Dear Friends

I’ve been so busy lately and have a demanding travel schedule coming up until mid-October, that I’ve been remiss in posting many interesting and important happenings on this blog, and will likely leave things a bit fallow for now, but to fill you in very briefly:

Personally, and corporately, my family and I been actively advocating for, and on behalf of our good Ole Earth and Her denizens. You can see some of the great work my daughter Gurdeep is doing on her beautiful blog: thedeeperside, introducing the powerful film by Jeremy Seifert, GMO OMG at the LA Premiere, Arjan’s speaking on a panel at the Seattle GMO OMG Premiere, my speaking on a panel at the Portland Art Museum, advocating, along with Vandana Shiva, Sen Maralyn Chase and others, support of Washington’s State Initiative 522 to have mandatory labeling of GMOs on all foods, sharing my farmer/poet/songwriter dad’s lovely songs in praise of the land, imploring people everywhere to protect and care for the fragile earth we all share, to protect it against the depredations of the five global pesticide/GMO companies who also control most of the world’s seeds, and to encourage, by example, the practice of meditation and spirituality (after all, we are not just physical, mental and emotional, beings—but perhaps even more importantly—spiritual beings, our real, true nature, which embraces all humanity and all life on the planet; for when we do recognize our true Self, we embrace the inherent unity and Light of all existence, and we begin to see the temporal nature of all else).  Anyway, I believe with all my soul that while we are here on earth, we are here not just to claw out a livelihood, but also here to serve humanity, the natural environment (what is left of it), and that includes protection of biodiversity and creatures, great and small. I will be interviewed this morning by John and Ocean Robbins, and then our family is off to Baltimore to receive an organic leadership award from the Organic Trade Association, shared equally with my life-partner, Ratana Stephens…my muse, my love (we’ve been together for over 45 years), and joined by our beautiful kids. Lots of love to all of you!

gmo poster

KAUAI – snakes in Paradise

The Paradise of Kauai is being poisoned by Dow and Dupont, using this beautiful island as a laboratory to grow mutant GMO seeds and crops, while poisoning the environment with dangerous pesticides and herbicides. This was largely hidden from view, but the people of Hawaii are starting to wake up and fight for the right to enjoy a clean and safe environment. My family and I went to Kauai in January 2012 to celebrate my 68th birthday—a lovely relaxing experience, hiking, swimming, body surfing, snorkeling with fish and turtles, relaxing and meditating. Our four grandkids had a super time. We visited an amazing organic farm growing all kinds of exotic fruits, but the next day, we were shocked to discover vast acreages on the Island that are being used by Dow and Dupont for growing GMO crops. These giant pesticide companies are using up to three times more pesticides than what are used in North America, some of which are not allowed anymore, and the locals are being victimized. As the old saying goes, “It’s time to grow less corn, and raise more hell!” I’m sure some of my meditator friends are wondering why I’m bothering with all this, when this world of Maya is illusory. To those, i would say, remember, this earth is our Mother, and it behooves all her children to take care of Her, even while endeavoring to become spiritually liberated. Why do we let a handful of giant pesticide and seed companies to play God with our food and our environment?

kauai gmo protest
Kauai Protest

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