Lewis Williams of the Ngai Te Rangi lineage or whakapapa, (whose iwi or tribe is in the Central Bay of Plenty here in Aotearoa NZ), is chairing the development of the Koru International Network; a movement for indigenous and intercultural development, whose mission is human cultural diversity in support of bio-diversity … through the revitalization of indigenous worldviews within all cultures.
Lewis is currently based in Toronto Canada whilst this network is being established. Previous to that she was based at the University of Saskatchewan as an Associate Professor, of Native Studies.
In many ways indigenous people are the ones who have by far the closest intimate relationship with nature and the earth.
They did not go down the path of manufacturing, empire building, mass production, consumerism or private property but maintained an open relationship to the elements of the earth, and with all living things within the biosphere … often today keeping to themselves where possible but in most cases they have been overrun by Western man in his desire for either resources or markets as well as power. They see life as sacred and Mother earth as their sustainer.
Never before has so much pressure been put on these people globally, especially now as Western man and technology bear down on them.
You are invited to participate at a talking circle at the Hoani Waititi Marae, Glen Eden Auckland May 7th
WORKSHOP 9.30am – 4.30 pm, Saturday 8th May 2010, Boardroom, CCS Disability Action, 14 Erson Ave, Royal Oak, Auckland. Cost $50.00.
Lewis Williams - web: http://www.korunetwork.com
Imagine all children graduating from school with a diploma as an adjunct to their other credentials.
What an empowering tool to embrace and carry, that like a torch of benevolence, can in the spirit of goodwill, eventually have NZ sending overseas thousands of emissaries of peace and conflict resolution to all countries on our diverse planet, to go and live alongside other peoples, get to know them, working alongside them … to … gradually … and skillfully with the adeptness of warm-hearted ambassadors … draw peoples and communities closer together to see that we have more in common with each other, than differences.
And that by sharing the method of "conflict resolution" through their mediation skills would draw us closer together towards a planet of peace.
And more so here at home in our communities across NZ, we would build more deeper friendships, there would be less violence across the nation and the country would have fewer divorces and broken homes and we would be more understanding as a country of all peoples and cultures both locally and globally.
Listen to how this innovative and ground breaking "Cool Schools" program sprang into being here on the North Shore and how via the support of the Peace Foundation it is enthusiastically being nurtured and carried forward by three passionate women of conscience and determination.
Conflict Resolution, the Reconciliation of Opposing Points of View, the building blocks of negotiating Relationships.
2012 - Mayan Calendar - What is it about?
We in the Western world have been influenced by the historical events of what came out of Greece and Rome, however, when London had only a few thousand people in 800 AD, Tikal which is now in Guatemala was an advanced civilisation of 80,000 Mayan people, with a fully written language and living in elegant, architecturally built buildings with a pyramid as their center piece.
Intrinsically integrated into their cosmology was an advanced calendar that has its culmination point in 2012.
So why did the Maya have as a focal point of their civilisation a calendar that they "built on" that has a prophetic date, when their civilisation basically collapses around a 1000 years ago, yet only in the last 30 years researchers uncovers a profound understanding that humanity is at a point of cosmic timing that states that we are at the culmination of our evolutionary cycle?
And when we look around our planet today, with the synchronistic convergence of ecological, economic, societal and warlike disorder, what are we to make of this timing?
Carl Calleman, is a serious scholar and researcher from Sweden, whose insights show that there is intelligence embedded in not only the Mayan pyramids as 'time keepers' but also in the universe itself, and that we as a humanity are on the threshold of a great awakening that if we are astute and open to possibility will open the door to opportunity, growth and "unity consciousness" never before envisaged by humanity up until this very moment!
This is an exceptionally positive and optimistic analysis and interview by a world leading scholar!
From the archives.
Sue Kedgley, is currently the Chairperson of the New Zealand Parliament Health Committee, a Green Member of Parliament for 10 years and her most recent book, is titled Eating Safely in a Toxic World.
Hear of how National and Labour collude to allow no country of origin food labels allowing 'junk' food to flourish which could eventually collapse the national health system with too many over weight and diabetic patients taking up hospital beds etc and the frightening fact that the government and health department know that this is what's going to happen and instead do nothing.
The interview also covers, food labeling, irradiated food coming into NZ, poor quality food in hospitals, retirement villages and prisons, diet and sugar drinks, deteriorating teeth, education to what is a good diet and political party politics.
Also, Codex and TGA effects from Australia where we get an insight to the state of affairs of Health across NZ and the way out, by growing our own vegetables in our own back yard.
Sue tells us as it is, in the way food is processed and consumed in NZ and the huge challenge around changing food and eating habits. Particularly, ways that empower the individual and family to once again take charge of our choices on what we can do, to get closer to our food source and become a strong healthy nation once again.
http://www.greens.org.nz/people/suekedgley
Elisabeth von Madarasz has trained as a Shaman since 1989 with the Foundation for Shamanic Studies (FSS, USA). She studied for over 2 years with Robert Morningsky and during a Vision Quest in Arizona her passion to master survival skills was aroused. Elisabeth is a Graduate of the Tom Brown Jnr. Survival and Philosophy systems and teaches workshops internationally.
Shamanism is possibly the oldest known system relating to the human endeavour to know and heal oneself, going back thousands of years we find the term emerged our of Siberia and is allied to witch doctors and medicine men / women. Shaman's conversed with nature and the forces both within and without, as everything is animated by spirit.
Very unorthodox to present day medicine and our Western cosmology, shamanism has a very unique understanding of our relationship to the web of life and to the oneness of being, from honouring of birth to the sacredness of death.
In 1998 Elisabeth founded the Academy of Shamanic Studies (NZ). She aims to teach Shamanism in a way that honours the cultural heritage of each person as well as the spirit and vibrations of the land. Elisabeth's vision is to share the ancient Shamanic principles of oneness and our interconnectedness, so we can live in harmony, love, honour and respect for each other and for all life forms.
www.shamanic.ac.nz