Life in a Day

I stumbled over this a few days late. . .all shot July 24 (2010), this looks to be a really interesting film.

Check out more at:  lifeinaday-movie.com

Exhaustified!

I've just finished my first 2 weeks of nights at the woman's shelter and am in the process of moving over to a furnished basement in Winkler this weekend - I'm exhaustified!  I am looking forward to having later naps in the evening and dropping into bed closer to 8 a.m., having eliminated the 1/2 hour drive each way (because of my move).  If you're in the area, call or text my cell and we'll try to get together.

How He Loves by David Crowder Band

He is jealous for me,
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden,
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realise just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.

And oh, how He loves us so,
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us all.

Yeah, He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves.

We are His portion and He is our prize,
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,
If His grace is an ocean, we're all sinking.
So Heaven meets earth like a sloppy wet kiss,
And my heart turns violently inside of my chest,
I don't have time to maintain these regrets,
When I think about, the way:

that He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.

Point of View

I'm going to direct you to the Winnipeg Free Press P.O.V. (Point of View) page of photos of the Horn of Africa drought and famine. They are all amazing photographs, but the pictures by Rebecca Blackwell particularly stand out to me - they are so intimate.  The photo on my sidebar is also one of hers.  I urge you to click on the sidebar photo and link up to the Canadian Foodgrains Bank website (www.foodgrainsbank.ca) to make a donation today.  The need is urgent and immediate, and any amount - small or large - will make a difference.

Rebecca Blackwell/Associated Press

www.winnipegfreepress.com/multimedia/pov/Horn-of-Africa-drought-and-famine-125927828.html

Uneasy

When you have friends literally all over the world, it's hard to keep in touch.  Sometimes it's the time difference and sometimes it's the language (or the accent) that make contact difficult, even in our 'super-connected' world.  I especially value every single person I connected with as I journeyed in 2009.  Whether we met briefly for half an hour or spent many days together, each one taught me something special.  Words weigh so heavily for me and yet my own words lack so much when I even begin to try to convey what a difference they have each made in my life.

I emailed a few of them as of late and stated something to the effect that one of the hardest things to do after returning home from missions is to break out of the box/mold/expectations that people have of you, especially when that means making decisions that are not popular or logical or make sense (sometimes even to myself!).  My friend Tulio from Panama emailed me back and ended with this:

"I think when we are called to be a great thing
we are always restless and you're one of them.

live a life uneasy."

Make a Difference

www.jolica.com/ladawn.siemens

Everything by Lifehouse

Find Me Here
Speak To Me
I want to feel you
I need to hear you
You are the light
That's leading me
To the place where I find peace again.

You are the strength, that keeps me walking.
You are the hope, that keeps me trusting.
You are the light to my soul.
You are my purpose...you're everything.

How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?

You calm the storms, and you give me rest.
You hold me in your hands, you won't let me fall.
You steal my heart, and you take my breath away.
Would you take me in? Take me deeper now?

How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?
And how can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?

Cause you're all I want, You're all I need
You're everything, everything
You're all I want, You're all I need
You're everything, everything.
You're all I want, You're all I need
You're everything, everything
You're all I want, You're all I need
You're everything, everything.

And How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?
How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?

How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?

Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?

Top 10 Facts About Modern Slavery

Free the Slaves has an interactive slavery map at www.freetheslaves.net/SlaveryMap

They also list the top 10 facts about modern slavery:

1. Slavery:  forced to work without pay under threat of violence and unable to walk away
2. 27 million slaves in the world today
3. Slavery is not legal anywhere but happens everywhere
4. Each year, thousands of slaves are trafficked into the US
5. The majority of slaves can be found in India and in African countries
6. Slaves work in fields, brothels, homes, mines, restaurants - anywhere slave owners can feed their greed
7. Human trafficking is the modern-day slave trade
8. $90 is the average cost of a human slave around the world
9. Slave holders use many terms to avoid the word slavery:  debt bondage, bonded labor, attached labor, restavec, forced labor, indentured servitude, and human trafficking
10. We can end slavery in our lifetime.  Everyone has a role to play - government, business, international organizations, consumers, YOU

67 Minutes

This past Monday, July 18, Nelson Mandela marked his 93rd birthday.  "People around the world were asked to mark his birthday by giving 67 minutes of their time to work in their local community — one minute for every year of Mandela's public service."  (www.winnipegfreepress.com/world/breakingnews/125730393.html)

Even a few days belated (it's been a busy time of blogging as of late thanks to CNN!), I challenge you to find something you love to do that would serve your local community and bless others with 67 minutes (or more) of your time.  I plan to do the same, though I may have to be a bit creative with the night shift that I'm currently working (which is going pretty well, by the way!).

Anti-Slavery Voices Speak Out

The CNN Freedom Project had another great post on their blog yesterday.  Check out the videos - there are 3 parts to a panel discussion of different anti-slavery perspectives at:

thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com/2011/07/20

Free the Slaves

I found freetheslaves.net through The CNN Freedom Project and I would recommend that you check it out the website as well.  Also check out some of their video clips:

Slavery 101 [Film]:  www.freetheslaves.net/101

'Dream Die Hard' Film:  www.freetheslaves.net/learn

We Want Peace

"The worst people on earth are not only those who commit evil,

but those who stand by and turn a blind eye."

~Emmanuel Jal

www.we-want-peace.com

A Thing of the Past

As I've spent time catching up on The CNN Freedom Project:  Ending Modern-Day Slavery this past week, I've learned a lot.  The one thing was that, even though I feel out of the loop a lot, I was surprised by how many of the organizations and people interviewed I already knew about, which was exciting.  My knowledge has come through a lot of books and videos since returning home at the end of 2009 - this is not from years of study.  If Somaly Mam, Not for Sale/David Batstone, The Body Shop's sex trafficking campaign, Emmanuel Jal, International Justice Mission, The A21 Campaign, Nicholas Kristof/Half the Sky don't sound familiar, then check out the links on the right side of my blog and keep learning and connecting.

You can't combat human trafficking through the law alone - it's also about enforcement, which is a problem in countries where corruption rules.  And we can't just look to law enforcement - it goes back to awareness and education.  Learn more and then tell others about what you learn.  When we think of slavery, we think of people in chains, but today's slavery carries invisible chains, which makes it harder - though not impossible - to spot.

I also learned a lot specifically regarding business.  Hearing one interview about companys adopting core values which include things like 'if we send our employees out on business trips, they will not solicit a prostitute' are huge!  Examining supply chain information may take some extra leg work, but how much better will you feel about your purchases, knowing that they don't involve slave labor?  For me, that's also where my role in selling fair trade plays a part.  As consumers, our money votes and I think that it's time to truly be conscious consumers and understand how our purchases are connected to people all around the globe.

I know that The CNN Freedom Project continues and I'm sure that there will be a lot more to learn.  They have touched on the economics idea of Supply & Demand, but I want to take it one more step.  They highlighted the idea that as demand (for cheap food or prostitutes, etc) increases, supply must increase, which is where human trafficking comes in.  I believe that this is where we need to step up and acknowledge that "I am pushing that demand and I must decide to make other choices in order to honor people around the world".  This is not everyone else's problem - it's mine - and I need to live differently today so that slavery becomes a thing of the past.

The Fight to End Sex Trafficking

 

thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com/2011/06/24

International Justice Mission

 

thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/19

Business Zero-Tolerance for Trafficking

thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com/2011/04/20

Supply Chain Information

 

thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com/2011/04/05

5 Things to Know About Human Trafficking

Amanda Kloer is an editor from Change.org and lists 5 things you need to know about human trafficking for The CNN Freedom Project:

1. Human trafficking is slavery
2. It's happening where you live
3. It's happening to people just like you
4. Products you eat, wear, and use every day may have been made by human trafficking victims
5. We can stop human trafficking in our lifetime

For more details and explanation on each of these points, click here:
thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com/2011/03/15/5-things-to-know-about-human-trafficking

'Worst humanitarian disaster'

In the midst of all my CNN blogging, I came across a Winnipeg Free Press article about the severe drought affecting many African countries including Somalia. I was going to post something about it after this week, but seeing this picture this morning forced me to call attention to it today.

REBECCA BLACKWELL / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

"Two-year-old, Aden Salaad, looks up toward his mother, unseen, as she bathes him in a tub at a Doctors Without Borders hospital, where Aden is receiving treatment for malnutrition, in Dagahaley Camp, outside Dadaab, Kenya, Monday. UN refugee chief Antonio Guterres said Sunday that drought-ridden Somalia is the 'worst humanitarian disaster' in the world, after meeting with refugees who endured unspeakable hardship to reach the world's largest refugee camp in Dadaab, Kenya."

www.winnipegfreepress.com/world/children-dying-on-road-to-hope-in-huge-kenyan-refugee-camp-125399123.html

www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/un-calls-somalia-drought-refugee-crisis-worst-humanitarian-disaster-in-the-world.html

From Slave to Village Leader

thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com/2011/03/11

March 8

Ok, so this will be the week of The CNN Freedom Project:  Ending Modern-Day Slavery blogs.  I urge you to go back through their posts (the project was started this calendar year), but I want to highlight a few that stuck out to me.  Head to the postings on March 8 - there are a number of video clips and I think that they are all well worth viewing:

thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com/2011/03/08

'Women for sale'

See, I told you I'd probably be back to CNN's Freedom Project!  I started at the beginning of the year and this was a video I thought I must share.

Warning: You may have to pick your chin up off of the floor (at least I did!)

 

thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com/2011/02/18

If you don't think it happens here. . .

Short, but interesting article in the Winnipeg Free Press yesterday.  I post it especially for those people who don't think that this kind of stuff is happening here - in our own backyard.  Since the article was so short, I also read through the comments (which I usually don't do) and many people made many great points.  Now the question is - what are we going to do about it?

www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/Sex-workers-in-city-getting-younger-police-125224019.html

The CNN Freedom Project: Ending Modern-Day Slavery

I've just stumbled over CNN's Freedom Project to End Modern-Day Slavery, so I've got a bit of catching up to do because they have a ton of information on their site.  I'm sure that I'll be blogging about this more in the future.

CNN.com/Freedom

Dear Photograph

One of my morning rituals (during the week) is to check out 1000awesomethings.com and see what the newest awesome thing is on Neil's list (he's counting down and today was #206 - When someone returns your wallet).  Anyway, today Neil also linked to the blog Dear Photograph and so I went to check it out (dearphotograph.com) - see what you think.  Do you agree? - it's awesome!!

The Syd-ster

Wow - I don't think I've ever gotten as many comments on a blog as my blog the other day about Sydney!  I was in Winnipeg from Sunday to Tuesday, so when I got home yesterday, we spent some quality time together (more than anticipated because my shoulders got a little red from the sun).  If you go south from our yard, we have no neighbours for a full mile and as long it's been dry (it's a dirt road), it's a great place to explore.  Sydney was not the only one venturing into the ditch - she was in search of who knows what and I had my camera along.  It's hard to get a descent picture of her because she's ALWAYS on the move, but I think I did ok with this one. . .the Syd-ster!

Eye Knew She Could Do It!

Just a quick update on the CNIB Eye Remember Contest that I blogged about a little while ago.  Tara Miller, the legally blind photographer from Winnipeg, won the contest - congrats!

www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/breakingnews/Legally-blind-photographer-wins-CNIB-award-125042344.html

Bring Her Back Home

This summer looks be starting just like the last with Sydney disappearing on us for some adventure/misadventure.  She left on Wednesday and finally returned last night.  I was already in bed when I heard the barking and have never run so fast up the stairs.  You know in the movies, when people have been waiting to meet each other and everything is in slow motion? - well, it's not like that at all!  I whistled for her and she came running full-speed ahead.  So yes, sometimes God answers the prayers that sound most ridiculous - please keep my dog safe and bring her back home to me!

Oh Canada Open House

Celebrate Canada's 144th Birthday & the Launch of Jolica's New Catalogue

July 4 from 3 - 9 p.m.

308 - 43 Roslyn Road, Winnipeg
(east off Osborne St)

Buzz A. Hinds

all Garnet Pieces featured in the new catalogue will be 14.4% off

Jolica is a Fair Trade certified company, based in Canada

Quote-book

Last year I counted down the 100 days of summer by blogging facts about myself under the "Did You Know. . ." tab (by the way, if you haven't checked it out, you'll probably learn at least 1 new thing about me that you don't already know!).  #36 on the list reads:  "An awesome quote, a song with words that speak into my life (whether the song is new or an old favorite) and getting mail. . .all make my heart smile!"

My life has been lacking in the mail department (and that's not just because of the Canada Post strike) and I've blogged a number of song lyrics as of late, so I thought I would make a new tab of all my favorite quotes.  Check back throughout July & August to see my picks (I've been collecting quotes in my "Quote-book" for a number of years now).