TIME FOR ACTION

Can we be spiritual and speak out against the things we believe to bring pain and misery to people and animals?  Are people who strive to remove negativity from their lives able to engage in discussions or debates about the injustices around them?  I have and continue to struggle with the idea that I try to inspire others to remove negativity from their lives yet share stories that are sometimes not so positive.  Is this a contradiction of sorts?

Simply put – we have to address the issues that are not so happy or positive to talk about in order to help resolve whatever negative issue it is.  I have received messages/comments on various social media indicating “Why do you post such cruel or negative stories?” or “Some of pictures you post are really offensive and violent.”  I believe, that I have an obligation to be as truthful as I can about the issues that I am passionate about.  I would rather be blatant about these issues in order for people to understand the importance of a certain message.  We can’t be passionate about fighting climate change without understanding the devastation or impact that climate change will have on our planet.  You can’t speak of animal rights without seeing or hearing the abuse animals endure in our for us to eat or wear them.  We can’t act on human rights issues if we don’t have empathy for those who are facing those issues with threat of imprisonment, violence or even death.

I am shocked in knowing how many people were more enraged about Miley Cyrus’s MTV performance than the verdict in the Trayvon Martin case.  We have become so desensitized to the issues that we should be enraged about and enraged about the issues that shouldn’t matter at all.  If we managed to turn off our televisions long enough – how many of us would realize that television is just a means of distraction, a means to keep people pre-occupied from thinking – instead, they are told what to buy, eat, drink, smoke, visit, do, say, etc…and they really believe it.  Imagine if we kept our televisions turned off long enough to engage in conversation and to listen to one another and come up with solutions to the issues we should be concerned about.  Forget about Miley Cyrus and her MTV performance – you would not know of it if you were volunteering at the local animal shelter or soup kitchen.

Don’t get me wrong – sometimes, it’s okay not to care, it’s okay to have a day where we can be silly and not have to worry about a thing.  So what is a happy medium?  I believe that we have an obligation to act and to become involved in the issues that are causing so many grief and misery.  Ignorance is not bliss.  Our ignorance has allowed financial institutions to reap the rewards of their greed.  It has allowed our corrupt governments to create legislation that benefit corporations and not the constituents that have elected them.  Our ignorance has allowed us to be indifferent to the abuse animals endure for fashion and food.  Our ignorance (and lack of involvement) has given our governments free rein to control us with fear and a false sense of security and we need to WAKE UP.

It is time for action now because:

• We are running out of fresh water and clean air.
• The food we are consuming is killing us and keeping us sick.
• Government is not working on our behalf.
• Corporations are influencing legislation.
• Media/Government/Corporations are dictating what we do, say, eat, drink, etc.
• We don’t need another Wal-Mart/McDonald’s/Burger King/KFC/Kelsey’s/Home Depot/housing development/etc.
• Prescription drugs shouldn’t be an answer to health care.
• We only have THIS planet.

So – is it better to go through life as a zombie and to be told what YOU should be doing, saying, or buying?  Or is it time to WAKE UP, turn off the televisions (and whatever else is a means of distraction) and take action.  It is time to fight for clean air, healthy food, policies for the greater good of humanity and for LOVE.  What is more spiritual than having the need and desire to create positive change in the world?

It is time for action and for a REVOLUTION OF LOVE!

Together, we can make the world a more positive one!

 

BIG CORPORATIONS are FULL OF S**T!

Okay – this blog is supposed to be about creating positive change in the world….so why a blog title with such a negative implication?  Well – in order to achieve positive outcomes and promote positive change into the world – we must look at the bad.  Here are some of the most profitable companies in the world and some of their crimes – educate yourself, do the research and ask yourself these questions:  Do you want to continue to support this kind of business?  Are their products really promoting good health?  Do these companies really have the consumers best interests at hand?  Are they environmentally conscious?  How are they treating their workers around the world?  Is the company really promoting an inclusive, positive and healthy planet?  Keep these questions in mind as we take a closer look at just how these corporations run their business.

COCA COLA – Yes, it is THE REAL THING but not really what you think.

Coca Cola has spent millions of dollars marketing Coke (and  many of their other soft drink brands) as delicious and sometimes nutritious.  Tell me, how can they sell their brands as nutritious and delicious when evidence has shown that aspartame, phosphoric acid, food dyes, other additives and toxins are not conducive to good health.  Yes, it is the consumers obligation to ensure they understand the consequences of their actions but Coca Cola has to take some responsibility – just as the tobacco industry has done.  Should they add more labelling in addition to their caloric values?  I believe so – as I mentioned, the tobacco companies have all included ‘warning labels’ on their cigarette packages such as how addictive they are, links to cancers and chronic respiratory illnesses.  Is it so difficult to have a label indicating that some of their products are addictive and may cause obesity and diabetes?

According to the group Killer Coke – they have claims that Coca Cola Corporation is responsible for many human rights violations not to mention tax evasion and breaking environmental laws.  Here are some examples of their crimes listed on http://killercoke.org/about.php:

India:  Pollution of water sources, deception and cover-ups and pesticides in Coca Cola beverages.

Kenya:  Public health fears and pollution.

Mexico:  Breaking laws, defrauding Mexican workers and government.

Pakistan:  Extortion/blackmail, abductions and death threats.

Philippines:  Smuggling, tax evasion.

Tanzania:  Worker health and safety issues and child labor.

Turkey:  Workers fired for organizing union.

You can review all of the above issues and more on this groups website.  These allegations are serious and if true, Coca Cola should be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.  Just because you amass such outrageous profits – shouldn’t exempt you from violating human rights, environmental and federal laws.  I am grateful that I do not support this company and any of its softdrinks including; Vitamin Water (which has no nutritional value), Coke Zero (which includes aspartame – proven not to be good for our bodies) and Dasani Water.  Stop filling landfills with these products and look to other healthier beverage choices.  Support local business that are organic and water depots that award you for being environmentally conscious and give you safe and clean water.

McDONALDS – Who’s LOVIN’ IT?

Many people have complained about the lack of proper nutrition that fast-food chains serve, what did they expect?  Here are some facts about the most noticeable fast-food chain in our existence:

• 179 restaurants in India, where most people don’t eat either beef or pork.
• 24 billion in revenue, yet they pay their workers minimum wage.  (Most workers employed by McDonald’s don’t make enough money to eat there).
• 700,000 workers in the USA, with 150% turnover rate.
• Americans consume one billion pounds of beef at McDonald’s in a year.
• Next 3 years, McDonald’s plans to open one restaurant everyday in China.

So what is wrong with McDonald’s?  Well, like Coca Cola – they have been known to exploit children by offering toys to eat their food that lacks any sort of nutrients for their bodies.  They have been in the public eye for the inhumane treatment of animals – McDonald’s is responsible for the mass genocide of five and a half million head of cattle each year, not to mention the environmental implications that factory farming has on our planet, water and food supply.  We all know that McDonald’s isn’t serving healthy and nutritious meals or beverages to their consumers – they depend on this fact to keep them raking in their mass profits so that they can continue their abuse on their workers, the planets animals and the planet itself.  I am so glad that my addiction to fast-food was suppressed so long ago.  There was a time where my health was directly affected by consuming unhealthy burgers and beverages from McDonald’s.  I strongly believe that the mind-numbing migraines I used to get was from eating this processed food.  So glad those days are behind me.

More detailed information can be found on the following site:  http://www.mcspotlight.org/campaigns/translations/trans_uk.html

WAL-MART – The lowest price is the law (and it’s greedy).

Here is what is know about Wal-Mart:

• 2.1 million full-time employees.
• 405 billion dollars in revenue.
• Sold more bananas than any other item (most-likely, non-organic).
• Largest overall employer in the USA.
• All Wal-Mart parking lots would make up the size of Tampa, Florida.
• Battling 1.6 million employees in the largest class action discrimination law suit.
• Walton Family has given away about 2% of its net worth to charity.  Bill Gates gave 48% and Warren Buffet (78%)

Not only is Wal-Mart an eyesore – it is allowed to build in small towns rendering local business useless.  Now that it is selling food items – many local farmers are forced to file for bankruptcy. 

These corporations hide behind the mask of tolerance and compassion and would like us to believe that they care for their consumers.  This could not be further from the truth.  The shareholders and CEO’s of these mega corporations don’t support their workers, their products, the environment, the humane treatment of animals, the laws of other countries, human rights issues and they certainly do nothing to promote positive change in the world.  We know the truth and we have to stop making the following excuses;  “I’m too busy to shop anywhere else”, “I can’t afford organic food”, “it’s so convenient to buy everything in one store”, “the products are cheapest here”……When we keep telling ourselves these things, we buy into their brainwashing tactics.  If we continue to be fooled and leave our ‘blinders’ on – this world is going to be one that supports corporations that will continue to force small businesses into bankruptcy, they will continue to promote a world that supports obesity and diabetes, they will support a society where we allow mass genocide, economic inequality, discrimination based on gender and sexual orientation, environmental disregard and human rights violations.  If this is a world you want to be part of – they keep your blinders on because as they say – IGNORANCE IS BLISS!  Personally – I can’t be part of this and will continue to do my best to inform people of the injustices of BIG CORPORATIONS because without exploiting this negative energy, there can never be a positive outcome.

Together, we can make the world a more positive one!