Earth Connection

I have a favourite magazine that I receive monthly - Australian Country Style. I LOVE it. There are so many ideas, recipes, inspiring renovations of homes and gardens inside each issue. It tells of many people who 'up-stumps' and move out of the city limits.

Tree change, sea change. What's behind it all? There are several motivations:

• wanting to reconnect with the land
• wanting to escape the city and even the 'burbs' and associated fast-paced lifestyle
• wanting to make a smaller 'carbon footprint'
• wanting to become self-sufficient
• wanting to have a healthier lifestyle in growing one's own food
• looking for an inspirational canvas for all kinds of artforms

It's very appealing to me and to an increasing number of people Australia-wide. There's an upward trend towards producing and/or buying healthful 'low-mileage' food, and fighting against the huge hungry chains jostling for the biggest share in the provision of foods and household products.

The groundswell must have some influence, because even these huge and hungry chain stores are making room on their shelves for organic, biodynamic and non-toxic stock and even some well-known brands are helping - cashing in - by providing an organic version of their own merchandise.

There's a whole concept and mindset behind true 'slow food' those big chains simply don't have. They undercut the smaller providores - highly unfair. I try to buy as much from the little guy to help give them some buying power. Even in that sphere, there must be price-competition. Hmm, do I sell 100 to X Big Chain for $1 each, or 5 to Y Little Guy for $2 and possibly have the rest unsold?

There is so much information around about what's in food, how it's produced, and what energy goes into that production. It's a lot to take in, and it's never easy to pick out what is truth and what is just a marketing exercise. But common sense must prevail; should we be putting so many chemicals onto and into our bodies?

A few things to consider and look into:

• food is becoming increasingly expensive - drought is a big factor
• disease is becoming increasingly pervasive and prevalent at all ages
• social conscience is constantly pricked by the media, the government and lobby groups
• keeping or creating a sense of connection with the earth and it's produce
• teaching children to create that connection will have the flow-on effect of creating a concern for their whole environment

We have a small vegie plot (without fertilizers and pesticides) which I will expand shortly (bad timing considering summer is looming), five chickens which keep us admirably supplied with extra-large eggs (biodynamically fed of course). I missed planting some fruit trees in the winter for next summer, but will do that next winter for the summer after.

My next job is getting the kids more involved with these things - they enjoy the produce, but are yet to enjoy actual interest in the process. All good things take time.

Bullies Reign

When will the bullying stop? The schools are powerless as bullies as young as five years old rule in the classroom. My daughter has been threatened several times recently as she leaves the station to either walk or bus home. She gave someone (obviously accidentally) a blood nose in an interschool footy match last year, and a friend of that someone now has a vendetta against my daughter. That ‘friend’ of the ‘victim’ is quite large and menacing, but my daughter is slim and fast. I hope that will be enough to save her from being beaten up by this bully.

What else can we do? I am tempted to send her to martial arts classes to learn how to defend herself. The police can’t do anything unless an actual punch or kick has been thrown. The school can’t really do anything except maybe lecture the bully, especially as it’s outside the school grounds. Technically they are both under their respective school rules until they reach home; thankfully they are at different schools.

My mother-in-law works as a replacement teacher in primary schools, and the stories she relates sometimes make my hair stand on end. Prep students who punch and kick teachers and students, throw things (including rocks) at people, or who are suspended or even expelled, kleptomaniacs, and predatory types seem to have all the rights, terrorising entire school communities.

Where are the rights of the teachers, principals and other students to learn in peace and safety without fear of violence and/or abuse from a minority of off-the-track kids and their often equally abusive parents?

Until the schools receive adequate backing from the Department of Education and Training in their fight against bullying and school ‘student terrorism’, violent and tragic events will continue. I am shocked and saddened by the occurrences at schools, in the classrooms, the grounds and to/from the school itself.

More on the US Health Reform Debate

Two "congresspeople" who are on seemingly opposing sides are together sponsoring a "middle of the road" bill.

It focuses on several areas of concern including helping prevent unintended pregnancies, supporting pregnant women to carry to full term and assisting new families.

It seems a laudatory proposal, and one that begins to direct focus towards root causes and not simply the effects of a huge societal disease (abortion) but one that will no doubt prove unpopular despite America's underlying conservatism.

It is a great shame that minority groups often drown out the voices of temperance and moderation.

Source & story at:

http://www.christianpost.com/article/20090723/progressive-christian-leader-backs-common-ground-abortion-prevention-bill/index.html

The Value of Human Life - New US Health ReformBills

It seems there is a common strategy to have sensitive and controversial laws overturned and changed by sneaking in bills and amendments to related and even unrelated laws! In the US House of Representatives, there is a House rule that prevents an amendment which alters the purpose of an original bill. A good rule, but only effective if there is someone to enforce it.

An example of this covert behaviour particularly relating to the abortion issue, is the bill introduced in February this year, which would require parental consent for a teenager acquiring a tattoo. The Republicans tried to amend this to include parental consent to a teenager requesting abortion, the Democrats defeated the amendment.

The always present clashes surrounding any change in laws are dogging two pending new health reform bills (the Kennedy bill and the House Democratic leadership bill) and appear to be justified. The primary aim of these bills is to “... begin the process of fixing what’s broken about our health care system, reducing costs for all, building on what works and covering an estimated 97% of all Americans”, says President Barak Obama.

But, not only do the bills expand insurance coverage to nearly all Americans, the "nameplate" of these amendments - and who can dispute that change on the surface? - they include federally mandated coverage of abortion on demand in nearly all health plans, federal subsidies for abortion, mandated creation of new abortion clinics and would also void some state laws regulating abortion, buried in the text of the bills. Several amendments have been proposed but voted down to date, although 19 Democrats have put in writing that they will not vote for any health bills that includes funding for abortions. Time will tell.

If these bills pass as they are, there can only be an increase in the incidence and societal acceptance of and reduction in respect for the value of human life across the nation. And what kind of an example does it set for other nations?

Footnote: 20/7/09 Apparently Mr Obama's public support for his handling of the US healthcare system reform has fallen below 50% according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll.

Get a News Aggregator!

I have a new news aggregator - I love it, it took about one minute to download and install - for free! I can read the headlines from any news agency I subscribe to every day and read the article that goes with it if it interests me.

Today, I learned that:

• scientists are worried that hackers will sabotage neural devices currently such as deep brain stimulators which are used in treating Parkinson's disease and depression, and electrode systems used to control prosthetic limbs (link);
• reducing/restricting calories can lengthen your life span (link);
• Russia flies incursions into British airspace which makes politicians (understandably) twitchy (link).

I have put the links in just in case you're interested in those stories too! Enjoy.

Why Road Rage?

There's probably many reasons for road rage. I found a new one today. Self-righteousness!

Yep, I don't get so mad as when I'm in the main lane and some dufus speeds up on the inside merging lane to get past me with no space so I have no choice but to brake and let (usually a) him by.

I'm like totally in the right and (usually a) he is totally in the wrong.

But that doesn't help if I veer into oncoming traffic to avoid him hitting me, or let him whack the front of my car with his right side back end. Just so he can be one car ahead - and could so easily end up back-ending the car in front as well! What IS the point?

That's when I get road rage. GGGRRRR.

Psychiatrist or Psychologist - That Is The Question!

I've recently had a brush with mental health issues, and I have been quite confused as to how health professionals can help, and which kind was best suited to our issues.

With mental health issues on the rise all over the world (specifically in the 'developed world'), I thought I'd do a bit of research about the role of a psychiatrist versus a psychologist, and look for alternative therapies which are what we call holistic these days. Here's what I found - in a nutshell.

What is the difference between a Psychiatrist and a Psychologist?

Psychiatrists complete medical degrees before further specializing in psychiatry and therefore have a biological basis which allows them to integrate biological as well as psychological and social aspects of mental health. They are able to prescribe medications as well as understand the potential interactions between medical diseases and psychological effects.

Psychologists do further postgraduate study in psychological therapies after first completing an Arts or Science degree with psychology subjects. Psychologists are involved in providing specialized counselling called psychotherapy, doing cognitive assessments and in research. They do not prescribe medication. Generally psychiatrists and psychologists work closely together to provide a full range of psychological services." (1)

After consulting with both a psychologist and a psychiatrist, we are now on a second psychiatrist who specialises in depression in young people, and one who uses "cognitive behavioural therapy" or CBT.

CBT is a form of psychotherapy that emphasises the important role of our thinking processes in how we feel and what we do. There are some sub-therapies that come under this umbrella and I think you drill down and work out the best approach for the situation and the individual. CBT is the (relatively) faster way to recovery with 16 counselling sessions being the average number of visits. (2)

So that's good news. It's also drug-free which is even better news. For more information about CBT see the website below - it's full of helpful information.

Sources:

1. http://www.psychiatry.unimelb.edu.au/info/what_is_psych.html

2. http://www.nacbt.org/whatiscbt.htm

Toddler Mental Health

Our last Sunday's parochial paper ran an article revealing an increase in psychiatric evaluations on babies and children up to the age of four years old with feeding, sleeping or other "behavioural problems".

It cited statistics revealing that, of 200 national referrals in the 2007-08 financial year 43 were from Victoria, which increased to 180 between July 2008 - April 2009.

Apparently psychiatrists said they are helping to improve the relationship between parents and children and that issues in parent-child relationships must be resolved quickly as in any other relationship. A leading child mental health professional says it's not so much that the kids are mentally ill, but that parents are really struggling with sleep and behaviours.

There is a concern in the community and in community groups however, that normal childhood behaviours are being misunderstood and over-diagnosed and this practice is leading to increase in medication.

Where was ADD and ADHD when I was a child 25 years ago? Why are these "disorders" so prevalent today? It's such an emotive topic and a large one with no absolute answers as all children and families are different.

But I can't help feeling that western society has been totally slung off on a tangent thanks to "modern psychology", from the likes of Spock and Freud among many others. These people touted their theories many decades ago, but their questionable legacies live on into our times. Where to from here?