"Do you think about what you buy?

I received this from a friend, and thought it was well worth posting!

FOR EXAMPLE, THE "OUR FAMILY" BRAND OF THEMANDARINORANGES SAYS RIGHT ON THE CAN FROM CHINA . SO, FOR A FEW MORE CENTS you can buy LIBERTY GOLD BRAND OR THE DOLE IS FROM CALIFORNIA .

ALSO WATCH FOR PICKLES. A LOT OF THE NO-NAME PICKLES COME FROM INDIA . BICK'S ARE FROM CANADA. WORTH THE SMALL DIFFERENCE IN PRICE.

 

Another example was in canned mushrooms. No-Namebrand came from Indonesia. 
Next to them were President Choice brand. Produce of Canada

The P. C. went into my grocery bag.

 

Also check those little fruit cups we give our children. They use to be made here in Canada in the Niagara region until about 2 years ago....

They are now packaged in China !

 

While

the Chinese export inferior and even toxic products and dangerous toys

and goods to be sold in North American markets.

 

Yet 70% of North Americans believe that the trading privileges afforded to the Chinese should be suspended.

 

Well, duh... why do you need the government to suspend trading privileges?


 

SIMPLY DO IT YOURSELF!

 

Simply look on the bottom of every product you buy, and if it says 'Made in China ' or 'PRC' (and that now includes Hong Kong), choose another product, or none at all.


 

You will be amazed at how dependent you are on Chinese products, and you will be equally amazed at what you can do without.

 

Who needs plastic eggs to celebrate Easter? If you must have eggs, use real ones and benefit some North American farmer. Easter is just an example, the point is... do not wait for the government to act. Just go ahead and assume control on your own.

 

Canadian Thermos bottles

were made here for many years. Thermos sold out in the 1990's and now

the bottles that keep our food warm or cold are now made in CHINA .. We

Lost---about 200 jobs!

 

THINK ABOUT THIS, 
If

200 million North Americans refuse to buy just $20 each of Chinese

goods, that's a billion dollar trade imbalance resolved in our favour...

fast!!

 

The downside? Some Canadian/American businesses will feel a temporary pinch from having foreign stockpiles of inventory.

 

The

solution?  Let's give them fair warning and send our own message. Most

of the people who have been reading about this matter are

planning for one month not to purchase anything made in China .



That

is only one month of trading losses, but it will hit the Chinese for

1/12th of the total, or 8%, of their North American exports. Then they

will at least have to ask themselves if the benefits of their arrogance

and lawlessness were worth it.

 

EVEN BETTER. . . START NOW and don't stop, but continue if you can..

 

Spread

this message to everybody you know. Let's show that we are intelligent

Canadians/Americans, and NOBODY can take us for granted.

 

On the other hand, if we can't live without cheap Chinese goods for one month out of our lives, WE DESERVE WHAT WE GET!

"Ushering Wellness: The Convergence of Buddhism and Psychanalysis"

Pilar Jennings, Ph.D.

Researcher, Clinical aspects of Buddhism

Posted: December 23, 2010 10:21 AM

Once considered esoteric by most Westerners, Buddhism and psychoanalysis have come to infiltrate much of contemporary culture. His Holiness the Dalai Lama has become a universal symbol of peace and good will. Buddhist meditation centers abound in most urban centers, and increasingly the scientific community has given credence to the ameliorative impact of meditation on many psychological struggles, including depression and anxiety. 

The same is true for psychoanalysis. What was once a stigmatized option for the mentally ill and affluent, therapy -- at least in most urban settings -- is today almost a rite of passage. It's the rare New Yorker who has made it through the various travails of contemporary life -- finishing one's formal education, finding a partner, making a living -- without seeking some form of psychoanalytic support. Add to these pervasive struggles the distressing issue of terrorism, the rise of childhood diseases including autism and leukemia and the onslaught of stimulation from advances in technology, and you have a population increasingly eager for help in finding psychological and spiritual wellness.

What has changed in recent years, and captured the attention of both Buddhist teachers and psychoanalysts, is the fascinating relationship between these divergent traditions. Today, there are growing numbers of people looking for therapists who respect their need for meditation and spiritual support. So too, there are scores of long-term (even second generation) meditators who have come to realize that spiritual practice does not always eliminate the psychological problems they hoped it would. In this way, these two radically different approaches to wellness have begun to intersect with new levels of respect and curiosity.

As a caveat to this growing conversation, scholars of both traditions have been quick to point out that the differences between these two healing realms are extensive. Buddhism arose some 2,500 years ago in India. Its founder, Siddhartha Gautama, was a young man of great wealth who grew up in cloistered privilege. It was through his introduction, at the age of 29, to the suffering world of sickness, aging and death that he was inspired to explore how we might relate to our basic vulnerability and still remain happy. In his 84,000 ensuing teachings, he emphasized that despite the pain we would invariably endure, happiness was our most basic birthright.

Psychoanalysis, in contrast, first developed in Europe just over 100 years ago. Sigmund Freud, its founder and steadfast protector, lead a radically different life from the young Siddhartha. At an early age, Freud knew the pain of loneliness and struggle and went on to suffer the traumas of anti-semitism, two world wars and the loss of a child. It is not surprising that his approach to healing would posit a basic conflict inherent to the human condition. Freud believed that much like the warring world that raged around him, within our own psyches was another kind of battlefield of raging instincts that constantly seek expression. His was a more pessimistic view: that the best we can do is find ways to sublimate our sexual and aggressive urges and settle for "common unhappiness." Yet, he brought to light the impact of the unconscious, and the ways in which we can live with less suffering and more integrity if we accept the truth of what is in our unconscious.

The interest in how Buddha Shakyamuni's approach to wellness might converge with Freud's, began more than 60 years ago. In the 1950s, psychoanalysts including Karen Horney and Eric Fromm wrote about their growing interest in Zen Buddhism, and its more hopeful vision for how people might come to genuinely enjoy their lives, despite the pain of loss and the power of desire. In the intervening years, many more therapists and Buddhist teachers joined in this conversation, exploring the tools of each path, and seeking creative ways to bring them together. 

Such theorists point out that each tradition has something unique to offer and limitations to overcome. Psychoanalysis has been extremely useful in helping people understand how their earliest experience of relationship influences their sense of self and their approach to interpersonal relationships. It has respected the importance of early childhood and the particular ways in which each individual will respond to his or her caretakers. The downside of this self-centric process, say its critics, is the solipsism that can result from too many years of parsing personal struggles. 

Theorists interested in how Buddhism and psychotherapy might work together, have suggested that this very solipsism is powerfully challenged in Buddhist practice. Buddhism takes a more universal view of our human struggles, suggesting that all of us, regardless of our caretakers or personal traumas, can be helped by remembering that everything changes, including our most entrenched struggles and vexing relationships. It's simply the nature of reality. So too, we depend upon each other for everything -- our food, education, healthcare, companionship. According to Buddhist thought, none of us can get through this life, or achieve abiding happiness, alone. So it makes sense to treat each other with genuine care, knowing that we share the same wish to be happy and free from suffering.

Today, these two paradigms are mixing minds and ideas through an expanding population of Westerners who want to understand the influence of their own personal history, while not getting too caught up in it. In this way, Buddhism and psychoanalysis have begun to cultivate a true partnership that seems to be ushering in wellness on a new scale.

Gregg Braden - The Holographic Nature of The Universe

"There Are Men Too Gentle to Live Among Wolves" by James Kavanaugh

Dedicated to DM, MW, and JH:


There are men too gentle to live among wolves
Who prey upon them with IBM eyes
And sell their hearts and guts for martinis at noon.
There are men too gentle for a savage world
Who dream instead of snow and children and Halloween
And wonder if the leaves will change their color soon.
There are men too gentle to live among wolves
Who anoint them for burial with greedy claws
And murder them for a merchant's profit and gain.
There are men too gentle for a corporate world
Who dream instead of candied apples and ferris wheels
And pause to hear the distant whistle of a train.
There are men too gentle to live among wolves
Who devour them with eager appetite and search
For other men to prey upon and suck their childhood dry.
There are men too gentle for an accountant's world
Who dream instead of Easter eggs and fragrant grass
And search for beauty in the mystery of the sky.
There are men too gentle to live among wolves
Who toss them like a lost and wounded dove.
Such gentle men are lonely in a merchant's world,
Unless they have a gentle one to love.

"Why Obama Has to Get Egypt Right" by George Soros

George Soros | The Washington Post | February 03, 2011

Revolutions usually start with enthusiasm and end in tears. In the case of the Middle East, the tears could be avoided if President Obama stands firmly by the values that got him elected. Although American power and influence in the world have declined, our allies and their armies look to us for direction. These armies are strong enough to maintain law and order as long as they stay out of politics; thus the revolutions can remain peaceful. That is what the United States should insist on while encouraging corrupt and repressive rulers who are no longer tolerated by their people to step aside and allow new leaders to be elected in free and fair elections.That is the course that the revolution in Tunisia is taking. Tunisia has a relatively well-developed middle class, women there enjoy greater rights and opportunities than in most Muslim countries, and the failed regime was secular in character. The prospects for democratic change are favorable.

Egypt is more complex and, ultimaely, more influential, which is why it is so important to get it right. The protesters are very diverse, including highly educated and common people, young and old, well-to-do and desperately poor. While the slogans and crowds in Tahrir Square are not advancing a theocratic agenda at all, the best-organized political opposition that managed to survive in that country's repressive environment is the Muslim Brotherhood. In free elections, the Brotherhood is bound to emerge as a major political force, though it is far from assured of a majority.

Some have articulated fears of adverse consequences of free elections, suggesting that the Egyptian military may seek to falsify the results; that Israel may be adamantly opposed to a regime change; that the domino effect of extremist politics spreading to other countries must be avoided; and that the supply of oil from the region could be disrupted. These notions constitute the old conventional wisdom about the Middle East - and need to be changed, lest Washington incorrectly put up resistance to or hesitate in supporting transition in Egypt.

That would be regrettable. President Obama personally and the United States as a country have much to gain by moving out in front and siding with the public demand for dignity and democracy. This would help rebuild America's leadership and remove a lingering structural weakness in our alliances that comes from being associated with unpopular and repressive regimes. Most important, doing so would open the way to peaceful progress in the region. The Muslim Brotherhood's cooperation with Mohamed ElBaradei, the Nobel laureate who is seeking to run for president, is a hopeful sign that it intends to play a constructive role in a democratic political system. As regards contagion, it is more likely to endanger the enemies of the United States - Syria and Iran - than our allies, provided that they are willing to move out ahead of the avalanche.

The main stumbling block is Israel. In reality, Israel has as much to gain from the spread of democracy in the Middle East as the United States has. But Israel is unlikely to recognize its own best interests because the change is too sudden and carries too many risks. And some U.S. supporters of Israel are more rigid and ideological than Israelis themselves. Fortunately, Obama is not beholden to the religious right, which has carried on a veritable vendetta against him. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee is no longer monolithic or the sole representative of the Jewish community. The main danger is that the Obama administration will not adjust its policies quickly enough to the suddenly changed reality.

I am, as a general rule, wary of revolutions. But in the case of Egypt, I see a good chance of success. As a committed advocate of democracy and open society, I cannot help but share in the enthusiasm that is sweeping across the Middle East. I hope President Obama will expeditiously support the people of Egypt. My foundations are prepared to contribute what they can. In practice, that means establishing resource centers for supporting the rule of law, constitutional reform, fighting corruption and strengthening democratic institutions in those countries that request help in establishing them, while staying out of those countries where such efforts are not welcome.

Source: The Washington Post       Link to site on right

What the White House Isn't Saying

What the White House Isn't Saying

"Walmart's 'anti-aging' makeup for 8-year-old girls"

What?! Are you kidding me?! (other expletives strongly considered!) As I sat down with a great cup of Caribou blend, I saw this in "The Week", under 'Parenting Controversies' .  As  a strong advocate for children, I became immediately bilious, thinking of the multitude of subliminal messages this gives our children.  The phrase, "emotional abuse" was the underpinning for them all.  It is true that my anger, in defense of these young girls ... all with dewy, perfect skin ... receiving this message from their mentally confused parents was barely rational.  Further, as I read down the list of comments, I did not find a single comment that reflected depth or understanding of children, and our mental and spiritual obligation to them.  So .... rather than continue my rant, with its immense range of objections to this current insanity of Walmart's ( trumped only by its long-term abuse of workers, consumers, etc.), was consistent with the rest of its sketchy history.  Sooooo ...  being an equal opportunity blogger, I leave this to your own evaluation, and turn rather towards clearing the work on my desk, preparing for the onslaught of emails about this literally deranged theme!

Walmart's 'anti-aging' makeup for 8-year-old girls

The retail giant is adding a new cosmetics line aimed at the tween market, but commentators are questioning how urgently children need exfoliating cleansers

POSTED ON JANUARY 27, 2011, AT 1:43 PM

Walmart's tween makeup line features "lipshine" called "GR8" -- texting lingo for great. Photo: CorbisSEE ALL 60 PHOTOS

Kids... they grow up so fast these days. So fast, that Walmart has introduced a youth-preserving cosmetics line called "geoGirl" aimed at kids ages 8 to 12 — a demographic with an estimated $2 billion in buying power. Some commentators are in an uproar over the entry-level makeup products, some of which are touted to have anti-aging ingredients. Here, a brief instant guide:

What exactly is geoGirl?

It's a new line of 69 cosmetics products, from blush and mascara to exfoliators, aimed at the tween market. It's designed especially for young girls who want to use "real cosmetics, but with natural ingredients," says Joel Carden of Pacific World, the line's manufacturer. All products will be free of chemicals like paraben, phthalates, and sulfates, with a minimal use of synthetic colors and fragrances, a move "designed to attract parents worried about the excess chemicals in make-up," according to the Daily Mail.

What's Walmart's role here?

The retailing giant will be carrying the geoGirl line, which it says "was developed in partnership with our customers to give parents a healthier, age-appropriate option for their tween girls who ask about wearing makeup."

Where does the "anti-aging" part come in?

The line's creators claim it's formulated for fresh young skin, with ingredients like willow bark to exfoliate and chamomile to calm, as well as anti-oxidants, which reportedly prevent aging. "What next for kids? In-store Botox?" asked one "well known" website, according to the Daily Mail."Prevent aging?" says Cindy Kroiss at Gather.com. "The only way to do that is to die—surely not what the marketing team has in mind." Fashionista'sCheryl Wischhover finds the concept ludicrous: "I was giggling a bit as I was reading about exfoliation, calming, and blush for eight-year-olds. I mean, your skin will never be more flushed and radiant than when you are eight."


Has Walmart carried products like this before?

Yes, the geoGirl line is replacing a defunct cosmetics line for tweens and teens from Mary Kate & Ashley Olsen, though that line wasn't noted for its anti-aging components.

"Oneness ... Duality"

Oneness

Expressed
It loses its expression

Defined
It loses its definition

In its emptiness
It is the cradle of all existence

In its fullness
It is creator of all things

Ever empty
It surrenders into the mystery

Ever full
It creates into the unknown

Of one source, they differ in name
Yet both arise from the one

Oneness beyond one
Herein lies the key to all mysteries

---

Duality

Beauty is seen only because of ugliness
Greatness is known only for its lack

Emptiness and fullness are born of each other
Difficulty and ease create one another

Long and short grow out of each other
High and low reflect one another

Sound and listening compliment each other
Front and back follow one another

And on it goes…

Thus the wise pay no heed
Their acts without words showing the way

So do all things flow without thought

Creating without possessing
Acting without attachment
Achieving without claiming achievement
Existing without laying claim to existence

Thus moves all life unto eternity

---

Tao Te Ching
The Way of the Wise
Chapters One and Two
Oneness and Duality

"we are all part of the earth....."

We are all part of the earth and it is part of us.  

The perfumed flowers are our sisters; the deer, the horse, the great eagle, these are our brothers.

The Rocky crests, the juices of the meadows, the body heat of the pony and man - 

all belong to the same family.

                                                                                ~ Chief Sealth (Seattle), 1789-1866

From: The Transformation Team

	Have you ever felt that one of the main reasons you are here now is to help transform our world to a new way of living based on love and empowerment?
	Do you recognize that there is a divine essence in every person on this planet, and that as beautiful manifestations of the divine, all people deserve our love and support to be the best they can be?
	Are you committed to move beyond old ways which focused on negative judgment and separation and to instead choose greater connection and love for yourself and everyone around you?
	Are you willing to work on transforming your own weaknesses and fears? Are you open to exploring deep, hidden agendas affecting our planet? Are you willing to consider seeing fear as an invitation to spiritual growth?
	Are you interested in joining a large team of souls who know that a major part of the reason we came here is to help all who are ready on this planet to transform to a deeper, richer way of living in this eternal sacred moment?
If the answer is yes, welcome home to all of us! This website is a multi-faceted portal for powerfully building and supporting transformational community both locally and globally. Designed specifically for those committed to the harmonious integration of all aspects of ourselves and our world, our exciting website and team are co-creating a new global paradigm based on love and empowerment. Come join our conscious community in action as we create empowering transformation both in our personal lives and in our world!