Who Is To Blame?

There is no point in continuing to pursue confirmation about Peak Oil or H5N1, or Global Warming or The Infinite War. All these catastrophes are already upon us, and I will no longer provide confirmations as I have done. It should be obvious by now, based on the sheer number of simple and profound reports on these issues. But there is a point in determining how we can collectively and, if push comes to shove, individually, deal with these converging dilemmas.

Henceforth, the focus of this blog will be on the appropriate responses. How can we respond?

Let me begin by painting a visual for you. We're a bunch of scavenging crabs on a small little strip of beach thumb height above sea level. And advancing from various directions are some very big waves: Multi-tsunami. Those waves are already there. There's nothing we can do to get rid of them or change them, they're already blocking out a lot of the sky.
And they're certain to crash over us and engulf us. It's not really a question of when, because it's already happening, we can see the waves.
The only thing we can do, is deal with ourselves in our immediate surroundings. We have control over our bodies and minds, and I'd like the focus to go there.

Large oil companies like Exxon Mobil Corp. and Chevron Corp. were never the most popular corporate denizens in consumers' minds, but the sticker shock of $3-plus gas prices as the nation struggled in Hurricane Katrina's aftermath has unleashed a new fury among drivers.

Our first reaction to the economic malaise that will impact everyone, far and wide, will be anger. Fury. Who is to blame? And in keeping with our current behaviour, we will take the path of least resistance, and do everything except what is important. We'll deny, we'll blame, we'll try to escape. None of that will make any difference or have any effect.

As stunned Americans watched rampant looting on the streets of New Orleans after Katrina flooded the city, one Boston Globe writer opined that Big Oil was the biggest looter of them all.

Others have expressed similar sentiments.

"People feel that they were making large profits beforehand, but now they're making it off consumers at a time when the country is on its knees," said Pam Solo, president of the Civil Society Institute.

We took the easy road a long time ago, and on that easy road we endorsed meaningless companies like Coca Cola, MacDonalds and Entertainment News, we allowed corrupt corporate custodians to set ridiculous policies and then re-elected them; we may not support the war now, but many enthusiastically shouted for revenge post 9/11. We are to blame, you and me, and every time we buy junk, listen to junk, or amuse ourselves with junk, we reinforce the mess we allowed to happen.
You can choose to join the chorous of anger, but if you do, remember that you designed this road to ruin. You can continue to walk it, but you know where it leads.

The other path, and you know this already, is not an easy path.
You will have to accept the truth, and that is painful.
But then you can begin to do something that means something in this world.
I suggest you start by looking at the immediate space around you. What's there that doesn't belong there? Is it cluttered, if so, throw it out. Stop using a heater to warm yourself or an airconditioner to cool yourself down. Walk to work or start exercising, if you aren't already. If reading bad news about faraway places is making you feel depressed, stop doing that. Focus on your immediate environment.
Don't resist the reality. Learn to live with it. Accept it. And then act.

I'd also suggest you spend more time on your own, and in nature, so that you can find your centre, and begin to see and feel the life, underneath your life situation, so that you can begin to know the truth, under the illusions of this world.

We are in for some incredible events, so you will need to find your inner strength.
You should ask yourself how relevant your life now, will be to a world in crisis. If you work in PR, you'd better find another job. Educate yourself. Learn how to grow things, find out about square foot gardening, and herb remedies, learn first aid, and elementary mechanics. Start writing down, on paper, important information, including historical data.

Be supportive of people around you, because you will need to relie on them, and them on you. You can be friendly and kind without having to convince them of what you know.
Find out who the decision makers are in your community, and share your concerns with them. Network with your community, and develop initiatives that you anticipate will be important.
Share your concerns with friends and family, or send letters to newspapers.

Become a perveyor of the truth, because the truth will set you free. If you hear a news report or someone saying something that isn't meaningful, correct them, or correct the statement in your own mind. You may think that's a silly thing to suggest. Actually, it's the most important first step. If your first step is a meaningless one, the last will be too. Those delusions are what got us lost. Get disciplined on focussing firmly on the truth.
You'll see why that's important in the article provided below.

The world will very soon lose a lot of its structure, and large groups of people with lots of time on their hands, will suddenly find themselves not sure what to do, or where they are. This feeling of being lost and confused will quickly lead to anger, disorder and distrust, and violence. This is why setting up communities now, who have already adopted common and affirming philosophies, will deal with these difficult days more constructively.
We can't stop what's happening, but we can deal with it with morality and intelligence, with calm and fortitude and discipline.

There simply will be no such thing as business as usual from now on. Normal will be something we will yearn for, but we shouldn't. We need to be rooted in reality, and we should anticipate problems and find solutions - that's what survival is all about. We can get emotional about that, but that's not very useful, unless that emotion is inspired and passionate and lifesaving.

Here are some suggestions for right now:

- choose to consume fruits and vegetables, and learn how to grow them
- get used to physical activity - walking, running, swimming, hiking
- stop wasting time on meaningless activites like watching movies and general escapism
- start to access your inner resources through prayer, meditation, time in nature or by being with yourself
- stop buying things that aren't necessary (things will soon be a lot more expensive)
- get all money out of derivatives immediately, and make sure money in the bank is easy to withdraw.
- invest a fraction of savings (say, 10%) in real gold coins
- if you have a large car, trade it in for a smaller one that is more efficient
- if you have a large house, ditto, but make sure it is situated close to natural sources of food and water
- start exercising, and developing a sense of inner focus, and inner resilience
- spend lots of time alone, and strengthen your emotional backbone - you're going to need to stay calm and have your wits about you.
- be kind and courteous to people around you, because we're all in for rough weather, and unfortunately, things are going to deteriorate in ever worsening cycles and patterns over many years
- find practical solutions for yourself and your community and start executing those plans now
- listen to your own spirit, and find the life underneath your life situation. Be very quiet and accepting, and listen to your being.
- try to accept and understand what is happening in the world. You cannot resist it or avoid it or deny it. Accept and allow yourself to tune in to what is really happening to the planet. Let that truth and your truth become one truth, and then you will know what to do. You don't have to be afraid, but you do have to do what you know you have to do. You should start now.

Birmingham burns: Rape ignites fury
RASHMEE ROSHAN LALL

[ Monday, October 24, 2005 12:54:33 am TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
LONDON: Brown-on-black race rioting has flared in Asian-dominant Birmingham, Britain's second city and the supposed showpiece of 21st-century European multi-cultural harmony.

Saturday's rioting, which left one Black man dead, and at least 20 others, including a police officer injured, erupted after the Jamaican community in ethnically diverse Birmingham accused Asian youths thought to be of Pakistani origin of raping a 14-year-old black girl.

The violence, which is thought to have involved rival gangs of 100s of Asian and Black youths, left several, mainly Pakistani-run kebab shops shops, news-agents and grocers vandalised.

Eyewitnesses said dozens of youths smashed property and attacked police. Bricks and bottles were thrown, and, the viciousness was such that even an ambulance was attacked by a gang wielding sticks.

The rioting occurred in Birmingham's Lozells area, a multi-cultural part of the city where substantial numbers of Asians and Blacks, mainly of Jamaican descent, live cheek by jowl. Lozells, a poor area, has gone down in history as the home of the bloody Handsworth riots of September 1985, which saw two days of violent unrest following the arrest of a black man by police.

Another thing: Learn to become good neighbours.