The De-evolution Of Our Planet

Dear Friends,

Like it or not, we are in a battle to save the health of this planet—to resurrect the health of the biosphere because it is failing!

If we continue down the path we are on, life will still exist on earth— but without us! Life will simply continue to recalibrate itself into simpler, more adaptive forms such as bacteria, fungus, slime, mold, jellyfish and insects. This is what is happening. It is what we are up against, and in fact are causing. Of course, as you know me by now, I am speaking about the ecological changes that are bringing about the de-evolution of our planet. The question is— will we stop it?

It is obvious that the future of a country is embodied in the training of the younger generation. Today’s young men and women who are graduating from universities (and as is pertinent to our profession, graduating from medical schools) are having much difficulty finding jobs. However, I would say that this impasse in job security could be utilized as a unique opportunity. Our next generation doctors need to consider incorporating one of the many causes into a career path that resonates with their souls, and can expand a young mind into a wider frame of reference to include the kind of social change that will re-create our globe. Sounds too overwhelming? Here’s an idea (opportunity) from Via Campesina that could change the course of ones whole life:

The growing global crisis on farming, climate, energy, biodiversity and societies has a great impact on billions of people’s lives. This crisis is tightly linked to the replacement of sustainable small-scale farming by industrial and corporate ways of production and consumption. Just as numerous billions have been given to the [bail out of] banks over the last year, the support of governments for neo-liberal policies continue to annihilate small-scale farming and peasantry all over the world. These policies destroy ways of life, which have proved to maintain a harmonious link between human beings and their environment. In Europe these driving forces almost brought small-scale farming and peasantry to the point of extinction by making it difficult for settled peasants to survive and for young farmers to settle. Read more.

The above quote is from the Via Campesina website promoting a gathering for young people from September 30th through October 4th 2009 in southern France. It is a gathering of people who wish to settle in agriculture. They are young peasants, landless peasants and/ or anyone who want to recover food sovereignty!

Here they are. What a motley crew. Just kidding. I think they are great kids.

When I read that paragraph I had to look up the word “neo-liberal”. It isn’t a word that is commonly used in America, but as I found out the phrase is used in the rest of the world.

What is neo-liberal policies?

Neo-liberalism is a set of economic policies basically adopted by the IMF, the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank and major governments around the world. It follows the idea laid out by Scottish economist, Adam Smith, published in his book in 1776 called The Wealth of Nations, and revitalized as neo-liberalism in the last 25 years by University of Chicago’s economist Milton Friedman and all of his protégés.

I have outlined the main points of Neo-liberalism, written by Elizabeth Martinez and Arnoldo Garcia, from National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, and added further explanation in brackets. For a global perspective on the social justice issues facing third world countries see Dohrea Bardell’s research project on “The Rule of Free Market Ideology”.

Here are the main points for Neo-liberalism:

1. The rule of the Market: Liberating “free” enterprise or private enterprise from any bonds imposed by the government (the state) no matter how much social damage this causes. Greater openness to international trade and investment, as in NAFTA [benefits the G-8 countries, transnational corporations, while the rest of the world suffers under worsening conditions]. Reduce wages by de-unionizing workers and eliminating workers’ rights that had been won over many years of struggle [transferring power from “state” to transnational corporations]. No more price controls. All in all, total freedom of movement for capital, goods and services. To convince us this is good for us, they say: “an unregulated market is the best way to increase economic growth, which will ultimately benefit everyone.” It’s like Reagan’s “supply-side” and “trickle-down” economics — but somehow the wealth didn’t trickle down.

2. Cutting public expenditure for social service: education and health care [ I learned from Dohrea that this was a “mandate” by the IMF and World Bank in order for them to restructure their previous loans! Now they are dictating governments how to run social services!]. Reducing the safety net for the poor, and even maintenance of roads, bridges, and water supply.

3. Deregulation: reduce government regulation [again, power to decide what is best in their own country] of everything that could diminish profits, including protecting the environment and safety on the job [and it is how many parts of the world were destroyed; water supplies, lakes, oceans, soil, and forests].

4. Privatization: sell state-owned enterprises [belonging to the people], goods and services to private investors [transnational corporations]. This includes banks, key industries, railroads, toll highways, electricity, schools, hospitals and even fresh water. Although usually done in the name of “greater efficiency”, which is often needed, privatization has mainly had the effect of concentrating wealth even more in a few hands and making the public pay even more for its needs.

5. Eliminating the concept of “the public good”, or “community” and replacing it with “individual responsibility.” Pressuring the poorest people in a society to find solutions to their lack of health care, education and social security all by themselves — then blaming them, if they fail, as “lazy.”

How do we approach such power? There is no simple answer—as you can see it is a complex and very much a hidden phenomena. In our beloved industry of holistic health, we have fought the same giants and therefore are aware. But many people simply do not know. Our young generation can enter this big picture with us; and educate and fight for justice and good health—people and planet alike.

Who is the enemy and who is the friend? Here we need to take care and be thoughtful in how we answer this question, for it is easy to become polarized in our thinking and therefore our emotions, and become hateful. As an example: one could say that the destruction of our planet’s ecosystems, global warming, the very process of de-evolution has been caused by our use of modern technology, and therefore modern technology is “bad”. Should we then replace cars with horse-and-buggies? Sounds kind of good actually, but it is no way to progress our world. We can say that the enemy is the Gates and Rockefeller Foundations in collusion with the multinationals, World Bank, G-8, etc and call them the enemy and think that the only way is their destruction. But technology is neither bad nor good, power is neither bad nor good, it is how we use and let others use power and technology. I would suggest that our only way out of our de-evolutionary dilemma is to use technology and bring awareness to everyone—including Gates.

There are many causes to choose from: The way of La Via Campesina, the way of the many organizations and individuals that we have highlighted and will be highlighting in the future in these Newsletter, people who have chosen to take the role of the activist in a more Ghandian way. Our task is to change the hearts and minds of the scientists, the philanthropists, the Gates Foundations of the worlds—to embrace the power of systemic thinking as embodied in eco-agriculture, Permaculture, small scale, local, sustainable organic-farming, etc. Our task is to mobilize our own selves and the patients of the world (our patients). Raising the consciousness, awareness and activism with the people of the world (urban and rural) who all have a right to social equity, environmental quality and economic sustainability.

So what is another cause that we might take on? What about the cause for water? Here is a tidbit from next week’s topic, and another wonderful cause to consider:

One of the most powerful speakers in the world for the right of all human being to have clean water is Maude Barlow. She is head of the Council of Canadians, Canada’s largest public advocacy organization and founder of the Blue Planet Project. Her cause is that water should not be treated as a commodity, but as a right—all people have a right to clean drinkable water.

This link is a clip of Maude Barlow speaking at the 5th World Water Forum in Istanbul 2009 – Bridging Divides For Water. Her talk: Water a Right, not a Commodity.

Here is Maude Barlow:

Is water a commodity to be put on the open market like running shoes or coca cola? Should the market decide allocation of water? Should large corporations be able to control and make decisions around water? Should corporations and people be able to make money from water when other people are dying from the lack of it? Or is water part of our global commons? Is it part of our public trust that belongs to all of us? Is it a human right? If you believe it is a human right then you can’t sell it, trade it or refuse it to someone because they can’t afford it.

So, whose side are you on—most First World governments and most of the major international institutions—including the World Bank, the IMF, the World Trade Organization, and the World Water Council, who all believe water is a commodity to be sold and traded on the open market? Or, do you belong to the large global water justice movement made-up of environmentalist, human rights activists, indigenous and women’s groups, small farmers, peasants and thousands of grassroots communities fighting for control of their local water sources? Let’s help our younger generation to get involved in causes that will bring about healthy, righteous changes.

Sincerely yours,

Seann Bardell

BioImmersion.com

Clinical Note: And speaking of our next generation, when a baby is old enough to eat solid foods, protect their young brain and GI tract with the Triple Berry Probiotic Formula. It has the researched Wild Blueberry power of brain protection, Raspberry with its antimicrobial elagic acid properties, and Sweet Cherry for anti-inflammation (thereby preserving stem cells—important to our healing capabilities later in life), and the Original strains of probiotic to fight against invading pathogens, and help in the digestion of foods. The Triple Berry Probiotic Formula is pure and concentrated therapeutic food.

The Last Quiz Answer: This beautiful creature is of course a healthy young lioness from a small pride that lives in the Namibian desert. One of the hottest places on earth.

Prepare to laugh with Jon Steward and Robert Glennon regarding his new book “Unquenchable”.