[Scpg] Workshops, Global Warming, News

[Michael Pilarski]

FRIENDS OF THE TREES SOCIETY

Jan 2005 NEWSLETTER 

 

This newsletter has 4 parts:  

1) A short letter from Michael Pilarski.

2) List of internet sources about major threats to

western civilization.

3) Best websites for news and sustainability

information

4)  Friends of the Trees 2005 gatherings,

conferences, and workshops. Check out our 

awesome offerings this year!

 

DEAR FRIENDS,

What Will  Happen in 2005 !?

 

Sorry for this long letter, but I believe the

importance of the information justifies its size. 

 

The world is an amazing place in 2005.  On the one

hand there is war, darkness, oppression, poverty, and

catastrophe. The list of potential disasters that

could befall the human race over the next 10 years is

a long list. Some of us have been expecting impending

disaster for the last 30 years. It hasn't happened to

us here in the US yet, but at this point it looks like

we will be lucky to get through the next 4 years

without major problems.

 

I remain an optimist and do believe in the power of

love and positive thought. I am also a realist and it

looks to me like every person and every local

community in the world should be building capabilities

to meet their needs locally. This includes local food

production, local energy production, and local

economic systems. Keeping love alive is so important

in these times. Love of yourself, family, friends,

humanity and the Earth. 

 

On the positive side there are large numbers of people

around the world building ecologically-sustainable and

democratic, social structures. People's movements for

an ecological and freedom future are growing rapidly,

especially in the southern hemisphere. In the US,

farmer's markets, small organic farmers, and food

gardens are becoming more popular. Local organizations

are springing up like weeds after a wildfire. Natural

building, local materials, biodiesel, alternative

energy, fair trade, environmental groups, natural

healing, festivals, gatherings, progressive political

groups, etcetera. We can all do something to

contribute.

 

I highly recommend that people investigate

permaculture if they are not already familiar with it.

One of the best ways to prepare for the future is to

take a permaculture design course. There are now

hundreds of permaculture courses offered around the

world each year. We still have room in the two-week

permaculture course I am teaching near Olympia,

Washington from February 20 to March 5. Details are in

the schedule part of this newsletter. 

 

Whatever you do - love yourself  &  love others  & 

love the planet!

 

Live each day as if you would live forever . . . which

you will. Grow your gardens . . .Plant seeds and trees!  

Help the earth be fruitful! Defend wildness in the 

landscape and in human spirit . . .

Each day is a precious gift. We can have love in our 

hearts even in the eye of the hurricane . . .

 

May 2005 be good to you!

 

Michael Pilarski

______________________________________________________________

 

HOT NEWS FLASH! GULF STREAM UPDATE! 

I've just been acquainted with a July 19, 2004 article

by Drunvalo Melchizedek titled "Dry/Ice: Global

Warming Revealed".  I highly recommend all of you read

this article. It is reporting on some extremely

important climate change developments. The main points

are: 

 

1) Polar ice caps have been melting at

unprecedented levels. Larsen A and Larsen B ice

shelves in Antarctica have both broken off and melted

in the last 2 years and the immense Ross's Ice Shelf

is showing signs of breaking off. If it does so it

will raise ocean levels 15 to 20 feet worldwide.

 

2)The increase in fresh water input at the polar regions

is changing global ocean currents. The Gulf Stream has

been slowing down for the past 10 years, its upper

pattern is becoming irregular, and it may stop

altogether within 3 to 5 years. If the Gulf Stream

stops, northern Europe and northeastern USA will

become much colder. There would be at least a little

ice-age and possibly a major ice-age. Majorly serious

disturbances which would coincide with post-peak oil

disturbances. The article is backed up by reference to

some of the world's leading scientists and Pentagon

studies. To read this article google: 

spiritofmaat.com/announce/ann_dryice.htm. 

Go to the article list on the right hand side of the site. 

 

Three other sources of information on this aspect of

global climate change:

 

www.bbc.co.uk/science/horizon/2003/bigchilltrans.shtml

This is a BBC special on global climate change and it

documents the real science used in making the film

"The Day After Tomorrow". They take this seriously in

the British Isles because their climate would be

similar to Alaska's if the Gulf Stream stopped. 

 

www.whoi.edu/institutes/occi/currenttopics/climatechange_wef

This is a high level report prepared for world leaders

by the director of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute. 

 

www.fromthewilderness.com/free/ww3/050504_climatechange_pt2.html

This report has many references. 

______________________________________________________________

 

CHANGES WITHIN THE SOLAR SYSTEM

In November 2003 the sun sent out the strongest solar

flare and coronal mass ejection ever recorded. These

disrupted satellites, communication equipment and

electrical transmission systems. If the sun increased

emissions substantially it could bring much of

technology to a halt and alter the biosphere. There

are many other changes happening in the solar system

such as increased brightness of planets. The following

website has the longest list of  recorded changes

happening in the solar system and a hypothesis why

this is happening. Many recent photos from all the

planets and many of their moons. Check it out.

www.enterprisemission.com/_articles

click on Part 1 and Part 2. 

______________________________________________________________

 

UNSTABLE WORLD FINANCIAL SITUATION

Go to google and type in global economic collapse 2005

or US economic collapse 2005. It appears that many

financial experts are expecting an economic collapse

soon, possibly even in 2005. There are many reasons

including: impending oil peak, the huge US national

debt load, high indebtedness of US consumers, conflict

between the euro and the dollar, likely collapse of

the value of the US dollar, increasing interest rates,

etc. etc.  An article on this is at: 

http://globalresearch.ca/articles/ENG407A.html

There are also a number of financial articles at :

www.fromthewilderness.com

______________________________________________________________

 

PEAK OIL

The End of Suburbia: Oil Depletion and the Collapse of

the American Dream is a recent film being shown around

the USA. In the film, a case is made that Peak Oil

happened in the United States in the early 1970's and

that Peak Oil for the whole world has just occurred

(2004) or soon will do so. Some of their predictions

for the USA in the era following Peak Oil are: a large

rise in gasoline and energy prices and reduced

availability. Recessions followed by a severe

depression, reduced availability of goods and lowered

standard of living. In the process many people will

look for someone to blame. Social and political

upheavals. Likely election of fascists/maniacs/military 

strongmen to subdue domestic unrest and go into the 

world militarily to keep supply lines open. Afghanistan 

and Iraq are just the beginning of more US attacks on 

oil countries. The roads and cars that keep the suburbs 

connected to jobs, shopping, etc will become increasingly

difficult to maintain and the suburbs will have to be remodeled

around local economies or fall into dereliction. 

Get a copy of The End of Suburbia.  Organize a public

showing of it in your town, city or neighborhood. Use

it as a starting point for discussion. Acquaint people

with permaculture as one of the solutions. 

www.endofsuburbia.com

 

I have a longer article on the global situation and

some solutions on my website:

www.friendsofthetrees.net

______________________________________________________________

Some of my favorite websites on 

sustainability & social change

 

Permaculture

www.permacultureactivist.net

www.ibiblio.org/permaculture

 

Agriculture

www.grain.org    Biodiversity

www.attra.org    Organic Agriculture

www.ileia.org  Low External Input and Sustainable

Agriculture

www.westonaprice.org              

www.iatp.org/iatp  Institute for Agriculture and Trade

www.echonet.org    christian sustainable agriculture

www.soilfoodweb.com   soil testing/info

www.newfarm.org

 

Intentional communities

http://gen.ecovillage.org/

 

Indigenous Peoples

www.firstpeoples.org

www.ienearth.org     Indigenous Environmental Network

 

Social Change

www.worldpeaceemerging.com

www.forumsocialmundial.orgbr/    world social forum

www.buynothingchristmas.org

www.wastefreeholidays.com

www.slowfood.com

www.peta.com

www.truefoodnow.com

www.earthday.net

www.organicconsumers.org

www.earthday.org/footprint/index.asp

 

Organizational

www.moveon.org

 

Sustainability

www.naturalstep.com

www.earthcharter.org

 

Alternate News Sources

http://www.guerrillanews.com/

www.indymedia.org

www.fromthewilderness.com

 

Peak Oil

www.endofsuburbia.com

www.culturechange.org

www.lifeaftertheoilcrash.net/links.html

www.dieoff.org

 

Alternate Transportation/Fuel

www.agotob.com

www.biodiesel.org

www.critical-mass.org

www.greasecar.com

www.amtrak.com

______________________________________________________________

Friends of the Trees

2005 SCHEDULE

Here is my 2005 workshop & gatherings schedule

Michael Pilarski will be teaching at all these events.

www.friendsofthetrees.net  360-927-1274

 

Permaculture  Design  Course:

Earth-Healing with Our Plant Allies

February 20 - March 5

Sahale Retreat Center near Olympia, Washington

Instructed by Michael Pilarski and Marisha Auerbach. A

two-week, intensive design course which will cover

permaculture curriculum as well as focusing on

strengthening our relationships with the plants for

ecosystem restoration. Tuition: $950. Call Marisha at

(360) 943-5262. For details and photos from our 2004

Sahale course go to: www.herbnwisdom.com

 

Fairy & Human Relations Congress

June 24-26 Hood River Valley, Oregon

A gathering of humans and fairies to improve relations

& assist each other in planetary healing. The 5th

annual congress organized by Friends of the Trees

Society.  Presenters include Dorothy Mclean, David

Spangler, R.J. Stewart and dozens more. Admission fee

is $195 before June 1. After June 1st, $250. Students

$75. Teens $40. Children $25. For details on

presenters, schedules and photos from past congresses

check out: www.fairycongress.com

 

The 10th Anniversary! of our annual

Northwest Herbal Faire

August 19-21 Near Bellingham, Washington

Over 100 workshops at the 2004 Faire. For our 10th

anniversary we will be back at the River Farm. Keynote

presenters include 7-Song, R.J. Stewart and Dr. Bruce

Berkowsky. Lots of music and bands! For details and

advance tickets go to: www.nwherbalfaire.com

 

Inland Northwest Restoration Conference

October 28-30. Washington State University, Pullman

(or University of Idaho, Moscow). A conference on

native plant and habitat restoration in the Inland

Northwest - eastern Washington, eastern Oregon, Idaho,

Montana and Interior British Columbia. $75.

 

______________________________________________________________

 

Events at 

Friends of the Trees Herb Farm

Twisp, Methow Valley, N. Central Washington

509-997-9200  or  360-927-1274

 

Plant Sale 

April 30,  Saturday. 

Trees, shrubs and medicinal herbs. 

 

Weekend Workshops: 

 

Wildcrafting & Growing Medicinal Plants

July 15-17

September 16-18

10:00 Friday till 4:00 Sunday. Camping. Hands-on

harvesting, processing and making products in the wild

and on the herb farm. $195. 

 

Hands-on Herb Workshops

Medicinal farming, harvesting and processing. One day

per month. This gives people a chance to experience

what it takes to farm medicinal herbs throughout the

growing season.  $25 per day.

April 6, Wednesday. 

May 7. Saturday. 

June 11,  Saturday. 

July 9,  Saturday

August 6,  Saturday. 

September 10,  Saturday. 

October 1,  Saturday. 

______________________________________________________________

 

One-day & Weekend Workshops

 

March 13.   Sunday

Olympia. Earth-Healing: ecosystem restoration from

small-scale to large-scale. $40.

 

March 20. Sunday

Portland, Oregon. Ecosystem restoration with useful

native plants: medicinal, edible, fiber, etc. People's

Food Co-op. 1:00-5:30. $20

 

April 2.  Saturday

Bellingham, Washington. Permaculture for Productive

Yards. Tour of an urban permaculture yard. $25

 

April 3.  Sunday

Bellingham. A Permaculture Approach to Food Production

& Ecosystem Restoration: family, neighborhood and

county scales. $40

 

April 16-17.  Saturday-Sunday

Hood River, Oregon. Permaculture Design for Small

Properties: Increasing Biological & Economic

Productivity. $100

 

April 23-24.  Saturday-Sunday

Nahcotta, Southwest Washington. Permaculture Design

for Small Properties: Increasing Biological & Economic

Productivity. $100

 

July 23-24.  Saturday-Sunday

Seattle. A Permaculture Approach to Food Production &

Ecosystem Restoration. $100

_____________________________________________________________

 

Workshops by David Holmgren. 

A Special Opportunity! Holmgren, the co-originator of

permaculture, is visiting from Australia. Friends of

the Trees is coordinating his Washington tour and also

has details on his workshops in Oregon and California.

Holmgren's website is www.holmgren.com.au

 

August 18, Thursday. Day-long workshop.

Olympia. Permaculture Solutions for the World. $40

 

August 27-28. 2 day-long workshops in Twisp. $130/2

both days. $70/1-day.

Saturday - Permaculture Principles. 

Sunday - Ecosystem Restoration.

 

August 30-September 1. 3-day Advanced Course. Seattle.

 

Permaculture Design Theory and Principles. $175

_____________________________________________________________

 

$$  About workshop prices  $$

 

We feel the prices for Friends of the Trees' events

are reasonable. However, we have always tried to

accomodate people who cannot afford full price. We

offer work trade, barter, or time payments.  We offer

couple and group discounts.   Sometimes we offer

partial scholarships (occasionally full scholarships).

If you want to attend one of our events but cannot

afford full price, call to discuss possible

arrangements.

 

I hope to see you at one or more of these events. 

 

May the Forests Be With You,

 

Michael Pilarski

 

Friends of the Trees Society

PO Box 4469,  Bellingham, WA  98227

(360) 927-1274

friendsofthetrees at yahoo.com

www.friendsofthetrees.net

 

Please notify us if you want to be taken off  our

email newsletter list.



		
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