Another Story Behind Earth Day

Why do we celebrate Earth Cay on April 22? ["Earth Day At 40: What Next? by Bart Brodsky"] I may know, because in April 1968, San Francisco State College celebrated the first Earth Day on April 22. Following the oil spill in Santo Barbara, three biology students at SF State, who were also part of SDS, the Joe Hill Caucus, decided to hold an event to try to unify the green and the red movements on campus, around the environment. We wanted to focus on powering the earth from solar power, which is unlimited and pollution free. We had eight speakers including Doug Kitt, Guissippi Slater, Paul Kangas, and the head gardener from Golden Gate Park.

We decided to hold the first Earth Day on April 22, because that was V.I. Lenin's birthday. We thought using that date would help unify the greens and the reds on campus.

So now you know the rest of the story. This story was first published in the SF Chron on 9-30-06.

You're no doubt aware that Earth Day organizers credit U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson and grad student Denis Hayes with founding Earth Day and coordinating national activities from D.C. offices. Why April 22? Was communist participation intentionally downplayed and ignored, or is Lenin's birthday and the S.F. State event on that date merely a coincidence? The bigger issue relates to the politics of environmentalism. The Green party slogan, "neither left nor right, but green," has been hailed as forward thinking but also criticized for being mushy and inexact. Forty years and counting, we're still debating what it means to be green.

Good Grief!

"Writing Through Grief" by Joan Monheit] is a moving and very real article. Thank you for publishing it. The poetry adds a lot to this compelling topic: how we deal with huge loss and find our balance again through the connection with others and our own creativity.

Joan Monheit offers workshops in Writing.

Veg Love

Love this article, Umapati! ["Why I Am A Vegetarian by Umapati Collins.]It was articulate, well thought out while at the same time non-dogmatic. I like the way he linked his thoughts on ecology and spirituality without coming off as judgmental about other people's choices. All in all a well written expose on one person's individual choice on going vegetarian!

Thanks, Kalika! Do let us know what you think of this issue's food articles, "In Search of the Perfect Diet."

Magic & Miracles

I really liked your central article, which I thought was remarkably even-handed — felt like it was written by Janet, to me. Whatever—you guys do a great job with the whole thing! ["Magic & Miracles: Does Thinking Make it So? By Janet Geis and Bart Brodsky.]

Actually, Janet and Bart are of one mind here. Being open-minded isn't incompatible with healthy skepticism. So let's keep exploring, and let's keep the dialog open!

So, Does Thinking Make It So?

Re. "Magic & Miracles: Does Thinking Make It So?": Ray Kurzweil is a techno-positivist who proposes a fix for any bug you can imagine. I'm fascinated but not sure that anyone's that clever. Anyone up for Future World, "Where nothing can go wrong, go wrong, go wrong...."???

I am, however, mildly curious about all the philosophical implications of living in digital reality. For instance, when kids play video games they have no compunction about murder, rape, vandalism, theft, etc. In fact, soldiers and pilots are now being trained on digital games to improve their reflexes and desensitize them for killing. Our drones are but one example.

Now, once you're living your life WITHIN virtual reality, the digital corned beef sandwiches don't have to make you sick, unsafe sex never has to give you AIDS, and choices don't have permanent consequences, what the hell is the meaning of morality, commitment, life, or death anyway? Dispose of your wife and kill 10 cops and simply reboot them for the next digital encounter. Does life lose all value, meaning? Should risk, the threat of extinction, be programmed in just to preserve morality?

Now, physicists speculate that OUR universe may simply be a 2-D hologram, a simulation of a 3-D world which actually doesn't exist. Are we the toy props in a game played by some greater beings who live in higher dimensions? Are we truly immortal, destined to be rebooted-but at their whims? Are we made to think we're mortal simply to see how we'll react to perceived danger? IS THIS LIFE JUST A TEST? Or is it simply a cosmic joke??? Considering how little we really understand about the big questions, does our vaunted consciousness have any more meaning than a May fly's soul????

Experiencing God

Mother Clare's article ["Experiencing God"] talks about the willingness and dedication to devote oneself to discovering God within. I think this is an important point. I see so many friends "skating" along with some spiritual practice or another, a book here, a workshop there, and think they are getting somewhere. It's nice to know there are people who recognize that a real path takes real dedication.

Thank you for the article by Mother Clare Watts. This article inspired hope in me and also caused me to take an honest look at myself and what I want, and to come to the conclusion that indeed a relationship with God is the most important thing in life. I appreciate articles like this that make me take a good and honest look at my life.

Mother Clare is an ordained priest with the Center of Light, featured in our Spirit & Soul category.

Leadership From Within

Hi and Thank you! I just read Carla Camou's article on "False Leaders/True Leaders" and I want you to please extend my personal gratitude!!! I just came out of a 2 1/2 year association with a similar group and a similar leader. There are many aspects of the True Leader that this person has, and his teachings are truly brilliant, but the human being is no longer a healthy person for me personally to associate with on a level other than teacher. And my inner guidance is telling me to just keep my distance and refrain from even that. I have his books and other educational materials; I do not have to be personally involved with him to reap the good and true of his teachings.

I am now receiving counseling and starting a new life! One thing I might add is that even "True" leaders are human and may give into their ego now and again with students. But be a diligent student and follow your instinct. If it doesn't seem true and good – YOU'RE RIGHT – it's not! At least, not right for you, at this time. But DO NOT try and convince anyone else in the group to leave with you. Just quietly, quietly slip away and get help if you need it. Still being in that quiet zone I prefer to remain anonymous.

Carla Camou works with the good people at NLP Marin, featured in our Schools category. We believe that the wisest leaders nurture an individual's quest for autonomy, not suppress it.

Breathe Deep!

Bravo for your article on hyperbaric oxygen. ["Using Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy To Heal Chronic Pain."] I have heard time and again from physician friends of mine about how this therapy has saved a man's leg from amputation, or a woman suffering from Lyme disease or a child living with autism. We are lucky to live in an area where this treatment is available and effective— you are bringing light and health to many, many suffering residents, I'm sure.

Advanced Hyperbaric Recovery is listed under Health & Healing.

Two Approaches To Watercolor

Julie Cohn—Wonderful article and a refreshing point of view. ["Two Approaches To Still Life Watercolor."]

Find Julie Cohn's Watercolor classes in Arts & Crafts. Thank you for writing; next time please say more!

Magic & Healing

I thought you did an amazing job of pulling together a lot of related, but sometimes contrary, research / opinions / quotes re: magic, miracles and the possiblity of healing. (OPEN EXCHANGE, April-June 2010.) The quote about the difference between healing and curing was particularly thought provoking. I've been pondering that one since reading the article.

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