brendabrn’s Recent Comments

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  cosmetics

  sorry - but what I don't get it: in this day & age (& I do mean that as a reflection on my cohorts- I'm a 57 yr-old white female) why are cosmetics even an issue?  Since when is the human female face, in all its glory, not acceptable?  As long as we, as women, continue to buy into the myth that external applications make us more... enticing? alluring? attractive? appealing? intelligent?- as long as WE continue to believe we NEED something outside of ourselves to feel complete, we are not going to solve this issue.  Women, be proud of who you ARE, not who you think you're supposed to be!On An interview with Stacy Malkan, co-founder of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics posted 1 year, 6 months ago 3 Responses

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  fur

  If it's already made into a coat, then use it as a coat!  
  Let's not get too carried away here: an item that exists deserves to be well-used until it is no longer usable - the old New England Yankee-credo of 'use it, use it up, then use it again' until there's nothing left.  If you view the creature that provided the fur with respect & honor, & you need the fur to be warm/safe/protected/survive, there is no dishonor in wearing a fur coat.  
  I don't advocate going out & slaughtering animals solely for the benefit of their skin/fur, but it is obviously true that the modern replacment fabrics generally tend to petroleum-derived, & where's the benefit to Gaia in that?  
  The fur-trim on Air Force parkas in the Arctic is from an Arctic fox or wolf because that fur is created to provide warmth & to be ice-free in that environment - no disrespect in using it for its intended purpose if the original owner can no longer enjoy its benefits, eh?  I have no fur in my world beyond that worn by my animal companions, but I wear wool & cotton & silk because the fibers serve to protect me & feel good, too, & their owners/producers don't contribute to the horrific problems of global warming (when we wouldn't need any fur anyway, right?)  
  Bottom line: you know if you are being honorable, you know your own intent - accept responsibilty for your decisions & go for it! On Umbra on (inherited) fur coats posted 1 year, 10 months ago 60 Responses

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  burning, man

  As someone who's lived w/the BM festival since 1987 I believe I can say it really has done an outstanding job of minimizing its impact on the Black Rock desert, & is a really terrific venue for opening minds, bodies & souls to the desert, dessert, & desire of people to interact more personally w/their environment.  Anyone who can spend a day or 2 (to say nothing of a week!) on the playa with the sun, dust, wind, night chill & day heat without murder, theft, or cruelty in a population that now numbers 30K+ is transformed to some extent.  The festival itself has years of demonstrated 'leave-no-trace': check out the local newspapers, folks, in conservative northern NV... There is much to be said for anything that enhances humans' closeness to nature, & the Burning Man festival brings out a lot of good in a lot of people.  & it can all lead to greater empathy w/the world, & less destruction... Humans are a natural part of the environment, too, & so is their interaction: why not celebrate such a positive one?On Legendary Burning Man festival gets an eco-conscience posted 2 years, 3 months ago 11 Responses