Biophile Issue 20 by steventer

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issue 20

Biophile Magazine

is published every two months, in February, April, June, August, October and December. Deadlines for advertising and article submissions are the 15th day of the month preceding publication.

Mission Statement

Our mission is to impart knowledge with truth and integrity for the highest good of all. Biophile is not affiliated to any religious, political or philosophical ideology or organisation. Our ethos is one of co-operation and sharing. We therefore actively encourage you to reproduce and share the information in this magazine, but please contact us first to confirm the availability of the material you’d like to use.

Disclaimer

No guarantee is made concerning the validity of the information in this publication and no responsibility will be accepted for any errors or omissions, or comments made by our contributors.

The Team

Editor: Anthea Torr anthea@biophile.co.za Design/Layout/Website: Steve Venter steve@biophile.co.za Nikki Bird nikki@biophile.co.za Subscriptions: Coral McCallum coral@biophile.co.za 021 709 0390 www.biophile.co.za/subscribe Advertising: Steve Venter steve@biophile.co.za www.biophile.co.za/advertise Assistants: Des du Plooy, Shahied Ishmail, Debbie Enslin, Lawrence Kapyepye

Tel: (021) 709 0390 Fax: (021) 709 0392 Postal: Box 39277 Capricorn Square 7948 Email: inbox@biophile.co.za

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CopyLeft

This magazine has been freed by copyleft. Unless otherwise noted, you are free to redistribute the content of this magazine if you clearly credit the author and source. ISSN: 1813-1395

Printed with lead-free inks on recycled paper Minimum 10% of profits donated to charity

Feb / Mar 2008

14 Animal Lives Matter

Non-human animals have many of the same feelings we do. They experience contagious joy and the deepest of grief, they get hurt and suffer...

16 The Global Benefits of Not Eating Meat For the sake of people, animals and the planet, meat must now become an urgent political issue.

18 An Erotic Ecology

Tantra teaches practices that helps us to return to the natural: the realization that sexual energy is life force that flows through all things.

20 Global Warming and Chemical Genocide

The intentional distortion of science is tantamount to murder. Eventually millions could die because of inaction by the world community whose leadership stands in Washington?

24 The Spiritual Species

Seeking purpose for the human race.

26 The Upward Spiral of Evolution Most of the ills of humanity and the Earth originated with those providing the solution, and we are never offered a third choice..

38 Raw Food Life Get juiced up for 2008!

40 African Bliss: A Farm in the Kouga 44 The Horse Leads the Way How a horse can transform leaders in the corporate world.

48 Is Modern Medicine Founded on Error?

Most of the cells in your body are not your own, nor are they even human.

50 Disempowering the Unborn

For a healthy woman, going to an obstetrician is like using a steamroller to make a pizza, or getting Robert Mugabe to run a playgroup.

55 Biobirth 56 No! to Chocolate. Yes! to Garlic Holistic pet nutrition.

57 The Year of Dissolution

This is the year for the dissolution of the infrastructure. The most important infrastructures to dissolve are yours and mine - our egoic infrastructures.

58 2012: Entry into Earth’s Golden Age

Our calendars cannot accurately convey when major transitional changes will be completed, because linear time is disappearing. 02 Inbox 06 Editorial 08 The Biofiles 10 Get Active!

30 Jena’s Hand in it All 31 Green Directory 34 Subscription & Back Issues 36 Urban Sprout

37 Carrot Cruncher 42 Soil for Life 46 Books to Change Your Life 64 Cosmic Directions

inbox

our readers write

Shining light into dark corners! Really enjoy your magazine and all the informative articles. Thank you for shining light into the dark corners!! I live in Hermanus and volunteer at our animal welfare kennels, some fundraising, an adoption drive and getting volunteers together to walk and play with the dogs. Like all animal shelters we struggle with costs. So what a surprise to be approached by a new small company called Pure Water, who want to present us with a fat check and an ongoing monthly donation. The company is based in Cape Town, and owned and run by such caring people, who are concerned for the environment, and also animal lovers. Their approach is to take their bottled water (which comes from the family farm in Hex River valley and is the purest spring in South Africa), into the communities at cut rate prices, delivering door to door, and giving 10c of every bottle sold to various charities, of which we are one. Having just re-read the Aug/Sep issue again on The Sacred Act of Living Sustainably, in which it talks about how the bottled water in plastics is such a terrible pollution problem, I was so chuffed to hear that this company have bio-degradable plastic bottles which once opened, degrade in 3 months. (Therefore they should not be re-used). I met the Cape Town director, Brian Bradnick, who is a young family man, concerned for the environment and wanting to give back to communities in many ways. I was impressed by their company’s caring and integrity, and of course their sharing of profits to charities, as they say the water is from the earth and one should not charge for it – you charge for the process of bottling it etc. I thought you might like to contact this man and get their details and do a story on them – He is Brian Badnick on 083 262 2182, brian@globalwatertraders.co.za,. The Cape Town number is 021- 386 0446. Their website iswww.globalwatertraders. co.za.

Judy Miller

Please send your letters to inbox@biophile.co.za post them to PO Box 39277 Capricorn Square 7948 or fax them to 021 709 0392 The Star Letter wins a year’s subscription

Nature Spirits and Elemental Beings

STAR LETTER

ince the very first Biophile I am 100% "with you" - in admiration, sympathy, empathy, prayers and hope ...! I am very happy that you have taken the initiative to speak out what is most important for all life on our planet. I hope that the consciousness you spread is growing and growing. In Germany my parents - (as landscape architects and after WW2 they even became vegetarians) - have been environmental fore runners. With their concern in mind they travelled and lived in the United States, in SA and Europe, and in public talks brought attention to endangered landscapes - and what could be done. One such action I remember: My father with the right plantation and massive earth movements created a beautiful, green and lasting new (!) landscape by transforming the ugly desert-like damage some "Ruhrgebiet" coal mines had left. Why do I mention this ? Would it not be an idea for Biophile to speak to "real" South African landscape architects (and here I do not mean gardeners who do also necessary "landscaping" for home gardens) and encourage young people to study this specific subject? This would sometimes also include if cleverly planned and managed- our shameful waste management. I am so relieved that this "awareness awakening" has now spread to South Africa - at last - and you, Anthea and your great team are "playing" one of the largest part in it ! The message has to become so strong that the government can not but follow HAVE to!! - with earnest whole hearted and fully understood actions.! In No. 16 of your magazine the "star letter" says: "... Where can we get more advice for average people ?.." Mikal is right, I have also to be careful sometimes not to become depressed by reading all these alarming stories. The article I send you herewith (nature spirits...) Biophile Issue 20

could perhaps be helpful for the mental state for many of us - just by knowing that we can communicate with nature and start to help in a humble but effective way... It is about the great importance to become aware that men and women are not the only earth-inhabitants who are desperate about the ignorance how we treat the planet. It is about the impartial part nature and elemental spirits play in all nature kingdoms - air, water, fire, sand, stone, trees, animals etc. - and why it is necessary to know about their work. They are desperate that mankind in general have forgotten they exist ... and that it is they (them?) Who are doing the actual growing and nurturing work, and even better if we help them. They have very strong words about floods, drought, radioactivity, cloning, gene modification, and also trees-planted-for-"use" (for money) :monoculture, the shocked animals in mass stables and so on, ... many subjects we read in Biophile. You can change the article as you feel, you may either only read it, or take what you think is right and enough, print it all or parts, or change my not so perfect language - as long as you think it is the right subject for Biophile. You know about Findhorn - so please read this very short condensed extract (from a few new books) which I had once prepared for a talk. (... Therefore it is not 100% right as an article I guess) At present the first open workshop — on trees — is taking place in Germany, the first of its kind with humans and elementals.

Wisegard von Oertzen

INBOX

consciousness

ne of the most brilliant insights Dr. Steiner gave the world, is the origin and basis of consciousness of the human being, to which modern science has not jet woken up to, neither acknowledges. Here we come to perhaps the most fascinating example of the law of the balance of opposites. This law, mentioned above, holds good for all of creation including even the most intimate function of the human psyche; thinking... The balance of opposition will have that to be conscious... to be alive and aware... something in us must literally die. Now what is it that dies in us without us feeling pain, perhaps not always, and the answer is: our brain cells, not to be regenerated. So consciousness does not rest upon a bodily function or some chemical reaction in the brain. As a matter of fact we don't think with our brains at all! Real thinking i.e. Not repeating other peoples thoughts, is a function of our soul and the brain is simply a receiver or a many pronged plug, by which the soul transmits thoughts to our bodies. Proof of this fact can be found with some people that has had near death experiences, i.e. there was no dimming of awareness or thinking although they were clearly outside their bodies. Confirmation of this can also be found from a very controversial subject in what is nowadays an increasing phenomenon; the proliferation and use of hallucinogenic drugs. Science tells us that these "drugs" are neuro toxins, i.e. they destroy brain cells, and this is true, because brainscans of long time users show huge cavities in the brain... but why these people show no apparent loss of abilities, modern medicine is at a loss to explain. However, someone that has moved beyond the restraints of

EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE IF YOU BELIEVE There are no real barriers to your success. You must simply overcome any doubts you have about your ability. Your self image prescribes the limits for your accomplishments. It prescribes the area of what is possible for you. Don't be afraid of living. Believe that life is worth living and you will create that fact around you. If you see yourself as prosperous, you will be. If you see yourself as broke, that is exactly what you will be. You will never succeed until you believe you can succeed. You can be who you want to be.

"modern science" can understand why this is so. By taking drugs, we kill more brain cells than what normally would be the case, and get in return a larger consciousness or spiritual insight. Why people would do this all the more, lies in our misappropriation of reality, i.e. a curios mix of Darwinism and materialism, that fails to satisfy the maxim that " man cannot live by bread alone"... If we would ask WHY kids take drugs. Are MY kids taking drugs? Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be closer to finding a real solution. In the poorer nations in Africa, or people living close to nature, drugs don't feature at all and is considered the task of medicine men, or Shamans. Is it not a very curios fact that modern western capitalistic countries could find it necessary to ban natural drugs, plants, that was here long before we arrived on the scene! The audacity of that can only be beaten by removing evidence of the use of these substances, we find mentioned in the Scriptures. Careful study of old copies of the Bible will reveal the truth of this!! Just go and read the letters of Paul in an old translation of the Bible to find confirmation of this fact... National Geographic mag. Feb. 1985 ? Printed an article on the above, how Christ was given gall and vinegar on the cross. Gall was the ancient word for Rosh or opium: Papawer Somniferum. This essay is not an attempt to justify drug-taking but to hopefully start a new appreciation of these plants and their purpose for being here i.e. we must give it, a purpose, or else it will give us a purpose! Euannies

A South African Journey I like traditions. They are rooted in history. As I young boy I became addicted to history. I still am. That's why I am sending you my best "traditional" wishes at the beginning of 2008. I am filled with gratitude because of the many new friends I made all over the world and especially in South Africa. I want to have lots of laughs in 2008. That's why I want to start this new year with a story I found on www. laughlab.co.uk An Alsatian went to a telegram office, took out a blank form and wrote: Woof. Woof. Woof. Woof. Woof. Woof. Woof. Woof. Woof. The clerk examined the paper and politely told the dog: There are only nine words here. You could send another Woof for the same price. But, the dog replied, that would make no sense at all. Let's put some sense into 2008. A very happy new year to you from Bruno Goffin www.brunodogs.com

Biophile Issue 20

INBOX

Project Green Big Pharma I recently came across your magazine for the first time whilst on holiday in Mozambique. We stayed at the Dolphin Encounters camp in Ponto Do Ouro, and your magazine was on all the communal tables. I've never read a magazine like it — your articles are so relevant and cutting edge, without any bias whatsoever, that I couldn't believe the magazine was South African. I'm studying towards an LLB at UCT with the aim of specialising in Environmental Law and I've recently become very interested in Global Warming, Sustainable Development and Healthy Living in general and your magazine encompasses all of them and more. My girlfriend and I were so impressed that we decided we're going to subscribe as soon as possible! Well done on an excellent product! It really is the only magazine people should be reading! Cameron Duncan

There is no “quick fix” Thanks for a super magazine. I was ill for 5 years years with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. Fortunately I believe in natural healing and also had the means to take supplements and see many alternative therapists. A good medical aid also helps! Over the last 4 years, I recorded everything, read numerous books and started writing my own book. It is already on the american website, but I am looking into printing it here. I cover everything in my book from reflexology to veggie juicing, from colonic irrigation to indian head massage to removing mercury fillings. This book is not only about these things though, but about me growing spiritually and emotionally and becoming a person who has gone on a huge journey of self discovery --- I know what it's like to feel fatigued, foggy headed, to feel anxious and depressed - to have so many aches and pains that you don't really care if tomorrow does not come. No - there is no quick and easy fix - but there are many things you can do to improve your health and even to get completely better. But - you have to be tough even when you are feeling sick - and you have to be willing to learn about love, life and your response to it! If anyone would like to contact me my email is geoffshawyer@mweb.co.za or write to: B Bester 8 Greenside Carlton Road Fish Hoek 7975. Barbara Bester

t must be understood that the pharmaceutical industry is not a health industry but an investment business. Dr Rath, says: The pharmaceutical business is a global fraud operation - it promises health to the people of the world but in reality, its multi-billion dollar drug business is based on the continuation and the expansion of diseases. Mankind has to come to grips with the fact that diseases are the marketplace of the drug investment industry. During the past century the financial interests behind the pharmaceutical industry have developed this organized fraud into the biggest and most profitable investment industry on earth. Today two our of three drugs manufactured and sold in the world come from two countries, only the United States and Great Britain. The US-based Rockefeller financial groups and the UK based JP Morgan group are the primary beneficiaries of this pharmaceutical investment business with disease. Millions of people in almost 200 countries of the world pay the ultimate price for this organized business with diseases that exist merely because some people make money from them. Entire national economies are ruined by billions of dollars in tribute payments to this fraudulent investment business. Particularly devastating has been the influence of the pharmaceutical investment groups. By abusing the World Trade Organization these interest groups forced the acceptance of the unscrupulous principle of patents even upon the poorest nations of the world At the same time by abusing the World Health Organization the same drug companies have been trying to outlaw effective natural health alternatives under the cover of the United Nations Codex Alimentarius Commission. Literally hundreds of millions of people have died because the United Nations has betrayed its mandate from the people of the world. For example, the economic adviser of the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan is the economist Jeffrey Sachs, one of the most outspoken advocates of corporate globalization. Sachs attended the African Union Summit and tours the developing world with Annan, recommending increased financial help from the governments of the rich nations - but under the conditions, (get this), that this money flows back to private companies in these rich countries, through, for example, the purchase of patented pharmaceutical drugs worth billions of dollars. In other words the Sachs/Annan team advocates a multi-billion subsidy from the tax payer to the private coffers of Biophile Issue 20

the pharmaceutical drug cartel. And on its way this money and the drugs dispensed cause even more diseases and create even more markets. It was no coincidence that President Mbeki mentioned in the closing speech of the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, that the greatest threat to Africa becoming a truly independent continent is the danger of military intervention from countries outside Africa. This danger is very real and will increase with every step South Africa and the developing world takes towards true economic independence. But the people of the world have no alternative. We must undertake this journey. And the Alliance of Nations, or United States of Africa, (we don’t hear anything more about that? ) I wonder why? Unquote. The Dr Rath Foundation has filed a complaint against the corporate and political stakeholders of the pharmaceutical investment business with disease at the International Criminal Court in The Hague. Unbeknownst to the people of the world, these pharmaceutical interest groups meet every year at the so-called Codex Alimentarius meeting in order to move these unscrupulous plans forward. For the seventh year in a row, we have been instrumental in preventing the plans of the drug cartel to ban natural health therapies worldwide through international law. Every AU summit delegate in Addis Ababa read on the day (open letter put our by Dr Rath) the strategic need for an Alliance of Nations - covering the interests of the developing world far beyond Africa. And it was no coincidence that the great majority of African nations realized that only one nation could be the appropriate venue for this Parliament because it had become a beacon of hope on this plant for its liberation from apartheid and for its path of democracy. That country was South Africa. The people of South Africa and their government had laid the grounds for the nations of Africa. The presentation of the historic necessity for a global Alliance of Nations helped to bring about this unanimous decision. When I was living with my parents in Broken Hill in Northern Rhodesia my dad whilst reading the paper always said that the United Nations were a useless bunch of toothless nothings. And so it is. A few years ago there was a big publication in the press against Dr Rath. I see this as the last struggles of a dying United Nations. As other researchers say “the people need to awaken, or George Orwell’s 1984 fascist state will be upon us. Drugs and all. Anonymous

INBOX

Lotus Birth E

ndless gratitude for your magazine… and as it seems to be blossoming into medium for sharing vital information; I would like to share our unusual birthing story with future dads and mums. I was always confident that my body could give birth naturally. So with the great support of my dear husband, family, friends and the strong help of my little girl being born, we gave birth on our farm without any professional help, simply guided by the ancient knowledge that all women carry inside. All went so intensely and magically… after 6 hours of unforgettable timelessness she came to the light with no tears, in a loving space surrounded by her parents, grandparents and friends. I suppose the most remarkable thing about her birth was that her "renaissance" came three days later. Unlike most babies, Sheya remained unscathed after she came out of the womb with her primal mother, the placenta. Basically, we didn't cut her umbilical cord, but left it to dry until it naturally fell off. This way of doing is call the Lotus birth, named after Clair Lotus Day, who first introduced the idea into western society. First we placed the placenta in a colander over a bowl to be able to drain the excess fluid. Then we covered it with salt to speed up the drying and to keep it germfree. Several times a day, after rinsing and re-salting we would sprinkle it with fresh frangipani flowers and lavender buds… We would also put a drop of honey around the navel where the umbilical cord was still attached, again, for drying and hygiene. We did this for two days and three nights. In the morning after the third night our baby was released… she said a gentle goodbye to her primal mother and a warm greeting to the earth where she just incarnated. Here she also received her name.

We found this tender and non-invasive way deeply rewarding and respectful of the new soul. Primarily you don't inflict unnecessary violence upon the new born. Secondly, this is a way to insure that the exchange between the baby and the placenta comes to a natural end. The new born stays almost unmoved for the time it takes for the cord to release, mainly due to the impracticality of being attached to the placenta. This way the baby has plenty of time to recover from the tremendous experience of birth instead of being carried from hand to hand. It's also a good way for the mother to remain in close proximity for bonding and for the baby to experience a gentle transition from the womb into the outside world. One other thing… We must remember that the placenta is a sacred organ that merits reverence and care. Different cultures have different way of honoring it. Some women eat it (it's highly nutritious and the only "meat" that comes from life instead of death…); some return it to the earth and plant a tree on the very fertile ground it gives… In hospitals, the precious organ is seen pretty differently… As the proprieties of the blood coming from the placenta and cord are extremely rich and used in many medical and cosmetic preparations, you can imagine that there is an important market for it where, as usual, benefits don't always go to the ones in need, but the ones with the money… If you give birth in hospital it is your right to ask for it, as it is an important part of you. You don't have to eat it, but I can promise you that the tree you'll plant over it will bear lovely fruits that your child will one day be very grateful for… from Her tree. It is also a nice opportunity to make a little ceremony around the event and gather the important people for the baby. Our society these days is quite deprived of rituals and ceremony that honour life itself. There cannot be a better opportunity than the miraculous event of the birth of a child to renew our humble gratitude to the Cosmos… The Lotus birth is still advocated by very few midwives, as it is still relatively unknown. More information is readily available on internet ( www.freestone.org and www.lotusbirth. com are good places to start looking). Alex, Khula Dhamma Ecovillage Biophile Issue 20

The Human Mechanism I dwell within a concrete jungle. Where trees once grew brown and green Life was wholesome and full of fruit. I stare, the pale grey mass soulless and unforgiving. My ambitions I place on the jungle of stone. The tribal suits instruct me to climb, floor by floor, the idol tower. Withering year by year as robotically I move on instruction, intuition and the individual buried under stacks of paper. Time ticks by and I climb floor by floor the tower of flawed dreams, a cog within the machine. I reach the suits at the top of the tower and they hand me my small square box... "It's yours with a window view". I sit and stare through the transparent achievement, a badge on my suit, And I see him young, full of ambition, staring into a concrete jungle. The suits beckon and I rise slowly, mechanically, without ambition. I am a suit. My purpose the continuation of the tower. The young man enters the boardroom and the suits contemplate the quality of the tool. by DAVID TORR (17 years)

Very few cars

Solar kitchen

I went for a short visit to Auroville, India this December as there is talk in the air about starting a ‘sister’ publication to Biophile in India. My dear friends Stacey and Martin have this idea, and with a little dedicated action great ideas often materialize, so we are visualizing it and if it is meant to be, it will happen in perfect divine time! Auroville was inspired by the evolutionary vision of Sri Aurobindo and founded by Mirra Alfassa, known as “The Mother”. It has been planned as an international experimental township, and I just loved every minute of my time there, even though it was a fleeting 8 days. I stayed with Martin and Stacey in the community, (within the greater Auroville community) called Verete. We ate sensational auvedic organic food cooked by the Amah’s and a couple of times went to the solar kitchen for lunch. It is one of the biggest solar kitchens in the world and caters for 1000 - 2000 people a day, and the food is all vegetarian and delicious! I had a humble, beautifully clean little room called ‘Faith’, and my showers were from a bucket with water from a solar geyser…..what more could anyone want? We laughed, sang, played music and zooted around on electric bikes! I met some great people, dedicated to “The Dream”, which you can read below. It is a place that aspires to true brotherhood, and while it is not perfect yet, the blueprint is there and people are doing their best to live in brotherly/sisterly love, consciously and creatively. THE DREAM

Making music

Biophile Issue 20 17

“There should be somewhere upon earth a place that no nation could claim as its sole property, a place where all human beings of goodwill, sincere in their aspiration, could live freely as citizens of the world, obeying one single authority, that of the supreme Truth; a place of peace, concord, harmony, where all the fighting instincts of man would be used exclusively to conquer the causes of his suffering and misery, to surmount his weakness and ignorance, to triumph over

editorial On the bike

his limitations and incapacities; a place where the needs of the spirit and the care for progress would get precedence over the satisfaction of desires and passions, the seeking for pleasures and material enjoyments. In this place, children would be able to grow and develop integrally without losing contact with their soul. Education would be given, not with a view to passing examinations and getting certificates and posts, but for enriching the existing faculties and bringing forth new ones. In this place titles and positions would be supplanted by opportunities to serve and organize. The needs of the body will be provided for equally in the case of each and everyone. In the general organisation intellectual, moral and spiritual superiority will find expression not in the enhancement of the pleasures and powers of life but in the increase of duties and responsibilities. Artistic beauty in all forms, painting, sculpture, music, literature, will be available equally to all, the opportunity to share in the joys they bring being limited solely by each one’s capacities and not by social or financial position. For in this ideal place money would be no more the sovereign lord. Individual merit will have a greater importance than the value due to material wealth and social position. Work would not be there as the means of gaining one’s livelihood, it would be the means whereby to express oneself, develop one’s capacities and possibilities, while doing at the same time service to the whole group, which on its side would provide for each one’s subsistence and for the field of his work. In brief, it would be a place where the relations among human beings, usually based almost exclusively upon competition and strife, would be replaced by relations of emulation for doing better, for collaboration, relations of real brotherhood”. --The Mother

The Bathroom

On an electric bike

We at Biophile wish all our readers a peaceful and blessed 2008. Anthea

Biophile Issue 20

ARTICLE TITLE GOES HERE

the biofiles There is always a good side Everything depends on the way you look at things. View every problem you encounter as an opportunity. There is always a good side to every situation. The optimist sees an opportunity in every misfortune. The pessimist sees misfortune in every opportunity. The optimist sees the doughnut. The pessimist sees the hole. You can develop success from every failure. Discouragement and failure are two stepping stones to your success. No other elements can do so much for you if you’re willing to study them and make them work for you. When it is dark enough, you can see the stars... [Daily Guru]

news from around our world

Scientists want to make cows fart like kangaroos to cool the planet Australian scientists are trying to give kangaroo-style stomachs to cattle and sheep in a bid to cut the emission of greenhouse gases blamed for global warming. Thanks to special bacteria in their stomachs, kangaroo flatulence contains no methane and scientists want to transfer that bacteria to cattle and sheep who emit large quantities of the harmful gas. While the usual image of greenhouse gas pollution is a billowing smokestack pushing out carbon dioxide, livestock passing wind contribute a surprisingly high percentage of total emissions in some countries. “Fourteen per cent of emissions from all sources in Australia is from enteric methane from cattle and sheep,” said Athol Klieve, a senior research scientist with the Queensland Government. But it will take researchers at least three years to isolate the bacteria, before they can even start to develop a way of transferring it to animals such as cattle and sheep. [Inhabitat]

Air car available this year A French company has developed a pollutionfree car which runs on compressed air. India’s Tata Motors has the car under production and it may be on sale in Europe and India by the end of the year. The air car, also known as the Mini-CAT or City Cat, can be refueled in minutes from an air compressor at specially equipped gas stations and can go 200 km on a R15 fill-up. The top speed will be almost 115 km/h and the cost of the vehicle as low as R50,000. The car features a fibreglass body and a revo-

lutionary electrical system and is completely computer-controlled. It is powered by the expansion of compressed air, using no combustion at all, and the exhaust is entirely clean and cool enough for use in the internal air conditioning system. Tata Motors is known for its interest in innovation and has been selling compressed gas buses since 2000. It is currently working on producing the world’s cheapest car, which will be almost 100% plastic and will sell in India for about R17,000. [BBC News]

Biophile Issue 20

Las Vegas to build world’s first vertical farm Las Vegas is to begin development of the World’s first vertical farm. The $200 million dollar project is designed to be a functional and profitable working farm growing enough food to feed 72,000 people for a year and provide another tourist attraction to the city that does everything in a larger than life way. We currently use about 80% of the world’s available farm land and 60% of the earth’s population lives near or in an urban environment so the logical choice for farming is to go up. Las Vegas is seen as the perfect location for this project by Nevada State officials who would like to demonstrate their sustainability and environmental awareness instead of projecting an image of waste and excess. Although the project initial cost is high at $200 million, with annual revenue of $25 million from produce and another $15 million from tourists the 30 story vertical farm would be about as profitable as a casino with operating expenses only being about $6 million a year. There would be about 100 different crops grown ranging from strawberries to lettuce even miniature banana trees could be grown from each floors specially controlled environment. The products would go straight to the casinos and hotel properties and be a very visible and desirable addition to the overall Las Vegas experience. [Treehugger]

Solar trees to light Europe’s streets The streets of Europe could soon be lit by solar energy due to the fact that a solar tree prototype recently passed a key test phase. The solar trees went on display for four weeks in October on a busy street — the Ringstrasse — in Vienna, Austria. They were able to provide enough light during the night-time even when the sun did not show for as much as four days in a row. “The solar cells on the tree were able to store enough electricity in spite of receiving no direct solar light for days at a time because of the clouds. They showed that solar trees really are a practical form of street lighting,” says Christina Werner from Cultural Project Management, Vienna. She said that the City of Vienna was now in the process of deciding whether to install more solar trees. “We hope that not only the city of Vienna but other cities will see the merits of using renewable energy for street lighting to cut emissions,” Christina Werner said. “Someday soon solar trees could well be the main form of street lighting in Europe.” Putting solar powered LED light systems on trees would cut down on the carbon emissions and also slash the bills of local authorities, she said. Street lighting consumed 10 percent of all the electricity used in Europe in 2006 or 2,000 billion KWh, and resulted in carbon emissions of 2,900 million ton. The use of more energy-efficient lighting in the Austrian city of Graz, with a population of almost 300,000 saved the city 524,000 KWh of electricity and R700,000 in 2005. [dezeen.com]

Chocolate-powered biodiesel Chocolate is a guilty pleasure for some, but could soon prove highly nutritious — for your car! Thanks to a process created by British company Ecotec, it is now possible to take waste chocolate from confectionery companies and turn it into biodiesel. And to prove that it works, two British adventurers just completed a trek on a chocolate powered truck that went all the way from Europe to Timbuktu! Andy Pag and John Grimshaw were the drivers of the chocolate powered Ford Iveco Cargo lorry. They traveled a distance of 4,500 miles for almost an entire month in a trip that took them through France, Spain, Morocco, Mauritania

and all the way to Timbuktu and doing so while facing the unforgiving Saharan Desert. The trip was not just for fame and glory, as they took with them a small processing unit with them that converts waste oil products into fuel, which they will donate to an African charity. For those of you wondering whether you can eat or even smell the chocolate, the answer unfortunately is no. As to how much equivalent chocolate was used to make it all the way to Africa? about 80,000 chocolate bars. “If we use biodiesel to get to Timbuktu with a standard engine, there’s no reason why people in the UK can’t use it for their commute or school run,” said Andy Pag. [biotruck.co.uk]

US’s largest solarelectric plant goes online The US Air Force announced in January that the largest solarelectric system in North America, a 14-megawatt installation at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, is up and running. The project is expected to generate more than 30 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, supplying approximately 25 percent of the electricity used at the base. That’s far more electricity than is being churned out by the largest corporate installation so far, a 1.6-megawatt photovoltaic project that Google installed in 2007. [GreenTech Media]

Honesty opens the door to success Successful people have cultivated the habit of never denying to themselves their true feelings and attitudes. They have no need for pretenses. Once you accept yourself completely you don’t have to maintain a phony front, or feel insecure if people don’t tune in to you and what you’re doing. Visualize what you really want, not what someone else wants for you. Don’t forfeit three-fourth’s of yourself to be like other people. First say to yourself what you would be and then do what you have to do. [Daily Guru]

Biophile Issue 20

get active! Environmental Justice Network Forum Established to service the common interests of participating South African non-governmental and community-based organizations on matters concerning environmental justice and sustainable development. Tel: +27 (0)11 403 8978 Fax: +27 (0)11 339 3859 Web: www.ejnf.org.za

Earthlife Africa A membershipdriven organization of environmental and social justice activists, founded to mobilize civil society around environmental issues in relation to people. Web: www.earthlife.org.za

Biowatch South African NGO publicising, monitoring and researching issues of biological diversity,genetic engineering and sustainable livelihoods. Tel: +27 0(21) 447 5939 Email: biowatch@mweb.co.za Web: www.biowatch.org.za

CANE - Coalition Against Nuclear Energy South Africa A group of organisations, NGOs, Environmental Groups, Communities and Citizens from all over South Africa who are opposed to Nuclear Energy as a power source. Web: www.cane.org.za

FullCycle

Friendly suppliers of recycling gadgets, worms and worm farms. Web: www.fullcycle.co.za

what you can do

Exposing the dangers and threats of GMOs in South Africa Research in the field of Genetic Engineering (GE) has now reached a level where its applications are having enormous effects on a global scale. SAFeAGE is committed to ensuring that consumers are made aware of the dangers and threats of GMO’s. We are further lobbying Government to adopt the precautionary principle at the very least, and at best, seek alternate, more sustainable methods of food production and farming. We would further like to impose a moratorium on all new imports and releases of GMO’s until such time as sufficient, independent testing of the effects of GMOs in food and farming are proven safe. As an NGO representing the South African public, we are seriously concerned about the lack of both public involvement, and risk assessment in the face of high levels of corporate secrecy and nondisclosure. Most of all we are concerned about the total lack of any kind of traceability and accountability on the part of the manufacturers of these products. What can you do? JOIN SAFEAGE! Take a minute of your time to join the thousands of people making a difference - put your name on our database. You won’t get more than 3 emails per month. Go to top of page and ‘Join Mailing List’. * Raise your concerns in letters to editors of newspapers, community, church and club publications, magazines and on talkback radio shows. * Ask your local food retailers, cafes, restaurants for GE-Free choices. (Click here to see what they say about GMOs); * Buy organic food (no chemicals or GE allowed) or grow your own. * Let your friends, family, neighbours, club members know about this. * Contact SAFeAGE for a talk and Q/A session for your group.

SAFeAGE SA Freeze Alliance on Genetic Engineering Tel. +27 (0)21 447 8445 Email: safeage@mweb.co.za Web: www.safeage.org

Biophile Issue 20

TAKE ACTION WITH EARTHLIFE AFRICA Who Is Earthlife Africa? Earthlife Africa (ELA) is a membership driven organization of environmental and social justice activists, founded to mobilize civil society around environmental issues in relation to people.

What does Earthlife Africa do? Earthlife Africa’s main activities are campaign related. This includes lobbying and advocacy, building campaigns at community level through sharing information and skills, engaging with environmental impact assessments, engaging the media, and researching and producing information materials. We work to promote ecologically sound alternatives, like renewable energy and efficiency, organic farming and adopting the ‘Zero Waste’ approach to industrial pollution and waste management.

Where is Earthlife Africa? ELA Johannesburg (Jhb) branch was established in August 1988 as the first branch of the organization. Since then, ELA has expanded to include branches in Cape Town, eThekwini (formerly Durban) and Tshwane (formerly Pretoria), as well as one in Windhoek, Namibia.

How can you get involved with Earthlife Africa Cape Town? Earthlife Africa Cape Town is involved in a wide range of environmental justice issues including; -anti-nuclear campaigning -ethical consumerism -sustainable transportation campaigning -anti-GM campaigning -pro-renewable energy campaigning -climate change activism -zero waste approach Earthlife Africa Cape Town has a place for anybody with an environmental conscience who has enthusiasm that they want to share. There are many activities to get involved in including; -activism -journalism -design -financial/marketing -IT FOR MORE INFO, OR TO JOIN EARTHLIFE AFRICA CAPE TOWN, PLEASE VISIT

www.earthlife-ct.org.za or call: 021 447 4912 or Email: coordinator@earthlife-ct.org.za

Anti-Fur Campaign The first shot across the bows in the Anisionate person could possibly be prepared mal Activist Network’s campaign to ensure to participate in such cruelty ever again. that fur does not get sold in South Africa Perhaps you are just like me, and have is the anti-fur protest outside Constantia never taken the time to think about this diShopping Mall in Cape Town on the 26th lemma, but now that you know how many January at 11 am. of us here in South Africa and the world It started out as a campaign against a over are committed to getting the message specific shop, but as we are again all aware, across, perhaps you too will become an more and more shops are now showcasing ambassador for these beautiful animals, and selling furs around the country. whose very skin is peeled off their backs so The original shop we were complainthat we can look beautiful! ing about, Caroline Ohlson Boutiques, And so unnecessary, especially in a hot according to our sources, seem to have country like South Africa. REMOVED the offending items from their I’m appealing to you, as a woman, a store (have not yet had an official confirwife, a mother, somebody’s daughter, sister, mation from them personally, so this is cousin and friend – please acquaint youronly according to our sources); however, self with the horrors that are perpetrated the protest must and will go ahead as part in the fur industry and take a public stand of the much larger campaign. to reject any clothing that is made of fur. The campaign, spearheaded by Beauty Put up signs in your windows to that effect without Cruelty, will now look to con– and become a market leader in compastacting all the malls in South Africa and sion! requesting that, as part of their leases to Please feel free to contact me if you retailers, they include a clause banning the would like to discuss anything or require sale of fur from any store in their mall. further information in this regard. You will Further to that, we will do our utmost to find that we are not just hardened activtry and get as many pledges from people, ists, but compassionate people who love from celebrities, other boutiques and animals and want to eradicate cruelty from designers promising to never use fur in our lives in all its forms. We are driven to their collections and will put them up on speak for those that have no voice! Please the BWC website as well as the Sentience join us in this crusade. website as examples of the correct way to Sharon do business, namely ethically. In keeping with this campaign, we urge you to get those fingers keying as the best basis from which we can operate is reliance on ALL of you to write to the media and to any store that is selling this abomination. Another store that has come under the spotlight recently is Callaghan in Cavendish in Cape Town. However, this story has a happy ending. Here is a brilliant letter sent by Sharon Duggan and urge you to use this as an example of how to address the issue:

An outstanding letter, Sharon, and one to emulate and one, which I am pleased to note, had the outcome we wished for and which was just received from Sharon: I have just had a phone call from Shirley Tamaris of Callaghan’s, thanking me for my letter, and promising that she will NEVER buy fur again. She says it was a ‘guilty’ slip she made, and regrets it sorely. She is going to respond in writing and I will forward it to everybody. Please – let’s all mail her and thank her for her decision. She mentioned all the ‘ugly’ letters she received – which all have their place – but let’s show her how grateful we are and applaud her decision. She has even been involved with animal rights people, Christine Berry in particular, and says Christine would have been horrified with the fur in her shop. Sharon Please keep those letters polite, educational, fair and firm when you first write. From the Animal Activist Network Newsletter. For more information, please contact Lejane: 083 65 111 20 or lejane@sentience.co.za www.sentience.co.za

Until my eyes were opened, I too thought there was nothing wrong about the fur industry. The fur is so beautiful and feels so good against ones skin. A magnificent fur collar or coat makes you feel beautiful, pampered and glamorous. But this is far from the kind of life these beautiful animals lead. I justified it by telling myself that the animals were killed for food – and that it was quite acceptable to do so. It took me a long time to admit to myself that it was wrong – but once that threshold is crossed there is no going back. Once you have acquainted yourself with the horrors of the fur industry, no compasBiophile Issue 20

Who’s that Girl?

n 1994 a Siberian elder told the entrepreneur Vladimir Megre a fascinating story about the "ringing cedars" trees respected from Biblical times for their curative powers and the capacity to re-connect human beings with the Divine. The elder told him where such a ringing cedar was growing in the Siberian backwoods. Vladimir Megre set out on an expedition to find the tree. But his encounter with the elder's granddaughter Anastasia transformed him so deeply that he abandoned his commercial plans and, penniless, went to Moscow to write a book about the spiritual insights she shared with him. What happened next thrilled and inspired millions!

With no advertisement other than word of mouth the Ringing Cedars Series has become an international bestseller. Having sold over 10 million copies in Russian alone and translated into 20 languages, it has made Vladimir Megre into one of Russia's most widely read authors. The books, which read like a fascinating novel, have an authenticity of a documentary account and present spiritual insights of incredible depth, are believed to be a most significant masterpiece of Russian literature and one of the most important revelations in the history of humanity. These highly unusual books provide extraordinary insights into dozens of subjects - from natural child rearing to the production of high-energy, healing foods, from the meaning of human life to the amazing potential that awaits every one of us, from ancient megalithic science to the vital importance of breast-feeding, and from sacred sexuality to the hidden history of world religions. Megre presents Anastasia's deep understanding of Mankind's innate spiritual connection to Nature and provides practical solutions to the problems currently facing humanity. He reveals her brilliant vision for the future of this planet, one full of hope and possibility. Her words of wisdom inspire and uplift in a way that has an immediate and profound impact on the reader. Now a series of 9 volumes, these books have already created a silent revolution across Russia and Europe. Books 1 – 8 Now Available in South Africa!

Web: www.ringingcedars.co.za Or e-mail books@ringingcedars.co.za Or phone 021-439 3986 / 082 55 33 77 5

These books are for you if you are INTO: Life Love Ancient History Education Nature Truth Gardening Parenthood Freedom Organics Conspiracy Practical solutions Health Creation Finding meaning Spirituality Science Our future Divine Nutrition YOU NEED TO READ THESE BOOKS!

What readers worldwide are saying “Thank you for these wonderful books! To read them has been an amazing experience… my life has changed…” Virginie , France Book 6 is so powerful. It brings me so much joy to see something I have always known in "my bones" so beautifully articulated.” Maria “What a blast... I digested the 5 in a week. I have not been as engrossed in a series of books since I discovered Lobsang Rampa in the 1970's. I will be recommending these books to everyone I know” George, Australia “Book 1 was extraordinary… a sense of deep well-being came over me! Anastasia’s comment that illness is a conversation with God just blew me away. I have had a chronic illness for 21 years now and that is exactly what it has been for me. Just can’t stop reading this remarkable material!” Robert, Pasadena California "It is difficult finding the words to express how much [reading Anastasia] means to me and how powerfully I am impacted by it. It's as if my mind and heart have been prepared to read this book for years! I've found a treasure for which I have been searching desperately for years! I will be ordering the entire series soon and sharing them with everyone I know!" ... and soon after from the same reader..."I've been immersed in the books. Since we last spoke, I have read book 2 AND 3! I am in awe of what I have read. I have been DEEPLY impacted and touched thus far, and I can't wait to read book 4 through 8!" Brian, Los Angeles USA "Anastasia is among - no - is the most profound work I have ever read… this is something special. No other book has actually changed me. I am even more excited now in expectation of acquiring Books 2 thru 4 I'm quietly confident that this is indeed the life-changing experience I have been waiting for. Cheers" Ben, Australia "I cannot even begin to describe the depth of the effect Anastasia has had on me and I have only read Book 1. For the first time in my life I feel affirmed on a very deep level and feel free to be me." Mary, New Zealand "At last! Truth that has not been distorted by dogma or someone's ego! I might explode from emotion if I read any more! I had a hard time getting myself to just stand still." Ana, Portugal "After reading this series I have recommended that my daughters give away all their other reading materials." John, Melbourne, Australia "I first laid my eyes on the Anastasia books and felt the energy at once, bought them, and was completely breath taken. I had to stop reading just to cry for a while I was so touched with the beauty and simplicity of Anastasia's spirit... I have read 100's of books through the years on spiritual advancement, but there is nothing so direct and clear as this." Jan, Norway "Have just read with utter delight and joy Book 1 and would like to buy the [other] books that are translated into English." Araura, UK "I so love Anastasia and everything about her. I have read or I should say devoured the first four books and my life has changed. I am waiting for book five with excited anticipation." CT, Sydney "It is the first thing written in a book that has made so much sense to me. All that she says makes sense and you just know that you are reading TRUTH. The book is awesome and I could not put it down! " D, Canada "Basically, these books make all the books that I've read to date look like a complete waste of paper! .... I think that going through life without this knowledge is a waste of time, and not passing it on to children is a crime. I can say with confidence that nothing like these books exists in the world today." Rafal, Australia “We should all read this book, no matter nationality, ethnicity, gender or age. This gives us something to discuss that we cannot receive from modern media. This allows us to expand upon ideas to create a community our children can thrive in.” Doug, Portland, OR (electrical engineer)

The greatest read of your life!!

Something so beautiful you will never look back. Book 8 now available. “I was so excited I couldn’t stop jumping up and down and had goose bumps all over...” WHAT IF something got you SO EXCITED...

You started dancing around the room and you couldn’t sit still if your life depended on it? What if you COULDN’T SLEEP – perhaps for days? What if I told you about a series of books ... • That few people in the West have ever heard of? • That have sold over 11 million copies with no advertising except word of mouth? (That’s ELEVEN MILLION !!!) • That from day one have created a frenzy of excitement among people from all walks of life? • That are the most stolen books in some overseas bookshops? • That after reading, thousands of people have quit their jobs? • That have inspired top scientists & military officers to write poetry and paint? • That within minutes of starting, countless readers have ordered 3, 5 even 12 copies to send to friends & loved ones? Sounds amazing?... IT’S ALL ABSOLUTELY TRUE! Can YOU think of ANY books, in the entire history of humanity, that have had such a response? Well these have! And we have never heard of them ... until NOW.

You can FEEL yourself changing as you read...

Your brain starts working at a NEW level…

I was so excited I couldn’t stop jumping up and down and had goose bumps all over – my whole understanding had suddenly tied together, as if all the loose ends have found each other! All my beliefs and instincts were confirmed and reinforced in me. I have NEVER had such a deep feeling of knowing and awe inside me before!

And the EXCITEMENT keeps growing…

The past few months have been amazing. People from all over Southern Africa have been phoning in and writing to us - just wanting to share what these books have meant to them: The controls have fallen away from their lives; they’re suddenly without fear; they’re planting their first gardens; they’re writing, painting and singing for the first time in years! Many are reading the books to their kids (who are loving it!) or giving copies away to friends and family. Book clubs describe how they found for the first time something important and wonderful to discuss. There really is something happening here!

REAL Change…

Millions of people across the globe have read these books and amazing things are starting to happen. Throughout all of Europe, the US, Canada, Australia and the UK, thousands of people are changing their way of life and living more spiritual lives closer to Nature – deeply connected to each other, rooted in God and touching the Earth with all their love.

If I told you your understanding of your life and your relationship with Nature is about to change forever, if I told you these books contain the missing links we have all been looking for, if I told you that in many countries the Ringing Cedars Series is now considered the ANTHEA TORR (EDITOR BIOPHILE): most significant book series ever written and contains the most important revelations in If you only read one book in your life, read Anastasia!' the history of humanity, would you want to read them?

Electrifying messages will totally INSPIRE you ...

My name is Jan Wessels. I was sitting in my cubicle at one of those mindnumbing corporate set-ups, looking around on the internet for anything that could help me get through the afternoon, when I came across a review of a book that immediately got me sitting up. The reviewer was describing a Russian book called Anastasia by Vladimir Megre and the excitement of the description was tangible. There was an excerpt from this book on the website and I started reading through it. From that moment my life changed drastically and permanently.

The BEST news EVER…

After finally getting hold of a copy of Anastasia from the publisher I went to sit on the beach by myself and read it from cover to cover. Sometimes in the middle of a page, I had to laugh out loud with a feeling of sheer joy running through me. The best way I can try to describe this to you, is: “Imagine what you would feel like if you heard the BEST news you could possibly hear, but could never have imagined, about Life, God, Man, Nature, the Earth and the Universe!” This is the feeling that the deep truth and beauty in Anastasia’s words sprouts inside you. I got up with a feeling of warmth and joy all over. I quit my job immediately and vowed to distribute these books as far and wide as possible in Africa! All we want now is for EVERYONE to read these books. Something really wonderful happens when you do.

You’ll DISCOVER life is more precious than you knew...

I realised on a very deep level that I CAN NOT spend another moment of my life doing meaningless work in an insane system! Life is beautiful and full of gifts and our capabilities and capacity to love are endless…

You have NEVER read anything like this...

Readers (and editors!) alike assure us that they have never read anything like these books. They contain the most astounding messages you will ever read, from an amazingly beautiful woman, found more than 10 years ago, living alone in a forest in Siberia. She is considered to be a surviving member of an ancient culture, whose powers and knowledge FAR EXCEED anything known today. Since her discovery in 1995, the spiritual insights she has shared in these books have spread like a raging wildfire across Europe, selling over 11 million copies. These books have been translated into more than 20 languages, but only recently into English. Eight volumes have been translated so far and they get progressively more mind-blowing!

EVERYONE must read these books…

Don’t make any important plans until you have read Anastasia. This really is potent, critical new information. Get reading! SPECIAL OFFER: Buy a set of 8 for only R1200. Postage not included Email: books@ringingcedars.co.za Or Call 021 439 3986 / 082 55 33 77 5 Mon-Fri, 8.30am-5pm. Or Visit www.ringingcedars.co.za to order on-line

Biophile Issue 20

Animal Lives Matter So let’s stop eating them! by Professor Marc Bekoff

on-human animals have many of the same feelings we do. They experience contagious joy and the deepest of grief, they get hurt and suffer, and they take care of one another. They have a point of view on what happens to them, their families, and their friends. Nonetheless, in innumerable situations their lives are wantonly and brutally taken in deference to human interests. The activity that claims the lives of far more individuals than all other venues combined is eating them, and it’s here where each of us can make an effortless and graceful difference. Some hard-todigest facts: If it takes you five minutes to read this article, more than 250,000 animals will have been slaughtered for food in the United States alone; that’s about 27 billion a year. Countless others (1 million pigs in 2006), called “downers,” will have died on their horrific journey to slaughterhouses. After their shameful trip to the slaughterhouse, it takes less than 30 minutes to turn a cow into a steak, during which time these sentient beings continue to suffer interminably, and they also see, hear, and smell other cows on their way to becoming a burger. One slaughterhouse worker notes of food animals, “They die piece by piece.” In her wonderful essay Am I Blue? Alice Walker wrote:

“As we talked of freedom and justice one day for all, we sat down to steaks. I am eating misery, I thought, as I took the first bite. And spit it out.” We not only eat millions of mammals but also billions of birds, fish and invertebrates. We know fish feel pain and recent research at Queen’s University in Belfast, Ireland, shows that lobsters also feel pain. The response of fish and lobsters to painful stimuli resembles that of humans. In a nutshell, fish don’t like being hooked and lobsters really don’t like being dropped into hot water. There are innumerable things we can do to make the world a better and more peaceful and compassionate home for all beings. We can protest the abuse of animals in education, research, circuses, zoos, and rodeos, and we can stop wearing and eating them. We can stop killing animals

Biophile Issue 20

PLEASE SUPPORT

ANIMAL VOICE

Animal Voice is the official mouthpiece of Compassion In World Farming (South Africa). CIWA (South Africa) headed by Louise van der Merwe, is also busy bringing out a Kind Food Guide: “... It has taken us 17 years to get to the point where a Kind Food Guide is possible and we request you please to consider telling your colleagues, friends and contacts about it. Believe it or not, when we started off as Humanity for Hens way back in 1989 there wasn’t a single free range egg available in any supermarket anywhere in South Africa. These days we take free range eggs for granted. Besides the eggs, we have made progress for other farm animals too... ”

Please support the work of CIWF (SA): Compassion in World Farming (South Africa) P O Box 825, Somerset West, 7129, South Africa Tel/fax: 021 852 8160 Email: avoice@yebo. co. za Website: www. animal-voice. org Affiliated to The Humane Education Trust Registered NPO (No. 039 611 NPO) Registered Charitable Trust (No. IT 450/2001) whose land we stole and learn to coexist with them. After all, this land is their land too. We can alert kids to the fact that their turkey was once a bird, their bacon and sausage was once a pig, and that their hamburger was once a cow. It’s amazing how few children know this and when they discover that they’re eating Babe even without knowing how the animal suffered, they’re often incredulous. Kids know animals aren’t “things.” Naming animals also is a good way to decrease the distance we construct an the alienation that follows when we think of animals as things or numbers, rather than as individual beings. Recently I heard about a crayfish who went home with a student after a class in which kids observed the behavior of these fascinating crustaceans (who, like lobsters, feel pain). The woman who told me the story wasn’t sure what to do her new tenant but after the crayfish was named Bubbles it was impossible to think of doing it any harm, including eating it. We name our companion animals, so why not name other animals with whom we have contact? We’re immersed in an “animal moment” and globally there’s an increasing amount of interest and activism by people who want to make a difference, by people who have had enough of the unthinkable cruelty to which we subject billions of animals a year. Animal nations are made up of individuals who are treated as second-class citizens whose lives are routinely taken as long as they serve human ends. We slaughter, silence

and squelch sentience with little more than a fleeting thought and with reprehensible indignity. While we may not be able to define dignity, we all know when we lose it, and so do the animals. It’s really easy to make a positive and noble difference in the lives of animals, and we can all begin right now. You don’t have to go out and protestor found a movement. You can just stop eating other animals and make an immediate difference with your next snack or meal. No need to go “cold turkey “on meat; do it slowly and steadily so it’s a progressive and lasting change. It’s really that easy. And, this really isn’t radical activism, is it? Even if you don’t give a hoot about the ethics of eating animals, since factory farms are notorious for causing irreversible local and wider environmental damage, we can make a huge positive difference by cutting back on carnivory. If you’re an environ-

Biophile Issue 20

campaigning

for farm animals

mentalist it’s impossible to justify eating factory-farmed meat. The facts don’t lie. So, it’s pretty straightforward. We must respect and love other animals as our fellow beings on this planet that we all want to share in peace. We must stop abusing animals now, not when it’s convenient. We must increase the size of our compassionate footprint. No more lame excuses. When we harm animals, we harm and demean ourselves. And, it’s a win-win situation for all because compassion begets compassion; compassion for animal beings spills over to compassion for human beings. And, wouldn’t the world be a better place with more compassion and far less easily avoidable cruelty?

The Global Benefits of Not Eating Meat by Compassion in World Farming

For the sake of people, animals and the planet, meat must now become an urgent political issue.

n the second half of the 20th Century, worldwide meat production increasedroughly fivefold; per capita consumption more than doubled. Even though theindustrialisation of farming has allowed vast numbers of animals to be reared inrelatively small areas, those kept in factory farms cannot forage for their own foodor live on scraps or waste products — as was traditionally largely the case. Consequently, massive areas of land are given over to growing crops to feed them.Livestock production has become the world’s largest user of agricultural land. The farm animal population has expanded dramatically to meet demand. Today, the growing human population -already in excess of 6 billion — shares the planet and its resources at any one time with nearly 1 billion pigs, 1.3billion cows, 1.8 billion sheep and goats and 15.4 billion chickens. As the intensive poultry industry (in particular) spreads to and within many areas of the world, there are already twice as many chickens as there are humans on earth to eat them. Consumption of dairy produce, eggs and seafood have also increased rapidly. Before the 1990s, the vast majority of animal products were consumed in rich countries, yet in the last decademany in developing nations have also adopted what was once known as the Western diet. Even though per capita consumption of beef, pork and chicken remains at only a third of the quantities eaten in the industrial world, it hasdoubled in poorer countries in little more than a decade. All indications are that this trend will continue apace forthe foreseeable future, encouraged by

governments and large-scale international agricultural interests.

Current policies are unsustainable

The scale of this expansion is unsustainable and will reduce the future prospects of healthily feeding an expandinghuman population. The main problems can be summarised as follows: In the developed world, inappropriate diet is increasingly accepted as a cause of ill-health and morbidity.Meat, meat products and dairy foods make up the greatest percentage of saturated fat intake and there isnow general consensus among nutritionists that this contributes significantly to several diseases which have reached epidemic proportions. All informed opinion stresses the desirability of reduced consumption ofanimal products and increased intake of fibre-rich carbohydrates, fresh fruit and vegetables in order tominimise risk of heart disease, mature onset diabetes, obesity and (possibly) some cancers.

Rather than adding to our capacity to feed the world’s human population, putting animal products at the centre of food policy diminishes the possibility of doing so. Just as growth in the human population inevitably puts a strain on the earth’s resources, (leading many experts to cite control of numbers as crucial to the fightagainst human hunger), so a spiralling farm animal population is also threatening stability. Apart from thosewho feed predominantly on pasture where it is difficult to grow crops, and others who feed on scraps andwaste products as part of rotational mixed farming, farm animals utilise considerably more food calories thanthey produce in the form of meat. Meat is the most resource costly form of food because Biophile Issue 20

livestock waste most of the energy and protein value of their feed in digestion and bodily maintenance. More food can beobtained by using land to grow crops for direct human consumption. Farm animals also compete with people for other precious resources, notably water. Lack of water is now recognised as the greatest single threat to yields from arable farms, making it vital to develop foodproduction systems which minimise water reliance. Each calorie of meat takes far more water to produce than a calorie of grain, so one of the simplest ways to increase the ratio of food produced to water consumed is toreduce dependence upon meat. The unsustainably large livestock population is having a devastating environmental impact. Often overlooked as a contributor to global warming, livestock herds account for 10 per cent of all greenhouse gases, including approximately 25 per cent of emissions of methane — considered to be among the most potent. A further major problem is created by the sheer volume of waste produced by the farm animal population — estimated at thirteen billion tonnes every year. Even in countries where relatively strict anti-pollution measures are imposed, this causes high levels of ammonia and nitrate pollution of land, water and air. The excessive use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides to grow crops for animal feed creates further environmental damage. Other ecological problems are specific to individual areas. Among the most spectacular have been rainforest destruction in Central and South America caused by the felling of forests in order to rear cattle for the hamburger trade or to grow soya for animal feed, and desertification from overgrazing in parts of Africa. The massive increase in meat production would not have been possible without the development of industrialised methods of farming, allowing far more animals to be fattened than would have been possible via traditional systems. Produc-

tion methods have ignored the rights and needs of animals by depriving them of the opportunity to fulfil natural behaviour patterns. Exercise, fresh air and social interaction have all been considered unnecessary. Selective breeding for unnaturally rapid growth has created numerous endemic health problems, particularly from leg deformities and heart weakness. Since 1997, the EU has recognised farm animals as sentient beings, capable of suffering and feeling pain. It should, therefore, be incumbent upon policy makers to outlaw methods of production which, by their verynature, severely compromise basic welfare standards. This can only be achieved by reducing the number of animals bred, reared and slaughtered — and consequently by reducing the amount of meat produced andconsumed.0.2 The predicted future for global food productionWhether on grounds of human health, sustainable use of resources, environmental protection or animal welfare, it isimperative that the human population decreases its dependence upon animal products. Yet according to predictions by leading agencies, there is little sign that the warning is being heeded. According to a November 2001 report bythe World Bank, Livestock Development — Implications for Rural Poverty, the Environment, and Global Food Security:‘total global meat demand is expected to grow from 209 million tons in 1997 to 327 million tons in 2020 (56%).Over the same period global milk consumption is expected to increase from about 422 million tons to 648 milliontons (54%).’ This is approximately the same massive rate of increase as we have seen in the last 40 years, forecast to occurwithin only two further decades. It is anticipated that most of this increase will come from animals bred in intensive farms, the majority of them in the developing world. According to the World Bank report:‘per capita meat consumption in the developing world will increase from 25 kilograms to 35 kilograms, compared to an increase from 75 kilograms to 84 kilograms in the industrial world.’ If this prediction proves accurate, some 80 per cent of the total worldwide increase by 2020 will occur indeveloping nations, by which time they will be responsible for 65 per cent of global output. The World Bank alsosuggests that 95 per cent of increased milk production will come from developing nations, leaving them with some 57 per cent of worldwide consumption. While the authors of Livestock Development acknowledge that this projected expansion ‘could severely affectglobal food security, the natural resource base, and rural equity’ they dismiss the logical

response — to curb demandfor meat and milk — as ‘not a viable option’. (‘Global food security’ is defined by them as ‘the individual’s accessto enough food to maintain a healthy and active life’.)

A planet-saving alternative

Historically there seems to have been a direct correlation between rising affluence and increased consumption ofanimal produce. This suggests that it will prove extremely difficult to discourage developing nations from emulatingthe food production and consumption patterns followed in the industrial world since the end of the Second World War. Yet rather than accepting that the current trend towards a high-meat diet is inescapable, this report suggests that an alternative approach is essential. Unless we begin to rely less upon animal products in the human diet we will place a catastrophic strain upon the earth’s resources, with potentially disastrous consequences for human health Biophile Issue 20

and hunger, the natural environment and animal needs. This report summarises the case for reduced dependence upon livestock to feed the human population andsuggests ways in which change can be achieved. It is aimed primarily at both decision makers and individuals in the developed world. While developing countries must also review, as a matter of urgency, the implications of their increased reliance upon meat and dairy foods, it would be presumptuous to attempt to impose food policy upon them — particularly when the vast majority of animal products are still consumed within the industrial world. The hope is, nonetheless, that those with influence in the developing world may accept the logic of the case presented here. Meanwhile, one of the most powerful ways in which the North can encourage the South not to follow the predicted massive dependence upon meat eating is to set an example worthy of imitation. Moving towards a more plant-based diet in the developed

THE GLOBAL BENEFITS OF NOT EATING MEAT world — however belatedly — is probably alsothe best way of promoting sustainable food policy in developing nations.

How can change be achieved?

There are two principal ways in which change in food policy can be achieved: Firstly, through the power of individuals to inspire progress by the actions they take as consumers and/or as active citizens and campaigners. Secondly, by the decisions of policy makers. In some parts of the industrial world, many individuals have radically altered their eating habits over the last two decades. In the UK, some consumers have reduced their consumption of meat (particularly red meat) or made a decision only to eat organic or free-range produce. The vegetarian population has grown significantly and now stands at roughly 5 per cent of the population. The number of vegans has also risen sharply from approximately 70,000 in 1985 to an estimated 250,000. Part of the purpose of this report is to encourage more people to support these initiatives. Thus far, however, politicians have barely recognised levels of meat consumption as an issue worthy of serious debate, let alone introduced the type of programmes that might bring about progress. A primary function of this report is to gain acceptance of the need for radical reform at the political level, suggesting measures that willpromote food policies that are healthier, more humane and sustainable. For the sake of people, animals and the planet, meat must now become an urgent political issue. As an initial step, we recommend that governments in the developed world pursue a target of 15 per cent reduction in meat consumption by the year 2020. Rather than an extreme measure, this should be viewed as a moderate response to the latest findings on healthy and sustainable food production methods from many respectedorganisations — notably the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Food and AgricultureOrganisation of the United Nations (FAO).

Defining agricultural sustainability

Sustainability has become a key concept for environmentalists and human rights activists. What does it mean for food production? Dr Jules Pretty of the University of Essex gives the following definition:‘It is farming that makes the best use of nature’s goods and services while not damaging the environment.Sustainable farming does this by integrating natural processes, such as nutrient cycling, nitrogen fixation, soil regeneration and natural pest control, within food production processes. It also minimises the use of nonrenewableinputs that damage the environment or harm the

health of farmers and consumers.’ In pursuit of this goal, many proponents envisage an agricultural system where intensive production is abandoned in favour of traditional methods in which relatively small numbers of animals are reared extensively. Animal produce is seen as a relative luxury to supplement a largely plant-based diet. Decent standards of animal welfare attempt to ensure that livestock enjoy a relatively natural life and as quick and painless a death as possible. Their wastes are returned to the soil, playing an essential role in maintaining soil fertility and environmental biodiversityas part of mixed organic rotational systems, or by grazing on marginal pasture lands. Although the tendency worldwide is away from sustainable agriculture towards industrial production dominated bypowerful conglomerates, many small-scale farmers across the globe still produce food in this traditional way. For example, intensive poultry farming is the fastest growing form of intensive farming throughout the world, yet still some 80 per cent of farmers in Asia and Africa raise small flocks of chickens who survive by scavenging. What makes current levels of meat consumption a particular danger to food security is both the number of animals reared and the fact that they are grain and soya-fed (i.e. land is devoted primarily to feeding them rather than people directly). It is these trends that must be reversed if sustainable levels of production are to be achieved.

was dancing on an ancient silver rock. All around me, lovers were finding each other, coyly, boldly, laughingly. A force coiled up through my body from that dancing rock, and it was unmistakably sexual. This was one of those moments that set me wondering about the mysteries of the erotic. Today, I am a practicing Tantrika. When I discovered Tantra, my whole being went: Yes! So that is what it was. Tantra teaches practices that helps us to return to the natural: the realization that sexual energy is life force that flows through all things, and that, if refined, leads us to an experience of unconditional love. An erotic ecology is one in which all things, all beings, are in a constant love play with each other. Why do we not live in this play of love on the planet all the time? Advait Tantra says that it is because we get controlled by unconscious desires and fears – patterns of polarity, of resistance and need that start forming from very early on in our lives, and that we are mostly hardly aware of. They leave imprints on our bodies and affect everything: from our love-

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making to our choices in the boardroom – often in surprisingly similar ways. As a Tantrika, my task is twofold: a) To help make conscious the unconscious patterns in our body – mind – emotional systems. Plato said that Eros leads to Logos – if you follow a person’s erotic energy, you soon find out what the knowledge is they are hiding from themselves. b) To bring people to the power of the present moment. The ancient Taoists believed that sexual energy is potent life force – the only regenerable energy in the human being, and a source of longevity. Tantra works with prana (breath energy ), activation of organs and energy flows and meditation to open us to the fullness that the moment holds. The great 20th century mystic Osho said: Sex is the seed. Love is the flower. Compassion is the fragrance. What a perfect metaphor the seed is for an ecology bursting with potential. An undoubtably sexual metaphor it is, too. What do we do to our children when we deny them a conscious exploration of their sexuality? Adolescents who have learnt to suppress all signs of sexual impulse become suppressed adults. Suppression builds anger and frustration that, if not released, can become some of the most dangerous anti-ecological forces on the planet. When the seed is denied, love cannot flower. This I have discovered well and properly in my work as a Social Ecologist. I have a Ph.D. in Social Anthropology and

have been monitoring and evaluating the social impact of developments for many years. When developments get big, the anger-forces become intense. In my own assessments on big developments, I have had to spend as much time in personal processing of the desires and fears that the projects awoke in me as on project research. This has provided excellent opportunity for me to work through my own anger about the neediness and greediness of project participants, and as I had less volatile anger left, I became more able to be present with what is. Once in a meeting with a group of environmentalists, I was listening carefully to the discourse and the tone that was prevalent. I told the environmentalists that, if I ignored the specific content of what they were saying, I might as well have been in a meeting with developers. The language was the same language of war and opposition, and all effort was focused on who had the biggest guns. This is not to say that there is no place for strong action in the world. But strong action that is clear – without being backed by a lifetime of unlived, repressed anger and frustration – is so much more powerful and efficient. Tantra is a force of totality. It encourages us to be fully present in our lives, not to deny anything that we are experiencing. If we can be 100% present in our anger, own it responsibly, sit in the fire of the emotions, if we can be 100% present with the touch of a lover – and all that it evokes, all the tender and volatile memo-

ries and emotions – then our lives start to integrate and become simple. My teacher, Rahasya, often talks about Pavlov’s dogs. As human beings, we have as many if not more layers of association as those dogs. For a man, the approach of a woman – even the thought of her approach – can send his whole psychophysical system into the anticipation/ exhilaration/terror response that comes from his first secret experiences of masturbation. And deeper than that, they may evoke memories of first touch – or lack of touch – by mother. For a woman, the approach of a man may be loaded with memories of father, first experiences of invasion or inappropriate sexual contact with boys or men, and a range of body memories from previous experiences. For most humans, sexual meeting is loaded with the genetic imperatives of the species: the excitement of the hunt, of seducing and being seduced, of finding the mate with highest genetic potential. As we become conscious of these basic survival impulses in our bodies, they start to integrate and resolve. Then we move to the next ecological development: Finding a mate that meets the requirement of the tribe, of with whom we feel some sense of belonging. When we are no more bound by “what the people will think” about our partners and our rating as sexual partners in the culture, we move up the ecological ladder to where we choose out of pure fondness, “because I like”. Beyond our personal likes resides the realm of the heart. When our sexual

impulses are infused with unconditional love, a different kind of orgasm becomes possible – an orgasm of life, an erotic ecology. A planet on which all things – rocks and trees and people – dance together in a seamless flow of love. And yes, the Taoists are right: There is longevity there – love unconditional becomes life rejuvenated.

Dr. Shakti Malan is a teacher and member of the School of Advait Tantra Yoga ( www.tantraschool. co.za). Tantra is the ancient art of awakening through sexual awareness. She does consultations and runs workshops for men and women (www.shakti.co.za). She is also a social sustainability specialist who has worked in the environmental field for many years as a social impact assessment and monitoring consultant ( www. socialsustainability.co.za). Shakti has a Ph.D in Social Anthropology and lives in Franschhoek.

An Erotic Ecology Tantra and Ecological Wisdom by Dr Shakti Malan

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Global Warming & Chemical Genocide by Mark Sircus Ac., OMD

The intentional distortion of science is tantamount to murder. Eventually millions could die because of inaction by the world community whose leadership stands in Washington.

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ore than 60 influential scientists, including 20 Nobel laureates, have issued a statement asserting that the Bush administration had systematically distorted scientific fact in the service of policy goals on the environment, health, and on biomedical research. The United States government stands accused of repeatedly censoring and suppressing reports by its own scientists and disbanding government panels that provide unwanted advice according to the New York Times. Their statement was accompanied by a report published by the Union of Concerned Scientists, listing cases where the administration has manipulated science on environmental and other issues. Bush and his associates stand accused of lying about basic scientific issues that have a bearing on the health and well

being of the entire human race because they have to do with global warming and dramatic climate changes. It does not take much effort to find motives and patterns for suppressing inconvenient facts that might force Mr. Bushâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s friends in the oil, gas and coal industries to spend more on pollution control or for consumers to spend and consume less on fossil fuels, thus cutting deeply into profits of many major corporations. When it comes to this particular subject Bush stands almost alone in public rejection, but he is a powerful world leader. Thus certain major institutions like the World Bank and the Pentagon have gone behind his back and commissioned studies that are warning us that our world is in serious peril, and the biggest threat to our future is not terrorism, but our own dependence on fossil fuels.

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A growing number of scientists, policy makers, and technical specialists both inside and outside the government allege that the Bush administration has suppressed or distorted the scientific analyses of federal agencies trying to sidetrack serious efforts to reduce the overuse of fossil fuels. Dr. Kurt Gottfried, an emeritus professor of physics at Cornell University said to the Times that the administration has â&#x20AC;&#x153;engaged in practices that are in conflict with spirit of science and the scientific method.â&#x20AC;? The most serious charge in the report has to do with global warming. The scientific consensus says the world is warming rapidly with the United Nations reporting that 150,000 people are already dying each year from increasing temperatures, yet audaciously President Bush stands up in public and says the weather is just fine.

GLOBAL WARMING & CHEMICAL GENOCIDE

The intentional distortion of science around this particular area of international concern could be tantamount to murder for thousands, and eventually millions could die because of inaction by the world community whose leadership stands in Washington. These charges are substantiated by the Pentagon, which has just released (leaked) a report contradicting everything the chief executive of the United States has ever said about global warming. Global warming may be bad news for future generations,but let’s face it, most of us spend as little time worrying about it as we did about al Qaeda before 9/11. Like the terrorists, though, the seemingly remote climate risk may hit home sooner and harder than we ever imagined. David Stipp- Fortune Magazine The Times and these eminent scientists indicate that Bush is placing a heavy risk on the nation’s long-term prosperity, health and military prowess yet we have to admit that he is not the only one in denial. According to a massive United Nations environmental study released in May 2002, the planet is poised on a precipice, and time is running out for making tough political and economic choices that can pull it back from disaster. Bush is leading a massive attempt to downplay the obvious

and has single-handedly held off rational discussion and decisions that, hypothetically, could save millions if eventually not billions of lives. In this regard, do not be surprised that in a decade or two Bush might ultimately stand accused of being the greatest mass murderer of all time bypassing the collective works of Hitler, Mao, Stalin and Pol Pot. On February 9th Fortune Magazine, then The London Observer, Common Dreams, Mother Jones and Greenpeace all published the essence of a secret report from the Pentagon saying that global warming, “should be elevated beyond a scientific debate to a US national security concern.” It declares, “Future wars will be fought over the issue of survival rather than religion, ideology or national honor.” The report warned that major European cities will be sunk beneath rising seas as Britain is plunged into a ‘Siberian’ climate by 2020. Nuclear conflict, mega-droughts, famine and widespread rioting will erupt across the world. The devastating Pentagon report predicts that abrupt climate change could bring the planet to the edge of anarchy as countries go to war to secure dwindling food, water and energy supplies. “Disruption and conflict will be endemic features of life,” concludes the Pentagon and “Once again, warfare would define human life.” Ultimately, the report forecasts a deBiophile Issue 20

crease in the planet’s human carrying capacity, leading to sharp reductions in the world’s population due to starvation, disease, and war. Greenpeace The very next fifty years of human history is absolutely crucial. In 1993 we already were put on alert by, “World Scientists’ Warning to Humanity,” signed by some 1700 leading scientists, including over half of all living Nobel Laureates in science, stated, “A great change in our stewardship of the earth and the life on it is required if vast human misery is to be avoided and our global home on this planet is not to be irretrievably mutilated.” Most people have not listened to this warning, never having even heard of it because the press had not reported on these kinds of things in a way that the public can listen to; and in these ten years since more people have bought bigger cars then ever before. The Bush administration — infamously, ludicrously — remains a holdout on climate change. Blithely ignoring the near-universal scientific consensus that global warming is real, dangerous, and largely the product of human activity, the White House proceeds as if it didn’t even exist. Mother Jones Magazine

GLOBAL WARMING & CHEMICAL GENOCIDE Though it is not pleasant to look at what is happening in the world, we must ask, is our resistance to looking deeply at events and their primordial causes increasing the force and the need for nature to crash down on us? The melting of the polar icecaps is perhaps the single most devastating event impacting on world health and climate conditions, diminishing now at a faster rate than any scientist has expected, at almost 1 percent per year. “The rate of 9% per decade rate of melt is happening three times faster than originally thought, and could continue even faster than that,” says Josefino Comiso, senior scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Center. Implications for global climate patterns are catastrophic as arctic snow and ice are integral in controlling Earth’s temperatures by insulating the atmosphere from land and ocean heat. Tom Agnew, a research meteorologist at the Meteorology Service of Canada, says the warming trend is due to greenhouse-gas emissions from burning fossil fuels. It is unclear whether reversing the trend is possible. “The whole system is very slow to start,” he says, “and also very slow to stop.” Norwegian researchers close

to the problem are confirming scientist’s worst fears indicating that this process is accelerating and others are speculating that we are experiencing solar cycles that are increasing temperatures slightly, but not enough to account for the intensity of the changes. The Pentagon Report creates what they see as very possible near turn scenarios saying, “By 2005 the climatic impact of the shift is felt more intensely in certain regions around the world. More severe storms and typhoons bring about higher storm surges and floods in low-lying islands such as Tarawa and Tuvalu (near New Zealand). In 2007, a particularly severe storm causes the ocean to break through levees in the Netherlands making a few key coastal cities such as The Hague unlivable. Failures of the delta island levees in the Sacramento River region in the Central Valley of California creates an inland sea and disrupts the aqueduct system transporting water from northern to southern California because salt water can no longer be kept out of the area during the dry season... As glacial ice melts, sea levels rise and as wintertime sea extent de-

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creases, ocean waves increase in intensity, damaging coastal cities. Additionally millions of people are put at risk of flooding around the globe (roughly 4 times 2003 levels), and fisheries are disrupted as water temperature changes cause fish to migrate to new locations and habitats, increasing tensions over fishing rights.” The Bush administration is hardly the first administration to shamelessly distort scientific findings for political reasons but the stakes are higher now then ever. Richard Nixon was brought down by the single act of Watergate. The watershed for George W. Bush could conceivably come from the single act of censoring reports on climate change. The question could be asked; can the world survive such a leader? One might also ask how we can blame governments for global warming while more and more people are buying petrol-guzzling cars? It is far too easy, even for those with the most honourable goals, to address only superficial symptoms and not the root causes that lie much deeper? It seems evident that what needs to be changed is the whole

GLOBAL WARMING & CHEMICAL GENOCIDE system. But we need to be aware that there are those who will want to take advantage of the current climate of crisis, working for profit, while making it even worse for the world’s population. This commentary is offered so the public can become aware of the alarm bells our foremost scientists are ringing. What is evident is that the whole human race appears to be on a collision course with a dark destiny, one that might have been avoided with some common sense. We are facing many mega qustions simultaneously and they all seem to becoming to a flash point simultaneously in the near future. In a pioneering study released last week for example, according to The New York Times, “the Union of Concerned Scientists asked two independent labs to examine samples of traditional corn, soybean and canola seeds. The labs found contamination in half the corn, half the soybean and more than 80 percent of the canola varieties. The study draws no conclusions about when the mingling took place. It could have happened during field tests, after modified crops were widely planted or during shipping and storage. But the genetic purity of at least some traditional seed varieties has been compromised.” This is a huge and serious problem for the children of the future. Have we let our governments and corporations gang up on us innocents? Are we really innocent or are we just ignorant, lazy, docile, and gullable? I do not think it matters, names, accusations, whatever. The question is what are we going to do about it? In many areas of medicine and science we have let incredibly dark forces take control and we are already seeing our children pay in terms of their general health. Freud’s death wish seems to have become the passion of humanity. The question today might just be, can we transcend our humanity? Can we evolve into something slightly better, slightly more intelligent, and slightly more coherent? One thing is clear, when it comes to medicine and science we have trusted the wrong people. Government agencies, corporations, scientists and medical people have come together to gang rape humanity. We could easily call it chemical genocide or chemical rape. The richest people on the planet have not made all their money through love this is for certain. Just remember this tomorrow when you brush your teeth, know that our favourite people have put poison in your toothpaste. Ask a chemist about fluoride not your dentist and you will see not the tip of the iceberg but the mainframe of a crime against humanity that shames and humiliates all sense of human intelligence.

ham! How many people would hesitate swotting an unassuming fly, dining on the kitchen table? Yet, no sane person would carelessly take a human life. The general understanding is that a human life is more valuable than that of a fly (although I’m sure the fly will disagree). From the Biological perspective, this is not true. In fact, many people feel that the human species is simple a burden on the face of the earth. All species serve a purpose in the fragile ecosystem. Even the fly serves a purpose, even a maggot serves a purpose, but where do the humans fit in? We carry out the same bodily functions that other species do i.e. eating, sleeping, mating defending etc. and ultimately just like the poor fly, we will have to leave this world. Yet still we attribute more value to human life. Is it because we can, because our superior intelligence promotes us to the top of the chain? This still seems very superficial, and ultimately meaningless,

from the bigger picture, one human life seems very insignificant ( ashes to ashes dust to dust). This leads us anxiously into other avenues of human existence – “My life cannot be worth that of a fly. What about the unique ambitions and desires that make every human being an individual?” We manipulate material nature to express ourselves in order to feel value and purpose in life. The pursuit for purpose is most prominent in the human species, and it pervades absolutely every aspect of our lives. When we don’t feel purpose depression creeps in, and life just does not feel worth living. It is as if we were designed especially for this function. No other species questions life’s meaning as we do. You don’t find a pride of lions discussing whether they should become vegetarian. No they simply live according to their nature. Each and every relationship reflects our need for individual purposeful existence. Ask anyone to tell you about them-

The Spiritual Species Seeking purpose for the human race by Mayapur Chandra Dasa

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selves, and they will relate themselves with their hopes, dreams, fears, desires, occupation etc. When the human tendency towards purpose is misguided or misinterpreted, it tends towards selfish materialistic, dominating behaviour. It depends on who we identify ourselves with, the body or the real self, the soul. Of course, the materialistic pursuit knows no bounds, and society is destroying our very source of sustenance, chasing after shadows. It’s a bitter sweet pill to swallow, but we will not find satisfaction in a temporary material situation- everything around us is screaming it out. As soon as society at large figures out that our real value lies in transcendence, the human species will rightfully take its place (a very important place) as the spiritual guardians of this planet. When we stop our endless hopes for material perfection, we will find

utilizing “matter” in the service of spirit. Now, keeping these points in mind, we can start to question what a truly advanced civilization actually is. Advancement makes sense when there is a goal to reach, otherwise we may be running in circles perpetually, while in actuality, we are simply exploring another of the countless avenues of materialistic life (same pudding- different topping). We need to enter a era of conscious living, meaning to actually live out our spiritual reality, beyond the armchair. We need not fear security, nor dissatisfaction, for the richest man is not he who has the most, but he who needs the least. If we want, society can change (it is changing all the time) to something that will aid our spiritual needs. We need to re-assess our values, and see what do we actually need in order to live in harmony. The task may seem huge, looking at all the injustice and exploitation in the world, but it simply starts with working on our intentions, and becoming well informed. We all need to be heroes in our own lives-remember, in times of war, even the street sweeper will take up arms- we are fighting a war against our very selves, and we need to be strong in standing up for what really

matters. The growing trend towards eco-villages is definitely a step in the right direction, although many people do not see the depth of the lifestyle change. The goal of these villages is to re-establish the spiritual values in society. Every social system, has an underlying paradigm supporting it, and community principals of love, trust, honesty, interdependence, compassion, camaraderie, humility, respect, selflessness etc. are what actually makes the village work. The current capitalistic system simply does not nurture these qualities in mankind, although some are desperately trying to hold on to them. In a world where money talks, there is not much room for cultivating the inner world. We have reached the crossroads. Mother Nature is forcing us to stand still, and re-think where we are heading. It is clear that we cannot continue the way we are living. Science is coming up with so many alternative “green” energy sources, but is it actually going to solve our problem? As Albert Einstein said “You cannot solve a problem with the same consciousness that started it”. The essential instruction for human life is clear in all spiritual teachingsSimple living High thinking-. If we fail to live by our spiritual nature, all attempts to solve the problems of life will ultimately fall short. Let us unfold our true potential, and connect every aspect of our lives to our spiritual heritage.

it in

If we fail to live by our spiritual nature, all attempts to solve the problems of life will ultimately fall short.

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The Upward Spiral of Evolution Most of the ills of humanity and the Earth originated with those providing the solution, at the expense of humanity and the Earth by James Gilliland

e have been herded like cattle through the spin doctors and corporate media which has hijacked the “public” airwaves often never contemplating or even given the possibility of a third choice. Fear, manufactured lack, keeping people in survival with their nose to the grindstone is the program most have bought into. Problem/ Solution thinking is how people are controlled. Create a problem, become the solution, make sure they don’t realize you created the problem. Also make sure the people are not aware of other choices is the game of today. If you track down most of the ills of humanity and the Earth you will find the problem originated in most cases with those providing the solution and profiting greatly at the expense of humanity and the Earth. The solution in most cases does not solve anything it perpetuates the problem of which many are continuously cashing in. Profit at the expense of humanity and the Earth, “Greed”, capitalism without conscience is the main problem along with an extreme lack of critical thinking, common sense and integrity. Here are some examples:

Problem: Peak oil, oil shortages etc. Standard Answer: control the worlds oil, invade other sovereign countries spending billions and costing thousands up to a million plus lives ours and theirs along with unimaginable suffering of innocent civilians. Solution 3: utilize alternative energies

where ever possible. Manufacture the already existing suppressed technologies which incorporate the splitting of water on demand, magnetic motors, and the even more suppressed zero point devices anti, and counter gravity. Yes they do exist and have been back engineered yet are sup-

pressed by those who wish to keep humanity enslaved through dependency. More oil is available, there has never been lack of oil. That is not the problem the problem is oil dependency, manufactured lack and suppression of technologies that would end the dependency.

Problem: nuclear Waste, aging power plants, ticking nuclear time bombs. Standard Answer: build more plants, upgrade existing plants and spend billions on clean up giving the contracts to the very people that created the mess. Solution 3: shut down all Nuclear facilities - they are unsafe, leaking and continue to create waste we cannot render harmless. Exchange the drives with zero point technology engines, “they do exist”, which will turn the generators without fuel, pollution and end the production of deadly hazardous nuclear waste. The monies that go to the future storage and clean up of this deadly waste can go to the refitting of the plants. Make home units available on a smaller scale eventually allowing each household to be sovereign and off the grid no longer susceptible to mass power outages due to storms, Earth changes, solar flares or other interruptions of the grid. Problem: War Standard Answer: use force to eliminate any obstacle that interferes with democracy or overseas corporate business which might affect business at home. Fund and instill dictators, presidents and leaders loyal to the US Solution 3: eliminate all contributions

from war industry to candidates running for office. Take the profit motive out of war. Make ethical business arrangements with other countries and make it illegal to Biophile Issue 20

use the military to enforce or guard these endeavors. Honour the rights of sovereign countries to govern themselves without interference. Return to the Department of Defense, not Offense and secure our own borders as well as utilizing the troops in the clean up, support and rebuilding efforts due to natural disasters which are steadily on the increase. Utilize funds to shore up and rebuild; and our own infrastructure to provide jobs that are constructive not destructive. The military already has the technology to run their vehicles on water due to recent developments so oil in not a major factor in moving supplies and assistance to those in need. There should also be major independent investigations into war profiteering and the step by step deceptions which lead us into war followed by prosecution. This would eliminate the generation of more terrorism and show in good faith as a majority we are not an aggressive warring country. Establish a Department of Peace which will take precedence to find solutions keeping the Department of Defense informed once all else fails then the Defense Department takes over in matters that threaten our own shores only. If one tenth of the money went into a Department of Peace, solutions other than war in most cases could be found. Assistance rather than force makes better allies yet any assistance must be given with oversight to make sure it goes were it was intended.

Problem: Religion Standard Answer: be faithful to your

image and doctrine, dismiss all others and do as your church tells you.

Solution 3: we all came from one source, we will all return to that same source. We have given that source many names and created doctrines to describe this source. We are all family, one people though

diverse and now is the time to honor and unite in the similarities rather than divide and focus on the differences. History undeniably has proven that religions and governments have failed to bring unity and peace to humanity and the Earth. They have instead been the dividers which in many cases have lead to wars and planetary suffering. Forcing one culture onother children of God in all their diversity, to accept anotherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s images, doctrines and beliefs is in error. It has nothing to do with love andloveis the law that supersedes all other laws. Now is the time for the people to stand up and agree to the Universal Principles and Understandings necessary for a healthy society and environment which are the universal threads that bind all humanity together. Universal Peace, Brother/Sisterly Love, Individual Freedom and Prosperity for all honoring the Omnipresent Creator in all Creation are basic premise of all advanced civilizations. These universal principles were taught by every master, prophet and sage in every culture and the religious leaders should follow and teach these principles by example. Any belief that divides, separates, and demonizes another is not of God. Any religion that supports over-population beyond the ability of the land and resources to provide is responsible for the poverty, famine, and disease that follows.

Problem 5. Environment Standard Answer: provide major

contracts to clean up air, land and water, restore the destruction to habitat, tax the people.

Solution 3: go to the source, those that are polluting the air, land, water and destroying habitat. Stop making the mess rather than continuously cleaning up the

Problem: War

Standard Answer: use force to eliminate any obstacle that interferes with democracy or overseas corporate business which might affect business at home. Fund and instill dictators, presidents and leaders loyal to the US

Biophile Issue 20

THE UPWARD SPIRAL OF EVOLUTION mess. Penalize forcreating the messand enforce the solutions. Bring forward technologies to make manufacturing safe for the environment utilizing biodegradable materials when ever possible. Simplify, recycle and restore. Sustainable harvesting of forests, select cutting maintaining the forest and habitat, using other materials when possible such as hemp.Recycling formulated into lumber, use of glass, concrete etc. to build lasting Earth friendly homes.

Problem 5. The Economy Standard Answer: generate more

profits at any expense without soul or conscience regardless of how it affects humanity and the Earth. Utilize resources of third world countries both human and natural to fill our needs, support our lifestyles at the lowest possible price to sell at the highest possible price.

Solution 3: the big three corporations

running the country and the world are The War Industry, Oil, and Pharmaceutical. If we want peace we need a peace industry. If we want clean fueless Earth friendly energy to provide for our energy and transportation needs, we need these industries to come forward without hindrance or suppression. If we want the cures for disease we need create an industry that promotes the cures again without hindrance or suppression. War and disease profiteering must come to an end to be replaced by peace and cure profiteering. The dependence on foreign oil and domestic oil as well, must give way to new technologies that are clean, efficient, sustainable and Earth friendly. A whole new basis for living needs to be adapted that is in harmony with nature and fair to all concerned. Rather than planned obsolescence build things that last which will further conserve energies and resources. This will not kill the economy - it will free the people to live in an abundant world, giving them more time for further education, recreation and other creative endeavors.

Problem: The Government Standard Answer: turn everything over to the government, give more power to the top of the pyramid and create more positions of power, more agencies, oversight agencies, etc. increasingly burdening the people through taxes upon taxes. The problem with this is that absolute power corrupts absolutely. The more the power is removed from the individual the more it is abused and eventually used against them. The character of those who seek power

over others is already in question. The lack of transparency in government is what allows the corruption to occur and escalate. The greater the secrecy the greater the corruption. Presently our leadership is chosen by the power they have obtained through material acquisition often at the expense of humanity and the Earth or those who will do the bidding of the big corporations. These mega, often soulless, corporations control the media, are the driving force behind both parties created to give us the illusion we have a choice and install who they feel will best serve their interests, not the peoples interest.

Solution 3: advanced civilizations choose their leadership according to their spiritual advancement and track record of service to humanity. The people,not the corporations or special interests choose their leadership. The media needs to find its integrity, report the news in a fair and honest manner without the influence of corporate sponsorship, giving equal air time to all those seeking public office. Full disclosure in all matters, complete transparency is the only solution to ending the corruption. The Constitution and Bill of Rights must be reinstated as first and foremost law superseding all other laws and regulations. The power needs to return to local government in control of the local people. A smaller controllable beast by the people is much more acceptable than a larger uncontrollable beast controlled by the corporations. Problem: Exopolitics and Off-World Vistiors Standard Answer: shoot first ask questions later, dissect the occupants, steal the technology for the war industry. Make agreements with low level ETs and trade technology for the rights to abduct and experiment on humanity. Solution 3: in the interest of National Security it would be wiser not to attack a craft or a race thousands, millions if not billions of years ahead of us in evolution and technology. It would also be wise to make alliances with the benevolent, spiritually and technologically advanced beings that have our highest and best good in mind. The disclosure projects have made it very clear to any reasonable mind there has been ongoing activity in our skies of off world visitors. A recent Times/CNN poll states that 86% of the people believe UFOs exist and there is a government cover-up. The majority of the people know and are ready to hear the truth. The cover-up is over, a complete failure .. and to continue it only Biophile Issue 20

discredits those involved and removes all faith in government. It has also been made clear that we have been back engineering our own craft with cooperation with low level ETS and have our own space navy. These technologies which have peaceful applications have been kept from the people, they have been used in what could only be termed criminal activity against the people especially those looking into the matter of ETs and exotic technologies. Somewhere along the way the oath to defend the constitution and the people fell by the wayside, everything became secretive, orders are coming from dark unknown sources and the people no longer have any oversight of rogue military factions which goes against the Constitution. Hopefully having learned this lesson, we can establish an alliance with the benevolent, spiritually and technologically advanced off world visitors and move forward in a quantum leap in evolution and the restoration of Eden living in harmony with each other and nature. The choice to align with the benevolent off worlders was given at the same time the low level contacts were made. Think of where we would be now if we made a different choice. The option is still there.

Problem 8 KARMA, what goes around comes around is a universal law. Individually and collectively we will be held accountable. It is destiny. Standard Answer: economics is more

important than karma or action/reaction, we will always be clever enough and powerful enough to outwit karma. The golden rule is he who owns the gold makes the rules and controls destiny.

Solution 3: no escape from karma, action/reaction; there are higher forces and nature from both of which one cannot hide. Where ever you go, there you are and universal law will be with you. The action/ reaction principle will be accelerated, no rock shall be left unturned and all will be shouted from the roof tops. We are moving into a time of total transparency. “A fool and his mischief is like fresh milk, it takes a little time to sour but as surely as the cart follows the horse that pulls it, it will catch up.” Buddha. “As you sow, so shall you reap.” Jesus. Never forget there are no holy wars, for who are you killing other than the other children of God? What is noble about that?

Article title goes here

Problem: Religion

Standard Answer: be faithful to your image and doctrine, dismiss all others and do as your church tells you.

Solution 3:

Universal Peace, Brother/Sisterly Love, Individual Freedom and Prosperity for all honoring the Omnipresent Creator in all Creation are basic premise of all advanced civilizations. Biophile Issue 20

Jena’s Hand in it All by jena Griffiths www.handanalysisonline.com

our heart line reveals your emotional type. Why is it important to know your type? Because each type has different emotional needs and a different relationship style. The key to being a happy healthy you, is to live your type. The key to building successful relationships (of any nature) is knowing your emotional style and needs. The more you are in touch with your own emotional needs the easier it is to make sure you get loved the way you need to be loved. One of the most common mistakes we make is expecting others to love us the same way we love them. In reality, we all need to be loved in different ways and it helps to know what works for us and what doesn’t and then communicate this. Another reason to know your type has to do with natural attraction. What keeps the energy flowing between two people? Is it that Like attracts like? or Opposites attract? Actually..... it’s both! Like-minded thinking is what keeps the train from derailing. But opposite temperament is what propels the train forward.

To keep a relationship on track it helps to have: Shared values, Shared beliefs about what planet we’re on and how it works. Shared dreams or goals Shared ideas about child rearing Mutual respect ... Without this common ground it’s virtually impossible to make a relationship work, irrespective of how big the spark was in the beginning. But when it comes to temperament, there’s a different force that binds us. Here opposites really do attract. There is a strong yin-yang push-pull force propelling, attracting, bonding us and keeping the energy dynamic and flowing.

Ever see couples sitting in a restaurant with virtually nothing to say to each other? It’s as if there is no dynamic, the energy just doesn’t flow. This could be because they’re just too similar, or totally incompatible. The danger here is that one person may try to adjust him or herself to fit the other person’s needs. As I mentioned before, to be a happy healthy you, you need to live your type.

Are you living your type?

What heart line type are you? There are 4 basic types. Earth heart line types (Hermits) need freedom and hate clinginess They show their affections through actions rather than words. Their relationship style is ‘not now, I’m busy.’ Water types (Big hearts) need connection. They are sensitive and caring Their relationship style is nurturing. They are sometimes too giving and flexible and seek to be contained. Water and Earth types compliment each other perfectly. Fire types (Pasionates) are vivacious and like to be the centre of attention. They need passion and hate boredom. Relationship style: let me tell you what I want. They are challenged to focus and may over display inappropriately.

Air types are romantic idealists. They are thoughtful, considerate, and rational and hate conflict. Their relationship style is analysis paralysis; to think about feelings rather than express them in the moment. Fire and air types compliment each other perfectly. To figure out your type, go to www.handanalysisonline.com/heartlines.php Once you’ve figured out what type you are, here’s a simple exercise to help you get more in touch with whether your needs are being met: Write down 8 needs you have right now. Then draw a cup alongside each need and indicate how full this cup is at the moment. Get your partner to do the same and share your cup drawings with each other. Now write 8 things you really like about your partner and share these too. Appreciation is often the thing we need most. It costs nothing to give, but it enriches both sides once given.

Biophile Issue 20

Jena Griffiths is an IIHA certified hand analyst and life purpose support coach. She also has BA, Bsc and Bsc(hons) degrees and post graduate diplomas in psychology and education. Jena grew up in South Africa and was SA triathlon champ in 1989 and South Africa’s top cyclist in the late 80’s and early 90’s. She pioneered women’s cycling in South Africa. 10 years ago she left SA to ‘go sailing’ and has sailed around the world, one third of it with a child onboard. Jena lives in Switzerland where she does private consultations in hand analysis and Life Purpose Support counselling in Sternenberg and downtown Winterthur (Canton Zürich). She also consults worldwide by telephone or by skype.

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Biophile Issue 20

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Biophile Issue 20

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Biophile Issue 20

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Biophile Issue 20

Wild Olive Guest Farm

offers four-day and week-end organic gardening courses. Accommodation is comfortable, on either Wild Olive Guest Farm or neighbouring farms. A boat ferries participants to the farm for the practical gardening sessions. The meals are prepared using the finest organic ingredients in the country kitchen, and are served ‘al fresco’ with magnificent views of the Goukou River. Some of the ins and outs of organic gardening include: - choosing the right location for your garden – laying it out - feeding the soil – various soil preparation techniques - climactic conditions needed for certain crops - the importance of crop rotation - use of herbs as companion plants - water-wise gardening techniques. - stress-free gardening The sessions will be held mainly in the abundant garden that produces a variety of fruit, veggies and herbs with happy chickens in movable domes and thousands of hard working, zero-maintenance earthworms. You’ll be shown different designs and solutions that can suit your land/plot (with or without chickens). Come and experience first hand how you can create a productive organic permaculture garden. The course is facilitated by Michele Schubert, who has helped and inspired people to grow food organically for the past 8 years.

She has been on a fact finding mission to Cuba to study their green revolution. In the 80’ties worked on organic farms in Denmark – learning by doing.

Programme

DAY ONE Morning: Garden lay-out – what to grow where, how to design a garden so that the maximum gain can be had from the minimum up-keep Building garden soil – using compost, mulches and bed design - soils can be created any where Different compost-making methods DAY TWO Crop rotation / companion planting Bed preparation Preparing seed trays, direct seed sowing, transplanting seedlings Watering – Irrigation Chicken-keeping (optional) DAY THREE Planting shrubs and trees Container gardening Harvesting – when to harvest what / how to prepare and store produce Preparing and cooking your produce so that you retain the nutrients optimally DAY FOUR Daily garden up-keep – protecting (pest management/shade/warmth), watering,

mulching, weeding, keeping garden records Liquid-fertilizers – how to make and apply various fertilizer-teas Natural pest control Tips for making gardening easier Many of these topics do overlap and will be dealt with as we encounter them during the course. LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING YOU, LEARNING & GARDENING TOGETHER GARDENING COURSES DATES Four-Day 4th – 7th February Week-end 16-17th February Week-end 15th – 16th March Four-Day 21st – 24th April Four- Day 12th – 15th May Four- Day 23rd – 26th June To quote Barbara Kingsolver on gardening “It gets a body outside for some part of everyday to work the heart, lungs, and muscles you wouldn’t believe existed, providing a healthy balance to desk jobs that might otherwise render us chair potatoes. Instead of needing to drive to the gym, we walk up the hill to do pitchfork free weights, weed-pull yoga, and Hoe Master. No excuses. The weeds could win.” From Animal, Vegetable Miracle” published by Faber & Faber 2007.

Please contact Hazel at Wild Olive Farm, Stilbaai on 0287542719 for more information

Camphill Community Hermanus

We are a life and resource-sharing community living with about 100 children and adults with intellectual disabilities in the beautiful Hemel en Aarde Valley near Hermanus. Our 125ha farm (dairy herd, dairy, herb-garden and processing, vegetable garden) is run according to Holistic Farm Management and applies bio-dynamic methods. Our vegetable garden provides • organic vegetable for our community (200 people altogether) • Meaningful work to a group of intellectually disabled adults • vegetables for our well-known stall at the Fernkloof Farmers Market For May 2008 we are looking for an experienced organic gardener, who is motivated • to grow organic vegetables (training in bio-dynamic methods is possible) • to work alongside a group of intellectually disabled adults and a small group of staff and volunteers • to run our vegetable garden economically successful • to live long-term in a life and resource-sharing community

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For more info please contact Jos and Maria, our present gardeners – camphillgarden@gmail.com For general info please contact Frank co-workers@camphill-hermanus.org.za www.camphill-hermanus.org.za

Biophile Issue 20

Greening the Web with

urban sprout is a blog-style green website that is fanatical about the environment, sustainability and buying organic. With daily green news and opinion, a directory that lists organic and eco-friendly products, and a focus on green issues: organic food, global warming, sustainable lifestyles and environmental justice — we’re a site for ethical consumers.

a non-profit news and documentary network focused on providing independent and uncompromising journalism – no government funding, no corporate funding, no advertising and no strings attached. This is what ‘freedom of the press’ should be about - unbiased news and, as one of the comments on the site says: time for the ‘little people’ to stand up and demand nothing less. Great concept, but how does a news network fund itself? The Real News depends on donations from the public. Their goal is to compete for a daily audience in the millions and they’re getting there with the help of their readers’ donations. We’re inspired.

tions – more than 15 000 of their readers have registered to make comments on stories.

Local green blogs

Relax with Dax www.relax-with-dax.co.za

Reviews are the name of the game for Capetonian Dax. Whether it’s movies, books, concerts or restaurants, he has the interesting stuff covered. His blog posts are also peppered with insightful commentary on nuclear power, gm food, consumerism

www.urbansprout.co.za The internet is a veritable wealth of information (and disinformation) and one very often has to question what to believe and what to dismiss outright. Enriching our knowledge is underscored by the awareness that a lot of what we read on the ‘net is influenced by someone’s hidden (or not so subtle) agendas; prejudiced by advertising, corporates and governments. By the same token, though, it is the freedom of the internet that makes ‘real’ news possible. Enter the Real News network –

therealnews.com/web/index.php

AlterNet www.alternet.org

Another independent media website, also funded by donations, AlterNet aims to inspire citizen action and advocacy on the environment, human rights and civil liberties, social justice, media and health care issues. Their award-winning news is in direct opposition to the dominant right-wing media in America and caters for a large and growing progressive audience with diverse beliefs and opinions. AlterNet encourages discussion and activism and challenges people to rethink stale assumpand globalisation - to name just a few of the issues he tackles. He is also no fan of the Hummer which makes him one of the good guys.

SA Climate Crisis saclimatecrisis.wordpress.com

SA Climate Crisis is run by Andre Bothma who, by his own admission, is no carbon emissions saint, but believes that world citizens have a duty to look after the planet we call home. His mission is to spread ideas and solutions to fight climate change, and topics include environmental activism, genetic modification, igniting positive change, carbon neutral transport and corporate environmental accountability. Well worth checking out.

Biophile Issue 20

Confessions of a Converted Carrot Cruncher by Patricia Glyn

‘Vegan (n): one of a sect of vegetarians using no animal produce at all.’ That’s how Chambers Dictionary describes me and my ilk. The definition isn’t precise enough for my liking, but more on that later. What gets my goat (sorry, gets my aubergine) is the ‘sect’ word. It sounds so …. Jonestown, you know? So Moonies. Kinda like, Patty Hearst joins the Bader Meinhof gang and Patty Glyn signs up with the vegans. Hell, I wasn’t even a Girl Guide for Petal’s sake. Now I’m part of some cult? I’m outraged. Then an email arrives which does anything but allay my fears that I might be caught up in some kind of manic movement. The letter comes from a ‘proper’ vegan – a graduate and an elder in the tribe: “I’m not quite sure how long you have been a vegetarian,” she writes in response to my October 2007 column, “but I feel distressed when I read that you refer to yourself as a vegan, after only being a vegan for eight weeks. …Don’t flatter yourself.” She tells me further that she’s been a vegetarian for 17 years and a vegan for ten. She doesn’t eat honey, does not wear leather or go horse riding. Next she plans to stop eating bread, due to the fact that it contains yeast – a living organism. She beats herself up for eating the odd square of milk chocolate but is working on this abominable weakness. In short, a vegan’s struggle credentials are slow and painful to obtain and I have no right to carry a carrot-cruncher membership card before many years of self-

“Must I wear a pair of those quite ghastly luminous Crocs for 10 years before I can leave rehab?” flagellation with a cat-o’-limp-celery. Which brings me to the nub of the matter: the question of definition. What is a vegan and when can one claim the title? In the absence of a universally accepted standard as to what this effigy of virtue is, personal ethics tend to prevail – and that’s always very tricky turf. Some of my vegan chums, for instance, would be most upset to learn that yesterday’s breakfast of toast and honey had resulted in them being expelled from the fraternity. I have twice eaten a meal containing cheese rather than offend dinner party hosts who don’t understand my ‘rules’. What should happen when I fall off the wagon like that? And have I gone back to square one in the count-down to my vegan graduation? Slipped down the longest cobra in the Snakes and Ladders game of Ethical Eating? I mean, is a Christian a Christian after ‘seeing the light’ or only after a life-time of unimpeachable conduct? Are good intentions enough? Is a philosophical standpoint sufficient to warrant the label ‘vegan’? Or ‘Buddhist’? Or ‘Democrat’? I’m in the process of wearing out my leather shoes and belts because I feel that an animal suffered and died to supply them, the deed is long done and they shouldn’t

Biophile Issue 20

be tossed into the bin just because I’ve changed my views on the matter. Is that kind of pragmatism wrong? Who makes the rules on how to dispense with one’s old ways of life? You? Me? She of the email? A yogi in India? A vegan council? Must I wear a pair of those quite ghastly luminous Crocs for 10 years before I can leave rehab? And that brings us to another question of definition. Who’s to say what’s ‘extreme’? It’s a word thrown at me constantly these days by those trying to describe my worldview – along with ‘eccentric’ and even ‘attention seeking’. I reject these labels with contempt, but here’s the thing – they’re exactly what came to mind when I read the email I have just quoted. Is that because the writer pricked my conscience – as I do those of my meat-eating friends? Is this person on a completely different path to mine, or merely further down the same road? Will I too become more and more ‘extreme’? Maybe the time will come when I’m so sensitized that I’ll feel as if I’m dining in a mortuary when I eat kidney beans or artichoke hearts, or in an abattoir when I consume chick peas or soya mince. As it is, I’m beginning to doubt my ability to consume potatoes. It’s their eyes, you know!

life

ARTICLE TITLE GOES HERE

raw food Get Juiced Up for 2008! by Beryn Daniel The most common New Year’s Resolutions are to: 1. Lose Weight 2. Start dieting 3. Go to the gym

Why should you cleanse?

No matter what’s going on right now, the road to glowing health begins with cleansing and detoxification. It would not be an understatement to say that your digestive system is the cornerstone of your overall health.

Well, let me tell you the gyms sell the most The food that we eat does not just ranmemberships in January and the treaddomly affect us, it becomes us. We simply mills are overflowing for the first month of cannot get away from that over-used cliché the year, but the managers aren’t worried – you are what you eat. or ordering in more equipment to cater for the extra demand. They know that by mid-Feb the floors will be half empty again Blocked pipes Picture for a moment your kitchen sink and back to just the regulars, plus they have the added bonus that you’ve bought a and its drain pipes. Your sink is designed to carry away mostly water and some small membership for the entire year, but aren’t food scraps through the pipes. However, if likely to go more that once or twice in the you put too much of the wrong stuff down month. there – like oil or stringy food remnants And as for diets, well we all know they or worse still, imagine pouring a bag hardly last 2 – 3 weeks before the stress of of white flour down the drain going back to work or getting the children and then trying to flush it ready for the new school year drives you through with water back to your normal bad eating habits that (or fizzy drinks) – you were so determined to crack this year. you’re going I mean who ever makes it to Valentines to end up Day without ‘cheating’ over a big box of with a chocolates? soggy

BUT, do not fear – we can still get it right!

All I takes is a small shift in perception and a move away from instant gratification in exchange for a view and taste of the bigger picture, a picture full of abundant health, joy, clarity and energy. As a raw food chef I can assure you that your taste buds won’t go unsatisfied either – not only is this bigger picture fun and inspiring but it is delicious too.

How much toxic waste are you carrying?

It is not uncommon for people to be carrying around 5 -10kgs of old fecal matter inside their colons. Up to 30 kgs has been reported! When the digestive system is continually put under strain by bad food choices the colon begins and continues to get blocked up and retain this waste in the folds of the colon. What’s more is that once the colon is backed up, the body is continually re-absorbing poisonous toxins back into the blood. The result is more ill health and lethargy.

What to do? General maintenance

So, if you’ve decided you’re up for the challenge of cleanliness first it’s time to de-clutter your state of the art machine – your body.

mess - and a blocked up pipe. The blockages usually occur in the loops and folds of the pipes. Now if you ‘cut and paste’ this analogy onto your digestive system it looks something like this: Your body is designed to transport food which has a high water content swiftly through your pipes (your digestive system). If you put too much of the wrong stuff in the top end – bad oils and deep fried foods, stodgy breads, pastas or mucus-forming milk products the inevitability is – a blocked system.

Your body is infinitely intelligent. It is always striving for optimum health and is always regenerating itself. If you simply ADD IN the foods that you were designed to eat – your body gets on does the rest of the work for you, because it knows what to do. Biophile Issue 20

The foods that we are talking about here are: NUTRIENT DENSE ALKALISING MINERAL RICH and ENZYME PACKED In short they are RAW PLANT FOODS. If you want to live more - eat more living, green plant foods. It’s as simple as that. The easiest and quickest way to get back on track is to start juicing. Juicing is like a full vitamin, mineral, enzyme supplement for the body. The goodness is easily absorbed into the body and utilised for cleaning house.

A Challenge JUST ADD IT IN - FIRST The best way to adopt a healthy lifestyle is to JUST ADD IT IN. So, don’t go drastically changing your current diet just yet. All you need to do is add in the following green vegetable juice - FIRST. So, before you have your bacon and eggs for breakfast JUST ADD IN a green vegetable juice -FIRST. Before you have your hamburger for lunch, JUST ADD IN another green vegetable juice or dark green leafy salad - FIRST. Before you have your macaroni cheese or spaghetti bolognaise for dinner, JUST ADD IN another green vegetable juice or dark green leafy salad - FIRST.

Why this works?

Hunger is your body’s search for minerals. So if you have the green vegetable juice first you will be amazed to find that your hunger is satisfied – because your body has found what it needs – minerals. If you have a hamburger instead, you’ll most likely find that you’re still hungry. Your body is still giving you hunger signals because it hasn’t found enough minerals in the food you’ve just eaten. So what you’ll find is slowly but surely you’ll eat less of the bacon, eggs, burgers and pasta and you’ll begin to opt for smaller and lighter meals. It may seem hard to believe at first – but try it. Give yourself 30 days. You’ll be amazed!

a good source of potassium and celery, an excellent source of sodium. 1. Easy-drinking green 1 apple 1-2 carrots ½ a cucumber 2 celery sticks Carrots are naturally sweet and help to form the sweet base. Let the carrots and apple form approximately 1/3 of your overall juice mixture. Apples and carrots are great antioxidants, anticancer agents and are good for the heart. Once you’ve gotten used to these mild base juices, make them more nutritionally rich by adding some dark green leaves

Step 2 ...begin to add stronger leaves 2. Getting stronger 1 apple 1 whole cucumber 2 carrots handful of red or green lettuce leaves handful of spinach

Step 3: THE SECRET INGREDIENT 3. Secrets revealed 1 apple 1 whole cucumber 1 pack of celery ½ a bag of spinach ½ a lemon ½ a lime Adding a wedge of lemon or lime or both to your juice makes it very refreshing and hides the taste of the stronger leaves. As always, organic is best – as it has more minerals and trace minerals.

Some juicers are better than others.

Step 1: Start with a mild base

You’ll want to look for a masticating juicer that can juice your green leaves, wheatgrass, sprouts effectively and is super easy to clean. If you need more info please feel free to get in touch. Tel: 021 7864068

Apples combine well with vegetable juices, making them sweeter and more palatable. Apples, cucumber and celery are all great sources of antioxidants. Cucumber is also

POWER LUNCH SALAD 1 Cup Spinach 1 Cup Rocket 1/2 Cup Watercress

Juice feasting

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1/2 Grated Carrot 1/4 diced Cucumber 1/4 Cup Brocolli 1 large Avocado handful of baby tomatoes (or sundried tomatoes) generous helping of olives Olive oil Lemon juice Himalayan Rock salt

Why it’s a Power Lunch?

The rich green salad leaves are high in Silica and therefore really good for hair, skin and nails. Brocolli is a good for iron and magnesium and helpful for high blood pressure and constipation. We’ve all heard carrots are good for your eyes, they are also good for helping to reduce inflammation of the mucous membranes in the intestines and respiratory tract. Olives and olive oil - good proteins and good fats and avos....hmmmm... delicious, and Himalayan rock salt for more minerals. So JUST ADD IT IN – lots of green juices and salads and feel the radiance of raw food for yourself. If you’d like to learn more about raw foods book yourself on to one of Beryn and Peter’s Raw food Preparation classes for the full experience. Classes are run over 2 full days, usually weekends and are being run in Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, East London and the Garden Route. For more info please call Beryn or Peter on 021 7864068 or visit www.superfoods. co.za and check out the ‘events’ page.

African Bliss:

A Farm in the Kouga by Dino Conterio

o, spring caught us by surprise in this beautiful environment, not only with blazing hot weather, but also blossoms on our almond trees, birds and bees in the air and the pink heather on the hillsides fading to make way for new floral wonders. We’d been having so much fun doing as we pleased on a day to day basis, i.e. making soap for our future orders for November and December as we wanted to have

end of September came and we decided we wanted to order another 45 fruit trees, another 10 apricot, 15 almond, 10 peach, and 10 olive trees. We were also advised by the farmers in the area that it was too late to plant fruit trees but we decided to take our chances! (I’m finding it exceedingly difficult to concentrate on writing this as the family is arguing about the scissors which is missing, that nobody used and nobody saw, but

of sticks, open rooted and tied together, which could be picked up with one hand! (the olive trees were in bags). They also contained instructions to be planted immediately, so off we zoomed back home to go and dig 45 holes, 1m deep and 60cm wide, with bounceback at the bottom and kraal manure mixed in. Talk about thrown in the deep-end of digging, especially in a family of 4 females and 1 male! Well in two days the trees were

plenty of stock before we got down to some serious marketing. Also fixing fences (an endless job on a farm), sourcing organic seeds for our vegi garden (the only seeds we could find were from our friends at Berg-en-Dal eco-village near Ladismith), looking for Comfrey plants, earthworms for a worm farm and some more fruit trees for our orchard. We already had 4 almond trees, 6 apricot trees and 1 apple tree which had survived three years of neglect prior to our arrival and were looking non the worse for wear. Last but not least, we also went on some beautiful outrides on horseback to explore the area. So by this stage, the

somebody wants, thank goodness it seems to have been resolved with no blood loss!). We ordered the trees from a Cape Town based nursery which delivered them to the nearby town of Louterwater. The day we got the news that the trees had arrived, we cleared out the back of the bakkie to make space for our load of 45 trees which were waist height and we assumed would be in black planter bags. We rounded up our three girls to come with us to help and set off in great spirits on a glorious sunny morning, anticipating our little orchard of bagged trees awaiting our arrival. Half an hour later we arrive at Louterwater, only to be handed a bundle

all in, and in spite of blisters and sore backs, our new orchard meant being just a little bit closer to being self-sufficient… yay! Now I just wish lightening would strike our Escom power box and force us out of our comfort zone and into a new challenge (my wife looks nervously at her washing machine!) We are surviving (mostly!) without Pick ‘n Pay and after looking at pictures of organic vegetable gardens in books and magazines for the last 2 years, we can now look with pride at our own raised vegibeds full of food! Till next time, the Conterio family.

Biophile Issue 20

soil for life we scoop an award, and

we’re so proud! by Pat Featherstone

Top row: Albertine Ngqame, Benita Loff, Belinda Kennedy, Pat Featherstone, Mildred Nyembezi,

Roy Silver n 6th November 2007, Soil for Bottom row: Edith Mwezo, Fabian Harms, Sandy Lewis, Leslie Cox. Life joined a record number of Not present: Bulelani Fiko, Pumzile Njadu, Livingstone Muswere, Ben Zide entrants (all environmentally aware organisations, groups and individuals) at the Mount Nelson Hotel Albert won a merit prize for their “Think The challenge that we face in the comfor the prestigious Cape Times / Vodacom Global – Act Local” project. ing year is not to produce more food. The Environmental Awards. These awards were Soil for Life is committed to helping world produces enough food. We need to first established in 1976 in association communities to help themselves by growdeal with the real issue, which is for the with the Cape Institute of Architects as ing their own safe, fresh, nutritious food food to be produced by the people who the Cape Centenary Awards. The criteria using low-cost, soil-building, water-conneed it most, for the people who need it on which the nominees were judged were serving, rubbish-disposing environmentmost. This is the mission that Soil for Life that they were operating in the Western friendly methods that produce ‘quantity has embraced - to impact on the lives of Cape, and that they had made a significant and quality’ in small spaces. Soil for Life’s the urban and rural poor and hungry; to and sustainable contribution to environsmall team visits communities in and make it possible for all people at all times mental challenges in the province. around Cape Town (and travels much to have physical and economic access to There were four award categories, further afield when called upon to do so) sufficient, safe, nutritious food to enable namely for the Urban Environment, the and shows people how to bury their rubthem to lead healthy, active lives. Natural Environment, Environmental bish to enrich their plots of ground, how to Education and for a Youth Environmentalfashion effective gardening aids from bits Soil for Life is entering its sixth year ist, all aimed at raising public awareness and pieces lying around, safe commonin business and, in this short time, to environmental issues. Because of the sense ways to control pests and disease has managed to cover a great deal outstanding contributions that nominated – and, in a short space of time, to put fresh, of turf, in more ways than one. entrants had made to a variety of envipesticide-free vegetables on the table all ronmental challenges, two special awards year round. Not only have there been many producwere also presented - the Editor’s award Exercise, open air, good food and tive vegetable gardens set up in Cape Town, and a Lifetime Achiever’s award. Soil for reduction of stress all help in the fight Life staff were present in full force and against AIDS and poverty-related diseases. but the team has travelled far and wide in the Western Cape, and has even ventured were totally overjoyed when the organisaThe food garden as a classroom stimulates into the Northern and Eastern Cape, to tion was announced as the winner of the original thinking and creativity. For novice show people how easy it is to grow their Urban Environment category. gardeners it’s a new chance in life and own food. The other finalists were Footprints many can’t get enough of it. Yet we still We have established partnerships with Environmental Centre, Cape Flats Nature, have a lot of work ahead of us. a number of organisations including the The ‘Beyond Expectations’ Environmental The festive season has come and gone; Earthchild Project and Mamelani and the Project, Zeekoevlei Environmental Educathe supermarket shelves were crammed City of Cape Town and have been working tion Programme, and many others. The with food, and so, very often, were our closely with the Provincial Department Bonteheuwel Environmental Forum with dustbins. Yet, nearly half of our rural of Social Development to set up clusters their “No messing around in Bonteheuwel” people and twenty-six per cent of urban of food gardening projects. Our project project won the Editors Award, and Betty dwellers did not have enough to eat. Some for 2008 is to set up the first of a series of Dwight won the Lifetime Achiever’s Award time ago, projections were that by 2008, Food Gardening Enterprises, based on the for her work over many years on behalf of sixty-six percent of the population in Submodel set up at our organisational base. Rondebosch Common. Caleb and SwaneSaharan Africa would be undernourished. If we can do it, and turn over a substanpoel, Grade 5 and 6 learners from Prince It’s now 2008. What will happen this year?

Biophile Issue 20

tial amount of money through sales of vegetables, herbs, seed, seedlings, memberships and training courses, then surely it can be replicated in the areas where these services are sorely needed. That is our mission for the future; to empower people in the most powerful way possible and to reduce the vulnerability of communities to food shortages. Regular workshops at the Soil for Life Resource Centre based at the Constantia Waldorf School are popular with people from all walks of life who want to change the way they live their lives, reduce the size of their footprint on the planet, and who seek a deeper connection with themselves and the divine. The following extract, from one of many letters from workshop participants, reflects the connections that people have made with Nature: ‘My little urban veggie patch is doing so wonderfully! I’m picking marrows and yellow patti pan squash every day! My tomato and green pepper plants are laden, the red cabbages are heading and my gooseberries are flowering. It has been so, so exciting! My 2 hens are laying enormous eggs with bright yellow yolks every day and the shells are crushed and sprinkled around the base of my plants to help prevent snail problems. And my dear, fluffy bunnies are composting all our veggie and garden scraps into rich manure that is added to the compost heap to rot down. The hens do a wonderful job of turning the compost heap and de-bugging it as they scratch through it each day. All this 100% organic and in the suburbs of Johannesburg!

Who would have ever thought it possible?’ I also believe that through the vegetable patch, a whole new life is possible for each and every one of us. In a recent workshop we discussed the features that one would consider including in a kitchen garden. One of them was, of course, a pond. The obvious reasons for including such a feature are so that one creates a space for water-loving plants such as water cress and water blommetjies, but also to attract predators – frogs, dragon flies – to control the pest population in your veggie patch. There is, however, a more subtle reason for including a pond in your garden:

The Looking Glass Spring ‘Why do you call the source of water in your garden “The Looking Glass Spring”?’ the woman asked the gardener. ‘So that when you drink from it you look at yourselves in the mirror of its depths,’ the gardener replied. ‘And why do you want us to look at our reflection in the water?’

Don’t Waste... Orange Mesh Bags

Fruit and vegetables are packed in these bags before being sent to the market. If you buy fresh produce in bulk, you’ll be familiar with them. Most end up in the dustbin. What a waste when they can be used in so many different ways in your home and garden. · Cut the bags open and stitch them together with old baling twine (we have lots of it to give away) and a darning needle, into a large shade net – about 3 metres long and 2 metres wide, just the right size for covering your door-size beds. Apart from protecting newly planted seedlings from the heat of the sun, it acts as a wind break, reduces the force of heavy rain and hail, keeps away marauding snails, birds, and butterflies that are looking for leaves on which to lay their eggs. You know what happens after that. · Make a fertiliser bag, pack it with compost, manure, comfrey leaves, nettles or other weeds, leave it to soak for 24 hours or longer and take your plants to “tea”. The contents of the ‘tea bag’ are added to the compost heap, the liquid tea is diluted and used to water the roots or the leaves of the plant. This is a great way to keep your plants healthy, and compost tea actually helps with controlling pests and disease. · Loosely pack fresh summer herbs into an orange mesh bag and tie them up to dry in an airy place. The herbs will be ready in 2-3 days. Crush them into a clean dry container and store in a cool, dark, dry place. runs monthly workshops in · Keep a bag in the shower and give yourself a good Cape Town on all aspects of scrub everyday to remove all organic gardening. those dead skin cells. You’ll Check their website feel like a million dollars. · Try using a bag to scour www.soilforlife.co.za the remains of your breakfor details of these fast porridge out of the pot.

Soil for Life

Biophile Issue 20

workshops. Book early to avoid disappointment!

SOIL FOR LIFE ‘So that you can see the truth,’ was the man’s simple answer. ‘I don’t understand what you’re trying to tell me, gardener.’ The gardener let a smile slip from his lips. ‘By calling it “the Looking Glass Spring” I’m encouraging you to search for your gaze upon the surface of the depths, and when you find your eyes in the water, framed by the clouds in the sky, you’ll find yourselves one step from seeing the truth of your existence.’ ‘Well, I’ve looked at myself in the spring many times but I’ve seen nothing of what you say,’ the woman told him, confused. ‘’Take a good look at yourself. A good look,’ answered the gardener tenderly. The Gardener - Grian Yes, you may just find yourself, and your purpose in life. At the time of writing, we’re having a weekend workshop with yet another group of the most amazing and inspired people. They have worked for two days in temperatures way over 30°C but their excitement and enthusiasm is overwhelming as they reconnect with the earth and a lot of their own inner wisdom.

A message about people and gardening It’s a miracle. A little seed planted, sprouts, grows. In due time it’s a flower or something good to eat, or both. It’s a miracle. A bunch of ordinary people. No geniuses. A little guidance, some natural energy, and some careful attention. One person alone couldn’t do it. But together we can. We, a mixed bag of personalities, hang-ups and hopes. We. A miracle. Some people don’t believe in miracles. They say there is no hope for this world. The evil people have all the power. But green miracles are growing all around them. Rainbow miracles surround them. Surround their lies and make their lies sound silly. Sun and rain. Ancient miracles more extraordinary than anything else in the world. Life, life, life, pushing up. Put manure on, it grows all the better. Get worms to help. And in distant future times children will read in their history books how in the [21st] Century many thought the world would be destroyed by war or hate or misdirected science. But everyone in the world started gardening again. They relearned some old lessons: · How much fun it is to garden · How home-grown things taste better · How wonderful it is to share · How satisfying it is to work hand in hand with miracles ~ Peter Seeger

The Horse leads the Way How a horse can transform leaders in the corporate world by Margie Donde

illions of views worldwide watch “The Apprentice” with Donald Trump. It replaced survivor as the most popular TV program in 2006. Talk about a dog eats dog world – blaming, shaming, moaning and belittling from the candidates up and from the leaders down. What happened to spirit in the workplace? What happened to taking ownership for what we create? How does one “walk ones talk” on a spiritual level and still interact in the corporate world?

OLD STYLES OF LEADERSHIP

Much of this antiquated training and especially styles of leadership is based on the use of force, power, and coercion. Training is largely based on punishment for ‘wrong’ behaviour hence influencing the trainee to avoid the pain by offering the required behaviour. This achieved its results and still is a large foundation for much of education and leadership in many if not most corporate companies today. “Do as I tell you so that you don’t get punished” is the maxim. Whilst lip service is often given to mutual respect and encouragement, compulsion and power games still underlie much of leadership and management styles. Some of this simply has to do with the enjoyment of power, but much of it is due to a lack of the requisite understanding and skills, and also confidence, for leading and managing with sensitivity and respect and allowing the follower to fully step into their own power

WHAT HAPPENED TO POSITIVE LEADERSHIP

And yet there is a well known model for positive leadership. Robert Greenleaf’s servant leadership approach is now deeply respected by companies committed to workplace transformation. His inspiration came to focus when reading Nobel Prize literature winner, Herman Hesse’s award winning novel; “Journey to the East” In this novel Leo is a servant to an expedition consisting of a group of persons on a spiritual quest. They have heard about and are searching for a new high order. Leo seems to be all and everywhere at the right time; covertly guiding, encouraging, resolving disputes, facilitating whilst all the time serving at the overt basic level of his Biophile Issue 20

role. When his influence becomes resented he disappears and the consequence is that ultimately the expedition falls apart in confusion. One member of the expedition recognizes the unseen and unappreciated role Leo played and sets out to find him. In his search he needs to describe the qualities of the man he is seeking and in so doing comes to recognize them, one by one. He is finally directed to a very high spiritual order and arriving there discovers that Leo is the head of that order - a person of the greatest esteem and honour. The obvious religious metaphor of the story notwithstanding, this story moved Robert Greenleaf to develop the new leadership style based on the role of Leo. His book “The Power of Servant Leadership” describes this with great eloquence. There a few enlightened and proactive corporate companies who have used this model successfully to shifted into the 21st century but this kind of transformation in other areas is also taking place –even in the horse world!

ENTER THE HORSE!

Recently a few magicians in the horsetraining world have come along who have demonstrated a revolutionary approach to horse training. These “horse whisperers” use the Natural horsemanship approach, focuses on reward for desired behaviour and the appropriate response is rewarded while inappropriate response is ignored or redirected. In so doing a true and deep respect for the horse is demonstrated. This requires dealing with the horse in its own terms – learning to talk its language – inviting a sharing of the two worlds – that of the horse and that of humankind. No this is not some democratic exercise where the horse is allowed to do as it pleases – no training would take place. But in the trainer respecting the horse’s way and approaching with sensitivity and in a style that can be appreciated by the horse far greater achievements are reached than have ever been done with the conventional method of training. There is a demonstrable display of mutual appreciation.

HORSES AND THERAPY

As seen on the recent TV series on SABC 3 “Healing with Animals” the use of

The Equitrans team horses is gaining popularity in many different areas, psychotherapy, physiotherapy and leadership. Why the horses and not other animals? Horses are large, powerful and graceful creatures that are naturally intimidating and yet awe inspiring to many people. This creates a natural opportunity for allowing one the opportunity of learning confidence despites ones fears which can then be transposed into other intimidating and challenging situations in life.

LEADERSHIP IN THE HORSE HERD

The horse is a unique animal when it comes to leadership. In nature, horses respond to leadership – they are herd animals and prey animals. They rely on the herd leader to keep them safe as well as provide leadership that can be trusted. The qualities of the leader of the herd - the herd stallion and alpha mare - are reflected in the rest of the horse herd. Horses respond to effective leadership. Horses test the herd leaders for clear communication, trust, respect, assertiveness and aligned intention. And so to for the domesticated horse. When the human trainer becomes the stallion or alpha mare for the domesticated horse, the horse feels safe and follows with keenness to try new and what would otherwise be fearful things. The horse offers his intelligence and wants to learn, he wants to follow the trainer. This leads to great achievements – riding of horses without any bridles or bits, horses that jump freely over large jumps with out any coercion, lying down when asked or willingly walking or running behind the horse trainer with no lead rein attached. The horse then reflects the trainer’s leadership qualities and his inner world of attitude and skills. The horse becomes the mirror of and for the trainer. If they are not lead by the trainer appropriately the horse will lack respect, direction, push boundries or simply leave to do what he wants to do.

LESSONS FROM THE HORSE FOR THE CORPORATE WORLD

ways of interacting and leading with others and ourselves. Horses naturally train humans in the leadership principles of confidence, authenticity, intention, congruency, courage, and focus.

EQUITRANS – A NEW EXPERIENCE So what happens when you put a Kinesiologist, an NLP Practitioner and a horse- trainer together? You get EquiTrans – a management-training programme that, like the new horse whisperers is able to introduce into the business world, a radically transformed management paradigm. Through engagement with the horse Equitrans alters the exercise of leadership from one based on the exercise of power over the subordinate to one of service of the follower in which the deepest potentialities of the individual is carefully elicited, nurtured and deployed using the horse as the teacher. Secondly Equitrans it seeks to engaged the participant in the deeper opportunities offered through awareness of spirituality in the workplace. Horses provide a living laboratory where leaders can receive instant feedback in an irrefutable non-judgemental way about their leadership capabilities. Horses provide real engagement making learning memorable. Horses provide a profound experience when the leader is able to lead this powerful and graceful creature without restraints of any kind. This learning is then translated into their specific workplace environment by the Equitrans team so that participants can immediately transpose the learning into their corporate world The workplace then can be seen as a demonstration of the inner world of the leaders and managers. This means that the condition of the team is the condition of the leader. If it is full of dissension or fired up with congruity and confidence in its task – this points to the leadership qualities of the team leader. EquiTrans is an initiative aimed at introducing this kind of leadership into the workplace at a

Claudius Van Wyk is a Neuro-linguistic Practitioner facilitator and an inspirational and motivational speaker. He has transformed many people’s lives through facilitating the “Firewalk Experience”. As well as facilitating corporate strategic repositioning and transformation, Claudius’ great capacity to transform ideas and facts into coherent simple experience helps the learner to facilitate integrative thinking. As an authority on Holism, he is a knowledgeable, experienced and intellectually engaging speaker with an unusual capacity to remember and reproduce facts and stories. Jenku Dietrichsen is an accomplished horse trainer. With his passionate enthusiasm and openness to try anything new, he has an unusual capacity to intuit the horses’ inner experience to facilitate problem solving in the horse-training environment. He has been a pioneer in Clicker Training and Natural horsemanship with horses in Southern Africa and Zimbabwe sharing his innovative training ideas to promote co-operation between horse and rider. He introduced the clicker concept to Switzerland in 2005. Margie Donde is a skilled Specialised Kinesiology practitioner and instructor. Margie has spent the past 15 years following her passion in the holistic health field with a particular interest in helping others to come to self-awareness and self-understanding through changing unresourceful mental and behavioural patterns. Margie is also an accredited riding instructor, and a successful dressage competitor. Her longstanding love for horses has led her to seek ways of creating co-operation and understanding with the horse. She is also pioneering the use of kinesiology techniques and exploring natural feeding methods for horses in South Africa.

real and deeply integrated level. Through one day, two day or four day fun programmes Equitrans provides a revolutionary approach to developing leadership. To contact Equitrans phone them on 011 468 1855/082 496 6214 or email mdonde@iafrica.com

The horse’s need for leadership can easily be transposed into the corporate environment. Horses allow us to see leadership principles in a new light. The horse becomes a metaphor for how we are leading in our life and in our work. They provide us with honest and clear feedback about our current strengths and weaknesses in areas of leadership.. They easily close the gap between where we say we are doing and what we are actually doing. They show us where we have incongruencies between our intention and our action. They gently encourage us into new insights and new Biophile Issue 20

Books to change your life

Ringing Cedars Series What?! You haven’t read the Ringing Cedars Series yet? What are you waiting for? Forget Tolle. Forget The Secret and the Chicken Soup! Read Anastasia. Given the opportunity to have a 3-day discussion with a girl from an ancient civilisation that has survived, without our knowledge of them, deep in the Siberian taiga for millennia - would you let it pass? Here’s your chance to gain tremendous insight on everything that matters in Creation (which turns out to be everything) and develop an understanding of the meaning of your life and the incredible importance of who you are; the true history of humanity; what’s currently happening in the world (and here you are in for some wicked surprises!) - and most importantly, the amazingly beautiful possibilities of the future of our beloved planet Earth! Will these books change your life? A resounding YES!!! Your eyes will be unclosed and the splendid beauty of Creation will flow into

your being as if for Once you have taken in the beauty of the first time, yet this Siberian woman’s words, it is truly there is a warm and hard to keep yourself from exploding with pleasant feeling of joy… Get reading! remembering to it all… For more information and order details, see advertorial on pages 12 and 13. Things it seems we have forgotten many thousands of years ago are revealed in the most majestic feelings when Anastasia’s words move through JUST RELEASED: BOOK 8 IN THE SERIES your soul. You will find that there is an enorTHE NEW CIVILIZATION mous amount of ancient and sacred knowing stored in those very feelings. This is like some powerful magic, like some kind of art consisting of imagery which this young forest-dwelling girl has perfected. This remembering and all this knowledge are inside every one of us, and when we open our hearts to the magic, the light floods in brightly and leaves us with a new sense of childlike wonder and awareness. These books were only recently translated into English from the original Russian and are so far from our daily “reality” that they are easily dismissed as fantasy. But it’s us who have been living in a fantasy world, obscured by a system that has tried and managed to hide from us the most important things in life. The eighth (and second to last) book in the series has just arrived in South Africa. It is called The New Civilisation and here Anastasia paints with heartwarming imagery a beautiful and irresistible picture of the future. With each volume these books only get more exciting and inspiring. Read it and weep. And laugh with joy. And come alive like never before. Biophile Issue 20

Stories for Fire Dogs –

Opening our hearts to the Earth

How do we deal with an environmental crisis so dire that it threatens all life on Earth? In Stories for Fire Dogs, Sally Andrew engages emotionally, philosophically and practically with global warming. Her creative essays are alive with fire dogs (guardians and watchdogs of the earth), singing dogs and sleeping dragons… ‘Sally Andrew has a way with words. A way that touches the heart with poignancy but also with hope. Each of her stories for fire dogs is grounded in experience, given wings by imagination – energised by anger, blessed by love. In these pieces, you taste your individual fear and find your communal courage to run at the enemy and defend what is precious.’ Ally Ashwell, fire dog, Enviro Eds ‘Captivating reading for all who care about people and our planet: a fabulous book.’ Dr Jim Taylor, fire dog, Director of Environmental Education, Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa ‘I loved these stories. Although they were about difficult issues, they made me feel peaceful; like it’s all going to be alright.’ Maya Aberman, fire dog, Earthlife Africa ‘Sally Andrew writes beautiful compelling stories, which I believe should reach as wide an audience as possible.’ Hettie Gets, fire dog, Manager Conservation Education Programme WWF-SA About the author…

Sally Andrew has been involved since the 1980s in activism, adult education and writing for community organisations. She has a Masters in Adult Education (UCT) and a certificate in Environmental Education (Rhodes). This is her first book of creative non-fiction. She is currently writing a novel. She lives in the seaside suburb of Muizenberg, Cape Town with her man, cat and chameleons. BOOK DETAILS TITLE: Stories for Fire Dogs AUTHOR: Sally Andrew ILLUSTRATOR: Meg Jordi PUBLISHER: Hot Press ISBN: 9780620386319 PRICE: R 120.00

enhance this journey. Well adapted ecologically to spread into and thrive within disturbed sites -- such as the lawns, playgrounds, roadsides, and parking lots in which they are most often encountered today, and viewed as weeds -- dandelions also have had a lengthy, welcomed association with humans as medicine, food, and objects of ritual, magic, and folklore. The Teeth of the Lion will be a source of enjoyable, fascinating, memorable information of interest to all users. It will provide naturalists, wildflower enthusiasts, gardeners, interpreters, teachers, landscapers, and homeowners a better understanding of one of the most common, well-known, and perhaps underappreciated plants to be found anywhere.

Add R20.00 for packaging and insured postage within South Africa Add R65.00 for UK and USA Overseas airmail postage please ORDERS www.printmatters.co.za OR info@printmatters.co.za +27 (0) 21 789 0155 OTHER QUERIES

The Resurrected Dead, Now Immortal, Live Among Us: A Manual for Immortality

The Teeth of the Lion

The Teeth of the Lion tells the story of the common dandelion, that remarkably widespread plant that is known, for better or worse, by just about everybody. Through a series of short essays, written in accessible language and a thoroughly engaging style, Anita Sanchez takes the reader on a journey through the natural history of the dandelion and its long association with humans. Joan Jobson’s illustrations add important details and subtle accents that Biophile Issue 20

This is a very thought-provoking book. The author introduces many subjects without getting bogged down in any of them, rather like crossing a mountain range by touching the peaks. And yet she succeeds in showing the connections among this multitude of themes. She apparently refuses to offer stereotyped or prepackaged concepts. I found her discussion of what she terms “Sacred Fire” to be the most illuminating. One has the sense of trying to name the unnamable. Jheshierra explains these metaphysical terms by concrete arguments and references to history, spiritual texts, and everyday events. This book is certainly joining the favorites on my bookshelf. SC Mitchell

Most of the cells in your body are not your own, nor are they even human.

odern medicine is firmly founded on the “Germ Theory of Disease,” promulgated by Louis Pasteur in the 1860s. Pasteur’s 140-year-old theory is still the medical paradigm upon which Western medicine fights disease as we enter the 21st century.

HUMAN-BACTERIA HYBRIDS:

Behold yourself, for a moment, as an organism. A trillion cells stuck together, arrayed into tissues and organs and harnessed by your DNA to the elemental goals of survival and propagation. But is that all? An electron microscope would reveal that you are teeming with other lifeforms. Any part of your body that comes into contact with the outside world - your skin, mouth, nose and digestive tract - is home to bacteria, fungi and protozoa. Most of the cells in your body are not your own, nor are they even human. They are bacterial. From the invisible strands of fungi waiting to sprout between our toes, to the one kilogram of bacterial matter in our guts, we are best viewed as walking “superorganisms” - highly complex conglomerations of human cells, bacteria, fungi and viruses. Despite what is still taught in medical schools, blood, also, is not sterile. Anyone who has used a high-resolution darkfield microscope for live blood analysis, can verify that the blood is a veritable aquarium. The ultra-high magnification of new microscopes also confirms discoveries by 19th/20th century researchers, of continuously changing life-forms in human blood.

PLEOMORPHISM

(pleo - many, morph - form) In a long lost chapter of history in science, a violent controversy took place in France between illustrious Louis Pasteur and Antoine Bechamp, a noted professor of physics, toxicology, medical chemistry and biochemistry, and the most important microbiologist of the 19th and early 20th century. According to this astute observer, the basis of life is not the cell, but a living “seed” that he called a microzyma, Bechamp( 1816/1908) claimed that all animal and plant cells contained these tiny granules, a common ancestor, which do not perish at the death of the organism, and are integral agents in disease-causing processes and decomposition. Microzymas can evolve with changes in the nutritional environment to become viruses or bacteria, harmless or harmful. Microzymas themselves are not the primary cause of disease, but disease-causing capability is determined by its environment or terrain. Although apparently specific viruses and bacteria can be reproduced as similar organisms, this is only true if specific bio-terrain conditions exist. Under other conditions evolution to other microorganisms can take place. It is generally accepted that if we can establish the presence of a virus or microorganism with a disease, then that microorganism or virus must be the cause of the disease. But, correlation does not mean causation. Bechamp’s last work, The Third Element of the Blood, is probably his

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Is Modern Medicine Founded on Error? by Dr Elizna Hanekom

most famous. In this book he refers to his ongoing confrontation with Pasteur. His problems with Pasteur were once again the theme in Ethel Douglas Hume’s book, Pasteur Exposed (1923). In it she reveals in detail Pasteur’s plagiarisms and his distortions of Bechamp’s concepts. This was later supported by R. B. Pearson in his book, Pasteur: Plagiarist, Impostor. (1924) Microzymas have been rediscovered many times since. Enderlein’s endobiont, Reich’s bions as well as Naessens’s somatids are all examples of the rediscovery of Bechamp’s forgotten concepts. They are indestructable and are found in hot rock deep within the earth, in the Antarctic regions, in radioactive water in nuclear reactors and in petrochemicals. To Dr David Jubb they are the unknown factor between the inanimate and the animate, or perhaps the transitional point where light becomes matter. In the 1950s Gaston Naessens discovered an ultramicroscopic, subcellular, living and reproducing form, which he christened a somatid( tiny body) - and which he believes predates DNA and carries on genetic activity. Naessens also observed that the particle had a pleomorphic( form-changing) l6 stage life-cycle. In the normal state the somatid will continue to cycle only through the first three stages of change, crucial to the existence of a healthy organism. When the immune system is weakened, or disrupted, the somatids go through the other 13 stages. Incredibly, Naessens has been able to link the development of specific forms in the 16-stage life-cycle of the somatid to various degenerative diseases (cancer, multiple sclerosis and AIDS) This has enabled Naessens to “prediagnose” conditions in advance, months before they would appear clinically. MONOMORPHISM: Pasteur (1822/1878) claimed that all microbes, regardless of their type and species, are unchangeable; that each type would produce only one specific disease; that bacteria and fungi would never arise from spontaneous generation; and that

blood and tissues are sterile in healthy conditions. Diseases, he claimed, have their origin from bacteria that attack the body from outside. Although Pasteur is quoted to have said on his deathbed: “Bernard (Claud Bernard, physiologist - 1813/18780) was correct. The microbe is nothing, the milieu is everything” - it was too late. The Germ Theory was quickly adopted by the medical powers of the day. This new theory about germs invading from outside the body, empowered the medical and pharmaceutical industry as guardians of human and animal health. People became dependent on the fledgling medical/drug industry for information and protection from disease. Thus Modern Medicine was born.

architecture - for scavenging and recycling dead organisms. The weak or sickly in the wild are not tolerated to handicap the group, and one way or another are soon eliminated. C’est la vie. So when a person allows their inner ecosystem to become severely degraded, they should realise that what follows is not a perversity of fate or an unlucky encounter with germs, but merely another step in a natural sequence of events. Whether our “constant tenants” behave as dangerous “bits of alien life,” or like inconspicuous, essential regulatory particles, is entirely up to us. Just imagine, the harmonious hum of microbe and host - the ancient symbyotic symphony of life - disrupted by a stealthy decline in the vitality of the internal milieu!

SYMBIOSIS and DYSBIOSIS: CONCLUSION: To understand better the natural Modern Medicine has no answers for relationship between germs and viruses the chronic lifestyle diseases. Screaming and other forms of life, we must examine headlines regularly announce the sethe fundamental principles that govern all rial outbreaks of yet another deadly new forms of life on earth. The first principle infection, such as Legionnaire’s disease, is that of symbiosis or coexistence, which Ebola and Marburg haemorrhagic fevers, states that all forms of life are in one way or antibiotic-resistant tuberculosis and another dependent on each other, together “flesh-eating” staphylococcus; bacteria are forming what is known as the “web of life.” becoming antibiotic-resistant; cancer kills The upsetting of this rather fine balance, over 20,000 people a day. (Global Cancer even just a little, may result in drastic Facts and Figures 2007) changes of life forms struggling to survive. Remedies based on the concept of In an amazing discovery scientists have chronic degenerative disease as an imballearned that bacteria can communicate ance between symbiontic partners, have with each other. When enough microbes been available, and well researched, in gather to form a “quorum”, they release a Europe and the Scandinavian countries for hormone (pheromone) which allows them the last 80 years. Together with optimum to “talk” to one another, plan strategies nutrition, these remedies are remarkably and even make some genetic changes to effective. allow survival. As Robert Ingersoll said: “In Nature As the environment that surrounds there are neither rewards nor punishthe cells become over-acidified, toxic and ments . There are consequences.” polluted, our “constant tenants” loose BIBLIOGRAPHY their symbiotic and life-giving properties, How you Rot and Rust Steve Denk www.professorenderlein.com become independent and change form biomedx.com into viruses, bacteria and eventually funwww.whale.to/v/pleomorphism gal forms - each stage progressively more hostile to surrounding tissue cells - as they prepare to break the host down. Nature is parsimonious. All ecosystems have mechanisms - often central to their Biophile Issue 20

Disempowering the Unborn by Norman Skillen

wo years ago my eldest daughter gave birth to a baby boy (her third child). It was a classic home birth. She woke up just after 2am. in a pool of water — the waters had broken while she was asleep. She got up, made a cup of tea for herself and her sister, breathed through a few contractions, called the midwife, and then, about 3.15am, said, “I think I’ll go and have this baby now.”

By 3.55 she was holding the baby in her arms. Apart from the fact that it took less than two hours, there’s nothing remarkable in all this, you might be thinking; but my daughter is no wide-hipped Venustype creature - indeed, she could be said to be rather on the petite side of womanhood - and the baby she gave birth to in this wonderfully straightforward way weighed in at four and a half (4.5) kilos! That’s well above average. She didn’t tear, she had no complications; in fact, the whole thing was an object lesson in the fact that the female organism is perfectly designed to perform the task of giving birth, and will do so harmoniously, if given the chance. But if my daughter had been registered with a gynaecologist or obstetrician in Cape Town, she would probably not have been given the chance to give birth in the way she did. Regular scans would have registered the large size of the baby, and she would have been told, with due, fearinducing solemnity, that in view of the large size of her baby, she would probably not be able to give birth vaginally and that she had better start preparing herself for a caesarean section (CS). “Your baby is rather large” seems to be

one of the main reasons given by gynaecologists for the need to cut a woman open. It’s not the only one, but it seems to be the main one, even though the woman is not unlikely to find herself, after the operation, holding a baby of around three kilos - i.e. below average. It would seem that it is not baby size, but the size of the number of women this is happening to that is unacceptably large. For instance, in March last year one of the major private hospitals in Cape Town had an 89.8% caesarean rate (I cannot be more specific about these figures for fear of jeopardising the job of the person who revealed them - why should this be, one wonders?) Now, this hospital does not specialise in high risk cases, but even allowing for special circumstances obtaining in this country, there is no possibility of there being medical reasons for all these caesareans. We’re talking here about a hospital where “first world” conditions apply. In most “first world” countries one would expect a very much lower rate. Holland, Denmark, Sweden all have CS rates of 10% or lower, and the lowest maternal and infant mortality rates in the world. The 89.8% rate of this Cape Town hospital is, of course, way above our national average, but such figures from our “first world” hospitals inflate our figures to such an extent that we currently have the highest caesarean rate in the world (even higher than Brazil where there are private hospitals with 100% CS rate). The interesting thing is that in our public hospitals, where “first world” conditions seldom apply, the CS rate is very much lower (19.6%)1; it is in our “first world” that the rate soars, whereas in the first world generally the rate is closer to what should be medically expected, i.e. a 7-10% rate2. This means that in some of our major hospitals up to 80% of the caesarean sections performed are most probably unnecessary. Biophile Issue 20

Why is this happening?

Apart from our sharing with urban Brazil, USA and Canada the simple fact that high CS rates are directly correlated with the presence of obstetricians in delivery rooms, there are, I believe, two main factors involved. One is that there is in this country no generally agreed code of medical practice surrounding the birth process. This means that doctors are free to set up whatever regimens they like, whether they conform to generally recognised standards or not. For example, doctors in Cape Town are likely to set much stricter time limits on certain key stages of labour, and thus will start making worried faces sooner than their counterparts in other countries. The worried face of your obstetrician induces fear, fear produces adrenaline, adrenaline inhibits the birth process, an inhibited birth process is on track for……. need I say more? The other factor is that in this country there is no law against caesareans of convenience. In other words, a woman can decide to have a caesarean for entirely non-medical reasons. It is considered one of the viable birth options in this country (if you have the money), and has recently become very fashionable. The pressure, as would be expected, comes mainly from America, whereas in Britain, for instance, it is illegal for a doctor to perform a caesarean for non-medical reasons. These two factors mutually re-enforce each other. On the one hand, doctors are free to “manage” pregnancy and birth so that they culminate in a caesarean section. (There is also something of a financial incentive in this, for although they are paid just about the same for a caesarean as for a real birth, the former takes about an hour, while the latter could take all day - and all night.) On the other hand, they are only too happy to oblige women who voluntarily seek the scalpel, thinking that it will prevent their vagina from losing its tone. (It is

worth pointing out here that research has found that by the age of 65 even nuns, who presumably have never had a sex life, let alone a baby, have pelvic floors in exactly the same condition as women who have experienced childbirth, whether vaginally or by CS!3)

But what’s the big deal, you might be wondering?

If British law prohibits caesareans for convenience, that is surely only because they are much more expensive than natural birth, so it’s just an economy measure. Also, if women in our 5-star hospitals can afford the luxury of avoiding the mess and pain of birth, why shouldn’t they? Well, these might be valid arguments if we were talking about some marketable commodity, but we’re not. We’re talking about the coming into this world of living human beings. As is very often the case, Shakespeare has the relevant words here. They come late on in “the Scottish Play”. Macbeth has been told that he can only be defeated by one “not of woman born”. It is only when he comes face to face with Nemesis in the person of Macduff that he hears the answer to the riddle: “Macduff was from his mother’s womb untimely ripp’d.” In other words, he was a caesarean baby, and thus “not of woman born”. This defines the essence of the problem, and to get at what this implies we have to look at the situation from the baby’s point of view. By the time it is approaching the end of its term in the womb, the baby has long made itself at home. It reposes in a cushioned world of partial weightlessness, removed from the harsh realities of air and external light. It is an integrated system of expectations, an omni-potential universe, poised on the brink of their multiple realisation. It exists in a sleep-world that is alive with the tension of asyet-untried possibilities. No one knows the moment when it is going to cross from the potential to the actual - except the baby itself. It is an embryological fact - although it is not understood how it happens - that the baby initiates the birth process. The baby determines its own birth moment. Neither mother nor father nor doctor knows it - only the baby. It is, after all, the baby’s birth.

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DISEMPOWERING THE UNBORN

For a healthy woman, going to an obstetrician is like using a steamroller to make a pizza, or getting Robert Mugabe to run a playgroup. A caesarean operation, especially a caesarean of convenience, sweeps into this situation like a preemptive strike.

The military metaphor is entirely appropriate. For the baby it must be like going to sleep in a peaceful village with all its familiarly comforting sounds, only to be wrenched from slumber by an invading army. (This is almost literally true - in this country it takes about eleven people to do a caesarean). The mother, due to the anaesthetic, feels nothing - but the baby is not so lucky. It does not have the “comfort” of being fully drugged (although it may be to some extent). One minute it is reposing at peace, the next the wall of its world is cut, then torn, open, and it finds itself being “untimely ripp’d” from the womb. The only cold comfort is that in the following days it will be slightly doped by substances in its mother’s milk - usually pethidine, given to her to still the pain following the operation. Only some time later will it come alive to the fact that something drastic has happened. The baby will have some dim, visceral, whole-organism awareness of the fact that it has been “robbed of its birthday”. Now, a full-term baby is a legal person, and in its last days in the womb this legal person is, as a whole, the living expectation of the fact that he or she is the one to begin the birth process and thus decide4 the moment of birth. Surely an act which takes this decision out of this legal person’s hands must be seen as a violation of its personhood and consequently of its human rights. An unnecessary caesarean, performed early, or, as Shakespeare says, untimely, is just such a violation. While there can sometimes be good medical reasons for a planned caesarean, to decide to have one for no medical reason is effectively to license a high-powered professional medical technologist to disempower your baby. To persuade a woman to have an unnecessary caesarean operation is to perform a similar act of disempowerment. Both these actions show a callous disrespect for the personhood of the baby. There are disquieting statistics about the consequences, for baby and mother, of

this disrespect, but before I come to those there is a general point to be made. There is a conflict of attitude that plays a large role in this state of affairs. It is between the analytical intellect and what I would call a more holistic-intuitive approach. The training of doctors is based squarely on analytical intellect, but the problem is that birth as a process cannot be encompassed as a whole by this mode of approach. In basic terms the eyes of analytical intellect are likely to see in the birth process only a physical object (the baby), which is inside another physical object (the mother) and needs to be got out somehow. Obviously if one sees these as the basic facts of the situation then it is fair to assume that the method used is not going to make any difference to the “objects” involved. It only needs to be technically practical. Clearly, this requirement is fulfilled much more readily by cutting a hole in the outer object and lifting out the inner one, than by trying to coax it through a narrow tube with a bend in it (the birth canal). Cutting and lifting replaces true birth (in which the baby is permitted to go through the birth canal) with a mechanical operation, and thus represents the ultimate mechanisation of birth. It is very convenient. You can time the moment the baby is to be lifted from the womb almost to the minute. This fits into hospital routines very well. Of course, real birth, being an entirely individualised process, cannot be quantified in this way. Now, I’m sure gynecologists and obstetricians do not regard babies as mere physical objects, but they certainly behave as if they did. How else is one to account for an 89.8% caesarean rate?

What of the holistic-intuitive approach?

This is the mode in which midwives are likely to be proficient. It will seek to empathise with the baby as a person on a momentous journey from one state of being into another. It will have a feel for the fact that birth is a delicately attuned, integrated, organic process, any one phase or part of which will be intimately bound up with all the others. As such it must be trusted, responsively read, worked with, Biophile Issue 20

co-operated with. It is only such a style of consciousness that can even begin to sense the nature of the baby’s state of being in the womb before the birth process begins; but however difficult this is to grasp, the midwife must identify herself with it, otherwise she will not be able to read the process properly. The baby’s state of being in the womb is not accessible to analytical intellect, and obstetricians, by lifting babies untimely out of this state of being, show either that they are so “intellectual” as to have no feeling for it, or that they are suppressing the feeling.

There is also the possibility, of course, that they genuinely believe they are easing the lot of women, while at the same time smoothing the baby’s path into this world. Does this stand up? What are the consequences of their disempowering babies by by-passing the birth process? Statistics from recent research have increasingly convincingly shown that there is approximately three times higher risk of both infant and maternal mortality, and markedly higher morbidity following Caesarian section performed without adequate medical justification, and these are compounded in subsequent pregnancies. As well as increased risk to CS babies of asthma later in life, research now shows they have a higher risk of allergies generally and are significantly more likely to suffer gastric disturbances and diarrhoea in the immediate post-natal period. This list could be considerably extended.5 The interesting thing is that when the labour process has begun spontaneously, particularly in the case of a planned CS, the incidence of the above complications is reduced. Thus experiencing at least part of the natural birth process, even if it ends in CS, would seem to be beneficial. The crawling phase in childhood is regarded as highly significant, since missing it appears to be linked to subsequent dyslexia. By the same token, deciding the moment of birth and making your way down

the birth canal could - I would say should - be seen as a developmental step of equal magnitude. What then could be the effect of depriving a child of this experience? There are many good medical reasons for having to skip this step, both in a planned and unplanned way. In the case of a good reason, could it perhaps be that, although their experience has been that of being “untimely ripp’d” from the womb, a person later in life will have some dim consciousness that it was necessary and for the best? Whereas if the reasons were not good simply for the convenience of mother or doctor or both - the person will have some deep, latent knowledge that their “birth” was somehow “wrong”? And might this dim knowledge have some serious consequences for their general wellbeing?6 What is the significance for a person’s adult emotional integrity of the struggle down the birth canal? Obstetricians might do well to ponder this question. Midwives are likely to have an intuitive understanding of this, though they may not be able to put it into words. The ridiculous thing is that this whole unbalanced situation need not be happening. In spite of their having some suspect birth practices, it doesn’t happen, for instance, in Holland. There women have enough confidence in their ability to give birth naturally, and enough clarity about which professional is appropriate for which task, to know that if you’re pregnant you don’t register with a gynecologist or obstetrician, you go to a midwife. Obstetrics is the study of abnormal childbirth - and that is what obstetricians are practised at. They do so few “normal” births that they are not as skilled or experienced in that field. For a healthy woman, going to an obstetrician is like using a steamroller to make a pizza, or getting Robert Mugabe to run a playgroup. If a code of practice existed that recommended, or even prescribed, that obstetricians should refer women with uncomplicated pregnancies (which more than 80% are) to midwives, then we would be moving in the right direction. Then women would be with caregivers with the kind of holistic-intuitive expertise they need, and their babies would be honoured instead Biophile Issue 20

DISEMPOWERING THE UNBORN of disempowered. The midwives would no longer find themselves reduced to the role of attendants at caesarean operations, feeling as disempowered as the baby, and watching their time-honoured knowledge going down the drain. Obstetricians would be freed for more emergencies and would be available for those areas where they are really needed. However, since the current situation, for lack of a code of practice, is governed by market forces, the obstetricians of the private sector are not likely to enter these other areas. As a result, it’s disempowerment all round: the babies are disempowered, the mothers are disempowered and the midwives are disempowered, and ultimately the doctors are disempowering themselves. Instead of fulfilling the imperatives of the noble profession they joined, they are regularly acting in bad faith towards the women who come to them for help, but most of all towards the babies. It is not really all that difficult to grasp the essence of what is at stake here. My daughter put it very well the other day. Speaking about performing CS to fit a hospital schedule rather than when really necessary, she said, “If you’re happily sleeping in there and somebody opens the door and rips you out, you’re going to be upset, whereas if you’re struggling to get out and can’t, and somebody opens the door, then you’ll be very pleased”. If obstetricians would listen to this voice of female common sense, they might well end up having a much more authentic and satisfying life - and the disempowerment of the unborn would cease. 1 This is the SA Dept of Health, W. Cape figure for 2005. In the private sector there has been an increase of 68% in the CS rate since 1995. Recent (2005/6) official medical aid figures are as follows: Board of Health Care Funders SA - 64% CS, Council of Medical Aid Schemes 81.84% CS, Largest Medical Aid Scheme in SA - 69.72% CS. 2 WHO recommended level, established at a recent conference attended by 62 participants from over 20 countries. Marsten Wagner (“Choosing Cesarian Section”, The Lancet, vol 356, 1677-80, 2000) states: “There is no evidence that a rate of cesarian section over 7% saves lives”. 3 Information on this can be found at http:// www.childbithconnection.org/cesareanbooklet/ a site organised by Dr. Carol Sakala, a highly renowned expert on birth matters in the United States. 4 I am not suggesting for a moment that this is a conscious decision, but on the other hand, who is to say what form of diffuse, ambient consciousness might be involved here? And if it were simply a question of the release of a hormone, how come it has not been identified? 5 Precise information can be had from the site of Dr. Carol Sakala quoted above. 6 See Michel Odent: Primal Health research site http://.birthworks.org/primalhealth/ It contains Scandinavian studies on the links between, among other things, CS and schizophrenia.

Biophile Issue 20

Biobirth by Marianne Littlejohn, Birthrite Midwifery

s an independant midwife practitioner I support the biologically destined method of giving birth, natural vaginal birth. This is not to day that we don’t ask for medical help when a mother needs it. Caesarian sections are amazing life-saving operations. But when a mother is able and chooses to birth her baby normally I fully support her. Why is natural birth important? • it is feasible for 85% of women — if not more — to give birth naturally. The process nature intended is a normal one for both the mother and the baby. • mothers who choose to birth naturally are women taking responsibility for their lives and this often leads to thinking about the environment into which one is bring a new baby. • mothers who are truly supported to give birth naturally, are encouraged and aspire to lead healthy balanced lives as they prepare for the birth of a beautiful human being. • during labour, hormones such as endorphins and oxytocin are released to optimise the experience for the mother and get her ready to bond with her baby once it is born. • her body heals quickly after birth and a healthy mother is often able to stand and walk within an hour after birth. • the mother is fully awake and conscious when no drugs are used and therefore is empowered to make choices during the process such as where and how she will give birth and who will be present. • she is able to hold and handle her baby the minute it is born and this gives her confidence as she learns to mother her baby. • the baby born naturally learns to navigate a threshold experience i.e. being born, and is also infused by the release of natural hormones, which facilitate his adaptation to life, such as breathing, respiration and temperature regulation. • undrugged babies are alert at birth and respond to the mother within a few minutes of birth, by calming and gazing into her eyes. This is a wonderful recognition for the mother of a task well accomplished! • breastfeeding gets off to a good start when a baby is born naturally without drugs or intervention. This is empowering for both mother and baby. Sadly, the rate of truly natural birth in South Africa is appallingly low. Women are disempow-

Biophile Issue 20

ered to find their strength and take the lead in campaigning for birthing choices. The list of independant midwives in South Africa is frighteningly low. The support of obstetricians for midwives is similarly low and women are encouraged to opt for caesarian sections in private hospitals and do so often because they are unaware of the alternatives. On the other side of the coin, women are herded into public health facilities where a woman’s privacy is not honoured and her fear is not appeased. The sounds of other women screaming during labour and birth add to the fear, turning the experience into a terrifying one. Midwives on duty resort to routine drug administrationfor pain relief in order to ease their work load and try to quell women’s pain. This is hardly a picture of empowering women. Women need to be individually nurtured when they give birth, by one-on-one care, and an independant private midwife offers a holistic midwifery model of care to the women she helps. Preparation for birth is crucial and a good healthy diet, exercise, emotional support and a sensible understanding of what labout and birth entails are essential ingredients for a natural birth. The correlation between drugs given during labour and drug dependancy later in life is well documented by research but mostly ignored by average birth attendants. Some people may say that being able to choose a caesarian section is empowering and for a select few women it may be. I’m not talking either about the woman or baby for whom a caesarian section becomes necessary and urgent. Choosing an elective caesarian section for no other reason than to avoid the natural birth process seems to me to be a form of avoiding a normal life process and separating ourselves for what is potentially one of the most powerful events of our livesthat of giving birth to humankind. Natural birth is about knowing how labour works, about sharing the deepest most intimate moments with a significant other, about water and its healing immersive powers, about claiming our right to experience life at its most rich and rewarding. And in the quest for what is biologically sound behaviour we should be teaching our girls and boys about their bodies, their connection to mother earth and father sun and the power they have to create a new life that is qualitatively and quantitatively biofriendly. Marianne can be contacted on 082 498 7622 or by emailing mlittlejohn@xsinet.co.za

HOLISTIC PET NUTRITION

NO! to chocolate YES! to garlic by Paul Jacobson, 083 326 9931

n the previous edition of Biophile, my article “Holistic Pet Nutrition”, highlighted the nutritional and medicinal properties of herbs for our companion animals. We could not praise enough the healing and nutritional values that these herbs contain and their extensive mineral wealth. Unfortunately, a few weeks later, a leading Cape Town newspaper published a biased, untruthful and unfair article pertaining to the dangers of onions and garlic in pet food: “ Pet owners warned of ‘toxic’ foostuffs”. They claimed “chocolate, onions and garlic may kill dogs” and “vets have warned that, instead of saving their animals, they could in fact be killing them” All was based on the testimonial of a single dog owner who prepared a home-cooked meal using a recipe from the esteemed author and pet food nutritionist, Margaret Roberts. The vet claimed that her dog contracted “Heinz-body Anaemia” (the thinning of the blood) because she included a composition of onion and garlic in the meal. However, the Pathologist was unable to confirm this as a matter of certainty and says that” this type of anaemia is difficult to pick up because the blood looks normal”. She based her assumption on previous scientific laboratory testing using garlic and onions. But most importantly, she failed to mention that the possibility of this type of anaemia is dose or quantity related. She does mention, though, that several other foods can cause Heinz-body anaemia as well - turnips, kale, rape, or anything rich in vitamin K” . She, confirmed for me other possible ingredients, as well: paracetamol, zinc, local anaesthetic, phenythdrazine We have gained access to the exact same source of reference that the pathologist used and which was presented to us by a leading Scientist at the Department of Agricultural Sciences (University of Stellenbosch). I wish to present the findings so that we can all learn from this incident and to which I believe was nothing more than an opportunistic attempt, by the vet, to steer

pet owners away from preparing nutritious home-cooked meals and return to the feeding of commercial processed food. So, the question still stands. Is garlic and onion dangerous for your pets? NO! The most important finding was that it was dose or quantity dependent, “typically involving onion doses exceeding 0.5% of the subject animals body weight”. This means that a 20kg dog would have to consume a minimum of 100gr of onion or garlic (two whole onions or quarter container of garlic) “just to start the Heinz-body process. This grotesque overdose would probably have to be repeated several times on a frequent basis to cause permanent harm”. “And since red blood cells are regenerated quickly from the bone marrow, this overdose would probably have to be repeated several times on a frequent basis to cause permanent harm.” Also noted was the fact that onions and other garlic relatives were different to your normal

dose of garlic. They also categorically state that “small doses of garlic, are probably going to be of great benefit to the overall health of your pet.” GARLIC is a miracle herb and has a powerful natural disinfectant which helps to destroy harmful bacteria in the animals system and helps detoxify the body. It also tones the lymphatic cells and helps purify the bloodstream and intestines. It prevents viruses from multiplying and creates hostile conditions that repel most parasites and strengthens the immune system. In summary, most reasonable pet owners will include only reasonable quanBiophile Issue 20

tities of garlic. We have not researched the nutritional values of onion, perse, and may not even recommend the use of onion in pet food, but garlic stands alone and it is a must for every pet. The only exceptions are pets that have an existing Heinz-body anaemia ailment and for puppies under the age of 6 weeks (they should be suckling at that age anyway). Common sense is all that is needed when preparing homecooked meals and the understanding that what is healthy for your children is healthy for your animals.

The Year of Dissolution by Mark Landau, councilofpeace.net This is the year for the dissolution of the infrastructure. The most important infrastructures to dissolve are yours and mine-our egoic infrastructures. Let yourself become aware of yours, to see it and feel it as you never have. It’s fascinating, repulsive, brilliant and ridiculous, and no longer necessary. It will arise to be seen in all kinds of ways. And, believe it or not, it’s not personal. Ultimately, it has nothing whatsoever to do with you and who you truly are. Let it go. It can dissolve and will. This will probably out-picture into the world scenario and is already doing that. We will see a lot of coming apart, though the major dissolution of the world infrastructure might be delayed. That doesn’t matter. That will take care of itself. Our work is to allow ourselves to see and feel our own egoic infrastructures and to let them dissolve, bit by bit, till we can fully and simpl y be in the here and now without all the smoke and mirrors doing their delusional dance of denial and distortion-in other words, we will learn to stand in the present, in truth, clear-eyed and open-hearted. Be here, be free. In the world there are the inner and outer infrastructures-the old paradigm archetypes, beliefs and power lines held on the inner planes, and the economic, institutional, governmental/military structures on the outer planes. It will help enormously, for us to come to peace with the world’s inner and outer infrastructures as well. There are still very few people who want to know the truth of things. Not everyone has to, but the more of us who will, the better. It is truly staggering how much suffering, destruction and death has been brought about by a few greedy, little men. But, this has been inevitable in this age. In this masculine age of power, control and manipulation, it is inevitable that a few men would rise to the top of the manipulative heap and manipulate the world into murderous contortions for their “personal gain.” And it is inevitable that people and situations would conspire to aid and abet this. But this age is coming to an end. And the infrastructures holding it in place will dissolve and collapse. I have mentioned this twice already, but I feel it is important enough to mention it a third time. I have now watched the Zeitgeist movie three times. I ordered the DVD for seven dollars, including shipping. And I will watch it again. It depicts the world’s infrastructures more clearly than anything else I have seen. And for those of us too prone to outrage, it elicits that quite beautifully. Outrage is one of the ego’s favorite tricks. Not everyone might have to watch it as many times as me, but I recommend it one more time. You can watch it in streaming mode at www.zeitgeistmovie.com or you can order the DVD there.

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2012

Entry into Earth’s Golden Age by Matthew

Our calendars cannot accurately convey when major transitional changes will be completed, because linear time is disappearing.

hose who have interpreted the year 2012 as the beginning of the end of darkness—never mind the totel end of the world!—have misinterpreted its significance. Most simply stated, 2012 heralds Earth’s entry into the Golden Age, and between now and then is a time of transition from life as you have known it into life totally in harmony with all of Nature. Everything in the universe is energy vibrating at one frequency or another, and when Earth was in prime health, in times you know but don’t remember, all of her life forms were vibrating harmoniously. When she was near death more than six decades back, there was no harmony whatsoever, no balance of Nature—there was hardly sufficient light to sustain any kind of life, including Earth’s own. What is happening now, with the help of stabilizing forces, is the transformation of your world—Earth’s rejuvenation and return to balance—reaching completion in 2012. But that year no longer has the “time absoluteness” it once held in prophecies, and your calendar cannot accurately convey when the major transitional changes will be completed because linear time is disappearing. What you perceive as time passing faster and faster is the effect of the higher energy planes in which you are living now, where everything is accelerating as Earth makes her way into the continuum—or, more accurately, as your consciousness grasps the actuality of timelessness, the reality of eternity and infinity. The faster, or more intensely, the light infuses Earth, the more swiftly your “time” passes as she moves still higher into fourth density vibrations. So, just as in this moment your calendar week is passing in less than half the time of a calendar week a dozen or so years ago, 2012 will be coming increasingly more rapidly than your current calendar can indicate. Now then, why does that year have historic significance universally? It involves celestial orbiting cycles and their influences on your planet as well as life designs made in total clarity by highly evolved beings who planned Higher Universal-MAN

with attributes of spirituality and intelligence that far exceed that in today’s Earth population. Opportunities to return to higher densities have been offered in prior cycles and missed, and this time when the energetic alignment is again optimal, advanced civilizations are assisting so Earth’s desire to rise to her former vibratory level is assured. What happens on Earth affects the universe, so it is of utmost significance to those advanced civilizations that the dark ages on your home planet be reconciled within the light and you knowledgeably take your rightful place among your universal family.

Along the way there will be many profound changes, changes you can’t even imagine, that will transform life as you have known it into life in total harmony with all of Nature worldwide and thusly flow out into the universe. Very little of the wondrous world on your horizon will be rooted in your systems to date—that is precisely WHY you are creating your new world! The goddess vibrations that already are showing effects will continue to bless you as individuals and as a civilization. The negativity that is the root of fear, greed, dishonor and violence will be gone in the Golden Age, and the vibrations of Earth’s entirety will be LOVE. Love, which is the same energy as LIGHT but simply expressed differently, is the pure essence of Creator, the ultimate power in the cosmos. This energy is the composition of souls and the key to opening hearts and illumining minds, and it is flowing more abundantly on Earth than ever before. As the darkness continues to fade, love will replace conflict and tyranny with peace and cooperation; love will eliminate the superficial superiority of one group over another; love will enlighten those who regard others as possessions or dispensable and uplift those who have Biophile Issue 20

been subjected to living in those conditions. In short, LOVE is the power that is transforming your world. Although no major strongholds of the darkness will cease abruptly, the transition will be like lightning in comparison to the long ages that violence, inequities, abuses and deceit prevailed. If you could see in parallel motion the pace of the past many centuries, when only intermittent flickers of light broke through the dominant darkness, and the pace of the past few decades

of growing light intensity, you would marvel at the swiftness of the changes. The progressive changes have required and will continue to require the help of extraterrestrials. Almost all of them are unknown to you except as we speak of them and in some cases, their own messages sent forth, yet some of the strongest, most experienced light warriors in this universe are right there among you, working behind the scenes to guide the essential changes so that as many as possible of Earth’s residents will accompany her into the higher planes. This is how beloved and significant universally your planet is and how beloved and important YOU are! In keeping with universal law, it is your heartfelt desire for Earth’s well being that is your invitation, your request to those civilizations for their help, but your bewilderment about how to heal the pervasive damage humankind has wrought also is part of their divine authorization to assist. You are in charge, however, because it is your homeland and you chose to be there specifically to participate in this process. That’s why millions have been inspired to become actively involved or to monetarily support efforts to end

violence and environmental destruction. The first reforms are in governments. Many of the populace who are unaware of the ongoing transformation see governing policies leading to the brink of planetary disaster, and even among lightworkers there are concerns about what will happen in this critical world arena. Not only is it difficult for you to imagine systems dramatically different from what you are accustomed to, but in reforms of the magnitude required, it is realistic to anticipate confusion and foment. Please know that trustworthy souls with spiritual integrity and expertise in the various fields of governing. are ready to take the helm and bring order as rapidly as possible as corrupt, tyrannical government leaders are unseated. A great deal of “shuffling” in the United States government will lead to ending its engagement in war and internal and international strife, and the unseating of other self-serving heads of state will end civil wars, genocide and longstanding conflict. Many wise and able leaders in previous Earth lifetimes chose to return to the planet to complete their groundwork for this unique time at hand, and others are members of your “space family”—many

are your ancestors—who volunteered to assist during this transitional period. In no way are they there to “take over,” but rather they came in response to your thoughts, feelings and actions for peace, fairness and stability in your world. The transformation at hand is your desire and soul level vision—if this were not so, it could not happen. Looking even farther ahead, during the past decade or two some souls have come in with the advanced spiritual clarity and ancient wisdom that will naturally put them in leadership roles.

Because money is the basis not only for commerce, but even more so for concentrating power, the need for economic reforms worldwide is as crucial as changes in national leadership. The economy as reported is more myth than actuality. Only a comparative handful of people know how tenuous and corrupt the global economy is or that international trade and the stock markets are manipu-

The cetaceans’ spiritual mission, to embody in huge bulk and inhabit your oceans where they absorb and anchor the light beamed to the planet from distant civilizations, soon will have been fulfilled.

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2012: EARTH’S GOLDEN AGE lated by the Illuminati, a group of darklyinclined people who have passed their tight global reins from generation to generation. They have amassed vast fortunes through that control as well as by charging usurious bank loan rates and accruing mammoth amounts from their illegal drugs industry, and they use that money to buy governments; bankrupt countries and exploit their natural resources; keep billions of souls at barely subsistence level; and fund both sides in wars that they precipitate and perpetuate because from wars they derive handsome profits. This cannot continue and it won’t. The unconscionably inequitable allocation of money in your world will end. Although I cannot give you finite details of the changeover process, I can give you an overview and assure you that the honest, knowledgeable people who will manage the process will keep disruption at a minimum as they fairly distribute the world’s wealth. The Illuminati’s illegally and immorally garnered fortunes will be put into circulation and their exploitation of natural resources worldwide will end. Since that power base is what enabled them to set government and banking policies and own multinational corporations, those corrupt controls also will end. The huge debts of the poorest nations were incurred by their

state of desperation, often caused by Illuminati actions and influence; but the loans went to the despots ruling the countries and did not benefit the citizens, so those debts will be annulled and assistance given directly to the people. Many national borders have been set by the victors in war who wanted the natural resources, and that created “have-nots” who formerly were “haves.” When the LOVE in souls ends all conflicts, borders no longer will be cause for dispute because all peoples will be “haves.” The coffers of the United States, which is erroneously considered the most fiscally sound nation in the world, have been empty for some time. The national debt, in large part due to the skullduggery of the Illuminati-owned Federal Reserve System and its IRS collection agency, will become manageable when that System is dissolved. The various currencies, especially dollars, have no foundation—daily transactions involving billions of dollars and other currencies are merely information passed from one computer to another and they far exceed the money to back them. The “new” foundation for currencies will be a return to an old one, where precious metals was a set standard for exchange, and “old fashioned” bartering once again will be an excellent way for nations and communities to conduct some business.

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The basis for much of your current economy will change considerably and employment will change accordingly, but your greater spiritual clarity and usage of brain capacity in the higher frequencies will enable a joyful transition into fields that support cooperation among nations and harmony with Nature. The wanton destruction of your environment through oil and gas extraction, mining, logging and their resultant pollution will cease and all types of toxins in the atmosphere, soil and water will be eliminated. Forests will be restored to the levels required for the balance of Nature, and the need is great as well to preserve and expand habitats where animals have been reduced to countable numbers, just as the oceans must be returned to health so marine life can flourish instead of disappear. There are plans to achieve those goals as well as keep pristine land areas free of concrete incursions and implement alternative power sources. Technologies known but suppressed

2012: EARTH’S GOLDEN AGE and the more advanced technologies that will be introduced by your universal brothers and sisters will clear the pollution and provide renewable energy, new modes of transportation, new types of building materials, and greatly enhanced food production methods. Your hearts will be gladdened at the amazing speed with which these changes will happen! Natural building products that will come into wide usage along with plants that will be introduced include clay, strong reeds, straw, tropical canes and surface stones, and all will be used in conscious agreement with humankind. While there are countless levels between the lowest and the highest universal intelligence, which you may think of as omniscience, no thing is excluded from the mass consciousness. To be more personal—indeed, to be more correct—substitute “soul” for “thing” and you can see the interrelationship of the totality of this universe. The higher the vibrations of any environment, the higher the levels of comprehension of all life within it, thus just as you are expanding in consciousness, so are all the elements of Nature in your world growing in their varying levels of awareness. The fast-growing food crops, flowers, cotton and other fiber-producing plants, plants with medicinal aspects, canes and grasses, and all kinds of trees will agree

to grow as long as needed to meet your requirements and then transmute their energy into your usage of them. Although much less lumber will be used than currently, the sacred relationship between trees and humankind includes their willingness to be used for decorative parts of building interiors and furniture in the short term, perhaps as long as the next half century. Acknowledgement of all these natural sources’ importance and consciousness and gratitude for their willingness to give their lives for your use will become inherent in all peoples. Too, you will come to know and treasure the Devic kingdom that is so closely allied with the beauty and thriving of all that you consider Nature. The allocation of food and other basic life essentials available in the richer countries will be shared on an equitable basis with the poorer countries until a global production order is achieved. Diets will change from meat and seafood to plants as people learn to respect and honor all animal life. The herds of food animals will decrease through the cessation of breeding and natural transition, and as plants become diet staples, any that were harmfully genetically engineered will shed those properties. Animals in the wild will instinctively know not to overpopulate and those that

are carnivorous will turn to the plant kingdom for sustenance. The albinos being born in several animal species have both spiritual and transitional significance. You associate white with peace, and these rarities that are appearing are symbolic of the coming changes in animal nature that will end the predator-prey food chain and restore the peaceable relationship that once existed among all species, including humankind. The instances of unlikely cross-species friendships and even nurturing of the young from one species by mothers of another are more indications of Earth’s return to her original paradise self. Still, an extremely important factor in this is the inspiration in many souls to be advocates for the animal kingdom and alleviate their manmade plight.

Geodesic domes will be popular as will fanciful building designs that reflect the light-heartedness that so long has been denied the majority of Earth’s peoples.

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2012: EARTH’S GOLDEN AGE spiritually and intellectually on your planet, will soar to their original light stations when they leave physically, but they will continue to grace your planet with their love energy. What are commonly known as “global warming” and “El Nino” are part of Earth’s natural processes to return to her original moderate climate everywhere. While she is achieving this, glaciers will melt, the vast deserts will become arable, rain forests will flourish, and variations in temperatures will markedly decrease—ultimately, everyplace in your world will be comfortably habitable. Peoples now living in the coldest or the hottest climes will adapt, but it is unavoidable that the few animal species in the polar regions will disappear and some that live on the fringes will survive by migrating; the affected species instinctively will know not to reproduce or when to move. Contrary to current count and certainly population projections, your numbers are decreasing and the birth rate will continue to drop but not precipitously. The balance of Nature no longer will require pestilence, so no disease-causing or transmitting factors will be present, and the common use of toxic chemicals and prescription drugs will cease. Medical treatments will drastically change until there no longer is any need for therapies because bodies, which will have a greatly longer lifetime, will become free of all forms of dis-ease. New educational systems and resource materials will reflect factual universal and planetary history, and true spirituality will replace religions in accordance with the truths that will be revealed. Those are some of the most significant changes underway and ahead, and all will have trickle-down effects that will permeate and uplift every facet of life on Earth. The Golden Age—the “second edition” of the Garden of Eden—will radiate the love, harmony, serenity and beauty of spirit that you, in your remembered awareness of being god and goddess selves, ARE. Now I shall tell you some of the more “down-to-Earth” features that you can anticipate in that beauteous world. City life will be much more fulfilling for the spirit than it is today due to the demolishing of substandard buildings and restoration of once fine buildings that fell into decay; the addition of many small parks and colorful playgrounds, vegetable and flower gardens, and neighborhood libraries, concerts, museums, and galleries with locally produced art forms; entertainment and recreational centers for all ages and interests; and animals, even those you now consider wild, roaming freely. Also, new transportation modes and a much fairer distribution of wealth will enable city dwellers to frequent the countryside, where a booming business will

be “bed-and-breakfast” inns to accommodate the growing desire for those oases of respite from routine activity, and to travel to distant places as well. Still, millions now living in cities may prefer to move to the solitude and restorative energy of familiar rural, forested areas. And, like a new wave of pioneers, some of you will be motivated to relocate to currently uninhabitable places when those start flourishing and beckon the adventuresome, while other souls will choose to live in houseboats on the calm, restful seas. Architecture will be limited only by imagination and choices, but no building will be ugly or inadequate for its purpose. Geodesic domes will be popular as will fanciful building designs that reflect the light-heartedness that so long has been denied the majority of Earth’s peoples. Current and new technologies will produce construction materials similar in strength and appearance to today’s concrete, steel, rigid and flexible plastics, and those along with natural products and quality simulations of fine woods will be widely used. So will glass, which will be altered from its present composition, because you will desire to live closer with Nature even when you are indoors. By unified intent, no litter or eyesore of any kind will exist anywhere. Wherever you live or travel, you will not want the vista marred by the utility poles that now are necessary blights on landscapes. The poles will be removed and where conduits are required, they will be underground; and other energy sources will be direct, without any need for connecting wires. Although telepathy will become a common form of communication, voice-to-voice communion across the miles will be as important as now, but the harmful aspects of the wireless methods you are using will be gone. Expanses of concrete gradually will be removed too, as new transportation modes will change the need for current fuels and highways. All unjust laws and policies will be struck down and education worldwide will accurately reflect the universal truths. The writing, printing and distribution of textbooks will be done expeditiously in conjunction with computerized lessons, and the souls who are innately prepared to teach will step up to this mission they had chosen. These and other marvelous lifestyle differences awaiting you are indeed gargantuan changes from life in this moment, yet the greatest transformation you will experience is in humankind, where love and higher consciousness are REcreating “miracles.” Like souls on Earth and in Nirvana once again going back and forth between these physical and spirit worlds, travel that was commonplace until third density limitations closed minds to Biophile Issue 20

this possibility. Wars and other violence, injustices, deception and corruption will continue until that energy set in motion is played out. Although the dark forces, the vast force field of negative thought forms, has left this part of the galaxy, tentacles of that energetic influence remain and are making last ditch efforts to control the most vulnerable souls as well as attack those with the brightest light. Further, the higher frequencies now on the planet are magnifying all human characteristics, and those that are darkly-inclined are showing that intensification through increasing hostility, greed, violence and apathy toward those who are suffering and in desperate need. So, while not all of the dark skirmishes are past, we urge you to be encouraged by each that arises—it means that the vanquishing of the darkness is that much nearer. Rejoice in knowing that its momentum is close to the point of exhaustion because all of you who are living your light are helping to speed it to conclusion. Controlling the flow of money is the last mundane tool the dark ones have and they will keep it within their grasp as long as they can. The “rotten tap root,” so to say, has been loosened and the tendrils are breaking, but until all have been eliminated, economic difficulties will affect many lives. Remember, you have the power to create your own abundance through the law of attraction, and sharing your resources is the best way to bring even more abundance into your life. Prior to peace and harmony prevailing throughout Earth, many, many souls will leave due to the same causes as now—disease, starvation, injuries in wars and other types of violence, geophysical events—so the population will continue to decrease from those means. As sorrowful as these deaths may seem, the adversity that the souls experience beyond their pre-birth agreements gives them leaps forward in soul growth. They will greet their return to Nirvana knowing that if they choose another Earth lifetime, it will be in the splendor and glory of a revitalized world and the abiding love among its inhabitants. Geophysical events will continue as Earth’s natural and necessary cleansing process. The blatant disregard for human and animal life for millennia past—and still happening on a lamentable scale— caused a massive amount of negativity to accumulate. Although this has been greatly reduced via geophysical events, its remnants, plus what is being generated anew, must be released. It matters not whether this is by natural or manmade occurrences—the ridding of that negativity is what is important. The effects of these events, which will lessen in frequency and severity as Earth keeps ascending, are being diminished to the greatest extent possible by members

2012: EARTH’S GOLDEN AGE of your universal family. Their technology cannot prevent all deaths and damage, but it is limiting the death toll and property destruction by leveling out over a wide area the energy releases via earthquakes and volcanic eruptions and is steering the strongest storms to less populated areas. The record high and low temperatures, droughts and flooding that are part of Earth’s transition to her original moderate climate globally will present hardships for a while longer. Gradually some sea level coastlines will become submerged; this need not present anxiety as there will be protective and compensatory measures for any inhabitants of those areas. We are aware of the speculation that Atlantis and Lemuria may rise, but this will not happen. Those large land masses served their civilizations during that era on Earth, but their return is not needed; however, some souls living then have come back to assist in the ongoing consciousness-raising and spiritual renewal within today’s populace. That religions are teaching the “word of God” will be shown in the fullness of the deception that spawned that falsehood, and among the challenges you will encounter are the many individuals who will not believe the truths that will be revealed. Some will do battle, convinced that it is their divine right and duty to defeat the Anti-Christ or the infidels through bloodshed. You will witness the shock, confusion, anger, disillusionment, and yes, very likely fear—the deceivers who made a vengeful God have been masterful for eons—of people whose minds are not totally closed to the revelations. Provide a compassionate safe haven for their questioning and rely on your intuition for the best responses—they will be there when you need them. However, it is not your responsibility to convince them that the foundation of their beliefs—maybe even their very life purpose—is a lie. Rejoice, just as we shall, when your efforts succeed, but please do not feel despondent when they don’t. The resistant souls, like all others in the universe, will continue their evolutionary pathways wherever their needs shall best be served, and the eternal and infinite love of Source will under gird their way. In summary we say to you, our beloved Earth family, know with your entire being that the world of love, peace and harmony you have been co-creating is close at hand. Remembering that you chose to be exactly where you are right now so you could participate in this unprecedented time in the universe will let your hearts be light-filled and your journey a triumphant adventure. Myriad light beings are with you every instant, enfolding you with the love and protection of the Christed light as you usher in Earth’s long awaited “2012” Golden Age.

Geophysical events will continue as Earth’s natural and necessary cleansing process.

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ars is now moving in a direct motion but just as Mars was getting ready to pick up speed to move forward, Mercury was already slowing down. Mercury will be in retrograde motion in Aquarius, from Monday 28th January to Tuesday 19th February. This means that just as the restrictions are moving away and freeing you up for action, you could be tripped up if you are not paying attention. You would be wise to check all arrangements, contracts, agreements written and verbal but particularly documents that are legal and binding and require your signature. This does not mean don’t sign but rather read carefully before your do, and ensure that you fully understand the content. This is a time to take extra caution with all electronic equipment, especially computers and ensure that you have backup. Double check arrangements, travel plans, be conscious of keys and time, and last but not least ensure that your sense of humor is in place, then just get on with living with the trickster of the Heavens. Aquarians especially, but also Leo, Taurus and Scorpio and anyone with personal planets in these signs are among those who are most likely to be affected. WRITTEN IN THE STARS In issue 17 we talked about the August/ September 2007 eclipses, ……”we could expect earth-related activity which could include drought, flood” and “the demise of a person in power”. We also mentioned certain astrological signs that would be most affected. The chart of Pakistan has the Pisces, Virgo connection referred to, as well as easily recognizable connections between the chart of the country and the personal chart of Benazir Bhuto. If we add the planetary movements in December and look at the two charts, the assassination of Ms Bhuto was an accident waiting to happen. Ms Bhuto’s personal planets were caught up with the warrior planets Pluto and Mars, among many other aspects indicating that her fate was written in the stars. Closer to home, Mr. Jackie Selebi’s birthday fell around the time of the eclipse and if he had a personal astrologer, he would have been advised a long time ago, that should he step outside the parameters of the law, he would have to be accountable. December also saw his personal chart being affected. ECLIPSE FEBRUARY 2008 What makes February’s retrograde Mercury particularly interesting is that, together with Neptune, it is in a line-up with the eclipsed Sun and Moon, in Aquarius, on the 7th February. This eclipse is 10

Cosmic Directions Bernadette Medder of Cosmic Directions Consultant and Teacher since 1993 021 794 4150 or cosmicdirections@icon.co.za

The Trickster at Play North of the Saros series and has a strong emphasis on communication. According to the works of Raphael this position often brings about earthquakes and food shortages. The path of this eclipse, and therefore the areas most likely to be affected, is over Antarctica, parts of Australia and New Zealand. What we need to learn from this eclipse is the Aquarian lesson, the power dynamic of the group, being prepared to move forward, be open to change, be open to “new age” ideas, concepts and methods. Contrary to the popular live-inthe-moment approach, look forward into the future. Anticipate the problems and work on the solutions before the crises occurs. This is the sign that represents the ability to have a humanitarian approach. Eclipses shake things up a bit and the message with this one is to stand together as part of the whole for we are weakened if we try to stand alone. If you are feeling overwhelmed by difficulties, work through them one at a time and remember a problem shared is a problem halved. Eclipses always go in pairs so two weeks later there is a total lunar eclipse on 21 February with the full moon in Virgo. Once again we have Raphael referring to a calamity, demise of important person, as well as problems with sea coasts and rivers. Neptune is part of these eclipses and water and chaos are very much part of his theme. Aquarius is the natural ruler of electricity and it is no wonder we are having these problems. Neptune’s close proximity describes the cover-ups and lack of transparency as to exactly what is happening. This means we may never know the truth of the magnitude of the problem. The personal Biophile Issue 20

message here is when facing chaos or feeling over-whelmed, be absolutely honest with yourself regarding what you are dealing with, get a structure in place as soon as possible, negotiate and compromise when facing situations that appear to be deadlocked. The new moon on the evening of the 7th March in Pisces has a conjunction with Uranus, the planet associated with change, excitement, and on a good day, variations on the theme of these words. On a bad day there is an association with upheaval, disruption and bolts out of the blue, certainly there is never a dull moment when Uranus is around. Once again electricity and electronics, including computers and viruses are involved. At this time it helps to be flexible and ready for changeable conditions. There can be some confusion with communication, misunderstandings and lack of clarity with ideas, so be alert and ask for further detail or clarity. There is a warm connection with this New Moon and the Sun, with Jupiter, the planet associated with benevolence, abundance and expansion. The best way to deal with this period is to take a lesson from the Buddhists and maintain a loving, kind and compassionate heart. We need to take into account that Mars and Pluto, the warrior planets, are moving apart but they are still active and in opposition to each other. There is a build-up of tension in the period between the New Moon and the Full Moon on the evening of 21 March, culminating in the formation of a planetary grand cross in the sky. The Four sensitive points in the sky involve the last contact between the opposition of Mars and Pluto, as well as the Aries Sun and Full Moon in Libra. This is also the time of the autumn equinox in the southern hemisphere, which just happens to fall on Good Friday, and in South Africa, Human Rights Day. If we give nothing but scant regard to the meaning of any of these days we have to appreciate that this cannot be an arbitrary coincidence that the meanings of all these occasions, which fall on the same day, just happen to correlate with this particular sky picture. There is insufficient time and space to go into depth, but to be brief, the message of Easter is one of renewal or resurrection, or in planetary language transformation or transcendence. The cluster of planets in Pisces and Jupiter’s involvement suggests the human rights aspect, which does not necessarily require sacrifice or martyrdom, but rather an appreciation, without judgment, of all humans and their rights. Patience and tolerance is needed and anger needs to be directed constructively.