On artistatexito’s riverblog is a story being told and retold in so many ways everywhere. These are stories of wanton destruction of the Natural world to the view that human life is totally expendable in all the spheres in which politicians and profiteers strive to conquer and control everything and everyone that opposes their greed driven agendas. James Cameron’s film Avatar brought all sorts of people into the screenlands to see the big beautiful blue people confront the might of industrial development backed by military support. Who did you root for? Hmm? Is there anyone out there who did not want the beautiful blue people to succeed in protecting their world from gross exploitation? Now imagine that the people are not big and blue and startling beautiful exotic beings but ordinary brown-skinned people who have been living in the rainforests all their lives. Does their lack of intriguing physical appearances change how we view the same conflict and issues? Do we support them less because they are not creations of movieland but are flesh and blood human beings? Well such real people in Ecuador have been waging a legal war with the oil giant Chevron for over 17 years. Other indigenous people have been and are currently engaged in similar struggles to protect their homes which have importance for the health of the entire Earth. Is everyone and everything expendable for profit? If you’re thinking so what am I supposed to do? I’m just one person with no connections to anyone important. Well we are all important. We are all connected. One thing we call all do is share information. Knowledge is power. The more of us who are aware and know what’s happening–the more difficult it becomes for the insanity to continue. We can imagine better ways of living in which everyone and every living thing WINS! The way things have been and are does NOT have to continue. Person by person we are those who dream, imagine and can create wonderful new ways to live. We begin by supporting each other through awareness, tolerance and mutual respect. We can support each other by sharing knowledge.
Oil is a limited resource. We must cease being dependent upon it. The video from Amazon Watch is direct and to the point.
More about Amazon Watch can be found via the link on the sidebar. Click the photograph and visit the Amazon’s issues and people.
We are all connected. We are all related.
You can raft to artistatexito’s riverblog —http://artistatexit0.wordpress.com/
om mani padme hum jewel in the lotus wahupa qi prana universal life energy
47whitebuffalo's Blog 
lesliepaints said,
October 18, 2010 at 3:21 am
I ditto you encouraging readers to Al’s blog. I ditto a joint concern for lessening our use of oil. I drive as little as possible, recycle, follow the most economic useage of my thermostat……even listened to your post about cleaning products and read up on simple cleaners and changed my ways. I know people who don’t do these things and hope by my sharing with them what I do, that they will begin. For heaven’s sake, our city provides a great recycle program( that we pay for in our utility bill) and some of them don’t do that. Small efforts turn in to large ones. There is power in numbers, I think.
47whitebuffalo said,
October 18, 2010 at 3:58 am
I agree whole heartedly, Leslie. There is power in numbers and unity of thought and purpose and shared values. Some times I think perhaps that what will turn the tide is when we of the superior numbers ‘strike’ in regard to the ‘game’ that others insist on playing only for their advantage. One does wonder about the lack of concern and participation of others. Still we do what we can–and hope for a postive tipping point. Thank you.
artistatexit0 said,
October 17, 2010 at 4:03 pm
When I drive my car to work, I feel like such a hypocrite. There is a lot of angst in this. I watched Michael Moore’s “Capitalism” piece last night and was nauseated at the class warfare being perpetrated against the majority of the people. I don’t think you have to be an indigenous person now to feel the burn. We are all in the same boat now. What I find hopeful about indigenous people, and perhaps this is my romantic attitude surfacing, is they may remember how to live and respect the land which is something we are in danger of forgetting. Eva, a good thought provoking post, but not one that I like.
47whitebuffalo said,
October 18, 2010 at 3:53 am
Ahh Al. I hear where you’re coming from with not ‘liking’ the post. It’s not a pleasant scenario to face head on. But it is our reality. Oh yeah regarding the class warfare being waged by the rich elite minority. In another post a while back I referred to the feudal system that so relied on serf labor–and that seems to be just what some folks would really enjoy. Yes, we’re all in the same boat–but some folks haven’t figured that out. They seem to think they’re above it ALL. Some of your attitude may be ‘romantic’–but for the Indigenous people of Ecuador, Bolvia, Peru, America—there are traditional values that remain from what Ella Cara Deloria called a “Way of Life that Worked.” Now that’s something to think about—creating a way of life that works for everyone and all living things.
clegyrboia said,
October 17, 2010 at 9:24 am
How should i call this; well grateful for sharing and seeing that more people are doing something against it. YEP we can do something against it in many different ways even they would like us to believe different. With they i mean big companies.
I will share with you a link of a battle of the Aboriginal people in Australia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uranium_mining_in_Kakadu_National_Park
it is just general information but there are links on the site to get more info
THANK you and yes there are many avatars in real world living
47whitebuffalo said,
October 18, 2010 at 3:47 am
Hello clegyrboia. Thank you for the link to the Kakadu uranium problem. That’s one toxic substance that ought not to be played with at all, in my opinion. Perhaps we are each avatars whenever we strive for a nontoxic future asap. Thank you.
Gabrielle Bryden said,
October 17, 2010 at 5:24 am
Those pits are so disgusting – and similar pollution is happening all over the world, even in our own backyards – but the companies spin the biggest yarns and have no goal except maximum profits. This makes me so sick to the stomach. But your post is positive and if we join together we can always make a difference. Thanks Eva.
47whitebuffalo said,
October 18, 2010 at 3:44 am
Salute Gabrielle, fellow Werewolves of London fan! I’m pretty darn sure that the only way positive change will occur is via US. Forget the politicians and their corporate cohorts. They won’t do anything unless they can profit immediately. It’s up to US to imagine and create positive changes.
ryeder said,
October 16, 2010 at 5:54 pm
Excellent read Eva. When we look at the destruction of our earth and the usurping of our limited resources, the primary problem is world population. We have limited resources and a continuing growth of those who require these resourse to survive. There will come a point where the population will consume all that Mother Earth has to offer and the result will be chaos.
47whitebuffalo said,
October 18, 2010 at 3:41 am
Hi Ryder. Yes our species does put a strain on Mother Earth. But it doesn’t have to. I think the primary problem is our behavior more than our population numbers. If we lived in haromony with Nature then we would not be polluting with toxic waste everywhere. What other species fouls its ‘nest/home’ as humans do?
Chaos could also be very interesting and inventive.
slpmartin said,
October 16, 2010 at 2:43 am
The building of the Belo Monte dam will also displace indigenous people from their land in order to provide electric power to several large industries in Brazil. Indigenous rights are not considered when ‘power/fuel’ is concerned. ;-(
47whitebuffalo said,
October 18, 2010 at 3:37 am
You reference a longstanding values issue, Charles. Such behavior illustrates precisely what’s wrong in the mainstream.