challenged and stirred more emotion that any of the hundreds of films I had reviewed.

The setting is North Korea. The central character is a husband desperately seeking medicine for his very ill wife. We learn that the only solution to his problem is to pass illegally through the border into China to get the medicine. For many Christians in North Korean, life is very difficult – they face persecution, diminished human rights, and many are refused work. The only way to escape is to illegally enter China and then travel overland to South Korea with the help of an underground railroad. The desperate husband reckons that if he is going to risk years of jail to get the medicine, he may as well escape to freedom.

Few people understand this man’s life, but the film powerfully reveals the desperation, fear, and courage people face when they risk their lives and futures for freedom. The most moving footage shows a group of refugees attempting to force their way through a wall of North Korean police into the safety and freedom of the Japanese consulate. Some escape, others are captured – it is heart wrenching.

I promised myself after the film I would do something to raise awareness of these people who want only a chance to work and live with some dignity. My research into the subject revealed complications and, as usual, corruption in the handling and treatment of refugees coming from North Korea. It muddied the water somewhat for me.

This week Kim Jung II “Beloved Leader” died suddenly of a heart attack – his death offers North Koreans hope for the future. His 3rd son was named as successor, although for millions of Christian North Koreans, it is unknown how and if things will change. Those who have escaped the North took the opportunity to demonstrate in Seoul.

For many of us here in Canada, this story is just another blip on the daily news screen, with little background understanding or significance to us. It is difficult to keep up with all the issues that are going on in the world. There are so many problems that need our support and engagement, we may wonder how WE can do something to contribute to positive change?

In a recent interview for Wisdom-radio with Dale and Linda Bolton from Organics 4 Orphans, Dale described how this revolutionary organization was birthed. On seeing literally millions of orphans (victims of the AIDS epidemic) they committed themselves to do something. They somehow got over the fact that they were two people facing a 40 million person problem. They began with the premise that even if they could help only a few hundred children, it would be worth their effort. They, however, grew in understanding of the culture and the problems and discovered better solutions. It has been a journey of amazing revelation and innovation. The key was their commitment to do something. After that, all the rest came together.

As 2011 comes to a close with one of the great celebrations of family and caring, we should evaluate what we have done for others and how we can do our part to make a positive impact on our world. All around us we are challenged with needs. We may think we can’t do much to solve the world’s problems, but over and over again, people of modest means and expertise make enormous changes for good. Their key is commitment and endurance. 2012 will be filled with opportunities to become engaged in your community and to find a place to serve. You can’t do everything and you can’t do ‘nothing’. The world, our country, and our community need you and what you have to give no matter how small you believe your impact will be. Find an issue to affect for good. Find someone or something that needs what you have to give and 2012 will be the beginning of the best years of your life.

The general consensus outside the US is that the problem is caused by US monetary policy. Printing  $600B (QE 2) and the very loose lending policies of the Federal Reserve aimed at resuscitating the US economy have caused inflation and the destabilisation of world currencies. French President Sarkozy  and G20 head has pointed his finger at food speculators. Inside the US, Federal Reserve Chairman, Ben Bernanke, and Noble Prize winning economist and New York Times columnist, Paul Krugman, have redirected the attention from US policy to drought and reduced supply. They also claim that countries have the option of appreciating their currency to offset the policies of the US; however, that would also kill their exports.

From the ground-level, the problem seems like a complicated stand-off between the interests of the US government and the rest of the world. The flaws in globalization and the world currency system are not going to be resolved by you and me. It is obvious from 10,000 feet, however, that the solution for us is to de-couple ourselves from the world in strategic areas such as food and regain our sovereignty.  It is not likely the Canadian government is going to do that. There have been many forward thinking outsiders (forerunners) warning about the need for food sovereignty for years with little response. So what can you do?

The lifestyle of Canadians has become increasingly dependent on others to supply their basic needs. Urban living has made us dependent on food which has been grown far away. Being linked to and dependent on the rest of the world to feed us makes us vulnerable to soaring prices and disruption in supply caused by war, drought, transportation problems, and political and social upheavals, to name only a few. Globalization has given us a world of reasons why we should take care of ourselves, particularly in the production of food.

If you grow your own food, you remove the impact of subsidies, transportation costs, carbon emissions, trade barriers, speculators, shortages, wars, earthquakes –  effectively all the obstacles!

There are many highly developed techniques for growing your own food such as “square foot gardening” and “intensive gardening” which make the process simple and give incredible yields. Growing food is therapeutic and giving some of it away, as most home gardeners do because they have too much, is joy to the giver and receiver. Growing your own food also reduces pressures on existing supplies, thus leaving food for others who are hungry. By helping yourself, you help others – it is a win-win solution. Now is a good time to start planning a garden.

If, however, you can’t grow your own food, the next best solution is to buy it from local producers. There are many cooperatives and farm-gate growers in our township and we need to support them and encourage more food suppliers in our area to sell locally. We have some of the best land in the province and it could feed us and much of the country.  Small farms produce many times more food per acre than industrialized farms, making them quite profitable.

It is convenient to buy garlic from China but when you compare the quality and the price, Canadian garlic is still the better deal. Some things are a little more expensive when they are grown here, but there are other values to consider. When you buy imported food, the money leaves the community, but when you buy local, all of the money stays right here. Hidden subsidies create inequities between foreign and local pricing. Food production and food sovereignty should be part of our federal government’s policies and commitment to protect Canadian food growers. Our region should also develop plans and incentives to stimulate the growing of food locally.

By growing our own food and taking care of ourselves, we become positioned to take care of others. We also regain control of our lives and strengthen our community.  Buying and supplying our food locally is a powerful solution anyone can use to overcome soaring food prices.

How to Beat World-Wide Food Inflation

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization recently reported that world food prices had risen 3.4% in January (the seventh monthly increase in a row) to the highest level since records began in 1990. Continued increases are expected. Food prices have proven to be the underlying motivation for civil unrest in Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, Pakistan, Jordan, and Yemen and more uprisings are expected in countries around the world. Indonesia and Thailand have been rationing staples for more than a year. Here in Canada, the increases have been slightly less but substantial enough for people to notice the difference when they go to the grocery store. What is the future of food, what is happening, and what can we do?

The general consensus outside the US is that the problem is caused by US monetary policy. Printing  $600B (QE 2) and the very loose lending policies of the Federal Reserve aimed at resuscitating the US economy have caused inflation and the destabilisation of world currencies. French President Sarkozy  and G20 head has pointed his finger at food speculators. Inside the US, Federal Reserve Chairman, Ben Bernanke, and Noble Prize winning economist and New York Times columnist, Paul Krugman, have redirected the attention from US policy to drought and reduced supply. They also claim that countries have the option of appreciating their currency to offset the policies of the US; however, that would also kill their exports.

From the ground-level, the problem seems like a complicated stand-off between the interests of the US government and the rest of the world. The flaws in globalization and the world currency system are not going to be resolved by you and me. It is obvious from 10,000 feet, however, that the solution for us is to de-couple ourselves from the world in strategic areas such as food and regain our sovereignty.  It is not likely the Canadian government is going to do that. There have been many forward thinking outsiders (forerunners) warning about the need for food sovereignty for years with little response. So what can you do?

The lifestyle of Canadians has become increasingly dependent on others to supply their basic needs. Urban living has made us dependent on food which has been grown far away. Being linked to and dependent on the rest of the world to feed us makes us vulnerable to soaring prices and disruption in supply caused by war, drought, transportation problems, and political and social upheavals, to name only a few. Globalization has given us a world of reasons why we should take care of ourselves, particularly in the production of food.

If you grow your own food, you remove the impact of subsidies, transportation costs, carbon emissions, trade barriers, speculators, shortages, wars, earthquakes –  effectively all the obstacles!

There are many highly developed techniques for growing your own food such as “square foot gardening” and “intensive gardening” which make the process simple and give incredible yields. Growing food is therapeutic and giving some of it away, as most home gardeners do because they have too much, is joy to the giver and receiver. Growing your own food also reduces pressures on existing supplies, thus leaving food for others who are hungry. By helping yourself, you help others – it is a win-win solution. Now is a good time to start planning a garden.

If, however, you can’t grow your own food, the next best solution is to buy it from local producers. There are many cooperatives and farm-gate growers in our township and we need to support them and encourage more food suppliers in our area to sell locally. We have some of the best land in the province and it could feed us and much of the country.  Small farms produce many times more food per acre than industrialized farms, making them quite profitable.

It is convenient to buy garlic from China but when you compare the quality and the price, Canadian garlic is still the better deal. Some things are a little more expensive when they are grown here, but there are other values to consider. When you buy imported food, the money leaves the community, but when you buy local, all of the money stays right here. Hidden subsidies create inequities between foreign and local pricing. Food production and food sovereignty should be part of our federal government’s policies and commitment to protect Canadian food growers. Our region should also develop plans and incentives to stimulate the growing of food locally.

By growing our own food and taking care of ourselves, we become positioned to take care of others. We also regain control of our lives and strengthen our community.  Buying and supplying our food locally is a powerful solution anyone can use to overcome soaring food prices.

How to Beat World-Wide Food Inflation

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization recently reported that world food prices had risen 3.4% in January (the seventh monthly increase in a row) to the highest level since records began in 1990. Continued increases are expected. Food prices have proven to be the underlying motivation for civil unrest in Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, Pakistan, Jordan, and Yemen and more uprisings are expected in countries around the world. Indonesia and Thailand have been rationing staples for more than a year. Here in Canada, the increases have been slightly less but substantial enough for people to notice the difference when they go to the grocery store. What is the future of food, what is happening, and what can we do?

The general consensus outside the US is that the problem is caused by US monetary policy. Printing  $600B (QE 2) and the very loose lending policies of the Federal Reserve aimed at resuscitating the US economy have caused inflation and the destabilisation of world currencies. French President Sarkozy  and G20 head has pointed his finger at food speculators. Inside the US, Federal Reserve Chairman, Ben Bernanke, and Noble Prize winning economist and New York Times columnist, Paul Krugman, have redirected the attention from US policy to drought and reduced supply. They also claim that countries have the option of appreciating their currency to offset the policies of the US; however, that would also kill their exports.

From the ground-level, the problem seems like a complicated stand-off between the interests of the US government and the rest of the world. The flaws in globalization and the world currency system are not going to be resolved by you and me. It is obvious from 10,000 feet, however, that the solution for us is to de-couple ourselves from the world in strategic areas such as food and regain our sovereignty.  It is not likely the Canadian government is going to do that. There have been many forward thinking outsiders (forerunners) warning about the need for food sovereignty for years with little response. So what can you do?

The lifestyle of Canadians has become increasingly dependent on others to supply their basic needs. Urban living has made us dependent on food which has been grown far away. Being linked to and dependent on the rest of the world to feed us makes us vulnerable to soaring prices and disruption in supply caused by war, drought, transportation problems, and political and social upheavals, to name only a few. Globalization has given us a world of reasons why we should take care of ourselves, particularly in the production of food.

If you grow your own food, you remove the impact of subsidies, transportation costs, carbon emissions, trade barriers, speculators, shortages, wars, earthquakes –  effectively all the obstacles!

There are many highly developed techniques for growing your own food such as “square foot gardening” and “intensive gardening” which make the process simple and give incredible yields. Growing food is therapeutic and giving some of it away, as most home gardeners do because they have too much, is joy to the giver and receiver. Growing your own food also reduces pressures on existing supplies, thus leaving food for others who are hungry. By helping yourself, you help others – it is a win-win solution. Now is a good time to start planning a garden.

If, however, you can’t grow your own food, the next best solution is to buy it from local producers. There are many cooperatives and farm-gate growers in our township and we need to support them and encourage more food suppliers in our area to sell locally. We have some of the best land in the province and it could feed us and much of the country.  Small farms produce many times more food per acre than industrialized farms, making them quite profitable.

It is convenient to buy garlic from China but when you compare the quality and the price, Canadian garlic is still the better deal. Some things are a little more expensive when they are grown here, but there are other values to consider. When you buy imported food, the money leaves the community, but when you buy local, all of the money stays right here. Hidden subsidies create inequities between foreign and local pricing. Food production and food sovereignty should be part of our federal government’s policies and commitment to protect Canadian food growers. Our region should also develop plans and incentives to stimulate the growing of food locally.

By growing our own food and taking care of ourselves, we become positioned to take care of others. We also regain control of our lives and strengthen our community.  Buying and supplying our food locally is a powerful solution anyone can use to overcome soaring food prices.

Here are a few things that should be done to make change in our country and the world

1. Corporate Crime and Corruption
- we need new laws to make directors and officers of companies criminally responsible for their actions
- we need enforcement agencies specifically for corporations
- we need to educate people in all positions of responsibility about the harm, consequences, and options they have if confronted with bribery, or intimidation.
- we need to increase the penalties for these type of crimes to reflect the damage done to the country and the people.
- we all need to understand that taking a bribe, or giving benefit for benefit is treason because it destroys the country.

2. Political, Bureaucratic, Judicial Accountability
The peace and prosperity we enjoy is directly connected to the ethical behavior of these institutions.
- we need new laws to make politicians, bureaucrats, and judges criminally responsible for their actions
- we need structural revisions to make these agencies easier to monitor and more accountable for their actions
- we need enforcement agencies (police agency) specifically to investigate claims of misuse of power in government
- we need to educate people in all positions of responsibility about the harm, consequences, and options they have if confronted with bribery, or intimidation.
- we need to increase the penalties for these type of crimes to reflect the damage done to the country and the people.
- we all need to understand that taking a bribe, or giving benefit for benefit is treason because it destroys the country.

3. We need to develop a strategy to regain political autonomy. That means restructuring debt, and choosing to mitigate the negative impact of trade agreements in particular NAFTA and the policies of WTO.

4. We need new laws that repeal the interpretation of law by a few judges to allow the patenting of life forms.

5. Corporations must be responsible for their actions in particular genetic pollution and contamination. They are liable and accountable and must compensate those who they cause harm to, rather than the other way around. This is a distortion of justice.

6. Genetically modified foods and other additives must be tested before and proven beyond doubt that they are safe before being introduced into the food system. The protocol of scientific procedure for approval can not be superseded by the political or bureaucratic branch of government. All manufactured products which enter food, air and water directly or indirectly which can not demonstrate via independent study that they are safe must be assessed. If and when they are approved, they must be labeled giving each person the right of choice when using the product.

7. We must protect the production of food in this country as a national security measure. Subsidized products from other countries must not be allowed to destroy the domestic food production industry. Government incentives to grow food locally and personally must be introduced to remove our dependence on the multi-national corporations control of food production

8. The policy of “intensification” which makes it near impossible for a family to own agricultural land and grow their own food only supports the agenda of multi-national corporations and their objective to control all food production. This policy must be changed to provide access to agriculture land to anyone.

- In the beginning: some scientists “think” the world is getting warmer
- An “official” panel is setup to promote the views of these scientists (The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change – IPCC)
- About 2500 scientists join their ranks
- The official platform of the IPCC becomes: we can identify the problem but science can’t solve it – we have to stop carbon emissions – we are sure of that!!
- When the “science” of global warming becomes known, 33,000 scientists and climate experts in the USA sign a petition denouncing the theory.
- No one really knows for sure if there is climate change, or if there is, what is causing it.
- A politician makes a film which makes Global Warming a household word
- There is a law suit over the “facts” and a judge calls the film “Political Propaganda” and requires it to be labeled as such in the UK
- No one says anything about the film’s misrepresentations – more scientists join the opposition
- The major media promotes the Global Warming campaign and marginalizes the opponents
- People start to believe there is a problem and activists get into the game of saving the planet.
- It becomes social leprosy to question the science of the IPCC’s climate change campaign for those in and out of science
- A war erupts between the “warmers” and the “skeptics” – the politicians have to step in.
- Politicians refuse to take testimony of global warming opponents in the US and UK – why confuse the issue?

- Politician turned filmmaker/activist starts carbon trading company to profit from a system that does not yet exist – what does he know that we don’t??
- Major stock exchanges set up trading facilities to handle Cap and Trade (carbon credit trading) businesses years before there is a carbon tax law.
- Politicians, businesses, and scientists are “sure” that only by introducing a Cap and Trade Carbon tax can they save the planet – They didn’t want to do it – they had to!

- Businesses who are given Carbon Credit Trading licenses (politician/filmmaker included) are now making boat loads of money – more than anyone could spend.
- The scientists who said there was no solution to Global Warming (but cutting carbon emissions)  - now have a solution – “we can save the planet just give us the money”
- Politicians, who supported the Global warming (scam) are now getting kickbacks from the carbon traders in the form of carbon credits which are better than money and totally unregulated. – who thought of this great idea!!!
- Governments are getting their piece of the action from the Carbon Tax, the rest goes to “offsetting” the emissions. – this is great for the economy
- The highest consuming nations (the US included) actually get rewarded for their unbridled consumption because every company who sells them products has to buy carbon credits from them. Don’t you just love it!!
- The US Government and their “friends” are getting rich in the carbon credit scam and consumption and credit income is up – thank God, we need the money!
- The IPCC now has unprecedented powers – no one dare challenge them – there is too much at stake.
- Scientists who don’t cooperate with the “IPCC” are branded as “environmental terrorist” – disgusting people, get off the planet!
- Scientists get all the money they want to “experiment” with cutting carbon emissions without cutting consumption – and they are getting rich too!
- They of course can’t solve the problem “overnight” – it’s too complex for that, but given enough time and money they will stop the sky from falling

- The average guy is getting hosed for another few thousand bucks a year  – but that’s not the worst of it.
- Carbon cops are looking up everybody’s butt in the name of saving the planet
- Democracy and freedom is redefined as “living green our way and liking it”.
- Orwell rolls in his grave.
- The rich are getting richer on the carbon trading scheme – they pay their carbon tax with glee.

- The planet is no better off – probably worse.
- The decimation of our forests and seas (a real cause of climate change, if there is change) are forgotten – didn’t we solve that problem?
- The US, and UK force nations who trade with them to get into the game and “save the planet” or be penalized.
- No one can buy or sell anything without Carbon Credits – everyone and everything has to be monitored!
- The IPCC and their “science” becomes the final authority on just about everything – uniting everyone under one great religion
- They put a mark on your forehead or your hand so they know who’s playing the game and who’s not.
- The US controls the Carbon Credit “Currency” and world-wide commerce- why shouldn’t they, it’s their “game”
- Round two of “pillaged the nations of the earth”.
- Nice thing about this “deal” is there is something in it for everyone – but the average guy.

April foreclosures rise 65 percent on year:

Wed May 14, 2008 3:28pm EDT (Reuters) “The total number of U.S. properties with foreclosure activity in April was the highest monthly total we’ve seen since we began issuing the report in January 2005,” James J. Saccacio, chief executive officer of RealtyTrac, said in a statement.

In March, home foreclosure filings had risen 5 percent from February.

The surge in foreclosures indicates an increasing number of homeowners are struggling to make mortgage payments amid the worst U.S. housing market downturn since the Great Depression.

Tame April price rise eases inflation worry

The problem: there has been so much inflation, in this case caused by the illegal printing of money, that the local currency has nominal value and food has huge value. The local people only have local currency and they are now out of the running to buy the food on world markets. (is globalism really good?)

This quote says a lot about the state of desperation that exists in Somalia and many other countries as inflation and a failing currency are rejected by world market traders.

The fundamental problem with rising prices for commodities throughout the world is that investors and middlemen are trying to either make or preserve their money. If the food stocks were in the hands of the individuals who grew it, it would be a different situation, they would sell food, instead of hoarding it.

The situation is sad, but this is the result of globalized markets where there is always someone who has the money to pay more. The poor are out bid by the rich for the only thing that really matters – food. Globalization has turned food into a commodity and that commodity is traded for gain to the highest bidder.

In this climate, one would ask themselves what can I do? How should I respond to this crisis? What is moral? What is ethical? How can I impact this bidding war.

We live in a culture that considers unbridled consumption the pinnacle of success. It is our right to consume just because we are able. We wear our consumption like a badge of honour. However, here is another way to look at life and this crisis that is taking place throughout the world. Whenever we bid on energy or food we bid with a currency which has many times the power other countries and people do not have. They have no chance of competing with us. Their work is worth one/one-hundredths of ours just because of the country they were born in. When we out bid them for the food they need to live, we sentence them and their families to malnutrition, sickness, and a shortened life.

What Can You Do?

When we reduce our consumption levels we take the pressure off the demand side of the supply/demand equation thereby freeing up food for others. If we grow as much of our own food as possible we take our consumption off the world market. We are no longer bidding for the limited supply of food on the world market. By reducing our consumption in the area of energy and food we can literally save thousands of lives. By getting off the grid as it were, we are eliminating or minimizing our consumption of energy and food from world supplies. We are literally taking food out of the hand of the hungry. Our level of consumption is literally a life death matter for some people in countries less fortunate then the one you were lucky enough to be born in. Our culture is driven by the media the media is programmed by the proponents of consumption. Our consumption is indirectly but literally killing people in countries around the world. I think we should know that and do something about it. More on ways to reduce our consumption in upcoming posts.

P.S. I have been hypermiling (see the previous post) and it really works!!! I have reduced my consumption by at least 25%. Currently fuel is $1.20 a litre ($5.00 a gallon). I have also reduced miles driven by a least 25%. I didn’t think it possible to cut my consumption in half but it has been easier than I thought.

Paul Weigel

Some people have recorded as much as double the mileage using the technique. Some ways to hypermile include reducing drag, accelerating slowly, over-inflating tires, and following closely behind trucks that pull you along.

Fore more information about hypermiling check out http://hypermiling.com/