“…a community that we are to join and enhance.”

This understanding of the self-regulating nature of earth, we didn’t know about this for 400 years in science, we just didn’t. But now we’re realizing we are destroying billions of years of creativity that enabled all of this vitality to exist. But we’re awakening to that mistake and now we see, instead of thinking of earth as something to exploit and use, we are beginning to realize, it is a community that we are to join and enhance. That’s the big shift.
– Brian Swimme, PhD, Cosmologist (Love Thy Nature)

Hi everyone,

What happens when our entire society has been living in a state of long-term chronic stress? In truth, lot of things get really messed up in our physiology and that affects our thoughts, feelings and behavior. Here’s just one example: we tend to get polarized, and our focus narrows. Within that there is a tendency to under-react and/or over-react. In other words we lose some of our ability to accurately perceive threats.

As much as refugees may currently be taking the brunt of this, perceived by some through a lens of exaggerated threat, many are likewise grossly underestimating the climate threat. And there does seem to be a pattern that those perceiving refugees as greatest threat also seem to be least concerned about climate. The cruel irony is, unaddressed climate change risks greatly increasing the number of refugees rapidly.

Recent climate reports have had a common theme: climate change is already here, and it is getting far worse, far faster than scientists ever thought could be possible. We are in the awkward position of needing to applaud every positive step that has been and is being taken, and at the same time, recognize that we are nowhere near where we need to be. In fact, as we have recently reached the level of a 1 Degree C rise in global temperature, there is recognition that the previously set goal of not exceeding 2 Degrees C is too high. We must seek to stop it at 1.5 Degrees C. This will be a gargantuan challenge.

As the Paris climate talks commence on December 30, we need to raise our voices in support of effective, enforceable, global climate agreements.

Come join us Sunday, November 29 for a climate rally at the Irvine Spectrum. Please RSVP so we can communicate last minute updates about the event.

If you do not live locally, look for a rally in your area as there will be many across the world on that day, the eve of the Paris talks.

Also, the Frida Cinema got so many calls from people wanting to see the film, This Changes Everything, that they added an encore screening for tomorrow, Tuesday, November 24, 7:30p. Buy tickets here.

One more thing. Thanksgiving is Thursday. We have much to be grateful for.

For those seeking an alternative to turkey on Thanksgiving, here is one of many helpful resources:
Recipes for The Ultimate Vegan Thanksgiving Menu: From Meatless Main Courses to Dairy-Free Pies.

In the spirit of Ubuntu,
Barbara English, LMFT, CBT, TRE Trainer
Founder and Executive Director, Living Ubuntu
livingubuntu.org | facebook | donate »
(949) 891-2005

[Ubuntu] n. My humanity is caught up, is inextricably bound up, in what is yours.