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The corridors of power have been shaken since our last regular publication, from the surprise resignation of Pope Benedict XVI to the less surprising death of Hugo Chávez -- two controversial figures whose legacies will be debated for years to come. (One figure that remains controversial, according to Michael Barker, is white supremacist Rudolf Steiner, founder of the Anthroposophy movement and biodynamic cultivation.) Scandal rocked the palates and plates of much of Europe when horse meat was found in everything from French lasagna to Ikea meatballs. Jan Baughman concludes that between protein mix-ups, mislabeled fish, and GE crops, if you don't grow it or kill it yourself, you won't know what you're eating... Raju Peddada's youthful brush with guns and nature was enough to make him a life-long vegetarian. In Part One of a series on meat he considers carnivorism vs. vegetarianism, including his own PR influence on the former. And while Italy anxiously awaits the smoke signal for a new pope to return the Catholic Church's sanctity, Fabio De Propris warns his countrymen not to ignore twentieth century history and the conditions that led to the horrors committed by German Nazis and Italian Fascists.
There's no controversy when it comes to the cultural contributions of Lawrence Ferlinghetti, who's still writing poetry at the age of 93. Paul Buhle reviews his latest offering, Time of Useful Consciousness. Peter Byrne's on to something in his amusing modern dialogue between a man who turns off his phone, TV, and radio, ignores his e-mails, and chooses solitude, and one who can't fathom such choices. Guido Monte's poetry explores the tragic life of a migrant child -- compare and contrast that reality to the one of the world's billionaires, as Gilles d'Aymery explores this year's Forbes list of happy few and some of the obscenities such wealth affords. We close with letters and thoughts on Isidor Saslav's passing, and more.
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Michael Barker: Rudolf Steiner And The Organic Movement
A review of the early connections of the Soil Association to Rudolf Steiner's biodynamic farming movement. More...
Jan Baughman: Let 'Em Eat Horse
From horse meat sold as beef to rockfish sold as snapper, to the myth of genetically-engineered crops, the consumer is constantly deceived. More...
Raju Peddada: Meat: The Celebration Of Murder - Part I
Part I of an exploration of meat eating: Vegetarians vs. Carnivores. More...
Fabio De Propris: No Miracles In Sant'Anna
The author warns Italy not to ignore twentieth century history and the conditions that led to the horrors committed by German Nazis and Italian Fascists. More...
Paul Buhle: Ferlinghetti Triumphs Again!
At 93, Lawrence Ferlinghetti is not finished publishing his poetry -- Paul Buhle reviews his latest offering, Time of Useful Consciousness. More...
Peter Byrne: Nobody Home
An amusing modern dialogue between a man who turns off his phone, TV, and radio, ignores his e-mails, and chooses solitude, and one who can't fathom such choices. More...
Guido Monte: The child inside the luggage
A sad story of migrants More...
Gilles d'Aymery: Blips #132
Forbes' latest list of billionaire landed on the Editor's desk, so he looks at some of the happy few -- untouched by the economic crisis -- and the obscenities their wealth affords. More...
A few words about nice people, and Swans readers and contributors share their thoughts on the passing of a very nice person -- Isidor Saslav. More...
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