Comments on: The Value of Nothing http://rajpatel.org/2009/10/27/the-value-of-nothing/ Website and Blog of writer, activist and academic, Raj Patel Fri, 30 Jul 2010 13:45:38 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Martin Ramshaw http://rajpatel.org/2009/10/27/the-value-of-nothing/comment-page-1/#comment-896 Martin Ramshaw Mon, 19 Jul 2010 17:43:59 +0000 http://rajpatel.info/?p=77#comment-896 Here is a NY Times op-ed piece about the relationship between our high-tech gadgets and the bloody conflict in the Congo (The Value of Nothing, page 54): http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/27/opinion/27kristof.html The article lists the materials involved as tantalum, tungsten, tin and gold. Here is a NY Times op-ed piece about the relationship between our
high-tech gadgets and the bloody conflict in the Congo (The Value of
Nothing, page 54):

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/27/opinion/27kristof.html

The article lists the materials involved as tantalum, tungsten, tin
and gold.

]]> By: shaq http://rajpatel.org/2009/10/27/the-value-of-nothing/comment-page-1/#comment-707 shaq Sat, 01 May 2010 23:43:29 +0000 http://rajpatel.info/?p=77#comment-707 A beautiful Day in Paradise I dream a lot, my favourite dream is a dream of a peaceful world in which men and women seem to be like angels. Isn’t it strange - today I dreamed about a concert. At first I have been in a church, in a beautiful church, like those in Italy - Santa Maria degli Angeli, in Assisi, where Francisus once lived. Suddenly there where some politicians, they talked with one another, some other people listened; the sacral area changed into a tv-studio. The dream had quite surreale characteristics, the studio-lights shifted into divine light, translucend shadows of holy beings where visible, the light asked with borrowed mouth for „faith “and the people began to pray. And then there was again the concerthall. The concert visitors listened to the music, - a wonderful light danced in the rhythm of the sounds, it warmed up the feelings of the present ones to quiet attention, which began to invite the Lord, a famous conductor listened to the music too, his thoughts changed itself into melodies, - those transformed into punk- cascades performed by the german band "Die Ärzte" , the tv-studio chanced into a big-concert hall full to burstig with people, the whole hall literally trembled in this miraculous light. At the end there was another tv-studio filled with nice people and a journey for years with two beautiful cabaretists, which lastes a few minute.Then we waked up. I dream a lot, as I sayed and often about politicians and usually I awake breathlessly because of amazement., and sometimes I awake like Anton into a deep sleep. I heard, in Chile (it is in the west in the west of Mekka) live Indians, they carry the sun in their heart - “of course” they are poor, poor as Franziskus, when he built Portiuncula, - those have hardly money (similar the Greeks), for small and even smallest projekts. “Hic locus sanctus es" is written on the floor of this little chapel. Waiting angels hear Mozart – may be “Queen of the Night”" , - humans, prefer probably “Papageno” or so… however, - the trus is: All Honour to God in the height and thank-debt brings me down on knies … and then there as a nice worm and trees begann to fly and grass was talking – I was a pig eating grass, I was dirty, then I tried to flee, I set down, dark fires burned me and a tremendous noise was around me, last even God was the devil, - my wife, she has no faith, - as all the others -, got angry, she did not understand me, we got in a hassle. All hated me an mother earth was shaking. This all was joke. lg shaq A beautiful Day in Paradise

I dream a lot, my favourite dream is a dream of a peaceful world in which men and women seem to be like angels. Isn’t it strange – today I dreamed about a concert.
At first I have been in a church, in a beautiful church, like those in Italy – Santa Maria degli Angeli, in Assisi, where Francisus once lived. Suddenly there where some politicians, they talked with one another, some other people listened; the sacral area changed into a tv-studio. The dream had quite surreale characteristics, the studio-lights shifted into divine light, translucend shadows of holy beings where visible, the light asked with borrowed mouth for „faith “and the people began to pray. And then there was again the concerthall. The concert visitors listened to the music, – a wonderful light danced in the rhythm of the sounds, it warmed up the feelings of the present ones to quiet attention, which began to invite the Lord, a famous conductor listened to the music too, his thoughts changed itself into melodies, – those transformed into punk- cascades performed by the german band “Die Ärzte” , the tv-studio chanced into a big-concert hall full to burstig with people, the whole hall literally trembled in this miraculous light. At the end there was another tv-studio filled with nice people and a journey for years with two beautiful cabaretists, which lastes a few minute.Then we waked up.

I dream a lot, as I sayed and often about politicians and usually I awake breathlessly because of amazement., and sometimes I awake like Anton into a deep sleep.

I heard, in Chile (it is in the west in the west of Mekka) live Indians, they carry the sun in their heart – “of course” they are poor, poor as Franziskus, when he built Portiuncula, – those have hardly money (similar the Greeks), for small and even smallest projekts.

“Hic locus sanctus es” is written on the floor of this little chapel.

Waiting angels hear Mozart – may be “Queen of the Night”” , – humans, prefer probably “Papageno” or so… however, – the trus is: All Honour to God in the height and thank-debt brings me down on knies … and then there as a nice worm and trees begann to fly and grass was talking – I was a pig eating grass, I was dirty, then I tried to flee, I set down, dark fires burned me and a tremendous noise was around me, last even God was the devil, – my wife, she has no faith, – as all the others -, got angry, she did not understand me, we got in a hassle. All hated me an mother earth was shaking. This all was joke.

lg
shaq

]]> By: Douglas Unfug http://rajpatel.org/2009/10/27/the-value-of-nothing/comment-page-1/#comment-610 Douglas Unfug Mon, 19 Apr 2010 15:30:51 +0000 http://rajpatel.info/?p=77#comment-610 Greetings- I just heard your interview w/ David Sirota, and while you may not be the messiah, your clarity of thought struck me deeply! I have a masters in educational Psychology, (with 2 children 5 and 8), and all your points about children's ability to discern what's marketing and what's not are extremely important. I did a paper on the effect of Reagan administration's revision of the laws governing TV marketing to children, (Called the Mutant Ninja Turtle effect), and I am concerned about the replacement of true creative play with a type of play which reinforces the child's identification with the product at the expense of creativity. It is a huge topic-thanks for stirring the pot this morning! Doug Unfug Denver, Colorado Greetings-

I just heard your interview w/ David Sirota, and while you may not be the messiah, your clarity of thought struck me deeply! I have a masters in educational Psychology, (with 2 children 5 and 8), and all your points about children’s ability to discern what’s marketing and what’s not are extremely important.
I did a paper on the effect of Reagan administration’s revision of the laws governing TV marketing to children, (Called the Mutant Ninja Turtle effect), and I am concerned about the replacement of true creative play with a type of play which reinforces the child’s identification with the product at the expense of creativity.

It is a huge topic-thanks for stirring the pot this morning!

Doug Unfug
Denver, Colorado

]]> By: Praz http://rajpatel.org/2009/10/27/the-value-of-nothing/comment-page-1/#comment-593 Praz Tue, 13 Apr 2010 01:05:13 +0000 http://rajpatel.info/?p=77#comment-593 Love your work Raj.....finally got a copy of your book at Melbourne Airport..can't wait to read it. My exclusive review will be up at wwww.socialwizz.com Cheers Praz Love your work Raj…..finally got a copy of your book at Melbourne Airport..can’t wait to read it.

My exclusive review will be up at wwww.socialwizz.com

Cheers
Praz

]]> By: Bill Weightman, Phd, Advocate and Gov't Adm. http://rajpatel.org/2009/10/27/the-value-of-nothing/comment-page-1/#comment-586 Bill Weightman, Phd, Advocate and Gov't Adm. Sun, 11 Apr 2010 18:53:58 +0000 http://rajpatel.info/?p=77#comment-586 Daily, I see the injustice produced by this economy, our growing military budget, from discussions with former members of the last three Administrations, and mostly in mddle class families that have lost everything. Our leaders have literally produced the hangman's rope to hang many of us, as Lenin so noted. Greenspan, and a host of others have led many to poverty and for many more a generational trip to a caste-like economic existence in a growing underclass. Good work, you show how the Chinese company unions have at least garnered some benefits from Wal-mart, while we just buy cheap goods that lower our standard of living. Daily, I see the injustice produced by this economy, our growing military budget, from discussions with former members of the last three Administrations, and mostly in mddle class families that have lost everything. Our leaders have literally produced the hangman’s rope to hang many of us, as Lenin so noted. Greenspan, and a host of others have led many to poverty and for many more a generational trip to a caste-like economic existence in a growing underclass. Good work, you show how the Chinese company unions have at least garnered some benefits from Wal-mart, while we just buy cheap goods that lower our standard of living.

]]> By: Radha Ward http://rajpatel.org/2009/10/27/the-value-of-nothing/comment-page-1/#comment-571 Radha Ward Sat, 10 Apr 2010 13:44:39 +0000 http://rajpatel.info/?p=77#comment-571 Dear Raj; In all simplicity, what is the ultimate way that one 'ordinary person' like me can help the most in the evolution & transformation of our world systems & global human consciousness in work and business or in prayer and day to day living? Respect, Radha The Netherlands Dear Raj;

In all simplicity, what is the ultimate way that one ‘ordinary person’ like me can help the most in the evolution & transformation of our world systems & global human consciousness in work and business or in prayer and day to day living?

Respect,

Radha
The Netherlands

]]> By: Mark R http://rajpatel.org/2009/10/27/the-value-of-nothing/comment-page-1/#comment-531 Mark R Tue, 30 Mar 2010 17:16:07 +0000 http://rajpatel.info/?p=77#comment-531 Just to note JE Chapman's comment: "You talk as though capitalism is the enemy,yet you have no problem taking part by peddling your books,and plugging them on talkshows and the like.Its kinda,whats the name im looking for,well you know." Not having read the book yet, I don't know if Raj is against capitalism or favours a reformed capitalism. Either way, capitalism does not come down to buying and selling, it's a social relationship (based on our relation to capital), moreover it's one that we can't escape. If Raj condemned capitalism while starting a company and exploiting waged labour you might have a point. Just to note JE Chapman’s comment:
“You talk as though capitalism is the enemy,yet you have no problem taking part by peddling your books,and plugging them on talkshows and the like.Its kinda,whats the name im looking for,well you know.”

Not having read the book yet, I don’t know if Raj is against capitalism or favours a reformed capitalism. Either way, capitalism does not come down to buying and selling, it’s a social relationship (based on our relation to capital), moreover it’s one that we can’t escape. If Raj condemned capitalism while starting a company and exploiting waged labour you might have a point.

]]> By: Ian http://rajpatel.org/2009/10/27/the-value-of-nothing/comment-page-1/#comment-270 Ian Tue, 16 Feb 2010 16:57:39 +0000 http://rajpatel.info/?p=77#comment-270 I love your book. It's "what the world needs NOW". I'm interested, though, in what the real value of your book is. We have about a pound of paper mache rolled. It's the idea's that are written down on the paper that's so incredibly valuable. So should we pay $25.00 for good ideas? I certainly understand that we all need to chip in and pay the costs of paper, printing, shipping, etc., but isn't there a better way? Like making it also as a free download from your site? Or is unobtainium to the poor and locked out of the "Commons"? I love your book. It’s “what the world needs NOW”. I’m interested, though, in what the real value of your book is. We have about a pound of paper mache rolled. It’s the idea’s that are written down on the paper that’s so incredibly valuable. So should we pay $25.00 for good ideas? I certainly understand that we all need to chip in and pay the costs of paper, printing, shipping, etc., but isn’t there a better way? Like making it also as a free download from your site? Or is unobtainium to the poor and locked out of the “Commons”?

]]> By: gerald http://rajpatel.org/2009/10/27/the-value-of-nothing/comment-page-1/#comment-210 gerald Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:10:54 +0000 http://rajpatel.info/?p=77#comment-210 English ist not the only language your words would like to be understood - I beg for a german (but other languages too) translation (book and homepage), because my english is realy not heavenly ... god blesses us your gerald English ist not the only language your words would like to be understood – I beg for a german (but other languages too) translation (book and homepage), because my english is realy not heavenly …

god blesses us

your
gerald

]]> By: vgthomas http://rajpatel.org/2009/10/27/the-value-of-nothing/comment-page-1/#comment-180 vgthomas Fri, 05 Feb 2010 04:56:26 +0000 http://rajpatel.info/?p=77#comment-180 For the kibitzers who don't want to purchase the book for fear of a tree being cut down. I have a suggestion. Borrow it from your library.I did. After I return it I'll look for a used copy. Raj has got me wondering what to do with my stockbroker. I enjoyed his interview on FreeSpeechTV--my favorite channel. I finally found his site and signed up. He excites me as much as Vijay Prasad, and would not be surprised to learn that they are friends. I was depressed about the way things are going these days. But thanks to Raj I am hopeful once again. For the kibitzers who don’t want to purchase the book for fear of a tree being cut down. I have a suggestion. Borrow it from your library.I did. After I return it I’ll look for a used copy. Raj has got me wondering what to do with my stockbroker. I enjoyed his interview on FreeSpeechTV–my favorite channel. I finally found his site and signed up. He excites me as much as Vijay Prasad, and would not be surprised to learn that they are friends. I was depressed about the way things are going these days. But thanks to Raj I am hopeful once again.

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