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tive American spirituality and tradition as a way to connect to
the Higher Power through smudging, prayer pipe, prayer lodge
and a gift-giving ceremony. Dream specialist Justina Lasley will
present “Dreamwork: Developing Your Full Potential,” designed
to help you recall and find meaning in your dreams and use
them as a valuable resource. Ed McGaa, an Oglala Sioux,
known as Eagle Man—lawyer, lecturer, strong environmental
advocate and author of seven books—will lead a workshop on
“Native Wisdom: Planetary Survival and Beyond.”
In March, “Pottery and Native Spirituality” will teach making
handbuilt pottery for ritual, firing it outdoors with leaves,
pine straw and sawdust. “Vision Quest” a Native Spirituality
workshop, can be experienced as a weekend retreat. “Watercolor
Painting as Prayer” will explore the transparent and fluid
qualities of the watercolor medium. Body, mind and spirit
will be brought together with Tai Chi Chih in the “Living Earth
Retreat.” Basic movements will be taught while showing how
humankind can use all the powers of the universe to create a
positive future for all life on Earth.
For dates, see the Natural Awakenings calendar listings,
and for more info, visit SpringbankRetreat.org or call (800)
671-0361. Fees from $185 to $300 for the workshops include
lodging, meals, instruction and supplies. Two- or three-month
sabbaticals are available. See ad page 11.
Green for Green
Eco-Furniture Trade-in Program
How would you
feel if your furniture
store advertised
to buy back
your furniture when
you were ready to
buy something new?
You buy a sofa and
loveseat, use it for
five years and then
decide you would
like something new.
Most home owners put their used furniture in the newspaper,
drop it off at Goodwill or give it to a friend in need. Eventually,
this furniture finds its way to the landfill, decomposing
for centuries.
Púr Creation is starting a program called “Green for Green.”
Customers can buy sustainable or eco-friendly furniture from
the company locally or on its online store. Once you decide to
redecorate and buy something new, Púr Creations will offer a
credit toward your new purchase. This will apply to upholstered
furniture and case goods. Púr Creations will take your furniture,
fix it up and resell it to another client, using eco-friendly
materials and paints to refurbish.
For more information, call Cherié Mercer at Púr Creations,
(843) 424-0679, or visit PurCreation.com. See ad page 13.
2009 North American
International Auto Show
Turning Point in Technology and the Market
2010 is still the
launch date for
mainstream electric
and extended-range
electric/hybrid vehicles.
Economic upheaval
dampened
some car makers’
prospects while
stimulating others to
get the right product
for the market and to survive as an industry. Honda and Toyota
are battling to get their best selling hybrids to the lowest and
most appealing price, currently projected at $20,000.
Gasoline and diesel prices have been fluctuating wildly and
fuel sales are still down more than 30 percent. Confused car buyers
leapt from overpaying for hybrids to snapping up underpriced
gas-guzzling SUVs and American car makers didn’t quite know
what the market wanted. Driving electrically for a penny per mile,
pollution-free is appealing, and with the electric sports cars being
designed, even racing enthusiasts would be pleased.
As was witnessed at the 2009 North American International
Auto Show, Honda and Toyota have refined their eco-vehicles,
and GM and Ford have come up with some major breakthroughs.
While word has been out on the electric Chevy Volt
for 2010, the newly presented concept car, Cadillac Converj
has a Voltec drive electric system that runs 40 miles on battery
alone before the generator kicks in. The car also has a photovoltaic
roof that powers accessories and interior cooling fans
to extend the life of the main batteries. GM also announced
the arrangement with LG Chem to manufacture the Chevy Volt
batteries in Detroit. Chrysler displayed its extended-range ENVI
vehicle line, but financial concerns with Chrysler may interfere
with a substantial electric or extended-range hybrid roll out.
Bill Moore of EV World Update says that Ford will be delivering
an electric commercial truck in 2010, an electric sedan
in 2011 and its plug-in hybrid in 2012.
For more info, visit EVWorld.com.
FDA Crackdown in SC
Federal Marshalls at Cocoon Nutrition
Stephen Heuer, Nutripath and owner of Cocoon Nutrition
in Greer, SC, was detained on Jan. 16 by federal authorities
with regard to his work promoting and selling nutritional
products. Mike Adams of Natural News believes that the FDA
is “turning up the heat on nutrition-oriented companies and
websites.” While Cocoon’s website carries a footer declaring
that their products are not intended to “diagnose, treat, cure,
or prevent any disease”, the website content suggests that non-
FDA approved herbal and nutritional elements promote natural
healing without the oversight and administration of a licensed
medical doctor.
Erica of Cocoon Nutrition confirmed that Stephen Heuer
had been detained, but there had been no formal arrest or files
taken, and that they are waiting to hear more from the Federal
Marshalls about what will follow.
6 Columbia