Saturday Links for the Week – August 25, 2007

Globally, Things Keep Spiraling Out of Control…

Canada’s Cops Continue to Slide into US-style Corruption and Brutality: For the last year, starting with the report of how the RCMP was complicit in the US arrest and deportation to Syria for torture of Canadian businessman Maher Arar, there has been a depressing litany of reports of bad police behaviour at every level: the beating and murder of First Nations people, widespread corruption, kickbacks, theft and extortion, the use of excessive force in making arrests and extracting confessions, and more. This week we learned that the Quebec police planted masked agents impersonating demonstrators to try to foment riots at the anti-SPP-North-American-Union protests there. One informant said this is ‘normal’ police practice across North America — riots allow the cops to discredit peaceful protests, demoralize the protesters, and ‘try out’ their anti-riot equipment. Shameful, but alas, not surprising.

The US/China Conspiracy to Keep Standards Low: Probably news to no one, but there’s overwhelming evidence that the government of China is incapable of cracking down or even modestly regulating the flood of poisoned, dangerous and flawed goods being produced there, and that the government of the US (its co-dependent economy) has no intention of stepping in to protect Americans from the growing mountains of Chinese crap. Meanwhile, the widespread slavery and employee abuse that fuels Chinese industry continues unhindered.

DDT Re-Emerges as Anti-Mosquito Poison of Choice, Despite Dangers: Yes, it’s toxic, extremely persistent, poisons everything it touches, and, as a destroyer of nerve cells, probably contributes to the epidemic of chronic environmental illnesses in our world. And yes, as soon as and wherever it is widely used, mosquitoes build up immunity to it. But despite this, DDT has re-emerged as the insect toxin of choice in Africa, and a heavily-financed campaign from several industries is lobbying for restrictions on its use to be lifted. When will we ever learn?

…but There’s Some Good News on Sustainable, Responsible Living…

Powell River BC’s 50-mile diet challenge: HtStW reader David Parkinson, who heads the food security project in Powell River on Vancouver Island BC, points to a recent write-up on their community’s success working towards buying almost all their food from responsible local producers. We need to get working on such initiatives in every community in the world. Get your 100-mile diet map here.

Cowichan BC’s Caregiver Society: Already 8% of North Americans are looking after ill or disadvantaged adult family-members. This percentage is expected to quadruple in the next generation, as the population ages. Most of us have no idea what we will do if/when we face this situation, and some of us won’t be able to cope with the stress. A great model is Cowichan BC’s caregiver society, which provides materials and resources and peer-to-peer connection to help caregivers of adults and seniors handle the challenge. Thanks to Prad for the link.

A Personal Story of Radically Simple Living: Tyra and James Arraj’s online book Radical Simplicity and the Fourth Step is an engrossing read, full of first-person anecdotes of home schooling, building simple forest shelters, growing their own food, etc.  The resource guide link at the end of the book is also valuable, especially the intriguing resources and links to natural building. The book conveys, without preaching, the philosophy of simple, responsible, natural living, and how to live true to that philosophy.

…and in the same vein, here’s a letter from HtStW reader Paige Porter, for those looking for inspiration to move from thought to action:

Wow.