The CNN Freedom Project: Free the Slaves

 

thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com

When?

My DVD copy of "The Dark Side of Chocolate" finally arrived and I am urging you to support Not For Sale by purchasing your own copy (donation of $10 is requested) and understanding the issues for yourself.  Many things went through my mind as I watched big chocolate companies and government officials negate and ignore the issue of child trafficking and slavery, all for the sake of their bottom line and their own interests.  But the question that resonates the most is:

When did it become ok to SELL CHILDREN for the sake of OUR OWN INDULGENCE so we can have chocolate - something that these kids will probably never even taste?  When???

nfs.webconnex.com/darkside

Human

I was on Romeo Dallaire's website (www.romeodallaire.com) and wanted to share 2 quotes from it:

"Go now to make a difference in this perilous and broken world.

May you all hold each human life in the same regard as your own.

May you bring serenity and peace to the lives of others.

May God's Loving Spirit go with you and guide you this day and always.

Amen."

~ Convocation Benediction Given by The Rev. Brian Yealland,

Queen's University, 30 October 2003

"ARE ALL HUMANS HUMAN?

OR. . .ARE SOME HUMANS MORE HUMAN THAN OTHERS"

First Day Jitters

You can feel it in the air. . .it's almost like Christmas Eve. . .the anticipation, the excitement. . .the night before school begins.  As I biked to work late last night and passed house after house, I imagined the new outfits, all laid out for the big day (it might be the only day of the year this happens!).  I'm sure that lunches were packed, waiting for the school year to start (again, probably the only day of the year this happens yet too!).  Some type of bag sits in the corner or on a stool with newly sharpened pencils and a clean eraser, anticipating what this year holds.  Yep, you can feel those first day jitters rising in the air. . .I just wonder if all the students are experiencing the same feelings!

(FYI - Teachers may be more nervous and excited for today than their students - I know I always was!)

Your Beloved ~ By the Tree

Lord it was you ~ You created the heavens ~ Lord it was your hands ~ That put the stars in their place ~ Lord it was your voice ~ That commands the morning ~ Cause even oceans & their waves bow at your feet ~ Oh God

Lord who am I ~ Compared to your glory

Lord who am I ~ Compared to your majesty

Cause I'm your beloved ~ Your creation ~ And you love me as I am ~ You call me chosen ~ For your kingdom ~ Unashamed to call me your own ~ Cause I'm your beloved

"My beloved is mine and I am his"

~Song of Songs 2:16

Falling Back into School

I don't know if there's been a change in weather where you are, but it has certainly felt like fall around here this weekend (until today at least!).  We've had the most amazing summer with little precipitation (not great for farmers, but wonderful for the fact that mosquitoes have been almost non-existent in these parts!).  But I guess that the change in weather is good timing as people are heading back to school this week.  For those of you who are excited or miserable, ready or not, the school year begins again and I wish you all the best!

New Heroes

The Whistleblower (that I blogged about a while ago) is playing in Winnipeg for a limited time and I URGE you to check it out.  I don't know that I've ever gotten madder as a movie played - my blood boiled by the end of this movie.  I don't want to give away too much, but while in Bosnia as part of the UN, Kathryn Bolkovac discovered human trafficking in the country.  And if that wasn't bad enough, other police, UN personnel, and diplomats were directly tied into the trafficking by accepting bribes from traffickers trying to avoid jail and/or were literally bringing girls across the border (simply because of their powerful status - no questions were asked).

Kathy is my new hero (as is Larysa Kondracki, the Canadian-born director of the film). . .we need more people like her, working for good.  People who don't use their power to tower over others, but rather use their influence to pull people up from injustice.  People who can't be bought, but rather embrace humanity, no matter the cost.

It's not an easy movie to watch but it's such an important movie, especially in the fight against human trafficking that we face around the world today.

Showtimes (Grant Park):

September 4 & 5:  1:10, 4:20, 7:30, 10:10

September 6, 7, & 8:  4:20, 7:30, 10:10

www.thewhistleblower-movie.com

NOTHING IS MORE DANGEROUS THAN THE TRUTH.

Living in Winkler

I've been living in Winkler for about a month now, enjoying the fact that I can hop on my bike to get to work or to the pool.  It's a totally different living arrangement than I used to when living on my own - it's the basement of a house.  The lower window you see between the front door and the garage is my bedroom window.  Downstairs I also have a living area/kitchenette, bathroom and shared laundry.

Southern Manitoba Concerts

Check this out - it's the Southern Manitoba Concerts and if you look at the Valley Arts Concert, you'll see "Southern Manitoba Community Band".  That's the band I played in last year and I'm waiting for it to start again this fall.  Mark February 25 on your calendar!  More information at:

 www.southernmanitobaconcerts.org/valley-arts-concert

Quote-Book Closes

If you've not been following my Quote-Book this summer (I've added 1 quote per day), click on the tab at the top and check it out.  Hopefully you'll find a few favorites for yourself in the list!

Summer Memories

As a kid, I didn't go to camp for a week, rather I went to my Grandma's house (she lived an hour away from us and so it was a chance to really get to know one another).  I remember weird details, like how I thought it was so strange that the bath towels were stored in a kitchen drawer (it was a deep drawer and the bathroom had no storage to talk of).  I remember thinking that I didn't think it was possible to live without air-conditioning, but I always survived the week at her place without it.  I remember eating Count Chocula cereal for breakfast (that was never a choice at home) and my Grandmother saying "Good Morning" every morning.  I shared my Grandma's bed with her for the entire week and I don't know quite how we fit on her small bed.  I remember that her alarm clock was really a clock with little bells on the top - not an electronic one that you can read in the dark.  One morning of the week at her house, she took me and my brothers to McDonald's for breakfast - another special treat.  But probably my best memory was the fact that I had the privilege (at least that's how I saw it) of cleaning her collection of salt and pepper shakers (she had a lot, trust me) and then rearranging how things were organized. . .until next summer.

I went to visit my Grandmother a few weeks ago and I called her the night before to make sure that it was ok with her.  When I arrived at the care home, she felt so bad because she had totally forgotten that I was coming.  It's hard to let go of the people you love.  I'd give anything to go back in time and spend a week making more summer memories at her place.  Instead, I hold tight to the memories I have and enjoy the walks down memory lane with her, however brief they may be.

Catherine

InvisiblePeople.tv interviewed Catherine in Ottawa and she has powerful words - listen carefully to what she says:

invisiblepeople.tv/blog/2011/08/catherine-homeless-panhandling-ottawa-canada

The Story Behind the Barcode

The Story Behind the Barcode from Not For Sale Campaign on Vimeo.

Make the World a Better Place

Though my thoughts and prayers have been with Jack Layton's family throughout this past week, they are especially with them today.  His life and death is a stark reminder that one can be on top of the world and yet that doesn't save anyone from an untimely death.  It will be interesting to see what type of legacy he lives on the politics of our country and how he inspires future leaders, not only in government, but in his fight to change the world.

If you've not had the chance to read Jack's letter to Canadians, please read it today:

winnipeg.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20110822/wpg_layton_letter_110822/20110822?hub=WinnipegHome

In keeping with is final wishes, those attending his funeral today will write down one way that they plan to make the world a better place. . .I encourage you to do the same.

"My friends, love is better than anger.

Hope is better than fear.

Optimism is better than despair.

So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic.

And we'll change the world."

~Jack Layton