A study by “GRAIN”, a small international non-profit organisation that works to support small farmers and social movements in their struggles for community-controlled and biodiversity-based food systems, released an interesting report on transitioning to a sustainable global food system.
I wouldn’t necessarily support the implementation of the full scope of their analysis (e.g de-industrializing agriculture and moving to local production) though directionally I would agree – my sense is though in moving from concept to reality, their recommendations can be used as guiding principles but will need to be softened to allow for efficiency-arguments in meeting the challenges of global demographics, global consumer sophistication and health considerations (e.g germ control, contingency plans, strengthening immune systems as globalization increases).
Without further a due, here they are: Five key steps towards a food system that can address climate change and the food crisis http://bit.ly/c1GigZ
Step 1: Move towards sustainable, integrated production methods http://bit.ly/c1GigZ
Step 2: Rebuild the soil and retain the water http://bit.ly/c1GigZ
Step 3: De-industrialise agriculture, save energy, and keep the people on the land http://bit.ly/c1GigZ
Step 4: Grow close by and cut the international trade http://bit.ly/c1GigZ
Step 5: Cut the meat economy and change to a healthier diet http://bit.ly/c1GigZ
For the past years I have been supporting Avaaz, a global activism network for a more sustainable and just world. Their intentions are both global and local, and their reach as well. It’s one of the few promotion/subscription emails I found myself regularly endorsing over to friends, a sign of my high esteem to their approach, integrity and trackrecord – Avaaz has been very successful in mobilizing grassroot activist to campaign for the various agenda points it takes on.
The latest campaign – the Global Wake Up Call, itself part of a larger alliance-run campaign called Tck Tck Tck (implying we are running out of time to tackle global warming) – has gathered significant momentum and press attention globally. Below, the 2min digest video representing over 2600 worldwide events held on the 21 September (including in Singapore).
Posted by andries on Jul 30, 2009 in Change, Musing
I am subscribed to daily Philosopher’s Notes and find them very refreshing, perfect to get me inspired about my daily attitude and experience, at the start of the day. Here is one I particularly enjoyed:
The Five Pillars of Wealth: Financial, Relational, Mental, Physical, and Spiritual. Without these five pillars, you might be rich, but you’ll never be wealthy. Interestingly enough, I’ve found that the more you reach this state of true wealth, the more money rushes to you—and all that money can provide. The universe is at your command and lines up in joyous support of your awakening.” ~ “James Arthur Ray from Harmonic Wealth”
The essence of “Harmonic Wealth” is the idea that we need to have “harmony” between the different areas of our lives. Think of a great symphony–you’ve got the musicians playing different instruments and it’s the harmony among them that makes for an outstanding performance. Same thing with our lives! If we don’t have the Five Pillars (Financial, Relational, Mental, Physical, and Spiritual) harmonized, it’s like we’re at a REALLY bad concert.
James continues: “Understand that your pillars are interdependent: When you attend to each of them, all increase in strength. When you take care of your health by working out regularly and eating well, you create multiple benefits. Sexual relationships become enhanced by your greater confidence and stamina. Business booms from your increased energy. You’re more alert and receptive in spiritual pursuits. You’re more alive. Similarly, spiritual growth translates to deepening intimacy in friendships and romantic relationships, fueling your desire to keep up with your physical exercise.”
I like the idea of balancing out these pillars or finding your “life mix” just like a business needs to fit its marketing mix I have been intrigued by the Integral Life Practice kit of Ken Wilber ever since I saw it, as it combines a balanced approach to lifestyle, personal development etc. and hope I can pick it up myself soon.. I realize I am procrastinating it, as I feel I want to share it with my partner in the morning and fail the discipline and willpower to rise up in the morning and practice alone. To ponder on, especially after my previous post on revitalizing morning habits!
You can’t be success at everything. Any vision of success has to admit what it is losing out on, where the element of loss is. – Alain de Botton
I’m in! Going to start tomorrow morning, not sure with what yet but I’m sure inspiration will come in the moment
From their post: Some Extraordinary Things You Can Do Before Breakfast
1. Contact a friend you’ve lost touch with
2. Write a letter to the editor or your congressman
3. Write a gratitude Letter
4. Brainstorm Solutions to your life’s most pressing problems
5. Exercise
6. Do a random act of kindness
7. Set up a romantic gesture that will make your loved one swoon
8. Finally: get organized, get on a budget, get scheduled, get a life!
9. Write a timeline of your life so far (and then where you’d like it to go from here!)
10. Take action for some cause online (sign a petition, spread the word, send money, get educated, etc.)
11. Meditate
Posted by andries on Jun 21, 2009 in Change, Musing
I read an inspiring post on Worldchanging to commemorate the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy. It celebrates his words of wisdom and the power of his speeches to challenge our societal worldviews – especially the notion of unsustainable economic progress; the continues pursuit of “Growth for Growth”, creating in effect the largest Ponzi scheme of all (though our health care systems around the world make for a nice scheme as well!).
R.Kennedy’s words are surprisingly relevant, 41 years later.
Though R.Kennedy is from a different time, his moral leadership transcends the issues of his period. He was not president himself and may not have afforded to speak out against the tabacco industry if he were, yet I can still imagine the power of these speeches on the zeitgeist at that time.
EnlightenNext wrote a blogpost last year, on the power of speeches at the occassion of the democratic acceptance of Obama as democratic candidate, calling it the “birth of a moral leader”. It is a beautiful celebration and reflection of leadership, morality and the power of speeches. I particularly enjoy the introduction of the notion on “grown-up idealism”, referring to leaders, like Obama, “not afraid of the most progressive ideals, that is not hesitant to think in moral terms, and that is willing to embrace the kind of difficult realism needed to actually make change happen”..
From my limited experience, I sense getting the balance right between this progressive idealism needed for the betterment of the future, and the realism required to move the current state towards that desired future, is the key to sustainable change. My boss speaks of something similar, though arguably more pragmatic as view. The key line-manager’s skills are to (1) campaign for a vision, (2) and then put structure, rigour and discipline around it to execute and get things done. Much of what I am professionally engaged with in Asia Now is exactly this; supporting leaders/managers in MNC to do find the clarity and language to define their vision and develop a conceptual solution, and then put structure and detail around it to execute.
“My brother need not be idealized or enlarged in death beyond what he was in life, to be remembered simply as a good and decent man, who saw wrong and tried to right it, saw suffering and tried to heal it, saw war and tried to stop it.”
– Ted Kennedy eulogy for Robert Kennedy after his assassination.
