Changing the World

[002 Cents]

In what I have been reading Indigos' have an unyielding desire to change the world for the better.

I am just wondering how people are applying this longing? What is it you feel driven to do or have already done, are working on or towards?

There are some things I have done all of which seem rather small and not overly effective. I am just looking to see if we put our heads together if we can't maximize our impact.

[BlueSky]

I started a thread like this a while back and it went well. Good stuff. here it is if you are interested...http://www.spiritualforums.com/vb/sh...ad.php?t=14563
These are some of the things i have done and do:

Saving wild critters
Feeding birds in the winter
not using pesticides or chemicals on the lawn or garden
reuseing
recycling
donating to organizations that make large impacts
Signing petitions
Keep a portion of your yard "wild" as a habitat for wildlife

Since then though I personally have taken steps to get involved in Permaculture as a way to change my yard and hopefully others into an eco friendly naturally sustainable habitat and source of food for my family and for wildlife. I see this as my life's mission now...lol
James

[002 Cents]

Good stuff!

I could do better with the recycling. I notice I have a tendency to go through the house and toss random pieces of paper in the garbage. I am good about recycling the obvious recyclables but stuff like Toilet paper rolls... skips my mind too frequently.

And as for not using pesticides... I have to admit I haven't figured out how to co-exist with the snails in my garden. I got the "Organic" snail bait that is supposed to be more appealing than my food and fill them so they never eat again... but yeah... it was that or let them continue to eat my garden into oblivion. I tried tossing them over my fence every night and early morning... but they still were too successful.

I do the donating things all the time. Reusable goods mostly and whatever I can afford cash wise, when there is a major crisis, goes to the American Red Cross.

I also volunteer on a weekly basis. Have been doing this for over a year now.

I send out letters of appreciation to Good Samaritans who make the news, public servants who are recovering from an on the job injury, to police departments that show exceptional conduct under intense situations (like with the Tuscon shooting).

I pass out Blessing Cards, they are printed on Business card stock but have no advertisement what so ever just the message "May many blessings find you through Goodness, Compassion and Love". I send them with my letters of appreciation and I pass them out to people when I feel the urge to do so. Sometimes a person I see performing a random act of kindness others just when it feels right.

I created a web site called "Blessings For Humanity" (which is sadly no where near where I want it to be and I go through large periods of time I don't know where to go with it) designed to inspire greatness in others. To get them to challenge the status quo and not be afraid to make a difference in this world how ever small. https://sites.google.com/site/blessingsforhumanity/

I also focus my energy or pray every day for Humanity to peaceably and universally come to embrace ideals of Brotherhood, Equality, Goodness, Compassion and Love. I pray for the Lord to send healing to those who suffer from illness to their hearts and minds. So, they can be free of the desires to do harm to others and themselves. I pray that there are saints in this world that will find their way into terrorist groups and transform them from within to become entities that sever and protect their people and communities. That they may become ambassadors working towards peace, freedom, mutual respect and understanding for their peoples and ours.

That is where I am, at present, I really want to work for the American Red Cross, it is a dream of mine to be a first responder to natural disasters. I want to be amongst the first on the scene helping people. Arranging for their shelter, bringing clean clothes and blankets. Giving them food and clean water. Helping clean up the debris, or anything I can do to try to assist their recovering from the tragedy.

[002 Cents]

This is a silly one but I feel like I should add it Buying Mega Rolls of toilet tissue to cut down on the manufacturing of the plastic packaging and excess rolls.

And when I can, to conserve water, I will just sponge bathe instead of taking a full blown shower or bath.

Along those same lines don't water your yard in the peak heat of the day most the water evaporates.

I am trying to get better at buying meats, eggs and products made with animal by-products, to only buy ones that have come from ethically farmed animals... Not quite there, but trying.

[John32241]

It is my understanding that we change the world one person at a time. I suspect we all see that process in different ways.

John

[BlueSky]

Thats great stuff you do 002 cents! The world thanks you!
In regards to the snails.....permaculture is the answer. A typical garden is a feast for insects where a one designed using permaculture is more balanced and all of the care is put forth in creating a good soil bed so that the millions of bugs and microorganisms have plenty of organic matter to eat and thereby leaving the plants alone. It also can attract predators which helps keep balance. There is alot to learn about it all for me but I plan on starting my gardens using its principles as soon as I am done designing in all of the connections.
James

[002 Cents]

John- I am not sure what you are getting at. If not for people like Mother Teresa, Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Thich Nhat Hanh... Where would this world be? They went out and got actively involved to initiate change.

If you are satisfied with what you are doing that is fine. Perhaps you do care but are too modest to share what matters to you. Or maybe you think the world is just fine with all the corruption, greed, crime, Drug Cartels Massacring Towns, Human Trafficking, Young girls getting stoned to death for being disobedient, children being abused, starved, beaten, neglected...

I dunno... But personally I think when people share ideas they can expand on their own and potentially change in ways they had never considered themselves. Like when I saw it listed in another thread you could get Mini wind turbines for your home to cut the use of electricity from non-renewable sources. I never even knew those existed.

Perhaps, if nothing else with enough of these types of discussions, becoming more aware of how we effect our environment and those around will be at the forefront of our minds.

It certainly is demoralizing getting so much criticism for believing the world can be a better place. And I just don't get why people don't understand why I feel compassion for all animals rather than just the ones people call pets, why I care about the planet and utilizing it's resources responsibly, modestly and respectfully, or why I care about humanity, why I oppose people hating, disrespecting, abusing and killing others for their religious beliefs, sexual preference, skin color, political affiliations...

We are all people, capable of feeling another persons pain; be it financial, emotional, physical, etc. Yet that is not enough to stop us from inflicting it where it is undue and turning our noses up to it when we stand beside someone who is suffering. We, look away, climb into our cars and drive home believing we are some how entitled to less strife. But we aren't. We just got lucky and next time we might not be. And when our luck runs out, who will be there to look out for us? Not the person standing beside us beveling they were just entitled to a better life.

Mother Teresa started out with one small building and a desire to help humanity. She started taking in children who needed homes regardless of religious affiliation. Her following grew and she was able to open up homes for the dying and desolate. She recognized that these people even in the last few hours of life deserved what ever kindness she could bestow upon them a warm place to sleep, a happy face, a meal... Caring takes so little.

[002 Cents]

Originally Posted by WhiteShaman

Thats great stuff you do 002 cents! The world thanks you!
In regards to the snails.....permaculture is the answer. A typical garden is a feast for insects where a one designed using permaculture is more balanced and all of the care is put forth in creating a good soil bed so that the millions of bugs and microorganisms have plenty of organic matter to eat and thereby leaving the plants alone. It also can attract predators which helps keep balance. There is alot to learn about it all for me but I plan on starting my gardens using its principles as soon as I am done designing in all of the connections.
James

Thankies!!! I really hate killing snails. Especially when my daughter has... or I should say had one. Sadly, he was eaten by his tank mates. I only hope he died prior to this. We were out of town and after they plowed through their vacation feeder that should have lasted 10 days... I guess he was the only thing on the menu. She still crys about it every day when she sees the shell in the tank. I say "You want me to take it out?" she says "No it is a beautiful decoration, but I miss my snail."

[BlueSky]

There is a permie forum http://www.permies.com/permaculture-...and-not-snails which might help you with some attractive solutions to your snail problem. One answer is to get a couple of ducks or find a way to attract birds tot he garden. Try searching the forum. The kink is just one search.
I'll keep my ears and eyes open for you.
Blessings and bless your daughter (I couldn't kill a snail either)
James

[002 Cents]

Thanks

I was doing a little reading and I think I am in love with the idea. I think I can figure out how to get birds into my yard. Although the larger scale of a community based around a Permaculture garden is inspiring. Like humanity could really live this way? In little colonies with their self sustaining gardens with a self sustaining ecosystems. What a novel concept.

I most recently started saying, the biggest draw back to a Free Market society, is that it will hinder innovation, as the objective becomes not to improve the system but to capitalize on it. As it is with electricity. Nikola Tesla had a plan to adapt the world to free wireless energy and once the people paying for this work realized he intended it to be free they pulled the funding. They now make a killing raping our planet of its non-replenishable resources... to what end?

Blessings to you as well.