Julia> Oh there are so many. In the forest area issues, the most recent one is the Gap Clothing empire, the Fisher Family. They own Gap, Banana Republic, and old Navy. And over the years they have made quite a bit of money of the clothing they sell. Recently it been discovered that part of the reason they make so much money it because their clothes are made in horrific conditions in sweet shop in shy pan. Where people are getting paid, unbelievable, disrespectful, and horrifying pitiful amount. They're actually almost like indentured slaves for quite some time because they have to pay a fee to a broker. Who brokers their lives to the incorporation?

(Not heard statement)

And so the first thing they have to do is pay off that broker fee which is astronomical. Then they are getting paid so little that it almost equals up to nothing by the time there done and they stay in that machine of despair of barely getting by. Yet the corporation is one of the biggest that we have in this country, they are huge and they have made billions and billions of dollars. The money they made they began an investment company. That investment company recently in Bob Fisher, the head Fisher of the family. Um, they invested in his son John Fisher to take over forestlands in Menasino County.

Menisino County was logged so heavily by Louisiana Pacific, the prior company. That there is truly nothing left there to even sustainable harvest. Let alone do what Menisino Redwood Company, as that is what it is called now, plans to do. What John Fisher of the Gap family empire proposes to do. They are spinning themselves to the world with their multiy million-dollar P.R. firm as applying for smart wood certification. So, the world thinks that they really mean it that they really care. But anyone, anyone at all, Pacific Lumber could apply for smart wood certification that does not me that they would be approved. Yet all the world is hearing from the mainstream press, because of the multy million dollar P.R. firm and the clout of the Gap empire. All the world is hear is that this family is doing it right, and that they are doing it nicely. And that there is going to be intact a healthy forest left when they are done. But they're not an intact healthy forest there right now. What that area needs is restoration first, and this company is pretending to call itself restorative practices by clear cutting and spraying herbicides. There is nothing restorative about that, there is nothing sustainable about that, and there is nothing respectful or decent about that. And yet people continue to buy their clothes.

Another issue is Home Depot. Home Depot is a largely expanding home refurbishment center. They are the world's leader in the world selling of the world's old growths forest products. They are thee largest. That means that not only old growths forest being destroyed around the world, because of this company, but that the indigenous cultures that are so vitally and intricately link with many of these forest around the world are also being decimated and obliterated right along with the forest. Which means if a consumer goes into a Home Depot and spends a 1.21 on penny nails they are helping to destroy and old growth forest. If they go in and buy a paintbrush to redo their walls they are helping to destroy the old growth forest. We have come to a point where we have to take responsibility. Weather were buying the actual product or not, if we are feeding this frenzy of destruction and so-called economic growth, irregardless of what else suffers. We are part of the problem no matter what angle it is, and so we have to become part of the solution. And I believe that solution is part of becoming conscious and taking time.

Our society today is so fast paced that it is easy to loose touch, it is easy to loose consciousness, it is easy loose that feeling of inter connection of all life, and all life's species. So, it our responsibility to take that time to think. To take that time to feel, to take that time to search the truth for its reality not for a corporate spin and make our actions meet the truth that we find. Make our action open a pathway for other to find the truth as well, and we have to find ways to use our money support cottage industries, sustainable cultures. Ways of living with the forest instead of destroying the forest. Ways of protecting air quality, water quality and food quality with the money that we spend. Whether it is .50 cents, $50.00 or $50,000 dollars every single cent is vital in shaping our world.

And we have to decided to become more earth centered and earth based in our living styles. It is difficult, it is not easy. I'm not pretending that it is. But we can do things with the simple stuff, like turning our windowsills into gardens. Reusing every scrap of paper that we possibly can and every envelope that comes in the mail from friends and junk mail. That we can replace the paper towels in our house with hand towels. These simple things that add up and add up, and add up, and if we take that responsibility on as an individual the ripple effect will reach others, and through that we're going to see the change we need to protect our forest. To protect the planet that gives us life, and protect lives of future generations who have a right to be heard even though as of yet do not have a voice.