Saturday, December 20, 2014

Viktoria Modesta


Here we have a beautiful young woman, who has become a pop star. Moreover, she did it with an obvious physical handicap that would have stopped most people.

Ms. Modesta lost part of her left leg when she was quite young. She has turned
that into creative inspiration. The result is very compelling.




Here is a link to Viktoria Modeta's very creative music video...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jA8inmHhx8c


Wednesday, December 17, 2014

America Has a White Millennial Problem


This is a very interesting and somewhat troubling picture of young adult America. I don't think the polls are presenting an accurate picture of where most of millennials are politically. I think young people want clean air, reproductive freedom of choice,  and a biosphere that is protected from brutish exploitation by mindless profiteers. 

Maybe young people aren't polling so strongly for Democrats because they recognize that the Democratic Party is part of the problem.  What they want is a progressive alternative that is forward thinking, life-affirming, and sustainable.  To get that, the corruption that is pervasive in American politics must stop.  We need a 28th Amendment that says 'Corporations are not People' and 'Money is not Speech'.  That is the way to energize millennials. Give them a worthy pathway into the future..EMPDX.

Sean McElwee wrote this piece for AlterNet. Nice work Sean...




Monday, December 15, 2014

A Few Things That Suck


Here, we have another Earthmanpdx video. This one focuses on some of the things that are wrong in America, and about a Constitutional amendment as the best way to get our nation back on  a course that puts the public interest ahead of corporations, bankers,  and self-absorbed billionaires. 

The link is https://vimeo.com/113999042

At the end of the day, the way out of the mess we are in is to support www.movetoamend.org





Sunday, December 14, 2014

The Whale Man of Australia



Darren Jew lives a life that I would consider trading for. He spends his time photographing and making videos of whales and other marine life.  His work is the gold standard.  Amazingly beautiful imagery. His photos of whales, particularly Humpbacks, are powerful and beautiful.








I'm so glad that in my lifetime, people like Darren Jew came along at the same time photographic technology made it possible to showcase the beauty of the ocean. Now everyone can see why we need to appreciate the gifts of the sea. In the best of worlds,  the kind of inspiration Darren Jew creates with his camera can inspire people everywhere to become proper stewards of the biosphere.

Here is the link to Darren Jew's website. Be sure to check out the video on the index page...http://darrenjew.com/


Saturday, December 13, 2014

How Whales Change the Climate

This is a beautiful video, showcasing some of the Earth's most compelling creatures.  I've always had a thing for whales. I hate the fact that there are people who want to kill and commoditize them. 

I admire humans who choose to put their own lives at risk to protect whales. It's no wonder that 'Whale Wars is one of my favorite TV series. 

Here is the link to 'How Whales Save the Climate... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M18HxXve3CM


Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Cedar Hills Green Co-op - Take Two


Today, we have the first iteration of the Cedar Hills Green Co-op website on line. It is mostly a shell at this point, but it looks good, and it's potential for being the centerpiece of real progressive change in this community is enormous.

I would like to see Cedar Hills become a model for how to transform a community into beacon of sustainability and harmony with nature. Ambitious? Yes. Delusional? No.

Eight members of our community stepped up to my solicitation for interest in the Green Co-op idea. The approach we are taking is slow. We will nurture the website and social media first and build on that.

Mihaela Mihaescu, a local web developer, volunteered to help get the website going. So far, so good. By Spring, we should know if this effort is going to work.

This website is just sprouting. We hope it to be so much more by Spring. Here is the link...
 www.chgreen.org





Thursday, December 4, 2014

Earthmanpdx - My Home


I just finished work on a video titled, My Home. I made this video as a signature piece for a social media presence that I am nurturing for my net alter ego, Earthmanpdx.

My Home is a reflection of my worldview. It includes some great animation from NASA and a lot of quality stock video material from the Videoblocks website.  The music is titled Aurora. It came from the Envato music library. 

Here is a link to My Home... https://vimeo.com/113040561



Monday, December 1, 2014

Man Prayer



This is an extraordinary short video written by Eve Ensler, one of the brightest lights in the feminine galaxy.




This very engaging video has a lot to say, particularly to males of the species.  My gender has had its hand on the throttle and steering since people left caves for permanent settlements.  Often,  humanity has advanced, not because of  male dominance, but mostly in spite of the things men have done. Until very recently, women have been dominated by men and subjected to many forms of violence and mistreatment. They have been deprived of education, and in some societies, reduced to a form of property. 

In recent years, in the more developed nations of the world, woman have made great strides. In the U.S., women have fought for and, to a great extent,  attained  equality and access to education and opportunity.

That's not say the battle is won for women.  There are still conservative voices that want to limit women's reproductive choice and their right to be who they wish to be.  There are still too many lesser developed nations in the world where women's rights remain pretty much non-existent.

Eve Ensler is one of the world's most important voices on equality and women's issues. The group she founded, V-Day, has become a global force.  With V-day, the principle focus is on ending violence against women by men. V-day is everywhere these days, but its work in Africa and the Congo in particular, is particularly notable and inspiring.

Eve Ensler is a creative genius and a treasure to humanity.   This 'Man Prayer' video is a powerful reflection of V-Day's effort to engage men and encourage them to join with women to remake the world in a manner that is life affirming and sustainable.

In V-Day parlance,  I am a V-man.

You guys that are not already in the club, I have to ask, 'What are you waiting for?'   If a man wants women to appreciate him, it starts with treating them with compassion and respect. 

Here is a link to the V-day website...  http://www.vday.org/