Wednesday, June 29, 2011

The Universe Is Conspiring to Shower You with Blessings

The title of this post are the words of author Rob Brezny (I highly recommend his book, Pronoia), and these words embody my gratitude to everyone who has helped me in this mission so far with their energy, excitement, words of encouragement and monetary contributions. I really do feel supported by the Universe, and by each of you, as a part of the Universe!

I leave in 8 short days, and I still have lots to prepare before I join with the Amazon Mycorenewal Project in Ecuador (see previous posts). I just wanted to take a minute to post a short message expressing my immense appreciation for all my friends and allies who have offered their support. I have so much LOVE and GRATITUDE for all of you!

I plan on posting my experiences and pictures as I am able to while I am down there, so please check back here for updates.

If you are interested in joining my network of financial supporters, I could still use the help! As a volunteer on this service learning mission, I am paying for all my costs of getting down there and daily expenses, and putting funds towards the general program expenses.

When you go amazonmycorenewal.org and click the donate button, please indicate the designation "AMP, Martin Driggs" on the donation form so that it makes it to my fund.

A special thanks goes out to everyone who made it out to the Amazon Mushroom Alliance Benefit hosted by Music Ecology and Evolver Boston. It was a such a fun night connecting with all of you. I was happy to see others excited as I am about this project, and I hope to connect on future projects in the local area!

Thanks again,

marty


Thursday, June 9, 2011

Ways to help the Amazon Mycorenewal Project

Bob at work in the Amazon

I'm about to order a respirator for organic vapors and a Tyvek suit, like Bob here.

In less than a month, I will be down in Ecuador with the Amazon Mycorenewal Project. We are an international interspecies alliance working to heal the oil-polluted rainforest with the power of mushrooms. As I explained in this previous post this is a one-of-a-kind ground-healing effort to apply recent advances in mushroom science (mycology) to break down and remove environmental toxins. By writing these messages, I hope to increase awareness and support for these solutionary efforts.

Much gratitude to those who have been able to provide some funds, already. As a volunteer on this project, I appreciate the support of this kind from those who can provide it to help pay for the trip.

If anyone was having trouble with the Paypal button, I've set up with the Cloud Forest Institute (the parent organization for the Amazon Mycorenewal Project) to receive online donations for my fundraising efforts. Please indicate the designation "AMP, Martin Driggs" on the donation form so that it makes it to my fund. Donate at www.amazonmycorenewal.org or by clicking:


For those who aren't in the position to spare any money but still want to support the movement (as a full-time community activist, I understand) there are so many ways to help.

First off, something I hope you all can do is get outside in the wild(er)ness this season to observe and the mushrooms and other living things. Seriously, we need more people to get to know them, and to know the healing and intelligent power of Nature. Get out there and get connected. Go on a mushroom walk with your local mycology club. Learn about mushrooms and join the growing global network of mycosolutionaries. (If you have no idea what I'm talking about, you can start by watching this.)


Other ways to support the AMP this summer:

  • Do you do science? Grant-writing? Research? There's no shortage of research topics, things that we could use help finding articles on (on University databases), grants to be discovered and written. Even remote ex situ research... And that's not all, we need allies all over: graphic design, web promotion, writing... If any of this sounds interesting, please don't hesitate to write me.

  • I need a digital camera. (I lost my last one with my laptop out of my broken trunk at the Caspa show in Cambridge last August. Good show, btw.) If anyone can hook me up with a decent digital camera, that would be so helpful. As would a flip cam or other type of camcorder. I could return it when I get back.
  • And if you're planning on investing in your health any time soon, might I suggest you invest in some PowerShrooms! AMP team member, Monica Neff makes these medicinal mushrooms. From now through July 10, for every bottle of medicinal mushrooms you buy on-line, $7.00 will be donated to the Amazon Mycorenewal Pojrect. Enter the coupon code: AMP2011 PowerShroom.com

As always, please feel free to email me at mdriggs.amp[a]gmail.com if you any thoughts, ideas or just want to connect or hit me up on facebook or Evolver.net. For those in the Boston area, I hope to see you Tuesday for the Amazon Mushroom Alliance Benefit at the Wonder Bar in Allston, hosted by Music Ecology and Evolver Boston. (details here).

Much Love and Gratitude to everyone reading this.

marty



Saturday, June 4, 2011

Amazon Mycorenewal Project Benefit, hosted by Music Ecology and Evolver Boston














On Tuesday June 14th at 8 pm, Music Ecology and Evolver Boston will host a short film screening and discussion to benefit the Amazon Mycorenewal Project, a group using mushrooms to help clean up the Amazon.

Chevron has recently been found guilty of discharging over 18 Billion gallons of toxic oil waste in the Amazon rainforest. While they try to avoid responsibility for their mess, an international (and inter-species) alliance is working to help heal the damaged earth.

The Amazon Mycorenewal Project (AMP) is a ground-healing effort to apply recent advances in mushroom science (mycology) to actively break down toxic organic compounds found in the polluted Amazon (a process called “mycoremediation”).

Come learn how mushrooms are being used to clean up toxic oil waste on indigenous lands in the Ecuadorian Amazon, how you can join the branching network of solutionaries, and how to support efforts in Ecuador this summer.

Please see this previous post to learn more about the project.

What: Amazon Mushroom Alliance Benefit (Amazon Mycorenewal Project)
When: Tuesday, June 14th at 8pm
Where: Wonder Bar, 186 Harvard Avenue Allston, MA 02134-2806
Why: To support the Amazon Mycorenewal Project!
How much: Suggested $10 donation (includes admission to Music Ecology). No one turned away for lack of funds. However, this is a 21+ venue, ID required. Stay tuned for details for other all ages events.






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Facebook event page - please RSVP and share!

I hope you'll join us to learn more about the project, connect with other local solutionaries, and enjoy some local electronic music.

With Love and Gratitude,

marty












Music Ecology is a weekly gathering of producers, DJs, musicians and artists focused on exposing live, original, and fresh bass-heavy electronic music and local art. The night is held every Tuesday at Wonder Bar in Allston.
On Tuesday, the 14th, Music Ecology presents Mammox, Tactical Lisp, tRick & Pressplay
Please see the Music Ecology website for more details.






















What is Evolver Boston? We exist in Boston to promote ecologically/human friendly yogic and shamanic lifestyles, while connecting activist, artist, and spiritual communities. Evolver aims to help humanity in a holistic evolutionary leap towards what we know is possible.

Please learn more and connect at evolverboston.net. Evolver Boston is part of an international network of "Evolver Spores." Find/start your local spore at Evolver.net!