Healthy, Wealthy & Wise

My daily commute from home to work in Birmingham (the original city in the UK) was about 5 miles alongside canals. I would run or bike. When I started out, I was mostly walking or running to work. I bought a car for work since I was expected to eventually carry equipment to GP offices to gather data for the study we would be running. But I did not need the car for well over a year. Frank brought me my bicycle from the States after I had found a place. So some days I would bike and others I would run. It was a form of exercise when I started out, so I'd gear up and then at work, I'd shower change and get to work. Same routine back in the evenings.

On the few occasions that I took the car to work I realized how amazingly pleasant my bike commute was compared to my auto-commute. No stopping and going. My jams were at worst a gaggle of geese who decided to cross the path and were being hissy to protect the goslings. It was beautiful. I slowly changed from seeing the bike ride as exercise to seeing it more as my transportation system. And while that may not seem like a great change to most, it was something that I had to learn from Jurriaan who came from Amsterdam.

To Jurriaan, the bike is a very practical and efficient form of transport for any journey that was about 10 miles or less. And if one did not treat it as a workout, then biking at a leisurely pace not only got you where you were going, but you didn't really have to gear up and change before and after since you would not be sweating like crazy. I decided to give it a try. Wow! To integrate a bicycle into your everyday life is a very liberating experience in more ways than one.

I am in Europe again, this time in Netherlands & Belgium. These two countries are awash in bicycles and cyclists. Everybody hops on a bicycle and pedals off to daily life. To work, to grocery stores, with children to the park, to schools, to pubs... I think the bike-culture is at least one factor in the consistently high ranks north western European nations receive in the best-place-to-live polls. More on how I think this plays out in future blogs. Also pictures! :)

Man the Borders - the Huns are Coming!

In April, I saw a news report where Bush (jr.) was visiting some border patrols facing southern borders and congratulating them on amassing arsenal, building fences and beefing up security. He made a speech about how more needed to be done to prevent others from "sneaking in." I have a serious issue with the tone and manner in which the immigration debate (more like propaganda) has been conducted. This nation stands for freedom and self-determination. Immigrants flock to it to be free of their domestic persecutions and for new opportunities to hew a better life. One could argue that many of these south of the border immigrants have more legitimate rights to be here, given the historically contiguous nature of this region as well as perhaps closer blood-ties to the original inhabitants of the Americas.

Early arriving Europeans wrested this nation from its original inhabitants. Many European Americans feel sad about their history and feel that were mass European migration to the Americas to happen today, perhaps everyone would be treated differently. And yet, this nation's leader seeks to demonize immigrants who might, had the US not been colonized, be moving across this landscape quite legitimately. Where's the hope for redress of historic ills when present day politics continue to make some people the blessed and the others the invaders?

Cross-border immigration is even tied to the war on terror in order to motivate the security forces further. Such rhetoric and propaganda has resulted in spawning vigilante justice along the border where man attacks man in the name of land and law.

Human migrations have existed since humans existed. To me it seems a very basic right that the movement of living beings not be curtailed. There are natural self-correcting mechanisms affected by environmental, ecological and individual conditions to name but a few. In fact, it is these forces that are driving current day migrations just as they did in the past. But today, we have stopped up borders on one side of which lies starvation and on the other side waste.

Here's a fact that is not as well known as it should be. You know that fight against poverty that everyone is talking about? Money being sent by migrant workers to their families exceeds all foreign aid put together. $110bn annually! And remember that most of these guys often work the lowest paid jobs. And in case you are thinking that the transfer of money comes at the expense of the rich nations, think again. I have one quote from a World Bank report on migration and development here: "...free migration could double world income..." (See links.) It takes a different tone from the political vitriol being spewed at migrants in most of the developed, benevolent, western nations.

It seems to me that we like to pat ourselves on the back too much for being civilized and enlightened in the 21st century. As long as national borders exist and people treat each other unequally based on differences, we cannot claim to have moved into a compassionate era of mutual and beneficial co-existence.

Chinese Juggernaut (not economics but politics)

The Chinese regime has shown itself to be one of the least humane and continues to roll over other nations and people with complete disregard. In March, China proclaimed that any movement by Taiwan to declare itself independent will be seen as a criminal act. The Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao in his speech to the Chinese Congress said, "We firmly believe that with the efforts of all Chinese people, including our Taiwan compatriots, complete reunification of China will definitely be realised." China has also increased its defence expenditure for 2007 by 17%. Looks like the plans for world domination continue apace.

One cannot dismiss China's regular spats with Taiwan as internal politics. The one-China principle which China has consistently pushed is a very scary notion for the world because China does not seem to stop aggresive incursions on its neighbors. Its boundaries keep expanding and one has to wonder whether one-China will eventually lead to world domination, especially keeping in mind the emphasis on military expansion.

A few examples of China's designs. Tibet was invaded in 1959 by China. Tibet is a peaceful Buddhist nation that presented no threats to anyone. This nation has suffered tremendously under China's military boot. There is systematic negation of the Tibetan psyche and culture. Over a million Tibetans have died or disappeared since China decided that Tibet was part of one-China. Tibetan leaders have either been killed or have fled and sought refuge in other countries.

In 2005 Chinese soldiers entered the independent kingdom of Bhutan under the pretext of bad weather and they were granted permission by the kingdom on humanitarian grounds. Since then infrastructure for transportation is being built by the Chinese on Bhutan's territory. When Bhutan raised the issue with the Chinese, it was told that it was "over-reacting" and that the border remains disputed.

China has another land dispute on the borders of Tibet. India's eastern-most state of Arunachal Pradesh is claimed by China as, in their words, "Chinese territory." While no overt hostilities have resulted, army presence of the respective nations is heavy in this area. In my opinion, China has put this issue on a back burner till it has more resources to free up after having absorbed some other more key areas such as those mentioned previously. It is futile at this point to bring up another region of northern India that China usurped in the 1950s claiming it was Chinese.The sad fact is that China does not believe in dialog or respecting people. It only cares about territory. And it is a creeping giant whose boundary lies just outside its boundary.

I am a big admirer of Chinese history and the former Chinese culture. The latter was annihilated by the communists. I can be persuaded that most of the troubles of the region have their basis in short-sighted and, in some cases, malicious policies of colonizing nations. However, at least at this juncture, nations who in ancient texts referred to each other as brother and sister cultures, should find common ground and work together. China's need for an ever-expanding border is not one that bodes well for the South-east and South Asian region. The next major world conflict could have its roots here and we need to work to forestall it.

Building heaven

So I had an interesting conversation the other day.

I was at our local playgroup with my 4yr old daughter and 10-month-old son.

I struck up a conversation with a local father who’d brought his delightful tornado of a boy. I’d noticed that he arrived in a Suburu sporting Nader bumper stickers, which is always a good sign. As it turns out, he is working as a volunteer with our local land use committee, drafting new legislation to prevent terrible things like development and people living in trailers.

Now, you should know that I think the field of land use planning is fascinating – worked on a fair number of land use planning projects myself. Have a really good friend who is a top land use planner in New York State. Sadly, my messy pony-tailed hair and banana-smeared t-shirt had apparently relegated me to the ranks of the unwashed, uneducated masses. Plus, I’m a girl. I wouldn’t know a thing about land use planning or the evils of development.

We debated the effects of 25 acre zoning in the agricultural regions. I feel that they should be using multiple tools – not just one. He thinks we need to protect farmland at any cost. I point out that NO ONE is farming in the town anyway – they’ve all been priced out. And 25 acre zoning means I won’t be buying any land any time soon. I suggest we ought to be spending as much time on hamlet revitalization.

He snorts – says that’ll never happen.

Are you getting the general tone of the conversation? It gets better.

The world is going to hell in a hand basket. It’s the military industrial complex. It’s the president. It’s Clinton, it’s Gore, it’s BUSH. (The last spat out with indescribable contempt.) Rural supervisors ought to march on the Capital – demand the money that is owed to them – money that is being sent abroad, to Iraq, to Afghanistan. We should write to our politicians.

Why? Because it is the only way to do it. This father of a tornado KNOWS. Because he is a 51 yr old former founder of Greenpeace. He can list Big Accomplishment A and Big Accomplishment B. (I don’t remember what they were – they were really impressive, world-saving things, to give appropriate credit.)

I point out that it doesn’t seem like doing these things have given him any peace at all. He is frustrated. And deeply negative, though I didn’t say that out loud. It was becoming a real downer of a talk. I mean, honestly, we were at PLAYGROUP.

I said I would not write any more letters to politicians. I will not march on Washington (or Albany, or any where else) or condemn my neighbors for their votes or show up at local board meetings to demand my five minutes. I won’t forward any more stupid emails about saving the artic national refuge. Those actions are, in my opinion, utterly ineffective, though if he feels like it gives him a sense that he is in control, making a difference…well, great. Go for it.

Predictably, that enraged him.

He suggested that I left him finish, though I didn’t really remember interrupting him. He would like to “explain it to me – it’s really simple.”

I wish I could remember what the details were – those last words really annoyed me. But I let him finish, hearing his complaint that my sister, who’d wandered away with her daughter, had mentioned wanting to find one of the big plastic (eeek!) dolphin seesaws that his son and my daughter were fighting over. (My sis hasn’t tied herself to any trees lately, but she is committed to feeding organic foods to her 20-month-old nursling – and she’s frugal – she wanted a used plastic dolphin for her backyard.)

He eventually came back from peeling several children off of a mountain of folding chairs, and did not seem eager to reenter a conversation with me. I guess he thought there was nothing left to say.

I’m involved in an ecovillage project, I began. He looked uninterested. I continued. In order for us to construct even 10 homes, under the new zoning, my group would have to come up with the capital for at least 100 acres. We’d be using 5 acres (probably less) to construct those 10 homes, and the left would be open space and farmland. And we’d actually FARM it. We are working to make a lot of those homes affordable for everyone, too. He shrugged. Just a different flavor of the same – still development. And still evil.

I suggested that we can both save the world. I can do it without writing a single letter to a congressperson – without any protest marches. I can do it without 4 million on-line signatures. And I will do it without slandering my elected officials, without propaganda thinly disguised as public information forums, without sleepless nights worrying about what horrible thing is going to happen next.

He snorted again. Unbelieving. I’m a Pollyanna.

It’s not that I don’t think horrible things are happening. I can read.

(I didn’t mention to him that I am presenting my PhD propsectus in June – not even after he explained to me what civil servants are – and I have been engaged in decision, judgment and sustainability research for years. He might enjoy his status as a founding father of Greenpeace, but I prefer to let my intelligence speak for itself.)

I know what the IPCC is predicting. I also know that it is nothing that the Limits to Growth studies haven’t been predicting for over 30 years now. Our economic situation is tenuous, at best. Our desire to export our culture has ensured continued war around the globe.

But we have a choice – we either let this situation kill us – or we build a positive alternative. Build living models that are different, are better. Make them happen. Figure out the leverage points, and create change. Tornado dad grumbled and pointed out that that sort of stuff takes money. Shrug. I don’t know – it might. Our ecovillage project has cost us some gas and some photocopying bills – otherwise it has just taken time and passion. We’ll eventually have to pony up the hard cash for land and building, but we’ll make that cash work in ways that will nurture the birth of a sustainable culture.

You do not change minds by beating people over the head with your version of the facts. You can’t simply “educate” them into being better residents of the earth. But if you create something wonderful – if you create a better way of living, people will replicate your model, because it is the path of least resistance. And people are, and will always be, attracted to beauty.

So… to my marching, letter writing, Greenpeace-founding, angst-ridden, depressed friend:

it’s simple. Let me explain it to you: If everything is going to hell - well, damn it, you'd better start building heaven.

Legalized Intimidation & Harrassment of Ordinary People

I had recent dealings with the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Department. One of these encounters was at Dublin airport on the 14th of February, 2007. It is a surreal experience to see American officials in their cubicles interrogating/ approving each passenger in a foreign airport. Another innovative development in the quest to control American borders. So there I was lined up waiting to get questioned, have my documents examined and to (oh please god!) be determined worthy to board the plane to the States.

One particular official among the half a dozen stood out for his loud, lecturing tone, and a gaze that assured us that he was clued into our unfitness to enter his presence. I thought to myself, what are the chances that I get this obnoxious denizen of the USICE to grill me. I am a legal, permanent resident of the USA whose paperwork is in order, so I am safe right? I get to the head of the line & he calls out "next!"

He says where are you coming from? The UK sez I. When were you last in the US? December 2006. Why were you in the UK? For a fellowship which just ended. He then proceeds to inform me that technically I have lost my green card status!! My heart is in my mouth and I am thinking WHATTHE....!!!!! Immigration officials have known about my work status from the start since I was granted my green card while I was a fellow in England. Have you ever lived in the US, demands he. Since 1993 to 2005, say I. By this point I was alarmed and probably looked and sounded it. I was also aware that his voice was loud and mine had suddenly gone squeaky and I felt everyone was looking at me. He lectures on about how I am supposed to reside in the country a minimum of 180 days every year. (Hmm... obviously this is in some top-secret document not given out to us ordinary permanent residents, because the document I read said that I could not be out of the country for 365 days consecutively.) He informs me that in the absence of the special paperwork I should have completed, he is within his rights to cancel my green card then and there. I ask him that if it was a simple case of some form, does he really think a reasonable person would not fill one out when so informed. He continues to talk all over me, stamps my passport and says, this is not for you to have vacations in the USA and you had better appreciate it.

I was shaking by the time I took a seat in the waiting lounge for boarding but then my blood started boiling and even now the bitterness of the experience galls. I was as clean a case as one could get. A person who has followed all the rules and kept anyone who needed to be informed in the loop. And I get this treatment. What for? Makes you wonder how they would treat someone whose paperwork might not be in order for whatever reason.

The USICE has new posters promising new standards of service. Even the department name is new, and it leaves one thinking that perhaps there is a genuine effort here to redress their recent heavy-handedness in treating anyone who wants to enter the USA and is not a citizen with suspicion. But oh no, they set me right. Nothing has changed. If anything, things are worse. Across the world, the US consulates are known for humiliating people by making them queue in weather, grilling them, making silly demands (my ears were not appropriately positioned on my head for photos- go figure!) and worse.

This country has been my home for years now and in a few years I can apply to be a citizen of this country. There is so much this country, which has been my home for over a decade, has going for it. There are so many good people I know. And yet, I can't escape the feeling that government policies concerning immigration have created America's own class system. This administration has dehumanised migrants and the rest of the world more than any other recently. Now that is a shame for a country that is built on the back of migrant sweat and blood. We need to stand up and say Enough.

The Minimality of the Wage

When I first moved to the States from India and I came across the concept of the minimum wage, I remember thinking how civilized a concept it was. A hallmark of good public policy. I think it used to be around $4.80 or so then (1993). Then I went to the UK in 2005 to work as a fellow. Casual labor in the UK gets paid about the same as workers here in the States if you consider $1=£1 (of course, this is not really the case for those of you who are econ-heads but the buying power of the currencies are roughly equal in their respective nations). Minimum wage in the UK went up to £5.35 per hour in 2006 from £5.05.

However, I would argue that the UK worker is getting a much better wage than her American counterpart despite getting a max 10% tip (in service industries) if you get any tip at all.

The UK minimum wage is a much more humane living wage because health care for all its citizens is already taken into account. The minimum wage in the USA is a sick joke on the poor. The poor are expected to work and not be a drain on the system. In the land of opportunity, it must surely be the lazy who are poor.

Can someone on minimum wage afford to buy health insurance? Can they afford to take care of their children or even themselves? Can they eat nutritiously and focus on the positive things in life? I would answer in the negative. The American minimum wage is a farce played to keep policy wonks happy for doing something and the industry happy for getting such cheap labor.

The number of working poor in this country is not insignificant though it is not something that gets talked about openly, not being a sexy topic for conversation or even for news reportage. A significant proportion of the working poor are mothers. There is a tragedy unfolding here. This is not the America that this country should grow into. We need change. We need compassionate and realistic public policy.

This government is By the media, Of the lobbyists (elected and otherwise), For the rich (industrialists and otherwise).

Welcome, 2007!

Happy New Year, all!

I thought I’d try to beat Radhika to the punch and blast out our first blog of 2007.

She’s pointed out that it’s a lot easier to blog when you are angry about something. I agree. I am a lot more eloquent when I have something to rage against. But I am feeling pretty blessed.

And it’s not that I don’t have the opportunity to find something that would enrage me. Turned on NPR earlier and heard the former President Bush proclaiming that dead President Ford could have stepped out of a Norman Rockwell painting. Huh? Isn’t that a completely bizarre thing to say at the man’s funeral?

The 3000th American serviceperson died in Iraq this weekend, along with Saddam Hussein. Am I the only one that is utterly horrified by both events? What I see as more blood on our hands is, to American leadership, only more insignificant blood under the bridge, I guess.

But the local still wins out. A dear friend called last week to say that she is recently married and newly pregnant. She’s one of those friends who drifts in and out of my life periodically, always leaving deep memories and warmth. She asked for advice and I’m sending her some of my favorite books on home birthing and compassionate child raising. She’s going to be an amazing mother.

I am part of an ecovillage project in upstate New York. This amazing group of people gathered a few weeks before Christmas and decided, and not without great debate, that we would govern ourselves by consensus. For those who would roll their eyes at this, I submit that ecovillages, and all other culture changing, world saving things, cannot possibly be governed by any other style of decision making.

This year I’ll be finishing up a PhD, in the Decision Sciences. I already consider myself a researcher, and a fairly good one at that, but we need to save up enough box tops, endure the requisite hazing, before we are permitted to stand among our peers, so I trudge forward. And luckily, I have a terrific sponsor, and fantastic friends, who are helping me garner the strength.

In February, my beautiful, deeply passionate, and endlessly enduring daughter will turn 4 years old. Followed in June by the one year birthday of her brother. As she debates evening television choice with her father in the adjoining room, and her brother sleeps, I am simply struck by how lucky I am.

It doesn’t make good blogging, I’m afraid, but I am living a charmed life.

But stay tuned anyway.