The World in Transformation

By Mitchell Rabin

On a horizontal level, there is a mounting volume of chaos occurring in virtually every country in the
world. There is economic, social and political turmoil, which one feels, is swelling. History shows us that
this kind of chaos-to-order occurs cyclically and it shouldn't be a surprise to anyone. Having lived through
several cycles already, and of course having missed the World War time periods, I may not be the most
qualified to say, but I do sense that we are going through something right now that really is world-
transforming nation-to-nation, culture-to-culture. The Arab Spring, the uprisings in England, France,
Greece, Wisconsin, the growing economic disparities in the so-called 'richest' nation on the planet, the
vast deterioration of ethics, it's awesome to contemplate what is happening in this world.

And then to contemplate the vertical level, and ask about what's happening in the Heavens is a whole
other level of inquiry. We are facing potentially cataclysmic solar and comet activity (Elenin, see under
Articles at www.abetterworld.net), and terrestrial disruptions such as earthquakes, volcanoes and
hurricanes of significant magnitude. The activities in both directions are powerful enough to wipe out our
entire electrical and communication grids, returning us to a pre-19th century 'state of mind'.

So we ask, what is the relationship between the vertical and the horizontal, between the astronomic and
geological, with the human and sentient realm sandwiched in between? How does activity of one affect
the other or are their lives, activities and cycles running largely independent of each other? By law of
physics, they are not independent--nothing is, but that still begs the question of how
then, "interdependent" they are. As in physics, Interdependence is a principle underlying Buddhist
thought, and fathoming these relationships has some relationship to the One Mind Principle also found in
both domains of physics and Buddhism.

In Taoist thought, these relationships are described as man mediating between the energies, or chi, of
Heaven and Earth. Man is the embodiment of the elixir containing elements from both, and is positioned
to exquisitely balance them for a happy, fulfilling life.

Yet we humans seem to have so much trouble in achieving this balancing. Wars abound. Governments
thrive on violence and notions of national security, caring little about peace or the people who they have
been mandated to represent.

Miscarriage of Justice

One of the saddest stories is that of Troy Davis in Atlanta. He was accused of murder many years ago,
about 8 of the 10 witnesses of since recanted their testimonies, saying that they were virtually coerced
into saying what they did back then. Now there is no evidence linking him to the murder, yet the Judge
won't give him a re-trial. Quite the contrary, he has been given a 4th death sentence. This case has
gotten international attention and Troy Davis has received support from people as prestigious as the
Pope. Still, some prejudiced, uneducated judge insists on denying a re-trial and sentencing him yet again,
without any substantive evidence. To weigh in and judge yourself, as well as to have some impact on the
outcome here, go to: http://www.amnestyusa.org/our-work/cases/usa-troy-davis.

This is life on Earth. Miscommunication, much judgment, lack of understanding, compassion or mercy.
Acting without thinking, harming others without considering consequences. How do we take our humane
and spiritual perspectives and values and bring them to bear in the world?

We join with others of similar mind-set and do what we can to promote peace, common-sense,

harmonious ways of living and being. We seek to free ourselves and others from the prisons of ignorance
that seem to all too often blind us. I understand better than ever the words in a book I read as a teenager
about a man who became ill and was then able to 'travel' into other dimensions. This man came back and
said that other life-forms called Earth The Planet of Sorrows. Indeed it is so. Yet, the place of so much
Happiness and Love as well. Perhaps it would be better called The Planet of Paradoxes.

Americans Stand Up to Insane FDA Rulings

Many Americans are so disgusted by the failures and self-interested actions and rulings of government,
they are taking matters into their own hands. No longer are many Americans willing to accept the policies
and decisions being made in Washington on a local level if they do not support a good life, but just a
profitable corporate structure. For instance, raw milk is as natural as it gets, just like from a mother's
breast, yet the FDA has been attempting to govern policy in an area in which they have no jurisdiction.
Everyone forgets that Louis Pasteur recanted his position about germ theory on his deathbed, or
everyone who has a vested interest in the germ theory, forgets. I'm surprised that the FDA has not tried to
regulate and require mother's milk to be pasteurized before it goes into the infant's mouth. If you want to
really 'get' how over-reaching the FDA is in most matters, just reflect on that image for a few minutes!

A really sensitive person (hmm, such as myself) is almost reduced to tears upon contemplating how
extremely pathological what is considered "normative behavior" has become in today's world.

Sedgwick, Maine has done what no other town in the United States has done. Earlier this year the
town unanimously passed an ordinance giving its citizens the right "to produce, process, sell,
purchase, and consume local foods of their choosing."

This is WITHOUT government regulation. This includes raw milk, locally slaughtered meats, and just
about anything else you can imagine. It means that farmer and patron agree to enter into private
agreements with one another, and settle any disputes that arise personally and civilly. It is the way things
used to be done before Americans sacrificed their freedoms to the US Food and Drug Administration
(FDA). Food sovereignty ordinances are what must be in place to enable an explosion of local food
production. This is only the beginning!

Learn about the principles in this video. Video is 4 minutes 25 seconds http://www.nextworldtv.com/
page/4469.html

The Role of Government Regulations

We rely on government to provide some regulations because too many people don't self-regulate. Many
people self-regulate and are responsible and ethical in their dealings with others, personally and
professionally, as is appropriate to the sustenance of society. However, too many will look to exploit a
situation and go to any extent for their own selfish gain at the rest of society's expense. It is for this
reason, history and the present show us, regulations in some areas are required at this apparently early
stage of human development. A case in point is the Glas-Steagall Act, which protects us against the
tendencies of bankers to gamble away the precious holdings of Americans for a fast buck and thereby
jeopardize economies. The repeal of this Act in 1999 by President Clinton opened the door for the abuses
over the past 10 years, resulting in the Sept. 2008 outright theft of the American citizen/taxpayer by the
banking industry. There are regulations involving safety of workers, payment of workers and protecting
our environment from the abuses of companies which would trash it in a second, and have, with no sense
of consequences, downstream, quite literally.

Then there is regulation that crowds out fundamental human rights, such as those of the FDA, interfering
with our choices for our own food and health. Due, not to the rank-and-file FDA scientists and
administrators who are no doubt seeking to do a responsible job that protects Americans in a balanced
way, but due to the upper management of the FDA who are mostly formerly employed by Monsanto or
Big Pharma, we encounter our trouble. They have betrayed the American People and have lost their way

at our expense. It would be better for the FDA not to exist at all than for their over-reaching, impositional
policies and regulations as currently stands. The Draft Guidelines the FDA is currently using to subvert
reasonable legislation is a case in point.

Americans need to speak loudly and call their representatives to stop this. Every call is important, and is
recognized as the equivalent of some 2-3,000 Americans--it's at least that. Go to: http://
www.abetterworld.net/articles/health-wellness for a script of what to say and to whom, with phone
numbers. Our Congressmembers and the FDA need to be deluged with the way we feel about this
current debacle. And if we don't, WE will be the losers and have only ourselves to blame for inaction. We
can be grateful that we live in a country wherein, despite how things are in so many ways, our voices can
be counted, heard, and decisions can be, and in many cases, will be based on the People's Opinions.