unplug

unplug magazine asks you to unplug from your current modes of thought and look at life in a new way, whether this means unplugging from our toxic consumer culture, mainstream society, the tv, or a limiting mindset. author megan prusynski explores life's alternatives and discusses activism, progressive thinking, and moving towards a "green" & sustainable life.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Fight the H8! Nationwide Protests 11/15

National Protest Against Prop 8
The election was a bittersweet one for many progressive Californians like myself, since we elected the first African-American president and banned gay marriage all in one fell swoop. We're still trying to figure out how that happened. Gay marriage bans were also passed in Florida, Arkansas, and Arizona. The passage of these bans was a serious blow to equality and justice in this country. I am still in shock that Proposition 8 passed in California. I thought one of the most progressive states in the nation would know better. Unfortunately, the Mormon Church was behind the Yes on Prop 8 crowd, and funded a huge advertising blitz in the last weeks of the election.

Even though these measures passed, the fight for equal marriage rights continues. You can get involved by participating in the November 15th protest against hate. Here's a rallying cry from Join the Impact:

Let's move as one full unit, on the same day, at the same hour, and let's show the United States of America that we too are UNITED CITIZENS EQAUL IN MIND, BODY, SPIRIT AND DESERVING OF FULL EQUALITY UNDER THE LAW!

On the steps of your City Hall on November 15th at 10:30am PST / 1:30pm EST, our community WILL take to the streets and speak out against Proposition 8 and all of the other pro-equality losses that we have faced in our lifetimes, in our parents' lifetimes, and for many generations before us.

Find a protest in your area today, and fight the H8! You can sign a petition seeking to repeal Proposition 8 here.

Labels: , , ,


Monday, September 22, 2008

Take Action Now: Change Begins Within

I'm not going to hide it, I want to change the world. Of course, I can't bring about the drastic changes I wish to see all on my own, but that doesn't mean I should give up hope and avoid taking action. One person can make a difference, but until you believe that, nothing is going to change. So, in the words of Gandhi, we must BE the change we wish to see in the world.

How can one person begin changing the world? It starts with changing yourself. In order to change yourself, you first have to know yourself. Examine who you are, what you believe, and what you stand for, and that should tell you how to live. Advertisers, the media, corporations, your family, friends and neighbors should not tell you how to live. That is something you have to decide for yourself, based on your ideals. Live like you give a damn, and your actions will be a testament to who you are.

If you're like me, you give a damn about protecting the beautiful planet we call home, and living this ideal would mean living as sustainably as possible. Being more eco-conscious and making greener decisions in every day life is a way to start the ball rolling towards a sustainable tomorrow. Every choice you make is an opportunity to be the change. You can start creating change by changing what you buy, what you eat, what (or if, or how) you drive or ride to get around, how you make a living, who you vote for, and especially, how you think.

Changing your life and the world definitely starts with changing how you think and how you view the world. Learn as much as you can about what's going on in the world, and especially about the issues important to you. Find out what you can do to help. It's important to keep your goals and ideals in mind every day, and truly believe you can achieve your goals and create change in the world. This starts with a positive outlook and an optimistic attitude. Combining your ideals, your skills, and your knowledge, take action and get involved!

One thing is for sure, the world needs change. Each of us holds the seed to change within us, and the time has never been better to let that seed grow.

Labels: , ,


Saturday, August 23, 2008

Green Living Goes Mainstream

It's definitely been a while since I've posted, sorry about that! Summer has been busy with trips, moving into a new house, and plenty of projects. Sorry for the long absence, and hopefully they'll be less frequent.

Even without watching TV or living in a major city, I have noticed a lot more companies advertising that they're "going green," a lot more blogs and movements dedicated to covering green issues, and in general a lot of chatter about sustainability. Maybe it's just the high gas prices or the latest trend, but green living has definitely gone mainstream. I'm just trying to decide whether this is a good thing.

Increased visibility for any good cause is definitely a positive thing. I'm glad to see so much discussion on green topics. But with celebrities and corporations jumping on the bandwagon, I have a hard time believing they're all sincere. I also have my doubts whether some of them know what they're talking about. In a time when greenwashing is prevalent, it helps to be a conscious and aware consumer.

How do you make truly green choices when there are so many phonies out there? Do your homework, know which issues are most important to you, get information from organizations focusing on those issues, and vote with your dollars whenever you have to make purchases. Better yet, if you truly want to live green you'll not only examine the companies you're buying from, but whether you really need to buy something at all. Consumerism has us believe that we need to buy something brand new when a used, homemade, or borrowed item could work just as well. Always be on the look out for the simplest solution, because simple living equals green living, and accumulating more stuff only leads to more pollution and waste.

I hope that going green and living sustainably is more than just a fad. We've only just begun to scratch the surface of what sustainability is all about, so it's something we're going to have to study and work towards for a long time to come. What we truly need is a paradigm shift and a new way of looking at the world and living in it. It seems that Hollywood's version of "going green," with all the glamour and none of the tough questions and realizations, isn't going to get us very far. I'm still glad it exists, but now it's time to push it farther. Green consciousness is rising in our culture, which is a beautiful thing, but we've got to awaken faster if we're going to act in time.

The true green revolution will require more than just individuals living green, it will require green ways of doing business, governing, producing energy, and feeding and sustaining an overpopulated planet. None of this is possible without a new perspective and a mindshift, which can only happen one mind at a time. Albert Einstein was right: "No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it." If we're really going to change the world, the revolution starts within each of us.

Labels: , , ,


Thursday, May 22, 2008

The Story of Stuff

In our consumer culture, stuff happens. It's hard to help it, but we buy, use, and throw away a lot of stuff. Mountains of stuff. And it's not just out of sight, out of mind - this stuff has to go somewhere, whether it's the ocean or the landfill. Even when trying to live as consciously as possible, it's hard to avoid stuff.

Today it seems we are defined not by what we do, or what we say, but by what we own. Our stuff. We accumulate and show off our stuff, play with it, lose it, break it, replace it. What did we ever do without it? Without a doubt, we are a materialist culture. We've become more consumers than citizens (much to the delight of the companies selling us all this stuff). This is just incredibly sad.

Since it's no fun to focus on the sad state of affairs that is society today, I turn your attention to The Story of Stuff. It's an informative, illustrated, and even entertaining look at stuff. Where it comes from, how it's produced, what it's made of, and where it goes after we're done with it. It shows quite nicely why our consumption based system just doesn't work in a world of finite resources. The site is made by the fine folks at Free Range Studios, a design/multimedia company fighting the good fight wile becoming mildly famous for Flash animated movies likeThe Meatrix and Store Wars. It's an eye-opening and empowering video, so make sure you watch the whole thing (it's only 20 minutes).

After watching The Story of Stuff, you'll probably be inspired to think a lot more about the things you buy, make, and throw away. You may want to start buying locally made products, boycotting big box stores, and re-using/recycling/composting every piece of waste that you can. Great, do it! The thought of a strip mall may make you ill once you learn about all the hidden, true costs of all the products that fill it. If not, watch it again. And then share it. Because we all use stuff, so we might as well know where it came from.

Consumerism and our own consumption are at the core of a lot of the problems we're faced with today: overpopulation, pollution, habitat destruction, worker exploitation, global warming, etc. We seriously need to get our consumption habits in check. Watching The Story of Stuff is a good way to start. There is more information on "another way" of doing things on the web site as well.

Labels: , , ,


Thursday, May 08, 2008

Legalize It!

It's been a busy spring for me (hence my absence) and that means that while I wanted to write a nice "green" post for Earth Day, I was just too busy. So, I hope everyone did something nice for the planet Earth Day weekend. I was at Moscow Hempfest - amidst late April snow flurries - educating people about the misunderstood hemp plant and handing out PETA stickers all while selling my homemade hemp soap and jewelry. And although there are a million things I want to write about, I'm going to focus on one issue that's been important to me for some time: HEMP!

Hempfest 2008 Logo with Hemp FactsCannabis sativa (aka hemp) is a plant that humankind has a long history with over 10,000 years. It is only recently that this plant has been demonized and its use criminalized by US drug policy. Cannabis was widely prescribed for many ailments and hemp grown domestically and used for many products, namely rope and canvas, in the US prior to 1937. In 1937, caving into pressure from lobbying groups that felt that hemp threatened their products (ahem, DuPont) and a media fueled by racism, the Marijuana Tax Stamp Act was enacted, effectively making cannabis and hemp illegal. What was once a lucrative, sustainable cash crop became an illicit substance, and a drastic eradication program began.

The penalties have grown harsher (gee, thanks Nixon, Reagan and Bush) and prison sentences today for cannabis-related "crimes" are now often longer than those for rape and murder. Prisons are overpopulated due to the drug war's insistence on arresting non-violent drug offenders and throwing them in jail instead of helping them overcome addiction. Marijuana is listed as a Schedule I drug, alongside heroin and other drugs that have "no medical value." This is despite the fact that science has shown otherwise. Many states have passed legislation allowing doctors to recommend cannabis to their patients. It has been proven helpful for many ailments such as cancer, glaucoma, severe pain, menstrual cramps, nausea, and many more. In fact, in 1988, DEA Judge Francis Young stated that "...marijuana is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to man." He recommended it be removed from the list of Schedule I drugs and rescheduled, which it was not. In the "land of the free," we're not even free to decide what we can put into our own bodies.

Hemp gets lumped in with marijuana (they're both cannabis sativa, but different strains), which is unfortunate, because hemp can't get you high, but it can certainly be used for a million other things. Hemp seeds are highly nutritious, providing all the essential fatty acids humans need. Pretty much all parts of the plant are useful for something, whether it's paper that's stronger and can be recycled more often than tree paper, strong and soft fabric, various plastics, building materials, paints/varnishes, rope, or bio-fuel. Since it has so many uses, is naturally pest and disease resistant, and easy to grow, it could help solve a lot of environmental problems and provide more sustainable alternatives for many products. This sustainable crop could honestly help save the world, and that is why the powers that be fear it so much and want it to remain illegal. The pharmaceutical, paper, lumber, cotton, agriculture, and petroleum industries all feel threatened by this versatile plant, even though industrial hemp could be a boon to our economy and especially to small farmers. Like most things in politics, it all comes down to money.

So, what can we do to end the war on cannabis and re-legalize this useful plant? First of all, as a society we need a massive hemp re-education. Through the years the lies about cannabis have been drilled into our brains, spreading reefer madness and creating hostility towards a plant that has never killed anyone in thousands of years of use. It starts with educating yourself and sharing your knowledge with family and friends. Hemp advocacy can be as fun as attending a Hempfest or as important as starting a local petition to make marijuana use arrests the lowest police priority in your city. Do some research and you're bound to find many resources, organizations, and activists to get you going.

There is currently a federal bill before Congress to re-legalize the cultivation of industrial hemp. This bill, the "Industrial Hemp Farming Act", H.R. 1009, has been introduced by Ron Paul (R-TX) and co-sponsored by a handful of other representatives. Ron Paul has also recently introduced the “Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act”, H.R. 5842, which would bar the Federal Government from intervening in doctor/patient relationships that violate no state law. For more information on hemp advocacy and legislation, see VoteHemp.com.

And in my local news, Mendocino county, California, is soon to vote on Measure B, which plans to repeal Measure G, protecting medical marijuana users and allowing law enforcement to focus on real criminals. Measure B is intended to reduce the amount of large-scale commercial cannabis production in a county with some of the most lenient cannabis laws in the nation. However, it will remove protections that Measure G provides medical patients (which was voted into law by a large majority of the public) and be a huge step backwards in hemp legalization. I find it silly that those supporting Measure B think that changing the law is going to affect commercial growers who obviously don't care about the law in the first place - they're already breaking it, so why would changing the law even affect them? So, if you're a Mendo local, please VOTE NO ON MEASURE B on June 3, 2008, and keep Mendocino County a leader in the fight for legalization!

In the words of Peter Tosh, quite simply, LEGALIZE IT!

Labels: , ,


Sunday, May 06, 2007

Inspiration from The Dalai Lama

His Holiness the Dalai LamaHis Holiness the Dalai Lama is a very important source of inspiration to me. I have read a couple of his books and I have a calendar of some of his teachings sitting on my desk. I definitely like the way he thinks and he never fails to give me food for thought. Some of my favorite quotes:

"The essential feature of true compassion is that it is universal and not discriminatory."

"In every part of the world, there are people who really speak about human rights, adn speak about the right of self-determination, and rights of animals. All of these are, I think, signs of positive change."

"Universal humanitarianism is essential to solve global problems."

"It does not matter whether you are a theist or an atheist, what matters is sincerity, forgiveness, and compassion."

"People who call themselves religious without basic human values like compassion; they are not really religious people."


The Dalai Lama is a very intelligent, compassionate, and happy person with a lot to share with the world. If you're ever seen the movie Kundun, which depicts his early life and his daring escape from Tibet when China occupied it, then you know about some of what this remarkable man has had to go through. Tibet has been taken over by China as the traditions, religious identities, and natural landscape of the Tibetan people are slowly being crushed. The Dalai Lama, as leader of the Tibetan people (even though he currently lives in exile), has never raised a fist towards China throughout their hostile takeover of his home. He is an example of leading with nonviolence, understanding, compromise, and peace.

His Holiness was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for his demonstration of peaceful leadership and his devotion to compassion and teaching. He was also recently awarded a Congressional Gold Medal from the US House of Representatives. I certainly think world leaders have a lot to learn from this humble Buddhist monk. and everyone can certainly learn from his ideas and his life.

Race for TibetTwo organizations I currently support are The International Campaign for Tibet and Free Tibet Campaign. These and many other advocacy groups are trying to stand up with the Dalai Lama for the people of Tibet, and ask China to end the atrocious human rights violations and brutal occupation of this peaceful country. One campaign of particular note is Race for Tibet, an effort of the ICT to force China to own up to the tragic occupation of Tibet befor the upcoming 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

You can sign a petition to the International Olympic Committee on the Race for Tibet site, which reads in part:

In light of the IOC's Olympic Truce commitment "to create a window of opportunities for dialogue, reconciliation and the resolution of conflicts...and to encourage political leaders to act in favour of peace" (www.olympic.org), it is clear that the IOC ideals and values are very applicable for Tibet as we approach the 2008 Games. The IOC has long contended that awarding Beijing the 2008 Games will improve human rights in China, but as time passes, these assurances have not turned into concrete results.

The IOC should not let the Olympics be used by China to blatantly or insidiously try to legitimize their rule in Tibet or to promote a distorted view of the conditions there. Yet with China's selection of the Tibetan antelope (or chiru) as an Olympic mascot, we are already seeing the first results of a Chinese strategy to misuse Tibet in relation to the 2008 Olympics.


I hope someday to see the Dalai Lama speak and to visit his beautiful home country of Tibet, but I hope that I can visit a FREE Tibet, after the Dalai Lama reclaims his leadership in a sovereign country and the bloodshed and hardship China has inflicted can begin to heal. Until then, I'll keep speaking up for Tibet and learning from what the Dalai Lama has to say.

Labels: , ,


Monday, March 19, 2007

4 Years and Counting...

4 Years and Counting...The four year anniversary of US Involvement in Iraq has recently come and gone. It's hard to believe this conflict has been going on for over four years now, and sadly, the bodies keep stacking up. As of the time of posting, 3,218 US Soldiers have been killed in Iraq, as well as tens of thousands of Iraqi civilians. My heart goes out to the families shattered by this conflict, and I hope for an end very soon. I really don't want to see a fifth anniversary!

Pictured is my design for the Palouse Peace Coalition's peace rally commemorating 4 years in Iraq. I designed the graphic for last year's third anniversary rally, and updated it for yet another year. Since not much has changed in Iraq other than more bloodshed, the poster still rings true: "Too Many Lives, Too Many Tears, Too Many Lies, Too Many Years."

I participated in the PPC's peace rally this year and despite it being such a sad anniversary, the march was a lot of fun and very light-hearted. We marched from downtown Moscow down the highway to the mall and back, accompanied by live music from the "Peace Band" and lots of props. This Guy Rocks!One man wore a Bush mask and pulled a barrel of "oil" with a sign reading "Mission Accomplished" in a wagon. He was certainly my favorite marcher that day! Others carried a wooden coffin honoring all those who have died in the conflict (my boyfriend even took a turn carrying it). There were lots of peace signs, American flags, and people in black funeral clothes. Several people led the march with a large dove, and we got a lot of responses (thankfully mostly positive, but there were a few mean-spirited war mongers too) from people driving by on the highway. I came up with a catchy new slogan to yell at people driving huge trucks and SUVs: "Burn Bio-fuels, Not Bodies!"

It was a beautiful day for a peace march! You can see the rest of my pictures in this photo set on flickr. Let's hope there is no need for an Iraq protest march next year...

Labels: , , ,


Monday, March 12, 2007

Stop Canada's Seal Hunt

Baby SealThe Canadian government condones the killing of hundreds of thousands of harp seals each year. These beautiful creatures are bludgeoned to death and often skinned alive so their fur can be sold. Many of the seals killed are helpless babies. This year, Canada has given the go-ahead for hunters to kill 335,000 baby harp seals and Canada's ice floes will be covered in the blood of innocent animals for something as unnecessary as fur coats.

Please sign PETA's petition to Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper before this year's hunt begins. You can also help boycotting Canadian products and of course, refusing to wear real fur of any kind. For more information and ways to help, see StopTheSealHunt.com.

This cruel tradition needs to end. Thank you for your compassion.

Labels: , ,


Monday, January 08, 2007

Living Your Ideals

Well, it's 2007. And as usual, I have a whole list of New Year's Resolutions. Who knows how many I'll actually keep, but my resolutions (and my goals, in general) over the past few years have a bit of a pattern: I want to live my ideals. I want to walk the walk, not just talk the talk. It's a constant struggle, especially because I have pretty high aspirations and I tend to dream big. In 2005, my boyfriend and I started eating organic food whenever possible, and have been shopping at the Farmer's Market and the Co-op ever since. This was also about the time he went vegetarian (after I had been veg for over 6 months), another milestone in lining up our lives with our beliefs & ethics. In 2006, our goal was to get a car we could convert to run on waste vegetable oil, a carbon-neutral way to power your car (from a renewable source). We got our diesel volkswagen vanagon and ordered a Greasecar kit, and now collect waste oil, filter it, and run our van on it. It's a work in progress of course (as any VW is).

In the spirit of bringing change in the new year, I've come up with a list of possible New Year's Resolutions that can bring your lifestyle in line with progressive ethics and sustainability. There's lots of things you can do to lessen your negative impact on the earth, and lead to a more positive impact on everything around you.

Get Informed by dedicating more time to reading up on local and world news (preferably from independent media sources) and researching issues you are concerned about. Then, put your knowledge to use by doing something about it!

Simplify your life and reduce the amount of waste you produce. There's many ways to do this, including going through your home & donating unused items to charity, repairing and maintaining the things you already have instead of replacing them, re-using containers, and simply buying less stuff. Another great way to add time to your day is to stop watching TV (I don't miss it, you won't either).

Support Causes you believe in whether it be volunteering for a local animal shelter or donating money to a charity organization. Use your skills to help organizations you support, or even get a job with one!

Change Your Lifestyle one bit at a time until you're living your ideals. Start changing your life and changing the world every day. This could mean dropping things like meat, high fructose corn syrup, or overly-processed foods from your diet. Or it could mean carpooling, walking, or riding your bike to school or work instead of driving a car. You chould start reading labels and buying sweatshop and cruelty free items. Simple changes can have huge effects!

Switch Your Lights to energy-saving bulbs (a la An Inconvenient Truth. Also switch your appliances when they wear out with energy-efficent models (look for the Energy Star logo, or come up with your own standards).

Speak Out and get more involved in issues you care about. Whether it's passing out leaflets, participating in a peace demonstration, or volunteering for a local non-profit, you can help change minds & support your community.

Be Picky when you must buy something. Look for products that use recycled or renewable materials, that are manufactured in green factories (or at least not in sweatshops), or that are Fair Trade Certified or Certified Organic. And whenever possible, but locally grown/made products from the people that produce them: you'll be helping your local economy and supporting small businesses & farms.

There are probably a million more small things you could do to turn your life into a manifestation of your ideals. These are just a few I've done or am working on. Please leave a comment if you have other suggestions to add to this list! :)

Happy New Year!

Labels: , ,


Wednesday, August 23, 2006

What's worse than a Hummer? McDonalds selling toy Hummers to kids.

Ya know, I'm not a fan of huge corporations. I'm not saying they are all bad, but really the entire idea of a company that large is set up for failure and corruption. Corporations have the rights of people but about a million times the resources at their disposal. That's scary stuff. Things get particularly complicated when corporations combine forces, whether for a simple marketing gimmick or a huge lobbying campaign.

Two particularly nasty corporations are McDonald's (makers of cheap, overly-processed, factory-farmed garbage that is helping fuel our lovely obesity epidemic) and General Motors (makers of really heavy, gas guzzling SUVs including the behemoth HUMMER). Guess what McDonald's is enticing kids with in their Happy Meals? Toy HUMMERs.

Well, regardless of your thoughts on this, why not have a little fun while telling McDonald's & GM just what you think of them on RonaldMcHummer.com. You can learn about why HUMMERS are less than savory for the environment and kids themselves and create your own McDonald's sign and send it to Mc-D's. I went for the long-winded but passionate approach for the first picture. It's not likely that I will ever set foot in McDonald's again (if I'm lucky) so they're not really losing any business from me... but promoting gas-guzzling cars as "cool" and "fun" to impressionable youngsters while filling them full of chemical-laden, cruelly-produced processed crap is just about as low as it gets. So I had to say something. Come on! Do it for the kids!

My second attempt at a sign is a philosophy I've developed over the years by observing men that drive huge SUVs simply because they are cool or make them look macho (i.e. people that definitely don't need that gas-guzzler): they seem to be compensating for something. As I always say, the bigger the truck, the smaller the dick. Hehehe.

Be sure to check out the other signs that people have created and vote for your favorites. I think my fave is "Would You Like a War With That?" Other classics include "Destroying the Planet, One Burger at a Time" and "Supersize Your Ecological Footprint Today!" Making fun of corporations sure is fun, and as I have found out in recent years, boycotting companies you don't agree with is quite satisfying as well.

Labels: , , ,


Wednesday, June 14, 2006

Save the Internet!

The corporations are at it again! Big telecom companies are trying to have tighter control over bandwidth (and make a buck in the process). Basically, they would charge web sites for bandwidth, meaning the sites that can afford to pay up will load quickly, and those that can't will load painfully slow or not at all. The House passed a telecommunications bill without net neutrality protections. Net neutrality is basically the First Amendment of the internet: it's what makes everyone from the biggest corporation to an individual blogger on a level playing field and equal opportunity to make their voice heard online. The bill is now in the senate, and hopefully a net neutrality amendment will be added.

I've always seen the internet as one of the last frontiers for truly free speech. The fact that anyone can put up a web page and anyone with access can see it is just amazing. It's the one place that hasn't been totally co-opted for only commercial uses. If net neutrality is not protected, it would be easy for internet providers to control whice sites people got to access and which they could not. And no one should have to be a corporate pawn!

Help keep the internet a level playing field and find out more about net neutrality at SaveTheInternet.com. Send a message to your senators today and keep the internet open for all.

Labels: , ,


Wednesday, June 15, 2005

Meat=Cancer, Go Veg!

I just read this report from BBC News, saying that eating red meat often is linked to bowel cancer. Well, duh! I'm sure some factory farm advocates will soon fund a study saying the opposite. It's unfortunate that people don't have more access to important health information such as this from their government, because so many lobbyists want Washington to downplay the dangers of things like factory farms, meat, and genetically modified food.

Seneca showed me this site recently. It's really very interesting. It examines human phisiology and evolution and discovers that a plant-based diet is the most natural and healthy human diet. We do not have the digestive system, teeth, or other traits that most carnivores have, and we are not evolved to eat as much meat as we do. If you need more convincing, check out Meet your Meat, a video showing what really happens to animals in factory farms. Beware, it's disturbing, disgusting, and if you have a soul at all, it will make you cry. It definitely reaffirmed my commitment to vegetarianism, and made both Seneca and I consider going vegan instead of eating organic dairy. It's disturbing knowing where your food came from these days...

Labels: ,