Top Ten Technologies That Could Save the World

There are plenty of books and articles out there telling us how new and improved technology can save the planet. The problem is many of these new-fangled things involve extravagant extractions of resources from an already depleted and hurting planet. So here is my modest attempt to describe the Top Ten Technologies that do not use a lot of Earth’s resources and just might make a difference.

1. The alarm clock – here’s what you do: set your alarm an hour later than normal. You get your beauty sleep and so does the Earth. When humans are sleeping, we’re not using up scarce resources. When we’re asleep, we can’t do any harm. If you can’t wake up an hour later, then go to bed an hour earlier – same benefits.

2. The sweater – feeling cold? Put on an extra sweater rather than turning up the heat.

3. The garden spade – instead of creating more carbon emissions by having your veggies and fruit flown or trucked from California, Mexico, or China, why don’t you grow your own?
Not only will they taste better, you’ll be cutting down on the excessive use of water, pesticides and fertilizers, deemed necessary by agribusiness. I will never forget the thrill of picking figs from my own fig tree.

4. The campfire – instead of having to put up with the endless insipid commercials on TV and, horrors, now the internet, sit around the campfire with your kids and friends – just like our ancestors did – and tell your own ghost stories and gossip. Fires not allowed in your apartment building? Worried about burning all those trees? I understand. Turn off the lights, light a candle and start storytelling.

5. The push lawnmower – need I say more? Good exercise too. Of course, if you’ve ripped up your front lawn to plant veggies, you won’t need it (see #3).

6. The corn broom – to replace those hideous leaf blowers, and very handy for Halloween parties.

7. The choir – the most ancient community building technology. Don’t believe me? Read “This is Your Brain on Music” by Dan Levitin.

Singing with others not only makes you feel good, due to the amount of oxytocin filling your brain, it also builds trust and friendships. And as things get more critical in this century, we’re going to need all the friends we can get.

8. The beehive – an absolute necessity to house the friendly bees that will be pollinating your fruit trees (see #3).

9. The needle and thread – for sewing our planetary Earth flags. Nothing like a flag to bring people together and make them feel as if they belong to the same club. We do after all belong to the Earth, don’t we? I have a suggestion: – how about a big circle for the Earth, a smaller circle for the Sun, Seven Stars to represent the Seven Continents, and Five Fishes to represent the Five Oceans? Or make your own design and send it to me. I’ll get sewing.

10. The glass – fill to the brim with your favourite beverage and toast all the good work you’re doing to save the planet. Well done! Even better if you fill it with wine made from your own grapes, or carrot juice from your homegrown carrots, or milk from your own goat. But hey, after all the work you’ve done, even Jamaican Rum would do just fine.

An Evening in Paris

I love singing French music. And this Saturday, I will be singing at An Evening in Paris – a fundraiser to help the kids at Island Pacific School travel to Quebec. I’m bilingual and I’m thrilled that young people, who live in English-speaking western Canada, are eager to practice their French and see how the other half lives.

Two of the songs I will be performing were made famous by French singer, Edith Piaf, one of the world’s most beloved singers. Many years ago, I wrote and performed a highly successful musical about her life and it was a turning point in my career. Today as I was rehearsing Je ne regrette rien, I realized that Piaf, who died at age 47, did not get to sing this beautiful song as often as I have had the pleasure. Michel Vaucaire and Charles Dumont wrote this anthem to life for her shortly before her death.

Last year, a Taiwanese company, High Note International Media, purchased my version of this song for a compilation CD of French music. To date, they have purchased 7 of my songs for their various compilations. The CD is called La chanteuse de jazz.

Song for the Winter Solstice

As we approach the winter solstice on December 21, we are nearing the end of longer nights and dark days. This is a time to welcome the returning light. A time to celebrate the gift of the Sun, and the miracle of existence. One of the ways I celebrate is by singing my Song for the Winter Solstice. Here it is, with lyrics, in case you would like to sing along. On this version, The Sojourners, a wonderful male gospel trio, are doing backup vocals for me. I wish you much joy and love and laughter in the coming days.

Song for the Winter Solstice © Pauline Le Bel 2004

Out of the deepest darkness comes the light

bringing a ray of hope to winter’s longest night

out of the deepest silence comes the song

praising the gift the wonderful gift

of the returning sun.

Sing halleluya sing halleluya

step from the darkness into the light

sing halleluya sing halleluya halle – hallelu-u-ya

They call it the feast of Yule

the feast of lights

candles on Lucia’s crown

everything’s shining bright

the world it seems

is waking from winter dreams

praising the gift

the wonderful gift

of the returning sun

Sing halleluya …

Get Rich Quick! Count Your Blessings

I saw this on a billboard recently. It really caught my eye, and my heart. I’m not the kind to fall for get rich schemes – I would have chosen a different line of work – but who could resist this? I began counting – with photos from my photo album. I am blessed by:

The beauty in my life

Darling babies in my life

Fun-loving teens in my life

Love in my life

Music in my life

Winters - short ones on my island home

Summer family picnics

A beautiful small home with a big veggie garden

Laughter

Our beautiful planet Earth and all she provides. May we learn to take better care of our home.

Now all of this did not happen over night so I can hardly say that I got rich quick. It took a lifetime of trial and error, of giving up and starting over, of closing and opening my heart before I could say yes, I am rich. So go and count your blessings. It’s the best get rich scheme I know of.

How I Voted: Canada Reads

Only a few days left to vote for your favourite non-fiction book by a Canadian author. Lots of wonderful books to choose from in the list. I voted for The Golden Spruce by John Vaillant and here’s why: after reading the book, I wept for two days. I have to tell you right off the bat, I’m not an easy weep. I don’t usually blubber over books or movies. But this book is so beautifully written about such an important topic – how we have deforested our green planet – that it went straight to my heart.

One way I work through my grief is by writing poems and songs. I wrote plenty of them after my sister died a few years ago. I did the same after reading The Golden Spruce. This led eventually to my CD, Rescue Joy, which has received wonderful feedback from environmentalists like Joanna Macy. To put my money where my heart is, I have donated part of the proceeds to the David Suzuki Foundation.

I recommend this book to everyone, not only because it is beautifully written, but because it also carries an important conservation message.

Why don’t you check out the list of 40 books at cbc.ca and vote for your favourite non-fiction book. There’s prizes.

Breath sound and movement

I’m really looking forward to teaching this class on November 15. This rejuvenating mind/body practice has been part of my daily life for almost 10 years. It’s been a vital part of my life as a singer, as a writer, and as a human being. I thought it was time to share it.

Ferry Wisdom

You never know where wisdom will appear. Last week I was on the ferry from Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo. In the store, I struck up a conversation with a mature sales clerk as I paid for my dark chocolate truffles. She offered the standard parting words but in a way that was anything but standard, in a way that was whole-hearted: “Have a good day,” she said and meant it. I answered: “So far so good.” After a brief chat about the importance of having a positive attitude to life, she said:

“You can choose to be happy and make it all work or you can choose to be miserable and make it all worse. “

How does one acquire wisdom? It doesn’t necessarily come with age. There are wise youngsters and foolish oldsters. I suppose wisdom comes from a keen interest in what is going on, an engagement with life, and a willingness to learn.

I like what Clarissa Pinkola Estes has to say about wisdom. “Wisdom is what works.” I like that. Even the wisdom in books has been previously experienced by the writers. It’s up to the reader to evaluate the wisdom and see if it’s still relevant, if it still works. I am open to book wisdom but I never underestimate the hard-won wisdom of my own and others’ experience.

One last little bit of ferry wisdom – this time from a four-year old girl on the same ferry. The four-year- old was being aggressively kissed and hugged by a slightly older, slightly bigger girl. “I love you,” she panted to the smaller girl. The younger girl, using her firmest, most grown-up voice, said: “You’re not allowed to love me that much.”

You never know where you’ll find wisdom.

Older or Elder?

It was Michael Meade who said that as we age we become either an older or an elder. An older is someone who has lived a long time. An elder is someone who is grateful to be still alive, who has developed a deep sense of responsibility – for the Earth, for future generations – who has gathered some hard-earned wisdom over the years, and is eager to pass it on.

Last week, I spent an enjoyable day with the David Suzuki Elders at Rivendell Retreat Centre on Bowen Island. The elders are an eclectic group of former teachers, bankers, consultants, environmentalists, scientists, and artists (okay, one artist, me).

Elders are the keepers of memory, keepers of the collective experience of a community. They have a critical role to play in today’s society. David Suzuki puts it this way: “Young people must learn that happiness is not dependent on a deluge of more stuff, but in the joy of people and things they do together. They need to be reminded of the change in their surroundings, that in a generation or two, the air, water, soil and biodiversity of the Earth has been radically reduced. Elders are the ones to do the reminding.”

The focus of the Suzuki Elders is to engage young and old in meaningful discussion about the environment, and to create projects that might make a difference. I joined the Elders because it is a way from me to integrate my main passions for music, science, nature and spirit, and a way to offer some hope and direction through my music and my stories.

Have a listen to How Shall I Walk, a song from my 4th CD, Rescue Joy:

How Shall I Walk With This Wounded Earth was written out of my grief over the destruction of the Earth, and my hope for the restoration of our beautiful planet. The CD is available for purchase or download from cdbaby.com. Part of the proceeds support the David Suzuki Foundation.

Baiya sheetoora – my music goes with you.

Singing with Horses

Part of my mission in life is to create occasions for people to sing freely, especially those who have been told they can’t sing. One of my favourites was a vocal playshop I gave a few years ago at a science conference – The Evolutionary Epic – in Hawaii. Some of these brilliant people were unaccustomed to singing – even in the shower – but when I invited them to make the primordial sounds of the universe, they transformed themselves into a wonderful cosmic choir.

Last month, I gave a vocal class at Human Be Herd at Gavin’s Lake, run by Thea Fast and her horses. This is an annual event – billed as an Equine Assisted Personal Development workshop – which means you hang out with beautiful horses who help you learn a whole lot about yourself, your blocks, your fears, your strengths – rather like one of my playshops.

Now one of my fears is – horses. They’re big, they’re powerful, they move quickly. I have had almost no experience with horses except to admire them from the other side of a very tall fence. So when Thea suggested that I might also participate in the horse work, I was nervous and eager at the same time. At last year’s workshop, I had a transformative experience with Glory, a beautiful white Arab. I made a connection with her when I saw tiny birds scurrying beneath her feet. She never stepped on one of them. I figured I would be safe.

Glory and Pauline at Human Be Herd 2010

Here is a photo of me with Glory who helped me work through my fears. After our time together, I sang her a song: Glory, Glory Hallelujah! This year, I groomed Beauty who was very forgiving about my lack of skill at combing out her mane and tail. She also seemed to enjoy my singing and my whistling and came along with me for a walk.

On the Saturday night, I gave a vocal class, helping participants move through their fears and blocks around singing, to go to the edges of their comfort with curiosity and compassion. I taught them breath techniques to deal with butterflies in the stomach, and how to access the many voices that dwell inside their bodies. I love this work. I also love being one of the herd.

Perhaps next year I’ll find the courage to hang out with Blue – the mustang.

Deep Fun and Hockey Night in Canada

It was touch and go whether I would make the trip to Courtenay for my Deep Fun concert, scheduled the same night as the final game of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Most everyone would be sitting in front of the little box cheering on the Canucks. But I had made a commitment, and several people had put in time and energy to promote the concert. I flipped a coin; it landed on heads. We were going. I decided to look at the adventure as a holiday and not be disappointed if no one showed up.

Pauline and Joanna improvising a pine forest with the audience

Fourteen people who could care less about hockey came to the concert. Some of them told me they were grateful to have an alternative. I had to admit that if I were not committed to giving a concert, I would probably be watching the game.

I sang as if there were fourteen hundred people there and enjoyed every minute of it. I always enjoy sharing my amusing songs, inspiring people to laugh. Heaven knows we all need a few laughs these days.

My special guest was Joanna Finch, talented singer/songwriter, who delighted everyone with her own amusing songs, and in the second half we collaborated on some improvised antics.

When the audience arrived, they were given a piece of paper and asked to write what they considered to be deep fun. Comments included: a large baked dessert with whipped cream; walking in the mountains; discovery; digging the earth; evolution, chaos and complexity – some deep folks there in Courtenay.

Joanna and I used these suggestions to create our improvisations. Belly Laugh was another deep fun on the list, and Joanna got everyone to engage in a laugh fest. For a finale, we chose Pine Forest and together with the audience, we created a moody, magical pine forest with owl and raven calls, sounds of wind and rain, and thunder, and songs of fairies and forest spirits. Did anyone miss the hockey game? We were too busy making music. While the Canucks fans were releasing frustration and disappointment, we were releasing oxytocin, the feel-good hormone – the hormone your brain makes when you sing with others.

Thank you Courtenay, thank you, Joanna, Nancy, and Louie. Invite me back anytime.