A Far Cry from Christmas
Issue 239 • November/December 2006
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Contents
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Welcome
A FAR CRY FROM CHRISTMAS • Satish Kumar
We have to replace our quantitative consumerism with a qualitative lifestyle.
Frontline
COOKING UP A CHANGE • Peeyush Sekhsaria
A small-scale village project in Mali combines environmental and human concerns by producing energy-efficient earthenware stoves.
THE FUTURE IS FORDHALL • Martin Large
The community buy-out of an organic farm in Shropshire, UK could point the way for others.
SACRED SKILLS • Lorna Howarth
The Biodiversity Lifeskills Foundation is encouraging temples and communities in Sri Lanka to work together to safeguard traditional knowledge and natural species.
MONKEYING AROUND • Paul Kingsnorth
Monkeybiz works with South African women to promote bead art which funds an HIV clinic.
Keynotes
WRITERS AND THE WAR AGAINST NATURE • Gary Snyder
How artists and writers can join in the defence of the planet and wild Nature.
WORLD IN A FEW WORDS • Tessa Strickland
Poetry can transport us to new ways of experiencing life.
WILL GOD EVER LEAVE US ALONE? • Deepak Chopra
God won't leave us alone as long as we feel afraid.
Undercurrents
FRIENDLY FIRE • David Ehrenfeld
Most of those advocating the new energy technologies are not suggesting any reduction in overall energy consumption.
FROM GLOBAL TO LOCAL • Chris Wright
Fair trade should be creating the conditions in which craftworkers across the world can meet the needs of their own communities.
WHITE POPPIES • Andrew Kleissner
Moving from a remembrance service to a peace service.
Regulars
Deep Spirit - EVERYWHERE AT HOME • Thomas Moore
We need to bring the spirit of home into public places.
Perspectives
Global trade, plastic bags, banana profits, fuel use, carbon dioxide emissions, mobile phones.
The Long View - LESSONS FROM GREEK TRAGEDY • Harry Eyres
Greek tragedy warns that Nemesis, goddess of retribution, stands in wait for excessive pride or hubris.
A Sense of Place - ARCTIC AWAKENING • Laurence Mee
One small, thoughtless action can affect a whole ecosystem.
The Occasional Didymus - GOVERNESS • John Moat
Men behaving badly require a governess.
Recipes - RAINBOW FEAST • Daphne Lambert
A colourful spread to celebrate the winter solstice: tomato chutney, roast tamari carrots, corn cakes, marinaded broccoli, blueberry rice, beetroot salad, parsnip purée.
Letters to the Editors
The Arts
Poetry: FOUR CONTEMPORARY ECO-POETS • Peter Abbs
Poems by Grevel Lindop, Lynne Wycherley, Alice Oswald and Charles Tomlinson.
THE ROAD • Phil Whitaker
The paddock looked like it had fallen victim to a monstrous mole. A short story.
SPIRIT AND PLACE • Simon Olding
The paintings of Michael Cullimore show that there is always one more way of looking at something.
MYTHICAL SCULPTURES • Jules Cashford
Jacob Lane's granite and wood sculptures explore our relationship to an eternal source.
Reviews
The Big Picture: ELEPHANT!
Review of "Rajan, liberated from his enormous bulk, explored his own free spirit." From Elephant! by Steve Bloom.
In My Own Words: BREAD MATTERS • Andrew Whitley
Review of Bread Matters by Andrew Whitley
In My Own Words: FROM EMPIRE TO EARTH COMMUNITY • David Korten
Review of The Great Turning by David Korten
PUTTING LIFE IN PERSPECTIVE • Tudor Humphries
Review of Bedrock (eds) Lauret E. Savoy, Eldridge M. Moores and Judith E. Moores
THE NATION'S VARIETY • Philip Conford
Review of England in Particular by Sue Clifford and Angela King
REFLECTIVE CHANGE • John Elkington
Review of Presence by Peter Senge, Joseph Jaworski, C. Otto Scharmer and Betty Sue Flowers
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN • Frances Howard-Gordon
Review of Confessions of a Radical Traditionalist by John Michell
TREE HOUSE • Barbara Tremain-Howard
Review of Diary of an Eco-Builder by Will Anderson
BOOKS IN BRIEF • Lorna Howarth & Sophie Poklewski Koziell
Review of Hard Rain by Mark Edwards and Lloyd Timberlake, Manifesto for the Earth by Mikhail Gorbachev, Peace is the Way by Deepak Chopra, What I Heard About Iraq by Eliot Weinberger, Why Birds Sing by David Rothenberg
Web Exclusives
Article - TRUSTEES OF NATURE • Oliver Lowenstein
Moving beyond heritage conservation to embrace environmental concerns. (Editors' Selection)
Article - LAND AND LIVELIHOODS • Jules Pretty
Small family farms do more than just produce food. (Editors' Selection)
Review - A TALE OF TWO BOOKS • Gay Watson
Review of Bhutan by David Macaulay
Review - TRANSCENDING THE FALLEN PSYCHE • James Sainsbury
Review of The Fall by Steve Taylor
Review - UPON REFLECTION • Tishani Doshi
Review of The Night Life of Trees by Bhajju Shyam/Ram Singh Urveti/Druga Bai