Toward a Living California

A month ago an election was held in California. The result was so remarkable
that we feel compelled, by way of reply to affirm that one day this
California will live. The people of California will one day re-create this
land upon the following self-evident truths:

1. Every Californian has the inalienable right to a livelihood. He or she
has the right to soul-satisfying work. This arises out of an innate human
need to realize oneself in productive activity while contributing to the
well-being of every member of the community. Some may find fulfillment in
farming, others in manufacturing, others in healing, still others in artistic
pursuits. Instead of getting a "job" to live, there will come a time when
people will delight in expressing their humanity through productive
activity.

2. Every Californian has the inalienable right to healing. This shall
include naturopathy, somatic therapy, counseling, acupuncture,
chiropractic, and homeopathy. For those who choose, there is always
conventional medicine. Healing is your birthright and it shall be free.

3. Every Californian has the inalienable right to accommodation. That people
have no alternate but to sleep unaccommodated in storefronts or in parks is
an atrocious wrong The condition of "homelessness”can be transformed
overnight. People can be provided with land, building materials and tools to
create their own dwellings and live in communities of their design. One day,
the only “homeless people” shall be in the pages of history books along
with the “bronze axe” and “chariot”.

4. Every Californian has the inalienable right to living food. That is, food
that is health giving and alive.

5. The mountains of California shall be declared sacred and inviolable. The
forests of California - sacred and inviolable! The rivers, streams, lakes
and ponds shall be restored to their pristine condition as treasures
forever.

6. Every elder of California shall be treated with utmost dignity and
respect. All their needs - social, spiritual, and material shall be
provided. The best way to care for elders is the way its always been done i.e
with their families.

7. Every mother-to-be shall have maternity leave during pregnancy and a year
off following birth to welcome her child into the world unencumbered by
material want.

8. Every Californian has the inalienable right to rest and
recuperation. Not in the Ancient World, not in the Middle Ages, not in any
other epoch have people worked more arduously. Which brother or sister is
not stressed out by the frenzy of the workplace? Who among us is not
deprived of sleep, is not worn out by the roar of phones, faxes, and email?
Every Californian shall be entitled to a sabbatical. Every seventh year
shall be set aside for re-conciliation, rejuvenation and taking stock.

This, my brothers and sisters, is but a minimal design for a fulfilling and
creative life. It is a sad commentary on the recent election that not one
of the 135(!) candidates for governor as much as eluded to any of these
issues. Not in any speech, debate or press conference was there a hint or
intimation. From this we can only conclude that contemporary California has
in fact exhausted its possibilities, it has nothing to offer its citizens by
way of vivid and fulfilling life.
We conclude in the hope that you who have been given the blessing of living
food will carry your understanding of aliveness to every aspect of
contemporary life. This California shall one day be a garden for the human
spirit; the mountains and the hills will clap their hands.

Jesse Schwartz, Ph.D.
President
Living Tree Community Foods
Berkeley, California
November, 2003

800-260-5534
510-526-7106
fax 510-526-9516