vegetarian/vegan website

Here is a personal vegetarian/vegan website someone sent me:

http://bestvegetarian.us/

Free Speech Radio

Free Speech Radio

Did you know, there's an amazing radio station on the web:

KPFA

http://www.kpfa.org

exists to
. promote cultural diversity and pluralistic cultural expression.
. contribute to a lasting understanding between individuals of all races, nations, creeds and colours.
. promote freedom of the press and serve as a forum for various viewpoints

Founded in 1949 by Lewis Hill, a pacifist, poet, and journalist.

In their own words:

"Much of our programming is local, original and eclectic, with a well produced mix of news and in depth public affairs, an ongoing drama, literature and performance series, interviews, and reviews. Our music ranges from folk to hip hop, Bach to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. We travel the region to broadcast live music, demonstrations, and cultural events. The majority of our staff are unpaid community volunteers donating their time and energy to bring you our programming."

Listen online:

http://www.kpfa.org/cgi-bin/gen-mpegurl.m3u?server=157.22.130.4&port=8000&mount=icy_0&file=dummy.m3u

Here is the schedule:

http://www.kpfa.org/schedule/

Browse the archives here:

http://www.kpfa.org/archives/

Podcasts here:

http://www.kpfa.org/podcast

Here is their home:

http://www.kpfa.org/index.php

Support KPFA Free speech for the world!

Dead Silence Musical interlude.

Musical interlude.

Do you like folk music? How about blues, country, rock, occasional psychedelia or dance music?

Did you know there's a group that plays all these?




Their backgrounds are as diverse as blues, bluegrass, classical, jazz & rock.

They're world famous & one of the top names in the business.

They have played in front of the pyramids in Egypt & with one of the worlds best songwriters, Bob Dylan.

They have contributed to a fellowship to produce modern classical music.

They have contributed to theory of rhythm.

They have a worldwide following of deadicated followers but are often unknown.

They have played as a group since the early sixties and have released a huge number of recordings. They involve the fans so much that there is no boundary between the group and followers.

Curious?


You can listen here:

http://gddb.dead.net/radio/radio.html

Find out all about them here:

http://www.dead.net

Here is a discography:

http://www.deaddisc.com/


The world is full of amazing people & musical treasures!

Wood Furnishings

Do you like wood furnishings?

Planning on buying some soon?

Worried about forest devastation & global warming?

You can buy wood that is certified to be replaced.

Trees are planted for those harvested.

Look for the FSC logo on any wood products, its widely available.

Heres the details: http://www.fsc.org/en/about


Keep trees they help our world breathe!

Ethical finance

Is it possible to ethically invest your money?

Perhaps money isn't the best way to run the world, but if you want to improve the ethics of the things your money goes on, you could do worse than look into what is available.


Start here: Ethical Investment Research Service
http://www.eiris.org/

Here are some examples:

Banking
http://www.co-operativebank.co.uk

Building Society
http://www.ecology.co.uk/

Motor insurance
http://www.eta.co.uk/page.asp?ref=mtrinshome

Most (unit based) pensions schemes offer ethical options & you might be able to invest in them 100%.

These days there are many ways of investing ethically. Be sure your money is only going on causes you of which you approve.

Of course if you want to explore ways better than money, you should investigate LETS local trading schemes and timebanks. These do away with money altogether and swap expertise & time with others with no money involved.

LETS central site
http://www.letslinkuk.net/

Timebanks
http://www.timebanks.co.uk/

If you have something you want to give away, or are looking for something for free, I've had recommended to me this great organisation:
http://www.freecycle.org/

Note: I have no authority to recommend any financial products & am only recommending looking into ethical financial products generally.

Fairtrade

Fairtrade

Do you believe in treating people fairly?

Ever buy tea, coffee, chocolate?

Look for the Fairtrade logo (above).


What is fairtrade?

http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/about_fairtrade.htm

Many supermarkets squeeze more & more profit out of food producers. Fairtrade is a label that guarantees that producers fair price for their produce and an extra premium that is invested in the local community.

Fairtrade products are available all over the place in Britain.

Coop supermarkets for example have a range of tea & coffee & chocolate, Starbucks & other coffee shops have a fairtrade coffee available.

Kenco has started producing a fairtrade coffee, Clipper tea is fairtrade. There's also lots of chocolate!

In fact, you can get all these fairtrade products: Bananas, Citrus, Coffee, Cotton, Tea, Mangoes, Sugar, Fruit juice, Honey, Snacks, Chocolate and cocoa, Roses, Sports balls, Wines and beers.

Many of the products are organic too!

Fairtrade is fair for you, for them, for all of us.

http://www.fairtrade.org.uk

Support Fairtrade.

Easy Eco Campaigning

Are you interested in any of these issues?





Climate
Biodiversity
Corporates
Global Trade
Real Food
Safer Chemicals
Transport
Waste

There's an easy place to have your say here:

http://www.foe.co.uk/press_for_change/index.html


Why not do something easy to improve the planet today?

Green Computing

Greener Computing!

How to make your computing eco friendly!

How your PC can help save the world!


Buying a PC?

Checkout the Fujitsu Green PC:

http://www.greenconsumerguide.com/profiles_html/f/fujitsu/


Connecting to the internet or upgrading to broadband?

For a Green ISP See (Broadband from £19.50 on 20.02.2006):

http://www.greenisp.net/

Donate to charity while you surf (Broadband from £23.99 on 20.02.2006):

http://portal.charitydays.net


Saying goodbye to an old PC?

http://www.itforcharities.co.uk/donorinf.htm

http://www.computer-aid.org/donorsintro.htm


Remember Your Electricity Supply!

http://www.greenelectricity.org/



Working together, we can keep computing green & eco friendly!

Be Friendly!

Now that cold winter is over, be sociable!

People in local groups are some of the nicest people you will ever meet.



Here are some details:

Vegan Society

http://www.vegansociety.com/html/about_us/local_contacts/


Vegetarian society

http://www.vegsoc.org/network/


Green party

http://www.greenparty.org.uk/contactsregional


Friends of the earth

http://www.foe.co.uk/england/


Come along & meet us! Make Friends!

Vegan Eating - Environmental Benefits

Vegan Diet is more Green, & better for our planet!

You may have heard of the health benefits of eating a vegan diet,

(see http://www.vegansociety.com/html/food/nutrition/

but did you realise there are many strong environmental benefits too?

Water

World agriculture uses 70% of fresh water for irrigation.

Much of this land is wasted to grow feed crops for livestock rather than food for people. Professor David Pimentel of Cornell University's Ecology Department has calculated that it takes 500 litres of water to produce 1kg of potatoes, 900 litres per kg of wheat, 3,500 litres per kg of digestible chicken flesh and a massive 100,000 litres for 1kg of beef.

Land & Grain

In 1900 just over 10% of the total grain grown worldwide was fed to animals; by 1950 this figure had risen to over 20%; by the late 1990s it stood at around 45%. Over 60% of US grain is fed to livestock.

A vegan diet can meet calorie and protein needs from 300 square metres using mainly potatoes. A more varied diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables, grains and legumes would take about 700 square metres. Replacing a third of the calories in this diet with calories from milk and eggs would double the land requirements and a typical European omnivorous diet would require five times the amount of land required for a varied vegan diet.

Energy

A study by the US Department of Agriculture concluded that their results "pointedly reveal the high level of dependency of the US beef cattle industry on fossil fuels. These findings in turn bring into question the ecological and economic risks associated with the current technology driving North American agriculture."

This same technology is being adopted as a model for industrial livestock production throughout the world. The study's review of energy inputs versus energy outputs in food calories showed that while corn and barley produce about five times as much food energy as the energy used in production, beef production uses about three times as much energy as the food energy produced. This means that corn and barley production is around 15 times more efficient in terms of fossil fuel input than beef production.


All this should be food for thought for any serious ecologist or anyone who wants to help improve the planet.

http://www.vegansociety.com

Green Living Ideas

Saving Money & The World!

Low energy light bulbs.

Did you know these are now really cheap?

They last around 15 times as long as other bulbs & they give off just as much light!

All supermarkets now stock them. Try one, it will save its cost in electricity!

http://www.nef.org.uk/energyadvice/lighting.htm

Green Energy

Switch to a Green Electri company. They cost the same money (very close),
and you will be reducing cabon emmissions so slowing global warming.

Its good for us, and its good for future generations. Costs next to nothing!

Every time ytou switch on a light, know that you are saving the world!

http://www.greenelectricity.org/

Green Travel

Do you have to fly by plane? You do?
OK, did you know you can offset each hour of flying?

For only £1 per hour, the ET will offset your pollution.

They also have other allowances for driving, home heating & others.

See here:

http://www.eta.co.uk/pages/Climate-Neutral/27/default.htm


I hope you enjoyed these tips. All easy to do & they make a huge difference.

Feel free to send me more! See this excellent book for lots more:

http://www.foe.co.uk/pubsinfo/pubscat/living.html#save_c

Amnesty International

Amnesty International (AI) campaigns for human rights. It works for the release of individuals who are in prison & being tortured for their beliefs.

http://www.amnesty.org/

Their aim is to make available to all the human rights in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (and other international human rights standards).

They do research and take action to prevent and end abuses of the rights to physical and mental integrity, freedom of conscience and expression, and freedom from discrimination, within the context of its work to promote all human rights.

AI is independent of any government, political ideology, economic interest or religion.

It does not support or oppose any government or political system, nor does it support or oppose the views of the victims whose rights it seeks to protect. It is concerned solely with the impartial protection of human rights.

This is a good organisation and anyone who could do should support the excellent work around the world that it does.

http://www.amnesty.org/

Airport Expansion

Airport Expansion

Nottingham East Midlands Airport plans an expansion in flights.

While this might be welcomed by those seeking more holiday destinations, its easy to overlook the environmental impact. Air flight has the highest output of pollution of any civilian travel. Each flight adds greatly to the environmental impact on the ozone layer & the atmosphere, accelerating climate change.

See this ROYAL COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION:

http://www.rcep.org.uk/news/02-04.htm

Or here is Friends of The Earth comment on air travel:

http://www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/transport/issues/air_travel/index.html

Here are some comments from The Green Party:

http://www.greenparty.org.uk/news/1643


You can have your say about the expansion here:

http://www.nottinghamema.com/en/about/masterplan/documents.html

Do what you can to reduce pollution for all of us.

Hate Litter, trash & rubbish?

In the UK, almost everything can be recycled from electrical objects to glass, plastic & paper.

Local councils are obliged by law to increase the amount they recycle.

A good way to reduce household waste is to take home less in the first place!

Here are some great tips:

http://www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/waste/news/50_waste_tips.html

Where can you recycle your stuff? What can you recycle when you get there? See here for information:

http://www.recycle-more.co.uk/

Please make the effort for all of us.

Here's another great & colourful easy to use site:

http://www.recyclenow.com/

Perhaps tie it in with going to the shops to make it easier to get into the routine.

We only have one world, lets make it a clean one!

Green Driving!

The Environmental Transport Association

http://www.eta.co.uk

can provide an environmentally friendly breakdown service.

Also, the ETA promotes awareness of environmental impact of excessive car use & helps to make positive environmental changes in travelling.

Through them, you can balance your carbon output (footprint) in a variety of ways: Driving, home emissions from average annual gas and electricity use, flying in airplane, Average citizenship.

http://www.eta.co.uk/pages/Climate-Neutral/27/default.htm

They aim to be the ethical alternative to other motoring organisations and are the world's first climate-neutral motoring organisation

They started Green Transport Week in 1992 & inaugurated National Car Free Day on 22nd September every year.

They conduct and commission research into environmental transport issues.

They have firmly established environmental and ethical business policies to ensure that our day-to-day activities respect the environment.

I get no commission, I just found it & thought you'd all be interested!

Offence.

Recently, some wise Quakers said something like:

'It is as important to not take offence
as to not give offence.'

Anger spreads and is a violent emotion.

Free speech is always right, but we should use discretion.
Deliberately offending people is a violent act and can never be justified.

Just because we can offend someone, it doesn't mean it should be done. We should all respect others' viewpoints & beliefs.

Spread peace & understanding in your heart & peace will grow in the world.

Peace in our world

Peace

Recently, the 100th british soldier
was killed in Iraq.


Additionally, an official total of 16549 people have been wounded.

Sending people to kill or be killed is no way
to solve international crises.

Now the UK government is going to send 4000 british
troops to Afganistan. Some will be killed, and for what?

War is senseless tragedy.

Support the safety of people on all sides.

Pray for peace and contact your MP: http://www.writetothem.com/

See also:

http://www.quaker.org.uk/peace/

http://www.ppu.org.uk/indexa.html

There is no way to peace. Peace is the way. (Mahatma Gandhi)

Green party, not just a one issue party!

The Green Party. Not just a one issue party.

Recently the government has produced a report that highlights the dangers of global warming to the UK. Only one party is making serious attempts to do anything about this.

However, The Green Party is about the whole of life, not just one issue.

Do you ever wonder about any of these issues?




Did you know The Green Party has sound policies about them all, debated in a spirit of cooperation?

Agriculture Animals Rights Arts
Climate Change Crime Prevention
Countryside Disability Drugs
Economy Education Energy
Europe Fisheries Food
Forestry Green Councils Health
Housing Industry International Policy
Land Local Planning & Built Environment
Marine Industry Migration Nationality
Natural Resources Northern Ireland
Peace and Defence
The Philosophical Basis of the Green Party
Pollution Population Principles of Government
Public Administration
Refugees Responsibilities and Rights
Science and Technology
Scotland Social Welfare
Tourism Transport

You can see them here:

http://policy.greenparty.org.uk/mfss/


The Green party. Working for a better future for all.

Coretta King

Sadly the inspiring Coretta King has left us.

Widow of Martin Luther King, she spent her life working for equality, civil rights, justice and non-violence for all the people of the world.

She founded the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change

Here is her biography at The King Center

http://www.thekingcenter.org/csk/bio.html

Here is an article about her:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coretta_Scott_King


She will be much missed by the whole world, even those who didn't know her.

Domestic Abuse, Bullying, Fighting

Domestic abuse is the greatest betrayal. People have a right to security at all times. In our own homes, we should feel safest.

Too many women, children & men are physically attacked or mentally and emotionally bullied by those who they are closest to.

In the UK call this helpline if this sounds like your life:

Freephone - 24hr National Domestic Violence helpfulness

0808 2000 247

Email: helpline@womensaid.org.uk

Why do people do it? Many reasons I feel. People stay with those
they love even when abused sometimes just for love, or because
of low self esteem.

Sometimes they feel alone & don't know where to turn. Children of
course, know nothing better.

Alcohol, testosterone, repeating a cycle of abuse, mental illness,
poverty, stress, drug abuse and many other reasons are why the abusers do it.

It is the duty of ALL of us to stop this cycle. If you know anyone who
is being abused, give them the number above, let them know they are not alone.

ALL violence and bullying is wrong, physical, mental & emotional.

Sending troops around the world can never help make peace.

More must be invested in Peace Studies both for schools,
governments and individuals. See www.ppu.org.uk

The journey to rid the world of violence is a long one and a journey that we may never complete. We must at least make the first steps.

National Domestic Violence helpline: 0808 2000 247
Email helpline@womensaid.org.uk Website: www.womensaid.org.uk

Anger Management
http://www.supportline.org.uk/problems/angerManagement.php

Network For Peace

http://www.networkforpeace.org.uk/

Peace Studies & Conflict Resolution

http://www.peacestudiesjournal.org.uk/latest.asp

http://www.cartercenter.org

http://www.ppu.org.uk/learn/peaceed/pe_ednetcurriculum.html

http://www.ppu.org.uk/indexa.html

Above all let us always pray & act for peace is all areas of our lives

Global Warming

Global warming is one of the biggest threats to our known world.
Because it feels long term, people take little notice of it.

Last night, the TV news presented a report with shock value explaining how the
ice caps are melting & which cities such as London & Bristol will be covered.
This was followed by a few words from James Lovelock. Sadly his report suggested
it is too late now to do anything to help & we had better prepare for the
problems instead.

In a few minutes, James could have taken away decades of good work by thousands
of people trying to help this problem. The whole mood of the piece made apathy
seem the only option.

We CAN help, & what we do now will help our children, grandchildren
& generations to come as well as ourselves.
Here are some simple easy things to do:

Take action!

Visit The Big Ask http://www.thebigask.com/ and tell your MP to support
annual cuts in carbon dioxide emissions.

Replace ordinary light bulbs with longer lasting, energy saving ones.

Get a vegetable box delivered or buy from your local farmers market.

Share the school run with other parents or walk / cycle your children
to school.

Install loft insulation – this can cut up to 20 per cent off energy bills.

Turn off appliances and light bulbs when leaving a room - avoid leaving
TVs and computer screens on standby.

Recycle aluminium cans, bottles & paper.

Compost kitchen and garden waste - contact your local council for details.

Go by train instead of plane - pick up a copy of the Green Holiday Guide

For more green cash saving ideas - sign up to receive
Friends of the Earth's Tip of the day
http://www.foe.org.uk/living/tips/

Also see:
www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,3604,396534,00.html#article_continue

These are from the excellent Friends of the Earth website here:
http://www.foe.org.uk/resource/faqs/questions/help_planet_2006.html

You can make a difference. Start acting today for all our futures.

Nottingham incinerator expansion

Waste Recycling Group Ltd. have applied to expand the Eastcroft incinerator near Trent Bridge with what is an outdated design.

The current incinerators don't operate in the terms of their IPPC Licence already frequently breaching authorised emission levels 28 times since 2001. The proposed new design is based on an obsolete design from the 1960s

I know the council have plans to improve that whole area & make it a better place to live after the many problems in the area. Opposing the expansion would help that cause by improving the local air quality.

As you might know, councils have to increase their level of household recycling by law. Doing this would recycle around 80 % of household waste.

Please make your views known of your councillors:
http://www.writetothem.com/

Here is the local campaign:
http://www.nail.uk.net/

Local Greens
http://www.torty.org.uk/green/

What do you think? Why do we want more pollution? Why can't we recycle more?

Do you have a similiar thing going through your local council? Let them know what we all think too!

~~~ Peace ~~~

Nuclear weapons - replacing trident

The UK government is now discussing ways of replacing the trident nuclear missile system with even more powerful nuclear weapons.

Nuclear war is wrong, it kills millions of innocent people.

Email your MP here: http://www.parliament.uk/directories/hciolists/alms.cfm

The world has changed since trident was introduced, USSR no longer exists.

The replacement is due to cost AT LEAST 25 billion pounds that would not be spent on children, the poor & sick.

The threats to Britain are now poverty, terrorism, global warming, sickness.

A nuclear weapon will help none of these.

Replacing it will make it harder to argue that other states should not build them.

They are illegal. Under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, UK agreed to phase them out.

Let us work for peace & discussion between nations rather than resorting to killing the innocent.

~~~ Pray for Peace & Let your views be known. ~~~

HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL DAY

TODAY IS HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL DAY

LET US ALL LIGHT A CANDLE
OR LIGHT ONE IN OUR IN OUR HEARTS & PRAY FOR PEACE IN THE WORLD

LET US PRAY PEACE IS NOT FOREVER TO BE JUST AN ASPIRATION BUT A REALITY

LET US WORK FOREVER FOR PEACE IN OUR OWN COMMUNITIES

LET US WORK FOR PEACE IN OUR FAMILIES

LET US SPREAD THE LIGHT OF PEACE AROUND THE WORLD

Holocaust Memorial Day
http://www.hmd.org.uk/default01.asp

What was the holocaust?
http://www.yahoodi.com/peace/holocaust.html

Peace Pledge Union:
http://www.ppu.org.uk/

Peace Prayer Society:
http://www.worldpeace.org/

~~~ PAX ~~~

Vegan Diet

Have you thought about the food you eat? Did you know there is no need to eat meat or any animal products? Did you know it will make you healthier?

I have now lived for 13 years on a vegan diet! I feel healthier, and am happy that I'm not harming any animal when I eat. So you can see there's no need to eat animal food.

In this country its easy to be vegan, there's more & more available from all the supermarkets to eating out places that will always make something up for you!

Its better for you, for animals & the planet.

Advice from a doctor

http://www.vegsource.com/klaper/index.htm

UK Vegan Society

http://www.vegansociety.com/

US Vegan Society

http://www.americanvegan.org/

Eating Vegan

http://www.vegan.org/going_vegan/eating_vegan/index.html

UK Vegan Village

http://www.veganvillage.co.uk/

Vegan Ethics

http://www.veganforlife.org/ethics.htm

UK Vegan Society

http://www.vegansociety.com/

US Vegan Society

http://www.americanvegan.org/

Advice from a doctor

http://www.vegsource.com/klaper/index.htm

**********************************************
Have Fun & Live Long! Blessings!

Joan Baez

There's an interview with the amazing inspiring Joan Baez in the Guardian today here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/features/story/0,,1693520,00.html

Here is her own website:

http://www.joanbaez.com/

What an inspiring woman, she has done so much to promote peace, equality & justice in the world.

Quakers

Quakers (Friends) are good people.

They meet & feel the spirit in silence.

They are actively working in justice, world development, education, homelessness, prison reform and challenging prejudice of all kinds.

They try to live in loving, caring and non-violent way.

Why not find out more? Here is the information:

UK:

http://www.quaker.org.uk

Local meetings here:

http://quakersmeeting.live.poptech.coop/mappages/findq.html

International:

http://www.quaker.org/


Let us work together for a spirituality of Peace & Justice for a better world.

Racial Equality

We are one world. We are one family. All peoples are related.

The UK campaign for racial equality is launching a free newsletter.

Why not subscribe to it & learn more about their important work?

Here it is:

http://www.catalystmagazine.org/catalyst-index.html

Here is the Campaign for racial equality:

http://www.cre.gov.uk

Help promote peace & equality amoung all the peoples of our world.

No more nuclear power

Nuclear Power is dangerous, dirty & expensive. It is NOT a solution to global climate change.

The government is asking your views on it & how to deal with climate change.

You can tell them what you think here:

http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/en_consult.shtml

or email Alan Johnson here:

johnsona@parliament.uk

For more details, see these pages:

http://www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/climate/issues/fossil_fuels/index.html#nuclear

http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/climate/climate.cfm?UCIDParam=20060105170136

http://www.greenparty.org.uk/news/2376

Save grey squirrels

I think its outrageous that the UK government is threatening the grey squirrel population.

Obviously the wildlife population goes through many changes, this is natural, and its been proven that they are not directly responsible for the reduction of red squirrel population.

If you agree, email: jimknightmp@parliament.uk

(he is the minister responsible) with your views.

Also see these sites:

http://www.squirrels.info/uk/in_uk.htm

http://www.animalaid.org.uk/press/0601squirrel.htm

http://www.quaker-animals.org.uk/

http://www.peta.org.uk/

Viva

Here is a fun youthful site about vege matters:

http://www.viva.org.uk/


Have fun!

Peace!

Spirits Within

Wonderful sunny day!

Watching film: Final Fantasy, The Spirits Within
Highly recommended, about alien ghosts on earth in the future. Still good four years after it was released.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0173840/

Big brother news, Pete is in trouble for wearing what he claims is a gorilla skin coat. How anyone can wear the skin of a dead animal is hard for me to think about. Of course what he claims is illegal so the police are involved now.

Traci is definitely a vegan, she won't eat eggs either.


Did you know you can lose weight on a vegan diet? See here:
http://www.vegansociety.com/html/people/health/weight.php

Organic food.

Today was stopped in the street by a film crew who wanted to ask my opinions about british farming & food!!! I explained I always look for British Organic food first and if something isn't available then I look for fairtrade food.

They asked what I would do to increase buying of british organic food, I suggested subsidising it would help as currently its always more expensive. I think most people see the price first and if that side of it could be improved, sales of organic food would increase a lot.

I explained I am a vegan and my grandfather was a farmer!

All this was filmed! So it has to help the cause of organic food in this country.

A beautiful sunny day today but cold (8'c).

Nottingham

Come into the city today. It looks like typical England, gray skies, paving stones.

Faria left the BB house yesterday. Not surprised after her burst of paranoia, she said she had some anger to address.

On Big Brother, looks like they are buying Alpro soya milk! Not very well concealed!! I bought some the other day too.

On Big Brother's big mouth, the announcer always says 'Hare Krisna' to round off and Rula in the house is a Buddhist! Is this a sign of religious diversification? The Wiccan in the previous series came out first & was just treated as a weirdo.

POLITICS
David Cameron yesterday asked the Shadow Cabinet to switch from gas to renewable energy suppliers. This is a good idea, but is it a stunt?
Example: http://www.energylinx.co.uk/green_energy.htm

What do you think?

Martin Luther King.

PEOPLE

Martin Luther King day. This was the other day, he is a modern day saint.
Here is the centre following on his work:
http://www.thekingcenter.org/

I want to recommend a wonderful book I bought last year, 'Open my Eyes, Open my Soul' all about celebrating the wonderful diversity of people on our planet. Its a collection of heartwarming short true stories by people from Maya Angelou to Stevie Wonder.

Sections in the book are: Realizing our Oneness, Celebrating our diversity, One in spirit, Chosen children, Love beyond boundaries and Creating the beloved community.

Here it is on the web:
http://www.openmyeyesopenmysoul.com/

'Open my Eyes, Open my Soul' is created by Yolanda King & Elodia Tate and is
ISBN 0-07143886-6


ENVIRONMENT
In the Guardian today, Joshua Blackburn makes a good point that the environmental movement may make things harder by making the message a negative one, eg 'Don't do this or that' instead of emphasising the positives as has been done with movements such as LIVE8 that seek to increase trade justice in the world. Good point.
Here's the article:
http://society.guardian.co.uk/societyguardian/story/0,,1688254,00.html

TODAY
Today had a strange atmosphere, so silent, almost like a dream or the otherworld. When I got to the library here, all the PCs were busy! So people were around after all!

Last night bought some great food!

Crazy Jack Organic Sultanas
http://www.crazyjack.co.uk/crazy_range.htm

Mornflake Organic Oats
http://www.mornflake.com/Pages/aboutmain.html

Fairtrade Bananas
http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/

Let me know what you think of any of the above by adding a comment!

People, animals & ecology

I believe we should make our priority People, animals and the environment.

Here are some of my favourite charities that do that:

People
http://www.amnesty.org/

http://www.nspcc.org.uk/

http://www.ppu.org.uk/

Animals
http://www.pdsa.org.uk/

http://www.drhadwentrust.f2s.com/

Environment
http://www.foe.co.uk/

http://www.greenpeace.org/

All of it
http://www.greenparty.org.uk/news

Early day.

Early start for someone today so awake at 5:30!

Went back to trying SIMS2 its a great game! Non violent & quite creative,
check it out here: http://thesims2.ea.com/

It has been pointed out that it isn't Paris in the pic, but Bologna, will change it when I have time.

Interesting answer from Nottingham council about recycling, they plan to increase the amount done at the door soon as they will have to by law. Good idea!

Also interestingly the SUMAC Centre is mentioned in the Guardian today about a meeting on eco living in Feb (I think its the weekend of the 11th Feb).

Here's the article:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,,1687906,00.html

Sumac Centre
http://www.veggies.org.uk/sumac/

Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/

Any comments?

Organic or Fairtrade?

Organic or Fairtrade?

Interesting question I've seen discussed recently.

I think that if any food can be bought locally and organically then do so.

If it has to come from overseas, buy Fairtrade wherever possible.

Organic Food
www.soilassociation.org

Fairtrade
www.fairtrade.org.uk


This is what I think. What do you think, and why?

Nottingham

Finally got back at 1:30am. Was up awake again at 6:30!

Miss the lovely log fire of Wimborne, and of course Millie & the people!
Today started raining but is now just very cold.

It was lovely to see the cousins & my aunt again. I think as time goes by you appreciate family and people more.

Had some good conversations about all sorts including family trees with one cousin and autism with another. Interesting!

Today Big Brother people feel something is going to happen but they don't know what. Seems Jimmy Saville visited at the weekend. Missed it all!

Alone until 8 today, but only until 2 tomorrow. A long day but it goes fast.

Cousins, Aunt, Millie

Had nice day. Met up with my Cousins Kate & Sue from the Isle Of Wight.
Also my Aunt Beryl Allen was there with her friend.

Had traditional lunch in lovely place called 'Towle's Inn' near Brokenhurst, highly recommended! Traditional lunch for a vegan was roast veges, but was half price of the regular sunday lunch!

Walked the dog for a short while near a beautiful stream in the new forest.

Finally as usual only just got them back in time for the ferry back to the island.

Driving back to Nottingham tonight, a long way!!

Peace.

Free Software

Free Software

Downloaded the latest versions of this good quality Free Software for Windows

Office Suite:
http://www.openoffice.org

Compression:
http://www.7-zip.org

Web Browser:
http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/

Graphics:
http://www.gimp.org

Saturday, Poole.

Visited Poole. Met Dad. Somer has been working all night so was about to go to sleep so she didn't come out. Also Dom had been up late so she stayed at home too. As Dom does illustrations she might go to Bologna to the Book fair later in the year.

Reading Spike Milligan's fourth memoirs book. He is a very good writer.

Went to Ottakers bookshop. They had lots of good books on ethical
living from the FOE book "Save cash, Save the planet", http://www.foe.org.uk/pubsinfo/pubscat/living.html#save_c
one on ethical living published by the Guardian, and numerous other ones.
In Poole Falkland square, go upstairs and turn left for the books.
Wish I had the money to buy them all.

Tonight Mum has an open fire, nice! Ensured all living things were out
of the logs, Mum said they have none from that place.

Earlier I helped her move large plants in tubs around the garden.
Also made a new stepping stone path my moving some round slabs.

Picked up some compost & ericacious compost from a certain nearby
garden centre.

Tomorrow meeting my cousins from the Isle of Wight and my aunt in Lymington.
Lovely town, worth a visit anytime. Then driving back tomorrow night.

Visiting & dogs

Visiting mum down south.
Millie the dog was ecstatic to see me jumping around.
Aren't dogs lovely! Always loving and faithful.

You forget what a long drive it is. Still played a recent album by Joan Baez on the way down. What a great woman she is. So aware & intelligent, check her out!

Ice, jobs, coop, radiators!

Ice on the cars today. Only 1 degree!

Visited a jobs fair by mostly just recruitment agencies and training. Oh well.

Reading The Guardian takes ages, so much interesting to read! Particularly like the

occasional ethical consumer articles. Good to see there are other right thinking people out there!

Got some leaflets on the coop bank, but don't know when I'll ever manage it. Coop bank have a good ethical policy though.

Managed to get the radiators working. Two of them only heated at the base. Bled them & adjusted the pressure of the boiler. All without a use guide! Glad I didn't explode the boiler!!

Peace & Love All!

Ahimsa Philosophy of Life

My philosophy is Our World is a continuum.

All Life is sacred & has a right to exist, so I don't believe in killing at all. I disagree with the death penalty & killing in wars. So naturally I am a Vegan, it helpd preserve & protect life. Also I believe in the protection of all life, born & unborn.

Our world is a circle. What we do affects us all. We need to live a green life to preserve the ecology of our planet. She protects & gives us life in a way, and we need to respect the planet.

I believe in non-violence. Gandhi is a saint in explaining how to put over a message.

So lets all do what we can to preserve life, promote peace, protect the planet for us & future generations. Its the only way to live.

Green Living:

Friends of the earth UK
http://www.foe.org.uk/

Green Party UK
http://www.greenparty.org.uk/news

Healthy Eating:
http://www.vegansociety.com/html/

Peaceful living
http://www.ppu.org.uk/indexa.html

Definition of Ahimsa
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahimsa

What do YOU think?

Live in Nottingham? Are you an alternative or vegetarian or vegan type of person?

Checkout this amazing place:

http://www.veggies.org.uk/sumac/welcome.html

Will go and see what I can find. Details in a later posting.

:)

Politics

The other day, (23/12) I was very disappointed to hear that the recent EU Commission regulation on organic food allows for up to 0.9% or Genetically Modified food in organic food. Sent an email to David Cameron. They replied instantly but not since:
The House of Commons is now in recess until 9th January 2006.During the holiday period David Cameron's emails will be checkedregularly, but you may not receive an immediate response.We do very much appreciate you taking the trouble to write and thanksonce again for your email.
So they're obviously on the ball! Still its better than the EU president who hasn't even replied yet.

So Kennedy has resigned from the Lib Dems, looks like it might be a shoe-in for Cambell unless someone else can come forward.

Very interesting to see Galloway in the Big Brother celebrity house. Seems to have kept the peace so far, but I don't think he's comfortable with his new constituency!

For fun & excitement, why not visit:
http://www.greenparty.org.uk/news

Support!

http://www.amnesty.org
http://www.vegansociety.com/html/
http://www.gnu.org

Christmas Eve!

Happy Christmas!
Seeing J's mum this afternoon to swap presents. Visiting with G & possibly Brett.
Sunny with light cloud. Easy for Santa.
Sent off to join Amnesty again. Its important to help the needy of the world as well as the animals through my veganism.
Saw the Pogues on tv. Shane McGowen is looking even more the worse for wear!

Lets pray for peace this christmas.