What is the state of the EarthSave (holistic, humane, eco) Nation?  Reading my own eBLASTS keeps me apprised of the monumental challenges to our Healthy People – Healthy Planet Mission while assuring me “we’re doing fine but keep emphasizing the role of personal choices to accelerate positive outcomes.”  Why the urgency? Because we happen to address the largest set, scope and scale of life-threatening, life-degrading issues on earth.

As Earthsavers tune in to their daily choices and actions you can hear the grassroots’ motor’s hum and viscerally feel the acceleration of our magnificent movement. Nothing beats aligning one’s values with one’s needs and endeavors- life becomes simple, cohesive and meaningful.  By choosing to act in this manner (locally-globally) we earn a berth on Team EarthSave plus credits in mankind’s legacy to future generations.  This was perfectly exemplified at the Earth-Learning Food Summit (Oct 4,5 Wolfson Campus.)  For two days local movers and shakers moved the agenda and shook everything from hands to preconceived notions to positive emotions, networking, discussing and eating our way through powerful and proactive issues- official conference mantra was ‘Yummm.’  I find similar effects at every ESM outreach activity: Potluck Dinner Event, random focused conversation, information tablings, school festival or seminar presentations, Sierra Club meeting, etc.

My Summit takeaway was the topic ‘I Wanna Go ___% Vegan.’  In a Eureka moment I understood how to connect with everybody’s ‘Inner Vegan.’  See, almost everyone already manifests some percentage of the Vegan Lifestyle (aka ‘EarthSave Mission.’)  Add up all patterns of consumption and behavior to get your present percentage number, then project your ‘Wanna’ number and begin shifting appropriate gears.  To date we have no quantified measuring system but this subject could make for an excellent thesis (hint, hint.)  Amongst the theoretical challenges would be rating: a seal-hunter living for a time exclusively on meat and blubber, a cannibal on a monodiet, Morgan Spurlock during the making of ‘Supersize Me,’ a confirmed Breatharian- but you get the idea.

I happen to think we need a new word- ThanksVGiving.  Of course it denotes a Turkey-free Thanksgiving feast but also implies a 24/7 attitude of gratitude for our healthful, eco-wholesome and humane daily diet.  It’s directly opposed to being ‘cowmatized’ ie. hypnotized by animal product commercials and traumatized by so-called ‘meat and dairy economics.’ A case in point may be a French federal prohibition of serving veg*n fare in public feeding programs.  What’s up with that?  Starting on the dairy side of this issue, Gary Yourofsky says the main reason vegetarians don’t go vegan is cheese addiction.  Yup, a biochemical dependency formed by casein/casomorphine- a powerful opiate in the morphine family. Imagine all those cute, but seriously addicted calves.  As for me, having freed myself of one addiction, I’m almost jones-ing with anticipation to hear Robert Cohen (the ‘Not Milkman’) argue against the infamous ‘Milk Mustache’ in his keynote presentation at ESM Turkey-free Mega Potlucks, North & South, November 26, 27, being a world’s authority on the negative aspects of dairy!

When I see Europe’s progress via photos (check out Facebook and search for “wechange theworld”), I’m reminded that EarthSave’s German affiliate helped spread our message across the Atlantic.  I’m a fan of Animal Friends Croatia at http://www.prijatelji-zivotinja.hr/index.en.php.  I place India’s Vandana Shiva on a pedestal for saying “Nature shrinks as capital grows” and for her extraordinary deeds.  I’d follow John Seed down under, almost anywhere the ecosphere cries out.  And regarding Ching Hai’s SupremeMasterTV- what can I say but the world is being awakened through meaningful efforts by magnificent people in marvelous organizations.  Although France seems to be stepping backwards, policies of conscience and awareness keep popping up around the globe in a rising epidemic of native wisdom.

In conclusion I ask that you simply scan eBLASTs and see what pops out for you from categories like Events For You   C’Mon Take Action   Media   Activist Corner, etc.  Whether or not you have a free subscription, view it anytime at  https://earthsavemiami.org/public_html/eBlast.pdf.  Then try your hand at solving the classic, enigmatic riddle: Vegetarians eat vegetation, Fruitarians… fruit, so what do Humanitarians eat?  JT

Vegetarily Yours, Jeff