Alchemical Blog
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Trees, Prisons & Art
Lesson
Here Ecologist Nalini Nadkarni encourages us to consider "this lesson of trees to consider other entities that are also static and stuck but which cry for change and dynamicism".
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Questions
Does the presence of prisons in our society point to a deep desire-need for stillness?
What if we lived in a world that understood violence and abuse as actions stemming from deep rooted insecurity, confusion or pain?
What if we lived in a society that gathered around these individuals and created a space for them to feel seen and heard, nurtured?
What if those individuals labeled "criminals" were admitted into retreats for meditation, yoga or other methods of restoration? What knowledge could they then contribute to our society?
What kind of security could we create, what kind of wisdom could we acquire if we engaged daily in the caretaking of our land?
The Earth Being our teacher for justice, resilience, diversity, adaptability, symbiosis, identity and strength.
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Take Action
The Syracuse Police Department recently presented a plan to install 9 surveillance cameras in The Near Westside. You can read our response paper here
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Alchemical Nursery is sponsoring a protest of this plan on Wednesday November 10, 2010 at 5:15 pm in front of City Hall. Your presence will serve as a declaration of your commitment to the creation of a stronger, healthier Syracuse.
- Join the United As One Coalition Phone Tree
By contacting councilman Bill Ryan, Chair of Public Safety
Call: 315-446-8466
Tell him:
Who you are (individual, organization, "concerned citizen")
Where you are (North, East, South, West Side?)
Why you are opposed to cameras (They don't solve the problem, they further it.)Your voice is necessary.
Every call counts. -
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Latest Events - Utopia, Creative Resistance, and CoWorking
Alchemical in Alchemical Blog on Oct 31, 2010
Tagged in: White Paper, Response, Position, Newsletter, EventsHello Alchemical Web,
ALMANAC: Sunday October 31, 2010 - Sunrise 7:14 A.M. Sunset 5:57 P.M - Waning Crescent Moon, 42% of Full - Daylight Savings Time Ends Sunday November 7 at 2:00 am.
1] Visions of Utopia Encore Screening - Saturday Nov 6 - 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm
2] Reflections of a Palestinian Nonviolent Activist - Friday Nov 5 - 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
3] CoWorking Studio Open House - Tuesday Nov 9 - 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm
4] An Opinion Response to the Criminal Observation and Protection System
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1] Visions of Utopia Encore Screening - Saturday November 6th at 2:00 pm
Due to popular demand we will be holding an encore screening of the documentary "Visions of Utopia". This FREE event will be held at Spark Contemporary Art Space (1005 E. Fayette St., Syracuse, NY) as part of the Art Music People (a fiscally sponsored project of the
Alchemical Nursery) benefit weekend open gallery hours.
"Visions of Utopia" (94 minutes) is a great way to experience a sampling of community life "up close." You can see and hear community members tell their stories in their own words through profiles of seven diverse communities, exploration of the "glue" that holds communities together, honest revelations about what is working and what is not, and a brief history of 2500 years of shared living. The communities featured are: Ananda Village (Nevada City CA) Breitenbush Hot Springs (Detroit OR) Camphill Special School (Glenmoore PA) Earthaven (Black Mountain NC) Nyland
Cohousing (Lafayette CO) Purple Rose (San Francisco CA) Twin Oaks (Louisa VA).
A Facebook profile of the full weekend event is available at:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=156419257722308&num_event_invites=0
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2] Reflections of a Palestinian Nonviolent Activist - Friday Nov 5 - 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
The Tent of Nations, founded by the Nasser family in 2000, is located on their 100-acre family farm near Bethlehem in the West Bank. Though surrounded by Israeli settlements and hindered by the Israeli government, they have chosen to be resourceful rather than confrontational. The Tent of Nations has focused on horticulture and renewable energy to develop a self-sustaining community and become a place of learning and connection.
They have creatively resisted by using many techniques in line with
permaculture thinking - Israel denied their permit to bring electric lines to their farm, so they hosted a team of German Engineers who helped install solar panels, Israel denied building permits, so they renovated several of the old caves that people used to live in to make dwellings. They have a composting toilet and host people from around the world to share their skills and knowledge by working on the farm. And it's all seamlessly integrated with their work for hope and peace.
This event is free and open to the public and is being held at the University United Methodist Church, 1085 East Genesee Street, Syracuse For more information visit www.peacecouncil.net/pal-is.
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3] CoWorking Studio Open House - Tuesday Nov 9 - 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Come join The Alchemical Nursery between 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm on Tuesday November 9 - just stop in at any point during that time, to say hi and see the CoWorking studio, and to meet others interested in CoWorking. There are desks currently available for rent. We'll have some coffee brewed, and a variety of hot teas for your pleasure. Find out more about CoWorking, The Alchemical Nursery, The Gear Factory; contribute to our community sketch pad!
For more info about space availability at the CoWorking studio, please visit:
http://www.alchemicalnursery.org/news/314-coworking-studio-space-available-on-near-westside.html
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4] An Opinion Response to the Criminal Observation and Protection System
The Eco-village and Intentional Community frameworks which Alchemical embodies can be used to inform current events and issues in our community. In response to the Syracuse Police Department's proposal to place 9 surveillance cameras within the west side neighborhoods of Syracuse, Alchemical has prepared a written opinion to share an alternative way of considering the outcome to this issue.
Please visit http://www.alchemicalnursery.org/component/content/article/127-news/333-a-response-to-cops.html
Also, a grassroots protest against COPS is planned for Wednesday November 10th at 5:15 pm in front of City Hall (233 E. Washington). This event is being organized by the ANSWER Coalition and the League of United Latin American Citizens, and your presence would no doubt be appreciated.
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