Free Rice

Is it possible to feed someone who is hungry in a third world country by playing a word game online? Apparently it is. While I am initially skeptical, I am intriqued. In 10 minutes of testing and expanding my vocabulary, I have managed to donate 400 grains of rice. Visually, how much rice is 400 grains? Well leave it to me to count grains of rice! I discovered that 400 grains equals approximately 2 tsp's of rice. That's not much really, but I can see how it can add up. Doing the math, since 1 tsp is 5 grams, and that equals to approximately 200 grains of rice, there are 10,000 grains of rice in one cup (250 grams). Later this afternoon I decided to test my vocabulary once again. In less than half an hour I raised 1,000 grains of rice. Since the launch of this site on October 7th, 2007; more than 1 Billion grains of rice have been donated. An article from the World Food Program states that through those grains of rice - 50,000 people had enough rice for one day. Using my math calculation that works out to 2 cups per person which I would say is a fair amount.

How it works is the website provides you with a word, and you have the option of 4 other words to choose from that best describe the first word. If you get it right, the site donates 10 grains of rice to the United Nations World Food Program (http://www.wfp.com/). How they raise money is that every time you get a word right, 3 advertisers show up at the bottom of the screen. The money that is spent on advertising is used to then purchase the rice. Most of the advertisers are big name companies, which is good to see their support for this cause.

Now the quote that came to mind is "give a man a fish and he will eat for a day, teach a man to fish and he will eat for a lifetime". With rice being a vital staple in Asia, Latin America, and many African countries, it is something that is valuable in fighting hunger. Seeing the labour that goes into picking rice from my recent trip to Cambodia, it is not something people can easily access on their own. Therefore, help in supplementing rice can go a long way in fighting hunger. The operational aim of the World Food Program is to:

* Save lives in refugee crises and other emergencies

* Improve nutrition and quality of life of world's most vulnerable people at critical times in their lives

*Enable development by (a) helping people build assets that benefit them directly; (b) promoting the self-reliance of poor people and communities

World hunger is a big issue that can't be ignored, can it be so easy to play a part in making a difference? Apparently it is. I must admit, it can be fun too! I rather enjoyed testing and expanding my vocabulary. As you get a word right, it will provide a harder word. If you get a word wrong it will give you an easier word. It continues to adapt, showing your your vocabulary level as you go along. Go ahead, test yourself, have fun, and help make a practical impact!

http://www.freerice.com/

How Far Can a Smile Go?

Tonight was a cold and damp night, one of the first snowfalls now coming down as rain. As I stood in line, I spotted a man. He was seated on the ground with a ratty cardboard sign to accompany his requests for money to be placed in his empty coffee cup. I saw numerous people pass by without even a glance, as if he wasn't there. As it came my turn, I simply looked him in the eyes and smiled. He beamed back a smile and said he hoped I had a good night and enjoyed the show. The interesting thing is he didn't ask me for a thing, yet responded as if I had filled his cup.

There are many ways that we can help the poor or vulnerable. We can give change, perhaps buy them a coffee or a hot meal. Keep granola bars, or bottled water in your bag or trunk to share with someone who might need it. You can also give them your time, talk to them, or at the very least acknowledge them as a person. Give them respect, and smile. This is something I have begun to realize the importance of. It was also reinforced upon hearing the story of 2 guys in the USA who spent 5 months living on the streets in 6 American cities to really understand what it is like to not have a home, living on the streets with nothing but the pack on their back. One of them shared at a conference I was at recently. He shared how people living on the streets really do begin to feel dejected as people walk past, pretending they aren't sitting there. You can read more about their experience at http://www.undertheoverpass.com/.

As I left the show to head home, he remained in his seat. Again as I passed I smiled, and his face had an instant recognition as if we were friends. He asked if I enjoyed the show, and I responded that I had, and we greeted each other goodnight. I won't necessarily know how our interaction will affect this man, but I hope it gave him a little bit of light in his day. At least once today, maybe even this week or month, someone took the time to acknowledge him as a person.

I encourage you, please acknowledge the poor and vulnerable - whether it is someone you encounter on the streets, someone you see at work or school that is down, lonely, or rejected. Even if it is just a smile, your smile may be the first smile they've seen all day.

It Starts With Love

This weekend I came to the realization that in order to affect change, it has to start with love. Our desire to affect change needs to be greater than the alternative. If we are content with our own circumstances in life, and meeting our own needs, change cannot happen outside of ourselves. I continue to learn that love is a very complex word that is more than just something to say. I am learning in order to affect change we need to really love others. If we truly love others, our choices and actions will reflect it.

Humanity has been commanded to love our neighbours as ourselves. The statement "love your neighbour as yourselves" is mentioned 6 times, in both the Old and New Testament in the Bible. It's not just an old tradition or old wives tale. I do think though, anyone - regardless of their particular beliefs - can acknowedge that we all desire to be loved, and can understand the truth in that statement. The question then is who is your neighbour? I was reminded this weekend that our neighbours are any of the approximately 6.68 Billion people that call the planet Earth their home.

How we show love may differ person to person. A great place to start is with something you are passionate about. How can you use your passions to help someone in your community, in your city, in our country, somewhere in another part of the globe? I encourage you to take time to think about that. Perhaps you are a gifted writer, artist, musician, dancer - you could help tutor or mentor someone, teach a class to those who would maybe not otherwise have the opportunity. Perhaps you enjoy doing things for people - visit nursing homes to spend time with people who may not have family to come visit, run errands or other tasks for people who are shut in their homes, play basketball with disadvantaged youth, do a sandwhich run for the homeless, the opportunities are endless.

Please remember that the people who are poor and oppressed in this world, are people. They have needs, and feelings. I have been reminded that sometimes it is easier to be ignorant. In the process we can often leave people feeling unlovable or worthless. This is where love comes in. Take some time to show some love to someone you would otherwise pass by. Take some time to help someone outside your normal sphere of influence. I am going to.

If we all made effort to love through our choices and actions, I wonder what an impact that could make around the globe?

The Gift That Goes The Distance

teddy bear - $5
ball - $1
kids t-shirt - $4
pencils - $1
pencil sharpener -$0.50
crayons - $1
colouring book - $2
notebook - $1
stickers - $1
hard candy - $1
bar of soap - $0.50
card - $2
smile on the face of the child that opens that shoebox? Priceless!

Just think...a shoe box can contain the most valued treasures a child owns!

By now, many people have heard of Operation Christmas Child. Since 1993, Samaritan's Purse has collected and distributed more than 54 Million shoe boxes from 11 participating countries and has delivered the shoe boxes to children in 125 nations around the world! Last year alone, Canadians generously donated 738, 079 shoe boxes, part of the 7.6 million collected worldwide in 2006!

Think about your typical Christmas. Do you know how much money the average Canadian spends on Christmas presents each year? Upwards of $500 to $900 dollars! In the US that amount increases up to $1500! To think just $20 will fill a shoe box of goodies for a deserving child. It is estimated that there are over 33,000,000 people living in Canada. Last year if the number of shoe boxes represents the number of people who donated a shoe box, only 2% of Canadian's gave a shoe box! What a simple way to make a difference in the life of a child!

Think about it...will you consider giving a shoe box this Christmas? Why not do it with some friends? Coworkers? Your family? Encourage others to do the same! Check out the website for more details on donating a shoe box.

Samaritan's Purse does a lot of other great projects! In fact a friend of mine has been involved with projects around the world building practical BioSand water filters. On the Samaritan's Purse Canadian website she is quoted as saying “(The BioSand Water Filter is) such a simple technology, but something that profoundly affects people in so many ways." In fact each water filter costs only $100 and are built on location with local materials. Not only do the filters clean the water of impurities, they also remove bacteria and viruses. Having brought a water-bourne parasite home with me from Malawi last year, I know the importance of clean water! :o) These water filters make such a dramatic difference in the lives of people all around the world, in such a practical way. They are making a change in the lives of over half a million people! Just think, more than 70,000 water filters were built in homes, communities, schools and clinics, bringing improved water to an estimated 560,000 individuals worldwide!

Now you know...think about it. Check out their Canadian website at www.samaritanspurse.ca or their international site at www.samaritanspurse.com for more information.

Fair Trade - NO Gimmick

Fair Trade is not a fad or a gimmick. It is a practical way to affect the lives of real people. Do you expect a fair wage for the work you do? So do people working in other countries.

I know I haven't typically paid much attention to fair trade products. Products that aren't fair trade tend to cost less, but at whose expense? As I begin to investigate different justice issues and how we can affect change, I realize how important fair trade really is.

In Canada, I am happy to see that there is an organization that is dedicated to helping Canadian consumers identify products that are fair trade certified. That organization is TransFair Canada. Here's what they have to say about fair trade.

About Fair Trade
Fair Trade is an international system of doing business
based on dialogue, transparency and respect. It contributes
to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions for
producers and workers in developing countries. Behind the principles and
goals of Fair Trade is a rigorous international system of monitoring,
auditing and certification.

The international Fair Trade system is structured to produce the
following outcomes for farmers and workers in developing countries:

- Fair compensation for their products and labour
- Sustainable environmental practices
- Improved social services
- Investment in local economic infrastructure

TransFair Canada labels items that are certified as free trade. I am encouraged to look for and buy products labeled as fair trade when I have a chance. I challenge you to do the same.

For more information about TransFair Canada go to www.transfair.ca. Perhaps you might consider their newsletter as well, they have great stories of how fair trade is making an impact, and some ideas how you can too. Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International is an international umbrella organization to intiatives in 21 countries, like Canada. To see some of the work being done internationally, or in your country visit http://www.fairtrade.net/.

Justice - A beginning...

My passion for justice began when I became aware of the issue of child sexual exploitation. There are girls and boys being treated in unthinkable ways around the world. This summer I was able to meet some of the girls in Cambodia who have been freed from such modern day slavery. An experience that has forever touched my heart, and changed my perspective.

After recently sitting in a room full of people talking about justice issues, I began to think about my growing passion for justice. There were many ideas and suggestions about how we can seek justice both locally and internationally. One of the challenges I haven't really thought much about is that of what we purchase. Not many people stop to think how the things they are purchasing affect the people who help make the products around the world. I look at the shirt I own that says "made in Cambodia". Having been to Cambodia and driven past many factories that make clothing, I wonder how those factories treat their employees, and about the person that made that shirt - how old were they? how much were they paid? how were they treated? I desire to investigate companies and organizations that make positive attempts in areas of social justice. By doing this, my hope is that I will be able to spend my money more intentionally, but also help equip others to do the same. It's not just how we spend our money either. There are simple things we can do that can make a world of difference. I hope to share some of those ideas through this blog as well.

In the past I haven't been big on blogging, but I realized if I can write about my encounters with practical ways to affect change, others might be encouraged to do the same. There are so many different justice issues, so I look forward to exploring different ways we can effect change!