where in the world is seychelles?

Much of today I have spent taking geography quizzes online and filling in names on my blank maps. In the next two weeks I have a test where I must be able to label the majority of countries in the world. Why do we not spend a greater amount of time learning world geography in school? The class I am taking is not required, and I imagine that most of the students here never bother looking at a map besides perhaps one of Europe (probably Western).  It is really not that hard if proper time is spent on it.  The understanding that one gains from knowing where countries are connects the news all together. Events make more sense when you understand the geography of countries and locations.

sign, sign, everywhere a sign blocking out the scenery, breakin' my mind

The reason that I did not post yesterday is that I left early in the morning to spend the day at my friends’ farm.  We had no internet and only bought a phone last Spring. The water comes from underground springs that shoot cold pure water all year around and the outhouse is in full running order. For as long as I have known this couple they have owned this farm and spend all their spare time fixing the old house and growing most all their food. Though they have added some modern “necessities” to the house, they kept most of it the simple way it was built after the Civil War.

The farm is five acres, most of which are overgrown flower fields. They also grow apples, corn and herbs closer to the house. The immediate backyard is a shaded grassy area with tables and chairs where they often have dinner guests.  There is such a sense of freedom and peace visiting them. My friends' energy and happiness is explosive.

Their huge project last summer was to rebuild the barn. Walking out into the back yard one would never guess the structure was anything less than original. To make it look authentic they harvested boards and roofing from two old barns in the area whose owners were more than happy to see go. Over the years they have befriended some Mennonite families who live near by and who helped plan out and construct the barn. The barn has two parts, one is where they hold dances and keep their equipment and antiques and the other section is where my friend has his ceramic studio. All of their dishes and plant pots are pieces that he created.

They are both teachers, one Art and the other History. The farm is near Lake Michigan and, after a feast of homemade bread and local vegetables in the form of soup and a variety of salads, we hiked down to the water.

I was shocked to see what made up the “public” beach: it was a stretch, maybe, 100 yards by 40 ft. It is absolutely crass and ridiculous that people can “own” beaches. I know that they do not own the water and that the public can walk along the sand. The argument that they are protecting the nature is honorable but totally wrong. (Private property is erroneous but a completely overwhelming topic right now.) Most of the area is dune grass and people would not in any normal circumstances go traipsing through there. If we do not trust ourselves to respect land than, though I do not agree with this, the conservation groups should own the land and put their own signs up that simply ask people not to walk on it.  People just need to chill out and learn how to own themselves instead of trying to buy up everything around them at the expense of the rest of us.

I find a connection here with apartment buildings “buying the sky” to keep their prices up and prevent the row house affect. 

"And the sign says "Anybody caught trespassing will be shot on sight" So I jumped on the fence and I yelled at the house "Hey, What gives you the right To put up a fence  And keep me out, But to keep Mother Nature in? If God was here He'd tell it to your face 'Man, You're some kind of sinner.'"

Now everywhere the walls Rise up at their command

Today I learned about the history of waste disposal containers. As well as that Dumpster is capitalized in many transcripts because the name of the brothers who created them is Dempster.

Okupa Y Resiste!

There are many arguments made by for squatting (okupa). Some do it for economical reasons; NYC is nearly impossible to afford rent. Many squatters are capable of paying into the capitalist system of rent or ownership but do not do so in solidarity with the first group.

Today I was talking to my friend, who is still in NYC, about his squatting experiences in Barcelona and Amsterdam.  He is a college graduate who could get a “regular job” and succumb to the system but refuses and has engrossed himself with understanding the abused and ignored faction of squatters.

I started thinking about the connection between squatting communities around the world made possible by modernization and was wondering if that is not somewhat questionable.  If one believes that globalization is a destructive and immoral force how does one justify owning the technology that perpetuates such depravity? I find validity in the argument that using the internet brings more awareness to issues and makes communicating to travel between squats easier. However, I know plenty of squatters who have survived with no modern devises and lived all around Latin America. Actually, most of the squats there refuse to associate with other squats that use technology.  The best way for communication is through the ever-moving squatters who carry information, though slowly, all around the globe.  Really though, where does one draw the line?  Our culture wants us to believe that we cannot completely disentangle ourselves from the modern world. I will keep dreaming and slowing working to become a self-sustaining mountain woman. 

who do you serve who do you protect

I think it is more productive to disrupt an institution that is not as blatant in its abuse of the country’s political system.  I do not believe that we have the time to elect something that offers only the slimmest of possibilities for productive lasting change.  However, I could not justify paying gas or a bus ticket just to get arrested in Denver and then in November watch the individuals who I was protesting get elected anyway. Instead, I started preparing months ago to attend the RNC in Minneapolis. Somewhat foolishly, I thought that it would be a productive use of my second week of school.  Cause chaos. Whoopee. These preparations ended when a taxi postponed my athletic ability to escape from pursuing police.  I was working as a bike courier in NYC where the battle against taxis is far more real than one would like to believe. 

Today a friend, who I was going to meet up with in the Twin Cities, sent me a link (http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/08/26-14) that caused me even more irritation at my knee’s ill-timed demise. The video was taken during the first day of the DNC and shows a crowd of demonstrators marching and chanting their way to the convention center. They are cornered by cops dressed in full riot gear who, without fair provocation, start shooting pepper spray.

The power balance is particularly thought provoking. The police are covered head to foot in black battle armor carrying truncheons, shields, and bundles of extremely painful (though efficient) zip ties.  Not to mention their guns, pepper spray and tasers.

Then look at the protesters. They are mostly dressed in t-shirts and jeans. The lucky ones have vinegar socked bandanas, but the rest are left vulnerable to the peace enforcing law abiding Denver protection force.

adjustments

I went to Little Africa today. My roommate paid, as a belated birthday present. Though ideologically I do not approve of eating out or buying food I will accept gifts. I also admit that unfortunately I often the lack of willpower to live my beliefs.

When I was living in New York, my primary source of food was the dumpsters of any grocery store or bagel shop or bodega I felt like diving because everyday trash is trash day.  My finds ranged from full bottles of soymilk, to silk tofu, to black bags overflowing with hours old cut up fruit salad from Whole Foods, to the expected rotting meat and broken glass.

Skiplicking in Grand Rapids has been less than terrific, as most grocery stores are large corporations that compact their trash and the bakeries lock their dumpsters. I also had the unfortunate discovery that dumpstering is illegal around here, trash is the property of the city and I am a robber. In NYC the trash collectors will circle to the next block if they see us eating, and the cops just wiz by.