Planet Home: Conscious Choices for Cleaning and Greening the World You Care about Most by Jeffrey Hollender and Alexander Zissu breaks Duke Augustus’ rule of only recommending books he has thoroughly read. Though in a different way, the Duke and Duchess are thoroughly familiar with the author. Hollender is the co-founder and former CEO of the Seventh Generation cleaning products company. In addition to natural cleaning agents such as vinegar, salt and baking soda, the Duke & Duchess’ castle has been thoroughly stocked with Seventh Generation products for a decade. (Refresh the page if the reader with the first chapter of the book does not appear.)
Bring Peace to your Town Board Meeting
The Bring the War $$ Home resolution passed by the US Conference of Mayors on June 20, 2011 is sparking a grassroots movement to end the wars in the Middle East and Africa and re-direct the funds to domestic priorities. The resolution uses cautious language, stating a “drawdown of troops should be done in a measured way…” and “as soon as strategically possible” from Afghanistan and Iraq. The resolution does not mention the wars in Libya, Yemen and Pakistan. Duke Augustus is working with other local peace activists to bring a similar (but stronger) resolution before his locality, and you should, too. A copy of the Conference of US Mayors resolution is reproduced at the end of this post. (You may need to refresh to see the video below.)
Mimetic Theory: Peace Song for 8/14/2011
“The Mimetic Theory Song” is The Royal Song of the Day for Sunday, August 14th. This song was written by Sonny Meadows, for a local peace event. It is very catchy. The song is in the video below, at the 3min 55sec mark:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSG7iNX21cQ] Continue reading Mimetic Theory: Peace Song for 8/14/2011
Royal Song of the Day: Saturday 8/13/2011
The Royal Song of the Day is “Be Kind To Your Web Footed Friends“. You can find the lyrics in Rise Up Singing on page 70. Susanna, Duchess of Peace, chose this song to follow the thread of loving the earth, and to honor the unusual sighting of a pod of 200 dolphins in Long Island Sound. More about that story: here.
“Be Kind To Your Web Footed Friends” is sung to the tune of “Stars & Stripes Forever”. And, the whimsical, web-footed verse is actually much more famous, and much more peaceful, than the official lyrics of the march.
Chamber music version
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAhOLNgfdKk&NR=1] Continue reading Royal Song of the Day: Saturday 8/13/2011
Questioning nuclear energy: Peace Song of the Day for 8/12/2011
“All Clear in Harrisburg” is The Royal Song of the Day for Friday, August 12th. The Duke requested an anti-nuclear song for today. Sustainability and nonviolence towards the earth are important parts of peace.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLWetqzhgIQ] Continue reading Questioning nuclear energy: Peace Song of the Day for 8/12/2011
Royal Song of the Day: Thursday 8/11/2011
The Royal Song of the Day for Thursday, August 11th is “Auprès De Ma Blonde”.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=—l1ZSzamY]
There are two reasons for choosing this song. First, it is about the joy of being near the one you love. In order to stay peaceful, it is helpful to have support, and to nurture the relationships around you. Second, singing in another language is sometimes a way to relax, and also to open up your thinking and imagination in a magic way. Continue reading Royal Song of the Day: Thursday 8/11/2011
Royal Song of the Day: Wednesday 8/10/2011
The Royal Song of the Day for Wednesday, August 10th is “Blackbird” by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. You can find the words to this song in Rise Up Singing on page 114.
“Blackbird singing in the dead of night / Take these broken wings and learn to fly…”
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAgceen153I&feature=related]