I think that when we hear catch phrases as "dollar a day" we do not know the full meaning of it. Statistics just blend together as a bunch of numbers with some being larger than others. So when we see advertisements on t.v. about how half of the world's population lives on less than a dollar a day, we think, "wow, billions of people live on a dollar a day. That's a lot of people." Then we forget about the real meaning and suffering of the people that the statistic shows.
Then a breaking news story comes between headlines on CNN or MSNBC talking about riots in Kenya. Along with the headlines, graphic images are provided with teens with machetes killing innocent people in the streets.
What happened? Isn't Kenya supposed to be that beautiful country in Africa with lions and grass plains that we see in movies? Why are there riots there now? Many of these questions go on and most Americans do not have a clue why.
This is going to be the first entry on Kenya of many. First I want to say, that like most African countries, the problems cannot be completely explained in a blog. So I will just cover a little bit for you. Also, Kenya is seen as a prospering country by many people across the world, when compared to other African countries. So why should I write about Kenya, when far many other countries have more serious problems than Kenya. So in a few sentences I will explain:
While Kenya does and have had their problems suffering throughout their history, it had always seen as a place of some stability. Tourism is big there, they allow the press to have offices there, and many people think of Kenya as what we see in the movies: vast beautiful plains with tall grass, glowing sunsets, lions and elephants. So when the riots broke out, a lot of people wondered why, because they didn't see it coming. many thought, "why is Kenya going back to violence and killings after they have been doing so well for so long?"
Well, they weren't doing well. With massive corruption in politics and the cities, millions of people in the slums in cities and villages were starving while the cats kept getting fatter in the cities. So for my first entry on Kenya, I will talk about the poverty in the country, not the corruption in the cities.
The BBC just came out with an excellent audio documentary on "Dollar a day" by Mike Wooldridge. There is a global target to halve world poverty by 2015. In this series, Wooldridge goes around the world to share real stories of individual people that live for less than one dollar a day. His first segment is about Kenya.
In the documentary he interviews people from that live in the villages of Kenya that live on less than a dollar a day. So what does that mean? Isaiah Mawangu of Kaimosi in Western Kenya is a farmer. He supports his disabled wife and six grand children from his farm. Most of the food grown on his farm is not for sale. Because the soil is not fertile, he can only grow enough maize to feed his family of eight people. He does grow tea and sells that as well for extra income. An income of about 6 dollars a month. That is what he has to live on.
Education in Kenya is free, but children have to buy uniforms, that cost about 3 dollars each. Doesn't sound like much but when you are supporting a family of 8 on 6 dollars a month, it is.
I encourage you to listen to the 23 minute documentary about Kenya and the farmers listening on less than a dollar a day. It is not all doom and gloom. You will hear stories from caring people, that while they are not rich, they have a positive attitude of life. Also, check out the story that was written.
Stay tuned for more. The next piece that will be up in a few days will go over the history of the Kenyans.
1.13.2008
1.10.2008
Get the word out
Grassroots can be defined as involving the common people as constituting a fundamental political and economic group. This blog is meant to be a communal effort for change.
Today, because of technology advances, the world is our community. What happens in the deepest jungles or the driest deserts can be seen instantly. Great advancements towards a better world and horrible tragedies are an affect of these advances. Technology can be used for the good by educating our children or creating cleaner power resources. However, countries have been devastated by our advancements as well. Factories are being built all over the world so we can have cheaper goods. However, the price comes with child labor and destroying our environment. Weapons are now mass produced to be delivered into the hands of criminals on all continents.
The fortunate people of our community need to wake up and understand the damages we are causing aboard and on our soil.
I have set a goal to try to get 1 thousand visits my first month since posting my blog. I need your help. If you like what I have to say, please tell your friends and encourage them to tell their friends.
Today, because of technology advances, the world is our community. What happens in the deepest jungles or the driest deserts can be seen instantly. Great advancements towards a better world and horrible tragedies are an affect of these advances. Technology can be used for the good by educating our children or creating cleaner power resources. However, countries have been devastated by our advancements as well. Factories are being built all over the world so we can have cheaper goods. However, the price comes with child labor and destroying our environment. Weapons are now mass produced to be delivered into the hands of criminals on all continents.
The fortunate people of our community need to wake up and understand the damages we are causing aboard and on our soil.
I have set a goal to try to get 1 thousand visits my first month since posting my blog. I need your help. If you like what I have to say, please tell your friends and encourage them to tell their friends.
The Tata Nano
Tata, an Indian car manufacture, anounced the release of the Nano Jan. 10 in New Delhi. The car boasts the title as the "world's cheapest car" cashing in about $2,500. At face value the car sounds like a excellant deal. Tata advertises that its 33 hp, two cylinders engine gets excellent gas mileage (lower than most of the motorcycles on the road in India). It also claims that it has excellent government requirements in crash testing.
However, controversy comes with the price. According to TimesOnline, Tato cut costs to meet their price. Safety features like two side mirrors were not installed. India also has limited crash testing requirements. If Tata was to properly crash test the vehicle so it could operate in Europe, it would double the cost of the car. While the car gets great gas mileage and has low emissions, India Times, argues that because of the low price, their will be many new customers that once were not able to buy a car. These new customers will hurt the enviroment according to the article. Also, in an another article by India Times, protesters showed up at the unveiling stating that farmers were robbed and not paid for their land that was used for the plant to make the cars.
India has a extremley high rate of deaths invovled in car accidents every year. Last year there were 90 thousand deaths on the roads. While India's drivers count for 1% of drivers in the world, their driving lead to 8% of the total driving deaths in the world.
So what should happen? Should people be able to drive a car when before they could not afford one, even though if it means that there will be repercussions?
* I understand that in America we drive the worst cars for the environment. This article is not to debate if America is better than the rest of the world. If it was, America would loose the bet. This article is to make you think about the costs that we have to make for luxury.
However, controversy comes with the price. According to TimesOnline, Tato cut costs to meet their price. Safety features like two side mirrors were not installed. India also has limited crash testing requirements. If Tata was to properly crash test the vehicle so it could operate in Europe, it would double the cost of the car. While the car gets great gas mileage and has low emissions, India Times, argues that because of the low price, their will be many new customers that once were not able to buy a car. These new customers will hurt the enviroment according to the article. Also, in an another article by India Times, protesters showed up at the unveiling stating that farmers were robbed and not paid for their land that was used for the plant to make the cars.
India has a extremley high rate of deaths invovled in car accidents every year. Last year there were 90 thousand deaths on the roads. While India's drivers count for 1% of drivers in the world, their driving lead to 8% of the total driving deaths in the world.
So what should happen? Should people be able to drive a car when before they could not afford one, even though if it means that there will be repercussions?
* I understand that in America we drive the worst cars for the environment. This article is not to debate if America is better than the rest of the world. If it was, America would loose the bet. This article is to make you think about the costs that we have to make for luxury.
Educating the world One Laptop Per Child
2 billion children in the world are poorly educated. In third world countries 1 in three children does not complete the fifth grade. In these countries the governments can only spend $20 dollars a year for educating their young.
One Laptop Per Child, a non-profit organization, is trying to fix that problem. Because these countries are so poor, even if enough money was donated to double what they spend on educating a child, not a lot of change would happen. Nicholas Negroponte, director of the MIT Media Labratory, dreamed the unthinkable and made it happen.
The answer? The XO. The XO is a computer meant to teach kids how to learn. It is much more than that though. Through this computer children in the poorest parts of the world get connected. Because of advanced technologies these children not only receive a better education they learn that there is hope outside of the place they live.
OLPC started as an idea. Because of micro-processing, better power consumption on portable computers and generous people, it became a reality. Because of a promotion, Give One Get One, that OLPC ran from Nov 12, 2007 through Dec 31, 2007, OLPC raised 35 million dollars and was able to distribute 100,000 XO laptops to Afghanistan, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Haiti, Mongolia and Rwanda.
For more information check out One Lap Top Per Child.
One Laptop Per Child, a non-profit organization, is trying to fix that problem. Because these countries are so poor, even if enough money was donated to double what they spend on educating a child, not a lot of change would happen. Nicholas Negroponte, director of the MIT Media Labratory, dreamed the unthinkable and made it happen.
The answer? The XO. The XO is a computer meant to teach kids how to learn. It is much more than that though. Through this computer children in the poorest parts of the world get connected. Because of advanced technologies these children not only receive a better education they learn that there is hope outside of the place they live.
OLPC started as an idea. Because of micro-processing, better power consumption on portable computers and generous people, it became a reality. Because of a promotion, Give One Get One, that OLPC ran from Nov 12, 2007 through Dec 31, 2007, OLPC raised 35 million dollars and was able to distribute 100,000 XO laptops to Afghanistan, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Haiti, Mongolia and Rwanda.
For more information check out One Lap Top Per Child.
Red Letters
" A happy baby boy is bouncing in a crib in southern Africa. He looks and acts just like any other baby you've seen. He coos, he laughs. There is a spark of genuine joy in his bright eyes. Turn your head just a bit. Look over there- in the corner of the room. Do you see that woman with the lifeless eyes? She is the baby's mother. She looks down when you catch her eye, and though she knows you mean no harm, you can sense the fear marked by her bowed head.
"You want to know her story, so you ask questions. It is difficult to ask-what do you say? But it is even more difficult to hear her answers. She is a victim of an AIDS cleaning ritual. The victim of a lie. It is a lie that circulates across Africa and states that if you have sex with a virgin you will be cured of AIDS. this beautiful woman was systematically raped by men who thought her virgin blood would cure them.
"And that bouncing boy? That smiling boy? He was the product of that gang rape. His mother is dying of AIDS. And someday, a day that could steal the joy from this boy's eyes, he will learn that he is infected by AIDS."
excerpt taken from"Red Letters: Living a Faith That Bleeds" by Tom Davis.
Over 40 million people have AIDS in the world today. 11 thousand people will contract the disease tomorrow. 1,800 kids under 15 will contract the disease and 1,400 will die. Whether you wish to ignore the problem or not, AIDS is the number 4 killer on the planet.
Tom Davis states that this disease a pandemic. Larger then an epidemic because it effects all countries, people, races, religions and ages. While every country has a AIDS problem, no country is suffering from the disease like Africa. The list goes on and the stories are endless for the mass spread. However, wars, genocides, poverty, lack of education, hunger, and adultery are the main reasons to blame.
"Red Letters" is not just a book about the AIDS problem in Africa. Davis speaks from the heart and from the bible. He questions Christians reasoning for lack of action in Africa to help.
Red Letters are Jesus's Words. They are the Word of God within the Bible.
"Red Letters" is a call to witness for all Christians. Davis follows Jesus's life of service to his followers and the needy and argues that all Christians should "live a faith that bleeds." That through blood gives life.
"Red Letters" is a book for all religions and people. This is a problem that is killing millions of people every year. Davis describes the pandemic through emotional stories of real people along side of hard statistics. While the book is Christian and quotes the Bible throughout it, this book does not push Christianity. It is not meant to convert anyone. He focuses on the problem and why people should care about it.
I enjoyed this book very much. Davis gives a strong argument to stand up and fight for the cause. While this book may not be for everything, people that can't get past the Bible quotes or some with a weak stomach, this book is an important read to understanding the world's AIDS pandemic.
For more information check out:
Save Africa's Children, One, Global AIDS Alliance
"You want to know her story, so you ask questions. It is difficult to ask-what do you say? But it is even more difficult to hear her answers. She is a victim of an AIDS cleaning ritual. The victim of a lie. It is a lie that circulates across Africa and states that if you have sex with a virgin you will be cured of AIDS. this beautiful woman was systematically raped by men who thought her virgin blood would cure them.
"And that bouncing boy? That smiling boy? He was the product of that gang rape. His mother is dying of AIDS. And someday, a day that could steal the joy from this boy's eyes, he will learn that he is infected by AIDS."
excerpt taken from"Red Letters: Living a Faith That Bleeds" by Tom Davis.
Over 40 million people have AIDS in the world today. 11 thousand people will contract the disease tomorrow. 1,800 kids under 15 will contract the disease and 1,400 will die. Whether you wish to ignore the problem or not, AIDS is the number 4 killer on the planet.
Tom Davis states that this disease a pandemic. Larger then an epidemic because it effects all countries, people, races, religions and ages. While every country has a AIDS problem, no country is suffering from the disease like Africa. The list goes on and the stories are endless for the mass spread. However, wars, genocides, poverty, lack of education, hunger, and adultery are the main reasons to blame.
"Red Letters" is not just a book about the AIDS problem in Africa. Davis speaks from the heart and from the bible. He questions Christians reasoning for lack of action in Africa to help.
Red Letters are Jesus's Words. They are the Word of God within the Bible.
"Red Letters" is a call to witness for all Christians. Davis follows Jesus's life of service to his followers and the needy and argues that all Christians should "live a faith that bleeds." That through blood gives life.
"Red Letters" is a book for all religions and people. This is a problem that is killing millions of people every year. Davis describes the pandemic through emotional stories of real people along side of hard statistics. While the book is Christian and quotes the Bible throughout it, this book does not push Christianity. It is not meant to convert anyone. He focuses on the problem and why people should care about it.
I enjoyed this book very much. Davis gives a strong argument to stand up and fight for the cause. While this book may not be for everything, people that can't get past the Bible quotes or some with a weak stomach, this book is an important read to understanding the world's AIDS pandemic.
For more information check out:
Save Africa's Children, One, Global AIDS Alliance
The Chinese White Dolphin
"To the dolphin alone, nature has given that which the best philosophers seek: Friendship for no advantage. Though it has no need of help from any man, it is a genial friend to all and has helped mankind."
- Plutarch
If you have ever been in the surf with a dolphin then you know how magnificent these animals really are. Every time I have been blessed with their presence I have felt an overwhelming calmness.
Dolphins seem to have life right. They eat, play and even have sex for fun. Dolphins have even protected people, like Todd Endris, from sharks. They are mans best friend in the ocean.
However, because of pollution, construction and over-fishing, dolphins are finding life harder and harder. The Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin, or Chinese White Dolphin, is coming closer and closer to extinction. "These dolphins could be extinct within 20 years," according to Robin J. Winkler, member of the advisory committee to the Green Party Taiwan, "if the government doesn't protect their habitat."
Pollution and construction are leading causes to the endangerment of the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin. Millions of gallons of sewage are being dumped into the waters off of China. Because of the industrial waste and expansion of China, our environment is suffering.
The Chinese white dolphin has an estimated population of about 150. While there is photographic documentation of 88, but researchers have counted more. This is a problem that we are creating. By polluting our waters and not providing a proper alternative wildlife for animals to live in, we are killing dolphins.
For more information where you can help check out The Wildlife Adoption Center, Save Japan Dolphins, and the World Wide Fund For Nature Hong Kong.
- Plutarch
If you have ever been in the surf with a dolphin then you know how magnificent these animals really are. Every time I have been blessed with their presence I have felt an overwhelming calmness.
Dolphins seem to have life right. They eat, play and even have sex for fun. Dolphins have even protected people, like Todd Endris, from sharks. They are mans best friend in the ocean.
However, because of pollution, construction and over-fishing, dolphins are finding life harder and harder. The Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin, or Chinese White Dolphin, is coming closer and closer to extinction. "These dolphins could be extinct within 20 years," according to Robin J. Winkler, member of the advisory committee to the Green Party Taiwan, "if the government doesn't protect their habitat."
Pollution and construction are leading causes to the endangerment of the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin. Millions of gallons of sewage are being dumped into the waters off of China. Because of the industrial waste and expansion of China, our environment is suffering.
The Chinese white dolphin has an estimated population of about 150. While there is photographic documentation of 88, but researchers have counted more. This is a problem that we are creating. By polluting our waters and not providing a proper alternative wildlife for animals to live in, we are killing dolphins.
For more information where you can help check out The Wildlife Adoption Center, Save Japan Dolphins, and the World Wide Fund For Nature Hong Kong.
1.09.2008
Simple steps to ease you into the New Year and a better community.
Most people that I speak with have not got involved with a program to help their community. When I listen to these people say why it is not because they do not care. Most of the time it is because they are uniformed on how they can help. Here are a few simple ways you can bring in the New Year, while helping out your community:
1.) Click on Ripple link. It only takes a second and you will educate a child in East Timor for two days. However, I encourage you to take an even further action if you have a website, blog, or MySpace account. Post a link to Ripple.org on your page so even more people can donate!
2.) Fast. I am not talking about being the next Ghandi and not eat for 30 days. Just 5 hours. Skip lunch and feed a child for a month. That's right: SKIP LUNCH AND FEED A CHILD FOR A MONTH! For 8 dollars you can feed a child for a whole month through the Feed the Children organization. I guarantee you will not starve if you miss one lunch. However, you can keep a child from starving. Also, fasting doesn't mean working through lunch. Put down the pen or turn off the monitor and reflect. On your life, others' lives, or maybe even call a friend or family member you haven't spoken to in awhile.
3.) Change a light bulb. Changing your light-bulbs in your home to a Compact Fluorescent Light-bulb (CFL) will not only save money on they energy bill but save energy. That means less pollution. Check out 18 Seconds for more information on how to save money and the environment.
4.) Buy Fair Trade items. They only cost a little more but the difference is worth it. Farmer's across the world are one of the poorest workers , working in some of the harshest conditions. Fair Trade Labeling Organizations International (FLO) is the organization that sets the standards so farmers earn a decent wage to feed their families. Many different products are certified by the FLO so look out for the labels next time your are in the grocery market.
5.) Donate. There are millions of NPOs out there that are looking for your money to help the needy. They don't ask for much, usually starting at just a few dollars. If $10 can save a child from starving to death, imagine how many people we could save. Next time you plan to log onto Myspace don't. Instead go to google. Search for a non-profit that interests you and help out. In the time that it wold have taken you to see your friend take another picture of them self in the mirror you could have saved a child.
These five simple ways can saves lives. They do not ask you to change your lifestyle, quit your job, spend your savings, or move to Africa. Other people have already done that for you. Instead they ask you to care. Care about others for only 5 minutes. For that 5 minutes is all it takes to save a life.
1.) Click on Ripple link. It only takes a second and you will educate a child in East Timor for two days. However, I encourage you to take an even further action if you have a website, blog, or MySpace account. Post a link to Ripple.org on your page so even more people can donate!
2.) Fast. I am not talking about being the next Ghandi and not eat for 30 days. Just 5 hours. Skip lunch and feed a child for a month. That's right: SKIP LUNCH AND FEED A CHILD FOR A MONTH! For 8 dollars you can feed a child for a whole month through the Feed the Children organization. I guarantee you will not starve if you miss one lunch. However, you can keep a child from starving. Also, fasting doesn't mean working through lunch. Put down the pen or turn off the monitor and reflect. On your life, others' lives, or maybe even call a friend or family member you haven't spoken to in awhile.
3.) Change a light bulb. Changing your light-bulbs in your home to a Compact Fluorescent Light-bulb (CFL) will not only save money on they energy bill but save energy. That means less pollution. Check out 18 Seconds for more information on how to save money and the environment.
4.) Buy Fair Trade items. They only cost a little more but the difference is worth it. Farmer's across the world are one of the poorest workers , working in some of the harshest conditions. Fair Trade Labeling Organizations International (FLO) is the organization that sets the standards so farmers earn a decent wage to feed their families. Many different products are certified by the FLO so look out for the labels next time your are in the grocery market.
5.) Donate. There are millions of NPOs out there that are looking for your money to help the needy. They don't ask for much, usually starting at just a few dollars. If $10 can save a child from starving to death, imagine how many people we could save. Next time you plan to log onto Myspace don't. Instead go to google. Search for a non-profit that interests you and help out. In the time that it wold have taken you to see your friend take another picture of them self in the mirror you could have saved a child.
These five simple ways can saves lives. They do not ask you to change your lifestyle, quit your job, spend your savings, or move to Africa. Other people have already done that for you. Instead they ask you to care. Care about others for only 5 minutes. For that 5 minutes is all it takes to save a life.
How to use this blog
Because this site is a call to action, I hope that you take full advantage of what I have prepared for you. I will quickly explain what is here, so you know how to access the information. Then, I will quickly cover what to expect in the future as far as blogs and information for you.
This blog is like a lot of other blogs on the internet, so I won't go over everything. However, the main part of this blog is the white column to the right. This is the action column. Here you will find different sections:
1. Act Now! These links are not advertisments. They are simple ways you can save a life. For instance, Ripple, is a non-profit organization that has teamed up with advertisers and other NPOs. All you do is click the link and money is donated. Not out of your pocket, but out of the pocket of the advertisers. Aid for Kenya is another NPO where you can help the situation there, but I don't want to go into to much information in this post on the riots there.
2. Next in the column you will see a slide show posting photographs. Because this blog is a call to get involved, I am posting photographs taken from different photographers around the world. These photographs will change so I can show you the work of many talented photojournalist in the world.
3. Next is a new feed from World Vision. World Vision is a NPO that is currently helping over 100 countries in the world. There is too much about them to say here, but check out their website for information. This news feed will tell you stories that are not told on your local nightly news or on 24 news networks. These stories are about real people in horrific situations that cannot be described fully in words where compassion from people like you is greatly needed.
4. The last section is a recommended reading section. These are books that I have read and think that the information in them is important. Most of the books in there are non-fiction or have ties to journalism and photo-journalism. Let me make a quick disclaimer though before you get all freaked out. Yes, those books are being sold on an Amazon website. And yes the account is made in my name. So that means, if you are compelled to buy one of the books from the list, there will be a small portion (4% right now) that will go to me. However, that is not an attempt for me to make money. All the money made from people buying books from the list will either be used to purchase more books for more reviews or donated to NPOs. The reasons I choose Amazon is because it is simple, it works, and it has reviews (so you will get other opinions other than my own from this blog).
This experiment is at it's conception phase. The idea was conceived 16 hours ago. In the last 16 hours I spent most of the time, researching blogs, reading books about blogs, looking at blogs for inspiration, researching NPOs, news feeds, setting up the recommended reading list, setting up the blog and writing these posts. I have a lot more I want to do, but there is so much great information for to sort through right now, they will be posted as they develop.
What to look forward to: Great articles about situations (both good and bad) that are going on in the world, book reviews of non-fictions works that can further describe in detail the situations we are faced with that a 2 min news clip or paragraph can't tell you, ways to act and help our community (both locally and global), information about different NPOs that you can look into, and my experiences when I travel overseas.
So please, stay, learn, and act.
This blog is like a lot of other blogs on the internet, so I won't go over everything. However, the main part of this blog is the white column to the right. This is the action column. Here you will find different sections:
1. Act Now! These links are not advertisments. They are simple ways you can save a life. For instance, Ripple, is a non-profit organization that has teamed up with advertisers and other NPOs. All you do is click the link and money is donated. Not out of your pocket, but out of the pocket of the advertisers. Aid for Kenya is another NPO where you can help the situation there, but I don't want to go into to much information in this post on the riots there.
2. Next in the column you will see a slide show posting photographs. Because this blog is a call to get involved, I am posting photographs taken from different photographers around the world. These photographs will change so I can show you the work of many talented photojournalist in the world.
3. Next is a new feed from World Vision. World Vision is a NPO that is currently helping over 100 countries in the world. There is too much about them to say here, but check out their website for information. This news feed will tell you stories that are not told on your local nightly news or on 24 news networks. These stories are about real people in horrific situations that cannot be described fully in words where compassion from people like you is greatly needed.
4. The last section is a recommended reading section. These are books that I have read and think that the information in them is important. Most of the books in there are non-fiction or have ties to journalism and photo-journalism. Let me make a quick disclaimer though before you get all freaked out. Yes, those books are being sold on an Amazon website. And yes the account is made in my name. So that means, if you are compelled to buy one of the books from the list, there will be a small portion (4% right now) that will go to me. However, that is not an attempt for me to make money. All the money made from people buying books from the list will either be used to purchase more books for more reviews or donated to NPOs. The reasons I choose Amazon is because it is simple, it works, and it has reviews (so you will get other opinions other than my own from this blog).
This experiment is at it's conception phase. The idea was conceived 16 hours ago. In the last 16 hours I spent most of the time, researching blogs, reading books about blogs, looking at blogs for inspiration, researching NPOs, news feeds, setting up the recommended reading list, setting up the blog and writing these posts. I have a lot more I want to do, but there is so much great information for to sort through right now, they will be posted as they develop.
What to look forward to: Great articles about situations (both good and bad) that are going on in the world, book reviews of non-fictions works that can further describe in detail the situations we are faced with that a 2 min news clip or paragraph can't tell you, ways to act and help our community (both locally and global), information about different NPOs that you can look into, and my experiences when I travel overseas.
So please, stay, learn, and act.
Will you walk with me?
First I would like to thank you for visiting my blog. I understand there are millions of blogs on the internet these days, so for you to stumble across mine is an honor. This blog is going to be an experiment for me. I say experiment for several reasons. First, it is not going to be a blog just about me. I hope that this site will inspire people to go out into the world and give a helping hand. I do not know if my blog will be successful, however, for me not to write it, would be for me to go against what I believe. Let me explain why this going to be an experiment:
1.) The main focus of this blog will get people to act. I am not talking about giving up your profession and going to Africa for the rest of your life. I am talking about taking 5 minutes of your day, maybe daily, monthly, or even just once, to realize the need in the world to help someone. That's right, 5 minutes and you can save a life or contribute to the world. I will try to post quick and easy tips that people can do to help out. Also, there will be information on non-profit organizations that you can donate your time or money to.
2.) Visitors will also be informed of what is going on in the world. Too often do we get our information from tabloid news, if it leads it bleeds formats, and reality shows on television. However, the real issues are not said or televised on CNN, Fox News, or MSNBC. There are far worse problems than the Brittany Spears of our world and also far better stories then how to flip your house or make a million dollars. I will address these issues as they happen.
3.) Also, I will use this blog as a travel journal of my time overseas in Iraq. This is an experiment that I hope will go very well. Most Americans have no clue what is happening over there. During the year I will be there, I will post my experiences through my eyes (and stories through others'). However, this will be an experiment. Because I am a photographer in the military I have limitations and codes of ethics that I am responsible for to the military. However, I think you might be surprised on what you will hear, so stay tuned.
4.) The last concern I have is if this site will even be successful in my goal. Because of time restrictions and internet restrictions that I have in Iraq, I hope I will be able to update this site frequently, but I will not know until I get out there.
Hopefully this blog will be successful. This is not a site for me to use to gain an audience of my life or a number on a friends list. This site is a call to action and information. People need to know what is happening to our world. More importantly they need the guidance and encouragement to know that they can make a difference.
1.) The main focus of this blog will get people to act. I am not talking about giving up your profession and going to Africa for the rest of your life. I am talking about taking 5 minutes of your day, maybe daily, monthly, or even just once, to realize the need in the world to help someone. That's right, 5 minutes and you can save a life or contribute to the world. I will try to post quick and easy tips that people can do to help out. Also, there will be information on non-profit organizations that you can donate your time or money to.
2.) Visitors will also be informed of what is going on in the world. Too often do we get our information from tabloid news, if it leads it bleeds formats, and reality shows on television. However, the real issues are not said or televised on CNN, Fox News, or MSNBC. There are far worse problems than the Brittany Spears of our world and also far better stories then how to flip your house or make a million dollars. I will address these issues as they happen.
3.) Also, I will use this blog as a travel journal of my time overseas in Iraq. This is an experiment that I hope will go very well. Most Americans have no clue what is happening over there. During the year I will be there, I will post my experiences through my eyes (and stories through others'). However, this will be an experiment. Because I am a photographer in the military I have limitations and codes of ethics that I am responsible for to the military. However, I think you might be surprised on what you will hear, so stay tuned.
4.) The last concern I have is if this site will even be successful in my goal. Because of time restrictions and internet restrictions that I have in Iraq, I hope I will be able to update this site frequently, but I will not know until I get out there.
Hopefully this blog will be successful. This is not a site for me to use to gain an audience of my life or a number on a friends list. This site is a call to action and information. People need to know what is happening to our world. More importantly they need the guidance and encouragement to know that they can make a difference.
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