2010-09-25T06:18:04Z User 45 ffunch@newciv.org http://www.newciv.org/nl/newslog.php/_v45/ OrgSpace NewsLog Some materials may be copyrighted

For this day I chose to peregrinate on the 3-Gorges Dam of China, a project that cost a whopping $23 Billion to build. The eco-fascist detractors of the project raised the specter of catastrophe that could result from a collapse of the dam infrastructure, so maybe its time to reflect about the gia...

CHINA’S 3-GORGES DAM: DAMNING ECO-FASCIST CATASTR0PHE DISCOURSE

Erle Frayne D. Argonza

Good morning to all ye global citizens! Goodwill and peace to you!

For this day I chose to peregrinate on the 3-Gorges Dam of China, a project that cost a whopping $23 Billion to build. The eco-fascist detractors of the project raised the specter of catastrophe that could result from a collapse of the dam infrastructure, so maybe its time to reflect about the giant energy project.

I just arrived from overseas assignment in 2002 when I had the opportunity to discuss the 3-Gorges dam in my social science classes in Manila. At that time, I was offered a Director post in a think-tank of the Augustinian sisters, a stint that gave me opportunity to mine enormous data about the latest development engagements nationally and globally. I also taught as lecturer while directing research, which surely offered me a privileged position to reflect about global issues.

Being one who has been involved in the planning works on ambitious development projects (e.g. industrial estate/free trade zone, economic support projects for marginal sectors worth hundreds of millions of dollars) as a practitioner, I was truly appreciative of the efforts of China’s state to tame the Yangtze and tap its power-packed waters for electrification, irrigation, and subsidiary purposes. Though environmentally-driven myself, I am not wont to deliver satirical and destructive remarks about such a project as the 3-Gorges Dam that can benefit a greater section of China’s population and economy.

There are always negative trade-offs to any big endeavor, such as the displacement of 1.4 million folks along the reservoir area of the dam. What project of such a stature in the world doesn’t have a downside to it anyway? The downsides are the ones highlighted the most by paid hacksters of the West’s financier oligarchs, notably the political greenies whose obsessive-compulsive reflexes are unmatched anywhere in the world.

The USA had its own taste of baptism of fire from destructive commentators when the FD Roosevelt regime built the Hoover Dam. A pioneering infrastructure and energy project during its own time, the project received enormous media detractions that were paid by Nazi oligarchs in the homeland who, not to say the least, owned and controlled America’s giant media outfits (they own media till these days). The detractors did everything in the books in fact to destroy FDR for his innovative New Deal measures that included massive infrastructures as pump priming tool to take out America from the Great Depression towards recovery and prosperity.

As one can see, the Hoover Dam stood the test of time, and it remains as one of the marvels of America’s public works. It is too early to say about what can happen to the 3-Gorges Dam, but it has parallelisms to the Hoover Dam and other ambitious infrastructure projects of the New Deal heydays, projects that the predatory financiers in America couldn’t play their hands with as they are primarily state-sponsored.

Understandly, the West’s financiers can not benefit directly from projects initiated by China’s government, even as it is now too late for destructive Western forces to take down China’s economy through massive looting of the financial markets the way they’ve done to their own domestic economies in the EU and USA. So they employ those civil society groups that receive funds from the financiers’ ‘corporate social responsibility’ coffers, with the expectation that the activist funds recipients would drum up the destructive impacts of projects they cannot control such as the 3-Gorges Dam.

In the event of heavy rainfalls however, there is reason to keep watch over the waters’ possible exceeding the 175-meter limit of the dam’s reservoir. As shown by our own precedents in the Philippines, the dam’s administrators used the contingency tool of releasing parts of the waters before the same could ever do damage on the dam through an overflow that could trigger a catastrophic burst of the infrastructure.

With decades of hydraulics experience behind our local experts here, this much I can say: so far so good! True, there were casualties who suffered from the inundations caused by the contingency releases of the rising floodwaters. But no single dam ever burst catastrophically yet, a catastrophe that could have resulted to higher casualties of at least a couple of millions of folks.

It’s now the start of the ‘ember’ months, and so far we are witness to the 3-Gorges Dam standing tall. So far so good! There are still three (3) more months to hurdle before the storms will bring heavy rainfalls, but so far the indications are the dam administrators can manage the hydraulic flows efficaciously.

If there is any message I can deliver to the eco-fascist blabbermouths, they should spread themselves across the world’s continents and plant trees in the de-forested boondocks. This behavior would be truly exemplary, as it will show that sociopathic groups and persons can also exhibit productive behavior during times of crisis.

[Philippines, 15 September 2010]

[See: IKONOKLAST: http://erleargonza.blogspot.com,
UNLADTAU: http://unladtau.wordpress.com,
COSMICBUHAY: http://cosmicbuhay.blogspot.com,
BRIGHTWORLD: http://erlefraynebrightworld.wordpress.com, ARTBLOG: http://erleargonza.wordpress.com,
ARGONZAPOEM: http://argonzapoem.blogspot.com]]]> http://www.newciv.org/nl/newslog.php/_v45/__show_article/_a000576-000230.htm 2010-09-25T06:18:04Z 2010-09-25T06:18:04Z

Just returning from the "Show" / Schau „Weltwissen“ „Weltwissen“ in the Martin Gropius-Bau. Unfortunatley it only a historic exhibition which puts Berlin as the center of the scientific world. Well done ! high quality, ... but what a hybris.... and sooo one-eyed. Tired now ! but I t...

Just returning from the "Show" / Schau „Weltwissen“
„Weltwissen“ in the Martin Gropius-Bau.
Unfortunatley it only a historic exhibition which puts Berlin as the center of the scientific world. Well done ! high quality, ... but what a hybris.... and sooo one-eyed.

Tired now ! but I think it is time to present more under such an heading !

I feel it is time to review the 100 - 200 - 300 years celebrations in Berlin. Maybe there is more than just looking back, and maintaining one viewpopint...

Die WUNDERKAMMER and thinking in boxes is a deep concern of mine - as some of my readers know. Questions? Maybe see: NEW RENNAISANCE below - or start with this publication: http://benking.de/futures/Benking-ECOTHEE-2008.pdf (PDF) and this forthcomming publciation on COMPASSION and IGNORANCE: http://benking.de/futures/ECOTHEE--ignorance-compassion.pdf (PDF)

PLEASE COME BACK ! as times are busy these days...
http://www.weltwissen-berlin.de/tl_files/layout_png/animiertes_W/Start.gif]]> http://www.newciv.org/nl/newslog.php/_v45/__show_article/_a000396-000092.htm 2010-09-23T21:37:50Z 2010-09-24T07:44:17Z

The time for correcting the historic excesses of the United States government & its ruling class is now. Begin by removing all tax cuts for the rich, increasing the taxes on the wealthy, and slashing the pentagon/cia/fbi/nsa budgets by ten trillion dollar...

The time for correcting the historic excesses of the United States government & its ruling class is now. Begin by removing all tax cuts for the rich, increasing the taxes on the wealthy, and slashing the pentagon/cia/fbi/nsa budgets by ten trillion dollars (for starters) over the next decade.

At the same time, provide housing, food, and jobs to all our people who need such; offer a progressive program designed to lift the majority of the unemployed/poor into productive areas of human endeavor such as helping prisoners to at once legally escape their jail cells and to gain counseling for all where needed.

Commence criminal investigations against the fbi/cia/police/pentagon torturers and assassins and hold all government officials & private persons ( including doctors, lawyers, nurses, and others) responsible for high crimes.
See:
http://barbarahartwell.blogspot.com/2007/08/new-reports-from-ex-fbi-whistleblower.html
and:
http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2008/11/382350.shtml?discuss

Prepare the world for the end of all hostilities for which the USA has direct liability:
See:
http://www.sosbeevfbi.com/part4-worldinabo.html
And:
http://sosbeevfbi.ning.com/forum/topics/war-on-terror-2010

Finally, as I do not want to over state the case for reform, remove all culpable members from congress, the high courts and the executive branch of government by the convening of a constitutional convention to overhaul the United States of America from its inhumane war machine into the universally recognized model for peace, harmony, & opportunity for each person on earth.
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"You must contrive for your future Rulers another and a better life than that of a Ruler, and then you may have a well ordered State; for only in the State which offers this, will they rule who are truly rich, not in silver and gold, but in virtue and wisdom, which are the true blessings of life." Plato, The Republic.]]> http://www.newciv.org/nl/newslog.php/_v45/__show_article/_a000194-000337.htm 2010-09-23T18:13:00Z 2010-10-03T11:22:13Z

Picked this guy up from the middle of a strip of Two Lane asphalt. I was out on a little drive around through the Mojave Desert Preserve. Looking for Tomorrow.

Picked this guy up from the middle of a strip of Two Lane asphalt.
I was out on a little drive around through the Mojave Desert Preserve.
Looking for Tomorrow.
]]> http://www.newciv.org/nl/newslog.php/_v45/__show_article/_a000112-000249.htm 2010-09-22T02:15:46Z 2010-09-22T02:15:46Z

Our international health promotion team is a modest effort, but hopefully an expanding opportunity, to awaken individuals, couples, families, groups, organizations and communities to an awareness that touch or physical interaction with mindfulness, respect and love are basic human need requirement...

Our international health promotion team is a modest effort, but hopefully an expanding opportunity, to awaken individuals, couples, families, groups, organizations and communities to an awareness that touch or physical interaction with mindfulness, respect and love are basic human need requirements for safety, survival, resiliency, and for the wellbeing of humanity and all that exists. Our 15-Minute StressOut Program is a great model of Quality Care and Best Practice Research for bringing about change and improvement for the quality of lives, health and relationship throughout our society and beyond.

This past week I was invited to present our safe,skillful and nourishing touch program for soldiers, families and health care professionals at White Sands Missile Range as part of their Suicide Prevention Awareness Program. As we know, physical interaction or touch is one of our basic human need requirements for learning, relating and for experiencing health and wellbeing. Our soldiers were very brave to partner up and give each other one of our "StressOuts" as described in our 15 minute stressout website-- [link]

I also introduced some mindful exercises, breathing, and meditations to support their daily health. There is a lot of evidence that these long and multiple tours produce an injury in the body, mind, emotions, spirit and social relations that is commonly referred to as PTSD. Unfortunately, most mental/behavioral health systems don't include integrative health practices, especially massage & meditation. These methods reduce the agitation, anger, isolation, fear and lonliness, while promoting circulation, healing, and interaction with all of the organs, nervous, muscular-skeleton, skin-protective, digestive and cardia-vascular systems. The brain and other systems are also energized and support the healing processes.

Everyone in this massage forum knows the benefits of massage and integrative health practices, but our conventional mental health and academic therapeutic programs are still mostly skeptical and fearful of touch. I introduce many research programs and guidelines for the safe and skillful use of touch on our forum as well. I recommend that all of our team members and students, visit Dr. Zur's website for the most thorough understanding of the myth of the use of touch by all professionals, health and human service programs.

Anyway, it is good that our program is being used in many military programs and we will continue to advance our safe, skillful, ethical and nourishing touch program in all human and social service programs.

Note: Picture is clinic staff and soldiers in medical clinic learning to give and receive our Stressout Program during Suicide Prevention Week.
]]> http://www.newciv.org/nl/newslog.php/_v45/__show_article/_a000400-000074.htm 2010-09-21T23:48:51Z 2011-07-04T13:32:19Z

You wander from room to room Hunting for the diamond necklace That is already around your neck! — Rumi .

You wander from room to room
Hunting for the diamond necklace
That is already around your neck!

— Rumi

.
]]> http://www.newciv.org/nl/newslog.php/_v45/__show_article/_a000283-000208.htm 2010-09-20T21:24:00Z 2010-09-20T21:24:00Z

Justice is subjective and the "War on Drugs" is a cultural war. Scooter Libby gets off scot-free for lying and obstructing justice. What happens to those convicted of marijuana offenses? They face life-long consequences: * Sanctions triggered by a marijuana conviction can include loss of ac...

]]> http://www.newciv.org/nl/newslog.php/_v45/__show_article/_a000571-000064.htm 2010-09-20T10:34:25Z 2010-09-20T13:52:30Z

Chapter 55 Learning how to subtract Max: "Anthony, look at that tree!" (Anthony looks) Max: "Thank you! How many monkeys do you see in that tree?" Anthony: "Three." Max: "That's right. Now, if one of the monkeys would fall from the tree, how many monkeys would there be left?" Anthony: "M...

Chapter 55
Learning how to subtract

Max: "Anthony, look at that tree!"
(Anthony looks)
Max: "Thank you! How many monkeys do you see in that tree?"
Anthony: "Three."
Max: "That's right. Now, if one of the monkeys would fall from the tree, how many monkeys would there be left?"
Anthony: "Monkeys don't fall from trees. Leaves, dead branches, Abacates (1), Açai. Goioba, Maracuja, and Carambola, all these can fall from trees. But monkeys don't. But Cajá-manga and Guabiroba and Jatobá and..."
Max: "Ok, Ok, thank you! Let's just say one of the monkeys would come down to get a banana or something. How many monkeys would there be left in the tree?"
Anthony: "They ate the last of our bananas yesterday, don't you remember, you said /(%"£..."
Max: "Ok, ok, ok, you're right again. So let's assume one of the tree monkeys would come down from the tree to play with you, How many monkeys would there be left in the tree?"
Anthony: "No monkey would come down there. Our Rottweilers are sitting in front of that tree."
Max: "Very well so, Let's say I would call now the Rotties to come over here to play with us and then...
Anthony: "...they wouldn't come if you would call them. They listen only to me."
Max: "Ok, ok, ok, ok. Then let's say YOU would call them, and then one of the monkeys could come down, and then, please tell me, how many monkeys are there in that tree?"
Anthony: "Look, there are now four of them. They got something to play with!"
Max: "Fine. Do you see what they're playing with? Let's see how many monkeys would there be left if two of them would escape with the thing they're playing with? What is that thing?"
Anthony: "It's your wallet. Look they play with your credit cards! Now, let's say you had 5 credit cards and the monkeys took away two of them. Tell me, how many cards do you have left, Max? Max?? Maaax?????"
Max (running&screaming): "&()/&%$$$£)..."

(1) Brazilian fruits native to the Sandorian Grove, such as Mutamba, Pequi, Taperebá, Cupuaçu, Mangaba, Siriguela, Pinha, Pitanga, Sapotí. Umbú, just to name a few more..]]> http://www.newciv.org/nl/newslog.php/_v45/__show_article/_a000245-000287.htm 2010-09-16T19:00:23Z 2010-09-16T20:01:18Z

Usually when people are faced with a job search, they dive into the mechanics of looking for work—how to write a perfect resume, how to answer tough interview questions with ease, and so on. That’s all important, but human beings that we are, it’s only part of the equation. The other part of...

Usually when people are faced with a job search, they dive into the mechanics of looking for work—how to write a perfect resume, how to answer tough interview questions with ease, and so on. That’s all important, but human beings that we are, it’s only part of the equation. The other part of the equation has to do with managing how we feel.



Let’s face it. Life transitions can be incredibly stressful, and a job search is no exception. And since you aren’t an automaton that can just take cold, hard inputs and churn out reliable results, how you feel has a big impact on how effective you can be in your efforts.

So, in addition to building all the requisite job search skills, ask yourself a question: “How do I plan on staying sane?” What is your plan to keep the stress from building to a point where you want to pop? (The last thing you want to be doing is scraping yourself off the walls when you have a resume to write.) How will you keep your attitude from spiraling downward and getting mired in the muck? How will you keep your outlook as positive and optimistic as realistically possible?

[See why you shouldn't take your career plans seriously.]

Having a sanity plan may not be the first thing you think of when suddenly plunged into an unwelcome job search, but in the long run it just might be the best step you can take, both for yourself and the people around you.

Here are several ideas you might incorporate into your sanity plan:

Exercise. Exercise is one of the best things you can incorporate into your life when you are in a high-stress situation. From a purely biological perspective, it reduces the stress hormone cortisol and produces endorphins (essentially natural feel-good chemicals). And when you’re in good shape, you have more energy. When you have more energy, you aren’t as close to the edge. You have more of a buffer zone to deal with the challenging feelings that come up.

Mingle with positive people. The people you surround yourself with make all the difference in the world. Take stock of the attitudes of the people you interact with frequently. Are they overall positive and optimistic, or do they tend to look on the gloomy side? If you realize that the overall effect is a downward pressure, seek out others who are more positively inclined.

Reach out for support. On a related note, don’t try to do this alone. You need support. That might come from family, but it might also come from outside your immediate circle. Find a job search group. Reach out to a friend who is a good listener who can provide an objective perspective.

Meditation. My meditation practice has ebbed and flowed over the years. When it has been a consistent part of the picture, I’m always amazed at what a difference it makes in how grounded I feel and how much better I am at not letting challenging circumstances tilt me over. If meditation isn’t already part of your repertoire, I recommend the book Meditation Made Easy by Lorin Roche. It’s very accessible and light. It’s the book that opened the door to meditation for me.

[See more of Curt's career advice at U.S.News Careers.]

Practice gratitude. Studies have shown that gratitude has a significant impact on both your emotional and physical well-being. One common way to ratchet up your focus on feeling thankful is to keep a gratitude journal. Every day, make a list of things you’re grateful for. Some days it might feel like a stretch (“I’m grateful that I’m still breathing”), but the more you do it, the more naturally it comes. (Here are 15 questions to help prompt your gratitude.)

Remember the big picture. A couple of years ago I was going through a really challenging stretch and I decided to keep a “positive journal,” a journal in which I explored only either what was positive in my life or how I could move from the negative to the positive. One of the epiphanies I had was that, despite the challenges I was encountering, there was still an incredible amount about my life that was great.

I realized that I had let the challenges swell up to a monstrous size in my mind, pushing all the positive in my life to the side as though it didn’t matter. “Sure, this is good, but… .” So step back from the challenge and take stock of what’s good in your life. Acknowledge the challenges, but don’t let them take any more space than it actually deserves.

Stay mindful and stay present. So much of the stress and anxiety in most any situation comes not from the situation itself, but from the stories we tell about that situation. And those stories typically have nothing to do with what we’re experiencing in that present moment. Have you ever caught your brain spinning out a story about the negative results that will happen at some point in the future? (If you haven’t, I want to know your secret.)

In reality, this present moment is all that really exists. You may get a job tomorrow, and all that worried-about future will never exist. Or, you might get hit by a bus. Either way, it’s all a made-up world that causes you undue stress. A great way to cut the story short and focus on what’s real is mindfulness. In its simplest form, mindfulness is being totally aware of what is happening, right here and right now. What are the sensations you’re feeling in your body? What shadows is the sunlight creating? What are the sounds you’re hearing. Focusing frequently on the present will short circuit those stress-inducing stories.

Look for the lesson. I hesitate to suggest this one because it risks coming across as a little Pollyanna-ish, but it can be helpful in shaping your perspective. It’s easy to get caught up in what’s crappy about a situation because pain gets our attention. But with some work, you can also find the positive elements. What are you learning as a result of what you’re going through? How are you better equipped to cope with adversity now than you were before? What has this given you the opportunity to practice? How has your network grown as a result of being in the search?

None of that cancels out the fact that the negative exists, but it does give you a more complete picture to focus on and shines more of a positive light on the situation.

Remind yourself why you’re great. It’s easy for your self-confidence to take a hit during the job search. Make it your mission to reinforce your belief in yourself. Start by taking inventory of “reasons why I’m great.” Don’t be shy. This isn’t the time for modesty. Let the glowing comments flow. What are you good at? What skills do you have? What successes have you had, big or small, work or non-work? What do people admire about you? What do you admire about you?

Don’t just stop with making a list yourself. Ask other people what they see in you. What do they think you’re good at? In what areas do they see you as exceptional? Take the list out from time to time and read through it slowly. Don’t just read the words intellectually. Allow yourself to feel them.

Stay tapped in to what you do. If a job search goes on too long, you might start feeling rusty in your chosen professional focus. You can even forget to some degree that you really are good at it, especially in the face of what feels like repeated rejections from potential employers. Explore ways to dip your toe back into it. Maybe that is volunteering in that capacity with a non-profit. Maybe it is creating a project of your own that allows you to put those skills to use. Whatever it looks like, the main idea is to create an opportunity to reconnect with what you do.

Play. Make a list of things that are fun and pick something from the list regularly. Don’t get so immersed in the seriousness of the job search that you forget to be light in your life. Have fun! If you’re on a budget, get together with a group of friends and brainstorm cheap, fun activities. You might even get together a “cheap fun group,” meeting on a regular basis to bring some inexpensive play into your lives.

Let go of how things “should” be. Byron Katie has a quote I love that goes, “When I argue with reality, I lose - but only 100 percent of the time.” To the degree that you’re able, let go of how things “should” be. The reality is, right here and right now, you’re in the job search. Thinking, “I should have a job by now,” or, “It should be easier to find something,” will only create unnecessary friction.

Do a focus check. Finally, do a regular focus check. Ask, “Where is my focus, on the positive or the negative?” Start training your brain to gravitate toward the positive. It’s not that the negative doesn’t exist, and it’s not that you need to ignore it completely. It’s just that, for the most part, dwelling on the negative has no productive purpose. Focusing on the positive, on the other hand, will help you stay energized for the long haul.

After years as a professional malcontent, Curt Rosengren discovered the power of passion. As speaker, author, and coach, Rosengren helps people create careers that energize and inspire them. His book, 101 Ways to Get Wild About, and his E-book, The Occupational Adventure Guide, offer people tools for turning dreams into reality. Rosengren's blog, The M.A.P. Maker, explores how to craft a life of meaning, abundance, and passion.
]]> http://www.newciv.org/nl/newslog.php/_v45/__show_article/_a000228-000839.htm 2010-09-15T10:30:15Z 2010-09-15T10:30:15Z

Heres sept desktop moon/sun calandar Autumn Equinox is on the full moon this year Sept 23 as well as the winter solstice is on the full moon producing a lunar eclipse on Dec 21, an alignment of sorts or realignment it would appear. Two in a row? Hmmmmm interesting....

Heres sept desktop moon/sun calandar

Autumn Equinox is on the full moon this year Sept 23 as well as the winter solstice is on the full moon producing a lunar eclipse on Dec 21, an alignment of sorts or realignment it would appear. Two in a row? Hmmmmm interesting....]]> http://www.newciv.org/nl/newslog.php/_v45/__show_article/_a000288-015043.htm 2010-09-12T03:36:44Z 2010-09-12T03:36:44Z