January 20th "NonViolent Thought"

January 20th "NonViolent Thought"
--James Keane.

As we are summoned to a new era of our lives, led by new technologies, new visions, new visionaries, and the great ticking clock, I'm asked to write a piece for this month's 'NonViolent thought' section of our newsletter. The topic is supposed to be something about the 'dwindling honeybee population' & 'how planting wildflower seeds can help'. Frankly, I know little about honeybees (except what I see here: http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/dennis_vanengelsdorp_a_plea_for_bees.html), or wildflowers, or how the changes they need really affect us. All I know is, I am thinking many, many thoughts all the time, the situation for humanity looks both grim & ecstatic, & I want a better world for myself & future generations. When the idea was proposed to distribute our album digitally in conjunction with 'seedcards', my vote was 'sure, why not'? CD's have exposed themselves as wasteful in our current standards, let's turn the page, eh? What I want to express here is a desire to turn to the next phase of humanity that considers our mistakes & paves the way for hope & prosperity. Not just with regards to bees & flowers, but comprehensively for all living things. How about considering future generations in our scheme to prosper? This isn't just about honeybees & wildflowers, but they sure as hell have something to do with it. This isn't just about you & me, but we sure as hell have something to do with it!
The above referenced video about bees is from a website called 'TedTalks' which hosts many videos of contemporary thinkers discussing a wide range of today's issues. I discovered this site amidst a conversation I was having with a friend regarding the benefits of a home garden, planting herbs, collecting rainwater, raising chickens, etc. After we'd been conversing for some time about all the hopeful actions we can take as individuals, an old familiar dark cloud crept in the back of my mind. It's the same one that's been there since my early adolescence, lurking always in my periphery, waiting for every hopeful moment to shed it's dark fury. I mentioned to my friend "yeah, but the situation for humanity seems irreversible from a certain perspective." (Meaning, "I've seen the projections--- we're doomed!!) To this my friend didn't even bat an eye, but recommended I check out a video on '6 ways mushrooms can save the world' (http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/paul_stamets_on_6_ways_mushrooms_can_save_the_world.html). Upon seeing this I was rejuvenated and hopeful, if not convinced. From here, the thought emerged "there is so much that I don't know... who am I to stake a claim in the fate of humanity?" This question marinates in my mind as I resolve to know that I cannot save the world, but I welcome the responsibility to do what I can to help. I thank those people around me who remind me of this calling and motivate me to live up to it.
Most recently I've just read Naomi Wolf's The End of America: A Citizen's Call to Action, and just begun Natural Capitalism (Hawken, Lovins, Lovins). This book, and every book I've read over the past decade, reverberates the same message to me, "if you don't change your ways, you're doomed". Or, stated otherwise, "if you change your ways, a wonderful blessing awaits you". From Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, to Fast Food Nation, to The Omnivore's Dilemma, etc, etc, the same theme re-emerges and smacks me in the face, "the current system is flawed, if you change your ways, a better world awaits you". It's the same dream that Bob Marley, Bunny Wailer, Neil Young, & countless others sing about. A world with peace & integrity. To me, it's the message of the Buddha, the Christ, Thich Nhat Hahn, Barack Obama, my brothers, family, & friends, etc, etc. To me, life is a spiritual journey, we make a difference, & change must be for the better. So, rather than over emphasizing any given issue, I recognize a world in need & resolve to do my best to make it better, even if it means something as simple and enjoyable as planting seeds in the ground, and hoping for the bees. Blessings to you & yours in this coming year!







View the DubC Newsletter Here:
http://view.exacttarget.com/?j=fe5715787d6506787d13&m=fef61271716303&ls=fde3127970620d79761d7373&l=fe59157576600775701d&s=fde715747d600c7e7d1c7871&jb=ffcf14&ju=fe2b16717c67047a7c1673

Keep the Streets Clean

“Sweep them Clean, Sweep the Streets Clean”- (The Abyssinians)

Oglethorpe Avenue in Athens Georgia is the source of everything that is DubConscious . That is where our home office, practice space and basic crash pad has been since 2007.
So when Dub Family member Shawna Levine did the research to get DubConscious to adopt the street in early 2008, it was a no-brainer to make it an official pact. Now it is our responsibility to clean up the streets, literally. It’s amazing how many cigarette butts and plastic bottles are really out there. The experience of cleaning just a ½ mile section of Oglethorpe Avenue can remind us of how much work really needs to be done to turn things around in this new day and age of environmental awareness. And it feels good to do this, which is the most important part. Seeing DubConscious members and family cleaning up Oglethorpe is a joy really and we invite all to come participate with us at our next cleanup on Monday Jan. 14th. We also encourage others to adopt streets in their name and invite us and the entire community to help. It is the little things that will change the world. One piece of trash at a time.

Peace and Love

DubC