Why are we here?

Perhaps the most important question we will ever ask. It has been asked many times and answers abound from all corners of people’s minds.

Many people have heard of the “Law of Attraction” but few understand it. I am still learning every moment. Esther Hicks just recently posted a series of videos on youtube that offer a very good introduction and explanation about how this law of nature flows into and through our lives.

As with any new information… if you remain open minded you will get the most out of it. Perhaps it may shed some light on the subject of why we are here.

Abraham, speaking through Esther Hicks, delivers a 5-part introduction to their teachings on The Law of Attraction at a February, 2008 Abraham-Hicks Workshop. The complete presentation runs 40 minutes. For more information on the Teachings of Abraham, please visit their website at www.abraham-hicks.com

In-joy,

Bruce

This very interesting talk on TED.com, by Daniel Goleman, author of Emotional Intelligence, asks why we aren’t more compassionate more of the time. Sharing the results of psychological experiments (and the story of the Santa Cruz Strangler), he explains how we are all born with the capacity for empathy — but we sometimes choose to ignore it. If you liked the “Story of Stuff” you will find he also talks about how consumerism also plays a part in our emotional intelligence.

This is an amazing presentation from the UK-Channel 5.
It has many, many points woven into a problem solving approach to the out of control Consumerism that is growing on a global scale. It makes the point, much like the “Story of Stuff” that we are living a linear mode of consumption on a finite planet… we will run out of resources.

It may take a few minutes to watch all four parts but it will be well worth your time.

Big Ideas That Changed The World - Consumerism (1/4)

Big Ideas That Changed The World - Consumerism (2/4)

Big Ideas That Changed The World - Consumerism (3/4)

Big Ideas That Changed The World - Consumerism (4/4)

Consumerism re-born?

There are many ways to think of how to funnel the impressive power of a group of individuals and the larger community. One way is by setting an example for the renewable energy wave of change that is under foot.

Sometimes it is difficult to be the first one in your neighborhood to make the move to renewable energy. Most all of the time it is well worth the effort and has benefits that go far beyond your expectations!

Below is a wonderful video by Good Energy Films in England. This north London church brings solar energy to the community providing green electricity and raising awareness for renewable energy.

Suprisingly, buildings produce the biggest share of green house emmissions. More than transportation or industry. The good news… is that no other sector offers a simpler or cheaper way to cut emmissions and save energy.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) released a report in April 2007 highlighting the importance of energy efficient buildings in the global campaign to combat climate change.

“By some conservative estimates, the building sector worldwide could deliver emissions reductions of 1.8 billion tons of CO2,” says UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner. “A more aggressive energy efficiency policy might deliver over two billion tons or close to three times the amount scheduled to be reduced under the Kyoto Protocol.”

Currently the building sector has it’s CO2 emmissions are rising at the rate of one and a half to two percent per year. So conservation, higher efficiency, better insulation and renewable energy are key elements to dramatically reduce this trend. Sustainable building practice has attracted some high-profile projects and has gone mainstream over the last few years. In May-2007, The Clinton Initiative launched the Energy Efficiency Building Retrofit Program, a five Billion dollar project that will create more efficient energy consumption in existing uban buildings.

The new green standard Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) has garnered a new respect in the building industry and has has a tremdous amount of public interest.LEED certifications take into account site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality. Some insurance companies are now offering lower insurance rates due to the lower risk factor…. everybody wins.

In-joy,

Bruce

Energy From The Community - Good Energy Films

While tool’n down the road today on my little faraway island… I was moved by the sharing of a story by Susan Cooke Kittredge on NPR radio. In her short essay “We All Need Mending” she shared the story of her grandmother, born in 1879 and widowed at 43. The nuggets of wisdom in their relationship so perfectly identified how many folks feel about the current state of affairs in the world today.

“Mending something is different from fixing it. Fixing it suggests that evidence of the problem will disappear. I see mending as a preservation of history and a proclamation of hope.” -Cooke Kittredge

I hope you will find this short story an inspiring message for your day.

In-joy,
Bruce

Here is the story: We All Need Mending

The audio link is there too.

Susan Cooke Kittredge is senior minister at the Old Meeting House in East Montpellier Center, VT. Her father was journalist and broadcaster Alistair Cooke, whose “Letter From America” was the longest running radio commentary series in history.

RSI Silicon wins the 2007 Ignite Clean Energy Business Presentation competition for their innovative technology that could dramatically impact the solar industry. While Citizenre Corp. has denied any business arrangement with RSI Silicon Mr. James Dunn, Vice Presidentof RSI Silicon, mentioned a company that has contacted them with a business model similar to Citizenre. Their inovative technology will dramatically lower the cost of production and bring much more availability of solar grade silicon to the market. Two key factors that will help the Citizenre manufacturing process. RSI Silicon will use the $200,000 award to build a pilot line and R&D facility, most likely in Massachusetts, followed by a large silicon plant to produce up to 15,000 tons per year.

RSI Silicon video interview

There is also a radio interview with David Gregg done by Mr. James Dunn who is on the panel of the Radio Show - Energy Freedom Fighters. You can find it in the Associate back office resource section.

Here is an excerpt from an article by Sterling D. Allan of Pure Energy Systems News…

‘RSI is a new energy materials company that has developed a unique process for making solar grade Silicon at a production cost of around $7-9 per kilogram, compared to a production cost of $25-30 via a typical Siemens plant. Additionally, the capital costs for building a 5000 metric ton RSI Silicon plant is projected to be one tenth the cost of a comparable Siemens process plant, and a shorter completion time of just 15-18 months.

The net result is that once RSI is in high-volume production, the price of photovoltaic solar products will be able to drop significantly, making solar energy 35-60% cheaper than at present. The impact is far-reaching for reducing our dependence on fossil fuels, and in making solar power not only feasible, but close to being competitive economically with conventional grid energy.

The cost of the Silicon in a current panel or cell is about $1.50 per Watt. RSI will reduce that to about $.25/W over the next 5 years. This should help reduce the current retail cost from $4/W to under $2/W, achieving grid parity at about $1/W, targeted for 2012-2015.’

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Another notable mention is another company that was in the top ten of the MIT competion… GreenRay. They are developing a revolutionary product that will transform solar electric systems into a broadly accepted household appliance by simplifying the design and installation of PV systems and provide lower cost solar electricity. Citizenre will no doubt have a similar ease of install system.

Here is there website: http://www.greenraysolar.com/

“GreenRay is developing a solar appliance for residential homes. While today’s PV systems use discrete components and require specialized expertise to design and install, our plug and play system is fully integrated. The modular AC solar panel units plug together and snap into a specially-designed roof mount. By reducing design and installation time, we make solar more accessible and simpler to install. Our patent-pending technology sets the new standard for residential solar electric systems.”

Here is an article about GreenRay getting federal funding…

Bob Schneeveis, the inventor of the Solar Powered Walking Chariot!
Bob is a brilliant and eccentric character who studies nature and then turns it into sustainable, solar-electric vehicles and gadgets… Bob also donates his time to students studying robotics, and certainly gets our award for being the truest of nutty professors!
Check out how clean powered engine drives these legs and rollerblades in such a human-like fashion…amazing! This thing actually has a lot of kick to it and is capable of covering all kinds of terrain it seems.
Best of all, this chariot demonstrates that earth-happy innovations and creativity are all around us.
“I got my buddy  George… doing something he is qualified to do, and he is good at it too. So I’d like to see him do more. He has to run totally within the bounds of sustainability, not muck’n up the atmosphere.” -Bob Schneeveis

Here is the clip from the Hippy Gourmet TV show….