FORCE conversations

October marks a year since the ran away wreck of Harvey Weinstein led to the fall of many a foul sexual harassers which culminated in the #MeToo movement.

So what do we have to show for all that media hoopla? What has the United States of America done for its female population? Where do our women stand today?

FORCE: Upsetting Rape Culture

decolonizing & deconstructing

October reminded us of our past colonized histories. Starting with the October 12 celebration of 65 years of Philippine-German diplomatic ties. When Martina and Issa had fun dressing up in our national attires and taking photos in our New Jersey neighborhood. 

Followed on October 13 by International Day for Disaster Reduction. Started in 1989 by the United Nations General Assembly as a day to promote the global culture of risk-awareness and disaster reduction.

The JCAST 2019

This year the 29th annual Jersey City Art and Studio Tour is happening on October 3 to 6.

Check them out on IG

This annual curated tour covers some 21-square miles of art exhibits, performances, installations, curated tours, special events, children’s experiences with much of it free and open to the public.

let's go Greta!

Climate activist Greta Thunberg was in New York City tirelessly inspiring us all to go on strike and demonstrate actively for climate change.

In events leading leading up to her appearance at the UN Summit, we all watched as she called on our world leaders to do something now.

"We are not just some young people skipping school," she told thousands of school strikers in Manhattan, on a day when millions around the world demonstrated for action. "We are a wave of change. Together, we are unstoppable."

manifest dismantling

Listening in on the sound healing global summit for a few days now has been a mellowing experience. Today it is made more so by the soft light rain that has cooled off the bite of yesterday's aggravated heat. Dismantling the tension and rush of the past days.

This isn’t the only world that’s possible.

YES! illustration by Fran Murphy

This reminds me of an article I read - "Can we work less and save the planet too?" Its byline states, "Building a new world will require first reexamining - and dismantling - the cultural ethos of productivity that creeps into our lives every day."

Manifest Dismantling would purposefully undo the damage of Manifest Destiny by reckoning with productivity’s assault on the living world. Tearing down a dam would be an example of a creative act of Manifest Dismantling because it would facilitate the return of an ecological landscape.

The same could be said about the 70 border walls, or the nearly 700 miles of walls and barriers along the U.S.–Mexico border. Dismantling these would allow people to move without fear.

The saguaros and mesquite in the Sonoran Desert would grow back, and pronghorns, jaguars, and gray wolves could travel freely across borders.

It would also open space for a new vision to emerge, of a more equitable way to relate with each other and the living planet.

YOUer than you

To honor Mahala and her new decade, I steal the staggeringly beautiful words of David Whyte.

Detail of Unicorn Hunt from Geinhausen, Germany

Altar Antependium "Marienteppich" [late 15th century]

SEEING YOU

I want you 

to see

yourself

the way

I sometimes 

see you.

Hawaii | then & now

This all started with a conversation between Nainoa Langer and Sam Potter as they sat above a waterfall overlooking a childhood swimming hole.

Nai said, “We should start a travel-based series that gives people an in-depth look at cultures around the world,” in hopes that we could create something that encourages greater appreciation, understanding, and respect between cultures.

Sam's response was “Let’s start with home.” So, here we are. 

The first thought when it came to explaining a place as complex as Hawaii was people need to understand that there are two parts to the culture - the traditional side and the modern day side.

Our modern-day life represented by Kimi Werner, demonstrates our values, the way we care for each other, for our community, and for our environment.

The traditional side represented by Micah Kamohoalii, shares a little about the history of Hawaii, the practices of the Hawaiian people.

Most importantly, Aloha, what it means and how that too can be practiced.