New York mayor tells agencies to brace for sweeping cuts.

The New York Times (9/24, B1, Barbaro, Santos) reports,

In transition to justice, harmony, productivity, and right living:

“It's understandable, isn't it, that workers who come of age in an autocratic, authoritarian, paternalistic environment become reflections of it. It took some time for Camarão to adjust to the innovating, democratic, participative atmosphere at Semco.”

MAVERICK, The Success Story Behind the Worlds Most Unusual Workplace, Richardo Semler, Warner Books, 1993, p. 180; ISBN 0-446-51696-1

Re: affordable, energy efficient housing:

The following is an exchange of correspondence, the point of which is to find out exactly what the building codes require in order to build a straw bale house which uses the “best practices”. The net result is that the building official of the City of Corvallis did not answer the technical questions and referred me to the State of Oregon, which had previously referred me to my local building official. This circular referrals is typical.

Are you interested in becoming a Certified Master Gardener?

Multnomah County has opted out of providing Master Gardener certification for years. Oregon State University (OSU) is now offering an online version of the popular Master Gardener course. This course is available to Multnomah County residents as well as the surrounding Metro region!

This joint OSU Extended Campus and Extension Service program educates Oregonians about the art and science of growing and caring for plants. This program also facilitates the training of a highly-educated group of volunteers. These volunteers extend sustainable gardening information to their communities through education and outreach programs.

The Master Gardener basic training course is hosted in OSU's Blackboard (Bb) Learning Portal System. In addition to readings and lectures, participants in this online classroom will engage in discussions, quizzes, an exam and self- and peer-review of completed assignments.

Is anyone planning to go to the ASPO conference in September?

Re: Jim's reply to Tom Kehner's statement, at: http://www.theworldcafecommunity.net/webx?14@@.1adee709

"Further, it stands to reason that there comes a point when no technique (whether it be a gimmick or a sincere attempt to instill sustained discipline) will work if the desire to sustain value simply is not present. However, it is clear to us that in the instances where we have a strong, well-respected, motivated LEADER, the opportunity to sustain value from an event dramatically increases. To me, that factoid speaks to involving a person with those experiential and character traits upfront in the design of any F2F or virtual event. "

Jim says: Strong, motivated Leader?

Is the insane drive to keep oil flowing into the developed countries, the root of starvation of people in the poor countries?

"The ERS researchers expect worldwide economic growth to slow and food and fuel prices to continue climbing, leading to an "ongoing deterioration in global food security" within these 70 developing countries. Food shortages will be particularly acute in Sub-Saharan Africa and are expected to grow in Asia, where previous projections had charted improvements in food supply. Those gains, according to the ERS, have been "slowing to a halt."

For the entire article, see: http://www.dailyyonder.com/food-shortages-expected-affect-one-billion-people

Jim Miller

Have van or bus that runs on bio-diesel or alternative fuels and want to help with transportation to the Earth Gatherings? Please email us info@earthgatherings.org.

The Middle Earth Gathering @ Silver Falls State Park, near Silverton, Oregon
September 18th - 21st, 2008

"World Peace" Celebration

Middle Earth Gathering Photos
A Family Friendly, Earth Awareness Festival promoting World Peace and Harmony among People and our Environment. A Magical three day camp-out, celebrating the Fall Equinox.

Promoting World Peace and Harmony among People and our Environment.
Come recharge your batteries; connect with nature, friends old and new.
Join with hundreds of others focusing our intentions on bringing peace to nations, mother earth and all creatures great and small.

Live music, plus Belly Dancing, Drum Circles, Bardic Circles, Workshops, Traditional Solstice Ritual, and more.

http://www.earthgatherings.org

Mission Statement

Hello!

I am looking for used gas pump handles for an art peice I am making about Big Oil.

Any ideas where I can find about 30 of them?

I've already called the Rebuilding Center---they don't have any.

Please email me at katrineball@gmail.com if you have any ideas.

Thanks!
Katherine