globalbriefs


News and resources to inspire concerned citizens to work together in building a healthier, stronger society that benefits all.


Green Serenity Sikkim Now a Wholly Organic State


Sikkim, the northeastern Indian state located between Bhutan and Nepal, has rid its agricultural land of pesticides, fertilizers, genetically modified crops and other artificial inputs on around 75,000 hectares, or about 300 square miles, of agricultural land, making it its country’s first organic state. Instead, farmers use natural alternatives such as


green manure and compost. Twelve years ago, the Pawan Chamling-led government decided to make Sikkim an organic farming state through a declaration in the legislative assembly. After the entry of chemical inputs for farmland was restricted and their sale banned, farmers had no option but to go organic.


Source: TheHindu.com


Show Stopper Circuses Cease Exotic Animal Acts


The Ringling Brothers Circus made good on a promise to retire their last contingent of performing elephants to the Center for Elephant Conserva- tion, in Polk City, Florida, with the last such show streamed worldwide in May.


While Ringling will retain the services of tigers, lions, leopards, horses, camels, dogs and kanga- roos, the Mexican Congress has voted to prohibit exotic animals under big tops across their country.


That means no more tigers jumping through hoops, elephants used as props or monkeys dressed in tiny outfits. The bill requires circuses to report the wildlife they own, which would then be made available to interested zoos.


Source: The New York Times


Good Reads Fiction Readers Have More Empathy


The love of books may begin at any age, but for most, it starts in childhood. Now, scientists are studying the effects of reading on the brain with MRIs, polls, surveys and experiments. The results indicate that readers of fiction are more empathetic toward others. By engaging with a story, they are tempo- rarily placing themselves in a charac- ter’s shoes, thus fostering empathy in real life, and literary reading amplifies this effect.


According to a Stanford Univer-


Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes.


Art is knowing which ones to keep. ~Scott Adams


sity study, reading a challenging book also helps us become smarter, as well as more empathetic. By attempting to tackle harder books, we create new connections in our minds that we might not have done otherwise. Neuroscien- tist Bob Dougherty remarks, “The right patterns of ink on a page can create vivid mental imagery and instill power- ful emotions.” David Comer Kidd, author of another related study, observes, “Like opening a window to let fresh air into our home, literature opens up our minds to the myriad ideas that we wouldn’t be able to experience on our own. We can pause to analyze the ex- periences depicted as if they were our own, expanding our experience of the world.”


22


Long Island Edition


www.NaturalAwakeningsLI.com


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56