Human Rights Day

Today is Human Rights Day: The United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on this day in 1948.

This year’s Human Rights Day slogan is “Dignity, Freedom, and Justice for All”.

The 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights will be celebrated on 10 December 2023. Ahead of this milestone, starting today, the UN will launch a year-long campaign to showcase the UDHR by focusing on its legacy, relevance and activism.

In the decades since the adoption of the UDHR, it has served as the foundation for an expanding system of human rights protection that today focuses also on vulnerable groups such as persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples and migrants.

However, the promise of the UDHR, of dignity and equality in rights, has been under a sustained assault in recent years. As the world faces challenges new and ongoing – pandemics, conflicts, exploding inequalities, morally bankrupt global financial system, racism, climate change – the values, and rights enshrined in the UDHR provide guideposts for our collective actions that do not leave anyone behind.

The year-long campaign seeks to increase knowledge of the UDHR as a foundational blueprint for taking concrete actions to stand up for human rights and tackle pressing global issues today.

Agenda:

1. Journal queries

2. Choose next steps

3. Take the human rights pledge

Advent Earthcare

Exploring the Amazon, looking for birds.

 My theme for this first week of Advent is "Cherish and care for the earth". I express my unity with nature at Advent in two main ways:

• by offering small gifts of love and attention in recognition of all I receive from the earth
• and by finding joy and fulfillment in simply being alive, instead of in an excess of buying, eating, using, and wasting.

Agenda Today:

1. Journal queries
2. Define my work for earth care
3. Feed the birds
4. Make bird feeder pine cones

Earth Week Sunday

 This is the last day of Earth Week.

Agenda today:

1. Monthly journal brainstorm

2. Surrender, rest, recuperate

1. Watch videos

2. Write about my Earth Quaker ideas
3. Plan some actions to take

4. Ground in the earth

Advent Simplicity

My theme for this first week of Advent is to "Cherish and care for the earth". I aim to celebrate simply, and consume less, so that I have a gentle impact on the planet.

The modern way of observing the winter holidays supports an increase in waste; one statistic says that Americans throw away 25% more trash – an additional 5 million tons – between Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve. A fun holiday season doesn't have to be a wasteful one!

Agenda Today:
1. Journal queries
2. Make fabric bags
3. Bubblebath

Advent Earthcare

My theme for this first week of Advent is  

Exploring the Amazon, looking for birds.

"Cherish and care for the earth". I express my unity with nature at Advent in two main ways:

• by offering small gifts of love and attention in recognition of all I receive from the earth
• and by finding joy and fulfillment in simply being alive, instead of in an excess of buying, eating, using, and wasting.

Agenda Today:

1. Journal queries
2. Work against climate change
3. Feed the birds
4. Make bird feeder pine cones

Earth Week Tuesday and First Quarter Moon

 

This week I plan to post an agenda of activities for each day, to show my dedication and love for the earth.

Today is also the First Quarter Moon, when we are one-quarter of the way through the Sleepy Moon cycle. The moon is waxing - getting larger - until it's full again. Now is the time to remain flexible, use my obstacles as fuel for growth, and show full effort for priorities.

Agenda today:

1. Journal queries

2. Make a full effort plan

3. Earth Week petition walk

4. Plant a bee garden

5. Climate Revolutions by Bike Meeting

2021 Lenten Calendar, Week Seven

My theme for Lent this year is the Land I Live On. Most of my activism focus is on climate change, and I want to fuel that work with a strong and intimate connection to this land. I want to better understand my relationship to the natural world and the cycles of the seasons, the history, culture, and ecosystem of my valley, the indigenous peoples and how I connect to them, and the responsibility I feel for the land.

Also, because I am caring for my grandson this year, I have a unique opportunity to see the natural world through a baby's eyes, with Wonder and Discovery. I want to re-connect to the awe for Creation that I felt as a child.

 

March 28, Palm Sunday-

1. Journal queries: On Palm Sunday Jesus confronted the Roman domination of Jerusalem. I too am called to speak truth to power and put my faith into action.

Where do I see domination systems today?
What are my intentions for facing them with peaceful actions?

Journal: I have thrown myself fully into the climate justice movement, and that has already required me to speak truth to power, as well as to friends and family. My intentions are to speak with humble and compassionate honesty, from my own experience.

2. Prepare for a clearness meeting: I've been asked to clerk a meeting for clearness on reparations to Native Americans for a Friend. Today I will read the essay and ground myself in our process for clearness.

March 29, Holi-

3. Study Braiding Sweetgrass, section 4: The significance of braiding plaits of sweetgrass into three strands is symbolic of the philosophy and spirituality of the indigenous people. Sweetgrass is a sacred, healing plant to the Potawatomi people and is braided “... as if it were our mother’s hair, to show our loving care for her.”

4. Celebrate equality with color play: Holi is a Hindu holiday that marks the end of winter in India. It's sometimes called the Festival of Color, because on Holi everyone in India throws paint at each other! 

My grandson and I will mark the day with some outdoor paint play. 

March 30-

5. Study Braiding Sweetgrass, section 4: Preserving the relationship between plants and people through ecological restoration is another example of the need for listening to the plants. Kimmerer states in the ‘Umbilicaria: The Belly Button of the World’ chapter, “... lichens are born from reciprocity. ... They remind us of the enduring power that rises from mutualism, from the sharing of the gifts carried by each species.”

March 31-

6. Go to a climate rally: During the national Build Back Fossil Free Week of Action (March 29th – April 3rd), we will have local opportunities to take action. Today I went to a rally at the old Federal Building (my first for over a year!)

April 1, Maundy Thursday-

7. Show Love: Maundy is an English word that comes from the Latin mandatum, referring to the new commandment that Jesus made on that night: 

“A new commandment I give to you, that you Love one another. As I have loved you so you must love one another.” (John 13:34). 

8. Go to the garden tonight to pray: The Catholic Church has a tradition of keeping a vigil after the Maundy Thursday service, in remembrance of Jesus' important prayer in the garden of Gethsemane on this night. His instructions to his apostles were to "watch and pray", so I will sit in silence and wait for the Spirit to fill me. I will pray for peace in the world, respect for the earth, health for the sick, and comfort for the grieving. 

April 2, Good Friday-

9. Darkness to Hope Meditation: This morning I reflect on desperation and despair. I remember again that the soul's "dark night" is a part of the human condition. My capacity to experience despair is a gift; through it I am transformed. Jesus said, "You must be born again." (John 3:7). The ability to shift from despair to hope is how I get the strength to live life whatever the daily deaths I might face.

April 3, Great Saturday-

10. Dye eggs with my family

April 4, Easter- 

2021 Lenten Calendar, Week Four

My theme for Lent this year is the Land I Live On. Most of my activism focus is on climate change, and I want to fuel that work with a strong and intimate connection to this land. I want to better understand my relationship to the natural world and the cycles of the seasons, the history, culture, and ecosystem of my valley, the indigenous peoples and how I connect to them, and the responsibility I feel for the land.

Also, because I am caring for my grandson this year, I have a unique opportunity to see the natural world through a baby's eyes, with Wonder and Discovery. I want to re-connect to the awe for Creation that I felt as a child.

March 7, Third Sunday of Lent-

1. Journal queries: What have I learned so far from my Lenten fast and study? What are the next steps to take? Ground myself in optimistic hope for the future, and open to the best actions to take.

From my journal: I'm enjoying my reading and research! Some ideas for future studies are reparations for Native Americans, experiments with "attunement" in the garden, and a dive into Paganism / Earth religion.

2. Wonder Practices - Enjoy a bonfire: We went out to the country today to 'help' to burn a brush pile. The fire was underwhelming, but we had fun being out of doors with friends, playing with dogs, and digging in the dirt.

March 8, International Women's Day - 

3. I enjoyed this photo essay: Climate change is a women's issue. Some points: Changing climate affects everyone – but it’s the world’s poorest and those in vulnerable situations, especially women and girls, who bear the brunt of environmental, economic and social shocks. And, just as the pandemic has done, climate-induced disasters exacerbate entrenched gender inequalities. Often, women and girls are the last to eat or be rescued; face greater health and safety risks as water and sanitation systems become compromised; and take on increased domestic and care work as resources disappear.

March 9, Waning Crescent Moon-

4. Study The Kalapuyans: I started this short book on the indigenous people of my valley. My reading this week is about mounds and artifacts of the paleo-indians of the valley.

5. 

Surrender, rest, recuperate: 

This next few days is a time to be empty; the time for striving is past. As the moon’s light fades into darkness I get to relax and surrender to the universe. 

Some things will always be out of my control. As the moon's appearance dwindles, I let go of useless beliefs, unreasonable expectations, grudges, defensiveness, projects that don't fit into my life, and anything else that isn't working for me. I turn these all over to the Divine and give thanks, my way of opening to receive new intentions in the new month.

Then I give myself permission to rest! 

March 10 -

6. Plant a native garden bed: We picked up our pollinator plants and other native plants on Saturday, and today I'm going to prepare a new bed and plant them!

I'm going to experiment again with what at Findhord is called attunement, inner-listening, and co-creation, and consists mostly of being quiet and taking time to listen within for direction and guidance, as well as making a mystical connection to the plants themselves. Part of the purpose of attunement is to align with the most peaceful way to accomplish something, and another is to offer myself to service for the earth.

March 11 - 

6. Study Braiding Sweetgrass, section 3: The reciprocity theme continues in this section with an emphasis upon the gifts the land provides, finding our unique gifts to give in return, how our gifts can be used to foster the sense of community, and how “plants teach in a universal language: food.”  

In The Three Sisters story I learned that “... the lessons of reciprocity are written clearly in a Three Sisters garden. Together their stems inscribe what looks to me like a blueprint for the world, a map of balance and harmony.” When corn, beans, and squash are planted together, their “organic symmetry of forms belongs together... Respect one another, support one another, bring your gift to the world and receive the gifts of others, and there will be enough for all.” What does each of The Three Sisters bring to their reciprocal relationship? How can this partnership create a stronger community? Can I think of other examples of such win-win situations?

March 12, New Moon-

9. Panchakshara Mantra: This mantra means "five letters" in Sanskrit, and refers to the five letters Na, Ma, Si, Va, and Ya:

Om (the primordial sound)
Namah (I honor)
Shivaya (the source of creation)

This is a prayer to Shiva, who is the universal consciousness. Shiva is life potential and the ground out of which everything grows; Shiva is the space from where everything has come, where everything is sustained, and where everything eventually dissolves.

10. Have a yin kind of day: Spend one day in yin mode, not doing, but rather being. Hang out in the garden, relax in my home, drink water, read a book, daydream, go for a long walk, take a bath, take a nap, linger over dinner, and go to bed early.

March 13-

11. Tree planting with Friends of Trees! We had a successful morning, and I helped to plant 6 trees in 5 yards near my neighborhood.

Advent Earth Care

Exploring the Amazon, looking for birds.

 My theme for this first week of Advent is to "Cherish and care for the earth". I express my unity with nature at Advent in two basic ways:

• by offering small gifts of love and attention in recognition of all I receive from the earth
• and by finding joy and fulfillment in simply being alive, instead of in an excess of buying, eating, using, and wasting.

Agenda Today:
1. Journal queries

2. Go for longer walks
3. Work against climate change
4. Create an outside winter visiting area
5. Make bird feeder pine cones

Earth Week

Earth Day is on April 22, and this week is called Earth Week. 

The first Earth Day was in 1970 and it still remains a big event in the environmental movement. Interest and participation in Earth Day has increased and spread around the world, with millions of people taking part. 

I do many things everyday in my life to help the earth: I live in a small house; I walk and bike, and work at home; I buy used stuff and buy locally; I use the library instead of buying books; I compost, recycle, and grow my own food, and I work with other climate activists to help change the way we use carbon in our community.

This year, because we are all staying home to stay safe, some of my usual community Earth Week events are cancelled, so I did a search for ideas for environmental activities we can do while in quarantine at home. My old and new favorites are listed here.

Agenda this week:

1. Earth Week petition walks
2. Clean the neighborhood
3. Plant a bee garden
4. Watch Nature Cams
5.  Make Earth Cookies

Lent Calendar 2020, Week Three

My theme for Lent this year is the Road to Resilience. I'm trying to build and strengthen my ability to bounce back from challenges, conflict, and calamity. My goals are:

• Resilience Habits: Resilience has lots of parts - equanimity, flexibility, resolution, tenacity, social intelligence, and optimism to name a few. I want to gradually add in some useful daily habits as a practical way to grow in recilience.
• Fast from binge eating: I try to choose something to fast from that is a good symbol of how I am trying to grow, and I think my binge eating has a direct connection to feeling overwhelmed by life's challenges.

• Educate myself: I'm reading the book The Coward's Guide to Conflict: Empowering Solutions for those Who Would Rather Run Than Fight.
• Inner work: Ground myself in journaling, meditation, and prayer to connect to my core of peace and courage. 
• Take creative action: Take decisive action on adverse or challenging situations as they arise, and use my creative super powers to grow, and make the world better.

March 8-
1. Journal queries: What have I learned so far from my Lenten fast and study? What is the next step to take towards resiliency? Ground myself in optimistic hope for the future, and become more open to the best actions to take.

2. Massive Bike Ride: My Climate Revolutions group has a monthly ride this day, and we are celebrating our first year birthday! Also, I am leading an idea gathering activity to inspire us for the next year.

March 9, Full Egg Moon-
3. Study "The Coward's Guide to Conflict": Read Chapters 7-11 this week. Also, practice charting out my conflicts, in order to find compelling reasons for facing conflicts rather than running.
Here's a paraphrased section from chapter 9 that gets to the crux for me: After a conflict, we have a several choices - 

• We can ignore it and have shallow relationships.
• We can panic, avoid each other, and miss out on a growth opportunity.
• We can hold on to anger and bitterness, lose trust in each other, and end our relationship.
• OR we can try to understand it, and do our best to grow from it.

March 10-
4. Climate Justice Town Hall: 350 Eugene is hosting this event to talk about environmental justice, and I hope to gather more ideas for next steps I can take.

From the Baxter Power Plant in West Eugene, rendering the soil unsafe to the City's need to adequately incorporate climate justice recommendations made by community members from the Equity Panel into the Climate Action Plan, environmental injustice is rampant in our community.

This town hall features a panel on local environmental equity issues, followed by breakout groups that focus on how climate activists can engage with local environmental justice issues. Together, we will share resources, identify and organize next steps to take together.

March 11-
5. Resilience Habits: Resilience has lots of parts - equanimity, flexibility, resolution, tenacity, social intelligence, and optimism to name a few. I've added some useful daily habits to help myself stay calm, and this week I'm adding a habit to help myself stay focused and tenacious, even when I'd rather procrastinate, or avoid the challenge.

Each morning I will list the activities I'm having trouble completing, or relationships I'm struggling with, and make a plan for how to face them with strength. I have these strategies:

• Find the smallest, most non-threatening step I can take and do it.
• Write about the pleasure I will feel when it's done.
• Set reminders on my phone.
• Tell someone about my plan.

March 12- 

6. Climate Candidate Forum: My chance to hear what local candidates say about action on the climate.

CANCELLED due to Corona Virus.

(Instead I got my Shingles vaccine and spent a day on the couch sleeping.)

March 13-

7. Make a prayer flag:

March 14- 
8.

February Simplicity

The Testimony of Simplicity was one of the things that attracted me to Quakers 30 years ago.

What is a testimony? Well, Quaker’s have used the term “testimonies” since the 17th century to mean a public profession of religious experience, and understanding of the truth. In other words: A testimony is a spiritual leading to action, where spirit and action come together. 

Now as I become more active in climate justice, my calling to simplicity has become more central to my life. I lead a simple life in order to do what I can to save the planet!

Agenda this week:

1. Journal queries
2. Set priorities
3. Simplify my kitchen
4. Maintain hope

Earth Week 2019

Today is Earth Day, and I plan to celebrate this whole week as Earth Week.

The first Earth Day was in 1970 and it still remains a big event in the environmental movement. Interest and participation in Earth Day has increased and spread around the world, with millions of people taking part. 

I do many things everyday in my life to help the earth: I live in a small house; I walk and bike, and work at home; I buy used stuff and buy locally; I use the library instead of buying books; I compost, recycle, and grow my own food, and I work with other climate activists to help change the way we use carbon in our community.

This week I ask myself “What more could I do?” I want to stretch my limits to action.

Agenda this week:

1. Earth Week petition walks
2. Clean the neighborhood
3. Study climate friendly yard design
4. Bicycle promotion work
5. Make Earth Cookies
6. Sew a new badge to wear

2019 Lent Calendar, Week 7

My theme for Lent is low-carbon living. I'm working on climate justice this year, so I want to get a better technical understanding of the best practical changes to make in my life.

At Lent I allow myself to be slow, simple, and thoughtful. I spend time each day in focused study and prayer. And I choose something to temporarily reduce or cut out of my life, as a reminder that what I truly need is the nurturing of Spirit. And I also observe Lent as a time of creative action, acting on what I learn.

April 14, Palm Sunday-

1. Journal queries: On Palm Sunday Jesus confronted the Roman domination of Jerusalem. I too am called to speak truth to power and put my faith into action.

Where do I see domination systems today?
What are my intentions for facing them with peaceful actions?

Journal: I have thrown myself fully into the climate justice movement, and that has already required me to speak truth to power, as well as to friends and family. My intentions are to speak with humble and compassionate honesty, from my own experience.

April 15-

2. Fasting: Week six- I'm continuing to fast from carbon by not heating my office, not using my dryer for anything I can possibly dry outside, and not eating beef.

April 16-

3. Resilliency Webinar: I've been studying resilience- how to be resilient in the face of catastorophic climate change, and how to extend hope to others as they face upheavals in their lives. Bob Doppelt, the resiliency expert, says that it helps to have a "Purposing Plan", which is like a mission statement that covers goals for enhancing my own wellbeing, the wellbeing of others, and for the environment. I think having a purpose to focus on helps to control feelings of panic.

My plan is to:

1. Study low carbon living, write about it, and share what I learn;
2. Attend the Community Climate Coalition to learn about our city's CAP plan and pass this information on to others, so we can encourage the city to act on it;
3. Find ways to improve bicycle safety, so that more people will feel safe to bike in our city- this is a big goal, so I'll start by doing lots of research.

April 17-

4. Dye eggs with my family

April 18, Maundy Thursday:

5. Show Love: Maundy is an English word that comes from the Latin mandatum, referring to the new commandment that Jesus made on that night: 

“A new commandment I give to you, that you Love one another. As I have loved you so you must love one another.” (John 13:34).

April 19, Good Friday and Passover:
6. Write about freedom:

Passover is about freedom from slavery, oppression, and confinement, but Judaism defines true freedom as the ability to express who you really are. If something in my heart and soul has not had the opportunity to be expressed, then I am not yet free.

Today I will contemplate and write about what freedom means to me.

April 20, Great Saturday

April 21- Easter