Amazing Grace...A Must See Movie

The World Vision and Amazing Change Campaign are working together to bring awareness to people on the many forms of slavery.

The movie "Amazing Grace" tells of the inspiring true story of William Wilberforce, an 18th century British Parliament Member, who was an advocate for the abolition of the African slave trade in his own country. It speaks of the political, spiritual, and personal struggles of the abolitionist movement, and the experiences of Wilberforce that compelled him to fight for the freedom of those suffering under slavery.

To this day, slavery exists in many forms. Be they men, women or children, many continue to be enslaved in commercial sex trade, toil in inhumane conditions as slave workers, or children forced to work as child soldiers.

I posted this same entry in another blog and a friend commented how pathetic it is that even in somes homes, slavery exists. She's right...even in homes, slavery can come in the form of physical or emotional abuse, something that many probably live with in silence just to keep the family together or simply because of fear. What may even be worse is that some may not even realize that it is abuse and just accept it as a normal part of life. But how far can one go to take such abuses? Sometimes it takes an outsider to make one realize it and push us to take action and make a stand.

Please click on the links above for more information on actions taken by World Vision and Amazing Change Campaign to make people aware that slavery still exists to this day and how we can help change it.

Amazing Grace is a must see movie...

Hunger in Burundi...and Lending a Helping Hand

Organizations like UNICEF are neverendingly busy trying to help alleviate hunger and poverty. Just recently, hunger and flooding in

Burundi have killed children, made many homeless or kept them out of school for days. The death toll is mounting and needless to say, these people need a helping hand to see them through the tragedy that has befallen their nation.

I have once written about whether one can live on $1 a day. At least 60 per cent of these people live in less. What is sad is that the cost of their most affordable source of protein, beans, has almost doubled.

The UN is working to help provide food to more than 2 million Burundians. But their efforts don't end there. They also have a program to provide psychosocial support and recreational activities to children who can no longer go to school. An estimate still has to be completed on the extent of funding needed to help rebuild homes, schools and provide food to the Burundians.

What's good to know is that parents of school children are doing their share to help themselves by rebuilding the schools damaged by flooding so the children can go back to school soon. It's a community of people trying to help rebuild their own lives to bring some normalcy back in what otherwise would be a seemingly hopeless situation.

Our Own Little Miracles...

Some have probably read this inspirational story of a child wanting to buy a miracle. I found it quite touching and thought I'd share it with others.

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A little girl went to her bedroom and pulled a glass jelly jar from its hiding place in the closet.
She poured the change out on the floor and counted it carefully. Three times, even. The total had to be exactly perfect. No chance here for mistakes.

Carefully placing the coins back in the jar and twisting on the cap, she slipped out the back door and made her way 6 blocks to Rexall's Drug Store with the big red Indian Chief sign above
the door. She waited patiently for the pharmacist to give her some attention, but he was too busy at this moment. Tess twisted her feet to make a scuffing noise...nothing. She cleared her
throat with the most disgusting sound she could muster...no good. Finally she took a quarter from her jar and banged it on the glass counter. That did it!

"And what do you want?" the pharmacist asked in an annoyed tone of voice. I'm talking to my brother from Chicago whom I haven't seen in ages," he said without waiting for a reply to his
question.

"Well, I want to talk to you about my brother," Tess answered back in the same annoyed tone. "He's really, really sick...and I want to buy a miracle."

"I beg your pardon?" said the pharmacist.

"His name is Andrew and he has something bad growing inside his head and my Daddy says only a miracle can save him now. So how much does a miracle cost?"

"We don't sell miracles here, little girl. I'm sorry but I can't help you," the pharmacist said, softening a little.

"Listen, I have the money to pay for it. If it isn't enough, I will get the rest. Just tell me how much it costs."

The pharmacist's brother was a well dressed man. He stooped down and asked the little girl, "What kind of a miracle does your brother need?"

"I don't know," Tess replied with her eyes welling up. I just know he's really sick and Mommy says he needs an operation. But my Daddy can't pay for it, so I want to use my money."

"How much do you have?" asked the man from Chicago.

"One dollar and eleven cents," Tess answered barely audibly. "And it's all the money I have, but I can get some more if I need to."

"Well, what a coincidence," smiled the man. "A dollar and eleven cents---the exact price of a miracle for little brothers. "

He took her money in one hand and with the other hand he grasped her mitten and said "Take me to where you live. I want to see your brother and meet your parents. Let's see if I have
the miracle you need."

That well dressed man was Dr. Carlton Armstrong, a surgeon, specializing in neuro-surgery. The operation was completed free of charge and it wasn't long until Andrew was home again and doing well.

Mom and Dad were happily talking about the chain of events that had led them to this place.

"That surgery," her Mom whispered. "was a real miracle. I wonder how much it would have cost?"

Tess smiled. She knew exactly how much a miracle cost...one dollar and eleven cents....plus the faith of a little child.

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In our lives, we never know how many miracles we will need. But we too can make our own little miracles. It just takes a little bit of what we have to share, and together we can work on our own little miracles for others to have better lives.

I AM SHOCKED...

Ok, I just have to react to the story I read from Matt's Blog. If I didn't write it here, Matt's comment box would be filled, lol.

When I went through Matt's blog, I couldn't have been more shocked at his story about an article on three million Muslim devotees raising their hands in prayer for global peace in Bangladesh. It could have been one of the world's largest religious gatherings...a wonderful event.

What saddened Matt and certainly SHOCKED and ANGERED me was that these people were holding a prayer for world peace but women, except for the very high ranking ones, were not allowed to participate in the gathering.

To advocate world peace on one side, and then not allow women to particpate in it by virtue of their sex, on the other, is to me soooooo degrading for women and such a wrong (I softened this word) policy on women if it is one.

It also makes me realize that there is still so much we women have to fight for to live and be treated as equal of men. Why there has to be such a double standard in society is beyond me. I'm well aware that double standard exists in most societies but really...

If my children's father ever told me to walk behind him because he's man and I'm woman... I'd push him off the boat once we're at sea. He can't swim, lol.

I just had to let this out. Sorry readers.

My Neighbors and Me...Kids Who Chose to Make a Difference

Today was one of those days again that I found myself really touched and getting a bit emotional. When I read the article about 2 very young teenagers who organized their own group to make a difference and uplift the way of life in their poor neighborhood, I couldn't have felt prouder as if I were their own parent. It makes me wish and hope that I can instill the same kind of values in my own children.

The Republic of San Marino honored UNICEF for being a leading advocate for children over the past 60 years. But what really touched me more was that through the San Marino Permanent Mission to the United Nations, the Belizean children’s group known as My Neighbours and Me, was given the San Marino-UNICEF Award in recognition of its extraordinary work in one of the many poor areas of Belize City.

What is even more stunning is that the group, My Neighbours and Me, which helped protect Belizean children against crime, violence, drugs and the spread of HIV/AIDS, was founded 2 years ago by brothers Herbert and Ashman Wiltshire, who were then just 18 and 13 years old. The group, which started behind their backyard has since grown to more than 50 members.

To quote Herbert's words, “My neighbourhood is neither scenic nor developed, and is indeed a centralized area of poverty and crime. Children growing up here are rarely exposed to productive activities. There are a lot of teen pregnancies, guns and violence.

So we had a choice: following others into drugs and crimes, turning to sex as a way of making money or trying to make a difference.”

They chose to make a difference. And every Saturday, children of all ages – some trekking long distances – gather at the Wiltshire home to participate in recreational and educational activities such as karaoke, dancing, drawing and learning how to use computers.

Herbert said, “Our backyard has become a safe congregating area for the neighborhood children. We are making sure that the children not only find joy and laughter here, but are also connected to a trusted person, with whom they can talk about abuse and sexual exploitation, the pressure of having sex or doing crimes, and discuss how to protect themselves from diseases such as HIV.”

My Neighbours and Me received $20,000 from UNICEF to help carry on their work. Herbert and Ashman are indeed true inspirations to the Belize community and children their age. They have shown how far they can go to make life better not only for themselves but also for their neighbors. They have truly proven that they CAN make a difference.

To learn more or support My Neighbours and Me, please e-mail wiltshire@btl.net.

YESSSSSS...$1.450 Billion to Save Lives

Weeks before Pres. Bush's State of the Union address, members of ONE and other cause-oriented organizations sent thousands of letters to the US President asking him to support the fight against poverty, aids, malaria and tuberculosis in his speech.

Just recently, the House of Representatives voted for an additional $450 million more instead of just the $1 Billion increase many orgnizations fought to save.

This is indeed wonderful news. It translates to more lives being saved, less people getting hungry everyday, and more people having clean and potable water.

Hats off to all those who worked hard for this!

1.3 Billion More Dollars to Fight Global Poverty!... Not Yet a Done Deal

It's great news to hear from Virginia Simmons of the ONE Campaign that efforts by ONE members to seek support for continued funding for the fight against AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis proved fruitful.

Last night, a bill was filed asking for a $1.3 billion increase in AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis funding for 2007 - a full $300 million more than the $1 billion increase ONE members urged for over the last two months. If the bill passes, AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis funding would be $4.5 billion in 2007.

Of course, other organizations have done the same and credit should be given to them too for their efforts. I know for one that World Vision International has initiated similar moves for the same cause.

However, as they say, this is not a done deal yet until the bill is passed. Today, the House will vote on this and by February 5, the Senate will make their vote. We should all remain steadfast and continue to monitor developments.

For updates, log on to http://www.theONBlog.org

BUY (RED)...

I'm posting Bono's statement on the RED campaign to support the fight against AIDS. What I can recall most when I first read about RED products was that they made their campaign clear..."RED is not a charity. It is a business model." People buy RED products, and from part of the sales, medicines are bought to help treat thousands sick with AIDS. With this new campaign, hopefully, other businesses would follow suit and give part of their income from sales to help support the fight against AIDS and poverty.


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A Few Words From Bono

Posted by Virginia 12:00 PM Oct 13, 2006

As Product (RED) launches in America, opening a new front in the war against AIDS, a few words from Bono:

“Sometimes when I'm walking down the street a passer by will say "love your work on Africa Bono, great cause." Sometimes, they wish they hadn't. As I'm Irish, I love to talk to strangers. I love to talk about Africa. It can be hard to get away. . . Each time it makes me think we need to do much more to get the message across that this is not a 'cause,' this pandemic that we and so many others are working on. 5,500 Africans dying a day of AIDS, a preventable, treatable disease is not a cause. 5,500 Africans dying each day is an emergency.

Enter Product (RED). Red is a new idea we're launching to work alongside the growing ONE Campaign to Make Poverty History. Over the past year, almost 2 million Americans have joined ONE, in churches and chatrooms. . .on soccer pitches and movie sets. . .at NASCAR races and rock concerts. By 2008, we're aiming to have 5 million members – that's more than the National Rifle Association. Just think for a moment of what that kind of political firepower could achieve for the poorest of the poor. . .

Where ONE takes on the bigger, longer-term beast of changing policy and influencing government, (RED) is, I guess, about a more instant kind of gratification. If you buy a (RED) product from GAP, Motorola, Armani, Converse or Apple, they will give up to 50% of their profit to buy AIDS drugs for mothers and children in Africa. (RED) is the consumer battalion gathering in the shopping malls. You buy the jeans, phones, iPods, shoes, sunglasses, and someone - somebody's mother, father, daughter or son - will live instead of dying in the poorest part of the world. It’s a different kind of fashion statement.

You might think (RED) sounds too simple. But AIDS is no longer a death sentence. Just two pills a day will bring someone who is at death's door back to full health, back to a full life. Doctors call it 'the Lazarus effect'. I’ve seen it myself and I have to say that it’s nothing short of a miracle. These pills are available at any corner drugstore. They cost less than a dollar a day, but the poorest people in Africa earn less than a dollar a day.

They can’t afford them, and so they die. It's unnecessary. It's insane.

You might think it’s too difficult to get these drugs to the people who most need them. A couple of years ago when DATA (Debt, AIDS, Trade, Africa) lobbied President Bush, Tony Blair and Jacques Chirac to do more on AIDS we went to experts about this. From Bill and Melinda Gates, to Dr Paul Farmer working in the poorest places on the earth, to Dr Coutinho in his AIDS clinic in Uganda. Is it easy? No. Is it impossible? No. Can we do it? Absolutely. In 2001, there were 50,000 Africans taking ARVs. Now there are over one million people getting these life saving drugs thanks to President Bush's AIDS initiative, and thanks to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria.

There are though still 4.3 million Africans without drugs, which is why 100% of (RED) money is going directly to the Global Fund to support the work they are doing. (RED) uses the power in your pocket to keep people alive. ONE uses the power of your voice to create a more just world where people can earn their own way out of poverty. This means tackling more than AIDS. It means fighting corruption. Insisting on good governance. Getting kids in school. Changing trade rules. Getting businesses to invest in Africa. Myself and Ali started a company called Edun – a fashion line that makes clothes in Africa – because so many Africans we met said what they wanted more than anything was a job.

All of this is ganging up on the same problem – the greatest health crisis in human history and the extreme poverty in which it thrives. The Number 1 question we get asked is, what can I do to help? From today, you can do one more thing than you could do yesterday. Shop (RED). And if you haven’t already, join the One campaign at one.org.
As I said, this is an emergency. And in these dangerous times, how we in the West respond is an opportunity to show what we stand for, as well as what we stand against. If we're successful, we will not only transform millions of people's lives, we'll transform the way these people see us ... and in turn, the world in which we live."

Moulding the Youth...

It's good to know that many youth these days are very aware of the problems around them and that many are actively involved in cause-oriented organizations and activities. It amazes me even more that there are very young children who are already aware of such things.

Having read about a 5-year old who donated to charity the $200 she and her friends collected for her birthday was indeed very touching.

In the UNICEF website, it featured an article about a competition that encouraged the youth's creativity and awareness about poverty. Two boys from Finland won the first prize of $200 for the school they built, which included virtual post-it notes featuring content from the UNICEF Voices of Youth website. There were almost 1,000 teens who joined the World Fit for Children competition.

Parents and cause-oriented organizations who make the youth aware of the realities of life and encourage them to get involved in civic activities should really be given credit and recognized for their efforts. With proper guidance, the youth can be moulded into being productive members of society. As it had been said so often, "The youth is the future of a nation."

Proud to be ONE!

The excerpt below was taken from the State of the Union address of Pres. Bush. While others may not believe in the same cause, it still makes me proud that an organization like ONE can move powerful people in congress and the US President himself to express continued support for the fight against hunger, poverty and diseases in poor nations like Africa. I personally believe that without ONE's members and similar organizations acting in unison and making their voices heard, the funding to fight AIDS/HIV, poverty and malaria would have been in peril.

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"American foreign policy is more than a matter of war and diplomacy. Our work in the world is also based on a timeless truth: To whom much is given, much is required. We hear the call to take on the challenges of hunger, poverty, and disease – and that is precisely what America is doing. We must continue to fight HIV/AIDS, especially on the continent of Africa – and because you funded our Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, the number of people receiving life-saving drugs has grown from 50,000 to more than 800,000 in three short years.

"I ask you to continue funding our efforts to fight HIV/AIDS. I ask you to provide $1.2 billion over five years so we can combat malaria in 15 African countries. I ask that you fund the Millennium Challenge Account, so that American aid reaches the people who need it, in nations where democracy is on the rise and corruption is in retreat. And let us continue to support the expanded trade and debt relief that are the best hope for lifting lives and eliminating poverty.
"When America serves others in this way, we show the strength and generosity of our country. These deeds reflect the character of our people. The greatest strength we have is the heroic kindness, courage, and self sacrifice of the American people. You see this spirit often if you know where to look – and tonight we need only look above to the gallery."