Mark O. Skilbred
MarkOSkilbred
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PBS—Prison Reform—June 6, 2008
VISION OF THE FUTURE
Like many others, I would like to see prison-reform head in a refreshingly-new direction: toward public service, specifically. Eventually, as the model becomes a working-reality for those most-eligible for the program, others can increasingly be added to the program. As the percentages increase and increasingly-positive results are verified, new more- attractive programs can be added to those already in place, as well as proper incentives to encourage other inmates to apply for the programs being offered. Just as prison camps and penal colonies became institutional prisons, and just as chain-gangs became license plate factories and litter-removal crews, this program would elevate community service to new, more far-reaching levels. Some of those I envision would include: road-building, agriculture infrastructures such as irrigation projects, terracing, reforestation, and some eco-friendly land reclamation, recreational infrastructures: parks, hiking and bicycle trails, picnic areas, camping areas, building and maintenance projects on a national, state, county, city, and local level, solar-projects, etc. Inmate housing can become permanent infrastructure within the setting of each project. As inmate work increases in diversity and complexity, and incentive is created inside the prison system to be a part of this proactive community-building program, overall morale will also improve. Physical work increases body function, appetite and healthy brain-function. Prisoners are thereby encouraged to do well for themselves, their fellow prisoners, and society in general. When a job is well-done, these prisoners may well look back some day on a project they were involved with, and tell their families with pride, “Do you see this campground here in Yosemite ? I helped build it! Do you see those cabins over there? I did the roofing and the drywall.” Contrast this positive outlook and new skill-sets with the average current morale and recidivism that describe today’s outlook, and you catch a vision of what our future could be like. Instead of “Do the Crime, Do the Time,” the new slogan could be “Let’s Build Our Future.”
Mark Overt Skilbred |
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Tree-Hugger-6-4-08
One green-responsible subject I never see addressed is that of building-placement. To wit: Why are dwellings and buildings of all types placed atop arable acreage globally? Less than 10% of land is currently considered arable. An inclusive global-green plan must include proper placement as one of its foundational pillars. Poverty and infrastructure are frequently cited as reasons for disasters like Myanmar . Historically, floodplains like the Irrawaddy, Nile , Mississippi , and others have cost humanity staggering losses resulting from improper usage of arable acreage. With The ability to predict typhoon/hurricane/floods and high-speed transit modems, we must insist that a proper plan exclude all non-essential infrastructures on flood- plains and encourage residential and business development on lands better-suited to that purpose. We can conservatively double our arable acreage globally if zone- planning is properly implemented.
Mark Overt Skilbred
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THE GOLDEN DOOR--A NATION LOOKS AT IMMIGRATION
There are those who consider issues for their short-term impact, to the exclusion of clear evidence showing multiple long-term benefits. This is perhaps nowhere more evident than in the ongoing debate on immigration.This is a nation of immigrants--read the inscription on the Statue of Liberty. Since this is the case, and we are beneficiaries of the results of this open-armed policy throughout the history of America, we should be students of history, and continue to welcome strangers to our shore. There is biblical support for this position: Exodus 22:21 "Do not mistreat an alien or oppress him, for you were aliens in Egypt." Exodus 23:9 "Do not oppress an alien; you yourselves know how it feels to be aliens, because you were aliens in Egypt." Leviticus 19:33-34 "When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the Lord your God." Hebrews 13:2 "Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it." I Peter 1:1 "To God's elect, strangers in the world..." III John 5-8: "Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, even though they are strangers to you.They have told the church about your love. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. We ought therefore to show hospitality to such men so that we may work together for the truth." In these and many other examples, we see God's heart towards strangers and aliens. God often refers to Christians as strangers and aliens. Should not Christians, of all people most blessed, take care to help and befriend other strangers? God supports immigration! Economically, our country has benefited greatly from immigration. This is so, because God always honors those who respect those who are made in His image and are willing to share with others who are less fortunate. Those who say that this country doesn't have the resources to support immigration are limiting God's power. If God was able to feed a vast multitude in the wilderness for forty years by supplying them with the bread of Heaven, (manna=angel's food), and by bringing water out of a rock, and by not allowing their sandals to wear out, how much more able He is, to supply all the needs of immigration. It is more likely that anti-immigration legislation is composed by protectionists seeking to promote their own selfish interests than by patriots trying to protect their nation. Even in this, they are misguided, because immigrants prove their willingness to participate physically in nation-building through their efforts on our behalf. Those who criticize the poor and help to perpetuate their misery by limiting their abilities to progress and be successful are limiting the ability of our country to progress and be successful. God is generous. Satan is selfish. WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU ON? MARK OVERT SKILBRED |
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The Mideast and Tony Blair: Self-Governance and the Global Empire—6-8-08
As we work our way into the 21st Century, some of us wonder how our systems of governance can best be integrated to optimize the areas of local, county, state, federal, and international jurisdiction which are already in place, so that a more harmonious relationship can develop amongst these various agencies. Mutual respect for each entity’s importance in the governing process will lead us toward gradual unification of vision and implementation of our various programs. When conflicts arise, refocusing our attention on those broad areas of agreement increases the likelihood of a favorable outcome for all participants. How might this approach aid governmental development in the Mideast ? A search for areas of commonality reveals surprisingly few areas of disagreement—mostly territorial in nature, compared to a much larger area of shared vision for development. When viewed through the lens of commonality, borders become less of a wedge issue and areas of mutual benefit emerge. Similarly, NAFTA agreements benefit all party’s shared vision of a brighter tomorrow through cooperation that is able to springboard over boundary issues. As the various governing entities work together on common unifying themes, age-old barriers give way to more constructive and hopeful agendas. Examples abound, but a comparison between Canadian, Mexican and US border issues will suffice to illustrate this principle. The overarching reason behind Mexican-US border disputes is economics, which almost is not an issue on the Canadian-US border. Can anyone seriously dispute the contention that Mexican-US border clashes would fade to insignificance, were the economics to resemble the Canadian-US border? Certainly this all takes time, but the truth of this principle is obvious. Ignoring all the history of territorial disputes, and focusing on economic solutions for all parties should then be the central and unifying theme, not just for North and South America , but for the Mideast, Africa , and other negatively-charged political regions. Dialogue and zones of economic cooperation should perhaps be attempted first at the local level between area bureaucrats and business leaders. Surely there are enough shared interests in common achievable programs such as agriculture and fair-exchange trade agreements, shared transportation links, and other border-neutral pursuits. News agencies can help to encourage this process by refusing to publish hate-mongering interviews, and by focusing instead on unifying themes of a human-interest nature. Tony Blair’s patient resolve will bear fruit that will be remembered long after his terms as prime minister have faded into history. Unity, solidarity, shared faith and a determined hope for a brighter tomorrow will produce a bountiful harvest of mideastern peace. Great Britain is famous for fostering and maintaining trade and diplomatic relations with a diverse group of nations long after other relationships have soured. Best wishes to Ambassador Blair in his continuing efforts of goodwill in a troubled region. When great minds unite to maximize the common benefits, lesser minds are subdued by the force of the new reality implanted.
Mark Overt Skilbred |
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This is an amazing website! I'm looking forward to lots of share-time with my global partners. Remember--one planet, one people. Together, we can do this!
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AGRICULTURAL ZONES
In a previous article called “Greed and Poverty,” I referred to agricultural zones as being a partial answer to solving our global food shortage. Although there could be many
variations of agricultural zones, they will have certain shared characteristics:
They will be a part of a global set-aside program supervised by a variety of government
entities. These will exist alongside other agricultural production and will resemble the
other programs in every respect except that of free-trade. Free-trade carries with it a competitive nature that is not present in an agricultural zone. The purpose of the zone
is to allow for global accumulation, storage and distribution of agricultural products
that is kept separate from the supply and demand sector. The immunity from competition
enables the exchange of agricultural commodities on an even-par basis that recognizes costs-of-production and distribution, but avoids the negative hoard-and-scarcity cycle
that characterizes free-market tactics. This method allows the accumulation of staple agricultural items to proceed to sustainable levels of storage and distribution and limits
the effects of hoarding and scarcity. Overproduction can also be more easily absorbed
with improved storage capabilities and better methods of distribution. As these various
cooperating governmental entities increase their interdependence and global cooperation,
and as efficiencies are improved, other projects will be implemented to increase arable
acreage, while respecting environmental-impact globally. Various lands which may already be included in set-aside programs as prudent conservation efforts, can now be included as a part of this increasing arable acreage. Techniques which have been in
widespread use in various areas where arable land is at a premium, can now be implemented to transform these less-desirable, but nevertheless usable areas into productive cropland. Measures such as desalinization, irrigation, terracing, greenhousing,
trellising and canopies can be further augmented with state-of-the-art mechanization and
transportation infrastructures to integrate with the existing global networks. At the same
time, individual efforts at personal gardening should be increased. As we each do our
part to supply ourselves and our neighbors with fresh fruits and vegetables, the effect
will be the stabilization of local demand and an increase in available global supply. Global nutrition and abundance begins at home. When these agricultural zones are implemented globally, each governmental supervisory unit will facilitate the proper production, storage, receipt and distribution of these agricultural products in-keeping
with per-capita guidelines based on available nutritional recommendations. Global storage data will constantly monitor existing planting, production and harvesting schedules worldwide and provide supplemental climate and weather-related information
that will affect the scheduling, storage and availability data. Scientists, engineers, planners, logisticians, experts in production and storage techniques can regularly exchange vital information that will enable more efficient global-monitoring, disaster-preparedness, production, storage, transportation and receipt of agricultural items. The
goal of such a management system is to prevent starvation and malnutrition. As such, it
will emphasize the burden of responsibility that all of earth’s citizens share. We are each
responsible to do our part to provide for ourselves and others. None of us is able to see
what the future holds for us individually. But all of us can do our best today to contribute
to the general welfare of our planet’s sustainable food supply. We now have the capability of increasing food production exponentially on a global basis. Our techniques
of greenhousing, terracing, irrigation, crop-rotation, planting, increasing yields, harvesting, storage and transportation have never been so efficient. We have the accumulated, documented wisdom of many generations to guide us in this task. What we have lacked heretofore was the will and the leadership to move forward. WE ARE ALL ONE PEOPLE. Those of us who have not recognized this yet will rely on those of us who HAVE to show us the way. So let us begin now to educate and empower those most
qualified to lead us forward. Not only are we able to influence existing governments, but
WE LITERALLY ARE THE GOVERNMENTS that will accomplish this great task of eliminating starvation and malnutrition globally, and within our own lifetimes. Let us resolve to make sustainable and nutritional food a priority for the planet and all of its inhabitants.
Mark Overt Skilbred