Whats in a song? A lot

Thanks to a Lieutenant I picked up on the very moving and deep words and meanings in the song by Linkin park- What Ive done. Incredible. THe video also gives real context- He seems to be talkign about our world, the state of it, environmental damage, war, injustice... and then reflecting on whose responsibility it all is... What IVE done.

In this farewell,
There?s no blood,
There?s no alibi.
?Cause I?ve drawn regret,
From the truth,
Of a thousand lies.

So let mercy come,
And wash away

I?ll face myself,
To cross out what I?ve become.
Erase myself,
And let go of what I?ve done.

Put to rest,
What you thought of me.
While I clean this slate,
With the hands,
Of uncertainty.

So let mercy come,
And wash away?

What I?ve Done.
I?ll face myself,
To cross out what I?ve become.
Erase myself,
And let go of what I?ve done.

For What I?ve Done

I'll start again,
And whatever pain may come.
Today this ends,
I?m forgiving what I?ve done.

I?ll face myself,
To cross out what I?ve become.
Erase myself,
And let go of what I?ve done.
What I?ve done.

Doing it together

Ripper website.. on to it eh? here is a climate change website for New Zealand... my challenge to you, jump on and choose one thing you can change in your lifestyle.

Prevention is cheaper than the cure. Taking no action to address climate change will be much more expensive than the costs of any actions we might be considering. Taking action now is like taking out an insurance policy for the future." - Hon David Parker, Minister Responsible for Climate Change Issues.

now thats wisdom. what do you guys think about our role in climate change...? go for it or rubbish the claims?

check it out

Making AIDS history

The fight to make poverty history continues. With the buy in from celebrities and President Bush, Uganda are making huge dents in the statistics of AIDS amoung adults. 10 years ago as much as 15% of the adult population had AIDS, today the percentage is down to 5.

This is great news and credit is due to Citizens of Uganda, volunteers and campaigners like Bono.

Read about this here

ALSO! its world day to overcome extreme poverty on the 17th October. You can sign a peition, use the info and resources to shout it out in your school, workplace, home, flat, youth group etc. You can raise money, choose to sacrifice something in order to live more simply and give more to those who need it. There is heaps of ways we can OVERCOME EXPREME POVERTY. Be a part of the change... this world needs you.

Find out more here
We've still got a long way to go.

Chickens

In the newspaper today in New Zealand, a cause i am passionate about (one that holted my eating of chickens) has hit the news again. A group of animal welfare activists released birds from their cruel conditions into wide open, green spaces. Though their efforts are illegal, this group continue to expose the farmers and free birds (often chickens). A thought struck me. This group have had sucess in bring prosecution to companies who are ill-treating the animals which is a fantastic outcome.

But i have a question: Can we justify the activists actions (of breaking the law) with the fact that farmers actions are much worse (unethical and cruel)?

Should we find another way of protest?

Point to ponder...

Speaking of protests

(picture found at www.time.com)

A peaceful but daring march was undertaken by monks , nuns and the people of Burma. After years under military dictatorship the march is on for change. Quietly challenging the regime, that killed hundreds last time they marched, the people want change.

Unfortunatly only hours ago, violence between police and protesters began, "They are not humans. We were praying peacefully and they beat us. They beat the monks, even the old ones." An 80-year-old monk stood with the student, bleeding from a baton gash on his shaven head.

Police have locked down parts of the city, and are using tear gas and other weapons to deter peaceful protest.

How do i support the people of burma?

Sign the petition to support the citizens of Burma, in asking the president of China, to not display violence in reaction to the protests and to listen to the people.

Go here to sign your support

Protest

Very often people object that nonviolence seems to imply passive acceptance of injustice and evil and therefore that it is a kind of cooperation with evil. Not at all. The genuine concept of nonviolence implies not only active and effective resistance to evil but in fact a more effective resistance... But the resistance which is taught in the Gospel is aimed not at the evil-doer but at evil in its source.

- Thomas Merton
from Passion For Peace

Sweatshops

Sweat shops in Australia?? surely not?! but this article on ACTNOW.co.au, explains some shocking truths.

47% of outworkers work more than 12 hours a day.
73% of outworkers have one or more chronic injuries.
75% of clothing companies have most of their clothes made by outworkers.

Outworkers are mainly first generation migrant women who cant speak english well and are unaware of
laws surrounding employment. There are laws in Australia to prevent This type of labour, however this article
suggests those laws are hard to enforce.

Things are starting to turn around with public awareness and thus, pressure. Also the introduction of codes of practices
are sending a message to manufactures.

For more on this see the article (at the bottom are a list of references for more reading)