Monday Spotlight: Lantern Books

A new feature of this blog will be Monday Spotlight. Every week I'll blog about a specific website that advances freedom, animal rights, environmentalism, human rights, or any similar cause.

Lantern Books is an online retailer/publisher that specializes in books concerning "animal advocacy, children's books, health & environment, psychology, religion, social thought, and vegetarianism".

Lantern Books also publishes a fantastic blog, The Lantern Books Blog, which has a wide array of material. Even better, most posts have a section at the end devoted to books on related topics.

You can visit their website here: Lantern Books


Previous spotlight: Charity Navigator

Chernobyl

Today is the 21st anniversary of the worst nuclear accident in history. On this date in 1986, near Pripyat in Ukraine, reactor number 4 of the Chernobyl power plant was part of a routine shutdown. The employees, who have since been regarded as inadequate, disregarded the safety instructions about the reactor becoming unstable at such low power. After a quick power surge, the reactor exploded and fires fed contamination into the air, ultimately releasing 100-150 million curies of radiation. The radiation contaminated parts of Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus, although some European stations recording small amounts of radiation far away from the plant. Belarus, who got the worst, lost 20% of it’s farmland immediately after the accident. Half of the radiation from Chernobyl was found in Belarus. 200,000 people eventually had to be evacuated, but because the government was slow and wasn’t honest with the citizens in the surrounding towns, many people were exposed unknowingly to the radiation. As officials realized how far-reaching the radiation had traveled, the evacuated more and more people. Thousands of “liquidators” were brought in from around the USSR to work in the cleanup efforts. All of them received very high does of radiation. To fight the fires that were continuously feeding more radiation into the air, they threw 5,000 metric tones of lead, boron, sand, and clay onto it. After it failed to significantly reduce radiation, they built what has since become known as the “sarcophagus”. However, because it was hastily built, it was not made to last. Plans are underway to build a newer, stronger containment. Initially, there were only two deaths (both workers who will killed during the first explosions), but by August the figure had risen to 31.

Many studies have been done around Chernobyl since the accident. Today, 1 out of 4 Belarussians live on contaminated land, which is about 2.1 million people. The radiation collected in the soil, destroying farms and poisoning groundwater. Thyroid cancer has increased dramatically in children born and raised after the accident. Overall, though, it’s very hard to say what the exact toll of the Chernobyl tragedy was. Although most scientists agree that the high numbers of thyroid cancer patients is a direct result of the radiation, other illnesses are harder to attribute to it. Many of them could also be caused by stress or poor nutrition. In the studies done throughout the years, the number of actual deaths due to Chernobyl has been anywhere between the 31 killed immediately after the accident to Greenpeace’s 270,000. The number usually agreed upon is 10,000 - 50,000. Chernobyl had a lasting effect on the area’s citizens, but it also had a large effect on the rest of the world.

Chernobyl taught us that accidents can and do happen. Since 1986, nuclear power plants have been made considerably safer, but they will never be fool-proof. Activists have used Chernobyl for years to highlight just how dangerous nuclear power is. Every year in America, there are a number of unreported near-accidents at plants around the country. Luckily, none of them have become disasters, but it’s not inconceivable that it could happen here in America.

There are plenty of alternatives to nuclear power. The US would be much better of investing all of their money and resources in clean energy, which will be the choice for future generations. For example, in place of dangerous, dirty, and current sources of energy, there could be wind, water, or solar power. Great leaps are being made in science that are constantly making these forms of energy cheaper and more effective. Let’s all get behind clean energy and save ourselves from another Chernobyl.

Please take a moment to give your thoughts to the victims of Chernobyl, some of whom have to live with terrible illnesses and destroyed lives.
Chabad's Children of Chernobyl
Chernobyl
Chernobyl's Children Project International
Children of Chernobyl USA
For the Children
Humanity for Chernobyl
Strong Like a Willow

There's also a great book on the subject, Svetlana Alexievich's Voices from Chernobyl, a collection of first-hand accounts of the disaster.

This is funny?

There's always been people with disgusting and offensive humor. Most of the time I just ignore it. I gave up trying to change people long ago, especially since I grew up in a place where most of the people aren't exactly considerate (your typical redneck, racist, chauvinistic Bible-belt town). But this says a lot about today's American culture.
I can't even imagine how you propose a joke like this. It's hard to picture someone saying, "I know what we could do - lets joke about being in a rape club. That'd be hilarious!" Like the good people at Feministing put it, ASSHOLES.

One more potential accident

The U.S. has just made an agreement where Japan will build the first nuclear power plant in the country in 30 years. Supposedly, according to Samuel Bodman (our energy secretary), Japan is capable of making the safest reactors.

I've always been against nuclear power. I think it might have something to do with my near-obsession with Chernobyl (who's anniversary is tomorrow - watch for my post), but I have a feeling it goes a lot further than that. I remember reading somewhere that there are thousands of near-accidents at U.S. plants that go unreported. It's not inconceivable that something catastrophic will happen due to one of these.

There's also no perfect way to get rid of nuclear waste, which sticks around for thousands and thousands of years. There's no telling what long-term affects the waste will ultimately have, but I can assure you it won't be good.

The main reason I'm against Nuclear power: It's unnecessary. The money our government is investing in this project could very well be invested instead in clean energy. We all know that clean energy is the way to go, but for one reason or another our leaders are ignoring it. It would be better for the US to go ahead and put all our resources into clean energy instead of being behind the times.

Oh Rosie!

Rosie O'Donnell is a woman full of controversy. You either love her or hate her. It just so happens that I love her.

She's been in the news a lot lately, thanks to some of the statements she's made on The View. In my opinion, she's been in the news a bit too much. She's become a distraction for the media.

I've watched The View in the past, although I'm not a regular. I'm just not much of a television person. Recently, she's made statements about 9/11, the media, Iraq, and Trump. Bill O'Reilly wants her fired, and she's become his liberal of choice on his show (which I don't personally watch, I just hear about. I'm not keen on making his ratings any higher). That is particularly funny to me. Bill O'Reilly, master bullshitter, liar, and propagandist, getting oh so upset over a liberal that makes sense.

I think it was the 9/11 questions that got the media's attention. But it really doesn't matter. The whole point of The View is to talk about anything, and that's exactly what she does. She just brings up actual news and questions instead of the pretty news that the media and most people are used to. Our freedom of speech (which might not be around that much longer - enjoy it while you can) affords her the right to say whatever she wants. If she wanted to, she could get on the show tomorrow and say Bush is a yellow-winged pixie from the world of Xenji who's come to kill us all with his magic ray-gun.

People need to realize that if you don't appreciate O'Donnell's views, just don't watch her. It's not that big of a deal.

Letter From Soldiers

During the Spanish Civil War in the 30s, American volunteers traveled to Spain to help defeat fascism. Recently I came across a site that had posted letters from soldiers writing home. I wanted to share one with you.

Albacete, Spain
July 6, 1937

My Dear Friend:

I'm sure that by this time you are still waiting for a detailed explanation of what has this international struggle to do with my being here. Since this is a war between whites who for centuries have held us in slavery, and have heaped every kind of insult and abuse upon us, segregated and jim-crowed us; why I, a Negro who have fought through these years for the rights of my people, am here in Spain today?

Because we are no longer an isolated minority group fighting hopelessly against an immense giant. Because, my dear, we have joined with, and become an active part of, a great progressive force, on whose shoulders rest the responsibility of saving human civilization from the planned destruction of a small group of degenerates gone made in their lust for power. Because if we crush Fascism here we'll save our people in America, and in other parts of the world from the vicious persecution, wholesale imprisonment, and slaughter which the Jewish people suffered and are suffering under Hitler's Fascist heels.

All we have to do is to think of the lynching of our people. We can but look back at the pages of American history stained with the blood of Negroes; stink with the burning bodies of our people hanging from trees; bitter with the groans of our tortured loved ones from whose living bodies ears, fingers, toes have been cut for souvenirs - living bodies into which red-hot pokers have been thrust. All because of a hate created in the minds of men and women by their masters who keep us all under their heels while they suck our blood, while they live in their bed of ease by exploiting us.

But these people who howl like hungry wolves for our blood, must we hate them? Must we keep the flame which these masters kindled constantly fed? Are these men and women responsible for the programs of their masters, and the conditions which force them to such degraded depths? I think not. They are tools in the hands of unscrupulous masters. These same people are as hungry as we are. They live in dives and wear rags the same as we do. They, too, are robbed by the masters, and their faces kept down in the filth of a decayed system. They are our fellowmen. Soon, and very soon, they and we will understand. Soon, and very soon, they and we will understand. Soon, many Angelo Herndons will rise from among them, and from among us, and will lead us both against those who live by the stench of our burnt flesh. We will crush them. We will build us a new society -- a society of peace and plenty. There will be no color line, no jim-crow trains, no lynching. That is why, my dear, I'm here in Spain.

Canute [Frankson]


Here is the link to the page. There are plenty more for you to read.

Buddhism

I feel that, of all the changes that have overcome me throughout my life, one of them has had an especially profound effect: Buddhism.

Before I officially started to call myself a Buddhist, I subscribed to Buddhist thought. I think one of the most important aspects of Buddhism is that you don't have to be a Buddhist to get something out of its philosophy. In fact, a lot of people don't even consider it a religion, but instead a lifestyle.

Buddhism has made me more mindful and conscious of myself and those around me. The first book on Buddhism I ever encountered taught me to love everyone, even those I'd never met or disliked. The Buddha taught that you should treat everyone as you would treat your mother; after all, they were your mother in a past life.

Non-attachment is also a big part of Buddhism. Attachment, whether it's to things, places, or people, always leads to suffering. Through non-attachment, however, we can free ourselves from that suffering and have happier lives.

Like I said earlier, you don't have to be a Buddhist to take something away from the Buddha's teachings. You can learn compassion for the world around you, and you can give yourself and others a happier existence through love.

A Basic Buddhism Guide: Introduction to Buddhism

Victory for religious freedom

After long being discriminated against, Wiccans who die in the military can now have a pentacle on their tombstone. I first became aware of this fight in March of last year (you can read my original posts on the topic here and here).

I feel that Wicca is probably one of the most misunderstood religions in America. I've seen topics on message boards arguing whether it's a religion or not; I've heard people call them satanists; people generally think they're crazy. Even the poll on the site of the article shows that 33% of 120,001 people (which comes to about 39,600) do not support the Wiccans. This goes to show that we're still a long way from being free of discrimination.

Here's the Wikipedia article on Wicca, and here's the AOL article about the victory.

Magazines

I used to be a big magazine reader. Two years ago, I was subscribed to 15. I've learned my lesson since them.

My original reason for so many subscriptions was a combination of a trance-like devotion to women's magazines like Lucky, Glamour, Marie Claire, etc., and my liking mail. Luckily, I've broken free of the world in which sickly is beautiful and I have to want the latest $800 purse. Right now, there's only one magazine I still read, and that's Vanity Fair.

I've always thought it would be fantastic if magazines offered subscribers the option of going hard-copy free. Wouldn't it be nice if, instead of receiving a magazine in the mail, you could read it in .pdf format? I know some people still like to have something they can hold in their hands, but I'd much rather be able to read it without worrying about the distance it's traveled and whether or not the magazine is made out of recycled paper.

Sulak Sivaraksa's "Tasks for Modern Buddhists"

This excerpt is from Sulak Sivaraksa's 1976 lecture at the World Fellowship of Buddhists meeting in Thailand.

Is it too much for us Buddhists to appeal for:

1. The return to the traditional culture and spiritual values, for the elimination of those foreign elements which can cause discord and hatred among the people and can destroy the beauty of our traditions and customs.

2. An educational system that provides equal opportunities to every citizen, rich and poor, city dwellers and country people.

3. An economic policy that does not create gaps between people. There should be a policy which prevents the minority becoming richer and richer, while taking away the chances for a decent living from the majority. The Government should refrain from importing luxurious items for the sake of the consumption of the rich minority, forbid the transferring of money by the rich to deposit in foreign banks outside the country - not to mention the rich buying property abroad!

4. The re-organization of the armed forces, to educate soldiers to become friends of the villagers, not to oppress and terrorize them. The ignorance and ill-behavior of the soldiers can lead to more opposition that is violent from among the population.

5. The reform of life in the countryside. Efforts should be made to help farmers, small merchants and others to exercise their professions and organize themselves in order to produce better and to sell their products, and to encourage and protect people who are working to help in the work of rural development.

6. Attention to miserable conditions in the slum areas. Land should be distributed to those in the slums who would like to go and settle in the rural areas in order to have a better life. Food and transportation should be provided to those who wish to participate in such a programme.

7. A neutral and independent policy towards the conflicting powers to maintain a truly independent stand, non-aligned, trying to avoid involvement in any international conflicts in order to preserve peace.

8. A sensible and intelligent policy towards the armed opposition movement. Violent confrontation should be avoided. Sincere and direct contact with the leaders of the movement should be made immediately. Try to listen to every point of criticism and prove to the people by action that points being made by them can be realized in more peaceful ways in cooperation with them.

I thought that piece was rather interesting. One point that I want to highlight is number 4. "...to educate soldiers to become friends of the villagers, not to oppress... . The ignorance and ill-behavior of the soldiers can lead to more opposition that is violent from among the population."

When I read that, I immediately thought of Afghanistan and Iraq. I can't even begin to count how many instances I've heard, videos I've seen, of our troops treating the citizens of those countries disgustingly. And Sivaraksa is right; ill-behavior can and probably will lead to even more violence.

Look at it this way: If America were invaded in the name of "liberation", and the invading nation's troops treated us like objects instead of people, would you still love them? I'd bet that most people wouldn't. We'd be angry and fight back.

Death

Funerals have increasingly become more and more lavish. Coffins are lined with luxurious material, hundreds of dollars are spent on flowers, and people pay to give their departed loved ones the best farewell they can manage. However, I doubt the dead cares what they're laying on.

Funerals are meant, not for those that have died, but for the families. People generally put a lot of thought into every minuscule detail, but I doubt they consider the environmental aspects.

Obviously, a traditional burial isn't the most eco-friendly option. Vast amounts of land are used for graveyards, and modern coffins aren't exactly biodegradable.

Recently, cremation has come under fire (haha). A professor from the University of Melbourne named Roger Short has discovered that cremation produces carbon dioxide, which is a culprit of global warming. Thus, this also isn't the best option.

Before I go further, I want to say that I do not wish to impose my opinions on people. Everyone is free to decided what they want done with their bodies after their death. I only want to show people that there are ways to keep the environment in mind.

Something that Mr. Short is a proponent of are green burials. The boxes, like the bodies, are biodegradable.

Or you could donate your body to science. This could actually be a great idea for animal rights activists who wish to save animals from the hand of scientists.

Personally, I don't care what happens to my body after I die. I'm sure it won't matter to me. But I hope that my family and friends will keep the environment in mind.

"Flux News"

I've always loved Non Sequitur, but today it was even better than usual.

Non Sequitur

69%...

of Americans think things are going badly in Iraq.

I'm not surprised at that, but I am surprised that people are surprised the number is that high.

Link: Think Progress

Ethanol

I'm happy that a lot of people, including tons of bloggers, are taking notice of ethanol. Especially that they're talking about how it isn't all it's cracked up to be.

The largest problem I see with ethanol is the contribution it'll have on world hunger and the environment. It would take huge swaths of land to produce the corn needed, and we're already far over what the limit should be with agricultural practices like factory farming. And because so much corn will be needed to meet our demands, poorer nations will suffer horribly. A lot of people that depend on cheap corn will have to either find something else to eat (which isn't easy) or starve to death.

Recently, people have started talking about how ethanol isn't actually as green as it's supposed to be. Here are two related articles: That's Fit and LiveScience.

What really worries me about ethanol is that the Bush administration and "fake" environmentalists will use it as a publicity deal. Instead of actually researching and studying how to make transportation and fuel more efficient, they will just jump on the bandwagon and go with what makes them look good. I hope more and more people will talk about ethanol in the future, and that it'll break into the mainstream.

Updated: Discovery has another article.

Guns

With the recent events at Virginia Tech, a lot of people have been talking about gun control. I'm very liberal, but with gun control I'm undecided. I haven't quite made up my mind about where I stand on the issue.

I grew up (and still live) in the gun-toting "Bible Belt", so I've grown up around guns. I've shot a gun. I've held guns. My father's a lifetime member of the NRA. I've been to gun shows. There's a gun in this house right now. I'm not surprised to hear a gun shot at any time of the day.

I've always felt uncomfortable around guns. After all, they're made for killing. Why shouldn't I be uncomfortable around them? Most gun owners frequently regurgitate the phase, "Guns don't kill people, people kill people". We just need to keep "nut jobs" from owning and obtaining guns. Right? No. I disagree. People might pull the trigger, but without that gun it isn't as easy. Strangling or stabbing someone can still cause a death, and it does happen, but people generally have to be much closer than with a gun. Guns make murder easier. Another problem I have is that murderers aren't always nut jobs. They could be perfectly responsible people that make a bad decision one day. And if someone is a nut job, they could still easily obtain a gun.

And that's why I don't support an all-out ban on guns. If our government banned guns, they would still be available on the black market. This technology will never go away until it's replaced with something better; that's they way our world works. If only government and police were allowed guns, how could we protect ourselves from gun-wielding psycho cops (not that there are many of them, but still)?

Something else I've heard a lot of recently is this statement: "If we ban guns, we may as well ban _____ because of ______." For example, on a recent MySpace group post, someone said something along the lines of, "We may as well ban planes because of 9/11". This is totally irreverent, and I think most people would understand why.

So as you can see, I might not be as liberal as some of my peers on the issue of gun control. However, I personally loathe firearms. They aren't going away anytime soon, and as long as our leaders have them, I feel a little bit safer if the general populace can have them too.

Dennis Kucinich wants to impeach Cheney

Dennis Kucinich is my choice for the 2008 elections. Here's an earlier post I did on his positions.

Now I like him even more. He's planning to file articles of impeachment against Dick Cheney. Would would be great. I'd eventually like to see both him and Bush impeached, because at this point they're probably going to go down in history as the worst administration, but I'd love to see that extra little bit when people go to read about them.

Here's the link to the related article on AlterNet.

Income Tax Reform

I just finished reading Martha Burk's piece for AlterNet titled "How the Income Tax System Shortchanges Women", and wanted to share a piece with you. In the article she outlines five ways to make income taxes fairer. I think this would be a wonderful idea:

Get marital status out of the tax code. The basic tax-paying unit in the U.S. system is the "household" -- defined as married heterosexual couples or single individuals. We should redefine the tax unit to follow the model used in almost all other industrialized nations: Each taxpayer is treated as an individual regardless of household type. This would eliminate both the marriage penalty and the marriage bonus, and at the same time would no longer exclude gay or cohabiting couples.

Iraqi Compensation & Contracters

MWC News recently published an article highlighting compensation paid to the families of killed Iraqis. According to the Human Rights Watch, only around a third of victim's families have been compensated. What I really want to talk about though are the contractors.

It seems that if an Iraqi is killed by a contractor, their family will not receive compensation since that contractor isn't part of the military:

"Human Rights Watch is also concerned by the air of impunity surrounding civilian contractors employed by the US government. Although the claims process covers Department of Defense employees, claims against contractors are denied out of hand on the grounds that they 'are not government employees.'

'It's shocking that the US government doesn't compensate the deaths of civilians caused by their hired guns,' Garlasco said. 'Contractors operating under the US military umbrella, as well as soldiers, should be held accountable when they kill Iraqi civilians without any justification.'"

The problem with contractors is precisely that they aren't "government employees". They don't have the same rules. Another problem is that they cost exorbitant amounts of money.

There's a wonderful documentary directed by Robert Greenwald called Iraq for Sale, which I highly recommend.

"Terror"

The UK has recently decided to stop using the phase "War on Terror", for fear that terrorists will feel that they're part of something larger. I think there's a bigger problem surrounding the word though.

At least in the U.S., the word terror has become the word of choice for officials hoping to get their way. If there's a bill that would otherwise never be passed, just add "terrorism" to it and it's done. The Bush Administration is using fear-mongering to pass laws that do away with our freedom and contradict the constitution.

Thus, it's unlikely that America will ever go the same way as the UK in this matter.

Environmental News

Our cell phones are killing bees
There is mounting evidence that radiation from cell phones is what's causing the major die-off of US and European bee populations. To further understand the problem, Britain's Bumblebee Conservation Trust wants the public to keep tabs on the whereabouts of local bees.


Presidential hopeful John Edwards wants to ban new coal-fired power plants and charge polluters
I've never been a huge fan of Edwards (personally I'm rooting for Kucinich), but I'm starting to think maybe I'm a bit wrong. I'm going to do a little research into him now. His plan would be a great way to curb global warming. The money (which could be up to $40 billion) would be used for clean energy.

Yangtze River "irreversibly damaged"
China's river could be polluted beyond control. Which could have major consequences as a result. This is hardly surprising news, however, considering China is one of the most polluted countries in the world.

Stem-Cell Treatment Cures Diabetes

In a recent experiment, fifteen people diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes were given transfusions of their own stem cells. The result? Except for two of the patients, the volunteers no longer needed daily insulin injections.

This is big news. Stem cells are the potential "miracle cure" that scientists have been searching for for years. Many currently incurable diseases could be cured, and millions of lives saved. Unfortunately, many people are still very much opposed to using stem cells. I hope that this breakthrough will show those same people that the advantages far, far outweigh any negative concerns.

Suggestions

If anyone has any suggestions about how to make Liberal Panda a better blog, please don't hesitate to let me know.

Abstinence Only Doesn't Work

What happens when the government does a study of abstinence only programs?

Alas, a blog

What happens is what's expected. They have no effect.

New way to generate clean energy

This is the M.A.R.S. Floating Wind Generator. According to Magenn's website, the advantages of this device are "global deployment, lower costs, better operational performance, and
greater environmental advantages". It's first official model will be shipped this year. One of these could be used to generate electricity for an entire town.

It always makes me sublimely happy when I see things like this. The possibilities for clean energy are endless; the only problem being the funding. Just think of what could be done with the money the government uses for oil and coal.

M.A.R.S. is going to be great, especially for developing nations. It would be much easier to install, cheaper, and there wouldn't be wars over it like there is over oil.

For more information, visit Magenn Power Inc.

FDA wants to regulate natural medicine

It's recently come to my attention that the FDA plans to regulate natural medicines such as herbs, vitamins, and even juice. This deeply troubles me, for if this plan were to go into action it means that we would no longer be free to choose how we heal ourselves. The FDA would be able to push conventional drugs on us even more.

I tend to stay away from the conventional medicine simply because they usually make me feel worse. For example, incense or peppermint oil can get rid of a headache rather quickly with no side-effects, while Tylenol can make you groggy. Not only that, but by using natural cures we're being very kind to our bodies.

Instead of my going any further into this topic, I want all of you to read Mike Adam's article about the topic.

Health freedom action alert: FDA attempting to regulate supplements, herbs and juices as "drugs"

I've written my state representatives and the FDA about this, and I urge you to do the same.

"Samsara and Nirvana"

This is an excerpt from Paul Carus's Gospel of Buddha According to Old Records, published in 1894. It was meant to show the many similarities between Buddhism and Christianity, in part by writing it in chapters and verses. It's a beautiful piece.

II. Samsara and Nirvana

Look about you and contemplate life!
Everything is transient and nothing endures. There is birth and death, growth and decay; there is combination and separation.
The glory of the world is like a flower: it stands in full bloom in the morning and fades in the heat of the day.
Wherever you look, there is a rushing and a pushing, an eager pursuit of pleasures, a panic flight from pain and death, a vanity fair, and the flames of burning desires. The world is full of changes and transformations. All is Samsara.
Is there nothing permanent in the world? Is there in the universal turmoil no resting-place where your troubled heart can find peace? Is there nothing everlasting?
Is there no cessation of anxiety? Can the burning desires not be extinguished? When shall the mind become tranquil and composed?
Buddha, our Lord, was grieved at the ills of life. He saw the vanity of worldly happiness and sought salvation in the one thing that will not fade or perish, but will abide forever and ever.
Ye who long for life, know that immortality is hidden in transiency. Ye who wish for a happiness that contains not the seeds of disappointment or of regret, follow the advice of the great Master and lead a life of righteousness. Ye who yearn for riches, come and receive treasures that are eternal.
The truth is eternal; it knows neither birth nor death; it has no beginning and no end. Hail the truth, O mortals! Let the truth take possession of your souls.
The truth is the immortal part of mind. The possession of truth is wealth, and a life of truth is happiness.
Establish the truth in your mind, for the truth is the image of the eternal; it portrays the immutable; it reveals the everlasting; the truth gives unto mortals the boon of immortality.
Buddha is the truth; let Buddha dwell in your heart. Extinguish in your soul every desire that antagonizes Buddha, and in the end of your spiritual evolution you will become like Buddha.
That of your soul which cannot or will not develop into Buddha must perish, for it is mere illusion and unreal; it is the source of your error; it is the cause of your misery.
You can make your soul immortal by filling it with truth. Therefore become like unto vessels fit to receive the ambrosia of the Master's words. Cleanse yourselves of sin and sanctify your lives. There is no other way of reaching the truth.
Learn to distinguish between Self and Truth. Self is the cause of selfishness and the source of sin; truth cleaves to no self; it is universal and leads to justice and righteousness.
Self, that which seems to those who love their self as their being, is not the eternal, the everlasting, the imperishable. Seek not self, but seek the truth.
If we liberate our souls from our petty selves, wish no ill to others, and become clear as a crystal diamond reflecting the light of truth, what a radiant picture will appear in us mirroring things as they are, without the admixture of burning desires, without the distortion of erroneous illusion, without the agitation of sinful unrest.
He who seeks self must learn to distinguish between the false self and the true self. His ego and all his egotism are the false self. They are unreal illusions and perishable combinations. He only who identifies his self with the truth will attain Nirvana; and he who has entered Nirvana has attained Buddhahood; he has acquired the highest bliss; he has become that which is eternal and immortal.
All compound things shall be dissolved again, worlds will break to pieces and our individualities will be scattered; but the words of Buddha will remain forever.
The extinction of self is salvation; the annihilation of self is the condition of enlightenment; the blotting out of self is Nirvana. Happy is he who has ceased to live for pleasure and rests in the truth. Verily his composure and tranquility of mind are the highest bliss.
Let us take our refuge in the Buddha, for he has found the everlasting in the transient. Let us take our refuge in that which is the immutable in the changes of existence. Let us take our refuge in the truth that is established through the enlightenment of Buddha.

Eventually I'll read the whole thing. I came across that while reading A Modern Buddhist Bible: Essential Readings From East and West, edited by Donald S. Lopez, Jr.

Spotlight: Charity Navigator

There are millions of charities in the world. There are charities for every conceivable purpose. So obviously, it isn't easy to sort through them to find the one that you feel the best about. That's where Charity Navigator comes in. I personally use Charity Navigator every time I hear about a charity or think about giving money to one.

The purpose of Charity Navigator is to show you what happens to the money you donate to specific organizations. Every charity listed has its own profile which includes information such as a breakdown of expenses, capacity, ratings, income statements, a history, leadership and their salaries, and a list of similar charities.

Some great features of the site include categories, Tips & Resources, and the "My Charities" list (a service that you have to setup a free membership for). There is also a complete directory of charities reviewed by the site. There are also lists such as "Top Ten Charities Everyone's Heard Of" that'll give you a few ideas if you're not sure where to start.

A look at our future world

Richard Norton-Taylor has written a piece for The Guardian called "Revolution, flashmobs, and brain chips. A grim vision of the future". It's quite an interesting read. Here's an excerpt:

New weapons

An electromagnetic pulse will probably become operational by 2035 able to destroy all communications systems in a selected area or be used against a "world city" such as an international business service hub. The development of neutron weapons which destroy living organs but not buildings "might make a weapon of choice for extreme ethnic cleansing in an increasingly populated world". The use of unmanned weapons platforms would enable the "application of lethal force without human intervention, raising consequential legal and ethical issues". The "explicit use" of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear weapons and devices delivered by unmanned vehicles or missiles.

Linkage

Criticize the president and you're a terrorist

A decorated Korean War hero, Walter F. Murphy was on his way to a conference at Princeton University when a clerk told him that he was on the Terrorist Watch List. After being surprised by this, the clerk asked him if he had been to any peace marches lately, because "we ban a lot of people from flying because of that." No, he hadn't been to any peach marches, but in September 2006 he had given a public lecture highly critical of George Bush. He shared his experience at Balkinization.

Another terrifying example of how much freedom Americans are loosing.

Stuff to think about

Just remember: If you're having a bad day, or if you're in pain, it's a sign that you're alive. Enjoy.

"Only our searching for happiness prevents us from seeing it. It is like a rainbow which you run after without ever catching it. Although it does not exist, it has always been there and accompanies you every instant." - Gendun Rinpoche (Tibetan teacher)

"False imagination teaches that such things as light and shade, long and short, black and white are different and are to be discriminated, but they are not independent of each other; they are only different aspects of the same thing. They are terms of relation, not of reality. Conditions of existance are not of a mutually exclusive character; in essence they are not two, but one." - Lankavatara Sutra

"The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong
it usually turns out to be impossible to get at or repair." - Douglas Adams (Doesn't really fit in with the rest, but I love Douglas Adams)

Pope Addresses Iraq War

In his Easter message, Pope Benedict XVI told his audience, "Nothing positive comes from Iraq, torn apart by continual slaughter as the civil population flees." As this article shows, this is nothing new.

Help Stop Crime

Two of the biggest precursors to crime are desperation and greed. Setting aside the latter, since there’s little one can do about that, I’m going to focus on desperation.

In Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables, Jean Valjean (or some such name) is arrested for stealing a loaf of bread for his starving family. He saw no other option; it was either take such a risk or suffer his family to die. What would you have done in the same situation? (Mind you, it’s been six years since I read that book - that’s as well as I remember it)

I’m currently reading Ken Jones’ The New Social Face of Buddhism: A Call To Action. I’m particularly interested in bringing the compassion and philosophy of Buddhism into a socially/politically responsible way of life. There is a line in this book from Stephen Jenkins’ “Do Bodhisattvas Relieve Poverty” which states:

As in Pali sources, the satisfaction of material needs is seen as a prerequisite for moral development, and its absence is seen as the cause of moral decay.

According to Encarta, “The major causes of delinquency in various countries are related to each nation’s economic and social environment.”

When people are desperate, they might feel like the only way to get ahead is to resort to crime. Their great need far outweighs any moral objections they might still have. I like to give people the benefit of the doubt; if they’ve committed a crime, there could very well be a good reason for them having done it.

This is something that people have known for ages. So I think it’s time to put it into practice.

What can you do to help stop crime? Donate your time, effort, and money into helping to end poverty. When people aren’t starving, being kicked out of their homes, or having to choose between food and medicine, they’ll be happier, and thus less likely to commit a crime.

I’m not naïve. I’m not going to pretend that this would stop all crime and solve all our problems. It’s not that easy. But I have a feeling that charity is a better method than any other in prevention.

Here are some organizations that help to relieve poverty and make life easier:
NLCHP
The Alliance For Children's Rights (L.A.)
Boys Hope Girls Hope
CARE
Common Hope
Concern
Direct Relief
EMI
FINCA
Freedom From Hunger
Global Impact
HOPE International
ICRW
International Relief Teams
Islamic Relief USA
Jewish Fund For Justice
Love a Child
Medical Teams International
Mercy Corps
Operation USA
Oxfam
Project H.O.M.E.
Robin Hood Foundation (NYC)
Room To Read
TechnoServe
World Neighbors
World Relief

Dennis Kucinich

Russ Feingold will not be running for president, which is very disappointing. However, it's still comforting to know he will still be a member of the Senate.

After he announced his decision, I realized I had to find another candidate to support. I'm not crazy over Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton. So, after a little research, I've finally found someone I trust.

Dennis Kucinich.

Here's a quick rundown of his 2008 platform (from wikipedia):

Creating a single-payer system of universal health care that provides full coverage for all Americans

The immediate withdrawal of all U.S. forces from Iraq and replacing them with an international security force.

Guaranteed quality education for all, including free pre-kindergarten and college for all who want it.

Immediate withdrawal from the World Trade Organization (WTO) and North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

Repealing the USA PATRIOT Act.

Fostering a world of international cooperation.

Abolishing the death penalty.

Environmental renewal and clean energy.

Preventing the privatization of social security.

Providing full social security benefits at age 65.

Creating a cabinet-level "Department of Peace".

Ratifying the ABM Treaty and the Kyoto Protocol.

Introducing reforms to bring about instant-runoff voting.

Protecting a woman's right to choose while decreasing the number of abortions performed in the U.S.

Ending the war on drugs.

Legalizing same-sex marriage.

Creating a balance between workers and corporations.

Restoring rural communities and family farms.

____

And he's a vegan!!

Auguries of Innocence

I love this poem. It's long, but take the time to read it. It's by William Blake.

To see a World in a Grain of Sand
And a Heaven in a Wild Flower,
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hour.

A Robin Red breast in a Cage
Puts all Heaven in a Rage.
A dove house fill'd with doves & Pigeons
Shudders Hell thro' all its regions.
A dog starv'd at his Master's Gate
Predicts the ruin of the State.
A Horse misus'd upon the Road
Calls to Heaven for Human blood.
Each outcry of the hunted Hare
A fibre from the Brain does tear.
A Skylark wounded in the wing,
A Cherubim does cease to sing.
The Game Cock clipp'd and arm'd for fight
Does the Rising Sun affright.
Every Wolf's & Lion's howl
Raises from Hell a Human Soul.
The wild deer, wand'ring here & there,
Keeps the Human Soul from Care.
The Lamb misus'd breeds public strife
And yet forgives the Butcher's Knife.
The Bat that flits at close of Eve
Has left the Brain that won't believe.
The Owl that calls upon the Night
Speaks the Unbeliever's fright.
He who shall hurt the little Wren
Shall never be belov'd by Men.
He who the Ox to wrath has mov'd
Shall never be by Woman lov'd.
The wanton Boy that kills the Fly
Shall feel the Spider's enmity.
He who torments the Chafer's sprite
Weaves a Bower in endless Night.
The Catterpillar on the Leaf
Repeats to thee thy Mother's grief.
Kill not the Moth nor Butterfly,
For the Last Judgement draweth nigh.
He who shall train the Horse to War
Shall never pass the Polar Bar.
The Beggar's Dog & Widow's Cat,
Feed them & thou wilt grow fat.
The Gnat that sings his Summer's song
Poison gets from Slander's tongue.
The poison of the Snake & Newt
Is the sweat of Envy's Foot.
The poison of the Honey Bee
Is the Artist's Jealousy.
The Prince's Robes & Beggars' Rags
Are Toadstools on the Miser's Bags.
A truth that's told with bad intent
Beats all the Lies you can invent.
It is right it should be so;
Man was made for Joy & Woe;
And when this we rightly know
Thro' the World we safely go.
Joy & Woe are woven fine,
A Clothing for the Soul divine;
Under every grief & pine
Runs a joy with silken twine.
The Babe is more than swadling Bands;
Throughout all these Human Lands
Tools were made, & born were hands,
Every Farmer Understands.
Every Tear from Every Eye
Becomes a Babe in Eternity.
This is caught by Females bright
And return'd to its own delight.
The Bleat, the Bark, Bellow & Roar
Are Waves that Beat on Heaven's Shore.
The Babe that weeps the Rod beneath
Writes Revenge in realms of death.
The Beggar's Rags, fluttering in Air,
Does to Rags the Heavens tear.
The Soldier arm'd with Sword & Gun,
Palsied strikes the Summer's Sun.
The poor Man's Farthing is worth more
Than all the Gold on Afric's Shore.
One Mite wrung from the Labrer's hands
Shall buy & sell the Miser's lands:
Or, if protected from on high,
Does that whole Nation sell & buy.
He who mocks the Infant's Faith
Shall be mock'd in Age & Death.
He who shall teach the Child to Doubt
The rotting Grave shall ne'er get out.
He who respects the Infant's faith
Triumph's over Hell & Death.
The Child's Toys & the Old Man's Reasons
Are the Fruits of the Two seasons.
The Questioner, who sits so sly,
Shall never know how to Reply.
He who replies to words of Doubt
Doth put the Light of Knowledge out.
The Strongest Poison ever known
Came from Caesar's Laurel Crown.
Nought can deform the Human Race
Like the Armour's iron brace.
When Gold & Gems adorn the Plow
To peaceful Arts shall Envy Bow.
A Riddle or the Cricket's Cry
Is to Doubt a fit Reply.
The Emmet's Inch & Eagle's Mile
Make Lame Philosophy to smile.
He who Doubts from what he sees
Will ne'er believe, do what you Please.
If the Sun & Moon should doubt
They'd immediately Go out.
To be in a Passion you Good may do,
But no Good if a Passion is in you.
The Whore & Gambler, by the State
Licenc'd, build that Nation's Fate.
The Harlot's cry from Street to Street
Shall weave Old England's winding Sheet.
The Winner's Shout, the Loser's Curse,
Dance before dead England's Hearse.
Every Night & every Morn
Some to Misery are Born.
Every Morn & every Night
Some are Born to sweet Delight.
Some ar Born to sweet Delight,
Some are born to Endless Night.
We are led to Believe a Lie
When we see not Thro' the Eye
Which was Born in a Night to Perish in a Night
When the Soul Slept in Beams of Light.
God Appears & God is Light
To those poor Souls who dwell in the Night,
But does a Human Form Display
To those who Dwell in Realms of day.

Global Warming

There's been a lot of discussion lately, not about whether global warming exists, but who or what is causing it. Some hold that we're causing it due to our careless lifestyles, and others believe it's natural; that the earth goes through heating spells and ice ages periodically. Personally I believe that global warming is caused by both (our lifestyle is most likely exacerbating things), I also believe that it's insignificant.

I don't care if we're causing global warming or not. We should still be concerned about what we're doing to our planet. Even if our SUVs and outrageous energy usage aren't the culprits, they still aren't good for our health and the planet.

One of the most likely reasons global warming has been in the mainstream news as much as it's been is probably attributable to Mr. Al Gore. I don't know who originally broke the story that his personal home(s) uses about $14,400 worth of electricity per year, but it's made its way around to everyone by now. I'll admit that I'm disappointed in a lot of Gore's decisions, but I'm still thankful that he's bought attention to a serious problem, and has got people thinking about more eco-friendly lives. Probably the biggest problem I had with An Inconvenient Truth was the shots of him riding in what appeared to be an SUV.

Here's a list of super-easy ways to help the world around you (and yourself):

1. Go vegan. A UN report of global warming said that animal agriculture was a major cause of pollution; in fact, it was one of the three major causes. Even a vegetarian diet is better than an omnivorous one. GoVeg is a great resource for those wanting to try out such a fantastic diet.

2. Walk instead of drive. Or ride a bike. Or use public transportation. Or carpool. Drive as little as you can. Not only will this lower you're contribution to pollution, it'll also save you money.

3. Recycle!

4. Unplug energy vampires. When you're not using something (like your computer), unplug it. Even if it's off, it's still sucking electricity.

5. Use a microwave instead of stove/oven. It's quicker and uses less energy.

6. Instead of your ordinary bulbs, install compact fluorescent light bulbs. They're a tad more expensive, but last up to 10 times as long.

7. Plant lots of trees.

8. Use e-mail instead of paper.

9. Use cold water instead of hot.

10. Always buy appliances with the Energy Star Label.

11. Buy digital music. There's much less waste.

Kleenex

Do you buy Kleenex products? If not, good for you. If you do, then you either don't care or don't know.

Kleenex, who is owned by the Kimberly-Clark Corporation, is a company that makes tissue which is sold in 150 countries. They're so widely known and used that most people refer to any tissue as a "kleenex". They're the first thing people go to when they start to tear up.

There's a lot to cry about, too. Most people don't know this, but that soft tissue you hold in your hand is made from virgin ancient forests, such as the Boreal forest.

"Much of the virgin tree fibre Kimberly-Clark uses for its tissue products come from unsustainably managed forests. These forests are predominantly logged in clearcuts - a devastating form of logging where most if not all trees are removed from an area of forest.

"What's left behind is a barren landscape that can no longer support wildlife species, such as wolverines, bears, caribou, wolves and the billions of birds that depend of ancient forests for their survival." (Kleercut.net)

Kleercut, a campaign organized by Greenpeace, is finally alerting people to this destruction. The scariest part about the whole affair is that Kimberly-Clark is happy & proud about what they're doing. It is easy for a large company to switch to sustainable practices, and most of the time the difference in the finished product is unnoticable.

You'd think that becoming a (semi-)sustainable company would be great for business. After all, the green movement in America is speeding up rapidly, and "green" products are selling more and more. Even major chain stores like Wal-Mart are starting to sell better products. Making such a change would be great for PR.

I urge everyone reading this to stop buying Kleenex products. There are plenty of alternatives available, such as Seventh Generation. If you want to help spread the word about Kimberly-Clark/Kleenex, visit Kleercut for more information, or go to Kleenex's website and contact them (the link's at the bottom of the page).

Indra's Net

From Ken Jones' The New Social Face of Buddhism

In the heavenly abode of the great god Indra is a wondrous net that has a light-reflecting jewel at each of the infinite intersections of its threads. Each jewel exists only as a reflection of all the others, and hence has no self-nature. Yet its existence as a separate entity sustains all the other jewels. Each and all exist in mutuality, and since none casts its light by itself, it cannot cast any shadow that would deny the light of the others. Each has no existence separate from the whole, the one - which exists only through the many, yet the many create a whole that has its own significance and value. The energy that sustains the net is not generated outside the net or in any one part of the net but is, again, mutually generated through the interbeing of the entire net. Not only is the net infinite, but in each jewel is reflected another infinite net, and so on ad infinitum. The net is thus a metaphor for a paradoxical interbeing - a mutuality in which entities do and do not have an independent existence, are empty and yet exists.