101st Madeira Consorcio Meeting 15.9. 2018
Sep 16, 2018 at 11:04 am | Posted in Posts | Leave a commentTags: amory lovins, calligraphy, casa, chris bliss, Funchal, Madeira, rocky mountain institute
D. presented a TED Talk by the co-founder of the Rocky Mountain Institute:
| “Amory Lovins was worried (and writing) about energy long before global warming was making the front — or even back — page of newspapers. Since studying at Harvard and Oxford in the 1960s, he’s written dozens of books, and initiated ambitious projects — cofounding the influential, environment-focused Rocky Mountain Institute; prototyping the ultra-efficient Hypercar – to focus the world’s attention on alternative approaches to energy and transportation.” |
This Institute stands for a positive approach, pointing to initiatives already underway by private enterprise and driven by the markets, to wean humanity off coal and oil by 2050. This will happen, whether the American President likes it or not.
The link:
https://www.ted.com/talks/amory_lovins_a_50_year_plan_for_energy#t-2560
U. mentioned a TED talk by a Comedian who said that cartoons are a great way of communication serious issues in a humorous manner. Cartoons may, for example, open up the mind of non-believers of global warming, so that they can be receptive to the fact that global warming really exists.
The link:
https://www.ted.com/talks/chris_bliss_comedy_is_translation
Other points:
| Japanese calligraphy class for beginners
Saturday 15th of September, 11h30 – 13h Thursday 20th of September, 12h30 – 14h RESTOCK Gallery in Armazem do Mercado
|
The Buddhist Centre is now having Cinema on each first Friday of the month:
| O CBM vai dar início a um ciclo de cinema chamado ‘Ver, Refletir e Discutir’.
É uma ocasião para ver filmes e documentários alternativos. Haverá também ocasião para um chá e bolachas. Local: Sede do CBM, Rua das Mercês 26 no 2º andar. Hora: 19h Entrada: 2 Budas Para as primeiras três sessões está programado o seguinte: 28 de Setembro: “Kundun” de Martin Scorsese. Duração 2h 10min 5 de Outubro: “Human Vol.I” de Yann Arthus-Bertrand. Duração 1h 24min 2 de Novembro: “O pequeno Buda” de Bernardo Bertolucci. Duração 2h 20min Pretendemos fazer uma projecção todas as primeiras sextas de cada mês, o dia 28 de Setembro é uma excepção. São todos muito bem-vindos! |
C.A.S.A. (https://casa-apoioaosemabrigo.org/index.php/delegacoes/casa-madeira) is looking for (permanent) volunteers for the evening food handout (every 14 days, they need people for Mondays and Fridays), the contact is Silvia, 91 0365816, madeira@casa-apoioaosemabrigo.org . You can also ask U., she is on a Monday team.
100 Madeira Consorcio Meeting 14.7. 2018
Jul 15, 2018 at 7:40 pm | Posted in Posts | Leave a commentTags: human needs
We met in A’s practice room , and spoke about human needs. Althea has a long list of them.
Human needs are associated in groups with the Chakras, energies which can be felt in certain parts of the body. Althea moved us by a simple question: What are your needs and what are you doing to meet them? It’s a difficult topic…
C. sent us a link by BJ Miller about what matters at the end of life:
And
https://www.powerofpositivity.com/life-regrets-people/
a positive view by Bronnie Ware
We won’t have a meeting in August – too many members will be on holiday, we’ll reconvene in September
99 Madeira Consorcio Meeting 16.62018
Jun 17, 2018 at 11:02 am | Posted in Posts | Leave a commentTags: Carhart-Harris, Consorcio, ibuprofen, imperial college, Madeira, michael, paracetamol, pollan, psychedelics, wastewater
We met in U’s place to view a video by Dr. Carhart-Harris about research done in the UK and the United States about psychedelics; the link:
The patients undergoing these controlled studies were all severely depressed or had other mental afflictions. Although some of them underwent also bad trips during the study, the aftereffect on this group of patients was /is mainly very positive. One or two treatments can actually improve depression etc. for months at a time.
Michael Pollan wrote a book about the findings with a lengthy title: “How to change your mind – What the new science of Psychedelics teaches us about Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression and Transcendence”. E and G have it,is also available as audio book.
An interview with Michael Pollan about his book is here:
Dr. Carhart-Harris’ mention in the Imperial College of London:
https://www.imperial.ac.uk/people/r.carhart-harris
It is actually possible to have psychedelics prescribed by a doctor (with a special procedure) for depression and other serious mental afflictions.
MAPS is a worldwide organizations that helps sufferers find a doctor who can prescribe psychedelics for their treatment
D mentioned that psychedelics help to un-focus – a behaviour that has been instilled in us from childhood – and to see the whole picture. Psychedelics do not cause hallucinations per se, they open the door to perceive them.
G said that the medical- industrial complex is suppressing the use of psychedelics even if they are beneficial to patients, because this would mean that they can sell less of their products.
It was discussed that these substances are not drugs, they are plant derivatives and natural, they dock in the body to receptors which also accept substances the body produces itself.
There seems to be a new understanding in the US that when people are depressed and kill themselves, the problem lies not with them but with the lifestyle. An interesting article by Kirsten powers is here:
U mntioned that wastewater – which is recycled in cities – carries more and more substances like cocaine. It has also surfaced again that women who take Ibuprofen or Paracetamol during pregnancy, may have a healthy baby girl who later finds that she is infertile because the pain killers killed her eggs in the ovaries during her mother’s pregnancy. (see article)
Reminder The JORNAL carries News in English on Tuesdays, it’s a good information service now!
98 Madeira Consorcio Meeting 19.5.2018
May 22, 2018 at 5:11 pm | Posted in Posts | Leave a commentTags: Consorcio, EcoTherapy, forest bathing, garden, Madeira, orchid, Shinrin Yoku
We met in V.’s Quinta in S. Antonio to visit her private garden, where she started a new orchid collection. It is promising! She has 250 different kinds of orchids in the lowers greenhouse and is now starting to place them in the garden itself. Butterflies and birds have returned, after the road below the grounds was built.
The garden is, at the bottom end, on level with the new road so she could then open a new gate for easy access for the visitors.
She also has com experience with EcoTherapy, with three persons who came to the Quinta during the day to plant and raise plants, to rest and get out of burnout mode.
She has a contact to a Germany enterprise which intends to send her employees who had a burnout or who are close to it. In the UK, EcoTherapy is paid by the National Health system.
We also spoke about Shinrin Yoku – Forest Bathing, a practice from Japan, see D’s links below*. D. thinks that Madeira is ideal to practice this relaxing way of living, really.
U talked about the encounter she had on a private occasion with the head of Madeira Tourism. There might be a new type of government official who could be open to working with us. D. told us about a guy from JPP (Junto pelo Povo) who came to visit him and P. in Esperdegada, to discuss all kinds of government matters, to do with the upkeep of the road. D. had a very good impression of him, this might also be a person we could work with and propose ideas to, or to help with brainstorms.
U. will get in touch with Sam G., who writes the News in English, coming out now every Tuesday in the JORNAL – please go and buy it! – to see if she can set up another channel for the news with the Madeira Island News.
We need a new topic for June and G said she would like to inform us about medicinal use of psycedelics – wow!
The links, to get a look into it:
and about the research done so far:
https://www.imperial.ac.uk/people/r.carhart-harris
The next meeting will be on June 16, the place yet to be determined.
- Shinrin Yoku – Forest Bathing
http://www.shinrin-yoku.org/shinrin-yoku.html
http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-33368691
https://www.cheesetraveller.com/earthing-forest-bathing-costa-rica/
http://www.natureandforesttherapy.org/foresttherapystarterkit.html
http://www.natureandforesttherapy.org/the-practice.html
http://www.natureandforesttherapy.org/the-science.html
96 Madeira Consorcio Meeting 17.3.2018
Mar 18, 2018 at 12:34 pm | Posted in Posts | Leave a commentTags: andrew weil, breathign, compassion, Consorcio, inetrative, m.d., Madeira, medecine
We heard from A.about the concept of integrative medicine. This is an approach to not to view alternative treatments as opposition to allopathic medicine but as composite of both, which emphasizes the approach to the total person, with compassion.
We also watched two videos on the topic:
Dr. Weil’s vision for integrative medicine:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDQmgpBVOMY
The English view of it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIj4hsdNu5w
During the discussion, it came down to the fact that most people abandon the responsibility for their health and shove it over to a doctor who is supposed to fix it. Most people, especially in Madeira, do not want to change their lifestyle for the better.
R. V. and C. also took part in the meeting and R. said that people buy and take way too many supplements these days. Then we went around the room and saw that almost everyone of us also takes supplements one way or another.
C. said that the stress he has in the hospital (2 x per week 24 hour shifts in the Emergency room) have him resort to Melantonin and herbs and such so that he can cope with the stress.
(By the way: he said that the Via Verde treatments – stroke, heart attack, sepsis) – work well in the hospital!)
Here is the link to the simple breathing exercise Dr. Weil recommends:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Wg-UAYGa2A
Our next meeting will be on April 14,.
95 Madeira Consorcio Meeting 17.2.2018
Feb 20, 2018 at 5:49 pm | Posted in Posts | Leave a commentTags: conscoiusness, daniel Quinn, david ellzey, peter russell
We met in U’s place and watched a video by Peter Russell about consciousness.
https://www.scienceandnonduality.com/the-reality-of-consciousness-peter-russell/
Russel is saying that Consciousness creates the brain, and everything else.
There are many scientists trying to discover the Theory of Everything, to find how the material world works, looking for quarks and new matter but they cannot find the particles or the answers. The scientisst who are saying the consciousness is elemental, are far and few between and they are risking their reputation. Their work undercuts a lot of work of other scientists who depend on grants and tenure etc.
This led us to the concept of non-duality, a (in the Western world) new approach to life. The pantomime David Ellzey can show the approach to life, based on this concept, without words, all im mime, here is the link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TvshcEX9Zg
In our everyday world, this is quite a strange concept, because it cannot be comprehended by the mind. Meditation can get you there
Our next meeting will be on March 17.
A. will give us some insight on “Treatment of health in the future by Integrative medicine”
94 Madeira Consorcio Meeting 13.1.2018
Jan 17, 2018 at 3:14 pm | Posted in Posts | Leave a commentHello Team,
We visited P’s Esperdegada Farm in Tabua and it was a great success!
D & P (who were also Consorcio members in former times when we had an agricultural group) bought the farm in the Parque Natural (many rules, and permissions to obtain for everything) in 2006. Since then, they have restored the building for habitation in the rural style, largely eliminated the fruit trees and their levadas and planted lavender (which needs little water) of various origins. They are now selling high-quality lavender oil and honey. Pelargonium also grows there very well, it yields another high quality oil. They also have – a rarity on Madeira – four Macadamia nut trees.
D. gave us a tour (with amazing “before & after” photos) and showed us the improvements, including one of Rod’s (also a former member) compost toilets. Some of the group took a tour on the grounds (the land is spread over 16 levels!). Then we had a nice lunch with congenial discussions in the sunshine.
Sadly, most of us forgot to buy avocados and other fruits before going home!
S.sent us a link about home biogas:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1846577405/homebiogas-20-transforms-your-food-waste-into-cle
Our next meeting will be on February 10 to watch a video which will round up our recent discussions about consciousness
For March, we’ll have an intro by A. about Acupuncture and the situation – fight for survival, really – of alternative treatments which are under constant threats by the Medical-Industrial Complex in Europe.
93 Madeira Consorcio Meeting 18.11. 2017
Nov 19, 2017 at 1:19 pm | Posted in Posts | Leave a commentTags: Consorcio, intermittent, Madeira, Portugal, Think Tank
Due to closed roads leading to Monte, (tree cutting) we all arrived late.
After a nice tea, we viewed a documentary from the BBC Horizon series about intermittent fasting, very informative! The journalist in question interviewed several scientists, tried some options and decided for intermittent fasting. His blood work improved considerably, with it his health, lowering the risk of serious diseases, and increasing life expectancy.
Two members are practicing intermittent fasting with good success.
Other short clips and a great website in regards to Keto Fasting:
Diet doctor website https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/keto
Jason fasting https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIhhrYjVhOk 5.17 min
Valter Longo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVArDzYynYc 19.0 min
How to do https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNSbL8p3_RU 4.45 min
Afterwards, we went to “Pátio das Babosas” again for a nice evening meal.
D. invited the group for a Thanksgiving Turkey Lunch, but, next Thursday being a difficult date for many, we decided to transpose it to Thursday, December 14, and combine the turkey with Father Christmas, let’s see how they get along!
The next meeting will be in 2018. We shall continue with the topic of consciousness, probably also with a video clip
92 Madeira Consorcio Meeting 14.10. 2017
Oct 16, 2017 at 2:22 pm | Posted in Posts | Leave a commentTags: brasil, consciousness, joao de deus, madeira consorcio, peter russell
We viewed a documentary S.brought from Brazil about the healer Joȃo de Deus
(http://www.healing-themovie.com/about-the-film/)
This film is not available on YouTube.
S. was in Brazil for treatment for three weeks and found that afterward, her health was/is much better that before. (She doesn’t want to take heavy-duty allopathic medicine.)
Interesting: Joao de Deus is a simple man with the potential to channel healing spirits. He was persecuted and beaten, before he found a “protector” who set him up in Abadiania (near Brasilia) where he and a team of other mediums are now working to heal on a physical and spiritual level.
Spoiler: The film is a bit heavy on catholic veneer as Ignatius of Loyola is involved, but if you replace “God” with “source”, the content works for everybody.
Afterwards, we went to “Pátio das Babosas” and had a great meal on a terrace above Monte; we enjoyed one of the last summer evenings.
PS: Interesting info about the Consciousness topic:
Peter Russell https://www.scienceandnonduality.com/the-reality-of-consciousness/)
David Chalmers https://www.ted.com/talks/david_chalmers_how_do_you_explain_consciousness
Dan Dennett https://www.ted.com/talks/dan_dennett_on_our_consciousness
Anil Seth https://www.ted.com/talks/anil_seth_how_your_brain_hallucinates_your_conscious_reality
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