"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
Monday, March 17, 2008 Monday, March 17, 2008 "A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality." John Lennon
I find it hard to believe that I have not posted in about a month. I guess that is what happens when you have to pay the bills with your words. During this past month, I worked hard to get a global poverty awareness conference together at a local college. I knew there was interest because I talked with a few students.
I figured that going through campus ministries would be a good idea, and spoke to two of the chaplains. One of them said he would speak to the interfaith council, and then I could come and speak with them. After several weeks and no response to e-mails, it was a no go. To me it sounded as though he was too busy to meet with students who were too busy to meet with him - a sign of the times.
The other chaplain referred me to his faith's council as well as his assistant. The assistant worked hard to contact people, but when they got together, they had no interest. Too stressed? Too worried about spring break, exams, the end of the school year and life, I suppose... However, he referred me to other people and encouraged me to keep trying...
Then, I spoke with a woman who attends that college at the local animal shelter a few days ago. She volunteers at the shelter and I had a foster dog that had an evaluation and training session. She is one of those busy students - active in volunteering and committed to helping others. I told her about my frustration.
As busy as she is, she had several ideas and felt that her college would love to have an event. We will be working on this in the next few weeks and I feel confident that the result will be positive.
With today being St. Patrick's Day - when everyone is Irish by default - I thought about John Lennon. Of course I know he was English and not Irish, but he wrote a song called The Luck of the Irish. It was about the turmoil and the 'troubles' in Ireland. With the hatred in the emerald isle now stabilized, I thought about how hard many in Great Britain - whether in government, churches, or the rock scene - work towards improving life for those in developing countries. I thought about how that bad luck of the Irish that John referred to encompasses so much of the world - and yes, I bet millions of people "wish there were English, too." I thought again about the Amnesty International Instant Karma project and the awesome cover by Green Day of Working Class Hero - another great song by Lennon, in which Green Day focuses on Darfur.
I see a connection between today's quote and the apathy of many students, lay people and ministers regarding holding a conference - this has been a problem in northern New England in both colleges and religious institutions ... When people become so stressed and busy with their daily chores and future plans ("Life's what happens while you're making other plans" - another great line by John), that bringing awareness about our brothers and sisters living in such extreme conditions becomes something we may address next year, I feel as though we are not dreaming together to create fair sustainable future for all of us sharing this piece of rock.
Remember that every year close to 11 million children die as a result of extreme poverty as well as about 7 million adults - that amounts to about 3 Holocausts every single year.
Yes - we have our own problems in northern New England: high taxes; cold weather and tons of snow, resulting in high heating costs; children and families without enough food; low wages; high prices at the pumps; people losing their homes; and poor health care for many. Life is hard. Young adults have tough choices in this region. Most college graduates must move away if they want great paying jobs. Many have friends in Iraq and are concerned about the elections. And those developing countries are so far away...
By dreaming together, we can create a better world. I have to believe this - the alternative is too bitter.
"With our love, we could save the world," said George Harrison.
...and by working and dreaming together, the possibilities are as unlimited as our minds and imaginations...
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!