Archive for November 2021
Simple Living Works! Blog
Posted on: November 15, 2021
11/15/21–eNews #122
Recent Simpler OneEarth Living Podcast Episodes
LATEST–Ep. 1121–Lauren Van Ham: Radical Inter-religious Cooperation Is Working to Save Life on Our Planet
Ep. 1021–Encuentro–A U.S./Mexico Conversation on Living the Alternative Worldview We Call OneEarth Jubilee
Ep. 0921–Eric LeCompte: Forgive Us Our Debts—Woes and Wins in Canceling Student Debt
Ep. 0821–Brenda Wyss: Feminist Economics Is Creating Just Systems That Meet Current Crises
Ep. 0721–Matt Brennan: An Advocate for Your Congregation and Nonprofit on How to Install Solar Power
Episode 0621–Carrie Radloff: MidWest Environmental Activism
Episode 0521::Neddy Astudillo: Adding Environmental Actions to Our Spiritual Practices
Episode 0421::Arborist Robin Rivet on Reversing Climate Crises Through Informed Tree Actions
Episode 0321::Mike Little: Faith and Money Network
Episode 0221::Economist Barry Shelley: Economic Assumptions and Initiatives for Change
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MUST READ!
Our Great Reckoning
Eileen Crist On The Consequences Of Human Plunder
BY LEATH TONINO • The SUN Magazine 12/20
Connect to it here.
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NEW and Worthwhile
THUR., 11/18/21, 11 AM PST
Tackling Climate Change through Regenerative Agriculture
Event by Heifer InternationalPublic · Anyone on or off Facebook
Register here ↓
https://hefr.in/3D3BMMJ
Conventional, large-scale agriculture has contributed to global land degradation and the devastating impacts of climate change. Join us for a live discussion with the Savory Institute’s Global Network Coordinator, Abbey Smith, on how regenerative agriculture has the potential to help reverse this, creating productive, profitable small-scale farms, promoting soil, ecosystem and human health.
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Four Foundations for Earth Care: Solidarity, Sustainability, Sufficiency & Democracy
By Rev. Peter Sawtell (10/18/21)
The Sustainable Sanctuary Coalition of KC, the Environmental Action Committee of Village Church, and Earthkeepers of Heartland Presbyterian co-sponsored a presentation focusing on Earth Care and Environmental Ethics.
See it now at https://youtu.be/TDOQmrBClog
Although Peter has retired, his weekly Eco-Justice Notes and other resources are archived and a source of constant inspiration at http://www.eco-justice.org/.
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Reparations for Slavery and Racism
Jeffrey Robinson gave this talk for Beyt Tikkun Yom Kippur services. Now we are sharing it with the tens of thousands of people who receive Tikkun info in the hopes that you will listen to his talk, share it with everyone on your email lists and then contact your elected representatives to support the bill in the House of Representatives which seeks to create a national report on what those reparations should look like. We at Tikkun hope that it also includes reparations to Native Americans for the genocide of their nations by the whites who conquered them and systematically pursued policies seeking to extinguish their cultures and livelihoods. Listen and then share the link with neighbors, friends, and everyone you can reach.I write this on Indigenous People’s Day rather than celebrate Columbus who opened the gates to white supremacist exploitation of this beautiful and magnificent part of Earth, but the issue of reparations should be on our minds till some justice is done for both African Americans and all Indigenous people. Rabbi Michael Lerner
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCeT4x3mg1g
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Coming 2022–All of SLW! and OneEarth Jubilee Economics’ 200+ podcast episodes will be offered–one at a time in the Daily Nudge. If you do not already receive the weekly email that links to the Daily Nudges, subscribe for free by sending NUDGE to SimpleLivingWorks@yahoo.com.
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Fly your Earth flag at half mast.
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Critical American History
In light of the recent stirrings about Critical Race Theory, I recommend a video series “American Oligarchy.” I watched it on Free Speech TV and it’s available on-line at
Plutocracy
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Check out Earth Mama’s Latest Album “Lovingkindness“
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Video: Why anti-Zionism is not anti-Semitism
https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/nora-barrows-friedman/video-why-anti-zionism-not-anti-semitism
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Recent Reader Comment
I loved the earlier focus of Simple Living and am dissapointed in the blatant politization of this material. I have stepped away from the site for awhile and hardly recognize it as the same publication. I do not support or endorse your views. Please remove me from your distribution list.
My Reply
This reader may have confused Voluntary Simplicity with “10 Tips to Unclutter Your Closet.” SLW! has for over 20 years been guided by the Five Life Standards of “Living More with Less,” the classic by Mennonite Doris Janssen Longacre. “Do Justice; Learn from the World Community; Cherish Natural Order; Nourish People (not Stuff); and Non-Conform Freely” are highly political! If you are put off by one of our blogs or podcasts, please review these Standards. We have expounded on them in text and audio at http://simpleliving.startlogic.com/indexoth.php?place=archivesThemes.php#lmwl.
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Why Is Critical Race Theory So Dangerous
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CAUTION—CONTROVERSIAL SUBJECT!
We may need to consider the possibility that the ever mutating pandemic is one way that Mother Earth is righting a natural imbalance.
Let’s consider several premises:
That humans are part of Nature, not the rulers of Nature, that all animals and plants are interdependent. Most creatures have natural predators—animals that eat other animals or plants.
The Earth is in Overshoot. We have more humans than the Earth can support. Some call it Overpopulation. This is a very controversial. The pro-natalists, those who want a higher birth-rate, are driven primarily by pro-growth economics, which just sends us further into Overshoot.
We can survive well with a steady-state economy—one that does not grow—and a reduced population.
We needn’t use coercion to stabilize population. When talking about a smaller global population, pro-natalists use negative examples such as China’s One Child policy or racial superiority. Population can be reduced to a sustainable level using female education and comprehensive family planning. This applies mainly in the Southern Hemisphere.
The Northern Hemisphere must be concerned primarily about restraining OverConsumption—using no more than our fair share of the Earth’s resources. This has been the primary thrust of Simple Living Works! and its predecessors for almost 40 years! We’ve come to the conclusion it’s easier to change human’s reproduction than consumption!
I could go on but I’ll return to the main idea—the pandemic may be a way of the Earth bringing life into balance. Not God, not malevolent scientists, not terrorists.
I’m not suggesting that the Earth makes human-style intellectual decisions and then acts. The Earth is a interconnected, interdependent set of systems that interact to bring change.
We can cooperate in this effort by: 1. Accepting a decline in population and not trying to replace those who have died; 2. Supporting female education and family planning; 3. Bringing our consumption into control so that more humans have an equal share. 4. Tax the Rich and large corporations!
We are not telling women how many children they can have. We are trying to help free them to make their own decisions for their own lives, health and family, not to please their husband, extended family or community.
Also visit Resources http://simpleliving.startlogic.com/indexoth.php?place=archives/featuredwriters.php#resources
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Invitation to Read and Sign OneEarth Jubilee Covenant for the 2020’s
Latest OneEarth Jubilee monthly eNewsletter at https://oneearthjubilee.com/updates/. Well worth a read.
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FUNDAMENTALISM & NATIONALISM: TWO DOMINANT HERESIES IN AMERICAN CHRISTIANITY
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| ReTrumplicans Wage War on Democracy Voter Suppression in effect in Georgia, Florida and Texas. Similar laws in legislatures in multiple other “red” states. How do pro-democracy Progressives pro-act? Non-cooperation! Refuse to do business, vacation or attend events in these states, and tell the ReTrumplicans there–governors, legislators, county chairs–the effects of their actions. Money is the language they understand. PLUS– + The GOP’s Obsession with Power-At-All-Costs Will End Badly for Us All (Including Them) by Thom Hartmann + The wealthiest 1% have robbed the nation with $7 trillion in tax evasion over the last 10 years + Ari Berman on GOP’s War on Democracy & Voting Rights. + Voter Suppression: The Republican War on Facts, Snacks and Democracy by Amy Goodman & Denis Moynihan The January 6th insurrection was one way to try to overthrow democracy. Now, a more sophisticated effort to subvert democracy is underway. + How We Fight Back Against the GOP’s New War on Democracy |
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The Thom Hartmann Hidden History Series
LATEST–The Hidden History of American Healthcare: Why Sickness Bankrupts You and Makes Others Insanely Rich
The Hidden History of American Oligarchy: Reclaiming Our Democracy from the Ruling Class
The Hidden History of Guns and the Second Amendment
The Hidden History of the Supreme Court and the Betrayal of America
The Hidden History of the War on Voting: Who Stole Your Vote and How to Get It Back
The Hidden History of Monopolies: How Big Business Destroyed the American Dream
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Worthwhile Blogs, Webinars, Podcasts
What Could Possibly Go Right? with Vicki Robin // Patheos–Progressive Christian // Jesus for Everyone // Crazy Town // Imagine with Us (SpiritualProgressives.org, Tikkiun.org)
Peace Podcast from John Dear on Apple and Google. Author of ‘They Will Inherit the Earth: Peace and NonViolence in a Time of Climate Change’ — SLW! #114: Part 1 // TCGP #98: Part 2
John Dear’s Beatitudes Center for the Nonviolent Jesus– www.beatitudescenter.org
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Simpler Living Daily Nudges
Month 11* // Week 1: More Celebrating || Week 2: Preparations || Week 3: Unplug the Christmas Machine || Week 4: Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?
Month 12*: Responsible Celebrating (Advent) Week 1: Ten Tips for a Simpler, More Meaningful Christmas, #1-6 || Week 2: 10 Tips, #7-8 || Week 3: 10 Tips, #9-10+ || Week 4: Christmas, Kwanzaa, Holy Innocents
Send “Nudge” to SimpleLivingWorks@yahoo.com to receive a free, brief email each week. You can unsubscribe at any time by replying Unsubscribe Nudge.
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- SLW! Blog Index | SLW! Podcast Index
- SUBSCRIBE to SLW! Podcast for free through your favorite podcast service. Subscribe to SLW! Blog. Click “+Follow” at lower right of blog post, enter a name and email address. Welcome!
- Non-Conform-Freely Celebrations: Months 9-12*
- Check out a few of SLW! thought-provoking, timely resources that might meet your personal, family or congregational/group needs. They’re all FREE. Visit Seasonal/Thematic Resource Index.
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DONATE to our partner organization: https://oneearthjubilee.com/support-oneearth-jubilee/
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Solving the Climate Crisis with No-Growth Economics
To get a worldview very different from the greed and profit-oriented politicians and corporatists, visit these solution-oriented resources:
- GrowthBusters
- Post-Carbon Institute / CrazyTown Podcast — SLW! Ep. 109: Richard Heinberg
- CASSE: Center for the Advancement of the Steady-State Economy / Steady-Stater Podcast — The Common Good Podcast Ep. 46–Brian Czech (use player)
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IT’S NOT OVER YET: A PRA WEBINAR SERIES
In the wake of four years of far-right populist governance culminating in a violent insurrection, Political Research Associates (PRA), publisher of Religion Dispatches, is holding steady in the knowledge, informed by 40 years of Fight the Right research, that it’s not over yet.
PRA is taking this moment to evaluate the state of the Right as it enters into opposition and, at times, into partnership with the new centrist administration. AND STAY TUNED! PRA and RD are working on a joint webinar series on the “Christian” Right to be announced soon.
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We protect ourselves from Climate Crisis deniers, through such series as:
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- Why We Podcast–We truly believe in the missions of SLW! and Jubilee OneEarth Economics! The mainstream corporate media — left, right or center — exist to sell us more stuff. Though we are only the tiniest whisper, we cannot stop offering an honest alternative to that MultiEarth message. There is no Planet B. Here’s a list of worthwhile media. And even more.
- Our Daily Simpler Living Nudge — What It Is / How It Works / How to GET It – Subscribe by sending NUDGE to SimpleLivingWorks@yahoo.com. / How to SHARE It
- Previews of Simple Living Blogs, Podcasts and Sites // Collaborators & Champions
- Recent Responses to SLW! media
- Publications–The complete SLW! Quarterly Digest on the SLW! site features the latest posts from colleague organizations and is updated weekly. Simpler Living Nudge features offerings from SLW! It comes as your free subscription to SLW! Blog. Daily Nudges come by email (send NUDGE to SimpleLivingworks@yahoo.com) or by Twitter @GeraldIversen. Choose the options that work for you.
You can access all SLW! podcast audio and the show notes at SimpleLivingWorks.org (then click window #3). Complete Episode Index. Listen through your computer, iPod, iPad, iPhone (or equivalent). SUBSCRIBE as Simple Living Works! through iTunes, Stitcher.com or your favorite podcast service. To SUBSCRIBE to email notices, click Comments at the bottom of Show Notes, then check ‘Notify me of new posts by email.’ Please rate us in iTunes and leave a review. Send us your email address to receive the free monthly SLW! eNews. Remember to like us on Facebook. Urge your friends to do the same. Do your friends a favor. Share our blog and podcast. Like SLW! on Facebook. | Follow us on Twitter. | Follow us on Pinterest. Share your thoughts on our podcast and blogs. Email SimpleLivingWorks@yahoo.com, leave a message on our Facebook page or on the SLW! blog.
Peace, Gerald “Jerry” Iversen, Chief SLW! Activist
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