Happy Soul Food Friday,
This week:
Jane Goodall’s Plea for Future Generations:
“Economic growth, as we have traditionally defined it, can no longer be our guiding star,” wrote Jane Goodall.
Jane Goodall’s Plea for Future Generations | TIME
Plants can communicate and respond to touch. Does that mean they’re intelligent?
Climate journalist Zoë Schlanger says research suggests that plants are indeed “intelligent” in complex ways that challenge our understanding of agency and consciousness.
Zoë Schlanger makes the case for plant intelligence in ‘The Light Eaters’ : NPR
Plants at western New York park form ‘secret symphony’ through bioelectrical signals:
Plants at western New York park form ‘secret symphony’ through bioelectrical signals : NPR
Listening to music most days could guard against dementia, study suggests:
A new study finds that regularly listening to music or playing a musical instrument may help older adults protect against cognitive decline.
Listening to music is linked to lower dementia risk, study suggests – The Washington Post
If You are Local-
“What if economics didn’t start with money but with human wellbeing”?
Join us as we Developing the SD County Doughnut on Dec 4th:
Fellow travelers committed to making a difference in San Diego and caring about creating a socially just and environmentally sustainable community where everyone can thrive.
Inspired by the game-changing book by Kate Raworth ‘Doughnut Economics: ‘7 Ways to Think Like a 21st Century Economist’ and with the partnership of CALDEC (California Doughnut Economics Coalition) and this global movement, we are growing San Diego County into a Doughnut Economics Community.
We are hosting our next SD County Doughnut Economics Alliance event on Thurs, Dec. 4, 2025, and we’d love for you to join us.
We will also be collecting non-perishable food items to donate to local food banks in the region. Dress in your festive holiday attire if you are ready to get into the holiday spirit:)
Dec. 4 Event Registration Link (Free): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/diving-into-the-dough-new-doughnut-30-monitors-troubling-global-trends-tickets-1967485757865?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl
Please pay it forward with kindness for all sentient beings!
Love,
Neville
Linked-In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nevillebillimoria
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nbillimoria
“The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.”
Dear UC community, I know that many of you are closely following the federal administration’s actions against UCLA — including the suspension of critical research funding this summer and a demand that the university pay the federal government over $1 billion. Today, the LA Times published a story summarizing some of the administration’s demands. As we consider the unprecedented action against UCLA, it is important to keep in mind that the federal government is also pursuing investigations and actions in various stages against all 10 UC campuses. So, while we are first focused on the direct-action involving UCLA, we must also consider the implications of expanded federal action. This represents one of the gravest threats to the University of California in our 157-year history. Losses of significant research and other federal funding would devastate UC and inflict real, long-term harm on our students, our faculty and staff, our patients, and all Californians. It would also end life-saving research from which all Americans benefit. Let me provide a little more context about what’s at stake. The University of California receives more than $17 billion each year in federal support. That includes $9.9 billion in Medicare and Medicaid funding, $5.7 billion for research and program support, and $1.7 billion in student financial aid. The funds at risk support the doctors and nurses who care for millions of Californians each year, the researchers working to find new cures and make important technological discoveries, and the financial aid that keeps UC accessible for students of all backgrounds. A substantial loss of this federal funding would be devastating for our mission and for the people who depend on us most. It will mean fewer classes and student services, reduced access to health care, tens of thousands of lost jobs across the state, and an exodus of world-class faculty and researchers to other states or countries. Many of our campuses have already experienced layoffs and other negative impacts in recent months because of cuts to federal research funding and other financial pressures. But this is minor in comparison to the threat that looms. As the state’s second-largest employer, with a presence in every county in California, these reductions would have a detrimental ripple effect across the entire state economy. The work happening across UC saves lives, drives economic growth and creates opportunity for families in every community. Far too many people depend on us for the University to retreat from its mission. We must do all we can to avoid the harmful possibilities I’ve outlined. That’s why we are working with elected officials in Sacramento and Washington, D.C., to evaluate every option to resolve this conflict to continue serving communities across the state. The University of California has weathered many challenges since its founding. We will do so again — but it will undoubtedly be a difficult process for our community. The fact is that we are in uncharted waters. Our top priority now is protecting this institution — its resources, its mission and its values — for the sake of everyone we serve. I ask all of you to come together as a community — in support of our students, our patients and one another — as we navigate what lies ahead. It will take all of us working together to protect UC, the greatest public university in the nation. With deep gratitude, James B. Milliken
Happy Soul Food Friday! 