One America, Many Voices

One of the most critical elements of the Emergence as I call it is to listen to the spiritual calling to take back our Sovereignty and fight for Team Light here on Earth. Part of that battle lies in our not so free media.

Do me a favor and ask yourself how often have you heard about the genocide in Darfur in your local news? Terrorism hearings involving the highest ranking members of our government? Climate crisis? Fewer companies now own all of the US and even worlds media only under umbrella of many different names (ABC owns ESPN etc)and it's important to realize that these massive media companies' ability to promote their agenda, or their advertisers, is growing each year.

Excerpt from new outline of One America from johnedwards.com


One America, Many Voices: Open Media For The 21st Century
Edwards Warns Against Rewriting Rules That Prevent Excessive Media Consolidation


"The basis of a strong democracy is a diverse and dynamic media. It's time to take away the corporate media bullhorn and let America's many voices be heard." – John Edwards

Network television and commercial radio are now dominated by a few loud corporate voices, with little room for independent perspectives and local grassroots participation. Radical deregulation has removed critical public interest obligations from broadcasting, and while the Internet has the potential to be the most democratic medium in history, access remains divided by wealth and neighborhood.

John Edwards is committed to building One America where everyone has a chance to succeed. He believes that an open, democratic media is essential to enabling free expression, fair competition and the entrepreneurial drive of ordinary Americans. As president, he will promote local, open, diverse, and accessible media by:

Fighting Media Concentration: Eight business conglomerates control the majority of media content in America, with extensive holdings in publishing, print journalism, online content, movies and radio. In the two years after Washington removed the 40-station radio ownership limit in 1996, nearly half of America's radio stations changed hands, and by 2000, one company had acquired over 1100 stations. Over the last 30 years, two-thirds of all independently-owned newspapers have shut down. The Bush Administration has repeatedly tried to dismantle limits on cable, broadcast and newspaper concentration. Edwards believes extreme media consolidation threatens free speech, tilts the public dialogue towards corporate priorities and away from local concerns, and makes it increasingly difficult for women and minorities to own a stake in our media. Edwards will strengthen local and national media ownership and concentration limits so that a few huge multinational corporations are not in charge of shaping our democracy. [Free Press, 2007; Clear Channel, 2007; Consumers Union, Undated]

Restoring the Public Interest to the Public Airwaves: America's radio and television broadcasters use our public airwaves—worth more than half a trillion dollars—for free. Until radical industry deregulation in the 1980s, the government required that they serve the public interest in return, with public interest obligations on minimum public affairs programming, a Fairness Doctrine, modest limits on advertising, and most importantly a vigorous license renewal process. The subsequent concentration of media ownership into a few corporate hands and the loss of localism and independence makes the public interest tradition in broadcasting more important than ever. Edwards will appoint FCC Commissioners who will immediately define robust public interest obligations for digital broadcasters—a task twelve years overdue. These obligations will ensure closed-captioning and other tools for people with disabilities. He will use the license renewal process to vigorously review whether broadcasters have served their local communities, ending the current rubber-stamp "postcard renewal." [Copps, New York Times, 6/2/2007; Benton Foundation, et al., 2007]

Building a Universal, Affordable Internet: The country that developed the internet is now 16th in the world in broadband penetration. While half of urban and suburban households have broadband, less than a third of rural homes do. John Edwards will set a national broadband policy to help make the Internet more affordable and accessible to all Americans, regardless of where they live or how much money they have. Universal broadband would stimulate job creation and result in up to $500 billion in economic benefits. The starting place is setting a goal of giving all U.S. homes and businesses access to real high-speed internet by 2010. Edwards will establish a national broadband map to identify gaps in availability, price, and speed; create public-private partnerships to promote deployment; require providers not to discriminate against rural and low-income areas and to improve accessibility for people with disabilities; support and expand the e-rate program; encourage local service providers and municipal wireless projects, and use the newly available 700 megahertz spectrum and broadcast television white space to support wireless networks that can connect with all digital devices. [Newsweek, 7/9/07; CWA, 2006; Pew, 2007]

Keeping an Open Internet: Edwards believes America must preserve the uniquely democratic nature of the Internet, which has allowed regular people to contribute on equal footing with big businesses and organizations. As president, he will ensure that the FCC preserves free expression and competition on the Internet by continuing to enforce net neutrality ensuring no degradation or blocking of access to websites. He will also bring interoperability to wireless communications so that Americans can connect any device or applications to their wireless service, just as they can to their landline phone service.

Tuning in Thousands of Communities with Low Power Radio: In an age of unprecedented radio consolidation dictated by corporate playlists and syndicated disk jockeys, local voices are needed more than ever. Low-power FM (LPFM) radio stations are community-based, non-commercial radio stations that can broadcast within a 3-5 mile radius. In 2000, Congress authorized the FCC to grant free LPFM licenses to grassroots community groups, but the commercial radio lobby successfully limited it to rural areas. Since then, thousands of communities have submitted applications to open their own radio stations but virtually all of them have been denied, despite an FCC study in 2003 which concluded that LPFM would not interfere with incumbent radio stations. Edwards will lift this restriction and offer technical assistance to schools, churches and other local groups to bring local voices back to the airwaves. [Free Press, 2006]

Spiritual marathon

A few days ago my children and I set off to our neighborhood park for our new ritual of cheering on the runners in our annual city marathon which is a qualifying race that brings thousands of runners from all 50 states and as many Canadian provinces. It isn't usually very easy to get them dressed and on their bikes before 9 on a Saturday morning but this is something we have come to look forward to as we rush to arrive at the park before the first runner comes through. I greatly admire the runners courage and enjoy seeing all ages, shapes and styles and sizes flutter on past the bleachers where we join others to yell out praise and pump our fists.

I also program in the joy I'll feel should I ever get a chance to run the relay or even perhaps the half marathon. I've set my sights realistically due to poor genetics in the knees. It's too early to tell if I'll be able to physically withstand the challenge. But it still brings a smile to my face as it is the LAST thing I would have thought of doing just a few years ago. The actual weight is the last to budge but I've come to accept it will either be or it won't be at least I'm in great enough shape to consider it!

After watching the race I visualized all the 3 aspects of my self - Body, Mind & Spirit- as 3 runners. I contemplated if and when the positions of these 3 "runners" have changed along the way. I was comforted with the feeling that in mid life now I finally have a great deal of balance and team work between the 3 which makes for a much more effective system and to actually even enjoy the process of this Spiritual marathon that is Life!

Body in my youth kept a swift pace without even thinking about it. I suppose that is how it is for many of us. If we've always been thin, we just take it for granted right? I was fortunate enough to always be pretty healthy physically aside from intense growing pains (I later learned this was from all 3 "runners" being too far apart as I was completely clueless to my spiritual gifts). I was athletic and a decent competitor in swimming, track and neighborhood football games. I ate without consideration and stayed very thin without any effort.

Then came the birthing years and the stress years in my 30s. Metabolism was slowing, pounds were creeping on, and then leaping on- 60 pounds in 2 pregnancies in 20 months. Body quickly lagged so far behind it was a constant nuisance to the other two "runners". It wasn't usually until Mind overheated that the system overloaded and the gaskets and springs would pop, zing and zap out and even then care was given to Mind not Body! Body was so far back that Mind and Spirit needed to come to a stop after Body couldn't been seen and allow Body the time to catch up again. On and On this process repeated itself. Body never fully kept the other two from going on. There was no obvious abuse or recklessness to sabotage the race. Just always a steady lollygaggin from the Body's need for the same attention given to the other 2 more seasoned "runners."

Spirit has always been, even in childhood, way far ahead. I just didn't know it back then. Spirit was and is the workhorse of my system, so far ahead Body and Mind would often lose it, until Spirit would eagerly push the other two to hurry along and stay close behind. Often times, Mind was able to keep pace as long as it obediently followed and didn't let it's Ego think it could surpass Spirit! Ha! But very often Mind would grow a bit weary as well,trying to keep pace as well with the elite Olympian that is my Spirit.

Now in mid life, Mind has allowed Spirit full reign and has enough where-with-all to catch the draft behind Spirit and have great fun keeping up, letting anything and everything that might drag it behind to effortlessly roll off to the side without even breaking stride. And Spirit has become a better team mate, recognizing it has to coincide here with a Body! A body that is a great gauge of how this whole system is functioning and where it is breaking down if it is! Great care is now given to the Body to ensure that all 3 run swiftly and smoothly. Two words: Personal Trainer! I know soon Body will even be mano a mano not in a relay but in a 3 way hand in hand steady run up front that works well for all 3.

This is a run that has been far longer than 26 miles of course. How long? Perhaps 26 years. Maybe more. It certainly feels like the metaphorical end is near but I can't quite make out the finish line yet. But when I do, it will be nice to finish upright and strong. Hand in Hand with Mind-Body & Spirit. It will mean the understandment and unfoldment of all I have been learning along the way. Someone once said the essence of Enlightenment is no more questions. So I guess that's what my "finish line" will be! Complete Peace & Enlightenment...no more questions!

Learning to balance all 3 aspects of myself has allowed me to enjoy the journey. Initially, I thought I just don't know if I'm going to make it. I'd sit on the sidelines wanting more water, more rest, more help! Could someone just come and carry me to where I need to go? Other times, in excitement, my spirit or mind would run way too fast, wearing myself out in antipation only to find I had a ways to go yet and needed to pace myself. Still others, I could only walk slowly, which was difficult because I knew it would take much longer but patience was necessary to make it to the end as was the discovery that, just then, was the best I could do.

Consider your life's journey and where these three aspects of yourself are in your spiritual marathon. Contemplate how the race has changed and how much "teamwork" you have going on right now. I found it to be an enjoyable meditation for illustrating the wonderful progress that has been made and what yet needs to be done. I'm sure you will too.

And don't forget to recognize all the company you have running alongside with you. Loved ones both seen and unseen. Guardian Angels. Holy Ones and Masters of this amazing journey as well as the mighty Wind to your back that is the Holy Spirit! As well as the Oneness of all those in Light giving you the courage and the wings to make it through to your finish line.

Polar Bears update

Wonderful news!! Thank you for signing the petition and raising your voice to make a difference!

Progress on Polar Bears from www.wecansolveit.org

The US Department of the Interior today granted Endangered Species Act protection to the polar bear in light of shrinking Arctic ice due to climate change. The Alliance for Climate Protection's We Campaign recently submitted a petition signed by 136,000 Americans to Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne urging him to list the polar bear.
In response to the decision, Cathy Zoi, CEO of the Alliance for Climate Protection, issued the following statement:

"Today's decision by Secretary Kempthorne is a step in the right direction. The scientific community believes the polar bear needs protection, and so do the American people, who have been calling for this action in large numbers. While this step is encouraging, solving the climate crisis will require bold leadership that truly acknowledges the urgency of the problem."

Be Prepared or Programming it in?

Just Being Prepared or Programming it in?


My parents recently gave us their water cooler and we were thrilled as we had stopped buying bottled water to be better stewards for the environment and this gave us cool, great tasting water all the time. It also gave me peace of mind that water supply was now more in our control if I kept a few jugs on hand in the garage in addition to ones we drink regularly. Upon hearing my relief about that my daughter asked me "Why?" So I explained why I felt this way as briefly as I could in linear terms giving as an example the difficulties for those who awaited water after hurricane Katrina hit. She responded quickly and succinctly as both my crystalline children always do with such strength and confidence it surprised me. She said "Well you know then that you are just programming in a disaster if you do that!" I disagreed and said I'm just being prepared.
I don't wish for that to happen. But it gave me pause and me wonder as my children always do.

A few days later I commented to my husband in the car about the rising cost of gas and said "You know Dannion Brinkley predicted $5 a gallon years ago in the early 90s and it seemed so far fetched. I bet it will be over $4 before the summers over." To which my son chimed in empthatically from the backseat "Mom! If you keep saying that- guess what, we'll have $4 a gallon! Stop programming that in!" Whoa. He told me!

Good thing I have the Programming Police under my roof. At least I know they are listening to me right? I guess I just have to practice what I preach!

He was right. So I corrected myself "I'm so glad that the gas prices have gone back down to where they were before President Bush- to 1.45 a gallon with the new President."

If we prepare for disaster A are we then collectively programming Disaster A? After all,you are what you think. Or more specifically your prayers are as much if not more what you are thinking as they are your prayers, whatever style that may be. I say if not more simply because I'm willing to bet you think far more than you pray.

And so it is that I ask you to consider if you you hear- food shortage, recession, depression of the centuries, marshall law, facism, etc. watch what it is you are thinking and feeling at the time and after digesting the drama. Perhaps you could use the opportunity to consciously choose and program in a different direction or simply to denounce and reject any negativity. Otherwise don't we risk collectively in consciousness programming that reality? A reality that is served to us daily on a silver platter by more sources than ever before but by fewer and fewer companies, via a more corporatized and consolidated media. A media that has researched billions of dollars and discovered simply that "Drama sells" and "The more emotion and drama the better" whether it is in our political debates or the selection of news stories or even the advertising: what you see is a reality that is programmed into our collective consciousness that doesn't always represent reality in the NOW but certainly if we all watch and think about it enough could very well become more and more of our reality. And some of it IS already a reality but not one that I particularly care to engage in.

Which is why in our home we read less and less mainststream news and why we do not watch any of the sensationalistic 24 hour news "bread and circuses." Because the true reality---which is hope & abundance is becoming a much more critical reality to be programming into our collective consciousness. So much could be at stake that we are no longer afforded the luxury of merely watching from the sidelines. We must choose and program in more Hope & Abundance!

Where is this good news you may ask? Well, I will be writing about it here but since the economic "collapse" is the story du jour in American news let's start with the immense economic growth like the world has never seen such as Fareed Zakaris writes of in his new book"Post American World' -
In fact, the share of people living on a dollar a day or less plummeted from 40% in 1981 to 18% in 2004 and is estimated to fall to 12 percent by 2015. China's growth alone has lifted more than 400 million people out of poverty. Poverty is falling in countries housing 80% of the world's population. The 50 countries where the earth's poorest live are basket cases that need urgent attention. In the other 142 the poor are slowing being absorbed into productive and growing economies. For the first time ever,we are witnessing genuinely global growth.

As I read this everything my children had brought to my attention lept to my mind. This is hope filled not terror filled! And I watch very little news! I can't imagine how depressing it is for those who watch a great deal of news. Fareed writes "In the two decades since the end of the Cold War , we have lived through a paradox, one we experience every morning when we read the newspapers. The world's politics seems deeply troubled, with daily reports of bombings, terror plots, rogue states and civil strife. And yet the global economy forges ahead, not without significant interruptions and crises, but still vigorously upward on the whole.
As he brilliantly delves into the cascade of bad news you begin to affirm (not just wish) that we aren't living in the most crazy, violent times ever! So do not believe (or program in) everything you see on television or read online.

War and organized violence have declined dramatically over the last two decades. Ted Robert Gurr and a team of scholars at the University of Maryland's Center of International Development and Conflict Management tracked the data carefully and came to the following conclusion: "the general magnitude of global warfare has decreased by over 60% since the mid 1980s, falling by the end of 2004 to it's lowest level since the 1950's!
-Harvard's polymath professor Steven Pinker argues that "today we are probably living in the most peaceful time in our species existence"
Yet we are bombarded by instant technology of the 24 hour news channels, the internet and the immediacy of images combine to produce constant hyberbole and drama. Every weather disturbance is "the storm of the century" and very bomb that explodes is "breaking news"

Of course this is not drama. This is Peace. Peace that we can expand upon if we only continue to believe in it and live it and program it in co-creation with our Creator and all the great guidance of Light that is here at this momentus time on Earth.

That is not to say that I don't keep one eye open on the movers and shakers who wish to program this false reality. That's another aspect of what I write about here as you may know if you stop by often enough. One must be diligent to be a principal of Peace especially now. I do not tune out completely because I believe we have an urgent, moral responsibility to be the Peacemakers where Light is needed. Whether that be in Darfur, your local homeless shelter, in the billions being spent in our Presidential elections or your home or office. We use to have the media to hold others accountable as part of the public trust their licenses say they must adhere to. But that has long been lost to corporatization and consolidation of media. It never ceases to amaze me that a media obsessed with drama simply ignores the events in Washington that silently unfold unbeknownst to most Americans. Including among other things altered scientific journals for decades warning of climate change, the removal of our civil liberties supposedly protected by our Constitution, unceasing corruption of our Government and in our major financial and corporate environment, torture hearings going on in Washington that directly involve the highest ranking members of our government that the rest of the world is now watching very carefully yet most in my day to day life are unaware of.

It may seem difficult but it's not. Do not turn away but do not resign yourself to a false reality either. We must all keep an eye on the truth in order to create this New Earth we all came here to co-create. We wouldn't be here if we didn't have it within us! So stand strong in your Sovereignty. Don't ever give up! And certainly, be hopeful that we can do it right this time! Have the courage to speak up where there is silence or darkness. When in doubt, prepare certainly but prepare for Peace. Prepare for a New Earth that serves the One not the Ego! Program that collectively and we will get there sooner rather than later.

- In Love & Peace Namaste' Jill

Heightened attacks in Khartoum

Sudan says rebel attack on Khartoum defeated By Opheera McDoom
5 minutes ago



Darfur rebels fought with Sudanese government troops in a western suburb of the capital on Saturday and said their aim was to take power in Khartoum, but the government said their attack had been defeated.

Heavy gunfire and artillery was heard in Omdurman, across the River Nile from the heart of Khartoum, capital of Africa's biggest country. Helicopters and armored vehicles headed for the fighting and an overnight curfew was declared.

"The main aim of this failed terrorist sabotage attack was to provoke media coverage and let people imagine that they had the ability to enter Khartoum," Mandour al-Mahdi, the political secretary from the dominant ruling National Congress Party told state television.

"Thank God this attempt has been completely defeated. Some high level JEM commanders were killed," he said, referring to the Darfur Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) rebels.

It is the first time that fighting has reached the capital in decades of conflict between the traditionally Arab-dominated central government in Khartoum and rebels from peripheral regions that complain of neglect.

The rebels said earlier they had taken control of Omdurman and were now trying to oust President Omar Hassan al-Bashir.

"We are now trying to control Khartoum. God willing we will take power, it's just a matter of time," senior JEM commander Abdel Aziz el-Nur Ashr told Reuters by telephone.

"We have support from inside Khartoum even from within the armed forces."

Sudan's economy, driven by increasing oil production, has grown rapidly since a peace deal between north and south ended civil war in 2005, but that agreement did not cover the conflict that erupted in Darfur five years ago.

International experts estimate some 200,000 people have died and 2.5 million made homeless in five years of fighting in Darfur after mostly non-Arab rebels took up arms accusing central government of neglect.

The United States describes the conflict in Darfur as genocide, but Khartoum rejects that term and says only around 10,000 people have been killed. (Editing by Matthew Tostevin)




Copyright © 2008 Reuters Limited.

Raise your voice!

10 long months those that suffer in Sudan and even Chad have been waiting
for the peacekeeping troops to arrive. Can you imagine? Can you look back over the past 10 months to all you have done and how long it seems even in the peaceful comfort of your day to day life and of course know that even December seems like many moons ago? How about last June? Last June is when the U.N. agreed to yet another resolution to help Darfur. To send in additional 20,000 peacekeeping troops. 10% have arrived and are overwhelmed as the crisis has widened.

The U.S has taken no action. No country has taken action. The President was IN Africa taking pictures and pledging more aid for AIDS - which is wonderful- but why can't the most powerful military in the world us it's voice and it's power and it's allies to denounce the violent and corrupt Sudan government? It's up to all of us now. It's always up to us. We must raise our voices to demand action unceasingly. This crisis has claimed HUNDREDS of thousands of lives. MILLIONS are displayed and on verge of dying. It's happening at this hour. Right now. Today! And they have been waiting for aid not only for 10 months but for ten YEARS and for more than 2 years outright, defiant genocide has been reported as a particular nationality in the region is slowly being wiped away. Not swiftly like Rwanda. Slowly. On our watch. Today. The man who devised the pre-meditated genocide has been promoted within the Sudan government. Sudan continues to partner with China for Sudan's oil. China has illustrated it's power in the U.N. to silence the U.S. and the rest of the powerful nations that sit and sign resolution after resolution with no action. As if words and documents are enough to the millions that are walking hundreds of miles to seemingly nowhere safe. And we are called to stop going about our daily lives and to express our outrage to our representatives, to our Presidents, wherever you may live whether it is the U.S. or abroad and we morally must do it NOW. Today. To speak up or to donate to the peacekeepers go to savedarfur.org Don't let ignorance be your excuse. Read about it. Write about it. Put a sticker on your car. Pass it on to friends and loved ones and church groups. Be peaceful but find the outrage within you and know that your voice is all they have.

Urge Washington to take action

The Sudanese government bombed a Darfuri school on Sunday, killing at least 13 people, including seven children. The international community didn't respond for more than 48 hours.

The attack—and the miserable response—is yet another example of the world's failure to protect the people of Darfur. The U.N. approved a peacekeeping force for Darfur ten months ago. Less than a third of that force has reached Darfur.

But we have an opportunity to make sure the world keeps its promise to the people of Darfur when the U.S. assumes the presidency of the U.N. Security Council on June 1.

Help us meet our goal to send 75,000 messages to President Bush before June 1 urging him to help bring peace and security to the people of Darfur.

Last summer, the U.N. Security Council committed to send a robust peacekeeping force to Darfur. There was hope that with the arrival of additional peacekeeping troops, the worst of this humanitarian nightmare would soon be over.

Ten long months later, only 10 percent of the additional 20,000 troops have deployed. Those that are on the ground lack the basic logistical and material support they need to do their job. There is simply no reason why the most powerful nation in the world, together with its allies, can't find 22 helicopters to help save lives in Darfur.

In last year's State of the Union address, President Bush said: "The United States ... will continue to awaken the conscience of the world to save the people of Darfur."

If those words mean anything at all, the President will use the leadership of the U.N. Security Council to get the peacekeepers what they need to protect the people of Darfur.

Polar Bear Action needed now