[Oe List ...] Wal-Mart and the weapons of mass destruction

Thu Apr 24 20:40:16 EDT 2008

Dear "Beloved Community"

(1) 

On ABC Radio News in the past few days there was an item about the Rudd ALP government lookig at relaxing some of the traing laws to make it more possible for overseas firms to open up in Australia.

One of the firms mentioned was - yes, you guessed it! - Walmart.  I guess we'll be getting into the discussion in a very local way.
(2)

By the way, what's the origin and usage of the term "Beloved Community" - does it come from MLK?  How did he use it?  is it still commonly and widely used?  Was it used within the civil rights movement?

Best wishes from the land Down Under ("Where women glow and men ..........": Men at Work 1980s)

Frank Bremner

PS:  From Wikipedia: Men at Work was an Australian reggae-influenced rock band which achieved international success in the 1980s. They are the only Australian artists to reach the Number 1 position in album and singles charts in both the United States and the United Kingdom with Business as Usual and "Down Under" respectively. The group won the 1983 Grammy Award for Best New Artist and sold over 30 million albums worldwide.

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> From: wmbailey at charter.net> To: oe at wedgeblade.net> Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2008 09:11:22 -0400> Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] Wal-Mart and the weapons of mass destruction> > Netflix or any DVD rental place.> ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Herman Greene" <hfgreene at mindspring.com>> To: "'Order Ecumenical Community'" <oe at wedgeblade.net>> Sent: Thursday, April 24, 2008 7:28 AM> Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] Wal-Mart and the weapons of mass destruction> > > > How do I get the 11th hour?> >> > -----Original Message-----> > From: oe-bounces at wedgeblade.net [mailto:oe-bounces at wedgeblade.net] On > > Behalf> > Of Marianna Bailey> > Sent: Wednesday, April 23, 2008 2:59 PM> > To: Order Ecumenical Community> > Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] Wal-Mart and the weapons of mass destruction> >> > As a P.S. to the Wal-Mart conversation, I highly recommend watching the > > DVD> > "The 11th Hour" . It gives a very big picture of where we are headed.> > Marianna> > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Jim Baumbach" <wtw0bl at new.rr.com>> > To: "Order Ecumenical Community" <oe at wedgeblade.net>> > Sent: Friday, April 11, 2008 9:53 AM> > Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] Wal-Mart and the weapons of mass destruction> >> >> >> Marianna Bailey said:> >>> >>> >> "I think the point is. "Wal-Mart" is not a sustainable model for the> >> future.> >> We need to do some big picture thinking of how do we deal with global> >> distribution of food. or world hunger. Seems like I remember us saying> >> that> >> every community has the possibility of feeding itself. I'm not sure if> >> that> >> is true today."> >>> >> It is interesting to note that the definition of sustainable model > >> depends> >> >> on one's perspective. Her comment is true as far as it goes. What is> >> missing is the understanding that no model is sustainable ad infinitum,> >> even one that redistributes wealth, food and resources to the humans> >> throughout the world.> >>> >> If one looks at the WalMart model from a capitalism's perspective it is a> >> sustainable model as long as it has raw materials and resources that it> >> can sell profitably, as long as there is a market for its products and as> >> long as people can afford the products and keep buying them. To keep the> >> model alive in capitalism the creators of the model must continually> >> innovate to keep operating profitably. Presently, innovating seems to be> >> expanding product lines, building more stores, reducing prices usually by> >> finding cheaper work forces, using cheaper raw materials and buying in> >> such huge quantities that freight and transportation costs can be > >> absorbed> >> >> into the price. There are extremely strong forces intent on keeping this> >> model in being and there are also opposing forces that will break the> >> model down. The model works very well now as it is measured by> >> capitalism's standards of profitability. Capitalism is amoral and will> >> just as easily crush its adherents as it does other forces that stand in> >> its way.> >>> >> The WalMart model is not the problem, it is a symptom of our culture's> >> life style. As long as it supports that life style, it has a good chance> >> of staying in being. When the majority of its customer base no longer> >> wants its products nor desire its presence in their community, the model> >> will fall. And we will abandon WalMart without hesitation if it fails to> >> satisfy us.> >>> >> Models that try to operate outside of the self-centered rules of> >> capitalism are usually short lived despite their sustainability. Even in> >> the light of all the warning signs of global warming, diminishing potable> >> water supplies, pollution, etc., etc., human beings are functioning as a> >> biological species that is out of control. Added to all of the fouling > >> of> >> >> our own nest, we strive to increase our world's population which in > >> itself> >> >> is unsustainable. Human beings must change and do so quickly if there is> >> to be any surviving during the next 100 years or so.> >>> >> Jim Baumbach> >>> >>> >>> >> _______________________________________________> >> OE mailing list> >> OE at wedgeblade.net> >> http://wedgeblade.net/mailman/listinfo/oe_wedgeblade.net> >>> >> >> >> > _______________________________________________> > OE mailing list> > OE at wedgeblade.net> > http://wedgeblade.net/mailman/listinfo/oe_wedgeblade.net> >> >> > _______________________________________________> > OE mailing list> > OE at wedgeblade.net> > http://wedgeblade.net/mailman/listinfo/oe_wedgeblade.net> > > > > > _______________________________________________> OE mailing list> OE at wedgeblade.net> http://wedgeblade.net/mailman/listinfo/oe_wedgeblade.net
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