Farmlab Public SalonPaul K. ChappellFriday, June 25, 2010 @ NoonFree Admission

Why World Peace is Possible and How We Can Achieve It

Like most Americans, I grew up thinking that peace was a naive dream. In this talk, I explain how I learned at West Point and in the military that peace is possible, and how we can take steps toward achieving it. I will also explain what waging peace means and how, in the nuclear age, waging peace is required to ensure the survival of humanity and protect our planet. We all can create positive change in the world, and now is the best time to begin.

Some topics I will discuss include:

- Are human beings naturally violent?

- Why does war happen?

- Why do people join the military?

- How do armies make people fight?

- How is warfare changing in the 21st century?

- Why are the teachings of Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. more important than ever?

- What does waging peace mean?

- What can we all do to end war, save our planet, and make a difference?

Paul K. Chappell graduated from West Point in 2002. He served in the army for seven years, was deployed to Baghdad, and left active duty in November 2009 as a Captain. He is the author of Will War Ever End?: A Soldier’s Vision of Peace for the 21st Century and The End of War: How Waging Peace Can Save Humanity, Our Planet, and Our Future (May 2010). He lives in Santa Barbara, California, where he is serving as the Peace Leadership Director for the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation. He is working on his third book, Peaceful Revolution, and he speaks throughout the country to colleges, high schools, veterans groups, churches, and activist organizations.

Note on the cover image: The sculpture shown is The Triumph of Napoleon in 1810 by Jean-Pierre Cortot, part of L’Arc de Triomphe in Paris. The Romans used laurel wreaths to celebrate military conquest. This sculpture shows Napoleon being crowned with such a wreath at the height of his power. Triumph depicts the glorification of war, the leaders who drag countries into war, and the celebration of death that disregards the soldiers and civilians killed during war.

Further Information: www.paulkchappell.com

Nuclear Age Peace Foundation: www.wagingpeace.org

Image: Courtesy Paul K. Chappell

Metabolic Studio Public SalonOrchid BlackFriday, June 18, 2010 @ NoonFree Admission

Oak our Mother, Acorns our Food: Preparing Acorns to Eat

Acorns have long been a food staple of Northern Hemisphere peoples for whom gathering and preparing them was an important communal task. In that spirit of sharing work and wisdom, join native plant expert Orchid Black for her introduction to the history and culture of this highly nutritious food. In a hands-on workshop we will identify different oak species, leach and grind flour, and eat yummy acorn cornbread.

Orchid is a garden designer and owner of Pitcher Sage Design, which offers native plant consulting, habitat creation and sustainable design services to the greater Los Angeles area. Orchid writes and lectures about native plants, water-saving strategies, and sustainable gardening, and is currently teaching Sustainable Garden Practice at UCLA Extension.

PLEASE NOTE: Because this salon comprises a talk and workshop it will last longer than usual, ending around 2.30pm

Image: Shelled Acorns in a Pine Needle Bowl Handmade By Jim Otterstrom, 2007. Courtesy Jim Otterstrom

Further information: http://nativesanctuary.wordpress.com

Metabolic Studio Public SalonDenny ZaneFriday, June 11, 2010 @ NoonFree Admission

It’s Time to Move LA

Denny Zane, founder and executive director of Move LA, will provide a presentation and lead a discussion regarding the creation of the business, labor, environmental coalition that led to the successful Measure R campaign of November, 2008, and the subsequent development the “30/10 Plan.”

Measure R, a ½ cent sales tax increase to fund transportation improvements was approved by 68% of Los Angeles County voters. It will raise nearly $40 billion over the next 30 years and enable Los Angeles County to develop a modern public transit system. The “30/10 Plan” is a proposal led by mayor of Los Angeles Antonio Villaraigosa and Move LA, which seeks federal loans to enable our community to accelerate that development to 10 years.

When LA County voters approved Measure R by nearly 68% it began an historic transformation for our community. Because nearly 70% of Measure R funds will be invested in public transit projects and services, including the Wilshire Blvd. “subway to the sea,” it will enable a transformation of Los Angeles County from an entirely auto-centered community to a community with real transportation choices, including subway, light rail, expanded bus service, as well as bicycle and pedestrian facilities.

The “30/10 Plan” will see that transformation accelerated from 30 years to 10 years. The concept began not long after the passage of Measure R. Since that time Mayor Villaraigosa and Move LA have conducted a coordinated effort to build support among local constituencies and in the federal government to facilitate low cost loans that will enable these projects to be developed on an accelerated basis. This “30/10 Plan” has gained widespread support in Washington, DC, and has found a champion in Senator Barbara Boxer in addition to the support of virtually the entire Los Angeles County Congressional delegation.

What will the Measure R transformation mean for Los Angeles County? What are the prospects for a successful “30/10 plan”? What do we have to do to keep it on track? These and other questions will be the topic of this presentation and discussion.

More about Denny Zane

(Image: LA County Measure R maps)

Further information: www.movela.org

Facebook: search for Move LA