I really enjoyed this book, and will refer back to it constantly.
On the basis on being a people whose aim is justice, the author looks at different choices we make that affect others around the world. She devotes a chapter to a range of topics such as coffee, chocolate, clothes, food, gas and other things.
I really like the way she laid a foundation of why we should be pursuing this, but also enjoyed her reasonable approach, and caution that changes need to be applied a little at a time for it to be manageable and sustainable.
Each chapter ended with other resources such as movies, documentaries, books and websites that were related to the topic. I found this very helpful and used her suggestions a lot.
I believe any person who cares about others should read this book...it has changed my life!
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Black Gold
We watched this doco the other night. Was a good message but didn't flow as well as other documentaries that we have watched lately. Maybe because I have already read and seen a lot about this subject it wasn't such a surprise to me.
Nevertheless it is still important to get this story out and help show the FULL story. Our demand to have what we want cheaply is to the detriment of other peoples lives and wellbeing.
Aid is a pathetic band aid that has been shown as a generous and caring act but is nothing more than a way to appease the consciences of the Western world who need people in poverty to fuel their wants and support their extravagant lifestyle.
I am thankful for people who are fighting for fair trade and sustainable farming practices.
Every purchase counts -- vote with your wallets
Nevertheless it is still important to get this story out and help show the FULL story. Our demand to have what we want cheaply is to the detriment of other peoples lives and wellbeing.
Aid is a pathetic band aid that has been shown as a generous and caring act but is nothing more than a way to appease the consciences of the Western world who need people in poverty to fuel their wants and support their extravagant lifestyle.
I am thankful for people who are fighting for fair trade and sustainable farming practices.
Every purchase counts -- vote with your wallets
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
2009 world oil demand at 1982 levels
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Do we really need more stuff?
This video really hit home. Everyone's personal decisions will be different, but the power lies in our hands to help our fellow man. Maybe hard work has got us where we are today (you are reading this on a computer, so that means you are in the top 5-10% of the world's richest) but most of it has nothing to do with us, and a lot to do with where we were born! We can choose to be selfish, or we can choose to open up & be generous.
I recommend you get behind this cause...
I recommend you get behind this cause...
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Food Matters
We watched this documentary this afternoon. Interesting for me, especially since my Dad is a doctor. I am not all that sure about the vitamin supplements, will need to do a bit of research on that. But I do agree that we need to be eating more fresh, natural foods. Rather interesting to hear that cooking makes the food not a nutritious. We should be eating half cooked & half raw every meal. So tonight I made a vegetable frittata and then a raw carrot & cucumber each with a few glasses of water.
This journey is an interesting one... the weight is still not disappearing as good as I want. I think I need to start drinking more water.
Here is the trailer...
Friday, May 21, 2010
Do you Give a Bunch?
Especially for people in New Zealand...
This is from a group called Do you Give a Bunch?
The exciting thing to report is we hit our 100,000 bunches sold target! A huge thanks to everyone who supported us by buying a bunch – we love you!
Now it’s our mission to really show stores throughout the country just how much you all Give a Bunch about Fairtrade bananas! That’s why we’re asking people to sign our Give a Bunch pledge.
We’re very excited that one of the first people to sign our pledge was the wonderfully talented Songstress Kirsten Morrell! Kirsten is a passionate Fairtrade supporter and she is our new All Good Bananas ambassador. We’re really delighted she has taken the time to support us as she is in the middle of launching her debut solo album ULTRAVIOLET. She even popped in to the Food Show Wellington to help on our stand last weekend.
“Pledging to buy Fairtrade bananas instead of your normal bunch helps smaller farmers lift themselves out of poverty,” says Kirsten. “Fairtrade works but we need to use our power of choice for it to make a real difference.” she says.
Please follow suit and pledge your support for Fairtrade bananas. If we get 20,000 people to sign up to say they support Fairtrade ‘nanas – how can stores not sit up and take notice!
All you need to do is let us know where you shop and, if Fairtrade bananas are available, how many bunches you would buy a week. If they are not on sale in a store near you, we’ll use the pledge to petition your local store to stock them.
This is from a group called Do you Give a Bunch?
Now it’s our mission to really show stores throughout the country just how much you all Give a Bunch about Fairtrade bananas! That’s why we’re asking people to sign our Give a Bunch pledge.
We’re very excited that one of the first people to sign our pledge was the wonderfully talented Songstress Kirsten Morrell! Kirsten is a passionate Fairtrade supporter and she is our new All Good Bananas ambassador. We’re really delighted she has taken the time to support us as she is in the middle of launching her debut solo album ULTRAVIOLET. She even popped in to the Food Show Wellington to help on our stand last weekend.
“Pledging to buy Fairtrade bananas instead of your normal bunch helps smaller farmers lift themselves out of poverty,” says Kirsten. “Fairtrade works but we need to use our power of choice for it to make a real difference.” she says.
Please follow suit and pledge your support for Fairtrade bananas. If we get 20,000 people to sign up to say they support Fairtrade ‘nanas – how can stores not sit up and take notice!
All you need to do is let us know where you shop and, if Fairtrade bananas are available, how many bunches you would buy a week. If they are not on sale in a store near you, we’ll use the pledge to petition your local store to stock them.
Not just a statistic...
...her blood cries out to us from the ground -- "God awake us, God forgive us, shake us out of our callousness, shake us out of our sin."
In doing nothing, we are letting this continue, I want to be able to help somehow...
RuthEllen was here but the roofellin!: Food Glorious Food
From my personal blog
Reading...
You are Fat
Health
3 posts by Tall Skinny Kiwi (1 for each part of his name)
Watching...
Jamie Olivers Food Revolution & his TED speech
Food Inc (great documentary)
Thoughts...
Series of Choices (my personal health)
The vulnerable are unfortunately always exploited and abused. You will have heard of emotional, sexual & physical abuse, but what about food abuse??
From Oliver Twist' tasteless and insufficient tale of food, and now today's fatty, processed rubbish, children and adults are not getting a fair chance.
Today's problem is mainly through a lack of education. Knowledge is power, and ignorance keeps people in the dark & under control.
I want to be a part of the food revolution.
I want to get myself & family eating healthily, and exercising regularly.
I want to grow or buy seasonal fresh fruit & vegetables, and produce our own meat.
I want to help educate my community so they have the choice to do the same.
17 May 2010
Food Glorious Food
I love to cook and I love to have people over for dinner. Food is a huge part of culture & community. It seems that in the past few months I have been reading, watching and thinking a lot about food & our bodies. Here are some of the things that have really got me thinking. Click on the links-- its food for thought!Reading...
Health
3 posts by Tall Skinny Kiwi (1 for each part of his name)
Watching...
Jamie Olivers Food Revolution & his TED speech
Food Inc (great documentary)
Thoughts...
Series of Choices (my personal health)
The vulnerable are unfortunately always exploited and abused. You will have heard of emotional, sexual & physical abuse, but what about food abuse??
From Oliver Twist' tasteless and insufficient tale of food, and now today's fatty, processed rubbish, children and adults are not getting a fair chance.
Today's problem is mainly through a lack of education. Knowledge is power, and ignorance keeps people in the dark & under control.
I want to be a part of the food revolution.
I want to get myself & family eating healthily, and exercising regularly.
I want to grow or buy seasonal fresh fruit & vegetables, and produce our own meat.
I want to help educate my community so they have the choice to do the same.
Ruthpastor's ramblings: Social Justice
From my spiritual journal
May 6, 2010
Social Justice
A thought thread that has been running through my head for the past week or so is the idea of social justice. Quite a few things have contributed to this...
May 6, 2010
Social Justice
A thought thread that has been running through my head for the past week or so is the idea of social justice. Quite a few things have contributed to this...
Check out their website
The Cappuccino Club, sponsoring university students in the Philippines
Christian Enterprise in Kargarlyk, Ukraine (our neighboring town)
As I have read/watched each of these organisations I have to ask the question "What is required of me?" Like I said in my other blog I really want to strive to have my faith as the center of my life and action, not an appendage. The verse that comes to mind is Micah 6:8
As I have read/watched each of these organisations I have to ask the question "What is required of me?" Like I said in my other blog I really want to strive to have my faith as the center of my life and action, not an appendage. The verse that comes to mind is Micah 6:8
1. Walk humbly with God -- foundation to everything else
2. Love mercy -- my attitude to others
3. DO justly -- the action (especially to the foreigner, orphan, widows & poor)
I know God is working on me in this area...I think this is one of the latest papers that I have been enrolled in. I really need a lot of work in these 3 areas.
I was reminded again when watching "Faith Like Potatoes
" that my relationship with God is the foundation for anything else. It all spills from this.
I was also reminded the other day that my attitude needs to be "I have been forgiven much -- so I should forgive a LOT."
In regards to the 3rd one (which is no good unless the first 2 are in place) I was challenged by this...Are we in love with the idea of helping so much that it blinds us from helping?? Especially watch the 8-16 min mark in this video...
" that my relationship with God is the foundation for anything else. It all spills from this.I was also reminded the other day that my attitude needs to be "I have been forgiven much -- so I should forgive a LOT."
In regards to the 3rd one (which is no good unless the first 2 are in place) I was challenged by this...Are we in love with the idea of helping so much that it blinds us from helping?? Especially watch the 8-16 min mark in this video...
RuthEllen was here but the roofellin!: A series of choices
From my personal blog...
5 May 2010
A series of choices
I have started reading a book called "Everyday Justice
" which has sparked off for me a fire that was already getting ready to burn. I have been thinking a lot lately about my faith. And that I want my faith to be the core of my being & life not an appendage that is added on and useful sometimes. This book really addresses this issue in regards to our shopping and other lifestyle decsions. It talks about the impact our decisions have around the globe. It is easy to read and I thoroughly recommend it if you are serious about your faith affecting all the decisions in your life. In addition to this I have really been challenged about how I care for and look after my body. One of my pet hates all my life is people who pick holes in the obvious mistakes or sins, but either ignore or cover up the not so obvious (but just as sinister, if not more) faults or sins. Take for instance smoking and obesity. Very often you will hear people espousing their views on how bad smoking is, and that it is a vice, yet on the other hand overlook the just as drastic health problem of over-eating, gluttony and obesity. I used to be of the belief that 'oh well I have one life, one body, may as well make the most of it, use and abuse and enjoy, it will return to dust.' Just lately I have come to realize that if my faith is at the core of my being, then lifestyle choices such as healthy food and exercise decisions should also be governed by my beliefs. I need to demonstrate self-control and care for my body. It is the temple of the Holy Spirit and should be maintained. Check out these posts (1) (2) by "tall skinny kiwi" that have challenged me.
Life is a series of choices, and I want mine to add up to "Well done good & faithful servant."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)