Willie Nelson

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Amy Nelson sent us this video she made of her Dad, Willie Nelson, singing “A Peaceful Solution.”

One thing I noticed about the video was the view of the audience listening to Willie. Thousands of people hear Willie sing “A Peaceful Solution” at the end of his shows.

Have you been in one of those audiences?

Have you felt the energy behind the message?

Doesn’t it feel great?

Liz and I were discussing the power of the individual to effect meaningful change with Willie when he stood up and gestured around him in a circle.

“What can each of us do but extend peace into the small area that we can personally influence?” Willie asked.

We will find this power becoming more important every day. As the sick social structures weaken and fall away each of us will find more opportunities to stand up and influence others in our immediate circle.

News on global food supplies, resource depletion, energy stocks, fuel stocks, increased population and global resource demands spiraling out of sight provides all the indicators required to let us know profound changes have become inevitable.

Where are you going to turn?

Hope you are not depending upon the same people who did not make it to the aid of New Orleans after Katrina.

You will find your best alliances to be with family, friends and neighbors. The term popping up to describe this phenomenon is called Relocalization.

Relocalization speaks of renewed grass-roots efforts to reestablish local sufficiency in a renewable and socially responsible manner. You can hear these groups talk about the Post-Carbon era with thoughtful consideration.

Another group you may hear about is APPLE - Alliance for a Post Petroleum Local Economy.

Local family farms will become the energy and food centers for human culture as they had been for thousands of years before the commercial industrialization of the agribusiness conglomerates.

Shipping in things that can be grown locally will become economically unpractical. If you have noticed the rising prices in the grocery stores then you realize the truth in this.

Global climate change is real.

The Arctic will be ice free in just a few more years. This will trigger gigantic and massive crop failures all over the world, low land flooding, sea level rises and a huge number of global refugees. Increased hurricane severity, drought and flooding is already happening.

All of these issues and more become exaggerated in the context of conflict, violence and war.

We need peace to solve our common problems.

More and more you will find yourself turning to those around you, perhaps at a Willie Nelson concert, and see those around you with new eyes. The people standing around you are your only security not corrupt bureaucracies.

To get along with people we will all need to learn and practice peace in all aspects of life.

We must live in peace with the Earth and the plants and animals no less than with our fellow human beings.

Be ready for the change. Be the change. Bring peace.

* * * * * Artist’s Statement * * * * *

To my extended family at WNPRI,

I had never dreamed that over 160 artists would record their own versions and videos of ‘A Peaceful Solution‘ within a year’s time. How could we have imagined such a powerful response?

I can’t speak for Dad. He might have planned it all along. ; ) What a beautiful story that we get to watch unfold, day by day. It’s a reminder of how unimaginably great things are possible with every seed of hope, and every dream is filled with infinite possibility.

Thanks to everyone who has participated. Thanks to Jay and Liz for their vision that has created this wonderful online atmosphere, and continually putting your best energy into WNPRI. It shows.

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You do not need to be a Hawaiian resident or even be a visitor to provide testimony concerning bills in front of the Hawaiian House of Representatives.

You only need to have the desire to help make positive change.

There is a widely held belief that the Hawaiian House of Representatives weighs the testimony of people from outside the state of Hawaii greater than testimony from within the state.

I can only assume that since you read this blog, you have an interest in promoting peaceful resolutions.

Now this is your chance.

Below I’ve supplied sample testimony that you may copy and paste into an email to support a peaceful resolution to a significant element of the so-called “War On Drugs.”

I ask you to participate in this small way to help set things right in Hawaii and provide a positive example of how any state government may comply with the Federal Controlled Substance Act while allowing patient access to medical marijuana.

Please lend your support to House Bill 2678.

The biggest source of revenue to the State of Hawaii is tourism.

The Hawaiian House of Representatives will credit your testimony in support of this modification of Hawaii’s medical marijuana law. They listen to out of state opinion.

Anyone truly desiring peace recognizes the requirement of unity.

Demonstrate your unity with others for the goal of peace.

Send your testimony to:

HLTtestimony@capitol.hawaii.gov

* * * * * copy and paste email testimony start * * * * *

HB 2678 Testimony

1. Health Committee: Chair - Rep. Josh Green, Vice-chair - Rep. John Mizuno
2. Date of Hearing: 2/1/07
3. Time of Hearing:
4: Location of Hearing:
5: Bill Number HB 2678
5. Position: Support
6: Number of copies needed for committee: 10

Aloha Council Member,

I am writing today to urge your support for House Bill 2678, a bill that seeks to improve Hawai’i’s medical marijuana program.

The most critical issue facing Hawaii medical marijuana patients is the safe and legal acquisition of medicine. Theft, armed robbery, and helicopter eradication programs continually threaten patients.

The Hawaii Revised Statute states that legal medical marijuana patients can acquire and possess the medicine that their doctor recommends, but patients have no choice but to acquire from an unregulated and unethical black market.

It is not in the interest of Hawai’i’s public health to force patients into the black market.

An important question is:
How does a patient who is diagnosed with cancer and to undergo chemotherapy immediately acquire the medicine that his/her doctor recommends?

In this case, there is not enough time for the patient to grow, harvest and cure the medicine that will help with nausea during immediate chemotherapy treatments, and any stress from buying medicine from drug dealers will not help the health of the patient.

Because of conflicts with federal law, Hawaii does not provide for a legal means of supplying marijuana. Allowing patients to form collective and co-operative operations will help individual patients to have their needs met immediately. By employing a “certified facilitator,” it will ensure that patients will have access to the right strains of medical marijuana most suitable for their ailment.

According to the Hawai’i Revised Statutes, a medical marijuana patient must control (through lease or ownership) the area of his or her grow site.

By creating this model allotment system on the island of Maui, agriculturally zoned family farms will be able to secure and lease individual plots of land to individual patients.

This plan will not violate state or federal law. There will be no distribution of marijuana. Money will only be exchanged over the land lease in the secure facility.

The State of Hawai’i has had its medical marijuana program in place for eight years and it is time to rectify some of the problematic aspects of the law.

For the majority of Hawai’i’s medical marijuana patients, it is extremely difficult to consistently grow medical-grade marijuana to continuously meet their needs. Theft, mold, bug infestation, disease, lacking knowledge of successful growing and curing techniques and time consuming trial and error are just a few of the issues patients face.

Allowing patients to grow together in a secure location with access to a knowledgeable facilitator will make it easier and safer for patients and law enforcement. There will be no need for marijuana eradication helicopters to fly low over backyard medical marijuana grow sites.

Once again, I urge you to vote “yes” on HB 2678.

Sincerely,

* * * * * copy and paste email testimony end * * * * *

Send your testimony to:

HLTtestimony@capitol.hawaii.gov

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Gordon Soderberg sent Willie Nelson Peace Research Institute the first video in the Willie Nelson Peace Video Contest. Gordon lives in New Orleans and dedicates himself to serving the folks who lost so much during Katrina and continue to lose in the aftermath 2 years later. Gordon doesn’t forget.

And just like Willie Nelson’s and Amy Nelson’s song A Peaceful Solution, Gordon offers his peaceful solution.

I thought you might like this video I made with Ms. Gertrude Leblanc. She asked for the City to come and cut the grass in the lower ninth ward, she got no response.

Bio Liberty is a company I’m starting with a local dentist, DR. Kevin Curley DDS. We have our new John Deere tractor and want to start a bio Diesel plant to fuel our lot clearing efforts for the people in New Orleans lower ninth ward.

As you may know, The City of New Orleans is using its “Good Neighbor Plan” to seize property form homeowners who unable to keep their lots cleared.

Over growth of plants have engulfed the steps and foundations where a community once stood. Since losing their homes after the levee breached two years ago, people from New Orleans Lower Ninth Ward are still trying to get home.

It’s ironic that the City of New Orleans does not keep cleared or gut the homes it now owns. Yet, they are fining people who can’t return to New Orleans because of the lack of help. Sad, but true.

Bio Liberty volunteered in the Lower Ninth Ward with a new John Deere tractor, mower, and weed eaters August 28 and 29th.

Bio Liberty is making this all-volunteer effort with the goal of demonstrating its willingness to provide a civic service. We are also looking to find organizations that could help fund doing this on a regular basis. We can make sure these lots are not seized and the cost to the property owners is significantly reduced if not removed altogether.

In order to reduce costs to Lower Ninth Ward Residence, Bio Liberty will use bio diesel. The profits made from selling Bio Liberty Fuel will help pay for the transportation and labor costs.

We believe; You don’t have to make a killing to make a living.

What do you think?

Gordon Soderberg

Website: http://www.bioliberty.net

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Dan Tracy sent Willie Nelson Peace Research Institute his A Peaceful Solution video for the Willie Nelson Peace Video Contest. Dan cut his images to Willie Nelson’s and Amy Nelson’s song A Peaceful Solution to show us his peaceful solution for the environment.

Dan had 30 different versions of A Peaceful Solution soundtrack to choose from for his video from the island of Maui. He chose Sirus B’s version of A Peaceful Solution. Sirus B hails from Maui too and his style of “JUNGLE FUNK ROOTZ DUB” works to get Dan’s message across. As Sirus B says about his music, “… everything that is REAL, Soul, and …FUNK!!

Dan Tracy offers something real, full of soul with some Maui funk thrown in.

A Peaceful Solution by Sirus B speaks volumes for Dan Tracy’s appropriate technology project Kite for Sail with the opening lyrics, “It’s a dream so believe it. Now get ready to receive it. There is A Peaceful Solution“.

Dan has a dream for peace and healing the environment by using appropriate technology to revolutionize sailing.

Dan’s dream and belief has fueled a new technology that uses the wind and kite sailing, both readily available, but with a spin. Dan has re-purposed the kite sail to sail a boat and invented the kiteboat that uses advanced wind propulsion technology.

Dan Tracy, the inventor, represents a segment of society so vital for a peaceful solution. America has advanced because of the individual inventor who had a dream and manifested it into a reality.

Dan has taken the invisible and made it visible.

Exciting times and new peaceful solutions arise when people take action to overcome a situation instead of wallowing in sorrow or anger for the loss.

For every loss, a significant opportunity arises for even greater benefit if we have the eyes to see.

Check out Dan Tracy’s YouTube channel to see other videos from the island of Maui aboard his kiteboat. You can also visit him at Dan’s MySpace profile. Dan wants to emphasize the tax benefits of the company he founded if you want to research further.

* * * * * Inventor’s Statement * * * * *

The beautiful island of Maui has been my home since 1999. More than ten years ago I left my home on Mount Desert Island, Maine and traveled to the West Coast, working construction jobs and windsurfing.

I have been passionate about developing peaceful solutions my entire life.

Moving to Hawaii and experiencing the powers of nature stimulated and fueled a creative energy. I felt the Hawaiian trade winds and looked up at a kite to harness their power.

The world needs all types of alternative energy to ensure a strong and healthy future for our environment.

The new era of sail-power won’t see the return of square-rigged barques or clipper ships, but rather the introduction of high-tech kite sails that generate greater propulsion power than conventional sails.

These can be used to supplement the propulsion systems of all kinds of cargo vessels and in the process generate economic benefit, reduce reliance on fossil fuels and deliver emission reductions in a sector that has become one of the world’s biggest polluters.

The art of flying a kite and sailing across the ocean lifts my spirits.

We have a great team that decided to troll some lines while testing off the island of Maui. Kite For Sail is not only breaking ground with new sailing techniques using kite-sails for power, they are using their kiteboat to troll for open ocean fish such as ono, mahi mahi and tuna.

After years of kite system development, Dan Tracy, Ian Fisher and Wes Wendler decided to have some fun and go fishing. Using a small outboard engine, they motored out of the calm bay and into the brisk winds where an eighteen-meter kite was launched.

Immediately the boat powered up as the kite reached operating altitude. The engine was lifted and the boat began to sail at 8 to 10 knots, a perfect trolling speed. Wahooo !!!

Several lures were deployed and set into a tempting pattern. Unlike conventional sailing rigs, kite-sails stabilize the hull with a lifting force. The crew kicked back to enjoy the smooth stable ride as they sailed out into the Pacific Ocean.

Upon reaching the fishing grounds birds were spotted and the short lure took a massive strike. The kiteboat was steered windward to slow its speed. The other lines were cleared and soon the silver color of an ono appeared under the boat.

Dan, Ian and Wes felt fortunate to have caught such beautiful fish and attributed their success to the quiet running of the boat. The fishermen were pleased because they had caught fish and trolled for three hours with no engine.

Taking action and developing new beneficial technology is a rewarding experience.

The future is looking good. All aboard. Don’t miss the Boat!

Aloha, Dan

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Hear ”A Peaceful Solution” by Tim and Laurie O’Rourke

Tim and Laurie O’Rourke created a high mountain western version of Willie Nelson’s and Amy Nelson’s A Peaceful Solution. The style of music Tim and Laurie chose for the song sounds reminiscent of classic Americana music.

Laurie’s sweet melodic harmonies combined with Tim’s rich, deep voice and acoustic accompaniment create an enthusiastic celebration of A Peaceful Solution dream. Tim and Laurie’s expressive vocal and musical performance suggest an easygoing confidence while conveying the optimistic message of A Peaceful Solution.

Music has the ability to feed our souls and Tim and Laurie give us an interpretation of A Peaceful Solution that sinks into our consciousness reaching us at an intuitive level. While listening to their music I never doubt that we will achieve A Peaceful Solution.

Peace seems intuitively the right thing to do.

Tim and Laurie O’Rourke’s version has two distinct parts. In Part 2 Tim and Laurie added inspirational lyrics to compliment the first part of A Peaceful Solution reminding us of the values that make America great and worthy of the title Land of the Free.

Tim and Laurie represent a new patriotism borne from embracing time-honored values while holding America accountable for upholding the same values espoused in our founding documents. This new patriotism derives from contemplation and self-introspection not from blindly following dictates outside of themselves that appear contradictory.

This new patriotism exemplified by Tim and Laurie embraces peace and will not unquestionably follow leaders into war.

Additional lyrics to A Peaceful Solution by Tim and Laurie O’Rourke:

In this land that stands for Freedom, Let’s remind them of the Key thing,

That We Are America.

There’s a war and we’re in it, but I know we can win it,

So let’s take back America.

There’s a peaceful solution, called a peace revolution,

Now let’s take back America.

Hope and Love and Kindness, not war and ruthless mindlessness,

Let’s stand up for America.

There’s a peaceful solution, called a peace revolution,

Now let’s take back America.

In this land of Liberty, Let’s continue to be Free,
And let’s take back America.
Justice that men died for, and the Honor of our Fathers,
Let’s take back America.

There is a peaceful solution, called a peace revolution,
Now let’s take back America.
There was a creed so believe it, and get ready to receive it,
And we’ll take back America, And we’ll take back America, And we’ll take back
AMERICA!

Willie Nelson Peace Research Institute sends a big thank you to Tim and Laurie for sending us their song from the mountain. Please check out more music from Tim and Laurie O’Rourke to experience their original mountaintop sound.

Tim emailed me after he worked on the song and said, “…Thanks for lighting a fire under me.” I’m grateful Tim and Laurie took Willie Nelson up on his offer and joined Willie’s Peace Project.

Will you join Willie Nelson’s Peace Project by sharing A Peaceful Solution video or song with the world?

* * * * Artist’s Statement * * * * *

As a songwriter, I always felt compelled to communicate my hopes and dreams. It seems to be my purpose, or at least one of them. Laurie has been adding her unique harmony voice to all my songs since we met 33 years ago.

The Planet is our only home, and it seems pretty logical to want to protect our home.

 Music provides that chance to share our concerns to others.

Laurie and I built our own Passive Solar Adobe Home on our Mountain in Placitas, New Mexico. We use less than 1 cord of wood to supplement our heat from the sun each winter. Some people get all confused by the concept, when actually it’s very simple. South facing windows and sliding glass doors heat up our house, easy.

Peace is the most rational of all things.

Who in their right mind would want War? The United States of America used to be the most Honored Nation in the World. Now it seems, we’re the most hated. There have been so many lives lost and maimed in this crazy war in Iraq.

It should stop now.

Some men have to stand up in our history and Lead. In this case, Willie gave me the courage to stand in his shadow, to speak up.

Maybe with the new elections we’ll stand up and make things right. Maybe we could actually lead with Honor. Ending the war in Iraq, & Corporate Greed that cripples us all, providing Health Insurance, and changing the world with the voice of reason rather than the thunder of bombs might be a good idea.

Willie’s picture with his Great-Grandchild should be a reminder to all of us.

This Planet has been around for a long time. Wouldn’t it be nice, to know it will be safe for our children and their children to live?

Treating others, as we would wish to be treated just makes sense, and it’s a law from a much higher power than us. People have the right to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. I think I read that someplace. Peace has been paid for by our Fathers, Mothers, Grandparents, Family and Friends. We should Honor that and not go starting wars for oil at the King’s Whim.

As a college student, I spoke up against the Viet Nam War and For the Service Men and Women in my own small way. In ‘73, I wrote a song called, ‘Nuclear Wind’, which seemed like an obvious choice.

Music has been the theme of our lives growing up.

With songs like, ‘Give Peace a Chance’, ‘All You Need is Love’, ‘Won’t You Please Come to Chicago’, and on & on…. We accepted all styles of music and banded together to speak our mind and end a war. Music creates great emotion and it seems we’ve been too apathetic, too desensitized, and too able to be walked all over.

Laurie and I live on our Mountain and commune with God, Family, Friends, and Nature.

It’s all Heaven on Earth if we don’t screw it up.

Thanks Willie and Amy for writing this song and for waking me up from an embarrassingly long slumber.

Hear ”A Peaceful Solution” by Tim and Laurie O’Rourke

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