Your balls depend on it!

So I've been gone a while. Hope you noticed. I've been gone because I didn't think what I was saying mattered. I wasn't moping but it's like that line in Evita when Eva tells her husband Colonel Peron "it's hard to keep momentum when it's you that you are following." Honestly, I don't expect followers. A blog really is just a vanity piece for those of us control freaks that feel the need to be heard. I don't consider myself vain. I didn't believe it mattered. After all, look down, no comments. So why keep going you ask? Because while I was away, I decided it does matter. I want what I feel to be out there. So I'm still going to rant like a mother fucker. But....I wanted to offer something also....solutions. If not, then it is out there anyway.

First, you need to get motivated.

So off we go. New documentary. FLOW - For Love of Water. It is on. The privatization of our natural resources has begun. This documentary talks about water specifically but water isn't the only resource being sold off to the highest bidder: water, power, medicine, land, trees, etc. Who owns them? Should they be free? How much should it cost? Who should have access? Who should have control? Should someone make a profit? Capitalism is fine but not went it extorts from us, our basic necessities for survival.

The Environmental Protection Agency has done little to monitor and protect our water. Plastic "offgasses" chemicals that resemble estrogen. Pesticides such as Atrazine, which is banned in Europe yet made by a European company, does the same. The fish in the Seines river have all become female. It may very well be true that animal populations, including humans, are becoming feminized. How is that for chemical castration? Bet those old, rich conservative assholes who rule the world will take notice now

The World bank has given exculsive rights to a handful of companies to exploit water from third world countries that cannot defend themselves. In these countries the World Bank cannot be sued. These companies have seized control of the water sources and are selling it back to the people for a profit. These are people that need clean water the most. In a country where we use clean water to wash away our waste, we do not recognize that water is a not a renewable resource. Only so much fresh water falls from the sky.

In this country, our politicians lease our land to large companies, such as Nestle, for a pittance ($60,000 for 100 years). Moreover, local governments wave taxes for up to ten years to encourage these large companies to set up shop under the premise that the company will bring jobs. They pump out all of the ground water and sell it the public in little plastic bottles. Surrounding farmers, ranchers and communities lose their clean water source. Nestle owns many of these sites throughout the U.S. So far, they have not been stopped in court.

We are being held captive by oil companies who refuse to develop and utilize new sustainable technologies. BP has polluted the lower half of our Atlantic border, just as Exxon destroyed the Northwest Pacific and still the Courts have denied a moratorium on drilling. BP is a British company that does not pay their share of taxes in the United States and yet they have made the largest profits in the world pumping the oil off our coast. Why do our leaders allow that? Campaign funding I suspect. Do any of us have a choice regarding what power company we use?

So what are we to do. We are not victims. We are fucking enablers. We chug down bottled water while we fire up our gas leaf blowers and SUVs. And let's face it, we don't vote and we don't call our bureacrats and even if we do it doesn't matter. Corporation and State have merged. If that's true, then there is only one way to achieve peace....start paying attention to what you buy. It's that simple. We have the power. We can spend all the evil doers into oblivion if we start paying attention. So I'm gong to do my part. I've learned a lttle. Maybe someone out there will have something to add. It is going to be fun. Your balls depend on it.

In the meantime, you can sign the petition for Article 31 if you are so moved. This is a proposed amendement to the International Declaration of Human Rights that would declare affordable, clean water for every member of Earth.

Love, Constance

Cash is King

What if I told you there was a way to change the world that didn't cost you time or money? At least not any more than you are already spending. It may require you to educate yourself about the things you purchase but that it is a small price to pay. The fact that you are here, reading blogs, says a lot about you. Your inquisitive. You want to stay connected.

I've told you I'm a documentary junkie. God love the age of information. I'm so thankful that there are people out there dedicated to bringing information to the world. Knowledge is power.

Before I talk about changing the world, I want to share two movies that got me going. The Corporation is an overview of the history of the corporation and their rights and responsibilites. King Corn is a comprehensive look into the corn industry. Government subsidies have served to help corporations like Mansanto, and industries such as fast food, factory farmers, feed lots, fillers and high fructose corn syrup. Even more twisted is the industries' ability, through the corporation, to fabricate the laws that allow them to sell you the garbage you eat and the shit you buy. If you get a chance to see either of these movies, I promise you will find them fascinating.

Once we understand that the dollars we spend fuel large industries that really do not give a crap about us, then we can understand the power we have by simply closing our wallets or by selecting those we do business with more carefully. Personally, I find it very gratifying. I'm sticking it to the man, so to speak. You want to stick it to the man? Do you want to change the world? I'm going to leave you hanging for now. But I'll give you something to chew on...Should corporations own the world? Can we afford to allow companies to profit on things we need to survive (water, power, education, health care)? Maybe some things shouldn't be about profits.

Love, Constance Dogood