Vol. 4, No. 12 • December 2012 Issue No. 44 Publisher Green Fire Publishing, LLC
Skip Whitson
Managing Editor Seth Roffman Art Director Anna C. Hansen Dakini Design Copy Editor Stephen Klinger Contributing Writers Emigdio Ballon, Charles Bensinger, Mark Chalom, Nikki Garcia, Susan Guyette, Earl James, Dr. Japa K. Khalsa, Jack Loeffler, Kevin Lynn, Glenn Aparicio Parry, Vicki Pozzebon, Seth Roffman, Elizabeth Sanchez, Drew Tulchin
Contributing Photographers
Mark Chalom, Anna C. Hansen, Dr. Japa K. Khalsa, Seth Roffman
Webmaster: Karen Shepherd PUBLISHER’S ASSISTANTs Barbara E. Brown, John Black, Karen Shepherd
Office Assistants
Claire Ayraud, Camille Franchette
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Skip Whitson 505.471.5177 John Black 505.920.0359 Cynthia Canyon 505.470.6442
Winner of The 2010 Sustainable Santa Fe Award for Outstanding Educational Project
Contents BEYOND 2012: Wisdom from the Origins – The Mayan Calendar and the Future of Humanity . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. 5 LUCA’s Dream. . .. . .. . .. . ... . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . ..8 Saved in Time - Book Review. . ... . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 11 A Report from Greenbuild 2012.. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 12 The Big Gorilla . . .. . .. . .. . . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 14 Have Your Money Go Local This Holiday Season. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. 16 Everyday Green: Gifting Local . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 17 The Río Grande Returns . . .. . . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 18 Overcoming Greed . . .. . .. . ... . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 19 The Tesuque Pueblo Seed Bank. .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 21 The Local Voice: Urban Farming in the Heart of Santa Fe. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. 22 Declaration of Commitment to Indigenous Peoples . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 26 Nutrition and Wellness Tips. . ... . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 26 Newsbites . . .. . .. . .. . .. . ... . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . ..15, 35, 37 What’s Going On. . .. . .. . .. .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 38
Distribution
Barbara Brown, Co-op Dist. Sves., Nick García, Andy Otterstrom (Creative Couriers), Tony Rapatz, Wuilmer Rivera, Skip Whitson, John Woodie
Circulation 22,000 copies
Printed locally with 100% soy ink on 100% recycled, chlorine-free paper
Green Fire Times
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From the Editor
A
s author and “aural historian” Jack Loeffler says in his LUCA’s Dream article in this edition of Green Fire Times, “We who reside in the landscape presently known as New Mexico live in a state of grace. Biodiversity and cultural diversity abound. Indigenous mind, scientific mind, artistic mind, musical mind, sustainable mind, conscious mind live in overlapping cultures of practice that invigorate a level of cognitive diversity unique on our planet… We are presently the keystone species,” Loeffler says. “But for how long?” And so, with all the interest and anxiety around the rumors that the world will end on Dec. 21, 2012, when a 26,000-year cycle known as the Long Count in the Mayan calendar comes to a close, it is fortuitous, if not surprising, that some important Mayan elders and spokespeople, as well as other Indigenous elders and internationally-known futurists came to New Mexico in September to participate in a conference on the subject. Glenn Aparicio Parry’s report and reflection on the Wisdom from the Origins Conference is featured here, starting on page 5.
As these visionaries attempt to prepare us to come into a state of readiness for a new era and to co-create our future, you will find other relevant articles within these pages. Santa Fe architect Mark Chalom’s report from the international conference Greenbuild 2012 has many potential applications for New Mexico and beyond. In the interest of slowing climate change, The Big Gorilla, by Charles Bensinger, asks us to consider some of the challenges of transitioning to a Renewable Energy Economy that we don’t often take into account. There are also articles on investing locally and “shopping with your values.” And in terms of food security, Vicki Pozzebon’s Local Voice looks at an urban farm project, which may well become the norm in our cities. Of course, as the Tesuque Pueblo Seed Bank article reminds us, this approach is nothing new to the Native cultures around the world.
– Seth Roffman
COVER: The Old Alvarado, Albuquerque, N M 1940 © Douglas Johnson • Obsidian Mountain, Abiquiu, NM • www.obsidianmountain.net Green Fire Times is not to be confused with the Green Fire Report, an in-house quarterly publication of the New Mexico Environmental Law Center. The NMELC can be accessed online at: www.nmelc.org.
December 2012 • GreenFireTimes
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