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Princess Zar's Friends
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Catapult.
About this category: Environment
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See, humans are in a bit of a predicament. We are hyper-intelligent creative geniuses. We’ve modernised medicine, built buildings on top of mountains, squeezed nourishment out of thin soil, created worldwide communicative networks, even become conscious of the vast universe and the physics which dictate it. Yet it seems like the more we control and understand the Earth, the more we forget our simple, age-old reliance on nature. We’ve basically grown too big for our boots. Like children, we’ve eaten all our candy, and now we’re shaking the bag, wondering when Halloween’s coming.
Nature has always swung like a massive pendulum, ticking from ice age to the next, creating vast numbers of species and then gobbling them back up again. Human activity, and the power we’ve held at our fingertips since the start of the industrial revolution has muddled the pendulum, swinging it further and further back, arming it like a giant catapult. There’s no denying that. Yet simply that we can grasp this fact gives us a power no animal has ever had before. Not only do we understand the disastrous consequences of scraping the sea of life, burning the rainforests and frivolously consuming the precious oil that lies underneath it, but we also understand how we can stop them from happening. This is truly the human predicament; the cause and the comprehension all squeezed into one tiny little body (times 7 billion).
When I was 18, I walked past a bloke called Steve on the streets of Sydney. He called me over and asked me if I wanted a job. Now I’d just come out a of pretty terrible door-to-door salesman job. The kind that sucks out your soul and leaves you weeping on the floor. However, I was broke, so I let him continue, and he told me that Greenpeace had a job going, fundraising, street work, good pay blardy blardy blar. Now I’d always been quite fond of charities. I had always said I would work for one when I had some years on me. I knew a little about Greenpeace, but not much more than they saved whales and the Earth.
Two days later, I took the job, like a fish to water, and it changed my life. Peak oil. Peak bloody oil. If you don’t know what it is, check it out. This was my moment of comprehension. This was the moment when I saw the twisted catapulting demon of a pendulum in all its glory.
Now after Greenpeace, I pretty much dedicated my life to campaigning. I joined groups, organised events, and chatted to everyone about palm oil and greenhouse gases. I was so enthusiastic, enthused, and thought I could quick-fix it all. Then came the Copenhagen brick wall. You see, I’m 22, until the last few years, I’ve had no real say or understanding over my future and the way that the worlds’ resources are used. In many ways, my generation has been loaded with a burden from our cradles. We’ve been given the catapult and been told to deal with it. At the Copenhagen climate summit in 2009, I saw this, and it broke my heart. It made me angry, frustrated, I blamed my parents and their age group. I looked at people my age in the Maldives who are going to lose their home, country in their lifetime. I saw greedy politicians signing crucial policies like they were doodling. I got upset, and blocked it out of my mind, hid away from caring about anything for many months.
It wasn’t until about a year ago that I started to look at the world again, and tried to understand my role in it. I met some incredible people, chatted to friends and pulled myself up to face the music. And I found something much better than I had before. I found that my generation has the comprehension and the tools to change the world in an almost inconceivable way. But we also have something else which could be crucial. We have the understanding that if we don’t do anything the slacken the tension on the catapult, we could be faced with some pretty harsh truths within our lifetime, and certainly within the lifetimes of our children. We also stand at a cross roads – one leading down an eerie dark path surrounded by deadened, withered trees and scary looking eyes peeking from behind knarled bushes, and one bright, cheerful, green, with the odd frolicking lamb and beautiful butterfly.
What an opportunity, and I say bring it on. Onwards and upwards. I’ve got my eye and heart set on that butterfly.
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Relax, Pop a Cold One, and See If You Find Something You Enjoy Here !!
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G'Day All --
I hope you'll find something you enjoy on one or more of the web pages that I have recently linked together.
Near the top of each page, in the center, you'll see a small image of one kind or another.
Just click on the image, and you'll be taken to the next page in the series. If you continue clicking, you will soon arrive back at the page from which you started.
All the material on these pages is there for you -- and any of your friends who will use it constructively.
Try beginning at: Kilroy's Fireside Library
http://www.angelfire.com/ca5/yourturf3/KilroysFiresideLibrary.htm
After you have explored the library, just click on the little (yellow-colored) picture of Kilroy, near the top of the page.
One small anomaly you will notice is that there are two versions of the page entitled: "Kyosai's Haiku Works" -- one for Japan, and one for the USA. Being a Yank, I began by making just one page that was more-or-less USA-oriented -- but then realized there should be another page to properly recognize the fact that the fascinating form of poetry known as haiku (as well as taiko drumming, which is also featured in the page's film clips) originated in Japan -- consequently, the additional page entitled "Kyosai's Japan Haiku Works." Of course, folks every nationality are most welcome to visit and enjoy either of these two pages that you find of interest. Except for the "header" and "footer" sections, both pages are identical in content.
Try surfing through the full series, and have fun !! If you like what you find, please tell others. If you don't -- or if you have questions, comments, or suggestions for improvement, please tell me !!
>>> If you want to forward this material to others, the correct URL is:
http://civact6.tigblog.org/post/4809117
Best wishes to all,
Dave Matthews, Facilitator
The Civic Action Free University
http://www.tcafu.net
"Nation-Building: Are You Serious ??"
E-Mail Address: civact6@yahoo.com
****************************************************
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Resistance to Oppression -- Two Powerful Movies
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G'Day All --
Item 1. As you probably know, at The Civic Action Free University's on-line movie theater, "Kilroy's Classic Film Festival," we are gradually collecting a wide selection of movies -- from the entertaining to the serious.
Two very powerful films that focus on Resistance to Oppression are:
A. "Gandhi," the outstanding movie covering Mahatma Gandhi's life, and his leadership of the revolution of non-violent direct action to achieve India's independence from British colonial rule.
B. "Z," a fictional but breathtakingly realistic portrayal of efforts to overcome the repressive military dictatorship that had come to power in Greece during the late 1960s.
Both of these movies have recently been added to Kilroy's Film Festival -- you will find them in the "Newest Arrivals" section:
Kilroy's Classic Film Festival -- Newest Arrivals
Enjoy the movies !! Obviously, if you don't care to watch them in short segments on a computer screen, it should not be too difficult to find DVDs so you can see full-length versions on your television screen instead.
New films are continually being added to the Kilroy's Film Fest page, so you are cordially invited to come back frequently and sample the latest arrivals.
***
Item 2. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights:
A. In Hindi (PDF format):
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/UDHR/Documents/UDHR_Translations/hnd.pdf
B. In Greek (PDF format):
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/UDHR/Documents/UDHR_Translations/grk.pdf
>>> and
C. In All Other Languages:
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/UDHR/Pages/SearchByLang.aspx
***
>>> If you want to forward this material to others, the correct URL is:
http://civact6.tigblog.org/post/1857221
***
I hope this information will be useful. If you have questions or need further assistance, please advise.
Best wishes to all,
Dave Matthews, Facilitator
The Civic Action Free University
http://www.tcafu.net
"Nation-Building: Are You Serious ??"
E-Mail Address: civact6@yahoo.com
***********************************************
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| February 13, 2010 | 5:25 PM |
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Resistance to Oppression -- Two Powerful Movies
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G'Day All --
Item 1. As you probably know, at The Civic Action Free University's on-line movie theater, "Kilroy's Classic Film Festival," we are gradually collecting a wide selection of movies -- from the entertaining to the serious.
Two very powerful films that focus on Resistance to Oppression are:
A. "Gandhi," the outstanding movie covering Mahatma Gandhi's life, and his leadership of the revolution of non-violent direct action to achieve India's independence from British colonial rule.
B. "Z," a fictional but breathtakingly realistic portrayal of efforts to overcome the repressive military dictatorship that had come to power in Greece during the late 1960s.
Both of these movies have recently been added to Kilroy's Film Festival -- you will find them in the "Newest Arrivals" section:
Kilroy's Classic Film Festival -- Newest Arrivals
Enjoy the movies !! Obviously, if you don't care to watch them in short segments on a computer screen, it should not be too difficult to find DVDs so you can see full-length versions on your television screen instead.
New films are continually being added to the Kilroy's Film Fest page, so you are cordially invited to come back frequently and sample the latest arrivals.
***
Item 2. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights:
A. In Hindi (PDF format):
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/UDHR/Documents/UDHR_Translations/hnd.pdf
B. In Greek (PDF format):
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/UDHR/Documents/UDHR_Translations/grk.pdf
>>> and
C. In All Other Languages:
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/UDHR/Pages/SearchByLang.aspx
***
>>> If you want to forward this material to others, the correct URL is:
http://civact6.tigblog.org/post/1857221
***
I hope this information will be useful. If you have questions or need further assistance, please advise.
Best wishes to all,
Dave Matthews, Facilitator
The Civic Action Free University
http://www.tcafu.net
"Nation-Building: Are You Serious ??"
E-Mail Address: civact6@yahoo.com
***********************************************
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| February 13, 2010 | 5:25 PM |
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1. Power for the People: Micro-Hydro in Afghan Villages, 2. Pashto Music, and 3. Haiti Earthquake Recovery Update
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G'Day All --
Item 1. Power for the People: Micro-Hydro in Afghan Villages
Item 2. Pashto Music
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights:
A. In Pashto (PDF format):
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/UDHR/Documents/UDHR_Translations/pbu.pdf
>>> and
B. In All Other Languages:
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/UDHR/Pages/SearchByLang.aspx
***
Item 3: Haiti Earthquake Recovery Update
The White House -- Haiti Earthquake Relief
U.S. Agency for International Development -- Help for Haiti
Non-Governmental Organizations and Programs
1. InterAction Community Continues to Coordinate Massive Haiti Relief Efforts
2. Idealist -- Haiti: Technology in a Time of Crisis
USAID, InterAction, Idealist, as well as TIGWeb, also provide directories of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) that have been routinely carrying out humanitarian and/or development assistance activities in Haiti. These directories can be accessed by means of the links you will find on the following web page:
Directories Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) Engaged in Assistance Efforts Throughout the World
***
I hope this information will be useful. If you have questions or comments, please feel free to share them with the rest of us.
***
>>> If you would like to forward this material to others, the correct URL is:
http://civact6.tigblog.org/post/1836215
***
Best wishes to all,
Dave Matthews, Facilitator
The Civic Action Free University
http://www.tcafu.net
"Nation-Building: Are You Serious ??"
E-Mail Address: civact6@yahoo.com
***********************************************
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| January 24, 2010 | 4:02 PM |
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Haiti Disaster Response Options and Efforts
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G'Day All --
As widely reported by the news media this morning, President Obama has outlined one of the most effective ways that we can respond quickly and effectively to assist Haiti's earthquake victims:
The White House Blog -- Help for Haiti
Anyone who wishes to learn more about rescue, relief, and recovery efforts may find the following additional links helpful:
1. U.S. Agency for International Development -- Haiti Earthquake Relief
2. InterAction Members Respond to Earthquake in Haiti
3. Idealist -- Haiti Earthquake Response
USAID, InterAction, Idealist, as well as TIGWeb, also provide directories of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) that have been routinely carrying out humanitarian assistance and/or development activities in Haiti. These directories can be accessed by means of the links you will find on the following web page:
Directories Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) Engaged in Assistance Efforts Throughout the World
***
I hope this information will be useful. If you have questions or comments, please feel free to share them with the rest of us.
***
>>> If you would like to forward this material to others, the correct URL is:
http://civact6.tigblog.org/post/1824843
***
Best wishes to all,
Dave Matthews, Facilitator
The Civic Action Free University
http://www.tcafu.net
"Nation-Building: Are You Serious ??"
E-Mail Address: civact6@yahoo.com
***********************************************
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| January 13, 2010 | 6:40 PM |
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A Community Action Film Festival
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G'Day All --
BRAVO !! to the increasing number of non-profit anti-poverty Community Action Agencies across the USA that are beginning to develop useful, informative film clips, and making them available to the general public by means of YouTube, Google, or other similar services.
We look forward to more such productions -- especially those providing documentary-type summaries of projects as they are carried out -- from identifying a community need, planning, funding, organizing, staging, and implementing, to outcomes achieved.
Agencies that possess high quality video films from previous years that are not significantly outdated may want to look into the possibility of having such material digitized, so that it can be uploaded to the 'Net without the cost and effort needed to re-create the content from scratch.
You will find the new Community Action Film Festival page in the following section of The Civic Action Free University:
Item 15 on the Site Navigation Panel, i.e.: "Community Action: National Organizations, The Virtual CAP, and On-Line Agencies Across the USA," at:
http://www.angelfire.com/ca4/yourturf/civactnet.htm#On-Line_CAAs
Or, you can access the Film Festival page directly, at:
http://www.angelfire.com/ca5/yourturf3/CommActionFilmFest.htm
Two items of special interest -- as seen in the top section, just beneath the LBJ / Great Society clips -- are:
1. "The Shopping Bag Lady," that, as you will recognize, is a poignant dramatic production (not an actual case study) providing insight into the world of a homeless person.
2. "Before the Mountain Was Moved" -- an outstanding award-quality 1969 film about Community Action in Raleigh County, West Virginia.
I hope this material will be of interest. If you have questions or comments, please feel free to share them with the rest of us.
***
Civic Action Options for International Impact
You are cordially invited to visit and explore our "Options for International Impact" Page, at:
http://www.angelfire.com/ca6/yourturf4/internatimpactoptions.html
If you have suggestions for the further development of this page's contents, we would be very glad to receive them !! Just drop a note to the Facilitator, at the e-mail address at the end of this post.
***
>>> If you would like to forward this material to others, the correct URL is:
http://civact6.tigblog.org/post/1816391
***
Best wishes to all,
Dave Matthews, Facilitator
The Civic Action Free University
http://www.tcafu.net
"Nation-Building: Are You Serious ??"
E-Mail Address: civact6@yahoo.com
***********************************************
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| January 4, 2010 | 9:45 PM |
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Merry Christmas / Happy Holidays !!
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G'Day All --
Just like the holiday decorations in many communities, our greeting looks the same as last year's -- but all of the links have been updated to offer you a "banquet of goodies."
http://www.angelfire.com/ca4/yourturf/TIGHolidayGreeting.htm
You will find some new film clips (and some old favorites too !!) in the Kilroy's Kaleidoscope section, about two-thirds down the page. Sample one or two each day for the next week or so, and you'll be "in the spirit" in time for the Main Event !!
Among them, don't miss:
The Little Match Girl
and
Peace on Earth
Also, be sure to visit and enjoy the *new* LibriVox Christmas Jamboree section at the bottom of the page.
***
Civic Action Options for International Impact
You are cordially invited to visit and explore our "Options for International Impact" Page, at:
http://www.angelfire.com/ca6/yourturf4/internatimpactoptions.html
If you have any suggestions for improving and/or upgrading this page's contents, we would be very glad to receive them !! Just drop a note to the Facilitator, at the e-mail address at the end of this post.
***
>>> If you would like to forward this material to others, the correct URL is:
http://civact6.tigblog.org/post/1449823
***
Best wishes to all,
Dave Matthews, Facilitator
The Civic Action Free University
http://www.tcafu.net
"Nation-Building: Are You Serious ??"
E-Mail Address: civact6@yahoo.com
***********************************************
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| December 10, 2009 | 8:07 PM |
| December 5, 2009 | 5:24 PM |
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Happy Thanksgiving !!
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G'Day All --
Happy Thanksgiving !! from The Civic Action Free University:
http://www.angelfire.com/ca4/yourturf/TCAFUThanksgivingImages.htm
Hope you enjoy it.
(Notes: Fussy people may ask what the Andre Rieu concert clips have to do with Thanksgiving. My answer: Try watching them, and then tell me if you really think they should be taken out. Also, the Charlie Brown's Thanksgiving clips may be gone from YouTube soon -- so if you enjoy them, give a look while they are still available.)
***
Civic Action Options for International Impact
You are cordially invited to visit and explore our "Options for International Impact" Page, at:
http://www.angelfire.com/ca6/yourturf4/internatimpactoptions.html
If you have any suggestions for improving and/or upgrading this page's contents, we would be very glad to receive them !! Just drop a note to the Facilitator, at the e-mail address at the end of this post.
***
>>> If you would like to forward this material to others, the correct URL is:
http://civact6.tigblog.org/post/1399809
***
Best wishes to all,
Dave Matthews, Facilitator
The Civic Action Free University
http://www.tcafu.net
"Nation-Building: Are You Serious ??"
E-Mail Address: civact6@yahoo.com
***********************************************
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| November 25, 2009 | 3:24 PM |
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Volunteer in Africa and Latin America
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Subject: Volunteer in Africa and Latin America
Posted by: Maria Rejano
My name is Maria from the Philippines; I will be a part of the Ecuador team in November 2009.
Now, I am working in the Area of Promotion at the Richmond Vale Academy, which is located on the beautiful island of Saint Vincent in the Caribbean.
Introductory film clips are available for you to view at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZrMgkgYIGI
and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zx-CV0Bpkf0
If you are interested and want to work in community development in the areas of:
* Child aid & community programs
* Fighting HIV/AIDS
* Start-up and operation of primary and pre schools
* Vocational schools
* Training future teachers
We invite you to become a Development Instructor at the Richmond Vale Academy, and to participate in our projects in Ecuador, Brazil or Africa in the areas previously mentioned.
Our training is based on practical lessons about:
* Development of organizational and communication skills
* Prevention and information of diseases
* Income generation projects
* Organic farming
* Global history and economy
* Conflict resolution
* Basic maintenance and construction skills
* And more
Now, we will tell you a little more about us:
Who we are:
Our school is part of the International DRH Movement and works with HUMANA PEOPLE TO PEOPLE.
HUMANA PEOPLE TO PEOPLE;is an organization that has developed more than 265 projects in 42 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America since 1977. These projects work in the areas previously mentioned and have benefited more than 10 million people living in poverty with lack of health, education and infrastructure.
* For more information about HUMANA please visit:
http://www.humanapeopletopeople.org
HUMANA PEOPLE TO PEOPLE works in cooperation with the International DRH Movement. DRH is an abbreviation for "Den Rejsende Højskole" which means "Traveling Folk High Schools" in Danish. DRH`s objective is to prepare students to work in community development projects with HUMANA PEOPLE TO PEOPLE.
* For more information about DRH please visit:
http://www.drh-movement.org
Today, there are 14 Traveling Folk High Schools located in 8 different countries of Europe, North America, South America, Africa and Asia. Every year around 800 Development Instructors, from over 65 countries, train themselves at one of the DRH Schools in order to take up a position in Latin America or Africa.
The first DRH school began in Denmark in 1970 and the DRH Richmond Vale Academy (RVA) began in 2001.
* For more information about Richmond Vale Academy please visit:
http://www.richmondvaleacademy.org
Requirements:
These programs are open to people, over 17 years old, who are interested in having new challenges and experiences. There is no age limit and no previous academic degrees are required. However, it is essential for you to have a flexible, hardworking, motivated and enthusiastic attitude. Plus, you also need to be willing have simple living conditions or comforts.
If you are interested to become a volunteer in Africa or Latin America, please feel free to contact me at:
volunteeratrva@richmondvaleacademy.org
Cheers!
Maria
***
>>> If you want to forward this material to others, the correct URL is:
http://civact6.tigblog.org/post/1233481
***
The above item re-posted to this TIG Blog by:
Dave Matthews, Facilitator
The Civic Action Free University
http://www.tcafu.net
"Nation-Building: Are You Serious ??"
E-Mail Address: civact6@yahoo.com
***********************************************
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| October 30, 2009 | 8:32 PM |
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