Inspiration in the City of Angels
Excerpts from articles I’ve written about a few of the compelling stories I’ve encountered here in Los Angeles: ‘Gifted’ Musician Rocks ‘Social Harmony’ He boasts a four-octave vocal range and has written more than 300 original songs. In just one year, he has led his band through nearly 60 performances in more than 30 venues. [...]
Mindscraps: The Dizzy Donkey Dance
Lately, I feel as if I’m caught up in a never-ending game of pin the tail on the donkey… The nearly non-existent trickle of income is my blindfold. Short on funds, the hunt for a decent wage is a constant distraction from my true goals. I can’t seem to see past the “no cash” dilemma. [...]
Mind Scraps: Frogs and Turtles, Princes and Princesses
“Do you have a notebook I could use,” I asked my friend Benny – Biologist Benny we call him. “Mine’s about filled up.” That’s when he offered me The Blue Day Notebook. He had just started using it, but insisted on giving it to me. It’s a cute little blue book with a cute little [...]
RIP: Human Rights Defender Bety Cariño
Tragic news like the murder of two human rights workers in Oaxaca, MX leaves me feeling frustrated, exasperated… yet more determined to believe that this world can change. Thanks to La Cebollita who forwarded this info on to me: Human rights defenders in Mexico paying with their lives, warn UN experts Human rights defenders in [...]
The Butterfly Circus
This short film moved me to tears. Ele, from Chihuahua, is the one who shared it with me. I suggest all watch the work: The Butterfly Circus Click here to link to the project’s Facebook page.
How Far Would You Walk for Water?
For women in Ethiopa, access to water isn’t quite as simple as turning on the tap. View this video from Water.org:
Barefoot for a Cause
Since I’ve been kickin’ it with the Rarámuri (Tarahumara), an indigenous culture that lives in deep recesses of the Sierra Madre’s Copper Canyon (Northwestern Mexico), I thought it most fitting to spread the word about going barefoot for a good cause. The Rarámuri culture sparked a barefoot running craze after athletes learned this talented running [...]
Justifying Indifference to the Needy…
Really… what ARE you supposed to do when in a coffee shop in Chihuahua, Mexcio working on your stupidly expensive Mac laptop and a mangy woman walks in and shoves a piece of notebook paper in your face? No doubt a petition for money justified by some alleged plight. Her young daughter following a half [...]
Whistleblower for Peace
Falling Whistles an excerpt I had heard.known.cared. I had even reacted and raged. But when these boys told me of the whistle blowers, the horror grew feet and walked within me… Captured by Nkunda’s rebel army, the boys not big enough to hold a gun are given merely a whistle and put on the front [...]
Can You Spare a Quarter?
The latest campaign to raise awareness about global hunger from the World Food Program announces that the global population is setting a new record: For the first time in the history of mankind there will be more than one billion people facing chronic starvation at any given moment. Yay us. Becoming a part of the [...]
Hunger Bytes! Winners go to Guatemala
This years winners of the 2010 Hunger Bites! World Food Program video contest are heading to Guatemala to raise awareness about the country’s underfed population. A recent drought has exacerbated the Guatemalan hunger crisis… Two aspiring filmmakers from Mexico, the grand prize winners of an annual video competition held by the United Nations World Food [...]
Mind Scraps: Finally Film
Exciting news! The man featured in the documentary “Being the Diablo” has invited me to collaborate on another documentary film – this time, one that features the Copper Canyon Ultramarathon. I’ve been itching to get more involved in documentary and film making for too long now. Finally… I am! **** Helped film two most interesting [...]
Fair Trade Honey in Guatemala
Coffee is the fair trade commodity of choice in Guatemala, but the Tennesean reports that some university students are aiming to broaden the spectrum of fair trade goods produced in Guatemala. An excerpt from Entrepreneurship Can Help Rebuild Communities by Jeff Cornwall: The town of Chajul, located in the mountainous region of Quiche in northern [...]
Mommy Advocate
I stumbled upon the website of a most inspiring and spirited mom through her post about child slavery used on cacao farms. I am keeping a blog about all things chocolate as part of a bigger project I’m currently working on developing. Below is a portion of what I posted at The Cocoa Project. Convinced [...]
More than 700 Guatemalan Women Murdered in 2009
Low-income women are targets for an alarming rate of violence in Guatemala. The Interior Ministry of Guatemala reports that more than 700 women were murdered in Guatemala last year. Below the news brief published by the Latin American Herald Tribune: GUATEMALA CITY – Some 708 women were killed in Guatemala in 2009, based on Interior [...]
A Parallel Guatemala
I just wanted to briefly comment upon the fact that I had to get online and read the news to realize that Guatemala, a Latin country that is slightly smaller than the state of Tennessee – the country in which I’m happily living – is enduring the worst drought it has faced in 30 years. [...]
Philanthropy for the Future
One of my many goals while I’m here in La Antigua Guatemala is to become involved in helping Non-governmental organizations and aid organizations to become more inline with the invaluable tools of today’s Social Media. Watch Katherine Fulton’s TED talk about the changing landscape of philanthropy: Also check out socialbrite.org, a new website to help [...]
Divisive Denominations?
Continued from The Invisible Glass Wall… “I asked for a cloth dipped in cool water and gently began pressing it upon the child’s forehead and body even though it made him cry out. I explained this must be done to help reduce the child’s fever.” That evening, I managed to catch up with Billy and [...]
Little Heart Keeps Beating…
Here’s another update from Mary about Edwin. Again, he’s the little boy who is one of several that benefited from the more than $1,000 raised by my friends, my family and myself. Edwin recently received heart surgery in Honduras and a portion of our donation helped provide his lodging and transportation. Edwin is doing great. [...]
Does Your Media Support Trafficking?
More disturbing human trafficking information from the href=”http://www.polarisproject.org/component/option,com_wrapper/Itemid,108/”Polaris Project blog: In my previous post, I referred to a policy report on “Paper Pimps,” describing advertisers for the commercial sex industry. Paper pimps are the enablers of the sexual slavery and exploitation that occurs within the context of the broader industry. Brothels disguised as massage parlors [...]
Human Trafficking: A Real Issue
I saw the movie Slumdog Millionaire several weeks ago and quickly became obsessed with it. While many of my friends commented that “sure, it’s pretty good” and had nothing more to say about it, the movie completely captured me and spoke to me. Unfortunately, amidst all the projects and life-changing goals I’m actively pursuing right [...]
Donation Update
Last September many of my friends and several family members came together to contribute money toward a great effort that aims to give some of the poorest in Honduras a better life. I just received an update from those who accepted the donation: Billy and Mary Collins. The more than $1,000 raised helped one family [...]
Support Invisible Children
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RESCUE THE CHILD SOLDIERS
I’ve posted about the Invisible Children movement before and it’s a cause I stand behind 100 percent. For a while, I was donating $20 every month. So, what is it exactly? Nothing says it better than the video. Click below to check it out: http://therescue.invisiblechildren.com/en/#/watch/ I’ll be there April 25th. Will you?
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