BE THE CHANGE
Ever since I became involved with the martial art of Ninpo I realized through the blessings of the many Sage's that I have come in contact with the world is a very intricate place and that everything plays a huge part from a micron all the way on up to the Rain Forests. Everything we do has a reflection on the world we live in. One thing people are led to believe is that one person can’t make much of a change. I say don’t believe the hype! With one person making a conscience effort there will be a better world tomorrow. Fight the good fight, my friends!
Did you know that 260 million acres of U.S forest have been cleared to create cropland to produce our meat-centered diet and another acre disappears every 5 seconds. At the present rate, in 50 years not a single tree will remain standing in the U.S. Yet the amount of trees spared per year by each individual who switches to a pure vegetarian diet equals an entire acre of land saved, daily. “Diet for a new America by John Robbins.”
Animal agriculture is more damaging to land, water, air and wildlife than all other human activities combined. It has been called the greatest threat to the quality of life on earth second only to nuclear war. FARM
The driving force behind rain forest destruction is the American meat habit. We import 200 million pounds of meat annually from Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras and Panama. Yet, people in those countries eat less meat than the average American house cat. “Diet for a new America.” by John Robbins
Worldwide a forested area larger than Denmark vanishes every 6 months. For every acre converted for grazing pastures: 200 million acres of once highly productive forestland is now reduced to grazing. PETA
The use of grazing and cropland for U.S beef production accounts for roughly 50 percent of rain forest degradation, in turn worsening the greenhouse effect and soil depletion, destroying wildlife habitats and compromising biodiversity. Rocky Mountain Humane society.
The decimation of Rain forest by companies like Burger King reduces rainfall in Africa. Each tree left standing can process 40 gallons of moisture daily into the atmosphere. American agribusiness destroys the rain forest to graze cattle, causing millions of birds, monkeys, snakes and others to lose their homes and lives as the massive South American rainforest's which play a key role in the ecology and climate of the planet disappear. PETA.
It is my goal not to change people against their will. I am only making people aware of the possibilities if they make changes to themselves ever so slightly. Did you Know: that 1.4 trillion dollars was spent on the health care business in the year 2001. Over 150 million dollars was spent on health related diseases that could have been avoided due to proper eating habits of the American Citizens. To say the least we are eating and therefore building to create space for more food for ourselves to death. It is time to make a change. Don’t you think? It is up to you.
The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said "yes" but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not is his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials.
It was an unfortunate way to end his career. When the carpenter finished his work and the builder came to inspect the house, the contractor handed the front door key to the carpenter. "This is your house, he said, "my gift to you."
What a shock, What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it so differently. Now he had to live in the home he had built none to well.
So it is with us. We build our lives in a distracted way, reacting rather than acting, willing to put up less than the best. At important points we do not give the job our best effort. Then with a shock we look at the situation we have created and find that we are now living in the house we have built. If we had realized that we would have done it so differently.
Think of yourself as the carpenter. Think about your house. Each day you hammer a nail, place a board or erect a wall, build wisely!
It is the only life you will ever build. Even if you live it for only one day more, that day deserves to be lived graciously and with dignity.
"Life is a do-it-yourself project." Who could say it more clearly? Your life today is a result of your attitudes and choices in the past. Your life tomorrow will be the result of you attitudes and the choices you make today!
