Laura's Sharebook 

OK, so it’s the fourth of July.  I saw Leno’s Jaywalking segment the other day and it was pathetic that so many Americans did not even know what we were supposed to be celebrating independence from.  Even sadder, here We are over 200 years later under the reign of another King George, but unfortunately, this time he is not in England, he’s in the White House!  Along with declaring independence from this despicable person, who holds sooo much power and could really change things for the better if he wanted, it would be nice to declare independence from petroleum based products.  I just got my first car a year ago, even though I’ve had my license for 8 years, and though my Scion xA gets about 40mpg, I feel guilty every time I drive it.  I do however take public transport when viable and have only put 8,000 miles on my car in a year (3,000 of which was driving down to S.D. and back a few times).  Yet, buying a fuel efficient car or just not driving are not the only ways to get closer to one’s independence from the evil empire. 

Since King George has pretty much stripped us of our democratic powers, We still have a vital mechanism which can be used to express how We the People feel in a way that people like George will always understand:  $$$$$.  Hence, as consumers, We the People can take advantage of capitalism by voting with our dollars and using our preciously earned money to support sustainable environmentally socially friendly practices that truly are in Our interests and the interests of All.  LOOK AT EVERYTHING YOU BUY!  Where does it come from?  What is it made of?  Who labored for it and how?  Yes, it can take a little bit of time to find this out as sometimes the answers are not displayed as openly as they should be, but if in doubt ask yourself, “Do I really need this?”.  The answer is mostly likely no.  We Americans would especially do a lot better off with less crap, and maybe even be happier.  {Study after study shows that Americans who are “richer” and buy more toys are the ones taking more antidepressants and more miserable than ever, which keeps proving that lasting happiness can’t be bought.  Rather, simpler societies where family, farming/Connection w/ the land, and Connection to people and
community are first and foremost, people are happier.  This of course is it’s own topic . . . }

We all spend quite a bit of money on food, and rightfully so, it should intimately nourish us.  Do you really want to be eating conventional foods that are laden with pesticides/fungicides (carcinogenic or cancer-causing petroleum-based chemicals)?  Unless the idea of pouring some gasoline onto your food appeals to you, probably not.  The amount of stuff that crap is in is amazing.  Have you looked at the ingredients in most chapsticks?  Mmm, yummy . . .   I once heard that what you ingest or absorb into your skin can either be medicinal or toxic to your body, which is basically true.  Of course, you want to eat foods that will have as much of their nutritional value as possible intact and when you’re eating food that is grown best for you, it’s also best for the Earth and All.

I am truly blessed to live in California, a state where I feel like I still have my rights pretty much intact, and where there is somewhat easy access to farmers’ markets where I can buy fresh local organic goods straight from the people who grow them, knowing they get a fair wage.  I realize people in other places do not have the access to cheap recycled goods and organics as readily as I.  Luckily, this sector of the market is booming, and if enough demand arises, supply in other places will surely follow.

God bless the World, not just America!  We are all interconnected, still completely dependent off of the land for nourishment.  Earth and every creature upon it needs all of the blessing it can receive.