change the world

do you want change? it seems that is a catch phrase that is popular now but what will it cost?

do you want change? don't lie, tell the truth

do you want change? don't steal, be honest

do you want change? don't hook up, be faithful

do you want change? don't use people, make a commitment

do you want change? don't hoard, be generous

do you want change? get to know your neighbors

do you want change? give your life away

do you want change?  forgive someone who has hurt you, someone who doesn't deserve it

change is hard, its challenging, it takes work, sacrifice, it takes love

do you want change?

a long way gone

I finished a sobering book called "A long way gone" by Ishmael Beah.  It is a memoir of Ishmael's days as a boy soldier caught up in the brutal civil war in the African country of Sierra Leone.  It is a chilling account of the atrocities that are occurring in that African nation.  As I read the book in the safety of my expensive home in a quiet suburban neighborhood it was hard for me to even grasp the magnitude or reality of the situation over there.  It is mind boggling to me how quickly we as humans can sink to the lowest form of existence.  One where human life means nothing where there is absolutely no conscience and slitting someone's throat is no different than tying one's shoe.  

These kids, as young  as seven years old, are recruited to become killers.  They've seen their families murdered and raped.  They are starving and lost as they wander the countryside. No one will take them in because during this civil war no one trusts anyone,  no one can. Finally they either fall into the hands of rebel or government troops who then give them food, guns and drugs.  They are then kept high most of the time as they are taught to kill with impunity.

This story offers hope in a completely depressing and seemingly hopeless situation.  It is written in a  simple straightforward style and is not hard to follow.  For me I have to ask myself if I have a conscience.  If I read a book like this and do nothing I don't see myself as any different then the one's exploiting those kids.  Each of us are called to a higher purpose; to do something outside of ourselves for others.  If this story doesn't prick a nerve in one's core then some serious self examination is warranted.

ethanol, starvation and global warming

Not far from Portland, Oregon  an ethanol plant is being built which will convert corn into gasoline.  There is a rail yard being constructed to accomodate all the container cars that will soon be carrying corn from all over the country to this plant.  The farmers are happy.  The environmentalists are happy.  Unfortunately not everybody is happy.  People are rioting in Egypt and in Africa because of the rising cost of food.  People in Haiti are eating dirt!  Yes, dirt! Why?  Because food is becoming too expensive and  if you only earn two dollars a day the cost is quickly out of reach with any bit of inflation.  So to fight the hunger pains vendors mix clay, salt and some shortening or cooking oil together to  make mud cookies that dry in the sun. They sell for about a nickel apiece.  Has anybody here eaten dirt before?

People are starving to death around the world and we want to turn our food into gasoline? I have read it takes one gallon of gasoline to produce 1.3 gallons of ethanol.  Also if every bit of food grown in this country was converted to biofuel it would only supply 10% of our gasoline needs!    Is it really worth it?   Yet we go on, willing to wreak unbearable suffering on the poorest people on the planet and starve them and their children because we are hell bent on stopping global warming!   I guess  one way to stop global warming is by making food so expensive that half the world starves to death thus reducing their carbon footprint.  

Where is the common sense?  Where is the compassion?  I for one believe it is immoral to convert food into gasoline when people are starving and eating dirt for dinner.  Remember that fact the next time  you fill up your tank with ethanol.