Freelance Educators Cooperative

I find myself on a roller coaster ride: periods intense action followed by low plateaus of "Hmmmm...what now?" Fortunately, there's always something interesting to throw myself into...even outside of the everyday work, classes, grant searches, and blogging (I'm now writing food blogs for the Nopa website! If you're interested in the sustainable agriculture movement: http://nopasf.com/food/). Having finished my most recent application for a fellowship with Echoing Green, I decided I need to dig in locally and get involved in the SF education system. The newest idea rumbling around my brain (all tied in with TE KORU, of course) is to create a "freelance educators coalition". That is, a group of educators and international social workers that get together to create solid, meaningful lesson plans out of their personal experiences traveling or working in developing countries. These lesson plans and workshops can be brought into classrooms in the Bay area to supplement the curriculum and provide a "big picture" view of the world - tying in current affairs and our global connections. For example, let's say a high school government class is discussing US immigration policy. Many teenagers might find this a dull topic, and the teacher may want to find a way of bringing the lesson more depth, and a humanistic touch. Our cooperative could send a member who has worked with Mexican immigrants to speak with the class about his/her work, and the views and experiences of these immigrants.


Key Features:
(1) A one-stop source of globally educated guest speakers for Bay Area teachers to choose from
(2) A real-world education: effective, engaging lesson plans and workshops that meet curriculum standards, while providing students with first-hand accounts and personal stories as they relate to global issues
(3) An outlet for international social workers and travelers to share their experiences in a meaningful way

It seems to me that our education system is seriously lacking when it comes to providing youth with an understanding of globalisation, the depth of our international connections, and cross-cultural perspectives.

I'm looking for educators, travelers, international social workers to join with me to create this cooperative. If you're interested, or simply want to put in your two sense, email me at: tekoru@yahoo.com

Vote for change! Vote for TE KORU!

First of all, congratulations to all of us on our new president-elect. I can't tell you how excited I am. I have to say, volunteering for Obama's campaign in Ohio was one of the most incredible and fulfilling things I've ever done (we turned it blue!!). Now that the campaign is over, I've returned to the great search for funding: I'm currently working on an application for a fellowship through Echoing Green. Still waiting to hear back from several foundations on the grants I've applied for.

In the mean time, you can all help me out by voting for project TE KORU on www.ideablob.com. I need as many votes as I can get to gain interest, support, and funding. Go to http://ideablob.com/ideas/3798-TE-KORU-an-ethnocation-project
and vote for the project!
Also, post your constructive criticism either there or on this site.

Thanks for all your support!


Rachel

A new course for democracy

This is a bit I wrote for my "Political Problems of Latin America" class last week. The events that have happened since, make it perhaps a bit more poignant:

The emergence of global capitalism is unlike anything we've seen in history. Fueled from above by corporations and governments, and through multiple social and political channels, it has effected broad, systemic change. And yet, its spread can be difficult to pinpoint to specific periods and localities. The effects of global capitalism have been widespread and intensely felt - from the breakdown of autonomous nation-states, to the establishment of dependency on remittances, to cultural tensions between sending and receiving countries of migrants. It has, however, also fueled a grassroots movement which may well prove to be the next form of democratic governance.
It is interesting to see that the shift to global capitalism has been driven by democratic nations; coated with the glossy image of the western "Good Samaritan" republics helping to lift third world countries from poverty and political distress. Yet, by-and-large, due to our economic and philanthropic practices, these countries are experiencing increases in foreign dependency, erosion of cultural values, exploitation of natural resources, and an inability to remain autonomous, self-sustaining nations.
It is also ironic that much of the support behind global capitalism has stemmed from a fear of big government and a heavy value of individual freedom and opportunity. Yet through our fear of socialism and our unwavering support of the free market, we've created a system where the power is in the hands of the privileged few who regiment global industry and commerce, dismiss any and all opposing viewpoints, and fiercely promote the superiority of western culture and policy. The result smells somewhat of global fascism.
It appears to me that globalisation has also triggered an unprecedented response: the new wave of grassroots activism. Community organising has always existed, but it is now at a level that transcends national boundaries. Organisations have formed that unite people of common identities and/or purposes across borders. These organisations encourage change withing existing political and economic systems, yet have formed a new kind of collective consciousness and a transnational community - sharing values, confronting regional and social issues, providing support. In its ability to represent people of all different nationalities, races, ethnicities, and creeds, this grassroots movement is, in fact, more democratic than any political institution that has preceded it.
And so, while globalisation has created a flood of tensions through the many tributaries of the human race, it may well have inadvertently carved out a new course for political change.

Hooray! News!

Still though the waters of this site have seemed the last few months, life has been churning beneath. In fact, it seems to all be rising to the surface at once. So here's the latest update:

(1) Loco Bloco is interested in working with us for the exchange. Loco Bloco is a youth development organisation that engages youth in the creation and performance of music, dance, and theater traditions reflecting the cultural diversity of the Americas. They've done some powerful work in the San Francisco Bay area, and we're looking forward to putting together workshops with their kids. Check out their site: http://www.locobloco.org/

(2) We speaking to La Hermandad Educativa about working with the kids in their culture center for the Guatemalan portion of the exchange. Luis Cardoza y Aragon Popular Culture Center provides free classes in art, music, computer, and English classes to children of Quetzaltenango from families with limited economic resources. See their site: http://www.plqe.org/projects.html

and finally....

(3) TE KORU is now fiscally sponsored by Global Exchange. This means we have 501(c)(3) status. As a non-profit, we can apply for grants through Global Exchange, and all donations are tax-deductible. Global Exchange is a "membership-based international human rights organization dedicated to promoting social, economic and environmental justice around the world." They've had some incredible accomplishments since their founding in 1988. Check out the work they do, and become a member: http://www.globalexchange.org/

Last week I met with the education director and the founders of 4Real - a TV show aired on MTV Canada and Nat Geo in 140 countries that raises cultural awareness in kids and inspires them to get involved in community change. (see http://www.4real.com/) They were really supportive of TE KORU and gave me some great suggestions.

I'm thinking of producing a documentary of sorts from Mission I, focusing on how our actions in the western world affect our neighbors down south....and how this comes full circle back to bite us. With Mission I being a tester for the portfolio exchange, the documentary produced would be a sort of pilot episode for the longer, Mission II doc.

So what's next? Well, with the documentary in mind, I'll have to adjust the current budget. Then of course there's the funding. I'm still searching out potential donors. And...a partner. Preferably someone with motorcycle experience, a bit of Spanish under their belt, and video production skills. (The vivacious, open-hearted, adventurer personality screen is a give-in). As everything in my life thus far has fallen into place at just the right time, I haven't been sweating this one too much. I'm thinking that time is close at hand though.

Oh, and PS:
I've begun working at the local vintage honda motorcycle shop helping to restore old Hondas. Yes, it's wonderful to have my hands coated in grease and my mind soaked with mechanical knowledge. And no doubt it will come in handy when I've broken down in the middle of the Atacama Desert.

The Third Prong

After two lengthy blogs of such negativity, I’d like to cast off those mental constructs which captivate us all, and think towards the future. This is where I dive into the philosophical deep end.

For all my seeming ranting about the state of the world, the misguided actions of our government and NGOs, my focus is not, in fact, on the negative. I did not write those words with the intention of pointing out all that is wrong, or lay blame. My words are the expression of observance - observance of our actions and where they have lead us. To fully grasp where we stand today, we must look at where we began and how we arrived. Not to separate those who are “right” from those who are “wrong”, not to feel guilt for the paths we have chosen, but so we can understand the ebb and flow of life, and the patterns we hold on to – those that work, and those that don’t. Reflection is essential to growth, but let’s not become stuck and stagnate, hey?

My intention with the last two blogs, “The World at Your Fingertips” and “The Flip-Side,” was merely to show that there are no “good guys” and “bad guys”. Despite all outward appearances, this is not a world of right vs. wrong, left vs. right, rich vs. poor. There is neither a war with a foreign enemy to be won, nor a powerful monster to be destroyed. The battle for peace, justice, and equality is not a battle at all, but an opportunity for transformation – a transformation that can only be forged from within.

When one looks at the modern world, it might appear to be split into two. There is the faction that lives for economic growth and power, and there is the faction that fights for the underdog – be it Mother Nature, the poor, the oppressed, or the indigenous. We have seen that there are upsides and downsides to both of the supposed sides. But from what I’ve seen, life has no actual sides. About the only way you can split it is into actions: those based in love, and those based in fear – and the two run rampant the world over.

There is no “black-or-white” here, no “us-versus-them”. Saving the world is not about a romantic group of compassionate revolutionaries fighting an evil empire of right-winged, corporate elites. Nor is it about providing wealth and western know-how to the less fortunate. Though we might state otherwise, we are not on a bend to save the planet. The planet does not need saving. What does is humanity. And human salvation lies in compassion and respect: an act of love that must be extended to the Embera child in Panama, to the gang-leader in NYC, to the corporate CEOs and military officials.

And so we have a choice: do we act in fear to avoid environmental disaster, economic ruin, and political instability? Or do we act in love to increase peace, sustainability, and human happiness? Are we are fighting against an enemy, or are we fighting for humankind? We grow that which we focus our intention upon. If it is peace, love, and compassion we want for the world, don’t we begin by cultivating this holy trinity within our own hearts? If we free ourselves, as individuals, from our own judgments and negative belief patterns – if we open our minds and truly listen to others – solutions to the myriad issues of modern life will unfold before us.

The greatest challenge we face today, therefore, is not that of bringing down big business, ending poverty, corrupt governments, or terrorism. Our greatest challenge is to tear down the walls of our perceptions, to walk away from the flame of ideology, to move forward with compassion and respect. Once we have realised our innate connection to the rest of humankind and the planet, our potential is limitless.

The Flip-Side

The movement to “save our planet” is on. It’s pushed forward by the actions of individuals, community groups and corporations. There’s a fight to curb global warming, reduce waste, and preserve biodiversity; to provide clean water, education, health care, sanitation, and basic human rights to people around the world; to change our foreign policy and our business practices. It is a beacon of hope, inspiring everyday citizens to consider their role in this world and to rally for change.

But what happens when good intentions are swept away in the flood of ideology? In rebellion against those institutions that have created the war, the suffering, the oppression, and the inequality, many have become the monster they sought to destroy. Have these groups, in their eagerness to help, shaken off the dragon scales of boundless economic growth, only to replace them with the fluff of philanthropy? In the end, the bite might be just the same.

We’ve all heard about the devastation felt by millions as a result of the actions of the oil, timber, and agriculture companies: native lands have been destroyed by roads, pipelines, and clear-cutting; ancient languages and knowledge lost; families broken; poverty and dependency run rampant in regions where people have been booted from their land in the name of economic development. What most of us never hear about is the damage created by nobler efforts.

Take, for example, wildlife conservation. The big conservation organizations, such as World Wildlife Fund, Conservation International, and The Nature Conservancy, are heralded as the saviors of our planet, and are back by millions of corporate and private donation dollars. On the surface, the interests of these groups appear to be in synch with the indigené – humankind’s original conservationists. Yet at the 2004 International Forum on Indigenous Mapping, all two hundred delegates signed a declaration stating that the “activities of conservation organizations now represent the single biggest threat to the integrity of indigenous lands.” (Mark Dowie, Orion Magazine, Nov/Dec issue, 2005).

In the winter of 2007, I witnessed this threat while working with the Emberá of Panama. For hundreds of years the Emberá have inhabited the Darien – one of the most pristine rainforests in the world. In an effort to protect this area against logging, mining, and general development, foreign-aid contractors purchased large tracts of wilderness, and under the management of The Nature Conservancy, created the 1 million acre Darien National Park. The Emberá were promptly informed that they no longer had the right to hunt, fish, or harvest any resources from their native land.

Conservation refugees – groups who are either coerced or forced to leave their homeland for the sake of land and wildlife management – now exist on every continent except Antarctica. The Batwa of Uganda were kicked out following pressure from traditional Western conservationists. Others, like the Maasai in Kenya and Tanzania, or the Karen from Thailand, have been forced to give up their agricultural traditions - practices that have been used harmoniously with the ecosystem for generations. Forced to assimilate into mainstream society, many tribal groups live in squatter camps without running water or sanitation - their cultural traditions disappearing in a few short generations. The numbers of such refugees, estimated by the UN, IUCN, and others, range from 5 to tens of millions. In many cases, indigenous peoples are incorporated into a development plan, working as park rangers (but not wardens), porters, havesters or ecotour guides. Left with no other choice, they are brought into the money economy, yet have little to no say in its implementation or direction. Gradually, they make the shift from strong, self-sustaining communities to the low-ranks of social dependants (Mark Dowie, http://www.orionmagazine.org/index.php/articles/article/161/).

In other words, our benevolent NGOs have decided the best way to protect our planet is to go in, take charge, divulge their knowledge and dictate to the natives the actions necessary for their own well-being and that of planet - regardless of the cultures, traditions, and intimate ecological knowledge of the original inhabitants. For certain, the big-time NGOs have made enormous contributions to the preservation of our planet, and humanity’s awareness of environmental and human rights issues. I don’t doubt their intentions, nor dismiss their accomplishments. Their methods, however, stand to be questioned. Thoroughly educated in the science of the west, they arrive in a foreign land – ready to apply their “superior” knowledge to the jungles of the developing world. Is this preservation or development? Are we the ambassadors of human rights, or sugarcoated missionaries?

This phenomenon is but one example of the clash that is taking place in developing countries around the world – not to mention in struggling communities at home. When we present our solutions, branded with our western perspective, to a foreign community, we immediately discredit their knowledge – a wisdom that has been built up over generations of intimacy with their own land, the hardships and successes of their ancestors, and an understanding of the soul of their culture. Moreover, such action discounts their own ability to resolve local problems. Indigenous and minority groups the world-over have found themselves ravaged by dependency. As a Native American elder stated, “Government aid was the worst thing to happen to our people.” With free handouts, initiative disappears, confidence and self-sufficiency dwindles, and belief in the need for outside help becomes entrenched in the group psyche.

Many of us are eager to contribute to the “global peace movement”. We happily sign petitions, donate our money, and volunteer to build western-styled infrastructure in developing countries. But are we listening to the values of those we seek to help? Are we encouraging them to use their own initiative and traditional knowledge? Are we asking what we can learn from them? If our actions are not based in humility and reverence; if they do not encourage self-sufficiency, pride, and confidence; if they are lead by the torches of arrogance and ideology - they have no more value than the destructive acts of imperialistic governments, free-market advocates, or religious zealots.

Next blog: “The Third Prong”. Casting aside this apparent cynicism, I look towards hope, resolution, and yes, love – the only thing that keeps humankind marching forward.

The world at your fingertips

The world has shrunk. We don’t have to take a voyage to Africa to explore the forests of Gabon, or the streets of Johannesburg. We’ve got Google Earth! I get calls from my friend hitchhiking through Ireland, and emails from another doing conservation work in the DRC. My shirt was made in Vietnam; my pants in Russia. For my morning smoothie, I owe thanks to the people of Ecuador, South Africa, and Mexico.

Ironic, though, isn’t it? For while the distance between us all has narrowed, it’s also grown so large, it seems at times that we’ve lost touch all together. Who actually stitched together my hoodie? Is she working 15-hour days in a country where her hopes for the future mean nothing? That chai latte – did it come at the expense of pristine rainforest acreage? Were families kicked off their native land to create that soy farm? Somebody, somewhere, sprayed something on my tomatoes, the mattress you just bought, the blanket you wrap your child in. What, I have no idea. How will all those chemicals we’re exposed to affect our bodies after 30 years of constant, unavoidable exposure?

I’m fortunate. I live in a city where the words local, sustainable, fair-trade, and organic are part of the vernacular. Having grown up in Ohio, and lived all over the US, however, I can say that these words are rarely spoken in most parts of the country. The vast majority don’t stop to think about how the chicken in our sandwich was raised, the environmental cost of our coffee, or the violation of human rights by the company who brought us our veggies.

This ironic disconnect moves beyond our kitchens and clothing stores. Despite the media access we have, and the ease with which we do business across borders, Americans’ geographic and cultural knowledge is sorely lacking. A 2006 survey conducted by National Geographic of young adults in the United States (ages 18-24) shows that only 37% can find Iraq on a map of the Middle East, a mere 59% correctly identified the Amazon Rainforest as being in South America, and 74% believe English is the most widely spoken language (it’s Mandarin). Furthermore, 50% of those surveyed felt it wasn’t necessary to know where countries in the news were located, or to be able to speak a foreign language. (National Geographic-Roper Public Affairs 2006 Geographic Literacy Study)

This lack of geographic awareness and cultural interest is evident in our corporate business practices and political policies. The hyper-ethnocentricity of those pushing for globalization – the view that worldwide adoption of American political, social and economic structures would benefit all – is glaringly obvious in our foreign relations and government spending. Its results have come back to haunt us.

Take the US Department of Defense, for example. It allocates less money to social science research than any other department (aside from the Smithsonian, who operates on a significantly smaller budget). Nearly all of this money is put towards the development of new technologies and weaponry, rather than conducting social science research. Nor is there any coordination of the social science research conducted by different agencies. The number of Foreign Area Officers (those with the language skills, and intimate local and regional knowledge) is also very limited (http://www.usip.org/fellows/reports/2007/0510_mcfate.html, January 23, 2008). If we’re to be occupying foreign countries in an attempt to build peaceful relations and assist in the creation of just governments, shouldn’t we try to understand the people with whom we’re working?

Nowhere in the world is this lack of concern for other cultures and social systems so flagrantly displayed as in Baghdad’s Green Zone. Perhaps the greatest example of the arrogance inherent in our cultural isolation, is this 10km2 irrigated desert oasis - fortified by 12ft. cement walls, armored fencing, and protected by machine guns. Within its walls are villas, bars, and fast-food restaurants (serving, yes, pork); women out for their daily run in shorts and tank tops; children selling pornographic DVDs to soldiers (Paul Hawken, Blessed Unrest). The occupation carries on as if it were “a little America embedded in the heart of Baghdad,” irrespective of the Muslims both within, and outside of, these walls (William Langewieche, The Atlantic, Nov. 2004).

Type in “anti-American sentiment” into Google, and the 1st page alone will show article results claiming it’s on the rise in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, UK, and Russia. Given the fact that our military, our culture, and our corporations are invading even the remotest corners of the globe without regard to the long-standing traditions, beliefs, and local knowledge held by those we are overtaking, should we be surprised?

Our daily actions have a detrimental impact on villages, families, and ecosystems, both at home and abroad. The ever-growing corporations that we purchase the vast majority of our products from are smothering the traditional knowledge passed down over generations, choking out healthy ecosystems, and creating global dependency amongst people who were once self-reliant. It is here that another irony arises: while we have become dependent upon Asia for cheap labor, the Middle East for oil, and Amazonian peoples for their botanical knowledge used in our pharmaceuticals, we have made little effort to listen to their cries, meet their needs, or consider the validity of their perspectives. We may have the world at our fingertips, but I wonder if we aren’t groping in the dark.

A clean slate

I never felt any differently on the first day of the new year, but this year it feels like a clean slate. Not that last year was such a mess that the slate needed cleaning. On the contrary, 2007 was incredible for me. Rather action-packed. I was reviewing it all just the other night:

I kicked it off bathing from a bucket on the deck of a hand-made sailboat, floating off the coast of Cuba, bound for Panama. This was followed by a few days of sunshine and dancing in Jamaica. And then...
- a month in Panama visiting old friends and making new ones in the indigenous Embera village of the Darien rainforest.
- a return to the US where I swore an oath to the Queen and gained my British
citizenship
- a few nights hanging out with my favourite band (The Cat Empire)
- a move back to Ohio - time spent with family
- a spiritual healing workshop in San Diego
- 5 days of dancing at New Orleans Jazz Fest with the infamous ethnobotanist (and one of my heros) Dr. Mark Plotkin
- 6 weeks in Bahia, Brasil, where I fell in love many times over
- a move to San Francisco, where I seem to fall in love at least once a week (be it with people, places, sunsets, or everyday moments)
- and, perhaps most importantly, I discovered my incredible ability to manifest (see above for examples)

Wow. I'm not sure if I can top last year - at least not in the amount of experiences. I think, though, that 2008 will herald new, intimate (if slower) experiences.

Resolutions I don't do. So here are a few goals of mine for the coming year. If I accomplish a few of them, learn a lot, and have fun in the process, I'll be satisfied.

- Learn Spanish and Portugues (to the extent I can understand and converse)
- Buy a motorcycle and learn motorcycle maintenance
- Finish writing my children's story (and submit for publishing!)
- Establish a strong foundation for TE KORU - get it up and running!

And....(on a more personal note):
- Pay off and tear up my credit cards!
- Travel. Again. (But that's a give-in really, isn't it?)
- Meditate regularly
- Dance and/or hike regularly
- * Live knowing I have enough, I do enough, I am enough. *

Hmm. Those all seem quite do-able.

On that note -

Let the games begin!

--> wishing you all an amazing journey through 2008 as well. Enjoy it!




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