My husband commented with wry disdain last night when switching channels from news of widespread famine in East Africa, to a butcher celebrating the fresh meat he could buy for his dog in a convenient pack from the supermarket.
There has to be a way to distribute wealth in this world, and to distribute food to the hungry. I can't believe that the powers that be still haven't solved this problem. Some of my earliest memories are images of starving children in Ethiopia - the famine that prompted Band Aid almost 30 years ago. 30 years.
I have a cooling bowl of rejected porridge by my left hand, Mr 2 has been exercising his ability to refuse my cooking again. The porridge will be much enjoyed by Big Red and Henny Penny.
Our inherited chooks eat better than millions of people who are lucky if they have safe drinking water.
We all see the problem, but awkwardly change the channel rather than agitate for a solution.
Surely we can do better.
I saw Bono interviewed by Andrew Denton a few years ago, and he said something that really resonated with me. That until we in the rich white nations of the world come to see an African life as having the same innate value as an American/Australian/British etc life, substantial change can't happen.
Imagine there's no countries, it isn't hard to do.
Monday, 25 July 2011
Saturday, 23 July 2011
Argh, I am a blogging failure
So much for a paragraph a day!!!
In amongst it all, I've found it all too easy to just let this slip out of my priorities.
Today was a great day. Beautiful sunshine drenched laundry weather. I did three loads, took the kids to the park, mopped, got the fire going and kept it going, washed up, did some dishes, cooked lunch, split some wood. . . not in that order, but it was a fun filled Saturday all up.
Then Sam got every card out of my wallet and slid them down between a crack in the floorboards, and I lost my shit. Yelled at him to get out of my sight. That's right, the words we all swore we'd never use, that tone of voice - shrill, with a touch of psycho - and the utter loss of the ability to realise that you're dealing with a 2 year old. Lost it. Then had a sob.
Motherhood is my favourite thing. It really is. And the looks that my boys give me, the trust and the love, they are priceless. But some days are better than others, and the terrible twos have delivered me a little guy who needs tons of attention, stimulation, fresh air and affection. He is hard work. It is rewarding beautiful work, but it is hard. When I lose it the sense of shame and guilt makes me feel even worse. Why do mothers feel like we have to do it, and cope with it all, and keep cool, calm and collected in dust-free houses with perfectly made beds and no dirty laundry on the floor? It's both an internal pressure, and an force from without. There are expectations, and an overdeveloped sense of scrutiny. I feel more aware of being assessed in this endeavour than in any other I have undertaken. In some ways I think that is for the best, after all I have two precious, vulnerable lives in my hands and how I raise them really does matter. But surely I would raise them better if I could believe in myself, give myself a break and even, God forbid, an occasional pat on the back.
Sigh.
Here's to trying to blog more often. We shall see.
In amongst it all, I've found it all too easy to just let this slip out of my priorities.
Today was a great day. Beautiful sunshine drenched laundry weather. I did three loads, took the kids to the park, mopped, got the fire going and kept it going, washed up, did some dishes, cooked lunch, split some wood. . . not in that order, but it was a fun filled Saturday all up.
Then Sam got every card out of my wallet and slid them down between a crack in the floorboards, and I lost my shit. Yelled at him to get out of my sight. That's right, the words we all swore we'd never use, that tone of voice - shrill, with a touch of psycho - and the utter loss of the ability to realise that you're dealing with a 2 year old. Lost it. Then had a sob.
Motherhood is my favourite thing. It really is. And the looks that my boys give me, the trust and the love, they are priceless. But some days are better than others, and the terrible twos have delivered me a little guy who needs tons of attention, stimulation, fresh air and affection. He is hard work. It is rewarding beautiful work, but it is hard. When I lose it the sense of shame and guilt makes me feel even worse. Why do mothers feel like we have to do it, and cope with it all, and keep cool, calm and collected in dust-free houses with perfectly made beds and no dirty laundry on the floor? It's both an internal pressure, and an force from without. There are expectations, and an overdeveloped sense of scrutiny. I feel more aware of being assessed in this endeavour than in any other I have undertaken. In some ways I think that is for the best, after all I have two precious, vulnerable lives in my hands and how I raise them really does matter. But surely I would raise them better if I could believe in myself, give myself a break and even, God forbid, an occasional pat on the back.
Sigh.
Here's to trying to blog more often. We shall see.
Tuesday, 5 July 2011
Climate change vs Global warming
When I was in Year 6 we did a school unit about the Greenhouse Effect and the hole in the ozone layer. In 1988 the biggest environmental issue was the phasing out of CFCs to halt the destruction of the ozone layer in the Southern Hemisphere. I can remember we all had to write letters to CEOs asking them to please stop using CFCs in their products. I wrote to Rexona, and the letter I received in response went in my keep box. I was pretty proud that the big important people at the big company had taken the time to write back to little me, a Year 6 kid in Tamworth.
Anyway, that is 23 years ago now, and today the big focus of our environmental eyes is on the issue of climate change. Most specifically here in Australia on the introduction of a tax on carbon pollution which is about to be put through Parliament. In the meantime, the terminology has continued to shift along with the progress of the scientists. Greenhouse effect is a term rarely heard, it morphing into global warming a number of years back, and finally more recently into climate change, specifically man made climate change.
I am not a scientist. I stopped studying science as soon as I was able to in school. But I know that there are different experts in different fields, and that the study of science is a continually evolving pursuit. And so the terminology has to keep pace with the discoveries, and hence climate change is a more appropriate title for the issue at hand than either of its predecessors. In my layman's understanding, it's about how humans have changed the climate of the planet - hotter summers, colder winters, more extreme weather events.
Anyway, today it was really cold in Canberra, snow clouds and icy wind making for a truly bleak July Tuesday. Queensland has been having an unusually cold start to the winter. But is this evidence that climate change isn't happening!?!?!? All too often I hear and see comments like "Global warming hey? Well you weren't in Canberra today". I understand why the terminology has had to change, but for many the old words are still what come to mind, and a cold winter's day is taken to mean the whole phenomenon is an elaborate con.
And this is my pet peeve of the day. May I declare, one cold day does not mean the climate isn't being impacted by humanity, snow on the Brindabellas does not mean that we should all just go on as we have been and pretend that all is fine and dandy. And even if the climate scientists are all wrong - which I doubt, they know a whole lot more about this stuff than I do - is that a reason to continue raping and pillaging this planet until there are no natural resources or wilderness areas left? No, I thought not.
Anyway, that is 23 years ago now, and today the big focus of our environmental eyes is on the issue of climate change. Most specifically here in Australia on the introduction of a tax on carbon pollution which is about to be put through Parliament. In the meantime, the terminology has continued to shift along with the progress of the scientists. Greenhouse effect is a term rarely heard, it morphing into global warming a number of years back, and finally more recently into climate change, specifically man made climate change.
I am not a scientist. I stopped studying science as soon as I was able to in school. But I know that there are different experts in different fields, and that the study of science is a continually evolving pursuit. And so the terminology has to keep pace with the discoveries, and hence climate change is a more appropriate title for the issue at hand than either of its predecessors. In my layman's understanding, it's about how humans have changed the climate of the planet - hotter summers, colder winters, more extreme weather events.
Anyway, today it was really cold in Canberra, snow clouds and icy wind making for a truly bleak July Tuesday. Queensland has been having an unusually cold start to the winter. But is this evidence that climate change isn't happening!?!?!? All too often I hear and see comments like "Global warming hey? Well you weren't in Canberra today". I understand why the terminology has had to change, but for many the old words are still what come to mind, and a cold winter's day is taken to mean the whole phenomenon is an elaborate con.
And this is my pet peeve of the day. May I declare, one cold day does not mean the climate isn't being impacted by humanity, snow on the Brindabellas does not mean that we should all just go on as we have been and pretend that all is fine and dandy. And even if the climate scientists are all wrong - which I doubt, they know a whole lot more about this stuff than I do - is that a reason to continue raping and pillaging this planet until there are no natural resources or wilderness areas left? No, I thought not.
Sunday, 3 July 2011
Return to the readathon
When I was a kid the MS Readathon was one of my favourite times of year, along with the Easter Hat Parade, Christmas and Birthdays. Not only was it a time we were encouraged to read as much as possible but we also got to raise money for a good cause. Only thing is, I didn't really have any idea what MS was, or why it was worth raising money for. Cut to 2011 and a friend on Facebook was campaigning for donations supporting her participation as an adult. I got inspired and now am taking the plunge.
I am signing up for a couple of reasons.
Firstly, thanks to a variety of sources from The West Wing to Today Tonight, to friends of friends I now have a better idea of what MS is and why we really need to help those who suffer from this debilitating syndrome.
My other reason is a bit less altruistic. I have a lot of books. We have moved house six times since getting married in 2007 and every time my husband swears he will not move my books again. Trouble is, many of the books on the shelves have the perfect unbent spines of neglect having never been read. What better excuse to ruin a few of those pristine publications than raising money for a good cause?
Wish me well!
I am signing up for a couple of reasons.
Firstly, thanks to a variety of sources from The West Wing to Today Tonight, to friends of friends I now have a better idea of what MS is and why we really need to help those who suffer from this debilitating syndrome.
My other reason is a bit less altruistic. I have a lot of books. We have moved house six times since getting married in 2007 and every time my husband swears he will not move my books again. Trouble is, many of the books on the shelves have the perfect unbent spines of neglect having never been read. What better excuse to ruin a few of those pristine publications than raising money for a good cause?
Wish me well!
http://register.thenovelchallenge.org.au/The-Novel-Challenge/charleesarah/&utm_source=individual_widget&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=MS_Queensland
The new must have fashion statement by celebrity brides?
Aside from the obvious common points such as shades of white, veil, flowers, attendants and grooms in various states of handsomeness, three beautiful brides of the year have shared another feature.
The high beam.
Fair enough from Kate Moss, she's a supermodel, the word waif personified, and forever hitching herself to unsavoury rock and roll types. But, be it a fault of the cold or poor tailoring, both Princess Catherine and Princess Charlene have graced us with a little more information than is really befitting royalty.
Just saying. . .
The high beam.
Fair enough from Kate Moss, she's a supermodel, the word waif personified, and forever hitching herself to unsavoury rock and roll types. But, be it a fault of the cold or poor tailoring, both Princess Catherine and Princess Charlene have graced us with a little more information than is really befitting royalty.
Just saying. . .
Sunday funk
Sunday should be the best day of my week. It is my husband's day off, the one day we have the chance to relax and recharge. However, for some reason Sunday's are more often than not dominated by a sense of clouded melancholy, the stubborn Sunday funk. This morning I was gifted a sleep in - didn't get out of bed until after 10 and it was blissful. And yet the day has still shivered under the cloud of the funk, the kids have been by turns unsettled and disobedient, the husband has the lethargy of a workaholic on their sole day off, and I have spent the day with the constant sense that I should be doing something more useful.
In other news, Monaco now has a Princess with my name. Her dress was a GOWN which she wore to perfection, but she looked about as delighted to be hitching herself to the Prince Albert wagon as most people would be served had their last meal on death row. Poor love, she looked utterly miserable, he looked austere and cold, it seemed to have all the hallmarks of monarchic matrimony circa 1550. Wonder how they'll go producing the requisite male issue.
In other news, Monaco now has a Princess with my name. Her dress was a GOWN which she wore to perfection, but she looked about as delighted to be hitching herself to the Prince Albert wagon as most people would be served had their last meal on death row. Poor love, she looked utterly miserable, he looked austere and cold, it seemed to have all the hallmarks of monarchic matrimony circa 1550. Wonder how they'll go producing the requisite male issue.
Friday, 1 July 2011
Vicarious glamour
Kate Moss got married overnight in the UK, and was one of the top trends on Twitter when I woke up this morning. I just had to pop over and look at some pictures. Her Galliano gown was absolutely beautiful - a perfectly cut wisp of warm cream, sparkling with countless hand-sewn embellishments.
I'm not a big follower of fashion and Moss has never been one of my must watch celebs but regardless of that, and of the fact that she is a complete stranger and multi-millionaire from the other side of the world, for some reason her wedding photos made me happy this morning. She and her groom look like they were having an absolute blast at their wedding, posing with relaxed joy for the multiple prying eyes of the world's cameras. They have gone absolutely over the top with over 10 bridesmaids and a celebration that resembles a music festival to take over the whole weekend in their corner of the world. But how wonderful that "in this day and age" a wedding can still bring so many people together with such beauty, happiness and fun.
I'm not a big follower of fashion and Moss has never been one of my must watch celebs but regardless of that, and of the fact that she is a complete stranger and multi-millionaire from the other side of the world, for some reason her wedding photos made me happy this morning. She and her groom look like they were having an absolute blast at their wedding, posing with relaxed joy for the multiple prying eyes of the world's cameras. They have gone absolutely over the top with over 10 bridesmaids and a celebration that resembles a music festival to take over the whole weekend in their corner of the world. But how wonderful that "in this day and age" a wedding can still bring so many people together with such beauty, happiness and fun.
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