The Greatest Speech Ever Made

The message of this speech, its language, its delivery, and the images that accompany it are so powerful and true. I had to share and transcribe it here. This speech, made in Charlie Chaplan's 1940 fictional film The Great Dictator, was delivered in satirical defiance of Adolf Hitler. But how relevant and brilliant these words are today:



I'm sorry. I don't want to be an emperor. That's not my business. I don't want to rule or conquer anyone. I should like to help everyone, if possible: Jew, Gentile, black man, white. We all want to help one-another, human beings are like that. We want to live by each others' happiness, not by each others' misery. We don't want to hate and despise one another.

In this world there is room for everyone, the good Earth is rich and can provide for everyone. The way of life can be free and beautiful, but we have lost the way. Greed has poisoned men's souls. It has barricaded the world with hate. It has goose-stepped us into misery and bloodshed. We have developed speed, but we have shut ourselves in. Machinery that gives abundance has left us in want. Our knowledge has made us cynical; our cleverness hard and unkind. We think too much and feel too little.

More than machinery, we need humanity. More than cleverness, we need kindness and gentleness. Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost. The airplane and the radio have brought us closer together, the very nature of these inventions cries out for the goodness in man, cries out for universal brotherhood, for the unity of us all. Even now, my voice is reaching millions throughout the world: millions of despairing men, women, and children, victims of a system that makes men torture and imprison innocent people.

For those who can hear me, I say do not despair. The misery that is now upon us is but the passing of greed, the bitterness of men who fear the way of human progress. The hate of men will pass, and dictators die, the power they took from the people will return to the people. And so long as men die, liberty will never perish.

Soldiers, don't giver yourself to brutes! Men who despise you, enslave you, who regiment your lives, tell you what to do, what to think, and what to feel! Who drill you, diet you, treat you like cattle! Use you as cannon fodder! Don't give yourselves to these unnatural men, machine men with machine minds and machine hearts! You are not machines, you are not cattle, you are men! You have the love of humanity in your hearts. You don't hate. Only the unloved hate. The unloved and the unnatural. Soldiers, don't fight for slavery, fight for liberty!

In the 17th chapter of St. Luke it is written: the kingdom of god is within man. Not one man nor a group of men, but in all men, in YOU. You, the people, have the power! The power to create machines, the power to create happiness. You, the people, have the power to make this life free and beautiful. To make this life a wonderful adventure.

And in the name of democracy, let us use that power, let us all unite! Let us fight for a new world! A decent world that will give men a chance to work, that will give youth a future, and old age a security. By the promise of these things, brutes have risen to power. But they lie! They do not fulfill their promise, they never will. Dictators free themselves, but they enslave the people.

Now, let us fight to fulfill that promise! Let us fight to free the world! To do away with national barriers, to do away with greed, with hate and intolerance. Let us fight for a world of reason! A world where science and progress will lead to all men's happiness. Soldiers, in the name of democracy, let us all unite!!

Pea's Peace is Up and Running [Again]

Blogging is rough. It requires daily commitments, incessant motivation, constant attention, and little bitty pieces of your heart and soul. It reveals a softened, private part of yourself to the enormity of the internet at large, and that can be a pretty daunting encumbrance.

Admittedly, I've struggled with my own focus and dedication to Pea's Peace. It's not that I haven't found enough interesting and inspiring things out there in this great big balanced world... it's just that I started to question my own reasoning and purpose for keeping up this blog. I felt dwarfed by the amount of information available to you all, and intimidated by the thought that there are blogs and bloggers out there who are much more seasoned and professional than I am. After all, I have a full-time job and a full-time life, how serious could I really be about this project?

So after 14 months and 112 blog posts, I took everything down out of sheer fragility of confidence. I systematically went through and removed my writings from public view, though I couldn't quite erase them completely because each word that they contain is a reflection of a little piece of myself... and that's just too valuable to give up.

But now they're back up, and their legitimacy is more personal to me than I need it to be justified. I'll keep on blogging, indifferent to my own impact or ripple in the world of online blogs... because the basic truth is that it's good for me. I enjoy doing it. And that is all that matters. I am going to be braver, and keep on bearing my everything on this humble web page, regardless of what others may think.

So here are all 112 reinstated pieces from Pea's Peace. I'm sorry for the interruption, and I hope that you enjoy :-)

Protecting NYC's Gardens

Since 2002, most community gardens in New York City have been covered by a memorandum established between the State Attorney General and the Bloomberg Administration which established certain ground rules and protections for the gardens under the jurisdiction of several city agencies. Namely, the GreenThumb program, a subset of the Department of Parks and Recreation, has been principally responsible for the oversight and management of city gardens, and those gardens have been provided with a certain amount of security and protection from the government. However, that memorandum is expiring this coming September, and the document which has been drafted to replace it seems to provide much less protection than its counterpart, while at the same time increasing regulation on community gardens, threatening the future of urban gardening in NYC.

While not fully designated as city park land under the original regulations of 2002, community gardens were at least protected as "open space", and were placed under the jurisdiction of the Parks department for their preservation as community gardens. The use of their land for purposes other than gardening was subject to environmental review as well as a land use and disposition review. This meant that if any development were to be planned upon the site of an existing community garden, there would be a protocol in place to ensure the responsible use of that land, in order to fully understand the environmental and community impact of removing a garden in lieu of a new development of any kind. Among other enforcements, these rules sought to ensure that neighborhood gardeners could operate with security, knowing that their gardens would be protected by the city.

The new proposed regulations, however, contain none of the language from the original document which set gardeners' minds at ease. To the contrary, the future of community gardens is being threatened by these new rules which do not provide any sort of preservation guarantee, nor do they ensure the protection of garden land in the face of urban development. The key language excluded from the draft, which contained in the 2002 memorandum and was a major point of satisfaction for gardeners, states that lots designated as community gardens will be "offered to the Parks Department for preservation as community gardens or open space." This statement is integral to the protection of urban gardens, and its exclusion is the cause of much grief in NYC community gardening circles.

The city is currently accepting public comments on the drafted material, and it is highly recommended that those with an interest in NYC's urban gardens read the draft and make their voices heard. A local garden blogger has included on their website instructions for how to do so. In addition, a public hearing is to be held on August 10th at the Chelsea Recreation Center in Manhattan, to which any and all with an interest in community gardens should be present. The New York City Community Garden Coalition has listed great resources for those who are interested and want to get involved, including a letter which summarizes the situation and calls on community members to take action.

The community of gardeners in New York City are not allowing these new regulations to pass quietly. In fact, the buzz circulating throughout city organizations, parks, and neighborhoods is such that the potential response of individuals -whether it be at the hearing, over the phone with 311, in writing to the Parks Department, or on the web in public commentary- is enormous. These regulations have not been passed yet. There is still time for NYC communities to rally around the gardens that keep them healthy and safe, to make absolutely sure that these spaces of growth and harvest, of teaching and learning, of sharing, laughing, and loving, will remain in their neighborhoods for generations.

"No-Good Grime Gone Fast"

This is sure to bring a smile to your face. Brought to you by Pick Up America, it's a sweet video featuring a bit of what they've been up to as they traverse our lands. Featuring music by the lovely and talented Allison Chang, and pickup artist Jeff Chen.

Great Quote

"Where, after all, do universal human rights begin? In small places, close to home- so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any maps of the world.

Yet they are the world of the individual person, the neighborhood she or he lives in; the school or college that she attends; the factory, farm, or office where she works. Such are the places where every man, woman, and child seeks equal justice, equal opportunity, and equal dignity without discrimination.

Unless these rights have meaning there, they have little meaning anywhere. Without concerted citizen action to uphold them close to home, we shall look in vain for progress in the larger world."

-Eleanor Roosevelt, First Lady of the United States and one-time Chairperson for the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, upon presenting "In Your Hands," her booklet on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Spirits & Trash

Communities across the country, watch out! Because Pick Up America has commenced their glorious trek across our lands, and there are two things that are bound to be picked up if you just so happen to fall in their path: trash, and your spirits.

This group of brave, inspired people have taken on a journey to travel across the girth of the continental United States, gathering all of the disposable crap that passes through our lives daily and ends up discarded on the side of the road, usually within the confines of some precious ecosystem, or intruding upon some family's backyard. They are exploring and exposing the nature of American consumption, and striving to find the kind of solution that would persist in the mindset of society. Where the Pick Up Artists go, they promote the significance of our shared responsibility to the earth: stewardship of the land, and a necessary reflection on the lifestyles and habits that inflict toxic and unnatural results on our own bodies and lives, as well as on the environment. And where they go, they bring with them their vision, their tenacious commitment, and their unbound and completely enjoyable spirits.

I had the pleasure of walking with them, briefly, as they passed through Annapolis, MD. And hidden within what would seem in passing as a peaceful wooded spot nearby the local police station were layers and layers of caked, smelly, buried trash. It seemed to completely engulf the soil within which it had been implanted, and its general indistinctness from the road made me wonder how much more of my earth is tattered like this... probably more than I could bear to truly realize. Within just two hours of pickup work, we had collected an astounding (and disgusting) 286 pounds of trash, which the Pick Up Artists then left for the Highway Administration to round up.

So far they have traveled from the very Eastern shore of Maryland, across the Chesapeake Bay and into the Capitol of the State, and have collected over 10,000 pounds of trash. Along the way they have won the hearts of local communities, have inspired many folks around them, and have gathered immeasurable support in the form of warm meals and comfortable lodgings by volunteers who are more than willing to be a part of their experience, even briefly. After spending just a day amidst the joy and the tenacity of these amazing Pick Up Artists, I felt totally gratified and inspired. If everyone else they encounter along their journey feels a fraction of what I have, then perhaps this feeling of stewardship will persist beyond the tracks of Pick Up America, and into the mindsets and lifestyles of people all across the country.

To follow their journey, look here: pickupamerica.org

50 Best Protest Signs

When Buzzfeed put together this list of the 50 Best Protest Signs of the year, I'm pretty sure they meant the 50 most hilarious. Check them out, they will certainly brighten your Friday! This one is my favorite:

Discovering Truth Through Action

Today marks the ten-year anniversary of the monumental protests in Seattle, which rocked the city to its core, halted the odious goings-on of the World Trade Organization, and created the conflict which came to be known as the "Battle in Seattle," as a result of the violent outcome of police intervention on the streets. The protestors of those days have been praised for their tenacity and their bravery, as they clashed with officers, refused to back down, and refused to allow the imperialist agenda of the WTO to continue. At the time, the agenda of capitalist globalization was left largely unqualified, and it took hundreds of arrests and the shut-down of the down-town area of one of America's largest cities for people to take notice of the issue. For this, Walden Bello writes in Yes! Magazine about the truth that was brought to light because of these audacious protestors, who took a stand against injustice and put a temporary wrench in its works in his article "The Meaning of Seattle: Truth Only Becomes True Through Action." To read it is to reflect back on a time when the wool was removed from our eyes, and the outrage of thousands became the the burden of millions. It is to relive the shock that was experienced that day, and the lessons that have been learned thereafter. To read it is to remember a time when the concept of Democracy was ripped open and reconsidered, and people's freedom was a wild, unhinged force to be reckoned with.

The World Peace March is Coming

A very exciting, very quiet tremor is sending its vibrations across the globe through the footsteps of thousands. Can you feel it? All over the world, people are joining together in the simplest of human activities: the nomadic stride which has held us together throughout so many years; the delicate tread of the peaceful warriors who are owning their responsibility to mankind and to mother earth, and taking part in a magnificent act of unity so strong that it will take the power of the whole world to accomplish it. They are marching to illuminate the important pledge of love and non-violence that we all must take to ensure a salubrious future on this planet.

For the first-time ever, peace-lovers around the world are becoming united in a massive march for solidarity from continent to continent. The World Peace March, an extensive journey from New Zealand to Argentina, commenced this October 2nd on the anniversary of Mohandas Ghandi's birth, will be covering the span of all inhabited land on earth- so as to reach as many souls as possible and promote the ideals of peace, love, and understanding.

And as for New York City Residents, THEY will become WE next Sunday, November 30th, as the city welcomes the arrival of the march to North America. We will be traveling across the river on the Brooklyn Bridge, with as many smiling souls as possible, into city hall to represent the message of peace that has been carried for so many miles. And as the delicate stampede that has touched so many already will grow ever stronger, the hope that it carries in the our spirits' capacity for progress through love will shine that much brighter.

As the manifesto of the walk reads, "We are in motion, traveling around the planet to strengthen the voice that is clamoring for a human world.... We are thousands, we will be millions, and we will change the world." What a beautiful movement to encompass all of humanity across all of the earth!

From the beginning of our time on this planet, human bodies have been built to walk- and there has always been a reason and a purpose for this universal gift. Now, let's let that purpose be clear: we want a safer world, a global community, and ensured positive future for all generations to come. And as the marchers approach your town, will you join them? Will you add your voice to the thousands, become the millions to call for peace? The tremors of their footsteps are growing closer every day, the vibrations are growing stronger... can you feel them? Will you join them? ;-)

Peace!

Brooklyn Skillshare

Attention NYC Residents! In light of my prolonged internet absence, I would like to offer a recompense: a real-life event that is sure to nourish and enrich your life in such a way that you'll want to forget about the computer screen all together (well... for a while anyhow): The Brooklyn Skillshare. It's an all-day event that is to be held at the Gowanus Studio Space on 8th street in Brooklyn, this Saturday, October 10th.

It's a day of learning, sharing, and celebrating the unique skills that each and all of us possess. The teachers are all community members who have taken interest in a certain activity, like, say, bicycle repair and maintenance, and who come to the skillshare t0 offer up their knowledge to those who are open and willing. The atmosphere here is inclusive and non-judgmental; it is simply a space for people to connect with each other and offer up exchangeable life skills in the mode of sustainable and communal living; in a reciprocal relationship that benefits individuals as both students and teachers simultaneously. Here is the mission statement of the event:

Education is a right, not a commodity. We are all students and teachers, and we believe that everyone has something to teach and learn from each other. The Brooklyn Skillshare is a communal, hands-on learning experience that aims to serve as a jumping off point in the construction of an autonomous, nonexclusive, reciprocal learning community.

If this sounds good to you, and if you are interested in learning about any of the following skills, then the Brooklyn Skillshare is a great opportunity for you to connect your soul to others with purpose and creativity, and to learn something new! Here is a sampling of some of the classes to be offered:

• How to brew kombucha
• Massage Basics: taking care of yourself and others
• Bicycle Mechanics 101
• Screenprinting basics & DIY techniques
• Turning glass bottles into glasses and vases
• Basic raw food preparation: the art of "uncooking"
• DIY electronics

These are only some, there are plenty more! There is also FREE breakfast and lunch to be served, as well as tasty snacks, homemade ginger-ale, and a closing party to celebrate the day. The entrance fee is only a suggested donation of $10, which is wonderfully generous considering all the benefits to be gained from this glorious event.

I'd say see you there, but I'll be participating in another great event that day: the Washington, D.C. Green Festival, a cornucopia of sustainable businesses, innovative technologies, and enlightened speakers all corralled into a large convention center space for a weekend of knowledge to tickle you green!

Two great cities, two awesome events... I'll let you choose which one suits you best :-)

Peace.

Fake Paper, Real Facts

The Yes Men have struck again! The culture jamming activist group distributed almost 1 million hoax copies of the New York Post this morning in New York City, all of which contained factual articles related to the climate change crisis. The articles in the post (which carry such titles as "Flopenhagen," referring to the the world climate conference to be held in Copenhagen this December, the outcome of which will be a "flop" if the U.S. doesn't front some real climate legislation soon; and the cover story, "We're Screwed," which warns of the environmental and public health catastrophes for which New York City is doomed from the consequences of climate change) are based on true facts and real reports by scientists and climate change experts. In fact, the fear-inducing cover story is based off of a report commissioned by the mayor's office in February of 2009 and carried out by a team of highly respected scientists.

Of course, the dramatic action of seizing one of NYC's most popular newspapers has brought heightened attention to the issues surrounding climate change, which are normally overlooked by news sources like the Post. But it is essential that the word is spread wide and often. As one of the Yes Men, Andy Bichlbaum put it: "This could be, and should be a real New York Post. Climate change is the biggest threat civilization has ever faced, and it should be in the headlines of every paper, every day until we solve the problem." A point very well made.

But the prankster paper wasn't completely devoted to doomsday warnings and frightening tales of our impending penance. There was also a congratulatory piece called "New York Fights Back," which detailed New York City's efforts at reducing carbon emissions and achieving sustainability. According to the article, residents of NYC produce only 1/3 of the emissions as the national average (probably thanks to our extensive bike lanes, public transport, and accessibility of provisions). It also mentioned the Million Trees NYC program, the new hybrid taxis and police cars, and the 1800 miles of bike paths that we boast here in the big apple. There were also whimsical advertisements for tote bags, bicycles, and tap water ("literally comes right out of your faucet!")

The paper had all of New York talking, and with close to 1 million copies distributed, it undoubtedly had some of us learning, as well. This amazing feat is highly commendable, and attracts some well needed attention to issues surrounding climate change as the G20 meetings take place in Pittsburgh this week, and as the U.N. gathers in New York to discuss the climate crisis. Like the Green Peace Activists who hung a large banner on Mount Rushmore during the G8 meetings earlier this summer, the Yes Men have found a way to make apathy seem boring, and dissemination of knowledge seem exciting, bringing climate change to the forefront of our newspapers and our minds.

Positive News

I realize that the nature of certain realities in our world, coupled with the doomsday raving of many [most?] of our news outlets, can lead to feelings of depression, hopelessness, apathy, or nihilism among those of us who are receptive to the goings-on of the world. It is very easy for the empathetic-hearted to be affected by what they experience, even if that experience is read second-hand. It is human nature to care for our world and for our brothers and sisters, so there is no shame in reading a headline and reflecting on it seriously.

But it is also important to remember that there can be no shade without the sun, and that for every saddening story you hear, another one exists to lift your spirits. That is why I like Positive News, a UK website which is dedictaed to promoting those events and happenings around the world that bring peaceful resolutions to issues; highlights individuals who are striving toward noble causes; and discusses inspiring thoughts and ideas that are otherwise overlooked in news media.

It is a great way to hear about new and exciting developments and movements for which to involve yourself in!

Food and Justice for All

The Engaged University is once again making front page headlines, but this time the news is not so good. After almost eight years of linking University of Maryland students with the communities around them and thus creating an enriched atmosphere, the E.U. is facing the chopping block by UMD administrators, who are seeking to cast off financial weights due to recent budget cuts.

Since the University of Maryland is now my alma mater, I feel a close connection to the activites of the school, and the Engaged University was always something I could feel proud of. As the university attempts to project itself as a sustainable, service-oriented campus, this extension was a shining example of the types of programs that could be implemented in hopes of truly achieving substance to reinforce UMD's projected image. Perhaps it was a costly endeavor, but no more so than the university's selection of other superfluous programs, and with the added benefit of providing students with a chance to engage with their community and learn about sustainability in a hands-on manner. This type of learning benefits both the students and the community members they interact with at the E.U. The Master Peace Community Farm is one of the E.U.'s outstanding programs. As my partner stated in The Diamondback, UMD's school newspaper, the farm provides a meeting ground for people who "don't really mingle very much," indicating that it provides a unique opportunity for diversity and understanding that frankly may sometimes be lost on campus. His work, he says, provides "food and justice for all."

The farm, like the fabulous Water Pod Project, is an innovative tool for getting people to connect with one another, as well as with their earth, providing a sense of meaning and purpose in a world where materialism often takes precedent and overshadows our vital relationships. Other programs, such as a biodiesel co-op, a bicycle shop, as well as arts and cultural programs, help to reinforce and integrate ideals of social justice, peace, and environmentalism through youth-centered activities that exist primarily to educate. The University of Maryland's SGA is now fighting to keep the Engaged University as an integral part of the school's mission of achieving sustainability and social service initiatives, and I hope they succeed, as UMD cannot afford to lose such a vital resource for its students as well as its community.

If you would like to make a donation to help to ensure the continued impact of the Engaged University, they are being accepted here: http://engagedu.umd.edu/

Click if you can help!

...What About the Green Jobs?

This past weekend, human rights activist and environmental visionary Van Jones resigned from his post as President Obama's advisor on Green Jobs. This action came amidst controversy, after a campaign of slanderous smears and allegations against him by several right-wing "news" pundits. Unfortunately, some of Mr. Jones' progressive beliefs fell inexcusably outside of the norm for mainstream politics, and were therefore besieged by the rabid pundits of conservative media, who painted him as a villain while ensuring the end of his career as a white house advisor.

But this man is far from villainous. Before joining the Obama office in his unprecedented role, Mr. Jones was an active, inspirational voice and an environmental leader for many. He is the author of the bestselling book The Green Collar Economy: How One Solution Can Fix Our Two Biggest Problems. It is a coherent breakdown of the complexities of our socio-economic system, as well as those involving our environmental effects and consequent policy. It addresses what Jones refers to as the "Green New Deal," an environmental program whose model is similar to that of FDR's post-depression restructuring, and places the government on the same page as the people, working sensibly to create reliable economies and stable jobs through the demand for all things "green." Besides founding and advocating for several human rights organizations, Van Jones was also listed as one of Time Magazine's 100 most influential people for 2009.


There is no doubt that Mr. Jones is a sound, forward-minded thinker who appreciates the demands as well as the barriers of our times, and understands the dynamics of action in the face of a looming ecological crisis. Yet the effect that his experience and knowledge would have had on Obama's handling of two of our nation's greatest threats will never be known, since past statements that he had made in an unofficial manner were so scrutinized and condemned by those of the right-wing punditry. They claimed that his views, which included a criticism of the Republican party and a call for truth about the attacks of September 11th, were proof that he was too partisan to be effective in the White House. As if no one in Washington has ever held a personal opinion, or sought out truth in the face of endless lies. They accused him unfairly in such a radically exaggerated measure that what followed was a resignation, not a resolution.


It is probably not surprising that the punditry took such vicious actions against Jones, considering that he is the founder of the organization Color of Change, which petitioned to have advertisers boycott Glenn Beck's Fox News show after Mr. Beck made appalling comments about president Obama being a racist. There was very personal fire taking place in this situation, and unfortunately the environmental policy of our country is being compromised in its name.


Our nation will continue to move forward, however, despite the ridiculous manic punditry frantically assailing us with negative falsities. Perhaps Mr. Jones no longer holds an official post, but as Ariana Huffington noted in her piece, Thank You, Glenn Beck!, he will continue to educate, inspire, and lead Americans as we search for new alternatives to the ecological crisis we find ourselves in. And a green collar economy still has every chance of being realized, along with the millions of jobs it will create for our struggling workforce, which is in desperate need of real change. It is absolutely in the interest of the American people, and is undeniably something that has gathered enormous attention in our popular culture. So the resignation of a potentially effective leader in the White House is meaningless, as the ideals and actions that he represents are still very prominent on the minds of the people in power ...us.

The Water Pod Project

It is just the kind of innovative creativity and ecological sensibility that our struggling food system and over-wrought welfare system need in this changing world. Part fantastical solution to an overly-populated earth, part urban farm, part artistic ingenuity, the Water Pod Project represents an unprecedented model of sustainable living that had not been seen before on New York City's waterways, or in the city at all, for that matter.

The concept represents a hypothetical example of a maritime lifestyle in the face of explosive population growth and a lack of essential resources on our earth's shores; a fertile lifestyle that is completely self-sufficient and environmentally sustainable. The pod is actually a fully functional farm home, located on a mobile barge which has been docking in and educating each NYC borough one at a time over the course of several months. It is powered by solar panels atop the inhabitant's quarters, nourished by an extensive grey water system which provides for all life on board, sustained by the intensive companion-planting methods of an urban farm, and staffed by some of the friendliest, most impressive examples of progressive thinkers that the area has to offer. On board is also a complete saltwater ecosystem, a kitchen and shower, a composting toilet, and four healthy, beautiful chickens.

The exhibition is open to the public for tours and education. It is currently located in the Bronx, at the Concrete Plant Park, an ironic name for the location of such a project. While it was on display on Staten Island a week ago, I had the sincere pleasure of spending time there, getting to know the crew and basking in the genius design that so optimized the use of a rather small barge to sustain life on board for such an extensive period of time. It is truly a feast for the mind as well as for the soul, as the creative influence of the artist who initiated the project is just as evident as the skill of the farmers who work on board.

I highly recommend a visit to anyone who is in the New York City area. There isn't very much time left, as the pod will only be docked in two more locations in the Bronx through the end of September. After that, the fate of the system is unknown. If it cannot be sold to a supporting organization, the pod will have to be dismantled and consequently recycled. What a shame it would be to lose such a prime and inceptive example of sustainable living, and such an excellent source of education for the city's children! Hopefully it is sold and installed on a permanent basis somewhere in the our waterways, so that we can continue to enjoy the generous beauty of this agricultural and artistic anomaly for years to come.

Peace.

Growing Healthy

Last weekend I visited the place where my boyfriend works... a wonderful half of an acre urban farm that is booming with crops from edible flowers - to string beans - to 9 foot tomato plants and beyond. Every time I visit the farm I'm inspired, but this time was different- so much had changed in the few short months since I last visited, the farm is growing every day. And I'm so proud of the work that everyone does there, I wanted to boast it on here :-)

The Master Peace Community Farm is a fabulous green oasis amid a rolling desert of urbanism and nature-deficit disorder. In a time where food security and community are two aspects of human life being compromised and brought to light, the farm offers opportunities for individuals to engage with their neighbors, their earth, and their own health. It is part of the Engaged University of Riverdale, Maryland: an institution which seeks to link the plethora of human resources found within the University with their surrounding areas through a variety of formative and inspiring programs. The farm is just one of them, and it's creating more and more buzz as the years go by.

Three years ago, when the space was first initiated, it was nothing more than an empty lot. Today it is a fully-functioning urban farm which provides upwards of 20 community garden plots to families from the area, and numerous crops to sell to local businesses and to participate in the weekly Riverdale Park Farmer's Market. It provides educational programs on agriculture and nutrition for youth, and even supplies people with green jobs- a job sector that has been receiving a lot of attention recently in Washington.

And as the farm grows, it gains more attention from policy makers and other influential figures. Recently House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer visited the farm and expressed interest in the model that it could provide for other sustainable endeavors around the country. Hoyer mentioned his visit in a press release on his website.

This green space is a beautiful, truly peaceful area for folks who wish to enjoy the simple, yet necessary aspects of life- food, laughter, nature, and a connection with the community around us. The gates to the farm are never locked, creating a welcome and friendly atmosphere to anyone and everyone who wants to have a fulfilling, energizing experience working with the earth. Adults and children learn and work together here, sit and eat together in the farm's picnic area, and get a sense of real perspective about the food that we eat. The gardens create a sense of purpose, peace, and happiness for the community members who visit there.

Just think what the world would be like if every neighborhood had a Master Peace Community Farm. How much better would we relate to our neighbors? How much happier and healthier would our lives be with the beautiful simplicity of growing and eating healthy food for ourselves? How much more empowered would we all be?

Another world is possible, and this is an exciting and inspiring movement in a very positive direction. If you wanna learn more about community agriculture, and get involved with your nearest community garden, check out this site.

We Are On Our Own.

"Unless there are mass movements from below, nothing changes from above."

Trends in social movements are like a double-edged sword: on one count, the exposure and marketing that results from large-scale hype allows for the opportunity of action through increased attention. But we have to be careful. Things can become trendy to the point that, much like our obsession with designer clothing, all we care about is that label, not the story of what that label represents.

This is what is happening with food and nutrition trends in the United States. Buying “organic” n and “natural” foods seems to be becoming increasingly glamorous amongst the wealthy, often with a great amount of delusion and misinformation on a massive scale. Products claiming to be natural and "eco friendly" are not subject to any type of oversight or official monitoring of their labels.There is a serious lack of reliable information and labeling when it comes to the food that we buy, and even those products that are “certified organic” by the USDA are being found to be deceptive in the disclosure of their contents. Up to 5% of non-organic ingredients are permissible in processed products that are labeled organic by the USDA, and there are nearly 250 of these materials currently allowable. Also, shockingly, the yearly testing for pesticides on “organic” farms is considered OPTIONAL under USDA regulations.

So why is it so expensive to obtain this certification of false glorification? Many small organic farmers have been suffering in recent years because they cannot compete with the large agro-businesses that are now operating in the wholesome food industry. And believe me, it is LARGE. Check out this flow chart which outlines who owns what in organics:

http://www.cornucopia.org/who-owns-organic/

Kraft? Coca-Cola? These are the same people who make corn-syrup drinks and 3 minute Mac N’ Cheese. And they are processing your “organic” and “natural foods.” Think about this situation for a minute.

Buying Organic has become a trend. And the most powerful corporations are cashing in on it, big time, at the expense of organic family farmers across the country. But the solution is simple! BUY LOCAL! GROW YOUR OWN! GROW FOOD, NOT LAWNS!

We are truly on our own, with the self-interested corporate world disregarding our health in the face of endless profits. It is time we reclaim power over our bodies and minds, and showed the corporate world that we don’t need their mass-produced crap (as Michael Pollan calls it: edible, food-like substances). So beware the labels, support your local farmers by going to a farmer’s market or joining a CSA (community-supported agriculture), and grow your own food… it’s as simple as seeds, water and sun.