Status

The “Practical Peacemaker” web site has a new look, implemented with WordPress.  It’s an ongoing project, however, so I’ll continue to add older blog posts and book reviews, as well as new ones.  Keep checking  back . . .

Posted on February 4, 2012 by

How to Give All Your Food to the Hungry, and Eat It Too

Posted on February 1, 2012 by

With over seven billion people crowded onto the planet and increasing numbers of them hungry, what can compassionate people do to help?  The most important action we can take, beyond being careful not to waste food, is to go vegan, because growing plant foods for direct human consumption is the most efficient use of farmland, water, fuel and other resources.  But what if we could make even more food available?  Beyond even the efficiency that veganism provides, what if we could make 100% of our food available to the hungry?  That is, be able to offer the same amount of food we eat every day to the starving?  (In some cases, this might not mean that food would get sent anywhere, but it would free up the resource potential to grow and ship an equal amount of food.)  And what if we could compound the additional food with 100% of our water consumption, 100% of the fuel we use for cooking, heating and transportation, 100% of our cars, household appliances, clothing, and everything we use as an average American? Did you ever stop to think that remaining childless does exactly that?  Let me explain. Continue reading →

Posted in Overpopulation | 2 Comments

Beware to Compare

Posted on January 26, 2012 by

In his newest book, Beyond Religion; Ethics for a Whole World, the Dalai Lama makes a convincing case that if we are to teach a way of ethical living that everyone worldwide can accept and practice, it must be independent of any religion and must be based on compassion.  He explains in detail what compassion is and isn’t, and gives numerous down-to-earth suggestions and encouragement for incorporating it into our daily lives.  He concludes with non-religious meditation instruction, advocating that not only would adults do well to practice, but also that children be given compassion training in our schools.

In this post I want to focus on just one of his many practical suggestions for how we can infuse our thinking and actions with greater compassion: avoid comparing yourself with others.  Continue reading →

Posted in Changing Habits, Simple Living | Leave a comment

Challenging the “Religion” of Economic Growth

Posted on January 19, 2012 by

Growthbuster Dave Gardner in action against growth profiteers.

For those of us concerned about poverty, environmental degradation, and climate change, the idea that economic growth underlies these problems will probably not come as a surprise. Growth–higher production of consumer goods, stepped-up extraction of resources, more and bigger houses, freeways and shopping malls–has been accepted almost unconditionally as the best way to run governments and assure prosperity. It is seen as the most potent answer to lifting people out of poverty and assuring full employment. Go out and shop more, we are told. Few people dare to publicly challenge the American religion of growth, and those who do should be read, supported, and discussed.

Or in the case of one new documentary, watched. I’m referring to Growthbusters: Hooked on Growth (remember Ghostbusters?), in which Dave Gardner, a courageous citizen of Colorado Springs, Colorado, becomes sufficiently fed up with the development, congestion, and depletion of resources he sees around him to run for his city council. Continue reading →

Posted in Consumerism | Leave a comment

The Positive Side of Aging

Posted on January 10, 2012 by

Nearly every display of birthday cards features several that exploit the downside of aging as funny. These jokes primarily concern loss of appearance, loss of health and energy, loss of sex appeal and potency, or may view just the state of being old itself as amusing. I have found myself laughing at some of these gags, because I too have inherited our society’s view of the old, but in this post I want to point out some of the advantages and strengths elders possess. Continue reading →

Posted in Simple Living | Leave a comment

Keeping Those New Year’s Resolutions

Posted on January 5, 2012 by

As a new year begins, we hear much talk of resolutions, ways to improve one’s life in the coming year.  These might have to do with weight loss, increased fitness, decreased indulgence in sweets, alcohol or tobacco, controlling one’s temper, and better budgeting of money.  As a regular participant in fitness classes, I notice every January a sudden increase in attendance by new people I’ve heard called “resolutioners.”  These folks start out with the best of intentions, but unfortunately do not continue; within a month they are mostly gone.

The desire people have for personal improvement is something we as practical peacemakers want to encourage.  Progress on any of the goals listed above leads to a more harmonious personal and family life, and thus a more peaceful society.  However, the urge to make improvements that require discipline is fragile; it is no easy thing to change long-standing habits.  In fact, it seems that the making of resolutions is considered a sort of joke: “yeah, sure, you’re going to quit smoking–how long is that going to last?” “You say you’re going to get up earlier in order to exercise–right.”

How can we turn around this expectation of failure and make the keeping of resolutions more likely?  I have three ideas. Continue reading →

Posted in Changing Habits | Leave a comment

Rethinking Hair Color and Makeup

Posted on July 12, 2011 by

Part of my path toward a simpler lifestyle has been gradually to forego hair color and makeup.  I’m mildly surprised that most women, as busy as we all are, still spend so much time and money on these products when it is so freeing to go without.  I wore makeup for about twenty years, and colored my hair to cover gray from my late 30′s until late 40′s (I grayed prematurely).  Women want to look younger and, in society’s terms, more beautiful, but have we really considered whether those standards of age and beauty are what we want to support?  Are we more likely to attract the love or status we want by using these products?  Furthermore, have we looked at their impact on our health, the environment, and the treatment of animals?  Let’s take a closer look. Continue reading →

Posted in Consumerism, Simple Living | Leave a comment

Fat and Getting Fatter

Posted on July 8, 2011 by

The latest nationwide adult obesity statistics were just released, and it’s not a pretty sight.  At first glance, my fellow residents of Colorado and I were glad to see our state once again recognized as having the lowest percentage of obese people of all the 50 states.  But on closer scrutiny, it’s alarming news for everyone.  In these new statistics, Colorado is the only state with an obese percentage below 20%, and twelve states weighed in at 30% or higher.  (Obesity is defined as a BMI of 30 or above.)  Just fifteen years ago, no state had a percentage of 20% or higher!  Childhood obesity continues to increase as well. Continue reading →

Posted in Changing Habits, In The Media, Veganism | Leave a comment

Tea-totally Refreshing!

Posted on July 5, 2011 by

I’ve got a new favorite summer beverage, Peach Passion Apple Mint Tea (see below) that is easy to prepare.  Let’s try to make our own drinks as much as possible this summer instead of buying beverages in bottles and cans that have to be shipped over great distances.  Bottles and cans can be recycled, but it’s better for the earth not to produce them in the first place. Continue reading →

Posted in Simple Living | Leave a comment

Afterword on the FPA Ordinance

Posted on June 23, 2011 by

Anyone who follows Denver news knows by now that the Denver City Council passed the Food-Producing Animals ordinance last Monday evening by a vote of 7-3, with 3 members not voting.  While many of us are sad that their decision means hatcheries will be killing more male chicks, more chickens will either be killed by predators or dumped at animal shelters, male offspring born to dairy goats will be disposed of somehow, and slaughter may occur in our urban backyards, there are still a couple of bright spots in this otherwise gloomy picture. Continue reading →

Posted in Activism, Animal Issues | 1 Comment