".....It's the story of the human race and God's unfailing presence. ...." "This fascinating account of humankind, from our beginnings in Africa seven million years ago to the present, blends history, anthropology, and spirituality to demonstrate that god has been and always will be with us. ...[from back cover]
In a rapidly evolving world, where ancient traditions and cultural knowledge are increasingly at risk of being forgotten, GRACE: Timekeepers of Ancient Cultural Legacy takes readers on an extraordinary journey through the efforts to safeguard humanity's most precious heritage. Born from the visionary minds behind the Advocacy Unified Network (AUN) and headquartered in Santipur, West Bengal, GRACE (Global Repository for Ancient Cultural Endeavours) stands as a beacon of hope in the realm of cultural preservation. This groundbreaking initiative, originally conceived in The Hague, Netherlands, aims to protect and promote ancient cultural traditions, artifacts, and knowledge systems for future generations. This book delves deep into the critical importance of preserving ancient cultural heritage in the face of mounting global challenges such as urbanization, climate change, and conflicts. From exploring the profound threats that jeopardize historical sites and traditional practices to highlighting the latest technologies, including AI-driven tools, 3D scanning, and virtual reality, GRACE: Timekeepers of Ancient Cultural Legacy presents a comprehensive and innovative approach to cultural preservation. Through a richly woven narrative, the book unpacks GRACE's founding mission, its strategic global presence, and its commitment to interdisciplinary research and education initiatives. Readers will discover how GRACE collaborates with governments, NGOs, cultural institutions, and local communities across the world to champion the cause of heritage protection. From digital archiving methods to successful case studies of community-led preservation projects, the book offers inspiring examples of how ancient legacies are being preserved with a forward-thinking approach. The book also sheds light on GRACE's role in shaping international cultural policies, lobbying efforts, and public awareness campaigns. With an emphasis on global collaboration, GRACE showcases the successes and challenges faced in building an interconnected, international network of cultural advocates. It addresses ethical questions about cultural ownership, intellectual property rights, and the restitution of artifacts while offering solutions to the delicate balance between cultural preservation and autonomy. Authored by a dedicated young team under the mentorship of global cultural experts, this book serves as a testament to their commitment and passion for preserving the legacies of the past. Dr. Rajendran Govender from Durban, South Africa, plays a pivotal role in guiding GRACE, sharing his vast experience to mentor the organization as it grows into the global force it was dreamt to be. At its core, GRACE: Timekeepers of Ancient Cultural Legacy is more than a call to action—it is a compelling vision for the future of cultural preservation. It challenges readers to rethink the ways in which heritage can be safeguarded, not only through traditional means but through the lens of modern technology and global cooperation. As GRACE continues to evolve, this book invites the world to take part in the mission to protect and celebrate humanity's shared cultural treasures. Perfect for global readers, cultural enthusiasts, historians, policymakers, and advocates, this book is a must-read for anyone invested in the future of cultural preservation. With a blend of intellectual rigor, inspiring stories, and practical solutions, GRACE: Timekeepers of Ancient Cultural Legacy positions itself as a crucial resource for those looking to make an impact in protecting the rich diversity of ancient cultures across the world.
"A superior exploration of the consequences of the hollowing out of our agricultural heartlands."—Kirkus Reviews In the tradition of Wendell Berry, a young writer wrestles with what we owe the places we’ve left behind. In the tiny farm town of Emmett, Idaho, there are two kinds of people: those who leave and those who stay. Those who leave go in search of greener pastures, better jobs, and college. Those who stay are left to contend with thinning communities, punishing government farm policy, and environmental decay. Grace Olmstead, now a journalist in Washington, DC, is one who left, and in Uprooted, she examines the heartbreaking consequences of uprooting—for Emmett, and for the greater heartland America. Part memoir, part journalistic investigation, Uprooted wrestles with the questions of what we owe the places we come from and what we are willing to sacrifice for profit and progress. As part of her own quest to decide whether or not to return to her roots, Olmstead revisits the stories of those who, like her great-grandparents and grandparents, made Emmett a strong community and her childhood idyllic. She looks at the stark realities of farming life today, identifying the government policies and big agriculture practices that make it almost impossible for such towns to survive. And she explores the ranks of Emmett’s newcomers and what growth means for the area’s farming tradition. Avoiding both sentimental devotion to the past and blind faith in progress, Olmstead uncovers ways modern life attacks all of our roots, both metaphorical and literal. She brings readers face to face with the damage and brain drain left in the wake of our pursuit of self-improvement, economic opportunity, and so-called growth. Ultimately, she comes to an uneasy conclusion for herself: one can cultivate habits and practices that promote rootedness wherever one may be, but: some things, once lost, cannot be recovered.
A work on Chinese concepts of the afterlife. It explores how Chinese authors, including Daoists and non-Buddhists, received and deployed ideas about rebirth from the third to the sixth centuries CE. In tracing the antecedents of these scriptures, it presents non-Buddhist accounts that provide detail on the realms of the dead.
“Disability rights activist Alice Wong brings tough conversations to the forefront of society with this anthology. It sheds light on the experience of life as an individual with disabilities, as told by none other than authors with these life experiences. It's an eye-opening collection that readers will revisit time and time again.” —Chicago Tribune One in five people in the United States lives with a disability. Some disabilities are visible, others less apparent—but all are underrepresented in media and popular culture. Activist Alice Wong brings together this urgent, galvanizing collection of contemporary essays by disabled people, just in time for the thirtieth anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, From Harriet McBryde Johnson’s account of her debate with Peter Singer over her own personhood to original pieces by authors like Keah Brown and Haben Girma; from blog posts, manifestos, and eulogies to Congressional testimonies, and beyond: this anthology gives a glimpse into the rich complexity of the disabled experience, highlighting the passions, talents, and everyday lives of this community. It invites readers to question their own understandings. It celebrates and documents disability culture in the now. It looks to the future and the past with hope and love.
For Mongols, sharing food is more than just eating meals. Through a process of “opening” and “closing”, on a daily basis or at events, in the family circle or with visitors, sharing food guarantees the proper order of social relations. It also ensures the course of the seasons and the cycle of human life. Through food sharing, humans thus invite happiness to their families and herds. Sandrine Ruhlmann has lived long months, since 2000, in the Mongolian steppe and in the city. She describes and analyzes in detail the contemporary food system and recognizes intertwined ideas and values inherited from shamanism, Buddhism and communist ideology. Through meat-on-the-bone, creamy milk skin, dumplings or sole-shaped cakes, she highlights a whole way of thinking and living.
‘Eastern spirituality, paganism, Spiritualism, Theosophy, alternative science and medicine, popular psychology’ and ‘a range of beliefs emanating out of a general interest in the paranormal’ are the marks of today’s ‘new spiritual awakening’. Add the presence and practice of sizeable numbers of people pursuing some of the other Great Religions of the World, not the other side of the world but on our own doorstep, coupled with a scientific revolution quietly broadening our perspectives, and it is not surprising if many feel disoriented and confused. It is, however, not the first time we have had to face the prospect of a spiritual re-alignment on such a seismic scale. Something similar was going on in the time of the prophet Ezekiel, who had the insight and the courage to reshape his people’s beliefs in a way that not only served their needs at the time, but bequeathed a challenge to the world ever since. This book is addressed to those who feel themselves to be similarly stranded between two worlds: the familiar, but seemingly untenable one they grew up with, and the unfamiliar, but possibly more responsible one, where they can rediscover God as both credible and attractive.