Bioneers Buzz 04/07: Mother Earth Knows Best
Greetings,
"We experience the world through the planetary lens of nature. Because our eye has the same salt concentration as the ocean, we have literally kept the ocean in our eye. Like the one-celled critter of yore, our retina and brain are looking through an ancient sea. We filter light waves from the sun in the same way bacteria did when life began. Part of what this means is that all life shares certain features of a common biological aesthetics." – Peter Warshall from Nature's Operating Instructions
In this issue of the Buzz read about the life force of mycelia, farming as a road to peace, the community connection between Bioneers and co-ops, and much more.
Bioneers Voices: How Mushrooms Can Help Save the World
Excerpted from a plenary presentation by Paul Stamets at Bioneers 2006.
We all know that the Earth is in trouble. We have entered into the sixth major extinction on the planet. As we lose species, the rivets are popping like the rivets of an airplane and soon we will come to a level of catastrophic failure. We don't know what is ahead, but I think we all sense that it is important that we do what we can to save this planet.
Blessed Unrest by Paul Hawken tells the story of a worldwide movement that is largely unseen by politicians or the media. Hawken has spent more than a decade researching organizations dedicated to restoring the environment and fostering social justice. From billion-dollar nonprofits to single-person causes, these organizations collectively comprise the largest movement on earth. This is a movement that has no name, leader, or location, but is in every city, town, and culture. It is organizing from the bottom up and is emerging as an extraordinary and creative expression of people's needs worldwide. Blessed Unrest explores the diversity of this movement, its brilliant ideas, innovative strategies, and centuries-old history. Look for the book at your local library, bookstore, or online at Powells.com
Must Read: Blessed Unrest
PAX Scientific's mission is to translate nature's efficiencies into innovative technology applications. They envision a world in which the PAX Streamlining Principle provides benefits to every pertinent industry by developing tools that use less energy and materials while simultaneously offering greater productivity and control. This approach translates nature's flow efficiencies into streamlined design geometries. More information can be found at PAXScienfic.com
Since its inception, Planetary Coral Reef Foundation (PCRF) has pursued a global mission to preserve coral reefs through innovative programs in science, education and technology. Today, there is no comprehensive baseline map of living coral reefs, and this information is urgently needed if we are to have a chance of reef conservation and protection. To accomplish this critical goal, PCRF is also pioneering a Coral Reef Satellite Mission in cooperation with scientists at College of Charleston, M.I.T., Scripps Institution of Oceanography, SeaSpace, Stevens Institute of Technology and USC. More information can be found at pcrf.org
Taking Root: PAX Scientific and Planetary Coral Reef Foundation
Farms Not Arms A Conversation with Farmers and Peace Activists Michael O'Gorman and Will Allen by Arty Mangan Michael: We realize that agribusiness opposes the vision of holding onto family farms, and opposes strengthening our rural communities and family farms that are growing local produce. 90 percent of the fuel spent in our food production system is the distribution, only ten percent in actual production. So let's grow the produce closer to home. Let's grow our own fuels. Let's support the Midwest and get out of the wars in the Middle East.
Food and Farming: Farms Not Arms
Vote for the Bioneers on the Webby Awards website! (To Vote for the Bioneers follow these links on the Webby Awards Web site: Website - Society - Charitable Organizations/Non-profit)
Webby Awards: Give a shout out for the Bioneers before April 27!
Bioneers has been selected for a prestigious Webby Award among just a handful of nominees. Last year's Webby Awards received over 8,000 entries internationally. According to the judges, our work—and the people behind it—is "forward-thinking, visionary and, most importantly, has a story to tell." As a Nominee, we are eligible to win a People's Voice Award.
News for You
Excerpted from It's all Connected! It's all Alive!: Beaming Bioneers and your local food co-op By Steve Cooke, Ellen Michel, Sarna Salzman While attending the first Southeast Bioneers Forum here in Atlanta in October of 2005, I looked around the room and recognized that about half of the attendees each day were either members or regular customers at our co-op. A giant light bulb lit up over my head: For the full 30-plus years of our existence, Sevananda had been espousing the same concepts that were being presented at this conference. Read the complete article
Bioneers Community: It's All Connected! It's All Alive!
Besides all the amazing books, CDs, DVDs, and downloads available, the online Bioneers Store also has a collection of t-shirts, sweatshirts, shopping bags, and travel mugs available as a means to show your support for Bioneers. For a limited time only (April 13-30) ALL t-shirts are on sale (up to 25% off)! Please email store@bioneers.org to verify available sizes and colors.
Bioneers Store: Eco-nomics
April 14 Apr 17 - 20 April 21-22 April 22 April 24 – 25 May 1 – 3 May 22 – 24 May 28 – June 2 July 31 - August 7 Make sure to visit the Bioneers Events Calendar to view and post events for 2007.
Community Events
Step It Up
Nationwide
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Green Business Conference
Chicago, Illinois
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Chicago Green Festival
Chicago, Illinois
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Earth Day Celebrations
Nationwide
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EPA's National Sustainable Design Expo
Washington D.C.
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Be The Change
Houston, Texas
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Investors' Circle 2007 Spring Conference & Venture Fair
San Francisco, California
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Cultivating Women's Leadership
Cortes Island, British Columbia
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Awakening Global Action
Ubud, Bali
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