60 Earth Hour

On the 28th March from 8.30pm to 9.30pm, Auckland City Council will be joining millions around the world in an attempt to make a statement against global warming. For an hour you switch off your lights and in doing so make that choice to vote for earth. Leaving your lights on during this time is a vote for global warming.

Information gathered from the hour will be presented to world leaders at the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen 2009.

Every household counts, so make that change.

http://www.earthhour.org/

http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/auckland/environment/earthhour/

Here are some ideas for things to do during this time:
Having a candle lit dinner for two or for one, hanging out with a group of friends and telling stories, reading with a torch or candles, or playing games like hide and seek in the dark.
It's an opportunity to get creative.

www.dontcorruptaid.org.nz is a campaign to keep New Zealand’s international aid focussed on addressing poverty

This week our new goverment is showing its colours in regard to the direction its likley to take over NZ Aid. NZ Aid is respected around the world, and seen as one of the better models. Whats being proposed is alarming to say the least, and we need to make every effort we can to keep NZ Aid the way it is.

www.dontcorruptaid.org.nz is a campaign to keep New Zealand’s international aid focussed on addressing poverty and not being a polictical football. Heaps of great resources and info on the site.

Cadbury Plans to go Fair trade

So i found a very exciting news article in the NZ herald Yesterday. Titled 'Cadbury's to cut the guilt form Chocolate'. This only really means one thing, Cadbury are going ethical! As i kept reading, my heart sank slightly because It sounds like this is still a british thing, and Australia and New Zealand are 'also looking into going fair trade'. Feel the sink? But This is hope, and is proof of peoples hearts changing, and big compainies thinking beyond the bottom line. Now We can hope and call Cadbuy Australia and NZ to follow suit.

Be Fair

A couple of months back, I was having a discussion in class about marginalised people's standards of living, when you should intervene and when to back off and the subject turned to globally. A woman sitting behind me clearly stated that she had no interest about what goes on oversees. It had nothing to do with her and she did not care what was going on. As I had previously done a presentation on human trafficking and unfair trade practices between Countries, this woman and many others were well aware of such issues oversees. As fired up as I got and as quick as I was to respond, her blunt honesty was one that spoke truth. Although many may not admit it, they simply don't care. Are we that desensitised to it all. Is it because caring means change, removing comfort and thinking about someone else first. Does it mean shopping consciously and not buying something because it's cheaper. One of the many examples of this which I've heard is "It's to expensive."

Whatever the reason is for our lack of action and change. I think that raw honesty is what's needed. The truth, being totally honest moves us to question why it is that we don't care, why aren't I making that change. What is it about me that stops me from paying a bit more so that others may live well.

It reminds me of William Booth's encounter, while he was preaching his message of total obedience. There were those in amongst the crowd who would cry "The cost is too high, the sacrifice is too great!"

This is the same issue that remains today.

P.S. The woman that made that statement in class also has a son the same age as my son, I wonder if her opinion has changed based on the terrible events last year of tainted baby formula

The right to love

Hello bloggers.

I'm new here, but am very familiar with social justice issues.
My name is Jess and I am looking forward to connecting with you all.

So I'd like to start with a question.
Do you have the right to be loved?

I hope that you all answered yes. Love is one of the basic rights that we have as a human, without it, we simply would not grow and develop into a healthy person. Each person deserves the basic necessities of life, but for many, as you all are aware of to some degree, simply isn't a reality.
It was nearly five years ago that I first remember seeing footage of a hospital in Romania where cameras had been snuck in, what lay inside totally changed my perception on human suffering. Inside this hospital were rows and rows of babies and toddlers confined to these cots with no more attention than a very brief check by the few nurses that they had to care for these babies. They were often left hours in their own faeces barely getting enough milk or food. Day after day they lay on their backs looking out from the bars of their cots, waiting for someone to come and pick them up, pay them some attention. The outcome of this is perfectly healthy born babies becoming crippled for life, their limbs twisted from spending hours without any stimulation, their minds never having developed, not knowing how to act or how to respond to another human,so they bang their heads against the wall and rock from side to side, the only thing they can do.
So I sat their and hoped that everyone watching felt the same anguish and guilt that I felt, so much so that we would be willing to give up all that we had to see this injustice brought to it's knees.
Then I discovered Orphans Aid International late last year, ordinary people working towards better outcomes for Orphans. They are examples that anyone can make a difference.

Their is hope, all that is needed is people who care enough.
Check out their website and definitely look at their trade me page.

Hope to make a difference.

The simple things in life .....

Recently I took part on a journey from the Mountains to the Sea, about 300km of hiking, biking, rafting and canoeing. As the trip progressed the comforts of home diminished. No running water, no toilet door, hmmm for a lot of the trip we didn’t even have a toilet, so had to dig a hole in the ground, food was cooked over camp stoves, cell phone coverage was minimal at best, I couldn’t even check my emails. One night I even lacked shelter as the rain come down, and my new bivy bag proved its was much better at capturing water than keeping it out!

Despite the lack of what is normal, it was a great trip. Over the days simple things became more and more like a treat. Bevan’s bag of lollies at the leaders meetings, dry toilet paper, a jam sandwich while floating down a river etc....

It got me thinking, how much of what I have do i really need? The answer is a bit scary, as I have a lot more than I need to live. I guess the long term challenge is to try to live life more simply, with less stuff. In doing so I will be able to appreciate the little things more.

Happy New year - Bring it on 2009.

We are all back at work/school/and doing life by now... I am sitting at my desk and looking at a quote by Willie Booth:

Your days at the most cannot be very long. So use them to the best of your ability for the glory of God and the benifit of your generation."

On Waitangi weekend City lights is having a 3-day gathering - worship/fellowship and serving the community- a great way kick of the year.

Please share with us on here what your up to this year- what stuff you are doing, thoughts your having, questions you ponder. We really invite you into this discussion...

Hope has Come, we are agents!