Poetry for the bottoms of poor scriveners!
Adventure Culture Spirit Comment
26.7.10
25.7.10
Book of Three Rings Poem 4 'TARTARUS'
TARTARUS
Opening out, I celebrate
at the Self of you.
For you are so wide open,
wide as all the world.
While all I do is drown in you:
Deeper…in still deeper;
until I couldn’t cast a fig
for that unutterable ‘why’
that brought me to this place-
of darkness and ecstasy.
No longer need to understand.
You only are the world.
In your soft arms,
Hades actually smiles.
Opening out, I celebrate
at the Self of you.
For you are so wide open,
wide as all the world.
While all I do is drown in you:
Deeper…in still deeper;
until I couldn’t cast a fig
for that unutterable ‘why’
that brought me to this place-
of darkness and ecstasy.
No longer need to understand.
You only are the world.
In your soft arms,
Hades actually smiles.
Mushrooms
I am a mushroom. They keep me in the dark and feed me horse-shit! But these little guys are rather beautiful.
19.7.10
The Coalition of the Willing-Superb Animated Film about the new environmentalism. Please watch it!
‘Coalition of The Willing’ is a film that discusses how we can use new internet
technologies to leverage the powers of activists, experts, and ordinary citizens
in collaborative ventures to combat climate change. Through analyses of swarm
activity and social revolution, ‘Coalition of the Willing’ makes a compelling case
for the new online activism and explains how to bring the fight against
technologies to leverage the powers of activists, experts, and ordinary citizens
in collaborative ventures to combat climate change. Through analyses of swarm
activity and social revolution, ‘Coalition of the Willing’ makes a compelling case
for the new online activism and explains how to bring the fight against
global warming to the people. As the film tackles the subject of online activism,
we decided that the logical home for ‘Coalition of The Willing’ is here online.
Between the start of February and the beginning of June 2010, Coalition of the
we decided that the logical home for ‘Coalition of The Willing’ is here online.
Between the start of February and the beginning of June 2010, Coalition of the
willing was released in sections onto this website. Groups of sections were
released roughly every 2-3 weeks, with the final completed film going online
at the start of June. This un-conventional release strategy allowed us to build
and engage with an audience whilst the film itself was being made. “coalitionfilm”
has now become an online environmental brand in itself, with contributors Tweeting
and Facebooking every day about issues discussed in the film; environmentalism,
open source culture and swarm politics.
released roughly every 2-3 weeks, with the final completed film going online
at the start of June. This un-conventional release strategy allowed us to build
and engage with an audience whilst the film itself was being made. “coalitionfilm”
has now become an online environmental brand in itself, with contributors Tweeting
and Facebooking every day about issues discussed in the film; environmentalism,
open source culture and swarm politics.
See the links above to follow coalitionfilm.
"I'm a Mac ... and I've Got a Dirty Secret"-A little word about 'conflict minerals'.
Get up to speed about conflict minerals. Hello, I'm a Mac, and I'm helping fuel the war in the Congo -- the deadliest war in the world. So are PCs, cell phones, digital cameras and other electronics. That's what Apple's famous ads don't tell you. So actor/activist Brooke Smith and cinematographer Steven Lubensky teamed up with actors Joshua Malina and John Lehr to create a version that sets the record straight. To learn more about conflict minerals and how you can help end war in the Congo, visit www.raisehopeforcongo.org. | |
18.7.10
The true meaning of being a slave
Not to speak up when you see injustice about you.
To keep silent through fear.
To walk by when the weak and the poor are assaulted by power and ill-used by thuggery whether of the commons or of the state.
To put the comfort of salary before the insecurities of conscience.
To speak like reasoned honey and act like a coward.
To tug the forelock while the abusers of the planet roil in luxury.
To press down rage and turn it into servitude.
Not to see the golden threads that connect each to each.
To be concerned with mere money and to understand nothing of value.
To be known as 'a safe pair of hands.'
To be endlessly corruptible.
That, truly, is what it means to be a slave.
To keep silent through fear.
To walk by when the weak and the poor are assaulted by power and ill-used by thuggery whether of the commons or of the state.
To put the comfort of salary before the insecurities of conscience.
To speak like reasoned honey and act like a coward.
To tug the forelock while the abusers of the planet roil in luxury.
To press down rage and turn it into servitude.
Not to see the golden threads that connect each to each.
To be concerned with mere money and to understand nothing of value.
To be known as 'a safe pair of hands.'
To be endlessly corruptible.
That, truly, is what it means to be a slave.
5.7.10
BOOK OF THREE RINGS-POEM 3
THE SEX-DREAMS OF CLAUDIUS AND GERTRUDE
He gets the shakes when she’s close,
her beauty burns his eyes.
Clarity of fire within the green!
She parts her lips-he almost faints.
What arid fumes arise
when the book-spine cracks?
She seizes him in her white arms!
Her breasts are stirred and flecked!
She lands on him like Zeus on Leda!
The red skeins in her hair weave tales
of wildness and of chaos.
The sea is sounding in his shell.
She reaches up and is revealed:
A Selkie and a Siren,
smooth as dew-kissed moss.
Her dusky peaches softly glow,
he holds one in each hand.
Such surprising balance!
Within the blessing of the grove,
by a yielding forest pool,
he reaches deep inside
And throws:
His beating heart all bloodied at
her feet of slippered clay
and shouts his plea through grit:
Queen of the Night! Let me be the one
you’ll take to your chamber of gold.
That very secret, sacred space.
Cut me with your flinty knife!
Drain me of my blood!
And I will frame your hidden moon,
And stand where your husband stood.
He gets the shakes when she’s close,
her beauty burns his eyes.
Clarity of fire within the green!
She parts her lips-he almost faints.
What arid fumes arise
when the book-spine cracks?
She seizes him in her white arms!
Her breasts are stirred and flecked!
She lands on him like Zeus on Leda!
The red skeins in her hair weave tales
of wildness and of chaos.
The sea is sounding in his shell.
She reaches up and is revealed:
A Selkie and a Siren,
smooth as dew-kissed moss.
Her dusky peaches softly glow,
he holds one in each hand.
Such surprising balance!
Within the blessing of the grove,
by a yielding forest pool,
he reaches deep inside
And throws:
His beating heart all bloodied at
her feet of slippered clay
and shouts his plea through grit:
Queen of the Night! Let me be the one
you’ll take to your chamber of gold.
That very secret, sacred space.
Cut me with your flinty knife!
Drain me of my blood!
And I will frame your hidden moon,
And stand where your husband stood.
30.6.10
A bit quiet of late?
Thanks for your patience and here's a photo of a living starling sculpture over Brighton's waters taken by my brother in law Andrew Jameson.
14.6.10
THE BUCKMINSTER FULLER CHALLENGE-WINNER ANNOUNCED!
INITIATIVE TRANSFORMING AFRICAN DESERT NAMED WINNER OF 2010 BUCKMINSTER FULLER CHALLENGE
ALL SIX FINALISTS DEMONSTRATE SIGNIFICANT POTENTIAL TO SOLVE SOME OF HUMANITY'S MOST PRESSING PROBLEMS
______________________________________________________________________________________________
June 5, 2010, Washington DC — Operation Hope, a solution combating one of the major causes of climate change has been named the winner of the 2010 Buckminster Fuller Challenge. At its core the winning strategy transforms parched and degraded Zimbabwe grasslands and savannahs into lush pastures with ponds and flowing streams, even during periods of drought. Operation Hope was awarded $100,000 to further develop its work at a ceremony today at the National Press Club in Washington DC.
The Buckminster Fuller Challenge is the premier international competition recognizing initiatives which take a comprehensive, anticipatory, design approach to radically advance human well being and the health of our planet's ecosystems. The 2010 finalists are providing workable solutions to some of the worldÕs most significant challenges including water scarcity, food supply, and energy consumption. The Challenge is sponsored by the Buckminster Fuller Institute, which is accelerating the development and deployment of whole-systems solutions which demonstrate the potential to solve some of the worldÕs most significant challenges.
Operation Hope is a project of the Africa Centre for Holistic Management in Zimbabwe and its sister organization the Savory Institute in Albuquerque, NM. Its successful approach to land management contradicts accepted practice and theories of resting land from animal grazing. Instead, Savory's holistic management process re-establishes the symbiotic balance between plant growth and the behavior of herding animals, returning unusable desert back into thriving grasslands, restoring biodiversity, bringing water sources back to life; combating global climate change, and increasing crop yields to ensure food security for people. The approach is currently being practiced and producing results on over 30 million acres world wide.
"Our work proves that we do have the ability to simultaneously better mankind's experience while bettering the Earth," said Allan Savory, founder of the Africa Centre for Holistic Management and the Savory Institute. "We are thrilled that the Buckminster Fuller Challenge exists to recognize and support work such as ours, and thank the jurors for this honor."
Berlin-based Watergy was named runner up of the Challenge. Watergy has developed and implemented a closed system greenhouse that provides extremely efficient farming capabilities in water-scarce communities. The approach, being demonstrated in Almeria Spain, allows a dramatic shift in resource efficiency for the supply of water, food and renewable material, and can be deployed across urban and rural conditions.
The other four finalists were:
»Barefoot Women Solar Engineers of Africa, Asia and Latin America (Tilonia, Rajasthan, India), which teaches illiterate, rural women in India and Africa to be solar engineers within their communities, providing energy to their communities, catalyzing their local economies and improving their quality of life;
»BK Farmyards, (Brooklyn, NY, US) a leading model in the urban agricultural movement, which is creating a web-based crowd-sourcing platform to advance urban farming as a viable business and food source for local communities;
»UrbanLab (Chicago, IL, US)
which has re-conceived the Chicago street-grid as a holistic Bio-System that captures, cleans and returns 100% of the city's wastewater and storm-water to the Lakes, ensuring constant regeneration of that natural resource while producing added economic, energy, social, and environmental benefits; and
»Living Building Challenge (Seattle, WA, US) which has developed the most advanced green building rating system in the world. Living Buildings are virtually self-sustaining, generating their own power, using renewable sources, and capturing and treating all their own water. construct, renovate and occupy and to serve as a catalyst for innovation.
"My grandfather believed that we have the ability to apply transformative strategies based on whole systems thinking, Nature's fundamental principles, and an ethically driven worldview to better the world and our own experiences. He called this approach comprehensive anticipatory design science," said Jaime Snyder, Buckminster Fuller's grandson and co-founder of the Buckminster Fuller Institute with his mother, Allegra Fuller Snyder. "I'm proud that the Institute is supporting the creative pioneers who are bringing this vision to light, and thankful to our partners who sponsor the Challenge and work with us to fulfill our mission."
The Buckminster Fuller Challenge originated in 2007 and awards $100,000 annually. Support for the program has been provided by the Atwater Kent Foundation, The Civil Society Institute, The James Dyson Foundation, The Highfield Foundation; The Jewish Communal Fund, and the members of The Buckminster Fuller Institute.
Founded in 1983 and headquartered in New York, The Buckminster Fuller Institute is dedicated to accelerating the development and deployment of solutions which radically advance human well being and the health of our planet's ecosystems. BFI's programs combine unique insight into global trends and local needs with a comprehensive approach to design. BFI encourages participants to conceive and apply transformative strategies based on a crucial synthesis of whole systems thinking, Nature's fundamental principles, and an ethically driven worldview. By facilitating convergence across the disciplines of art, science, design and technology, BFI's work extends the profoundly relevant legacy of R. Buckminster Fuller. For further information visit www.bfi.org
______________________________________________________________________
13.6.10
INITIATIVE TRANSFORMING AFRICAN DESERT NAMED WINNER OF 2010 BUCKMINSTER FULLER CHALLENGE
ALL SIX FINALISTS DEMONSTRATE SIGNIFICANT POTENTIAL TO SOLVE SOME OF HUMANITYÕS MOST PRESSING PROBLEMS
______________________________________________________________________________________________
June 5, 2010, Washington DC — Operation Hope, a solution combating one of the major causes of climate change has been named the winner of the 2010 Buckminster Fuller Challenge. At its core the winning strategy transforms parched and degraded Zimbabwe grasslands and savannahs into lush pastures with ponds and flowing streams, even during periods of drought. Operation Hope was awarded $100,000 to further develop its work at a ceremony today at the National Press Club in Washington DC.
The Buckminster Fuller Challenge is the premier international competition recognizing initiatives which take a comprehensive, anticipatory, design approach to radically advance human well being and the health of our planet's ecosystems. The 2010 finalists are providing workable solutions to some of the worldÕs most significant challenges including water scarcity, food supply, and energy consumption. The Challenge is sponsored by the Buckminster Fuller Institute, which is accelerating the development and deployment of whole-systems solutions which demonstrate the potential to solve some of the worldÕs most significant challenges.
Operation Hope is a project of the Africa Centre for Holistic Management in Zimbabwe and its sister organization the Savory Institute in Albuquerque, NM. Its successful approach to land management contradicts accepted practice and theories of resting land from animal grazing. Instead, Savory's holistic management process re-establishes the symbiotic balance between plant growth and the behavior of herding animals, returning unusable desert back into thriving grasslands, restoring biodiversity, bringing water sources back to life; combating global climate change, and increasing crop yields to ensure food security for people. The approach is currently being practiced and producing results on over 30 million acres world wide.
"Our work proves that we do have the ability to simultaneously better mankind's experience while bettering the Earth," said Allan Savory, founder of the Africa Centre for Holistic Management and the Savory Institute. "We are thrilled that the Buckminster Fuller Challenge exists to recognize and support work such as ours, and thank the jurors for this honor."
Berlin-based Watergy was named runner up of the Challenge. Watergy has developed and implemented a closed system greenhouse that provides extremely efficient farming capabilities in water-scarce communities. The approach, being demonstrated in Almeria Spain, allows a dramatic shift in resource efficiency for the supply of water, food and renewable material, and can be deployed across urban and rural conditions.
The other four finalists were:
»Barefoot Women Solar Engineers of Africa, Asia and Latin America (Tilonia, Rajasthan, India), which teaches illiterate, rural women in India and Africa to be solar engineers within their communities, providing energy to their communities, catalyzing their local economies and improving their quality of life;
»BK Farmyards, (Brooklyn, NY, US) a leading model in the urban agricultural movement, which is creating a web-based crowd-sourcing platform to advance urban farming as a viable business and food source for local communities;
»UrbanLab (Chicago, IL, US)
which has re-conceived the Chicago street-grid as a holistic Bio-System that captures, cleans and returns 100% of the city's wastewater and storm-water to the Lakes, ensuring constant regeneration of that natural resource while producing added economic, energy, social, and environmental benefits; and
»Living Building Challenge (Seattle, WA, US) which has developed the most advanced green building rating system in the world. Living Buildings are virtually self-sustaining, generating their own power, using renewable sources, and capturing and treating all their own water. construct, renovate and occupy and to serve as a catalyst for innovation.
"My grandfather believed that we have the ability to apply transformative strategies based on whole systems thinking, Nature's fundamental principles, and an ethically driven worldview to better the world and our own experiences. He called this approach comprehensive anticipatory design science," said Jaime Snyder, Buckminster Fuller's grandson and co-founder of the Buckminster Fuller Institute with his mother, Allegra Fuller Snyder. "I'm proud that the Institute is supporting the creative pioneers who are bringing this vision to light, and thankful to our partners who sponsor the Challenge and work with us to fulfill our mission."
The Buckminster Fuller Challenge originated in 2007 and awards $100,000 annually. Support for the program has been provided by the Atwater Kent Foundation, The Civil Society Institute, The James Dyson Foundation, The Highfield Foundation; The Jewish Communal Fund, and the members of The Buckminster Fuller Institute.
Founded in 1983 and headquartered in New York, The Buckminster Fuller Institute is dedicated to accelerating the development and deployment of solutions which radically advance human well being and the health of our planet's ecosystems. BFI's programs combine unique insight into global trends and local needs with a comprehensive approach to design. BFI encourages participants to conceive and apply transformative strategies based on a crucial synthesis of whole systems thinking, Nature's fundamental principles, and an ethically driven worldview. By facilitating convergence across the disciplines of art, science, design and technology, BFI's work extends the profoundly relevant legacy of R. Buckminster Fuller. For further information visit www.bfi.org
______________________________________________________________________
LINKS
Movie:The 2010 Buckminster Fuller Challenge Finalists
-Photos and Press Press
- About the Challenge
- Operation Hope, 2010 Winner
- Watergy, runner-up:
- Semi-Finalists
- Jury
- 2008 and 2009 Entries, Idea Index.
- To Watch the Buckminster Fuller Challenge video visit: http://challenge.bfi.org/movie
- To view the 2008 winner visit: http://challenge.bfi.org/winner_2008
- To view the 2009 winner visit: http://challenge.bfi.org/winner_2009
- Connect on Facebook
To unsubscribe from this newsletter, send email to this address.
To never receive email from The Buckminster Fuller Challenge, send email to this address.
This email is sent from:
The Buckminster Fuller Institute
181 N11th St, Suite 402
Brooklyn, NY 11211
United States
HTML Body of Footer
ALL SIX FINALISTS DEMONSTRATE SIGNIFICANT POTENTIAL TO SOLVE SOME OF HUMANITYÕS MOST PRESSING PROBLEMS
______________________________________________________________________________________________
June 5, 2010, Washington DC — Operation Hope, a solution combating one of the major causes of climate change has been named the winner of the 2010 Buckminster Fuller Challenge. At its core the winning strategy transforms parched and degraded Zimbabwe grasslands and savannahs into lush pastures with ponds and flowing streams, even during periods of drought. Operation Hope was awarded $100,000 to further develop its work at a ceremony today at the National Press Club in Washington DC.
The Buckminster Fuller Challenge is the premier international competition recognizing initiatives which take a comprehensive, anticipatory, design approach to radically advance human well being and the health of our planet's ecosystems. The 2010 finalists are providing workable solutions to some of the worldÕs most significant challenges including water scarcity, food supply, and energy consumption. The Challenge is sponsored by the Buckminster Fuller Institute, which is accelerating the development and deployment of whole-systems solutions which demonstrate the potential to solve some of the worldÕs most significant challenges.
Operation Hope is a project of the Africa Centre for Holistic Management in Zimbabwe and its sister organization the Savory Institute in Albuquerque, NM. Its successful approach to land management contradicts accepted practice and theories of resting land from animal grazing. Instead, Savory's holistic management process re-establishes the symbiotic balance between plant growth and the behavior of herding animals, returning unusable desert back into thriving grasslands, restoring biodiversity, bringing water sources back to life; combating global climate change, and increasing crop yields to ensure food security for people. The approach is currently being practiced and producing results on over 30 million acres world wide.
"Our work proves that we do have the ability to simultaneously better mankind's experience while bettering the Earth," said Allan Savory, founder of the Africa Centre for Holistic Management and the Savory Institute. "We are thrilled that the Buckminster Fuller Challenge exists to recognize and support work such as ours, and thank the jurors for this honor."
Berlin-based Watergy was named runner up of the Challenge. Watergy has developed and implemented a closed system greenhouse that provides extremely efficient farming capabilities in water-scarce communities. The approach, being demonstrated in Almeria Spain, allows a dramatic shift in resource efficiency for the supply of water, food and renewable material, and can be deployed across urban and rural conditions.
The other four finalists were:
»Barefoot Women Solar Engineers of Africa, Asia and Latin America (Tilonia, Rajasthan, India), which teaches illiterate, rural women in India and Africa to be solar engineers within their communities, providing energy to their communities, catalyzing their local economies and improving their quality of life;
»BK Farmyards, (Brooklyn, NY, US) a leading model in the urban agricultural movement, which is creating a web-based crowd-sourcing platform to advance urban farming as a viable business and food source for local communities;
»UrbanLab (Chicago, IL, US)
which has re-conceived the Chicago street-grid as a holistic Bio-System that captures, cleans and returns 100% of the city's wastewater and storm-water to the Lakes, ensuring constant regeneration of that natural resource while producing added economic, energy, social, and environmental benefits; and
»Living Building Challenge (Seattle, WA, US) which has developed the most advanced green building rating system in the world. Living Buildings are virtually self-sustaining, generating their own power, using renewable sources, and capturing and treating all their own water. construct, renovate and occupy and to serve as a catalyst for innovation.
"My grandfather believed that we have the ability to apply transformative strategies based on whole systems thinking, Nature's fundamental principles, and an ethically driven worldview to better the world and our own experiences. He called this approach comprehensive anticipatory design science," said Jaime Snyder, Buckminster Fuller's grandson and co-founder of the Buckminster Fuller Institute with his mother, Allegra Fuller Snyder. "I'm proud that the Institute is supporting the creative pioneers who are bringing this vision to light, and thankful to our partners who sponsor the Challenge and work with us to fulfill our mission."
The Buckminster Fuller Challenge originated in 2007 and awards $100,000 annually. Support for the program has been provided by the Atwater Kent Foundation, The Civil Society Institute, The James Dyson Foundation, The Highfield Foundation; The Jewish Communal Fund, and the members of The Buckminster Fuller Institute.
Founded in 1983 and headquartered in New York, The Buckminster Fuller Institute is dedicated to accelerating the development and deployment of solutions which radically advance human well being and the health of our planet's ecosystems. BFI's programs combine unique insight into global trends and local needs with a comprehensive approach to design. BFI encourages participants to conceive and apply transformative strategies based on a crucial synthesis of whole systems thinking, Nature's fundamental principles, and an ethically driven worldview. By facilitating convergence across the disciplines of art, science, design and technology, BFI's work extends the profoundly relevant legacy of R. Buckminster Fuller. For further information visit www.bfi.org
______________________________________________________________________
LINKS
Movie:The 2010 Buckminster Fuller Challenge Finalists
-Photos and Press Press
- About the Challenge
- Operation Hope, 2010 Winner
- Watergy, runner-up:
- Semi-Finalists
- Jury
- 2008 and 2009 Entries, Idea Index.
- To Watch the Buckminster Fuller Challenge video visit: http://challenge.bfi.org/movie
- To view the 2008 winner visit: http://challenge.bfi.org/winner_2008
- To view the 2009 winner visit: http://challenge.bfi.org/winner_2009
- Connect on Facebook
To unsubscribe from this newsletter, send email to this address.
To never receive email from The Buckminster Fuller Challenge, send email to this address.
This email is sent from:
The Buckminster Fuller Institute
181 N11th St, Suite 402
Brooklyn, NY 11211
United States
HTML Body of Footer
COURAGE IN THE FACE OF ABUSE!
This is an old post from April 2009. But it led to some correspondence with Mona Villarrubia and, with her permission, I reproduce our correspondence here. Firstly to underline that the abuse of children by Catholic priests is only too real and secondly to show that, everywhere there is evidence of courage and dignity among those who have survived such abuse. There have been comments on this blog that I am disrespectful to the church and the pope. So please let me set the record straight: I know and have personally met a number of great and spiritual souls who find a home within the Catholic Church both priests, nuns and brothers. A nun has been one of my greatest friends. However they are highly spiritually evolved people, not because of the Church but rather in spite of it. I consider the church and its present pope to be completely pro-establishment and committed to what appear to be traditional and outmoded hierarchical models of governance, religous division (look at how Benedict is seen to be cashing in on the woman-priest debate in the Anglican communion), anti-feminist or even woman-hating in outlook and anything but a refuge and a champion of the poor. In addition there is much evidence about the protection of paedophile priests and in some cases they have been transferred between areas thus ensuring their abuse continued.
If you are affected by anything in this correspondence write to me and I'll put you in touch with organisations that can help.
From Mona Villarrubia:
From Mona Villarrubia:
I didn't want to post this on your blog...I wasn't sure it would be appropriate to do so.
This is my story re. the Downeys:
I was taken to visit Montford College as a small child by Fr. James Downey, a family "friend"; his brother, Br. Bernard Downey, was living and working at the College. I remember the chickens and a hatchery Br. Bernard showed me. Both men were child molesters; James Downey was also a rapist, I know this because he raped my mother.
I have been told by someone connected to the order that Bernard is currently serving his second sentence in a Belfast prison for sexual abuse of some kind; he has been thrown out of the order. Fr. James Downey is dead; he was never exposed as a criminal, to my knowledege. But a member of the order (off the record) described them both as "notorious."
I was one of their victims, as was my mother and one of my brothers. My abuse happened in the late 50's / early 60's. I was born in 1955. I remember one road trip with my sister who is four years younger than I. She was about 4 so I would have been about 8, and that would place it in 1962/3. But I know that abuse went on for years, at least until I was 11 -- when I reached puberty and decided I would never let him touch me again.
I am trying to connect with others so I can go to the church and get my mother some help. She is in a bad way, 82 years old and having flashbacks and nightmares. I think all the press coverage of the past couple of years brought it all up for the first time for her in a way that she could no longer sit on the memories. She has always remembered, even though she didn't believe me when I first told her about my abuse by Downey. There is no "recovered memory syndrome" here, but she has not spoken about it until the last 3 years. I began going "public" in 2002, with an article in America Magazine, September 16, "From Hurt to Healing." So that is where I am.
Sorry to bring such a distasteful topic to this site.
If you want to read about me, I have a blog: From Hurt To Healing: http://fromhurttohealing.
I am sorry if I have distressed you. Please know that I am not a "Catholic basher." I taught High School religion (in New Orleans) for 27 years; I have a divinity degree and a Masters in Religious Education. Until the last couple of years, being Catholic and having a religious faith were important parts of my survival. Right now I don't know where I stand re. God-Church-faith, and I am currently working in Administration in a Jewish synagogue. A great group of people and a female Rabbi!
Sorry -- this is so much more than you wanted to know.
Mona
Dear Mona,
Mona
Dear Mona,
Firstly please do not apologise. I admire your courage in being able to say so clearly what has happened to you-which naturally fills me with complete outrage. I would be honoured to publish this correspondence on my blog with your permission because of the example your courage might give to anyone else who has experienced such abuse.
If you've read my blog posts you will realise that many catholics could be offended by my criticisms of the church but I do try and leaven this with a certain dry humour (pope in a mankini post for example!)
It is my contention that the Catholic Church is essentially anti-feminine and oppressive as an institution. Jesus would last about 5 minutes in the Vatican-he'd be wanting to give all their gold to the poor!
In addition their protection of the many child sexual abusers in their fold incriminates them as an institution. I ran out of respect for the church many years ago though I also acknowledge that many priests and nuns and brothers are beautiful and spiritually advanced souls-I just don't know what they're doing in that awful institution.
Far from being distasteful your story seems one of courage and integrity, and I am humbled that you should share it with me.
If there is anything at all I can do please do not hesitate to ask. I should say I visited your site and loved it-I'm going to be practising positation for sure. I wrote this poem some time ago and would like to gift it to you as someone who seems to demonstrate exactly what it's about.
My heartfelt admiration and very best wishes to you.
Tony.
Poem here 'I will not be cast down!'...
From Mona
Thank you Tony, for your support and for the poem, it resonated with me a great deal. Conrad's Heart of Darkness image is one that keeps circulating in my life. Strange that you should reference it, too.
Thank you Tony, for your support and for the poem, it resonated with me a great deal. Conrad's Heart of Darkness image is one that keeps circulating in my life. Strange that you should reference it, too.
Yes, I did see the papal mankini and loved it. If we can't laugh at the old men in dresses what good are they at all. And yes, you certainly have my permission to publish our correspondence. I am convinced that there are other victims of the Downeys in Southampton so maybe someone else will read it and get in touch with you.
Mona
Montfort College Romsey: Going back to my old School
Picture by David Martin
Returning back to places from your past can be a bit like trying to squeeze into an old suit. Not only is it out of fashion but buttons fly off in all directions as you try and force that belly where it doesn't want to go. Innocent bystanders can be torn to pieces by button shrapnel. Memory itself can be shredded by reality-buttons. My own visit to my old school-a seminary run by the Montfort Fathers- was not the nostalgic event I anticipated. More like poking a stick into the long dead remains of some unspecified, possibly mythic beast from a twisted fairytale. I found Romsey ugly and tired, apart from its beautiful Abbey and was left wondering how my life became connected with this benighted place at the hoary old age of 11 years. The trip ended somehow appropriately with me esconced as the only solitary in my hotel's shabby dining room on Valentine's Evening, surrounded by couples, and being told I could only have the Valentine's menu of smoked salmon, sirloin steak and cheesecake. Fortunately there was no coupling actually in the restaurant and I survived by taking refuge behind an unread 'New York Review of Books'. I quickly consumed the fare between articles and stumbled off to my room to lie gasping on the bed like a heartbroken whale beached on some God-forsaken isle in the middle of mating season.
It was a place where I became educated in the ways of literature for sure, for it contained golden libraries replete with dusty books, but it taught me little in all. Much that I learned was of the ways by which men become so easily hypocrites and of the brutality that results from cowardice towards originality and repression of the sexual instincts and the inherent stupidity of religion. They were not the golden years of youth for me at least, and I shall not return in this life.
30.5.10
Dennis Hopper goes to greater feast!
I don't think he was a particularly good man and not even a great actor but he was a crazy man and his madness showed on screen. May he rest though, in peace.
25.5.10
Ben Dougan blogs Malaysia and on...!
SATURDAY, MAY 15, 2010
Rest of adventure in India and Malaysia.
Just in an internet cafe in Kuala Lumpur as I write, listening to house music and reminiscing! Strange! First time listening to music of my preference in nearly three months! Anyways what's happened to me...
From my last post of chilling in Pondicherry cycling aimlessly around the French colonial town eating great South Indian food, quite a bit has happened... I kicked back in India big time for the last couple of weeks. Also reading my last post back to myself I sound like the biggest pot-head in India. I wasn't, and thought whilst in India chill the hell out and get high, also get in with the culture seeing as it's in the religion! From Pondicherry I took a bus to Mamallapuram and couldn't leave for five days, was only supposed to be there for three days! but that's what a great place does to you. I was the only person staying in the hotel and was served homemade food and coffee by the woman running it. It was a cool place Mamallapuram, a really chilled place was nice before I threw myself into India's fourth largest city Chennai. Mamallapuram was full of stone carvings from little pots to life-size statue's. The woman who owned the hotel had a son who I got on really well with, who had worked in Essex for five years and just returned home. He was a stone carver and used to bomb us around on his ancient, heavy Royal Enfield - was wicked! He took me one day to his shop hoping I'd buy a huge statue to take home and put in my garden. I said I didn't want to buy anything and passed him back this little pot he gave me to look at. It was beautiful, delicately carved and would've been a nice item to take back home. On handing it over I dropped it and it smashed into 4 pieces on the floor. "You clumsy fucking bastard" I said to myself in my head knowing I had to buy it now. I tried to plead with him and say it was an accident, but he wouldn't accept that. Looking pissed off I gave him a hundred ruppees (about one pound seventy, so not much at all but when traveling everything matters!) and stormed out looking pissed off. That evening I saw him back at the hotel, and he was so cool as if nothing had happened. Just to forget it like that was so cool and something I need to adopt into my personality. Just forget about shit that's happened-no big deal-it's sorted, type of attitude. Great guy. Next day it rained torrentially for about ten minutes, that monsoon coming in, and later I caught a bus out to Chennai. I arrived in Chennai to searing humidity and sadness, as this was my last place in India I would visit before jetting out to Penang Island just off Peninsular Malaysia. I had two days in Chennai dealing with crazy traffic, heat and Indian culture. I really liked Chennai, but they really need to invest in an underground train system there, when on a bus you would drip with sweat and not have to hold onto anything, they were so crowded. I went to a botanical garden outside Chennai and it was weird looking out at the city that that chaos was going on inside there and I'm surrounding by a twisting Banyan tree and tranquility. Next day I jetted off to Malaysia. I am still processing my trip through India after two weeks of leaving. I reckon I still will until I can really think about it when I get home. What an amazing country. I can't put it into words. It taught me so much and I found a lot of answers in India that I had no idea I would learn before getting there. I would love to go back in ten years or so and see how much the country has developed. I am quite sure that most of the places I visited will have changed beyond recognition in ten years. And the population levels... it's scary to think about.
I arrived in Penang airport and caught a bus to the main town there called Georgetown. I was so culture-shocked on the bus I almost choked on my tongue! The first two things I noticed of Penang was the cleanliness and noise of that compared to India. It was so apparent straightaway that it was going to be so different to traveling in Malaysia, and it is. It's just easier. Everything is so easy here and much more developed and aimed at tourists. I arrived in Penang staring at bars full of westerners drinking Carlsberg. I had a few days in Penang and they were great. It's a cool little place but a bit quiet for me! After leaving Penang I thought I'm going to treat my trip's in Malaysia and Thailand as a sort of holiday. Not budget as fiercely as in India and just enjoy and do whatever! From Penang I headed to Langkawi, a duty-free island just below the Thai border, cheap beer and cigarettes, beautiful white beaches that look out onto smaller islands covered in tropical looking rain forests. That's another thing actually, it rains almost everyday here, but it's great! Actually been missing rain, and after ten minutes of a downpour it's bright sunshine again! I would like that to be the way back home instead of days of persistent grey rainy days. I met a great couple in Langkawi who'd been traveling nearly a year around South America, Australia and New Zealand. We hired mopeds and darted around the island - one of my best days so far of the trip. We hiked up hills, then cooled off in mountain waterfalls. I love waterfalls, and I am such a sucker for them, and tea plantations. From Langkawi I headed to Perhentian Islands. These were beautiful, and I guy who I met in India at these tiny tea plantations in Kerala! He was staying at the same hotel as me! He'd been there for a month unable to leave! We chilled out with a group of us on the beach through the day dipping into the crystal clear sea and at night got drunk on this sort of rum they drink on the island called 'Monkey Juice'. On the last night there was a fancy dress toga party, as always I got too drunk and ended up cutting my little toe open on a glass bottle, so I've been limping here, there and everywhere recently. So frustrating! I went snorkelling in Perhentian which was incredible, looking over amazing coral, diving down and following colorful fish, swimming above turtles, sting rays and reef-sharks. It's the first time I've ever done anything like that, there's a whole different world down there! I wanna explore more of it! From Perhentian with a raging hangover and a sliced open toe from the toga party the night before, I headed off to Cameron Highlands escaping the heat and to drink tea. I went to Cameron Highlands with this great American couple I met on the way to Perhentian and we chilled out together with another mid-aged German lady we met on the mini-bus on the way up. Over the last three days we've just been hiking in the rainforest, drinking tea, eating scones, looking out over luscious tea plantations and ending the day with a few beers and games of Californian dominoes! A great place, very British colonial, and a glimpse at home before I go back in like three weeks! Gonna be weird settling back into life! I arrived in Kuala Lumpur today to a busy China town selling copy's of clothes, watches, sunglasses, you name it, and lots of Chinese food. And this is where I am guys! My Malaysia escapade coming to an end in two days before I jet off to a slightly shaky, slightly violent Bangkok. I've loved Malaysia and had a great time here experiencing the culture, eating great food, meeting great people and getting great weather! Malaysia, I'll miss you!
Thanks for reading guys, I hope you are all well and happy.
X
17.5.10
From Ben's Blog-More travels in India
TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 2010
Indian escapade continues...
I've just read my last post back to myself, and wow, so much has happened since then. Actually a fucking lot had happened since then (hopefully the swear word will emphasise how much has happened). I just want to say thank you so much guys for the positive feedback on the blog. It's so nice to hear I'm not perspiring all over the key board in an internet cafe for nothing. Well for nothing? I suppose I'll take the blog much more for granted when I return home. But anyway, thank you and please keep the good comments coming they make me feel special :)
So... Where to begin? I think I'll start by telling everyone where I've been, and a bit of detail about each place. From my last post I mentioned I was going to Jaipur in Rajasthan, so I went there from Mumbai and stayed only for two days. It was a beautiful different place Jaipur. The heat was really dry and intense and the town felt very old. Walking around the bazaar's (bazaar another name for a market or shop) watching people's daily lives was fascinating. I would've loved to have explored the desert and towns in Rajasthan, but other places were calling out for me. After Rajasthan I hit Agra to see the milky-white glorious structure that is the Taj Mahal. I only stayed for one day in Agra and thanks God I did. When fellow traveller's tell me, "Don't go there, it's so dirty, so nasty, so... just don't go..." I usually don't listen go to these places and love them. But everyone was so right about Agra. "Arrive in the morning on the train and book a train out later on in the evening. See the Taj Mahal then get the hell out of there." Was what people told me about it. I arrived at seven in the morning and was ready to leave by noon. It's THE biggest shit-hole I've ever been to, apart from Agra Fort or the Taj of course, also there's another something just outside the town which is apparently beautiful, but apart form these 3 things a town oozing with decaying litter, sweat, blood, western holidaymakers, petrol fumes, Taj Mahal memorabilia, shit tasting chai and food, stagnant water and pestering salesmen. If you like Agra, that's fine, this is just my opinion of the place, and it's not a very high one. I walked around in the intense heat from seven till noon then went to wait out nine hours in the train station for my train to Varanasi. I just couldn't stand Agra any longer. I ended up having to wait eleven hours, but time went reasonably quickly reading the auto-biography of Don Whillans - one of the pioneers in British rock-climbing history, and chatting away to these two American traveller's I met who were studying in Bangalore but now taking a quick 3 week trip around Northern India. To Varanasi anyways. When I fist stepped off the train I was literally nearly pulled between rickshaw drivers competing for a lowest price, it was the worst place for rickshaw drivers here, nearly unbleliveable. But when I got down to the town and into this holy town, it was incredible. In Hinduism Varanasi is one of the most sacred places on the Earth. If you die here then your soul is honored in the Samsara cycle. It's one of the most intense places I've ever been to, and a really incredible experience. I loved Varanasi and met some amazing people here. I'll tell you guys about my first day actually. I was walking around mesmerized I suppose by the tiny alleyways, about the width of two people, with scooters and cows roaming around. I walked down to the River Ganges or the Ganga as Indians know it and just was captured by this slow moving sacred place. As I was walking back to my hotel I was told to have a look at this Indian guys shop. I decided to just look and not buy. After I'd looked for a bit he said "sit down sir please" I did. Then he said "Sir are you smoking ganja?" I said "Well my friend it has been known." He smiled then said "come, come friend." His uncle took over watching his shop and he led me and his other mate to a Government Hash Shop. In Varanasi cannabis is illegal I think, but everyone smokes it there. It's smoked to Lord Shiva. I'll just give a bit of run-down on that comment as I imagine people are like 'what is he going on about?' According to Hinduism, there were three God's who created the wrold. Brahman, the sole creator, the past, Vishnu the maintainer of the world, the present and Shiva the destroyer of the world, therefore essentially our future. There are many interpretations of the story, but this is the one I was told from these guys in Varanasi. The story goes that one day Shiva was so angry he almost destroyed the world. But his wife suggested he tried smoking or eating this plant to calm him down. This plant was Marijuana, and it calms Shiva down from destroying the world. Apparently he smokes in a sort of like bong, called a 'chillum' which is packed with hash and tobacco, or he eats hash in the form of 'Bhang'. Bhang are the leaves of the plant soaked in a sort of liquid then rolled into a dark-green ball, which looks like resin but is squidgy. This is why people smoke it. It's not specifically in the religion to do it, but mostly holy men and young boys use this as their tool to get unbelievably baked everyday, in hour of Lord Shiva. And this is what these guys were on about having, bhang. I took some bhang, smoked a chillum and drank chai with these dudes, who do it everyday, after twenty minutes was feeling really 'nasha' (Hindi word for being stoned). We went to play cricket, which I had never done feeling like this, I just wanted to mong out and eat some crisps, but we played a fiercely competitive game of cricket down by the river Ganga. It was great game apart from not really knowing what the hell was going on. I bowled alright, but I knew I wouldn't be able to bat like this. I forced them to put me right down the order, and as the wickets tumbled I thought 'shit it's gonna be up to me isn't it.' And surely it was, I need 1 off 4 deliveries, and being the last man in I was our only hope. It's not much to ask, but in this state it's like 6 off 1 delivery. I missed the first two, with everyone crowding me shouting 'come on just hit the ball!' then the next delivery just managed to get a thick outside edge on it and push the winning single. A massive sigh of relief for me and the team, and one of the most pressurising moments in cricket I have ever experienced. I decided to sit the next one out. The next few days I walked around meeting people and seeing the burning ghats, (places where they burn the bodies, then they are thrown into the ganga)river ghats and temples of Shiva. I left Varanasi with a longing to one day return meet up with those guys, get nasha and have another game of intense cricket! I could write moments like this about everywhere, but for me this day really stood out. From Varanasi I worked my way up to the foothills of the Himalayas to rest and drink tea in the beautiful town of Darjeeling. I thought Darjeeling would be more interesting but it was so touristy and so misty so I never really got chance to gaze and eat breakfast at the mighty Kangchengzonda (3rd highest peak in the world, I think?) and the surrounding Himalayan range. Also the tea was good, but not the best which I was surprised about, I thought it would be amazing. It pissed it down the second day I was there and when the rain cleared I saw the Kangchengzonda range. Only for a minute or so, but it was incredible. Just searing blades of snow covered rock rising up and up. It was a magnificent spectacle and I now would love to go to Nepal. I finished reading Don Whillans' auto-biography in Darjeeling, funny co-incidence reading his adventures in the Himalayas when they were right there in front of me, and what an amazing life he had led. I recommend the book to anyone. From Darjeeling I went to Kolkata which I more or less fell in love with. I think it is my most favorite city so far in India. It is immensely over-populated but there is still such a sense of space, with big cricket fields, and large green open spaces. The British colonial architecture has really been kept in tact, and some buildings look exactly like you find in any small town or city in the UK. That Roman inspired Victorian structure. I really liked my time in Kolkata and would like to return one day. I went to Kalighat Temple there, that was an incredible experience. I saw a goat sacrificed, people shouting and crying at pictures of Kali - the wife of Shiva. It was a big day out and lot to take in! After Kolkata I caught a train to Puri, a beach side town in the state of Orissa just below Kolkata on the coast. In Puri I wanted to do two things, work on my rapidly fading tan and smoke the legal hash that they have there. I think Orissa is the only state in India where hash is legal and it's sold at two government ganja shops in Puri alone. And I did get high, and I did get sunburnt. It was great here. One day I hired a bike and cycled the 36km to a village called Konark to see the temples there. It turned out to be a great ride there, but back I had to fix the chain 8 times! And cycling back along the same road, it loses something. From Puri I headed to Bhubaneshwar, the capital of Orissa and a very holy place. I was there for a day only before catching the train to Chennai. I sat in a small botanical garden, surrounded by these ancient temples reading Oscar Wilde's plays. 'This is how I spend my Monday' I thought. I got the train later on to Chennai and had my first flux of traveller's diarrhoea. It had to happen on the train didn't it. And to put the cherry on the cake I couldn't get a seat so had to share a twenty hour train journey with three other Indian blokes. I recovered after a few hours of running to train toilet and arrived in an incredibly humid Chennai. I caught a bus out of Chennai to Puducherry, a French colonial town and a beautiful town. It's like the nearest to France you can get whilst staying put in India. I'm headed to Mamallapuram in the next few days, then to Chennai for a couple of days before flying to Penang in Malaysia on May 5th. Exciting times ahead of me!
Thanks for reading guys, I really do appreciate it. Take care x
12.5.10
THE CYNICISM OF LABOUR POLITICIANS
The cynicism of our politicians
Strange to be hearing these labour politicians saying ‘we must respect the decision of the electorate’ and shuffling to present themselves as honourable, humble and full of the spirit of service. The reality is a cynical ploy to push the Liberal Democrats into the arms of the Tory Party in order that Labour can re-group in 12 months time free from the responsibilities of having taken part in the proposed cuts in public services and give the other parties a hammering in the next election.
It’s another example of how the party purporting to represent working men and women has sunk to a state in which principle is worth nothing and all is sacrificed to the machinations of power. It is evidence yet again of the terribly corrosive nature of our politics on the natures of those drawn to participate in its games. Strategy-games, mind-games, spinning games, money games and of course let us not forget their war-games. There is not a member of the Labour cabinet who I would consider buying a second hand bike from, with the possible exception of Hilary Benn.
Millennia ago the Greek philosopher Plato suggested in his manual of governance ‘The Republic,’ that the leaders or guardians (politicians) of the society should live lives of simple and ascetic discipline. They should own no property and live in communal communities. The simple reason for these safeguards, according to Plato, was the essential truth that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Our politicians seem living, walking embodiments of that truth. Though we must remember Garibaldi who held power twice and walked away from it twice.
However, better to light one candle than curse the darkness as Ghandi said. One such candle for me is the election of Caroline Lucas of the Green Party as MP for Brighton Pavilion. I’ve listened to Caroline speak on several issues over the years and she has always presented as someone who matches principle to pragmatism and speaks with a thoughtfulness and compassion astonishingly rare in our political discourse. Congratulations to her. She and the Green Party have the support of Heart of Balance Blog until such time as The Party for the Propagation of Poetry and Cycling comes into being. And well done Brighton-you’ve shown that you really are cool.
The other slightly guttering candle is the fact that all BNP candidates lost their deposit which is a great relief and one in the eye for those who proposed a new creeping wave of fascism was succeeding in fomenting hatred and division in our cities. Not this time Mr Griffin (a really creepy fellow.)
So what’s next? The low hanging fruit of coalescing politics? The intertwining gasses of Cleggy and Cameronian farty-bollocks? Not for me. I’m packing my panniers. I’m moving to Brighton.
PS: It's a done deal with the tories-but Vince Cable as Business Secretary, with responsibility for overhauling the banks? They've got to be shitting their pants! Come on Vince!
Strange to be hearing these labour politicians saying ‘we must respect the decision of the electorate’ and shuffling to present themselves as honourable, humble and full of the spirit of service. The reality is a cynical ploy to push the Liberal Democrats into the arms of the Tory Party in order that Labour can re-group in 12 months time free from the responsibilities of having taken part in the proposed cuts in public services and give the other parties a hammering in the next election.
It’s another example of how the party purporting to represent working men and women has sunk to a state in which principle is worth nothing and all is sacrificed to the machinations of power. It is evidence yet again of the terribly corrosive nature of our politics on the natures of those drawn to participate in its games. Strategy-games, mind-games, spinning games, money games and of course let us not forget their war-games. There is not a member of the Labour cabinet who I would consider buying a second hand bike from, with the possible exception of Hilary Benn.
Millennia ago the Greek philosopher Plato suggested in his manual of governance ‘The Republic,’ that the leaders or guardians (politicians) of the society should live lives of simple and ascetic discipline. They should own no property and live in communal communities. The simple reason for these safeguards, according to Plato, was the essential truth that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Our politicians seem living, walking embodiments of that truth. Though we must remember Garibaldi who held power twice and walked away from it twice.
However, better to light one candle than curse the darkness as Ghandi said. One such candle for me is the election of Caroline Lucas of the Green Party as MP for Brighton Pavilion. I’ve listened to Caroline speak on several issues over the years and she has always presented as someone who matches principle to pragmatism and speaks with a thoughtfulness and compassion astonishingly rare in our political discourse. Congratulations to her. She and the Green Party have the support of Heart of Balance Blog until such time as The Party for the Propagation of Poetry and Cycling comes into being. And well done Brighton-you’ve shown that you really are cool.
The other slightly guttering candle is the fact that all BNP candidates lost their deposit which is a great relief and one in the eye for those who proposed a new creeping wave of fascism was succeeding in fomenting hatred and division in our cities. Not this time Mr Griffin (a really creepy fellow.)
So what’s next? The low hanging fruit of coalescing politics? The intertwining gasses of Cleggy and Cameronian farty-bollocks? Not for me. I’m packing my panniers. I’m moving to Brighton.
PS: It's a done deal with the tories-but Vince Cable as Business Secretary, with responsibility for overhauling the banks? They've got to be shitting their pants! Come on Vince!
10.5.10
BOTR Ring 1: OF DESPAIR 'STARLIT NIGHT'
STARLIT NIGHT
One starlit night our love-song slipped
Out an open window [that
I had forgotten to make tight]
Slipped out to frolic beneath the moon
And danced all wild till dawn slipped jewels
Like wedding rings on fronds of grass
And back she came-a homing bird
A swallow cross a mighty sea
Back home safe and secret-safe
Clothed in glittering memories
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