Chocolate and Fair Trade (2 of the most important things in life)

This article about how green a blacks became the first chocolate to carry the fair trade logo is really interesting. I love chocolate, I am definitely an advocate for inclusivism  on this matter, black, white brown I DO NOT DISCRIMINATE!!! But seriously it is a problem in 3rd world countries and I am glad that some companies know what is important! http://fairtradeblog.tumblr.com/post/19948692086/the-story-behind-the-first-fairtrade-chocolate

Balinese traditional dances... Barong!

I've been looking at the traditional dances from around the world, particularly Indonesia and Asia. I found this one particularly interesting...

Barong is a character in the mythology of Bali. He is the king of the spirits, leader of the hosts of good, and enemy of Rangda in the mythological traditions of Bali. Banas Pati Rajah is the fourth “brother” or spirit child that accompanies a child throughout life. Banas Pati Rajah is the spirit which animates Barong. A protector spirit, he is often represented by a lion, and traditional performances of his struggles against Rangda are popular parts of Balinese culture. The Barong is often portrayed with two monkeys.

The animal/ mythical creature would dance along the street to the calonarang dance. A priest would throw Holy Water at it.

It is known as the Demon Queen and Mother of All Spirit Guarders.

The lion barong is one of five traditional Barong. In Bali each region of the island has its own protective spirit for its forests and lands. Each Barong for each region is modeled after a different animal. There is a boar, a tiger, a dragon (or serpent) and the traditional lion. The lion is the popular one as it comes from the Gianyar region where Ubud (the home of tourist viewed ritual) is located. Within the calonarang, the dance drama in which the Barong appears, the barong responds to Rangda’s use of magic to control and kill her to restore balance.

Check out this video on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpVwgQjjaO4 it's a good example of the sensory overload in these performances.

Thanks to http://www.carvedearth.com/barong for the info I have quoted here.

They do fight back...

Following on from yesterdays post "the rich get richer..." India is fighting back ... http://reut.rs/GAKE8T

Oh my (Hindu) God!

!http://bit.ly/wQeW1V

Beauty in the world...

Wow there are some things that really take my breath away... Look at the amazing detail on this Ganesha carving and try telling me that it isn't just a work of art!!!  http://bit.ly/wQeW1V

The rich get richer and the poor get poorer...

Why does it seem that this is always the way? Developing countries have made their wealth and progressed on the back of cheap labor and claiming ignorance to environmental issues and now countries that are trying to develop and improve their way of life are being prevented from doing so... http://bbc.in/yF5LZn