"The value of a man resides in what he gives not in what he is capable of receiving"  Albert Einstein 

Some people are discovering meaning through others and their needs. And in this sorry ass world that we`re enduring, till the coming of hope and reason that will rise from its shite, there is a whole lot of inspiration coming from them that gives. They aren`t in power, i.e. yech, government, but their actions are so powerful. This is a vivid and musical declaration of that power. Kudos to "Raine Maida" and "The Yellow Brick Road".  Save the world through building lives in the African Congo and appreciate a musician "making a real difference".

As usual, my fuzzy thinking is often inspired by the rants of a friend. This friend was adamant that Canada is pretty much an embarrassment in the world theatre and that the US role is misunderstood and unappreciated? Whew! That lights my fire though its riddled with some truth and some not! And then I settle into my own disappointment in Canada`s lack of direction in helping to solve the world`s peace problems. We need to do so much more. Or at least something.

My friend continues that I`m a dreamer, Canada is insignificant and that the only hope for the free world is the greatest nation on earth. Guess who? But I struggle with the fact that the US has been the undisputed heavy weight champion of the world since 1991. Sure I wouldn`t choose China, Russia or Iran to lead this world, that would be nuttier than Cheney. But is the planet a safer place for this 16 years of leadership?

I love their movie industry and geography but their foreign policy just plain sucks the life out of too many vulnerable people in the world. And too often it carries the faint odor of self interest. Consider the histories of US involvement in Vietnam, Chile, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Palestine, Afghanistan (when they supported Bin Laden), Iraq (when they supported Saddam), Africa, and Iraq post 9/11. Then there`s the embarrassment of Guantanamo Bay contravention of the Geneva Convention and my personal disappointment at lack of support for a Kyoto process.

A little reading and research on this brief list is not really inspiring as a basis of consideration for a vision of Canadian foreign policy. So what can little old Canada really do? How about if we look to our history and traditions to find someone who shook the world in a fit of peace. Someone who found a way to make the world safer without waving bombs and sabre rattling. What if we consider Mike Pearson?

Canadian Prime Minister Lester B Pearson  in his short tenure as government leader implemented the Canada Pension Plan, Universal Heath Care and refused to join the US in Vietnam war effort. But his best may have come in 1950`s when (while Canadian Minister of External Affairs) he served as president of the United Nations General Assembly.  This guy was a giant in International diplomacy with the heart of a "peacemaker". 

When an Egyptian blockade of the Suez Canal threatened to boil over into a world war (Britain, France and Israel attacked Egypt for control of the canal) Pearson proposed and sponsored the resolution which created a United Nations Emergency Force to police that area, thus permitting the invading nations to withdraw with a minimum loss of face.  Pearson was awarded the Nobel Peace prize in 1957 for his persistence and vision. He tamed the beast with a diplomacy that the usual idiots in places like Iran, Britain, Israel and the US could stand a little taste of right now. 

So I would like to tell my friend,that this is the kind of non violent pro active diplomacy that I would like to see Canada (and hopefully many others) use as a force for world peace. Winning peace rather than the war means stepping boldly around the shite and into the hard work of building rather than bombing. As the brilliant American economist, Jeffrey Sachs, would say: "military occupation without withdrawal saps dignity while grinding poverty and economic disarray saps hope" and where there`s no dignity or hope there is little chance for victory.  I`m going to go out on the limb here and suggest that the "world is not a safer place" than it was 20 or 30 years ago. Its pretty damned good here in Ontario but I think I hear the world knocking at our door. And fresh thinking based on "peacemaking" tradition is long overdue.

"It has always been easier to destroy that to create" - Spock

The mantra for Star Trek (yeah, I was a Trekkie) was to "go boldly where no man has gone before". And with that spirit of adventure the series was mankind`s generous and caring evolution (money was needless in the new human world of the Enterprise) taken to the stars.

On Nov.24, the opening episode of Battlestar Gallactica:Razor was a must watch prequel episode of a fascinating TV series that shows a pain of human evolution and survival that is a stark contrast to the civility of Star Trek. The Gallactica and its colony are under attack and near extinction. Their pressures are severe and their institutions:democracy, theocracy, military and justice are barely holding together.

This 2 hour frackfest (the Razor) features the lost Battleship Pegasus. It focuses the tribulations of her commander, Admiral Cain, her demon will to survive and her haunting influence on the Pegasus` desperately hopeful crew. They believe that they`re the last human survivors after a Cylon attack on the colony. They think they are all alone in a big bad Cylon Universe. Its a little bit of "The Lord of the Flies meets Star Trek on the Dark Side of the Moon". And what evil might men or women do to avoid the wrath and torture of Cylon Devils?

The story focuses on Kendra Shaw, played by Stephanie Jacobson, and we see Admiral Cain`s actions on the lost and disturbed Pegasus through Shaw`s eyes. Michelle Forbes, as Cain, shows a depth and humanity that gets lost in her need to save the crew. She kills innocent people that are useless to her cause and maintains a deadly focus on justifying her ends. She becomes the complicated, impassioned tyrant.

Kendra Shaw with her discipline and duty to Admiral Cain will lead a massacre of innocent civilians that will leave viewers  stunned in a violent moment. A horror button is pushed. And the rest of the episode revolves around Shaws torment and need for absolution. Movie gold for good actors. She needs to make this right and will in an "Armageddon" like ending that leaves Gallactica Commanders questioning their humanity?

A metaphor for the lunacy war causes of modern Western Man seems obvious to me and a smartly written TV series cries for the fantasy of a Star Trek future. As Gene Roddenberry would say " Star Trek was an attempt to say that humanity will reach maturity and wisdom on the day that it begins not just to tolerate, but to take a special delight in differences in ideas and differences in all life forms". While Battlestar seems to take us down the tough road to this kind of thinking. It asks the viewer to considider both sides of every decision that might take humanity to its ends. Its bloody hard taking the high road for humanity under fire.

Admiral Cain takes the Pegasus into the dark shite of psycho justification while Star Trek goes boldly with principle where no man has gone before.  Watch Battlestar Gallactica. It raises all the questions our world needs to ask itself before we can reach the karmic level of the Star Ship Enterprise. Great fracking show!

    "If you can't annoy somebody with what you write, I think there's little point in writing."  Kingsely Amis

Where have all the journalists gone? Well, Greg Palast is the best example of truth that keeps on giving though he`s rarely welcome in the  USA where "money talks" and the truth of the day is the latest quote from Paris whats her name? The major Media in North America is guilty of neglecting the truth and replacing it with a vacuum only comparable to the space between George W`S ears. But Palast (working for the BBC) champions a truth that is sorely cast in the direction of corruption in its lowest form. This is a truly sad story about the "Vultures" who steal American dollars intended for African "Aides Relief". A burr on the ass of social justice.

Randi Rhodes interviews Palast Part 1

Randi  Rhodes interviews Palast Part 2

BBC on Vulture Funds 

For all the good that the Bonos, Stephen Lewis`s, the Bill Clinton`s mightily try to accomplish for a tragic African Aides dilemma this seems to be a "circle jerk" of crass capitalism that is frustrating to imagine. If CNN did a serious piece on this it could make a difference. But they`re more interested in whether Hilary Clinton likes "diamonds or pearls"? This was a key question in a recent Democratic Leader`s debate.  Now thats serious journalism!

    "If we were logical, the future would be bleak indeed. But we are more than logical. We are human beings, and we have faith, and we have hope"   Jacques Y Cousteau

 I`ve just seen Dicaprio`s film the 11th Hour and I`ve got to ponder my faith in our carbon crazy civilization. The movie is a llittle too much like talking heads but is still fascinating in its scope. I`d definetly recommend "An Inconvenient Truth before this but? if you have the time (and time is all we have), this is a thought provoking encounter with some of the great minds in science and their plea for the future. A future where they would intelligently redesign our carbon puking economy.

Here I am planning my next trip or is that carbon footprint (diving in Maui on route to Thailand). And I rationalize the value of travel while wondering about a future that sees 8.2 billion people on earth by 2030. Wiill the Chinese will burn more coal and India will crave more electricity? Of course! They are becoming us and they are liking it, which is no big surprise? But this is feeling like casino capitalism and its not hard to fear our future or the fracking mess Gaia endures if we continue to roll the dice.

David Suzuki says that 99.9999% of species in planetary history no longer exist. That leaves us, being at the very top of the food chain, very vulnerable to extinction. And the movie shows us how rapid "climate change" drives extinction.  But as Paul Hawken says this is a fantastic opportunity for our generation. The last and best hope for an eco-civilization. We can save this planet if we try? And as a Native Sage suggests at movie`s end: "This planet has all the time in the world, but do we?" This is really about saving ourselves not the planet.

The beauty of Hawaii and Thailand will still be here long after we are gone but who will hear the tree if it falls in the forest?  Me, I`m crazy with hope and I`m buying my carbon offsets, driving slower and supporting Bullfrog (clean) power. Its not much but I`m trying. And trying is the very least that I can do? Hopefully the  brainiacs running the U.S., China and India will buy into a green revolution or? Otherwise the future is ringing and nobody is home! The 11th Hour?

"Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing ever happened"  Sir Winston Churchill

You need to go back to 1939 and a great movie moment like "Mr Smith Goes to Washington" to appreciate how an American Congressman finds hard fought wisdom, fights political corruption in a powerful political machine and champions American values like a verifiable moral hero. Jimmy Stewart in one of his many highlight acting roles portrays this naive, idealistic, patriotic politician who carries the torch of Yankee freedom and democracy in the face of powerful evil and oppression. This is a classic Karma metaphor for courageous and righteous indignation in action. Every wannabe young politician should be made to watch and understand this movie. To feel the passion and privilege of representation. And then maybe they`ll "do the right thing".

So, today I`m listening to my daily dose of Air America (the Ed Shultz show) and they`re talking to Congressman Dennis Kucinich who sponsored a Congressional resolution to have Vice President Dick Cheney impeached. The resolution passed and will move into Judicial Inquiry. And I`m thinking that "Mr Smith goes to Washington again".

Karmadawg, Dennis Kucinich, rides into Congress on a horse with no name to send the Dark Lord back to the bowels of Mordor.  "Impeach the Vice President", he cries, for dragging America into a war built on lies. Whew! I`m not American but I can`t get enough of their politics. I love the dynamics of corruption, bullshite and heroism wrapped in the flag of their bloated Republic.

They call it the "Greatest Nation on Earth" but I think its really the "Greatest Show on Earth". Addictive as hell. And every now and then out of their seemingly bought and sold Congress, comes a voice rising that sounds around the world. Hey, lets face it, the world really wants America to be as free and outstanding as they profess to be "and once were". So Kucinich revives the notion that America can be as passionate for truth as Jimmy Stewart once suggested? He shows that America still cares about that great "Constitution" that we all envy. Though lately, it seems to be mostly used by Republicans for wiping their collective asses.

Their constitution still represents ideals of freedom, truth and representation that gives America and the world hope. Hope that America is not about "power gone wild" and still considers every person`s equal opportunity to the good life as its mantra. Kucinich takes on the Dark Lord and tries to hold his feet to the fire of consequences. And demands respect for their constitution. 

If Cheney lied, Colin Powell lied, Bush lied, the CIA lied and tragically a lot of people died? (And thats no if about a lot of death.) Then the idealistic Congressman wants justice. And maybe in a reborn America, Dennis Kucinich lights this fire of hope and there finally is "Justice for All". A karmadawg, "Mr Smith", is on a mission. Good luck to him and the potential leaders of a free world. I`d like to think we have his back on this one!

  " A man is but the product of his thoughts, and what he thinks, he becomes "     Mohandes Gandhi

This is a seriously cool site focussed on the true nature of the humane heart. GiveMeaning.com  is on the verge of the next best thing for 'doing good" on the Internet. Givemeaning is evolving like a Facebook on a mission to change the world. Facebook for the soul?

Got a cause? Looking for a cause? This is just another piece of the karma puzzle in the realm of possibilities. Leap into the jungle through GiveMeaning.com and maybe "make a difference"?

"If there is a light in the soul, there will be beauty in the person. If there is beauty in the person, there will be harmony in the house. If there is harmony in the house, there will be order in the nation. If there is order in the nation, there will be peace in the world " Chinese Proverb

Sometimes harmony feels like a Timothy Leary flashback in a crazy world with  psycho-delic problems that just won`t go away. We`ve got our constant War and greed (somehow they`re always connected at the hip), Global Warming and greed (somehow we can`t see "the forest for the trees" in the continuing saga of greed over common sense) , and Extreme Global Poverty and the greedy neglect that keeps us rationalizing unnecessary suffering and death in the face of real, workable, affordable solutions. And until we wear another woman`s shoes and really empathize suffering it`ll likely be more of the same old shite. Africa just keeps dying and we keep talking.

But maybe we can enjoy saving the world. Maybe we can be inspired by people we admire to "do the right thing". Maybe we can indulge a fantasy that we share the same stage with Sting, Wyclef Jean, Kanye West, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, George Clooney and Madonna. Indulge our pleasures and help save the world. A self serving pipe dream or a party template for change?

I say "show me the money" and whatever form it takes to fund the simple, workable genius of plans like "millennium villages", "H2O for Africa", "spread the Net", and millennium cities" that show how we can overcome corruption and greed to get the money fully delivered to real solutions. Listen for some sage. Its either George Bush and Stevie Harper telling us we can`t afford to make a difference (hey Exxon needs those tax breaks, come on) or Bono and Matt Damon showing us that we can "make a real difference" in desperate people`s lives. They represent organizations that get the money to the people. Organizations that can deliver what elected governments worldwide refuse to do. Make Poverty History.

Matt Damon tells us that "a sustainable clean water well can be created and maintained for a 5 year period for as little as $10,000. Projects like this have the potential to save millions of lives in Africa". And this is Jason Bourne we`re talking about. This guy is a relentless force of good at any cost. Maybe we can indulge a Damon movie (they`re usually great) and dance to the music of U2, or just hitch a ride on any celebrity wagon that Galas for poverty with a passion that our politicians can`t seem to match.

Idiot politicians feeding our neglect will never "make a difference". We should consider Jeffrey Sachs insistence that we can "MakePovertyHistory" in our time. This guy is a gifted economist with a plan to "End Poverty" and he`s got the ear of the Bonos, Damons, Affleks, Wyclefs and so many more. Even the odd politician is moved by this guy. So party harty, turn on, tune in and drop by the next celebrity event that sings the end of poverty. These people are "Making a Difference"! We can be part of the difference at the Poverty Rally on Oct.1 at Massey Hall in Toronto. Share the stage with great local musicians and (hold your nose) politicians trying to affect change.

The winds of change are blowing and maybe the next "great movie" will be "The Poverty Ultimatum" starriing Jason Bourne attacking greed to the next great U2 soundtrack. A high Def attack on poverty. Can`t wait.

"False face must hide what the false heart doth know"    Shakespeare

This is a kick ass action western with a "classic" heart and soul. Christian Bale is the heart of this movie and Russel Crowe is its soul. They come into the movie with diametrically opposed moral senses and eventually develop a karma bond that gives this movie its classic mojo. Crowe is the killer with the silver tongue and dark spirit while Bale is Dan Evans, the peg legged war veteran and rancher hungry for respect from his family. Crowe`s Ben wade is feared and respected for his strength (in all its evil form) while Bale envies that kind of power. Crowe, in turn ,comes to envy the crippled Dan Evans, a man of sacrifice. This is a pot of acting heat that boils into karma power!

 Russell Crowe needs to be watched. He is a force of "acting nature" who really starts this movie in a walk. I thought maybe he had just shown up for the payday and was cruising through the part. But after watching the evil that Ben Wade can do to a fool with only a fork, then he`s got our "bad ass" attention. And we see cracks in the armor of his sociopathic soul when a young boy questions his motives. "I can`t do something good, it might become a habit" Ben Wade.  Then follow his transformation and watch for the "moment" when his acting genius really shines through.

Bale explores a vulnerability and sense of duty to his family that is  probably the best acting he`s done. His emotional angst bleeds onto the screen through a heroic transformation that conquers the devil in Crowe`s soul. This is serious good guy and bad guy shite that will stand the test of movie time.

Life has not been fair to either of these characters and they evolved in completely different worlds that could be expected to  settle into a classic "cowboy" shootout, but that would be too routine. And Director James Mangold doesn`t choose routine. He uses Peter Fonda as a crusty Pinkerton agent and  Ben Forster as Crowe`s psycho, sicko gang member, and runs the action onto a ticking clock that ramps up our interest. Bale will try to take Crowe`s character through the town streets to the 3:10 train to Yuma prison. The action for the movie`s final scene is fast and violent with transformation and bonding of both characters ringing true.

The final minute of Crowe`s soul felt change becomes the movie moment. Watch his face, read his emotion and anger in a look that only a great actor could generate on this level. Then back to Bale and know his relief, his pride. If you really love movies this final scene and moment are about as good as it gets this year on the big screen. Special scenes like this are the magic that rings the "classic movie" bell loud and clear. This is the film that you can use as a model for your screenwriting class. Simple, powerful, transformational, action packed and a draw for good actors. Another keeper for a cowboy classics collection!

    "A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history" Mohandas Gandhi

 Matt Damon humbly hosts an evening of passion and giving through a showcase (the Academy awards could learn so much from these guys) of talent and "karma awards" that leaves anyone in this audience appreciating that we can know and do so much more for the Africas of planet earth. Like Damon has said: comparing our lives with the people of the desperate conditions in Africa is "outrageous". Its like a Parallel Universe or another planet where people wonder if they will drink water tomorrow. Will the well be dry or contaminated and will I be thirsty again? Thats why he created h2oafrica.org which is a bucket of hope for people in desperate need. One man trying to make a difference.

And the theme of the night is set. We hear acceptance speeches from "OneXOne making a Difference" awards that make me want to walk on water and carry Africa on my back to the land of hope and muse. This was so good that I thought Gandhi might be resurrected and lead us out of the Four Seasons Center and take us on a pilgrimage to nirvana. Yeah, I`m getting a little carried away but this night felt pretty special. And I`m thinking that I need to make this the best inspirational moment of the rest of my life. There`s a lot of good to be done and the message is that we can do it "OneXOne".

 Listen to Wyclef Jean sing about Rawanda and his hope for a "United States of Africa" with the African Children`s Choir. This was the best moment of so many! Listen to Richard Gere speak of American supported horrors of 1980`s El Salvador and of the need for each of us to take responsibility for the world around us and to try and make some change "OneXOne". Listen to Matt Damon`s rendition of the powerful hope he sees in visits to African Millennium Villages and the difference it makes in the lives of thousands of Africans. He`s seen a scientific process that rises above corruption and neglect to make a life saving difference. (see Jeffrey Sachs vision)
Listen (and gawk at) to the stunning supermodel Petra Nemcova speak of her need to rebuild the lives of children in devastated Asia. The Happy Hearts Fund    She barely lived through the Thailand Tsunami of 2004 and needs to give something back.

And just when you`re struggling with your conscience and searching for a cheque to support everything or diving for an exit,  the Gala producers pace the night of emotion and inspiration with a performance from a 13 year old Jazz singer who leaves us breathless with her absolutely phenomenal talent. Nikki Yanovsky is a voice we`ll all know very soon. A truly righteous talent!! And then Wyclef Jean and Shakira team up for Latin passion and Haitian rhythm that has people dancing in the aisles. Karma Party till you drop in the land of Wyclef.

This event and its promise are the creation of a "KarmaDawg" named Joelle Adler. She`s a model of hope wrapped in the form of an obviously intelligent and compassionate woman that Matt Damon introduced as his favorite "ball buster". A lady who has found a true reason for affluent people to party. Party for a better world.

And the stage heart of "OneXOne" is clearly Wyclef Jean, a Haitian born American rapper, humanitarian whose talent and mojo ability to move a crowd with his music is only surpassed by his need to make a difference for people that can`t do it themselves.

So, whether its Damon`s H2oAfrica, or Wyclef`s Yele Haiti,  Sachs` Millennium Villages or Petra`s Happy Hearts Fund this is about building Karma, OneXOne. And You don`t have to be a Celebrity to make a difference as shown with the award given to Bonnie and Fred Cappuccino ringing loud and clear. They raised 21 children (19 adopted overseas) and started a foundation for children in India. And Fred is still wondering how he pays for Bonnie`s muse?

I partied like a fool to the music of Wyclef Jean and his Gandhi band of promise and I came away believing that I can make a difference and be part of a "revolution of hope". Now I can`t wait to be part of OneXOne 2008 and ride that party train of karmadawg`s and dreamers that might just make a difference!