Raw Energy Hotline - January 2005

Rhio's
RAW ENERGY HOTLINE
JANUARY, 2005
(212) 343-1152
www.rawfoodinfo.com

1) Prayer for the New Year
2) Pale Male and Lola, the Magnificent Red-Tailed Hawks of New York City
3) Other Inspiring News
4) Feedback from Readers
5) Next month's hotline will be in several parts about the pros and cons of Dr. Doug Graham's 80/10/10 version of the raw food diet and the negative effects that some followers of the diet have been reporting... in their own words.

Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow;
I am the diamond glints on snow.

I am the sunlight on ripened grain;
I am the gentle autumn's rain.

When you awaken in the morning's hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.

I am the soft star that shines at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there; I did not die.

—Mary Elizabeth Frye
1932
(Originally I mistakenly attributed above quote to
St. Francis of Asissi but a reader corrected me)

Dear Friends and Readers,

Last year was a year of unbelievable horror, death and misery for hundreds of thousands of people. In Iraq, 100,000 Iraqi civilians were caught in the "collateral damage" (such a cold, dry phrase for an innocent's death). And our beloved American soldiers caught in the lies of the Bush administration which has propelled them to certain death, if not of the physical, then of the spiritual because it is difficult to sustain the spirit when you are compelled to acts of killing. Many, if not all US soldiers will come back home either in coffins, with missing limbs, eyes or other parts, with radiation damage from the depleted uranium of our weaponry, and with the intense psychological effects that all war and killing inflicts on sentient beings.

Then there is the death and misery in Indonesia and 10 other countries brought on by the tsunamis... and which could have been prevented with an adequate (and readily available) warning system...

Yes, it has been a year that could kill the joy that is rightfully ours when we live life fully and blessedly... but we mustn't allow it to do that. In the midst of all... we must strive to maintain our joy in living, even if it is a joy that is muted or tempered somewhat by circumstances.

I am of the understanding that we are going through earth changes and upheavals that are strange and difficult for our human minds to comprehend... but that will ultimately lead to the 1000 years of peace that have been foretold in numerous prophesies. And so, my prayer for the New Year is that we can hasten our emergence into this 1000 years of peace and that we may live to see it in our lifetime.

Leigh and I wish all our friends and readers of all faiths (or of none), a blessed New Year. Our prayer is that peace and love will reign in our hearts and translate into the physical planet. May compassion soften our hard edges, and restore our innocence and faith in acts of kindness and gentleness. May we be the best expression of ourselves today and every day. May we be enlightened to see through and beyond all lies and distortions to our own truth and wisdom. May God (of all faiths) bless the U.S. and all the rest of the World too. Amen.

To counteract all the bad news... I've listed a few things to be joyous about and grateful for.

1) By far the most beautiful and inspiring story of the holiday season for me was the story of PaleMale, the red-tailed hawk of New York City and his mate, Lola, whose nest was destroyed just before Xmas by the coop board of the building at 927 Fifth Avenue. A very ritzy location indeed and apparently, according to the board, not a fitting address for Pale Male, a red-tailed hawk who has made his home there for ten years and fathered 25 babies. Pale Male has indomitably adapted to city life and picked a beautiful residence on top of a cornice at the Fifth Ave. Coop. The bottom of the cornice is upheld by what appear to be two angels or cherubs. Across the street from the building in Central Park many city people and tourists have gathered throughout the years to view the phenomenon of this amazing and magnificent bird and his family. So it was not surprising that there was an extreme and worldwide response to the eviction. Crowds started gathering and protesting at the building almost immediately. They kept the pressure up... and in a short time the coop was forced to reconsider. They replaced the stabilizing pins that made the location safe for the nest to be rebuilt by the hawks. The latest information is that PaleMale and Lola are rebuilding the nest. To read the full story and see some amazingly beautiful pictures, go to: www.palemale.com

This story, to me, is a real life parable. It represents the will of the people to make a place for all on this planet, when they can see the injustices clearly. While the human residents at 927 Fifth Avenue feather their nest in opulence, they were ruthless in depriving a bird of his. A residence at 927 Fifth Avenue costs a few million. PaleMale doesn't have any money to give... he can only share beauty... and an indomitable spirit and will to survive in our sometimes cold-hearted city.

2) Some other good and inspiring news:

I love your newsletter! I am not yet eating as raw as I want to be but I keep working it in more and more. Your inspiring words mean a lot. Thanks.

I don't watch Sex and the City but I have seen two reality show episodes that included visits to raw food restaurants. One was on the daytime show, Starting Over. In the last season, Andy took Brenda to Karyn's in Chicago. On another show, Amish in the City, they visited a raw restaurant in the L.A area, but I am not sure that it was credited on the program.

Happy New Year!
Sue D.
Oviedo, Fl.

P.S. I saw you when you came to In the Garden here in Oviedo. It is now closed. Wayne and Deborah have moved on.

It wasn't St Francis who should be given credit.. The author is Mary Elizabeth Frye and she may still be alive..

Dear Brenda,

Yes, I'm happy to know. I verified with an internet check.
Thank you. I stand corrected.

With blessings,

Rhio

In a message dated 1/6/05 4:33:59 PM, Sandy writes:

Dear Rhio,

Help!!! We are raw fooders and trying to spread the word and LOVE your cookbook!!!
However, we have a slight problem with your emails. Think about this....approximately 50% of the population are either Democrats or Republicans and therefore, 50% of the people will be turned off by your political opinions. Please take a que from Oprah....she has not bashed anyone, although quite passionate in her beliefs, and has managed to not ruffle the other 50%. We would like to forward your emails promoting raw food and health; however, we do not wish to shoot ourselves in the foot with political bias.

Dear Sandy,

Thank you for being frank with me.

This is a topic that I discuss with my partner quite a lot. He usually takes the position you've expressed, so I am very familiar with it.

I have made a commitment to tell the truth... as I know it or believe it to be... and for me that is the bottom line. There is no monetary gain for me in connecting the dots between politics and food issues, war issues, human justice issues, animal rights issues, environmental issues, etc. (By that I mean that I probably lose money, as some people might not shop at my website.)

If you will notice, almost all of the other raw food websites do NOT touch the politics of food, environment, etc. And I think that is a lost opportunity in educating people as to the facts. Please understand that I did not make food, or all the other things mentioned above, political. The politics have been foisted on me when governments, in cahoots with big industry, try to impose their genetically engineered food, their irradiated food, their weaponry, their drugs, their vaccinations and numerous other dubious and dangerous technologies on me... and you. Most of them without our consent or even knowledge. That's where I see my part... in making the connections between these seemingly disparate issues.

As an example, you want to hear about the beauty of organic, sustainable and healthy raw food, food that you enjoy preparing, eating and sharing; food that you want to be able to purchase -- but for how long will you be abe to purchase organic food if the mutinational GE companies have their way? As it is now, there are more than 100 million acres in the United States already contaminated with these mutant organisms that can't be recalled. The organic industry, a grassroots movement that was built by "we, the people," is in danger of becoming irrelevant. Would you like to have some drugs in your food? This is the latest catastrophe in the making. Crops genetically engineered to produce drugs might escape and contaminate the food supply (as other GE crops have done). This is a new nightmarish form of pollution, called biological pollution.

The war in Iraq - so many dead, a country completely contaminated with depleted uranium (nuclear radiation) which will affect the health and longevity of their population for many generations to come, not to mention our own returning soldiers. A country that had no connection to Al Qaeda or the events of 9/11. A country where no WMD have been found. Do we get well-rounded information from our revered journalists on the TV, radio or newspapers? No, they've abdicated their responsibility. Why? Because the stations are owned by interests that benefit from war. Example: GE (General Electric) is one of the largest military contractors in the world, producing aircraft engines, munition components and seriously flawed nuclear reactors. GE also owns NBC, CNBC, Telemundo, MSNBC, Bravo, Universal Studios, USA, Trio, SciFi cable and many, many more. That's why the general public doesn't get the whole picture on most issues, the very information it needs to make wise decisions concerning our public and foreign policies. So, because of this suppression of full disclosure of information, it makes me feel good to offer a different, more truthful viewpoint to my very small (in comparison) readership. It's not about blue states or red states, Democrat or Republican, black or white, right or wrong. People are more complex than that. It's about truthful, factual information, openness, honesty, transparency, discussion, exchange of ideas, inspiration... hope...
(More about General Electric:
http://www.warprofiteers.com/article.php?list=type&type=16

I fully understand your wanting to share selective parts of my emails, I do. But I'm sorry, I just can't tone it down more, believe me, it IS TONED DOWN now, as it is.

We don't have to agree on every single issue to still be friends, acquaintances and/or readers; to share and work on the issues that we agree on, and to openly and honestly discuss the issues that we disagree on...

I am glad that you LOVE my book (in your words). I appreciate that.

I do wish I could be more like Oprah, but... alas... I'm just Rhio... one little voice.

Please don't shoot yourself in the foot. There are other elist newsletters about the raw food diet that are excellent. Please see my Hotlines link, I believe two issues back or so, for the contacts to two of them.

With blessings and peace,

Rhio

As always, thank you so much for your Hotline. Wishing you and Leigh a great New Year.

I'm a birder, so I loved reading about Pale Male and Lola in your email. I was at some of the vigils, and wrote a letter to the Board at 927. I'm attaching a copy of the letter to this email,, so If you feel like it, take a look {see letter to coop board below}. I did my best in the letter to describe what the experience has been for us New Yorkers having Pale Male, his mates and chicks, living with us in NYC.

I think the website you're using is Lincoln Karim's website. Another one you might really like to check out is Marie Winn's. She wrote the book about Pale Male called "Red Tails in Love". Her website is updated almost daily regarding the red-tailed hawks and other birding activities in the city, and is http://www.mariewinn.com/disc.htm

Pale Male and Lola aren't actually rebuilding yet. By returning to the nest site and bringing some twigs, they are indicating that they probably will rebuild there, but only after the pair bonding time and then the mating time has happened, which will take them into late January or even early February. I've found the articles about this on Marie Winn's website, written by a man named John Blakeman, to be fascinating.

December 11, 2004

CO-OP Board
927 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10021

To the Members of the Co-Op Board:

I’m thinking of the people I’ve watched for the past three years since I first discovered Pale Male. Sitting on a bench on Sunday afternoons, watching the people go by. The children accept the wonder of seeing these two fierce hawk parents feeding and tending their young – they are used to magical things. It’s the men I liked watching most. They say, "What are you looking at?" and when told a hawks’ nest, usually make a wisecrack. Then they look, and there is always that moment of stillness, of awe and wonder. Again and again, I’ve seen this reaction. It’s as if regular life in NYC suddenly changes and becomes something unexpected, unknown.

Women also, stop and stay for a while, watching those wonderfully ugly feathery young chicks with their fierce faces, and chuckle at their desire to be insatiably fed. Arabs, Jews -- people from all over the world who don’t speak English stop and look and share in the phenomenon of Pale Male and his family. There are smiles, conversations.

He is an emissary to our city, and your building has become a place that so many people have spoken about with fondness, because you’ve let him be there, let him give pleasure to so many of us. I know of people who go every day to see the nest. People who depend on it and the birds to give them something special that takes them out of some of the darkness in their lives, whether it is physical illness or loneliness. No one is looking in windows. We are looking at that nest.

And now it is close to mating time. Pale Male and his mate Lola were repairing the nest – and it’s gone. Please help them, and all of us. Please take on again what you’ve borne so gracefully for all these years. Please put the spikes back and allow Pale Male to rebuild if he so chooses, and let us live in peace with this magnificent wild creature who has chosen to be with us.

For me, a woman who lives alone and will be 68 next month, who lost a young dear friend two months ago, who has another friend dying, Pale Male was like lifeblood, giving me joy, helping me take on grief, take on handling doctors and social workers, knowing that soon I would be watching Pale Male again and be transported out of myself. That’s his gift to us. When people ask me what makes NYC so special I mention Pale Male and his nest on a beautiful building on Fifth Avenue.

Sincerely,

Oh Eleanor,

Thank you so much for writing that touchingly beautiful letter to the coop board, it brought tears to my eyes.

I am so sorry to hear about your recent loss and impending one.

Would love to sit a while with you in the park at 927 Fifth, I haven't been there yet as I only recently learned about PaleMale. I am going to CA soon, but perhaps we can meet up when I return in late March.

With blessings,

Rhio

Rhio,

I like the letter too. It says what I wanted to say, and it doesn't accuse or call names. I wonder if anyone on the Board at 927 ever read it.

I'd love to be with you for a Pale Male and Lola experience! The place to be is a certain bench by the model boat pond, where "the regulars" who watch the hawks set up scopes. They're there almost every day during mating and especially after chicks are hatched, but nowadays they're there to keep tabs on Pale Male and Lola! When I show up, I always get news about their whereabouts. If you go with me in March, hopefully Pale Male and Lola will have rebuilt their nest, and maybe there will be eggs! I'm still fairly new to birding -- certainly new to the habits of red-tailed hawks, so I don't know very much -- but I'm learning. I find Marie Winn's website a wonderful place to visit. It's not just birding information -- there's a level of joy and wonder about nature that means a lot to me. Lincoln's website [the Pale Male website] also.

Have you ever seen the video "Pale Male"? It's very wonderful, and as much about the people who watch the hawks and have been touched and transformed by the experience, as it is about the hawks themselves. I own it, but you may be able to rent it. I think you'd love it. If you are interested and have trouble finding it, let me know.

See you in late March! Have a wonderful, fruitful trip to CA.

Blessings,

Eleanor

The Sex in the City episode you mentioned, while giving publicity for the raw foods movement, unfortunately present raw food as unappealing. If you interested in seeing it, I believe the episode is within the Sixth season, Volume I, episodes 1-4. I recently rented this, so I can forewarn you that it's entertaining but pretty raunchy !

Dear Rhio,

Here is another response to your hotline newsletter and the question whether or not it is best for you to discuss larger issues; that is, issues concerning the fate of the Earth we live on, including energy, food production, citizen freedoms, oxygen, water, and top soil. How these issues are attended to in the immediate near future has to do with whether we will in fact have a future.

To NOT discuss these crucial determinants is in some sort of a way being an accomplice in the destruction of Earth as our Nest.

So I praise you for bringing light to these subjects!

There is talk about the pair of birds losing their nest due to the wishes of the people who live in that particular building. In fact, all humans now living and those to be born, are at this moment in the process of losing their nest.. This Earth is the only nest we have and it is being systematically destroyed. After 500 years of occupation, there is not a clean drop of water left in this country, the top soil is drastically diminished, the oxygen level is way below the acknowledged usual 21%; with 14% the point where we will not be able to continue.

Seeds are "owned" by corporations, (in fact, water in some countries is starting to be "owned".) Only 15% of the trees that once existed remain. We have no place to store the tons and tons of radioactive waste that remains poisonous for thousands of years.

Along with the grave issue of the storage of rad. waste, the everyday release of radioactivity by this country's 100 nuclear power plants has been found to cause premature births, infant mortality, mental retardation, heart ailments, arthritis, rampant cancer, leukemia (which is now the number one cause of death for children in the USA ) genetic damage, chronic fatigue syndrome, which affects 4 to 5 million people, as well as previously unknown infectious diseases.

Authorities knew about this health damage and admitted in a l989 report made by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission: "Health affects from low-level radiation includes the induction of cancer, genetically determined ill-health, developing abnormalities, and some degenerative diseases."

With cancer incidence going from 1 in 4, to 1 in 3, to 1 in 2, you'd think someone would ask why, instead of collecting funds for another Ronald McDonald House.

These radiation releases from the everyday operation of nuclear plants also affect the ozone depletion we hear about, thus allowing the entrance of solar rays which can kill plankton; plankton being one of our two sources of oxygen. The other one being trees, which if not being cut down at a hysterical rate, are now becoming sick with disease, one serious one mentioned in the news a few weeks ago, is affecting the trees in 22 western states. Note: The loss of oxygen is rarely mentioned anywhere...

Given the unbearable reality of the loss of our life system, humans become diverted and busy; grasping at distraction and/or over-achieving. TV dramas, and headlines about a murder case divert attention from the biggest murder case of all time - the murder of you, me, our town and country, and our Earth. And the potential for future Life on Earth.

So within this context I dont see how any one could fault you for discussing the state of our situation. In fact, IF we do not discuss it we are at fault, it would seem.

A disinformation machine with a controled media, an addictive militarism and vested interests are firmly in place.

There is the story of the frog in hot water. The frog was put into a pot of cool water on the stove. He didnt notice any change as it gradually grew warmer. At one point the water went from hot to boiling. And then it was too late for the frog to jump out.

We must claim a habitable Earth, now, just prior to the water beginning to boil.

Where there is a will; there is a way.

with best wishes to all from,

Sara Shannon

Dear Rhio,

Thank you for your new years wishes and information. It is always a pleasure to hear from you.

Of course, I checked out the even more expanded website you maintain. It is wonderful. It is like walking into a health conscious, life conscious, earth conscious library. Thanks for all that you do to make me aware of ways I can improve my life.

... I am excited that you are working on another edition of your book. {Note from Rhio: It's a completely New book.} Takes a lot of love and work to make that happen. You are so generous with your experience and knowledge and spirit.

Hi Rhio!

Thanks for the great newsletter. It was very informative. So much has happened this past year.

We hope you and your husband are doing great. We pray you had a nice holdiay season and have a wonderful New Year full of joy, peace and prosperity.

Peace & Light always,

Marc & Phyllis

Hi Rhio,

I too love Pale Male..and have been following him for some time.. Thank you..

I look forward to your comments on Dr. Grahams recommendations..and would like to pass this info on to my list..

Hope all is well with you..

xo
donna

Dear Rhio

Happy New Year! Wishing you and Leigh a Year of Abundance in all aspects- our 'natural' heritage.

Reading your email reminded me of a speech given by American writer Jeremy Rifken about his book called: European Dream.

European Dream
Author: Jeremy Rifkin
Format: Hardcover . Published: January 2004
Dimensions: 400 Pages, 6.35 x 9.5 x 1.45 in
ISBN: 1585423459 . Published by Putnam

About this Book - From the Publisher

"The American Dream is in decline. Americans are increasingly overworked, underpaid, and squeezed for time. But there is an alternative: the European Dream--a more leisurely, healthy, prosperous, and sustainable way of life. Europe's lifestyle is not only desirable, argues Jeremy Rifkin, but may be crucial to sustaining prosperity in the new era. With the dawn of the European Union, Europe has become an economic superpower in its own rights--its GDP now surpasses that of the United States. Europe has achieved newfound dominance not by single-mindedly driving up stock prices, expanding working hours, and pressing every household into a double-wage-earner conundrum. Instead, the New Europe relies on market networks that place cooperation above competition; promotes a new sense of citizenship that extols the well-being of the whole person and the community rather than the dominant individual; and recognizes the necessity of deep play and leisure to create a better, more productive, and healthier workforce. From the medieval era to modernity, Rifkin delves deeply into the history of Europe, and eventually America, to show how the continent has succeeded in slowly and steadily developing a more adaptive, sensible way of working and living. In The European Dream, Rifkin posits a dawning truth that only the most jingoistic can ignore: Europe's flexible, communitarian model of society, business, and citizenship is better suited to the challenges of the twenty-first century. Indeed, the European Dream may come to define the new century as the American Dream defined the century now past."

I thought it, the book and his speech was amazing and I highly recommend reading it. The thought I am referring to was he mentioned something about The European Union heading towards majority of their farming, if not all, transitioning to organic farming within the next 10 yr? Don't quote me on this as I haven't read the book yet, however I remember him saying something along those lines... I am adding this book to my library asap!

Blessings, Light and Peace be with you always.

Sincerely,

Hi there Rhio!

... thank you for the inspirational newsletters. I always enjoy hearing your perspective on politics and what's going on in the nutritional/health world. Please keep it up!

... Enjoy your trip to California!

Cristina Lang
Seattle, WA

I haven't had time to read last newsletter but did just scan your feedback. I cannot now make as strong a case for your bringing the political dimension to bear on your readers' select concerns as it merits, for once again I will not take the time, now. So: keep it up, and don't stop. I wish I could stay, but you already I'm sure appreciate how willfully unintelligent and divertible U.S. citizens in their thinking. The people who oppose your sharing your earned political understanding act like the simply fussy eaters many of them might very well be, deep down. (I mean, they have personal squeamishness or intransigence that are
psychologically rooted. I see this over and over. But this is not a comment on eating raw, which I prefer doing much as I can.) Eating against the grain of American industry is a political act, and these matters are all connected--here and abroad. I encourage you to do even more to educate yourself and pose an example, to be improved upon or emulated or rejected by your readers. I cannot imagine subjecting you to the Oprah comparison. What all do these people think she is? (And didn't Oprah herself come in for a hit when she spoke ever so slightly against the meat industry? People have been trying to control women's mouths for ages, and our keeping them shut or emitting a chosen sound every now and then is hardly going to shut powerful people up. They will make things up, and they like the occasion for pushing onto people's attention their lies--the defensive publicity, as Israel justifies its actions always, for example.)

People in this country can hide only so much longer, for now it is increasngly from one another nearby--no amount of segregation will be good enough, not even the prisons--and this tight ignorance ultimately is cold and makes for the loneliness and incapacitating isolation that is evident everywhere in this country. Your readers no doubt oppose the pharmaceutical industry that is being handed over our populace from the earliest ages, yet what are they doing that their minds don't roam as to why this all is happening? And why in hell should your articles be passed on without comment to their friends and acquaintances--are they lazy? You don't know these recipients; why should your comments be easily palatable for everyone's tastes or established politics? One grows by reaching, being provoked to reach anyway, by friction and unexpected light, collisions that set one to thinking or imagining. Let them cozy up to their friends, or instead deepen their own understanding of your positions so they can speak on your behalf, or mitigate the effects they fear... I wished I'd put it all more succinctly, and defended you more indisputably so you only hold on more tight to your refusal to be confined outside the poltical pale. Please: continue, only more strongly. Thanks for all.

I do read your email. Rhio I been a Born Again Christian for many years I love it. I became Raw Foodist I love it. Please when you have chance check out www.Bible .com or www. Biblecom. Please remember there is only one God Jesus Christ. He came into this world the flesh walk without sin. He is Three in One God-Son-Spirit they are one. You will know the truth and truth will set you free. I am sharing this with you because God Loves you and he dosen't any one to perish. Please check out these websites and keeping searching I will be praying for you. Let me know if receive this email.

thank you
God bless you always

janice

Dear Janice,

Thank you for your prayers. I am glad that you have found a faith that you love and that sustains you. I am a believer, but not so much in organized religion. I believe in the freedom to worship any religion of one's choosing or none at all, if that is one's inclination.

We are all united by our humanity, kindness and spirituality.

With blessings,

Rhio

Just remember there is only one God Jesus Christ. No one comes to the Father only thru Jesus Christ. If you ask "God if you are real show yourself to me and He will." We all will be judge by God someday We will stand before White Throne and he will shows our whole life and He will say welcome to my Kingdom or depart I never knew you. People worship many false Gods . Jesus is alive and well. He loves and He is a jealous God. Enemy comes as a Angel of light to deceived many. He is a gentleman he is not forceful
and He gave us free will you can do it your way or God's way. There is many gods but they all died and turn to dust. I don't know why I am telling you all that but I don't want your blood be on my hands. We are only vapor here today gone tomorrow. I pray that Lord will bring people into your path that God will use them in your life. I may be planting seeds in your heart and someone else will water. So I pray that God (Jesus Christ will touch you and be real as He is to me.

Love in Christ

Janice

I'm not sure if I understand Janice's letter above. It seems kind of rambling. She seems to believe there's only one way to worship, and she wants to plant seeds in my heart so I will worship according to her faith.
I believe she means well, but some ideas should only be met politely at the door. The fact of the matter is I do believe in the teachings of that great enlightened soul known as Jesus Christ. As she says in another part of the letter "{God} is not forceful and he gave us free will". Yes, I agree with that and we must use that free will to find our own way, blessing and honoring our differences as we go.

Dear Rhio & Leigh,

BRAVO RHIO !!! I loved your answer to the person who didn't want you to discuss anything political on your site. Why people want to foolishly hide their heads in the sand is beyond me. We all ought to be doing a lot more discussing and putting on a big rebellion if we ever want to save our own necks and the future for our following generations. We are in a real mess!

Occasionally, I hear a good piece of news. On Paul Harvey's Commentary the other day, he said that even though we have less farms than ever, that there is an increase in students wanting to learn farming, especially hydroponic farming. Yes, yes, yes -- to self-sustainability and leaving the dead corporate garbage on the shelves.

OceanGrown is continuing to grow and we have a number of distributors now -- even in Canada and England. We have many people all over growing their own wheatgrass with the OceanSolution and more and more testimonies are coming in of farmers excellent results and higher yields in growing their crops. Our distributor in Wisconsin sells about 250 eight ounce jars of wheatgrass juice weekly, simply by word of mouth.

... Your website is GREAT. Keep up the good work. We hope 2005 will be a terrific year for you.

Love,

Lynn

January 11, 2005

Dear Rhio,

I love you just the way you are! I'm so glad you only water down the truth a little bit! I am so glad you spread the truth in select bits of info! Most can't handle the truth especially in its entirety and you do a great job of saying just enough. Your letter to Sandy was well written and you are right on.

I trust you and Lee are well.

... Much love and blessings of Peace,

Tim Tye
Raw Food Guy

Sandy, very good!

Before you send the email on, cut the parts that may shoot you in the foot. what really matters is how we deal with being shot in the foot when it happens.

And God commanded the man, saying, of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat :

But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

Pain is a sign that death has movrd in. Lets bless everything, and have a full life now, and live for ever.

My dear Rhio,

I just recently started receiving your wonderful newsletter. I am very proud to be a part of your consciousness on world issues which are not separate from our basic human needs of clean food, water and air. Thank you for being brave enough to stand your ground in truth regardless to those who may not continue participating in the purchase of your products or the reading of your books and newsletter. One who is willing to sacrifice their soul simply to appease does not live in truth. God bless. You do not stand alone.

love and light,

Anita in Miami

Rhio,

Happy Everything !!
Enjoyed your openness and willingness !
Hope to see you when in LA-

In a message dated 1/11/05 9:32:34 PM, jean writes:

Thank you! I loved the Pale Male website and St. Francis' poem. Happy New Year to you too.

Another happy news was the awarding of the Nobel Peace Price to Wangari Maathai. Martin and Mia were involved with publishing and interviewing her. Mia was with her when she first got word of her prize. They attended the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony and concert.

Oh yes Jean,

I'm sorry I forgot about that one!!!

Glad you liked the Pale Male site, awesome. The poem, I mistakenly attributed to St. Francis was actually written by Mary Elizabeth Frye.

With blessings and all good things to you in the New Year and beyond.

Rhio

Rhio!

Bravo, for following your purpose in life, which hopefully, will help to sustain life as we know it. Stay true. In this day and age anyone who is motivated by saving the health of self, others, the world, and the planet, I commend highly. My heart and spirit blew wide open when I watched the Nobel Peace Prize being awarded to Wangari Maathai. All of us can plant a tree. It does occur to me though when in deep contemplation, that just as we come and go, are born and die, so too do planets, and more than likely,
universes. I think the planet, or the universe, is speaking to us directly, and forcefully so. I remember daily, I am made of the same stuff as the universe.

Rhio,

I am glad I had I had the opportunity to read your book, "Hooked On Raw," and incorporate your eating raw lifestyle. All one has to do is try eat raw for a while and see if they feel better - before or after. It is as simple as that. I am in much better shape than before and have made it a conscious effort to remain on par with the course. You know the shape I was in. I try and share this new way of eating but find that most people aren't receptive. I understand and move on.

I have been able to fully resurrect my music career with astonishing results, especially with my humanitarian songs which are being well received by some impressive people in the music/media world.
As far as being like someone else, it is impossible. Sure an imitator, but never the originator. Be yourself. I like that in you. I feel the same way. All the Elvis imitators, who I truly admire for their amazing musical abilities, will never be The King no matter how hard they try. I am sure they make good money:-)

Eating raw is more than just eating vegetarian, the end results would definitely, "Clean Up the World." What more can we say? Thanks again. Peace.

Peter Love
www.peterlove.biz
SOC Foundation

In a message dated 1/17/05 12:15:47 AM, Gabrielle writes:

Dear Rhio,

I have been silently applauding your willingness to challenge your raw readers with the wider political, ethical and social implications of eating as well as shine the light on important dietary issues for raw fooders as in your recent Nazariah series. Thank you also for creating this conversation and letting us in on it.

But what moved me to write was your compassionate response to Janice who urged her understanding of salvation upon you in two separate postings. You said you weren't sure you understood her---perhaps I can help. I am a Christian who is often embarrassed by my kind. Especially those in the newborn true believer phase whose faith is so shaky they try to reinforce it by repetition of powerful code phrases to anyone who will listen. This is never intended as communication, for any rational response is perceived as a threat, even your sweet and gentle one, and will elicit another barrage as you experienced.

I do know of young Christians who, having outgrown this, are now most embarrassed to remember how much they pontificated while telling themselves they were saving souls. Most of us have encountered raw food true believers who are as difficult to converse with as sister Janice. Your compassion for all is most Christlike, or Buddha-like if you prefer. But please know that the very diverse body of Christ includes many thoughtful, progressive souls who are more dedicated to walking than talking the way of Jesus and who are able to recognize the great hearts of fellow travellers of any religion or none.

Gabrielle Chavez

Rhio,

I'm not familiar with OceanGrown. I would like to know more about their "bottling process". I am a firm believer in wheatgrass juice, and I believe that raw foodists who don't incorporate wheatgrass juice into their diet are missing a lot of valuable nutrients. However, I don't understand why people don't grow it themselves. It's so easy, and a lot less expensive.

Furthermore, the benefits of drinking freshly squeezed juce must far outway any form of bottled or powdered wheatgrass. Any comments?

Kathy Ramsey
Nature's Raw Energy

I believe that God loves everyone. I don't believe that anyone should push their beliefs or try to control anyone. God is first in my life, God is in us. I have looked at the controling aspects that many possess. We must stop the harrassment and live and love with peace and care.

(In a letter I told Val below that the US media is not showing us any images of the massacres of women and children that I have been reading about in foreign publications. Rhio)

Jan. 2005

Dear Rhio - Wow I can't *believe* you're not seeing the pictures of the children suffering in Iraq. It's horrible. It's the Oklahome City bombing every day. Please speak out!

I wrote an entire newsltr around the 100,000 killed in Iraq by the US, as reported in The Lancet, and my shipper asked me not to send it. So I deleted it.

I have not met ONE South African that supports the US invasion of Iraq. The world's United Nations clearly opposed it. Not even the fundamentalist most far right Christians here can understand why Americans want to go bomb and maim innocent children across the world from them, except that it obviously wants the oil.

Iraq had nothing at all to do with WTC. Why didn't the US bomb white South Africans when we had apartheid here? The human rights violations and suffering of millions was on a scale unimaginable. If they had bombed us, it would've resulted in decades of civil war and violence, just as is happening now in Iraq.

If the neighbors look like they're not acting the way you want them to, you don't go bomb them into doing things your way! If someone's being abused, perhaps you'd call in assistance of Social Welfare (the UN) but who'd BOMB their neighbors into agreeing with them? In fact, any "abuse" Hussein might've been responsible for, pales into insignificance before the TV images of Iraqi children maimed for life by the US.

What we're seeing here on our TV screens is MyLai all over again. My only hope is that if the war lasts long enough, as Vietnam did, the most powerful slumbering giant on earth - the American people - will wake up and protest. When will we see the Iraqi children playing again? (as we saw them in Fahrenheit 9/11, aired on one of our main TV stations).

It was only when the American people in the late 1980's stepped in and protested apartheid in South Africa, took to the streets, got themselves arrested, forced their universities and cities to disinvest, forced their political representatives to pass legislation excluding SA goods from the US, only then finally did we get freedom here. No country can survive when America refuses to lend it money or buy its products.

Today Oprah adores our country and says: "there's an energy in South Africa I don't feel anywhere else." She's right. But we would never have known this freedom if the US had bombed us.

What upsets me too is that the Iraqis defending their homeland are labeled "insurgents" by CNN and the US invaders are labeled "security forces." Just as in South Africa, the old apartheid government labeled Nelson Mandela "a terrorist" whereas he was simply a man of dignity wanting simple human rights for himself and his children.

We know that if China follows the US consumption-immersed model, our earth will quickly collapse. A coca-cola factory in China is bad news, not democracy. What will happen if other nations decide to follow the US war-mongering model? God knows how long our earth would last then. To understand WTC, I recommend the book "Food First--Beyond The Myth of Scarcity" by Francis Moore Lappe, the same researcher who wrote "Diet For A Small Planet." WTC was a retaliation, not an attack.

Rhio, you need to wake up the people of America! Get that slumbering giant up and fully awake, wide-eyed and bushy-tailed and MOVING to STOP this unjustified invasion of Iraq.

thanks! - Val