embodying the change we wish to see in the world!
Today, I was inspired by a statement from the stilt-walking eco-warrior & co-chair for Austin Zero Waste, Chad Rittenberry... who said something that I have been feeling myself, for some time, "Imagine if we all did a little less partying and became more active in progressive movements of change for the better, what a better world it might be?"
My initial thought was that people need to have *some* recreation & stress relief... within reason? I also think that many people get lost in the party when they're afraid, angry, disgusted, disillusioned, or just feel powerless to do anything about the state of the world... we just have to find ways to promote progressive, sustainable, environmental movements that are as much fun... if not more fun than the parties! In fact, that's what I have always loved about Burners Without Borders projects... working hard makes playing hard all the more fun!
After fielding some criticism & accusations that BWB & Burners in general are hypocrites... since there is so much extravagant waste of fossil fuels & other precious resources, as well as the accompanying pollution, all in the name of a hedonistic party, however much philosophical justification one may attach to it.
I also brought up the example of Matthew Barney's use of petroleum in various contexts:
http://www.sfmoma.org/multimedia/videos/319
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drawing_Restraint_9
http://articles.sfgate.com/2006-06-23/news/17301213_1_jelly-matthew-barney-sculptures
Casey Miller (an artist, builder, designer, manufacturer, & distributor of Green Building Materials) stated "The use of Petroleum as fuel (let alone art?) is responsible for wars, pollution and economic corruption. Use as little as possible under ALL circumstances. Ask yourself with every drop you use, 'Is this neccesary for my survival and happiness, and is my vanity and convenience worth the negative impact I am having on the world?'"
I expressed that I, too, have been critical of the extravagant waste that many "burners" and other artists are guilty of... I would certainly prefer to contribute resources towards the creation of sustainable projects... an endeavor which Burners Without Borders is devoted to, as well.
Oddly enough, Burners Without Borders was actually originally a reference made by outsiders that stuck, since it was such an apt term... and although BRC, LLC does fund an official BWB project, i haven't met many BWB participants who are doing it b/c it's a "sponsored" activity... there are many individuals who simply espouse some beliefs in common with the burner ethos that just find it convenient to rally around the term... primates are banding creatures, after all... and at least they are devoting their artistic egos towards a humanitarian effort... i really think that it's more of a descriptive term than anything; but apparently, some people think that it's doing the humanitarian efforts a disservice to refer to burner culture in any way?
I always appreciate constructive criticism... and as far as i'm concerned, you can criticize all you want as long as you offer an alternative.
I originally used BWB as an example of how you can attract people with the party, and get them to stay because of the humanitarian work ;-)
To further clarify... I do not want to promote wasteful extravagance... i am simply pointing out that even burners are starting to become more aware of their ecological footprint (as evidenced by Cooling Man, and other similar projects to offset carbon emissions, etc.). Some have even decided to find alternate means of travel: I know people who have biked to Burning Man.
Since my adolescence, The Bodhisattva Vow has been a guiding principle for me: "Whatever the highest perfection of the human heart-mind may I realize it for the benefit of all that lives!"
I have been thinking about how Ghandi's Satyagraha movement was able to bring together individuals from disparate backgrounds by focusing on shared principles, and developing a community ethos... and concerning the Sanskrit concept of "ahimsa" ...which the Jains interpret in the extreme (wearing masks & sweeping their paths, lest they harm an insect), while Buddhists & Hindus take a slightly more moderate position of harm reduction.
However... "A thorough historical and philosophical study of ahimsa was instrumental in the shaping of Albert Schweitzer's principle of 'reverence for life.' Schweitzer criticized Indian philosophical and religious traditions for having conceived ahimsa as the negative principle of avoiding violence instead of emphasizing the importance of positive action (helping injured beings)."
So, rather than focussing on what we don't want (dependence on fossil fuels or displays of wastefully extravagance as art), maybe we can continue to explore what progressive & sustainable alternatives we can develop? ...perhaps consider Bucky Fuller's World Game, for instance? But probably not Jacques Fresco's Venus Project, since he was a scam artist!
The more you focus on what you don't want people to do, the less you can focus on the alternatives... and when people use an angry, defensive tone when talking about solutions, it may make it difficult for people to listen... catching more flies with honey than vinegar & all that?
Yet, I would agree that sometimes it's important to recognize that vinegar is vinegar.
q.v. the vinegar tasters
Still, from what I understand, in any relationship, it's important to communicate more praise than criticism... in fact, if the ratio drops to something like three positive comments for every four negative ones, then any relationship will fall apart... but if there's too little criticism, then praise is devalued & the actual problems are ignored (this seems to apply equally, whether in love, friendship, or business).
To attempt to clarify again... I think that it's important to encourage people to conserve resources in general, as well as preserving the environment... I am thrilled with progressive endeavors like sustainable alternative energies and manufacturing processes, permaculture and rewilding projects, educational & healthcare projects, as well as gift culture, barter, time exchange and complementary currencies.
I also came across a recent comment by Daniel Pinchbeck that directly relates to this theme:
"...perhaps the only tactic is to prepare the alternative social model (complementary currency, permaculture communities, alternative energy) and hope that there is enough of a living world left to allow our species some continuity, when the dust clears after peak oil brings about the fall of Empire. The first thing that would have to happen is a unification of progressive groups and interests. If you had 20 million people including all of the computer scientists and engineers orchestrated in a week-long general strike for a new energy program or monetary system, re-done on a massive rapid scale, for instance, it might be possible to start making some changes."
My intent is to explore ways to make it fun for people to start devoting themselves to progress, instead of just distracting themselves with hedonism (even if it's important to get some recreation, people obviously have a tendency to avoid problems when they can just run away and have fun, instead)... in that vein, I am always happy to provide further resources for people to explore if they are having any trouble finding a place to start or continue making a change for the better:
WHAT THE WORLD WANTS ...AND HOW TO PAY FOR IT USING MILITARY EXPENDITURES
Design Science Reference Materials
Buckminster Fuller Challenge Idea Index v1.0
Worldchanging.com: a nonprofit media organization covering new tools, models and ideas for building a bright green future.
The Earth Charter
The Venus Project (beyond politics, poverty, & war): Aims and Proposals
The Zeitgeist Movement: Orientation Presentation video slides & manual
And then there are certain documents that offer extensive grave criticism as well as alternative solutions... I might add that, even though this document was authored anonymously, it ended up landing the publishers in prison for a while:
The Coming Insurrection
Or, perhaps you will enjoy my own considerably more adolescent sense of absurdist-nihilist humor...
satirizing Wittgenstein's famous aphorism, 'Don't try and shit higher than your arse', which Wittgenstein applied to philosophers like Popper who thought they could change the world.
But more to the point of appreciation, agreement, & mutual support of actual progress (rather than satire & other double-speak)... Casey Miller also mentioned that he has volunteered to work with Greg Mortenson's organization, The Central Asia Institute... promoting the education of young ladies in Afganistan ...& I could not be more in support of such an evolutionarily sound project!
"Reflecting on the state of the post-9/11 world, Mortenson argues that extremism in the region can be deterred through collaborative efforts to alleviate poverty and improve access to education, especially for girls. Formerly, schooling focused on the boys, but educated boys tend to move to the cities to find jobs, and seldom return. By contrast, educated girls tend to remain in the community and pass their enhanced knowledge to the next generation. Thus, Mortenson suggests, educating girls has more of a lasting benefit for the community."
To fight terror, Montanan builds schools in Asia (it's too bad that that Greg Mortenson guy turned out to be such a lying crook... yikes!.)
A year ago, I wrote an essay about the martyr, Neda Agha-Soltan & The Green Movement in Iran
"tyranny may be able to slow our progress, but the will of the people cannot be stopped"
which i reviewed again recently, when further revisionist propaganda surfaced
and again on the anniversary of her murder
And as much as i have researched and devoted my life to matrilineal, matriarchal & matrifocal culture... I am going to have to go write a story like Three Cups of Tea, but one that is based on truth!
My initial thought was that people need to have *some* recreation & stress relief... within reason? I also think that many people get lost in the party when they're afraid, angry, disgusted, disillusioned, or just feel powerless to do anything about the state of the world... we just have to find ways to promote progressive, sustainable, environmental movements that are as much fun... if not more fun than the parties! In fact, that's what I have always loved about Burners Without Borders projects... working hard makes playing hard all the more fun!
After fielding some criticism & accusations that BWB & Burners in general are hypocrites... since there is so much extravagant waste of fossil fuels & other precious resources, as well as the accompanying pollution, all in the name of a hedonistic party, however much philosophical justification one may attach to it.
I also brought up the example of Matthew Barney's use of petroleum in various contexts:
http://www.sfmoma.org/multimedia/videos/319
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drawing_Restraint_9
http://articles.sfgate.com/2006-06-23/news/17301213_1_jelly-matthew-barney-sculptures
Casey Miller (an artist, builder, designer, manufacturer, & distributor of Green Building Materials) stated "The use of Petroleum as fuel (let alone art?) is responsible for wars, pollution and economic corruption. Use as little as possible under ALL circumstances. Ask yourself with every drop you use, 'Is this neccesary for my survival and happiness, and is my vanity and convenience worth the negative impact I am having on the world?'"
I expressed that I, too, have been critical of the extravagant waste that many "burners" and other artists are guilty of... I would certainly prefer to contribute resources towards the creation of sustainable projects... an endeavor which Burners Without Borders is devoted to, as well.
Oddly enough, Burners Without Borders was actually originally a reference made by outsiders that stuck, since it was such an apt term... and although BRC, LLC does fund an official BWB project, i haven't met many BWB participants who are doing it b/c it's a "sponsored" activity... there are many individuals who simply espouse some beliefs in common with the burner ethos that just find it convenient to rally around the term... primates are banding creatures, after all... and at least they are devoting their artistic egos towards a humanitarian effort... i really think that it's more of a descriptive term than anything; but apparently, some people think that it's doing the humanitarian efforts a disservice to refer to burner culture in any way?
I always appreciate constructive criticism... and as far as i'm concerned, you can criticize all you want as long as you offer an alternative.
I originally used BWB as an example of how you can attract people with the party, and get them to stay because of the humanitarian work ;-)
To further clarify... I do not want to promote wasteful extravagance... i am simply pointing out that even burners are starting to become more aware of their ecological footprint (as evidenced by Cooling Man, and other similar projects to offset carbon emissions, etc.). Some have even decided to find alternate means of travel: I know people who have biked to Burning Man.
Since my adolescence, The Bodhisattva Vow has been a guiding principle for me: "Whatever the highest perfection of the human heart-mind may I realize it for the benefit of all that lives!"
I have been thinking about how Ghandi's Satyagraha movement was able to bring together individuals from disparate backgrounds by focusing on shared principles, and developing a community ethos... and concerning the Sanskrit concept of "ahimsa" ...which the Jains interpret in the extreme (wearing masks & sweeping their paths, lest they harm an insect), while Buddhists & Hindus take a slightly more moderate position of harm reduction.
However... "A thorough historical and philosophical study of ahimsa was instrumental in the shaping of Albert Schweitzer's principle of 'reverence for life.' Schweitzer criticized Indian philosophical and religious traditions for having conceived ahimsa as the negative principle of avoiding violence instead of emphasizing the importance of positive action (helping injured beings)."
So, rather than focussing on what we don't want (dependence on fossil fuels or displays of wastefully extravagance as art), maybe we can continue to explore what progressive & sustainable alternatives we can develop? ...perhaps consider Bucky Fuller's World Game, for instance? But probably not Jacques Fresco's Venus Project, since he was a scam artist!
The more you focus on what you don't want people to do, the less you can focus on the alternatives... and when people use an angry, defensive tone when talking about solutions, it may make it difficult for people to listen... catching more flies with honey than vinegar & all that?
Yet, I would agree that sometimes it's important to recognize that vinegar is vinegar.
q.v. the vinegar tasters
Still, from what I understand, in any relationship, it's important to communicate more praise than criticism... in fact, if the ratio drops to something like three positive comments for every four negative ones, then any relationship will fall apart... but if there's too little criticism, then praise is devalued & the actual problems are ignored (this seems to apply equally, whether in love, friendship, or business).
To attempt to clarify again... I think that it's important to encourage people to conserve resources in general, as well as preserving the environment... I am thrilled with progressive endeavors like sustainable alternative energies and manufacturing processes, permaculture and rewilding projects, educational & healthcare projects, as well as gift culture, barter, time exchange and complementary currencies.
I also came across a recent comment by Daniel Pinchbeck that directly relates to this theme:
"...perhaps the only tactic is to prepare the alternative social model (complementary currency, permaculture communities, alternative energy) and hope that there is enough of a living world left to allow our species some continuity, when the dust clears after peak oil brings about the fall of Empire. The first thing that would have to happen is a unification of progressive groups and interests. If you had 20 million people including all of the computer scientists and engineers orchestrated in a week-long general strike for a new energy program or monetary system, re-done on a massive rapid scale, for instance, it might be possible to start making some changes."
My intent is to explore ways to make it fun for people to start devoting themselves to progress, instead of just distracting themselves with hedonism (even if it's important to get some recreation, people obviously have a tendency to avoid problems when they can just run away and have fun, instead)... in that vein, I am always happy to provide further resources for people to explore if they are having any trouble finding a place to start or continue making a change for the better:
WHAT THE WORLD WANTS ...AND HOW TO PAY FOR IT USING MILITARY EXPENDITURES
Design Science Reference Materials
Buckminster Fuller Challenge Idea Index v1.0
Worldchanging.com: a nonprofit media organization covering new tools, models and ideas for building a bright green future.
The Earth Charter
The Venus Project (beyond politics, poverty, & war): Aims and Proposals
The Zeitgeist Movement: Orientation Presentation video slides & manual
And then there are certain documents that offer extensive grave criticism as well as alternative solutions... I might add that, even though this document was authored anonymously, it ended up landing the publishers in prison for a while:
The Coming Insurrection
Or, perhaps you will enjoy my own considerably more adolescent sense of absurdist-nihilist humor...
satirizing Wittgenstein's famous aphorism, 'Don't try and shit higher than your arse', which Wittgenstein applied to philosophers like Popper who thought they could change the world.
But more to the point of appreciation, agreement, & mutual support of actual progress (rather than satire & other double-speak)... Casey Miller also mentioned that he has volunteered to work with Greg Mortenson's organization, The Central Asia Institute... promoting the education of young ladies in Afganistan ...& I could not be more in support of such an evolutionarily sound project!
"Reflecting on the state of the post-9/11 world, Mortenson argues that extremism in the region can be deterred through collaborative efforts to alleviate poverty and improve access to education, especially for girls. Formerly, schooling focused on the boys, but educated boys tend to move to the cities to find jobs, and seldom return. By contrast, educated girls tend to remain in the community and pass their enhanced knowledge to the next generation. Thus, Mortenson suggests, educating girls has more of a lasting benefit for the community."
To fight terror, Montanan builds schools in Asia (it's too bad that that Greg Mortenson guy turned out to be such a lying crook... yikes!.)
A year ago, I wrote an essay about the martyr, Neda Agha-Soltan & The Green Movement in Iran
"tyranny may be able to slow our progress, but the will of the people cannot be stopped"
which i reviewed again recently, when further revisionist propaganda surfaced
and again on the anniversary of her murder
And as much as i have researched and devoted my life to matrilineal, matriarchal & matrifocal culture... I am going to have to go write a story like Three Cups of Tea, but one that is based on truth!