Monthly Archives: October 2011

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Days of the Dead – Oakland Museum

October 27, 2011 in Events

On Oct 23, 2011 I attended the Community Celebration for Days of the Dead at the Oakland Museum of California

This public celebration coincides with  the 17th annual Days of the Dead exhibit  - October 12, 2011 – December 11, 2011

“Celebrated between October 31 and November 2, the Mesoamerican tradition of Días de los Muertos is widely associated with iconic and colorful elements—such as sugar skulls, marigolds, and altars, or ofrendas—arranged or created in honor of deceased loved ones. This year OMCA celebrates the 17th annual Days of the Dead exhibition, which looks beyond the icons to delve into the heartfelt tales of love and loss that the ofrendas have to tell. Featuring 14 artists and student and community groups with personal stories related to Días de los Muertos, the exhibition pays special attention to the importance of ofrendas and celebrates this ritual as a vehicle for creating intimate sacred spaces and sharing memories.

Featured Artists:  Amalia Mesa Bains, Chris Granillo, Xochitl Nevel Guerrero, Roberto Guerrero, Rubén Guzmán Campos, Joaquin Newman, Ernesto Hernández Olmos, Dee Dee Rodriguez, Tessie Scharaga, Consuelo Jiménez Underwood, Andres Cisneros Galindo, Irene Perez, Rafael Jesús González, and Hermina Albarran Romero. Participating schools and community groups: Peralta Elementary, with lead artists Trena Noval and Ellen Oppenheimer; Laney College, with lead artists Leslee Stradford and Arturo Davila; and Clínica de La Raza and Sutter VNA & Hospice, Emeryville, with lead artist Alicia Diaz.”

During the celebration between the hours of noon and 4:00 p.m. over a thousand people participated in the various activities .  There was quite a bit of face painting, lots of traditional food booths, a “mercado” of traditional Dia de los Muertos items for sale, and the various altar exhibits to look at.

The festivities began with what I would charicterize as a large community Pagan ritual in front of the main courtyard. The began by dedicating the “four cardinal points” or Quarters.

 “East (red, where the sun rises) Spirit of Man; West(black, where the sun sets) Spirit of Woman; North (White, where akk is cold) Elders; South ()yellow, for golden warmth) Children”

This was followed by a procession of Astec Dancers making the thirteen offerings at the altar.  These offerings were Incense, Virgin of Guadalupe statue, Myan Cross, Cempasuchitl or marigold, water, candles, Pan de muerto (bread of the dead), foods and beverages, sugar skulls, Papel Picado (punched tissue paper banners), personal objects, the arch, and  the herb – amaranth. After the offerings there was a series of ritual dances and another blessing.  Then the public was invited to come to the altar and make their individual offerings for the rest of the day.

This was a truly authentic community event for thios time of year and I would recomend it to all local Pagans

For more pictures of this years event please see my flickr group .

Greg Harder for PNC Bay Area.

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Diablo Valley Pagan Meet and Greet this Friday

October 27, 2011 in Uncategorized

Diablo Valley Pagan‘s monthly meet and greet will be held at The Mystic Dream this Friday, October 28, 2011, from 7:00 – 9:00pm. This monthly event, held at 1437 North Broadway in Walnut Creek, is a chance to meet and schmooze with local Pagan folk in the Bay Area. This free event is organized by Del Lavely of Diablo Valley Pagans and one of the only meet and greets of this kind in the Mount Diablo area.

Del Lavely recently interviewed with Pagan Newswire Collective Bay Area to answer questions about the history and mission of the Diablo Valley Pagan meet and great events.

 How long has Diablo Valley Pagans been in existence and what was your motivation for putting together this group?
Diablo Valley Pagans was started in October of 2008. My family and I had recently moved to the area. When I started looking around for ways to become more involved with the Pagan Community out here, I found that there wasn’t very many opportunities for people to meet, gather and socialize. Diablo Valley Pagans was how I hoped to address that lack. 

Do you feel that groups like DVP fill a void in the Pagan community and how do you see these types of gatherings enhance local Pagans?
There are so many ways that different Pagans approach their faith – many are drawn to join (or start) covens, some prefer to practice in privacy – but I think most Pagans can benefit from having the opportunity to meet, network, and socialize with other Pagans. There are something in the neighborhood of dozens, if not hundreds of Rituals, classes, and what have you going on all the time in the Bay Area, but I think that during the structure of a ritual or class it can be difficult to make friends, to have a conversation, to build a community together. So, yes – I think that DVP fills a void by providing that opportunity.

Organizing a Pagan group or gathering can be taxing at times. Have you felt that the local Pagan community has been receptive of DVP or have you had a variety of hurdles in putting these events on and building them with the locals?
There have been many times that people have said that organizing Pagans is rather like herding Cats, and I would have to say that to be true. I’ve found that while many Pagans say that they value the resource of having community, few are willing to put in the effort to attend and be present, to share in the responsibilities, or at the least support those who have the responsibilities. There have been months where people will say that they are coming to an event – and on the day of the event, no one shows. It can be disheartening. There have been other times, where more than you ever expected show up, and they help make up for the days when they don’t. As an organizer, I think it’s important to be persistent and reliable, even in the face of disappointments, and to keep hoping that if you continue to support the community, the community will eventually come to support you. 

 What changes have you noticed in the community of DVP participants from when you began this group and now? 

When DVP first started, there were a few people that drifted in and out of events – coming one month, not coming for several, etc… Now I’d say that we have a semi-reliable core group who usually attend. We also started out at a Coffee Shop, but eventually relocated to have our monthly event hosted at The Mystic Dream in Walnut Creek. Having a location we could count on, and the support of the Mystic Dream has meant a great deal to the stability of Diablo Valley Pagans, and has allowed us in turn, to support a local resource for Pagans and a local small business. 

Are there upcoming projects or events that the community can look forward to from DVP?
There are a few changes being worked on for DVP, hopefully to be completed soon. There’s a new Website in the pipeline, with a community calendar that I’m hoping to launch in the next few months. As time goes on, I’m hoping to extend the leadership to include a committee to help expand on and oversee more events. I’d like to see our current event, The Meet & Greet at the Mystic Dream grow, and perhaps offer more events in the future.

If someone is interested in getting involved with DVP, where should he or she go to access additional information?

The best place to find current information about Diablo Valley Pagans is to check us out on Facebook. If someone wants to become involved, they can send me a message on Facebook to Del Lavely, http://www.dvpagans.com/or an email to Del@Dvpagans.com . 

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The New Media Revolution – Bioneers Conference Workshop

October 26, 2011 in Environmental issues, Events, Politics

Bettina Grey, Chair of the North American Interfaith Network and film maker, is no neophyte to media production.  She has produced films and interviews with many of the World’s foremost religious leaders including the Dali Lama.  Most recently we worked together in Australia’s Parliament of the World’s Religions producing live feed coverage of that event in cutting edge technology

Rachael Watcher

From Bettina Grey

“The New Media Revolution and Political Expression” workshop was very interesting and made all the more so because of a mix up in room assignments.  For the first 45 minutes only Steve Katz, the panel facilitator,  was there from Mother Jones.  He wisely plunged right into audience questions — asking the audience what he would have asked the panelists and getting some quite interesting answers.  Ironically this was a metaphor for the topic itself.  The media revolution is an intensely international level, democratic, leveling process which is full of exciting opportunities and considerable pitfalls as well.

Among the exciting opportunities were the obvious — the ability to exchange direct information person to person, group to group leaping over the earlier boundaries and gate-keepers.  One example Steve Katz gave was that Twitter has revolutionized the way journalists do stories.   They start with twitter feeds in collecting the stories and information.  Then develop the story in greater detail when and as needed.  He commented that this was just the inverse of the way journalism had been done when he started in the 1970′s.  He strongly recommended that everyone in the audience get and use Twitter for information updates.  Twitter is “where other journalists hang out.

 “Retweeting is a very efficient way to move a story through social media.”

Another example (which Greg Harder, the Editor of the Bay Area PNC,  also commented on to me in the break) is the use of Google Earth to collect data and verify clear cutting of forests and be able to prove the extent of damages which were being denied.  In the past access to that information was controlled and very difficult to confirm.  It is now available to anyone with a computer and the will to investigate.  Mining data has become the major challenge.

The flip side, and second major challenge of the digital media revolution is the reliability of sources, and the impact of digital surveillance for either commercial or political ends.  Before the panelists arrived Steve asked the audience how they saw the known digital snooping –  tracing of online activity.  The new “siri” on iPhone — phones home to Apple keeping a record of what is being asked, both Google and Facebook track the user’s online viewing.  Google’s algorithm creates a feedback loop that prevents viewers from seeing new material since it delivers information based on past viewing habits.  Suggestions to correct these ranged from making use of “private browsing” available in several web browsers, using a web browser dedicated to only viewing facebook and a second web browser for all other online browsing or making use of “https everywhere” software from the Electronic Frontier Foundation (“defending your rights in the digital world.”)  Panelist Nora Barrows-Friedman, journalist-photographer, commented that, “of the various ways of exchanging information, mobile phones are the least secure.”

One of the areas that was not discussed at all is the new access to broadcast media via free video webcast and internet conferencing.  That was my disappointment with the area of discussion.  The focus was almost entirely on print/text journalism and its political implications.

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The Choir and Beyond: The Dual Role of Environmental Media – Bioneeers Converence workshop

October 26, 2011 in Environmental issues, Events, Politics

“The Choir and Beyond: The Dual Role of Environmental Media“  was moderated by Steve Katz of Mother Jones. The four panelists all had video/audio/music production expertise. One was  Kim Spencer, Chief Content Officer for Link TV.  Unfortunately the direction of the conversation did not veer toward the technical “how to” of new media much so I didn’t hear from them the kind of content I would have liked but in all fairness, very few in the audience would have wanted that kind of technical discussion.

The description of the session states: “The U.S. environmental and social justice movements lack a choir — and need one. At the same time, it’s imperative to reach beyond the choir.”  

This session explored how communication and media can reach a larger segment of viewers.  Unfortunately too much of it was the same old rhetoric of us vs them polarization — a political polarization fixation!  Had I the opportunity to comment I would have said that drawing a larger circle by finding common goals and motivations might help.

 A perfect example of this “larger circle theory” is the story of how a representative of the Land Institute in Salina Kansas found that while talking about global warming did not motivate a local conservative Kansas community to make changes in their energy conservation habits, talking about caring for the earth and becoming energy independent as a nation was much better received and accomplished the same end goals.  The community’s energy conservation went up measurably after the focus of the discussion shifted to goals the participants shared.  She found that her target audience cared about the environment as a part of their Christian commitment to “God’s creation.” And politically they agreed with the concept of becoming energy independent.  This kind of re-work which allows for a broader buy-in from many different parties was not, unfortunately, part of the session discussion.

Bettina Grey for PNC Bay Area

Bettina Grey, Chair of the North American Interfaith Network and film maker, is no neophyte to media production.  She has produced films and interviews with many of the World’s foremost religious leaders including the Dali Lama.  Most recently we worked together in Australia’s Parliament of the World’s Religions producing live feed coverage of that event in cutting edge technology

Both Bettina and I had hoped that more emphasis and exploration would have been spent on the newer technologies that would have allowed such a conference to have occurred virtually without the heavy carbon costs of bringing 5000 people together in one place.   All of the plenary sessions were recorded and are available to any interested party at a cost, and many are absolutely fascinating.  However that doesn’t reduce the initial cost.

The Bioneers also has a “Beaming Bioneers” program which allows groups to watch a live feed of the plenary presentations from a distant location.  No workshops were given on offering this technology, nor was there a discussion of its relative merits, or how to presentations of whether this might be a viable means of holding such conferences in the future.   We were somewhat disappointed and can only hope that the Bioneers continue to explore this technology and decide to share the environmental benifits at some future date.

R. Watcher

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Inanna’s Descent in Berkeley

October 23, 2011 in Uncategorized

Today I attended the Ragged Wing Ensemble’s outdoor play – Inanna’s Descent in Berkeley, CA at Codornices Park at Eunice @ Euclid Ave.  It was a very good musical performance of the myth of Inanna’s descent to the Underworld – a perfect theme for this Samhain season.

Here is what the ensemble has to say about themselves:

“Ragged Wing Ensemble is a collective of artists who create innovative work for the theater, drawing our theatrical vocabulary from physical theater, dance, clowning, mask work and puppetry. We seek to redefine classic stories, folktales and myths by creating original interpretations and placing them in new contexts, involving our audiences in the ritual of live performance. Our process is collaborative – from the management of the company to the creation of our pieces, from our educational programs to our commitment to low ticket prices and audience involvement. As many of the ensemble members are both artists and teachers, we place equal emphasis on quality performance and arts education.”                                                               Inanna – Kelly Rinehart

The show is for adults and children, and is specifically designed for kids of all ages to enjoy and participate.   There are seven art  installations to explore plus the central performance area. Kids and adults are encouraged to travel to these installations with their ”passports” to get them stamped after they complete an assigned task.  These additional activities made everyone present into participants in the story.                                                        Geshtinanna – Amy Sass

“INANNA, queen of heaven and earth, goddess of love and war, opens her ear to the great below.  She passes through the 7 gates to the underworld, shedding layers of earthly identity and entering the darkness.  What will she meet there? Will she find her way back?  What is the meaning of her journey?  This seasonal myth from ancient Sumer, from the dawn of civilization, reaches through time and space to ask us:  What calls us to the dark places?  What are we willing to sacrifice? and What must we do to save our dying civilization?  Join us on this journey to the depths of the underworld, through the unconscious, to celebrate the darkening of days.”

Creator/Director:  Anna Shneiderman
Writer: Addie Ulrey
Music Director/Composer: Tamara Roberts
Art Director: Amy Sass
Production Designer/Builder:
Dax Tran-Caffee
Featuring: Keith Davis, Lisa Klein, Sam Luckey, Cecilia Palmtag, Kelly Rinehart, Soren Santos, Amy Sass, Dax Tran-Caffee and Phil Wharton
Musicians: Tamara Roberts, Jenny Holland, Dax Tran-Caffee, Molly Holcomb
Site Directors: Jenny Holland, Cecilia Palmtag, Amy Sass, Anna Shneiderman, David Stein, Dax Tran-Caffee, Addie Ulrey
Stage Manager: Molly Holcomb

It is good to see Pagan themed performances that are well done as this work was.  So many times I have been to Pagan ritual performances where people tried to put on a complex ritual theater performance without memorizing lines or even reading them well. Our local community could use some of the professionalism and dedication of this theater troup.

Please treat yourself to this production It plays Oct. 15th – 30th, 1:00-5:00 pm with a special Halloween after dark performance: Monday, Oct. 31st, 5:00 – 8:00 pm.

For more photos of this theater event see my flickr page

 Greg Harder for PNC Bay Area

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Earth Medicine Alliance Conference this weekend

October 20, 2011 in Announcements, Events, Pagan Leaders

Earth Medicine Alliance is holding their Second Annual Conference on October 22nd and 23rd at the First Unitarian Universalists Church and Center; located at 1187 Franklin Street in San Francisco. This years theme is Honoring the Spirits of Place and costs $75.00 for admission to this event. This event starts at 9:30am on Saturday and will include the teachings of over 20 ceremonial leaders.

The line up of this conference is diverse and represents the mission that is outlined on their website. On the Earth Medicine Alliance website the mission statement outlines a belief in many paths and purposes, “The Earth Medicine Alliance invites humans to remember their unity with the living Earth and to nourish alliances with our other-than-human relations.  We accomplish this through teaching and supporting earth-honoring religious traditions, spiritual practices, and ways of life.”

This weekend’s presenters include T Thorn Coyle, Chandra Alexandre, Charlene Sul, Tom Pinkson, Morpheus Ravenna,  J. Phoenix Smith and Ukumbwa Sauti.  

In a recent interview with the Daniel Foor, Founder and Executive Director of Earth Medicine Alliance, he discussed the organization and this upcoming event.

 

Tell us a little about who Earth Medicine Alliance  is and your mission

The Earth Medicine Alliance is a network of individuals and communities who share a deep love of this Earth and the many beings here. We believe that efforts to mend our relations with the rest of the natural world can also bring together people of diverse ancestries, spiritual traditions, and ways of life for healing and celebration.

We incorporated as a 501(c)3 religious non-profit in California in January of 2010 and we received our tax-exempt status with the IRS in August of 2010. All our staff currently serve in a volunteer capacity, as do all members of our board of directors.

What does this two day conference offer to those who attend?

Spirits of place are our closest neighbors in the larger web of relations, those whom we most impact and are most impacted by. In addition to our human kin, they include animal and plant relations, mountains and rivers, ancestors of the land, the elders who bring rain and storms, stone people, elementals, local deities, nature spirits, and other strange old powers whose bodies we perceive as the natural world.

On Saturday we’ll gather from “9:30am to 6:00pm at the Unitarian Center in San Francisco for a day of teachings, ceremony, and interfaith dialogue. On Sunday participants are invited to gather at one of four locations on the land in and around the City for earth-honoring rituals co-led by conference presenters.

Earth Medicine Alliance notes on their website the dedication to “serving the natural world by bringing together practitioners of diverse earth-honoring paths for interfaith dialogue and co-creative, heart-centered ritual”. This event appears to be preparing to do just that.
For more information, you can check out the website at www.earthmedicine.org or register for this event at

http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/183067. Additional information about presenters can be found at http://www.earthmedicine.org/2011_EMA_Conference_Program.pdf. Registration can also be done at the door.

Crystal Blanton, PNC Bay Area

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GOP Presidential Candidate Gary Johnson Talks to Pagan Media

October 18, 2011 in Uncategorized

Gary Johnson, the former Governor of New Mexico, spoke to a panel of Pagan and Hindu Media sources on October 16, 2011 in a live Google + “Hangout” town hall meeting to answer questions about his views and upcoming 2012 election. This monumental and ground breaking event was a first for Pagan specific media sources and was publicized by Johnson himself on his Google + page.

Cara Shultz, Co-Editor of Pagan Newswire Collective Minnesota, arranged this conference and worked diligently to coordinate all the details, including the live broadcast of the event that was done by Keith Barrett TV. Representatives from Pagan Newswire Collective Minnesota, Capital Witch, Modern Witch Podcast, Patheos Pagan Portal, The Wild Hunt, The American Hindu Foundation and Pagan Newswire Collective Bay Area represented the Pagan and Hindu Media sources in this 90 minute session with Governor Johnson. Johnson answered questions that ranged from drug policy, schools, jobs , gay rights and even the rights of minority faith practitioners in prisons and the military.

Governor Johnson discussed conservative views on federal spending and his promise to present a plan to balance the federal budget in 2013 if he is elected. The former Governor joked about his record of vetoing approximately 750 bills while in office in New Mexico and earning the “Governor Veto” nickname. Johnson also discussed his more liberal views in the Republican party and states “I don’t expect to get the social conservative vote. When it comes to Republicans, the majority of Republicans in this country are not social conservatives, but the overwhelming majority of Republican activists are social conservatives. I won’t get the social conservative vote in the primary, although I’d like to think I would get it in the general election.”

Governor Johnson responded to Modern Witch Podcast and Pagan Newswire Collective Bay Area’s Devin Hunter when he asked “why talk to Pagans?” by stating, “I am going to go out on a limb here and say that you are opinion makers. People look to you for your opinions because you take the time to be well informed.”

This 90 minute conference was full of questions that addressed current national issues, Pagan related concerns and plans for the future of the United States. The recorded conference can be viewed at http://www.justin.tv/keithbarrett/b/297672916 . 

 

For the post conference conversations with the Pagan Media interviewers, visit the Modern Witch Podcast’s blog talk radio site at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/devin-hunter/2011/10/17/the-modern-witch—live-post-conference-coverage.

As the week continues, Pagan Newswire Collective Bay Area will post links to responses and articles that come out about this monumental event within the Pagan community.

Note: Media representatives for this event included:

Cara Shultz – Pagan Newswire Collective Minnesota

Jason Pitzl-Waters – The Wild Hunt

Star Foster – Managing Editor of the Pagan Portal at Patheos.com

Devin Hunter – Modern Witch Podcast and Pagan Newswire Collective Bay Area

DavidSalisbury – Capitol Witch and Human Rights Campaign

Ramesh Rao – Professor at Longwood University and Executive Council Member of the American Hindu Foundation

Crystal Blanton – Pagan Newswire Collective Bay Area 

 

Crystal Blanton – PNC Bay Area reporting

 

 

 

 

 

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The Bioneers Conference – “From Breakdown to Breakthrough…”

October 17, 2011 in Uncategorized

As I stated before,  this last weekend’s Bioneers conference was large and complex to cover, but we did our best.  We made use of three on the scene reporters who were issued press passes to cover the event: Bettina Gray – the co founder of the  North American Interfaith Network, Michelle Mueller – a PHD student at the Graduate Theological Union,  and myself – one of your PNC Bay Area’s editors. Over the next week or so each of us will be providing additional reports and perspectives.                                                                        Betinna and Michelle

To set the stage let me quote Bioneers about who they are and what they do:

“As a 501(C)3 nonprofit, we provide solutions-based education and social connectivity through the Bioneers national and local conferences and our programs, including: The Bioneers: Revolution From the Heart of Nature radio series; anthology book series; television programs and online community. We act as a key source for the media. Our materials are used by colleges, schools and organizations. We conduct core programs on Women’s Leadership, Dreaming New Mexico (state-based restoration), Youth and Food Systems.

A New Word : Founder Kenny Ausubel coined the word bioneers in 1990 to describe an emerging culture of social and scientific innovators who are mimicking nature’s operating instructions to serve human ends while enriching the web of life. We take a “solve-the-whole-problem” approach: Taking care of nature means taking care of people – and taking care of people means taking care of nature. It’s part of our mission.”

Kenny Ausubel pointed out that the organization almost went under in the 1990′s just after they moved from Santa Fe, New Mexico to Bay Area in California.  They were $10,000 in debt after their first conference here, and looking at possibly closing down.  They were saved by a one million dollar anonymous donation that revitalized the organization and they never looked back. Now Bioneers is a vital and powerful environmental organization, a book publishing company, a radio production company, a video production company,  and much more. With the help of partners and sponsors they are able to Beam all the conference plenary sessions live to many locations throughout the United States. We were told that this represented over 40,000 additional viewers and participants in local events.  They are able to produce DVD’s of these sessions very quickly and then sell the previous days procedings in the on-site Bioneers store. Would that our larger Pagan conferences such as Pantheacon could aspire to this level of organization and outreach.

The conference was divided up into four major subject areas that reflected some of the ongoing Bioneers campaigns -

 Each area of intrest had its own large on-site tent or gathering site and extensive programming for those areas.  These themes were also represented well in the pleniary presentations. In further posts we will attempt to zero in on these subject areas as they relate to core Pagan and environmental values. 

Here is a list of some of the important speakers and presenters:

GLORIA STEINEM,  (photo)

PHILLIPE COUSTEAU, (photo)

JOHN D. LIU,

PAUL STAMETS,

 MELISSA NELSON,

NATALIA GREEN,

AMORY LOVINS,

MARY EVELYN TUCKER,

REBECCA MOORE,

ANIM STEEL,

PAM RAJPUT, (photo)

DAYNA BAUMEISTER,

KAREN BROWN, 

NINA SIMONS ,

KENNY AUSUBEL

 

              Here is Starhawk signing her new book at the Bioneers conference Bookstore.

Greg Harder for PNC Bay Area

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Yeshe Rabbit Speaks

October 17, 2011 in Announcements, Pagan Leaders

Yeshe Rabbit, Founder and High Priestess of CAYA (Come as you are coven), released a blog on October 13, 2011 detailing the events of the Lilith ritual at Pantheacon 2011. The descriptions of her experience have been posted on her Way of the Rabbitblog (http://way-of-the-rabbit.blogspot.com ) and talks about her spiritual experience, the details of the event, her Pantheacon experience and living through the effects of this controversy this past year.

 

The Wild Hunt and the Pagan Newswire Collective has continued to report on some of the events of the controversial Lilith ritual and the efforts to work with the fall out from the event. (see http://www.patheos.com/blogs/wildhunt/2011/03/update-gender-transgender-religious-rites-and-inclusion.html and http://bayarea.pagannewswirecollective.com/2011/09/22/pagan-alliance-to-present-its-%E2%80%9Cgender-and-earth-based-spiritualities-conference%E2%80%9D/ )

In her blog, Yeshe Rabbit talks about her reason for speaking now about the incident, stating “The time has finally come for me to write down the entire story of what happened at PantheaCon 2011 and thereafter. I have spent the past several months wondering how to address this, musing over it, thinking about it, and practicing discernment about what I would share and with whom, in an effort to create greatest possible clarity while creating the most possible peace. In the end, at the encouragement of several Elders whom I respect, I am going to just offer complete transparency about this process of growth for me and CAYA Coven. This is long. If you stick with it, you will end up with a lot of really important information about the actual events of this past year from a firsthand source (me) who has been witness to many different pieces of the puzzle.” 

 

This informative post from Yeshe Rabbit discusses history, present and the hope for the future as we approach Pantheacon 2012.

The full post can be found on her blog at http://way-of-the-rabbit.blogspot.com/2011/10/pcon-2011-and-rite-of-lilith-rest-of.html .

 

 

Crystal Blanton, PNC Bay Area

 

 


 

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Bioneers Conference starts tomorrow at Marin Civic Center

October 14, 2011 in Environmental issues, Events, Pagan Leaders

Tomorrow morning I and a few thousand other people will begin attending one of the largest environmental conferences in the country.  The 2011 Bioneers Conference  brings thousands of people and hundreds of presenters  together for three days of workshops, panel discussions, and media events.  Our local Pagan Newswire Collective has been issued three press passes to cover the conference.  That will still be a big job with so many things happening at once.

Here is what the Organizers have to say for themselves:

“Each year, the Bioneers headwaters conference in California attracts about 3,000 people from diverse disciplines and walks of life including social entrepreneurs, scientists, NGO leaders, women leaders, educators, indigenous leaders, students, business leaders, public servants, artists, media-makers and engaged citizens. The keynotes are transmitted to local communities across the U.S. and sometimes abroad (20 with 9,000 people in 2010), serving as a focal point to build community to enact local solutions. ”

What I think will be of particular interest to Pagans is the Indigenous Knowledge Programming  which will include such presentations as: Revitalizing Indigeneity: Eco-Cultural Knowledge and Reciprocity, Partnerships for Indigenous Rights, Stories from Sacred Lands, Protecting Endangered Native Languages, The New Face of Environmental Justice in Indian Country: 20 Years Later, and much more.

Uther areas of focus will include: Ecological Medicine, Environmental Education, Food & Farming, Nature, Culture & Spirit, Restoring Ecosystems,Social & Environmental Action, Justice, Women’s Leadership, Youth Leadership, and more. 

On Saturday, October 15th at 4:30 pm. Starhawk will be at the conference to sign books at the Bioneers Bookstore and we will be there to cover that as well. 

Greg Harder for PNC Bay Area

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