From the East Coast.

[LewBrown]

While there are yet only a handful of people checking into this social network I thought I would post this e-mail i received today from the East Coast. It is good to know that there are those who are taking this matter to heart and diligently working to change their habits. Though there may only be 30,000 or so visitors to the main website and 2,500-3,000 contacts in the e-mail database those numbers do not reflect the connections that people have. It could well be that millions of people are well aware of these efforts and, in a quiet way, are engaged in a revolutionary change of practice. Rose is one example of a connector who is influencing her network of friends, family and compatriots. If we could all do similarly this would be a brave new world indeed, in short order.



From: Rose Lord <[e-mail]>

Here we are in the second week of our corporate boycott. It's not easy to change your lifestyle but think of the long-term personal benefits if we can make some of these new habits permanent. No more huge credit card bills; no more stressing over how we're going to afford the holidays and then paying for them for the rest of the year. Not to mention the huge benefit to society if we can just hang in there and make this work. This week's suggestion has the potential to reap the greatest benefits, some that you would most likely never expect.

Learn to grow some of your own food. Even if you live in a climate where it’s too cold to have a garden in the winter season, you can start developing a compost pile now. You can also have a small indoor garden and grow fresh greens during the winter months. Start honing your survival skills now by planning to have a permaculture or square foot garden in the spring, There are ample resources available on the web for serious gardeners and in reality any food that you produce yourself will help bring about a peaceful revolution on all levels. Please check out www.makegardensnotwar.com.

More and more people are becoming interested in this effort. GCFP will be holding a workshop entitled Taking The Holidays Back: A Peaceful Revolution at the Emergence Community Arts Collective at 733 Euclid St. NW in Washington, DC on Tuesday, December 11th from 6:30 - 8:30 PM. For more information e-mail [e-mail]. or call [phone].

Om Shanti,

Peace be with you,

Rose "Mirabai" Lord

[Sandy Barringer]

I'm planting my garden right now. People in my neighborhood are doing more gardening.
I'm turning over the garden area by hand; not rototiller. That will make me stronger in the upper body for stronger bicycling. I took the big step and sold my car, and I get around just fine by bicycle, even doing grocery shopping, etc. In the winter, when I ride through the snow, sleet, etc, people have told me I'm crazy. Ask me how much I care about their comments!
Also, I have talked my neighbor into getting her old bike out and tuned-up for riding. Small progress, but progress.
In my city, we are doing a petition drive for "Complete Streets" and trying to make this city more livable and usable for everyone, not just people who have cars. I am amazed at the level of hostility cyclists, walkers, people in motorized wheelchairs and other users of the streets receive. Road rage toward cyclists is very real! And to think that paved roads were first laid for cyclists, then the car came along and now they think they own this road-- exclusively. When oil gets too expensive for them to drive, they will then be experiencing a major attitude adjustment.

[Radine!]

Thanks Lew for the hopeful note and great tip and website!!!

There is a MAJOR shift occurring at all levels right now -- it's amazing to watch and feel.

I found that in my online circles, I was preaching to the choir re: shopping, consuming, planting your own food and boycotting corporate control. It seems a couple have joined me though -- thanks.

We've "Become the Change" -- now it's about time to reap what we've sown.

Om Shanti