Evas julklappstips 2014

Hej julklappstider!
Vi ska nog komma överens i år igen.

Jag väljer gärna att stötta lokala små företag, artister, konsthantverkare och konstnärer.
Eller önskar mig såna julklappar.

Vill gärna dela med mig av några idéer och inriktningar.
Stötta lilla lanthandeln istället för stora varuhuset.
Köp mathantverk och varor direkt hos bonden.
För er som bor i Falun/Enviken, köp julklappar hos Pia i Övertänger.
Högt på min önskelista står en påse med förbrukningsvaror (te, kaffe, kryddor, torrvaror, choklad....) från Handlarn i Övertänger. Bästa service, bra sortiment, bästa knutpunkten i byn. Oumbärligt för de äldre.

I vår globala värld finns också jättefina möjligheter att bidra till att minska fattigdom.
Köp fair trade.
Jag har hittat ett jättespännande företag, Sseko i Uganda som tillverkar så fina skor, väskor, armband,  med jätteviktigt manifest.

En favorit, köp julklappar second hand för att inte bidra till klimatpåfrestningar. 

Anna-Lena Dancy koppar och pralinfat.

Göteborg: Anna-Lena Dancy keramik
Handdrejat är underbara julklappar. Vackra koppar, sköna i handen.
Hennes hemsida hittar du här.

Göteborg: Lohrs PocketMedMera. Deras hemsida hittar du här.
Böcker är underbara julklappar! Läs bra böcker, ställ stora frågor.
Välj att stötta en liten bokhandel fri från de stora bokkedjornas kedjor. En oberoende, privatägd bokhandel.
Här finns mycket mer än böcker, som t ex författaraftnar, utställningar av lokala konstnärer, gött kaffe.
Personlig service. En oas vid Landala torg i Göteborg.

Köp cds av dina favoritmusiker.
Se gärna om de har egna hemsidor där du kan beställa deras cd.
Eller finns utgivna på skivbolag som säljer fysiska ex.
Det är absolut det bästa sättet att stötta den artist du gillar.
Ersättningen från spotify är minimalistiskt låg.

Min sångbok Bröllopssånger och kärleksvisor.
En användbar bok med radikalt kärleksfullt innehåll.
För vardag och fest.
Vackert formgiven av Gabriella Persson.
Beställ av mig via epost info@evarune.se

Sseko Design, hemsidan hittar du här.
Skor, väskor, schalar, armband producerade av kvinnor på väg in i universitetsstudier.
Ett fenomenalt projekt att säkra att de drivna unga kvinnorna kan fullfölja sina drömmar
om högre utbildning och en väg in i yrkesliv med rätt lön och arbetsvillkor.
Se filmen: 



Att ge bort upplevelser, inspiration, nya kunskaper är också väldigt uppskattat.

Göteborg: Körsång i kören Lei-La.
Sjung i kör, utan noter, öppet för alla som vill sjunga folkmusik med mig.
12 tisdagar per termin. Ca en konsert per termin.
Vår kör-blogg hittar du här.

Göteborg: Lektioner i Alexanderteknik.
Barbro Olsson på youtube här.
Och hemsidan hittar du
här.

Göteborg: Lektioner i basal kroppskännedom.
Full av kraft. 

Christina Fors håller kurser du kan läsa om här.

Eva

Voicing - meeting - sharing - circle Folk Voice Tradition 2014

Giving and taking in its most beautiful form. Mutual inspiration!

Folk Voice Tradition 2014

On the last day of our conference we did reflections and circle talking about how to proceed. How can we build stronger circles and voice the tacit knowledge we share? Very empowering! Wordsmith and painting artist Malin Sverige showed us beautiful paintings she created in our conference, her reflection. When her pictures was displayed the whole room started to sing in a collective improvisation.

I wonder how this could be possible in any other conference?

The past weekend I spend time in Stockholm with an amazing gathering of the tribe of folk singers. I'm been awestruck by the power and creativity, filled with new inspiration.

Reunion of friends I've known since many years. Friends from my time as student at KMH (Royal College of Music) Friends from the first ever, the glorious, the turning point: Ethno -90.
Irmelin songsisters, great to be here all the three of us!

And happy to make new friends!

We had to use english as the official language since we speake so many languages in this group and not all of us share the same language root. Finnish, Latvian, Estonian and Scandinavian languages.

I have to say that listening to the songs I couldn't follow the lyrics was maybe the most memorable for me in the concerts. Music has the power to take a grip even if there's no common language. Music is the common language and it speaks clearly about what it is to be a human.

A warm big THANK YOU to Susanne Rosenberg and the crew for empowering the diverse family of singers, storytellers, artists, holistic improvisators.

Eva

Sitting on the train up to Stockholm, enjoying the November peace. Working on the order of songs for my new album.

KMH, The Royal College of Music in Stockholm. Old meets new.

Singers from Sibelius Academy in Helsinki in a song of lamentation.

Singers from Latvia, amazing vocal traditions!

8 March International Womens Day

Artist: Malin Bellman

Girls today, women tomorrow.

I'm deeply proud to announce I'm currently working with a girls respect group where we meet on weekly basis in Hjällbo church in Gothenburg.
We have together discussed the goals and ambition of this particular group. It's mainly about getting true friends who support in all situations, who respect you for the person you are, who allow you to be yourself and even push you to become even more yourself. Cheerish the unique of each member.

Among the first things we did was to name the group after an animal and bear was choosen. A perfect choice for courage and strength, and also for the aspect of live your dream.

Right now we are team building through games and fun + discussion, sharing in circle, doing some writing on the topic of getting to know your personality and be accepted for that uniquness.

Today I got an idea. I'll ask the girls if they would like to create a gallery of portraits of courageous women and girls to hang on our own wall of fame. I can name many I wish to see there. I just wonder what suggestions might come from the group.

My heroines, among many others. Enjoy the links to their quotes, or other historic information:

Malala Yousafzai, Shannen Koostachin, Astrid Lindgren, Tove Jansson, Lina Thomsgård Lupita Nyongo, Marie Curie, Miranda July, Rosa Parks, Harriet Tubman, Sarah Ogan Gunning, Mother Jones.
Founders of Idle No More: Sheelah McLean, Nina Wilson, Sylvia McAdam, Jessica Gordon.

Ja till tigrar, nej till smutsig palmolja

Vill du vara med och påverka Cloetta? Greenpeace har nu samlat in över 200000 underskrifter. Skriv på du med :-)

indonesiens-regnskog/radda-tigrarnas-hem/

Eva

The dark season

Advent calendar # 16
Put on your favourite song that gives you some good energy.


Do you feel tired sometimes? Tired of the dark season, also with it's metaphor to what's happening around us? I guess it happens to all of us from time to time. We all need something to balance up all the dark signs we constantly is fed with through media and elsewhere around us. And the old school way of dealing with it, light a candle, take action, don't mourn - organize.

Here's one of my inspirations where I find a way to move forward. Artist Aaron Paquette in Canada, one of the promotors of the grass root movement Idle No More. See his paintings and blog here: www.aaronpaquette.net
He has a gentle way of spreading courage to be yourself,
to be your beautiful self, to have courage and make a change.
Change is the way to change.
And it starts with everyone of us. Use your abilities, your shortcomings, your talent.
Conquer your fears.
Don't just live your life, live your best life.

His talk on depression and accomplishement is worth listening to.

Things I didn't think would happen

Today I was asked to be a computer support. Concerning a PC-question! Both of this is surprising to me. I've never felt like some kind of a computer person. From the start I was more of a mac user, because all the musicians in my connections were already using mac. Now I have to dig deeper into the world of PC because that's the environment on my new job as a youth leader in the church.

So that's another thing I didn't think would happen.
I have a regular job. That's revolutionary for me, since I've always been a free lance musician and that's all I know how to do. A regular job with a steady income, that's a whole new culture. I do this on part time, 50%. Maybe I run the music 100% like before, so it's a bit of a puzzle with time.... The appointment is to do this youthleader job for 6 month. After that I don't know but probably it will be music business as usual.

The youth leader job is organized by the church. Regular swedish church. I didn't think I would get a job there either. I don't have the required education. But maybe I have the heart on the right place. I would never ever feel confortable with some sort of conservative religious congregation. But in this case I have found the best place to be. This particular congregation of Hjällbo is open minded, focused on social equality and human rights, inter-religous events now and then. I'm so proud to be part of the future.

I see us all connected. Today I set myslef to understand more of the prayer "All My Relations". I googled, found a little bit on Wiki, and it's also a hash-tag on twitter. I follow blogs and twitter where I see the use of the phrase "All My Relations" as a greeting.

Like this, answering on a blog post:

"All my Relations! Aaron, thank you for speaking the truth in such a beautiful way! Michelle Morning Star Doherty"

To be connected to the whole universe, earth, humanity and everything living upon it. All my relatives.

Here's a clip from youtube, you can listen to the prayer and have it explained.




Tonight at the youth meeting we are discussing the topic of togetherness, community, sense of belonging. That's also a way of celebrating United Nations Day.

Eva

Journey of Nishiyuu and sleeping giants

Good morning! A new week lies ahead with it's work and missions to be done. Today I want to start with this truly amazing and hope giving story that unfolds right now in the wilderness of Canada. Click on the links to see the full blogposts I'm quoting.
 The group is getting bigger as more walkers join in the Journey of Nishiyuu. Men and women, warriors for courage, honesty, humility, compassion, respect, sharing and wisdom.

What is the Journey of Nishiyuu? From the beginning:

SUMMARY:

From Northern Quebec, Six Youth, with one guide, are walking from Whapmagoostui, Qc to Ottawa, Ont and will arrive at Parliament Hill. This is to show to the People of the World, including other First Nations, that the Cree Nation of Quebec are keepers of their language, culture, tradition and more importantly, still carry the sacred laws of their ancestors. This Journey is to inspire all people to reclaim their roots and culture.
MISSION:
This Journey will re-establish and re-unite historical allies and restore traditional trade routes among the First Nations in hopes that this amplifies to all humanity to do the same. The time for unity is now.

From the official webpage of nishiyuujourney.ca Teachings.

Definition of warrior, Kinwhapmackin:
Kinwhapmackin is a person with leadership qualities, who sacrifices themselves for the betterment of others, protecting the people, culture, heritage, and land. Ensures promising future for present and generations to come. They are the carriers and are guided by the teachings of Courage, Honesty, Humility, Compassion, Respect, Sharing, and Wisdom.


Waking up the sleeping giants, in blogpost written by Mattew Mukash, on Censored News.

" For the JOURNEY OF NISHIYUU to have a purpose and meaning, we must go beyond just following it. We must realize that it is also our journey, a personal journey within (from the mind to the heart - the seat of the soul, as they say). To walk among those who can make a difference in the world such as our own Nishiyuu Warriors, we must wake up the Sleeping Giants (Courage, Honesty, Humility, Compassion, Respect, Sharing, Wisdom and other virtues) within each one of us."

Walk with your sleeping giants on your path this week.

Eva

My #J28 Day in Göteborg, Sweden

Göteborg on Global Day of Action with Idle No More


I'm happy to meet some more people in town outside Haga Cinema.

Together we united in
Songs
Dancing
Drumming

We also had burning herbs for purification that one person brought and shared around our circle.

Hugs and warm eyes.
Just drawn together by the spirit of solidarity movement with INM. None of the people there today I had met before. But I'm thankful to see them, and I hope I will see them again.

Read more on www.idlenomore.ca and their link to the global day of action.

Time to say thank you for this absolutely brave day!

Eva

It's time to do things

It's January, it's cold, dark and snowy. Most of us sit indoor in warm places.  Then, I wish to ask you for a moment of your time to read this increadibly inspiring story. And send a thought to these young people doing their big walk in support of Idle No More.

Journey of Nishiyuu, the quest for unity, is a walk with seven young members going 1100 km. Youth in the age of 16-17 years walk in snow between Wapmagoostui and Ottawa! They are walking for life. Determined to follow through. One purpose of their walk is to call for unity among the First Nations people.
Isaak Kawapit, celebrating his 47th birthday today, is an experienced hunter and take part in the walk as guide for the youth. What a birthday to remember!
It's beautiful pictures on their facebookgroup with over 10.000 supporters in this moment I'm writing. I think it will spread world wide and grow.



There are great artists creating posters for Idle no More. All credit to them! Here's an article presenting the movements artist: huffingtonpost.ca

Good night! Eva

Leadership. It's going to be a hot summer.....

Idle No More is the voice of many. Out of many different backgrounds, and that's a reason why there's not a small group of leaders, but a great number of leaders that join in to pull for the cause. Some has been in since the start, like igniting the whole process and put the snowball to move and roll.

Idle No More interesting link on the background and current events.
Womens role in front of Idle No More


Leaders become leaders because they can make things happen for the group, help/lead the group reach the goals.

Leaders are those who deserve the leadership when they have shown ability to serve their communities.

Women are life-givers, men are life-protectors.

And here's a little part of the article that is so inspiring!
“What’s going to keep Idle No More active is this government’s inability to relent to democracy, to actually develop policies that are reflective of Canada and Canada’s values, and not just of the base that put them into office,” he said. “I don’t see Friday’s meeting in any way slowing down Idle No More. We’re entering into mid-winter at this point, and summer’s coming. It’s going to be a hot one.”

I heard in one interview someone said twitter is mostly emotional. Yes, but it's more than that. People post things they feel passionately about, and it's a golden opportunity to listen to many voices, get the diverse picture, and read and share articles. I think it's fabulous! 



Today I'm going to the studio again to work with my fellow singers mixing our new cd. Plus one more concert for the elders today.


Eva

Singing and dancing for clean water, fresh air, and a real change.

Let's walk together for a brighter future.

Summer rain

Of course it was a big day, yesterday Friday, January 11.
I've been waiting to hear the news from Canada, how the meeting of First Nations leaders, representativs of youth, women, elders from First Nations came together with Prime Minister Harper and some other ministers. Outside the Parlament thousands of people gathered to sing, drum, dance and show how urgent it is to have a brand new start of real changes, not empty promises like so many times before.

It gives me so much hope. People of all ages show that this time no one is going to push them around anymore. Thursday was thrilling, was the meeting on Friday really going to happen, was the conditions such that it was promising? Some chiefs made the choice to not take part. All First Nations have their own history with the treaties, with Canada, with how to handle what's going on right now. There's division and it's nothing wrong with that, everybody is not identically the same in this and should not be. We are all unique. Friday's talk must follow with new talks and it seems like Harper start to see the grass root powers that are pushing him now. This time it has to come to real honest change.

Andrea Landry, organizer for Idle No More in Ottawa writes about yesterdays meeting on the website lastrealindians.com

Waters in my home land.

I'm deeply thankful for social media today so I can read what lot's of grass root people have to say in this. National news media, cbc.ca give overviews every day, and that's interesting to, but it's even bigger to be able to hear all the voices that speak for themselves. Blogger write out of their hearts, from their family history, how this rising has in some ways begun decades ago deep down, it's only now that it's hitting the surface and grows huge. First hand information. Compare this with back in the old days when we had one news channel, and it would not be for sure that Swedish television even choose to cover the news in Canada. And yes, I'm of course aware of the importance to check critically what is the source for the news that reaches us, who's saying this or that, what myths are carried around? Someone might want to spread false information to miscredit.

Every single little spieces has it's place and should be protected.

There's no doubt that history is written. That a great deal of focus is put on building up non-violent manifestations. And I'm really eager to learn the history of First Nations in Canada.
In my teenage time I read the book Bury my heart at Wounded Knee, by Dee Brown. That sort of kicked off lots of other things that I later on took interest in.

We where watching childrens tv (Stål-Henrik och Supersnälla Silver-Sara) yesterday evening and I heard such a brilliant saying there:

"Stand up, otherwise someone else will stand up on you." In swedish: "Stå på dig, annars står någon annan på dig."

Eva

Stand tall like a tree.

Ladies and gentlemen, MUKO agency is here.

I'm so excited! I'm so proud!
Welcome to our new agency: MuKo Agency.

6 musicians in Göteborg has now got together in their brand new agency, to join forces and to really make it happen here from the west coast of Sweden and far out, way beyond.


Welcome to visit our web-page:
MUKO Sweden
Please share and like us on Facebook.

6 musicians and their bands, that means all in all the impressive number of 36 fine musicians. Each one with a long carreer of innovative music.

Irmelin: Three voices. A capella. Tradition in renewal.

Nordic Wedding Music: Contemporary folk music where playful improvisation meets songs of love.

Kaja: New written Swedish chamber Folk with Eastern European vibes.

MOZ trio: Sparkling! Swedish Martina & Owe Almgren with London pianist Zoe Rahman.

Martina Almgren Quartet: Vivid jazz, with a very tangible, dynamic beat.

Amazonas: Experimental, sonorous & unexpected music.

Tesla: Improvised music with groove, intimacy & grace. Swedish trio that moves above & beyond.

Corpo: Music without borders, filled with sensitivity & warmth.

Mikael Godée Eve Beuvens quartet: A musical foundation that is stable in all weather, enjoy it!

Kaja and Tetra: Midvintervaka, A vibrant saffron fragrant and cinnamon flavoured world musical Christmas brew.

Eva

Stories in my tv from near and far

I've seen a documentary filming of what it is to be jewish in Great Britain today. Being orthodox or extravagant and everything in between.
It was interesting to see the wedding! Actually, I've seen two weddings on tv today, also when two young men married in Skara church as first gay couple getting married there. It's really great to see love celebrated in so many ways!

In the documentary it's a part when Jack Aizenberg could do his bar mitzvah as 85 years old. He never had it as a child because the nazi occupation of Poland. He survived the hell of Buchenwald camp and Terezin. After he was liberated he came to Great Britain and started to live again. To watch him as an old man do the ceremony of bar mitzvah was unbelievable touching. A boy is singing in this scene and it really makes time totally gone. The 85 year old man in tears and the young boy singing and the victory of life.



News from Canada I can have in my computer, isn't it amazing the way we can quickly catch up on news and let voices be heard? I can follow the Round Dance Revolution from home, learn about the history of Canada.





Eva

Together we can achieve a lot

CBC television, public news channel, is dedicating this full week to updates about Idle no More.


Here's a paneldiscussion from 7th of January really worth listening to in order to get a glimpse of what Idle no More is about. http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/TV+Shows/The+National/ID/2323881230/

Gabrielle Scrimshaw answers the question about who is in Idle No More. Grass root people + elected official leaders + people outside Canada. Environmentalists are also mentioned by another panelmember Keith Beardsley.

I've thought about this, for people who care for nature it is a moment now when we can make positive change and protect land and water from being polluted. Native or non-native, I sure support the cause of human rights, indigenous rights and our earth to be a place where also our children and grandchildren can live. This is why it's so important to all of us.

Wab Kinew adds the importance of the grandparents joining Idle No More. Now they become politically active and motivated. What would it take to get the grandparents involved? Leaving the ordinary daily life with seeing granchildren, baking, going to bingo, they now make sure they go to the flash mobs and take part in the round dances. I guess this rising is meeting with their experiences but at earlier times they didn't have social media as a tool to reach out the way we can see now. Intercultural grandmothers on march article.

Wab Kinew in the panel of CBC is writer of this article. He is also a hip hop artist, journalist, myth buster, tv-host and ambassador for First Nations people. Why Idle No More is not just an "Indian Thing". huffingtonpost.ca/wab-kinew

On youtube there's some fine myth busting with Wab:






See him go through 500 years of history in 2 minutes:





What is 8th fire? It's a prophecy that there are going to be 7 generations of struggle and pain, and after that there will be the 8th generation, or 8th fire, restoring harmony and friendship in the people.



Swedish news isn't covering much fun right now. Trains in the north of Sweden doesn't work, new road taxes in Göteborg is met with protest from some while on the other hand people are positive it reduces traffic and public transportations seems to work well. I'd rather follow what's happening in Canada. Next CBC update is going to cover the celebration and joy found in Idle No More. Can't wait to see that. Maybe it's because there's so much joy in this that makes me captured by Idle No More. Will you agree on this, that the painful experiences can be transformed to great power and true love? It wont come easy, but together we can achieve a lot.

Eva

Earth Tribe stand with Idle No More

"Let's build the future together."

That's what Chief Theresa Spence say in an interview. Together. That's not what happening and that's why she's on hungerstrike, that's why Idle No More-movement is gaining so big momentum. It's about living together with nature and not waste the nature. It's important all over the world, and young people today, everywhere, want to see real change happening. That's why I want to put the light on this story, again and again.

Since I wrote last time about Idle No More in my blog post on 4th of January it's now an agreement between First Nations leaders and Prime Minister Stephen Harper to come together and meet on the 11th of January. This is an important step and it's also time to make sure the movement of Idle No More keep steady in the momentum. It's still a long road ahead to achieve a good relation between all parts in this. Chief Theresa Spence say her hungerstrike can go on even after this meeting if there is no progress. Stephen Harper and his government has made new laws that directly will harm nature and affect land and water where native people live.

"At issue is the government’s Bill C-45, which brings changes to land management on aboriginal reserves and to the Navigable Waters Act, removing thousands of lakes and streams from federal protection under that law.
Native chiefs say they weren’t consulted on the changes, but will be directly affected by them."

Read more:montrealgazette 

Below is a film from Idle No More manifestation in Seattle, just before the meeting of 11 of January were announced. It's an excellent introduction about the rising of awareness happening now, and the 500 years long journey that has lead up til today.






I quote Michael Harris, Why Theresa Spence's struggle matters.
iPolitics Insight.


"Why is she so important? For one thing, she has young people interested in politics again. For another, she believes in standing up for her rights in a peaceable way. For a third, she knows that official BS is still BS.
At the most basic level, it comes down to this: In a lethargic nation, dazed by a neo-conservative blitzkrieg on the country’s democratic practices, the environment, science, foreign policy and public probity, an aboriginal woman has made people think about the nature of their country and government again — and about their own power and value as citizens.

..... So last December 11, it was shocking to see someone actually want to talk to the prime minister as the country’s most important employee, not as an imperial figure who lives at the top of an unapproachable mountain shrouded in mist. Chief Spence had the audacity to think that she was important because her concerns were important. She was also sufficiently committed to the notion of democracy (however battered it may be in Canada) that she believed talking to the prime minister — nation to nation, as promised — might benefit everyone.
The prime minister has more than a few things to answer for. What happened to those exalted promises of a new, respectful relationship with Canada’s aboriginal people made so recently by the government? Where is the vision to replace the one the federal government smashed when it abandoned the Kelowna Accord? What did Harper’s apology for the sadistic residential school system really amount to, if he won’t even pick up the phone and talk to one of its survivors?
When she was a student in that hideous system, Theresa Spence’s mother died on Christmas Day. Spence was nine years old. Officials at her school barred her from attending her mother’s funeral. Had the PM called Chief Spence on Christmas Day 2012, one wonders what ghosts he might have helped exorcise. Instead, he was working on his New Year’s Eve message about how his government “continued to strengthen First Nation relationships in 2012.”
Full article is here iPolitics insight

Chief Spence exclusive interview CBC, December 18, 2012:





Eva

Dance - is to rise. Idel No More

Everyday I follow the development of Idel No More in Canada. It's powerful to see a grassroot movement rise up like this. Many human rights organisations has now shown support for Chief Theresa Spence who are on hunger strike for the cause.

What is the cause? It's to establish a nation-to-nation meeting between First Nations leaders and Canadas Prime Minister Stephen Harper. To secure a true democratic meeting with a proper respect for the rights of First Nations people in Canada who has so far been grossly set back in numerous ways. Put an end to broken treaties and abolish new laws where the First Nations people had no chance to take part in decisions concerning their own land and water-rights. "Enough is enough".

News reports on Canada television CBC.ca

OKT group of laywers (specialists in aboriginal treaty rights and litigations) give a breif explanation of what grassroot movements Idel No More is about and why Chief Theresa Spence is on hunger strike: OKT Law.

Idle No More started with four ladies; Nina Wilson, Sylvia McAdam, Jessica Gordon & Sheelah McLean, and today it has grown large on social media.

Flash mobs is happening now in both Canada and the US, and very often it's singing, dancing, drumming. I found this especially interesting. It's again the type of fuel that comes from dancing and singing. It's so powerful, it's non-violent, it's unites people. And it scares the oppressing powers a lot when grassroot people do this. Remember South Africa, the singing revolution. You can kill the singer, but you can never kill the song. Remember Victor Jara.

Dancing has always been a bit frightening to some. One of my family members, Elisabet Jansson, has researched and written a book, "Den kära leken - våra nordiska cirkel- och kedjedansrötter" on the history of such dance in Sweden. She found remarkable history that dance was looked upon as something dangerous and therefore should be marginalised and rejected. As soon as we form a circle and dance together, it seems like authorities feel threatened.

I use the power of dancing for my own well-being. I dance lindy hop, balboa, boogie woogie, and I just love it. It is joy, it is play, it makes me more balanced, more grounded, it releases stress.

Dance is to live with your balance over your both feet.

To dance is to live fully.

Partner dancing is to give and take and care for the other,
listen and respond,
cooperation it it's most beautiful poetic form.

All around the world men and women are now preparing for the greatest flash mob I've ever heard of. It's organized by locals everywhere, and it's called One Billion Rising. It's a grassroot movement to end violence against women and girls. On the 14th of February, just a little bit more than a month ahead, people will gather and dance together, put the light on the cause and raise awareness and restore dignity.
If you want to join and make a dance meeting on the 14th of Feb, please visit onebillionrising.org and you can get the "toolkit" and share your rising.

Alice Walker on One million rising:







Pina - dance dance otherwise we are lost. A tribute to Pina Bausch, film made by Wim Wenders. Thank you Daniel for introducing me to this beautiful trailer. I can't wait to see the full length film!



Eva

What's happening in Canada? Idle No More Movement

I think this New Year will be remembered for ever in Canadian history.

Chief Theresa Spence are on day 20 in her hungerstrike with the demand to have a meeting with Prime Minister Stephen Harper and no one else. His answer is he has no time to see her.

What is happening? Please correct me if I had misunderstood something here. Of course reality if complex and this is a huge field of history through the years and politics today that I don't have enough knowledge about. But from my view sitting here in a foreigh country I try to write down the frames of it to spread the word.

Idle No More is a protest movement among The First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples, and non-aboriginal supporters of the First Nations, of Canada, and partly also international.
They protest against broken treaties and unrightful laws that take their land and water resources, and keep them living in some extreeme conditions in some areas. A housing crisis where the houses has no electricity, nor plumbing. Health issues due to pollutions of nature from industries and mines. The hopelessness is causing suicide among young people. One suicide is one too much if you ask me.

A year ago it was reported in international news about the situation in Canada. Now a year later it's status quo. This is why chief Theresa Spence demand a meeting with no one else but Prime Minister Stephen Harper, a proper meeting on national level. First Nations meets Nation of Canada.


Canadian News:
CBC News

International news:
Al Jazeera on Canada

A non-native Canadian speaks about what's going on about Harpers neglect to find time to have a meeting with Chief Theresa Spence who are on hungerstrike.
The Bear Cat's blogg

Idle No More on Facebook:
Idle No More

Sign petition at Avaaz:
Chief_Theresa_Spence_help_end_her_Hunger_Strike 


Eva

Får i kål. Everyone can take a small step for the climate

Eva goes blogging about food....
I'll get back to music soon, there's so much good music I've heard lately!

But here's something that interests and concerns me much too.

With the climate change in mind we can all contribute with trying to buy food that is seasonal and not requiring too much transportation and energy for growing.
Here's a favourite dish, "Får i kål" = Sheep in cabbage. In Norway it's a national dish, many farms there have to be sheep-farms due to the landscape. Very steep hillsides is the place where the sheep spend their summers.

1 kg lambs meat, cut in cubes. I used the front part of the lamb.
1 small white cabbage
6 big carrots (my addition to the original recipie)
butter for frying
a little bit of wheet flour
salt
allspice (kryddpeppar)

Cut big pieces of white cabbage and start and end with white cabbage in the pot. In between you can mix all the other ingredients, sprinkle a little bit wheet flour and salt between layers. Add some allspice, I used them whole, not grinded.

First layer cabbage is fried in butter.

Next layers are just put on top and then it will be cooked together, not fried. So it's very easy to make this.

The cabbage contains lot of water and the main idea is to let this dish boil almost without added water. Some recipies suggest to add a little water, I didn't this time. It's the water in the vegetables that creates the nice sauce.

Boil it on low temperature for long time. 2 to 3 hours.

While it's boiling you can take a little time to join the rise for a climate change. I strongly believe we have to both change our own life style + organize together and put pressure politically. Here's a network with many good suggestions what you can do. Föräldravrålet

Bon appetit!

I promised to show pics from baking bread, christmas style. Elisabet, I curious to see the original, will you show me one day? I'm happy if I can spread some smile with showing theese two, a bit peculiar looking ones.
Long time ago there was a tradition in my family to bake a bread called julkuse (= yule horse) for christmas. This is my first try out of what I heard it looked like. I don't have the recipie and I love to make up my own recipies with ingredients I like. This time I had walnut, raisins and apricots, dough based on with dinkel + wheet flour.

Eva

December memories from Lindsberg, now and then

This morning we had -19° C. Stars and moon in the sky and a beautiful sun rise.

Tonight I'm going to sing in town, in a small book store. Welcome to Lohrs at Kapellplatsen at 18.30. I'm singing and telling stories from the new songbook (containing wedding songs from Nordic countries), "Bröllopssånger och kärleksvisor". In theese days it's rare to find old style small book stores with lots of personality. So please be welcome and enjoy a special evening at Lohrs.

Yesterday I found out about Rebecka Carlsson who writes about her experiences in Egypt at Tahir Square during the revolution. She share visions about true collaborations where people interact out of pure love and not for gaining personal win. Please visit her blog here, written in swedish, I am really inspired by her thoughts. In her blog she writes that Lindsberg, a big house in Dalarna will be the place to continue develop long lasting, earth friendly, people friendly collaboration with a new way of looking at economy. So the tradition keeps on, this house has for a long time been part of the alternative movement!



In my young days my family and I used to visit a small scale Spelmansstämma in December in this house Lindsberg. This was the first Spelmansstämma I visited. I clearly remember the people, the music, the home made food with the typical spices of christmas bread and cookies. And a totally awesome atmosphere. I don't know if I had ever before seen grown ups being so captured by music and dance.

Have a good day out there!

Eva

Pe Sla Saved, spread happy news.

Pe Sla, Black Hills, South Dakota.

I would like to spread the news.

KXnet.com: North Dakota Man Helps Sioux Nation Buy Sacred ..

Dec 01, 2012 2:48 PM CST
A piece of sacred land in the Black Hills is back in the hands of the Sioux Nation.  Known as Pe'sla to the Sioux, it's been in the hands of the Reynolds family since 1876. They decided to auction off the property in August. That set in motion a series of events that led to the tribes acquiring the land for nine million dollars yesterday. (Nov 30th)

Chase Iron Eyes is a local man who helped call tribal governments to action and to raise money online for the purchase.

His website, lastrealindians.com secured around 900,000 dollars. He calls the purchase monumental and historic. He says it's the first time tribes have collectively owned property in the Black Hills. Ann thousands of people from all over the world donated money to help in the purchase.

"We are happy that we can share in this success because it sends a powerful message to us, to our own people, but it also sends a powerful new narrative to the world. In a sense everyone was able to rally behind the Great Sioux Nation and we haven't felt that sense of people rallying behind us for a long, long time," says Chase Iron Eyes.

Iron Eyes says the purchase is not about money or prior conflicts in the Black Hills. He says it's about people of all backgrounds uniting. He says it's about "Practically it will mean that more numbers of us can go to Pes'la to pray, to make an offering. Our spiritual leaders have been conducting ceremonies there continually for thousands of years, but now were gonna see more people appreciating and practicing their ways in the places we should be able to practice them," says Iron Eyes.


 The Rosebud Sioux Tribe, Shakopee, Dakota Community in Minnesota the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe along with the Indian Land Tenure Foundation helped make the purchase possible. Other tribes are open to come in at later dates, including Standing Rock. Iron Eyes says they even had a kindergarten class in South Dakota turn in a piggy bank with 50 dollars to help.

This is where I found the article.
 http://m.kxnet.com/default.aspx?pid=2705&wnfeedurl=http://www.kxnet.com/story/20235456/north-dakota-man-helps-sioux-nation-buy-sacred-land-in-black-hills%3Fclienttype%3Drssstory

Read more.
In August, when the land was to be auctioned off:
http://globalpossibilities.org/for-sale-the-sacred-center-of-the-sioux-universe/