[Iowa-dx] Fwd: Guest Article for Women for Peace and Green Party
GreenParty Ron
greenpartyron@activist.com
Tue, 19 Feb 2008 20:27:25 -0500
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This is FAR too intellectual for today's Democrats and Republicansand
listeners to National Propaganda Radio (NPR) and IowaPropaganda Radio.=20
Perhaps, could this be made into a cartoon? <blink> <blink>
Ronald Kinum a.k.a. Libris FidelisIowa City, Iowa
----- Original Message -----
From: iagp-cochair@usa.net
To: "Iowa Greens Discussion List"
Subject: [Iowa-dx] Fwd: Guest Article for Women for Peace and Green
Party
Date: Sun, 17 Feb 2008 10:40:22 -0600
------ Original Message ------
Received: Sat, 16 Feb 2008 11:13:48 PM CST
From: Soyawax@aol.com
To: peacenik@usa.net
Subject: Guest Article for Women for Peace and Green Party
A Guest Article to freely share and publish; Connecting the Dots; The
Pervasive Economic Infrastructure of WarI applaud the efforts of
individuals and organizations in our community that are taking a
courageous stand against international war and the domestic
destruction of civil liberties in our present political milieu.
Marching, candlelight vigils, and public demonstrations to support
our troops by removing them from harm's way can be a first step, but
without also working on deep systemic change, such efforts will prove
to be fruitless on their own. After each major war ends, most
marchers go home and the economic infrastructure's march to the very
next war continues unabated. This will only change by changing the
pervasive economic infrastructure of war and militarism.It is
important for all of us to do two things;
1. to educate ourselves and each other about the economic realities
that have fostered war during all of recorded human history. Every
war is a resource war from a drug turf war in a ghetto to an oil
grabbing global Armageddon. 2. to "opt out" of the pervasive economic
structures of war and "Empire" . We can start in our own communities
to create alternative sustainable life support systems that we will
build in place of Empire and the military-industrial/petro-chemical
complex. We have the opportunity to be the first generation of
civilized human beings. To claim that our present society that's
based on violence and war is anything less than savage is a mass
denial of reality.To make systemic change is not easy. It took the
human species ten thousand years to get to our present dead-end
quagmire of endless war and Empire building It will take one
generation to turn around and go in a new direction. The word
revolution simply means "turn around". We must realize that the
present structures of Empire that operate the "military-industrial
complex" have been built up progressively by Western Civilization
over the last ten thousand years. What we now call "national defense"
is actually making our world much more dangerous and unstable. As a
result, our homeland is insecure. Intelligent methods of non-violent
conflict resolution are a necessity to build a sane, stable and
sustainable society. War must become obsolete for the human race to
avoid becoming obsolete on this planet.Our long march to our present
stage in Human History of climate chaos, global war, resource
depletion and environmental degradation has literally been a ten
thousand year journey. We are now at the crossroads; do you want your
children and grandchildren to survive? If so, then you must commit to
dramatic systemic change during our present generation. We have 20
years to activate a global paradigm shift to a sustainable society.
With global climate crisis on the horizon there are no second chances
this time. This is the moment of truth in the human drama.At this
stage, the USA sits at the Pinnacle of Empire. More than 60% of our
public funds go to support the economic war machine. We must realize
how pervasive the economic structures of the military industrial
complex have become in every city and state. Here in my home town of
Cedar Rapids, Iowa the single largest employer, Rockwell Collins is
hard wired into the military industrial complex. A huge portion, if
not the majority of Rockwell Collins contract work is for military
purposes. The other Rockwell contracts are for the commercial airline
industry, an industry with one of the single largest carbon
footprints on earth. You cannot say that you are against war and
global climate chaos without connecting the dots to see how those
dots trace a path right to our own front door in our own home towns.
This is in no way to point the finger at a company such as
Rockwell... they are only one single participant in the 10,000 year
march of the history of Empire that every one in Western Civilization
has been engaged in. In the USA where each one of us consumes 32
times the energy and resources as the average citizens in the world,
we are all equally responsible for the dead end we now face with
global warming and resource depletion.I only cite the example of
Rockwell Collins, because as the largest employer in my home city, it
perfectly illustrates the pervasive economic infrastructure of war,
militarism and empire building. During a paradigm shift, we must all
realize; "God forgive us, for we no not what we do." In a time of
paradigm shift, what seemed right before can be totally wrong now, as
we must face the need for radical change. The stockholders,
management and staff of companies such as Rockwell Collins want their
children and grandchildren to survive just as much as the rest of us.
In fact, companies that have the intellectual and human capital such
as Rockwell Collins can retool to provide the knowledge and capacity
to build the sustainable systems of a new "Post Empire" culture. We
have one generation to create a post-Empire, new sustainable economy.Even
Iowa agriculture has become one more appendage of the
Military/Industrial Complex. The agricultural research legacy of
Iowan Henry Wallace of Pioneer is now owned by Du Pont Corporation of
Delaware that has the history of Vietnam napalm and a century of war
profiteering to its credit. The agricultural know how and legacy of
the Holden family of Williamsburg, Iowa is now owned by Monsanto of
St. Louis that gave the world environmental disasters such as Agent
Orange, DDT, Bovine Growth Hormones, GMO=E2=80=99s and PCB=E2=80=99s. Car=
gill
started in Iowa, but now controls a massive global reach from
Minnesota. ADM is a huge Illinois company. Quaker Oats is owned by
Pepsi of New York. Iowans are tossed a few bones as crop sales,
salaries and local operating expenses, while the big guys haul the
big bucks out of Iowa.
Agriculture has become very consolidated. The majority of economic
control of Iowa Ag is vested with a few multi-national Empire
builders that are headquartered outside of Iowa. Profits are
deposited in East Coast banks, not in locally owned Iowa
institutions. This seriously drains Iowa capital. Out of state
companies are subsidized with your tax dollars. You are paying twice;
with skyrocketing prices for food and energy and with your hard
earned tax dollars. Each bioregion must re-localize our economy.
We have one generation to create a post-Empire, sustainable
agriculture before we destroy our own land and water base. Not one
single "empire" has survived in human history. Many collapse as they
destroy their own ecosystems. Iowans must evaluate the direction our
agriculture is headed. Soil and water is damaged as we export the
majority of agricultural value out of state. Economics is simply the
exchange of energy. With a cost of 10 petro-chemical calories to net
1 calorie of food energy, Iowa agriculture is totally unsustainable.
Since our agriculture is controlled by out of state empire builders,
as we evaluate the total structure of Iowa Agricultural Economics, as
a collective citizenry, Iowans are now relegated to a powerless
"tenant farmer" status in our own home state. A vital democracy only
works when active citizens control access to their own food, energy
and resources. Iowa needs intelligent economic development way beyond
petroleum, pigs, prisons and poker! A reality based economic science
must include the long term environmental and social costs of any
economic activity. Local farmers can best protect our land as they
now wake up and reclaim control of Iowa agriculture.
The Leopold Center at ISU, Practical Farmers of Iowa and Iowa Network
for Community Agriculture are bringing Iowa=E2=80=99s ag economy back hom=
e.
A shift to local food production will capture the $4 billion dollars
that Iowans spend to purchase food from out of state each year. This
economic shift should now be our #1 objective for state economic
development. An economy based on local self-reliance can ride the
waves of global change that are now hitting our economy hard. Act now
while you still can.
The issues of political self-determination, peace, social justice,
global warming and the environment all connect within one whole
system in a sustainable economy. Our present linear/industrial
economic model is the causal root of deep-seated systemic economic
and environmental problems. All ecological systems become healthier
with increasing diversity. Iowa agriculture now depletes diversity.
Solutions will be provided by working together as an intelligent
community to build reality based ecological-economic structures.
Ecology and economy share the same root word; Eco simply means "home".
Ecology is the study of our home environment. Economics, is about
managing the resources of our "home". Our shared home is planet
Earth. There is only one living biosphere.
Author Kurt Vonnegut suggested that we all "improve out own small
corner of the universe." In our small neighborhood; Oakhill/New
Bohemia in Cedar Rapids we are taking steps to build an urban
sustainable village. Obesity and diabetes from commodity based,
processed food results in billions of dollars of disease care costs
that hit low income people hardest. Instead of handing out USDA
commodity foods to low income families, were distributing fresh
produce and seeds and teaching families how to grow real food in the
our neighborhood in the central core/lowest income area of Cedar
Rapids. This type of effort can take place in any community. I invite
you to join in with this timely work. Building the paradigm of a
sustainable global society begins in each of our own backyards.
=E2=80=9Cguest column=E2=80=9D submitted by; Michael Richards, 1029 Third=
St.S.E.
Cedar Rapids 52401
Richards is the founder of Sustainable Ecological Economic
Development (S.E.E.D.) He serves as the President of the Oakhill
Jackson Neigborhood ASSN. Richards is the inventor of soy wax
replacements for petroleum wax and is President of Soyawax
International. His book, SUSTAINABLE OPERATING SYSTEMS/The Post
Petrol Paradigm, published in 2007 is available at Amazon. Contact
#319-213-2051, or e mail at: Postpetrol @ aol.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Delicious ideas to please the pickiest eaters. Watch the video on AOL
Living.
_______________________________________________
Iowa-dx mailing list Iowa-dx@lists.gp-us.org
http://lists.gp-us.org/mailman/listinfo/iowa-dx
Iowa Green Party=20
--=20
Want an e-mail address like mine?
Get a free e-mail account today at www.mail.com!
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<DIV>This is FAR too intellectual for today's Democrats and Republicans</DI=
V>
<DIV>and listeners to National Propaganda Radio (NPR) and Iowa</DIV>
<DIV>Propaganda Radio. Perhaps, could this be made into a cartoon?</D=
IV>
<DIV> <blink> <blink><BR></DIV>
<DIV>Ronald Kinum a.k.a. Libris Fidelis</DIV>
<DIV>Iowa City, Iowa<BR></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE style=3D"PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #101=
0ff 2px solid">----- Original Message -----<BR>From: iagp-cochair@usa.net<B=
R>To: "Iowa Greens Discussion List" <IOWA-DX@GP-US.ORG><BR>Subject: [Iowa-d=
x] Fwd: Guest Article for Women for Peace and Green Party<BR>Date: Sun, 17 =
Feb 2008 10:40:22 -0600<BR><FONT face=3Darial,helvetica,sans-serif color=3D=
#000000 size=3D2><BR></FONT>------ Original Message ------ <BR><B>Received:=
</B>Sat, 16 Feb 2008 11:13:48 PM CST <BR><B>From: </B>Soyawax@aol.com <BR>=
<B>To: </B>peacenik@usa.net <BR><B>Subject: </B>Guest Article for Women for=
Peace and Green Party <BR><BR><BR><ZETA content=3D"text/html; charset=3DUT=
F-8" http-equiv=3D"Content-Type"><ZETA content=3D"MSHTML 6.00.6000.16587" n=
ame=3D"GENERATOR"><FONT id=3Drole_document face=3DArial color=3D#000000 siz=
e=3D2>
<DIV><ZETA content=3D"MSHTML 6.00.6000.16587" name=3D"GENERATOR"><FONT id=
=3Drolx_document face=3DArial color=3D#000000 size=3D2><ZETA content=3D"MSH=
TML 6.00.6000.16587" name=3D"GENERATOR"><FONT id=3Drolx_document face=3DAri=
al color=3D#000000 size=3D2>
<DIV><ZETA content=3D"MSHTML 6.00.6000.16587" name=3D"GENERATOR"><FONT id=
=3Drolx_document face=3DArial color=3D#000000 size=3D2>
<DIV><ZETA content=3D"MSHTML 6.00.6000.16587" name=3D"GENERATOR"><FONT id=
=3Drolx_document face=3DArial color=3D#000000 size=3D2>
<DIV>
<DIV><FONT style=3D"BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=3DArial color=3D#00=
0000 size=3D2>
<DIV>
<DIV>A Guest Article to freely share and publish; </DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV><ZETA content=3D"MSHTML 6.00.6000.16587" name=3D"GENERATOR"><FONT id=
=3Drolx_document face=3DArial color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT></ZETA>
<DIV>
<DIV><ZETA content=3D"MSHTML 6.00.6000.16587" name=3D"GENERATOR"><FONT id=
=3Drolx_document face=3DArial color=3D#000000 size=3D2><FONT id=3Drolx_docu=
ment color=3D#000000 size=3D2>
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman CYR"><ZETA content=3D"MSHTML 6.00.6000.1=
6587" name=3D"GENERATOR"></ZETA></FONT><FONT id=3Drolx_document color=3D#00=
0000 size=3D2>
<DIV><B><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman CYR"><FONT size=3D3>Connecting the Do=
ts; The Pervasive Economic Infrastructure of War</FONT></FONT></B> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman CYR" size=3D3></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman CYR" size=3D3>I applaud the efforts of i=
ndividuals and organizations in our community that are taking a courageous =
stand against international war and the domestic destruction of civil liber=
ties in our present political milieu. Marching, candlelight vigils, and pub=
lic demonstrations to support our troops by removing them from harm's way c=
an be a first step, but without also working on <I>deep systemic change</I>=
, such efforts will prove to be fruitless on their own. After each major wa=
r ends, most marchers go home and the economic infrastructure's march to th=
e very next war continues unabated. This will only change by changing the <=
B>pervasive economic infrastructure of war and militarism.</B></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman CYR" size=3D3></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman CYR" size=3D3>It is important for all of=
us to do two things;<B> </B></FONT></DIV><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman CYR=
" size=3D3><B></B></FONT></FONT></DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2><FONT =
face=3D"Times New Roman CYR" size=3D3><B></B></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></=
ZETA></DIV>
<DIV><FONT id=3Drolx_document face=3DArial color=3D#000000 size=3D2><FONT c=
olor=3D#000000 size=3D2><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2><FONT face=3D"Times =
New Roman CYR" size=3D3><B></B></FONT>
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman CYR" size=3D3><B><BR>1.</B> to educate o=
urselves and each other about the economic realities that have fostered war=
during all of recorded human history. Every war is a resource war from a d=
rug turf war in a ghetto to an oil grabbing global Armageddon. <B></B></FON=
T></DIV>
<DIV><B><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman CYR" size=3D3></FONT></B></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman CYR" size=3D3><B>2.</B> to "opt out" of =
the pervasive economic structures of war and "Empire" . We can start in our=
own communities to create alternative sustainable life support systems tha=
t we will build in place of Empire and the military-industrial/petro-chemic=
al complex. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman CYR" size=3D3></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman CYR" size=3D3>We have the opportunity to=
be the first generation of civilized human beings. To claim that our prese=
nt society that's based on violence and war is anything less than savage is=
a mass denial of reality.</FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman CYR" size=3D3></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman CYR" size=3D3>To make systemic change is=
not easy. It took the human species ten thousand years to get to our prese=
nt dead-end quagmire of endless war and Empire building <I>It will take one=
generation to turn around and go in a new direction.</I> The word revoluti=
on simply means "turn around". We must realize that the present structures =
of Empire that operate the "military-industrial complex" have been built up=
progressively by Western Civilization over the last ten thousand years. Wh=
at we now call "national defense" is actually making our world much more da=
ngerous and unstable. As a result, our homeland is insecure. Intelligent me=
thods of non-violent conflict resolution are a necessity to build a sane, s=
table and sustainable society. War must become obsolete for the human race =
to avoid becoming obsolete on this planet.</FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman CYR" size=3D3></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman CYR"><FONT size=3D3>Our long march to ou=
r present stage in Human History of climate chaos, global war, resource dep=
letion and environmental degradation has literally been a ten thousand year=
journey. We are now at the crossroads; do you want your children and grand=
children to survive? If so, then you must commit to dramatic systemic chang=
e during our present generation. We have 20 years to activate a global para=
digm shift to a sustainable society. <I>With global climate crisis on the h=
orizon there are no second chances this time.</I> <B>This is the moment of =
truth in the human drama.</B></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><B><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman CYR" size=3D3></FONT></B></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman CYR" size=3D3>At this stage, the USA sit=
s at the Pinnacle of Empire. More than 60% of our public funds go to suppor=
t the economic war machine. We must realize how pervasive the economic stru=
ctures of the military industrial complex have become in every city and sta=
te. Here in my home town of Cedar Rapids, Iowa the single largest employer,=
Rockwell Collins is hard wired into the military industrial complex. A hug=
e portion, if not the majority of Rockwell Collins contract work is for mil=
itary purposes. The other Rockwell contracts are for the commercial airline=
industry, an industry with <I>one of the single largest carbon footprints =
on earth. </I></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman CYR" size=3D3><I></I></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman CYR" size=3D3>You cannot say that you ar=
e against war and global climate chaos without connecting the dots to see h=
ow those dots trace a path right to our own front door in our own home town=
s. This is in no way to point the finger at a company such as Rockwell... t=
hey are only one single participant in the 10,000 year march of the history=
of Empire that every one in Western Civilization has been engaged in. In t=
he USA where each one of us consumes 32 times the energy and resources as t=
he average citizens in the world, <I>we are all equally responsible for the=
dead end we now face with global warming and resource depletion</I>.</FONT=
> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman CYR" size=3D3></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman CYR" size=3D3>I only cite the example of=
Rockwell Collins, because as the largest employer in my home city, it perf=
ectly illustrates the pervasive economic infrastructure of war, militarism =
and empire building. </FONT><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman CYR" size=3D3>Dur=
ing a paradigm shift, we must all realize; "God forgive us, for we no not w=
hat we do." In a time of paradigm shift, what seemed right before <I>can be=
totally wrong now</I>, as we must face the need for radical change. The st=
ockholders, management and staff of companies such as Rockwell Collins want=
their children and grandchildren to survive just as much as the rest of us=
. In fact, companies that have the intellectual and human capital such as R=
ockwell Collins can retool to provide the knowledge and capacity to build t=
he sustainable systems of a new "Post Empire" culture. We have one generati=
on to create a post-Empire, new sustainable economy.</FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman CYR" size=3D3></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman CYR" size=3D3>Even Iowa agriculture has =
become one more appendage of the Military/Industrial Complex. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman CYR"><FONT size=3D3><SPAN style=3D"COLOR=
: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'">The agricultural research =
legacy of Iowan Henry Wallace of Pioneer is now owned by Du Pont Corporatio=
n of Delaware that has the history of Vietnam napalm and a century of war p=
rofiteering to its credit. <SPAN></SPAN>The agricultural know how and legac=
y of the Holden family of Williamsburg, Iowa is now owned by Monsanto of St=
. Louis that gave the world environmental disasters such as </SPAN><SPAN st=
yle=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'">Agent Orange, =
DDT, Bovine Growth Hormones, GMO=E2=80=99s and PCB=E2=80=99s.</SPAN><SPAN s=
tyle=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"> Cargill star=
ted in Iowa, but now controls a massive global reach from Minnesota. <SPAN>=
</SPAN>ADM is a huge Illinois company. <SPAN></SPAN>Quaker Oats is owned by=
Pepsi of New York.<SPAN> </SPAN>Iowans are tossed a few bones as crop sale=
s, salaries and local operating expenses, while the big guys haul the big b=
ucks out of Iowa. <?xml:namespace prefix =3D o /><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT><=
/FONT></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman CYR','serif=
'"><o:p><FONT size=3D3></FONT></o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEX=
T-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roma=
n CYR','serif'"><FONT size=3D3>Agriculture has become <SPAN>very consolidat=
ed. </SPAN>The majority of economic control of Iowa Ag is vested with a few=
multi-national Empire builders that are <I>headquartered <U>outside of Iow=
a</U></I>. Profits are deposited in East Coast banks, not in locally owned =
Iowa institutions. This seriously drains Iowa capital. Out of state compani=
es are <I>subsidized with your tax dollars</I>. You are <I>paying twice</I>=
; with skyrocketing prices for food and energy and with your hard earned ta=
x dollars. Each bioregion must re-localize our economy.</FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEX=
T-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roma=
n CYR','serif'"><FONT size=3D3></FONT></SPAN></P><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: blac=
k; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman CYR','serif'">
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman CYR" size=3D3>We have one generation to =
create a post-Empire, sustainable agriculture before we destroy our own lan=
d and water base. Not one single "empire" has survived in human history. Ma=
ny collapse as they destroy their own ecosystems. </FONT><SPAN style=3D"COL=
OR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman CYR','serif'"><FONT size=3D3>Iowan=
s must evaluate the direction our agriculture is headed. Soil and water is =
damaged as we export the majority of agricultural value out of state. Econo=
mics is simply the exchange of energy. With a cost of 10 petro-chemical cal=
ories to net 1 calorie of food energy, Iowa agriculture is <I>totally unsus=
tainable</I>.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN> </DIV></SPAN>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEX=
T-ALIGN: justify"><FONT size=3D3><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: =
'Times New Roman CYR','serif'"></SPAN><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAM=
ILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"><o:p><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman CYR"></F=
ONT></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEX=
T-ALIGN: justify"><FONT size=3D3><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: =
'Times New Roman CYR','serif'">Since our agriculture is controlled by out o=
f state empire builders, as we evaluate the total structure of Iowa Agricul=
tural Economics, as a collective citizenry, Iowans are now relegated to a p=
owerless "tenant farmer" status in our own home state. A vital democracy on=
ly works when active citizens control access to their own food, energy and =
resources.</SPAN><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman CYR"><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: b=
lack; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> </SPAN><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: blac=
k; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman CYR','serif'">Iowa needs <SPAN>intelligent=
economic development </SPAN>way beyond petroleum, pigs, prisons and poker!=
A reality based economic science must include the long term environmental =
and social costs of any economic activity. Local farmers can best protect o=
ur land as they now wake up and reclaim control of Iowa agriculture.</SPAN>=
<SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p></o:p>=
</SPAN></FONT></FONT> </P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEX=
T-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-s=
erif'"><o:p><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman CYR" size=3D3></FONT></o:p></SPAN=
></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEX=
T-ALIGN: justify"><FONT size=3D3><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: =
'Times New Roman CYR','serif'">The Leopold Center at ISU, Practical Farmers=
of Iowa and Iowa Network for Community Agriculture</SPAN><SPAN style=3D"CO=
LOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman CYR','serif'"> <I>are bringing Io=
wa=E2=80=99s ag economy back home.</I></SPAN><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman =
CYR"><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> </SPA=
N><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman CYR','serif'">=
A shift to local food production will capture the<SPAN> <B>$4 billion dolla=
rs</B></SPAN> that Iowans <I>spend to purchase food from out of state each =
year. </I>This economic shift should now be our <B>#1 objective</B> for sta=
te economic development.<SPAN> </SPAN>An economy based on local self-relian=
ce can ride the waves of global change that are now hitting our economy har=
d.<SPAN> </SPAN>Act now while you still can.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></FONT=
> </P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEX=
T-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-s=
erif'"><o:p><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman CYR" size=3D3></FONT></o:p></SPAN=
></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEX=
T-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 3pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY:=
'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman CYR" size=3D3></F=
ONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEX=
T-ALIGN: justify"><FONT size=3D3><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: =
'Times New Roman CYR','serif'">The issues of political self-determination, =
peace, social justice, global warming and the environment <I>all connect wi=
thin <B>one whole system</B> </I><SPAN>in a sustainable economy<I>.</I></SP=
AN> Our present linear/industrial economic model is the causal root of deep=
-seated systemic economic and environmental problems. All ecological system=
s become healthier with increasing diversity. Iowa agriculture now <I>deple=
tes diversity.</I> Solutions will be provided by working together as an int=
elligent community to build reality based ecological-economic structures. E=
cology and economy share the same root word; <I>Eco</I> simply means "<I>ho=
me"</I></SPAN><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman CYR"><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: blac=
k; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">. </SPAN><I><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: bla=
ck; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman CYR','serif'">Ecology is the study of our=
home environment. Economics, is about managing the resources of our "home"=
. Our shared home is planet Earth. There is only one living biosphere.</SPA=
N></I><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p>=
</o:p></SPAN></FONT></FONT> </P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEX=
T-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 3pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY:=
'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman CYR" size=3D3></F=
ONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEX=
T-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 3pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY:=
'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman CYR" size=3D3></F=
ONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<DIV style=3D"BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: me=
dium none; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-BOTTOM: 1pt; BORDER-LEFT: medium none=
; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: 1pt solid">
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in=
; BORDER-TOP: medium none; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; MARGIN: =
0in 0in 0pt; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; PADDING-TOP: 0i=
n; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT face=3D"Times New=
Roman CYR"><FONT size=3D3><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times=
New Roman','serif'">Author Kurt Vonnegut suggested that we all "improve ou=
t own small corner of the universe." In our small neighborhood; Oakhill/New=
Bohemia in Cedar Rapids we are taking steps to build an urban sustainable =
village. Obesity and diabetes from commodity based, processed food results =
in billions of dollars of disease care costs that hit low income people har=
dest. </SPAN><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman CYR=
','serif'"><SPAN></SPAN>Instead of <SPAN></SPAN>handing out USDA commodity =
foods to low income families, were distributing fresh produce and seeds and=
teaching families how to grow real food in the our neighborhood in the cen=
tral core/lowest income area of Cedar Rapids. This type of effort can take =
place in any community. I invite you to join in with this timely work.<SPAN=
> </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-ser=
if'"><SPAN><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman CE">Building the paradigm of a sus=
tainable global society begins in each of our own backyards.</FONT></SPAN><=
/SPAN></FONT></FONT> </P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in=
; BORDER-TOP: medium none; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; MARGIN: =
0in 0in 0pt; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; PADDING-TOP: 0i=
n; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT face=3D"Times New=
Roman CYR"><FONT size=3D3><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial=
','sans-serif'"><SPAN><B></B></SPAN></SPAN><B><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; =
FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman CYR','serif'"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></FONT></=
FONT></P></DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEX=
T-ALIGN: justify"><B><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New R=
oman CYR','serif'">=E2=80=9Cguest column=E2=80=9D </SPAN></B><SPAN style=3D=
"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman CYR','serif'">submitted by<B>;=
<SPAN> </SPAN>Michael Richards, </B>1029 Third St.S.E. Cedar Rapids 52401<o=
:p></o:p></SPAN> </P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEX=
T-ALIGN: justify"><FONT size=3D3><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: bla=
ck; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman CYR','serif'">Richards is the founder of =
Sustainable Ecological Economic Development (S.E.E.D.) He serves as the Pre=
sident of the Oakhill Jackson Neigborhood ASSN. Richards is the inventor of=
soy wax replacements for petroleum wax and is President of Soyawax Interna=
tional. His book, <B>SUSTAINABLE OPERATING SYSTEMS</B>/<I>The Post Petrol P=
aradigm,</I> published in 2007 is available at Amazon.<SPAN> </SPAN>Contact=
#319-213-2051, or e mail at: Postpetrol @ aol.com</SPAN><SPAN style=3D"FON=
T-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p></o:p><=
/SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEX=
T-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-s=
erif'"><SPAN><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman CYR" size=3D3></FONT></SPAN><o:p=
></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV></FONT></FONT><BR></FONT>
<DIV><FONT id=3Drolx_document face=3DArial color=3D#000000 size=3D2><FONT s=
tyle=3D"FONT: 10pt ARIAL,SAN-SERIF; COLOR: black; font-size-adjust: none; f=
ont-stretch: normal" face=3D"Times New Roman CYR" size=3D3></FONT></FONT></=
DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></FONT></DIV></DIV></FONT></ZETA></DIV></=
FONT></ZETA></DIV></FONT></ZETA></FONT></ZETA></DIV></FONT></ZETA></ZETA>
<DIV><FONT style=3D"FONT: 10pt ARIAL,SAN-SERIF; COLOR: black; font-size-adj=
ust: none; font-stretch: normal">
<HR style=3D"MARGIN-TOP: 10px">
Delicious ideas to please the pickiest eaters. <A title=3Dhttp://living.aol=
.com/video/how-to-please-your-picky-eater/rachel-campos-duffy/2050827?NCID=
=3Daolcmp00300000002598 href=3D"http://living.aol.com/video/how-to-please-y=
our-picky-eater/rachel-campos-duffy/2050827?NCID=3Daolcmp00300000002598" ta=
rget=3D_blank>Watch the video on AOL Living.</A></FONT> </DIV>
<P><BR>_______________________________________________</P>
<P>Iowa-dx mailing list Iowa-dx@lists.gp-us.org <A href=3D"http://lists.gp-=
us.org/mailman/listinfo/iowa-dx">http://lists.gp-us.org/mailman/listinfo/io=
wa-dx</A></P>
<P>Iowa Green Party </P></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>
--=20
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Get a <b>free e-mail </b>account today at <a href=3D"http://www.mail.com/Pr=
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