The Deep Ecology movement has suffered two big losses this year with the passing of Arne Næss in January and Bill Devall at the end of June. It led me to delve more into the writings and the history of the movement. I was interested to find out that a majority of founders were Zen Buddhists.
As a quick overview, Arne Næss's wrote a short paper in 1973 which contrasted "shallow ecology" with a "deep, long-range ecology movement" which served as a catalyst to reject what was viewed as an anthropocentric, or human focused, environmentalism. They felt that human beings should not be viewed as superior or more valuable than other life. A camping trip involving Næss and George Sessions gave birth to the following platform for deep ecology:
Kirsten Firminger: July 2009 Archives
Wednesday July 29, 2009
Categories: Interdependent Activism & Politics, Right Lifestyle
Is all life created equal? In memorial to two Deep Ecology Movement leaders
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Add to StumbleUponWednesday July 22, 2009
Categories: Arts and Media, Interdependent Activism & Politics
La Victoire sur les Sachets - Victory on the plastic bags
I ran into this courtesy of the unconsumption blog. It is a video called La Victoire sur les Sachets, or victory on the plastics bags. It is a short film of an African community where plastic bags are transformed from garbage into djembes, which are a type of hand drum. Given IDP's work to reduce the use of plastic bags through the Back to the Sack Initiative, it seemed only appropriate.
The film is created and produced by ART for The World.
Filed Under: Africa, Back to the Sack, djembe, film, inspiration, Integral Activism, plastic bag ban, plastic bags, unconsumption, victory
Wednesday July 15, 2009
Categories: Interdependent Activism & Politics
Back to the Sack + Green Apple Festival volunteers = Successful day of action
It may not be the new Harry Potter movie, but I'm still very excited to share with you some of the video footage that resulted from IDP's highly successful Back to the Sack day of action which was one of the many great projects that got support from Green Apple Festival's volunteers.
Special thanks to Bags for the People who helped run the workshop on making reusable bags from recycled materials. Thanks also to Chico bags for providing us with a bagmonster costume.
The Back to the Sack is part of the Integral Activism work being done by the Interdependence Project. It is an initiative that aims to reduce the use of plastic bags in NYC through sustained and mindful political action that comes from a place of compassion and an understanding of interdependence. Our current efforts include both awareness raising on this critical issue through arts as well as legislative advocacy to promote and pass laws that will reduce plastic bag consumption.
Now in its fourth year, the Green Apple Festival (GAF) began in New York City as an environmental and music event. The celebration encourages individuals, families and civic leaders to make greener life choices and stem the tide of climate change. Since 2006, GAF has grown to become the country's largest coordinated and interactive festival dedicated to Earth Day. In April, Green Apple Festival presented in ten cities with an overall attendance of 200,000, including a free Flaming Lips concert on the National Mall in DC. Currently, GAF is working closely with Earth Day Network on a 40th anniversary of Earth Day global celebration to include international events during April of 2010.
Wednesday July 8, 2009
Categories: Interdependent Activism & Politics, Right Lifestyle
I would rather laugh than cry to get through this crisis
Global warming is a serious thing. There is much that needs to be done - so much, that it is hard to even know where to start. Everyday I learn about something new that needs to be fixed. Another crisis has erupted. People are dying. Entire ecosystems are being destroyed. And it is only just beginning. With the alarm bells blaring, it is easy to become immobilized by feelings of fear and powerlessness. Another response is to become desensitized, denying the importance or truth of information that is presented. I have and continue to use these coping mechanisms when I feel overwhelmed. But one of the few things that always works to cut through these moments of paralysis is humor. When something or someone makes me laugh, it breaks through the walls that have built up and it allows me to see things from new perspectives. Which is why I really appreciated seeing the trailer about YERT (Your Environmental Road Trip):
It really inspired me and made me able to laugh at all the crazy things we need to do to create change. It is good to find the humor in experimentation and the failures we may have on the way to figuring out the right path to take forward.
It really inspired me and made me able to laugh at all the crazy things we need to do to create change. It is good to find the humor in experimentation and the failures we may have on the way to figuring out the right path to take forward.
Wednesday July 1, 2009
Categories: Interdependent Activism & Politics
What will hitting the magic number 60 mean for global warming?
It is official. With the Minnesota Supreme Court ruling in favor of Al Franken, the Democrats will have reached the filibuster-proof magical number of 60 senate seats. Franken will likely be sworn in early next week in time to jump into the debate on the controversial Waxman-Markey Bill, aka the American Clean Energy and Security Act. After much political wrangling, the bill got through the House with a vote of 219 to 212.
There is much debate among different environmentalists about whether the bill is worth supporting. One side says that despite all its flaws, it is landmark legislation that can be improved later with amendments. In addition, President Obama needs to bring something to the table in Copenhagen to lead the way to the ratification of a global climate change treaty.
Others say the bill is too compromised by the lobby of oil, coal, and other powerful industries that it will do little to reduce emissions while stripping the EPA of its new powers to regulate emissions from coal plants. For opinions on both sides of the issue, check out Yale University's great post on their Environment360 website.
I can definitely say I am getting a lot of emails on the issue. MoveOn.org Political Action has emailed me asking to vote yes or no on whether MoveOn should "launch a full-court press to fix the bill, and turn up the heat on senators who might be tempted to side with Big Oil and Coal?" Al Gore is emailing on behalf of RePower America wanting me to declare my energy independence (there has been a lot of declaring and independence going on in my inbox with the Fourth of July coming up). And 1Sky states that "passing the bill in the House was only the beginning. Now the fight must go to the Senate, where we have the opportunity to make it even stronger and lead America into a clean energy economy."
I am worried that the improvements to the bill won't happen even with Al Franken and the magical number 60. Will it just be politics as usual? I just have to reread the description posted on Politico.com and in the New York Times of how it went in the House to be reminded of that it is highly likely.
There is much debate among different environmentalists about whether the bill is worth supporting. One side says that despite all its flaws, it is landmark legislation that can be improved later with amendments. In addition, President Obama needs to bring something to the table in Copenhagen to lead the way to the ratification of a global climate change treaty.
Others say the bill is too compromised by the lobby of oil, coal, and other powerful industries that it will do little to reduce emissions while stripping the EPA of its new powers to regulate emissions from coal plants. For opinions on both sides of the issue, check out Yale University's great post on their Environment360 website.
I can definitely say I am getting a lot of emails on the issue. MoveOn.org Political Action has emailed me asking to vote yes or no on whether MoveOn should "launch a full-court press to fix the bill, and turn up the heat on senators who might be tempted to side with Big Oil and Coal?" Al Gore is emailing on behalf of RePower America wanting me to declare my energy independence (there has been a lot of declaring and independence going on in my inbox with the Fourth of July coming up). And 1Sky states that "passing the bill in the House was only the beginning. Now the fight must go to the Senate, where we have the opportunity to make it even stronger and lead America into a clean energy economy."
I am worried that the improvements to the bill won't happen even with Al Franken and the magical number 60. Will it just be politics as usual? I just have to reread the description posted on Politico.com and in the New York Times of how it went in the House to be reminded of that it is highly likely.
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About One City: A Buddhist Blog for Everyone
Welcome to One City. You've lived here your whole life, whether you know it or not. One City blog is an outgrowth of The Interdependence Project, a Buddhist-inspired nonprofit organization led by Ethan Nichtern, dedicated to teaching the insights of Buddhism, meditation, mindfulness, and interconnectedness in the 21st century world.
If you're interested in how your mind works, are interested in meditation (but don't want to pretend you live in ancient Asia), care about the world, are into media, love contemporary culture, and above all, really dig the truth of interdependence-that nothing happens in a vacuum--then this blog is for you.
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Evelyn CashEvelyn is a Soto Zen practitioner and engineer living in Wichita, Kansas.
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Lodro RinzlerLodro Rinzler is a second-generation Shambhala Buddhist practitioner and teacher.
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