ESSENCE Page 03
Transcript of ESSENCE Page 03
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8/9/2019 ESSENCE Page 03
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ADAM PODOLEC
I was once a remarkable human being.
I was able to see a herd of animals way
off in the distance, disappearing over the
horizon. I am now near-sighted, need-
ing glasses to see my computer screen.
I was once a remarkable human being,
with tough sun-soaked skin and strong
muscles.
I now have frail pale skin and a weak
body because I stay indoors. I used tobe in touch with nature, seeking solace
along the walking trails. Now my closest
connection to nature is in making sure
my lawn is weed free and well-watered.
I once had a large community of
friends and family, all connected through
song and dance. Now I am lonely, only
speaking to my friends online and my
family when I need something. I was
once a remarkable human being, making
love to my partner in a long, passionate,
sensuous dance.
I now use a robotic love doll to fulfill
my sexual desires.
We were once remarkable human be-
ings, with our children born at home,
into the arms of someone dear, and
placed on a blanket. Now our children
are born in a hospital, into the rubber
gloves of a stranger, and placed in a
chamber of plastic.
We once celebrated creativity and en-
thusiasm, but now we zap our children
with calming drugs. We were once hap-
py and smiling, but now everyone is on
anti-depressants or has fake smiles fromcosmetic surgery. We once discovered
and explored the land, but now there are
no wild places left.
We were once a remarkable people,
cultivating and growing thousands of
varieties of fruits and vegetables. Now
we only grow a few.
Once we were a declining civilization,
but remarkably, we began to change.
Where we once coveted speed and ef-
ficiency, we slowed down and practiced
mindfulness and care. In places where
we lost touch, we re-connected and felt
whole again.
We decided to become remarkable again.
We unplugged ourselves from distract-
ing technologies and experienced the real
world again. We gave up fast-food and
junk-food and ate good food. We sup-
ported local, and developed fairer trade.
We shrunk the power of corporations, al-
lowing government to look after the people
and the land.
We spent less money on the military, and
more on education. We worked on our
neighborhoods, transforming them from
alienated bedroom communities to vibrant
places full of culture and personality.
We raised our children outdoors, active
and in touch with nature. We went out-
side, took to the streets, and marched to a
different drum.
We chanted a call for a new world, and
it was remarkable.
Once Again Remarkable
MIRANDA CROSS
Te City Repair Project is a colorful and
inspiring story of place making at its finest.
What began as an act of civil disobedience
is now a legitimate and highly reputable
organization facilitating creative commu-
nalization of local neighborhoods.
hrough a process of collective em-
powerment and creation, the residents of
Portland, Oregon are making history by
re-defining values, and re-creating com-
munities one neighborhood at a time.
Te City Repair story demonstrates that
radical urban rebuilding must be initiated
and implemented by the people who live
in their places, because current social in-
stitutions deter necessary changes in order
to maintain the status-quo.
City repair was founded 14 years ago by
Mark Lakeman, a visionary architect, who
was inspired by vibrant traditions and cul-
tures around the world. He joined forces
with friends and neighbors to build theea House, a sprawling backyard struc-
ture, made of salvaged materials, to host
community potlucks. With the weekly
Monday night potlucks the popularity of
the ea House grew rampantly.
Over the following months of ea House
potlucks, a group of residents began to
meet monthly to brainstorm way to im-
prove community elements such as liv-
ability and vitality. From here City Repair
extended its wings and took off.
Te Place Making Coordinator, Makin
Chai, describes the ea House as a cocoon
out of which flew two new project ideas.
Te first was the ea Horse, the butterfly
to blossom from the original ea House.
Te second was Intersection Repair.
Te ea Horse is quite literally, a giant
mobile butterfly that randomly lands on
street corners, throws down its plush pil-
lows, to serve free chai tea. Te objective?
o slow people down and give them a
chance to talk with each other.
Te other project to blossom from the
ea House was Intersection repair, which
Chai identifies was inspired by the real-
ization that having immediate access to
common gathering spaces was necessary
for society.
People started to re-create their places:
Sunflower paintings across intersections,
permaculture gardens, benches and cob
structured tea stations. All designed and
implemented by the community. How-
ever, these are more than just paintings
and cob; Chai points out they are em-
blems of social creativity, established fertile
space where imagination can run free and
develop.
Te first crew of visionary intersection
repair activists attempted the formal ap-
proach to the Portland city council for
approval of their plans, only to be bru-
tally rejected. Impregnated with the spirit
of rebellion the city repairists took to the
streets, paint cans and shovels in hand.
City Repair had an alternate idea for com-
munal resources.
he civil disobedience, persistence of
the residents, and the blatant success of
the first intersection repair project in im-
proving the wellbeing of the community
led to a shift in the city from opposing to
supporting the projects. Professor Connie
Ozawa of the Portland State Universityhighlights that in January 2000, the Port-
land City Council passed an ordinance
allowing any group of citizens to create
public squares at street intersections in
their own neighborhood.
Interestingly, had the initial intersec-
tion repair crew waited for permission, I
wouldnt be writing about these epic place
making gurus today. However, everyone I
spoke with at City Repair, emphasized that
working with the city, and government is
vital to the City Repairs Project. As Chai
said ...the government people need [com-
munity] just as much as we do.
Another member, Homey Love, said its
about having the necessary conversations
to start talking about transforming our
landscapes and mindscapes. By having
these conversations, and going through
the long, and often frustrating process of
bureaucratic approval, Te City Repair
Project is clearing the way for future com-
munities to create the places they want to
live in.
Chai further pointed out, City repair
focuses on empowerment; where as ourcurrent social structure inhibits that cre-
ative vision that we all have. o start this
process, Chais advice is to Start with pot-
lucks, begin with no agenda, and then
hone in on project ideas.
When we think about all the problems
in the world today, it can be overwhelm-
ing, and discouraging. But when thinking
about new visions of the future, the City
repair project is a good reminder to follow
the counsel of reknowned anthropologist
Margaret Mead, to never underestimate
that a small group of thoughtful, commit-
ted people can change the world, indeed
its the only thing that ever has.
Re-Defining Value, One Intersection at a Time
PHOTO BY NICOLE FONG
ART CAN BE AN EFFECTIV E WAY TO CREATE A SENSE OF PLACE ARTWORK BY SARA FRALIN
PHOTOD BY JULIA BENNETT
CITY REPAIR CREATED GARDENS IN INTERSECTIONS
Georgia Brander
Tese bars are tasty, easy, and good
for you!
Dates are low in saturated fats
and cholesterol, and high in vi-
tamin C, iron, and potassium.
Tey are great for strengthening
the immune system and helpingin the absorption of iron.
Cashews are low in fat, contain
oleic acid which is good for your
heart, and are rich in antioxi-
dants.
Tese bars are great for pre- and
post-workout snacks, in your
lunch, or even right out of the
bowl!
Ingredients:
1/3 Cup Whole Pitted Dates
1/2 Cup Raw Cashews
Place dates into food processor,
pulse until smooth.
ransfer to a mixing bowl.
Place nuts into food processor
and pulse until finely chopped.
Mix the nuts and dates together
with your hands.
Once incorporated evenly, you
can shape them into bars (this
recipe makes about 2 bars), balls,
or any shape imaginable.
Store in the fridge.
Enjoy!
Raw VeganCashew
Cookie Bars
HOW CAN WE RECONNECT WITH THE ENVIRONMENT? IMAGE BY CASEY ROCKWELL
March 17, 2010 ESSENCE 3