Archive for the ‘Culture & Celebrity’ Category

Gopi’s father is a well educated Sadar.  A substantial landowner with economic means.  He refuses iced water and refuses a fan in his room.  He can afford air conditioning, but it is not even a consideration.  Even the fan is not a consideration. He lives with the elements in his own room.  Attended by 5 servents. The main servant, his personal cook and personal attendent, has been with him for 36 years.   Kashore is his name and his wife and newly married son and wife, attend Nanak Singhji and all his needs.  He has three homes including the home at the farm where he cooks with methane gas created from cow dung.  He has been doing that for many years.

This same Sadarji, purchased a new diesel SUV when he already has a small mini van and a small car for his personal use.  He purchase the new diesel SUV so that Gopi and I would be comfortable when we came to India.  The contrast of operation, need, and comfort defies understanding.  Only culture and contrasting values offer any explaination.  This Sadarji (Sikh gentleman-landholder-farmer) is 93 years old and is in perfect health.  His diet is excellent and would be praised by our standards.  In fact, his food is not processed and mostly grown on his own farm or purchased from markets that grow locally.

While in India, I have eaten better and naturally healthier than most in America.  Our two guests, one from Australia and one from the United States have said they do not know how they will adjust to American food once we return.  Our food has almost no flavor compared to what we are experiencing.  One one of our last visits, the teenaged daughter of one of our friends was asked by her parents, “Elise, why are you eating so much here when at home you barely touch you food?”  Her response was simple and indirect, “Well, I guess it is because it tastes soooo… good and the food at home is bland in comparison.”  I know the mother of this teenaged daughter and her mother is Greek and an excellent cook.  The simple fact is that, at least in this home the preparations are simple and tasteful.  Healthy and fresh.  Do not think that if you all run to an Indian restaurant that you will be experiencing Indian food.  Home cooked Indian food from fresh locally grow vegatables is not the same thing.  Hard to explain, but true.  Taste is worth the effort to eat locally grown food where ever you live.

If we all lived like Gopi’s father, the planet would be heading in the right direction.  Good heart and mostly conservative uses of energy and resouces without effort or suffering.

People are always looking for ways they can get connected with like-minded green individuals.  Where do I go?  How do I start?  How can I connect with others that are just like me?

Fabulously enough, Kimberly Danek Pinkson has created such a place.  The web site has been created to help guide you through the process of getting others involved in an organized fashion.  www.Ecomomalliance.org.  Don’t let the name fool you  . . . it is not only mothers, but non mothers, fathers and men have all joined to get there communities involved.  Go on-line, create a profile, and find others in your community to help you get started.

What they do –
According to their website, “EcoMom Alliance is a global organization inspiring and empowering thousands of women, through education and community action, to help reduce the climate crisis and create and environmentally, socially and economically sustainable future.”
If that doesn’t make you want to get involved, here are some great things they do:
Empower women to become advocates within their communities.
Provide connection and education.
Support policy that helps propel financial, ecological and social health, particularly as it relates to women.
Help companies to develop sustainable business standards and practices.
Let’s all take a step in the right direction and try to do something that creates change. It is always better in numbers.