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A Day for the World—A Time for the Soul
Missing the sense of community call to action you felt on Earth Day? The first weekend in June presents yet another opportunity to join friends in gratitude for the planet we call home with two internationally-celebrated global appreciation events, World Environment Day and Earth Sabbath.
World Environment Day was established by the United Nations in 1972 “to give a human face to environmental issues.” In contrast to America’s Earth Day, WED tends to be more universal, ecumenical and politically engaged. Still, come June 5, from Roanoke to Rangoon, there will be plenty of people planting trees, bicycling, parading and attending rallies and concerts.
The approach of World Environment Day also signals the return of another unique UN-conceived event—Earth Sabbath—a day of worship that transcends denominations and welcomes all faiths to participate in global reverence for the planet. Created by the UN Environment Program in 1987, the Environmental Sabbath (also known as “Earth Rest Day”) is celebrated on the weekend nearest World Environment Day. This year, it’s June 2-4.
During the days of the Earth Sabbath, participating temples, synagogues, cathedrals, ashrams and mosques all open their doors to unique expressions of common purpose. On this long weekend, around the world, millions of people in thousands of dialects in hundreds of countries will raise their voices in chant, song and prayer for the survival of the living planet.
This is a day to abstain from any work that exploits the Earth. Ideally, on this day all the world’s refineries and industrial smokestacks would be stilled, all automobile and aircraft traffic would cease and people would gather outside to worship the wonders of creation in a cleaner, quieter world.
To actualize this dream by participating in a local celebration or registering your organization to sponsor a World Environment Day or Earth Sabbath event, visit unep.org. —Gar Smith
Near-Death Experiment
A recent study from the University of Kentucky offers one possible theory behind a fiercely defended supernatural experience.
The study, led by neurophysiologist Kevin R. Nelson, sought to better understand Near-Death Experiences (NDE)—events defined as times during a life-threatening episode when a person undergoes an out-of-body experience, sees an intense light or feels a great sense of peace.
Researchers compared 55 people who have experienced the phenomenon with 55 people who have not. Turns out, 60 percent of the NDE-ers also experience REM (rapid eye movement) intrusion—meaning the dream state of sleep often seeps into their waking life. This finding led the docs to conclude that those who have undergone a near-death experience have less distinctly separated borders between sleep and waking life. In essence, those who experience NDE and REM intrusion get their mental wires crossed when traversing into consciousness.
Not wanting to discount the validity of an individual’s otherworldly encounters, Dr. Nelson adds the findings are simply a physical examination of the neurological processes involved, and do not negate personal meaning or spiritual dimension to the phenomenon. —Jessica Ridenour
CONSCIOUS BUSINESS
In Search of a Greener Tomorrow
Imagine Los Angeles with clean air. Conjure an image of the Santa Monica Bay teeming with aquatic life. Picture yourself cruising the 405 in lanes that aren’t clogged with SUVs. And think about living in a community that’s free from rolling blackouts, water shortages and overstuffed landfills. Utopia? Not quite. Try Greenopia.
Greenopia’s creator, Gay Browne, has made it her goal to create such a community. To do it, she’s pulled together a directory of environmentally conscious businesses and services in Los Angeles. The resulting green guidebook includes nearly 1,000 eco-friendly restaurants, dry cleaners, pet stores, banks and every type of business in between. Each company is judged according to a four “leaf” rating system, based on a formula developed by a group of experts.
At greenopia.com, specialists write articles and field green living questions, and in the future, Browne foresees live e-chats and video teleclasses. She would also like the publication to include consumer comments, similar to Zagat’s. Brown hopes to expand her vision of Greenopia to other cities, but in the meantime, she’s looking for people to come forward with additional local companies.
The Greenopia directory costs $10 and can be ordered online. It’s also available at Wild Oats, Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s, as well as a number of independent bookstores and markets. —Jenny Rough
How Many Planets Will Your Lifestyle Require?
If you have a sneaking suspicion your daily habits aren’t quite sustainable, or you just want to slash your utility bills, attend a Sustainable Works class in Santa Monica. Sustainable Works, a non-profit funded by the City of Santa Monica and Santa Monica College, offers classes to help Angelenos take advantage of the financial and environmental benefits of going greener. “Crews” meet for six consecutive, weekly sessions covering topics like water, energy and transportation. Each week, you’ll adopt practical recommendations from how to qualify for the City of Santa Monica’s high efficiency washing machine rebate program to simply turning off the faucet while brushing your teeth (a good habit which can save 150 gallons of water a month). Workshops are held at various locations around town, or you can volunteer to host one in your home or apartment complex community room. The next crew starts June 7 and meets every Wednesday from 7-8:30 pm at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 1260 18th Street, Santa Monica. To join, contact [click to e-mail] or call 310.458.8716. Suggested donation: $25 (Santa Monica residents), $35 (LA residents). —Jolia Sidona Einstein
New Life For Old Magazines
Got a mountain of magazines at home in need of a trip to the recycling bin? Loath to unload a year’s subscription of your favorite glossy at the landfill?
German artist Mareike Gast has created a clever DIY guide to reincarnating old magazines into chic recliners (found online at mareikegast.de/flowerchair). The Netherlands-based Design Academy Eindhoven grad says she found inspiration from “piles of magazines in my room, but also the fascination for the strength of paper.”
The chair is made by dipping the edges of a magazine in lacquer and folding each page into the crease, creating individual “flowers.” Connect a series of these together and you’ve got a mod piece of furniture ready for MOCA. The chair may or may not actually be comfortable to sit on, so some creative cushioning may be in order.
Whether or not you decide to make a lounger out of the new and improved glossy WLT, you can rest easy knowing it’s made from 100 percent post-consumer recycled paper. —Jessica Ridenour
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