Asia's Air (Pollution)

There are many wonderful things about Asia. Most people are very friendly, the food is incredible, the ancient culture's are unique, and there is pristine Nature away from the urban area's.
However, one negative aspect that sets most of Asia apart from the rest of the World is the poor quality of Air. China's cities have notoriously unhealthy air and most cities throughout Asia have terrible air quality.
I happen to live in Taiwan, one of the four economic 'little tigers' of Asia. (others being South Korea, Singapore, & Hong Kong) Taiwan's economic growth has a cost though, as the air quality in it's major cities (where most of it's citizens live) is quite poor many days of the year.
The northern capital of Taipei has poor air quality on many days, mainly due to it's geographical location in a basin (former swamp) surrounded by mountains. Although it has an excellent public transit train and bus system there are almost one million gasoline-powered scooters in the city alone causing much of the pollution. Dust & Industrial Pollution drifting across the Taiwan Strait from China also causes air quality problems at certain times of the year.
Air pollution in other parts of Taiwan is mainly caused by local industries like petrochemical/ethylene, plastics, & other toxic factories.
In southern Kaohsiung, the second largest city, the power plant is the major source of pollution. Taiwan has some of the largest carbon-dioxide producing coal plants in the World, which is shameful to the intelligence here & harmful to the children and elderly living near these monstrous plants.
Besides the obvious solution of converting to alternative energies like wind & solar, and using natural gas instead of coal, expanding conservation efforts is a must. With an island population of 23 milllion, people should be encouraged to use fans instead of cranking their air-conditioners all the time. Industrial plants should be required to conserve energy and toxic industries like ethylene/naptha plastics should be phased out. Even simple acts like encouraging scooters to turn off their engines if sitting at red lights more than 30 seconds would help air quality. (Citizens sitting on gasoline scooters at crowded red lights are exposed to highly toxic levels of pollution particles)
A cultural aspect of air pollution unique to Taiwan is the burning of paper 'money' twice a month.(every new & full moon) Many residents & businesses burn huge amounts of colored (toxic) paper for good luck & to honor the 'ghost' ancestors. This unnecessary ritual makes the pollution even worse on these days. I think the 'ghosts' would accept a ceremonial burned check!
A different aspect of air pollution in Asia is indoor smoking. While the rest of the World is moving forward on this issue (even the pubs in Ireland are smoke-free!) Asia seems stuck in a 1950's time warp. Over 40% of Chinese men are smokers. In Taiwan, although an indoor smoking ban was recently made into law, smoking is still allowed in most pubs and nightclubs. Second-hand smoke is toxic air for everyone & even a non-smokers clothes will reek of smoke. Smoking cigarettes is the worst thing you can do for your health & if you smoke indoors around other people you are a social idiot.
People (not just in Asia) have not connected how their personal choices and actions are contributing to the problem. When we drive our gasoline machines instead of taking public transit or bikes we create more toxic air. When we leave lights on we 'waste' energy that is probably coming from a toxic power source. When we continually buy disposable 'plastic' cups/drinks that cup was created from a toxic plant and needs more energy generated to be recycled. (Reduce/Re-use/then Recycle) Do you know where the energy powering your home & community comes from? If you are not off-grid it is probably from a toxic power source.
We need to demand from our political leaders that citizens lungs are more important than industrial profit & wake up to how our daily actions are interconnected. Also, to appreciate good quality Air whenever we experience it. As the Pink Floyd song says, "Breathe, breathe in the Air..."

Stop honoring Columbus!.. Indigenous Peoples Day!

Why does America celebrate the life of an Italian explorer who was responsible for the murder and eventual genocide of an entire race of people?
When Christopher Columbus landed on Haiti/Hispaniola in 1495 for his second visit, his men took captive the 2,000 friendly Taino native villagers who came to greet him. The Spaniards, under the command of Columbus, began mass enslavement of the indigenous Taino peoples. Once gold was discovered Columbus set up a tribute system and had the hands cut off of Taino Indians who did not collect enough gold dust. For minor offenses an Indians nose or ears were cut off and Spaniards even hunted Indians for sport and murdered them for dog food.
As he began exporting the Taino as slaves, the sex-trade became an important part of the business, as Columbus wrote a friend in 1500: "A hundred castelanoes (coins) are as easily obtained for a woman as a farm, and it is very general and there are plenty of dealers who go about looking for these girls; those from nine to ten (years old) are now in demand."
As the Taino natives did not make very good slaves Columbus, and later his brother Bartholomew, simply resorted to an 'ethnic cleansing' and wiping out the Taino people all together. Prior to Columbus' arrival most scholars place the native population at three million people. By 1516 the population was 12,000. By 1555 not a single Taino was alive. The Taino culture, people, and genes have vanished from the Planet.
Celebrating the life of a mass murderer is not worthy of America. There is a growing movement to change Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples Day to honor all the incredible people and cultures who lived here long before Columbus set sail for the West Indies. Indigenous Peoples Day would be joyously celebrated across the nation by the descendants of European explorers and indigenous peoples coming together to celebrate our ancestors.

Octopussy & Overpopulation

Start counting out loud...1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10....That is the human population growth taking place right now on this Planet. If you continue counting for 24 hours you will get to about 200,000 which the amount of human population growth added everyday on Earth. (350,000 babies are born everyday & 150,000 humans die everyday) About 74 million humans are added each year!
For most of human history Homo Sapiens species population has been far below one Billion. In 1800 it reached one Billion, by 1960 it reached 3 Billion, & less than 50 years later is approaching 7 Billion.
Almost all of ecological & society's problems can be traced to overpopulation. Deforestation, loss of species, soil erosion, pollution, & numerous other problems have roots in mankind's relentless quest to populate the Planet. When we cut tropical rain forests to raise cattle to kill for fast-food 'hamburgers' we are basically turning the Earth into a giant human feedlot.
Octopussy is not only the name of an old James Bond movie but also a name given to the recent 'Octo-Mom', a U.S. woman with 6 children who decided to go to a fertility clinic & ended up giving birth to eight more! Now she has her own TV show & so does another family who will soon be having their 18th kid! Instead of celebrating these idiots perhaps their husband/partners should be taken to a clinic & given a few snips to end their prolific stupidity!
The fact is that anyone having more than 2 children is contributing to overpopulation. You may be a mother reading this with 3 or more children(I am not calling you stupid!) so to balance the population let's hope at least one of your kids is Gay or becomes a monk or nun!
The main factor in population increase has been the rise in production of food. With the discovery of oil & the development of the tractor humans were suddenly able to produce many more crops than just using horses or oxen.
Another factor has been Religion. 'Be fruitful & multiply' has been a Bible tenet & organizations like the Catholic Church & their opposition to birth control has made Christianity the most followed religion. Of course this has consequences as an overpopulated Catholic country like the Philippines is now a net importer of rice. (while a Buddhist country like Thailand is an exporter) Protestant sub-sects like Mormonism are prolific breeders too & obviously Christian tenets like being 'good stewards' of the Earth are not highly valued.
Despite wacko's like the Octomom the birthrate in most wealthy democracies is going down. One of the single most factors in causing a birthrate to decrease is providing education & access to birth control to women. When women are given opportunities they overwhelmingly chose to limit the number of children they have to create a better quality of life for themselves & their children. We need to support family planning clinics in every nation & community. We also need to stop demonizing women who chose to have abortions. (Without abortions the population growth would be much greater)
Kid's are great! Let's just stop having so damn many of them.

For a fascinating look at population growth & other mind-boggling global statistics/World Clock
http://www.peterrussell.com

Don't Fear the Reaper

All our times have come
Here but now they're gone
Seasons don't fear the Reaper
nor do the Wind, Sun, or Rain
We can Be like they are
Come on baby..don't fear the Reaper
Baby take my hand..don't fear the Reaper
We'll be able to fly..don't fear the Reaper

(Don't Fear) the Reaper was a classic rock song from the band Blue Oyster Cult in the 1970's. The lyricist stated the song was about not fearing Death (the Reaper), and the power of Love to endure our physical Forms.
All Life (forms) are subject to Death & there is a constant flow of death & birth on this Planet.
About 150,000 People die each day. About 350,000 Babies are born every day. (another topic!)
Look around you as you go about your day. Every person you meet today, or see on the internet or television is going to die one day. So will you. If we are lucky we will die an old man or woman, surrounded by loved ones or perhaps peacefully in our sleep. But there is no guarantee of that. The only guarantee is that you, & every human being & other life forms on this Planet will die some day.
You may have a simplistic belief that on death you will ascend to 'heaven' & play harps with Jesus, or as a Muslim will be hanging out with the 101 virgins. Or perhaps you are a New-Ager & your 'guides' tell you death is like 'taking off an tight shoe'. Or perhaps you are a Buddhist or Hindu & believe in reincarnation but that doesn't change the fact that YOU, as a separate Body-Mind in THIS LIFETIME will cease to exist one day. Your children or friends may remember you for many years afterwards but eventually memories will fade, & they too will face the 'Grim Reaper'.
The more we examine, or embrace this subtle(or not so subtle) FEAR of Death that occurs throughout our experiences as a Human Being, the more Freedom we actually have. Freedom to BE fully ALIVE in this unique BODY-MIND in THIS LIFETIME.

ps (recently good friends have passed away... this is something I wrote this over 10 years ago when my father died..)

Jerry Garcia is dead. My father died in May. Summer is coming to an end and autumn slowly appears. We grieve for loved ones and let go knowing precious memories remain and their spirit lives on in each of us.
Out of the darkness of night, we see stars of light. Whether the soul lives on behind the pearly gates or is soon reincarnated again to experience this earthly realm is not as important as the love shared between sentient beings. Love is eternal and will not fade away. Love is beyond all words...Love Is! Feel it, don't think about it! Feel the inhalation...and exhalation...:)


We'll be able to fly...Don't fear the Reaper..

A ''Bleeding Heart' Liberal

I was going to title this post 'The Republican Soccer Mom' or 'What Would Jesus Do?' but the fact is I'm not a Republican or a Christian. So consider me a 'bleeding heart' Liberal/Progressive.
Recently I was called a 'commie' online for sharing an article on increasing the tax rate on wealthy individuals so perhaps I will state what this 'bleeding heart' progressive's ( still evolving) political belief's are.
-I believe in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (adopted by US/UN in 1948)
art. 1 "All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood."
-I believe in the Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights, & the U.S. Constitution as a living, evolving document. (Abolishing Corporate Personhood should be the next amendment)
-I believe in the Green Party's 10 Key Values
-Money has corrupted the U.S. political system & no real change will happen without serious campaign finance reform (public-funded elections)
-Government is necessary in our over-populated, industrialized society
-Progressive taxation creates a more egalitarian, just society
-Capitalism without environmental & other regulations is a destructive system
-All workers have the right to form a union & have a living wage
-The "growing military,industrial complex" is out of control & the Pentagon's budget is obscene
-U.S. citizens are less safe because of the foreign bases & hundred's of thousands of soldiers stationed in foreign lands (other people's countries)
-Dropping bombs(& firing missles by drones) on rural villages & cities is terrorism
-Climate Change is a far more serious threat to the U.S./World than Muslim extremism
-Single Payer/Universal Health Care is a RIGHT for all people

Recently I have connected on Facebook with old school friends, many who classify themselves as Republicans and/or Christians. Although I know in their daily lives these folks are kind to their family & friends I am amazed at how 'cold-hearted' their political views can be toward others. Many post political opinion 'polls' & some of those polls are truly mean-spirited.
I wonder if the average 'Republican soccer Mom' has considered how her support for Republican politicians & policies may actually be harmful to her children's future. Republicans have been against alternative energy & Climate Change initiatives for over two decades. The last incompetent Republican President wasted eight years of action despite overwhelming scientific evidence that industrial/human actions are heating the Planet. (only 6% of scientists consider themselves Republican)
As for Jesus, wasn't he a homeless wanderer who healed the sick free of charge & talked about 'turning swords into plowshares'? Didn't he radically speak out against the wealthy & Pharisee's, who were concerned with upholding "the law" but had become hardened against the needs of the people? Which political party is the 'Pharisee's' of today? Who is concerned with morality (gay marriage) but cares nothing about people in pain & need?
Would Jesus spend waste one second listening to Rush Limbaugh or the blowhards on Fox 'News'? Would He support the 'status quo' of 18,000 unnecessary deaths a year & millions of people without insurance or support health care for everyone?
I respect people's right to protest but where was the outrage when the U.S. dropped bombs and invaded other countries? If you call yourself a 'conservative' & rant against the poor/welfare but not against corporate 'welfare' or the Pentagon's budget & military occupations you are being inconsistent (Rep. Ron Paul is the last conservative/libertarian politician with any integrity)
We need more 'bleeding hearts" in the United States. With 18,000 unnecessary deaths a year Health Insurance is a MORAL issue. We need people to realize that government policies/actions can create less real suffering in the world(by giving millions health insurance) or more suffering (military actions)...
Well, this 'bleeding heart' has ranting long enough...Maybe I've offended a few folks..Sorry, but thanks for reading!

Eat less, live longer! (68)

The first thing to realize when wanting to change one's eating habits is that less food is better. In a study with rats the group that lived the longest & was the healthiest had their food intake cut by forty percent. Whales have the largest brains on the Planet & usually spend weeks at a time fasting. Perhaps 40% would be a bit too drastic for most people but cutting our calorie intake is the first step in cleansing our bodies. I read somewhere that the average American (German,etc) has up to 5 pounds of toxic waste stuck in their colon. We are literally 'full of shit!'
Eating less & doing a 'master cleanse' or some other colon cleanse is well known to have incredible health benefits.
In eating it is important to realize that the more natural or raw the food is then it will have more bio-energy or life-force. Vegetables(& fruits) that are eaten raw, or lightly steamed, are far healthier than something that has been cooked too much. Eating 'fried' food is perhaps the worst choice one can make as frying changes the molecular structure of the food to something like plastic someone once told me.
I've written previously about the spiritual, ethical, & health benefits of vegetarianism(post 62) so I won't go into detail on that. Suffice to say that eating a plant-centered diet vs. a meat-centered diet is far healthier. When you buy dead animal corpses(meat) from a store it has probably come from a 'factory farm' & you are not being aware of the hormone injections & other toxic materials that the animal has been forced to consume. You only think you need 'meat' everyday!
Vegans are even healthier than vegetarians. A vegan is someone who does not any animal products, like dairy products from cows. Are adults really supposed to drink cow's milk? Children would be much healthier too if they were given rice or soy milk instead of cow's milk.
Of course, drastically cutting back on sugar & processed food is important for health. Stop buying sugar-laced soft drinks & drink more filtered water or tea. Stop eating 'fast food' because we really don't know what we are consuming. Of course, that is the key to it all. Know what you are consuming/eating! The body is the 'temple' of the soul/spirit so give it good 'fuel'. Give it a tune-up(cleanse) & 'change the oil'(olive oil!) every few months or so. You will be glad you did!

ps. for my Asian friends who eat white rice with everything...I was told by someone (who eats a 90% raw diet) that white rice is basically 'empty' calories with hardly any nutritional value...anyone to defend white rice?

If I was President Pike

If I was the President of the United States of America...

-I would demand that Congress pass a serious public finance campaign law to get the money out of politics that corrupts every progressive legislative proposal

-Call for a Constitutional Convention and encourage the next Amendment to be one rescinding corporate personhood (multi-national corporate c.e.o.'s controlled the highest levels of the last Republican White House & appear to have much influence in the current Democratic one)

-Follow the wisdom of Founding Fathers like Washington & Jefferson and decrease the standing Army (& Air Force)...the original Constitution only calls for a strong Navy (& Marines) & Militia (National Guard)...By decreasing the Pentagon's budget( currently over ONE TRILLION a year for War-related activities) more money will be freed for peaceful purposes (rather than bullets and bombs)

-Close all 727 U.S. bases in foreign countries and bring all troops back to U.S. soil...(didn't Bin Laden state one of his main reasons his Saudi men attacked was because we had U.S. troops on the 'holy land' of Saudia Arabia?)

-take steps to close the Federal Reserve Bank & set up bio-regional community banks without Wall Streets influence (how did a private bank get so powerful to 'loan' money to the U.S. government?)

-Massive investment in clean energy like solar and wind power. Nationalize natural resources such as gas,minerals, and water (Exxon's 15 billion quarterly profit will go directly in the US Treasury)

-Explain to the American people that Health Care is a basic right & 'Socialism' is not a dirty word. Overtime pay, 8 hour work days, Racial and Women's rights have all been achieved through social movements.

-Stop Corporate Welfare for huge corporations. Increase corporate taxes. (In 1969 corporations paid 29% of US tax burden and now only 6%) Greatly increase the tax on wealthy citizens making over 2 million dollars a year.

-Legalize Nature. Anything that grows in nature should not be illegal. Legalize hemp and marijuana & the coca leaf. Tax it & bring in billions for the Treasury. Re-direct (or shut down) government agencies like the DEA to go after dangerous, destructive drugs like crystal meth. Empty the prisons of non-violent drug offenders and save money by closing half the prisons.
Of course, by legalizing hemp(food,fiber, & clothing) & marijuana (medicine) we could re-vitalize small farmers and cut American's addiction to pharmo-chemicals.

-Create a Dept. of Peace. We already have a Dept. of War (re-named 'Defense') so let's balance the Cabinet.

-Make the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) a Cabinet-level department. Clean Air,Soil, & Water is a basic right for all species, especially humans.

-Change Columbus Day (a genocide murderer who was involved in the sex slave trade of girls as young as 9) to Indigenous Peoples Day to honorthe true 'Founding Fathers(& Mothers) of America.

-Appoint progressive people to make policies & be in charge of federal agencies like Rep. Kucinich of Ohio or Sen. Russ Feingold of Wisconsin...Make Ralph Nader Attorney General. Make scholars Noam Chomsky Sec. of State & Chalmbers Johnson Sec. of Defense.

Of course, I'm not the President. Never will be. I also realize I have almost zero chance of President Obama reading and being influenced by this blog. So consider this my 'last political will & testament.' (for awhile at least) I consider myself a Progressive Democrat with strong Green & Libertarian values but realize about half of my family and friends have voted for Republican politicians I think should be serving time in prison. To me, the Republican Party has been overwhelmingly corrupted by Corporate America & over half the Democrat Party appears to be corrupted. Anyone who wants to wake up from the corporate media dream only has to read internet sites like my North Carolina professor friend Ray Bawarchi's blog.
http://www.raybawarchi.blogspot.com
or sites like
http://www.commondreams.org

Political writers more astute than myself, like Ray & noted author Thom Hartmann, are offering policies and making wise comments on our current political situation. So 'President' Pike is resigning from the world political stage for now. I will devote my energy to teaching English, learning Chinese, riding bikes, learning to play guitar & surfing, & finding time to goof off every now & zen. Good night America.




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