dad killed to feed our family in fact I was quite adept at preparing chicken and turkeys from his training. But I never once stopped to acknowledge that animal and thank it for giving up its life to feed us. If you have ever seen the film “The Gods Must Be Crazy” you will recall that the tribesman always thanked his prey for the food that it would give his family.
It seems that we are very disconnected from our food supply. Once upon a time every family had their own vegetable garden usually accompanied with a chook yard too. Children got to plant vegetables, in my case the first experience was radish as it was foolproof. Community gardens are a way that we can contribute to reconnecting to the land. In using permaculture principles conserving our resources and applying sustainability techniques we can all share our knowledge and produce with the community.
Live! Love! Laugh! ...and Share!
Till next time
Roz Townsend http://www.roztownsend.com/
Friday, July 23, 2010
Facebook, Mental Health and Spirituality
Hello Everyone
Last week was a big week for me. I received a phone call one evening from a dear friend of mine and it was obvious she was very distressed. Early the next morning I received another call from the hospital to say that she was ill. As my sister suicided 10 years ago, I am now acutely aware of the mental anguish some people experience and how difficult it can be for them to ask for help.
I changed my plans for the week and flew across the country to be with her and help her in any way I could. It seemed that one of the best things I could do for her was to take her away to a quiet piece of the countryside. I was lucky that the beach was only 30 minutes away and we found an isolated spot to soak up the sun, listen to the waves gently lapping the shoreline and watch the birds. She fell asleep swaddled by the beauty and therapy that only nature can offer. Later she awoke feeling far more peaceful.
What is it about nature that is so soothing and nourishing to the spirit? Not that I do know the answer but, I suppose in some way it touches the inner core of who we are and our deep connectedness to this planet.
My relationship and commitment to this dear friend is something I cherish. So it is with some detachment that I read about the great social media of Facebook having reached its 500 millionth ‘friend’. There is no doubt that the internet and all it offers is going to be a significant part of the future. It IS another world and one that we will need to understand.
We have the internet and while it is the future, what is equally clear is that we need to remember our connectedness with the planet and the intimate friendships that go well beyond anything that Facebook could ever offer.
At its deepest level, our commitment to spiritual fulfilment, social justice and environmental sustainability are not likely to be achieved by superficial relationships on the net. We need not only a balance but a real desire to highlight the importance of nature. What were the words of that famous song? Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens... wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings these are a few of my favourite things!
Yes we have technology and it can be wonderful, we just need a balance.
Live! love! Laugh!
Roz Townsend visit www.roztownsend.com
Last week was a big week for me. I received a phone call one evening from a dear friend of mine and it was obvious she was very distressed. Early the next morning I received another call from the hospital to say that she was ill. As my sister suicided 10 years ago, I am now acutely aware of the mental anguish some people experience and how difficult it can be for them to ask for help.
I changed my plans for the week and flew across the country to be with her and help her in any way I could. It seemed that one of the best things I could do for her was to take her away to a quiet piece of the countryside. I was lucky that the beach was only 30 minutes away and we found an isolated spot to soak up the sun, listen to the waves gently lapping the shoreline and watch the birds. She fell asleep swaddled by the beauty and therapy that only nature can offer. Later she awoke feeling far more peaceful.
What is it about nature that is so soothing and nourishing to the spirit? Not that I do know the answer but, I suppose in some way it touches the inner core of who we are and our deep connectedness to this planet.
My relationship and commitment to this dear friend is something I cherish. So it is with some detachment that I read about the great social media of Facebook having reached its 500 millionth ‘friend’. There is no doubt that the internet and all it offers is going to be a significant part of the future. It IS another world and one that we will need to understand.
We have the internet and while it is the future, what is equally clear is that we need to remember our connectedness with the planet and the intimate friendships that go well beyond anything that Facebook could ever offer.
At its deepest level, our commitment to spiritual fulfilment, social justice and environmental sustainability are not likely to be achieved by superficial relationships on the net. We need not only a balance but a real desire to highlight the importance of nature. What were the words of that famous song? Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens... wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings these are a few of my favourite things!
Yes we have technology and it can be wonderful, we just need a balance.
Live! love! Laugh!
Roz Townsend visit www.roztownsend.com
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Technology and Spiritual Nourishment
Hello Everyone
Can you remember the first time you saw a mobile phone? Can you remember the first time you saw a television? Can you remember the first time you saw your mother? These are some of the questions that Dr Bruce Fell from Charles Sturt university challenged us with recently. For those of you reading this article you probably do remember the ‘first time’ you saw these things – except for your mother of course.
Dr Fell pointed out that for most of his students, they have no first memory of the mobile phone and many other items of technology. This level of technology has always been with them.
And recently I met the father of a two year old. The father woke up thinking that a stranger had entered his house and was talking to his son. When he went to investigate he found that the two year old had already mastered his latest piece of technology. The two year old had turned on his father’s iphone, then found one of his favourite stories and tapped on the icon to have the story read to him as he turned the pages! This from a two year old. What on earth will he be like as a twenty year old!
It is as though there is another planet that many young people are living on and it is the virtual world. A world where people do not ‘go’ online they are ‘living’ online; they are ‘being’ online.
It was also interesting when Dr Fell recounted an assignment he gave his students where they had to go outside into nature and observe. For many students this was their ‘first’ time in nature. Scary isn’t it?
This is one of the main reasons why the work done by organisations like Rahamim Ecological Learning Community is so important. It offers a space in Bathurst where people committed to living the spiritual values of mercy and justice might find kindred spirits. It also provides a gathering place where people can explore what it means to be good planetary citizens in the third millennium.
To lead healthy lives, people need the space and programs nourish their spirit. IA time and space where they can be connected to other people, the planet and their spirit. This in turn leads to a greater sense of well-being and purpose.
We need to acknowledge the place of consumerism and technology and then find a balance with real human values.
Live1 love Laugh!
Roz
http://www.roztownsend.com/
Can you remember the first time you saw a mobile phone? Can you remember the first time you saw a television? Can you remember the first time you saw your mother? These are some of the questions that Dr Bruce Fell from Charles Sturt university challenged us with recently. For those of you reading this article you probably do remember the ‘first time’ you saw these things – except for your mother of course.
Dr Fell pointed out that for most of his students, they have no first memory of the mobile phone and many other items of technology. This level of technology has always been with them.
And recently I met the father of a two year old. The father woke up thinking that a stranger had entered his house and was talking to his son. When he went to investigate he found that the two year old had already mastered his latest piece of technology. The two year old had turned on his father’s iphone, then found one of his favourite stories and tapped on the icon to have the story read to him as he turned the pages! This from a two year old. What on earth will he be like as a twenty year old!
It is as though there is another planet that many young people are living on and it is the virtual world. A world where people do not ‘go’ online they are ‘living’ online; they are ‘being’ online.
It was also interesting when Dr Fell recounted an assignment he gave his students where they had to go outside into nature and observe. For many students this was their ‘first’ time in nature. Scary isn’t it?
This is one of the main reasons why the work done by organisations like Rahamim Ecological Learning Community is so important. It offers a space in Bathurst where people committed to living the spiritual values of mercy and justice might find kindred spirits. It also provides a gathering place where people can explore what it means to be good planetary citizens in the third millennium.
To lead healthy lives, people need the space and programs nourish their spirit. IA time and space where they can be connected to other people, the planet and their spirit. This in turn leads to a greater sense of well-being and purpose.
We need to acknowledge the place of consumerism and technology and then find a balance with real human values.
Live1 love Laugh!
Roz
http://www.roztownsend.com/
Sunday, June 27, 2010
The Importance of Family - at every level
Hello Everyone
Many of us in Bathurst, my country town in Australia are being challenged by the impact on the importance of ‘family’ and how disruptive any changes can be.
For those of us who recently attended the funeral this much loved young man in Bathurst we see how his death at the young age of 31 has so profoundly impacted his family and the community generally.
And yet other changes are on the horizon as one of the spiritual leaders of so many in Bathurst has announced that his journey in life will have him leaving Bathurst. Similarly, those of us who take a political interest have reacted in amazement that the Australian political ‘father’ ie Kevin Rudd has been replaced.
Many of our leaders and global parents are under considerable pressure. We expect so much of them. And we easily lose our willingness to support them when they err.
Have you ever thought that you create the people around you? That the way you react and treat people, creates who they are? It is an interesting thought isn’t it. It means that we can become proactive in supporting and loving those around us and helping them become all that they can be.
So how have you been creating the important people in your world? Remeber: in the end all that matters is who you have loved and how well you have loved.
Till we meet again
Roz
Many of us in Bathurst, my country town in Australia are being challenged by the impact on the importance of ‘family’ and how disruptive any changes can be.
For those of us who recently attended the funeral this much loved young man in Bathurst we see how his death at the young age of 31 has so profoundly impacted his family and the community generally.
And yet other changes are on the horizon as one of the spiritual leaders of so many in Bathurst has announced that his journey in life will have him leaving Bathurst. Similarly, those of us who take a political interest have reacted in amazement that the Australian political ‘father’ ie Kevin Rudd has been replaced.
Many of our leaders and global parents are under considerable pressure. We expect so much of them. And we easily lose our willingness to support them when they err.
Have you ever thought that you create the people around you? That the way you react and treat people, creates who they are? It is an interesting thought isn’t it. It means that we can become proactive in supporting and loving those around us and helping them become all that they can be.
So how have you been creating the important people in your world? Remeber: in the end all that matters is who you have loved and how well you have loved.
Till we meet again
Roz
Monday, May 31, 2010
Foods that rot
Hello Everyone
Have you ever thought about eating rotten food? Well to be more precise, I should say ‘have you thought about the importance of eating food that rots? That was certainly running through my mind last weekend when I did my grocery shopping. One the one hand I was delighted to see a father doing the grocery shopping with his two young children. On the other hand I thought ‘he has bought nothing that rots’.
I watched him go through the checkout with numerous boxes of muffins, muesli bars, loaves of white bread, packages of sausages, containers of ice-cream and various other boxes. It occurred to me that he has nothing that rots! All the food stuffs had an incredibly long shelf life. There was nothing fresh, no fruit, no vegetables not even any frozen vegetables.
I guess we have all heard stories of the hamburger that has been left for months without any signs of deterioration. How does this occur? Obviously with large amounts of preservatives – things that stop the natural breakdown of matter. Nanoparticles are one of the key ways that bacteria is killed. It is bacteria which encourages the natural rotting process.
Nanoparticles are thousands of times smaller than the width of a human hair. And nanotechnology has been hailed as a new wonder technology. Accordin to the developers ‘it is able to make stronger and more lightweight materials, better cosmetics and tastier or healthier foods’. But the risks and research on it are sadly lacking.
Stephen Holgate, a clinical professor of immunopharmacology at the University of Southampton, says "Most of the research so far... has shown that these particles can penetrate barriers and get into the system. They can find their way into the liver, into the kidney and even into the brain."
A Friends of the Earth‘s report found that untested nanotechnology is being used in more than 100 food products, food packaging and contact materials currently on the shelf, without warning or testing. Tomato sauce for example is one of the 100s of common food items containing these nanoparticles.
Nanomaterials can be used as more potent food colorings, flavorings and nutritional additives, antibacterial ingredients for food packaging, and more potent agrochemicals and fertilizers. Nanomaterials can be in the packaging around biscuits, provide the color for meat, and supply added nutrients in shakes given to toddlers.
Nanoparticles have been shown in preliminary studies to be chemically reactive and when they find their way into our bodies, they can potentially wreak havoc. We also don’t know how much we can safely ingest without harm, but we do know that some studies have already shown that nanomaterials can adversely affect our immune system.
Why I am sticking my neck out to tell you about this rather scientific new technology? Because the best foods for our bodies are the ones that do rot if not consumed fresh.
What can you do to protect yourself and your family? You could consider taking part in a community garden project or developing your own vegetable garden. Consider learning about the benefits of permaculture. Consciously choose the foods that nourish you and the planet.
Have you ever thought about eating rotten food? Well to be more precise, I should say ‘have you thought about the importance of eating food that rots? That was certainly running through my mind last weekend when I did my grocery shopping. One the one hand I was delighted to see a father doing the grocery shopping with his two young children. On the other hand I thought ‘he has bought nothing that rots’.
I watched him go through the checkout with numerous boxes of muffins, muesli bars, loaves of white bread, packages of sausages, containers of ice-cream and various other boxes. It occurred to me that he has nothing that rots! All the food stuffs had an incredibly long shelf life. There was nothing fresh, no fruit, no vegetables not even any frozen vegetables.
I guess we have all heard stories of the hamburger that has been left for months without any signs of deterioration. How does this occur? Obviously with large amounts of preservatives – things that stop the natural breakdown of matter. Nanoparticles are one of the key ways that bacteria is killed. It is bacteria which encourages the natural rotting process.
Nanoparticles are thousands of times smaller than the width of a human hair. And nanotechnology has been hailed as a new wonder technology. Accordin to the developers ‘it is able to make stronger and more lightweight materials, better cosmetics and tastier or healthier foods’. But the risks and research on it are sadly lacking.
Stephen Holgate, a clinical professor of immunopharmacology at the University of Southampton, says "Most of the research so far... has shown that these particles can penetrate barriers and get into the system. They can find their way into the liver, into the kidney and even into the brain."
A Friends of the Earth‘s report found that untested nanotechnology is being used in more than 100 food products, food packaging and contact materials currently on the shelf, without warning or testing. Tomato sauce for example is one of the 100s of common food items containing these nanoparticles.
Nanomaterials can be used as more potent food colorings, flavorings and nutritional additives, antibacterial ingredients for food packaging, and more potent agrochemicals and fertilizers. Nanomaterials can be in the packaging around biscuits, provide the color for meat, and supply added nutrients in shakes given to toddlers.
Nanoparticles have been shown in preliminary studies to be chemically reactive and when they find their way into our bodies, they can potentially wreak havoc. We also don’t know how much we can safely ingest without harm, but we do know that some studies have already shown that nanomaterials can adversely affect our immune system.
Why I am sticking my neck out to tell you about this rather scientific new technology? Because the best foods for our bodies are the ones that do rot if not consumed fresh.
What can you do to protect yourself and your family? You could consider taking part in a community garden project or developing your own vegetable garden. Consider learning about the benefits of permaculture. Consciously choose the foods that nourish you and the planet.
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