The "Boys" Are Beginning to do Useful Work

I just received this video from Krishna Katha up at New Gaudadesha, our Gitagrad community in Lithuania. The two oxen, Balai and Kana (affectionate names of Balarama and Krishna) have grown up and can pull heavier loads. They have recently been fitted with a new yoke (which has to be changed as they grow and their necks become thicker) and a new wagon has been made for them to pull. Petras, their teamster, is steady as a rock, and continues to work with them daily. I've also heard that Petras is looking for a wife. I am certain that he will make a great husband who will care for his family with the same steady determination that he has demonstrated in working with the bulls. Ladies?

More Milk News...

 Genetically modified cows produce 'human' milk

The insanity is increasing beyond all conceivable proportions. Now the mad scientists are trying to improve on nature by making cows produce human milk. Where will all of this lead? Eventually, we know the result will be 'human beings' dumber than animals. Well, let me rephrase that since a case can be made that we have already met that benchmark. The conclusion is described in the 12th canto of the Srimad Bhagavatam:

By the time the age of Kali ends, the bodies of all creatures will be greatly reduced in size, and the religious principles of followers of varnashrama will be ruined. The path of the Vedas will be completely forgotten in human society, and so-called religion will be mostly atheistic. The kings will mostly be thieves, the occupations of men will be stealing, lying and needless violence, and all the social classes will be reduced to the lowest level of sudras. Cows will be like goats, spiritual hermitages will be no different from mundane houses, and family ties will extend no further than the immediate bonds of marriage. Most plants and herbs will be tiny, and all trees will appear like dwarf sami trees. Clouds will be full of lightning, homes will be devoid of piety, and all human beings will have become like asses. At that time, the Supreme Personality of Godhead will appear on the earth. Acting with the power of pure spiritual goodness, He will rescue eternal religion. 12.2.12-16

Other parts of the predictions of Kali have already come to pass. These include such things as:

In Kali-yuga, wealth alone will be considered the sign of a man's good birth, proper behavior and fine qualities. And law and justice will be applied only on the basis of one's power. Men and women will live together merely because of superficial attraction, and success in business will depend on deceit. Womanliness and manliness will be judged according to one's expertise in sex, and a man will be known as a brähmaëa just by his wearing a thread. A person's spiritual position will be ascertained merely according to external symbols, and on that same basis people will change from one spiritual order to the next. A person's propriety will be seriously questioned if he does not earn a good living. And one who is very clever at juggling words will be considered a learned scholar. A person will be judged unholy if he does not have money, and hypocrisy will be accepted as virtue.

Marriage will be arranged simply by verbal agreement, and a person will think he is fit to appear in public if he has merely taken a bath. A sacred place will be taken to consist of no more than a reservoir of water located at a distance, and beauty will be thought to depend on one's hairstyle. Filling the belly will become the goal of life, and one who is audacious will be accepted as truthful.

He who can maintain a family will be regarded as an expert man, and the principles of religion will be observed only for the sake of reputation. As the earth thus becomes crowded with a corrupt population, whoever among any of the social classes shows himself to be the strongest will gain political power. Losing their wives and properties to such avaricious and merciless rulers, who will behave no better than ordinary thieves, the citizens will flee to the mountains and forests. Harassed by famine and excessive taxes, people will resort to eating leaves, roots, flesh, wild honey, fruits, flowers and seeds. Struck by drought, they will become completely ruined. The citizens will suffer greatly from cold, wind, heat, rain and snow. They will be further tormented by quarrels, hunger, thirst, disease and severe anxiety. 12.2.2-10

These conditions are being brought about by the extreme influence of tamo-guna, the quality of ignorance that destroys intelligence for doing good. Instead, people act against their own best interests thinking that they are somehow improving their situation. Genetic modification of life forms will create much havoc in this world. When questioned about dinosaurs Srila Prabhupada replied that that is not what we have come from but what we are going to! In the 70s we couldn't quite understand that statement, but now, 40 years later, we can see that this genetic modification can indeed create dinosaurs. In fact, some scientists have tried to extract genetic material from dinosaur remains, and it should not surprise us if indeed they attempt to create T-rex as a zoo attraction, and we have a live version of Jurassic Park. Such people are referred to as mayayaparita-jnana in the Bhagavad-gita -- those whose knowledge is stolen by illusion.

These foolish people, acting under the influence of atheism, think that this world was created by chance combination of chemicals and that they can improve on it. In fact it was created by the most intelligent scientist, the Supreme Lord Himself. He created the cow and the bull to be the helpers of human beings, and He has made cows milk as the most precious substance to develop the brain tissues giving superior intelligence. Now they want to destroy what the Lord has given and with that they begin to destroy their own future. Such is the nature of Kali-yuga. These people need to be stopped before they irrevocably destroy everything good about this planet. The best way to raise the society out of the depths of tamo-guna is by harinam sankirtan, or chanting the holy names of the Supreme Lord. There is actually no solution without a spiritual revolution.

Here is more of the GM milk story:

Scientists have created genetically modified cattle that produce "human" milk in a bid to make cows' milk more nutritious.

The scientists have successfully introduced human genes into 300 dairy cows to produce milk with the same properties as human breast milk.

Human milk contains high quantities of key nutrients that can help to boost the immune system of babies and reduce the risk of infections.

The scientists behind the research believe milk from herds of genetically modified cows could provide an alternative to human breast milk and formula milk for babies, which is often criticised as being an inferior substitute.

They hope genetically modified dairy products from herds of similar cows could be sold in supermarkets. The research has the backing of a major biotechnology company.

The work is likely to inflame opposition to GM foods. Critics of the technology and animal welfare groups reacted angrily to the research, questioning the safety of milk from genetically modified animals and its effect on the cattle's health.

But Professor Ning Li, the scientist who led the research and director of the State Key Laboratories for AgroBiotechnology at the China Agricultural University insisted that the GM milk would be as safe to drink as milk from ordinary dairy cows.

He said: "The milk tastes stronger than normal milk.

“We aim to commercialize some research in this area in coming three years. For the “human-like milk”, 10 years or maybe more time will be required to finally pour this enhanced milk into the consumer’s cup.”

Can you believe this? And at the same time there is a great amount of propaganda to discourage women from breast feeding their babies. So get ready...we have about ten years to prepare to have our own cows that give wholesome A2 milk. Thank God!

Actually, all of these genetically modified foods are being created to reduce the birth rate and that is why they are being foisted on the public despite the strong resistance. More on that later.

The original article and remainder of the article about human milk from cows is found here:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/agriculture/geneticmodification/8423536/Genetically-modified-cows-produce-human-milk.html

Milk Is In The News

Researchers have found that most of the cows in N. America and Europe are producing milk containing a protein that leads to health problems. Here is the description given from one book on the subject "Don't Drink A1 Milk!!" The publishers description explains:

Don’t Drink A1 Milk !! is an expose’ of the potential health hazards of drinking Type A1 cow’s milk, and the implications for the dairy industry, government, and , most importantly, the consumers. We now know that Type A1 cow’s milk genetically differs from the original A2 milk, and can generate the casomorphin peptide, BCM-7. The BCM-7 molecule can attach itself to the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas, prompting an autoimmune destruction of the beta cells, leading to diabetes. It is a strong oxidant, and can oxidize LDL cholesterol, contributing to plague build-up in the arteries. It is also a powerful morphine-like opiate, and can pass through the blood-brain barrier, promoting neurological disorders such as schizophrenia and autism. The evidence is credible and compelling, and cannot be ignored.

Our dairy industry has decided not to confront the enormous implications to their status quo, and does not want you to know about this issue. Our various governments and regulatory agencies have chosen to ‘bury their heads in the sand’, claiming that the BCM-7 hypothesis is not ‘proven’ and that no risk assessment or protective action is warranted. Dairy farmers in the U.S., Canada, and Europe know little about this issue. Ironically, the dairy farmers in New Zealand, where the research originated, are quietly converting their herds to A2-only producers. Almost all of the milk produced and sold in the U.S. is Type A1 or is contaminated with A1.

The author suggests that what is at stake is more than simply a challenge to the dairy industry. Even more important is our health, and that of our children, and of generations to come. And what about the increasing millions who suffer and will suffer from diabetes, heart disease, and neurological disorders? He proposes that it may not be so much a matter of what science finally concludes … although this is extremely important … but may be more a matter of consumers knowing the truth, being protected, and having a choice. Yet there is a positive side to this new knowledge … we may suddenly have at our fingertips a key to eliminating a significant cause of chronic disease and the opportunity to uplift our human health to an even higher level. An urgent call for accountability and action is warranted. Consumers are asked to place their vote in both the political arena and the marketplace to insist on transparency, courage, and integrity on the part of the dairy industry, government, and science to correct this unacceptable dilemma.

There is also another book on the subject "Devil in the Milk: Illness, Health and the Politics of A1 and A2 Milk" for which the publishers description mentions this:

All milk was once A2, until a genetic mutation occurred some thousands of years ago in some European cattle. A2 milk remains high in herds in much of Asia, Africa, and parts of Southern Europe. A1 milk is common in the United States, New Zealand, Australia, and Europe.

It is the cows of India and S. America, and perhaps even the pacific, the "Zebu" cows that have the hump, give A2 milk.

Hmm, if I had to guess I would say that somebody learned that more milk could be gained by making this change to the cow and for that reason all producers began to switch to the more productive breed. In India I have never seen a cow with a full udder the size of what we see in American cows. The cows that I have seen in India typically give less than 4 gallons a day, while it is not uncommon that American cows give up to 100 lbs. per day or almost 12 gallons.

Both books are available from Amazon, the first one is also available for the Kindle. I'll be buying it to find out if my hunch is correct. The question is, if this change was deliberately introduced, can it be deliberately un-introduced? 

Absolutely Essential Items for Every Community

Eco-village is a “human-scale, full-featured settlement in which human activities are harmlessly integrated into the natural world in a way that is supportive of healthy human development, and which can be successfully continued into the indefinite future.”This is just what the world needs now. 

The question is: how do we get there from here? It takes more than idyllic dreaming and wishful thinking. It takes a lot of hard work and learning many new skills, particularly learning how to work with and depend on others, and becoming a dependable and valuable community member ourselves. There is a great deal to learn.

Anyone who is interested in starting or participating in an intentional community needs to know what they are facing, and the sooner the better. Fortunately help is available. Diana Leaf Christian has been through it all for more than 25 years as a co-founder and resident of the Twin Oaks Community. She has taken her experience and written “Creating a Life Together: Practical Tools to Grow Eco-villages and Intentional Communities.” The is book is an absolute must read for anyone embarking a creating a life away from the modern norm. So many attempts have been made with so many failures, and we can learn from the successes and failures of others. 

Here are the seven essential points that every community must deal with:

1. Identify your community vision and create vision documents There is probably no more devastating source of structural conflict in community than various members having different visions for why you are together.

2. Choose a fair, participatory decision-making process appropriate for your group. And if you choose consensus, get trained in it. Unless you’re forming a spiritual, religious or therapeutic community with a spiritual leader who’ll make all decisions — and you all agree to this in advance — your members will resent any power imbalances.

3. Make clear agreements — in writing. (This includes choosing an appropriate legal entity for owning land together). People remember things differently. Your agreements — from the most mundane to the most legally and financially significant — should absolutely be written down.

4. Learn good communication and group process skills. Make clear communication and resolving conflicts a priority. Being able to talk with one other about sensitive subjects and still feel connected is my definition of good communication skills.

5. In choosing co-founders and new members, select for emotional maturity. An often-overwhelming source of conflict is allowing someone to enter your forming community group, or later, to enter your community, who is not aligned to your vision and values. Or someone whose emotional pain — surfacing weeks or months later as disruptive attitudes or behaviors — can end up costing you untold hours of meeting time and draining your group of energy and well-being. There must be methods for holding each other accountable for agreements.

6. Learn the head skills and heart skills you need to know. Forming a new community is like simultaneously trying to start a new business and begin a marriage — and is every bit as serious as doing either. It requires many of the same planning and financial skills as launching a successful business enterprise, and the same capacities for trust, good will, and honest, kind interpersonal communication as marrying your sweetheart.

7. You will need to create an internal community economy with means and methods of equitably meeting your cash needs and for refinancing any initial loans.

The book is available from Amazon.com both in print and as an kindle e-book.