I decided to take part in ‘National Novel Writing Month‘. The objective is to write a novel of 50,000 words in a month, specifically this month. Obviously a quantity rather than quality objective that is intended to get writers into the discipline of writing whether inspiration comes or not.
Alexander Hagen talks about the disinformation regarding Libya on his excellent YouTube channel. His channel is called ‘Radio Free SF Libya Research‘ and is well worth visiting. I think that when your country bombs people in other countries it is an obligation to get the full why, where, who, when, what and how.
I think when your country despoils another country, endorses the murder of one of its leaders and leaves children killed and maimed it’s time to be angry so I’m also posting the following from Alex Jones who articulates this anger. There are times when no being angry, not appearing even concerned just seems insane.
Walking with Alfred Hassler, Thich Nhat Hanh and Sister Chan Khong Official Film Trailer from FairSoul-LIVE…ACT..BE on Vimeo.
I have known of Thich Nhat Hanh for some time. He is a wonderful teacher. I had not heard of Alfred Hassler before coming across this project to make a film about his life. I will be supporting the making of the film through a donation at indiegogo.com.
Download: Comic Book 1957
We can fight or flee in the moment, feel fear or regret in the moment without fighting, fleeing, fearing or regretting the moment itself.
Each moment has a particular energy, wholeness and suchness that we can be sensitive to. Haiku poems try to capture that suchness:
gathering twigs
then crossing the bridge
in the evening mistRyokan
The Poems of Ryokan
Moral/metaphysical imbalance can be destructive in the same way that physical imbalance can be destructive. The ‘sins’ can be seen as moral poisons. This should not be seen as any sort of absolute such as ‘sickness’ means you have been bad or ‘if you get ill it’s your own fault for being wicked or negative’. Good people get ill and some ‘wicked’ people live long and prosper. Maybe everyone has a particular moral ecology or moral sensitivity just as they have different physical sensitivities such as more or less tolerance for alcohol.
The following is from an article “6 Things Libya Will Never See Again” Posted by Saya on October 24, 2011 at
disinfo.com:
There is no electricity bill in Libya; electricity is free for all its citizens.
There is no interest on loans, banks in Libya are state-owned and loans given to all its citizens at zero percent interest by law.
Having a home considered a human right in Libya.
All newlyweds in Libya receive $60,000 dinar (U.S.$50,000) by the government to buy their first apartment so to help start up the family.
Education and medical treatments are free in Libya. Before Gaddafi only 25 percent of Libyans were literate. Today, the figure is 83 percent.
Should Libyans want to take up farming career, they would receive farming land, a farming house, equipments, seeds and livestock to kickstart their farms are all for free.
If Libyans cannot find the education or medical facilities they need, the government funds them to go abroad, for it is not only paid for, but they get a U.S.$2,300/month for accommodation and car allowance.
If a Libyan buys a car, the government subsidizes 50 percent of the price.
The price of petrol in Libya is $0.14 per liter.
Libya has no external debt and its reserves amounting to $150 billion are now frozen globally.
If a Libyan is unable to get employment after graduation the state would pay the average salary of the profession, as if he or she is employed, until employment is found.
A portion of every Libyan oil sale is credited directly to the bank accounts of all Libyan citizens.
A mother who gives birth to a child receive U.S.$5,000.
40 loaves of bread in Libya costs $0.15.
25 percent of Libyans have a university degree.
Gaddafi carried out the world’s largest irrigation project, known as the Great Manmade River project, to make water readily available throughout the desert country.
Gadhafi is painted as a brutal tyrant and the news is full of rejoicing Libyans celebrating his end. To doubt the story is to doubt a consensus that appears grounded in fact and yet it’s an unusual tyrant that has so much evidence of good work for his people thrown up in his defence; also it is an unusual tyrant who can count Nelson Mandela as a friend. On a visit to Libya Mandala said of Gadhafi:
Those who say I should not be here are without morals. This man helped us at a time when we were all alone, when those who say we should not come here were helping the enemy.
This is not to say that Gadhafi was not guilty of the crimes of which he is accused but there seems to be a deeper story an another side that is being wilfully ignored by the mainstream media.
The following report by RT questions the UK, US and French motivation for going into Libya suggesting that he was planning to use Libya’s gold to challenge the west’s financial domination.
The mainstream media consensus picturing Gadhafi as a monster hated by his people is shocking because there are so many facts that contradict this picture. It’s not necessary for people to agree with Gadhafi … it may be true that he committed atrocities, but it’s not the whole truth. Any questioning of the consensus picture seems to happen only on the internet where it is freely available but not unless you search for it.
Yvonne Di Vito, an Italian activist who visited Libya suggests that there was coordinated media manipulation to present a particular picture of a humanitarian mission supporting a popular uprising.
Whatever the abuses carried out by Gadhafi they appear to be at least matched by the abuses of the rebels. Susan Lindauer presents a horrific picture of who they are and what they do:
The brutal killing of Gadhafi is consistent with the pattern of abuses perpetrated by the rebel forces. The fact that their new government the ‘National Transitional Council’ has asked NATO to continue their bombing campaign indicates that there is still resistance and division in Libya and highlights the extent to which the NTC requires NATO’s support against significant numbers of their fellow citizens.
Despite the consensus of the mainstream media the evidence seems to be that the NATO mission was more directed at the slaughter of civilians that their salvation.
Online References and Articles:
This vid reminds me of sci-fi films from the ’50s. I’m in no way supporting drug use … but the description by a most unlikely subject is rather enchanting.
If I want to explore my consciousness I try intensive meditation with sleep deprivation. I don’t know think it’s the same state but it’s a good state that doesn’t just change perception can change actuality. When I meditate intensely the world flows more with my will and inner being seem to affect outer reality. I can’t prove this connection and any anecdote can be put down to coincidence.
I don’t do that kind of meditation now or indeed any meditation on a disciplined basis. It’s hard work and I’ve become incredibly lazy. Nevertheless I would recommend meditation above experimentation with drugs for people who want to expand or explore consciousness.
Was thinking about what a brilliant autumn we’ve been having, about the hot days of early October and the still green leaves; whimsically googled ‘summer in October’ and got the ‘Gainesville’ lyrics and then found the vid on Youtube. Serendipity. I’m not a punk fan but I grok the words.
Gainesville Lyrics
I’m living summer time
I’m not thinking about the dark clouds
I’m just basking in the shine
One for all and all for one
No one fighting over crumbs,
today is better than any day that’s come beforeAnd if the rain begins to fall
I won’t feel it at all
Let’s live it like we mean it
And it feels like summer in october
And I hope this day is never over
And it feels like summer in october
to meI try not to complicate
I’ve taken life for granted for forever and a day
Like it was broken from the start
I had to tear it all apart
And hope the pieces would fit back together fineAnd if the rain begins to fall
I won’t feel it at all
Let’s live it like we fucking mean itAnd it feels like summer in october
And I hope this day is never over
And it feels like summer in october
to meTime was wasted
We’re moving way too slow
Let’s go before we’re old
Time doesn’t wait for meTime was wasted
We’re moving way too slow
Let’s go cause we’re not getting any younger
Time doesn’t wait for meTime was wasted
We’re moving way too slow
Let’s go cause we’re not getting any younger
Time doesn’t wait for meTime was wasted
We’re moving way too slow
Let’s go before we’re old
Time doesn’t wait for me
This is extracted from a long talk by Eckhart Tolle that can be found at http://vimeo.com/9667088. Spaciousness, meditation, emptiness, our reflective nature, without this we are reactive; bounced from one thing to the other by our experience. So first the quiet mind. Stillness.
This video is well made and catches the sentiment of a movement that is spreading. I hope that this is not hijacked by partisan politics and people who put their own agendas before commitment to sharing and to peace.