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Profound and Life Shifting Experience at the AAAS 2010 Annual Meeting
Attending this year’s 176th Meeting
of the American Association
for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
has been a life shifting experience for me.
Read on.
Date: 2/20/2010 12:22:29 PM ( 14 y ) ... viewed 5970 times
This Art was created this morning on Photoshop elements.
I intentionally left off the credentials for Dr. Peter Agre,
AAAS President, DIrector, Malaria Research Institute,
John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
When we all get to the gates of Heaven, we will
not be seen for the letters after our name, but
for the gift we have given back to life as we walked together
serving humanity. This photo was taken
during the Opening Ceremony for
the 176th Meeting of the American Association
for the Advancement of Science, February 18-22
2010, San Diego Convention Center.
___
(L-R) Albert Teich, Former Director, Science and Policy Programs;Jennifer Wiseman, director of the AAAS Program of
Dialogue on Science, Ethics, and Religion (DoSER) and
Francis S.Collins, M.D., PhD, Director National Institutes of Health. Photo from June 2010..
http://www.alteich.com/al/
Francis S.Collins, M.D., PhD, Director National Institutes of Health.
http://www.nih.gov/about-nih
http://www.nih.gov/about-nih/who-we-are/nih-director
@ NIHDirector
https://mobile.twitter.com/NIHDirector
I am in the middle of a profound life changing experience
at the AAAS 2010 Annual Meeting.
I am deeply touched.
Last night at the AAAS Kavli Science Journalism Awards
Ceremony, I witnessed some of my peers in the
Press Corp at this meeting receive plaques for outstanding
Journalism. I connected with a few of the winners.
I connected with Lisa Friedman, of Climate Wire,
who was acknowledged for her story
"Bangledesh: Where the Climate Exodus Begins."
I met her husband.
I connected with Jad Abumrad, of WNYC Radiolab
who was awarded for his piece
"A Very Lucky Wind", a story that illustrates
probability theory.
I met another AAAS speaker who talks tomorrow
James Fahn, Global Director and Senior Technical Advisor
for the Earth Journalism Network.
A gracious man, Robert W Conn, PhD, president
of the Kavli Foundation, gave me his card as we
were all standing close to the podium immediately
following the presentations.
I want to share why this experience was so profound
and life changing for me.
I graduated in Journalism and English from
Cal State Northridge 1970. I was deeply involved
in human rights on campus.
I was also a national award winner two years in a row
for writings I did about the plight of the native Americans.
I was close to Dr. DeWayne Johnson, who later became the
faculty president. He was my photo teacher and an editor
for many years for the L.A. Times as well.
One day, students were in protest over the death of
four other students at Kent State. No one knew what to do
among the student leaders. Many meetings had been held
over the weekend. There was no consensus of what to do.
On the monday morning following the meetings, I put on
my sport suit and tie, went down to the area outside the cafeteria
and asked some students to draw some tables together.
I stood up on one table and began to give directions.
I was formerly the Commissioner of Men's Athletics in Junior
College, and so taking leadership and speaking out
was never foreign to me.
The protest rooted. The campus shut down for numbers of days.
The whole nation mourned those innocent lives that had been
lost at Kent State. During one of those days, DeWayne came up
to me. He told me that word just came in. My feature story
had won fifth place in the nation in the Heart Writing Competition.
The next year I won a similar acknowledgement from Heart.
I was the highest ranking award winning journalist at our school
at the time, but the ceremonies were in another part of the country.
I never attended.
During college, arthritis began to interfere with my career plans.
I never fulfilled my destiny in journalism. To make things worse,
there was a part of me that wanted to be a teacher. I felt
at a future time in my life, I would be called back to the classroom.
I wanted to have the proper credentials to teach, but my main
intent was to express myself through writing for the press.
Both these plans failed. Arthritis had started to overtake me.
Through a turn of fate, I was yanked out of the mainstream of
life and landed in the backwoods of Escondido, California
where, because of my dire health need, I because the ghost
writer for a world acclaimed nature doctor, Dr. Bernard Jensen.
Dr. Jensen claimed much of his own success during the years
I wrote for him. He was in his 80's then. Numbers of the men
he admired during his more than 50 years of service to humanity
were Medical Doctors. In previous ages, these men of science
would take patients out to nature. This was called the Health
Sanitarium Tradition. John Harvey Kellogg, M.D., the creator
of what became the original corn flake, and soil masters,
such as Sir Arthur Howard of England, were among the
scientists Jensen admired.
Many, many years have passed since that early days where
I witnessed the most remarkable results of Dr. Jensen's work.
He administered to more than 350,000 patients in his life.
I was one of them. He became like a father to me, and during
the bleak hours when I became completely crippled, he
would carry me from bed to bed.
I was so dedicated to some of the things I learned from him
that I walked away for conventional hip surgeries numbers of times
until I could no longer walk at all. For 18 months between
1974-75, I was locked prone in my body and could not
separate my legs more than 1/4 inch.
Finally through the grace of modern medicine, and
what the good doctor Jensen had taught me about
the value of herbs as anti-inflammatories, I went
through two hip replacements 13 days apart
without the need for any pharmaceutical drugs.
I needed no morphine post surgery. Peach Bark Tea,
was brought to my hospital bed by local Utah natural
healers. The pain reliever was prepared from
a recipe made by a local Native American named
Sundance.
[Of note, Peach Bark Tea, when prepared
one way is a pain reliever. Other ways, simply
by adjusting the recipe, it has many other uses.
This kind of indigenous knowledge is part of
what I call NATURE'S ORIGINAL TECHNOLOGY. ]
The years have passed. I was allowed to walk again.
Hip surgeries cut out the joints no longer working,
but to some extent I remained on the sidelines of life until
the internet age.
Last night, during the Kavli Ceremonies, I got to see
my peers receive awards. I admired the suit that Jad Abumrad
wore. I felt its texture in my head. In the corner of my eye
I was at those
Hearst Journalism Award Ceremonies
that I had never attended so many years before.
The journalists who were acknowledged
were a part of me.
These days, there are more than 1000 people each day who
read what I write, 1,700,000 page views total. My niche
themes of late are the conversation that I feel that must be spoken
between biotech Agriculture and local, organic farming.
The Future of Food and of world health are at stake.
I am part of this dialogue, both as a writer and a gardener
who deeply understands the sacredness of an heirloom beet seed
to plant the deepest of human dreams.
The AAAS has been a life changer for me.
I was drawn to DR Francis Collins, our NIH leader.
Through a quirk of fate, we both ended up at a meeting
soon after his press roundtable where one of the AAAS Committees
was inviting the conversation between science, ethics,
and religion. This as well is my cup of tea.
I met Jennifer Wiseman, who has her roots in the soil
and her spirit in the stars. She will soon become the
new director of this very important AAAS Program of Dialogue
on Science, Ethics, and Religion. She works as well for
NASA. Those awe inspiring photos from space cross her
desk and our bringing up deep spiritual conversation
in our nation.
I also met one of the AAAS award winners, a scientist
who for NASA is exploring the possibility of life
around other stars. In our conversation, what he said
reminded me that we all live in different worlds,
but we have a moral obligation to realize that
we all live in the same universe.
I also meet Albert H. Teich, Director of Science and Policy
Programs for AAAS. He is Jennifer's boss. We talked.
He has been a cornerstone of AAAS for more than 30 years.
I am a great fan of Benjamin Franklin who was not only a scientist,
but one of America's grandest statesmen as well as
journalists. A gradson of Franklin was a former AAAS
president, Mr Teich told me.
On opening night, I was moved by the integrity I felt
from President Peter Agre, M.D.. a humanitarian devoted
to human rights as much as a nobel prize winner. Dr. Agre
has helped countless lives with his outstanding work
in ameliorating Malaria. I also spent time
with past president GIlbert Omenn. We talked biotech
history. He shared with me that from a PR point of
view, he felt the Monsanto Company could have done
better before launching its campaign with Round Up Ready,
an herbicide that raises many ethical questio and
may be implicated in harming many small farmers
around the world. These farmers welcomed with open arms
highly touted Biotech seed practices, but somehow
became dependent on an alien form of agriculture
far from what they had anticipated with they bought
Monsanto seeds.
I admit to my biases in this regard.
I merely ask for an open and fair dialogue
that is truly science based and open to peer review.
If AAAS can go so far as to demonstrate such important
leadership in the realm of making friends among our
religious communities, then let us equally open
the conversation surrounding the potential human rights
issues regarding the Future of Foods, and the
inherent right of every human to decide the foods
they want to eat.
THE CONVERSATION BETWEEN
SCIENCE, ETHICS, and FOOD
ASKS TO BE EXPLORED NOW
As a visionary, I contend that the conversation
between GMO and Organic lovers
is one of the issues of our age.
History, one 1000 years from now,
will look back at what we as science journalists
say now, this very weekend, and the stand that scientists with integrity
express. No industry can be strong in the eyes
of the public that does not monitor its own strengths
as well as potential weaknesses.
I am deeply honored to be here among the press.
I am deeply honored to be one of your Science Journalists.
Thank you AAAS for opening my eyes to the good
that you bring. Together, we will bridge Science
and Society.
I remain
Leslie Goldman
Your Enchanted Gardener
LESLIE GOLDMAN,
YOUR ENCHANTED GARDENER
from the PRESS ROOM
at the AAAS ANNUAL MEETING
Feb 19, 2010
Books
http://www.aaas.org/spp/dser/publications.shtml
published by the DoSER Group
(Dialogue on Science, Ethics and Religion).
Camera movement created this interesting image.
9:22 AM-10:48 AM
February 20, 2010
OTHER PLANT YOUR DREAM BLOGS IN THIS SERIES
MENDEL IN THE KITCHEN:
DR. NINA FEDOROFF's look at GMO Foods
is a must read.
http://curezone.com/blogs/fm.asp?i=1576145
PROVE IT, DR MAAREN CHRISPEELS ADVISES!
http://curezone.com/blogs/fm.asp?i=1575969
ROBERT T. FRALEY, phD
Sustainable Solutions for Doubling Crop Productivity by 2030
Monsanto Ag, speaks Sunday 12:30-1:15 Rm 6c
http://curezone.com/blogs/fm.asp?i=1576502
LINKS
BIO NOTE JENNIFER WISEMAN
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jennifer_Wiseman
A comet was named after her when she was a student
at MIT.
JENNIFER WISEMAN, of NASA and DoFER
SPEAKS ON ASTRONOMY and CHRISTIAN FAITH
Jennifer Wiseman, Laboratory Chief at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and Christian
Robert Fraley, esteemed father of Biotechology Agriculture, Leslie, Your Enchanted Gardener, and Tami Craig Schilling of Monsanto Company, Director of Public Affairs,
NOTED ADDED FEB. 25
7:03 AM
[ Jennifer Wiseman was one of five I asked to plant a seed
in a shared pot to inspire a dialogue between Science,
Ethics, and Food. It is time that GMO and Organic Lovers
begin to talk. Others who planted a seed in the shared
pot were Robert T. Fraley, the father of Biotech agriculture,
Alex Villegas, a 20 year student who loves local, organic
agriculture and inspired an eat-in anti-GMO demonstration
outside the San Diego Convention Center; Jennifer Jennifer Palembas,
outreach for the unlon of Concerned Scientists, a group
that had a booth at AAAS 2010; and Steve Plumb, a attendee
a met as I was leaving the building Sunday night. Plumb is a friend
of Russell Libby ’78 Executive Director, Maine Organic Farmers
and Gardeners Association Libby was one of the consultants
to the Henry Waxman committee looking advising
the HR #2749, the Food Safety Moderization Act that
passed the House in about 48 hours last July.
NOTE UPDATE
February 25, 2010]
Bio on FRANCES COLLINS, our NIH director
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Collins_(geneticist)
Researcher Describes How Local Knowledge
Shapes Environmental Justice Issues
Story by MOLLY McELROY of the AAAS
http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2009/0713enviro_justice.shtml
"Gwen's research illustrates how environmental and social justice considerations challenge regulatory science and policy," said Amy Crumpton, who manages the AAAS Archives and organizes the monthly series. Speaking after the seminar, Crumpton added: "Gwen's work encourages citizens to participate in protecting their communities."
AAAS HISTORY
http://archives.aaas.org/
RELATED PLANT YOUR DREAM BLOGS
IN THE AAAS 176th meeting
at the San Diego Convention Center
February 18-22, 2010.
The theme was bridging Science and Society.
170 CD AND MP3 DOWNLOADS
http://curezone.com/blogs/fm.asp?i=1577031
HELPING THE LIVES OF AFRICAN WOMEN
GET RID OF WEEDS THROUGH AGRICULTURAL
BIOTECHNOLOGY ADVANCES
http://curezone.com/blogs/fm.asp?i=1579676
Added Feb 25
7:10 AM
CAN ORGANIC FARMING FEED THE WORLD?
http://www.cnr.berkeley.edu/~christos/articles/cv_organic_farming.html
BIO NOTE ON LESLIE GOLDMAN
Known on the internet as Your Enchanted Gardener,
Leslie Goldman, Your Enchanted Gardener,
sees and plants seeds of success for super ripe people and their dreams.
The Plant Your Dream Blog,
his primary communication tool,
has more than 1,720,000 page views.
It is #1 Blog on the ever popular Curezone,
one of the leading Alternative Health Sites that features
more than 3000 Blogs and hundreds of health forums.
Leslie was given a U.N. Peace Medal in 1983 from
Then Under Secretary Robert Muller for the work
he would do in his life.
Leslie in 2009 inspired the book
The Ultimate Gardener,
published by HCI. The author of the compilation
is Charlie Nardozzi, a consultant
to Michelle Obama for the White House
Organic Garden.
He is creator of a magical character
known on the internet as KEEP THE BEET MEDIA STAR,
The World's First Talking Beet Plant.
Keep the Beet speaks from a plant's point of view
and is a columnist in the international SPACE OF LOVE
Magazine, published in Russia.
She aims to teach kids about biology
and reminds us all that we can regain
our beat with nature through growing
a beet in a pot. She asks us to remember
that we, as well as plants, start from seeds.
Keep the beet recently returned from
Los Angeles where she gave peptalks
to three of Ms Eva Becker's 10th Grade
Science Classes.
Keep the Beet is a licensed cartoon character heading for
Hollywood. Watch for her upcoming radio shows
and appearances on MTV.
For more on KEEP The BEET, AKA K.T. BEET M.S.,
go here:
http://www.curezone.org/blogs/fm.asp?i=1431875
As the story goes, Keep The Beet became lonely
in the field. There were less and less gardeners
and those interested in keeping the beat of nature.
She decided to speak up and began talking to
Your Enchanted Gardener, another magical character,
the Alter ego of writer Leslie Goldman. Keep the beet
and Your Enchanted Gardener speak the same language.
Keep the Beet
is sponsored by numbers of companies
including Biosmart,
sugar cane bagasse
takeout compost friendly containers.
THE PLANT YOUR DREAM BLOG
is supported by the BEET KEEPERS,
an international network of
members who join the
ENCHANTED GARDEN CLUB.
RELATED
Mentions MarK Clampin,
the NASA scientist I talk to
at DoSER
AMerican Scientific Affiliation
Http://www.asa3.org
Relationship of science and Christian Faith
ABOUT THE AAAS
MEETING American Scientific Affiliation
http://www.asa3online.org/Voices/2010/02/26/aaas-meeting/
http://exep.jpl.nasa.gov/documents/ExoplanetCommunityReport.pdf
OCTOBER 29, 2014
10:03 am
I just discovered this was printed in Science Magazine here.
I do not know if I put it there somehow, or it was picked up.
http://news.sciencemag.org/2010/02/profound-and-life-shifting-experience-aaas
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