Tuesday 30 April 2013

Radio 4 Program Something Understood: Towards a New Consciousness

Sharon Seager has posted this about an episode of the Radio 4 Program Something Understood.  The episode is no longer available for listening, but on the BBC website there is some information about the program with a reading list:  

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qn7f/broadcasts/2013/02


IPlayer Radio 4 - fri 3 Feb
Something Understood
'Towards a new   Consciousness'
It's a 30 min programme about Catholic sisters using theological thinking of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin to rethink their practice and religious life taking into account 21st C concerns of ecology.

I found it a very interesting parallel conversation to that which takes place in our study sessions. I was also encouraged that another faith group is giving such matters consideration. 

Best Wishes,
Sharon.






Sunday 24 February 2013

Neuroscience and Change of Consciousness, posted by Zofia Hockin

Hello Fellow Participants ***

I suspect that that at least some of you might have thought that I "fell of the Moon" when I brought in the subject of how using the latest discoveries of neuroscience could be the way to "repair the world", by creating the change of consciousness, so that we learn not to allow our old "animal" part of brain govern our thinking and behaviour.

To give my contribution some scientific credibility I'd like to recommend "The Compassionate Brain" - the series of 7 lectures, available free on the internet on the subject of:

Practical Neuroscience for Transformation - about different ways to use the power of neuroplasticity—how the mind can change the brain to transform the mind—to open the heart, build courage, find compassion, forgive oneself and others, and heal the world.

It is available here:   http://live.soundstrue.com/compassionatebrain

If you only have time to watch one, I suggest the second one, by Dan Siegel. He is the one who thought up the hand model to show different parts of the brain.

Be well

Zofia

Monday 28 January 2013

Zofia Hockin has posted some information about 2 campaigning organisations Avaaz and 38 degrees


"At the first two Saturdays of the Jewish Justice course we have been looking at the ways in which BKY could get more engaged in the social justice issues.

I'd like to suggest that apart from using the exclusively Jewish channels, we could, as BKY or as individuals, support the existing campaigns ran by the two independent online campaigning organisations - Avaaz, which acts on the global level, and 38 degrees that is concerned with the UK issues. 

Both organisations had already a noticable degree of success in influencing the policy makers by raising a broad public opinion response.

It is also possible to start our own campaign using their infrastructure.

Below I include the short quotes from their  webpages, and I warmly invite everyone to find more informations on their websites.


"Avaaz is a global web movement to bring people-powered politics to decision-making everywhere.
Each year, Avaaz sets overall priorities through all-member polls, and campaign ideas are polled and tested weekly to 10,000-member random samples—and only initiatives that find a strong response are taken to scale.
It also allows the members to start their own campaigns.
Because Avaaz is wholly member-funded, democratic accountability is in our DNA. No corporate sponsor or government backer can insist that Avaaz shift its priorities to suit some external agenda—we simply don't accept funds from governments or corporations."



"38 Degrees is the angle at which an avalanche happens. In the UK, 38 Degrees will enable people to act together, to create an avalanche for change.
38 Degrees brings you together with other people to take action on the issues that matter to you and bring about real change in the UK.

38 Degrees members have won the 'Human Rights Campaigner of the Year Award'! The award was given byLiberty, the civil rights organisation, and 38 Degrees shared it with Open Rights Group, a not-for-profit organisation who are experts in campaigning for people’s rights and freedoms on the internet."

Sunday 20 January 2013

Margaret Greenfields sent these notices about organisations which are part of SIACH - Environment and Social Justice Conversation Network

Hazon Weekly Newsletter
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Hazon Newsletter January 10th 2013• 28th Tevete, 5773
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Ancient Land, Modern Flavor
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This Memorial Day Weekend (May 22-27), in partnership with the Heschel Sustainability Center, Hazon is thrilled to be running our third Israel Sustainable Food Tour.
This exciting program is a unique way for North American Jews who are passionate about sustainable food to experience the rapidly developing field of sustainable food in Israel. Visit farms, markets, and food producers off the typical tourist map, and meet with the leaders of innovative projects on the forefront of the burgeoning Israeli sustainable food movement. It is also an important opportunity for Israeli activists to meet like-minded counterparts from abroad, and hear about your experiences, successes, challenges, insights and inspiration.
The emphasis in this tour is on the social and environmental aspects of sustainable food from farm to fork. We will explore obstacles and opportunities regarding Israeli and Arab agriculture and food issues, the promise of the growing the organic agriculture market in Israel and other cutting edge issues. And we will also eat extraordinarily well, sampling the rich array of local, multi-ethnic, indigenous, fusion, and other cuisines, that make up Israeli foodways.
On the Tour, we will visit some of these impressive projects, as well as explore key issues, meet central players in the sustainable food scene, and more:
·  Get your hands dirty and harvest leftover crops for Leket – Table to Table.
·  Dine in delicious restaurants and meet innovative chefs like Moshe Basson of Eucalyptus Restaurant and The Eretz Yisraeli Kitchen.
·  Visit food growers and producers across the country, from dairies, to olive orchards, to microbreweries and wineries.
·  Take an insider’s tour and taste of Machaneh Yehuda, the storied open air shuk in Jerusalem.
·  Meet with change makers and activists, like Miki Haimovitz, initiator of Israel’s new high-profile national Meatless Mondays campaign, and Bakker Awawdy, Director of the Galilee Society, Israel’s leading Arab health and environment advocacy agency.


Learn more about these issues and their impact on Israeli society and governmental policy in this JCarrot article by Alon Tal, chairman of Israel’s Green Movement.
Learn More...

Cross-USA Ride Prices Rising!
[Image]A route is set, Jewish communities are excited to host us and the most amazing kosher sustainable food you will ever experience is just 154 days away! Join Hazon on the Cross-USA Ride from June 13 - August 18, 2013. Register for full country, half country or smaller segments of the ride. Register now before prices rise on January 18, 2013.
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Pinot & Pomegranate: Wine and Cheese and Trees
[Image]Join us in Brooklyn for a rocking party to celebrate Tu B'Shvat, the Jewish New Year for the trees. Enjoy four delicious desserts (from Adamah foods), four cups of wine, and activities that connect to the themes of the holiday. Featuring live music by Pitom.
Saturday, January 26th
8:00-11:00pm
Roulette Intermedium, 509 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn
$18 in advance / $25 at the door
Learn More...

Tree B'Earth Day at Isabella Freedman
Friday, January 25 – Sunday, January 27, 2013 at Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center in the Connecticut Berkshires[Image]
Give thanks for the birthday of the trees and the Jewish Earth Day with the many branches of the Jewish environmental movement. Join activists, rabbis, leaders, and educators to contemplate and celebrate our interconnectedness with trees and the natural world.
Tree-mendous highlights include:
  • Romemu-style (Renewal) services with Shir Yaakov
  • Orthodox services with Rabbi Greg Wall
All-inclusive rates start at just $228 per person and include farm-to-table Shabbat meals, an elaborate seder with four cups of wine, lodging, diverse learning and celebration, multiple prayer options, yoga classes, guided hikes on our beautiful trails, and more.
Learn More...

Torah Yoga at Isabella Freedman
[Image]Experience the wonder of Torah study and the groundedness of yoga practice with Diane Bloomfield, who will integrate Iyengar yoga practice with teachings from the Sfat Emet. No previous Torah study or yoga practice is required. Register by January 13th and save 10%.
Learn More...


Opportunities From Our Friends

Camp Tawonga Farm to Fork: Eco-Quest
Entering grades 9 through 11, June 16 - July 5, 2013

Volunteering at local farms, backpacking, rafting, three days at Camp Tawonga This is adventure travel like none other - you pick the music, you set the menus, and you put together your own totally out-of-the-box Jewish experiences. Like a road trip with a dozen friends, Quest is the perfect balance of thrill time and chill time. As an "Eco-Quest", this program augments the Quest experience with lots of fun work on various Northern California farms and experiential group learning about the food system. For more info visit www.tawonga.org.
Learn More...

Pearlstone Center’s 5th Annual Beit Midrash: Sacred Sustainable Rhythms of the Jewish Calendar
[Image]How does the Jewish calendar provide a spiritual, land-based rhythm for Jewish living? How do we apply Jewish agricultural values on land, in the classroom, and throughout society?
Join an intergenerational, pluralistic community of Jewish farmers, rabbis, educators, students and families from across the country for an inspiring weekend of learning, growth, and celebration.
Friday-Sunday, February 15-17
Location: Pearlstone Center- Reisterstown, MD
Learn More...

Beyond Bubbie: Tales from the Kitchen
[Image]What happens when you mix savory storytelling and nectarous nosh with a splash of schnapps? A performance dedicated to food, family recipes and the stories that link them together.
Join MC David Sax (Save the Deli) as the stories overflow like your Bubbie’s boiling chicken soup. Raconteurs include Mo Rocca (My Grandmother’s Ravioli, CBS Sunday Morning & Wait, Wait…Don’t Tell Me!), Carla Hall (The Chew, Top Chef & Cooking with Love), Joan Nathan (New York Times Contributor and cookbook author), Jack Dell (Katz’s Deli) & others.
Learn More... | Tickets

Shmita in Chicago
In celebration of the life and work of Martin Luther King, Jr., the KAM Isaiah Israel Congregation Social Justice Committee presents their fourth annual MLK Food Justice and Sustainability Weekend Program, “Shmita: Food Security and Sustainable Design in the Sabbatical Year and Beyond.”
January 18-20, 2013
KAM Isaiah Israel Congregation Chicago, IL
Learn More...

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Sef sent this. It is from www.facebook.com/occupyeverywhere