It is clear that our lives are defined by the space between the two camps of; firstly, our thoughts on our own actions; and secondly, by our fear of what other people might think. Never mind Shakespeare the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius pointed this out some two thousand years ago: “All is as thinking makes … Read more
Continuing up the now more sparsely vegetated valley, sweating under the clear blue sky, we could feel the mountain air glide gently over our skins, keeping us refreshingly dry as it did so. On our right, etched across the skyline, we could see the summit ridge and our target summit for the day. As we … Read more
Western religions do not generally have direct prohibition of social nudity as a core belief, such prohibition as there is has come about from custom and practice and from misunderstood interpretations of early teachings. Protestations against nudity have been made by a few of the religious hierarchy and sadly followed by the many. There is … Read more
I’m repeatedly amazed at the quizzical responses I get when I tell people that I, or my wife and I, just got back from a nude hike up a river trail to a distant peak. “Don’t the bugs get to you?” “Don’t your ‘privates’ get scratched by the brush?” “You must have one nasty sunburn!” … Read more
Next morning the warm rays of the sun poured onto the veranda as we sorted our gear – a light pack for the walk, and the rest for the postman to deliver to our next stop-over. Our first day began with easy walking over gentle grassy farmland.. Then a steady climb to the highest point of … Read more
Always staying dressed is a meme complex; it is learned behaviour as is naturism. Naturists would argue their behaviour provides significant benefit and is therefore good but its success as a meme complex is less clear. Although millions have tried and enjoyed some aspect of a naturist lifestyle, counter memes are very strong in their effect. … Read more
Education, is everything, sharing knowledge enables the people to resist control and more effectively utilize their lives for their own benefit, instead of merely as either paid or unpaid slaves. A question often asked throughout history by the ruling classes: what would the peasantry do when not gainfully employed. It was the custom in the 1800s … Read more
The bicycle, besides being one of the most environmentally friendly and healthy forms of personal transport, may also lay claim to having done much for the civil rights of women. In the late 1800s, when cycling became fashionable for middle-class European women of the period, it caused an outrage. Even when women were able to … Read more
The comradeship which comes from taking part in an event like the WNBR, fighting for a common cause, also seems to bring out the best in people. Many will also be helping with the presumably onerous task of putting body paint on each other, for instance.John O’Connell describes how one WNBR participant was at the … Read more
In times past there were protests against cynical technological improvements from the working population which were suppressed with immediate violence. Never forget that the people in power would be happy to do this today, and still do in some countries, to you and to me, except that they fear the power of visibility and answerability; … Read more
