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!




Technorati Tags: new year, goals, 2007

Powered by ScribeFire.

Baby Steps - 100 million at a time

I've been having a hard time picking up where I left off. I had a moment of inspiration recently, while watching the film, Rabbit Proof Fence, triggering me to write a blog about dialog. Only, I've been unfocused since, and haven't managed to complete that thought.
Last week I moved - into the San Franciscan home I'd been dreaming of: big, quiet, sunny, in an awesome neighborhood, with a sweet garden and interesting, forward-thinking roommates. The space is far more conducive to writing and research than my last. That's a step in the right direction. However, I also officially lost my partner in the project. Something I was expecting, but a bit heartbreaking, none-the-less. The enormity of the task weighs on me, and me alone, now. It's kind of overwhelming at times.
The hardest part, really, is being patient. And also, not having anyone to share the journey with. It's not easy to keep the spirits high, and the days focused when you're working alone. And yet, the incredible thing is, it's really not all that difficult to create your dreams. It's just little steps, everyday. It will gather momentum soon enough. Thanks, Richie, for reminding me of that.

It's amazing, too, just how many organisations there are out there working for global change. They're fight for human rights, social justice, youth empowerment, education, sustainability, world hunger, indigenous knowledge, responsible tourism, cultural exchange.....the list goes on and on. I recently signed up with Wiser Earth - a networking forum for NGOs and individuals around the world addressing current issues like the above. Such a beautiful thing, the internet. Finally, unrestricted global dialog is possible (unless you're living in China).

Something that strikes me particularly: Our main source for information on current events (newspapers, TV, radio) is chock full of all the horrendous things happening in our world. War, mass murders, starvation, disease, racism, corruption, environmental disasters..... As friend of mine used to say, "That's not news. There's nothing new about it." That's the history of humankind they're presenting.
What is new is this global movement. It's not a force directed by the few; the powerful; the rich. It's a movement guided by small groups of passionate people. Hundreds of thousands of them. WiserEarth - one, single directory - has over 107,000 organisations, and nearly 2,500 individuals registered. Paul Hawken talks about this grassroots movement in his new book Blessed Unrest. He estimates there are more than 1 million organisations working for ecological sustainability and social justice. (See article, A Global Democratic Movement Is About to Pop, http://www.truthout.org/issues_06/050107EC.shtml)

The amount of hope, compassion, and dedication manifest in the human race is astounding. To me, this speaks volumes more about the state of affairs than the last 20 years of worldwide headlines.

Indulgencia de vida

Sometimes I am daunted by this question: what in the hell would possess me to attempt to create this massive project from….nothing? I have no money. I don’t have a PhD. I’ve never written a grant, nor traveled across continents by motorbike.

When it comes to realizing our dreams, we all have two choices. We can look at what we lack and how far we are from accomplishing our goals, or we can look at all we already have and how much we want to quench these passions. For me, it is a daily struggle. Each morning I have to remind myself of all I’ve already done, and all I am capable of doing. Some days I’m on, and I move 1 step forward. Other days I’m off, and I move, seemingly, nowhere. Keep going. Every step opens new doors. As they say: poco a poco la vieja reja el coco.

So what moves me onward? What is it I search for? Passion, yes. A love for travel, for culture, for a road that unravels beneath two wheels…for connecting with people and hearing different perspectives, for expanding my capacity for understanding. But if that was all I wanted, I could continue to travel the way I have. There is something more going on here.

Travel is a self-indulgent act. And that’s ok. It is often necessary to indulge the spirit. It helps us to face the difficult times - to see the forest for the trees, so to speak. Hopefully though, we come to seek a balance. Can I indulge in my passions and give back at the same time? Hell! Why not? I say, have your cake and eat it too. Just share with your neighbors while you do.

And so I ask myself a different question: What am I hoping to accomplish? I mean, aside from world peace and the enlightenment of humankind. : )

The answer: dialog.

More on this soon.

New Beginnings

I’m 10 weeks into this new life. I moved to SF on Sept 2nd to dig myself into the TE KORU project, and burrow roots into one place for a while. For the past 4 years I’ve been on life’s fast track. Settling into a new place should, reasonably, take several months (maybe more?). I’d gotten used to it occurring in a few weeks. Friends were made quickly. Jobs came easily. And whatever the circumstances of my housing, I quickly adapted to. (Leaky boat? No flushing toilet? Roaches and giant spiders? No problem!). On the road, the vagabond is grateful for a roof (tent...ship’s overhead...), and a bed (sleeping bag...hammock...). I’m learning though, that when trying to pour energy into one place, one passion, a feeling of ‘home’ takes on much more importance.
So after nearly three months, I’m feeling frustrated with being still so unsettled. Life’s details (from apartment hunting [still] to computer problems) are sucking up so much of my time; I’ve been hard-pressed to focus on TE KORU. I have the feeling of still living out of a bag, being a stranger in this town, and stretching thin my financial existence. I’d imagine I could chalk all this up to the fact that, for the first time in my life, I am digging roots. I am no longer a traveler, pausing to explore for a few months. I’m not here to get to know San Francisco, explore the western terrain, or meet other world-wanderers (although these are all tempting distractions). I have one over-arching purpose to my life right now. I’ve been living in observation and reflection for years. Now I’m looking to balance that with action. I suppose it’s reasonable that anything that interferes with my daily reflection and action in this direction would be an annoyance. It triggers me to ask: why is “life” always getting in the way of LIVING??
And here comes that lesson again: patience. Having the world at your fingertips and not devouring it all at once is a tricky one.

So…..clearing aside all the unnecessary details, I’m now focusing on the following:
- putting together the budget
- finding organisations to work with in Latin America
- writing and applying for grants
- creating a website

I’m not overly concerned about the website. I think this blogsite will have to suffice for the time being. At least until I have a grant secured, and the immense amount of time necessary to put towards the site construction.

Again, as always, if anyone has any opinions to share or questions to ask, leave a comment please! Also, ideas and/or time to contribute to the above are equally appreciated. At the moment, I’m working alone to sow these seeds. Any kind of feedback makes for great fodder!

The Plan

The goal of TE KORU is to use adventure to stimulate interest in the world’s cultures, and inspire children to partake in a dialog with others to resolve global issues and create a future based on open communication, sustainability, and compassion. Eventually, TE KORU will incorporate equipment such as remote satellite technology for communication. Initially, however, we must build a foundation. For this reason, Mission I will act as a preliminary exchange.


MISSION I: Testing the waters

Goals:
- Explore the potentials and limitations of long-distance exchange
- Gain a deeper understanding of the social and cultural issues of our exchange sites
- Explore the educational needs and interests of kids

Proposal:

Connect 2 groups of US children with 2 groups of Latin American (“LA”) children:
- Inner-city group in US (referred to as “group A” or “GA”) connects to favela/slum community in Latin America (referred to as “community 1” or “C1”)
- Suburban group in US (“GB”) connects to indigenous community in Latin America (“C2”)

STEP 1:
- Research the 2 Latin American communities (society, culture, needs, environment)
- Obtain background information on the 2 US groups (organization/school group focus, dynamics, etc)

STEP 2:
- Present overview of Latin American community to respective US partner group
- Solicit questions, ideas, and interests from US kids
- Collect gift from US kids to present to LA partner group (ie, school supplies or appropriate gift)

STEP 3:
- Spend 1 month in C1
- Document community life (video, blogs, photos)
- Run workshop with children to create portfolio
- Volunteer with existing local project

STEP 4:
- Spend 1 month in C2
- Document community life (video, blogs, photos)
- Run workshop with children to create portfolio
- Volunteer with existing local project
- Volunteer with existing local project


STEP 5:
- Return to US
- Edit video, create cohesive presentation
- Give presentation and distribute portfolios
- US kids respond to LA portfolios and questions
- US kids create similar portfolio

STEP 6:
- Return to Latin America
- Spend 1 – 2 weeks in each of the 2 communities
- Present US kids’ responses and portfolios
- Solicit responses to US groups questions
- Open-table discussion: project feedback, ideas for improvement and/or expansion

STEP 7:
- Return to US
- Give LA kids’ responses to US groups
- Open-table discussion with US kids: project feedback, ideas for improvement and/or expansion

STEP 8:
- Write summation and conclusion
- Begin planning for Mission II

TE KORU GOALS

Starting with Latin America, TE KORU will create the following:
(1) A youth-oriented documentary series highlighting how our actions in the global west directly effect the lives of those in communities severely impacted by development and world trade

(2) Ethnological (i.e., ethnocation) lesson plans

(3) A cross-cultural dialog thru the exchange of artistic portfolios, a web forum, and an international youth convention with representatives from developed countries, and indigenous and slum communities (i.e., an ethnoforum)

(4) Apprenticeships to place high school graduates in volunteer programs in the communities they’ve been in dialog with.