As I continue exploring alternative ways of being in this world, I’m excited by people and groups who have moved past theoretical olympics or revolutionary diatribes against what is and into practical applications of what can be. I’m less concerned if these practitioners are perfect in the execution of their ideas. I’m more focused...
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Poverty
Grassroots Economy Festival: My Type of Party
Sowing Seeds Here & Now: A Chesapeake Urban Farming Summit
Last week I attended an urban agriculture conference organized by Engaged Community Offshoots, Inc. (ECO) and hosted at the United States Department of Agriculture. ECO is an organization which “seeks to reverse the effects of systemic poverty, racism, and environmental destruction through establishing and promoting social venture community-based businesses.” My friends at Baltimore Food...
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Palestinian Protester to Americans: “Look Where Your Taxes Are Going!”
I was actually on the ground in Palestine/Israel when the Israeli Military attacked the Freedom Flotilla which was making its way to the Gaza Strip to deliver 10,000 tons of humanitarian aid to the 1.5 million Palestinians sufferings under the Israeli Blockade. In the days following the attack, thousands of Palestinians, Israelis, and Internationals...
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My Palestine/Israel Diary – Wednesday, May 26
Today was an extremely full day that started bright and early at 8AM. Well, for me the day started at 5:00AM. After going to bed at about 11PM the night before, I found myself lying in bed staring at the ceiling at 5. I tried to force myself back to sleep, but I couldn’t...
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My Palestine/Israel Diary – Tuesday, May 25, 2010
As I type this, I’m sitting on the roof of a hostel in the breeze of a cool Jerusalem night. My group has recently retired for the evening after a long two days of travel. I’m here in East Jerusalem with a delegation from Interfaith Peace Builders - an organization that focuses on education...
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Grow It Eat It: Another Step Toward Simple Living
As I continue on this journey of simple living, I’ve been encouraged by way of documentaries and books to ask the question, “Where does my food come from?” I mean really. Whose hands are responsible for killing, cleaning, arranging, and bagging what I just ordered off of the menu and am about to put...
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Everyone Needs a Heaping Helping of Food Inc. – The Movie
In all of my years I’ve never watched a documentary that had more of an immediate and intimate impact than Food Inc. It shares a perspective of the food system in the United States. A perspective that tells the story of what happens when major corporations dictate how food is grown, delivered, sold, stored,...
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Another Perspective on the MAIF Bill – House Bill 825
House Bill 825 is a bill that puts the customers of Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund in its scope. MAIF is a fund created by the Maryland State Legislature in 1972 to provide car insurance options to those who were not able to obtain car insurance in the private market. It is state law that...
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Attention MAIF Customers: You’re Car Insurance Rates Are About To Go Up!
That’s if Governor Martin O’Malley has his way. Sources close to the legislative process reveal that Governor Martin O’Malley has been pushing House Bill 825 through the Maryland House of Delegates. The bill would increase the rates for Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund (MAIF) customers. MAIF is for drivers who are unable to afford car...
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States across the Nation taking a BIG Gamble on the Future
I was on the Marc Steiner show on WEAA 88.9FM (Baltimore) Monday evening talking about the prospect of Maryland expanding its gaming options to include casinos. As predicted by many of us who were decrying slots in Maryland; state lawmakers are now teasing the idea of casinos in an effort to deal with the...
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