Imagine hundreds of earth conscious communities networked across our nation by goodwill (and fiber optics) being embedded in both the rural sector and urban environments, that have their own currency, of both Green Dollars and Time Banks.
These all linked by localised computer networks (but also without computers) that if you are short of NZ hard currency you can still earn, trade and be innovative business people and entrepreneurs. Where volunteers actually get paid, and there is no lack or want.
Starting from a background in organic gardens, permaculture, and community projects over the past 25 years, Laurence has sought key levers for change.
In the early to mid 90’s he founded the Environmental Business Network drawing more than 500 companies into its membership under his leadership, (the network later became the Sustainable Business Network). In this time he worked with people like Anita Roddick of The Body Shop and Dr Karl Hendrik Robert founder of The Natural Step.
Advocating community solutions led to Transition Towns and Living Economies -as movements. In conjunction with AnewNZ he runs 'The Bank of Real Solutions' a clearing house of community success stories which runs the by-line, ‘Out-thinking the problems because we can.’
He believes our barriers to a sustainable future are not from a lack of ability but from systemic corruption and cowardice, but most of all – a lack of imagination.
He lives in Golden Bay with his wife and 3 daughters and is enthusiastically involved with several community projects
In the age of globalisation, community is the anecdote ... and 'possibility is the new currency'. Want to belong and feel part of a greater, more coherent organism - where the synergy of people is based on working and playing towards the benefit of the whole? Then in the worlds of Bruce Lipton "work towards shaping and creating community".
Transition Towns: www.tt.org.nz
Living Economies: www..le.org.nz
AnewNZ: www.anewnz.org.nz
The Bank of Real Solutions: www.realsolutions.org.nz
Rod Oram, Business Journalist covers the spectrum of business and how it relates to everything.
Stating that New Zealand in many ways is only a reflection of what's happening around the world.
Covering: Our current economic model that has hit the wall - environmentally, socially and economically which he says sounds pretty dire ... both Government and business get very low marks for lack of vision and innovation.
Clean green image - we are pushing our luck ... We are too casual as to how we treat the environment.
Organic food growing is definitely the best process as it mimics natural process but ... how easy is it for NZ to convert, and would we obtain the volume of produce required?
We are the only developed country with no emmission standards for cars and trucks and having the oldest fleet in the world too. Why?
Plus forestry, huge challenges - how much carbon is stored in a tree? How is this calculated? Could we plant gigantic forests that all New Zealanders have shares in, for a nationwide superannuation scheme?
The role of communities and leadership is where we are heading, local leadership can impel Governments to follow, as they will not really lead, but if they do their pattern is to force things onto people. We need to learn the nature of how organisations work and how the nature of leadership works within this context.
Grass roots change is becoming very important, where we the people can instigate change via the Government because they have been given a mandate to legislate the changes needed - but it has to come from us.
Then get countries overseas to do the same - then global change becomes possible.
We also need to trust each other more in our relationships with each other.
Covering New Zealand's current debt and the TPPA The Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement, and that we need a country wide debate on it.
:- An important overview by a very keen voice of balance and reason.
This new magazine recently launched to fill the void left by the Healthy Options publication being forced off the market by vested interests here in NZ.
The New Zealand Journal of Natural Medicine explores a wide range of topics that are relevant to maintaining or regaining good health.
These include nutritional healing, herbal medicine, New Zealand native Rongoa, exercise, homeopathy, Traditional Chinese Medicine, massage and many other modalities that can contribute to improving people’s health.
This in depth interview covers:
• Radiation protection as a response to the Japanese nuclear reactors leaking radiation into the Pacific ocean and atmosphere and the benefits of using tumeric as one method, which incidentally is used in curries being a very good antioxidant. Iodine is another radiation protector.
• Also discussed is, thermography, a benign non invasive test for breasts, that is far better for woman to have as apposed to having a mammogram, which is essentially an X-ray of the breast, where women are exposed to a small amount of radiation. But this method is not being supported by the Health Dept here in NZ, where both methods could supplement each other.
• Raising a Vaccine-Free Child which leads to the NZ Health Select Committee report on how to increase immunisation completion rates that have a number of coercive recommendations. And that the Department of Health here do not always tell the truth and censor vital information that parents and Doctors NEED TO KNOW. See also: www.noforcedvaccines.org for information on this issue.
• EECP therapy. A procedure that grows new blood vessels. Recent data in 2005 documenting the effectiveness of Enhanced External Counterpulsation (EECP) for the treatment of angina has failed to bring this apparently effective procedure into the mainstream of cardiology practice. Why are cardiologists avoiding this safe, noninvasive treatment like the plague?
A well balanced assessment by a healer, who appreciates the good work of doctors and nurses who want to serve the sick and unwell.
www.naturalmedicine.net.nz
There are many methods to treat cancer today that cover the full spectrum, from surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and drugs, to a vast array of holistic modalities and natural therapies, to visualisation and spiritual healing.
By bridging all medical methods, Grace collaborates with oncologists in an endeavour to find the best outcomes for patients.
With a marked increase in cancer across the human race, we inherently know that the pollution of both mind, body and planet, is totally related. However, we also know that cancer can attack anyone at any age, for no known reason and with no warning.
Listen to an exceptionally dedicated and connected healer who has worked with over 13,000 patients sharing her gifts and goodwill to empower them and their loved ones on this journey to deliver and cure us from this debilitating syndrome.
Covering the need for love, supportive family, de-stressing, clearing toxic relationships, to practical steps such as diet, exercise, meditation, prayer, yoga, and positive thinking.
Also mentioned is the impact of cosmetics, air quality, agriculture, food chain issues such as hormones, pesticides, electromagnetic influences etc.
Grace also teaches patients how to spin gold from straw and turn cancer into a transformative process and experience?
This very clear and inspiring interview, is a must for any dear family member, friend or associate who at this moment may be struggling to heal and recover and I wish to encourage you to pass this information to those whom you feel could benefit from Graces goodwill.
www.gracegawler.com/institute
Is famine coming our way, as food prices continue climbing at the same time as fuel prices? Are we entering a increasingly insecure world?
Realising that a billion people, a very large part of the global family here on earth are going to bed hungry, Oxfam in around 40 countries, has initiated a giant global campaign called GROW which is an intelligent response to the hunger that people are suffering from at this very moment.
Where recently hunger has been declining, it has since 2008 risen dramatically, where in 23 countries there have been food riots and major protests in 61.
This is coming at a time of Peak oil, but Peak Agricultural Land Use was reached in around 1999 to 2001 and has been in actual decline ever since.
This is a critical issue that deserves serious attention, attention in the world already in the grip of multiple, economic, environmental and societal challenges.
Note that the average NZ family spends 16% of its income on food, whilst in the developing world 50% of a families income is spent on food. If our food price doubles we spend 1/3 of our income on food, if theirs doubles there will be nothing left - only hunger. Yet, we in the West suffer from the strange predicament of obesity and diabetes, whilst the developing world, actually starve.
Good safe food, like good clean water needs to be a human right, yet global food growth has been flat lining for the last 30 years and is of increasing concern.
At the same time woman's emancipation, education, and her need for control over her destiny and reproductive system, have to be supported, particularly in patriarchal and developing world societies.
With the GROW campaign, food has to be good, G E Free, preferably organic, fairly grown, harvested and paid for, and all people in the supply chain have to know where it comes from and how it was produced.
The aim of Oxfam in this worthy initiative is to enable all peoples as well as the developing world to start growing food more easily and every day and healthy food at that, resulting in healthy bodies, that empowers the family and bringing them closer together, saving money across the board, especially in the health systems, prisons, and the work force.
Statistics show that the more access to education and the more woman are empowered and have the ability to feed oneself, the smaller families can become.
Oxfam in taking this initiative is acting both ethically and strategically to avert a new age of crisis.
Learn from a very coherent and articulate communicator of how Oxfam a Non Governmental Organisation is mobilising globally to meet the challenge of encouraging the localisation of growing food, even here and in so called developed countries.
Starting off this global GROW campaign first, here in NZ on the 1st of June.
http://www.Oxfam.org.nz