"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
Thursday, March 29, 2007 "If everyone cared and nobody cried, If everyone loved and nobody lied - If everyone shared and swallowed their pride - Then we'd see the day when nobody died."Nickelback
Last Saturday, I visited Pastor Danny Quirion's youth ministry at the Faith Evangelical Free Church on Kennedy Memorial Drive in Waterville, Maine. The group was ending their 30 hour fast, which was a fund raiser for World Vision. The group raised over $5,000. Their focus this year was on Uganda.
The kids - as well as several adults - started their fast the morning before and went about their normal day. That evening, they gathered at the youth center without any comforts such as food, blankets, sleeping bags or a heated building. Water was provided. There was a large pile of debris in the room including cardboard, paper and scraps of material. They divided into groups or tribes and used the debris to create their villages and shelters... Mid morning on Saturday, the fast was broken by each participant scooping a spoon of gruel out of a bowl. The gruel consisted of corn meal, beans, powdered milk, vegetable oil, and sugar, which is considered power food in many parts of the world. It is often the only meal served and people are "lucky" to have it. Each participant reflected on the fast. That each person was deeply affected was obvious. Several of the kids said they realized how lucky they are.
Photo credits: Bonnie N. Davis
This youth group, under the guidance of their exceptional pastor, brought joy to my heart. They learned about extreme poverty and hunger. They glimpsed into the lives of kids in another part of the planet. They were welcoming, kind, warm and generous. Without exception, they were accepting of the fact that I am a Buddhist. All of this is a credit to Pastor Danny as well as their understanding of the teachings of Jesus. They touched my soul and gave me so much hope. That the Divine spirit was present in that room was obvious.
They are the generation that will truly make a difference in eradicating extreme global poverty. Perhaps they will even bring us a day when "nobody died."
"All religions, arts and sciences are branches of the same tree. All these aspirations are directed toward ennobling man's life, lifting it from the sphere of mere physical existence and leading the individual towards freedom." Albert Einstein
I must confess that I have been discouraged lately. Perhaps Bob Marley’s words, “one step forward, two steps back” would better suit my mood of late. A pastor had offered to host a conference at a college in New Hampshire. New Hampshire, as a region, needs to learn more about the Millennium Development Goals and reaching students is an awesome way. But, none of the e-mails, including requests to partake in Stand Up on October 15, were answered. And now, weeks of unanswered phone messages have discouraged me – I have not received one e-mail or call. His assistant told me maybe we could do a bigger event in the fall. It sounds fine – one like that would take 4-6 months of planning. But I wonder if people unreachable for the past 6 months will be any more likely to communicate in the next 6… Since last spring, approximately 11 million more children have died from extreme poverty. Hence, I have been discouraged…
But, today has been a beautiful spring day in mid Maine. The sun was bright and warm with the thermometer squeaking up above 50 degrees. I felt like eating a salad and my wilted shred of dead lettuce forced me to go out. I decided to stop at Ruby Tuesday’s – I sat at the bar, sipping on water and eating my salad. I never expected to discuss extreme poverty in that setting. A young man was sitting near me and we started talking. He had some strong opinions and a bright, logical mind. I have so much data and statistics by this time that we were able to have an in-depth conversation on many of the issues. It gave me hope.
And tomorrow I am going to an Evangelical church and seeing youth come off a 30 hour fast. This event raises money for World Vision and teaches youth about poverty and hunger. These kids are our future voters and leaders. This gives me hope.
"We know from study after study that there is no tool for development more effective than the education of girls and women."Kofi Annan
Rev. Paige Blair had so many ideas for a posting about International Woman's Day on March 8th, that I asked her to do a guest posting on the subject! Please read her thoughts below.
If you have something to post or for the calendar, please e-mail me.
Peace -
Bonnie N. Davis
March 8th is International Women's Day, a chance to acknowledge the powerful role women have in eradicating extreme poverty, and to work to support women around the world seeking the kind of gender equality that can lift them and their families and their communities out of poverty.
Is this just a "Western," liberal idea of spreading the women's movement around the world? No. (not that there's anything wrong with that :) ) Studies have shown over and over that when impoverished communities work towards gender equality, increased prosperity follows. When women are educated they are able to contribute to their families' income. When women's prosperity increases, birth rate drops, as does the child mortality rate. When women are given greater control over their bodies, they can protect themselves, and future children, from dread diseases such as HIV/AIDS.
Many aid organizations have taken into account the powerful role of women in eradicating poverty. Heifer International (www.heifer.org) requires gender equality and women's involvement in decision-making in the communities receiving Heifer's animals and training. CARE International (www.care.org) has structured its aid programs in general to address the role of women, including education for girls, promoting healthy behaviors to address sustainable development, sanitation, and the prevention and spread of HIV/AIDS, and also support women's entrepreneurship through microfinance. Five Talents International (www.fivetalents.org ) also works closely with women in their fight against extreme poverty, "investing in more than 10 000 entrepreneurs and their families, the majority of them women."
Pressing facts from the Policy Division Info series:
Total agricultural outputs in sub-Saharan Africa could increase by 6-20% if women’s access to agricultural inputs was equal to men’s. In the Middle East and North Africa, estimates show that if the female labour participation rate had increased during the 1990s at the same rate as women’s education, the average household income could have been 25% higher.
Women remain severely under-represented in political and decision-making positions. In some countries, such as Nigeria, the actual figure is much lower; in this case just 4% of MPs are female.
The HIV epidemic is continuing to spread, with four million new infections each year - most of them women. Among 15-24 year olds with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa, women outnumber men three to one.
Gender-based violence is extremely high in many countries. In Ethiopia, for example, seven out of ten women who have ever had a partner have suffered either physical or sexual violence at home.
Both the impact of climate change and adaptive capacities differ among women and men. In the 1991 cyclone and flood in Bangladesh, the death rate was almost five times higher for women than for men. The fact that warning information was transmitted by men to other men but rarely to women was a key factor.
So clearly there is work to do--but there is also hope. Hope, because after the 2003 elections in Rwanda, women held nearly 50% of the seats in the National Assembly. Hope, because in India, for example, an increase in the ratio of female to male workers of only 10% could increase the GDP by 8% per capita. There is such great possibility, and it is within reach.
So International Women's Day, indeed. What can we do? We can support programs that support gender equality in our own country and around the world, with our voices and when possible, our resources. In addition to Heifer International, CARE International and Five Talents International mentioned above, smaller movements such as BeadForLife (www.beadforlife.org) are making real changes in the lives of women. And Mother's Day is only two months away. In an average year, Americans will spend $11 billion on Mother's Day. Perhaps this year we can plan ahead to give our mothers, or people who are like mothers to us, the gift of empowering women in the world.
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!
