My friend Teresa (who I blogged about yesterday) and I have this unique friendship. We only met at the end of last year and since then, we've exchanged various emails and gone out for coffee or lunch a few times. Our common passion. . .injustice. When we get together, she teaches me something new and I teach her something new and then we go out and spread the word. She tells her friends about my blog and I tell/blog about what I've discovered through her. At our meeting last week, she mentioned something about TOMS and glasses and so I did some hunting. Right now, it's only on the U.S. site, but I'm hoping that this will also come north as well.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
India on 20 Cents a Day
While having coffee with my friend Teresa last week, I talked about an article that was included in the Justice for the Poor study that I just finished teaching. I wanted to pass the information along to her, so I googled the article and found it. Thought you might 'enjoy' the read as well:
www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=registration.magazine&returnURL=action%3Dmagazine.article%26issue%3Dsoj0702%26article%3D070241a
www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=registration.magazine&returnURL=action%3Dmagazine.article%26issue%3Dsoj0702%26article%3D070241a
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Global Girlfriend
Even in the chaos of life, I try to hear what God is trying to tell me - sometimes He whispers and sometimes He shouts; sometimes I'm oblivious and sometimes I'm focused. I had a conversation the other day and if I hadn't been listening for this brief nano-second, I would have missed it. She mentioned a book called "Global Girlfriend" and that it had something to do with fair trade. I said I would check it out and life proceeded. . .until I went to google "Global Girlfriend".
I didn't just find a book - I found a website that literally had my name written all over it. All the things that I love the best right now - fair trade, micro-finance, Little Travellers, Freeset bags & t-shirts, Scared Mark soaps, and more - it was all there and I still can't really believe it!
I didn't just find a book - I found a website that literally had my name written all over it. All the things that I love the best right now - fair trade, micro-finance, Little Travellers, Freeset bags & t-shirts, Scared Mark soaps, and more - it was all there and I still can't really believe it!
Monday, June 27, 2011
Fair Trade
Though the last few weeks have been stressful as my time at Ten Thousand Villages finishes up, throughout the whole ordeal, I've realized just how near fair trade sits to my heart. I am disappointed to be leaving, but my passion to educate people about fair trade has not diminished one bit - perhaps the flame has even been fanned a bit! Head to some great Canadian fair trade websites, learn more about their products and share the information with someone before making the decision to shop fair trade wherever and whenever you can.
Camino: www.lasiembra.com/camino
Just Us! Coffee Roasters Co-op: www.justuscoffee.com
Level Ground Trading: www.levelground.com
Camino: www.lasiembra.com/camino
Just Us! Coffee Roasters Co-op: www.justuscoffee.com
Level Ground Trading: www.levelground.com
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Government Prayer Sunday
Today is National House of Prayer's 'Government Prayer Sunday'. Go to there website for more information: www.nhop.ca.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
In the Eye of the Beholder
It is said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I've been struck by the articles regarding a Winnipeg photographer over this past week. What do those 2 statements have to do with each other? - well, Tara Miller is a photographer who is legally blind. Check out the various articles as well as CNIB's (Canadian National Institute for the Blind) Eye Remember national photography competition - Tara is 1 of 5 finalists and the voting ends June 30: www.eyeremember.ca/Gallery.aspx. Also, check out more of her photographs at www.100acrewoodsphotography.com.
www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/blind-photographer-sees-beauty-in-life-124532944.html
www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/breakingnews/Blind-photographer-a-finalist-in-national-competition-124504669.html
www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/souwester/Award-nominee-is-picture-perfect--123851299.html
www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/blind-photographer-sees-beauty-in-life-124532944.html
www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/breakingnews/Blind-photographer-a-finalist-in-national-competition-124504669.html
www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/souwester/Award-nominee-is-picture-perfect--123851299.html
Friday, June 24, 2011
New Links
I hope that you occasionally check out the links I have on the sidebar. I continue to add to my lists as I find new websites that I want others to know about. If you have information that you think I'd think to know about, please post a comment or email me. Here are some of the newest additions:
World Relief: worldrelief.org
Polaris Project: www.polarisproject.org
Micah Challenge: micahchallenge.ca
Hagar International: www.hagarinternational.org
World Relief: worldrelief.org
Polaris Project: www.polarisproject.org
Micah Challenge: micahchallenge.ca
Hagar International: www.hagarinternational.org
Thursday, June 23, 2011
The A21 Campaign
Apparently I have a number of videos to share with you this week! Heard about the A21 Campaign from Sojourner's Magazine. Head to their website:
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
'What I Have Seen Must Bear Fruit'
The words are lacking. I'm a numbers person - they make more sense to me than letters. No matter how hard I try, the sentences I form feel inadequate to what I've experienced. And more than what I've experienced, how does it change me?
I love it when I read about other people's experiences and it resonates with me. That they are able to put some of my feelings into words that make sense. This was the case reading the Spring edition of Compassion Today. Lindsey Nobles wrote the article 'What I Have Seen Must Bear Fruit' and I want to share some of her thoughts:
"Still, months later [after her trip to Guatemala], I find myself having more questions than answers. How do I fish shoes out of my overflowing closet after seeing babies walk on trash barefoot? How do I discard leftovers after watching kids line up for whatever the Compassion centre is serving because it is a rare warm meal? How do I return to the abundant life I left, knowing the haunting truth of poverty? How do I continue to use the word 'need' so carelessly? And the game-changer: Now that I have SEEN, now that I KNOW, what am I going to DO about it?
"Because I don't want this trip to be savoured and then slowly forgotten like a 'life-changing' piece of pie. I want this trip to be a seed planted deep within my soul that with the proper care will bloom, grow and bear beautiful fruit. I want this trip to be a recognizable turning point in my life. I want this trip to be a recognizable turning point in my heart.
"So I have committed to three things:
1. I will go and see. I will not wait another 15 years to get out on the mission field. I will open my eyes, and my heart, to the need in my community and around the world.
2. I will do something. So often I lose sight of what I can do because I am so overwhelmed by all that I cannot do. I need to remember that I can make the difference in the life of one child, one family, one community.
3. I will say no so I can say yes. It seems there are so many wonderful causes, so many different people in need, but I believe that we have more traction when we are focused on the causes that we are truly passionate about. I plan on being intentional about how I spend my time and resources so that it has the most impact."
I love it when I read about other people's experiences and it resonates with me. That they are able to put some of my feelings into words that make sense. This was the case reading the Spring edition of Compassion Today. Lindsey Nobles wrote the article 'What I Have Seen Must Bear Fruit' and I want to share some of her thoughts:
"Still, months later [after her trip to Guatemala], I find myself having more questions than answers. How do I fish shoes out of my overflowing closet after seeing babies walk on trash barefoot? How do I discard leftovers after watching kids line up for whatever the Compassion centre is serving because it is a rare warm meal? How do I return to the abundant life I left, knowing the haunting truth of poverty? How do I continue to use the word 'need' so carelessly? And the game-changer: Now that I have SEEN, now that I KNOW, what am I going to DO about it?
"Because I don't want this trip to be savoured and then slowly forgotten like a 'life-changing' piece of pie. I want this trip to be a seed planted deep within my soul that with the proper care will bloom, grow and bear beautiful fruit. I want this trip to be a recognizable turning point in my life. I want this trip to be a recognizable turning point in my heart.
"So I have committed to three things:
1. I will go and see. I will not wait another 15 years to get out on the mission field. I will open my eyes, and my heart, to the need in my community and around the world.
2. I will do something. So often I lose sight of what I can do because I am so overwhelmed by all that I cannot do. I need to remember that I can make the difference in the life of one child, one family, one community.
3. I will say no so I can say yes. It seems there are so many wonderful causes, so many different people in need, but I believe that we have more traction when we are focused on the causes that we are truly passionate about. I plan on being intentional about how I spend my time and resources so that it has the most impact."
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Monday, June 20, 2011
Sunday, June 19, 2011
To be in the Driver's Seat
One of the things that I most miss when I travel is driving. Don't get me wrong, I'm not talking about driving for hours like my brother Lyndon and his semi - I'm talking about hitting the open road (which is not hard to do in southern Manitoba!). After my first big trip to Austria in 2003, after being gone for 6 weeks, I remember coming back, hopping into my car and saying over and over again how weird it was to be in the driver's seat again. Of course, being in the driver's seat took on another meaning after being in South Africa where, as a passenger I was in the driver's seat (according to road rules back home), but not driving!
Being a passenger in a car in Istanbul was an experience in itself. One of the other teachers described the city's traffic as frustrating as untangling Christmas lights. They had very few traffic lights, so you just drove - it was crazy! When I returned home, it was my car and the opportunity to drive that reminded me of the freedom and independence that I was missing while in Turkey.
So why in the world am I blogging about driving? Well, I guess it's a reminder that owning a car makes me part of a small percentage of people on the planet who are rich enough to have such luxury. As a woman, having a license should remind me that that is not the case for every woman in the world. Check out:
www.winnipegfreepress.com/world/saudi-women-demand-to-be-in-drivers-seat-124124234.html
Being a passenger in a car in Istanbul was an experience in itself. One of the other teachers described the city's traffic as frustrating as untangling Christmas lights. They had very few traffic lights, so you just drove - it was crazy! When I returned home, it was my car and the opportunity to drive that reminded me of the freedom and independence that I was missing while in Turkey.
So why in the world am I blogging about driving? Well, I guess it's a reminder that owning a car makes me part of a small percentage of people on the planet who are rich enough to have such luxury. As a woman, having a license should remind me that that is not the case for every woman in the world. Check out:
www.winnipegfreepress.com/world/saudi-women-demand-to-be-in-drivers-seat-124124234.html
Saturday, June 18, 2011
'It's about the people'
It's so strange, for a person who would rather remain invisible and go about her work, that I continually end up in the newspaper, having made the request to the newspaper myself! The current edition of The Morden Winkler Voice features an article about Fair Trade. The reporter actually came out about 2 weeks ago and it was only now that there was space to feature it. The timing is a bit off because I have given my notice to leave the position as of the end of June due to conflict of interest issues with the company of Ten Thousand Villages (not the local board, which I need to clarify). The article is on page 11: winklermordenvoice.ca/index.htm
Friday, June 17, 2011
Update on the Appeal in Ontario
I've been scouring the news this week, looking for updates on the appeal happening in Ontario regarding prostitution laws. For the most part, reports have been vague and short. Today's article sheds a little more light on the situation:
www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/prostitution-ruling-generates-polarizing-views-124057884.html
www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/prostitution-ruling-generates-polarizing-views-124057884.html
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