"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.
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!