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For those with the stomach, this graphic video led to the largest meat recall in world history. North America has by far the most abhorrent animal husbandry practices on the planet that contribute to the spread of all kinds of health problems including ecoli, salmonella, campylobacter, not to mention the enormous contribution to climate change from clearing rain forests, methane belched and pooped out and the “modern” factory farm’s dependence on carbon intensive industrial agriculture.

If you are going to continue to eat meat, dairy and eggs, commit to sourcing it from farmers that do not employ “modern” factory methods. Animals raised in environments that allow them to express their natural instincts and fed a diet that they have evolved on will greatly lessen your chances of eating contaminated meat and will support your local farming community. It costs a little more but will alleviate enormous suffering on a vast scale. For anyone who wants a much more thorough and well referenced look at the state of food, I highly recommend John Robbins new book: The Food Revolution or Micheal Pollin’s: The Omnivore’s Dillema.

Resources

• http://www.eatlocal.org/
• http://www.nowbc.ca/
• http://www.themeatrix.com/

After months of lobbying, the BC government has got the message and appears to be taking real action in on climate change. Over the past months I added my energy to the momentum initiated by Voters Taking Action on Climate Change and others, encouraging the BC government to include a carbon tax in their next budget.

It looks like they have developed the political will after receiving a flood of letters in support of a carbon tax. The full story is available The Province.

Sharif came and spoke in my social justice class in January. He articulated a vision of a world that works for all with the profound clarity of someone who has weathered many wars and come out wiser and committed to a higher path based on inclusivity and understanding.

You can see him on Quantum Shift here:

1. Catalyzing a Common Society with Sharif Abdullah (part 1)
2. Catalyzing a Common Society with Sharif Abdullah (part 2)
3. Catalyzing a Common Society with Sharif Abdullah (part 3)
4. Catalyzing a Common Society with Sharif Abdullah (part 4)

Sacred Activism is a phrase coined by Andrew Harvey. I first heard it defined in a recorded audio lecture from Institute of Noetic Sciences in 2006. After a briefly hearing Andrew speak, I realized we share a similar wavelength and vision of the future.

In his lecture he describes the era we are living in as he sees it. He then goes on to encourage all of humanity to commit themselves to picking one or two issues that cause one to feel great heartache knowing they exist in the world. After clarifying what really matters, he encourages everyone to commit their life to become part of the solution.

I am absolutely inspired to evolve systems and economies that are thriving in harmony with the natural environment. In particular, I have chosen to work on the interrelated issues of global warming, peak oil and how these will challenge our current systems of food production and distribution in the near future. Other issues I like to work on are ending factory farming and eliminating disposable goods that clog our landfills. Recently, the Tar Sands project in Alberta has come to my attention as something that must be massively improved if it is going to continue. My limited time at BGI has opened me to start thinking about how I can help in the field of Social Justice with those struggling at the bottom of the economic pyramid.

References

• Andrew Harvey Sacred Activism Lecture (55min - 53Mb)