“Progressive Radio Host Mitchell J. Rabin, Monday @ 6pm(est)” – A Better World Newsletter
June 29, 2011
Week of June 27, 2011
A BETTER WORLD on Progressive Radio Network
Listen Mondays 6:00pm_EST
This week’s guest was the renowned Pulitzer-prize, best-selling author and journalist Chris Hedges. His latest book, The World As it Is: Dispatches on the Myth of Human Progress, is the primary topic of today's show. Chris Hedges has been an outspoken critic of the American Empire and the corporatization of government, the consolidation of power into the hands of the very few at the expense of the vast majority of people, here and across the world.
Having been a war correspondent in Central America, Africa, the Balkans and the Middle East, having seen war and bloodshed up close over the course of years, Hedges' perspective is searing, his knowledge formidable and his opinions compelling. Perhaps most compelling is his commitment to the truth.
Chris blasts the powers that be that control the media and have emptied it out of its contents, replaced by celebrity news and entertainment. Chris Hedges was one of the NY Times leading journalists for 15 years when, due to their unwillingness to engage truthful reporting, he resigned. Tune in for a lively discourse between these two impassioned speakers.
ABW on Manhattan Cable TV
A BETTER WORLD TV
Watch A Better World TV in Real Time
Watch Tuesdays 10:30pm_EST
Tuesday’s TV show was with the greatly loved, internationally-embraced Ammachi, known as the "hugging guru". This was shot on location at a church on NYC's Central Park West back at a time when Ammachi granted very few interviews and Mitchell was auspiciously given this opportunity.
Amma has set up schools, clinics and hospitals across the world and teaches her many students to be in service to humanity. Tune in and bear witness to the beautiful environment that gets created around her, see her sweetly hug Mitchell and then by interviewed by him. You'll be hugged through the interview yourself!
Listen to these Radio shows live at http://www.abetterworld.net. They are also archived here. Some include video streams.
You can also listen to the shows on i-Tunes by Podcast.
Watch the TV shows in Manhattan every Tuesday ay 10:30PM EST on ch.57 (RCN: ch.84 / Fios: ch.35).
If you are outside Manhattan, they are web-simulcast right here at www.abetterworld.net, players are on the home page.
Balancing the Dark with the Light
by Mitchell J. Rabin
Humanity has brought a deeply puzzling character to life on this planet. Assuming its emergence through biological mutation over millions of years, its appearance with self-consciousness, the ability to think, speak, communicate, exercise will, and to feel another's experience, be it of pain, joy or love, does distinguish the human slightly from other mammals. I say slightly because the evidence is amply available which shows that animals have many, virtually identical abilities and functions. It's just human hubris that suggests that it is at the top of the food chain. Its physiology may be more sophisticated, but its ability to feel or empathize seems, if anything to be less evolved than even that displayed by chickens, cows and other farm animals (I refer you to an interview I did with Amy Hatkoff, 7-28-2010, based on her book The Inner Life of Farm Animals--it is just getting posted presently).
So far as I know, humans are the only animals which kill for reasons beyond self-protection, protection of one's young or territory. Humans seem to actually be addicted to violence and war; as well as to aggression. These days, in our "civilized" world, this aggression is largely channeled through professional activities, in competition instead of cooperation. Now competition is good inasfar as it can hone skill sets, but it is detrimental if it leads to a 'winner-take'all' mode of living, which then leads to the unfortunate, inequitable arrangement of "haves and have nots".
If people do not feel that they can live in relative peace and freedom, to have the means o f feeding a n d sheltering their families, earning a reasonable wage, growing their own crops, and have the c apacity to express themselves religiously, spiritually and culturally in some fashion without being lorded over every breath they take, there will be dissent in the land. As the sage expression says, "If you want peace, establish justice."
Simple as this sounds, it is perhaps the key cause of most unhappiness, death and suffering on this planet. If people were to compete to hone, then share the gains in some reasonable measure, we could have a reasonably equitable society. There are examples of these outlined in the work of social epidemiologists Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett's The Spirit Level, in which Japan and Norway emerged as the healthiest societies across numerous parameters, resulting in lower crime, illness, stress, depression and a healthier, more balanced sense of Self across the board. We know what we have to construct for the well-being of all, including the wealthy--that's the irony. All benefit. And conversely, as things are going now, all, including the wealthy, lose. And of course, what is most profoundly lost is our humanity, our souls themselves.
Yes, we cannot be Pollyanna-ish about the motives and actions of the elite--they bankupt companies and countries for personal gain as well as for sport. It's not to actually be believed what goes on. But at the same time, we want to remember the scientific evidence that is described in Lynne Mctaggart's latest book, The Bond. Here she details the evidence that shows that humans are happiest when they are communicating with each other, helping each other, being social and in service to one another.
They are not happiest being destructive to one another and taking advantage of each other. So while Wall St. has largely forgotten these fundamental truths, recognized by religions and spiritual teaching over the course of millennia, they remain true, if severely and pathologically disguised or buried. But we do want to see the truth and act lovingly, respectfully and in relationship to Earth and each other which I refer regularly to as "sacred stewardship".
Yet the life's work and commentaries, through books, blogs, articles and http://www.Truthdig.com, Chris Hedges is a firm believer in civil disobedience. His call to a moral stance by the People and by the Ruling Class cannot be over-emphasized. Unfortunately, when money is one's God and power the pedestal of worship, chances of these folks listening to the Wisdom of the Ages and its call to ethical actions is commensurately weakened, if not nullified.
It was a true pleasure spending an hour with a man who has been and remains so steadfastly committed to a moral compass for the world-at-large, through his experience of seeing mankind truly at his lowest ebb across the globe. And we will have him on again, as well as on the TV show.
At the end of the day, this attitude, to the extent that we can pull ourselves out of the hell we've built for ourselves, will be what helps to preserve us. It is seeing the dark side of humanity without wincing, cry from then awareness, then act with diligence to correct the most dire of situations, such as nuclear waste cleanup, radioactivity, GMO's in food, contaminated water from hydro-fracking and any number of other earth-exploitative acts, war, land-mines, and the like.
Charity for Children in former Soviet-Georgia
“The Order of the Orthodox Knights of Saint John- Russian Grand Priory” in New York will hold a Soiree Caucasienne Benefit Gala under “the Imperial Protection of the House of Romanov” to benefit Orphans & Street Children of Georgia and other Charities of the order of Saint John. This event was a beautiful display of Georgian Dancers and Singers, sharing their rich culture with us. This is an excellent way for people to gather, enjoy a rich cultural event and raise money for those so deeply in need.
A Better World Now Offers Portable, Award-winning,
Water Filters for Yourself, Family & Others
LifeSaver BottleIn these times, having a portable water filter for yourself and family, is smart, preventative thinking.
Learn more and order at: http://www.abetterworld.net/wellness/lifesaver-bottle
Additionally - A Better World is now a supplier to the U.N./NGO and Relief Agency communities.
We have LifeSaver Bottles, the portable water filtration bottles, larger ones for a village and even solar-power water filtration systems that can then power a house from the stored energy. We have recycled, very well-priced pre-fab housing, large, flexible domes which can cover a field or a tent city. You can contribute to the Haitian People's Support Project (HPSP) through us and help to bring clean, cholera-free water to children across Haiti. If interested, send an email to abetterworldinfo@yahoo.com with the phrase "Clean Water for Haiti" and we'll send you information on how to donate. The individual water bottles are $199. is something that a child could walk around with.and always have access to clean water, even from a puddle.
LifeSaver Jerrycan
Jerrycan: The larger jerrycan that processes up to 20,000 gallons per filter for a village is $399. There would be many children and villagers who would love you if you were to purchase one or the other on their behalf. HPSP, founded by Haitian-American Pierre LeRoy, is dedicated to helping his fellow Haitians deal with this intense humanitarian crisis and shuttles between NY and Port-au-Prince routinely bringing supplies to the orphanages and schools he has set up there over the course of the past couple of decades. We at A Better World are currently helping to raise some funding for this organization.
Detoxify, Nourish & Feel-Look Younger at A Better World Wellness
When people drink IN Extreme Energy Complex to amp up the bio-electricity of their cells in the morning, they feel better all day. When they take Maxodin to keep their brain and nervous system working harmoniously and coherently their mental clarity, memory and health begin to change.
Is anti-aging or "healthy longevity" interesting ideas to you? If so, look at GSH-IGNITE and Adrenal Reboot which, when combined with a good dietary and exercise regimen, one gathers a significant amount of energy and can lose weight as well. Glutathione, one of the body's most powerful anti-oxidants, is the basis of GSH.
On weekends, for exercise and pleasure, I play paddle-tennis, a scaled-down form of tennis. When I get up in the morning, I take IN Extreme Energy daily, and just before going to work out or to play, I take GSH-IGNITE and oh my, has my game improved due to greater strength, energy, stamina and endurance. My fellow teammates probably think I've been taking steroids! Because these are all-natural and largely organic, A Better World makes these available to its community and the public.
To read more in depth about these or to order them, go to: http://www.abetterworld.net/wellness. This is one of the easiest, least expensive ways to seriously care for one's health. There is more....look out for next issues! For an article Mitchell just wrote on "The Body Electric", go to: http://living-well.net/2009/12/07/eating-food-gaining-electrical-charge-the-wonders-of-electro-nutrition/