Calling all bloggers. Please repost this to reach more people.
I was watching this morning’s newscast and there are still hungry typhoon victims not reached by help.
Typhoon Yolanda left millions of people homeless, starving and worst, without a family. Please do something to help.
PLEASE REBLOG.
You never know how much generous people can reach this.
(credits to the pics owners)
http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2156862,00.html
In this week’s Time Magazine JOEL STEIN writes that people are wasting a lot of time. They should really leave that to the professionals.
He says about 20% of the 31,000 volunteer Wikipedia contributors spend more than three hours a day editing entries.
People answer surveys on pop-up ads, phone calls and e-mail. – – – –
He points out that before the Internet came along, most people rarely wrote anything at all for pleasure or intellectual satisfaction after graduating from high school or college. – – – –
We pray for them
Today is Armistice Day. World War I ended on this day 95 years ago. We remember the soldiers from this war and all the other wars who did not grow old, who did not come home.
We arrived at Dapto Mall at 11 o’clock in the morning right at the start of the remembrance minute. Everybody stopped in their tracks for the remembrance. Where Peter and I stood there was a flower-shop nearby. Later on I started taking pictures of the beautiful flowers. The sales-woman approached me asking whether she could do anything for me.I said I’d just like to take some pictures of the flowers. And the woman let me do this and went on with her work sorting out and arranging flowers for display.
The flower shop is right in the middle of the walkway. In the shop on the other side I noticed a lot of For Sale signs and took pictures.
Apparently the Post Shop provides a service for travellers. And last but not least I noticed a display to entice people to buy something for their babies.
Armistice means: A state of peace agreed to between opponents so they can discuss peace terms.
Maybe ninety-five years ago people were hoping that this had been the war to end all wars. How many people have been sent to war since then? Why cannot people live in peace everywhere in every country?
Even without wars, how many people are there who loose their lives in natural disasters? Thinking of the mass casualties after super typhoon Haiyan swept the Philippines last Friday, I feel very weepy. So many people died, and so many people lost everything and need an awful lot of help just to survive. The pictures of devastation are horrendous. All the countries and agencies who are in a position to organise some kind of help work none stop to do just this right now. This is wonderful that there are people in this world to give selflessly of their expertise and time not matter what the difficulties. Sometimes they give their lives so that others can live, same as all the soldiers who are remembered today. We should never forget their sacrifice.
I wonder what sort of mail Santa would receive. Walking for a bit through a major shopping centre today we became quickly aware that business for Christmas has already started. Festive decorations everywhere and the specialty shops exhibiting the most beautiful things for your home to celebrate the Christmas season.
For afternoon coffee we went to see Monika and Mark. Monika was in the process of finishing a lovely large fruit tart.
http://education-news-update.blogspot.com.au/2013/05/former-student-runs-global-poverty.html
The following was published on the 16th May 2013.
Akram Azimi, a former Warwick Senior High School student and the 2013 Young Australian of the Year, will be visiting schools across Australia in Term 2 on behalf of the Global Poverty Project
How Akram spends his time at schools is up to teachers to decide. It could be in the form of a one-on-one mentoring session, a group workshop, or an inspirational speech.
In 1999, 11-year-old Akram Azimi and his mother arrived in Australia from Afghanistan as asylum seekers. With limited English, Akram struggled to academically, failing English in both Years 8 and 9.
Many teachers assisted Akram by spending extra time with him before and after school and during recess and lunch. One teacher in particular, Andrew Bell, took on the role of mentor to Akram and coached him in History, English and Australian culture.
It was through this mentoring that Akram was able to turn his academic results around and amazingly, achieve the highest Tertiary Entrance Rank in his school.
Akram is living proof of the importance of mentoring, in helping young people reach their potential, and now Akram wants to inspire students to achieve academic success and develop positive attitudes.
The Global Poverty Project’s presentation has been seen in over 150 schools to an audience of over 10,000 students.
“This presentation is incredibly informative,” says Akram. “In a world where we are constantly exposed to negative stories, it offers schools the opportunity to complement the national Civics and Citizenship curriculum with a uniquely positive narrative of how the world is becoming a better place.”
“This presentation is an exercise in global citizenry that equips students with the knowledge and tools they need to become change-makers.”
“Our sense of self-esteem comes from service to others.”
“This presentation gives students the chance to discover global issues and their self-worth. I highly recommend every school student in Australia see this presentation.”
To book your presentation with Akram please contact Ashlee Uren, Youth and Schools Coordinator for the Global Poverty Project, by telephoning 0431 923 003 or by emailing ashlee.uren@globalpovertyproject.com.
Thursday, 7 November 2013
Yesterday I listened to ABC Conversations with Richard Fidler. Yesterday’s guest was Akram Azimi. This Akram is incredibly well spoken and yet he came to Australia as a refugee thirteen years ago with no English whatsoever. His story is a true eye opener.
Akram Azimi fled Afghanistan thirteen years ago and settled in Perth as a refugee. He was named 2013 Young Australian of the Year.
Akram undertook his first year at an Australian high school having just arrived in the country and with very little English. He progressed to become Head Boy and school dux by his senior year.
While studying for a triple-degree at University, he became involved with a mentorship scheme, working with Indigenous families in The Kimberley.
The experience profoundly changed Akram’s aspirations, and he’s since initiated other schemes to promote understanding between Indigenous and non-Indigenous cultures, as well as continuing to mentor young people across Western Australia.
I just read this book review and am fascinated by what this Czech author has experienced during the course of his life, how he fared as a Jew under the Nazis and under Communism.
Island Traveler says: “Being with family and friends always brings sunshine and joy. I miss spending Sundays with my sisters and parents, tons of nephews and nieces. ”
In some communities or cultures families meet regularly once a week or so. In Australia large Italian or Greek families are known for having these weekly family gatherings. They are mostly first or second generation ‘New Australians’ as far as I know. For following generations it may already be a bit different.
As far as I can see families overall do keep some contact if this is at all possible and usually enjoy these family gatherings. However modern life and living not in the same area may interfere, so that families cannot see each other as often as they would like.
If families stay close together living in the same area, this is usually a cultural thing. Some people who grew up in a close knit community do very much enjoy to be part of it. If circumstances necessitate to leave this close knit community they may experience a sense of loss. Other people who grew up not belonging to a certain community, later on maybe do not strive so much to belong to one.
I think my mother never wanted to belong to an extended family. My father was the opposite. To him keeping close contact with all his siblings was always important. As far as I can remember my mother resented this. She did not want to be involved with the extended family. It shows that people have different priorities. These different priorities can lead to marital frictions. What do you think?
Today was Melbourne Cup Day in Australia. Fashions are very important on that day. When you go to the above link you can get a bit of a glance at some of the fashions. Enjoy! 🙂
AuntyUta 