Monthly Archives: December 2011

Story of Stuff!

22 Thursday Dec 2011

Posted by in Reflection, videos

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, ,

This is a very special time we are in.  It is the week before Christmas and New Year. It is time that Consumerism is promoted; it is the time that Materialism is encouraged; it is the time that social and cultural pressures brainwashing people to want more and to not be satisfied with what they have.

What kind of thinking we may need to have to realize that what we have is enough?In what way can we resist the cultural pressures? What do you think will happen if we just continue consuming more and more? What will happen to our environment and our planet? Where does all the waste will go as we continue consuming more? What will happen to our future generations? What sources will be available to our next generations?

Culture of Consumerism is embedded into Individualistic ideas of living.  When social cultural messages are about ‘me’  ‘me’ and ‘my needs’ ; when there is no space left for considering ‘others’ and ‘future beings’; when we are encouraged to spend more and never feel satisfied with what we have , what do you think will happen in the future?

We need find ways of putting stop to the constant use of stuff- Materialism. We need to pay attention to what makes us intentionally or unintentionally destroy our planet and ourselves.

Watch this video – Story of Stuff.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLBE5QAYXp8

Think about what we can do to change the current situation and save our planet, our next generation and the future beings.

Happy possibilities!!

Jails vs Treatments!

19 Monday Dec 2011

Posted by in Reflection, videos

≈ Leave a comment

It has been a long lasting debate on the importance of building communities and providing treatments for people who commit crimes instead of building more jails.

It is proven that building jails costs taxpayers lots of money and it leads to more crimes. Isn’t it more effective to find approaches to address social problems in a way that contributes and leads to stronger communities? Isn’t it time to stop spending too much money on building jails and locking up people? Is it time to consider new creative ways of making our communities safer?

If the goal is to spend less money and make cities and communities safer, why not to invest more on treatments programs and social services? Why not to support people to become more part of their communities?

Texas was known as a tough state for applying harsh punishments on criminals; it has had a very high rate of crimes and criminals in the world.  In the last few years, the professionals involved in criminal courts and social services in Texas have realized that the punitive approaches don’t work bit, inadvertently, they directly increase crimes in Texas. They found out that no strong community is built when one out of 20 of residents is in jails. They re-discovered that having proper treatment plans for people – who are committed crimes and engaged in socially unacceptable activities- and support them all along will have better impact on people and reduce crimes.

Watch this video and learn how Texas is changing its direction.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jdw2YJb7Hw&feature=share

We need to learn from what was done in the past and explore more effective humane ways of reducing crimes in our cities. Building jails is not an answer. It is proven!!

Happy Possibilities!!

Re-Writing the 10 Commandments!

16 Friday Dec 2011

Posted by in Reflection, videos

≈ Leave a comment

If you were going to rewrite the 10 commandments, what principles would you choose? Would you say the existing 10 Commandments are religious or ethics based?  Have you thought of rewriting the 10 commandments to make them more contemporary/responsive to our contemporary challenges? Would your 10 Commandments be religious based or ethics based?

Christopher Hitchens took initiatives and rewrote them. Here is what he described as 10 Commandments for the 21st century:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNkX0nhwCjs&feature=bf_prev&list=SPC22FDB7638CC7214&lf=list_related

Happy Possibilities!!

Re-Membering Christopher Hitchens!

16 Friday Dec 2011

Posted by in Interview, Reflection, videos

≈ Leave a comment

It was sad to hear that Christopher Hitchens passed away yesterday. He was a great journalist, writer and essayist.

He argued that the concept of god or a supreme being is a totalitarian belief that destroys individual freedom, and that free expression and scientific discovery should replace religion as a means of teaching ethics and defining human civilization. He wrote at length on atheism and the nature of religion in his 2007 book God Is Not Great.

Hitchens often spoke out against the Abrahamic religions, or what he called “the three great monotheisms” (Judaism, Christianity and Islam). He said: “The real axis of evil is Christianity, Judaism, and Islam”. In his book, God Is Not Great, Hitchens expanded his criticism to include all religions, including those rarely criticized by Western secularists such as Hinduism and neo-paganism.

Listen to this debate between Tony Blair and Christopher Hitchens:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=LP6R3R_UIH0

 Happy Possibilities!!

Gratitude!

15 Thursday Dec 2011

Posted by in Photos, Reflection, videos

≈ 1 Comment

What is Appreciation and Gratitude? Why do we need to be grateful for what we have? Why is it important to see what surrounds us and see ourselves as one among many?

Watch these beautiful images and this message from Louie Schwartzberg:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=gXDMoiEkyuQ#!

Happy Possibilities!!

7 Things to Remember!!

13 Tuesday Dec 2011

Posted by in Link, Reflection

≈ 1 Comment

We all encourage to have to – do lists but have you considered to make yourself         not to- do lists? I wonder what you would put on your not to- do lists.

Check the link below.  The writer suggests 7 things that need to be on your not to-do list. Have a look and add to the list what comes to mind to make your life more enjoyable and easier!!

http://virtualphotographystudio.com/photographyblog/2011/12/7-things-that-should-be-on-your-not-to-do-list/

Happy Possibilities!!

The High Price of Materialism!

10 Saturday Dec 2011

Posted by in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Materialistic culture rooted in Consumerism affect people’s ways of interacting with themselves and others in a negative way.  Research shows that mental health issues such as anxiety, depression and addiction are byproduct of Consumerism and Commercialism…..  Watch this video; it explains it simply and clearly:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGab38pKscw&feature=share

Happy Possibilities!!