Apathy, the real evil?

ap·a·thy (p-th)

n.

1. Lack of interest or concern, especially regarding matters of general importance or appeal; indifference.

2. Lack of emotion or feeling; impassiveness.

We appear to be so comfortably numb that we are, as a society, apathetic about the world we live in beyond our little bubbles.
Anyone been exposed to facts and images of genocide, human trafficking, starvation, dead and maimed bodies resulting from wars, torture, environmental disaster... lately? We have become the three monkeys hear, speak and see no evil. We do not want our mindless daily routine interrupted by uncomfortable information which  might actually call us to uncomfortable action. 

Is there no call to action that can motivate us?
How can we awaken from a dream state, so warm and fuzzy, to the cold starkness of reality?

"A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both."

- Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890-1969), Inaugural Address, January 20, 1953

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." (Edmund Burke)

Spill??? What Spill????

  Hey, anyone remember there is a big oil spill in the gulf of Mexico or are we too busy with Lindsey, farmville, heat wave...?:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/bp-oil-spill

Gulf Oil Spill

www.huffingtonpost.com

Big News on Gulf Oil Spill . Includes blogs, news, and community conversations about Gulf Oil Spill

Getting to zero: 10 communities leading the way!

Getting to zero: 10 communities leading the way!

Happy Independence Day weekend!!!

Good morning, Hope you al have a safe and exciting Independece Day Weekend!! For planning here is some info about marking 10/10/10 on your calendar in support of our energy independence!
http://action.350.org/t/10961/p/salsa/web/common/public/content?content_item_KEY=7497

From Elaine

Elaine wrote: 

I just got an e-mail from my senator, Joe Courtney re. this Act he is co-sponsoring:
Please call your senators and ask for them to support The Big Oil Bailout Prevention Act (HR 5214). They also need to apply pressure on BP to stop paying out dividends and direct that money into cleanup/restitution. PLEASE TAKE ACTION!...!

A unnique perspective

15 Gulf Oil Spill Myths

15 Gulf Oil Spill Myths

BP Oil Spill Are the American people already becoming num and bored with this?

Does it seem that most Americans already find the current Gulf Oil Crisis boring? Do they just not want to see or hear about it?
I hope I am wrong but...

We need to open our eyes and minds!!!
How many of you are aware of: 
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/17/world/africa/17nigeria.html


Lastest  situation report from The Waterway Guide: http://www.waterwayguide.com/oil_spill/

US to issue order for new Gulf oil drilling ban

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/10387830.stm

Louisiana judge rules against Obama's deepwater oil drilling ban in the Gulf

http://www.helium.com/items/1869715-louisiana-judge-rules-against-obamas-deepwater-oil-drilling-ban-in-the-gulf

A daily TV/radio news program, hosted by Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez, airing on over 800 stations, pioneering the largest community media collaboration in the U.S.

A daily TV/radio news program, hosted by Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez, airing on over 800 stations, pioneering the largest community media collaboration in the U.S.

Six Things To Do About the BP Gulf Disaster — YES! Magazine

Six Things To Do About the BP Gulf Disaster — YES! Magazine

Research time?

I thought today I could ask us all to do a bit of research on what we can do in reaction to the BP spill and all other current crisis. What tools or connections exist that we just don't know about, what avenues for change are all ready available...
Perhaps we could compile a reference list. So I will kick things off with 350. If you are not familiar with 350 I ask that you go to:
http://www.350.org/workparty-ideas?key=42515628
and poke around a bit.
I look forward to your contributions to our list and as always, your comments.

Fair Winds,
Billy

The President's speech...

So, what did you think of the Presidents speech last night?
Seems to be the question of the day.
I was struck more be the media dissecting and misquoting immediately following the speech as they explained to we, the apparently ignorant ,people what we had just listened to. Much was made of what should have been said, what was said that should not have been and most of all asking why an instant solution has not been implemented. No one seemed to come forward with what that solution might be.
Have we come to a point where winning political points depends primarily on making the other person look bad?  We expect instant solutions to ALL of our problems and want NO responsibility ourselves.
What happened to coming together in a crisis and working to solve the problem.
Something that has worked well for me in meetings where everyone is focused on finger pointing is to state that whatever the problem is it is all my fault-I am solely to blame and take full responsibility-NOW how can we solve the problem or " opportunity to apply a solution"? Placing blame on someone else is much easier than admitting that you do not have a solution.
Let's all admit that we have never encountered a problem like this before. No one yet has a complete solution.
We need to focus on both solving the problem at hand and preventing it from  reoccurring to the best of our ability.
Many have criticized the President's inclusion of alternative power in his speech last night. I think the only way to overcome this country's inertia and move away from the fossil fuels we are so comfortable with is to rally around a crisis such as this. People resist change and it takes substantial motivation to change direction- lets hope some good can come out of this terrible disaster and we will finally alter course towards a clean renewable energy base in this country.


So hey, what did you think of the Presidents speech last night?

Mess'n with the blog

Had a moment to mess with the look of the blog a bit. Let me know what you think-if you do ;-)

Billy

Friday

Good morning and Happy Friday. Happier for me as Abby Sunderland (16 year old around the world solo sailor) has been located and is alive and well for more info : http://www.abbysunderland.com/ and/or her blog at http://soloround.blogspot.com/ .
I would like to welcome my two new co-authors Elaine and Bud- a big cheer for them!!!
As I do not have much time this morning ( Work, work, work) perhaps they will be able to share there first Blogs with you.

Billy

It is a sorry state of affairs, indeed. Thanks very much for your updates, Bill. My nephew sent me a very on-target satirical film clip--will try to post it here. As an aside, the finger pointing at Obama is driving me a bit nuts. Let's face it, we are all sick over this entire environmental disaster which is playing out like that foolish kid's song, "This is the Song That Never Ends".

Day three-slow going

Good morning boys and girls,
Hope your morning is bright and shinny. Here we are day three- not many takers on the co-author invite. hmmmm should that tell me something? Probably should but I was never one to bow to reason.
So still not a clue as to what I am doing here so I will "ramble on".

Well since the BP fiasco was a catalyst for discussions which spawned this blog I think some "news" about it is in order:
"We haven’t found any large concentrations of oil under the sea. To my knowledge, no one has," BP Chief Operating Officer Doug Suttles said on NBC's TODAY show. His comments came one day after the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said its researchers found subsurface oil as far as 142 miles from the leaking Gulf well. It was the first government confirmation of undersea oil near BP's blown-out well a mile beneath the ocean.

So question of the day: Does anyone know of a source for factual news delivered with minimal sensationalism and maximum confirmed facts???  "just he fact ma'am"

Also, anyone know of ways to volunteer to head to the gulf and assist in the clean up?

and finally, please share your comments and any ideas for future blog topics...

  I need a catchy phrase to sign off with- any ideas?

Billy

Day two

Well here we are day two of our blog. We are still getting set up, learning about blogging, adding co-authors...
Meanwhile the news this morning shows the first Hi-Res photos of the BP leaks since the "cap" was put in place. Seems the oil that is still escaping  may be far more than previously estimated- gee imagine that. Also BP still denies the existence of submerged oil plumes while even NOAA  agrees that they exist.  Meanwhile as far as I can see 'We the People" in general are still more interested in the Bachelor, real Housewives of... and so on.

Is it that we are so caught up in our routines that we do not have time to comprehend the real problems in the world or no we just think if we ignore them someone else will take care of it???

What do you think???

And so we begin

Brand new to this.
Some friend and I were chatting on Face book about the Gulf oil crisis, government, big Business,
the general lack of involvement by "we the people" and thought perhaps it would make an interesting blog- we shall see.