Robert F. Kennedy Jr. On Environmental Civil Rights

One of the most prominent environmental lawyers in the United States, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., has fought regional pollution battles for decades as senior attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), as president of the Waterkeeper Alliance, and as a national spokesman for environmental causes. Kennedy's new book, Crimes Against Nature, is a measured critique of the Bush administration's environmental policies. "You can't talk about the environment today honestly in any context without being critical of this president," Kennedy says. "More than ever before in American history, the White House is allowing industries to buy clout in Washington and influence federal laws to serve their own interests." However, Kennedy wants to frame his message in a manner which transcends politics and invites bipartisan support. Kennedy sees environmentalism on a par with the 60s civil rights movement in which his uncle and father played prominent roles, arguing that our society allows the burdens of pollution to fall on the backs of the poor and minorities. He rattles off statistics such as these:

• Three out of five African-Americans and Hispanics live in communities with toxic waste sites.
• The most contaminated zip code in California is primarily Hispanic southeast Los Angeles.
• 300,000 mostly Hispanic farm workers are poisoned by pesticides each year.

Kennedy says that Crimes Against Nature is not just about the environment, but about cultural and political values. "It's about the corrosive effect of corporate cronyism on free-market capitalism and democracy—core American values that I cherish. There are, of course, good and even exemplary corporations in every sector. But corporations, no matter how well intentioned, should not be running the government."

Source: Mother Earth News, October/November 2004

Evangelical Christians Combat Global Warming

The New York Times reports that a core group of influential evangelical leaders has put its considerable political power behind a cause that has barely registered on the evangelical agenda, fighting global warming.

These church leaders, scientists, writers, and heads of international aid agencies argue that global warming is an urgent threat, a cause of poverty, and a Christian issue because the Bible mandates stewardship of God's creation.

The Rev. Rich Cizik, vice president of governmental affairs for the National Association of Evangelicals and a significant voice in the debate, said, "I don't think God is going to ask us how he created the earth, but he will ask us what we did with what he created."

People on all sides of the debate say that if evangelical leaders take a stand, they could change the political dynamics on global warming.

The Bush administration has so far refused to join the international Kyoto treaty and opposes mandatory emission controls. And the issue has failed to gain much traction in the Republican-controlled Congress. An overwhelming majority of evangelicals are Republicans, and about four out of five evangelicals voted for President Bush last year, according to the Pew Research Center.

The Rev. Ted Haggard, president of the National Association of Evangelicals, an umbrella group of 51 church denominations, said he had become passionate about global warming because of his experience scuba diving and observing the effects of rising ocean temperatures and pollution on coral reefs.

"The question is, will evangelicals make a difference?" Mr. Haggard said. "And the answer is, the Senate thinks so. We do represent 30 million people, and we can mobilize them if we have to."

This belies the liberal stereotype that most fundamentalist Christians harbor an apocalyptic death wish in praying for the Rapture, a heavenly portend of civilization's destruction and, ultimately, of Christ's return.

Source: The New York Times, March 10, 2005

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As reported in the environmental magazine Grist, a strange political alliance is taking shape in Washington, DC, as neoconservatives, anxious to sap political strength from their Middle Eastern nemeses, form common cause with enviros anxious to slow global warming. What unites them? A desire to reduce oil consumption. The neocons who pushed for the Iraq invasion largely come out of the academy and think-tank circuit, and do not have the political and economic ties to the oil and gas industry that, well, just about everybody else in the administration does. So, being idealists, they are looking for ways to reduce oil use and the disproportionate geopolitical power of Islamic theocracies, particularly Saudi Arabia.

Thus, an Institute for the Analysis of Global Security proposal to invest heavily in clean cars, plant-based fuels, and fuel-cell technology is being supported by both the Natural Resources Defense Council and ex-CIA director James Woolsey. Strange bedfellows!

Source: Slate.com, Robert Bryce, January 25, 2005

Beyond the Tsunami: Ongoing International Relief

Oxfam International is a development, relief, and campaigning organization that works with others to find lasting solutions to poverty and suffering around the world. Oxfam was first organized in 1942 to foster international famine relief efforts.

Across the tsunami devastated regions of Asia and Africa, Oxfam has been a major factor in relief and rebuilding efforts. As the emergency relief period ends, Oxfam is now focusing on long-term needs. Oxfam is helping communities return to their villages and start the process of rebuilding their schools, homes and livelihoods. Already their "cash for work" programs are generating income for affected people.

Log on to www.oxfam.org to learn more about Oxfam's mission and how you can be a part of this good work.

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As reported in Newsweek, there is a growing body of research suggesting that creative activity can actually keep you healthy. Dr. Gene Cohen, author of The Creative Age and director of the Center on Aging, Health and Humanities at George Washington University is on the cutting edge. For the last three years Cohen has been conducting a study of 300 seniors. Half are participating in community-based arts programs while the others serve as a control group. The members of the arts group make fewer visits to the doctor, fall less often, use less medication, and are less likely to be depressed. Why? "You have a personal sense of mastery," says Cohen. Other studies have shown similar results. Considering that Michelangelo completed his final frescoes in the Vatican's Pauline Chapel at 75, and Martha Graham danced until 76 and then kept choreographing until 96, it's never too late to explore your own creativity!

Source: Newsweek, January 17, 2005. Also check out OPEN EXCHANGE's "community-based arts programs" in our Music, Dance, Theater, Writing, and Arts & Crafts categories.

Hypnosis Relieves Anxiety & Pain

Also reported in Newsweek, a growing body of research supports the claim that hypnosis is an effective tool in treating a variety of problems, from anxiety to chronic pain.

Hypnosis is "a form of highly focused attention," says Dr. David Spiegel, professor of psychiatry at Stanford University School of Medicine. "One of the interesting ironies is that old fantasy that it takes away control. It's actually a way of enhancing people's control, of teaching them how to control aspects of their body's function and sensation that they thought they couldn't."

During a typical session, a practitioner guides the subject into a state of receptive concentration, asking her to imagine that she is in a safe and comfortable place. Then the therapist makes specific suggestions relating to the issue at hand, distinguishing hypnosis from more passive states such as meditation. Hypnotherapy is used successfully in pain management, stress reduction, and habit control, as well as for specific ailments such as irritable bowel syndrome and gastric disturbances. The positive effects of just a few sessions can last for years. Treatments are often less expensive than drugs and without potentially dangerous side effects.

Source: Newsweek, September 27, 2004. OPEN EXCHANGE practitioners also use hypnotherapy in conjunction with other conventional and holistic healing arts for optimum health, personal growth, and spiritual transformation as well. Please see our Hypnotherapy category.

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In an OPEN EXCHANGE exclusive, Dean Ornish, MD, who first proved in clinical studies that a low fat diet coupled with lifestyle changes could reverse heart disease, argues passionately against Atkins-type low carb diets. "I've debated Dr. Atkins many times before he died, and I'm very familiar with their approach. The problem with the diet is a.) it tells people what they want to hear and b.) it's based on a half truth. The half truth is that Americans do eat too many simple carbohydrates: white sugar, white flour, white rice. When you eat a lot of simple carbs you get a double-whammy. You get these calories that don't fill you up, because you remove the fiber and the bran that otherwise would have made you full before you got too many calories. For example, you can only eat so many apples before you're going to get full, but you can consume large amounts of sugar without getting full. So, you get all these calories that don't fill you up. And second, they get absorbed quickly so they make your blood sugar spike. Your pancreas makes insulin to bring your blood sugar down, but the insulin accelerates the conversion of calories into fat, which is not good. So, when people go on an Atkins diet they may lose weight by virtue of the fact that they're eating fewer calories because they're eating fewer carbs. So, the diagnosis is accurate, but the prescription is not, because instead of going from simple carbs to T-bone steaks and cheeseburgers, and pork rinds, and bacon and sausage---I'd love to be able to say that these are health foods, but they're not---you want to go from simple carbs to complex or good carbs: the fruits, vegetables, whole wheat flour, brown rice, legumes, soy products. These are rich in fiber [which] fills you up before you get too many calories, and the fiber slows the absorption so you don't get these rapid spikes in your blood sugar. In addition, there are at least 1000 substances that are protective, that have anti-cancer, anti-heart disease, anti-aging properties. With few exceptions, where do you find these protective substances? You find them in fruits and vegetables and whole grains and legumes. So, it saddens me that so many people are going on Atkins and South Beach and other diets. You may lose weight, but you may be mortgaging your health in the process...."

Read the interview with Dr. Ornish in its entirety on this site.

Locally Grown Food Greener Than Organic, British Study Says

Though organic farming is relatively easy on the environment, buying locally grown food, even the pesticide-sprayed variety, is usually more earth-friendly than buying organic, a new study contends. Published in the journal Food Policy, the study found that the transportation of food over long distances --- anywhere outside a 12-mile radius --- can cause more harm than the growing of food with non-organic methods. Researchers calculated the hidden costs of farming and food transport and found that the U.K. would save some $4 billion a year in environmental and traffic costs if all food consumed was locally grown, and an additional $2.1 billion a year if all food were grown organically. The study authors called on supermarkets to label items with the number of "food miles" they travel to get to the store. "The most political act we do on a daily basis is to eat, as our actions affect farms, landscapes, and food businesses," said study coauthor Jules Pretty of the University of Essex.

But why "either-or"? Whenever possible we recommend shopping both locally grown and organic!

Sources: BBC News, March 2, 2005
The Independent, Steve Connor, March 3, 2005

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Fruits & Vegies & Exercise Are Good For Dogs... & People, Too!

A new study of beagles finds that regular physical activity, mental stimulation, and a diet rich in antioxidants can help keep aging canine --- and perhaps human --- brains in tip-top shape. The research, supported by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is among the first to examine the combined effects of these interventions and suggests that diet and mental exercise may work more effectively in combination than by themselves.

During the two-year longitudinal study, William Milgram, PhD, of the University of Toronto, Elizabeth Head, PhD, and Carl Cotman, PhD, of the University of California, Irvine and their colleagues found older beagles performed better on cognitive tests and were more likely to learn new tasks when they were fed a diet fortified with plenty of fruits, vegetables and vitamins, were exercised at least twice weekly, and were given the opportunity to play with other dogs and a variety of stimulating toys.

Dogs are an important model of cognitive aging, and these findings could have important implications for people. Like humans, dogs engage in complex cognitive strategies and have a more complicated brain structure than many other animals. Dogs also process dietary nutrients in ways similar to humans. And like people, dogs are susceptible to age-related declines in learning and memory, and can develop neuropathology similar to Alzheimer's disease.

"This research brings a note of optimism that there are things that we can do that may significantly improve our cognitive health," says Molly Wagster, PhD, program director of the NIA's Neuropsychology of Aging Branch.

Source: Neurobiology of Aging, January 2005

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Last November four lifeguards were on a training swim about 100 yards off shore at Ocean Beach in New Zealand when a pod of six or seven bottlenose dolphins suddenly appeared. "They started to herd us up," said Rob Howes, one of the four swimmers. "They pushed all four of us together by doing tight circles around us, rather like a sheepdog rounding up sheep."

Then they saw why. A great white shark was cruising toward the group only 7 ft below the surface, "as clear as the nose on my face." The dolphins had moved in to protect the swimmers, slapping the water with their tails, presumably to deter the shark. They surrounded the swimmers for 40 minutes and did not open their circle to allow the lifeguards to swim to shore until the shark had disappeared. The four swimmers were saved thanks to the heroic efforts of these gentle mammals. Auckland University marine mammal research scientist Rochelle Constantine said that the dolphins' altruistic response was normal. "They like to help the helpless."

We asked OPEN EXCHANGE lister Belinda Farrell (Hawaiian Huna/Dolphin Retreats) to comment on the subject of dolphin rescues:

"I too have been warned by the dolphins. I hesitated to talk about it in print because I don't want the readers to be afraid of sharks. But there are times when we are out in the Bay that the dolphins tell us it is not safe. They can flap their tails at us to warn us and have done so. We immediately get out. I have tremendous faith in the dolphins and feel safe when they are around. In all the years I have been swimming in the Bay, there have been no reports of any shark attacks. We feel very protected there.
"If somehow you can convey this in a gentle unthreatening way, then I guess you can bring it up with regard to my seminar."

You just did, Belinda!

Source: Fortean Times, March 2005.

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You don't have to travel around the globe to get relief from the daily grind. In fact, taking a short trip can have the same, if not better results. "You shift to a more relaxed mind-set in the first few days," says Stanford University psychiatrist David Spiegel. Some of the secrets to stress-free vacation planning include staying close to home, avoiding crowds by visiting "off-season," and pampering yourself by splurging at a top-notch hotel or relaxing spa. Sometimes all it takes is an afternoon at a local spa, complete with hot tub and massage, to change your whole perspective!

Source: Reader's Digest, February 2005. OPEN EXCHANGE also offers a wide variety of innovative Northern California retreats and spas in our Retreats & Getaways category.

Green Machines; No Green Apples

As reported in the environmental magazine Grist, several electronics manufacturers are going green. Mindful of the growing impact of consumer electronics on the waste stream --- and of the likelihood that government regulations could one day require them to recycle their own wares --- electronics manufacturers like Dell, Hewlett-Packard, and Panasonic are beginning to design products with their full lifecycle in mind. Some are eliminating lead, mercury, and brominated flame retardants, toxic substances that pollute landfills and make gadgets difficult to recycle, from their products entirely. Some are trying to reduce the use of plastics in favor of metal, which is easier and more profitable to recycle, and reduce the use of screws and glues in favor of easier-to-disassemble snap-together parts. Some are trying to reduce the total number of parts. All of this brings designers to the fore, part of a movement described by author and sustainable-design guru William McDonough in the book Cradle to Cradle as a shift away from disposable living and toward a genuinely reusable and recyclable material life.

Apple's ubiquitous iPod music player, the icon of electronic chic, ironically does not seem to share this environmental ethos. The 4.5 million iPods purchased in late 2004 may be little more than electronic junk by 2007, as their batteries last only two to three years and are hard to replace.

Green activists say Apple's lack of attention to safe disposal of its products poses a big problem, namely hazardous waste dumped in landfills in the US or, more frequently, in developing countries. As proud Apple users OPEN EXCHANGE says, "Get your act together!"

Sources: Los Angeles Times, January 21, 2005
Christian Science Monitor, February 9, 2005
San Francisco Chronicle, January 12, 2005

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As reported in Dr. Andrew Weil's Self Healing newsletter, acupuncture may be more effective than medication at preventing nausea and vomiting after surgery. A recent study at Duke University Medical Center looked at 75 women undergoing major breast surgery, a procedure that causes postoperative nausea and vomiting in many patients. One-third received electro-acupuncture, a needle-free technique that delivers electrical pulses to acupuncture points. The others either took the anti-nausea medication Zofran or got sham (pretend) electro-acupuncture during surgery. Two hours after surgery, 77 percent of the women who used electro-acupuncture had no symptoms, compared to 64 percent of those on Zofran and 42 percent who received the placebo. Those in the electro-acupuncture group also had less pain. Dr. Weil comments, "There's solid evidence that acupuncture is helpful for nausea after surgery, a side effect of anesthesia. I think this study suggests that electro-acupuncture is an effective alternative to drugs for controlling some complications."

Source: Dr. Andrew Weil's Self Healing Newsletter, November 2004 (www.drweilselfhealing.com), reporting from Anesthesia & Analgesia, September 22, 2004. Also see OPEN EXCHANGE's Health & Healing category, for referrals to licensed acupuncturists.

American Yoga Students Spend $3 Billion a Year

Yoga Journal, the country's premier yoga magazine, has just released its second annual "Yoga in America" survey, a comprehensive study of the yoga market. According to the study, Americans spend $2.95 billion a year on yoga classes and products, including equipment, clothing, vacations and media (DVDs, videos, books and magazines). "Yoga in America" is the first such study to quantify the yoga market in the U.S.

The Harris Interactive Service Bureau surveyed over 4700 respondents --- a statistically representative sample of the total U.S. population. The study revealed that 7.5% of U.S. adults, or 16.5 million people, now practice yoga, an increase of 5.6% from the prior year and 43% from 2002. Of the 16.5 million people now practicing yoga, the fastest growing segment is the 18-24 age group, which increased by a remarkable 46% in one year.

In addition, almost one in seven non-practitioners, or about 25 million people, say they intend to try yoga within the next 12 months.

Says John Abbott, president and CEO of Yoga Journal, "The fact that Americans spend nearly $3 billion a year on yoga and yoga-related items shows the financial vibrancy of the market. That the number of yoga practitioners has grown so strongly in the last ten years shows that yoga is not a passing fad but a genuine cultural phenomenon and an integral part of the wellness trend in this country."

Source: Yoga Journal, www.yogajournal.com. Also see OPEN EXCHANGE's Yoga category.

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Senators Clinton and Boxer, Representative Tubbs Jones and Others to Unveil Major Election Reform Bill

Legislation Would Enact Sweeping Reforms by Next Major Election Cycle in 2006

WASHINGTON, DC, February 17, 2005: U.S. Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) today unveiled comprehensive voting reform legislation to make sure that every American is able to vote and every vote is counted. Senators Clinton and Boxer announced the legislation today in a press conference joined by Representative Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-OH), who will sponsor the legislation in the House of Representatives, and voting rights advocates.

"Voting is the most precious right of every citizen, and we have a moral obligation to ensure the integrity of our voting process," said Senator Clinton.  "The smooth functioning of our democracy depends on voters having faith in the fairness and accuracy of our voting system, and the Count Every Vote Act is an important step toward restoring this covenant. We must be able to easily and accurately count every vote so that every vote counts."

Added Senator Boxer: "Every citizen of this country should be guaranteed that their vote matters, that their vote is counted, and that in the voting booth, their vote has a much weight as that of any CEO, any member of Congress, or any President.  Our democracy is the centerpiece of who we are as a nation, and we must take action to ensure that the American people have full confidence in our electoral system."

"I am pleased to join with Senators Clinton and Boxer in introducing companion legislation in the House as we continue our efforts to ensure that every American is afforded their Constitutional right to vote," said Representative Tubbs Jones.  "This legislation seeks to combat the tremendous voting irregularities that plagued both the 2000 and 2004 elections.  If in fact we see it is our obligation to secure democracy around the world, to monitor and oversee free and fair elections in other countries, most recently in Iraq, then we must ensure, protect and guarantee the right to vote right here at home."

The Count Every Vote Act of 2005 will provide a voter verified paper ballot for every vote cast in electronic voting machines and ensures access to voter verification for all citizens, including language minority voters, illiterate voters and voters with disabilities. The bill mandates that this ballot be the official ballot for purposes of a recount.  The bill sets a uniform standard for provisional ballots so that every qualified voter will know their votes are treated equally, and requires the Federal Election Assistance Commission to issue standards that ensure uniform access to voting machines and trained election personnel in every community.  The bill also improves security measures for electronic voting machines.

To encourage more citizens to exercise their right to vote, the Count Every Vote Act designates Election Day a federal holiday and requires early voting in each state.  The bill also enacts "no-excuse" absentee balloting, enacts fair and uniform voter registration and identification, and requires states to allow citizens to register to vote on Election Day.  It also requires the Election Assistance Commission to work with states to reduce wait times for voters at polling places. In addition, the legislation restores voting rights for felons who have repaid their debt to society.

The Count Every Vote Act also includes measures to protect voters from deceptive practices and conflicts of interest that harm voter trust in the integrity of the system.  In particular, the bill restricts the ability of chief state election officials as well as owners and senior managers of voting machine manufacturers to engage in certain kinds of political activity.  The bill also makes it a federal crime to commit deceptive practices, such as sending flyers into minority neighborhoods telling voters the wrong voting date, and makes these practices a felony punishable by up to a year of imprisonment.

Today, representatives from civil rights organizations and voting rights advocates praised the legislation, including People For the American Way, Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law, NAACP, Common Cause, the National Voting Rights Institute, DEMOS and the National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium. The leaders emphasized the urgent need for the bill.

"Every American citizen should be able to cast a vote that counts, and it should not be difficult," said Ralph G. Neas, President of People For the American Way, one of the founding members of the Election Protection coalition.  "This bill provides practical, secure accessible solutions at the ballot box for Americans with disabilities, those who speak languages other than English, and other Americans who face hurdles in exercising their voting rights.  It's a great bill."

"The Count Every Vote Act will go a long way toward restoring dignity to our nation's electoral system and will provide citizens across the nation with an opportunity to effectively participate in democratic decision-making," said Barbara R. Arnwine, Executive Director of the Lawyers' Committee.

Senators Clinton and Boxer first introduced election reform legislation in the 108th Congress, together with former Senator Bob Graham.  In the meantime, another election cycle showed evidence of problems in the Federal election system, including long wait times to vote, erroneous purging of voters, voter suppression and intimidation and unequal access to the voting process.  The Count Every Vote Act requires that all provisions be in place for the next major election cycle in 2006.

"We cannot let another Election Day go by without doing everything we can to make sure that voters have confidence in our voting system and exercise their right to vote," underscored Senator Clinton.  "This shouldn't be a Republican or Democratic issue. This is a voter issue, plain and simple. I call upon my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to work with us to implement these common sense measures."

Senators Clinton and Boxer and Representative Tubbs Jones will work in the 109th Congress to keep attention to this issue and urge action.

Source: http://clinton.senate.gov/~clinton/news/2005/2005217501.html