The Struggle! It’s Worth It!

I. THE STRUGGLE FOR ONEEARTH JUBILEE
Creation Has Been Taking Great Care of Us. How can we reciprocate?

Earth doesn’t negotiate on CO2; nor make political deals. Humanity MUST change or various eco-regions will collapse, unable to support current usage. The Powers of corporations and governments must change systems. Considering also personal and group changes, which changes can each of us facilitate? To do so implements creation-based living and a foundation for the OneEarth Jubilee economy.

The MIT Climate Portal gives a clear picture on CO2 ppm.

1950 – 300ppm
2000 – 372 ppm
2023 – 419ppm
CO2 levels of 350ppm maintain stability.

“In 2016, a worldwide body of climate scientists said that a CO2 level of 430 ppm would push the world past its target for avoiding dangerous climate change.”  But all we have to do to reach that level is to continue doing exactly what we’re doing.

Now for an unpopular suggestion (one of many needed): how many of us can travel less? or adjust modes of travel? The terrapass.com website says if you’re traveling 200 miles or less, look for alternative travel modes.

• A flight would emit around 109 pounds of CO2 per passenger on a 200 mlle trip.
• A train or charter bus would emit just 26 and 19 pounds of CO2 per passenger respectively.
• Cruises are the worst travel emitters.

Roots and Reach of White Nationalism

Lively! Eye-opening! A major obstacle to making the ecological and economic changes necessary for our planet to stay livable is white nationalism. Most of the time, white nationalism goes by a religious-sounding name, “Christian” Nationalism. The “religious name” merges it with many conservative congregations who preach it like gospel. But the truth is, “Christian” White Nationalism embraces what Jesus rejected.

The June 3 Jubilee Forum on this topic benefitted from guest, John Fanestil whose book American Heresy: The Roots and Reach of White “Christian” Nationalism will be out in September. White Christian Nationalism is not Christian, and it prefers totalitarianism over democracy in every case where democracy blocks adherents to imposing their minority ways on the majority. It is also anti-science so the environment takes a big hit.

The historical perspective Fanestil gives was a big help to our Forum conversation. The promo of his book puts it this way.

Using cogent examples from the earliest days of colonial settlement through the Revolutionary War era, Fanestil helps us understand how many of the principles we view as paradigmatic expressions of American identity have had contested histories from the start. Virtue has brought both self-sacrifice and extremism; progress, both cultural pride and white racism. The very same principles that underpin the United States’ proudest moments also forged the white Christian nationalism that fruited so dangerously in the Capitol insurrection of January 6, 2021.

The implications of Fanestil’s complex history are highly pertinent—and alarming. Far from a fringe movement embraced by a violent few, white Christian nationalism is a spiritual inheritance shared by all-white American Christians. Grappling with this history is vital if the United States is ever to move beyond its tragic legacy as a white settler society.

 Register for OneEarth Jubilee Forum, July 1

Topic: Corporate Rule Breaks Nature’s Rules
Guest, Steve Gehring, corporate attorney
Date and Time: 9 am PDT, Saturday, July 1 (one hour only)
Register: If you’ve never attended a Forum (free) before,
send your intent to lee@jubilee-economics.org
Recordings: Previous Forums are available for the asking.

II. AND WHY THE STRUGGLE IS WORTH IT

SAN MATEO JUBILEE CIRCLE: Peaches Now Harvested from Trees Families Received to Promote Economic and Ecological Empowerment

Angelica writes: I am sending you a photo of one of the children who already harvested peaches from the tree that we gave him, which makes me happy. I planted a lemon tree and it also gave two lemons.

The pastry course ends next Saturday and we are invited to their ceremony.

The past few days it has been raining daily, which is quite good for us, we treasure every drop of rain like you have no idea. But when it rained we realized how deteriorated the roof of our cultural center is. It already has many holes which allows for several leaks.

Thank you for everything you do for us,
Blessings, Angelica.

SAN CRISTOBAL JUBILEE CIRCLE: Solidarity (Jubilee) Economy at Work

Lindsey Mercer-Robledo wrote (June 5, 2023) — Here is a success story for the next newsletter. I have also attached photos that can go along with the text.

Rosby first started attending Alter-Nativas workshops when we officially opened Casa Alter-Nativas in the Spring of 2021. She was shy at first, having traveled from another town to attend our workshops. When we asked her what her interests were in attending our workshops, she stated that she just wanted to fill her time because she was now alone at home, and with Covid in full swing, she really just wanted to get out of the house and see other people, while learning a new skill.

After taking our homemade wine and liquor workshop, she felt like this was a skill that she could replicate at home and decided to turn it into a small venture where she could meet up with friends and family while sharing her homemade wine. Well, that small venture quickly got very popular with friends of friends of friends and she decided to grow and make a small business out of it.

To learn the administration side of starting a small business, she took a 6-week course with Alter-Nativas. During that course, she learned how to administer her finances and how to create an accounting book, she learned how to properly price an item to receive a fair profit margin, she learned the basics of what it means and how important it is to be part of a social economy, she learned how to manage social media and ways to use her cell phone to promote her products and business, she created new networking circles, she worked with Isai, our in-house graphic designer, to create the perfect logo, and so much more!

She is now thriving at local markets in her town and she thanks the Alter-Nativas team for everything we have taught her. She hopes to attend more workshops that pique her interest in the near future.

The Last Words

Regarding the May newsletter

I love it!  The visual map is a great illustration of the journey and the stories and photos make me smile! Thank you.
— Lauren V. H., interfaith eco-minister, Richmond, CA

Regarding the Special Edition on Mexico Trip

Lee and all:  Thanks for this report. Such beautiful fruit being borne by your JEM tree!  Strength and grace in your good work!
— Ched Myers, author, teacher, animator, Ojai, CA[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]