GreenplanetFM Podcast

Hirini Reedy has moved to a state of being that he lives and moves lightly – whilst living at present in Aotearoa New Zealand - he likens himself as a 'modern day navigator, or Bedouin' – having no fixed address - having the sky as his roof the earth being the floor and 'many' spaces that he needs to be in.

In this 'field' he can contribute to the awakening that is happening as of this time.

He sees that our planet is dissolving old patterns and evolving to something new.

He sees how families have come into being and the family tree has spread to become now the canopy of our planet - that we have to look at families beyond our physical blood lineage, our cultural face – and look at the family of life itself. The family tree. This necessitates the need to return to the fundamentals to seeing ourselves as one huge family of many faces, many colours and many languages.

Being able to commune with all our extended whanau - 'family' so that we are having the spiritual recognition as well - as coming home to the practical family of his Mum and Dad and seeing them as they change and become old and being with them as they ready to transition.

This includes seeing the challenges of modern day housing and elderly care and embracing the extended family and not putting them into an old people's homes – but to be able to be there for them. So that when they pass over – we can carry on the lineage and hopefully the dream of a better world to come.

Hirini shares with us poignant moments of his dear Mum and Dad - how dementia changes everything and that as a loving carer what he does to make their life as bearable as possible. To shower them with aroha and love. He expresses his abiding respect for people who are are carers for sick and elderly people. And that is something that will come to most of us to all understand.

Hongi - the Greeting of Connection

Hirini gives a very wide understanding of the hongi – the act of sharing breath – nose to nose – forehead to forehead – we are all breathers of life – we birth into existence with our first breath and go out - on our out breath … it's not the end of life – but the end of the body temple.

Hongi is the phenomenon of joining breath to breath, being to being - mind to mind – heart to heart - you are bringing communion about these aspects of life itself – of family of community - of a greater being.

Hirini takes us through a deeper connection what hongi represent at a spiritual level that magnifies the knowingness that Maori have carried as a cultural norm as well as a commitment to deep awareness of being. The momentary convergence of auras – the fields - third eye to third eye - etc. Today so many people are not breathing properly so the 'ha' – (the breath) is emphasised by Hirini throughout this interview.

Breathing properly?

We as a humanity are not breathing deeply into our belly – Hirini uses breath and sounds and gives bird calls – to emphasis his connection to other animals sharing breath and singing song and of his anatomy of sound that we too - can utter.

How to hold our breath without going into fear – when you are in situations where you have been forced to hold your breath in under water or smoke incidents and the need to 'surrender' in such cases.

Then Hirini takes us through a breathing meditation which is very potent.

He then talks about shifting our consciousness to be able to travel or ask as other indigenous people do and call on another animal to assist you and become an extension of our breath so as to tie-into-the-seasons –- the flows and the wave forms of creation itself. And in that moment we can attune to the 'slip streams' of other realities and actually make 'that' connection.

Hirini talks to the Abrahamic language I Am who I Am – and Hebrew and sings about travel to a different timeline from the travesties in the Middle East to the Pacific (Pacifist) ocean heritage where Maori have navigated for over a thousand years and more.

He talks of the above different timeline and a different intonation - because the Abrahamic religions in his intuition - need the softer waters of the Pacific.

Cleaning up our bloodline - Our Whakapapa

He talks about our incarnation – that we have to honour this life - and it's about cleaning up our bloodlines – our whakapapa – so as to shift our evolution into a higher realm of being. That we need to look at the possibilities of being mortal beings that have been housed in various vessels, temples, to incarnate on this planet – especially to attain a sense of ancient memory - that we have chosen to be here - to be now at this crossing point.

He challenges us to go deep and far beyond appearances - where there is a substance where we can divine a certain knowingness that we can bring forth to align the harmonies again.

We are at a time on earth today where we see the devolution of 'old thought forms' of old 'fossilised-beliefs' that need to dissolve – to allow a new wave to come through.

He talks about we all have to go beneath our surface and cultivate the 'heartland' to discover the essence of who we are. We have to do our own inner work and purify our own internal dogma. Heal the ghosts and the wounded ancestors of the past. And it has to begin with our own individual self. The disciple of thyself. Checking out both the Yin and Yang of the self. To finally emerge – being self resurrected - having gone through our own crucible of healing what we have broken and now become free of.

Transmutation

Using the analogy of a caterpillar to a butterfly. Leaving that what is now not of use – behind – and what emerge as the crowning of our being is an illumined and transcendent radiant self - that flowers - where we realise that we are not the body and that there is something far greater.

You will have to listen to this interview attune to Hirini's words of oratory.

Awakening to our planet that lives beneath our feet.

What we need to do is connect and heal what is under our feet.

Hirini talks about our planet and how consciousness is rising and that we are all linked … and slowly the veils are becoming transparent and we are seeing through the illusion.

People are questioning their relationships – their work - their looking at the economics of what is happening from a local to a global perspective – of leadership - of elections and they are asking fundamental questions … is this it? Have we reached this point!

And we are all saying No – this is not it - and we realise that we have to look to our own inner guidance to find answers. That no external thing outside us that is not in resonance with our higher ideals - us – will now have no more control over us as we now can start to solve the myriad challenges that have manifested – so to awaken us up to a far greater reality.

Personal Responsibility

This continues with personal responsibility – holding the line – no matter what – committing to hold the line is becoming an imperative of having fierce love and compassion – and hand in hand we can do it – as he makes a compelling call – karanga – to involve yourself in both the transformation of self, but to stand for our planet and all her biota . Standing in the circle of the rainbow and holding the line. Becoming a disciple of thyself - cleaning out the temple to spring forth anew and write a new narrative. Let your voice, your harmonics out - open your chest cavity let the fire the (ahi) within your chest cavity out –

Creating Sanctuaries

Hirini says his job is to create sanctuaries – a place to feel safe and he has committed to find ways to keep us safe.

Aotearoa - can be and needs to be - A Peace Nation

He talks when he was working for the New Zealand Governor General and the implementation of initiatives to upgrade protocols that include Maori into the military forces. He had the good fortune to have had the ear of both - including the Commander in Chief of the NZ Forces.

The interview covers the British Army regimental system of the military - it is a powerful system and a dominating one and it has colonised many places globally - in its own image and it now needs to change and become more inclusive of all the imagery of the world. And that the warriors need to not become Special Forces – but instead Spiritual Forces.

He talks of Tu the God of war and also of the God of Peace and in this interview his dear old unwell Father comes into the room where Hirini is talking on the phone for this interview and what takes place is very profound and very synchronistic – as Hirini masterfully shifts the energy. (listen to this interview) :)

Saying that we today do not know how to make peace – because the god of war is getting far more media play and news reports – and the God of Peace is being subverted by vested interests. The NZ Army now has the capacity to be used as 'peacemakers' and go into areas and disarm the combatants into having a common song – to share food - to be able to hear the dreams of the antagonist and then put the options forward – otherwise we move precariously towards a devastated planet or - an opportunity for children to grow and flourish.

The NZ Defence Forces have the ability to bring together opposing points of view and reconcile them.

New Paradigm Emerges.

It's not about nations now – it is about who are the ones who are to be the custodians of the future - of all biota and our planet. Our planetary magnificence cannot continue to be turned into commodities – of pieces and units of production or continue to turn people into units of labour – all people are sentient beings and part of the fabric of life and this planet.

And its Hirini's dream that Aotearoa - New Zealand becomes the seed bed for this!

That we do not dream about it but turn it into a practical viable force. Starting from NOW!

We do not have the luxury of time – There are World War scenarios in the airwaves that are being ramped up by unconscious thought and disconnection!

So we have to have a Peace Star that rises from this part of our planet – from beneath the Southern Cross and the Southern Hemisphere light of consciousness in action.

To awaken the dark minds and show them the way home - towards the light, so that even themselves – those of the darkness, actually become happy - because they are now able to find a way home! So that we can bring peace.

This is part of Hirini's work here. All our work - as he says. We are all connected.

The Military Industrial Machine is a huge monetary machine that is like a blind juggernaut.

Oath of Allegiance

Soldiers need to 'swear allegiance' to a greater Queen - to the Grand Mother of all Mothers - to that of our planet – going beyond what they have sworn previously –

He says that "Making the person who makes an executive order to drop a bomb, go to the place where it is to be dropped and stand there and if they are willing to accept that nuclear bomb falling on then – then they need to pull the trigger on themselves." Otherwise let's look at far more elegant options.

The Grand Mothers of Peace

That the Grandmother women are better peace savers - how do we co create with humanity to build the home? – the family and community to be more connected and cohesive? HOME = Heaven on Mother Earth. H.O.M.E.

Hirini, emphatically asks you not to listen or read this posting and then just walk away and distract yourself with anything to keep you away from doing what is best for our planet and the children of the future.

The little heaven resides in us – it is not an external place up somewhere - elsewhere – stop looking without because what you are looking for is inside you. It's in you.

Hirini then ramps it up as dynamic orator!

Turn yourself inside out to reveal the star that has been sleeping inside you! Anything less is not worthy. We must be that which we can be – and we have to be FEARLESS and shed our old mental constructs and beliefs that have been handed down to us that no longer serve us!

Debt Amnesty

NZ with 4.65 million people and private and governmental debt is half a trillion dollars = $100,000 of debt for every person in NZ. How can this be?

Let us rid this – just like fruit falling from the tree it breaks down and rots then new shoots will grow up through it all …

He mentions debt bondage and new babies being born and that their names shunt them into a realm of being commodities.

He says we need to rename ourselves – shift the frequency of who we are - break the pattern - shatter the old thoughtform and transform like the proverbial monarch body and discards that which no longer serves us.

When we change the name we change the story.

We are still shackled to the European systems and the Westminster type Government – outdated thought forms - old paradigm thinking.

A new look at Sovereignty – what role does the Queen play in our existence – on our currencies – her Head on every coin.

The money system has to be changed … get savvy and research where it is going the 'TPPA Currency Declaration'.

Does this mean that the Reserve Bank Governor having now more power than Her Majesty? Just like the US Fed, having more power than any Branch of the US government?

So what does that mean for the Oaths? – All NZ Government Ministers of the Crown? – The Governor General whom have sworn allegiance? All military officers? The Police? The Justice Department - Judges & Magistrates?

There seems to be no one in authority standing up to protect our currency - at all – everywhere it is noticeably silent! The bankers control the game!

He calls for us to be very innovative and find ways to transform the system - from out of the bones of the old debts there will arise a new conscious currency. This too is Hirini's dream to align with the fires of creation and adeptly touch the slip stream and it then it will magically do the work for us. So that the currency is part of Creation's dream itself.

Guardians of the Now to Protect the Future

As ex army Hirini says in the meantime we need Guardians. We need elder-kaumatua and guardians – some that are facing-out and some that are facing-in that you have these sentinels in place for a space of safety so that nothing gets through, not even unwanted psychic energy so that new ideas are born into a new sanctuary - creating the new seedlings – the new dream - the new embryo – the placenta is there for the embryo to grow - the nut furnishes the seed when it ready to sprout. Or the yoke and albumen that feeds the germ cell of the egg that when timing prevails - eventually cracks the egg open.

We need to be able to grow into a planetary awareness yet be able to localise underneath our feet. Under all our feet - (you reader and you listener under your feet).

Then Hirini speaks so very softly and yin-like and this is for you to listen to - as his poetic finale – magnificent.

He sings a chant with two different stones accompanying him. Stones that he rubs together to remind us of the physical plane that we are embedded in - that we can also rise above.

He finishes with a delightful rendition of the Bell bird song

http://aiokoa.com

Hirini Reedy

A powerful orator - warrior of great standing - A unique and very different Polynesian being. At ease within his skin - his subtle bodies - his field.

The new paradigm that we are designing, languaging and shaping is one of collaboration – working in greater unison with group dynamics, bringing community initiatives into being by drawing on innovation, inspiration and goodwill.

We have been expectant of what is to come next in the unfoldment of a new way of life – a new way of being – one that is a total upgrade from the top down pyramid model that has been - patriarchal, extractive and exploitive that has ended up denaturing and dehumanising our world. This model is now falling away.

Unique Geographical Area

Laurence & Zahra are domiciled in the Northern South Island in the area covering Nelson, Motueka, Takaka & Golden Bay.

This whole area is a wellspring of change agents devoted to pioneering ways that people can live, be, do, work and thrive in communities and other ways of life.

From the renown Riverside community the very well known conscientious objector movement of the 2nd World War – now going for over 70 years - who were prepared to stand up for their principles and go to prison - To the Tui and Rainbow communities both been existing for around 30 years and a number of others spread around the area too.

There are many different initiatives happening in many different areas.

In education in Golden Bay there is more self-directed learning and other initiatives asking children what they wish to engage in, what they want their schools to look like now and in the future – plus many school Principle's are engaged in looking at a new vision of education that is very much aligned with the NZ Government's 2025 educational vision of more community input that incorporates holistic systems.

Plus 'I Design' studio – teaching children from grass roots how to use electronics - designing – coding - creating IP - yet have a preference to 'open source systems' for free – and 'make a space' initiated by a retired engineer to create interest within the localised rural community. Which typifies the releasing of the potential of new technologies of decentralising and re-localising non colonising …

This includes production manufacturing and invention based on how do people re-think, redesign, remake reinvent the world - and you are not going to put a cap on it.

Local Currencies

In Takaka, the Hands system of Greendollars/timebank- is coming up to its 30th anniversary – with 10% of the regional population as members.

"How about a non-dollar system". It's a LETS system a local currency system, paper vouchers and an electronic platforms.

In NZ - Living Economies.

That hundreds of lets system globally use Community Exchange System out of South Africa.

'Localising Food Project' - From the Tui community creating documentaries and educating people to show the issues as why it is important to return to locally produced foods; The loss of seed varieties especially seed that has specifically adapted to each bio region so that they can grow and are resilient to bugs etc so no use of pesticide etc – plus teaching about free food forests – throughout NZ.

So what is happening in the top of the South Island is a reflection of wider movement somewhat as an incubator of new ideas as well as community engagement with these inventions and ideals. Groups of people holding very high ideals and yet being pragmatic in their practice of them.

Practical Community Building

Laurence and Zahra want to know how to make practical these revolutionary, visionary - ideals and integrate them into people's lives. Do a web search and youtube search on localising food projects – there is a whole archive for film footage of best practices – to save heritage seeds, to create food forests and food gardens in schools.- Especially Robin McCurdy one of NZ's much loved permaculture pioneers.

Raw milk dispensing by farmers at the farm gate - called Village Milk via a chilled dispenser as well as a glass bottle dispenser that you can buy – it's practically organic milk – it just has no certification – but its organic by practice – this is being franchised out across the country though government regulators endeavour to get in the way due to health concerns – however it is a revolution in the making. Especially, assisting with a healthy gut etc. and also the products of eating from fresh milk.

This is big and it will only grow when people realise that the milk they are drinking may be from - powder. Those white plastic supermarket bottles with a dark interior – which do not state anywhere on the plastic bottle that the milk has been pasteurised or homogenised – check it out - very strange.

Meanwhile NZ continues to slumber ☺

Joel Salatin in the US is mentioned as a keen raw milk farmer and the challenges he has to be able to sell from the farm gate.

Joel Salatin's "I drink raw milk (sold illegally on the underground market)".

Pupu Springs a Natural Event

A Taonga among Maori with some of the purest water on our planet – deeply sacred place there are many springs over this whole Golden Bay, Takaka, Motueka Nelson area and Laurence poetically describes this in that the people of this whole region who are drinkers of such blessed water are themselves 'wellsprings' of goodwill, creativity and community as like the Pupu springs - expressing pure powerful goodness that gushing to the surface spreads its transparent latency among the populace that is springing forth this possibility of conscious change and transformation.

What is going right for us in the world today

Zahra & Laurence talk about the good things going right for us in the world today … and this is what the community game is all inclusive of. They both created and designed it as inherently we have the solutions within us as well as the many solutions already been worked on and worked out right around our planet –

(Best Listen to this to fully realise the potential of what this game presents).

And a 'Maker World for Schools' – Instead of saying in 40 year time the oceans will have no fish and then move on to page 47 and focus on some other subject – what is being said now – is 'what can we do about it?' and have a discussion and do projects around finding innovative ways to look what can be done to bring about the much needed change to save our fishing grounds? And make this an important, empowering learning. Because all the maths, the language the sciences can still be learned by applying them to the subject being studied and looked at – the subject being totally inclusive of other learning modalities.

Children learn better on experiential project based learning - especially projects that matter to them – that inspire them – engages them fully so they learn by embedding topical and deeply focused information that always works towards the best possible outcome.

If the schools focus on right lively hoods – why not focus on enterprise education – today and the social implications of working together?

If the science is correct – that the trajectory is so dire then why waste children's education on intellectual subject matter totally unrelated to survival – when the prognosis of our common future is so heavily weighted against life as we know it today.

Revolutionize Education!

This is where Zahra and Laurence want to see schools transformed – and with Mainstream education realising that 1/3 or teaching jobs will be redundant in 10 years time due to automation and robotics – this is a perfect time for education and learning curriculums to totally up their game - be reinvented and become holistic community wide – lifelong learning and equip children with the many 21st century learning methods and subject matter to focus on their basic growth as a human being living on a planet. This translates to an empowered inner resourced and savvy younger generation equipped to face the future head on.

Which maker world for schools inspires them into the new collaborative culture.

Self Funding Community Projects

The next step is how do you self fund yourself. – Listen to the interview.

Other Subjects Covered

Technology breaking out. - disruptive technologies

Self driving trucks – soon they will be everywhere as they have only a simple A to B journey – many drivers will be out of a job. Millions of jobs worldwide will see jobs cease to exist.

All rote or repetitive jobs within a decade will be going within a decade – by robots or a computer program – UBER - you know about the taxi revolution – they state that in 4 years self driven cars will be here and by 2025 fast decking numbers of petrol cars will be on the road.

Community to come together when so many jobs start disappearing.

Could there be a student revolution start soon that is totally global and could kids shun school until the adult population can deliver a plan for a viable, sustainable future solution orientation that factors the requirements for all?

Decentralisation to Empower People

Are Governments obsolete – but just have not woken up to it?

Scary as the situation is – the only option is to reinvent how we can live – together etc transformation now is our only option

Thus Zahra & Laurence see the urgent need for a training program with all the new project management tools that are now available – because we NOW have the tools to go forward to shape the new paradigm.

And they both state that they have most of the keys so that you can virtually take them out of a box and put them to work.

We are on the cusp of creativity that we have never seen before – 3 d printing of objects, machines, houses, gadgets etc - clothes will be dialled up or downloaded from a computer to a sewing machine device and the technology is already here.

They see humanity on a cellular level as a neighbourhood and they want to see our planet healed and the neighbourhood at the same time.

It's an evolution revolution and it's happening around our planet and Laurence & Zahra are doing their part.

Bubbles of creativity and community are popping up everywhere around our planet - they are becoming more and more = spreading out until their sides touch and then the tipping point will be reached and they will all merge into the new paradigm.

Food is an important piece of the jigsaw – have control of what we are putting into our body temple. Then we have autonomy – we have choice, health and better strategies and outcomes.

Other Interview Topics

Ethics and values will become an important issue.

What if Greenpeace had incorporated Greenpeace Inc and set up a solution oriented arm – to provide for everyone everyone. Because they would have tens of millions of potential investors, stakeholders buyers suppliers employees – the could have been huge by now and gaining more adherents because their products and services were second to none! And ecological sustainability would be embedded throughout the network/organisation.

Corporations are in a death spiral and they are not loved by people and big doesn't function anymore.

Collaborative is the new model

Even businesses are collaborating with their own competitors today. Co-opetition. e.g. restaurant row.

Force fed Neo liberal nonsense of dog eat dog has to come to an end - dogs don't eat each other either.

Our world is based on diversity and symbiosis

Noo map http://noomap.info/co-creation/ - Barbara Marks Hubbard Co creation and how we are working together to create and shape our future.

Open Source Society in Wellington NZ.

We have the capacity to work together and collaborate on large scale issues at a species level.

One of the more profound and grounded futurists being:

Jeremy Rifkin - The 3rd Industrial Revolution.

The Venus Project

The Venus Project New Zealand - facebook page.

The Venus Project Beyond Politics Poverty and War

An extremely informative and inspirational interview - going onto the front foot and pushing the envelope well out before them - this is one interview to download and listen.

Ted is a peace and community activist, Permaculture designer and teacher that loves to grow 'edible landscapes' - He is truly an ecological visionary.

Ted is also ex-military (12 years in NZ Army Territorials) becoming a peace activist, especially campaigning against depleted uranium, where NZ troops were deployed. NZ Defence personnel today will be suffering health problems because of this. He has also completed a master's paper in remote sensing (aerial and satellite photo mapping) to compliment his Degree in Geology and Geography.

Ted co-founded Transition Towns Nelson, but with the change of government from Labour to National, they lost their funding for employing a co-ordinator, and with the collapse of the price of oil, lost their impetus, and most members drifted away. The one thing that survives is the Permaculture in Nelson Group (PNG), that he still co-hosts.

Hosting the Nelson Peace Group during after hours - he also lead a book discussion group based on the books by Daniel Quinn: 'Ishmael', 'My Ishmael', 'The Story of B', 'Beyond Civilisation'. This started a process of questioning the foundations of who he was and what culture he was living in.

Permaculture

His main focus now is Permaculture gardening/design during the week. He's also studying part time as a student on National Certificate in Horticulture, level 4.

He is passionate about his gardening, but especially about building healthy living soil, such as biological farming and especially soil banking, including installing chook runs and small water harvesting projects.

Activism

He also follows a lot of writings and speeches by Guy McPherson on abrupt climate change - by Derrick Jensen on bringing down "civilisation", by Carolyn Baker and Andrew Harvey on grief work, and Paul Levy on the Greatest disease of our times: Wetiko = a collective psychosis.

Ted's pretty sure we have entered a period of great change. He calls it The Great Unravelling. He hopes we can get to The Great Turning idea from Joanna Macy. It's very late in the game though, collapse of the biosphere is well underway. But he's here for the natural communities and the rest of life, to make a difference with the time he has left, regardless of how short that is, or isn't!

In this interview, Ted expresses condolences to Bill Mollison who with David Holmgren initiated Permaculture, a system that encompasses not only agriculture, horticulture, architecture, and ecology, but also economic systems, land access strategies, and legal systems for businesses and communities. Bill Mollison, died this last week after initiating a revolution on how humans can survive with living on and with the land,

Ex Military

As an ex territorial soldier – he states that after 12 years of service he realised that even in NZ we live under a government of occupation on behalf of empire, it is about dividing and ruling the communities, it's about opening the country up to rape, pillage and extraction – and this also includes the so called NZ defence forces.

Is not so much about defence of NZ – but actually an offensive tool of Empire – and NZ armed personnel have been used all around the world and are still being used as offensive weapons for Empire. With that realisation and start of the Gulf War in Iraq - Ted resigned and became a peace activist.

Stating that the modern industrial, intelligence, military, complex is completely insane and out of control – that it has been for sometime, but has been getting a lot worse.

Ted says he is so grateful that he has been given the opportunity to wake up to this and to take a stand even when his voice trembles and his knees quiver and say 'this is not what we are here for.' As an ex-soldier he stands and states - we can do this differently.

Indigenous Knowing

At a local level Ted has studied and found himself embedding himself in indigenous wisdom and realised that indigenous peoples are 'an extension of their environment' and that they are infused with the ecology that surround them. That, they are intimately connected with the seasons and know that the earth is their great sustainer. That the people of the first nations of North America took into the deepest of consideration the term 'looking seven generations ahead' to see that the environment could peacefully fulfil their needs whilst they revered and acknowledged the sacredness of life.

Though very, very late in the 'game', Ted says this is basically our only way forward, because to carry on the same habits that currently run our paradigm is in essence a race to the bottom.

There is a great unravelling happening all around us today as the biosphere can only absorb so much punishment before the tightly coupled ecological systems that so elegantly overlap and blend both up and down the vastness of the nature kingdom collapse.

Rural Maori that Ted knows have much respect from him, because they know how to live more sustainably and understand living within community most being connected by a marae, or meeting place. This will stem from their original belief systems.

Localising

Training as a permaculture, gardener-designer and aware of the radical things happening globally – his focus is very neighbourhood, at grass roots and what can be done locally as a humble yet stirring permaculture gardener. He finds deep satisfaction and huge relief in getting his hands dirty in the garden on a daily basis. Mainly helping out with friends, colleagues and clients to put in an edible landscape to help with biodiversity and raise as much awareness as possible. Maintaining that 'civilisation' (a swear word in Ted's vernacular) is insanely unsustainable – and we could do it differently.

Meanwhile the indigenous methods have been quietly waiting for us to waken up to, as they have a lot of wisdom that could make a difference.

Education & Learning

One of the benefits of 'being' and doing gardening is that Ted, can download from the web, interviews on organic gardeners and biological farmers telling their story, some interviews even from GreenplanetFM.com - such as Graeme Sait and Dee Pigney that their knowing is so very inspiring. That he fires up and enthusiastically put his whole being into aligning with the garden and helping with the landscape. And on a lovely day it is a joy and a pleasure …

Ted talks about soil bacteria and that the micro-organisms that when our hands are in the soil they somehow communicate across our skin membrane and interact with the micro-organisms within us. And there is a sort of osmosis that occurs that affects our brain chemistry and we feel good.

This helps him deal with the grief of watching our 'civilisation' and biosphere unravelling – yet - this connection with the soil and his hands in the earth, helps him deal with the hurt and thus the soil heals him as well as grounds him. By finding joy in this whole process and he states - deep joy it's so profound and this is what keeps him going – this is his juice - however, he does not know how long he can keep doing this? But he will continue until he is unable.

Challenges Surrounding Us

We talk about the huge change that is coming right now.

The 6TH Mass Extinction and we are in it right now!

200 plus species a day going to extinction – day after day after day – these are our kin – our cousins and we ignore this at great peril. And we do not know which of them at some stage in the radical interdependent interconnectedness of everything- is going to pull apart the web of life and impact us even more … So Ted does what he does - for them – doing his best for all the biota that live within our biosphere.

Radical Viewpoints?

Asked by numerous people why he does not stand for local government – Ted states that if he did – it would only be for a platform – to rant. That he would state - from Derick Jensen's book 'End Game' –'that the needs of the natural community come before the needs of the economic system."

So he is not about to be enter politics where he is up against the continuation of the same economic growth system based on money and export earnings, more housing sub-divisions and we will get more prosperous blah, blah etc. What he is - is an advocate for de-growth and smart decline. He is also an exponent for 'growth of relationships' – with each other and growth of relationships with everything within the 'living community.'

He is for growth of recognising that we need to preserve, regenerate, revive and protect the natural environment – because without it we don't have an economy!

Gift economy - Sharing

Having a garden or chickens you can gift your produce to friends and people – it's a wonderful feeling to do, because you have put so much love and good vibes into growing lovely organic splendour. Ted is an urban chook farmer which he feeds fresh greens to like puha and dandelion and they go crazy over wanting to eat it – same for silver beet and spinach. Listen to this talk by Ted - about his chickens and the win, win, win situations he is involved in.

Globally much more food comes from small farmers. He mentions Vandana Shiva – who in many ways speaks for small farmers on many issues, especially the perils of GE & GMO's and mentions that Agri business is not only very new but it is not as productive as small farmers globally.

Starting Anew and Being More Heart Centred.

Having academic degrees did not satisfy him s he has switched course and gone off on a different direction .

"A revolution can start in a garden" says Bill Mollison - "and can be disguised as gardening" – so by including local food sovereignty – this is quite revolutionary – but it can't stop there it has to be a lot more revolutionary – Listen to this interview to Teds response to being engaged in sedition☺

He finds it a fascinating time to be alive – so much in flux With barter, green dollars, times banks – and the GIFT economy.

Transition Neighborhoods seem to be the way forward – cells communicating with cells and clusters of cells …

Communion With Nature

Are Humans biophobic? Why? We we need instead to be biophiliac's, floating in biophilia –the love of nature – the joy of nature - the joy of nature with us and around us. We are an integrated part of the entire natural community. That natural community is not what we control – that natural community is our natural kin – is our family … listen for more to Ted on this interview.

Most indigenous peoples are unable to understand why it is taking us so long to work out that we are not separated from nature … they shrug their shoulders in disbelief.

Ted reckons that we will return to a light ecological foot print when our present economic system 'drops out' and by us then returning to total immersion in ecological communion with the land we can/may be able to draw from the earth for all our needs.

Separation and Disconnection & Why?

He ventures the statement that we are actually in a dark ages and that at present humanity is neck deep in a malaise of greed, avarice, consumption and competition. A predicament that the North America First Nation Peoples say - that we are afflicted by Wetico – 'the disease of the civilised ones' – better known in some circles as being taken over by a mind parasite – and our urgent need and task is to face this - and climb out of this pit.

Ted calls it "climb-out-ology" - time to climb out to a light ecological footprint.

To also embraces smart decline and de-growth rebuilding our local land bases – a re-naturing of areas of areas.

Time is of the Essence

And it is very, very late in the game! We may not pull it off – so be it - but he will continue unabated to his last breath.

Maori Understanding of Nature.

He is doing a lot for all those creatures and kin who are going extinct every day, by working with the ecology and talking to people of his concerns.

Ted, encourages us to go and listen to local Maori – and their communities as they are less individualistic and more community players. They having a reverence of nature and invoke their gods when cutting a tree down or going fishing.

What To Do?

Plan A – continuance is unsustainable

Plan B - Big Green Party vision - renewable energy – smart cars etc – Ted doesn't believe it will succeed – being not sustainable. Still based on industrialism and the extractive economy

Plan C - Energy descent and earth stewardship – David Holmgren said that this was the way – but has canned it recently and now says we are going to do plan A (brown tech) until we can't and then when it crashes we immediately go to .

Plan D - Which is 'lifeboat communities.'

Ted feel that this is closer to the truth.

NZ is a potential lifeboat community – hence our influx of migrant population, from nearly every country including a vast number of races.

Our economy according to the spin of the National Government is a 'rock star economy' however Ted's says it's unsustainably on the rocks. As it is immigration that is artificially keeping NZ's balance of payments in the black and it's take their money to pay for housing and infrastructure.

There are many environmental communities still going across the country and they are surviving – Ted posits the idea of a 'network of resistance' – that their love of community and nature brings them together.

There are wonderful people living out on the land across the whole country who love their land and their animals and have been doing wonderful work helping to preserve, protect, regenerate and defend it.

The biggest difference between those in the world today says Derek Jensen is 'those that do something and those who do nothing' - Find what you like to do your passion – what you love that supports local community and land base and go and do it – because that is the only future that Ted can see.

Plan C is what Ted thinks is best as the political process unravels.

We have to work in community – we cannot do it by oneself – in todays world self sufficiency and self reliance is virtually impossible - it is to hard and lonely Talk to any remnant indigenous peoples who have lived for thousands of years and they will say - "how long has it taken you to work that out?"

Indigenous peoples say that they do everything with the village as their prime consideration - also the tribe – it's about the community about the neighbourhood- it has always been 'the collective' – this is why they have been this sustainable for this long.

Present Day 21st Century Culture

In our modern culture which is 'hyper individuated' - is narcissistic and is about 'look at me, look at me, look at me' … whose got the best toys? Whose got the biggest toys?Whose got the most toys? It's gone insane - especially when we bother to look up and look around we see we are pulling the whole biosphere down, by pulling the rug out from under it by all - by our unconscious actions of material extraction and consumption.

Now ask the question. Where is your water coming from – where is your food coming from?

The message from the Hopi Elders the 11th hour – we are in it and it is closing on 12 o'clock – It's come together time, know your community, know your garden. Hopi Prophecy.

Ted is hopeful of the Joanna Macy concept of 'the great turning' is going to come – but we cannot have 'a great turning' until we have done an unravelling says Ted - in this way of living – this incredible toxic hubris that keeps us trapped into thinking that this is the way humans are supposed to live.

And it is killing us (look at the cancers stats) it's killing the community and it's killing our planet at a rate never seen before. So the need to do it differently or we won't be here.

In 1980 our planet population was 4 billion today it is 7.5 billion – we are locked into a growth fetish.

Hitting limits to growth.

Listen to Ted by downloading.

The change of the ages is happening right here right now!

Global Conflict & War

As an ex military man the interview: Covers the Middle East – Syria, Ukraine & Russia and the proxy wars going on …

Plus NZ's involvement with the Waihopai 'Five Eyes' spy base and satellite download and upload system - we are now a target - and most probably a target of a Russian Intercontinental ballistic missile that has an enormous payload and capacity to obliterate a vast area – not far at all from where Ted lives in Nelson and everyday he lives in a state of grace.

How can we evolve the organism that is 'the human race' to break out of the paradigm that we have made a habit of staying in – covering the 100th monkey phenomenon as a metaphor of shaping our evolution on a 'collective and very rapid scale.'

We humans are it – time has basically run out …

Are you a Shambhala warrior that Joanna Macy talks about – there will be4come a time of great darkness that will then bring forth the emergence from all nations the Rainbow Warriors the Shamballah warriors – and their 2 weapons are … insight and the radical interconnectedness and interdependence of everything – and compassion

Time to talk truth to power to speak from the heart and the soul

That the indigenous people say today to we civilised people today is for us to decolonise our hearts and minds and look around and see that we can do this differently. This is what drives Ted.

This interview continues to cover:

Gaia that our planet is a super organism that we can align with and tune into.

Seeing the sacred in nature.

To all our relations.

Woodwide web – Tree roots connecting with many other trees.

James Camerons Movie Avatar - where on the moon Pandora all the biota can connect into a greater reality - animals, trees and the indigenous Na'vi.

This connection allows a Na'vi to sense the energetic and kinetic signals broadcast by creatures, plants and even the moon itself.

Connection – the dance of life and with nature – being in a state of love and joy and whenever we can - having gratitude and being thankful for nature and that which supports us. This is what Ted exemplifies and surrenders into.

A exceptionally stimulating interview.

In this interview Dr Guy Hatchard addresses this and explains how plants animals and humans have evolved together and how our gut is made to digest natural products better than synthetic ones. He is an absolute mine of information around this, the Gaia principle and quantum physics.

Dr Guy Hatchard was formerly the Natural Health Products director at Genetic ID, a global food testing company. He now runs the Natural Food Commission to inform the public about the benefits of traditional natural medicine and the dangers of food regulation. Working with industry and natural health practitioners, he has organised a campaign to oppose the Natural Health Products Bill which is in the queue for its final reading in parliament.

Alliance against this BillAn alliance of Natural Products companies, doctors, and affected individuals are mounting a legal challenge to the provisions of the Natural Health Products bill.

The government is planning to present the Natural Health Products Bill for its final reading shortly with provisions that resemble the original bill, the Theraputic Goods Act, which was abandoned in the face of huge public opposition. The Ministry of Health has already begun to implement the bill's anticipated provisions. Analysis of the latest version of the bill released on 15th March shows it will greatly disadvantage traditional medicine affecting the health care choices of tens of thousands of NZers. However as opposition to this bill is mounting, government has pushed it down on the order paper in parliament. This is an opportunity to provide more opposition, which as you listen to the interview and read below, you will see is most necessary!

A Draconian Law

In 2011, the Government and the Green Party promised a law that would encourage the use of Natural Health Products alongside conventional medicine as a precursor to an integrated, science-based approach to health. Instead the law has emerged from the corridors of power as a draconian and restrictive approach which is very different from the integrative approach to medicine which is beginning to flourish overseas.

1) The Bill has adopted a list of 5500 controlled substances from Australia and Canada which means that its provisions are similar to the Trans Tasman Therapeutic Products Agreement proposed in 2006 which was later abandoned after being roundly rejected by the NZ public.

2) Because the permitted natural ingredient list contains approximately 3000 chemicals and synthetics in addition to herbs; it will allow products labelled as natural to contain synthetic additives thereby debasing the meaning of the word natural, which will confuse and disadvantage the public.

3) It enshrines in law the idea that serious illness cannot be benefited by Natural Health Products despite the growing scientific evidence published around the world that nutrition and traditional medicines can have a huge beneficial impact on cancers, heart disease, digestive and respiratory illness, and other chronic illness.

4) It restricts free speech about the health benefits of food and introduces chilling penalties of up to $250,000 for those who communicate the benefits of natural products without first obtaining Government permission.

5) It places pharmaceutical regulators with no interest or expertise in natural health in charge of our food and health choices. These same people will adjudicate on traditional Ayurvedic, Chinese, Maori, and herbal systems of medicines. This is contrary to assurances given by the Hon. Jonathan Coleman to Parliament that Medsafe would not administer the Bill and product suppliers would be able to self-certify compliance.

6) The Government has tried to justify the Bill by saying that it will ensure the safety of the public, but no evidence of risk has been presented. It fact evidence shows it is far more dangerous to go out to eat in a restaurant or consume a bowl of salad at home than it is to take a Natural Health Product. Therefore there is no justification for introducing pharmaceutical style regulations.

7) It is a Henry VIII Bill, containing enabling and regulatory provisions which allow the Ministry of Health to take decisions for any reasons it believes to be relevant. This is poorly written legislation which is open to abuse, misunderstanding and litigation.

8) It contains a clause which prevents unfairly treated individuals and firms from asking a court of law to uphold the safeguards contained in the Bill. The only redress available is to ask the Authority to reconsider its decisions. This will frustrate justice and enable the Authority to ignore matters of fact.

9) Because there has been no credible attempt to rationalise the provisions of the Natural Health Products Bill with the Medicines Act 1981 and the Food Bill, it contains a hidden mechanism to allow pharmaceutical companies to gain effective patents over health giving traditional herbs which has already been exploited in Australia and will now be available here.

10) It wastes money and resources on restricting the natural health choices of the public, while serious and growing problems such as childhood obesity, hypertension, ADHD, and anxiety, which are largely caused or complicated by poor diet and nutrition, are almost completely ignored.

11) It places an additional huge cost on the natural health products industry through onerous regulations and charges which will increase the cost of products and likely ensure small and even medium sized companies have to go out of business as happened in Australia where dozens of firms have been forced to close their doors and traditional medicine suppliers have all but disappeared.

12) It allows unhealthy foods and products including tobacco, sugary drinks, and alcohol to continue to be sold, while restricting healthy choices. How irresponsible is this, and what a complete waste of resources?

Guy has made videos explaining his concerns, including this one, on the new global restrictions on Natural Health products.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_q5AIzMyMDM&feature=youtu.be

This interview is sponsored by The Awareness Party. www.theawarenessparty.com

Jodie grew up to lose both parents due to cancer and she herself, developed hyperthyroidism and had to take medication that left her lacking in energy.

She didn't really get her brain and life back until when she saw a herbalist – then her mind started to clear and she started looking at nutrition – which lead to cleaning up her diet.

It was a slow process because she was still fatigued and tired with two young children though getting better all the time. Having a Degree in Agribusiness she has had a keen interest in food production. But realised that industrial factory farming was denaturing food.

That wheat may have two fungicide treatments and insecticide treatments, plus it will have a coating before it sprouts into a plant (see neonicotinoids) http://www.ourplanet.org/greenplanetfm/karen-wealleans-pat-baskett-dangers-of-neonicotinoids?A=SearchResult&SearchID=3175113&ObjectID=12741231&ObjectType=35 but there is no scientific research on all of this.

Supermarket foods today are problematic as there are so many 'snack bargains' available and in many ways we are reluctant or unable to address this addictive behaviour. Mainstream media is basically failing in addressing this due to vested interests and advertising revenue from the 'food' industry. Especially in relation to very recent new chemicals being introduced into food, since most of these chemicals were not around 20 years ago and thus we were not eating them way back then.

Michael Moore the documentary maker in the US has put on record how big food researchers, explore 'crave-ability' and scan people's brains to see the dopamine spurt when exposed to certain food, - how it sounds and tastes - as scientists want to know what is going on at deeper levels within our brain using hard science.

The addiction's are more than sugar, they are carbohydrates – wheat, potatoes and salt in that mix – and we are not addressing the addictive nature of these foods. Because to the snack food industry - with addictive foods, you will always get a repeat purchase.

The other fact of the matter is - that Main Stream Media 'MSM' in many cases state that chronic illness that's in the world today - has a genetic factor – when it could actually be up to 85% plus related to diet and exposures and we know that most exposures comes in through the mouth.

That wheat may have two fungicide treatments and insecticide treatments, plus it will have a coating before it sprouts into a plant (see neonicotinoids) but there is no scientific research on all of this.

Plus, there are chemicals in bread to keep it as fresh as possible. Including the possibility of soy and corn products – as seen on a great amount of supermarket food packaging and many of these may have been derived from GMO sources as well.

Most mum's will possibly only read one article every few years to warn them of what is in food – but it usually happens only when a child becomes ill, or the parents go down with an ailment, will they then start to look at what they are eating – meanwhile their life becomes very stressful and they suffer a drop in energy – losing momentum for vibrant living and well being.

We need an active and diverse media in NZ but regrettably this it is not happening. That we have to wake up to the fact that we do not have 'conscious' media in NZ - especially covering the multiple interrelationships around products and their safety.

Governments are supposedly to be trusted, however we are rapidly noticing that they are not taking the electorate into consideration when once they did. There are fiduciary obligations that should not be breached.

The NZEPA - Environmental Protection Authority

is poorly funded (just like in the USA where it is deliberately underfunded) That the NZ EPA, just can not keep up with the onslaught of chemicals and new products and flora and fauna entering NZ that they just can not research and check out prior to being allowed into our environment or market place.

Plus, with trade and the need for the economic wheels to keep turning – there has become a slow compromise of standards, as overworked EPA can not keep up with their responsibilities and activity that is continuously increasing. This is because the guidelines - the protocols that the scientists have to asses, in this case pesticides are both outdated and have an exceptionally narrow focus.

This has resulted in that 'we' are not engaging in the in-depth studies of insecticides, pesticides and fungicides. They are NOT LOOKING at the full formulation. Most farmers know that the full formulation is more toxic. None of these full formulations when sprayed on a crop, are looked at from a combined formulation. They are all only looked at separately. This means that when you mix all the effects of herbicides, insecticides and fungicides together - the accumulative effect of all three - have a knock on effect that has not been researched or studied.

So we have an underfunded Government scientific institution given a contract with very limited scope that they 'only stay within the parameters of what they have been given to study.' They are not told to look outside these areas – so they are not really looking out for the public good, for in many ways the perception is they are just ticking the boxes.

Therefore we have children today being exposed to a huge onslaught of chemicals (Remember the slogan Clean Green NZ) – plus the sugar load – no wonder our children are become sicker at a younger age due to this toxic overload - especially from wheat products. So though we seem to live longer (with more drugs to keep us alive) we are having more young becoming ill as a result to all these chemical exposures.

Note, that the biotech corporations give the Government their specs and data and there are definitely limitations with the data offered, solely because they want to get their product onto the market as soon as possible and they are not always forthcoming with data that could compromise them.

Doctors are not able to speak out as 'big Pharma' is looking over their every move and doctors risk losing their license if they become critical of the chemicals that are persuasive in the food chain. As a result doctors in NZ are 15 years behind with what is truly going on. They are doing their best, but without Government sanctioning of top quality, honest food education, their task in many ways is like being the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff.

There is a need for honest Government talking about clean food – no junk food advertising – that we are today so far from a responsible Government.

The 2016 NZ Government Health Strategy came out recently but it was more like a communication strategy talking about prevention but they never mentioned what prevention was - they never talked about clean food or the tsunami of sugar addiction.

This interview mentions the challenges to communicate to NZers, especially mothers about 'good practice' and safe eating and it is a huge task - as most magazines sell the sizzle - the hype of fancy dishes looking and smelling tempting and delicious. Not their health contents.

Mothers are endeavoring to share and use FaceBook to communicate their needs and it is not helping parents fast enough to find the answers because they are often looking in the wrong place - when the game is to simply clean up your eating act and take in more organic produce that has never been sprayed or been fed chemicals. MSM – just won't go there. (Just like in the USA)

That Glyphosate is sprayed now on our pastures and it's on our food crops, on our pathways, it's in our drains, along our roadsides, around our parks and no Council is testing for 'Roundup's - glyphosate in the groundwater – 'none' nor are they looking for it in our drains, creeks and river systems – WHY?

Even Monsanto's studies in Europe have found it in Europe's groundwater and river systems.

Recently 41 Green MP's from 14 countries in the European Union were tested for Glyphosate in their urine and all 41 averaged 4 times the allowable amount for the EU and the Green MPs would eat and drink more organic food than the average European, by far.

We are just not looking at the fungicides and insecticides and the run-off from the land into the drains, creeks and rivers – So the question being asked is - where is the hard science testing for all these chemicals and the cumulative effects of them?

Most farmers are not told of the hidden dangers especially of the cumulative effect. Only when insects, bird and marine life become affected will we see that this matches the ill health that children are starting to be impacted by.

There is hidden secret science that is being kept from us because MSM are basically in the hands of big business.

Is Glyphosate in NZ milk products? Evidently no one in NZ is using the 'latest leading edge technology' to test for glyphosate in milk that has passed through the mammalian system.

See Monica Kruger – European study http://www.gmoevidence.com/dr-kruger-glyphosate-is-toxic-to-dairy-cows/

Basically science and the systems that the NZ Government have set up are failing people in NZ, and by default overseas buyers of our produce?

Note that Glyphosate can be sprayed on wheat crops – so do some research yourself.

As well as oil seeds – canola and your vegetable oils like soy used in convenience foods most are GMO's and have been sprayed with Roundup.

Baby formulas and infant formulas, become very problematic when there is no robust testing.

In the NZ dairy industry – we need transparent protocols because Glyphosate is being used on NZ pastures before stock is grazed on it. NZ farmers are being TOLD that it is SAFE – so when one day the newsflashes on at 6PM screaming out that overseas somewhere - tests have found glyphosate in the milk – we can then look to Monsanto's scientists for accountability.

This could be impacting animal health, sperm and egg levels causing deformities – we have not seen the tests.

Bread – what is it doing to us and our children?

Because of chemicals in our food we can not always see what's actually happening in our food. Because anti fungicides keep the fungus at bay, same as preservatives in meat - stop it from spoiling early. We have to become far more aware.

Safer regulation makes for safer food – the EU has good regulation

ERPA in NZ is much closer to trade based interests than to Mothers …

Europe has recently made a recommendation in regard to Roundup and Glyphosate based herbicides that it should not be sprayed on food crops anymore and the major adjuvants or ingredients in the formulation – called POEA – should be taken out of Roundup and it should never be used around parks and where children congregate or play.

These recommendations are light years ahead of the NZ EPA and country wide regulations.

Julia Rutledge professor http://www.canterbury.ac.nz/profiles/staff/people/julia_rucklidge.shtmlnzh

How do we get the message out?

Talk with your friends over a cup of tea and coffee, at cafes, at school events, at sports in weekends.

Use FB appropriately plus link to good alternative media and be adroit - put your needs out among your friends.

Web search – put blog in front and after a few pages of commercial posts you get to some very interesting info

Listen to Ted talks or other programs – even GPFM.

When it comes to children eating industrial farmed food we are at present in a global emergency.

It is that developing babies, to infants, to children all the way up through their teens whose health is in balance. This is the critical time in the formation of all of their organs and growing body.

For adults it is different we are in essence fully formed so it is not as critical when compared to growing children.

So the imperative is to get organised to make sure we have a healthy future for all children and grandchildren.

www.rite-demands.org

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2016/05/03/glyphosate-food.aspx

https://www.amazon.com/How-Not-Die-Discover-Scientifically/dp/1250066115

In this interview, Roger Fowler, leader of two Kiwi humanitarian convoys to Gaza, encourages us to stand for peace and justice for the Palestinians.

The issue of Israel and Palestine is the world's largest festering sore that is affecting other countries and by implication - wars. Placing displaced people where other people were already living is a massive international failure, and one that must never be repeated.

The result of this failure is shown in the three Israeli military operations over six years, in addition to nine years of economic blockade, that have ravaged the already debilitated infrastructure of Gaza.

The United Nations has said that the Gaza Strip could become unlivable by 2020 without critical access to reconstruction and humanitarian supplies. The U.N. issued similar warnings four years ago, even before the 50-day war, which left more than 2,200 Palestinians dead and countless others injured or wounded, most of them civilians.

Among many things, the report cited the degradation of basic water, energy, sanitation and education facilities and the region's intense overcrowding as factors that may render the enclave uninhabitable by 2020.

Donor fatigue has left Gaza's reconstruction at a standstill, and there is no political solution on the horizon. After three wars in the tiny strip, one of the few certainties in Gaza is another war within a few years.

The current suffering of the people of Gaza is almost unimaginable.

Nearly 80 percent of Gaza's approximately 1.8 million people rely on aid agencies for daily sustenance. Unemployment is at 40 percent, more than double the level 15 years ago. Before the most recent war, nearly 60 percent of the population was food insecure, 95 percent of Gaza's water is unfit for drinking and electricity is available for only a few hours a day.

The most recent military operation compounded already dire socioeconomic conditions and accelerated de-development in the occupied Palestinian territory, a process by which development is not merely hindered but reversed.

Divided in two parts, the State of Palestine is not an independent country and therefore the people have no voice in United Nations and do not have full sovereignty and control over their own territory.

Roger Fowler and Kia Ora Gaza have organised the following projects:

• Sent a team of 6 Kiwis on the 140-vehicle Viva Palestina land convoy, driving and donating 3 ambulances to Gaza - part of the 7million dollars medical aid delivered in 2010
• Sent a team of 4 Kiwis on the "Miles of Smiles" land convoy to Gaza with 10 tonnes of medical aid, 2012, and sent a fact-finding mission to Gaza Nov, 2012.

Roger Fowler went to Gaza on each of these occasions and in the interview he speaks about his Gaza experience, the occupied territories, and about his activism.

Roger organised the NZ Conference on Palestine 2013 and returned to Gaza on a fact-finding mission last November 2016,

Veteran activist & community organizer, Roger Fowler, played a prominent role in building the local protest movement against the war on Vietnam and Apartheid in the late 1960s & 70s. He was manager of Auckland's Resistance Bookshop and coordinator of the inner-city People's Union community organization throughout the 1970s, an active supporter of the protest occupation at Bastion Point, and union delegate in the car assembly industry. Roger is director of the Mangere East Community Centre, and organizer of Kia Ora Gaza which has sponsored NZ involvement in several international solidarity convoys to break Israel's inhumane siege of Gaza. Roger was awarded a QSM Queens Service Medal in 1999.

Kia Ora Gaza is part of the NZ Palestine Solidarity Network which links up all the pro-Palestine groups throughout NZ. It was established from a series of public meetings to organise Kiwi participation in international efforts to end the siege of Gaza. This followed the Israeli commando raid on the ship the Mavi Mamara, which led the peace flotilla in 2010 which resulted in the deaths of 10 civilian peace activists.

Kia Ora Gaza is currently facilitating the participation of Green Party MP Marama Davidson on the Women's Boat to Gaza peace flotilla that will leave Italy later this month. (September 2016)

You can DONATE to this and other fundraising for Palestine on the web site:

Kia Ora Gaza: kiaoragaza.net

This interview was sponsored by The Awareness Party.

Knowing the matriarch, the queen bee is the sexual organ of the hive - it is she who lays the foundation for the whole colony - but there are many challenges in a rapidly changing world of the varroa mite and colony collapse. That commercial operations use insecticides to control the varroa disease are likely to cause problems because queens do not survive as long today as in pre-varroa times.

Today, nearly every element within the biosphere,is under pressure and yet honey, is still seen as an elixir especially recently, as NZ manuka honey becomes a premium for its antibacterial qualities especially with the increase of dis-ease and other ailments - so how is it possible to be a pure honey advocate and producer in our world today?

Nine years ago Richard took time off working as an interior designer to take care of his kids instead - and became a hobby bee keeper that has grown into a robust little organic business.

Starting from 2 hives to 4 to 8 now he has 120 hives and a thriving little business. Living on Waiheke Island 7 kilometres off the NZ coast - there are many larger (land) sections with numerous fruit trees, plums, apples and citrus and quite well established too - as well as differing flower gardens including bottle brush, so there is a lot of feed for bees - plus manuka trees - as there has been more reforestation on the island. It was a little over a hundred years ago the island was basically denuded as they used the wood for charcoal in Auckland 17 kilometres by boat across from Waiheke. Native kanuka is now becoming predominant - though there are cabbage trees and flax as well. With very little agricultural and horticultural pressures there are more vineyards, with most of them running organic systems. Other than the use of a little fungicide, which Richard acknowledged is not particularly good for bees, they are not using insecticides that directly affect bees.

Glyphosate is still a challenge though most of the vineyards will not use it and there is not much of it used on Waiheke Island, in a commercial sense.

Bee's being a matriarchal society the Queen may be the leader, but is actually the egg layer and genetic carrier for the hive as the bees seem to 'just know' what they need to do - as in anarchy - being a very complex society - no real hierarchy - so the workers can manipulate the Queen as to what they want or 'think' needs to be done and the Queen can do the same as well. He says it is such a complex society - the more you learn - the more you realise you have yet to learn.

Bees are quite complex - that they can 'think' for themselves even when they are connected to a hive mind. That the Bee is an esoteric symbol - especially from ancient Egypt, where they were readily acknowledged.

Nectar for the bees is their carbohydrate and for the flower that is the payment to the bee - for the bee being the sexual organ of the flower.

Honey that is made from nectar when capped off can be stored indefinitely.

Bee researchers overseas are looking at the individual honey properties from differing flowers, some have found anti inflammatory properties which is good for people in their older age.

The strain of varroa mite found in New Zealand in April 2000 was the worst strain of this pest - called Varroa Destructor and is here in NZ to stay. It easily infests hives by jumping from bee to bee within the hive or from flower to bee as bees forage for their food. Prior to that NZ was essentially an organic honey paradise.

Some bees are becoming immune to the chemicals that have been used. Richard listened to Randy Oliver in the USA and decide to go organic and is still successfully doing so. Randy has his own bees which he studies very intently and his relationship with them brings about a deeper intuitive knowing.

http://scientificbeekeeping.com

NZ has the highest number of bees ever at present and growing every year. But, the big producers use synthetic chemicals, which has its drawbacks.

It is very difficult to handle large quantities of hives organically as the extra precautions and checking all the time, is time consuming.

Colony collapse here in NZ has been nowhere as disastrous as it is in the Northern hemisphere. The bee is in some ways the canary in the ecological coal mine.

Bees in the US are a factory system with around 2.74 million colonies and it is huge for almonds in California. This is where they need a million hives to just pollinate the almond flowers. Bees are fed sugar water as well which equals a mono culture - thus shortcuts are taken everywhere and bees may get only one particular pollen, so it can have an effect that stops them becoming robust.

Pollen is what the bees eat and if there is only one flower such as the almond flower - there are problems - because they need a mixed diet.

The thrust of the interview then turns to industrial agriculture and factory farming.

Today's industrial agriculture is the extractive model that is based on how much profit can be made and we are pushing it to the limits of what the biosphere can provide. We are needing to make some critical decisions as to what is going to be for us to remain as healthy human beings as well as retaining a sustainable environment that will serve future generations and Richard sees that this must apply across the board in all agricultural and horticultural businesses. He says that it is a 'common sense thing' and we have to get back to factoring our children into our common future.

Richard also says we have to question why corporations exist and what is their purpose? We have to look at them again, as we have set the whole game up with the wrong goal in mind - it can not be all based on the profit motive or increasing your share portfolio - we need to increase the value of our planet and the biosphere and we are finding this out now.

Manuka honey is big in NZ, but it has become too expensive for the average New Zealander to buy. One of the reasons is that 'big bee businesses are paying farmers living close to manuka and bush, large amounts of money like $200 a hive for possibly 8 - 10 weeks of honey to place their bees close up, when flowering - driving up the price.

About his bees.

Most bees are Italian and we are not allowed to import any stock into NZ now. We do have Carniolan bees in NZ they are a darker bee plus a little black bee that the early NZ settlers brought with them to NZ - these a somewhat feral - but can be found in hives on Great Barrier Island.

NZ exports 35 tonnes of live bees out of the country. That is bees only, their body weight itself, nothing else - for example have a bee alight on your hand that is how heavy one bee is. Then extrapolate what 35 tonnes of these critters are worth in volume. Mostly exported to the USA and Canada as they cannot produce enough of their own up there. All those live bees are exported with a queen.

When the season finishes in NZ and the flowers stop producing - bees from hives are then harvested and a new queen introduced and they are flown up to the Northern hemisphere where that can start all over again as spring emerges - such is the way the industry has become global.

Worker bees may live 40 to 45 days, depending on how much flying they have to do, but in winter they will stay close to the hive, keeping it warm and can live for a couple of months - easily - eating honey and vibrating warmth keeping the little amount of brood around the Queen in the hive alive .

Bees are seen as not as healthy today as previously, as they eat lots of white sugar in winter - when for thousands of years they stored honey which they ate over winter.

A good organic honey apiarist will leave them more honey in the hive so they don't have to give them sugar. Agrisea here in NZ http://www.agrisea.co.nz - make a sea weed product that can be added to the sugar water to give the bees minerals etc.

In China many trees are hand pollinated due to the atmospheric pollution and smog making it too difficult for bee or even other flying insects to live or survive.

NZ must down scale from the full on industrial factory system - by doing so we may be able to have a viable localised industry.

Compliance costs are huge in NZ pushing people to become bigger businesses - as they are the only ones who can afford the exorbitant compliance fees - so it is totally weighted against the small producer - as there is no government support - especially to contribute to smaller 'craft; industries.

Thoughts

Richard states, people want the small craft industries that have their own essence and flavour - they don't want the big homogenous industrial giant. They want to know the guy and even talk with them, who made their cheese, their wine or their honey or the chair you sit in - people don't mind paying the extra - when they know who and how it was made …they want that human connection … we need to tell Government that we don't need farms with 2,000 to 3,000 dairy cows, that we can have a farm of 200 to 300 cows and make a very good living - especially that in NZ organic dairy farmers are getting $9.30 per kilo weight of fat compared to the poor return of $5 that conventional chemical farmers are getting. So by supporting the smaller guys to make a better product that is more beneficial to health and takes care of the ecology is being seen as a wise decision.

Biological agriculture and increasing bacterial levels in the soil is bringing huge results - getting rid of the synthetic chemicals that we have been pumping onto the land.

The Corporate model - all it does is pay the investors and the investors have virtual zero to do with the running of the corporation and they have no responsibility and all they care about is the bottom line and how much that can be extracted out of the environment each year.

Richard says, set some goals and do some research, turn off TV and instead check and see where you milk comes from - or where your grapes get sprayed … or how many times your veggies are sprayed.

Grow your own food - or go to a farmers market. Check your seeds that you buy from the local plant shop - ask what coatings they have on their seed - make sure that they are not covered in neonicotinoids - which are extremely dangerous and need to be taken out of the commercial realm. That we need to be proactive as it is important to know what chemicals are on what and one individual can do that - it just means that we make the effort - as many other people can benefit from your initiative and Richard says that if we have a society doing that - then other good things can happen.

He re emphasises that colony collapse is a result of a whole cocktail of chemicals from many various sources all coming together to cause the collapse - the same is with neonicotinoids - they are all contributors to causing increasing problems within the environment.

Richard questions how did the earth system evolve and create healthy living ecological systems and biota that have made it over a hundred million years? That it has been basically healthy for us up until this last century.

When we embrace more holistic and natural systems this will enhance our future for children of today and tomorrow - without the use of all these chemicals.

He mentions that the TPPA, the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement, is also not in the best interests for the human race, being corporate centred.

http://www.waihekehoney.co.nz Richards Own Website

http://scientificbeekeeping.com Randy Oliver

http://www.ourplanet.org/greenplanetfm/karen-wealleans-pat-baskett-dangers-of-neonicotinoids

In finishing I wish to mention that I have interviewed four of the Evatt Family, each with an important viewpoint that relate at a holistic, community, involvement - level.

There is father Christopher and son's Jonathan, Justin and Richard.

A very unique family.

http://www.ourplanet.org/greenplanetfm/chris-evatt-entrepreneur-business-mentor-and-assister-of-non-government-organisations

http://www.ourplanet.org/greenplanetfm/jonathan-evatt-the-columbian-native-kogi-message-for-humanity

http://www.ourplanet.org/greenplanetfm/jonathan-evatt-author-teacher-mentor-on-the-subtle-aspects-of-life-and-the-true-nature-of-man http://www.ourplanet.org/greenplanetfm/justin-evatt-jasmax-architectural-firm

Today here on Earth there is a 'Civil War of the Spirit' underway. Racial divides, religious intolerance, material avarice, martial control, and intellectual arrogance all challenge us to love and to heal our great separation from oneness and unity consciousness.

So, what is it that drives 'a man of the cloth' to see that the Vietnam war was wrong, that Maori of Aotearoa New Zealand were dispossessed of their land, that the South African rugby tour of NZ was racially selected, and that nuclear power and weapons brought into a country that threatened no other country, was and is morally indefensible?

Do we think to any depth of wisdom these days? Have we cast values and virtues out the window as we embrace the shallow distraction of material comforts and indulgences? This is a question that we need to engage and think deeply about. For it is obvious that George Armstrong, ably supported by his wife Jocelyn, has dwelt on many of the underlying causes that separate us all from participating and being global family.

Though George was on good terms with the local Bishop, he realised that with falling congregation attendances, the Church had lost its way. It was not engaged with the community and whatever virtues and values that the Anglicans wished to embed in the wider community basically echoed inside a vacuum. That though his Bishop also had an understanding of Liberation Theology, that in those days was making a huge impression in South America - where the priests took Christ down from the cross and instead got themselves in alongside the peasants and served and worked with a hands-on approach to share the load of the downtrodden. For George intuitively knew that there had to be a better way if we were to bring peace and justice to earth.

Hence, his deep commitment to the issue of the day - on so many levels.

Born in Dunedin in the South Island of NZ, the youngest in his family, and though somewhat spoilt it was a lonely life as his many older brothers went off to post 1945 war activities.

As a boy he joined the boy scouts and embraced the moral quality of that credo, that he eventually became a strong Anglican and then he experienced an 'angelical' conversion of what it was like to have an intense personal sense of God - or the Divine.

After a stint at teaching in Waitaki in the South Island he then became an Anglican Priest and to have parishes in Dunedin and Christchurch when he realised that the Church as a religious entity was basically failing - as he could see it in the dwindling numbers - and he felt that in a sense it was a moral issue in that the church was not engaged with society - ethically - and after a few run-ins, he felt that he had to stand up in what he believed in - no matter what.

He eventually ended up teaching at a Theological College becoming ordained and realised that you can only understand yourself by being active in the world, that books could not really do that, or only to a small extent. So he felt that he had to get out and become engaged and involved with the world - and that the learning comes on reflection from the action.

Especially in his opposition to the Vietnam war which was a horrific shock for him - as it took him against his Church - including some theological students against his Church too. To one time taking placards into Good Friday procession saying that 'Christ died for the Viet Cong.' And that the Bishop wanted him to get out of the procession and yet the Bishop was also good friends with George as he was quite partial to 'liberation' theology.

George, also found that there was a Buddhist strain in South Vietnam that was very aligned with him - as the Buddhist had a saying "they are our brothers who we kill." That the Buddhist Nuns were also very strong on this - and this all linked to the heart of Christianity.

George's mother had a sense that Maori spirituality was unique and when George officiated at some burials at Karatane, he realised that Maori and Pakeha understandings were very, very different. To experience Maori oratory and how it would flow impressed him and also that the historical wrongs to Maori from the colonialisation of NZ was important for George to understand - due to the enormous dispossession of Maori from their tribal land.

One important quality that George noticed, that even though this had happened to Maori - they had never lost their dignity.

George always felt it was a great privilege to stand alongside Maori in some way. He noticed that the young within Maori were more 'out there' than the elders which brought George into contact with the Harawira family, who he got to like as they quickly understood the nuclear threat to the Pacific ocean. However to them, the nuclear threat was just another extension of colonialism. But, it was the ultimate expression of the challenges we were facing yet on a totally different level. Especially, as it was our planet's future at stake.

He talks of Honi Harawira's mother Titewhai and about her astuteness and being both wonderful and frightening, plus mentioning and praising Walter Lini a theological student of George's and an Anglican priest, whom eventually became the founding Prime Minister of Vanuatu.

Then the 'white' South African rugby Springbok tour of NZ that traumatically divided New Zealand like never before and the acclaimed statement that 'this was a civil war of the spirit' - George was one of the anti-tour demonstrators to break through the outer fences to actually get onto the football playing field in Hamilton and have the game cancelled - whilst the large crowd of 10's of thousands were enraged and incensed, that they could not watch their game of footy. This news brought world attention to the fact that NZ supposedly a bastion of racial goodwill and fair play was engaged in playing a rugby team that was selected entirely on race.

That a large percentage of NZ was still in favour of the tour that I repeat in George's take -"this tour based on apartheid was a civil war of the spirit".

Though the tour continued after that canceled game many anti-tour protestors were so incensed that violence was discussed - yet George could not reconcile with violence in any way. There had to be a higher virtue overlighting all his actions.

Then came the NZ Peace Squadron or Flotilla. When in America at Princeton on a scholarship as he knew he needed a doctoral qualification to further himself, he witnessed on TV pictures a tiny canoe and inhabitant floating in front of the bow of a gigantic freighter - trying to stop it from going anywhere. As it was a ship dealing with armaments that was en route to a civil war in Pakistan.

This image stuck to George's soul and he imagined that with many small NZ boats, launches, yachts and anything that floated if New Zealanders could get out there in front of visiting nuclear armed or powered warships and stopping them from coming into NZ, ports this would be the way. With growing media focussed on all this - any boats damaged, sunk or lives hurt in anyway would focus attention on NZ and its government and policies.

These ships 'or creatures of death' as George would say 'and the image of death trying to force its way through life' was an easy concept for George to understand - so the Peace Squadron came into being.

The interview covers the Anti Nuclear Movement here in NZ and the Peace Squadron and that small boats had been sailing around to Mururoa in French Polynesia for many years to protest the French testing nuclear bombs in our backyard. So when the message went out all the crews who had sailed the thousand of kilometres there and back - showed up and they were very hardy souls, very mature, astute, committed and dedicated with excellent yacht skills as well.

Then George became a spokesperson for radio and especially TV, as TV media in those days were right on to it as it was in its infancy and wanted to get a good story so George and team received some very good coverage.

He also got very savvy to language the story so that it could not be edited out, (as media is very adept at twisting the context of most stories)

We then go on to talk about all the nearly 40 countries Navy's who are going to bring their warships to NZ. That the NZ Navy is going to have a church service because the Navy has always had a close connection to Christianity and what type of service is there going to be as 'thou shall not kill' is key component to Christianity as well as the word Love.

George then mentions that the present NZ ruling National Party has lost its religious depth and are not really into Christianity because of the Church's antagonism of how the Government economic policy is disenfranchising so many.

When asked where he gets his support other than his loving wife Jocelyn, George says he gets a lot of support from people and especially children. And in the 1980s where we were in the anti-nuclear disruption a lot of politicians from the Labour Party.

Finally:

George says that we must not enter into polarity with people on the other side of the divide - they too are human and that they have been caught up in the system - police etc are just doing their job … be courteous.

We are all caught up in the system if we like it or not.

He said time and again - we are not against flesh and blood we are against 'principalities and powers'. This system thing that gets to us … likes the armaments race - it gets to us.

If we let the genie out of the bottle - then that's it …

George in closing talks about 'being born again' that the evangelicals do not see this transformational unfoldment in its greatest expression - and that this continuance needs to happen daily as we grow and expand on this realisation and cosmic gift - he says it's such an astonishing thing as you respond to the impulse of this religious experience and you keep this alive in your daily practice … Otherwise you can quite possibly sink down into a religious rut of some sort and you can't see the wood for the trees.

Our challenge?

The image of the other - not understanding other peoples and cultures etc - we pre-judge and have prejudices of the other …

Dialogue is good, but working together is far better.

In future - make sure you practice what you preach - especially with all relationships.

Don't forget your humanity - we are dealing with humans even on the other side of the divide

Get clever - we are pure GENIUS. Keep focussed and something will open up - the extraordinary will become manifest.

I have just come away from a devastatingly powerful interview by a very clear, communicator - Phyllis Tichinin. This being a 'two tiered discourse' - one that validated what I thought was happening in relation to glyphosate, but shocked me to the core all the same.

The other confirmed that there is a fast growing healthy, non chemical, biological revolution of farming and horticulture happening across the rural face of NZ and beyond.

If this interview was played over Radio New Zealand's nationwide network it would have mothers of babies and children in uproar.

First: Is Glyphosate 'slowly' killing everything it comes into contact with, including humans? The statistics are saying yes!

The research being collated from all around our planet is confirming a coming nightmare. It is looking grim for most biota. That means you and your family, animals and vegetation including the elements of air, soil and water.

Regrettably, it looks like the unbridled avarice and corruption of the biotech corporations especially Monsanto, with their unscrupulous insiders - in allowing this cleverly disguised toxin into the sacredness of the world's environment - is having a devastating affect on all planetary biota.

Second: This is really good.

There is a powerful yet quiet revolution happening across NZ (and globally) that farmers horticulturists and market gardeners have realised that there is another unique way of growing healthy food, without chemicals, called 'biological agriculture' that is rapidly gaining prominence over the chemical agribusiness that is taking down our country's clean green image. (if we really had one)

That NZer Graeme Sait, American Arden Andersen and Australian Christine Jones, among many others have been at the forefront of introducing this methods to the world (all three have been interviewed on GreenplanetFM.com).

Thus, we have come to an important shift of perspective and of action. We are crossing over into a new paradigm not only in land management and connection, but to one of a new consciousness in our relationship to all planetary biota.

Phyllis who comes from California has a degree in Environmental Planning and Management with emphasis on soils and Ag economics, and worked for the State of California in ministerial level positions in energy conservation policy, municipal waste, hazardous waste management and coastal regulation. She is now based here in the Hawkes Bay NZ.

When in America, she met and married a NZer who was studying for his graduate degree in ecology and his focus was on the regulation of pesticides and insecticides and their affect on all levels of the environment, biota and ultimately the food chain. Thus with her environmental credentials plus her husband's PhD in ecology she has embedded a very good understanding of how the environment is being saturated by chemical pesticides and insecticides.

Her ongoing focus has continued to cover the situation of soil, microbes, water and that extends into human health and what it's doing in particular to our gut bacteria and the increasing understanding of microflora that inhabits our stomach and intestines.

Over the last 20 years, this has been a major theme that she has continued to deepen her understanding of the connection between soil fertility and environmental health where she has branched out and has her own business based in True Health an animal remedies firm. Where she imports specially made up certified organic tinctures - plant based extracts to act as alternatives to antibiotics so as to assist farmers to wean their farm animals off antibiotics. She has a small farm on highly mineralised, high brix soils with diverse pastures with her cows producing high saturated fats, including cholesterol that when taken appropriately she says are very helpful for the human body.

She has spent a lot of time with biological agriculture exponents Graeme Sait and Arden Andersen who are at the fore-front of a farming phenomena where they are doing brix tests on soils and remineralising them, bringing about healthy microflora especially fungi and bacteria including earthworm populations. Leading to healthy rapid vegetation growth. Thus doing away with chemicals fertilisation and applications.

In South Africa, where Graeme has a huge following pulling in very large crowds to his talks and field days he has had Woolworths the supermarket chain (not to be confused with the Australian & New Zealand group) through their 500 plus stores switch over to only sourcing food and produce from biological farmers under the name of "Farming for the Future, a holistic approach."

In this interview, Phyllis clearly covers the major benefits of biological farming, having brought Graeme Sait to NZ for numerous courses where hundreds of NZ farmers attend and many more have now switched across to biological methods. This is where the soil is well mineralised and balanced, becoming more microbially alive and diverse and producing more pasture. What this method leads too is better quality and healthy fruit and vegetable that store well, taste great and have higher mineral and vitamin content (higher Brix)

This means higher dissolved solids which indicates that the food is going to be better for us.

By creating food from the soil up that heals people, that nourishes them deeply not just fulfills a hunger - but that they have the mineral building blocks to createthe enzymes and the tissues withintegrity - that actually translates into full and optimal health.

However, statistics from around the world are showing that the percentage of vitamins and minerals in our food are decreasing at an alarming rate. This decline is continuing and it has been linked to orthodox farming practices due the way we have been fertilising the soil and applying insecticides and herbicides to foliage. What this has been doing, in the words of Graeme Sait, we have been 'bombing the microbe bridge' that allows minerals to be absorbed by the plant in their ideal and proper forms. This is why plants are becoming too weak to be able to produce their own ability to repel insects and the more we farm in this archaic method, the more chemicals and sprays will be used as we embark down a slippery slope of poor soils, unhealthier vegetation and higher costs to both the the land, the farmer and consumer.

Healthy soils and healthy plants result in the plants being able to repel pests because they are so strong and robust. We need to know that all plants are medicinal as well as producers of food.

Protection of the Environment & Protection of Human Health.

If there was leadership in the EPA 'Environmental Protection Agency' especially in the USA, we the global consumer would be far more safer and the ecology would be too.

However, this is a global phenomenon, most countries have a poor record of making sure biotech companies are up front and legally fulfilling the precautionary principle.

With the EPA, a US Government Department it is known as the Global default watchdog of what is allowed out into the environment but it is poorly financed and it is deliberately kept to a low budget. This way it leaves the door open to when the large biotech conglomerates like Bayer, Dupont, Syngenta and Monsanto want to apply for a product to be released into the environment they are allowed tp submit their own 'safety' studies that they paid for themselves.

Yet time and time again they have posted fraudulent data, or manipulated it or made up the facts, or underplayed the risks that is has been near on farcical in many instances.

Now all that needs to be done is for the EPA to charge the applicants a far higher fee so as to employ the numbers and qualified personnel to test on behalf of the EPA. For there have been so many instances of even independent labs doing the tests and they have been found out, for fraud and taken to court, fined and jailed, but it still goes on solely because of the vastness of what is happening across the USA.

From a political science standpoint, which was generally the topic of her husband's PhD thesis that in the US the EPA which has a global standing has never been in a position to be financially able to do the necessary research.

So why is the EPA so short of funds to be not able to do thorough testing? Well there is a cosy situation. That politically from the beginning the EPA lacked the quality and caliber of the scientists to evaluate the industry generated safety studies in the first place. The cosy chemical corporate lobbyists are cosy with the chairman of the Senate Agricultural Committee in Congress for example and they make sure that the EPA has a very, very modest budget and they can never really keep up with the industry bought scientists. And it they do, they usually they don't last very long.

So there is a revolving door where the head of the EPA or the head of the US Food and Agriculture or some other regulatory agency happens to have been Chief Council for Monsanto for example, that definitely has happened and they put him in charge of approving Genetically Engineered crops in the early 1990's There are multiple examples of someone from the industry been brought in to regulate their previous industry.

Unfortunately, this happens time and time again.

We now have the ubiquitous use of chemicals globally, remember the DDT spraying of everyone, and then the hurried ban on it? (No, very few do - as mistakes are quickly buried and covered up.)

The ever present use of herbicides and insecticides globally is having a disturbing effect – not only in the rural sector and farms but now in urban areas for parks and pristine home lawns.

The conventional NZ farmer /market gardener today are increasingly finding that they are totally incongruent with the precautionary principle, that when they awaken in the morning, their thoughts are based on – not what they are going to grow today, but what they are having to kill today? Which becomes a full frontal chemical attack of so many different sprays – so the farmers in essence, lose heart in that they are not 100% proud of their produce, because they know that it's covered in poisons - so they can not really hold their head high and be proud.

Little does the NZ consumer know that under the auspices of the EPA, the 'Environmental Protection Agency' formerly ERMA the Environmental Risk Management Authority, that they they seem to have seemingly robust standards, yet they do not adhere to them.

As a result - Agriculture has become a killing field instead of a growing field.

A New Understanding.

In the last 4-5 years there has been a greater public understanding and reconnection across the soils, science, farming and health sector that microbes are the key to our planet functioning.

In particular, the 'gut micro biome' and their community and the health of these are critical to our own health. Which equals a diverse healthy 'integrated micro biome' be it on our skin, in the water, gut, tissue, blood – we need to have an inner ecology that is a reflection of a healthy outside ecology.

Science is today seeing that the human gut microbiome has been seriously compromised by anti-biotics, plus herbicides and insecticides .

They are notching that the vegas nerve from our gut microbiome to our brain is increasingly being affected as a result. This affects our mood, thoughts and feelings - depending on the state of the health of our gut.

Even the risks for alzheimers is increase dramatically. Very few in the Western world have a robust healthy gut.

C section births was mentioned too as problematic as babies born of the birth canal are far more able to cope because they picked up antibodies in the birth canal journey .

To sort this there is the GAPS diet cleanse that may be able to assist.

Marketing of broad spectrum herbicides:

Round Up and its active ingredient glyphosate is now marketed globally by a great number of companies as a broad spectrum weed killer.

It is extremely capable of killing all vegetation other than Monsanto's GMO or GE 'Round Up' – ready, corn, soy and canola and as glyphosate use increases every year now - up to between 800,000 and a million tonnes is sprayed annually world wide.

It is now in our air, our water, in our food, and when we look into our food, there it is. 10 of the largest wineries in California have found it in their bottled wine. So it is now in our bodies and especially our growing babies, infants and children and we have no idea where this is leading us. It is also an antibiotic that is having a slow but continuous effect on our gut bacteria. This is just one of the many impacts that Monsanto's glyphosate has.

It locks up minerals to the point that it is difficult for our body to get full nutrition. It directly causes infertility in all mammals. It blocks the transport of sulphur within our body and it shuts down our body to detoxify environmental toxins – through the cytochrome p4 50 enzyme pathway which is part of our liver system for detoxifying chemicals .

So not only is glyphosate an antibiotic, but is shuts down our own ability to detoxify glyphosate itself and most other environmental toxins.

With the increase of glyphosate we are also correlating an increase in alhzeimers, cancers , breast cancer in particular – non-Hodgkin lymphoma's and autism is the big one.

The strongest correlation between glyphosate and Round Up is the marked increase in autism. Autism is related to gut microbiome dysfunction. Plus lack of sulphur transport.

With plummeting fertility rates too.

Phyllis asked the question – how are we going to function as a society when one out of 6 males in particular, but females as well is autistic and cannot function on a normal basis? Specifically - when they need to be reliable, hold down a job, interact with people, this is becoming a huge, huge issue.

This Interview then covers the NZ environmental health authorities, previously it was ERMA and now the EPA who have approved every single application for a GE or GMO trial in NZ that have come to them.

There has been over 60 applications some actually outdoor trials! So out of all of these expensive trials, none of them were commercialisable whilst at the same time ran tremendous risks of exposing the NZ environment to GE and GMO 'constructs ' that for all we know could still be in our environment - hidden away from us!

The fact that microbes are so small and can quite possibly mutate once they are out there , it is then basically impossible to retrieve them. This is what is in supposedly clean green NZ that we were exposed too.

Regarding GE & GMO release, note that no insurance company globally is willing to insure in the case of a New Zealand GE or GMO mishap, because the liabilities would be so vast and could last to 20 to a hundred years for all we know – so they realise that GMO tests are problematic in the extreme. So who carries the can if there is a major mishap? In our country it won't be the government - who is allowing this to happen, it will be we, the people!

Over seas you will notice no country wants to pay a premium for GMO food, not one. Why? Because it lacks quality nutrition and who really knows what is embedded in GE food?

However, what is becoming very noticeable is that many countries are wanting to pay a premium of non GE & GMO and organic food. The reason is obvious.

Organics and Premium Returns.

Organics in NZ has had a very bad rap for many years, being manipulated by mainstream media photos and video footage to be seen especially by the people living in the rural sector, as a hippy thing or non scientific – this being far from the case.

In NZ today, organic dairy farmers are getting $9.20 a kilogram of milk solids as against normal farming of $5.00 – so the conservative NZ dairy farmer is dragging his own chains!

Phyllis emphatically states that mainstream farmers do not have to wear thongs or jandals or grow a beard to go organic! Or not having to stop wearing deodorant!

In the US, organics is really spiking and in the dairy sector too. There is a 20% increase in production per year and it is growing fast especially with the growth of organic stores and supermarkets.

As consumers we need to vote with our dollars this is critical to where shape our future.

High quality high brix food, more regenerative input and biological agriculture are gaining momentum.

http://blog.nutri-tech.com.au/the-beauty-of-brix/

She states if we want to involve ourselves and even get angry if that is what it takes to control our food choices then we need to get involved! Create a small demo and front up!

There are people creating products that are harming us and our babies – so we have to shake ourselves out of our collective stupor and take control of what we put in our bodies.

We also need a gigantic co-operative organic super-market here in NZ to blow everything open!

Web site www.Truehealth.co.nz.

What do you want for your children? Do you want dynamic, well resourced, impeccably balanced, super-conscious children who are adept at survival at all levels?

What do you think is the best system available today for educating and teaching children?

I really enjoyed listening to Tricia as she divulged the latest advances in early childhood development in America.

As a secondary school science teacher with an understanding of much of the makeup of our world Tricia was always interested in alternatives …

One day she visited a school and upon entering – it changed her whole focus. Because, the classroom was literally a quiet hum of activity - where children were totally focussed on their learning experiences. It was the Montessori Method that made her realise that there most definitely is another way to enhance a child's existence, where they are fully integrated into life.

Maria Montessori

Maria Montessori, born in Italy in 1870 was a physician and an educator - a pioneer for women's rights as she was an active member of the suffragette movement. She started in teaching by working with children with mental difficulties and impairments to learning. Being empathetic and aware, she developed specific new tools for learning.

She was hired as a teacher by some tenement owners in the slums in Italy to school the tenants wayward children who were damaging the property when their parents were away working during the day. So she brought in these learning 'tools' that she had used for those with impairments and combining these with her other skills the children quickly became very engaged and at the same time, completely absorbed in their learning. This led to the students experiencing their own internal changes, they became calmer, self-disciplined and able to concentrate on their work for sustained periods of time.

At a preschool level, the child is in a process of 'forming themselves' – it's not just a case that they learn their language, or the names of things. There is another dual process happening as well - there is an inner growth - that includes learning about the outside world.

When the child is in an environment which is stable, and supports them being engaged and interacting positively with their environment – it helps them to have an organized internal state also. The result is a well-resourced child who is very able, independent and responsive to life.

Maria Montessori said that she did not invent the Montessori Method of teaching, she said that 'I discovered the child.' She noticed that after students had engaged in a period of deep concentration with a learning activity, she saw that they would put their things away, and then have a phase of inner contemplation before going on to the next activity.

Maria Montessori engendered much interest and excitement with her discoveries, not only within Europe, but around the world so that people came from all over the world to learn from her and there was great demand from teachers to be taught the Montessori 'method'. It is true that no matter where the children are on earth, they all have the same abiding interest and engagement when enjoying a Montessori learning environment.

Montessori for Adolescents

Tricia spoke about her recently acquired Montessori qualification which she completed in August 2015. There at her AMI Montessori adolescent guide training course in the U.S. she met superb teachers who care deeply for children and for the future of our planet.

Not far from Cleveland in Ohio there is a Montessori farm school for adolescents, that connects children with animals, growing things and working alongside nature. Including understanding economics and how everything is interconnected. The value of food and produce and costing things out, as well as understanding both buying and selling. All aspects of economics are covered in a direct hands on practical way, including doing the books, doing the accounting, calculating the profit and loss of the various enterprises. Teaching and factoring in responsibility as the greatest freedom we can experience, and also eating what they have grown.

This farm school for adolescents was called by Maria Montessori "Erkinder", which means "children of the earth (soil). They have a program where they board on the farm – they live and work, but not in the same way a New Zealander would grow up on a farm and go off to school. They have an integrated experience, this includes a deep connection to mother earth, work with animals everyday and this awakens their love and connection to all creatures. Including harvesting of food – be it honey or goat's milk. All to do with allowing the children to connect and also realise what it is to survive. Engaging them in the commerce side, it shows how dependent on the earth we really are.

Montessori schools are based on having 3 ages in the one class together. At preschool 3, 4, up to 6 year old students are all in the same class together. For the new infants, the 5 year olds model the correct behavior, whilst the teachers are engaged in showing how to use the various materials.

The closer you can tie freedom and responsibility together – the better. (An interesting dialogue regarding this is in this radio interview.) Too much freedom and no boundaries is not responsible – leading to poor behavior. Children who are given responsibility within boundaries have clear expectations of them to bring about success, as long as teachers are included in this equation, and appropriate behavior is role modelled by their peers.

Maria Montessori has created some innovative learning tools – bead chains from 1 to 10, and a spindle box to show 0. All Montessori materials are physically manipulated by the students and kinesthetic learners benefit from experiencing these hands on learning materials.

In looking at the present main-stream factory model of education this different approach in Montessori becomes very insightful.

We are living in a world where jobs are going to disappear faster than they can appear as new technology comes on stream. Because innovation towards smart technologies are going to make huge numbers of people become redundant. Companies are doing away with workers across the board – one of the more recent examples being supermarket check-out machines.

Hurry up and wait!

MainStream education is about 'Hurry up and wait'. From the age of 5 to 18 children are being told to 'hurry up and wait' – It is inculcated in people. This is conditioning them to be not well integrated and inner resourced, but to do as they are told and be compliant. Tricia gives a powerful analogy of what this means as children are programmed to be told to queue and wait, then hurry up, and then cue and wait. Setting us up to become victims if we are not strongly inner resourced to see ourselves as empowered individuals who can slot into the world at our will.

The key to the Montessori Method is heart and soul, which is included in the whole process of having children feel that they are connected. Otherwise learning is just an intellectual exercise that you can easily forget as soon as it is done. There has to be an emotional connection. 'Know thyself' is part of the learning process in Montessori as a child becomes a fully integrated and loving human being.

The Montessori Method has as a part of it, 'Cosmic education', where students include the bigger picture into their learning.

The Montessori Glass Classroom

The Montessori Glass Classroom is an event where the classroom has no walls and adults and those interested can look in at any time and watch how the classroom operates. Witnessing the focus and engagement of the children, and how the teacher guides the students in their learning experiences in the classroom.

This interview gives us an important insight into an ever evolving system of teaching and learning. Especially in regard to assisting and empowering little minds to be well resourced and prepared in our ever changing future.

Tricia is organizing a Montessori Glass Classroom at the Auckland Baby Show 19th, 20th and 21st of August at the ASB Showgrounds in Epsom Auckland from 10am to 5 pm each day.

Tricia Best, BSc, DipTch, AMI Montessori adolescent guide

http://www.babyshow.co.nz/whats-on/auckland-2016/partners/montessori-glass-classroom