ACTION
Things you can do...
Global Renaissance
Alliance
A citizen-based, international network of spiritual activists. Their
mission is to make a stand in local and national communities for the role of
spiritual principle in solving the problems of the world.
http://renaissancealliance.org/GRA/index.html
Principles for a New
Activism
THE SEVEN PRINCIPLES
The following principles
form the philosophical basis for the work of the spiritual
activist. On the first Tuesday of every month, Marianne
Williamson, leads a conference call exploring the meaning of the principles
and their application to the work of the Global Renaissance Alliance and the
healing of our planet.
1.
STILLNESS AS A POLITICAL TOOL
The cultivation of a quiet mind is the most effective antidote to chaos.
2.
ENVISIONING AS A POLITICAL TOOL
In the material realm, power is determined by material wealth; in the
spiritual realm, power is determined by spiritual wealth.
3.
INTERPERSONAL HEALING AS A POLITICAL TOOL
The source of war lies in each of us, as does the source of peace. As we
rid our own hearts of the spark of violence, we are fostering peace in the
world.
4. DEPTH OF
INSIGHT AS A POLITICAL TOOL
The most powerful axis of activism today is vertical rather than horizontal.
The depth of a conversation is more important than how many people are
involved in it.
5. RADICAL
GOOD WILL AS A POLITICAL TOOL
Recognition and affirmation of the spiritual innocence in all human
beings creates a field of possibility for the emergence of miracles.
6. SACRED
SPACE AS A POLITICAL TOOL
The simple configuration of people gathered in a circle, sharing prayer
and meditation and heartfelt conversation, casts a web of healing power
affecting not only the members of the circle but the world at large.
7.
SPIRITUALLY CENTERED ACTION AS A POLITICAL TOOL
The New Activist wields power by standing for what could be, as opposed
to fighting what is. Making a stand for a new possibility, the personality
attains the power to create it.
Using the
tools above, the New Activist has greater capacity to be an instrument of
change. In service to a higher good, allowing a higher dimension of
awareness to affect our personalities, we are thus in a position to effect
the greatest good. New wine demands new bottles, new ends demand new means,
and new ideas demand new hearts.
To read these
7 Principles in their entirety go to the Global Renaissance Alliance here:
http://renaissancealliance.org/GRA/principlesna.htm
The
above list of Principles is reminiscent of the focus of a non-profit
organization called Meditation
Groups, Inc.
"The
purpose of this group is to continue the creation and maintenance of a world
wide group of meditators. Through their meditation and service they will
help humanity to understand, and eventually embody, the Laws and
Principles which are destined to guide humanity through the Age of
Aquarius."
Those
Laws and Principles are:
The Law of
Spiritual Approach…creating
an inner-directed soulful life that is as much "vertical" as
horizontal.
The
Principle of Essential Divinity...living
life with the realization that all that exists is interconnected by a spark
of the Divine...
The
Law of Group Endeavor…cooperation
for the common good, and the Principle of Unanimity...recognizing
the Unity in our diversity.
The
Law of Right Human Relations…The
great linking factor between person and person and all other life forms.
The
Principle of Goodwill...the basic intention to good that
drives the concern for world peace and the quality of life for all humanity
and life on the planet.
To
learn more about Meditation as a Service go to the Meditation Groups website
at:
http://www.meditation.com/index.htm
BOOKS AND ARTICLES TO
READ...
The
Breaking Point
- an
interview with Duane Elgin by Carter Phipps,
What is Enlightenment? Magazine, Spring/Summer 2001
What
does awakening look like as it moves into the world? Our entire future may
depend on how we answer this question, on how effectively we are able to bring
a spiritual perspective to bear on the urgent global challenges faced by our
awakening species at this decisive juncture in our evolutionary journey.
Go
to article.
Conscious Evolution
: Awakening the Power of Our Social Potential
by
Barbara
Marx Hubbard, Neale
Donald Walsch
New World Library; ISBN:
1577310160
Human beings have now gained the ability to
shape their own evolution, explains Hubbard, and therefore the next world
task is to become conscious of this power and guide the earth and all its
inhabitants into survival and fulfillment of our potential. Born out of the
new spirituality, which began as a path toward self- awareness, but has
quickly spread into a "social potential movement," Hubbard
predicts that the ideology of "conscious evolution" will be seen
as a pivotal turning point in human history, leading us into an era of
heightened creativity, environmental accountability, and spiritual
development.
Her message is steeped in intelligent
writing and persuasive research. But most enticing, she writes as an
optimist as well as a visionary. Rather than buy into the "old
story" of imminent self-destruction, Hubbard sees the potential for
humanity to create a "new story" that melds all our
advances--spiritual, scientific, and social--into a glorious vision for the
future. --Gail Hudson
Promise
Ahead:
A
Vision of Hope and Action for
Humanity's Future
by
Duane Elgin
(Vicki Robin, introduction)
May 2000, 256 pages
William Morrow & Co.
We face either a
"destructive evolutionary crash" or an "evolutionary
bounce" that will take us to a new "level of maturity that we
could not attain without confronting these trials."
Duane Eglin sees
this upbeat prospect as "a leap forward in our collective maturity to
build a life together" that will be:
"Sustainable
– in harmony with the Earth’s biosphere," or physical
ecosystem... "Satisfying – in harmony with
others," or the social-cultural ecosystem...and "Soulful
– in harmony with the ‘life force’," or spiritual ecosystem.
(p.12)
http://www.awakeningearth.org/books.html
Awakening
Earth:
Exploring
the Evolution of Human
Culture and Consciousness
by Duane Elgin
November 1993, 382 pages
ISBN:0688116213
William Morrow & Co.
Awakening
Earth provides a catalyst for this conversation with its integrative
vision and inspiring map of the journey towards a sustainable,
compassionate, and creative future.
While not
predicting a sudden "new age" of social enlightenment, Awakening
Earth does present the promising view that humanity is roughly halfway
through seven major transformations in culture and consciousness required to
build a planetary civilization that can endure into the deep future.
http://www.awakeningearth.org/books/awakening/aedescription.html
|
JUNE 5, 2001
WORLD
ENVIRONMENT DAY
NOT
JUST ANOTHER DAY
|
 World
Environment Day, commemorated each year on 5 June,
is about you and me.
It is one of the
principal vehicles through which the United Nations stimulates worldwide
awareness of the environment and enhances political attention and action.
The theme, Connect
with the World Wide Web of Life, reflects the need to make the
connection, in whatever way we can, between ourselves and all life on Earth.
That connection can be through modern technology, traditional means or by
joining hands with other individuals and organizations. WED provides an
excellent opportunity to translate that connection into action.
Broadly, our agenda
is to give a human face to environmental issues; empower people to become active
agents of sustainable and equitable development; promote an understanding that
communities are pivotal to changing attitudes towards environmental issues; and
advocate partnership which will ensure all nations and peoples enjoy a safer and
more prosperous future.
World Environment Day is a
people's event with colorful activities such as street rallies, bicycle parades,
green concerts, essays and poster competitions in schools, tree planting, as
well as recycling and clean-up campaigns. World Environment Day is also a
multi-media event which inspires thousands of journalists to write and report
enthusiastically and critically on the environment. It is a visual event with
television documentaries, photo exhibits and displays, as well as an
intellectual event for those who organize and participate in seminars,
roundtable meetings and symposia. In many countries, this observance provides an
opportunity to sign or ratify international conventions and sometimes leads to
the establishment of permanent government structures dealing with environmental
management and economic planning.
| On this World
Environment Day, let us examine the state of our environment. Let us
consider carefully the actions which each of us must take, and then address
ourselves to our common task of preserving all life on earth in a mood of sober
resolution and quiet confidence. |
|
More books to check out
A few interesting websites
to explore:
From
Marianne Williamson's website:
Save America's Forests www.saveamericasforests.org
They have worked to get politicians in Washington to become more serious about
forest protection.
Earth Island Institute:
www.earthisland.org
Innovative action for the environment. A good source of information regarding
worldwide environmental concerns, also numerous opportunities to take action.
The Global Renaissance
Alliance founded by Marianne Williamson and Neale Donald-Walsh.
Mr Smith E-mails Washington!
A terrific site to find your Senators and Congressional representatives on-line
and instantly E-mail them. Also included are the President and the
Vice-president
We The People Jerry Brown's
"We the People" Home Page. This Political page is very informative
and very direct.
The Natural Law Party of
the USA A political party that believes in Non-conflict oriented politics.
You can read their platform and hear Real Audio comments by their candidates.
One World Online. Based
in the UK. Award-winning site contains much information about global political
and environmental concerns.
WebActive This is a heavy
duty activist site! Be sure and check out their "featured site" of the
week. It's always changing. They also have a great "Counterspin" page.
Welcome To
The White House The Whitehouse Web site. Informative and a good place to
read about and respond to the current administration.
The Foundation for Ethics and Meaning www.meaning.org
Seeks to reawaken and foster the simple yet transformative belief that people
are yearning for meaningful connections to others and to a purpose greater than
themselves.
and a few
more from the Cultural Creatives website:
|
Bioregionalism,
Deep Ecology and Sustainability
|
The
Northwest Earth Institute is a pioneer in taking earth-centered education
programs to people where they spend their time-in their neighborhoods,
workplaces, homes, schools, and centers of faith. These programs are
organized around three key principles: an ecocentric view of the earth,
reflected in the principles of deep ecology; the practice of simplicity to
enrich life & to reduce personal impact on the earth; a dedication to
knowing and protecting the unique place where you live.
|
|
Coalition
for Healthier Cities and Communities
|
A
network and coalition whose mission is to
stimulate and encourage collaborative action and efficient use of
resources from multiple sectors and community systems. A primary focus of
the Coalition is to promote the initiation, development and sustainability
of initiatives that result in healthy people and healthy communities. We
promote these initiatives at the local, regional, state and national
levels-- particularly those with a focus on the well-being of families and
children.
|
|
Cooperative
Extension Service
|
In
your home town – or nearby. A
wonderful resource for practical tips for living lightly on the land.
|
|
Deep
Ecology Index
|
This
site provides a wonderful array of readings in Deep Ecology.
|
|
Global
Action Plan
|
Global
Action Plan was founded in 1989, is an environmental education, non-profit
organization that promotes and supports the development of environmentally
sustainable lifestyles in America. Over the past 10 years, GAP has developed
an effective neighborhood organizing model in its work with over 10,000
people and hundreds of neighborhood groups throughout the United States
|
|
International
Institute for Ecological Agriculture
|
This
site is one of the best overviews to the permaculture.
Permaculture is the art and science of designing human beings' place
in the environment. Permaculture design teaches you to understand and mirror
the patterns found in healthy natural environments. You can then build
profitable, productive, sustainable, cultivated ecosystems, which include
people, and have the diversity, stability, and resilience of natural
ecosystems.
|
|
One
Earth Network
|
An
interesting collection of links to organizations and projects promoting
“one earth” thinking.
|
|
Project
Earth
|
PROJECT
EARTH was conceived of with the clear understanding
that we are either conscious or unconscious participants in our
existence. We do not exist in isolation. We are not separate from the
totality of existence. The dynamic of Project Earth has always been based on
the healing of the grotesque concept of personal and societal isolation
through the reintegration of the human species. We reintegrate with one
another when we communicate. Then
the warning signals can pass throughout humanity.
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