See: http://rubyurl.com/omS

The whole thing was the last evidence I needed to bury the naive hope that the Rainbow Warriors will rise from within civilisation’s ranks to avert catastrophe before it’s too late.

But an interesting thought occurred to me: what if the real function of events like these was to pacify public opinion which otherwise might be gearing up for something much more militant? What if Geldof and Bono and Live 8 and Make Poverty History are necessary to guide popular energy into the most ineffective channels and smother all the anger and revolutionary urges people feel, turning it all into a beige mulch of appeasement and sycophancy? Maybe they parade know-nothing dick-heads before us because they think we will assume them as our artistic representatives and in turn become know-nothing dick-heads ourselves?

These thoughts were fueled by my discovery of the ‘Alive Earth’ web-based alternative. The honest, gritty (sometimes a little hippy) music is still out there, you just have to want to find it. The problem lies with a music industry that selects more heavily than ever against ‘radical’ artists. As they say:

People will get excited by seeing their favourite acts and may learn that climate change is a problem. But will they feel challenged. Will they feel angry. Will they feel involved in a global movement against climate change? We are less sure.

During the Vietnam era there were peace concerts that achieved all these things because the artists were utterly committed to the peace movement and all the music spoke of their anger, hopes and fears. Their music was not an advertisement for the peace movement- it was its soundtrack.

sigh. i mean, i don’t *wanna* be so cynical, really i don’t!

as for the other question–i always do local first if i have any clue about their practices. after that, bulk organic, and then Organic Valley or whatever at the co-op here.

i like this essay on the topic, via Ran’s site a ways back:

http://www.energybulletin.net/25115.html

(saying basically that whether it all adds up to any major change is not really the point–like, just because ME not murdering someone will not significantly impact the national or global murder stats, does that mean i should go ahead and do it? of course not!)

but greenwashing is totally EVIL, and it is only going to get worse, leaving lots of well-intentioned regular people spending more money and thinking they are doing something good for their health, “the planet” or whatever, but just getting ripped off. i’m constantly reminding my mom now that “certified organic” (by fed, state or some damn one) is what she wants if she can’t get local, and NOT “all natural” and the various other advertising trick terms.

in regional farm news here, i’ve good and bad–

good: we found a great little free-roaming, grass-fed, raw milk farm right near my folks’ place that sells direct if you stop by.

bad: my dad’s friend in Bedford with the small family dairy farm was forced this week to sell their herd. they were at the end of the pick-up line for the middle-man outfit that was taking their milk to Land’o'Lakes for butter. they’ve owned the land for many generations so i don’t think they’re gonna’ lose it…they just have to change what they’re gonna’ do there. they’ve been getting squeezed by the big players for decades now.

i know the ongoing discussion with the merits vs. problems with dairy here, and i’m cool with everyone not having to agree on that, BTW!

but what makes the above good/bad regardless i think, is that i’m afraid we’re really going to need the small farm outfits more and more as things come apart globally. of course their styles of farming are not sustainable long term, BUT they do have many other crucial skills, not to mention the land and networks, to shift to better methods as the times call for it. i’d rather walk down the steps one by one, than just jump off from the tenth floor, you know?

Giuli–as you mention toxins/poisons in various products, are you familiar with this resource: http://www.ewg.org

i use this one a lot: http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com

as i’m not quite ready to make my own soap or shampoo or toothpaste, and i’m still working someplace where that sort of thing is rather expected, i’ve found this database helpful!

Kunstler also had a good rant about Live Earth.

Well, we aren’t them. But, yeah, I think this is the best that they will allow themselves to do. I think we’re going to have another round of we-are-the-world activism as a last gasp to syphon money from the people as collapse sets in. These people aren’t going down without a fight; they want to squeeze every last bit of party time they can out of this thing before there’s nothing left. Plus, they want to make themselves feel like they were doing the right thing all along.

Here’s a thought… Buying organic foods, they still may be shipping them thousands of miles to get to you, adding to the carbon blah blah blah. Perhaps the third option is buying local?

I buy mostly local, organic, paleo foods and I only spend about 50-70 bucks a week on groceries. Of course, I live in Portland OR where there is a lot of competition in local organic foods so the prices here are comparable to many “regular” grocery stores. I’m not a nazi about local/organic, but I am a nazi about paleo… wait… is calling myself a nazi godwins law? Fuck. Don’t ban me pleeeease!!!