Progress Now Action

McCain-Palin scoriated. Barack Obama-Biden endorsed by the Humane Society for the United States.

Standing on the sidelines is no longer an option for us.

If Palin is put in a position to succeed McCain, it could mean rolling back decades of progress on animal issues.

I'm proud to announce today that the HSLF board of directors--which is comprised of both Democrats and Republicans--has voted unanimously to endorse Barack Obama for President. The Obama-Biden ticket is the better choice on animal protection, and we urge all voters who care about the humane treatment of animals, no matter what their party affiliation, to vote for them.

Voters who care about protecting wildlife from inhumane and unsporting abuses, enforcing the laws that combat large-scale cruelties like dogfighting and puppy mills, providing humane treatment of animals in agriculture, and addressing other challenges that face animals in our nation, must become active over the next six weeks to elect a president and vice president who share our values. Please spread the word, and tell friends and family members that an honest assessment of the records of the two presidential tickets leads to the inescapable conclusion that Obama-Biden is the choice for humane-minded voters.


Paid for by Humane Society Legislative Fund and not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

Read the entire article here [ yes, there is a lot more....]

http://hslf.typepad.com/political_animal/2008/09/humane-society.html

Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'
Current mood: inspired
Category: Life


Have we not come to such an impasse in the modern world that we must love our enemies - or else? The chain reaction of evil - hate begetting hate, wars producing more wars - must be broken, or else we shall be plunged into the dark abyss of annihilation.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
(WAR = EVIL)

THIS IS MY FAVORITE ONE......

An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality... I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

NO I LIED....these next two are my favorite ones...... I so would go to jail if I had too!!!!

An individual who breaks a law that his conscience tells him is unjust, and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for the law.
Martin Luther King, Jr.


A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

It is not enough to say we must not wage war. It is necessary to love peace and sacrifice for it.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

A man can't ride your back unless it's bent.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

A man who won't die for something is not fit to live.

I posted a brief note here stating that Udall was supporting impeachment which linked to a page on our website
that just said "April Fool".

It was censored and deleted. This is not the first time the PNA staff has deleted postings which made comments about Udall that they did not like.

Is PNA's staff losing it's sense of humor or is only their version of progressive speech allowable on this website?

Is this organization really progressive if they censor opposing views?

What do you think?

Fellow Democrats, I am very, very concerned. I think that, if we don't properly handle our nomination process over the next month, we could lose ALL of the support and good will gained with voters since 2006.

The issue that could undo us involves the Super Delegates to the national convention, and the Cognitive Dissonance they may create.

Before I go further, let me tell you about my background. I was an elected county party secretary from 2000 - 2002. I was a member of both county and state central and executive committees. I also ran for the state senate.

Now, let me tell you all a secret.

To read the rest of the blog entry, click here:
http://liberalnn.blogspot.com/

Step up, don't be shy!

We just had the gold-medal award-winning record-breaking GOP-freaking fantastically amazing caucus turn-out of all time (so far).

There are swarms of new bees buzzing! NOW, how do we keep them active and making honey for the election in the fall?

Let's all think of some ideas, and don't worry about whether someone else will think they are the best ideas ever. Just...share them. The thing about ideas is that often they generate MORE ideas. And one that might not totally work where I live (rural and red) could be perfect for Pueblo or awesome for Alamosa.

I'll start. We are going to harvest the emails and PO addresses our county collected at the caucuses, and use those to start a 'known active' mailing list. It was pretty expensive to mail a postcard to every Dem household in our county, but mailing a few hundred postcards before other events? Doable.

An idea I want to promote down here is to start up some committees new people can join. Bake sale contributers? Someone to work a MONTHLY voter registration table? (Maybe combine those two ideas? Register people AND sell them cookies?)

I once read something about how to be happy: you need something to do, something to care about and something to hope for.

The way I see it, we Dems have the power to help a LOT of people get happy!

So first...ideas!

Your turn!

Given the overwhelming importance of water allocations in the West, I am astonished that so little has been reported about the recent revisions to the Interstate Colorado River Water Compact that were just approved. In the little I read ( and the least coverage, short of none at all, was in the Denver Post - shame on them) it appears that the lower basin states are going to get more water in times of shortage (wouldn't that be now?. But it was not clear at whose expense. One article hinted that it would come out of water that goes to Mexico. I have to admit that I am suspicious - who gains and who loses from this? What does it mean for Colorado? How will it affect housing development and construction? Agriculture? Fishing and wildlife? The Front Range versus the Western Slope? Will the price of water become more related to its opportunity cost? Is this a grab by lower basin states that will hurt Colorado? Is this another "Chinatown"? I have seen nothing on these issues in the press. Anybody know?

Wednesday, Dec. 12th, 2007

CU Campus - 2:00 pm
Location: UMC (University Memorial Center)

Room #247 (2nd floor) CU Campus

Elizabeth Kucinich will meet with students and the general public at CU. This is an excellent opportunity to learn more about the Presidency of Dennis Kucinich, and start envisioning a Kucinich White House. Meet organizers in Boulder and Take Action! towards supporting the candidate that most supports us! No charge for event. Donations to campaign highly encouraged.


Oriental Theater - 6:30 pm
Location: 44th & Tennyson, Denver, CO
Cost: Suggested donation $10, no one turned away.

Elizabeth Kucinich will speak and take questions at the Oriental Theater on Dec 12th. Show will start at 6:30 pm. We will entertain and inform with video, Elizabeth will speak and then take questions from the audience. Following this portion, we will discuss caucus, while a live band sets up to finish the evening with a show. I am working on the musicians still, but it should be
great!

Food, cocktails and other beverages will be available at the venue. Cafe/bar on location.

*All events are accessible to people of all abilities.

He comes home with briefcase in hand from a long day "in the trenches." His wife and boys greet him at he door. They sit and exchange the events of the day in their Coca-Cola decorated kitchen. But before he heads upstairs to change out of his "blues" he stops by the altar, lights a candle and thanks the gods for his beautiful family. He then releases the stresses of the day with a quick glance at a wooden pentacle.
Air Force Major Anthony Gatlin, chief of the Military Personnel Division for the Secretary of the Air Force at the Pentagon, is not only a proud member of the U.S. Air Force, but also a practicing pagan.
The dictionary defines pagan as a follower of a polytheistic religion, as in ancient Rome. Modern day pagans define paganism as an eclectic, nature-centered religious movement that encompasses polytheistic and magical religions. Many beliefs labeled paganism are characterized by the honoring of pre-Christian deities, lack of institutionalization, a quest to develop the self and acceptance and encouragement of diversity.
"Ive been pagan all my adult life, but didn't realize what exactly that was until about a year-and-a-half ago. It had truly been an awakening, a 'coming home,'" said Gatlin.
Gatlin and his wife of 15 years, Sheila, talked many times about their beliefs and tried several churches together but, "nothing felt right", he said.
"Over the years, our spiritual lives suffered because we found nothing to nurture them," he said.
Through much research, study and discussion the Galtlins discovered what they were searching for.
"The particular pagan path that we most identified with is of the Wiccan tradition, which is a revival of ancient Celtic tribal religions. Its an Earth-based religion that follows no set scripture, but attunes the mind, body and spirit with the forces of nature," said Gatlin.
Time passed and Gatlin became more and more comfortable with his new faith. He felt it was time to "come out of the broom closet" and not hide his religious beliefs, he said. He didnt know at the time that his next few actions would have an affect on the entire pagan community in the Air Force.
"I had reached a point in my life where I wanted to become public with my religion. I figured a good place to start would be changing my religious preference on my dog tags and my personnel file," said Gatlin.
At that time, the Air Force didnt list any earth-based religions as religious preferences. Pagans, of all paths, either chose "no religious preference" or "other."
"I first listed my religion as 'other' but, as the days went by I just felt like that was more and more offensive," he said.
Gatlin began to ask why his religion, and the religion of more than an estimated 15,000 people in the military, wasnt represented. He started doing research on how to add a religious preference to the list. He spoke with chaplains and worked with the Air Force Personnel Center to coordinate a staff summary sheet. In March 2001 the package circulated for signing. Gatlin could only hope and hold on to his faith that the change would be approved.
"No one ever said you can't do this. No one was ever verbally against it. It was more bureaucracy and red tape that held up the process," said Gatlin.
On March 15 the change was approved and Pagan, Shaman, Druid, Wicca, Seax Wicca, Gardnerian Wicca and Dianic Wicca were added to the list of religious preferences in the Air Force Personnel Data System.
"I was proud to be the first person to register my religion in the system," Gatlin said, "and I hope others will be too. I want the world to know Pagans are not just a bunch of fringe lunaticswe are military members, husbands, wives, parentsregular people with hopes and dreams who want the freedom and tolerance to practice our religion just like anyone else."
More than 50 service members registered as one of the newly listed earth-based religions in the first six weeks after the change. Gatlin hopes the numbers will climb as the word gets out of the latest options, and the new Air Force Personnel System, MilMod becomes fully functional.
Gatlin said he will continue to work towards mainstream acceptance and tolerance among all religious communities, but feels that all pagans must take part in this move.
"We need to do a better job with public relations. We are hampered by our own communal mistrust and fear of persecution. We need to get the collective chip off our shoulder and work together to further out position in the community," he said.
Recently Gatlin and fellow members of a Pagan study group were hiking in western Virginia. The group stopped along a rocky pinnacle that looked out over miles and miles of sky and earth.
"As I stood at the edge of this cliff looking hundreds of feet below, I was approached by a man who asked me about the shirt I wore, which proudly displayed our groups logo and name, the "Potomac Pagans," Gatlin said. "He clearly was taken aback merely by the word Pagan. He identified himself as Southern Baptist and asked how I could not believe in God."
"It was very surreal standing on the edge of a great precipice defending my religion, but I explained that I very much believe in the Devine Spirit and that his God may very well be my God; its just that I choose a different way of looking at it," Gatlin said.
The man then said to Gatlin, "Its like this mountain, its the same mountain, regardless of which path you take. It may look different from all angles, but that doesnt change the essence of the mountain."
"I knew then I had made my point," Gatlin said.
From the outside, the Gatlins, with their two-story house decorated in pop-culture knick-knacks and pet dog Ringo, look like the "typical" American family. But in a county, dubbed a melting pot, what is that exactly? Maybe its a family who lives true to their heart, believes in tolerance for other cultures and religions and realizes the true value of the freedoms we each are given.

Most major religions attempt to infuse in their adherents a unified system of ethics, dogmas, and metaphysics. A religion exists primarily to foster an organized outlook that places believers in proper relation to their environment. We call this outlook a worldview, a developed system of thought through which an individual is to assess existence. Looking broadly at the major spiritual systems of the world, one can discern three fundamentally different patterns. The foci of these worldviews concern the aspects of divinity, humanity, and nature. The Middle Eastern religions, the Far Eastern religions, and Neopaganism postulate different conceptualizations regarding these three areas of interest.

The Middle Eastern religions Judaism, Christianity, and Islam share a common history and outlook. Their sin qua non is Monotheism, a belief in a single, personalized deity. Divinity for the Monotheist is expressed as an external, transcendent force that creates and controls the universe. Monotheists have placed divinity outside time and space, above and apart from mundane experience. Divinity resides in some ethereal heavenly realm, with a creator God surrounded by angles and comfortably ensconced from the daily events of the universe.

The effect of perceiving God as an external and personal being is to separate divinity from humanity and nature. Indeed, in the three Monotheistic religions one reads of the same story of humanitys fall from nature. Humanity once dwelt in Gods presence, and through some vile act of disobedience to God was cast out of divine grace. It was humanitys punishment to experience a mortal and painful life under the influence of natures vices. Separated from divinity, humanity dwelt among the animals and the elements, eking out a harsh existence. Subject to the terrors of the natural world, humanity found it difficult to lead a morally pure lifestyle. Existence was therefore conceived as a struggle to overcome the urges of nature and instead reconcile oneself to divinity.

Monotheism came to view life as a trinitarian distinction between divinity, humanity, and nature. Rigid barriers exist between the three levels and their relationship is viewed as one of reciprocal adversity. Divinity arrogates to itself dominion over humanity, establishing itself as supreme overseer and magistrate of human affairs. To humanity is given dominion over nature. In the absence of divine protection humanity is to exploit nature for survival. Nature, however, brings with it a host of other mortal ailments that distracts humanity from its reconciliation with divinity. To the Jew and Muslim, reconciliation means following a set of rigid laws. To the Christian, this divine imperative manifests itself as the corporate worship of Jesus Christ and his teachings.

The Far Eastern religions are vast and varied, a cornucopia of spiritual views. Generally speaking, though, all share a common mission in providing an adherent with a means of achieving an ethical or spiritual perfection. The Hindu seeks to find release from an endless cycle of death and rebirth. The Buddhist yearns for an enlightenment that transcends the illusions of mundane life. The Taoist strives to live in balance with the way of the universe, while the Confucian is concerned with proper social obligations. In all these systems there is an assumption that there is a necessary way to conduct oneself, and practicing this code of belief places adherents in proper relation to their environment.

In the Far Eastern religions one generally does not find the trinitarian distinction that is so crucial to Monotheism. The Hindu considers everything existing in confluence with an universal soul. Most Buddhists see all life as interconnected; to them the sense of a unique self separate from other living beings is an illusion. The Taoist views everything as a manifestation of the universal way. The Confucian cares for social ethics, not metaphysics. Thus for the Far Eastern religions the distinction between divinity, humanity, and nature is either non-existent or irrelevant. What matters most is leading a virtuous life, however virtue may be conceived.

Neopaganism is a loose confederation of myriad spiritual systems, where beliefs and practices differ greatly among different sects and among individual adherents as well. As such, the religion does not lend itself well to generalizations. Nevertheless, in most traditions within Neopaganism one may find a modicum of agreement on doctrine. While recognizing many exceptions exist, one can say Neopaganism as a whole roughly sees a trinitarian distinction among divinity, humanity, and nature. However, Neopaganism would take strong exception with Monotheism in viewing the barriers among the three as hostile or rigid.

In most Neopagan traditions divinity is conceived as polytheistic, duotheistic, or pantheistic. However divinity is conceived, a common belief concerns its immanence. Rather than existing as an external, personal force, divinity is an impersonal force that dwells within humanity and nature. There can be no final separation from divinity as divinity resides in everything. The One is in The All, and The All is in The One. For this reason, divinity, humanity, and nature are not seen as separate constructs but interrelated aspects of the same unity.

Because the Neopagan does not feel divorced from divinity, the Neopagan feels no need to reconcile herself with a lost paradise. The Neopagan merely reveres and experiences the divinity that manifests itself continually in everything. Nature and natural urges are not viewed as destructive paradigms that distract one from experiencing divinity. Rather, nature is viewed as another level of divinity, to be worshipped and admired. While most Neopagans adopt some ethical code, few Neopagans have the harsh and rigid laws of the Monotheists or the detailed mystical codes of the Far East. A Neopagans primary duty is to cherish and experience the gifts of divinity wherever one may find them.

Given these different world views, is it possible on a fundamental level to simultaneously practice religions from different paradigms? Can a Neopagan also be a Christian or a Buddhist? The answer depends on to what extent and in what manner an individual adherent is willing to mix and match various beliefs. Neopagan spirituality and reverence for nature meshes well with the Far Eastern religions and more liberal versions of Monotheism. One could hypothetically practice Christian ethics, Buddhist meditation, and Neopagan magick. Nevertheless, to mix and match from among the different traditions requires a delicate balancing act. Those that would tread a multi-faith path must caution themselves to choose their religious ingredients wisely lest they develop a case of spiritual schizophrenia.

Many of you know I've spent the past five years championing a sane and sustainable approach to growth in the Pikes Peak region. The roadblocks I've encountered led to the realization that society needs to examine and adjust our prosperity paradigm. Since I'm a professional filmmaker, I decided the best way to begin is with a documentary film. So I've started a nonprofit and am producing the documentary, GROWTHBUSTERS presents Hooked on Growth: Our Misguided Quest for Prosperity.   Read More »

I always try to be an active participant in the stand against this illegal war, but sometimes find that the other issues I know are important are taking a back seat to Iraq. So now I'm asking for a little help for just today or the day you read this blog. Please go to www.buffalofieldcampaign.org. This is the only volunteer organization that works full time to stop the slaughter of the last remaining free roaming herd of American Bison, in Yellowstone National Park. I could write a book on what has happened over the last 20+years and the number of Buffalo slaughtered by the Montana Dept. of Livestock to "save" 200-300 head of cattle being grazed on the traditional land of the Buffalo, but it would take way too long. So please find out for yourselves if our wildlife is important to you. I've also posted three of my prints on eBay, 100% of sale to be donated to the BFC, so please take a look and a bid if you like them. Thanks so much, Renee

The River of Light Enterprise, a local non-profit organization, invites you to celebrate

Spring in the Rockies
Bi-Annual Plant and Seed Exchange

PROCEEDS BENEFIT FOOD, EMPLOYMENT AND HOUSING PROGRAMS FOR VULNERABLE CITIZENS - HOMELESS VETERANS, DISABLED ADULTS, HIGH RISK YOUTH, FRAIL ELDERLY - IN THE METRO AREA

Bring to Exchange with Fellow Gardeners
Seeds - Starts - Shrubs - Bulbs -Tree Saplings - Vegetable seedlings
Indoor and Outdoor Plants Welcome

Bring as many plants as you wish and take home an equal amount from others' donations

If you don't have plants or seeds to share from your yard, we suggest bringing vegetable sprouts

All native plants are Welcome

Please separate and label plants individually, ready to be taken home by fellow gardeners - We suggest placing individual plants in small wax paper cups

Save $ toward your landscaping needs - Add a variety of new and interesting plants to your yard

A $10 per family donation is requested at the gate
Join us for this unique and fun family event

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT JULIE AT 303-667-6032

New Rule: From now on Earth Day really must be a year round thing. And in honor of this Earth Day, starting Monday supermarket clerks must stop putting the big bottle of detergent with a handle on it in a plastic bag. I don't mean to tell you how to do your job, but you see that handle you just lifted the detergent with?   Read More »

21 April 2007 03:25

Scientists claim radiation from handsets are to blame for mysterious 'colony collapse' of bees
By Geoffrey Lean and Harriet Shawcross
Published: 15 April 2007
It seems like the plot of a particularly far-fetched horror film. But some scientists suggest that our love of the mobile phone could cause massive food shortages, as the world's harvests fail.   Read More »

Buried by the news of the Virginia shooting and Alberto Gonzales' Tony-winning performance on Capitol Hill comes this tidbit:

Imported ingredients used in recalled pet food may have been intentionally spiked with an industrial chemical to boost their apparent protein content, federal health officials suspect.

In California, state agriculture officials placed a hog farm under quarantine after melamine was found in pig urine there. Additional testing was under way to determine whether the chemical was present in the meat produced by American Hog Farm in Ceres since April 3, the state Department of Food and Agriculture said.

Why?

The FDA and Agriculture Department also were investigating whether some pet food made by one of the five companies supplied by Wilbur-Ellis was diverted for use as hog feed after it was found unsuitable for pet consumption.

"We understand it did make it into some hog feed and we are following up on that as well," Sundlof said.

That's right. If it kills cats and dogs, it must be OK for pigs that are eaten by humans.

I made a prediction that the tainted gluten would make it into the human food supply. There is now little doubt that it has happened.