All posts by Gail Black

About Gail Black

I have a keen eye for what influences human life. My keen eye opened widely while working in Washington, D.C., for ten years. In the early 1980s, while working for Organic Farms, Inc., the world’s largest distributor of organic food at the time, an unusual alliance presented itself. The National Coalition for the Misuse of Pesticides (NCAMP) sent a letter to Organic Farms, Inc. asking Organic Farms to join their organization. Joseph Dunsmore, President, asked to write a letter back. The letter advised NCAMP that organic farming practically implements NCAMP’s environmental concerns. The letter from Organic Farms, Inc. resulted in NCAMP using organic food at their conference and spearheaded most National organizations exploring the practical implementation of their environmental concerns through organic farming in D.C. During this time of organic farming and environmental organization connection, Michael W. Fox, Vice President of the Farm Animal division at the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), met me at one of the conferences and offered me a position. He wanted to create a Humane, Sustainable Agriculture (HSA) program at HSUS. Which I did. Later advising a book of producers be identified. The Humane Sustainable Agriculture program, coordinating with organic certification organizations, environmental groups, conventional agriculture associations, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and university extension agencies; during this time, I toured organic farms across the country, assisted with policy analysis of the Organic Foods Act of 1990; and was delighted to set with a friend in the balcony of the Senate when this landmark legislation was passed! ‘The Humane Consumer and Producer Guide’ was published in 1993. https://www.amazon.com/Consumer-Producer-Producing-sustainable-Agriculture/dp/B007V5JUKS

A Morning’s Tale

Home, Humans, , , , , ,

Coexisting with animals, humans and the planet is such an intricate journey. It takes courage just to walk out the door. Often times I don’t.

A’ responsible father’, unbeknown to me at the time of our initial encounter, rents my neighbor’s garage driveway space. How ‘the responsible father’ got there; I answered a Craigslist ad the ‘responsible father’ had placed looking for a space for his RV; I gave my neighbor ‘the responsible’ father’s information.

We will call the responsible father ‘Troy’. Troy works hard at labor intensive jobs and travels a great deal following work. Troy has a pick up, young and strong. He has a glow of health about him; tan and handsome. Me, I’m an ‘old woman’ trying to grasp every straw of ‘health’ and ‘goodness’ I can; often leaving me breathless and sore.

Troy was kind enough to take me to pick up a couch that I purchased. I gave him a few dollars…he didn’t want to take the money, but I insisted, I know how hard his money comes and gas is expensive.  For awhile I let Troy to use my outside plumbing to fill water containers. However, Pieper and Sprout barked a great deal when he came; which was disturbing to me and the neighbors; so, I had to ask Troy not to use the outside water anymore. He seemed to understand.

Continue reading A Morning’s Tale →

Companion Animal Ten Commandments

Animals, Home, ,

"A Mother's Love" (Elyse Gardner 2009)
"A Mother's Love" (Elyse Gardner 2009)

A friend forwarded ‘A companion Animals Ten Commandments’ to me recently, I thought I’d share it. It’s June, it’s hot and just as we strive to keep our human selves cool…we need to remember our furry friends need the same consideration.

I just got back from a quick hike down a rugged trail in the wilderness to get to a small lake to let my Golden and Norfolk Terrier/Griffon mix take a swim. I was so tempted to jump in. They had such a great time swimming. It was cooling to watch them.

As the July 4th is close I want to remind everyone that our furry friends don’t like fire crackers; and in Colorado, the fire danger is so very great I encourage everyone to find a peaceful way to celebrate!

 

A Companion Animals Ten Commandments
  1. My life is likely to last 10-15 years. Any Separation from you is likely to be painful.
  2. Give me time to understand what you want of me.
  3. Place your trust in me. It is crucial for my well-being.
  4. Don’t be angry with me for long and don’t lock me up as punishment. You have your work, your friends, your entertainment, but I have only you.
  5. Talk to me. Even if I don’t understand your words, I do understand your voice when speaking.
  6. Be aware that however you treat me, i will never forget it.
  7. Before you hit me, before you strike me, remember that I could hurt you, and yet, i choose not not to bite you.
  8. Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I’m not getting the right food, I have been in the sun too long, or my heart might be getting old or weak.
  9. Please take care of me when I grow old. You too, will grow old.
  10. On the ultimate difficult journey, go with me please. Never say you can’t bear to watch. Don’t make me face this alone. Everything is easier for me if you are there, because I love you so.
Be thankful for your animal companions. Enjoy and take good care of them. Life would be a much duller, a less joyful experience without critters.  Now please pass this on to other animal owners.
Happy compassionate trails!

Keeping Up With The Jones: Our System of Credit

Humans, Planet, Wild World, ,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Take a step back in time; December 23, 1913

“I am a most unhappy man, I have unwittingly ruined my country. A great industrial nation is controlled by its system of credit. Our system of credit is concentrated. The growth of the nation, therefore, and all our activities are in the hands of a few men. We have come to be one of the worst ruled, one of the most completely controlled and dominated governments in the civilized world. No longer a government by free opinion, no longer a government by conviction and the vote of the majority, but a government by the opinion and duress of a small group of dominate men”

– President Woodrow Wilson

What Did He Mean

when he said, “I have unwittingly ruined my country”? He was referring to; on December 23rd 1913, he signed the Federal Reserve Act. With all opposition out of the way: Benjamin Guggenheim, Isa Strauss and Jacob Astor; the three richest men in the world had sank with the Titanic; the way was laid clear for the Federal Reserve Banking system; a private bank, owned by private stock holders for their on personal profit!

Spirit, Heart and Mind

I did a search on Google; ‘Who Rules the World’? If you are here, you probably already know what the video reveals, however, you might want to check it out and forward to others.

“Some of the biggest men in the United States, in the field of commerce and manufacture, are afraid of something. They know that there is a power somewhere so organized, so subtle, so watchful, so interlocked, so complete, so pervasive, that they had better not speak above their breath when they speak in condemnation of it”

-President Woodrow Wilson

We Need Audacious Leaders!

We need audacious leaders to carry out our demands! Our livelihood has suffered enough. We are playing with Big Boys; details of their frolic have dominated the headlines. They do not wish us to see the details of their frolic. They bail themselves out and we reward them with almost a TRILLION DOLLARS! We need not look far to see how our politics and lifestyles are severely oppressing people, destroying the planet, and bringing extinction (one in four mammals face extinction) to those we share the planet!

These are very big Boys and they are not playing; they keep a keen eye on the bottom line. They would have you believe the economic crisis is an accident. The truth is that citizens of the world have been enticed (public relations or propaganda) into believing it is important to ‘keep up with the Jones’ and to buy into frivolity at an unprecedented pace! All on credit! Invisible money slipping through business and banks like water. The poisoning of the environment and the people are a natural occurrence.  Who benefits? Our Health Care system can not cure or keep up with the disease of it’s people. Pharmaceutical Companies are the only ones who seem to be benefiting in this time of crisis. They talk about cures and drugs; no one in power wants to address  the causes.

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11 Things We Can Do To Beat the ‘Gas Woes’!

Home, , , , ,

Gas Station Dies

Recently, after a minor fender bender, I put my car into a body. I chose not to have a rental; thinking I would spend time at home doing things around the house and save gas.

After spending three and a half days at home: cooking, eating, sleeping, watching Animal Planet, the news, movies, working on my lack of lawn, going through and getting rid of ‘stuff’, I called my sister, a few friends, wrote two posts, installed Photoshop CS3 (anyone know a good beginners class?), and visited Steve and Marsha (a hike away) for some icy blended drink and talk about retirement life. Yes, it’s been a relatively easy first week of retirement.

Staying home was not difficult. However, by Thursday I wanted and needed to get out of the house. I called my insurance to arrange for a rental and treated myself and Pieper (my companion and Golden Retriever) to a hike and swim. The trip to where we hike and swim is about a 20 minute drive and a 30 minute hike. The temperature was a whopping 91 degrees. When you are over a mile high…well, we were cooking. Unfortunately, Pieper is the only one allowed to swim in the reservoir; I’m left panting on the shore.

After the hike and swim, my normal routine, in an effort to coordinate trips and conserve gas, is to stop at the market on the way home. I’ll find some shade and park; leave the windows half way down in my Blazer, and Pieper being damp is fine while I pick up a few items at the grocery.

The rental car (a 2007 Ford Focus), had huge windows all around, letting far too much sun into the car. The car would hardly cool down with the air condition on maximum! No way was I going to leave Pieper in this car. I passed the market, did not collect groceries and went directly home.

Continue reading 11 Things We Can Do To Beat the ‘Gas Woes’! →

Basking in the Shadow: Humanity Last of the Fossil Creatures

Earth Talk, Humans, , , ,

The title for this post was inspired by Caroline Myss, and the post was inspired by a conversation I had with a friend about my six year old friend and his niece; which led me to call another friend in Michigan; which got us on the subject of Caroline Myss and her book/YouTube video ‘Defying Gravity’.

After I got off the phone with Lynn, I went to YouTube and began watching Defying Gravity London 2009. I feel such a kinship with Caroline Myss. She confirms everything I knew from my very beginning; we are born with everything we need; but let our minds overrule our ‘grace’.

So, when I go to pick up my friend’s six year old daughter from Montessori school and ask, ‘what did you learn today?’ She says, “Nothing, I already know everything”. As strange as it may seem, I understand her answer. I remember knowing everything as well; astroplaning for example; I did it on a daily basis as a child. There were other things I knew; however, school ignored those things. Our society did not cultivate or acknowledge what we are born with; we fall way short on our development of the powers we are born with and the powerful beings we are meant to be.

As our Fossil Wars march on; and species after species become extinct; and the crumbling and burning earth becomes less and less inhabitable; and with every last molecule facing extinction; can we finally admit that our minds can not perform the healing we so desperately want?

“Either we all make it through ‘the eye of the needle’ or none of us do”.  “Humanity has to turn to ‘resources that our minds can not access’ in order to transform.” – Caroline Myss, Defying Gravity, London 2009

The ‘precision with which we have become dis functional’ is horrific! And that we are conscious and addicted to this dis functionality is even more horrific! Caroline Myss poses the questions:

“What will we use to maneuver or manipulate everybody if we are not dysfunctional? What will I use if I’m whole? The idea of becoming functional is the most frightening thing you’ve ever come across! I just don’t know about this functional stuff; what will I use if I’m whole?  Oops, there goes my weakness; I want be able to maneuver or manipulate; there goes my temper; there goes everything; I might have to go to work. Holy Christ! What will I do?”

Personally, I feel somewhat enlightened. What does that mean? Well, it’s kind of like having one foot asleep and a hip out of whack. Almost whole, but not all together yet. I want to be ‘whole’. I really, really want it. But the work to get there seems so daunting. Darn it. I have to pay attention to what I’m doing every minute of every day. Who wants to do that? I’m just like everyone else at times, I want a break; and all I want to do is have fun! I have to learn to listen to those who can lead me out of the shadow. Admit that I’ve lost much of what I knew and have to learn it all over…and that healing myself as well as the planet is a ‘daunting’ task! That I really, really, really have to want it!

“To challenge the shadow that hangs over us, you have to have a soul that can defy gravity; because your mind can’t do it!'” – Caroline Myss, Defying Gravity, London 2009

How do I get one of those? A soul that can defy gravity.

“Relying on your mind as an asset to help you heal, when in fact your mind is what needs healing; is preposterous; when the mind itself is part of the toxic waste dump; and then to turn to your mind as the instrument through which you intend to heal, when in itself is damaged goods. No, no, no, no no. Cause your mind will work to preserve it’s own woundedness. You have to go in through another door. And that other door is the door of Grace. You have to go in through a much deeper door. You need a quality of help and assistance, you need to really want to get out of your addiction to the shadow. You need to really want to become empowered in a way that is truly transformational! You need to want to transform.”

Okay, I’m psyched! I don’t have to go an organize and do a lot of research; Caroline’s got it all on tape; video, book, cassette. There is no excuse. I really, really want ‘a soul that can defy gravity’ and I’m determined to get out of my head and into the door of ‘grace’. I will get there. I know that Caroline Myss is not the only one out there saying these things…however, I very much like her delivery. No nonsense and straight to the point.

This is really exciting. If enough people had a ‘soul that can defy gravity’; if enough people got this all at once; and opened the door of grace; then ‘this world could transform in the blink of an eye!

I’m just on tape five; there are 27. Gotta go now. Stay tuned, and

Happy Graceful Trails

Tragedy Befalling Our Nations Wild Horses

Animals, Home, Horses, , , , , , , , ,
"A Mother's Love" (Elyse Gardner 2009)
"A Mother's Love" (Elyse Gardner 2009)

Perhaps I have too tender a heart; my eyes burn and my heart aches so much that I have to take a few minutes to let the overwhelming tragedy befalling our nations wild horses reseed before I can continue.

“This week’s “gather” of some 2,500 wild horses from Nevada’s Calico Mountains marked the Bureau of Land Management’s latest bungle to “balance natural resources.”

“If you could look closely into the eyes of the horses – corralled in a subzero chill and bathed in sweat that freezes to their hide – you see terror. With eyes bulging, they blow steam from their noses that hangs in the frigid air. These are traumatized animals who do not quickly settle, as BLM misleadingly tells the public.”  – Kinship Circle

Some say the wild horse is no longer automatically considered deserving of extensive protection; some environmentalists and scientists have come to see the mustangs as bullies, invaders who disturb the habitats of endangered tortoises and desert birds. In a 2006 article in Audubon magazine, wild horses lost their poetry and were reduced to “feral equids.”

The Bureau of Land Management’s quest to ‘balance our natural resources’ (these beautiful horses) is bringing horrific consequences to them. After reading the story first in the Kinship Circle, then in the New York Times and their similar story ‘On Mustang Range, a Battle on Thinning the Herd’ I’ve been possessed by wild horses. I’ve called President Obama, Vice President Biden, the Department of Interior and the Bureau of Land Management, as well as sending letters, conveying my deep concern for what’s happening to one of our most precious national treasures – wild horses. The message I left urged them to establish a committee of environmentalist, animal scientist, animal welfare advocates, ranchers and anyone else who desires to see a better solution to the Bureau of Land Management’s current approach to ‘managing our resources’!

Wild horses comprise a minute fraction of grazing animals on public lands, where they are outnumbered by cattle at least 200 to 1. The 1971 Act states that, in a given area, a certain amount of vegetation may be eaten as forage. Only when that amount is exceeded are there too many animals. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has overwhelmingly favored cattle in setting “appropriate” wild horse population levels, resulting in indiscriminate removal of horses and burros from public lands. From over 2 million in 1900, our wild horse population has dwindled to less than 25,000. For more information, please check the numbers.

“The battle for our wild horses will be won in the court of public opinion: the government needs to face a sustained public outcry over its wild horse management practices. Did you know that Congress counts each letter received as the opinion of ten people” – The American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign (AWHPC)

Please take ACTION. The AWHPC has a list of suggestions to help keep up the noise and spread the word.

The Food Industry And What They Don’t Want You To Know!

Canines, Hiking Trails, Livestock, Wild World

superstock_1538r-7008Lets take a long look into centuries of food industry practices. Practices which began innocently enough, but, in many instances have developed into a dark and dangerous business; endangering the planet and it’s inhabitants!

The food industry continually strives to cut costs and expenses in order to increase profit; they hypnotizie the population with their glossy color ads and their promise of miracle foods’; all the while their GREED seeps in a sea of muck! This will become very clear if you are brave enough to follow the slippery trail.

Continue reading The Food Industry And What They Don’t Want You To Know! →

The Power of Love

Humans, , ,
Where Every Trail Begins

Recently, I sent an email to a long lost friend whom I wished to reconnect. I asked if she would like to spend a few hours and attend the Science and History museum with me one day this summer. She wrote back and explained that she did not have time to cultivate a friendship with me. She said she was sorry for being so harsh;  wished me well and hoped great things happened to me. I wrote her back and told her not to feel sorry, that I was comfortable in my skin and that I would never think her harsh. I told her great things happen everyday.

Later, when looking for a new book to begin, my hand stopped at ‘The Power of a Woman’;Timeless Thoughts On A Woman’s Inner Strengths, Edited by Janet Mills. Today I need some words to reflect my inner thoughts and feelings about love and peace; and the greatness that envelops me each day, I need someone else’s words to express my thoughts about ‘the power of love’. So, it is very fortuitous that my hand came to rest on this particular book today. Below are excerpts from the book.

“Within the smallest grain of sand there is love, joy, history, romance and hope…eternal life, in changing form…It is Love in all of its manifestations, holding form together, bonding our souls to this earth and to one another.”

“Love is a fruit in season at all times, and within reach of every hand.”

– Mother Teresa

“I seldom think of my limitations, and they never make me sad. Perhaps there is just a touch of yearning at times; but it is vague, like a breeze among flowers.”

– Helen Keller

I think of my long lost friend with the same ‘touch of yearning at times; it too is vague; ‘like a breeze among flowers’.

Peace


Ineffible Hunger II: Ted’s Grill For Lunch

Did You Know?, Food, Home, , ,

Save me! Every time I  take a bite of anything these days, I wonder about the resources that went into it.

I normally don’t eat beef. I did recently. A burger and fries at Ted’s Grill. Did you know Ted Turner owns Ted’s Grill? Did you know Ted Turner owns 80% of all the Bison? As we walk into Ted’s Grill, I notice a huge Bison head mounted on the wall. It looked like a giant. There must have been 10 feet from one tip of it’s horns to the other. Impressive! It was huge! Needless to say, I set with my back to that wall and didn’t order bison from the menu…remembering the glass glare from the bison held on the wall.

When Ted Turner was asked what is it that you like about bison?

“I just, I really love them. I’m a naturalist and an environmentalist, and I was touched by the tragedy that occurred with the bison. There were 30 million of ’em on the Great Plains when the white man landed in North America. In the 1880s, there were only about 200 of ’em. I wanted to do everything I could during my life to bring them back. In order to do that you have to be able to monetize the surplus.”

What I didn’t know

about Ted Turner was that he is a huge experimentalist! In 1997 Ted Turner and his family established the Turner Endangered Species Fund as a response to the mass extinction of the world’s plants and animals. Thanks Ted.

Anyway, when the server brought my plate, I commented that the food on the plate could feed three people; and asked for a take-home-box at the beginning of my meal. I cut my burger in half and put half the burger and 3/4 of my fries in the box. Continue reading Ineffible Hunger II: Ted’s Grill For Lunch →

Jackey: Dog of India

Canines

In Pune India, about 160 kilometers southeast of the state capital, Mumbai, Suman, a widowed wife and a mother of three children, supports herself and her family by working as house help and also works in a bricklin (a place that bakes bricks).

About 25 years back her brother got her a little brown puppy to keep away thieves. The entry of the little puppy brought so much joy into their lives. They named him ”Jackey”.

Jackey Had Great Responsibility

Jackey was a puppy with a lot of responsibility. Every morning he used to follow Suman’s children to school; escort them to the gate and also escort them back from school. The children say he used to come and wait near the school gate at 6pm and time to go back home. They wonder how he knew the correct time; Jackey never came by the school at odd hours.

This was his regular duty inspite of being troubled by the stray dogs in that locality. Jackey also knew the time Suman left from the bricklin, he call on  her too. Everybody there including Suman’s master used to say ”Your joker has come to call on you.” After his dinner he used to go and wait for the arrival of Suman’s brother.

Home Cooking Feeds The Soul

He used to eat one big brown home-cooked bread with a bowl of milk and on days when Suman could not afford milk she used to give him water with sugar; he never complained. She says he ate only once during the day and if you try to feed him more, he would not eat.

Next he comes by around 6.30 for his fill and he needs to eat hot food always. As soon as he listens to the ice cream man ringing the bells he’ll pull Suman towards the van to eat ice-cream his favourite treat. Everytime he got hungry he use to open his mouth indicating that he was hungry. Continue reading Jackey: Dog of India →