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World's "poorest president" gives 90% of his salary to charities

Wednesday, December 18, 2013 by: Antonia

(NaturalNews.com) In a world often caught up in brand names and an obsession for luxurious excess, you'd think that a man earning approximately 12,500 U.S. dollars per month would be in his glory. Such a man does exist, yet he's not emerging from imported cars while wearing tailored suits as he talks about his elaborate vacation. Instead, he favors a 1987 Volkswagen, lives in a one-bedroom farmhouse with his wife, owns a three-legged dog and enjoys donating about 90% of his hefty salary to local charities. Rather than live in the three-story palace that is rightfully his, he prefers it to be used as a homeless shelter.

Oh, and he's also the president of Uruguay, where the government establishes set pricing for essentials, such as certain foods, and also gives free education and computers to all children.

About Jose Mujica, president of "an island of refugees in a world of crazy people"

Jose Mujica, dubbed the "world's poorest president" for his significant contributions to the needy, considers himself anything but. "I'm not the poorest president. The poorest is the one who needs a lot to live," he said.

Mujica knows about hard times. He was once a member of a guerrilla "Robin Hood" group, known for its robberies and giving stolen food to the poor. He was shot a half dozen times and has spent almost 15 years behind bars. But since becoming the president of Uruguay in 2010, he's won people over worldwide.

These days, he's applauded for highly sensible thoughts and actions in a world that tends to embrace just the opposite. In fact, he refers to Urugay as "an island of refugees in a world of crazy people." His low-key lifestyle, environmental efforts, same-sex marriage beliefs and charitable tendencies invigorate him and the people. Adding to his popularity is the fact that, under his leadership, cannabis has been legalized in Uruguay.

A president "opposed to waste - of energy, or resources, or time"

Regarding the environment, he says, "I am trying to expand consumption but to diminish unnecessary consumption" adding that he is "opposed to waste - of energy, or resources, or time. We need to build things that last. That's an ideal, but it may not be realistic because we live in an age of accumulation."

He draws parallels to ways of living, wealth and the environment, saying, "We can almost recycle everything now. If we lived within our means, by being prudent, the 7 billion people in the world could have everything they needed. Global politics should be moving in that direction," he said. "But we think as people and countries, not as a species."

In a world of greed and corruption, he may be on to something big. In other parts of the world, ahem, presidents are known for lavish, lengthy family vacations costing upwards of $8 million, in addition to the cost of reserving nearly 100 rooms (at several hundred dollars a pop) for Secret Service.

After reading stories about Mujica online, Elsa Lopez of Chandler, Arizona, said it best in the "comments" section. "Can we get this guy to rule the U.S.?" Lopez asks. In response, another reader replied more enthusiastically, saying, "Can we get this guy to rule the world?"


About the author:
A science enthusiast with a keen interest in health nutrition, Antonia has been intensely researching various dieting routines for several years now, weighing their highs and their lows, to bring readers the most interesting info and news in the field. While she is very excited about a high raw diet, she likes to keep a fair and balanced approach towards non-raw methods of food preparation as well.

Inconvenient Culinary Truth #12
From The American Vedic Association

 A series of 42 slides illustrating the relationship between our food choices and a healthy environment.

Warning! Soup Alert! You are Entering The Comfort Zone By Kurma Dasa                   C from Ohio USA writes: "Do you have a recipe for a barley vegetable soup?" My reply: "Not exactly. But I do have this one that has an assortment of dried beans, including barley. It's one of the first recipes I ever wrote and tested, way back in the late '80's. I also like to add a tiny handful of rice or risoni pasta towards the end of cooking, or some broken vermicelli. It's very adaptable. Add any vegetables you like. Sliced pepperoncini is nice. If I was having this now I would add a big handful of fresh basil leaves and drizzle some rich green extra virgin olive oil over the top. Oh, and gratings of my kosher parmesan. The photo above has fresh baby broadbeans as well. Where's that crusty bread?" Vegetable Soup This traditional homestyle soup is a nutritious meal in itself. The whole grains are rich in iron, B vitamins, and protein; the vegetables are rich in A and C vitamins. Serve the soup with bread and salad. Serves 4 - 6 persons. 1/4 cup kidney beans 1/4 cup yellow split peas 1/4 cup split mung beans 1/4 cup pearl barley 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, or olive oil 3/4 teaspoon yellow asafoetida powder 1 medium carrot, diced 1 medium celery stalk (with leaves), diced 1 medium potato, scrubbed and diced 1/2 medium turnip, diced 1 medium tomato, peeled and diced 2 litres/8 cups water 1/2 teaspoon mixed dried herbs, or fresh herbs of your choice 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 2 teaspoons salt 1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley, or any fresh herbs of choice Soak the beans, split peas and barley in water for minimum 4 hours, preferably overnight. Melt the butter in a 6-litre/quart saucepan over moderate heat. Add the asafoetida and fry momentarily. Add the carrots, celery, potatoes and turnips and saute for 5 minutes. Add the water, the drained pre-soaked beans, the herbs, and the pepper and bring to a boil. Simmer for at least 1 hour or until all ingredients are tender. Add the tomatoes, cook 15 minutes more, season with salt, pepper and parsley and serve in pre-warmed soup bowls.

Love that Laksa! By Kurma Dasa                 Frankie from Syracuse NY USA writes: "Hiya Kurma, I've been up all night reading your blog and website. Awesome stuff! I was wondering if you have a vegi laksa in your collection. I tasted a laksa the other day and it was aweful. I am sure you can do better. Love, Frankie." My reply: "Hello Frankie, thanks for your encouraging words! Yes I do have a laksa recipe. It's a magnificent one. There's a bit of work involved, but it's worth the effort. Here it is:                 Curried Malay Noodles (Laksa) Laksa is a taste sensation—a delicious one-pot soupy combination of mild, chili-hot, rich, aromatic and delicate flavours, and a tantalising combination of crunchy, soft and milky textures. There are many versions of laksa served throughout the Malaysian peninsula. This is my hearty vegetarian version. Serves 6-8 persons. The curry 1 cup liquid tamarind puree 1 cup stringless beans or snake beans cut 2.5cm lengths 400g fried small tofu pouches 1 tablespoon cumin seeds 1 tablespoon coriander seeds 5 or 6 large dried red chilies 3 tablespoons oil one 5cm cube fresh peeled ginger one 2.5cm cube fresh peeled galangal finely sliced white inner stems of 2 or 3 stalks of lemon grass 1½ teaspoons yellow asafetida powder 5-6 medium tomatoes, peeled and chopped 2 tablespoons Malay curry powder 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 2 cups potatoes, cubed 1½ cups carrots, sliced 2 cups rich vegetable stock 2-3 tablespoons palm sugar 2 teaspoons salt 4 cups coconut milk or coconut cream The noodles 1kg fresh rice noodles, or 350g dried rice vermicelli The garnish 2 cups bean sprouts 2 small seedless green cucumbers, unpeeled, cut into matchstick strips 1 small bunch laksa leaves (Vietnamese Mint) finely shredded coarsely ground black pepper lime or lemon wedges sambal oelek (optional) To prepare the curry: Place the beans and a little water in a small saucepan and steam the beans for 10 minutes or until tender. Drain and set the beans aside. Dry-roast the cumin seeds, coriander seeds and dried chilies in a small saucepan or non-stick frying pan over moderately low heat for 5 minutes or until fragrant and slightly dark. Place the spices in a spice mill or coffee grinder and grind them to a powder. Set the powder aside. Heat the oil in a large heavy-based saucepan over moderate heat. When hot, add the shredded ginger and galangal. Fry for 2 to 3 minutes or until opaque and fragrant. Add the sliced lemon grass, fry for another minute, or until fragrant. Sprinkle in the yellow asafetida powder, fry momentarily then add the tomatoes. Stirring occasionally, cook the tomatoes for 5 to 10 minutes, or until they are soft and broken down, and the oil is visible. Add the dry-roasted powdered spices, the curry powder, black pepper, potato, carrot and vegetable stock. Stir to combine. Cover with the lid, bring to the boil, reduce the heat, and simmer for 10 to 15minutes, or until the vegetables are tender. While the curry is cooking, cook the noodles briefly in lightly salted boiling water, or according to directions. Drain and keep hot. Add the tamarind puree to the simmering curry, then add the cooked beans, the sugar, salt, fried tofu, and the coconut milk. Allow the mixture to almost return to the boil, then remove the saucepan from the heat. To assemble the laksa: Scoop a large handful of hot noodles into each individual pre-warmed serving bowl. Ladle on the curry. Garnish with bean sprouts, cucumber, shredded laksa leaves, and black pepper. Serve with wedges of lime and optional sambal oelek.

Top 10 ways to Boost Energy Throughout the Day (Without Resorting to Caffeine or Sugar)

By: Carolanne Wright Natural News on Dec. 2, 2013

Photo Credits: www.freefever.com

Sunshine is one of the best energy boosters.

We seem to be suffering from an extreme energy crisis in the West, namely, day-to-day chronic fatigue. With fast-paced lifestyles, sometimes it appears that coffee and sugar are an absolute necessity just to get though the day. But there's hope. We can ditch the artificial stimulants and instead cultivate true vitality with a few easy (and free) methods.

Simple tips for more zest

Do you ever dream of having plenty of energy? The reality for most is that we drag ourselves around, collapsing into bed at the end of the day for a fitful night of poor sleep. If this scenario sounds familiar, have a look at the following recommendations. Adopting one or more might just help break the fatigue cycle once and for all.
Humor - Laughter really is the best medicine when it comes to boosting energy. Blood pressure and oxygen utilization are improved with a hearty belly laugh, which in turn perks up your day.
Gratitude - Upon waking, focus for a few minutes on all the good things in life. This positive infusion will start the day on the right foot and reduce fatigue-promoting stress.
Sunlight - While most of us tend to spend much of our lives under artificial lighting, 10 minutes or so of natural sunlight can make a world of difference in energy levels. Even sitting by a sunny window will help.
Warm up - When we are cold, the body takes this as a signal to sleep. If you are feeling chilly, throw on extra clothing or increase the heat.
Get moving - Exercise is one of the finest ways to avoid fatigue. Studies have shown that brisk movement in the morning maintains energy levels throughout the day - for up to nine hours.
Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/043095_boost_energy_chronic_fatigue_caffeine.html#ixzz2mK33SLZh

Paul McCartney tells Dalai Lama he’s wrong to eat meat

December 16, 2008, By Celebitchy

Paul McCartney has written a personal letter to His Holiness The Dalai Lama, the spiritual and political leader of Tibetan Buddhism, urging him not to eat meat. Buddhists believe in reincarnation and in compassion for all living beings. One of the five precepts of Buddhism is “do not kill,” which is explained “One must not deliberately kill any living creatures, either by committing the act oneself, instructing others to kill, or approving of or participating in act of killing.” Buddhism does allow for personal choice and exceptions when it comes to the precepts, and they are not set in stone, but many Buddhists interpret that precept as a call to vegetarianism.

The Dalai Lama, however, continues to eat meat at the insistence of his doctors. Paul McCartney told him that they’re wrong and he doesn’t need meat, which inevitably causes suffering:

SIR PAUL MCCARTNEY tried to turn the DALAI LAMA vegetarian, insisting the famed Buddhist was “wrong” to eat meat.
The Beatles legend wrote to the spiritual leader to point out that meat-eaters contribute to the suffering of animals, contradicting his statement that Buddhists “believe in not causing suffering to any sentient beings”.
And the Hey Jude hitmaker even disagreed when the Dalai Lama insisted he ate meat for health reasons.
In an interview with Prospect magazine, McCartney says, “I found out he was not a vegetarian, so I wrote to him saying ‘Forgive me for pointing this out, but if you eat animals then there is some suffering somewhere along the line’.
“He replied saying that his doctors had told him he needed it, so I wrote back saying they were wrong.”

Inconvenient Culinary Truth #11
From The American Vedic Association

 A series of 42 slides illustrating the relationship between our food choices and a healthy environment.

Inconvenient Culinary Truth #10
From The American Vedic Association

 A series of 42 slides illustrating the relationship between our food choices and a healthy environment.