Gaia Community: David's Blog

When is competition valuable?

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 20:07:58 -0000

I think that healthy competition is a great way to build character and is necessary for evolution, whether it's with others or with ourselves. I like the distinction of competing with as opposed to competing against. The latter can often lead to negativity and division, while the former can lead to positive growth and connection/camaraderie. In recognizing that taking anything too far can be harmful though, competition may not always be appropriate and can even be a significant cause of excess stress and anxiety if our lives revolve around it.

Personally, I grew up in a family with a lot of healthy competition and I know that we've all become closer and have grown because of it. Even with the occasional dispute ;) we seemed to create deeper bonds as we responded to each other with respect and openness.

In fact, it seems to me that competition is a natural phenomenon that impacts virtually every facet of life, including the natural world. For example, competition supports the survival and development of healthy plants and animals, it has positive effects on creativity and innovation in the marketplace... Even the survival and growth of the human species is dependent in some measure on natural competition. I don't see a functioning planet without it.

Got junk... mail?

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 20:19:03 -0000

Check out GreenDimes. It's basically the Eco focused equivalent of the Do Not Call Registry, but it's for Snail Mail. They make it easy for us to get a handle on all of the waste that shows up in our mailboxes daily. And, it's only $20. Plus, there's even a free version that guides you on how to do it yourself. Personally, I'd rather pay the money so that I know it's actually going to get taken care of (rather than getting lost in my to do list). I do like the fact that they offer options though. They'll even plant a tree (or send you a buck) when you sign up for the free version; five trees for the paid version.

They've received a ton of great press and their interface is super easy. I was done in a few minutes. Give it a shot and spread the word if you like what they're doing.

GreenDimes

"Why are we using $5 million of our money to pay you to stop junk mail? Because junk mail sucks! And we want to help you stop all the credit offers and other crazy stuff that's clogging your mailbox!

Since 2006, we've helped hundreds of thousands of people... Now we want millions! So instead of buying TV and banner ads, we decided to do something HUGE to show how much we care about this problem. With our new do-it-yourself service, GreenDimes Basic, anyone can clean up their mailbox for FREE. Folks who want us to do the work, monitor their account every month, provide 24x7 customer service and plant 5 trees on their behalf can choose our GreenDimes Premium for just $20."

Gaia Pro

Tue, 06 May 2008 21:50:59 -0000

What is Gaia Pro?

Imagine participating in a 24/7 online LOHAS Conference or Green Expo, where you get not just a 'booth' to advertise the basics of your business, but the opportunity to communicate and share your expertise with new (and established!) customers and clients.

A Gaia Pro subscription gives you a professional presence within the Gaia Community—and the means to reach hundreds of thousands of seekers.

Gaia Pro members get an interactive page in our thriving online directory of socially, environmentally, and spiritually aware businesses—on a site that’s already home to thousands of individuals passionate about building a better future.

Your sleek Pro page lets you:

Connect your clients and customers with each other, growing a community around your business
Feature testimonials contributed by those who love your work
Join a network of colleagues in the LOHAS space
See your business not just in our directory, but in our community and in community search results
Contribute to our Tips & Inspiration, gaining broader exposure in the Gaia Community and recognition as an expert your field

Gaia Pro. Where conscious business lives!

Launching later this week.

Prickles & Goo

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 16:39:42 -0000

Alan Watts and South Park?!? An unlikely (yet entertaining) combination. Check it out below.

*If you're not familiar with his work, boy are you in for a treat! Check out the Alan Watts website or sign up for his podcast here at Learn Out Loud.

“We could say that meditation doesn't have a reason or doesn't have a purpose. In this respect it's unlike almost all other things we do except perhaps making music and dancing. When we make music we don't do it in order to reach a certain point, such as the end of the composition. If that were the purpose of music then obviously the fastest players would be the best. Also, when we are dancing we are not aiming to arrive at a particular place on the floor as in a journey. When we dance, the journey itself is the point, as when we play music the playing itself is the point. And exactly the same thing is true in meditation. Meditation is the discovery that the point of life is always arrived at in the immediate moment.” ~Alan Watts

Enjoy the movies!

So far this year on planet earth...

Sun, 24 Feb 2008 19:01:54 -0000

... from this perspective anyway. Here's a list of some things I’ve been checking out in 2008

Some audio in the player right now

Do YOU Do It or Does IT Do You? – Alan Watts
We may be much more than who we think we are.

The Book of Secrets – Deepak Chopra
Unlocking the Hidden Dimensions of Your Life

The New Man – Casey's new site
Beyond the macho jerk and the new age wimp.

Gamma Meditation System – Dr. Jeffrey Thompson
You have to check this out (article below).

"Work"

So far we've launched:

myGaia start page
Gaia+ with resonance engine (and more features on the way)

and

the new Gaia.com navigation page (just last week)

Man.... I can't begin to tell you how amazing this team is. Stay tuned for what's next.

(Gaia Pro to come in April)

Latest Books

Spiritual Warfare – Jed McKenna

“Self-deceit is the hardest habit to break cuz it tells us that we ain't self-deceived.”

“I want what's best and I trust the universe, not my little brain, to be the judge of what's best and how best to make it happen.”

"Your thoughts and emotions determine your dreamstate reality. That's where you start. From there it's just a matter of simplifying the equation and eventually seeing that your thoughts and emotions are your dreamstate. It's all consciousness, you are just consciousness. There is nothing else. Once that goes from thought-level concept to full emmersion awareness, you naturally merge with the currents instead of being tossed about by them."

The Untethered Soul – Mickey Singer

"Eventually you will see that the real cause of problems is not life itself. It's the commotion that mind makes about life that really causes problems."

"When you close down and protect yourself, you are pulling a shell around the part of you that is weak."

"Your consciousness is actually experiencing your mental model of reality, not reality itself."

Does It Matter? – Alan Watts

"A living body is not a fixed thing but a flowing event, like a flame or a whirlpool: the shape alone is stable, for the substance is a stream of energy going in at one end and out at the other. We are particularly and temporarily identifiable wiggles in a stream that enters us in the form of light, heat, air, water, milk, bread, fruit, beer, beef Stroganoff, caviar, and pate de foie gras. It goes out as gas and excrement - and also as semen, babies, talk, politics, commerce, war, poetry, and music. And philosophy."

New Good Food – Margarett Wittenberg

"My work has also given me the chance to participate in national and international advisory groups exploring some of the deeper issues about food and how to work together to deal with them. Primary topics have included the short- and long-term of pesticides and other pollutants on out food supply, sustainable agriculture, genetic engineering, sustainability of wild seafood, aquaculture, and the welfare of food-producing animals from birth through slaughter."

iTunes tracks that I'm digging

"The Trick Is to Keep Breathing" - Garbage

"Innocente" (Edit) - Delerium & Leigh Nash

"Alice" - Venus Hum

"Heartburn" - Just Jack

Friend’s Websites

EduFire – Jon
An amazing new concept in education.

Just Perception – No one
Just perception... without a perceiver

Feel Good Vibes – Ninja
Brighten your day

thinkArete – Brian
Concentrated wisdom for the busy self-actualizer

Travel and geography

I've been living in Boulder for most of the time these days and have been enjoying the mountians and new friends. It feels like spring could be here soon. I can't wait! Fingers crossed

Took a long weekend off in January to go to Joshua Tree with Beth to get some alone time, to relax, and do some relationship work that we found through the Hendrick's Institute. Good stuff! We stayed at this great little private villa on 5 acres of magical land just outside the park. We highly recommend it if you ever make it out that way.

Went to Florida on retreat (and I use that term loosely) for the weekend a couple of weeks back with Sean, Casey, Jason, and some other great folks to meet with the "mighty guru" behind this site. ;) It was a weekend full of great conversations, altered states, lots of laughs, swimming, and even a beer or few.

Back to LA later this week to see my beautiful woman and to have a guys weekend with Benj and Mr. Johnson while our goddesses are at a workshop.

Hopefully taking my first real vacation since we launched Zaadz in ’05. Yes!!! The idea at this point is Bali (our dream accomadations) and if all goes well, we’ll be there this spring.

Maybe we’ll spend 10 days here too

Articles I've just read

Double Vision – John Welwood
Duality and Nonduality in Human Experience

Organization at the Leading Edge: Introducing Holacracy – Brian J. Robertson
A practice for organizational entities

Sound - Medicine for the New Millennium - Center for Neuroacoustic Research
Check out the audio by Dr. Jeffrey Thompson (up top) for the experience

On the screen

Into the Wild
A great movie (and book) about a young man who leaves society behind and walks is own parth. The cinematography is outstanding! (and the soundtrack is great too)

Paprika
A dream within a dream. This is an amazing animated adventure!

LOST
If you haven’t had a chance to check out this show…. You’re missing out! It’s thoroughly entertaining, thought provoking, and is constantly revealing deeper messages. Probably the best TV show I've ever seen (although that's not saying much as I don't really watch much TV).
You can rent the first three seasons on DVD or download it on iTunes.

Some quotes that have caught me

You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him.
~James D. Miles

Belief means not wanting to know what is true.
~Nietzsche

We do not "come into" into this world; we come out of it, as leaves from a tree. As the ocean "waves," the universe "peoples." Every individual is an expression of the whole realm of nature, a unique action of the total universe. This fact is rarely, if ever, experienced by most individuals. Even those who know it to be true in theory do not sense or feel it, but continue to be aware of themselves as isolated "egos" inside bags of skin.
~Alan Watts

Every man takes the limits of his own field of vision for the limits of the world.
~Arthur Schopenhauer

To fear death, my friends, is only to think ourselves wise, without being wise: for it is to think that we know what we do not know. For anything that men can tell, death may be the greatest good that can happen to them: but they fear it as if they knew quite well that it was the greatest of evils. And what it is but that shameful ignorance of thinking that we know what we do not know?
~Socrates

It is the truth that frees, not your effort to be free.
~Jiddu Krishnamurti

Live as if you were to die tomorrow.
~Mahatma Gandhi

I/We would love to hear what’s new with you so far this year too. How about one thing that you're fired up about right now?

Does this planet amaze you as much as it does me?

Meet the Gaia Team

Thu, 07 Feb 2008 21:12:04 -0000

We’re updating the Gaia “About” page, and this is my chance to officially introduce myself. So… Hi!

My Name: David Pearson

Official Title: Director of Operations & Business Development

Unofficial Title: Explorer

What's your role at Gaia Community?

I lead the development of relationships with key partners and I’m responsible for operations, advertising & the Pro Tools. I’m also a member of the Executive Council, which is comprised of Jason, Siona and me. As team leaders, the three of us support one another in our respective roles and make decisions regarding the community as a whole. I’m formerly the COO of Zaadz and have been around since the very beginning. I feel honored to play a part in creating this amazing community.

What do you most enjoy doing (or what are your greatest passions)?

My greatest passion in life is exploring (whether it’s in the physical or the metaphysical world). I’m constantly striving to grow, learn, and experience all I can about what this life has to offer. I enjoy the quiet (and the not-so-quiet) of nature, the depth of relationship, the knowledge of books, the wisdom of stillness, the love and laughter of family and friends, the fascination of looking into another’s eyes, the touch of my beloved, the experience of good music, the power of new thought, the adventures of the dream world, and the awe of nothingness. I do my best to cultivate balance in all areas of life, and I recognize and appreciate paradox. I strive to step out of my own box constantly and I feel most free when I dive deep beneath the surface into the unknown. Most of all, my goal is to laugh every day (often at myself) and to have fun while enjoying this show.

What's your favorite thing about our community?

I am constantly blown away by the energy and vision of the people who make up this community. It’s endlessly inspiring to hear all of the different voices - individuals, groups, and organizations - who are devoting their energy to making positive changes in the world. The different areas of focus here range from consciousness and self-development to spiritual, environmental, health and wellness, political, and even financial, and there is plenty of diversity of opinion. But the common thread is the unwavering desire to make the world a better place and to be a part of that positive change, however each individual may define it. The members of this community are committed to bringing together these different points of view - even those that are seemingly in opposition - into a safe space where we can discuss, learn, share and grow with one another in more ways than we ever could have imagined. It’s truly amazing!

What do you love about working here?

I love the fact that my passion and ideals are aligned with my profession. Plus... I get to work with a team made up of some of the most inspiring people I’ve ever met.

Meet the rest of the Gaia Team

What Lies Beneath?

Mon, 21 Jan 2008 00:15:11 -0000

Though this post is written mostly from my perspective and my experience, it's based on a dynamic that my girlfriend Beth and I are consciously working with in our relationship. Much of the awareness I have gained in the last two years has been sparked by our interactions and deep discussions about our relationship and our own inner work. To make things more interesting, I've asked her to add her feminine voice/perspective here and there. In this process of discussing, editing and polishing this post together, we basically wound up co-writing it. In that sense it is very much a joint effort, and Beth has offered many insights and observations regarding her sense of these dynamics that have helped me deepen my understanding of myself (as you'll see below). And for that, I have a tremendous amount of love and gratitude for this absolutely amazing woman.

An exercise in feeling and awareness

Feeling pain can be a scary thing. I'm not talking about the secondary sensation that's left after being able to overcome (or cover over) pain; I'm talking about the underlying, raw and authentic energy of pain that's there before there is a reaction to it. Anyone can block outAlmost pain. I'm actually something of an expert at putting up walls to feelings that I'm not comfortable with or that somehow feel too painful in one way or another. This capacity serves a purpose in the physical realm, but what I'm mostly concerned with here is the pain I feel in the inner, emotional realm. I've been blocking out this kind of pain for most of my life, but it's only in the last few years that I've realized and begun to notice it on a regular basis. The more I'm able to witness it, the more areas in my life I see it happening. Whether it's something small like an insult from someone else driving in traffic, or something big like the pain I feel because of an intense disagreement with my significant other (no matter how sweet is, it does happen once in a while), I notice that my mind seeks to protect me from the energy or emotion that's trying to surface and be embodied. The process goes something like this: Emotional pain, sadness, sensitivity or something else threatening, uncomfortable, or otherwise "unacceptable" arises. Almost before I can perceive this, internal walls come up that block off my connection to my heart and numb me out, masking the initial energy. Simultaneously, my mind rushes in to swap the intense feeling for something else that's seemingly easier to handle (most often, some amalgam of anger/blame/criticism directed at someone or even something else). Put another way, my mind switches one type of emotion for another to protect itself from possible emotional harm instead of completely engaging in the purity of the original emotion, simultaneously creating fear of that emotion and setting a mechanism of egoic control and protection into place. I have also observed, and Beth has acutely felt, that these secondary emotions are located and experienced predominantly in my head, not my heart.

Essentially, what is actually occurring (despite the stories my ego likes to convince me are "true") is that I am cutting myself off from my own authentic experience and cutting myself off from my connection with others. In other words, through resisting the original emotion, I am actually resisting life itself. When I (consciously or unconsciously) resist these energies within me, I suffer. The result is often anger, shutting down, blame, etc., which also frequently leads to suffering in those closest to me, setting up a nasty downward spiral. I see so clearly now that when I do this I am pushing myself out of the truth of present moment and into a falsely constructed pseudo-reality that seems somehow easier or less scary for my ego to bear. But it's ironic that what seems like an escape from pain can often be a direct line to more suffering... for myself and those around me.

For as much awareness as I am cultivating around this phenomenon, getting to the bottom of it is no easy task. I'll use the example of disagreements that come up in relationship with Beth. We'll be arguing back and forth for a while and in some instances, she will get upset and maybe even start to cry.* I hate to see this on many levels, but what is most interesting to me is that sometimes Beth's pain will cause me to shut down. Her emotional upset makes no sense to my intellect, so my intellect will actually get mad about it. But I have also realized recently that there is another dimension at play: I am actually getting mad because Beth is inhabiting an energy that I am afraid to touch…vulnerability. At some point in my development, I learned that it was weak to show emotional vulnerability (or maybe any vulnerability) and unconsciously decided to put a wall up in front of it. This seems to be very common for men (or anyone with a masculine essence) and can sometimes actually be appropriate and useful, but much of the time it's getting in the way. Through my relationship with Beth, I'm starting to see that this tendency is cutting me off from a vital part of my existence - my emotional capacity (or what Beth would label the "inner feminine” - I still have trouble with that term though - I guess I have more work to do ;), which governs my feeling function, my capacity to relate and connect, even my ability to find meaning and joy in life. I know deep down that facing and embracing this disowned part of myself is actually helping me integrate to a higher level of consciousness, which will in turn help those around me (and so the world evolves).

*On this point, Beth offers the following insight from her own perspective: The reason that I may cry while having an argument with David is almost never due to the substantive issues at hand or anything else that can be logically understood through the rational mind or intellect. Rather, my crying arises from a bodily felt sense of disconnection in the relationship - losing energetic touch with each other's heart and spirit. This incredible ache runs through my body, in painful contrast to the deep and vibrant bond that I am accustomed to feeling with him, and my tears spring forth. In these moments of conflict, there is little doubt that both of us are raising protective walls which are responsible for blocking our felt sense of connection - there is individual work for both of us on staying open and connected through difficult moments. And....I would offer that it is a gift of the feminine in relationship to feel when the heart connection is lost, to cry out in pain as a result, and to thereby offer her masculine counterpart an opportunity and a portal to re-open or open more deeply to the energetic heart and to our larger nature (the opposite of closing down our boundaries of self to the skin-encapsulated ego). It has been my experience that this often happens for men through the compassion that is engendered when a woman cries - particularly if she cries with an open heart (which is no small feat, mind you). If he can resist the fear that turns to anger and just hold her pain, they will melt together and the pain is instantly dissolved, as if by magic. Both will be the richer for it.

Adding to Beth's observation, perhaps the craziest thing about recognizing this wall I put up to my vulnerability is recognizing the power that this wall actually has. I have watched myself recognize these patterns in the moment and have known that all Beth needed was a reassuring hug…it’s really often that simple...but even while I knew what I needed to do and why, there have been times when I couldn't overcome this blockage and open my heart when I wanted/needed to. I was out of control. The emotional wall actually had power over me. While it would eventually loosen its grip (often all I need is a little time alone to reflect, which Beth is trying her best to understand and respect), it has nevertheless been very shocking to experience this kind of powerlessness. There is also some irony here, since my ego is probably afraid of vulnerability and emotional pain precisely because these feelings are so often associated with powerlessness and being out of control. Could it be that allowing myself to open to and fully experience what a given moment has to offer actually (albeit paradoxically when the moment holds pain and vulnerability) offers me access to the deepest source of power there is?

Another amazing practice for me on this aspect of my journey is parenting. Since being with Beth, I have the great (and sometimes daunting) privilege of helping her raise this little guy into who we hope will become a strong, loving, happy and socially responsible adult. What a practice!! I'm learning now what probably all of you parents out there already know - that parenting can be one of the most challenging (and potentially growth-producing) aspects of our lives. Through interacting with Benjamin, Beth and I are compelled to look deeply at ourselves. We recognize our own walls and our own sensitivities in a whole new light and context. When emotional situations arise with Benjamin that trigger our own vulnerabilities and shadow qualities (around which we usually build walls), we have a choice. We can react unconsciously or habitually, which will probably cause Benjamin to begin the arduous wall-building process himself. Or, we can actually recognize our own trigger points and take this golden opportunity to show him a different way, thereby breaking through our own walls and healing old wounds that we may not have even known existed. It's a beautiful thing.

I've actually broken down before as I noticed this happening with Benjamin. In different circumstances when he's been scared or frustrated, I've noticed that the surfacing emotion in him was something that I was afraid to face in myself and I began to feel a vague sense of panic. My first impulse was to react with my own frustration or logic to shut him down or talk him out of his experience, but I have found that if I can breathe through and open to the experience, something new starts to emerge. In all likelihood, I blocked out the emotion he's experiencing when I was close to his age and it's been lying dormant inside of me until that very point when it came into my awareness again through this interaction with him. (What a gift!) Because of the difficulty that I'd had in experiencing that feeling, my knee jerk reaction was to protect Benjamin from what I feared myself…until I realized that I was perpetuating the cycle. At that point I was able to hold space for him to experience what he was experiencing, which allowed my wall to come down, which in turn created space for me to experience the emotion and also a deeper connection with him. It was very moving. I literally re-lived that long-suppressed emotion again through a child. I felt free again!

Through all of this life unfolding, I've learned to feel feelings that were formerly foreign and strange to me, and I've become increasingly agile at recognizing when I'm about to retreat behind my walls before I do so - and sometimes I can keep it in check. But even when I can't, I'm still growing. In a certain sense, these protective reactions that come up in me are not all bad. In fact, they are much more like friends than enemies. These reactions are the indicators of something that is broken or blocked inside of me; something that is covering up the true experience happening underneath. These reactions are like signs pointing me at the real stuff from which I'm unconsciously hiding. That's a good thing. Otherwise, I would never even know. Inherent to all of this, I've recognized that when I protect my weaknesses, I cease to grow. I realize that I cannot prevent disturbances from entering my world, but I can decide how I respond to them...and I recognize that disturbances are actually my very good friends. Awareness is the first step. If I consciously feel my feelings instead of unconsciously reacting to them, not only am I in a more empowered position from which to act, but I also become more deeply engaged in life itself. I used to think that this type of inquiry would make me "less of a man." But… I am realizing that this type of awareness and integration actually makes me much more balanced, strong, and wise; which to me, makes me much more of an empowered man (even if it does hurt like *#@! at times). Btw, Beth agrees... with a tear of joy in her eye. ;)

**********************************

“We cannot be more sensitive to pleasure without being more sensitive to pain.”
~ Alan Watts

"Like the sun's rays that cause the seed to stir within its husk, love's radiant energy penetrates the facade of the false self, calling forth resources hidden deep within us. Its warmth wakes up the life inside us, making us want to uncurl, to give birth, to grow and reach for the light. It calls on us to break out of our shell, the personality-husk surrounding the seed potential of all that we could be. The purpose of a seed husk is to protect the tender life within until the time and conditions are right for it to burst forth. Our personality structure serves a similar function. It provides a semblance of security, as a kind of compensation for the loss of our larger being. But when love's warming rays start to wake us up, our ego-shell becomes a barrier restricting our expansion. As the germ of life swells within us, we feel our imprisonment more acutely.....The brighter love's radiance, the darker the shadows we encounter; the more we feel life stirring within us, the more we also feel our dead spots; the more conscious we become, the more clearly we see where we remain unconscious. None of this need dishearten us. For in facing our darkness, we bring to light forgotten parts of our being. In recognizing exactly where we have been unconscious, we become more conscious. And in seeing and feeling the ways we've gone dead, we start to revive and kindle our desire to live more expansively."
~ John Welwood

"The word "surrender" is often interpreted as giving up, as weakness, as admitting defeat. Although this is one way to use the word, we will use it in a different way. Surrendering means letting go of your resistance to the total openness of who you are. It means giving up the tension of the little vortex you believe yourself to be and realizing the deep power of the ocean you truly are. It means to open with no boundaries, emotional or physical, so you ease wide beyond any limiting sense of self you might have."
~David Deida

A Treasure Worth Protecting

Wed, 26 Dec 2007 20:33:15 -0000

I've received multiple emails about this and just read the following article on kswild.org. It's a shame that this type of thing can still happen now-a-days. Let's not let this one slip through the cracks. Please share...

Shocking new plans were just announced to ramp up logging on 2.6 million acres of public land in western Oregon by clearcutting old-growth forests and reducing protections for salmon-bearing creeks and streams.

The BLM proposes to increase old-growth logging by 700% over the next decade.

This outrageous scheme was unveiled August 10th when the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released the draft Western Oregon Plan Revisions (WOPR), a new management plan for public forests stretching from the Willamette Valley to the Siskiyou Mountains.

According to The Oregonian, the BLM's draft plan would boost logging of trees 200 years and older sevenfold over the next decade. Yes, you read that correctly, a 700 percent increase in logging Oregon's last old-growth forests! This huge increase in logging would come from opening up currently protected streamside forests and old-growth reserves to clearcutting.

How you can help

It is time for Congress to step in and legislate a solution to this ongoing problem that continues to leave our precious old-growth forests, clean water and salmon-bearing streams in jeopardy. Since the Bush Administration will likely ignore public comments that it receives on the WOPR, please take a minute to call Senator Ron Wyden at (503) 326-7525 and request that Congress find a solution to this madness. Ask that Congress pass legislation to protect our remaining mature and old-growth forests on public land, and instead focus management in previously logged areas that are in need of thinning. If you live outside of Oregon, click here to find your Senators' phone numbers and urge them to settle this problem once and for all.

Visit www.oregonheritageforests.org to learn more, read talking points and send an automatic email to the BLM and your elected officials.

________________________________________

MORE ON THE WOPR...

In the early planning stages for WOPR, over 90% of the nearly 3,000 comments submitted to the Bush Administration asked for the protection of mature and old-growth forests. Most Oregonians want the BLM to embrace thinning second growth forests, safe-guard communities from wildfire and protect what remains of our nation’s ancient forests.

Unfortunately, the Bush Administration’s preferred alternative outlined in the WOPR would manage over one million acres of our federal forests in Oregon as Timber Management Areas–managed solely for rotation forestry–whereby thousands of acres of ancient forests would be converted into industrial tree farms every year. Under the WOPR, wildlife, salmon, recreation and clean water would play second fiddle to timber profits.

Losing ancient forests

The WOPR covers six districts of the BLM: Medford, Roseburg, Eugene, Salem, Coos Bay and the Klamath Falls area of the Lakeview District, which is approximately 2.6 million acres of public land in western Oregon (that is a forested area larger than the states of Rhode Island and Delaware combined!). Forests in the Rogue, Umpqua and Willamette River basins are primarily affected, as well as many of Oregon’s coastal watersheds.

The WOPR has three primary alternatives, and the outlook for Oregon’s federal forests under the agency’s preferred Alternative 2 is grim. The BLM would clearcut 139,700 acres (over 200 square miles) of mature and old growth forest while building 1,000 miles of logging roads per decade, converting pristine ancient forests into monoculture tree farms. Clearcutting would become the preferred logging method, and 24% of all logging would target trees 200 years and older.

The WOPR effectively pulls the BLM forests out from the scientific framework of the Northwest Forest Plan. The Northwest Forest Plan was enacted in 1994 and is considered one of the most advanced plans to conserve forested ecosystems – while allowing continued logging of some older forest. Every alternative in the WOPR, however, would greatly increase the logging of mature and old-growth forests to levels before the Northwest Forest Plan.

There is a better way

Oregonians don’t have to choose between a healthy timber industry and their old-growth forest heritage. At a time when public consensus over old-growth protection and plantation thinning has never been stronger, the Bush Administration is handing over our ancient forests to the timber industry.

Many Oregon forest managers are already moving beyond the conflicts of the past. By focusing on previously logged public forestlands - many of which are now overgrown and in need of thinning - they are providing wood to local mills while actually improving conditions for fish and wildlife and keeping saws out of old-growth forests.

Collaborative groups including the Siuslaw National Forest bring together loggers, local governments, conservation groups and others to design projects with broad community support. The Siuslaw is consistently among the largest timber producers of any National Forest in Oregon.

Please call Senator Ron Wyden today at (503)326-7525 and ask that Congress pass legislation to protect our remaining mature and old-growth forests on public land, and instead focus management in previously logged areas that are in need of thinning.

Click here for more information and a “Citizen’s Guide” to commenting on WOPR before the January 11, 2008 deadline.

Visit www.oregonheritageforests.org to learn more, read talking points and send an automatic email to the BLM and your elected officials.

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

~Margaret Mead

“The hostile attitude of conquering nature ignores the basic interdependence of all things and events—that the world beyond the skin is actually an extension of our own bodies—and will end in destroying the very environment from which we emerge and upon which our whole life depends.”

~Alan Watts

Please consider getting behind this and passing it along via email or blog (today). The planet needs us.... which [to me] means that WE need us!

An Exercise in Empathy and Compassion

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 19:06:38 -0000

Have you ever been in a situation where someone looked miserable, discouraged, mad, or somehow they just annoyed you? Have you then asked yourself, what is their problem or… why can’t they merely enjoy life instead of being such a “downer”? Well, in all honesty, I have (once or twice ;). Whether it’s someone in traffic who is honking and swearing or someone in the market who’s zooming past everyone with an angry look on his or her face, it can be easy for me to fall into judgment about them. The problem though (as if there is only one), is that I’m in no position to judge. I have no idea what’s going on their world. They could be having one of the worst days (or months) of their lives. In fact, there’s even a chance I’ve been that person (once or twice ;) and it’s funny how the perspective changes when the shoe’s on the other foot.

Anyway, this concept really hit home when I was on an airplane a few weeks back. I was sitting next to a woman who looked dismal and barely even acknowledged me, and from my perspective, looked like she could care less that anybody else even existed. I tried to make eye contact and shoot her a smile a couple of times and then decided to read my book. We sat in silence for almost the entire flight and I had forgotten about her for the most part, but there was still something that was troubling me. Why did she have to be so cold, I thought to myself? Why was I getting caught up in it? Again, other personal issues come to mind. Maybe it was my own fear or insecurity or even my projection on how others “should” act towards other people. But this is another story for another time.

Eventually, we began talking. At first it was small talk but the conversation soon shifted… big time. I was shocked and humbled when she shared the devastating news that she had lost her husband unexpectedly a few weeks earlier as a result of a bicycle accident. He had been in a coma for quite some time and she had to make the inconceivably difficult decision to take him off life support (based on his living will). I personally can’t envision many circumstances that would be more challenging to go through than this. Unless, maybe, having to explain to your 6 year old child why her father is no longer with us, which was in fact, another part of her story.

I can’t imagine the pain that she was going through. It is literally outside of my capacity at this point in time. The one thing that I could do was simply to be there with and for her. The result was a connection on a level that I had never before experienced with a complete stranger. We shared tears, fears, smiles, love, and a deep appreciation for life and its fragility. Our conversation affected me in a way that I could never have imagined as we opened up to each other. It pretty much threw me right out of my box! It was a night I won't soon forget.

What I realized, beyond what I just wrote about, was that my inability to get out of my own head sometimes severely shifts my energy and the energy of those around me in a negative way. Having a negative relationship to life (however subtly) causes me to make assumptions about others that may be way off-base, and that sometimes lead me to respond with coldness. The coldness can spread like a subtle disease to those around me, creating walls upon walls upon walls. I see this a lot these days. You know what I’m talking about, right? We are the ones who create it. It’s not them. Them doesn’t exist. We’re in it together and we can change our experience and enrich the lives of those around us just by being open and empathetic. Imagine a world in which everyone's first response to others is from love rather than putting up these walls that keep us from experiencing true connection.

Obviously, this is a pretty extreme example of the experience others are having, but this type of thing is happening around us all of the time, albeit on a lesser scale. Maybe the other person was just fired, dumped, diagnosed with an illness, up all night with their child having nightmares, or is simply having a bad day. I've noticed this can even happen in small, seemingly insignificant situations with friends. I've made assumptions or thought the worst about what's going on with friends and maybe I've even acted on those assumptions. Scary huh? I do this more often than I'd like to think, and I bet I'm not the only one. So I'm asking myself: Why not open up rather than close down? What if I consciously decide to come from a place of not knowing and not assuming? There's really no down side, and I'm much more likely to find what’s real and to connect on a much deeper level... because doing this seems to magically create space for the heart to enter the picture. And, this is a good place to be when choosing to respond... with feminine or masculine compassion.

Imagine moving through the world with the notion that each person we run into could use our help instead of focusing on how their negativity is affecting us. Imagine that we have the power to change their day or even their life. What I realized in a new way from that experience on the plane is that we do. I found that all I have to do is drop my judgment and my assumptions and listen from the heart. It’s actually quite simple and yet, can be one of the most difficult things to do at times.

In love and gratitude…

Concepts

Fri, 02 Nov 2007 22:50:29 -0000

When perception is stronger than mindfulness, we recognize various appearances and create concepts such as "body," "cat", "house," or "person". . . On some clear night, go outside, look up at the sky, and see if you can find the Big Dipper. For most people that is a familiar constellation, easy to pick out from all the other stars. But is there really a Big Dipper up there in the sky? There is no Big Dipper up there. "Big Dipper" is a concept. Humans looked, saw a certain pattern, and then created a concept in our collective mind to describe it. That concept is useful because it helps us recognize the constellation. But it also has another, less useful effect. By creating the concept "Big Dipper" we separate out those stars from all the rest, and then, if we become attached to the idea of that separation, we lose the sense of the night sky's wholeness, its oneness. Does the separation actually exist in the sky? No. We created it through the use of a concept. Does anything change in the sky when we understand that there is no Big Dipper? No.

- Joseph Goldstein, Insight Meditation from Everyday Mind

Hmmmm, I wonder in what other areas of our lives do these concepts effect our experience? My feeling is that it happens in just about every facet of our lives. Our attachment to this partiality and our need to define everything is causing us to look at life (and ourselves) in a limited and fragmented way. I feel that this is limiting our potential experience of experience itself. We feel like these separate beings in "here" living in an alien world out "there," yet we are as much of a product of the universe as anything else that we observe from this side of our lens. Think about it. When do we actually make a decision that is completely untouched by our conditioning and these patterns that we refer to as self? These patterns are the result of billions of years of unfolding. When we let go of this concept of separate self and the identification that comes with it, something changes. We have the ability to ~~see~~ be the bigger picture. To me, this is what realization is, and the illusion is not that we don't also exist as separate beings, it's that we are exclusively identified with an existence that is a partial concept of what we really are. An amazing concept no doubt, just a limited one.

What would you say to the person you were one year ago?

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 21:04:18 -0000

Get ready for a WILD ride! In just about every aspect of your/my life. Yup! Personal. Professional. Romantic. Physical. Metaphysical..... That's all I'm gonna tell you. Sorry! You don't want me to spoil the surprise, right? By the way, you turned out ok..... so far! :)

Oh, and take it easy on yourself, will ya? Enjoy it! It's only as much fun as you make it.

Hmmm, I wonder what the "year from now David" would tell me if he stopped by today?

The Evolution of We

Tue, 09 Oct 2007 18:48:23 -0000

"The evolution of consciousness and culture is not about the individual. It's not the evolution of you, it's the evolution of we—the evolution of the consciousness that's being shared in the collective or intersubjective “we” space between individuals. All relationships are based on shared values. So if you are interested in being a participant in the evolution of consciousness and culture, you need to ask yourself: What are the values that I share with all the individuals that I relate to? Who are the people with whom I share the highest philosophical and spiritual values, and how important are those relationships to me? If you want to find out how much you really care about creating the future, if you want to find out how evolutionary your own values actually are, than you have to look at the nature of all the committed relationships you're involved in, from your sexual relationships to your closest friendships to your family bonds to your professional connections."

"It is the relationships that we engage in and the values we share that create the structure of the intersubjective dimension that is culture. So culture evolves through the cultivation of relationships with other people that are based on higher and deeper values. If you are really dedicated to creating a more evolved world, the future is no longer some far-off fantasy realm, but is something you forge in and through your relationships with other people right now. The intersubjective we space between such inspired individuals becomes a creative vortex in which something is being born every moment out of the spiritual, moral, intellectual, philosophical friction. There is a constant vibration that is inherently creative in the we-space between committed human beings who share a passion to create the future in the present moment. Together, you become a vortex through which evolution occurs."

~Andrew Cohen

This quote reminds me of the space that's been created here on zaadz. We have choices of who we engage with, where we go to do it, and how we show up in every interaction that we have. Do we expand or do we contract? Do we look for the "comfortable" situations and interactions or do we push our edges just a little bit more? Are we being honest with ourselves and others or are we putting up a facade? All of these questions are available to us at any given time, but are we actually asking them? My feeling is that we've consciously chosen to do so every time we interact here at zaadz. Not that we have all the answers or that we're making all the "right" choices at any given time, but the point is, we're looking at ourselves and asking the questions, which is where the evolution happens - right there in the searching and the struggling. By engaging the deeper questions, WE are creating the future now; and the more I surf though this site, the more promising this future looks.....

Describe a dream of yours that's come true.

Fri, 28 Sep 2007 14:03:51 -0000

Here's an actual picture from a dream I had years ago. ;) And now it has come true.

I can't even begin to express how lucky I am to have Beth in my life. She's smart, fun, loving, caring, open, talented, funny, and beautiful (on the inside and out)..... She is always there for me and is supportive in every facet of my life. She brings out the best in me and there's nobody who I feel more comfortable around. What more could a guy ask for?

In all honesty, I couldn't have imagined that someone like Beth actually exists; even in my wildest dreams.

Gaiam's company kitchen

Thu, 20 Sep 2007 15:42:29 -0000

There are many reasons why I respect Gaiam and why I'm excited to be working with this progressive company and it's amazing team. This picture represents just one small example, but for me, it speaks volumes.....

Two Choices

Thu, 23 Aug 2007 20:12:45 -0000

This email just showed up in my inbox. It brought tears to my eyes as I read through the story. It’s amazing how sending an email can have such an affect. Fortunately for me, I receive many more emails that are meaningful compared to emails that contain obscene jokes and nonsense, but it is astounding how these different types of emails can make a difference in our experience long after we step away from our computers. This is one that gives me hope, makes me smile, and is well worth sending on, imho.

We make choices everyday, but how often do we actually pause and think about how these choices affect everyone around us, which is to say, how do these choices affect the world? There’s a tremendous amount of beauty and hope in this world and it’s up to us to spread it. It really doesn’t take much; sometimes it’s just as simple as a smile. :c) The opportunity is always present and who knows… maybe you'll do something that makes someone’s day, or something that even changes his or her life.

Here’s a great example:

What would you do? You make the choice. Don't look for a punch line, there isn't one. Read it anyway.

The question is: Would you have made the same choice? â€¨â€¨

At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves learning-disabled children, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question: "When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does is done with perfection. Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do. Where is the natural order of things in my son?" â€¨â€¨

The audience was stilled by the query.

The father continued. "I believe, that when a child like Shay, physically and mentally handicapped comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child." â€¨â€¨

Then he told the following story:â€¨â€¨

Shay and his father had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, "Do you think they'll let me play?" Shay's father knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but the father also understood that if his son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps. â€¨â€¨

Shay's father approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, "We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning." â€¨â€¨

Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. His Father watched with a small tear in his eye and warmth in his heart. The boys saw the father's joy at his son being accepted. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three. In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as his father waved to him from the stands. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again. Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat. â€¨â€¨

At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game? Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball. â€¨â€¨

However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact. The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay. As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher. â€¨â€¨

The game would now be over. The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.â€¨â€¨

Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach of all team mates. Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, "Shay, run to first! Run to first!" Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base. He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled. â€¨â€¨

Everyone yelled, "Run to second, run to second!" Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base. By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right f elder had the ball ... the smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team. He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman' s head. Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home. â€¨â€¨

All were screaming, "Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay"â€¨â€¨

Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, "Run to third! Shay, run to third!" â€¨â€¨

As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, "Shay, run home! Run home!" Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team. â€¨â€¨

"That day", said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, "the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world.”â€¨â€¨

Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making his father so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day! â€¨â€¨

AND NOW A LITTLE FOOTNOTE TO THIS STORY: We all send thousands of jokes through the e-mail without a second thought, but when it comes to sending messages about life choices, people hesitate. The crude, vulgar, and often obscene pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion about decency is too often suppressed in our schools and workplaces. â€¨â€¨

If you're thinking about forwarding this message, chances are that you're probably sorting out the people in your address book who aren't the "appropriate" ones to receive this type of message. Well, the person who sent you this believes that we all can make a difference. We all have thousands of opportunities every single day to help realize the "natural order of things." So many seemingly trivial interactions between two people present us with a choice: Do we pass along a little spark of love and humanity or do we pass up those opportunities and leave the world a little bit colder in the process? â€¨â€¨

A wise man once said every society is judged by how it treats it's least fortunate amongst them.â€¨

You now have two choices:â€¨
1. Do Nothing
2. Forward this story or this link: http://david.zaadz.com/blog/2007/8/two_choices

May your day, be a Shay Day

(Source unknown)

Kopali is Hiring!

Mon, 13 Aug 2007 19:03:01 -0000

My friends over at Kopali Organics are hiring as they expand their business. I can't think of a better place to work or better people to work for (well... maybe except for zaadz :). These guys are fun, passionate, and very conscious. Here's your opportunity to change the world while you work.
Read more below.

* SELECT POSITIONS *
- Chief Operating Officer
- Product Developer
- Marketing Manager
- Regional Sales Account Representatives
- Assistant to Co-CEO
- And more

ABOUT KOPALI ORGANICS
- Kopali Organics is a high-growth, mission-driven company that produces, markets and
distributes organic fairly-traded food and products from around the world. Products are
“Good for you, good for the farmers, and good for the planet we all share.”
- Kopali’s products are sold in Whole Foods Market stores. Product range from packaged
non-perishable groceries to fresh produce, from supplements to body care, and more.
Products are artisan and premium, and are on the cutting edge of health and flavor trends,
using a minimal number of pure ingredients, and including next generation superfoods.
- Kopali is moving from revenue-generating proof-of-concept phase to fully scaled-up
deployment, where it will sell millions of dollars worth of dozens of products, and in so
doing impact millions of consumers and farmers, serving as a model for a new paradigm of
conscious capitalism and sustainable living. This process is at an exciting tipping point after
a recent capitalization of the company and a series of large national multi-product and
multi-category orders; Kopali is extremely well positioned in the exploding natural products
industry.
- Kopali was founded by Zak and Zev Zaidman (brothers) and Stephen and Norman Brooks
(father and son) from an off-the-grid sustainable permaculture farm in Costa Rica, and
maintains its entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to mission and vision as it further
develops into a world-class example of excellence in business execution.

WHO
- Kopali seeks team members who are entrepreneurial, intelligent, creative, driven, open
and collaborative, and committed to achieving extraordinary results. Multiple positions are
available in all functional areas of the company including Operations/Logistics,
Sales/Marketing, Product Development, etc. All positions provide significant opportunities
for growth.

* SELECT JOB DESCRIPTIONS *

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER: Seeking experienced, proven leader from the food / beverage / consumer products industry to grow and manage global team. A strong combination of large-scale experience and entrepreneurial drive is critical. COO will design and implement global sourcing / manufacturing / purchasing / packaging / distribution /
logistics / quality assurance strategy and other company processes,and manage day-to-day
operations. Founders are eager to welcome this key member of the Executive Team. Open
to bringing in CEO in lieu of COO, with experience to handle all supply chain responsibilities
described above as well as steer all other areas of the business, including Sales/Marketing,
Finance, Product Development, etc. Operations are currently based in Miami with offices
in Mexico and NYC, and company is open to exploring alternate locations with COO before
full Operations team is hired.

PRODUCT DEVELOPER: Seeking resourceful, detail- and process-oriented innovator and
problem-solver to project manage and develop healthy, sustainable, natural food /
beverage / body care products from conception to shelf, from brainstorming to sourcing to
planning to execution to distribution. Role involves: conceiving, refining, positioning and
market testing new and existing products; sourcing ingredients and establishing strong
relationships with suppliers, farmers, manufacturers and packaging vendors; considering
and managing costs and pricing; coordinating packaging including design and production;
and managing regulatory compliance, logistics, and quality control. Requires in-depth
knowledge of food and natural products trends and retail market. Familiarity with sensory
and marketing customer research is desired. Fluent Spanish is preferred. Location is
flexible although Miami, NYC, or Mexico City preferred. Travel is required.

MARKETING MANAGER: Seeking detail-oriented, motivated executor, strong at multitasking, with creative vision and strong oral, written, visual, marketing, and public
relations communication skills, to conceive, design, budget, plan, implement and manage
national and regional marketing and promotional programs, in-store merchandising, and
other plans to drive retail product sales as well as increase brand value and consumer
awareness and loyalty. Requires passion for food, and knowledge of natural products
trends and retailing as well as general consumer marketing, branding, and retail sales.
Experience working with creative services is critical, along with a strong design and
communication sensibility. Familiarity with Whole Foods Market organizational structure,
procedures and policies, and team members preferred. Involves establishing and directing
relationships with regional/store Marketing Managers, managing Kopali Sales Account
Representatives, in-store sampling/demo efforts, etc. Location is flexible although NYC or
Miami are preferred.

REGIONAL SALES ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVES: Seeking inspired, persuasive, persistent, high-energy, self-motivated, results-oriented relationship-managers to work with Whole Foods Market Marketing Managers, Merchandisers, and other team members to ensure that the Kopali message reaches important decision-makers and consumers. Role involves implementing in-store merchandising, marketing and promotional plans and programs to drive sales as well as increase brand value and consumer awareness and loyalty. Also involves serving as an ambassador for the Kopali vision and brand, and directly promoting the company’s organic, sustainable, fairly traded products, interfacing directly with
consumers and driving sales. This is a critical and exciting time of growth for Kopali: all
company team members from CEO on down are playing a very hands-on role, and Account
Representatives will be expected to do the same on the “front lines”. As sales goals are
achieved, by each individual Account Representative and by the company, this role will
evolve into a strategic marketing and management position with demo team members and
Assistant Account Representatives added in each region. Base salary plus performance
bonus. Multiple locations.

ASSISTANT TO CO-CEO: Seeking organized, goal-oriented, hard-working, quick-thinking,
excellent oral and written communicator to support and work closely with company Co-
CEO. Successful and impressive academic career, leadership experience and work history
required, along with ability to work independently and exercise strong judgment and
follow-through. Role involves providing exceptional, detailed administrative support,
including scheduling, travel planning, expense documentation, etc, as well as drafting highlevel correspondence and presentations, conducting research, and managing projects in critical areas such as public relations/branding, event planning, strategy, business
development etc. Offers tremendous opportunity for growth and advancement. Position
based in NYC.

OPERATIONAL / ADMINISTRATIVE ASSOCIATE: Seeking highly-organized, detail-oriented team-player able to multi-task, meet deadlines, and effectively communicate with important customers, suppliers and service providers. Role involves important tasks
involving invoicing, accounting, purchase orders, shipping and inventory management, etc.
Excellent computer skills required, along with significant administrative experience or
some finance or operations experience. Degree in Finance/Accounting preferred. Spanish
fluency preferred. Position based in Miami.

KOPALI EVANGELISTS, INTERNS, AND OTHER VOLUNTEER POSITIONS AVAILABLE: There are many other ways to get involved and to support Kopali’s mission to create a more
compassionate and sustainable world through conscious commerce. Please contact us if you would like to help out!

FURTHER POSITIONS AVAILABLE AS COMPANY EXPANDS.

We would love to hear from you about how you might join us as we grow our company and
help create a more compassionate and sustainable world. Please email: jobs@kopali.com

GAIA

Mon, 06 Aug 2007 15:55:32 -0000

GAIAM, ZAADZ, LIME MEDIA & CONSCIOUS ENLIGHTENMENT CREATE UNIFIED SOURCE FOR LOHAS

Broomfield, CO; New York, NY; Washington, DC; Los Angeles and Santa Monica, CA, August 6, 2007—Gaiam, Inc. (NASDAQ: GAIA), Zaadz, Inc., Revolution, LLC, LIME Media and Conscious Enlightenment, Inc. today announced a unified LOHAS community under the Gaia.com(unity) banner. Gaiam will launch the Gaia.com site in fall of this year.

“Gaiam’s vision for Gaia com(unity) is to become the global community of like-minded people that aspire to effect positive change on the planet,” said Jirka Rysavy, founder and CEO of Gaiam. “Gaiam coined the term LOHAS (Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability) in 1999 to describe the global movement of expanding consciousness and growing awareness of personal and planetary health. The term is now used worldwide to describe this movement and magazines in several countries carry the LOHAS name. With this new community we are entering the next stage of LOHAS development and would like to extend an invitation to entrepreneurs around the world, who are passionate about personal and planetary wellness and authenticity, to join us.”

(www.zaadz.com) Zaadz is the leading social networking site in the LOHAS space with 85,000 members and 850,000 unique visitors per month. Zaadz was founded by Brian Johnson, who previously created the world’s largest social networking site for amateur sports (eteamz.com), which profitably serves three million teams around the world.

“Zaadz was created to inspire and empower people to be the change they want to see and to change the world in the process,” said Brian Johnson, founder and CEO of Zaadz. “We’re excited to combine forces with a group of companies who share our mission of positive change and I have no doubt that together we’ll accelerate the rate of change we can affect in the world.”

(www.lime.com) Lime is a multimedia lifestyle company with multiple platforms focused on leading a healthier, greener, and more balanced lifestyle. LIME is available on broadband television, SIRIUS Satellite Radio channel 114, on demand with cable providers nationally and at lime.com on the web and mobile phones. Lime.com has 2,200,000 unique visitors per month and 200,000 daily newsletters. LIME previously acquired Wisdom TV and has a library of over 1,000 hours of visual content. LIME was majority owned by Revolution.

"When we got involved with LIME almost three years ago, none of the major media companies were focused on sustainability and we saw an opportunity to launch LIME as an independent media brand," said Steve Case, founder and CEO of Revolution LLC. "Now that the 'green' movement is becoming more mainstream, we concluded it made sense to participate in the creation of a unified LOHAS community and platform with our longtime partner Gaiam."

(www.cenlightenment.com) Conscious Enlightenment is an on-line and off-line based community that owns and operates the Enlightenment Card, a socially conscious credit card, Conscious Choice and Whole Life magazines (with distribution in metropolitan cities from Chicago to Los Angeles), Yogamates.com, a social network and video channel and MonthlyYogadvd.com, a DVD and online video streaming subscription club.

“Conscious Enlightenment was created to educate people about the alternatives that exist to create a more sustainable and peaceful world,” said Christopher Miglino, founder and CEO of Conscious Enlightenment. “Gaiam has been a leader in the LOHAS and cultural creative space for some time now, and we are excited about the synergies that exist between our companies and our ability to reach a broader audience.”

(www.gaiam.com) Gaiam is a lifestyle media company catering to people who value personal development, natural health, ecological lifestyles and inspirational entertainment. Gaiam has approximately eight million direct customers, including over 100,000 paid subscribers to its community and subscription clubs. Gaiam's home media is carried by almost 70,000 retail stores in the U.S., the widest direct distribution coverage in the country for any visual media provider. Gaiam also distributes approximately 20 million catalogs per year.

Check out the Zaadz Team Blog for more.

Taking Action For Animals

Thu, 19 Jul 2007 03:36:36 -0000

Where will you be on July 28th?

We have some exciting news for you! The Humane Society is hosting its 3rd national conference in Washington, DC on July 28th-30th. This year’s conference will focus on the plight of farm animals and the impact of industrial animal agribusiness! Zaadz is working in partnership to help spread the word about this event!

Did you know?

That approximately 10 billion land animals are slaughtered by the meat, egg, and dairy industries in the United States annually, which is approximately 1 million animals every single hour (nearly all of whom are chickens)!

Why the focus on farm animals?

Statistically, farm animals comprise 98% of all animals in the country with whom we interact. The numbers of animals killed by trappers and hunters; in classrooms, research laboratories, and animal shelters; and on fur farms; and those animals raised as companions or used for entertainment by circuses and zoos, collectively make up only 2% of the animals in some established relationship with humans in the United States. Which, is not to say that those abuses aren’t important, but that the plight of farm animals is often underestimated and their quality of life urgently needs our attention.

There will be two full days of incredible workshops and lectures featuring experts & activists, covering a wide range of topics, such as:

Being a Joyful Vegan in a Non-Vegan World,
Factory Farming, Global Warming, and the Environment
State Legislation: How to Get a Bill Passed
Whole Foods Market: The Journey Towards Transparency, Accountability and Responsibility with Farm Animal Welfare
Advances for Farm Animals: How and Why We're Winning

There will also be a full day of lobbying on Capitol Hill to really take action and use the knowledge from the conference to make positive political change.

It is sure to be a life-changing experience that will build your compassion and understanding and give you the opportunity to make a difference. So come join us if you can, whether you’re a seasoned activist or simply interested in learning more about what it means to be vegan or the realities of agribusiness! It’s going to be an amazing weekend!

When and where:

July 28-30
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC

Day 1: keynote sessions
Day 2: four tracks
Day 3: Lobby Day on Capitol Hill

For registration information, click here

11th Hour

Tue, 03 Jul 2007 03:21:37 -0000

I just watched a screening of Leonardo DiCaprio's new documentary on global warming, scheduled to be released in August. "The 11th Hour interviewed 71 people to create a narrative about the state of the world and how human beings impact our only home, planet earth." The movie was very well done [imho] and takes us on an emotional roller-coaster ride through the changes this planet is experiencing without making us feel like we're helpless victims. I left the movie feeling more empowered than when I walked in. The film presents many solutions to the issues we're facing with the caveat that it's "you" who's responsible.

Three thumbs up!

Sharing the front page with His Holiness

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 01:34:42 -0000

Seeing the front page of the latest Global Intellegencer, made my day! Click here to see the actual front page with the Dalai Lama and me.... well, sort of. ;) I love my job!

Check out the full article on Zaadz here.