A Few Things That Suck

Here, we have another Earthmanpdx video. This one focuses on some of the things that are wrong in America, and about a Constitutional amendment as the best way to get our nation back on  a course that puts the public interest ahead of corporations, bankers,  and self-absorbed billionaires. 

The link is https://vimeo.com/113999042

At the end of the day, the way out of the mess we are in is to support www.movetoamend.org

Cedar Hills Green Co-op - Take Two

Today, we have the first iteration of the Cedar Hills Green Co-op website on line. It is mostly a shell at this point, but it looks good, and it's potential for being the centerpiece of real progressive change in this community is enormous.

I would like to see Cedar Hills become a model for how to transform a community into beacon of sustainability and harmony with nature. Ambitious? Yes. Delusional? No.

Eight members of our community stepped up to my solicitation for interest in the Green Co-op idea. The approach we are taking is slow. We will nurture the website and social media first and build on that.

Mihaela Mihaescu, a local web developer, volunteered to help get the website going. So far, so good. By Spring, we should know if this effort is going to work.

This website is just sprouting. We hope it to be so much more by Spring. Here is the link...
 www.chgreen.org

Earthmanpdx - My Home

I just finished work on a video titled, My Home. I made this video as a signature piece for a social media presence that I am nurturing for my net alter ego, Earthmanpdx.

My Home is a reflection of my worldview. It includes some great animation from NASA and a lot of quality stock video material from the Videoblocks website.  The music is titled Aurora. It came from the Envato music library. 

Here is a link to My Home... https://vimeo.com/113040561

The Zorthian Ranch

A few years ago, I wrote  a blog entry about two remarkable people,  Jirayr Zorthian and his wonderful wife, Dabney.  Zorthian was a well-known artist and a free-spirit. He and Dabney enjoyed a great life on their 40 plus acre ranch in the hills above Altadena, California. Jerry passed away in 2004 at age 92. Dabney left us a few years later. I miss them both.

Just the other day, our friends, Jane Morrison and Michael Tobias, who originally introduced us to the Zorthians, sent me a link to an article that just appeared on the webpage of KCET, the PBS TV station in Los Angeles.  It recounts the Zorthian story and provides some insight into what has happened to their ranch since their passing.

Here is the link...  http://www.kcet.org/arts/artbound/counties/los-angeles/zorthian-ranch-altadena.html

My name is Earthmanpdx

I was looking for a handle for my twitter account. A number of ideas came to mind. The one that I liked best was Earthmanpdx.  It is an audacious way to identify one’s self.  But, when I discovered that no one else was using it, I figured, ‘why not me?’

What does Earthmanpdx stand for?   It means I am a citizen of the Earth first and foremost, and I happen to live in pdx,  which is code for Portland, Oregon, USA.   Yes, I have a USA passport, and I grew up pledging allegiance. I do identify as an American citizen, but even more so, I see myself as a citizen of the Earth. My first obligation is to nurture and preserve the Earth and its living biosphere. That, to me, is the principle responsibility of every human; protect the integrity of our planet’s living fabric. Job one for every human person on Earth should be to do no harm. 

For the longest time, humans have taken for granted the rich living bounty of our planet. Up until a few decades ago,   the planet’s  biosphere was resilient despite the ravages of human exploitation.  When I was born, the planet’s population was about 2.5 billion human beings. Now, in 2014, in just the past sixty-some years, the number of humans on Earth has nearly tripled to 7.3 billion,  and demographers believe by the end of this century we could have nearly 11 billion, all needing food, water, and shelter at a minimum.  The biosphere we all depend on, the only one we have, is suffocating.   Human demand is outstripping  the planet’s ability to provide.   An unbiased examination of the facts leaves no room for any other conclusion.

I recently read that since 1970, less than fifty years ago, the number of non-human life forms on the Earth has dropped by 52%.  In the same time frame, the human population on Earth doubled. The correlation couldn’t be more obvious.   

We dump millions of tons of our cultural waste into our oceans. We have stripped the sea’s fish stocks to the point  of collapse.  We are using up the planet’s aquifers and fresh water resources.  We have cut down vast areas of forestland. We have replaced our biologically resilient landscapes with industrial monocultures.  We are consuming massive quantities of coal and oil, fossil forms of energy that have choked the atmosphere with pollutants that are directly linked to an unprecedented planetary warming.

People are the problem. We are taking too much of the planet’s rapidly dwindling resources.  Mindless exploitation is no longer an option.  We must mend our ways. It’s either that, or doom future generations to a vastly diminished quality of life.

 Many millions of people around the world recognize that humanity is in severe need of a course correction. Unfortunately, the vast majority of the earth’s population continue, business as usual. They still don’t get it.  That must change.  Reaching a tipping point in global human awareness has to be the primary focus.  

When I chose to identify myself as Earthmanpdx, it is because I want to be a change agent fully engaged in the process of charting a worthy future for humanity.  I am looking for ways to draw people to a life-affirming worldview that respects nature and is sustainable over the long term. 

The good news is there are worthy answers to nearly all of the major global challenges we face.  Human induced atmospheric warming, and the sea level rise, weather extremes,  and other global scale consequences that go with burning fossil fuels,  can dramatically be curbed by choosing a rapid transition to inexhaustible forms of clean energy like solar and wind.   We have the ability to provide reproductive choice to every person, thus slowing the growth of the human population. We can create a regulatory framework for restoring our water, forest, and ocean resources.  We can create a human culture on Earth that assigns proper value to nature and focuses on building a future that can be sustained for generations to come.  To some extent, it is already happening, but not fast enough.  The impediments to progress are much less technical than they are political.  

In America, the Constitution says that government is supposed to be ‘of, by, and for the people’.   In fact, it no longer works that way.  Democracy has been replaced by a plutocracy, in which a handful of very rich bankers, billionaires, and multi-national corporations use their money and influence to buy politicians and shape the public policy they want.

For any chance at a better, more sustainable future for all life on Earth,  the first order of business must be to push back against the stagnation and corruption that has taken over our economic and political system.

Achieving the level of transformation that is sorely needed will be no easy task.  A handful of big money manipulators have amassed an incredible amount of political power.  They will not go away quietly. 

So, what is the prescription for renewal recommended by Earthmanpdx?

An initiative called Move to Amend is growing across America. It’s agenda is simple and straightforward. Move to Amend is entirely about  building a grassroots movement that calls for a Constitutional Amendment that would strip corporations and the rich of their ability to unduly influence our economy and our political process.  A proposed 28^th Constitutional Amendment  would say that 'Corporations are not People' and ‘Money is property, not Speech’.   

There has never been a law that said ‘corporations are people’.   They are in fact, state chartered legal fictions that are supposed to be accountable to the people.   Likewise, the idea of ‘money being speech’ has never been codified in law, instead, it is a corrosive idea that gained legitimacy through legal precedence created by a series of corrupt, high court decisions.

I believe that Move to Amend is focused on the critical struggle of our time. Blunting corporate power.  An amendment that ends corporate personhood and clearly defines money as 'property not speech',  must become a  national calling.  No matter where one’s activism is focused – social justice, economic fairness, environmental protection - the common thread that offers the best hope for achieving positive change is a 28^th Constitutional Amendment as presented by Move to Amend.

______________________

My best years are behind me.  In the  time that I have remaining, I intend to be Earthmanpdx, serving as a change agent for a better future by championing Move to Amend’s Constitutional agenda.  I urge every person to think about who they are, consider the reality that we all face, then join the movement to achieve a constitutional amendment that says ‘Corporations are not People’ and ‘Money is not Speech’.   

Here is a link to Move to Amend's website...  www.movetoamend.org






   

The Cedar Hills Green Co-op

My wife and I live in a suburb of Portland, Oregon called Cedar Hills. The Homeowner's Association of Cedar Hills [CHHOA] has about 2100 homes and is one of the oldest associations in the United States.  Our home is only seven minutes by car from downtown Portland, and a few minutes from the post office, library, groceries, public transport, and pretty much everything else we need in our daily lives. We like being part of this community. 

One of the things that has disturbed us since we relocated to this area on the west side of metro Portland is the dearth of song birds.  We just don't see them. This is a beautiful area with lots of trees and ground cover, abundant water supplies, and by all appearances everything birds would need to thrive.  So, why are they not here?

We do see crows fairly often. They like to roost in the big oak tree across the street. Crows are an opportunistic species that do well in many situations. They also can account for some of the absence of other species of birds, as they are territorial and can be aggressive in pushing out competitors.

The lack of song birds in our neighborhood is hardly just a problem of 'mobbing' by crows. Domestic cats are also part of the problem.  There are 85 million house cats in America. Cats alone are accountable for the loss of up to six billion small birds annually. Cats are predators. If they are outside roaming, they are looking for prey. Hunting is what they are hard-wired to do. The only answer to this problem is to keep them inside, or perhaps put a bell on a collar that might provide some warning to a small bird before kitty can pounce.

The biggest reason for the lack of birds may be the choices we make in landscaping our residential properties.  A well groomed lawn might offer a modicum of 'curb appeal', but it's not a place that is friendly to nature or birds.  Removing trees and natural groundcover in favor of nicely manicured grass is a problem, more than anything else, because keeping lawn  and gardens 'beautiful' 'requires regular applications of chemical fertilizers, weed killers, and other kinds of biocides.  At least, that's what most people assume.

It's no wonder our suburbs have gotten so far out of balance with nature. The green, weed-free lawn monoculture is hammered into us as the esthetic ideal.  Suburbs are supposed to look like a TV lawn care commercial. That vision of being a good neighbor is constantly sold to us. That's what the multi-billion dollar lawn care industry wants us to embrace. That's what maximizes profits for them.

Allowing one's property to become a bit unkempt and wild is frowned on,  even thought of as diminishing property values.

I, like most people, do not advocate turning residential suburbs into an eyesore of weeds, invasives, and non-indigenous vegetation.  We're talking about making our personal home space more friendly to the plants and animals that would be present if we were not here, not eliminating landscape maintenance altogether.

Probably with much less of a time commitment, and also at less cost than it takes to do the lawn care we are accustomed to,  we could landscape our personal outdoor space in ways that are both esthetically pleasing and friendly to the natural world.   Every well-considered argument I can visualize leads directly to a cooperative, 'green' approach to community.

I've been thinking about how to make our personal existence more in harmony with nature for some time. We have taken some steps already with our landscaping.  We have no lawn, and we allow our plantscape to look a bit busy... not unkempt, but probably too close to unkempt for some.  We also try to avoid or very much limit any use of  pesticides and herbicides. That's not to say we are a good example. We have not been attentive to what we plant. We need to do much better.  Native species and flora that are attractive and nurturing to small birds and insect pollinators  should get planting priority. Anyway,  I'm not suggesting us as an inspiring example. My wife and I need to change our yard space so that the plantings are good for the birds and bees.

About a year ago, I started asking questions and expressing myself publicly about what I now refer to as a green co-op.  At the beginning, it was just an expression of concern for birds and pollinators in the Cedar Hills area.  Then, as I asked questions and talked to local people with lots of knowledge and life-affirming experience,  a compelling picture emerged.  I was seeing my home area, Cedar Hills, as an inspiring example of what a human cooperative for nature looks like. I was seeing Cedar Hills as a reflection of a place whose primary mantra about nature is; first, do no harm.

Portland, Oregon is well ahead of most urban regions in the way nature and the environment are considered.  The Portland Metro Counsel and it's commissioners oversee a 'nature in neighborhoods' program.  They support nature-friendly community initiatives all across the region.  In fact, Kathryn Harrington, the metro commissioner for the Cedar Hills area, is already backyard certified.   

Another thing I learned is there are already many families in Cedar Hills that are living on personal landscapes purposefully shaped to encourage birds and pollinators.   What an amazing foundation to build on.

So, I wrote down a brief concept paper that makes the case for a Cedar Hills Green Co-op.  I took it to Jodie Phelps,  the office manager at CHHOA. Jodie is a real asset to our community. 

On September 9th,  I asked the citizen Board of Directors of the Cedar Hills HOA for their support in launching a Cedar Hills Green Co-op,  run by volunteer citizens of our community. The board endorsed our effort, and they will consider formal oversight of the Green Co-op after the level of community support can be determined

So, that's where we are.  Around mid-October, an announcement for the green co-op will be included in the semi-annual mailing to HOA members. The announcement urges residents to join the green co-op, and makes a special request that residents who have already embraced a green lifestyle become the core of this community initiative. 

Stay tuned. We should know if the Cedar Hills Green Co-op is going to fly well before the Xmas holidays.

The website for the CHHOA is  www.cedarhillshoa.org/

Love and Nurturing

Over the last 25 years, I have been privileged to know Michael Tobias, and count him as one of my best friends as well as my principle personal mentor.  As President of the Dancing Star Foundation, Michael, alongside his equally impressive life partner and wife, Jane Gray Morrison, works tirelessly on a broad playing field to protect the biodiversity of the Earth, and to champion the welfare of both wild and domestic animals. The  dozens of books they have authored, dozens of films they have made,  the countless lectures they have given, and the assertive initiatives they have launched, are a powerful reflection of their commitment to the precious living fabric of our planet.  

I can say without reservation that no one has done more to shape my personal worldview than Michael and Jane. Their example and their inspiration are prime motivation for many of the choices I have made in my own life.  The ecstatic truth behind this blog is about love, and nurturing.

Here is the first of a number of short videos of the wisdom of Michael Tobias that I will be inserting in this blog  in the coming months....  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HKvtLt7mnI

Our Dear Friend, Robert

July 31st was the one year passing of our dear friend, Robert Radin.  It turns out an obituary had never been published for Robert. 

I got an email last night from Robert's friend and neighbor, Jeannine Melvin. It included the announcement of Robert's passing that was just published in the Los Angeles Times.

It was written by Robert's friend Betty Peskin, with input from Bettina Gray,  his closest confidante and friend over the last two decades of his life.




Robert Radin

My wife Jenny and I loved Robert. He was a wonderful friend to us and to so many others.

I also learned that Robert's remarkable photos of his world travels are now on display at the National Museum of Ethiopia.  I am quite sure that is something that would have pleased Robert very much.

Robert left us just over a year ago. Though he is gone, he will never be forgotten.

______________________________

 

Robert B. Radin

In Memoriam July 25, 1923 - July 31, 2013 Robert Radin, businessman, international traveler and photographer, with friends on nearly every continent, passed away a year ago and is sorely missed. Robert began his early years on the upper west side of New York City where he and his brother Seymour attended Ethical Culture School. His family moved to the Los Angeles area  in the 1940's. Robert held a broad vision of business as a way of building cooperation and peace in the world,  which underscored his successful ventures in coffee, garlic, real estate, movie production and garments. He leaves his daughters Janet (George) Klein and Carol (Todd) Eskelin, their mother, Diane Radin,  granddaughters Michelle, Lauren and Stacey Klein and Emma Eskelin. His role as "Daddy" was paramount  to him, and his daily contact with his children and grandchildren gave him the greatest of pleasures. He took  up photography later in life and during his extensive travels captured remarkable images. His subjects range  from prominent leaders to barefoot boatmen and Himalayan monks. A portion of his traveling exhibition,  "A Beautiful World," which totals 86 prints from six continents is currently on exhibition at the National Museum of Ethiopia in Addis Ababa and has been shown extensively throughout the U.S. "A Beautiful World" is now in production to be released as a book and documentary video. Updates can be found online at  http://www.radinphotos.com  as they become available. Robert loved to plan menus and host dinners in his home where he was known for his delicious meals, served from his organic garden with lively conversation, pairing of friends and neighbors from near and far. On these occasions he always gave heartfelt thanks for the source of his "wealth;" The Garden. He retained his sense of wonder about the world fully into his  9th decade, traveled everywhere, read widely, listened attentively, could debate actively, laughed easily,   hugged energetically and made friends with people in all walks of life. He was a committed environmentalist who loved and deeply respected life, the planet and all those whom he encountered on it.   Published in the Los Angeles Times from Aug. 9 to Aug. 10, 2014

My Two Summers as a Tour Director

When I was 20 years old, I got a Summer job managing package tour groups for a company called Berry World Travel out of Kansas City.   It didn't pay a lot, but then nothing much did in those days, especially for a student on Summer break.

My first year as a tour escort, I was assigned to an eight day train/bus tour called the Colorado-Yellowstone.  I would pick up my tour group in Chicago. Typically, there would be up to 40 people in these groups..  This in in the days before Amtrak. We boarded a Burlington Route passenger train for an overnight trip to Denver. From there, we spent two nights in Colorado Springs, did the Pike's Peak' tour, then back to Denver, where we were booked on a Union Pacific Passenger train to Salt Lake City. After ne night in Salt Lake, there was another train to Idaho Falls, where a bus picked us up and took us to Grand Teton National Park, then on the Yellowstone.  Our last night in Yellowstone was at the Mammoth Hot Springs. The next morning, a bus took us to Livingston, Montana, where we caught a North Pacific Railroad, passenger liner, headed for Chicago. After getting my group settled on the train, I left them at Billings, Montana, where I caught a flight to Chicago, where I started with another tour group the next day.

Sometimes, I alternated the Colorado-Yellowstone tour with different itinerary called the Colorado 8 Day.  It was similar except that it stayed in Colorado the whole trip. Instead of Yellowstone, we traveled around Rocky Mountain National Park.  It wasn't a hard job, except that I worked the whole Summer without a day off.

My second Summer working for Berry was a combination. Most of the time I was doing the Jasper Park-Canadian Rockies tour.  The itinerary for the Jasper Park-Canadian Rockies tour started in Edmonton, Alberta, by train to Jasper Park for two nights, then by bus to Lake Louise for two nights , then on to Banff for two nights . After that, we took a bus to Vancouver, B.C. Then, a ferry took us to Victoria, B.C., and then on by a ship called the Princess Marguerite to Seattle.    At that point, the trip ended and I would pick up a new group and do the same thing, except in reverse order. 

Along with that, I escorted a couple of Berry Tours called 'The California Headliner. With this one, we started in Chicago, where we boarded the Santa Fe Railroad's 'Super Chief' passenger liner. After about thirty hours on that train, we got off at Williams, Arizona, where a bus picked us up and took us to Grand Canyon National Park. After a day, we went back to Williams and boarded the 'Super Chief', which took us on to Fresno, California. From there, we bussed to Yosemite National Park. After a night there, we bussed to San Francisco. After a night in San Francisco, we took a train to Los Angeles.  I was in Los Angeles a week or so after presidential candidate Bobbie Kennedy was assassinated. My group and I stayed at the Ambassador Hotel on Wilshire Blvd, which was where the attack on Kennedy happened. In fact, the bus driver who drove us around Los Angeles was the same one who drove Kennedy around during his fateful campaign stop there.  The year was 1968.

That was also the last year I worked as a tour escort. The nest year,  after I graduated from college,  I enlisted in the Army and ended up in Officer Candidate School at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. 

Interviewed on the Dr. Don Show

Don Baham is a retired clinical psychologist.  He's an amazing presence. He has a weekly interview TV show that is available on the internet and also on some public access TV channels..  Don asked me to guest on his show.  The taping was done on Wednesday evening, June 18th,  2014 at a TV studio in Portland. An hour of chatter focused on many of the things that interest and concern me the most. Fun!

Here is a link to my TV date with Dr. Don... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZWz37R3Krk&list=UUfi1QHZLKx3ESeO0GrdeO2Q

Animal Pix

I have been working to improve my photo processing for a couple of years. I shoot with a Canon 7D  DSLR, mostly with a Canon 24-105 lens.   I process in Lightroom and in PhotoShop CS6.    I like the work I'm doing these days, not that it couldn't be a whole lot better. I love trying new processing techniques.

It's fun to turn a nice photo image into something that approximates art.  Here are some of my animal images taken over the past few years, and processed with my own brand of artistry.   I find inspiration everywhere I turn. My approach is to do what I like and hope that others appreciate the effort.

I like photographing animals, especially when I can present them in a graceful or majestic way. 

Blue Heron - 'Vigil'

'Love'

'Safe and Secure'

Curious George





'Alert and Ready'

 

My Portrait Photography

I've been interested in photography since I was a teenager.   I began pursuing it seriously only about six years ago. Photography is an art form that can be practiced in so many ways. It offers endless opportunity for creativity.

One of the fiction media projects I have been developing the last few years is about a larger-than-life photographer, who spends half his time doing risky adventure photography, the other half in the high end world of fashion and glamour.   Much of my photography work in recent times has focused on portrait work.  I've been fortunate to have the opportunity to work with some very fine models.

Here are some of my portrait images...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Portland, Oregon - Our Home

In 2005,  my wife Jenny and I decided it was time to get out of Southern California.  We were fortunate. We had reached a point in life that allowed us to choose where we wanted to live. We considered a number of possibilities, including a return to Seattle, and the Flathead River Valley in Montana.  After a lot of thought, we choose to relocate to Oregon.  Definitely, one of the best decisions we've ever made.

Portland,  Oregon

We now live on the west side of Portland, less than ten minutes by light rail transit from downtown.

Portland is a beautiful city, surrounded by farmland, mountains, and the amazing natural beauty of Columbia Gorge. Just over an hour away, we have the Oregon Pacific Ocean coastline. 

Beyond the beautiful vistas, Portland is a place that has its own quirky, cultural charm. How many cities have inspired a TV series?  We have Portlandia, a weekly dose of silly fun that showcases the city's unique character.



Here is a link to a new promotional video for the city of Portland,  Oregon...  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fMJ_JwGc_g#t=32

Empathy First

I was raised in the Methodist Church. As a young adult, I came to view religion as a force for both good and evil. I call myself an agnostic now. I like to think there is a higher force at work in the universe.  It's hard to imagine an entirely spontaneous beginning to life as we know it. But, I don't think any of the organized religions at play on Earth have a clue about how things really are.   They are almost entirely built on spiritual dogma that evolved thousands of years ago in times entirely different from our own.  It's amazing to me how intolerant some religious people are of those who don't share their views. Jesus preached tolerance, love, and forgiveness. So did Mohammad and the Buddha.  These days, there is a brand of religious leader that spouts an ugly gospel that has little connection with honorable faith.

The way I see it, if there is a supreme being, it surely manifests itself in the beauty and resilience of nature.  To me, the way to show respect for whatever it was that created us is to revere and defend the natural world. 

I believe the graphic below came from Tumblr. Somebody deserves credit for presenting this noble sentiment so effectively, but I don't know where it originated.  Anyway,  I'm happy to provide another forum where people can be touched by this eloquently stated idea.

 

 

 

I Am a Feminist

I am also a mature, white heterosexual male.   So why am I making this declaration?  Because women are equal partners with men and should be treated as such.  There is no male person alive that didn't start life in his mother's womb.  For me, it feels good and right to be a  feminist.  Being a male feminist means that you embrace the best for women as being normal and basic as well as right. You want women to be treated equally with men.  You support equal pay for equal work. You support equal access to opportunity. You believe that  healthcare and reproductive choice are rights that all women (and men) should have. You believe girls have a right to an education just as boys do. You believe violence, intimidation, indeed any kind of gender based bias, has no place in human society. Shouldn't everybody be for those things?

I'm not suggesting there are no differences between men and women.  The socio-biological research conducted by E.O. Wilson and others suggests that the gender based behavioral patterns seen in other mammal species apply to humans as well. Human males can be territorial, and aggressive. Females are more often nurturing.  Broad generalizations for sure, but when we look at the historical record, isn't that pretty much what we see?

Author Riane Eisler, in her books, The Chalice and the Blade being one example, reveals clear gender patterns in the evolution of the human species. Long ago, when humans were nomadic, hunter-gathers, the anthropological record indicates that men and women lived more or less as equals in small clans. Their lifestyles revolved around the seasons and rhythms of nature. Women's fertility was celebrated as a part of the sacred mystery of life.

Things changed when the age of agriculture arrived 10,000-12,000 years ago.  Humans domesticated plants and animals, and began to grow their food and live in permanent settlements.  This was the beginning of societies ruled by dominant males.  Women were subjugated, with their roles narrowly defined around the act of child-bearing and nurturing. 

Male dominance brought us the hierarchical church. It brought us tyrant emperors, kings and warrior elites bent on bloody conquest, and an industrial age defined by a rapacious, male dominant economic system in which the few were hugely rewarded at the expense of the masses. To a large degree, it's still that way.

To be sure, early in the 21st century, in the developed nations at least, women have overcome many obstacles on the road to equality. In the United States, many women now hold political office. More and more job descriptions are free of gender bias.  Still, the issue of equal pay for equal work remains unresolved, and reproductive rights are under heavy assault from conservatives. In many developing nations, the situation remains far worse. In too many places, women are still treated as chattel, subject to violence, denied access to education, denied reproductive choice. 

Despite the often destructive nature of the male dominant paradigm, humanity has made progress since the age of cave-dwellers. But there are now seven billion plus humans on planet Earth. We are pushing the planet's resources to the brink. We are relentlessly exploiting our water, forests, soils, and other critical resources. We have polluted our oceans. Our dependence on fossil fuels like coal and oil have caused unprecedented climate change. We are approaching a point of no-return with the damage we have done to the biosphere each of us depends on. The way we live must change. That's true in the U.S., in  the developed nations, and in all of those places yet to achieve the dignity to which every human being has a right.

As a male of the species, it troubles me that I have to admit that it has been my own gender that has  gotten us into this mess.  I'm not saying every male is a rapacious sociopath, but that is an apt description for too many of those who  end up with power and influence. Bottom line: Men alone are not going to get us out of the trouble we're in.

I am a feminist because championing equal rights and treatment for women is absolutely the right thing to do.  The full participation of women is absolutely indispensable to any kind of sustainable future.

We must have a political system that is open and accountable to all citizens, not just the privileged one percent. Corporations must be reigned in and made subject to appropriate controls. Banks must be tightly regulated, putting the public interest first.   I see no possibility of this kind of human evolution until women are included at the table as equal partners to men. 

I'm with you, ladies. I am a feminist. 

I am making this declaration, with one caveat. I am a heterosexual male. As such. I have the same sexual cravings as other hetero males. I have no shame about that.  I mention this because there is one brand of  feminism that is quick to label expressions of male sexuality as objectifying and offensive to women.  I'm sorry. Heterosexual males are hardwired to have a sexual interest in women.  I'm not saying women don't get objectified. It happens all the time. It's men being men. The problem lies with men who are only able to see women as sexual objects. A lot of men are like that. Probably 30% are like that. These same guys are also, very often, stridently opposed to all forms of sexual expression and reproductive freedom. The way forward is to leave them behind.  Marginalize them. Ignore them. Vote them out of power.  In the U.S. at least, these Neanderthals are mostly older white males. They are already on their way out.

My guess is that 40% of American adult males are already sensitized. They may not describe themselves as feminists but they support reproductive freedom, equality in the workplace, etc.  If 40% of males are already with you, and another 30% will never be with you, that leaves 30% that are open to persuasion.

My point is this; let's not stigmatize all men because 30% of the male population are incorrigible  misogynists. The way forward is to nurture the 70% of adult males who are already feminists or who can become that way with some thoughtful encouragement.

Where sexual expression is concerned, the brand of feminism I subscribe to is reflected in the approach taken by a group called, Feminists for Free Expression (FFE). Co-founded by Nadine Strossen, who for 17 years was President of the American Civil Liberties Union,  FFE takes well reasoned positions on reproductive freedom, censorship, pornography, prostitution, and sexual expression in general.  Most of Europe is already where FFE believes America should be; sex work is legal and regulated,  most forms of consensual, adult sexual expression are tolerated. 
 
The world is not going to fully embrace a sustainable pathway until women have an equal voice with men.  There are many civilization scale challenges that demand our attention. All of them can be more effectively addressed with women fully empowered as participants in shaping the future.

I am a feminist...

The Power of Myth

Back in 1988, journalist Bill Moyers interviewed Joseph Campbell in a six part PBS TV series called, The Power of Myth.  It gave me an almost entirely new way to look at my place as a human person making my way through a life on Earth.

Joseph Campbell spent his life studying cultures and the role of mythology in shaping the lives of the individuals who were part of those cultures. As one might expect, the myths and legends that have formed around different cultures are extremely diverse.  Campbell found in a lifetime of studying myth and legend that there are many common threads in these stories that explain and give meaning to life.

Bill Moyers, Joseph Campbell

One of the common threads in myth and legend is what Campbell called, The Hero's Journey.  He wrote about it in a book titled, The Hero With a Thousand Faces.

Campbell found that the stories behind almost every human culture are about a heroic figure that risks all on a quest in service to his {virtually all heroes are male in mythology) people. Along this journey, the hero overcomes a series of challenges. In the process, he gains wisdom which becomes the foundation of his culture.

I was just thinking about Campbell and his wisdom this morning, and I realized that it was about that time, in 1988 when The Power of Myth was being broadcast, that my life went from a struggle to learn and find direction to one in which I began to see and follow a pathway that resonated for me and made me happy. In essence, I began to follow my bliss,  and I learned to enjoy the journey I was on,  and accept the failures along the way as part of the process that one grows from on the way to achieving something genuinely worthwhile. I'm still one that pathway. It has made me happy, and it has brought me some success, and I see even greater possibilities on the road ahead.

There are many pearls of wisdom in the work of Joseph Campbell. For me, it comes down to one very meaty aphorism...
 

 

“Follow your bliss.
If you do follow your bliss,
you put yourself on a kind of track
that has been there all the while waiting for you,
and the life you ought to be living
is the one you are living.
When you can see that,
you begin to meet people
who are in the field of your bliss,
and they open the doors to you.
I say, follow your bliss and don't be afraid,
and doors will open
where you didn't know they were going to be.
If you follow your bliss,
doors will open for you that wouldn't have opened for anyone else.”
                                                         Joseph Campbell

Here is a link to a video trailer of the original PBS TV series, The Power of Myth... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdUaQNsjwNM

Robert Radin - Much Loved Friend

The other day, we lost a great friend.  Robert Radin was a mench of the first order. We loved the guy.

A few days after his 90th birthday, on July 31st, Robert passed away peacefully after a brief illness. It is heartbreaking to my wife Jenny and me to lose our friend, but we choose to celebrate the great life he had.

Robert was a very successful businessman. He was loaded to the gills with charisma. Even more, he had the heart of an adventurer.  I was fortunate to meet him when his close friend, the well-known author/filmmaker, Michael Tobias, signed on to write and direct my company's first documentary, Element One.  If Michael was Don Quixote, Robert was his Sancho Panza.  Long before I met Robert, the two had been traveling the world together making documentaries.  

One of the best parts about being in Robert's circle of friends was being invited to the soirees he held regularly at his home in Venice, California. Robert had an amazingly diverse coterie of friends.  Going to his house always translated to good conversation, good food, and good people.  Robert loved being the host and sharing his good will and food from his backyard garden with everyone. 

Every time we saw Robert, he welcomed us with a warm embrace. Robert gave great hugs. His willingness to show affection for his friends and to receive it from them was boundless.

Robert Radin

 

When my wife Jenny and I were married in 2002,  Robert was my best man. In that same year, Robert traveled with us to China to work on a segment of our documentary, The Hydrogen Age.

Our most memorable time with Robert came in 2004, when my wife and I traveled to Montana with him and our friend, Bettina.  We spent nearly a week  in Glacier National Park and Western Montana.

Glacier Park Lodge, eating Montana cherries

Robert at  Glacier Park Continental Divide

Then we went on to Seattle and to Robert's second home in Port Townsend, Washington, where his daughter Carol and her husband Todd live. Robert had a special friend named Cabot in Port Townsend.
 

Robert with Cabot in Port Townsend

In 2006,  when my wife and I were living in Salem, Oregon, I was unexpectedly diagnosed with a tumor on my pancreas.  It was the most terrifying time of my life. Robert and our friend Bettina came up from California and stayed with us through the ensuing surgery and some time after. Their support met so much to us.

Robert and I were also shareholders in a clean energy startup called, Element One Corporation. We traveled regularly together to Boulder, Colorado for annual board meetings. Robert was very anxious to see Element One succeed, not just because of the financial reward, but at least as much because the core technologies the company is built on are likely to have a big role in the  hydrogen part of the  clean energy revolution emerging around the world. Element One is doing quite well these days.  I'm so happy that Robert knew his investment in Element one was headed in a winning direction.

Robert Radin leaves two wonderful daughters, Janet and Carol, and four granddaughters, all of whom adored him.

I also must recognize and express my thanks to Bettina Gray, who has been an important friend of ours and of Robert's for the last twenty years.  It was Bettina who was at his side during his last few days.  I also want to thank Juanita, Laura, and George for their devotion to Robert these past years.

A review of Robert's life must include recognition for his wonderful photography. A website showcases the amazing images he created during his travels around the world. The link to Robert's photography webpage is  http://www.radinphotos.com/RadinExhibition/Welcome.html

A talented filmmaker named Elias Wondimu made a wonderful, 20 minute video about Robert and his photography just a short time before his passing.  I urge the reader to take a moment and see for yourself the beautiful, loving personality of Robert Radin in this video. The link is http://vimeo.com/71773680

There's no way to adequately sum up a life like that of Robert Radin. He lived it to the fullest and made many, many friends along his journey.  He was warm, and decent, and loving. He was kind and generous, and great fun to be with.   I count him as one of the best friends I've ever had. I already miss him a lot. I shall have a warm place in my heart for him the rest of my days.

The Coast and Crater Lake

Had a chance this past week to spend some time on the Southern Oregon coast and also in Crater Lake National Park.  I took a few photos.  Sometimes, I get lucky and capture an image that offers an opportunity for a  bit of artistic creativity. It's always fun when that happens.  It actually happened a couple of times during this trip.

The first time was when we were approaching Reedsport on the coast.  We came across the Dean Creek wildlife grazing area favored by the Roosevelt Elk indigenous to the Pacific Coast. Surprise, there was a 'baker's dozen' of these majestically antlered animals lounging together not far from the road. The image that follows captures the moment, with a bit of painterly processing applied.

The next image was taken at the beach in Bandon, Oregon.

The one below was captured in the small harbor at Bandon.

The next one is the windswept beach just South of the coastal community of  Gold Beach.  The three people on the beach are my wife Jenny and her parents.

The  image below came during a stop on US 101 by an isolated stretch of untamed beach.

The last two images come from the final segment of our travels at Crater Lake National Park.  The bluest water I have ever seen.

It's fun to take images that are already beautiful and apply an additional touch of magic that makes them even more special. 

Something Big

As we move further into the 21st century, the number of civilization scale challenges we face is unprecedented.  Seven billion plus humans are competing for a share of our earth's rapidly diminishing resources.  Economic and social inequality remain rampant. Outright discrimination is a huge factor in the lives of well over half the world's population.  The culturally ingrained oppression of women continues to be a particularly corrosive fact of life. 

My life experience has led me to a firm conclusion: the path to a sustainable, dignified future for humanity requires that, to the extent possible, all forms of discrimination must be eliminated.  Equal opportunity and fair treatment must become more than just a platitude. The empowerment of women in the economic and political arenas is  critical to achieving this goal.

We are also deeply troubled by the ongoing war in the Congo in Africa. For well over a decade,  armed interests have been killing each other each other, while wreaking bloody violence on  the Congolese people, particularly those living in the Eastern Congo.  Women have a particular target of this violence.

The fact is the entire African continent has been used and abused for two centuries by Europeans, and later Americans,  who colonized and exploited its human, biological, and mineral resources. Perhaps the most egregious example happened late in the 19th century, when Leopold, the King of Belgium, had the audacity to claim the Congo, an area larger than all of Europe combined, not for his country, but for himself.  Starting in the mid-20th century, the European nations abandoned their African colonies.  The whole continent has, for the most part, been a politically dysfunctional quagmire ever since.

A few years ago,  I was inspired to assert myself and try to make a difference for the people of Africa and particularly the Congo. I am deeply concerned not just about the people, but also about the other living wild animal species in that nation, many of which can be found almost no where else in the world.  The Congo wildlife legacy is severely threatened by human population growth. Despite the ongoing genocide, the population in the Congo is expanding at a rate of nearly 3% annually.  As of 2013, the population is about 75 million,  up 350% from where it was 50 years ago. Moreover, a very substantial share of the Congo population depends on bushmeat (wild animals killed for food) for survival.  As a consequence, in many parts of the Congo, wild animal numbers are plummeting.  This includes gorillas, chimpanzees, and other primates; the closest living relatives to humans.

Despite the severe nature of the challenges, the Congo is a place worth saving. 

My approach to making a difference for the Congo has been to develop a theatrical movie project, designed to entertain and to inform.  I have some skills. I've been a successful writer/producer.  I have an Emmy and some other awards for my work. 

When I started thinking about a Congo project, I did it with some assumptions. The first was that I could not do a story that actually takes place in the Congo.  Movies set in Africa generally have not done well at the American movie boxoffice.  Another assumption was that the future of Africa, and the world in general, requires that women become fully equal on all playing fields with men.    As for genera, dramatic comedy felt like the best way to go. The movie studios covet the 18-25 year old audience.   I was determined that my movie story carry a strong message about the Congo and about the championing of women.  I chose to embed those ideas in a fun, highly entertaining package that will appeal to  young adult movie goers.

The story I came up with is about a successful Hollywood writer who, while struggling to get his new script about the Congo made into a movie, becomes a champion for the dignity and empowerment of women.  As I was laying out the structure for this story,  I was joined as a business partner by a young designer/photographer named Chad Kirkpatrick. He and I share a similar worldview. Both of us believe that a sustainable future will be achievable only when women have an equal place at the table with men.

With Chad providing valuable feedback, I wrote the script for this project,  which is now titled,  Something Big.   We have taken it through many drafts,  making improvements based on feedback from movie industry insiders. 

 Here is what Tracey Becker, Producer of the Sony Pictures theatrical feature, Hysteria, said about Something Big... 

 

Something Big is 'a rarity': a well-crafted ensemble drama that entertains highly, while also almost accidentally enlightening the audience..... With a deft combination of political messages, and outrageous yet embraceable characters,  it has a twisty plot that would make the religious right weak in the knees.  Something Big is a fascinating mash-up of  'pick-your-wing' politics',  professional wrestling,  Hollywood insiders, reality television disgraces, the sex worker  trade, and modern romance.... From a marketing perspective,  there is so much to recommend about this script.... The characterizations will likely attract a high caliber cast.... The fascinating world the author has created should speak to audiences on many levels.  At first glance, Something Big  is pure entertainment,  but on closer inspection, the themes of greed, self-aggrandizement  and the co-opting of global causes to benefit enterprises that might not have started off so high-mindedly, all contribute to the richer tapestry of this script.

Something Big is a good project. Our intent is to assign a substantial share of any income that comes from Something Big, the movie, to the causes featured in the story. One group we hope to forge a relationship with is V-Day, a global NGO founded by the esteemed feminist playwright, Eve Ensler.. Working with a highly respected group like V-Day, will help protect the intellectual integrity of the Something Big project, while allowing us to maximize the revenue we are able to direct to them and to other groups and individuals that share our passion for elevating the status of women worldwide.  

'Art has the power to transform thinking and inspire people to act.'  That is a core principle for V-Day, and that is exactly what has motivated us in the development of the Something Big project.

Stay tuned...