Wholesome Practice: Self-reflection/transform.

The Bloom Episode 3: New Ways of the Sacred

“Part III of The Bloom “New Ways of The Sacred” looks at how Transformational Festivals are venues for an active engagement with ancient, universal themes of MYTHOS, RITUAL and THE SACRED, exploring ways which both honor the traditional, while reflecting our unprecedented realities of the third millennium. “

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The Barefoot Guide Connection – The Resource Library

Resource Library: tools and exercises, readings and presentations, stories of change, frameworks, poetry of change, contribute to the library. “We are a open network of social change practitioners and leaders from dozens of countries, on every continent, sharing our creative ideas, stories, approaches and resources about effective social change practice, believing in the value of the real, on-ground-experiences and insights we all have. “

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The Art of Happiness in a Troubled World

Book: “Blending common sense and modern psychiatry, The Art of Happiness in a Troubled World applies Buddhist tradition to twenty-first-century struggles in a relevant way. The result is a wise approach to dealing with human problems that is both optimistic and realistic, even in the most challenging times. How can we expect to find happiness and meaning in our lives when the modern world seems such an unhappy place? His Holiness the Dalai Lama has suffered enormously throughout his life, yet he always seems to be smiling and serene. How does he do it? In The Art of Happiness in a Troubled World, Dr. Cutler walks readers through the Dalai Lama’s philosophy on how to achieve peace of mind and come to terms with life’s inherent suffering. Together, the two examine the roots of many of the problems facing the world and show us how we can approach these calamities in a way that alleviates suffering, and helps us along in our personal quests to be happy. Through stories, meditations, and in-depth conversations, the Dalai Lama teaches readers to identify the cultural influences and ways of thinking that lead to personal unhappiness, making sense of the hardships we face personally, as well as the afflictions suffered by others.”

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The Artist as Activist

“Filmmaker James LaVeck explains why Harriet Beecher Stowe was a masterful social justice artist, and how her approach to writing her famous antislavery novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin inspired the making of the documentary film Peaceable Kingdom – The Journey Home. The imaginations of the filmmakers were sparked by the history of US social justice movements, anecdotes of Harriet Beecher Stowe’s life, and unforgettable personal experiences with individual animals at a sanctuary. Following Stowe’s example, they focused on highlighting the individuality and family bonds of those being harmed, in this case, the billions of animals being exploited every day on industrial and family farms.”

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The Art of Disappearing: The Buddha’s Path to Lasting Joy

“Whether mere bumps in the road or genuine crises, we live in a world of unwanted events that no willpower can prevent. In The Art of Disappearing, Ajahn Brahm helps us learn to abandon the headwind of false expectations and follow instead the Buddha’s path of understanding. Releasing our attachment to past and future, to self and other, we can directly experience the natural state of serenity underlying all our thoughts and discover the bliss of the present moment. In that space, we learn what it is to disappear. Ajahn Brahm, an unparalleled guide to the bliss of meditation, makes the journey as fun as it is rewarding. The Art of Disappearing, comprised of a series of teachings Ajahn Brahm gave to the monks of Bodhinyana Monastery, where he serves as abbot, offers a unique glimpse into the mind of one of contemporary Buddhism’s most engaging figures.”

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The Age of Thrivability

“The Age of Thrivability is a promising new era that awaits us, if only enough of us choose to align with life actively and intentionally in our work and in our communities. The journey into thrivability requires a shift in both perspective and practice. The good news is: there are plenty of signposts pointing the way — and there are even more pioneers blazing a trail, with approaches that are both more joyful and more effective. “

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Terrorists or Freedom Fighters

Book: “The first anthology of writings on the history, ethics, politics and tactics of the Animal Liberation Front, Terrorists or Freedom Fighters? features both academic and activist perspectives and offers powerful insights into this international organization and its position within the animal rights movement. Calling on sources as venerable as Thomas Aquinas and as current as the Patriot Act—and, in some cases, personal experience—the contributors explore the history of civil disobedience and sabotage, and examine the philosophical and cultural meanings of words like “terrorism,” “democracy” and “freedom,” in a book that ultimately challenges the values and assumptions that pervade our culture. Contributors include Robin Webb, Rod Coronado, Ingrid Newkirk, Paul Watson, Karen Davis, Bruce Friedrich, pattrice jones and others.”

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The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change

Book: “One of the most inspiring and impactful books ever written, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People has captivated readers for 25 years. It has transformed the lives of presidents and CEOs, educators and parents—in short, millions of people of all ages and occupations across the world. This twenty-fifth anniversary edition of Stephen Covey’s cherished classic commemorates his timeless wisdom, and encourages us to live a life of great and enduring purpose.”

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Teaching Tolerance – Articles

“News, suggestions, conversation and support from voices across the TT community” Topics: Ability, Bullying & Bias, Class, Gender & Sexual Identity, Immigration, Race & Ethnicity, Religion, Rights & Activism, Slavery

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TeachKind, PETA’s humane education division

“We’re here to help schools and educators promote compassion for animals through free lessons, classroom presentations, materials, advice, online resources, and more. Check out TeachKind’s resources and start building empathy for all beings now!”

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Teaching Tolerance

“Our mission is to help teachers and schools educate children and youth to be active participants in a diverse democracy. Teaching Tolerance provides free resources to educators—teachers, administrators, counselors and other practitioners—who work with children from kindergarten through high school. Educators use our materials to supplement the curriculum, to inform their practices, and to create civil and inclusive school communities where children are respected, valued and welcome participants. Our program emphasizes social justice and anti-bias. The anti-bias approach encourages children and young people to challenge prejudice and learn how to be agents of change in their own lives. Our Social Justice Standards show how anti-bias education works through the four domains of identity, diversity, justice and action.”

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Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion

Book: ““Destined to become a classic of both urban reportage and contemporary spirituality” (Los Angeles Times)—Tattoos on the Heart is a series of parables about kinship and redemption from pastor, activist, and renowned speaker, Father Gregory Boyle. For twenty years, Father Gregory Boyle has run Homeboy Industries, a gang-intervention program located in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles—also known as the gang capital of the world. In Tattoos on the Heart, he has distilled his experience working in the ghetto into a breathtaking series of parables inspired by faith. From giant, tattooed Cesar, shopping at JC Penney fresh out of prison, you learn how to feel worthy of God’s love. From ten-year-old Pipi you learn the importance of being known and acknowledged. From Lulu you come to understand the kind of patience necessary to rescue someone from the dark—as Father Boyle phrases it, we can only shine a flashlight on a light switch in a darkened room. This is a motivating look at how to stay faithful in spite of failure, how to meet the world with a loving heart, and how to conquer shame with boundless, restorative love.”

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Teach for Life

“The Teach for Life: NVC Educators Institute provides educational professionals with practical experience in a beautiful, nurturing retreat environment. Participants learn hands-on processes for facilitating vibrant and compassionate classrooms – places where students, teachers and parents thrive.”

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Teaching Defiance: Stories and Strategies for Activist Educators

Book: “Michael Newman—a two-time winner of the Cyril O. Houle Award for Outstanding Literature in Adult Education—examines the use of rational discourse, nonrational discourse, and storytelling to bring about personal and collective change. Using a powerful blend of theoretical discussion and step-by-step accounts of practice, Newman returns to what actually happens in that magical encounter between teacher and learner. He examines the educational use of emotions such as frustration, dismay, anger, hatred and love. He proposes ways of teaching and learning insight. He examines how educators can teach people to take effective action. And he discusses how educators and learners can work together to make that action morally justifiable. Newman argues that the educator’s role is to help people resist the controls imposed on them by others. The task, the challenge, the mission of the activist educator is to teach defiance.”

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TakingOnTheGiant.com

“Many young people have not yet learned what they can’t do. They look at the world, see what needs to be changed and they change it. TakingOnTheGiant.com promotes the ideas and accomplishments of young people, from middle school to the middle twenties, who are transforming their passions into successful inventions, charities, foundations, businesses and movements. These stories deserve telling, which can inspire other young people to pursue their dreams.”

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Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard

Book: “Why is it so hard to make lasting changes in our companies, in our communities, and in our own lives? The primary obstacle is a conflict that’s built into our brains, say Chip and Dan Heath, authors of the critically acclaimed bestseller Made to Stick. Psychologists have discovered that our minds are ruled by two different systems—the rational mind and the emotional mind—that compete for control. The rational mind wants a great beach body; the emotional mind wants that Oreo cookie. The rational mind wants to change something at work; the emotional mind loves the comfort of the existing routine. This tension can doom a change effort—but if it is overcome, change can come quickly…In a compelling, story-driven narrative, the Heaths bring together decades of counterintuitive research in psychology, sociology, and other fields to shed new light on how we can effect transformative change. Switch shows that successful changes follow a pattern, a pattern you can use to make the changes that matter to you, whether your interest is in changing the world or changing your waistline.”

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Sustaining Community

“Families, community engagement and environmental sustainability – for parents, students, practitioners and anyone who wants to make a difference.”

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Sustainable Human

“The root cause of any human behavior is the story they tell themselves. If you desire to change any human behavior, whether individual or collective, you first must understand their story. Sustainable Human exists to examine the faulty stories that are driving our ecocidal, global civilization and explore alternative stories founded in the knowledge that all life is interconnected.”

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Sustainable Human – Youtube channel

“Changing the way we think is the most difficult and necessary challenge for our species right now. It’s like the old adage that says that “fish don’t know they’re in water.” They’re so surrounded by it that it’s impossible for them to see. The water is like our ways of thinking. The assumptions we make about life have been so reinforced throughout our lives that we have difficulty seeing them. Yet our survival as a species depends us making the choice to understand, develop, and live from a new manner of thinking. This channel is dedicated to exploring and sharing these new ways of thinking.”

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Stories of the Great Turning

“This book tells stories of how ordinary people in their everyday lives have responded to the challenges of living more sustainably. In these difficult times, we need stories that engage, enchant and inspire. Most of all, we need stories of practical changes, of community action, of changing hearts and minds. This is a book that takes the question, “What can I do?” and sets out to find some answers using one of our species’ most vital skills: the ability to tell stories in which to spread knowledge, ideas, inspiration and hope. Read about the transformation of wasteland and the installation of water power, stories about reducing consumption and creating sustainable business, stories from people changing how they live their lives and the inner transformations this demands. “

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Strategy & Soul

Book: “Strategy and soul: a campaigner’s tale of fighting billionaires, corrupt officials, and philadelphia casinos. When Daniel Hunter and Jethro Heiko began planning at a kitchen table, they knew that their movement would be outspent by hundreds of millions of dollars. They were up against powerful elected officials, private investigators, hired thugs, and the state supreme court. Even before they started, newspapers concluded the movement had no chance. This riveting David versus Goliath story is a rare first-person narrative, giving unparalled access to the behind-the-scenes of campaigns: the fervent worrying in late-night meetings, yelling matches behind church benches, and last-minute action planning outside judges’ chambers. It’s in the heat of these moments that the nuances of strategy come to life, showing what it takes to overpower billionaires for a cause you believe in. Written by an experienced and unusually self-reflective direct action organizer, this book might be the most enjoyable way you’ve ever empowered yourself to change the world.”

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Stare Into The Lights My Pretties (2017)

“We live in a world of screens. The average adult spends the majority of their waking hours in front of some sort of screen or device. We’re enthralled, we’re addicted to these machines. How did we get here? Who benefits? What are the cumulative impacts on people, society and the environment? What may come next if this culture is left unchecked, to its end trajectory, and is that what we want? *Stare Into The Lights My Pretties* investigates these questions with an urge to return to the real physical world, to form a critical view of technological escalation driven by rapacious and pervasive corporate interest. Covering themes of addiction, privacy, surveillance, information manipulation, behaviour modification and social control, this film lays the foundations as to why we may feel like we’re sleeprunning into some dystopian nightmare with the machines at the helm. Because we are, if we don’t seriously avert our eyes to stop this culture from destroying what is left of the real world…”

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ssociation for Global New Thought

“The goal of the Association for Global New Thought’s programs in spiritually guided activism is to support concerned and informed citizens in their emerging role as ethically motivated community leaders. Spiritually guided activism is a term pioneered by the Association for Global New Thought and like-minded organizations to describe individuals who are spiritually mature and believe that, from this worldview, we need to take action in our communities to create positive change in this nation and beyond.”

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Spinning Threads of Radical Aliveness: Transcending the Legacy of Separation in Our Individual Lives

Book: “Do you carry within you a longing for an entirely different world? One which is aligned with our human needs, in which we collaborate with each other and the natural world, in which separation, scarcity, and powerlessness are a thing of the past? If so, this book will give you an extraordinary gift by serving as a blueprint for how you can become a one-person model of what life could be like. The key to this path is to radically change your relationship with your human needs, so that you can accept, even embrace them, and use them as guides for all your actions.”

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Spirit in Action

“Spirit in Action envisions a world in which every community is strong, vibrant, heart-centered and working joyfully together across our unique identities to sustain an interdependent system of caring for each other and the earth. The mission of Spirit in Action is to create a positive future grounded in the values of equality, peace and justice for all. We develop effective leaders, support organizational sustainability, build cohesive networks, and catalyze transformative social change. Through our programs, we aspire to build a broad and interconnected social force committed to collectively changing the world by working with communities to Reimagine culture, Resist domination, Reform institutions and Recreate society.”

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Spiritual Activism Training

“In this training, you will gain the following skills: -How to listen to people who do not share a progressive worldview without criticism and blame. -How to express empathy and understanding for contrary points of view without necessarily agreeing with those views. -How to identify the needs (social, political, spiritual) of the person who expresses a position with which you don’t necessarily agree. -How to express the vision of a world based on a New Bottom Line. -Understanding of how the Right attracts people who are not racist, sexist, homophobic, anti-Semitic, Islamophobic and whose economic interests are with the Left – and how to win them back. -How to take these ideas into local social change organizations, or religious or spiritual communities, seek endorsements for proposals from elected officials, and raise these issues with your friends.”

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Speciesism: The Movie

Film: “Modern farms are struggling to keep a secret. Most of the animals used for food in the United States are raised in giant, bizarre “factory farms,” hidden deep in remote areas of the countryside. Speciesism: The Movie director Mark Devries set out to investigate. The documentary takes viewers on a sometimes funny, sometimes frightening adventure, crawling through the bushes that hide these factories, flying in airplanes above their toxic “manure lagoons,” and coming face-to-face with their owners. But this is just the beginning. In 1975, a young writer published a book arguing that no justifications exist for considering humans more important than members of other species. It slowly began to gain attention. Today, a quickly growing number of prominent individuals and political activists are adopting its conclusions. They have termed the assumption of human superiority speciesism. And, as a result, they rank these animal factories among the greatest evils in our history. Speciesism: The Movie brings viewers face-to-face with the leaders of this developing movement, and, for the first time ever on film, fully examines the purpose of what they are setting out to do. After watching Speciesism: The Movie, you’ll never look at animals the same way again. Especially humans.”

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SoulSpace Farm Sanctuary

“SoulSpace Farm Sanctuary’s mission is to rescue and protect farm animals from cruelty. SoulSpace works to inspire change in the way society views farm animals and support people in their quest to live a more compassionate lifestyle. At SoulSpace, people of all ages have the opportunity to volunteer at the farm and experience the animals firsthand. We offer educational tours with the hopes of opening people’s hearts and minds to the animals and their stories. We invite groups from schools and underserved youth to visit the farm for fresh air, exercise and hands-on service-learning.”

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Soul of a Citizen: Living with Conviction in Challenging Times

Book: “Soul of a Citizen awakens within us the desire and the ability to make our voices heard and our actions count. We can lead lives worthy of our convictions. A book of inspiration and integrity, Soul of a Citizen is an antidote to the twin scourges of modern life–powerlessness and cynicism. In his evocative style, Paul Loeb tells moving stories of ordinary Americans who have found unexpected fulfillment in social involvement. Through their example and Loeb’s own wise and powerful lessons, we are compelled to move from passivity to participation. The reward of our action, we learn, is nothing less than a sense of connection and purpose not found in a purely personal life. Soul of a Citizen has become the handbook for budding social activists, veteran organizers, and anybody who wants to make a change—big or small—in the world around them. At this critical historical time , Paul Loeb’s completely revised edition—and inspiring message—is more urgently important than ever.”

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Solutions for a Healthy Earth (SHE)

“A window into the abundance of existing solutions.” A resource directory of videos on: Animals Plants and Biodiversity | Water | Housing | New Economy | Food and Agriculture | Ancient Wisdom and Consciousness | Art | Peace | Plastic, recycling and consumerism | Women and gender | Cities and Communities | Governance and Law | interconnectedness and Interdependence | Education | Activism | Energy | Humanity and Compassion | The Planet and Climate | Awakening | Media and Celebrities

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Songs for the Great Turning

“The Great Turning is a global change of heart and ways of living, a more nurturing, appreciative and sustainable relationship with the Web of Life, a shift toward a life-enhancing human presence on Planet Earth. Songs, especially when sung together and in harmony, are a vital tool in the Great Turning and a great enhancement to the interactive group processes developed by Joanna Macy known as the Work That Reconnects. They help us experience in the body our connection to each other and the planet, summon our collective courage, enliven us and inspire us to play our part in creating a life-sustaining society.”

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Soul in Wonder

“Soul in Wonder was born after founders, Christopher & Sara serendipitously met while serving as Peace Corps volunteers in Tanzania, Africa. After experiencing the dynamic highs and lows of the world they were guided towards one shared vision; to revolutionize the human spirit and inspire new ways of conscious, connected living. After years of self-discovery and professional training in life coaching, herbal medicine, energy work, and leadership, they founded Soul in Wonder – a conscious hub devoted to your personal and spiritual growth. They now empower truth-seekers like you to go deeper within themselves and expand past their horizon so they can seize new, exciting possibilities—and align with more happiness, passion, and love.”

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Social Ecology: Applying Ecological Understanding to Our Lives and Our Planet

Book: “Social ecology addresses the burning question of how to apply ecological understanding to every aspect of our lives. The twenty-seven contributors, all of whom have directly or indirectly contributed to the teaching of social ecology in Australia and beyond, share their experiences in this “coming of age” anthology of keynote articles. These are of particular relevance to educators and students. The book provides a holistic framework for change, based on the interrelationships among the personal, social, environmental, and spiritual. It helps the reader realize how we got where we are and how to better understand sustainable, caring futures. Students from all disciplines can use this valuable resource to help enrich their learning with insights and principles from the field of social ecology. The introduction maps social ecology as an emerging field. Articles about place, story, nature, education, and community illustrate ways to apply our understanding of social ecology, systems theory, transformative learning, holistic education, empathic intelligence, sense of place, shamanic practices, poetic inquiry, archetypal theory, deep ecology, aesthetics, creativity, curriculum design, drama education, cross-cultural learning, and indigenous knowing. Includes inspiring stories of activists and community educators applying the wisdom of social ecology at the leading edge of change, including a chapter by tCA director James Whelan.”

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Small Acts of Resistance: How Courage, Tenacity, and a Bit of Ingenuity Can Change the World

Book: “In a world of Goliaths, we need stories of Davids to sustain us. With its gutsy, creative and rousing tales of ordinary people creating extraordinary change, Small Acts of Resistance proves that it is possible – armed with a little ingenuity and a lot of passion – to bring down dictators, change unfair laws, fight injustice and raise ones voice in freedom by defying those who would deny it. Spanning the globe and history, this puts a pop culture spin on human rights with its accessible and inspiring approach to international activism. Moving from Albania to Zimbabwe, and throughout Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Europe, Small Acts offers an engaging collection of over 100 stories celebrating courage, perseverance and the resilience of the human spirit.”

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Skylight Resilience Hub

“We support people of all ages throughout New Zealand who are facing any kind of tough life situation, but we specialise in grief, loss and trauma.”

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Secondary Traumatic Stress: Self-Care Issues for Clinicians, Researchers, and Educators

Book: “As our knowledge of traumatic stress grows, so too does our awareness of the high cost of caring. Beginning with the assumption that caring for people who have experienced highly stressful events puts the caregiver at risk for developing similar stress-related symptoms, this book brings together some of the best thinkers in the trauma field to write about the prevention and treatment of Secondary Traumatic Stress. This “cutting edge” material not only reflects the current state of knowledge about secondary traumatization, but in a personal way explores our ethical obligations to each other, to our communities, and to future trauma research. Revised, expanded edition includes a new preface and introduction, a revised chapter on telehealth, a new chapter on moderating secondary traumatic stress through administrative and policy action, an extensive bibliography, and a new index!”

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Scientists for Global Responsibility (SGR)

“-promotes ethical science, design and technology, based on the principles of openness, accountability, peace, social justice, and environmental sustainability. -is an independent UK-based membership organisation of hundreds of natural scientists, social scientists, engineers, IT professionals and architects, supported by hundreds more outside of these professions. -carries out research, education, and advocacy work centred around the military, environmental and political aspects of science, design and technology. -provides a support network for ethically-concerned professionals in these fields.”

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School Mediation Associates

“The mission of School Mediation Associates is to transform schools into safer, more caring, and more effective institutions. Through our work we: -Encourage young people to become leaders in their schools. -Help students and educators see conflict as an opportunity for personal and institutional growth. -Teach students and educators the skills to resolve conflict non-violently and collaboratively. -Mediate challenging conflicts at educators’ requests. -Disseminate an approach to problem solving that values diversity and respects differences of opinion. -Provide educators with the knowledge, experience and the materials necessary to integrate collaborative conflict resolution processes into their professional practices, their curricula, and their personal lives.”

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Schooling the World

Film: ” If you wanted to change an ancient culture in a generation, how would you do it? You would change the way it educates its children. The U.S. Government knew this in the 19th century when it forced Native American children into government boarding schools. Today, volunteers build schools in traditional societies around the world, convinced that school is the only way to a ‘better’ life for indigenous children. But is this true? What really happens when we replace a traditional culture’s way of learning and understanding the world with our own? SCHOOLING THE WORLD takes a challenging, sometimes funny, ultimately deeply disturbing look at the effects of modern education on the world’s last sustainable indigenous cultures.”

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Santa Cruz Barrios Unidos

“Mission​: To promote multicultural social justice, nonviolence and economic equity through cultural healing, civic leadership and youth & community development…Vision:
In all of our endeavors, we seek to provide curative space in the face of oppression. We seek the end of mass incarceration. We seek meaningful pathways for our youth, whether it be political and economic or interpersonal and spiritual. We seek a community where the importance of culture is understood and individuals can draw strength from their authentic selves. We seek a world that is truly just for all. We move forward knowing peace is possible when we come together with understanding, respect and love.”

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S. Brian Willson

“This site contains essays describing the incredible historic pattern of U.S. arrogance, ethnocentrism, violence and lawlessness in domestic and global affairs, and the severe danger this pattern poses for the future health of Homo sapiens and Mother Earth. Other essays discuss revolutionary, nonviolent alternative approaches based on the principle of radical relational mutuality. This is a term increasingly used by physicists, mathematicians and cosmologists to describe the nature of the omnicentric*, ever-unfolding universe. Every being, every aspect of life energy in the cosmos, is intrinsically interconnected with and affects every other being and aspect of life energy at every moment. *everything is at the center of the cosmos at every moment”

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Sacred Plants—A Gift From the Gods

“Download the Free E-guide “Sacred Plants—A Gift From the Gods” In this e-guide, John Perkins, best-selling author and co-founder of Pachamama Alliance, discusses how plants can be vehicles of change—helping us to put aside assumptions so that we can be free to live more fulfilling lives. Download the full e-guide and: -Explore the four types of plants that are held sacred by most indigenous peoples. -Discover how plants can offer access to a deeper reality and greater understanding for personal, shamanic journeys. -Learn how plants can offer individual lessons that are as unique as we are.

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Running for Good

“From Executive Producer James Cromwell and award-winning director Keegan Kuhn (Cowspiracy, What The Health) comes RUNNING FOR GOOD, the feature-length sports documentary narrated by Rich Roll (Finding Ultra), following world record marathon runner Fiona Oakes in her attempt not only to set a new global record in endurance racing, but to compete in the “toughest footrace on earth,” the Marathon Des Sables, a 250km race through the Sahara Desert. Fiona Oakes has made a name for herself as a unique endurance runner. She is the fastest woman in the world to run a marathon on all seven continents, and the north pole, in both cumulative and elapsed time. Fiona’s achievements are made even more astounding due to the fact that she was told at age 14 that she would never walk properly, let alone ever run. She would undergo more than 17 radical knee surgeries which ultimately led to having her entire right kneecap removed. The process was agonizing, the rehab worse, the records she’s gone on to set even more astounding. With overcoming her own adversity, Fiona’s true drive to achieve incredible feats of speed and human endurance are motivated by a deep desire to raise awareness for the plight of animals. Her achievements help fund a 450+ animal sanctuary that she takes care of every day. “

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Roots & Shoots

“Founded in 1991 by Dr. Jane Goodall, Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots is a youth service program for young people of all ages. Our mission is to foster respect and compassion for all living things, to promote understanding of all cultures and beliefs, and to inspire each individual to take action to make the world a better place for people, other animals, and the environment.”

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Rewild your heart – undomesticate your life

“Hi! My name is Ren Hurst. I’m an author, social entrepreneur, and spiritual activist that is rewilding hearts and undomesticating lives through interspecies relationships. As a former professional horse trainer, I spent nearly two decades mastering how to modify the behavior of others to suit my own needs. All that changed when I stumbled upon a radically different approach, whose philosophy I combined with other areas of my own experience/education to reach far beyond horsemanship. Today, my life is dedicated to speaking up for animals and teaching people what I’ve learned from choosing love over exploitation. “

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Right Sharing of World Resources

“Right Sharing of World Resources (RSWR) is an independent Quaker not-for-profit organization sharing the abundance of God’s love by working for equity through partnerships around the world. RSWR gives grants to groups of marginalized women in Kenya, Sierra Leone, and India to fund individual micro-enterprise projects. Right Sharing’s work is grounded in a sense of stewardship for the world’s material, human, and spiritual resources.”

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Rewild your Heart. Undomesticate your Life.

“Are you ready to rewild your heart so you can undomesticate your life? The wild in you hears the calling of your soul. It is your true nature and most authentic self. For far too long we have lived domesticated lives perpetuated by our domestication of others. In doing so, we cut ourselves off from the wisdom of the wild. I’m here to help you restore the connection to your soul’s guidance through a body of work I call Sanctuary13; a set of 13 practically applied principles that can undomesticate your life and empower you to be the person you were meant to be. Our animal kin have a lot to teach us about the true power and unconditional nature of love. Using Sanctuary13, I guide people in revolutionizing their relationships with animals, removing obstacles that are likely keeping them from leading a truly fulfilling and inspired life. The animals, of course, benefit tremendously as well.”

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Reweaving Our Human Fabric: Working Together to Create a Nonviolent Future

“Imagine: A future world in which we all value people and life and participate in a flow of generosity. A world where sharing our gifts and the mundane tasks of life are both done with wholehearted willingness, free of coercion. A world where attending to everyone’s needs is the organizing principle. Miki Kashtan weaves together vivid social science fiction stories that bring that world to life with compelling nonfiction about how to get there.”

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Renegade Inc.

“Renegade Inc. is an independent knowledge platform for people who think differently. We find thinkers, writers, leaders and creators in search of the best new ideas, businesses and policies. Many more people are now questioning the conventional wisdom of modern life and asking a simple question: How do I live well during the age of uncertainty? Renegade Inc. was founded to answer some of those questions.”

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Reclaiming

Reclaiming’s international communities listings. “Reclaiming is a community of people working to unify spirit and politics. Our vision is rooted in the religion and magic of the Goddess, the Immanent Life Force. We see our work as teaching and making magic: the art of empowering ourselves and each other. In our classes, workshops, and public rituals, we train our voices, bodies, energy, intuition, and minds. We use the skills we learn to deepen our strength, both as individuals and as community, to voice our concerns about the world in which we live, and bring to birth a vision of a new culture.”

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Reflections on Living Compassion

Book: “This book, created over years of sharing and teaching workshops, individual sessions, and retreats, leads the reader into unsuspected depths. It is a guide for exploring dimensions of wholeness and healing; an invitation to approach our experience in a radically different way. We enter into our difficult experiences to reveal the fullness and beauty in all experience.”

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Radical Joy for Hard Times

“We envision a planet where people and wounded places are reconciled through acceptance, compassion, and acts of beauty. A world where no part of the Earth is alienated from those who love it. In this way, we recognize that all of nature is part of the cycle of life. Our mission is to give people the opportunity to deeply connect with natural places that have been damaged through human or natural acts. Spending time in wounded places, we expose our hearts to difficult feelings of loss and guilt; listen to the land and to one another; and open ourselves to possibilities for finding and creating beauty there.”

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Quotations for Social Change

“This collection of 303 quotations related to positive social change made by over 160 people, some famous, some not so, includes the 263 quotations interspersed throughout Inciting Democracy plus 40 more that were too profound or clever to leave out.”

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Qatsi Trilogy

“As the general focus of the QATSI Trilogy is the technological milieu, it is the purpose of this site to foster a web-dialogue on this little understood, yet ubiquitous subject – the nature of technology. What we know about the subject is vastly promotive, over-the-top positive, coming to us from the producers of global technology. A glowing wonderland of unlimited opportunity is promised by the good life of the technological order. Infinite capacity, virtual immortality, super human cognition – attributes that have until now been reserved for the divine are indicated for technology. A new technological pantheon has been established in the horizonless world of the Blue Planet. But is technology what it appears to be? Have we looked behind the shimmer of its glowing surface? Very little, if anything, reveals its meaning through mere appearances. Most everything is more complex, full with a universe of hidden dimensions. Is technology an exception to this common experience? Or, have we accepted its truth as the truth?” films: Koyaanisqatsi (life out of balance), Powaqqatsi (life in transformation), Naqoyqatsi (life as war).

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Public Listening Project

“We have been going regularly to the local train station for five years wearing t-shirts bearing questions: one always reads, “What’s Your Opinion?” and the other might be, “Should We Have Gone to War?” or some other provocative question. Such questions are a non-threatening invitation to people who are ready to approach us and share their views on policy issues and how they came to hold them. As we listen with interest and respect, people vent feelings and, then, often become more free to think anew. People appreciate being listened to without interruption. If their opinion is listened to with respect, then their “suspicion” of talking to someone who may have a differing viewpoint quickly evaporates…Our names are Dan and Trey. We are two friends who, during the buildup toward war with Iraq in the fall of 2002, felt that not enough people were talking about this vital issue. We thought that such an action, which surely would cost our nation money and lives, merited discussion among Americans of all political persuasions. It is our belief that people do their own best thinking when they are listened to with respect. We decided, as concerned citizens, to create a forum for discussion on the topic of war and all related issues. We have conducted this project without the sponsorship of any political group.”

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ProVegan – General Information

Introduction, The Healthiest Diet, For Human Rights, The Moral Reasons, For Animal Welfare and Animal Rights, For the Climate and Environmental Protection, The Religious Reason, Personal Epilogue

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Protect All Children’s Environment (PACE)

“Established in 1987 for people poisoned by the now-banned pesticide, Chlordane, PACE exists to give comfort and support. Through PACE, pesticide victims provide support to fellow survivors on an all-volunteer, not-for-profit basis. There are no charges for information, counseling or other services. PACE is unique in that true empathy is expressed through shared experience.”

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Proposed Mini Manual of Council Circles

Guidelines for meeting. “Council is the process of figuring out how the group feels; it’s not just for thinking. The goal is not necessarily consensus of action, but of understanding: once we understand each other, what to do should be obvious.”

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Project Learning Tree

“Mission: Project Learning Tree advances environmental literacy and promotes stewardship through excellence in environmental education, professional development, and curriculum resources that use trees and forests as windows on the world. Vision: Project Learning Tree is committed to creating a future where the next generation values the natural world and has the knowledge and skills necessary to make informed decisions and take responsible actions to sustain forests and the broader environment.”

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Prayer

Book: “First published in India in 1977, this discourse on prayer and meditation by the great spiritual leader explores the meaning of devotion and describes the specific pratices he used. Reprint. Original.”

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Pray the Devil Back to Hell

Film: “Pray the Devil Back to Hell chronicles the remarkable story of the Liberian women who came together to end a bloody civil war and bring peace to their shattered country. Thousands of women – ordinary mothers, grandmothers, aunts and daughters, both Christian and Muslim – came together to pray for peace and then staged a silent protest outside of the Presidential Palace. Armed only with white T-shirts and the courage of their convictions, they demanded a resolution to the country’s civil war. Their actions were a critical element in bringing about a agreement during the stalled peace talks. A story of sacrifice, unity and transcendence, Pray the Devil Back to Hell honors the strength and perseverance of the women of Liberia. Inspiring, uplifting, and most of all motivating, it is a compelling testimony of how grassroots activism can alter the history of nations.”

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Power of Goodness: Art and Stories for a Culture of Peace

Book: “The Power of Goodness: Stories of Nonviolence and Reconciliation is a storybook with original artwork by young people ages 6 – 20 from Chechnya, Russia and around the world illustrating narratives of nonviolence, healing and reconciliation. Together they capture the excitement of action, joy of seeing from new perspectives and encouragement of witnessing how small actions make big differences.”

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Practical Ethics

Book: “For thirty years, Peter Singer’s Practical Ethics has been the classic introduction to applied ethics. For this third edition, the author has revised and updated all the chapters, and added a new chapter addressing climate change, one of the most important ethical challenges of our generation. Some of the questions discussed in this book concern our daily lives. Is it ethical to buy luxuries when others do not have enough to eat? Should we buy meat from intensively reared animals? Am I doing something wrong if my carbon footprint is above the global average? Other questions confront us as concerned citizens: equality and discrimination on the grounds of race or sex; abortion, the use of embryos for research, and euthanasia; political violence and terrorism; and the preservation of our planet’s environment. This book’s lucid style and provocative arguments make it an ideal text for university courses and for anyone willing to think about how she or he ought to live. “

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Power and Diversity Sequence

A training exercise “My goal was to create something short that could be integrated into a regular direct action training to provide some consciousness raising.” 20-30 minutes

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Power-Under

Book: “Power-Under offers important new insights that can help us to break cycles of violence. Analyzing connections between oppression, trauma, and internalized powerlessness, this book shows how trauma is a link in complex chains of domination. Because large numbers of traumatized people are both oppressors and oppressed, understanding internalized powerlessness is critically important for our ability to build effective social change movements. Strategies including nonviolent self-protection, humanizing the oppressor, and a new politics of compassion are proposed for mobilizing traumatic rage toward progressive ends. Power-Under is strikingly relevant to a post-September 11 world in which we need to mount resistance to chain reactions of violence.”

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Play in the Wild

“Play in the Wild! Initiations into Nonviolence offer a full-immersion education in the principles and practices of nonviolence. We define nonviolence as a lifelong commitment to seeing beyond differences, respecting all living things, and being of service to ourselves and others…Students in these programs learn practical and effective skills for living interdependently with all forms of life while developing knowledge of self and others. These skills and knowledge form the basis for peaceful, harmonious, and productive communities, not just at Play in the Wild!, but in the circles of relationships that the youth create after they leave our program.”

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Planetary

“PLANETARY is a provocative and breathtaking wakeup call – a cross continental, cinematic journey, that explores our cosmic origins and our future as a species. It is a poetic and humbling reminder that now is the time to shift our perspective. PLANETARY asks us to rethink who we really are, to reconsider our relationship with ourselves, each other and the world around us – to remember that we are PLANETARY.”

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Planet Ocean

“Planet Ocean by the notable environmentalist, journalist, and photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand explores the ocean as an entire ecosystem, using stunning cinematography by Arthus-Bertrand and Michael Pitiot to show how all life on Earth is interconnected. Rather than using a persuasive tone, Planet Ocean employs the raw natural beauty of ocean life to show how precious and valuable this water world is. Using first person narration instead of the third person more commonly found in documentaries, it provides a much more personal view of the powerful scenes showcased throughout the film. Viewing this enchanting film leaves the haunting impression that the greatest threat to the ocean is humanity, but it is not too late to save it.”

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Peter Singer – Effective Altruism, an Introduction

“Peter Singer on Effective Altruism & Cause Prioritization…Effective altruism is a philosophy and social movement which applies evidence and reason to working out the most effective ways to improve the world. Effective altruists consider all causes and actions, and then act in the way that brings about the greatest positive impact. It is this broad evidence-based approach that distinguishes effective altruism from traditional altruism or charity.”

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Peter Singer: “The Ethics of What We Eat”

“Professor of Bioethics at Princeton University and professor at the Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics at the University of Melbourne, Peter Singer takes a hard look at the food we eat, where it comes from, and how it is produced.”

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Peter Singer

“I am a professor of bioethics, with a background in philosophy. I work mostly in practical ethics, and am best known for Animal Liberation and for my writings about global poverty.”

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Peter Singer – Articles

Project Syndicate: Articles by Peter Singer. “Peter Singer is Professor of Bioethics at Princeton University, Laureate Professor in the School of Historical and Philosophical Studies at the University of Melbourne, and founder of the non-profit organization The Life You Can Save. His books include Animal Liberation, Practical Ethics, The Ethics of What We Eat (with Jim Mason), Rethinking Life and Death, The Point of View of the Universe, co-authored with Katarzyna de Lazari-Radek, The Most Good You Can Do, Famine, Affluence, and Morality, One World Now, Ethics in the Real World, and Utilitarianism: A Very Short Introduction, also with Katarzyna de Lazari-Radek. In 2013, he was named the world’s third “most influential contemporary thinker” by the Gottlieb Duttweiler Institute.”

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Peaceable Kingdom – The Journey Home

Film “Can a change of heart change the world? Two animal rescuers, five farmers, and a cow named Snickers will make you laugh and cry, expand your consciousness, and challenge your ideas about who animals are. Open your eyes. Trust your heart. Take the journey. A story of transformation and healing, this award-winning documentary explores a crisis of conscience experienced by several farmers questioning their inherited way of life. Growing more and more connected to individual animals under their care, they struggle to do what is right, despite overwhelming social and economic pressure to follow tradition. The film also explores the dramatic animal rescue work of a newly-trained humane police officer whose desire to help animals in need puts her in conflict with unjust laws she is expected to enforce. With heartfelt interviews and rare footage demonstrating the emotional lives and family bonds of farm animals, this groundbreaking documentary challenges stereotypes about life on the farm, offering a new vision for how we might relate to our fellow animals.”

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Pedagogy of the Oppressed

Book: “First published in Portuguese in 1968, Pedagogy of the Oppressed was translated and published in English in 1970. The methodology of the late Paulo Freire has helped to empower countless impoverished and illiterate people throughout the world. Freire’s work has taken on especial urgency in the United States and Western Europe, where the creation of a permanent underclass among the underprivileged and minorities in cities and urban centers is increasingly accepted as the norm. With a substantive new introduction on Freire’s life and the remarkable impact of this book by writer and Freire confidant and authority Donaldo Macedo, this anniversary edition of Pedagogy of the Oppressed will inspire a new generation of educators, students, and general readers for years to come.”

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Peace Factory

“At Peace Factory, Nonviolent Communication (NVC) is our source of inspiration for communication, dialogue and conflict resolution…Peace Factory comes to life as an adult training center and eco-hamlet cooperative, firmly rooted in valuing the needs of every human being. The transformation of the site, initiated in spring 2009 aims to develop a place of eco-cohabitation, integrating a training and well-being center anchored in the development of universal human needs.”

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Peace Learning Center

“Peace Learning Center educates, inspires and, empowers people to live peacefully. Our vision is to build a community of peace where respect is primary and justice is real. Through the modeling of behaviors, community collaboration, and by providing services, we value: -Peaceful resolution of all conflicts. -Strength of diversity in our community. -The potential of youth. -Responsible stewardship of the environment and community resources.”

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Pax Christi Peace Stories

“This blog is about the power of stories–in particular, the power of stories to change the world–and maybe, just maybe, to change us too. Our scriptures, that original collection of stories that our ancestors cherished and passed down to us generation after generation, tell us, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” The stories told here on this site, whether taken individually or woven together, provide us a vision that speaks to both the presence of peace in our world today and the promise of peace for peoples and places that so desperately yearn for it. The voices here come from throughout our global movement, 120 member organisations on 5 continents, individuals and groups who are witnessing to peace with justice through the practice of active nonviolence and reconciliation. These are the voices and stories of people close to the action, on the ground, at the grassroots, all joined together to make Pax Christi International.”

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Peace Circle Center

“We believe in human relationships where we go beyond the ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ thinking to curiously approach differences and connect to the deeper internal motivations and needs and create bridges of connection…The Peace Circle Center offers standard and customized programs to schools, groups, communities, organizations, parents to bring powerful and compassionate character-building, peacemaking, social and coaching skills. The Peace Circle Center caters directly to youths and children through ‘Mom & Daughter’, ‘Dad & Son’, ‘Youth empowerment’, “Bullying Transformers’ mentorship groups and retreats. The Peace Circle Center has a large community-building effort for interested parents, educators and ‘friends of children’ through DC-area social events, camping trips and annual summer camp partnerships.”

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Pass it On: Five Stories That Can Change the World

Book: “Eco-philosopher and best-selling author Joanna Macy shares five stories from her more than 30 years of studying and practicing Buddhism and deep ecology. Gathered on her travels to India, Russia, Australia, and Tibet, these stories testify to Joanna Macy’s belief that either humankind awakens to a new and deeper understanding of our interconnectedness with its planet or risks losing it. Pass it On tells of encounters with individuals who share very personal stories of sudden awakening, unexpected awareness, and the co-mingling of joy and pain. Each story is imbued with the specific cultural flavor of the places where the stories originate, but all show how each individual counts in the global need for change and awakening.”

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Pachamama Alliance

“Pachamama Alliance is a global community that offers people the chance to learn, connect, engage, travel and cherish life for the purpose of creating a sustainable future that works for all…Vision: The vision that informs the Pachamama Alliance’s work is of a world that works for everyone: an environmentally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling, socially just human presence on this planet—a New Dream for humanity. Mission: To empower indigenous people of the Amazon rainforest to preserve their lands and culture and, using insights gained from that work, to educate and inspire individuals everywhere to bring forth a thriving, just and sustainable world.”

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Our Spiritual Crisis: Recovering Human Wisdom in a Time of Violence

Book: “Michael Nagler argues that problems now faced by American society spring from a false way of looking at the world,based on the premise that material things are fundamental, consciousness merely derivative. He advocates a return to the ancient and Eastern spritual view that consciousness is fundamental. In developing a new conception of the universe and applying it to our social problems, Dr. Nagler explains how we can best oppose war, consumerism, commercialism, scientism, and the spiritual hollowness of modern life. Commentary by Lewis S. Mudge.”

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Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World

Book: “With Give and Take, Adam Grant not only introduced a landmark new paradigm for success but also established himself as one of his generation’s most compelling and provocative thought leaders. In Originals he again addresses the challenge of improving the world, but now from the perspective of becoming original: choosing to champion novel ideas and values that go against the grain, battle conformity, and buck outdated traditions. How can we originate new ideas, policies, and practices without risking it all? Using surprising studies and stories spanning business, politics, sports, and entertainment, Grant explores how to recognize a good idea, speak up without getting silenced, build a coalition of allies, choose the right time to act, and manage fear and doubt; how parents and teachers can nurture originality in children; and how leaders can build cultures that welcome dissent. Learn from an entrepreneur who pitches his start-ups by highlighting the reasons not to invest, a woman at Apple who challenged Steve Jobs from three levels below, an analyst who overturned the rule of secrecy at the CIA, a billionaire financial wizard who fires employees for failing to criticize him, and a TV executive who didn’t even work in comedy but saved Seinfeld from the cutting-room floor. The payoff is a set of groundbreaking insights about rejecting conformity and improving the status quo.”

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Origins (2014)

“This is a movie about how we have left the natural connection to the planet. The movie investigates how this has happened, the incredible amounts of pollutants that we are exposed to, even as a fetus, and the technology that can help resolve these challenges over time. In short, it is an important case that is made for using renewable energy. The Origins narrator states: “The macrocosm and the microcosm are reflections of each other, and what we see on a large scale, will inevitably show up on a smaller scale and vice versa. With this in mind, we need to look at the health of our planet in order to understand what is happening in our own lives.” Tom Malterre adds: “We’re up to 74 billion pounds of chemicals being produced or imported into the United States every single day. That’s 250 pounds per person per day…. That number does not even include pharmaceuticals, pesticides, fuels and food additives…. So, what are we doing? We are swimming now in chemicals.””

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Ornish Lifestyle Medicine

“When we become more aware of how powerfully our choices in diet and lifestyle affect us—for better and for worse—then we can make different ones. When you make healthy choices, you feel better quickly. This allows us to connect the dots between what we do and how we feel. Feeling so much better, so quickly, re-frames the reason for changing from fear of dying to joy of living.”

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NVC in Australia

“This website represents a growing community of trainers and supporters of Nonviolent Communication (NVC) committed to teaching and creating Nonviolent Communication awareness throughout Australia and neighbouring regions. This community is an informal arrangement of people making individual offerings, and individually holding legal responsibility for their own offerings. It includes volunteers giving freely and joyfully, time and energy to this vision. Others are enjoying contributing to sharing this work and supporting and sustaining themselves financially as independent business entities.”

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Occupy Love (2013)

“Join acclaimed director Velcrow Ripper on a journey deep inside the global revolution of the heart that is erupting around the planet. Humanity is waking up to the fact that the dominant system of power is failing to provide us with health, happiness or meaning. The resulting crisis has become the catalyst for a profound transformation: millions of people are deciding that enough is enough — the time has come to create a new world, a world that works for all life.”

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