Conscious Choice Seattle: Sci-Fi Vegetables

March 2006 | Choice News

Sci-Fi Vegetables

In a supermarket not so far away…an uprising is about break out in the produce aisles.

Well, sort of.

“Store Wars: The Organic Rebellion” is a five-minute sci-fi supermarket saga presented by The Organic Trade Association (OTA) and Free Range Studios, renowned for “The Meatrix”, (www.themeatrix.com), its 2003 online movie seen by more than 10 million viewers. In “Store Wars,” Cuke Skywalker is called to join the Organic Rebellion, destroy Darth Tader, played by an evil russet potato—"more chemical than vegetable”— and rescue Princess Lettuce.

A food cart barrels through a grocery store aisle shooting fresh vegetables while dramatic “Star Wars” music plays in the background—the sounds of laser blasts cut through the air.

"These are dark times,” warns a solemn Obi Wan Cannoli, a delectable looking cannoli with moving pasta lips.

While the film is a playful and funny spoof on “Star Wars,” the OTA hopes to inspire people to be aware of the positive impact of choosing organic products. The movie debuted with the 2005 debut of “Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith” and is aimed to connect with young-adult consumers who identify and grew up with the new Star Wars movies.

Cuke Skywalker, played by an organic cucumber, listens intently as Cannoli tells of an empire of pollution, pesticides and genetically modified food practices that have ruthlessly conquered our food market.

"The market has been taken over by…the dark-side farm,” says Cannoli with a shudder. “The true ways of the farm are now almost forgotten."

But don’t just take it from a talking cannoli.

"If you think about it, a battle is currently being waged over food in America, and the direction agriculture will take in the future,” says Katherine DiMatteo, executive director of the Organic Trade Association. “We’re asking in a light-hearted way for people to think about the choices they make at the grocery store.”

For more vegetable drama, visit www.storewars.org
—Ritzy Ryciak

Seattle: Hot on Fair-Trade Cocoa

Efforts are under way to designate Seattle as the country’s first Fair Trade certified city. But we can already boast about being home to the first roaster of Fair Trade cacao (cocoa beans) and the only roaster of organic cacao in the U.S. Theo Chocolate in Fremont gives Seattle that honor.

The socially responsible chocolate maker offers three-ounce “Origin” bars featuring premium dark organic and/or Fair Trade cacao from Venezuela, Ivory Coast, Ecuador, Panama, Madagascar and Ghana.

Theo offers regular tours of its chocolate factory at 3400 Phinney Ave. For more information, call 206-632-5100 or check out www.theochocolate.com.
—Andrew Mulholland

Intuition, Consicousness and Your Health Practitioner

The title is bit stiff, but an upcoming “education event” for professional health-care providers promises a downright flexible approach to treating and helping patients.

Bastyr University and WholeLife Pages are presenting a March 21 all-day workshop called “Exploring the Science of Intuition and Consciousness: Enhancing Healing in the Medical Environment” at the Washington State Convention & Trade Center.

The workshop will feature top researchers in the field of consciousness and intuition studies—Conscious News just likes the idea that there are scholars in this topic area.

Among the researchers are Leanna J. Standish, a Bastyr naturopathic physician and licensed acupuncturist, who is a principal researcher for a randomized controlled study of meditation and massage for people with life-limiting illness funded by the National Cancer Institute. Standish is also conducting scientific investigations of distant healing and healing “intentionality”

Neil Greenberg, a Ph.D. researcher and ecology professor at the University of Tennessee, will outline the natural history of intuition. His specialty is the study of how to discover and create ourselves with feedback from internal and external environments.

Dr. Pamela M. Kircher is the director of integrative care at Mercy Medical Center in Durango, Colo. She will discuss her near-death experiences and end-of-life issues of patients she has treated as a holistic family physician. She is a pioneer in establishing pre-surgery programs that use both visualization and energy work as therapies. What’s more, she is a master trainer of tai chi instructors teaching the ancient art to individuals with arthritis and diabetes.

While we can only hope our own practitioners become part of the event, the list of host and partner organizations hints at being as practical as it is impressive: Institute of Noetic Sciences and Byrd Estate Planning as hosts, plus partners: Car Pros Hyundai; Ayush Herbs, Inc.; Digital Print Services; Barnes & Noble; Quality Inn & Suites; Seattle International Association of Near Death Studies; GreenWorks Realty; Living Shelter Design; The Construction Company; Dahn Yoga; Maharishi Enlightenment Center; The Breath Connection; Emerald City Aikido; Christine Upchurch-The Reconnection; North End Massage-For Your Health and Susan Burns, licensed acupuncturist and holistic psychotherapist. Admission is $55 for the day. For more details, practitioners can all 425-602-3075 or visit www.bastyr.edu/continuinged. —Bob Condor

Cleaning Up the Puget Sound

Not to be the rah-rah types, but the Conscious News Admiration Index for Gov. Chris Gregoire continues to trend upward. Gregoire has proposed another $42 million to clean up toxin dumpsites in the Puget Sound area and prevent future oil spills.

Gregoire proposed assigning a 10-member committee to form the Puget Sound Partnership, including elected and public officials, businesspeople, tribal leaders and environmentalists.

Perhaps as importantly, Gregoire has positioned the Puget Sound cleanup as a project that national leaders should consider important too. That might seem like a reach or insignificant or both, but sometimes building momentum is highly effective. It’s a matter of putting Puget Sound in the mindset of national leaders and activists.

“The governor is really stepping out boldly on Puget Sound,” said Naki Stevens, programs director with People for Puget Sound, a non-profit group, during an interview with the Post-Intelligence. “(Gregoire’s) commitment in this has really brought the environmental communities together in a big way behind this.”

Wisely, Gregoire is working to elevate the Puget Sound plan to become a national priority. There is precedent in efforts to save Chesapeake Bay, the Great Lakes and the Florida Everglades.
—A.M.

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