"Christ's example is being
demeaned by the church if they ignore the new leprosy,
which is AIDS. The church is the sleeping giant here.
If it wakes up to what's really going on in the rest
of the world, it has a real role to play. If it doesn't,
it will be irrelevant."
- Bono
Tuesday, February 20, 2007 Tuesday, February 20, 2007
"All the world is birthday cake, so take a piece, but not too much."George Harrison
Tomorrow is my birthday and George Harrison’s would be on the 25th, which is why I decided to use this particular quote… I always liked the spiritual message in his music.
The truth in this quote is much deeper than it appears at first glance. If we take a piece of cake, but not too much, there will be plenty for all. This concept is at the heart of the struggles surrounding many of the factors of extreme poverty.
There is enough food in the world so no one should be hungry. Fair Trade allows everyone to succeed rather than a few as with Free Trade. There are enough resources, medical advances and technology so that 3,000 children in Africa should not die every day from a mosquito bite infected with Malaria. There are also enough of the same so that antiretroviral drugs could be supplied to the 40 million people that are living with HIV/AIDS rather than being available to only 1 out of every 10 Africans and 1 out of every 7 Asians infected. The same is true for health care needed to address high maternal and infant mortality rates… Environmental issues, too.
There is enough in the world, if we share… If we truly believe that we are all brothers and sisters. If I take some, but not too much, so there will be some for you. If we follow the Golden Rule - a concept that is present not only in the Christian religion, but in other faiths and spiritual practices - we are guided to share…
This coming Sunday is the first Sunday in Lent. The Presiding Bishop of the American Episcopal Church, the Rt. Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, is calling all congregations to commemorate "ONE Sunday" on February 25, 2007. Rob Radtke, president of Episcopal Relief and Development, said, “ONE Sunday is an effort to join congregations in prayer and reflection for people living in extreme poverty worldwide. Episcopalians are also encouraged to advocate for the MDGs and rally with others who are members of ONE Episcopalian, a grassroots partnership between the Episcopal Church and the ONE Campaign. Through ERD, “ONE Sunday” is an opportunity to make a contribution to a special offering that will help people suffering from chronic hunger, disease and poverty around the world."
While I plan to attend an Episcopal Church this coming Sunday, I will be helping with a Sunday School class at All Saints, in Skowhegan. Their topic of discussion is Thich Nhat Hanh’s book, “Living Buddha, Living Christ.” As a Buddhist committed to Interfaith solutions in ending extreme poverty, I am thrilled that this church is offering such a program. When we see how alike teachings of various disciplines are, we tear down walls of misconception and intolerance, allowing healing and understanding to flow.
Somehow, I suspect George would like that this is all happening - and on his birthday, too.
Thursday, February 15, 2007 Thursday, February 15, 2007
"I don't stand for the black man's side, I don't stand for the white man's side. I stand for God's side." Bob Marley Circumstances of that little thing called life prevented me from posting since my World AIDS Day posting. Hopefully, my life is coming back into balance and my voice can get back to where my heart always remains - on on those suffering from Extreme Global Poverty.
I wrote the following - slightly changed here - for my recent column in the Sun Chronicle (Saco, Maine). I am indebted to the editor of that paper - Ann Fisher - who has given me a place to use my voice on the issues surrounding Extreme Poverty. She has published my writing on social justice issues for a year and a half at two different papers.
Twenty thousand lights went out in the Eiffel Tower during the first week of February as a statement on global warming. This took place while representatives from 113 countries met in Paris to review and revise Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis (Summary for Policymakers).
With my background in civil engineering and environmental work, I found the extended title of the report to be intimidating (shortened here) and the contents difficult for many to understand. You can find it on the UN and BBC websites. A few months ago, a friend in York called after seeing Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth at church. She asked me what I thought about global warming and why we had not heard about this years ago. Without thinking, I said, “I don’t know where you were, but I started reading scientific studies about it in the 1970’s.” Clearly, this was not one of my stellar moments; but it is the truth. I read scientific reports about solar energy, and global warming due to fossil fuels, decades ago. One came out of Oregon in the early 1980’s – a facility had the capability to produce enough solar energy to generate power for San Francisco. No one in ‘power’ was interested. I shudder to think what damage we could have prevented if that had not been the case. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) finalized the Summary on February 2nd, representing the work of 600 authors from 40 countries. The IPCC, established in 1988 under the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), cleared up discrepancies of previous reports bringing truth to the world, with a full report to be released later.
Surprisingly, the Whitehouse issued a statement prior to last Friday stating the Summary was “significant and a valuable tool for policy making.” I suppose I should be relieved that our country - the number one polluter in the world - is coming around. Instead, I must wait and see if follow through happens this time.
Because of decades of delay, by our leaders, in realizing our natural resources may be more important than corporate wealth (and free trade), our world is at a critical juncture.
We can no longer deny that global warming is real. However, many feel that we should ignore the data because critical effects are likely to occur after we are gone.
People of faith are addressing this. Both the Baha’i faith and the Maine Council of Churches met last fall encouraging us to do what we can.
I sent out a newsletter in the Fall asking you to watch Reverend Richard Cizik, Vice President in Charge of Governmental Affairs of the National Association of Evangelicals, when Moyer on America did a report called Is God Green? about the Evangelical response to global warming. fRick eels that caring for our environment is a matter of stewardship and that we must turn a healthy planet over to our children, grandchildren and future generations. This lesson, also taught by Native Americans, is essential to our understanding of the issues.
Globally and nationally, the poor will be effected and suffer more. While globalization, including free trade rather than fair trade, may lift many out of poverty, it also devastates natural resources and ecosystems. Africans cannot continue without agriculture and drinking water. Droughts and famine will increase in some areas, while cyclones and floods increase in others. Our Gulf Coast, where many remain homeless and in poverty, may never recover from Katrina, much less recover from hurricanes likely to come as ocean temperatures rise.
Greenland will disappear. Maine’s seacoast will not exist, as we know it. Severe weather events will dominate, devastating our natural resources. Fishing and agricultural industries will suffer.
Achim Steiner, Executive Director of the UNEP, said, “It is akin to a company living off its capital rather than its interest or a farmer growing bumper crops but failing to save or invest in seeds and agricultural machinery for coming years.”
“A worst case analogy might be a family, heating their home by throwing the living room furniture onto the fire. Unless we better value natural resources and better calculate the external costs of international trade we risk killing the proverbial goose and her golden eggs.”
India wants developed nations to share modern technology so they will not repeat our mistakes. Their current plan to supply 500 million people with electricity – using fossil fuels – creates greater emissions. China, the ‘workshop of the world’ is resentful that they must follow rules that we never did. Both countries must comply or the efforts made by the rest of the world will be fruitless.
Although it seems impossible and overwhelming, we can each do our part. Now is the time to stop procrastinating and initiate what you can.
Buy a few Maine products (or those local to your region) at the grocery store each week (milk, potatoes and frozen blueberries this time of year). Recycle. This only takes a few minutes, a little organization and it does work. Use shades and blinds to assist in climate control. Few can buy a new hybrid car; but plan your errands so that your fuel use is more efficient. Replace old appliances, furnaces, windows, etc., with energy efficient products. Consider alternate energy sources. Replace five light bulbs in your home or office with compact florescent bulbs – they cost more, but last up to ten times longer. In Maine, both Wal-Mart and Home Depot offer instant rebates through Efficiency Maine (www.efficiencymaine.com). This organization has educational courses, cash incentives for businesses and residential suggestions. Check in your state for other programs.
As always, use your voice to contact your state and US senators and representatives. Talk to your co-workers, friends and family. Contact your places of worship as well. Is your place of worship GREEN? Why not? Change 5 lightbulbs there! We are in this struggle together. Through educating ourselves, working together and committing to changes, we can slowly reclaim our planet as a sustainable habitat for future generations.
173,045,325 People Stood Up & Took Action Against Poverty Worldwide
between Oct. 16 - 18, 2009!
They gathered at over 3,000 events in more than 120 countries.
116,993,629 People Stood Up & Took Action Against Poverty Worldwide
between Oct. 17 - 19, 2008!
That is almost 2% of the
total world population!
43,716,440 People Stood Up Against Poverty
Worldwide between Oct. 16 & 17, 2007! Were You One of Them?
23,542,614 People Stood Up Against Poverty
Worldwide on Oct. 15, 2006! Bless Them All!
"Be the Change You Want to See In the World." Gandhi
Upcoming Events
Send Me Your Events!!! October 17, 2009 NEIDEEP Interfaith Service & Conference
at Fairfield United Methodist Church, 10am to 2pm, including potluck lunch
Join people of all faiths
Discover the role of women in
ending local & global poverty
Location - FUMC, 33 Rt. 201, Fairfield, Maine
Just off I-95, Exit 133
This event is in conjunction with
Stand Up & is Free
The Rev. Dr. Paige Blair Episcopal Priest & Bonnie N. Davis
Buddhist
First NEIDEEP Conference
Our First Meeting took place in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, USA on 2/21/06.
The day began with an Interfaith Service.
Sister True Virtue, who at the time was the Abbess of the Green Mountain Dharma Center, teaching in the tradition of
Thich Nhat Hanh's Order of Interbeing, led a meditation, centering & grounding
the more than 80 participants for the rest of the day.
Local Christians including The Rev. Dr. Paige of St. George's Episcopal Chuch (York Harbor), Pastor Sharon Miesel of
York-Ogunquit United Methodist Church (UMC)
& Pastor Sue Kingman of Sanford Unitarian Universalist Church (UUC) also took part in the Interfaith Service.
Iman Ibrahim Sayer, Boston Dialogue Foundation, did a transforming reading from the Koran in Arabic.
Rabbi David Mark, Temple Israel in Portsmouth, blew the Shofar,
made from Ram's Horn, reminding us that it is made from the same material as our fingernails &
that the work before us must be done with our hands.
The Rt. Rev. Peter Weaver, presiding bishop of the New England Conference of the United Methodist Church (NEUMC)was also
serving the Worldwide head the United Methodist's at the time of the conference. He spoke about trips to Africa, meeting with
religious leaders to speak with President Bush, & attending the Transatlantic Forum on Global Poverty in London prior to the 2005 G8 Summit.
Jan Schrock, Senior Advisor of Heifer International at the time, is the daughter of
Dan West, Heifer's founder, spoke about Heifer's interaction with communities, helping them plan their futures.
Lallie Lloyd, Episcopalian's for Global Reconciliation (E4GR), spoke about her book -
"Eradicating Global Poverty - A Christian Study Guide on the MDG."
Margaret Udahogora, of Rwanda, spoke about educating orphans from her country, also
reminding us of Africa's beauty. Suzanne Bowman,
talked about BeadforLife - Ugandan women (many HIV/AIDS positive) making beads and jewelry for two years and now
supporting 170 families.
NAACP, Salvation Army and United Way attended as guests with clergy and
other participants. Program stressed MDG, trade issues, & activisim.
Millennium Campaign Pledge & ONE Declaration were signed - "No Excuses" White Wristbands were handed out with
resource guides. By setting the example of working together across potitical, cultural, spiritual & religious boundaries,
we can make an amazing difference.
Interfaith Communities Can Heal the World!
A second round of NEIDEEP is planned for October 2008.
Activating New England will make a difference in ending extreme poverty. After all, we hosted a memorable
tea party that changed the course of history.
In a world where so many go hungry,
Let us make the fruits of creation available for all.
In a world where one billion of our brothers and sisters do not have safe drinking water,
Let us help the waters run clear.
In a world where so many die so young,
And so many mothers die in childbirth,
And so many families are ravaged by disease,
Let us bring health and healing.
In a world where women carry such heavy burdens,
Let us recognize and restore the rights of all.
Let us join together, with a new sense of global community,
A new awareness of our need for one another,
And for this fragile planet,
To meet the clear challenge of the Millennium Goals,
To bring hope as substantial as bread,
To make human dignity as visible as wheat in the fields.
Special thanks to The Rev. Mike Kinman for his assistance on how to set up a cool blog!
