How do you grapple with bigger, deeper issues like catastrophic climate change? Author Carolyn Baker and video producer Ivey Cone join Janaia in a wide-ranging conversation about keeping our hearts open while witnessing the crumbling of industrial civilization. We discuss … [Read more...]
Emergency! This Family is Prepared, part 2 (280)
"YOYO: You're On Your Own. We can't count on first responders. Their focus is on critical resources." Ann Pacey and Tim Beale show their "second-story kit" in case of earthquakes. Noting that a key injury is broken glass, they have boots, gloves, flashlight and hard hat … [Read more...]
Emergency! This Family is Prepared, part 1 (279)
"We base our emergency kit around our camping gear," says Tim Beale, showing us a carefully packed wheeled tote. His partner Ann Pacey lists essential areas to address, starting with financial records and ending with communications - including a plan to get back in touch … [Read more...]
A Resilient Gardener Breeds Plants for These Times
Freelance plant breeder Carol Deppe sifted handfuls of golden, ruby and coppery corn from the huge pile. "Remember the Scrooge McDuck comics, where he goes into the vault and runs his hands through all the metal coins, gloating about how wealthy he is?" she asked. "I … [Read more...]
Emergency? This Family is Ready
Earthquakes can happen in Vancouver, British Columbia. Fires and severe storms, too. Ann Pacey and Tim Beale are ready for whatever may come − whether they need to evacuate or live in place. Their camping gear is the foundation for their preparedness gear. … [Read more...]
Seeking the Happy Story, part 2 – Reality Ain’t What You Believe (234)
"If you really grasp the idea that this is not suddenly going to turn around, in six months or a year, you begin to look at your life very differently," says Dr. Kathy McMahon, clinical psychologist and self-named "Peak Shrink." Despite government silence, she declares, the … [Read more...]
Seeking the Happy Story, part 1 – But What Do You Feel? (233)
We live in a culture that wants only the upbeat response, the story with the happy ending. We marginalize people who express anger or grief about the impossible predicament we're in — societal and ecological collapse. Clinical psychologist Kathy "Peak Shrink" McMahon, uses … [Read more...]
Connect the Dots: Systems in Collapse (Video)
Our close friend Ivey Cone hosted and produced Connect the Dots: Systems in Collapse, a panel discussion with Nevada City, CA activists Terra Nyssa, Tom Grundy and myself in late March, 2013. It's a courageous discussion about some of the issues we face at this time of … [Read more...]
We are Empowered by Self-Defense Training
I am posting this on V-day, in solidarity with the global movement One Billion Rising, demanding an end to violence against women and girls—with events all over the globe including our community. Robyn and I just completed a 12-hour self defense course for women. We're … [Read more...]
Preparing Emotionally for the Coming Chaos (225)
"The external growth of a budding economy is over. The focus on growth now needs to be on the inner world." Carolyn Baker's Navigating the Coming Chaos is a toolkit to prepare emotionally and spiritually for the collapse of industrial civilization now underway. First build … [Read more...]