Climate and social justice: from Cancun #1

The following is reposted from the Presbyterian Hunger Program Food and Faith Blog:

Climate and social justice: from Cancun #1

Blain Snipstal and Bethel Erickson during the Agrarian Road Trip in June

Blain Snipstal, HEART Road Trip alumnus, is currently in Cancun during the UN COP-16 Climate Talks on a Rural Coalition delegation and sponsored by the Presbyterian Hunger Program. Along with thousands of people from civil society, many coming by caravan through Mexico, he is participating in the Alternative Global Forum on Climate Change and Social Justice (see news report about small farmer participation). This is his first post from Cancun with thoughts prior to his departure on Dec. 3rd.

I write this to you as I am experiencing the final days of my academic experiment (well, at least for now). Academia, for me, was a microcosm for experiencing the dualities, tri-alities, and quasi-alities that our collective amalgamation of life, which we call the world, can offer. In my final days; the world is shrinking; its once enormity is now no more than an infinitesimal dot or splash in a sea of consciousness. Perhaps, nothing is what it seems. Each day, the limitless of life is shown above the codifiers of our human experience. Another binary is broken; forever shattered and swept beneath the curtains of the past. For me, individual thoughts, apart from physiological needs, have become focused in their originality.

Prosperous progress for the evolution of progeny; devout service to, and unflinching faith in, the eternal.

Several years ago, I came across a quote by Gandhi;

"The world depends for its existence on the act of generation, and as the world is the playground, of god and a reflection of his glory, the act of generation should be controlled for the ordered growth of the world. he who realizes this will control his lust at any cost, equip himself with the knowledge necessary for the physical, mental and spiritual well-being of his progeny, and give the benefit of that knowledge to posterity."

Blain Snipstal and Bethel Erickson during the Agrarian Road Trip in June

Blain Snipstal, HEART Road Trip alumnus, is currently in Cancun during the UN COP-16 Climate Talks on a Rural Coalition delegation and sponsored by the Presbyterian Hunger Program. Along with thousands of people from civil society, many coming by caravan through Mexico, he is participating in the Alternative Global Forum on Climate Change and Social Justice (see news report about small farmer participation). This is his first post from Cancun with thoughts prior to his departure on Dec. 3rd.

I write this to you as I am experiencing the final days of my academic experiment (well, at least for now). Academia, for me, was a microcosm for experiencing the dualities, tri-alities, and quasi-alities that our collective amalgamation of life, which we call the world, can offer. In my final days; the world is shrinking; its once enormity is now no more than an infinitesimal dot or splash in a sea of consciousness. Perhaps, nothing is what it seems. Each day, the limitless of life is shown above the codifiers of our human experience. Another binary is broken; forever shattered and swept beneath the curtains of the past. For me, individual thoughts, apart from physiological needs, have become focused in their originality.

Prosperous progress for the evolution of progeny; devout service to, and unflinching faith in, the eternal.

Several years ago, I came across a quote by Gandhi;

"The world depends for its existence on the act of generation, and as the world is the playground, of god and a reflection of his glory, the act of generation should be controlled for the ordered growth of the world. he who realizes this will control his lust at any cost, equip himself with the knowledge necessary for the physical, mental and spiritual well-being of his progeny, and give the benefit of that knowledge to posterity."

Profound words. It begets the questions: What are you doing in this world, if it's not for the betterment of humankind?

Now, the use of 'betterment' is subjective in its nature but, I believe, it presupposes an objective understanding of the failures and mistakes humans have made against each other and against nature allowing one to truly learn from our collective, and subjective, pasts.

A good friend once said, "even the conscious, subconscious and the instinctual, intentional can" and must, "flow together in a balanced and nurturing/sustaining way." Yes! The world works with a strain of inter-connectivity nurturing any and all relationships, even the conflicts. So, setting "your" intention is critical! Intention; the 'N' on your life's compass, must be set with the same energy, clarity, intelligence and love from which created you; the source from which we all have come from.

Perhaps, the notion that I am but one person and the world is too large to change may have a vein of truth. And, I suppose there is truth in knowing that I am but a speck of dust on the carpet of eternity.

But I know there is truth in knowing that the brightest points in our "known" history are marked by prominent dust particles reshaping the carpet from which we exist upon. Yes, there is enormity all around us, but perseverance and strength we have, for "all the immensity [of life] is contained in the small. Smallness is nothing but immensity on the human scale.”

Dream big; imagine greater possibilities for our world than the ones that exist now, for creativity with intention for human change represents the union between the power(s) of love and the oneness of life itself.

via presbyterian.typepad.com

Now, the use of 'betterment' is subjective in its nature but, I believe, it presupposes an objective understanding of the failures and mistakes humans have made against each other and against nature allowing one to truly learn from our collective, and subjective, pasts.

A good friend once said, "even the conscious, subconscious and the instinctual, intentional can" and must, "flow together in a balanced and nurturing/sustaining way." Yes! The world works with a strain of inter-connectivity nurturing any and all relationships, even the conflicts. So, setting "your" intention is critical! Intention; the 'N' on your life's compass, must be set with the same energy, clarity, intelligence and love from which created you; the source from which we all have come from.

Perhaps, the notion that I am but one person and the world is too large to change may have a vein of truth. And, I suppose there is truth in knowing that I am but a speck of dust on the carpet of eternity.

But I know there is truth in knowing that the brightest points in our "known" history are marked by prominent dust particles reshaping the carpet from which we exist upon. Yes, there is enormity all around us, but perseverance and strength we have, for "all the immensity [of life] is contained in the small. Smallness is nothing but immensity on the human scale.”

Dream big; imagine greater possibilities for our world than the ones that exist now, for creativity with intention for human change represents the union between the power(s) of love and the oneness of life itself.