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Keith · 11-15-2006, 08:53 PM

From my personal experience, eating a healthier diet, exercising regularly and becoming an early riser provide both the physical energy and a large boost in self-confidence ("look what I can achieve if I put my mind to it!"). IMO, both of these are vital fuel for personal development ; perhaps that's also a point at which to start?

The government has hammered people with ads to eat better and exercise and have had lacklustre success. I think a more effective emphasis would be providing support for people to achieve these things ; how do people find the time and energy to exercise when they're working 2.5 jobs? How do the same people find the time, money and energy to prepare a healthy meal when takeaway is so much easier and often cheaper?

The food issue can be tackled on a large scale (eg. corporations subsidising healthy organic takeaway) or small (grow enough organic food in local gardens to feed your block) - preferably both and then some.

Time and money is a harder issue. One idea is that benevolent corporations could buy land/accomodation and rent it at affordable prices to struggling families. People could also be subsidised to get on their feet (eg. http://www.kiva.org/app.php). Subsidising is tricky because you need an offsetting income stream from somewhere but I'm sure there are other options. Thoughts?

I'm focussing primarily on the low end of the spectrum because (a) it's a lot more people, (b) it's the source of a lot of the world's problems, (c) highly conscious people are in a better position to help themselves and (d) this thread raised the question whether it can be helped.

But it's also important to support the growth of consciousness at the high end:

Higher consciousness needs could be supported through things like this forum and physical analogues ; groups of people who get together and support each other to grow.

I'm sure there are many other ideas I haven't thought of on both vectors ; what other ideas are there and how can we make them happen?

11-15-2006, 08:53 PM	#14 (permalink)
Keith Family Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Australia Posts: 1,139	From my personal experience, eating a healthier diet, exercising regularly and becoming an early riser provide both the physical energy and a large boost in self-confidence ("look what I can achieve if I put my mind to it!"). IMO, both of these are vital fuel for personal development ; perhaps that's also a point at which to start? The government has hammered people with ads to eat better and exercise and have had lacklustre success. I think a more effective emphasis would be providing support for people to achieve these things ; how do people find the time and energy to exercise when they're working 2.5 jobs? How do the same people find the time, money and energy to prepare a healthy meal when takeaway is so much easier and often cheaper? The food issue can be tackled on a large scale (eg. corporations subsidising healthy organic takeaway) or small (grow enough organic food in local gardens to feed your block) - preferably both and then some. Time and money is a harder issue. One idea is that benevolent corporations could buy land/accomodation and rent it at affordable prices to struggling families. People could also be subsidised to get on their feet (eg. http://www.kiva.org/app.php). Subsidising is tricky because you need an offsetting income stream from somewhere but I'm sure there are other options. Thoughts? I'm focussing primarily on the low end of the spectrum because (a) it's a lot more people, (b) it's the source of a lot of the world's problems, (c) highly conscious people are in a better position to help themselves and (d) this thread raised the question whether it can be helped. But it's also important to support the growth of consciousness at the high end: Higher consciousness needs could be supported through things like this forum and physical analogues ; groups of people who get together and support each other to grow. I'm sure there are many other ideas I haven't thought of on both vectors ; what other ideas are there and how can we make them happen?