The Arabica Bean is Suffering

Regardless of whether you believe in global warming, global cooling, or some other theory to explain our increasingly erratic weather, the increasingly volatile weather patterns are having a negative impact on the region in South America that exclusively grows arabica coffee beans.   These beans, which make the smoothest, best tasting coffee, have a very specific climate in which they flourish.  If the temperature goes up even half a degree on average over the year, various types of fungus and diseases will attack the crops and potentially wipe them out.  Over the past few years, arabica bean production has seen a steady decline with more and more crops being affected by erratic heavy rains, random dry periods, and an overall increase in temperature.  So this ultimately means that we will pay higher prices for arabica coffee and farmers producing the beans will suffer as well. 

However, that being said, there is some good news.  Scientists have created a more resistant variety of the arabica bean plant that has been shown to survive the increase in temperature, rain, and the inevitable fungus and disease that come along for the ride.  The only problem with this new variety is, there will be a period with even lower arabica production due to the time it takes for the plants to mature to the point where they are capable of producing the beans.  Some farmers were hesitant about this new variety, first because of the problem of waiting for them to mature and second, because they questioned the end flavor of the bean compared with the older variety.   Some of their views quickly changed when their entire crops were wiped out last year due to erratic weather.  It seems that science is providing us with an enduring supply of coffee, at least for now.  There are still other varieties of coffee beans, produced outside of South America that are still surviving and doing well, so all the caffeine afficianados out there need not fear, yet.

My question is, if scientists can create new varieties of plants able to survive in an increasingly volatile climate, why aren't they capable of creating cheaper, more efficient ways of producing clean energy.  Coffee prices rose, plants started dying, and scientists came to the rescue.  When will the rising price of oil reach a point where it creates incentive to invest more time and effort into clean energy technologies?  It seems that so far we address the problem after it has a negative impact on our lives.  Shortages of food around the world are being met with efforts to creat new drought and heat resistant strains of plants that will continue to provide food in our warming climate.  Why is there an inability to address the problem from the source, namely humans.   Whether or not you want to believe that global warming is an actual occurrence, there is the fact that there is a definite increase in pollution due to population growth and an ever increasing demand for oil and other fossil fuels.  Disregarding the warming planet, our health is also at stake here. 

So lets get back to our focus on coffee.  As with oil, there is an increasing demand for coffee worldwide as more and more countries see an overwhelming growth in their middle classes and a general desire for coffee and its perks.  For now, we will still have coffee, (thankfully seeing as I am currently on my second cup of the day), and people will be able to get their valued caffeine fix from the arabica bean.  What will the future hold, it is tough to tell.  Some experts say that we have reached peak coffee production, or the point where we can not produce any more coffee than is already being produced or we will produce less.  I guess only time will tell.  For now, let us savor our coffee and try to cut back on our activities that contribute to the increasing global temperature.   It is in our hands as to how we proceed, the actions we take, and the difference we make.  Words can only work if they inspire us to action.  Words alone are simply that, words.  Drink your coffee, drive a little less, and enjoy your caffeine fueled day, I know I will.

Maternity Tourism in the U.S.

Lets be honest here, before reading the title of this post, how many people have actually heard of maternity tourism or the concept of it?  I know I had not heard of it before reading an article last night in the NYTimes on this subject.  This topic comes to light after officials closed a maternity house in San Gabriel, California the other day.  The reasons for closing the house had nothing to do with illegal activity, but rather with violations of building codes and occupancy.  What is happening is that pregnant women, many from China, are paying tens of thousands of dollars to come to the United States on a tourist visa, have their child at one of these "maternity houses", and then return their own country with a new U.S. citizen.  How can this happen?  It is actually quite simple, the United States says that any child born within the United States is automatically a U.S. citizen.  There is absolutely nothing illegal in what these women are doing.  The houses that the women give birth in are clean, well-tended, and the actual birthing rooms sometimes rival those found in a hospital.  After this latest incident, the babies in the house were examined by a doctor and found to be in perfect health. 

So what is the big issue here?  Well, for many people it would seem to be an immigration issue.  There are those who, because of this new trend, would have the law allowing birthright citizenship revoked.  However, this would fly in the face of who we are as a country.  Moreover, the number of births occurring through maternity tourism is negligible when compared to the overall number of births in this country every year.  Out of 4 million births every year, maternity tourism accounts for just around 7500.   If you want to look at it from an economic standpoint, it could actually be construed as beneficial.  These women are paying to come to this country, giving birth in homes, not hospitals (thus not sucking our taxpayer dollars), and leaving with the child (we don't have to pay for education).  This might actually benefit our education system as well.  These children will probably receive a better education abroad than they would here, as sad as that may sound.  Ultimately, the only thing they leave with is a United States citizen, guaranteeing them unlimited return access if they should need it.  There are more pressing issues regarding immigration than the one represented by maternity tourism, but that is a whole different topic for discussion.

In part, it seems as if these women on maternity tourism, are creating for themselves an insurance policy.  Should the proverbial "shit" hit the fan in China (the main source of this phenomenon) these women bearing U.S. citizens will have an exit strategy.    To me this is brilliant on their part and just goes to show how things are really going in China.  If Chinese citizens are content with their country, satisfied with its economic progression, and enjoy living there, then there would be no maternity tourism.  I think that as the Chinese government increasingly bears down on society and its freedoms, that there will be an even larger influx of maternity tourism to this country.   The women who are coming here to give birth are well-to-do.   They are not lower or middle class in China and thus they understand what their government is doing to its people and see how things are in a downward spiral.  They see the larger picture and would much rather enjoy the freedoms of the United States to their country's oppression.  To me this is a testament to the American Dream and its survival beyond the borders of our country.  People throughout the world still view the United States as a symbol of freedom and hope. 

Where has our own view of the American Dream gone, the dream that anything is possible if we set our minds to it and anything can be accomplished.  It seems that this dream, held for so long as a basic tenet of who we are, has lapsed, leaving us disillusioned and melancholic.  There are many in our own country who do not value the freedom that we possess as highly as those outside our borders.  Our government may slip up from time to time (ok, maybe a little more often than that), but that does not mean that we should lose the American spirit.  We should not need an event such as 9/11 to reinvigorate our sense of self or patriotism.  If foreigners can view our country more highly than we do, there is something wrong.  We need to look at the life we lead, compare it with any other country in the world, and we will see that things really aren't as bad as they seem.  We need a little perspective it seems.  Instead of condemning others for desiring to be U.S. citizens, lets celebrate the fact that our country is still viewed by many as a country of freedom, a country where people can live the life they dream, a country where individual freedom is valued and not stifled.  How many of us display the American flag anymore?  I don't, but today I plan on going out and buying one.  I urge everyone reading this to do the same.  Show people that you are proud to live in this country, proud to live a free life, and proud to be called a United States citizen. 

The Demise of Totalitarian Regimes

It is amazing that in a world where the internet increasingly promotes freedom of expression, the ability to rally behind a cause, and promote the widespread dissemination of ideas, that a totalitarian regime can still function and survive.  Totalitarian regimes thrive on their ability to control every aspect of life within their borders and the un-educated society that is thus created.  If you look back to middle ages where kingdoms and empires were the norm (in essence pre-cursors to todays regimes) the general populace was un-educated.  They did not have access to education, books, or any knowledge outside that town or hamlet that they lived in.  The ones who were better off, held more power.  For this reason,  although people still complained of being mistreated, they did not know that widespread extent of what effect the ruling class had. 

As time progressed and education became more widespread, people were harder to keep under the powerful hand of a ruler.  Through the invention of the printing press and the ability to suddenly spread information more effectively, people began to question their own status and place in life.  Philosophy, the arts, politics, math, and science were all avenues that became available for people to pursue and in the act of pursuing them, came to question the very essence of a kingdom, empire, or totalitarian regime and the limits that it placed on people.  Through this awakening, people were able to see that everything they had been fed by the ruling class, the status quo that they were expected to uphold, was not the only way to live.  They began to yearn for better options, more mobility in society, and the option of freedom in their everyday lives.  When people learned of these new and better options, they rose up and protested, much as we are seeing in the Middle East and North Africa today. 

The driving factor behind today's protests and revolutions in totalitarian regimes is the ability of people to organize themselves from the relative safety of their own homes over the internet.  The internet is in essence today's printing press.  It has the ability to show people living under these regimes how the rest of the world lives and works.  Before the internet, it was much easier for these totalitarian rulers to disseminate information, not based in truth, that would to an extent, coalesce their people behind a common cause.  This cause, most times, was the evil empire living outside the borders of the country.  This evil empire was and is the bastion of freedom that these people desired.  These evil empires allowed people to speak their minds, remove rulers and politicians peacefully, and overall, allowed people to live their lives according to their wishes and desires.   Once the internet was able to show the citizens in these regimes other options besides theirs, they began to yearn for it.  It is a basic need of human existence to be free and have the freedom to decide as he wishes. 

With this influx of new information virally spreading through these regimes, it becomes harder for the people in power to effectively stifle dissent and keep themselves removed from the people.  One of the most effective weapons that these regimes possess is the ability to remove people from society when they become to powerful or come to possess a desire for freedom and change.  When people speak out, they vanish.  Families do not know where they disappear to, but they know who took them and unfortunately have no means for retrieving their loved ones.  When enough people speak out and demand reform, people are shot and blatantly killed in an overt effort to stifle them.  The internet, while spreading ideas of freedom and change, also works the other way, it makes the rest of the world aware of what is actually going on in these totalitarian regimes.   Regimes firing live ammunition into crowds can now be witnessed across the world days later and these rulers finally have something they never had before, accountability. 

Before the internet, these rulers had no accountability except to themselves.  They had their own twisted freedom to do as they wished without fear of reprecussion because the rest of the world either didn't know about it or it took so long that by the time the world found out, "peace" was restored and nothing seemed amiss.  In essence, accountability will topple these regimes in the end.  As foreign countries back the interests of those being subjugated, the regime will have to answer to outside powers and their own people as to why they are committing these acts.   Totalitarian regimes can not survive in the globalize world that we now live in.  People living in these supressed countries now have a support group in effect to assist them in achieving the freedom that they desire and the changes that they want. 

The protests in the Middle East and North Africa show no signs of ending.  Over the past week, Syria and Jordan have shown an increase in protest activity and in Syria alone, an increase in those being killed for speaking out.  Freedom has gone viral and will spread.  China will suffer eventually, maybe not today or tomorrow, but they will see a demise as well.  The Jasmine Revolution, a movement started recently after the protests in the Middle East, has so far effectively been stiffled, not through outright violence, but through one of the tactics discussed earlier, disappearing people.  China is excellent at removing people from society at the first inclination of dissent. (As evidence, check out this letter from a Chinese woman.)  The world is now watching as events unfold, mostly in the Middle East, but soon hopefully in China as well. 

As citizens of countries that promote freedom, we have the ability to support these subjugated people through the internet and through our government.  We can not remain apathetic.  Our support must be felt by these people, even if it is through our voices over the internet.  The more we voice our support, the more empowered they become, knowing that they are not alone.  Every person on this planet should have the ability to live freely, make decisions based upon their knowledge and morals, and to choose their path through life.  In this globalize world, when one person is stilfed, the effect is far-reaching and can bring down regimes.  If you are living in a society that promotes freedom, take advantage of that freedom and support those who do not have it.   Lets all move to eradicate totalitarian regimes from existence.  It is currently underway and it can be done.  All we need to do is support it. 

Mexican Tattoo Artist in NY

Amidst all the negative news circulating through the media and the internet, there are still uplifting, positive articles that showcase the triumphs of humanity and the human spirit.  The most recent article is on a tattoo artist from Mexico who followed his passion wherever it took him and now has an exhibit on display in New York till April 23rd.  Dr. Lakra, as he is now known, was from an early age deeply ingrained with artists' influences, his father being a prominent artist in Mexico.  His father brought him to museums around the world and invariably taught his son that if you find your passion, follow it wherever it leads, it will most often times lead to success. 

The road to success was not an easy one for Dr. Lakra, but it often times never is.  It seems that it was his desire and willingness to learn everything he could about art and tattooing that carried him to where he is today.  Currently, he has his own tattoo parlor in Oaxaca, Mexico and besides New York, has had a few other shows around the country.  These shows are not just about the tattoos.  They include full size murals and ink on vellum amongst others.  Through his study of art, he has been able to create his own style and become successful at it.  There is something to be said for following your passions and desires.  It can lead to happiness and satisfaction and most times success.  I posted yesterday about how we should all be more in touch with our passions and emotions because they are the basis of who we are.  This gentleman from Mexico is a prime example of what you could become if you are in tune with your passion and emotion.

How many of us when we were younger had a passion or desire to do something other than what we are currently involved in.  Why did we switch path's following an alternate route?  Was it because our passion changed or was it because we were taught in school that we should follow a certain path and the path we were taught did not coincide with the one we were passionate about?  It is not just about school, though, it is also about our parents and their support and influence on us as children.  It should be the role of parents, while guiding us through the moral high ground to also support our passions and desires, even if they diverge from their own or seem questionable at the time.  To a certain degree, even now, parents feel that they know what their child's passions and desires are.  But are they really the child's passions and desires or are they more a projection of what their childhood passions and desires were? 

If we all followed our passions and desires, we might not be where we are today.   There is a lot to be learned by following your gut instinct, your passion whatever it may be, and following it wherever it may take you.  Will the road be easier than others?  Often times not, but the satisfaction the to be gained by following your passions and desires will far outweigh any monetary gain you will recieve.  Some may ask, how are you supposed to live if you aren't making money doing what you are passionate about?  There is always a way to make money doing what you are passionate about.  It takes creativity and imagination to come up with a way of doing so.  Creativity and imagination are often stifled when we are younger because it may seem that we are not rooted in reality.  But that ultimately begs the question; what is reality?  One person's "reality" may be completely different from their friend's "reality".   Reality is the world we build based on our passions and desires, rooted in a tacit understanding of those same passions and desires.  Our reality may seem odd or strange to others, but that does not make it wrong, it makes it unique and fascinating. 

Lets celebrate the wonders of the human spirit, the ability to follow our passions and desires, and leave behind the stereotype.  Lets invest more time and energy in supporting those who would create their own realities, namely, anyone who follows their passions and desires.  Let us also speak out against the forces that try to conform us to a set model and dictate how we should live our lives.  I have a friend who has said that people are not as unique as we think they are.  Well, I take this statement to be false.  (More on indivdualism and uniqueness later).  While we all share similar basic bodily functions, what separates us from each other is our distinct passions and desires.  Let us become more in tune with this and create for ourselves a world of our own design, based on the support of our friends and loved ones.  (If they don't support you, find the people who will.)  Smile, for if you are reading this today, you can change your life, follow your passions, and create a world of happiness and satisfaction.

Reason and Emotions

The world we live in today is largely dictated by reason and logic.  Statistics, based on logical assumptions, govern everything from foreign policy, to marketing strategies, to our school systems.  We seem to rely heavily on reason and logic as a basis for formulating ideas, structuring institutions, and a means by which to live our daily lives.  However this may be, reason and logic stem from the conscious part of our brain, about 10-15% of our brain's functionality, and there is very little account taken as to how reason and logic are informed and how we come to our logical conclusions about things.  The unconscious part of our brain, often times repressed, plays an important role in defining who we are and how we make our decisions. 

There was an interesting opinion piece written a few weeks ago about this topic and how emotion, often times absent or subdued in everyday decisions, actually plays a more important role in our everyday lives.  There is new science emerging in a number of different fields that suggests our previous view of society, based upon the individual and his capabilities is inherently skewed.  As humans, we are more than simply individuals living separate lives who happen to interact with others.  As individuals, we are built of our connections to others, the societies we live in, and our basic interactions with other individuals.  These interactions, while we may claim are based on logic and reason, are based more in emotion and how these interactions affect us on a personal level. 

Reason and logic, some may claim, are separate from emotion and should be the basis of what we do.  However, these claims do not take into account that reason and logic are driven by emotion.  Every decision we make, however much we claim that is rational or logical, stems from some emotive response driving us either towards A or B.   If we make a decision without calculating the emotional drive behind it and rely solely on what is logical or rational, often times we end up regretting that decision either because it does not wholly satisfy us or leaves us with a lack of satisfaction or unhappiness.  Further, our emotions, developed in our subconscious based on interactions with others be it friends, family, or society, are the basis of who we are.  Our emotive responses are based on what we learn from others and how they respond to different stimuli.  We build upon these emotive responses of others when we are younger, compiling an arsenal of data in our subconsious as to how emotions drive people, and use different parts to build our own emotive responses to stimuli directly affecting us.  Unconsiously, these emotions come to drive every rational/logical decision we make based on how we will react after making that decision.  If you take a child and lock him/her in a closet for years with no human interaction, there will be no emotion and thus a skewed sense of reason and logic.  We are not separate entities happening to coexist with others, we strive off of these interactions with others and it builds a well-rounded individual. 

For an example, lets look at the school system.  For years, we have been trying to figure out the best way to raise students scores, trying bigger schools, smaller schools, different tests to calculate their knowledge.  Yet, for the most part, these attempts have not been driven by the basis of all learning, a students' interaction with their teacher.  This most basic part of learning has been pushed to the side, relying more on physical knowledge gained through textbooks and translated into test scores.  For yet another example of how vital emotion is in our daily lives, one can also look at technology and its ability to drive a wedge between humans as a basis for detracting emotion from human interaction.  When you simply respond to a text or email, you can rarely pick up on the emotion behind it or completely misinterpret it.  Without face to face interaction, the human mind falters and retreats or responds incorrectly.  An enormous part of our daily interactions depends upon our interpretation of body language, tone of voice, and sense of touch and smell, all of which are driven by our subconscious and emotion whether or not we would like to admit it. 

Many of us were taught from a young age that we should cover our emotions and not let them be seen by others.  This is an inherently incorrect stance to take as it takes away the basis for reason and logic.  We can not take out one piece of human existence and expect the rest to take over and actually run smoothly and dictate our lives.  By repressing our emotions, we are taking away the basis of human interaction.  We should all be in touch with our emotions, our passions, and be aware of how they drive us to become who we are today based in part on our interactions with others and how their emotions and passions drive them.  We are all interconnected and we need to focus more on our connections with others as a basis for who we are before we look at ourselves and how we can improve.  Without social interaction we will falter.  Without emotion, we become automatons.  There needs to be a concerted effort to bring humanity back to its roots.  So take some time today, consider who you are and how you got to where you are today.  Inspect your emotions and look at how they dictate your rational and logical decisions throughout the day.  Let your passions unfold and follow them to their end.  If you get in touch with your emotions and those of others, your life will be a little more wholesome and well rounded (at least thats my opinion).

Cherishing our Elders

It is often tough these days to find a few minutes to sit down with our loved ones; wives and husbands, sons and daughters, and make sure they are doing ok, listen to their concerns and stories of the day, and quite simply spend time together.  Often times, when we do spend time with them, we are constantly caught up in the stresses of the day or their stresses and end up frustrated or end up letting our minds drift to other issues we are dealing with.  With very little time left at the end of the day, what happens to those in our lives who raised us, poured their life and love into making sure that we grew up the best we can.  It seems that often times, these elders in our lives are neglected or cast aside unknowingly.  Granted, at times they can act like little children, telling us how to live, what we are doing wrong, and how they would do things differently.  Maybe, however, we should listen a little more to them and ignore them less. 

Our parents, and especially our grandparents, grew up in vastly different worlds than the one we currently live in now.  The world has undergone such a rapid change and progression over that past century that it is sometimes tough for our older generation to keep up with the times, often adhering to their beliefs and notions that are rooted in the past.  There is nothing wrong with this, it is simply their way of holding on to their reality and not get swept away in all the modern confusion.   It seems that when we interact with our elders, we approach these interactions with a modern spin, not attempting an understanding of their point of view or where they are coming from.  It is difficult to understand everything about the world they grew up in, but if we sit and listen, we can get a glimpse into a fantastically different world that is ripe with vivid memories and stories of their youth that can seem like fiction to us. 

It sometimes takes an incredible deal of patience to deal with our elders.  After all, they raised us and no matter how much we would like to deny it, the apple does not fall far from the tree.  For the most part, we grow up embodying many of the traits that we tried to avoid in our parents.  It is unavoidable.  That makes dealing with them sometimes very frustrating.  If we can look past this frustration and simply listen, we can learn a lot from them.  Sometimes it is enough just to be a sounding board for them to tell their stories to.  Do they still try and control us at times and dictate how we should do things?  Yes, but why chastise them.  Let them voice their opinion and move on.  Just because they tell you how to do things doesn't mean you have to listen to them.  If you smile and nod, often times it is enough to placate them. 

Our elders will not be around forever.  They, as the rest of us, have a limited time on this earth.  We should play a distinct role in making their time as comfortable as possible, after all, they did that for us when we were younger.   As tough as it is to find extra time in our days and weeks, we should make a concerted effort to spend more time with our elders and learn from them, the hardships they went through, and the good times they had when they were younger.  It used to be that the history of a family was passed down generation to generation through the stories that elders told to their youth.  How many of us these days can recount the stories of our grandparents or even spend enough time to learn about them?  Our family history is a distinct part of who we are, how we grew up, and why we live the way we do today.  We should all invest more time in learning about our own histories.  Take advantage of the time you have with your elders and learn your own family history.  If we start now, then our children will have the ability to learn the stories and pass them down in turn.  Let us lift up our elders and spend time with them instead of casting them to the side and dismissing them.  They are still our family and deserve our time and respect just as our children do. 

Voting in Egypt

If there is any question that the protests in the Middle East and North Africa are having an effect, one has only to look at Egypt to find an answer.  This past Saturday, Egypt held their first free election in over thirty years.  It is the start of a long process to shape a new government, but it is being met with jubilant citizens.  For many young people, this will be their first ever opportunity to vote freely.  While there have been elections held over the past thirty years, there was no real freedom in voting.  The government controlled who could vote and what the outcome would be regardless.  The feeling in Egypt must be one akin to the feeling that our ancestors had when they voted for the first time in the United States hundreds of years ago.  Having the ability to vote freely is a direct expression of democratic ideals and its ability to affect change based on what the majority of the population wants.  My only hope is that the votes on the losing side do not spark a response akin to the protests that started this whole movement.  But lets hope for a positive a foreward looking outcome as Egypt moves to re-shape itself in the eyes of its people.

With this jubilation in Egypt, let it be a reminder for all of us who live in democratic countries and have the ability to vote freely, that it is our civic duty to do so.  Especially in the United States, not everyone eligible to vote actually votes or for that matter is even registered to vote.  In the 2008 presidential election, 63% of eligible voters actually voted.  While this number is not terrible, that still leaves 37% of the eligible voting population not voting.  Not surprisingly, the number of people voting is lower among young people versus old.  I know I personally have many friends who don't care enough to register or if they are registered to vote.  They question their overall effect as voters and for the most part aren't even interested in what is going on in the government.  It is this sort of apathy that will lead to the slow denegration of our government.  If my grandmother who is 90 years old can get a ride to a voting center, walk in with her cane and cast her ballot, then anyone with a car should be able to make the drive to cast their own ballot.

If we don't vote, we can't make a change.  Many would cite the effort involved in making a change occur, but unless you attempt to make that change, you will never know what may happen.  Change is never easy even in our own personal lives.  Once we get comfortable with living a certain way or working in a certain career, we naturally fall into groove that is incredibly hard to pull ourselves out of.  When we have what we need, we see no reason to change.  I say that we must change our lives as often as possible, always exploring new and sometimes frightening options simply to stay out of the proverbial rut or groove.  Especially when it comes to government and voting, when things are going well, people tend to stop paying attention and stop voting.  This is exactly when the biggest changes are being made that will affect our personal lives.  We must constantly keep abreast of what is occuring in our government realizing that any decision they make has a direct influence in some way on our lives.  We put these people in office who are supposed to be serving us and directing the government according to our desires.  We must keep on top of them and the moment they slip up, get them out of office by voting against them. 

We could learn a lot from the enthusiasm of the Egyptians right now.  Although there has been a revival in interest in our own government and voting in recent years, due mostly to the economy and events occuring around the world, we must sustain this revival.   The Egyptians right now are setting the example for the rest of the world on what it means to vote freely and have a direct effect on government.  We must get that 37% of people not voting in the U.S. to step up to the plate and take charge.  Everyone leads a busy life, but how much of that busy life is devoted to TV or other wasteful activities.  Take ten minutes and indulge in a little political awakening by reading what is going on in our government.  The internet is a wonderful tool, right at our fingertips, that can open doors to exploration and enlightenment, (two words not normally associate with government), and reveal what is actually going on with our elected representatives.   Regardless of where you live, in the U.S. or elsewhere, lets all devote a little more time to shaping our governments for both our future and the future of our children.  If we want them growing up in a world different than the one we live in now, it is up to us to make that change, and voting and getting involved is just one means of doing so.  So until next time, figure out what your representative stands for and call him out if he is not representing you to the fullest extent.

Censorship in China, Any Surprise?

If anyone reading this does not already know, China likes to censor almost anything it can.  Government officials censor everything from historical data in an attempt to create their own view of history, to the internet and general information available to its populace.  In light of the protests spreading like wildfire through the Middle East and North Africa, China is getting a little worried that its own population may see these protests and revolts as an inspiration to effect change in their own country.  In fact about a month ago, there seemed to be some protest organization beginning to take place in China.   In recent weeks the government has ramped up its efforts to control everything digital, from access to scholarly websites relied upon by professors and businessmen to actual phone calls and key words spoken on the phone.  In a few instances, there were reports of phone calls being cut off mid-conversation after the word "protest" was uttered.  The funny thing is, (well not really that funny), is that the word "protests" was part of a quote from Shakespeare. 

The government is cracking down on daily life in China, making it more and more difficult for its populace to do basic research, access general information, and even make phone calls.   Its gotten to the point where services such as Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter are permanently banned and even internet searches of the English word "freedom" have turned up empty.   Unfortunately, the Chinese government shows no signs of stopping.   Every week seems to turn up new ways for their systems to shutter their country from outside influences.    It seems as if the book 1984 by George Orwell is coming true.  In that book, written in 1949, every aspect of life is controlled and monitored by the government, even invading the privacy of citizens homes with constant observation by "big brother".   China seems to be falling right in line with the government portrayed in that book.  If only Mr. Orwell was alive today to see how true his words are becoming. 

Censorship goes beyond merely preventing dissemination of information to its populace and control over phone conversations.  Once censorship becomes too invasive, it directly affects the psyche of individuals and the population as a whole.  If people are not able to access true and relevant information, they become severely detached from the outside world and come to view everyone outside their own borders as evil based on false history fabricated by the government.  In addition, it depresses motivation and inspiration by dictating what people can do and when and where they can do it.  There are two paths the human mind can go down when supressed.  One, it could shut down, relinquishing control of self to the government and becoming basically an automaton (yes, a reference to A Brave New World), or two, the human mind under supression, could go crazy, causing the person to "start protesting" and inevitably get silently arrested and removed from society as the Chinese have done in the past.  Either path is deleterious to the health of the human mind and body.

Increasing censorship, the Chinese government is creating an ever widening divide between their country and everyone else.  Even though we live in a globalized society, there will be fewer and fewer people within China who actually know the real truth about the world and what is out there.   There will always be a small percentage of the Chinese population, educated abroad, who know what is happening outside their borders, but for most of the billion people in China, the world will not exist beyond China.  China will be their world, and nothing else will matter.  This small percentage of people, with access to the truth, will have a harder and harder time educating others in their own country.  The increasing censorship shows no signs of slowing or stopping.   In effect, the Chinese government is building a new great wall, this new wall being an iron curtain against freedom, information, and access to the outside world. 

As Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter are banned in China, and email is being heavily scrutinized, there is in fact little we can do to help them.  We could write letters to our own government in support of a decrease in censorship in China, but even our government has little effect against their great wall.  What we can do is relish the fact that we can speak out against our government, hold protests in front of Capitol Hill or the White House, and gather in mass to try and create change without fear of reprisal from our government.  Is our government perfect, hell no, but we have the capability to change it, albeit slowly, but we can change it.  Lets simply hope that the Chinese people figure out a way of effecting change within their own country.  After all, they do have a billion people.  The only unfortunate part is that most of them support their government due to the controlled dissemination of material and information supporting the government and deriding protests and the like.  I hope that the Chinese people, as in Tunisia, Egypt, and it seems Yemen, will gather under the ideals of democracy and freedom and stand up for their right to live as they want, access what they want, and protest as they want.  Until this day comes, China will continue to create a stifled generation, one oblivious to the benefits that the outside world has to offer.  If you are reading this, you have a modicum of freedom.  Use it, cherish it, and speak out against government censorship.

Jobless Today, Jobless Tomorrow

It seems that our government, in the three years since our recession began, has forgotten about the one sixth of American workers who are jobless.  Early on, the focus was on creating our jobs; stimulating our economy in order for jobs to be created either through public transportation projects or through lowered interest rates on loans to businesses.  This made a small dent, but not one big enough to weather the recession through to its end.  Numbers are stabalizing, but it doesn't mean that people are hiring again, it simply means that not many are getting laid off and consequently, very few are getting hired.  Washington, seeing stability, has turned instead to budget deficits and cuts on spending.  There is any excellent op-ed piece on this whole topic in the NYTimes.

The author of the op-ed piece, Paul Krugman, is in favor of seemingly forgetting our budget deficits and turning instead back towards job creation.  In part I agree with him.  I believe that we do need to focus on job creation.  Without jobs, our economy will not recover, it will simply languish and stagnate, forcing deficits even higher as more and more people clamor for benefits from both their local and the federal government.   That being said, there must also be cuts in spending to stabalize our increasing deficit.  In the government, there must be a balance, or multi-tasking taking place to conquer both issues.   There are wasteful government programs which are over-funded and arguably do not offer much in creation of jobs.  I've mentioned it before, but if we took a quarter of the military budget for this coming year and diverted it to job creation and economic growth, we would undoubtably be able to create a good number of jobs.  Unfortunately, wherever there are cuts made, it will affect someone's job at some level.  So where is the balance?

It seems that it must come down to what the money supports and how many jobs it supports.  If $100 million supports 2000 jobs in one area and by diverting it could create 4000, wouldn't it make sense to create an extra 2000 jobs?  Yes it would affect 2000 workers, but there would be a net gain.  If you look at our federal deficit, currently in the trillions of dollars, how can we justify spending more money to create jobs at the risk of everyone.  This is one of those fabled Catch-22's.   If we cut spending to control the deficit, we lose some jobs and lower the tax base on which our deficit is funded, yet if we continue to spend money at our current rate, possibly creating jobs, then our deficit increases.  Which road do we travel down.  There must be a middle road to be found.  I for one am an advocate, being a younger person, of beginning to scale back Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.  At this point, it would be grossly unfair to take money away from those who have been paying into it, have retired, and are now collecting.  However, most of the money that these retired and disabled receive is from tax dollars provided by the current working class.  The money that the retired and disabled paid in has been spent by our government and not paid back.  Scaling back on Social Security would free up money for job creation. 

Beyond simply deciding to spend or cut in the government (if you look at simply cutting, Europe has shown that cutting alone does not solve problems), there is another issue concerning the unemployed.  With the unemployed, on average for 37 weeks, where is the motivation now to go find work?  They have seen the economy stagnate in essence, not really growing or shrinking, and many have lost hope of finding a job, period.  Without taking measures soon to create jobs, we risk a permanent unemployed class of people, many of those new graduates entering a near impossible job market.  There must be balance.  As with anything, polarizing efforts to one extreme or the other inevitably alienates one segment of the population or another.  Lets wax asianic for a minute.  There is a yin and a yang to everything.  A good side and a bad.  There is, in nature and everything we do, a balance between the forces.  Leaning to either side too much creates discord and thus imbalance. 

Too many people these days, especially politicians it seems, have only one point of view and are not willing to entertain others.  Through persistence in these one-sided views, stagnation is created because no compromise can be reached.   It all boils down to being able to listen to others, entertain their thoughts and ideas, and incorporate the best aspects of them into your own.  Being bull-headed and unchanging, we can resolve nothing.  Balance must be sought after in our government.  We are in dire need of balance, yet politicians seem oblivious.  They would much rather berate each other's ideas than enter into discussion as to how to effectively solve our nation's problems.  If we can figure out how to solve our economic woes, we could be the example again for the rest of the world as to how to resolve issues. 

Our country is based on the frontier phenomenon, namely, we excel when confronted with unexplored waters or issues.   We our currently embroiled in one of the greatest frontiers our country has ever been witness to.  Is it a positive frontier?  No, but it is a frontier that needs tackling, taming, and conquering.  Our dire economy needs the frontier mentality embodied by our ancestors.  Our politicians need to forget everything they have learned and approach this issue with fresh eyes, a willingness to conquer the issues, but most of all, they need to do it in cooperation with each other.  No one person can do this alone, we need to band together in order to overcome our situation.  More now than ever, we need a renewed sense of the American spirit, brotherhood, and patriotism.  Lets all move to solve our economic woes together.

Free Will and its Implications

Philosophers, scientists, and other intellectuals have been discussing free will for centuries.  It used to be mainly reserved for philosophers to explain it and try to either prove or disprove its existence.  Now, free will has been the topic of many a study conducted by philosophers, scientists, psychologists and so on.  No matter how much it is studied however, no one has been able to either completely prove or disprove its existence, these studies simply lead to more questions about it.  There was a study done recently on free will and how belief or disbelief in it affects a person's mentality and consequently their actions.

Unbeknownst to me, there have actually been surveys done as to how many people believe in free will.  It seems that the majority of the population believes in free will or, to put it more simply, that we have control over our actions.  However, there has been a slight dip in the actual number of people who believe in this concept.  It seems that the alternative, determinism, has made a slow advance on the psyche of some individuals.   Determinism is the concept by which every decision we make is a direct result of a previous decision and that previous decision a result of one further back.  This continues ad infinitum thus leaving us with no actual decision to be made, everything is pre-determined.  With the concept of determinism, we can not be held accountable for our actions because we were destined to act that way to begin with.

So what are the implications of either belief in free will or belief in determinism?  Well, it seems that a person who believes in free will will actually lead a more productive life, adhere to moral codes, and in general be more stable in society.  Why is this the case?  Well, if you believe in free will, you believe that every action you make is made based off of your own consciousness and understanding of right and wrong.  If you hold the determinist point of view, you have the ability to act however you want because every action has already been laid out and thus you can not be held accountable for any action you make.  It seems to me (and others in the study conducted)  that if everyone held a belief in determinism over free will, society would inevitably slip into anarchy because everyone would do what they wanted regardless of laws or acceptable moral conduct.   In one aspect of the study, it showed that people who adopted a belief in determinism ended up being less productive and goofed off more throughout the day because they felt that they could not be held responsible. 

This dip in the belief of free will could be an explanation as to why there seems to be more unruliness in the world today.  If you look at the news, there are more and more horrid stories of people acting on whims, hurting others, and seeing nothing wrong with what they are doing.  Can this be scientifically proven?  No, but it can be speculated upon based on the studies done.   Personally, I believe in aspects of both or what could be deemed a compatabilist.  I believe that we are presented with a number of options based on events and other actions/decisions that we have made.  We have the capability of choosing which path to go down in the end.  The paths presented to us were in part determined by a path we chose previously.  Thus we can direct our lives.  Perhaps Schopenhauer said it best, "Man can do what he wills, but he can not will what he wills."

So if you have made it this far you are probably wondering where this is all going.  Well, I am advocating for a belief in free will.  Will I change anyone's mind who is already a determinist? Probably not, but maybe through reading the linked article and showing that a belief in free will actually leads to a more happy and productive life, someone who is unsure might sway a little towards free will.   Do you believe in free will and responsibility for your actions?  I sure hope so.  As I mentioned before, there is no scientific evidence either supporting or disproving free will.  The belief in it is based in how we are raised as children, the actions we see others take, the consequences of those actions, and how society reacts to those actions taken.  It is a complicated topic, but one definitely worth pondering.  So what are you going to do after reading this?  If you are a determinist, you were destined to read this article and you might be destined to ponder your own beliefs.  If you believe in free will, the world is yours.  Go out and prove that you have free will, do something radically different today. (Determinists will say they were destined to do something radically different.)  I myself will go to work and do the best job I possibly can, why because I make the decision to do so, not because the course of actions is laid out for me. 

Pluses and Minuses of Facebook & Technology

If you use the internet daily, log on to Facebook or Twitter, you know that it can be addictive.   We all log on to check the status of friends, see what random events are being initiated on the these pages, and to add our own two cents sometimes to the plethora of information out there.  As soon as we log off, however, there is a desire hours or even a few minutes later to see if anything changed, or if someone responded to a post of ours.  I will be the first to admit, it takes discipline on my part not to fall into this trap.  The tweets that spread like wildfire, supposedly indicative of our complex thought process and actions simply piques the interest of others, anxiously waiting for a follow up or some new abbreviated thought or comment.  In general, most of this information is utterly useless.   How does it impact our lives to read that someone is having trouble falling asleep or just finished baking some cookies?  For all this useless information and the addictive nature of these programs and the internet itself, there is a lot of good that stems from them.

To find the good, all we have to do is look back over the past few months and look at the overturned governments in Tunisia and Egypt whose revolutions started via Facebook.  There is a definite plus to these programs, allowing people to organize charitable events, initiate government protests, or simply re-connect with distant family.  The internet is capable of dispersing knowledge across all borders, educating those in countries without access to otherwise mainstream media and promoting discussion amongst otherwise alienated sections of our global population.  These positive effects that the internet has, however, pale in comparison to the extravagant amount of useless information that is posted, tweeted, and reported about. 

The addictive side of these programs can be harmful in the long run.  By continuously "logging on", we first of all make it that much harder to log off and second we distance ourselves from the very real and personal relationships that we maintain off the internet.  By promulgating our pseudo relationships on the internet, we neglect the very people in our lives who have the capability of making the greatest impact on us.  The longer we let these real life relationships lapse, the harder it is actually be involved in them.  Now I am not saying that people should abhor the internet and disavow use of it permanently, but as with anything, there must be a certain amount of moderation that must be placed on our use of it, not by some outside source, but by ourselves. 

There was an interesting article in the NYTimes about the film festival South by Southwest in which it talks about movies based on people unable to disconnect or "log off" and what happens when they do.  In addition, at the festival there were forums and discussions based on social media and questioning whether it is really bringing us closer together or driving us farther apart.  There was an estimate from a presenter there that about a trillion dollars of business is lost every year due to use of these online social media programs.  It is definitely worth a read, and since your "logged in" right now, you might as well check it out.

There are many more beneficial activities we could be engaging in throughout the day instead of constantly logging in to Facebook or Twitter to supposedly "connect" with others.  Where is the that connection?  Does reading about someone's horrible coffee they just bought at Starbucks really going to promote a conversation between you and that person?  How does reading about someone's horrible day and what they have to do impact my life?  I think on a certain level, all of those who are "addicted" to Facebook and Twitter know that they really don't gain anything real or substantive by being logged on constantly.  Yet these programs appeal to many peoples' desire to spy on other peoples lives or even a little voyeurism in the sense that the people who post these comments and pictures have no idea who is actually viewing them. 

Instead of logging on constantly, why not focus on our own shortcomings and what we need to work on to better ourselves.  Often times it seems, we use the internet and all its trappings to escape real life and the real work it takes to get through it successfully.  If we don't work on ourselves and devote our time instead to maintaining our trivial status on the internet, where will we end up?  We can not progress unless we devote time to improving ourselves and those around us.  Lets take time to focus our energies on conversations off the internet with real life human beings, not some quick picture and short line supposedly representative of a person.  Unless we can pull ourselves off the internet for extended periods of time, our society will languish.   It may sound like a dismal point of view, but it could turn out to be true.  Lets try something here, after your done reading this, shut off your computer and go talk to someone.  Talk to them for at least five minutes and see how they are doing, what is going on in their life, and where they are headed.  You never know, it may inspire you to do it more often.  (And when your done with that conversation, don't go tweet it all over the internet).  Lets get more involved in real life, not a pseudo life on the internet. 

Transcending Cultural Differences Through Art

With all the political and religious turmoil engulfing our world today, there seem to be fewer and fewer ways to effectively bridge the divide between the different points of view.  One constant that can always bring to the forefront the beauty of humanity and transcend our differences is art.  Art affects everyone in different ways drawing on our individual concepts of beauty and inspiring emotional responses to the work in front of us.  While there are many different styles and influences in art, perhaps the most profound and influential is that which stems from religion.  Every religion has its own distinct style of art, representative of regional influences and combining the work of human hands with what some would call divine influence. 

Currently in the U.S. there has been an increase in Islamic intolerance, efforts to curb radicalization, and by some, outright bigotry in a land that was created to allow freedom for anyone to worship anything.   There have been efforts to tame this intolerance based mostly I feel on a lack of knowledge of Islam itself.   Despite efforts to educate society and build trust between all religions, intolerance and indifference still continue.  However, there is a "bridge" being built, (not literally) that will offer a unique view into the beauty of Islam.  This "bridge" is a permanent installation in the MET that has already been years in the making.  When completed it will be a new gallery to house Islamic art.  The gallery itself will transport visitors to the Muslim world, complete with beautifully and painstakingly crafted architecture pieces.  The model for this gallery draws off of architecture from the 14th century, complete with detailed plaster carvings, inlaid tile mosaics, intricately decorated arches and so on. 

To complete this project, the MET traveled to the town of Fez, Morocco to find craftsmen skilled in creating this detailed architectural work.  The craftsmen they eventually hired, 12 in all, had skills passed down from generations of family members.  Most of these craftsmen, currently still working on this project which won't be finished till this coming fall, had never set foot on U.S. soil before.  Perhaps this initial move to bring foreign craftsmen to America to work will be the start to breaking intolerance.  It could work both ways.  As we all know, there are many outside of America especially in Muslim lands, who don't view us in the best of lights.  This gesture to show Americans the beauty of Muslim architecture and art will hopefully be seen by those abroad as an initial move to eliminate intolerance.  These workers, it can only be hoped, will see America for the beauty that we possess as a people, and bring that knowledge home with them to their families and friends showing that America should not just be judged by its government's actions. 

As Americans, we have a duty to educate ourselves in the beliefs of our fellow citizens.  Does this mean that we have to adopt their belief system?  No, it simply means that we must strive for greater understanding of the underlying tenets of their religion and what it means to them.  Intolerance is born of indifference and a lack of education.  If people do not understand a different religion, they are more likely to speak out against it because it does not fall within the realm of their beliefs.  There are too many people out there, Christians especially it seems, who fail to realize that Islam was born of the same roots of Judaism and Christianity.  In essence, by discriminating against Muslims, we are discriminating against our religious ancestors.  There is one important constant that transcends these three religions; belief in God.  We may differ on our beliefs on how to worship or how to lead wholesome lives, but it shouldn't be a divisive factor.  As with anything in life, there are different paths to achieve a common goal. 

When this permanent installation opens at the MET, I can only hope that it will be flooded with visitors who will be inspired to learn more.  For those who have not seen the intricacy of this type of architecture and art, you will be amazed.  In my travels, one place I visited that this gallery will emulate to an extent is the Alhambra in Granada, Spain.  This palace is stunningly beautiful and is worlds away from anything that Westerners have seen.  When I first saw this architecture and art, I was inspired to learn more and I only hope that the art being created at the MET will do the same.  Let art be the starting point for understanding.  Let it inspire in us a desire to bring our country back to the vision our founding fathers had; one of tolerance for people in all walks of life and an ability to worship freely.   Lets start now by being a little more open minded to the beliefs of others.  After all, this is the United States and we all have a duty to stand up for the freedom of all people. 

More Violence in the Middle East

Well it seems that the protests that started in Tunisia and Egypt and spread like wildfire through the region are now being met with overt violence.  Libya is the most outrageous so far, Qadaffi killing thousands of his own countrymen because they are done with him.  Just this past week though, Yemen and Bahrain have resorted to violence as a means to quell the protests and demonstrations.   Many other countries in the region have increasingly restive populations, unhappy with their leaders, and ready for a change.  How far will the violence spread before it ends?  Hopefully soon, but looking at the history in that region, as long as the protests go on, there will be a heavy violent hand ready to instill "order".

Qadaffi, with the warning of the U.N. and both European and U.S. backing that military action will be taken if he does not stop, has ordered a cease-fire in words only.  His actions, as reports have filtered out of the country, are suspect however.  There are still reports of heavy artillery fire and killing still going on.  How does one deal peacefully with a tyrant who is hell bent on staying in power even if it means completely wiping out any citizen of Libya who opposes him?  I mentioned before that the most effective way to effect reform is through peaceful protests and demonstrations.   However, how can it work when all the peaceful protesters are killed or driven into hiding for fear of being killed?  I still advocate for peaceful reform, but maybe the "rebels" need a little assistance in ousting their corrupt leader.   Am I advocating that the U.S. get involved in yet another foreign war?  No, and thus far they have said that they will only offer support with any military action and that no ground troops will enter the country.   The Arab nations have unified and asked for help in getting rid of Qadaffi, but if they see it as such a desperate situation, why can't they step up to the plate and take action?  Granted, most of them are dealing with their own protests and drives for reform, but what better way to show the people in their own countries that they will not stand for killing innocent civilians than by getting rid of Qadaffi.  The reason is that most of them will resort to violence of one sort or another in their own countries if it comes down to it. 

As evidence, lets shift to Bahrain where luckily far fewer protesters were killed.  Regardless of how many were killed, the government there still resorted to violent measures to break up the protests to try and regain what is according to them a sense of order.  Martial law was declared making it illegal to hold protests and since then, the government has kept a tight lid on gatherings.  As an added blow to the demonstrators, they just recently knocked down the central pearl monument which stood as a gathering place for the protests and stood as a sign of reform for the protesters.  The government claimed it demolished the monument because it served as a bad memory of insurrection.  It is obvious that the government sees things from one point of view only, theirs.  It is only with the backing of 2000 Saudi troops that they actually put down the protests.  The violence doesn't end in Bahrain where the former status quo seems to have been enforced for now by the leaders. 

Lets jump to Yemen now where the most recent violence has errupted.  As with the other countries mentioned, Yemen is also in the midst of demonstrations and protests against their government and leader.  The government has disavowed any involvement with the recent violence that left dozens killed.  They claimed they would investigate the situation and make amends.  Is the government to be believed?  Possibly.  But the good news coming from Yemen is that the violence did little to quell the protests.  Tens of thousands still stood their ground, in the past weeks actually forming a unified coalition to replace their ruler.  It seems as if Yemen might still effect change in their leadership.  However, it could be a drawn out process due to the heavy influence of tribal families in that country.  Violence escalates quickly when a family member of a particular tribe is killed and seeing how most of the people in the country are armed, it could raise the prospects of a bloody civil war.  My only hope is that the protesters stay strong in their resolution to effect change through peaceful means. 

So where do we go from here.  Violence can never be truly effective at eliminating problems or keeping order in a country.  All that the violence does is suppress protests and demonstrations, it does nothing to solve the underlying problems or the resentments that citizens may harbor.  These problems and resentments simply get shoved under the rug temporarily, the violence adding fuel to the already burning desire for change.  If problems are consistently ignored, they will most likely become larger problems in the future, leading to an increase in bloodshed and death.  Governments can no longer simply pay lip service to idea of change and democratic ideals.   They must realize that through this interconnected world, one where Facebook and the Internet play a large role in bringing to light their grievances, they must become more transparent, open to discussion, and able to change their views of the way things are or should be.  Most of these countries have ruling families who have been in power for decades and until recently were able to keep their hold on power.  The down side to all this is that most of population in these countries lives in poverty.  There is a small percentage who actually have the money and lavish it on themselves.  Only through open change and democratic ideals can these countries become truly vibrant and productive.  Autocratic rule, tyrants, and ruling elite do nothing for the economic prosperity of a country.   In order to truly take a step into the 21st century, these leaders must step down and afford their populations the opportunity for more freedom and economic security.  If this does not happen, the problems will remain and these countries will remain poverty stricken and stagnant.  It is hard for us to affect much change, but voice your support for these protesters.  They can now hear your voice through the internet.  Let them know they have the support of others and are not in this battle alone.  But most of all, if you live in a country where you have the freedom to protest, be grateful knowing that a good percentage of the world does not enjoy the freedoms that you do.

"Creating Shared Value"

Who would have thought by the title that this post would actually be about large corporations?  Well, it is.  There is actually some good news coming out of the corporate world.  While large corporations are still enormous money making enterprises, there has been a shift in mentality from a good number of them.  It seems that the idea has come to them that they could make a bigger social difference by focusing their charity efforts on communities around them.  By spending money on communities instead of simply writing a check to some philanthropic organization, they make a greater positive social impact and also help their businesses. 

I wonder why it took so long for them to figure it out.  Corporations can not survive in this world without positively affecting the community around them anymore.  There is such an interdependence in our society between businesses and communities that it only makes sense to spend money on those that are supporting you.  There is a great article about this and the changing awareness of corporations.  This world wide economic recession that we are still trying to pull out of has changed a lot in the realm of business.  It has shown that businesses can collapse quickly as well as the financial well being of thousands dependent on them.  In order to fully come out of this recession, corporations need to step it up and really try and help the communities around them.  We can break this idea of "creating shared value" down beyond corporations.

While it is great to talk about corporations engaging in these actions, how does it specifically apply to us? How many people actively work to support and make a difference in their own community?   This principal of "creating shared value" can be applied to any community.  If we each take time to support our own community, whether it be through monetary donations or active volunteer work, it will make a positive impact on all those around us and eventually have a positive impact on us.  Ever hear of the saying "what goes around comes around"?  I wholeheartedly believe in this principle.   If we all make efforts to support our communities and those in need, we will make positive inroads into the greatest problems in our society.  Lets start by looking at those that need the most help.  Often times, people struggling to find work, make ends meet, or even living on the street have had there lives turned on a dime for no apparent reason. 

Last November, there was a contractor in my community whose house caught fire and burnt to the ground.  He has a wife and children and was absolutely devastated.  In addition to losing his house, most of his supplies and equipment were destroyed.   He told people in our community what happened and within a very short period of time, people stepped forward to pitch in and help him out.  Tools and supplies were donated to keep his business running.   Temporary housing was found for him while he worked on re-building after the fire.  The outpouring of support was utterly amazing.  Before this tragic fire occurred, he had been actively involved in our community, volunteering his time and trying to do some good.  Our community was there for him when he needed it, just as others depended on his help when they were down and out. 

As great as this story is, there are a lot of people who need help and don't have an active community that they can rely on for support.   In this case we need to reach out to them and show them that there in fact is a community there waiting to help them.  If we can impact people's lives on a personal level, it could just be what they need to turn their lives around.  Lets all take this idea of "creating shared value" with us through life.  Sometimes, making that positive impact in your community could be as simple as helping someone pick up a bag of dropped groceries or having a little patience and letting others go ahead of you in line or through the drive-through.  You never know what kind of impact your own actions will carry.  Step back and see what little steps you can take to creating shared value in your community.  Smile, for spring is pretty much here, there will soon be leaves on the trees, and life is good.

The Loss of Childhood

Childhood as older generations have known it, is disappearing at an alarming rate.  Children these days are rushed into school as soon as they are old enough, crammed full of knowledge, and in addition are bombarded with the same news stories that adults are.   Children in grammar school, as early as kindergarten, are getting PS3's, laptops, and even cell phones (cell phones probably come a few years later, but still) for their birthdays.    At such a young age, more important activities, especially from a developmental standpoint, are development of motor skills, social interaction with their peers, and simple playing with toys (not video games). 

I was recently privy to a conversation about a young boy who is 4 years old.  His parents are dead set on having him in kindergarten come fall time.  In order for him to legally be able to enter, he needs to turn 5 by December 31.  Luckily for his parents, his birthday is in early December.   However, just because he can legally enter kindergarten does not mean that he is developmentally ready.  There is an exam administered to quantify his skill set and determine if he has what it takes.  This young boy, unfortunately, was not up to the task.  His little hands had trouble grasping blocks, he had trouble with the concept of himself and how to finish a drawing of himself (all he had to do was add some hair, eyes, nose, mouth), and overall he just wasn't mentally prepared.  Is this his fault?  Not at all, he is simply not ready.

The school he is applying to will not let him into kindergarten because it would be doing a great disservice to him.  Despite the parents saying that he is ready and that they want him in for the fall, his actions show otherwise.  Seriously, what is the rush of getting a child into school?  Is it just an excuse to get him out of the house earlier so parents can focus on their work instead of child rearing?  Or is it an effort to make sure that he gets all the knowledge he possibly can as quickly as possible?  Every child develops differently, some take longer than others, some develop quickly.  Our current societal values dictate that every child of a certain age attain a certain amount of knowledge so they can pass a standardized test.  What is the use?  There is little account taken as to the difference in learning styles and speed of learning.  If a child learns slow, it means they need extra help with a "specialist".  There is too much focus placed on the average individual and what constitutes that person.

Back to childhood.  In addition to rushing children into school too early, our societal acceptance of the profane and depressing in both media and entertainment has lowered in age.  Twenty years ago, children did not have access to the news and entertainment that children today do.   A big part of this is parent's allowance of children to access and view this media and entertainment.  (I have touched on this before so I will keep it brief this time).  Taking care of a crying child is now as easy as plopping them in front of the TV and turning on a movie or TV show.  Human interaction even between parents and their siblings has diminished.  Yet we wonder how the children today are less capable of interacting on a meaningful level with their peers.   When I was little, I got to watch 2 shows, Sesame Street and Mister Rogers, and aside from that, it was continuous play time with lincoln logs, big cardboard boxes turned into houses, and the wonderful dirt, trees, and mud outside.  Where has the essence of childhood gone?

If you want evidence for the disappearance of childhood, just look at the news.  Children at younger and younger ages are bringing knives and guns to school, having sex earlier and earlier, and even taking drugs at younger ages.  These activities used to be reserved for those later in high school, but with the media, entertainment, and parenting what it is, this is no longer the case.  It is unfortunate that children are being rushed into adulthood.  They are not being allowed to develop their own sense of right and wrong, good vs. evil.  These concepts are being taught to them by the media and entertainment.  Is it any wonder why children are having more issues with depression and suicide, harboring feelings of resentment when they should have a desire to play and interact with others?  It all goes hand in hand. 

This, as my other post about parenting, comes down to just that, parenting.  We can't rely on the media and entertainment industries to control themselves and adjust what they are portraying because a more youthful audience is watching.  Why should we expect them to do that?  It is the parents who allow these influences to have an effect.  There is still a precedent for children being children, the fact that they can't get jobs till their late teens.  This in part speaks to the fact that they are not ready to enter the workforce until they have developed a sense of who they are and a reliable work ethic.  We can not rush this process by rushing children through school or exposing them to world knowledge that used to be taboo for a child to see and experience. 

If you are over 25, (my apologies to those younger), take a look back at your childhood and re-live what you did.  Then look at today's generation of children and see what they are going through.  It is time to start bringing children back to childhood, an experience that should be fun and exciting.  Do all parents act this way, rushing children through school and assisting in shortening their childhood?  No, but there seems to be more and more of them around.  If you are a parent who is actively involved with your child and is concerned only with your child developing at his/her own pace, then I applaud you.  Others could and should learn from you.  Lets focus more of our efforts on our youth.  After all, they are the ones who will be leading the world when the rest of us are old and decrepit.  If we want to change the world we live in, we must start be re-instituting childhood into our children's lives.  Lets let them develop at their own pace with our guidance and help.  For now, lets all reminisce about our own childhood.  Spend some time re-living what you did and the fun you had.  Maybe its time to re-institute some childhood into our own adult lives.  You never know, we might actually have more fun!

The Case for Chiropractic

Being and staying healthy is one of the greatest challenges we face today.  We all live in a world filled with toxins and chemicals, some added to our food as preservatives, others taken in the form of pills to cure some ailment, and yet others we simply can't avoid and breath in every day.   These toxins and chemicals along with everyday movements in life put incredible stress on our bodies and in particular our spines.  I have mentioned before that there are alternatives to going straight to a medical doctor to fix a problem we have with our bodies.  There are many holistic and natural methods to heal the body from acupuncture, to yoga, to chiropractic. 

Some of you may now be saying, "Here is just another quack pushing chiropractic care as a replacement to a medical doctor."  Well, as quacktastic as I may sound, I have done research and I have heard amazing stories about chiropractic.  In addition I currently see a chiropractor once to twice a week and the results have been amazing.  Let me first start by saying that not all chiropractors are the same.  Before I started seeing my current one, I had been to at least 2 others which I didn't care for.  The reason I started going back to a chiropractor was due to headaches (you are only supposed to get 2-3 a year) and backpain that were getting worse and worse.  Within a few weeks of getting adjusted twice a week, my headaches were gone and backpain diminished greatly. 

So what is the deal behind chiropractic?  Chiropractic's main purpose is the alignment of a person's spine.  Their philosophy (which I agree with) is that the human body is capable of healing itself provided that all neural pathways are functioning.  A human body's every function is controlled by the brain which sends signals out via the spinal column through the nerves.  These nerves travel to every organ and muscle in the body.  If a person's spinal column is moved even slightly (called a subluxation in chiropractic terms), then the nerve traveling through that section of the spine will be negatively impacted and won't be able to communicate fully with the organ or muscle it is traveling to.  If you get your spine adjusted so that it is in proper alignment, then the nerve is free to communicate and send signals.   The unfortunate part is, out of all the nerves traveling through our body, 90% don't feel pain or react in a way that we know something is wrong.  The symptoms usually manifest themselves in the form of some malady that we would normally go to a medical doctor to fix. 

I have mentioned before that if medications made you healthy, then it would be reasonable to assume that the person on the most pills would be the healthiest person alive.  Most of us know this is never the case.  My current chiropractor worked with a woman taking 38 pills a day and unable to move from her wheelchair.  To make a long story short, within a few years of treatment, she was down to under 10 pills a day and able to walk with the help of a cane.  The only thing that changed in her life was the addition of chiropractic.  All the medical doctors who had treated her previously had given up and referred her to a chirpractor to "ease her pain".  Well, it ended up doing more than that.   The only thing the chiropractor did was adjust this lady's spine so that it was in perfect alignment, nothing more, nothing less.  Her body did the rest of the work.  For another amazing story involving Dr. Palmer (the son of the founder of chiropractic) and Dr. Mayo (the founder of the Mayo clinic), click here.

Some people may counter all this by saying that chiropractors can cause a stroke or death by adjusting the spine.  This is all fabricated in an attempt to discredit the chiropractic industry by the medical profession.  If this were actually true, then chiropractors would have to pay hefty malpractice insurance.  As it is right now, medical doctors pay tens of thousands of dollars in malpractice insurance.  The cost for a chiropractor is around two thousand.  Malpractice insurance is based on the probability that the doctor will do harm.  If you look at the numbers, chiropractic wins out. 

Other people may say that chiropractic is not for everybody.  Well, every person's spine is fundamentally the same, therefore, chiropractic is for everyone who makes the choice to explore it.  Chiropractors make no claim to a quick and speedy recovery.  That is all based on your body's ability to restore itself to health.  There is no overnight remedy; it could take weeks or months.  People don't have patience, however, and want the quick fix that will get them going immediately.  Sometimes it is worth it to wait longer to recover, than damaging your body in the healing process with medications. 

There is a lot of info on chiropractic out there.  Before going to a regular medical doctor next time, (they only treat the symptoms), check out a chiropractor (treating the cause).  I myself have not taken any pills (including advil, tylenol, etc.) in over two years.   My wife who had severe seasonal allergies and had inhalers, pills, and allergy shots, is now allergy free after seeing a chiropractor.  Ultimately, the decision is yours as to how you take care of your body.  Chiropractic is a much healthier option than a regular medical doctor (obviously if you have a broken bone, a chiropractor can't help with that).  Do yourself a healthy favor and look into it.  There is a plethora of information available on the internet if you take the time to do some research.   If you want more direct info without trying that hard, follow this link to my chiropractor's web page.

Stay healthy, stay positive, and most of all be patient.  There is no need to rush through life, we all know what lies at the end.  Cherish every moment for you never know which moment will be your last.

Japan teaches Patience

Every day the media bombards us with depressing news.  There seems to be an overt focus on playing to the fears of people.  I watched World News with Diane Sawyer last night, something I rarely do because I would much rather pick and choose which depressing articles to read.  In any case, throughout the course of the half hour show, 25 minutes were spent on the tragedy in Japan, visiting the country, showing the devastation, re-playing clips of the tsunami over and over again, and also talking about the "worst case scenario" with the nuclear power plant.  It was only in the last five minutes that my attention was actually engaged and I was fascinated by what I saw.   Despite all the destruction and loss of life, there was no pandemonium or chaos, only patience and sharing.

As I watched the last five minutes, I thought back to the previous 25 minutes and what I had seen.  As American reporters surveyed the damage and talked to the locals in the area, there was an overwhelming sense of calm coming from the Japanese.  The reporters looked aghast at the long food lines, the long gas lines, the utter destruction of cars and homes, yet whenever they approached the locals with this imbued sense of fear, the locals showed no reciprocal fear (for the most part).  The Japanese waited patiently in gas lines, no honking or yelling, just waiting.  The same went for the food lines, parents holding their babies for hours, not a complaint uttered or person pushed out of the way.  Even with the destruction of the homes, one elderly couple was already scooping up mud into wheelbarrows, determined to get their small store and home up and functional again. 

The most amazing part of this ordeal that they are going through is the fact there has been no looting or vandalism.  Even with the nuclear power plant unable to produce electricity, instead of a mandatory blackout to conserve power, people willingly turned off all non-essential electrical devices, even lights, to help out the community.  Now for a quick comparison, lets jump back 5-6 years to Hurricane Katrina that hit New Orleans and the gulf coast.   After the flooding and destruction in our own country, a whole different scenario played out.  There was massive looting, vandalism, and a certain lawlessness that invaded until the floodwaters receded and the city was secured again.   Our country and many others would do well to take a longer look at the Japanese and see how they can keep it together in the face of tragedy.

From the 5 minute segment on the patience and civility of the Japanese after this tragedy, there was a lot to be learned.  Their whole society, mostly Buddhist and Confucist followers, have an entrenched sense of community.  They are there to help others out and rebuild their towns and lives together with the help of others.  There generosity is amazing.  When Diane Sawyer approached a small group eating together on the side of a road, they immediately began offering her food, despite the fact that they did not have much.  They would not accept a refusal of the food saying that they had enough for them.  There was no hoarding mentality or selfishness, just giving and kindness.  If we have a desire to change the status quo and dig ourselves out of our own little foxholes, then we would do well to study the Japanese way of life. 

I have alluded to the importance of community in the past and the Japanese are excellent examples of how a tight knit community can overcome odds and still remain positive.  We are all more than the sum of our parts.  The more involved we become with community, the stronger we become both individually and as a whole.  Simply knowing that there are strangers out there who are willing to jump in and help regardless of the circumstances has a calming effect and can dispel depression and anxiety.  If we have community to fall back on, then we need have no fear of what the future holds.  However, most people don't recognize this simple concept.  We are all in this together, this rollercoaster called life, and we can not travel the road alone.  (OK, so we technically could, but it would be very depressing and difficult).  Maybe it is time we reached out to others in our communities, shared our stories and listened to theirs.  We all have unique traits that when combined with others, can produce fantastic results.  Do you have a community to fall back on?  Are there people willing to go out of their way to help you?  If not, start building your community around you.  Talk to your neighbors, friends, fellow townspeople.  The larger a community we have supporting us, the more balanced and worry free our lives will be. (At least thats my take on it.)  Smile, for today is a blank page waiting; only you can determine what gets written down. 

The Future of Nuclear Power

Following the tragic earthquake in Japan on Friday, a nuclear power plant lost power, essentially disabling its cooling capabilities, and measures are currently being taken to try and avert a complete meltdown of the reactor core.  The loss of life from the earthquake and ensuing tsunami were tragic enough, but if scientists are not able to keep the nuclear power plant out of a complete meltdown, the tragedy will increase a thousand fold.  As it is, since all power systems at the plant have failed due to the flooding, the measures being taken to keep the reactor cool require some radiation to be expelled into the atmosphere.   The radiation being expelled is carried by steam, the result of alternative cooling measures, into the atmosphere.  The linked article goes into much more detail about this tragedy.

Nuclear power plants are an excellent way to produce electricity.  They use far less fuel and produce greater amounts of electricity than a coal or gas powered plant.  However, with the production of so much electricity, there also comes an increased potential for tragedy.  Most of the time, when there are issues at a nuclear power plant, there are redundant safety measures that kick in to avert a meltdown, (the worst outcome of a tragedy, i.e. Chernobyl).  Aside from the normal operating procedures at a plant, there is also the issue of the waste that is produced from the plant and its lingering radioactivity.   In the overall course of nuclear history, problems with actual production have been limited.  There has been only one complete meltdown (Chernobyl), and all the other problems have been caught before they could cause serious damage. 

Leaving the problem of spent fuel rods alone for now, it seems more pressing to discuss how to avoid production problems like the one currently unfolding in Japan.  The issue in Japan was ultimately caused by nature, flood water damaged electrical circuits and disabled back-up generators.  But there are lessons to be learned from this tragedy.   The earthquake was the strongest ever recorded in Japan producing a tsunami that breached the flood barriers surrounding the nuclear power plant.  Now while a quake and tsunami of this proportion were not planned for, maybe it is time to re-examine the safety measures at other nuclear power plants to make sure that they are adequate to protect against a natural disaster of this proportion.  The weather across the globe is producing stronger storms more regularly and is becoming increasingly erratic.  100 year storms seem to have the probability of occuring more frequently than previously expected.  These storms alone could have a greater negative impact on our power plants if we don't start planning now.

In Japan, the flood barrier was thought to be high enough.  Consequently, the back-up generators were placed in a low-lying area that was flooded soon after the water breached the barriers.  Similarly, the main electrical connections were in a basement room of the power plant that was also flooded with water rendering them useless.  These two issues alone caused a majority of the problems currently unfolding at the nuclear plant today.  In addition, it is feared that some of the gauges on the reactor were damaged by the quake and they are not getting proper readings.   Simple planning for larger floods and proper placement of electrical equipment and backup generators could have averted this current problem.  While it may be costly to re-work some of the existing nuclear power plants around the globe, it would be well worth it in the long run if it could avert tragedy. 

Ultimately, it is tragedies like the one in Japan that draw out the skeptics of nuclear power.  They will campaign against building new nuclear power plants and call to an end to the ones already in existence.  For all its shortcomings, nuclear power has numerous benefits.  The biggest benefit in this day and age is its limited atmospheric polution.  Whether or not you are a believer in global warming, it is a fact that regular power plants fueled by coal or gas, produce atmospheric pollution.  New power plants produce less, but it is still produced.  With an every increasing global population, more power plants are needed, and more pollution is produced.  Nuclear power can produce that electricity with potentially far less pollution in the short run.   If there was an efficient way of disposing of the radioactive waste safely, it would be an even more attractive solution to producing power. 

Do I support nuclear power plants?  Partially.  I love the idea, but I am also aware that we need more safeguards and more attention needs to be paid to disposing of the nuclear waste.  My solution would be to retrofit the nuclear power plants still operating with more extensive safeguards and divert the money that would be spent on new ones to developing more effecient ways of harnessing "green energy" such as wind power and solar power.  With the increase in strong storms, there is also in increase in wind which could be harnessed to produce power.  The problem is, people would rather have a nuclear power plant hundreds of miles away rather than a wind farm closer to their house.  In this day and age, we can not simply look at the aesthetics of power, we must also look at the potential for harm that each one produces whether it be pollution or nuclear radiation. 

This tragedy in Japan, while it may not affect all of us directly, has dire implications.  Nothing can be done to reverse what happened, but we can learn from mistakes in planning and design to try and avert this type of disaster at other nuclear power plants in the future.  This could offer the impetus needed to divert more money to develop more efficient "green power" technology, a far safer bet than any coal, gas, or nuclear power plant.  We can no longer simply look at the short term solutions for our energy problems.  We must look at our increasing population and what it means for energy production and, conversely, energy conservation.  We can all do our part starting with energy conservation, using less electricity by simply changing light bulbs, recycling more, and watching what appliances we keep running.  Lets all start small by minimizing the amount of electricity we use and supporting green energy alternatives.  Till next time, turn off the light when you leave the room, it all helps.