Category Archives: Inspiration
“I am committed to amplifying the voices of communities of color that are systematically silenced, like mine, that are being affected by environmentally destructive industries, and experience environmental racism and classism. I am participating in this action because I believe it will help me to advocate for my community and further my ability to help make their voices a part of this movement to empower people to build a community of resistance to confront these injustices.” ~Yudith
Yudith Nieto was born in Mexico and grew up in the fence-line refining community of Manchester in Houston, TX. Living in a community that is being exploited by industry inspired Yudith to become involved in the environmental justice movement. Yudith has worked with Texas Environmental Justice Advocacy Services and has been organizing with the Tar Sands Blockade for the past 3 months to organize direct actions and advocate for her community. Yudith works with 3rd and 4th graders in the Southwest side of Houston coordinating a Healthy Living program and teaching children about environmental issues that affect their communities. Yudith is dedicated to confronting the petrochemical industries that perpetuate environmental racism and classism in marginalized communities of color.
“Those who make compassion an essential part of their lives find the joy of life. Kindness deepens the spirit and produces rewards that cannot be completely explained in words. It is an experience more powerful than words. To become acquainted with kindness one must be prepared to learn new things and feel new feelings. Kindness is more than a philosophy of the mind. It is a philosophy of the spirit.” ~ Robert J. Furey
During a philosophical evening conversation about the many troubles in the world, Mark Boyle realized that each of the many issues he was discussing with his friend shared a common root cause: money. Inspired by Mahatma Ghandi’s quote, “Be the change you want to see in the world,” Mark, then a successful businessman, resolved to live for a year without spending or receiving any hard cash. After successfully living moneyless for a whole year, Mark decided to continue living like that for two further years. As he now claims, this turned out to be the most fulfilling period of his life. “I’ve now more friends in my community than ever, I haven’t been ill since I began, and I’ve never felt fitter. I’ve found that friendship, not money, is real security. Most western poverty is psychological. Real independence is interdependence.”
“For those of us who desire a great transformation in this world, we must remember this: We do not need to put forth any energy at all towards changing the system which now ‘exists’. It will fall of its own weight. It is already falling. The cracks and fissures inherent within its structure ensure the inevitability of its collapse. All we need to do is to decide what it is that we want to create to stand in its place. When all of our energy is focused on that, we will be standing in this transformed world we all want to see.” ~Teal Scott
This image is from the Venus Project. They are just one of the groups out there taking a look at how we could live sustainably while making use of the advanced technology currently available. If you could start fresh and design the world of your dreams without limitations, what would you like to see in this new world we create? Dream big!
Zach Galifianakis takes the woman he saved from homelessness as his date to the premiere of Hangover 3. What an awesome guy!
When Zach Galifianakis hit the red carpet at the Los Angeles premiere of The Hangover 3 Monday night, he brought along a formerly homeless woman named Elizabeth “Mimi” Haist. And she’s no newcomer to the red carpet, either. She has been Galifianakis’ date to The Campaign and The Hangover 2 premieres as well, but no one knew who was the tiny woman on the actor’s arm. “All the fans were taking photos and I waved at them, I said, ‘They don’t know who I am!’” Haist told the Daily News of her prior premiere experiences. So who is she?
Galifianakis and Haist have been friends for almost 20 years, according to the Daily News. Galifianakis met Haist at the Fox Laundry when he was just starting out in Hollywood back in 1994. He befriended Haist at his local laundromat where she volunteered, surviving on the tips patrons gave her. Eventually Galifianakis stopped going to the laundromat, but two years ago, when Galifianakis found out that Haist had become homeless, he tracked her down and set her up in a one-bedroom apartment where he pays the rent and utilities. He also recruited his friend, actress Renee Zellweger, to the cause, and Zellweger outfitted the woman’s apartment with furniture and makes sure Haist’s fridge is always stocked with food.
Since then Haist has been escorting Galifianakis to red carpet events and enjoying herself. “I dress up nice and a friend helps me with my makeup. It’s fun, not something I’ve ever dreamed I’d experience. The limo takes me home afterwards,” Haist told the Daily News.
Photographer Richard Renaldi sets out to prove strangers are friends you just haven’t met yet. He finds random strangers on the street and has them pose together in a photograph as if they were intimate family members. Almost instantly, the “strangers” feel connected to each other. Love this idea! It demonstrates how easy it is to feel this connection we all share if we can just open our hearts and shift our perceptions. Much love to all the friends we have yet to meet!!
Source ~ Sustainable Man
“We are staring at the greatest opportunity for the evolutionary advancement of humanity in our long and turbulent history. This is an opportunity for us to engage in manifesting a new world — in a fully conscious manner. To do this effectively we must unite in a common goal, and we must do so outside of the existing systems and constructs which limit our capacity for expression, interaction and meaningful cooperation. We will build a New Earth — and we will not ask for permission to do so.” ~New Earth Project
This is so awesome. Love to see others out there thinking along the same lines. Time for us all to unite and dream it into being. Hold the vision, the new world is on its way.
“What this world needs is a new kind of army — THE ARMY of THE KIND.” ~Cleveland Amory, author
Under The Blue Door 