Farm life

I haven’t always had the privilege of living on a farm and 2 weeks ago as I was leading the hens back to there coup, I was reflecting on how I felt about meat to how I feel about meat now and all I can say is that we eat a lot less meat. It makes a huge difference when your meat is right next door to you and sometimes pokes it head through the fence. Our process for killing these animals is probably the best that there is, the animal is separated from the rest and when it is calm and unaware is shot dead. This is done to ensure the quality of the meat is at its best, and out of respect for the animal, our hens are also free range and the difference in their eggs is a healthy, more nutritious egg.
Over all I am hugely grateful and respectful to have a piece of meat on my plate and always think of the sacrifice that was made so that I could have a piece of steak. Although this is my experience, many don’t know where there meat comes from and how it lived. I have come to believe this is very unhealthy, meat is taken for granted and consumed like there is no end. And the more demand there is for it, the more likely the conditions of getting that meat on your plate are at the expense of the animals well being and the environment. And let’s not forget the present swine flu which has brought many to the attention of the treatment of these pigs in Mexico, so I am convinced that if we treat these animals that die for our meals, with humane treatment and respect then we benefit as well having better quality produce and we potentially avoid an epidemic.
So where does your meat come from? do you know the conditions it live in? how often do you eat meat?
As a consumer what you want does matter. what would happen if everyone demanded produce that meant animals were treated with the proper care and respect.

What are you going to do about it?

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will i hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14

The Wrong Answer

Last month, Family planning released a statement that they would be applying for a license to provide the abortion drug mifegyne to clients of theirs. Mifegyne was approved in 2001 and is 2 pills which bring about miscarriage. It is now being made readily available almost to the point where you can do it in the privacy of your own home. It is fully backed by Groups such as the Women’s health action trust.
So why is this an issue?
For starters FP clients are predominantly young girls and if you’re under the age of 16 no parental consent is needed nor is any information disclosed.
What’s even more disturbing is when you get a pregnancy test and it’s positive, you routinely and firstly get asked if you want an abortion.

Young girls are sent mixed messages about their sexuality, in one way you are given the freedom to have sex because of our readily available supply of contraception, which is great and is needed, but then you have a culture where we have become over sexualized, and if you choose to have a baby at a young age, society then turns around and looks down on you.

I use to go to coffee groups with the girls from my ante- natal class, they place you in groups with people in your age group, and we were the young mums group. We were constantly aware of the amount of glances we received when out and about; people often can’t help but show their reactions. It seems people don’t like seeing the truth and young people are good examples of what the major influences are in society.

My concern is how we are offering women quick fix solutions for unwanted pregnancies and not actually addressing the root of the problem.
In terms of women’s movement, we haven’t gotten anywhere if it means to take a life to have a life, what kind of solution is that? And what about the psychological impacts that women face because of it.
The real issue lies in our socially constructed values, ideas and beliefs that permeate our society.
A recommended movie to watch is Revolutionary Road; it is a good example of the very thing that I have just mentioned.

A real life look into girls stories of pregnancy and abortion, very moving.
http://www.standupgirl.com/

Lastly this is my son, he is my reason for turning my life around

Just A Reminder

Fairtrade Fortnight is coming up, so do what you can in those 2 weeks. Raise as much awareness as possible.
Check out these retailers and cafe's that sell fair trade.
http://www.fta.org.au/locator - make it easy for people to know where and who to buy from, then there is no excuse.

Also visit Orphans Aid International's Trade me page, not only are you purchasing something, but helping out a child as well.
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Members/Listings.aspx?member=1121462

And last of all visit Oxfam's upcoming events, such as a camp for climate change, and the human rights film festival.

Raise the Bar - Dont drop the Standard

Sometimes in life we have to make decisions about what we do. My prayer for me and for readers of this forum is that our decisions reflect the words of Micah 6:8, that we decide to Act Justly, Love Mercy and Walk Humbly. If we realise out actions are out of line with this standard, lets change the action, rather than lower the standard.

Who knows what could happen if we managed to live closer to the call of this verse? We could change the world? Or at least part of it. Go on give it a go!

PS - Great effort by Amie and the team for the Trailwalk, i'm inspired. I'm thinking a sponsored Run, Bike, and Kayak across the South Island, next Feb, any good ideas of worthy projects?

We came, We Saw, We conqured. Thank You!

The Oxfam Trailwalker- in my books, a grueling experience! We completed 100km over 32 hours on 4/5 April in Taupo. Our team, through its highs and lows hobbled to the end with the support of a crew who supplied our every need. This walk, I labeled 'epic' by the end. Epic for many reasons. The physical demands on our un-athletic and inexperienced bodies and the sheer mental determination that edged us on was overwhelming (and still is). More over, Epic, in the way that this event went far beyond ourselves, it was the partnershpip we had with those all over the country who encouraged us, sponsored oxfams work, and thought of us over that weekend. I feel as though, I am just one in a team of over a few hundred who have journeyed through this experience with us. You, our team have raised over $5000 for Oxfams work. Priceless.
This is what happens when we are connected, when we simply give what we have, when our values override our financial concerns. Thankyou, keep going, we have work to do!

Organic Food vs. Junk food

I was standing in the organic section of the grocery store looking at what biscuits they had to offer to give as a treat to my son. On the one hand I was amazed at the expanding range that you could get, this to me shows a movement in better quality of produce, but on the other hand I was a little disappointed at how much you had to spend to get quality biscuits. For a former stay at home mum who use to be on the benefit and who is also a student, this is very unfair to have to pay that much so that my son can get to eat biscuits that are healthier and of organic produce. These biscuits were nearly 7 dollars, I also noticed that Scarborough Fair had a new chocolate out; it was organic, so had been put in that section and it was $6:95 dollars for a block.

As much as someone might want to do the right thing by buying products that are organic and fair trade, it becomes difficult when you have mouths to feed and so little money. The only alternative is to buy what’s cheaper and usually they are full of unnecessary things that just shouldn’t be in our food, where organic or made from natural doesn’t. It seems unfair that this is the option for most people, why should some children be given a better quality than others and as we step outside of our own Country, it just gets worse for children who don’t even have this option.


I brought the biscuits, and I will probably at some stage buy the fair trade organic chocolate too, why? Because it gives me peace of mind to know my son has the best choice in food and because I want to support Fair Trade and do what is right.

We're All in This Together

After a pretty average game of 10 pin bowls with the youth group tonight we ended up at McD’s for some pretty average food. As we left, I held the door open for a couple of guys, one of them starting singing “We’re all in this together”. I suspect the big red shield on my t-shirt was a giveaway to my connection with the Salvation Army and the guy must have seen our ads a few times.

As we drove home I thought about the song, and a couple of verses I read during the week, these verses always challenge me. Matthew 25, where Jesus describes the final judgement.
“35When I was hungry, you gave me something to eat, and when I was thirsty, you gave me something to drink. When I was a stranger, you welcomed me, 36and when I was naked, you gave me clothes to wear. When I was sick, you took care of me, and when I was in jail, you visited me."

While the world leaders try to solve the global crisis with cash injections, and trying to maintain systems which keep the poor poor, and the rich rich, I wonder what would be achieved if the same world leaders took the words that Jesus spoke into account, and realised we are all in this together. I wonder what they would do if they spent some time together with those most in need.

And then I thought I cant control the world leaders and what they do, and a scary thought crossed my mind, when I wake up tomorrow, what will my actions say, how will what I do show those around me that we’re all in this together?

Somehow I suspect wearing the t-shirt isn’t enough.

Question: What can you and I do to show the world that we’re all in this together? What can we do to help feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, and stand up for those who others don’t?