I sat in on this abstact session, why do you think this is (as reported in the Epoch Times):
Deep pockets are not so deep when it comes to the AIDS epidemic, Canadian researchers said on Thursday.
They released a study showing that for every person who died in the December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, about $35,336 was donated, while $3,333 was given for every person affected by the disaster.
For Hurricane Katrina that struck the U.S. Gulf Coast in August 2005, $33.9 million was donated for every death and $44,286 for every affected person.
But for AIDS, just $1,968 was donated last year for every death, and $153 for each person affected, they told the 16th International AIDS Conference in Toronto .
Friday, August 18, 2006
I don't know a lot about Barak Obama, but from the article (here) on his upcoming trip to Kenya and other African countries, I like what I see. I'm sure there's a lot of things in him I would disagree with as well, as with most politicians, but these points resonate with me:
"One of the messages I’m going to send is that, ultimately, Africa is responsible for helping itself,'' Mr Obama said in an interview yesterday.
I believe that while the foreign community can and should help with the problems in Africa, ultimately it will be up to Africa to make the changes necessary to bring itself into the 21st century.
Earlier this year, Mr Obama attached an amendment to a pending Bill that would provide up to $52 million (Sh3.7 billion) to the Congo while letting President George W. Bush withdraw the assistance if the country makes insufficient progress toward democracy.
I've quoted Sachs here many times, and in Belgium I talked with a man who claimed to be a good friend of "Jeffrey," but one of the things I like most about his book is that if countries are not willing to take steps to end corruption and work for the good of their people, then the West has the right, the mandate, to drop its funding and support. Let's give where the work will be used properly.
He also plans to talk about the responsibility of Africans to take action against "a lack of basic rule of law and accountability that has hampered the ability of countries with enormous natural resources,'' according to an earlier interview. (AP)
Every day I was in Kenya the front page of the Daily Nation centered around corruption in the highest levels of government and how much that cost the people. They need to get beyond that. Supposedly this government is doing better, but its hard to undo what 27 years of corrupt rule built up. It'll be interesting to watch how the Kenyans react as time goes on, it is very easy to go along with the tide, but it'll start with one who says no to corruption and sets the standard while the domino effect takes place. They can then shame those who are still partaking and run the nation as it deserves to be run.
"One of the messages I’m going to send is that, ultimately, Africa is responsible for helping itself,'' Mr Obama said in an interview yesterday.
I believe that while the foreign community can and should help with the problems in Africa, ultimately it will be up to Africa to make the changes necessary to bring itself into the 21st century.
Earlier this year, Mr Obama attached an amendment to a pending Bill that would provide up to $52 million (Sh3.7 billion) to the Congo while letting President George W. Bush withdraw the assistance if the country makes insufficient progress toward democracy.
I've quoted Sachs here many times, and in Belgium I talked with a man who claimed to be a good friend of "Jeffrey," but one of the things I like most about his book is that if countries are not willing to take steps to end corruption and work for the good of their people, then the West has the right, the mandate, to drop its funding and support. Let's give where the work will be used properly.
He also plans to talk about the responsibility of Africans to take action against "a lack of basic rule of law and accountability that has hampered the ability of countries with enormous natural resources,'' according to an earlier interview. (AP)
Every day I was in Kenya the front page of the Daily Nation centered around corruption in the highest levels of government and how much that cost the people. They need to get beyond that. Supposedly this government is doing better, but its hard to undo what 27 years of corrupt rule built up. It'll be interesting to watch how the Kenyans react as time goes on, it is very easy to go along with the tide, but it'll start with one who says no to corruption and sets the standard while the domino effect takes place. They can then shame those who are still partaking and run the nation as it deserves to be run.
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Very appropriate article from the Toronto Star, preview below:
Some 15 million children have watched at least one parent die from HIV/AIDS. But little of the talk at this week's AIDS conference has been about the children left behind, Isabel Teotonio reports.
Some 15 million children have watched at least one parent die from HIV/AIDS. But little of the talk at this week's AIDS conference has been about the children left behind, Isabel Teotonio reports.
Another thing on my mind of late is that while the West is notoriously blamed and convicted for its material greed, the rest of the world is not far behind. Sure, in the West it is easy to point out the greed, with our $300 jeans, million dollar homes, etc. But the only difference I see is that we have the access to that and the developing world does not.
Case in point, on my plane ride to Guatemala, I sat next to a retired teacher who three times in the past two years had travelled to China to teach English to college students. What was his impression? None other than the fact that Chinese students seek to study and work for the purpose of garnering a gig at one of the those large engineering or other such firms for the sole purpose of being consumers. They want stuff! He couldn't stress that enough.
Likewise, in Guatemala, those I spent time with were very concerned about the accumulation of stuff. Guess jeans, cell phones, handbags, vacations, etc. Those who had the means took advantage, even though they were Christians, they had no problems spending.
Finally to Kenya. The greed really stood out to me this time, particularly in the Kitale area, but others as well. Another thing that struck me is that those who have means do very little to help those around them, that is what the foreigners are for. Of course, this is a vast generalization, but one I found to be true in my travels.
What do I conclude? Westerners are very greedy and materialistic, but we are not alone. It seems that greed is more of a problem of human nature rather than an epidemic in the Western world alone.
Case in point, on my plane ride to Guatemala, I sat next to a retired teacher who three times in the past two years had travelled to China to teach English to college students. What was his impression? None other than the fact that Chinese students seek to study and work for the purpose of garnering a gig at one of the those large engineering or other such firms for the sole purpose of being consumers. They want stuff! He couldn't stress that enough.
Likewise, in Guatemala, those I spent time with were very concerned about the accumulation of stuff. Guess jeans, cell phones, handbags, vacations, etc. Those who had the means took advantage, even though they were Christians, they had no problems spending.
Finally to Kenya. The greed really stood out to me this time, particularly in the Kitale area, but others as well. Another thing that struck me is that those who have means do very little to help those around them, that is what the foreigners are for. Of course, this is a vast generalization, but one I found to be true in my travels.
What do I conclude? Westerners are very greedy and materialistic, but we are not alone. It seems that greed is more of a problem of human nature rather than an epidemic in the Western world alone.
Great article in the Toronto edition of the Epoch Times today entitled "How Hezbollah Fights the Media War." In case you don't want to read the entire article, I've highlighted a few quotes below:
...The sharp-eyed blogger Charles Johnson spotted how a Reuters photo showing burning buildings had been photoshopped. The smoke rising from a damaged building, and the building itself, were copied over the photo—making the result of Israeli bombing look far worse than it actually was.
Other bloggers noticed similar problems with photos by the same Reuters stringer. In one example, the same unfortunate woman appears in two different pictures mourning the loss of two different homes. Eventually Reuters pulled some 900 photos and fired the photographer.
Then Michelle Malkin showed how the New York Times had published a photo of a "dead" Lebanese, said to be a victim of Israeli bombing—except the man was obviously not dead. The New York Times' own photo essay showed the same young man scampering around the rubble in a very lively way.
...In Hezbollah areas, journalists are only allowed to see what Hezbollah wants to show them. Hezbollah keeps copies of the journalists' passports. Journalists who show any independence are threatened.
...Charles Johnson describes a scene captured by a German TV video: "They actually take the body of a child out of the ambulance, transfer it from the light stretcher used in the ambulance to the heavy duty gurney used in the rescue operation (to create the impression that it has just arrived from the bombed area), uncover it, and pose it for photographs."
(This actually reminds me of a seminary class I took where a guest lecturer described a time in Jerusalem where shortly after he arrived he asked where all of the fighting was only to be told that the fighting only happens when the Palestinians see the cameras and begin throwing rocks and such, setting up death scenes, and calling on the ambulances and firetrucks.)
...Hezbollah is fighting the victim's war. The Hezbollah have built hospitals on top of their bunkers; set up rocket launchers on top of or next to apartment buildings. They have made civilian casualties unavoidable. When the civilians they have forced to be their shields are killed, then the media are brought in to cover the loss of life.
...The sharp-eyed blogger Charles Johnson spotted how a Reuters photo showing burning buildings had been photoshopped. The smoke rising from a damaged building, and the building itself, were copied over the photo—making the result of Israeli bombing look far worse than it actually was.
Other bloggers noticed similar problems with photos by the same Reuters stringer. In one example, the same unfortunate woman appears in two different pictures mourning the loss of two different homes. Eventually Reuters pulled some 900 photos and fired the photographer.
Then Michelle Malkin showed how the New York Times had published a photo of a "dead" Lebanese, said to be a victim of Israeli bombing—except the man was obviously not dead. The New York Times' own photo essay showed the same young man scampering around the rubble in a very lively way.
...In Hezbollah areas, journalists are only allowed to see what Hezbollah wants to show them. Hezbollah keeps copies of the journalists' passports. Journalists who show any independence are threatened.
...Charles Johnson describes a scene captured by a German TV video: "They actually take the body of a child out of the ambulance, transfer it from the light stretcher used in the ambulance to the heavy duty gurney used in the rescue operation (to create the impression that it has just arrived from the bombed area), uncover it, and pose it for photographs."
(This actually reminds me of a seminary class I took where a guest lecturer described a time in Jerusalem where shortly after he arrived he asked where all of the fighting was only to be told that the fighting only happens when the Palestinians see the cameras and begin throwing rocks and such, setting up death scenes, and calling on the ambulances and firetrucks.)
...Hezbollah is fighting the victim's war. The Hezbollah have built hospitals on top of their bunkers; set up rocket launchers on top of or next to apartment buildings. They have made civilian casualties unavoidable. When the civilians they have forced to be their shields are killed, then the media are brought in to cover the loss of life.
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
A couple of more thoughts:
A story in the Toronto newspaper here today regarded the city of Vancouver and a drug site that they have in their city. It seems that there is this place in the city where people who have purchased heroine, cocaine, etc. can go there and smoke/inhale it with clean instruments. It is supposed to prevent the spread of AIDS since the people are using safe needles/spoons, etc. The city wants to shut it down but the people want it to remain open. At first I was on the side of the city, but bordering on being a libertarian, I think I'm for it. They also offer rehab and detox options. Thoughts?
I saw yesterday that Michael Bloomberg donated $125 million to fight tobacco use worldwide, does anyone but me think they could come up with better ways to spend this money?
A story in the Toronto newspaper here today regarded the city of Vancouver and a drug site that they have in their city. It seems that there is this place in the city where people who have purchased heroine, cocaine, etc. can go there and smoke/inhale it with clean instruments. It is supposed to prevent the spread of AIDS since the people are using safe needles/spoons, etc. The city wants to shut it down but the people want it to remain open. At first I was on the side of the city, but bordering on being a libertarian, I think I'm for it. They also offer rehab and detox options. Thoughts?
I saw yesterday that Michael Bloomberg donated $125 million to fight tobacco use worldwide, does anyone but me think they could come up with better ways to spend this money?
Quick update from Toronto:
Got to the conference early this morning only to return after I decided all morning sessions were nothing but junk. The late morning and early afternoon were a little better, but not much. I'm finding that this crowd is very anti-religious, pro-homosexual (almost militaristic on both counts), and seems focused on reacting to the situation with drugs rather than preventing HIV/AIDS with sound education and decision-making. I understand the need to help those already living with the disease, but let's balance that out with proper discussions on how to prevent its spread. Oh well, I've gotten a lot of time to reflect on Tumaini and some thoughts on how to better the VBS and other aspects of the ministry. I'm excited for our meeting in October.
I've found Toronto to be a very nice city, and believe me, Lisa and I have walked the entire city center a few times over. I also remember reading in my Urban Ministry class last summer how international of a city Toronto was, and that intrigued me. Being here first-hand, I can verify that fact.
Back at it tomorrow, here's to some better forums and discussions!
Got to the conference early this morning only to return after I decided all morning sessions were nothing but junk. The late morning and early afternoon were a little better, but not much. I'm finding that this crowd is very anti-religious, pro-homosexual (almost militaristic on both counts), and seems focused on reacting to the situation with drugs rather than preventing HIV/AIDS with sound education and decision-making. I understand the need to help those already living with the disease, but let's balance that out with proper discussions on how to prevent its spread. Oh well, I've gotten a lot of time to reflect on Tumaini and some thoughts on how to better the VBS and other aspects of the ministry. I'm excited for our meeting in October.
I've found Toronto to be a very nice city, and believe me, Lisa and I have walked the entire city center a few times over. I also remember reading in my Urban Ministry class last summer how international of a city Toronto was, and that intrigued me. Being here first-hand, I can verify that fact.
Back at it tomorrow, here's to some better forums and discussions!
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Sorry for the lack of posts of late, been trying to catch up since I've returned but the sleep has been absent and I'm feeling a little down. I was a little concerned about having malaria, but coming out of it the last few hours, so I'm hopeful.
Well, I'm home, sort of. Lisa and I arrived in Toronto yesterday morning for the Int. Aids Conference. I caught the end of Clinton's speech and was too tired for much else. I fully to hit the conference hard this morning but got there bright and early and found there was nothing but junk going on, people talked about microbes and such. Of course, in a little more than an hour there are about five presentations going on that I want to see, I'll have to pick and choose and hopefully hit a little of each of them. So far, though, I'm underimpressed, the focus seems to be reactive (how can we cure those who have AIDS) instead of proactive (how can we prevent the spread of the disease). We'll see how it ends.
Back to Kenya, I've had some time to digest and have come up with the following conclusions:
1) I'm still not sure where I stand with Japheth's ministry. As I've mentioned, I believe he is trying to recreated the Western church with big buildings, sound systems, etc. and overusing his connections to America. What I see is that many are following him due to that and not because of Christ. I need to address this with him. In addition, I don't know how much more I can take of repeatedly, repeatedly being asked for money, tickets to America, gifts, etc. I don't know if I mentioned this but on the last day we were with Japheth we were about to leave and his daughter Jacinta came home from school for the day. Japheth said she wanted to talk to me so I stayed behind for a short time and she did some small talk and then asked me for around $1200 for her school fees, like I was to have it on me at the time. I can see how a father wants his daughter to be educated, but I believe he has the funds coming in, he may just need to budget and prioritize accordingly. Sorry for the rant, it helps me to get these things out.
2) I do know one thing for sure, three ministries I will continue to work with are HEART, Tumaini, and a new one we visited, ITeams Kenya Refugee Ministry. There is some great stuff going on there, too much for me to write about.
3) Finally, I know that I seemed very depressed and sour in my correspondence from the trip, but overall I do have good memories of our time there. For some reason I got more homesick this time than any before, next year, if there is a next year, I have told Lisa she has to go with me, if even for a short time. We'll see.
Thanks for your prayers and support!
Well, I'm home, sort of. Lisa and I arrived in Toronto yesterday morning for the Int. Aids Conference. I caught the end of Clinton's speech and was too tired for much else. I fully to hit the conference hard this morning but got there bright and early and found there was nothing but junk going on, people talked about microbes and such. Of course, in a little more than an hour there are about five presentations going on that I want to see, I'll have to pick and choose and hopefully hit a little of each of them. So far, though, I'm underimpressed, the focus seems to be reactive (how can we cure those who have AIDS) instead of proactive (how can we prevent the spread of the disease). We'll see how it ends.
Back to Kenya, I've had some time to digest and have come up with the following conclusions:
1) I'm still not sure where I stand with Japheth's ministry. As I've mentioned, I believe he is trying to recreated the Western church with big buildings, sound systems, etc. and overusing his connections to America. What I see is that many are following him due to that and not because of Christ. I need to address this with him. In addition, I don't know how much more I can take of repeatedly, repeatedly being asked for money, tickets to America, gifts, etc. I don't know if I mentioned this but on the last day we were with Japheth we were about to leave and his daughter Jacinta came home from school for the day. Japheth said she wanted to talk to me so I stayed behind for a short time and she did some small talk and then asked me for around $1200 for her school fees, like I was to have it on me at the time. I can see how a father wants his daughter to be educated, but I believe he has the funds coming in, he may just need to budget and prioritize accordingly. Sorry for the rant, it helps me to get these things out.
2) I do know one thing for sure, three ministries I will continue to work with are HEART, Tumaini, and a new one we visited, ITeams Kenya Refugee Ministry. There is some great stuff going on there, too much for me to write about.
3) Finally, I know that I seemed very depressed and sour in my correspondence from the trip, but overall I do have good memories of our time there. For some reason I got more homesick this time than any before, next year, if there is a next year, I have told Lisa she has to go with me, if even for a short time. We'll see.
Thanks for your prayers and support!
Friday, August 11, 2006
it's 6:15 pm Kenya time as i sit in the airport and wait for our flight. we got here plenty early due to the terrorist plot in the uk, expecting a delay, but it seems as though everything is set. there were no restrictions, just a little extra security. if you see this, please pray for our safe and quick return home.
right now, a lot is going on in my head, there are some things that words just cannot express:
1) how much i miss home, it hurts, really, it hurts.
2) how bad the roads are in this country, especially the one to masai mara
3) how amazing the wildlife is in that park, yesterday we saw zebra, elephant, giraffe, wildebeests, a hundred different kind of deer, and, believe it or not, i was about ten feet away from a lion with my window wide open clicking on a camera as it rested in the bushes. today we sat for about a half hour and watched a pride of about twelve lions play, yell, yawn, etc., and then a cheetah was about five feet from our vehicle. literally i could have reached out and touched the cheetah, lion, and elephant, no joke!
oh yeah, we did some ministry as well, but the last few days since i last wrote was mostly playing with the kids, i led a seminar for some teachers i trained last year, etc. things have been good. again, your prayers for a safe and quick journey are appreciated!
right now, a lot is going on in my head, there are some things that words just cannot express:
1) how much i miss home, it hurts, really, it hurts.
2) how bad the roads are in this country, especially the one to masai mara
3) how amazing the wildlife is in that park, yesterday we saw zebra, elephant, giraffe, wildebeests, a hundred different kind of deer, and, believe it or not, i was about ten feet away from a lion with my window wide open clicking on a camera as it rested in the bushes. today we sat for about a half hour and watched a pride of about twelve lions play, yell, yawn, etc., and then a cheetah was about five feet from our vehicle. literally i could have reached out and touched the cheetah, lion, and elephant, no joke!
oh yeah, we did some ministry as well, but the last few days since i last wrote was mostly playing with the kids, i led a seminar for some teachers i trained last year, etc. things have been good. again, your prayers for a safe and quick journey are appreciated!
Saturday, August 05, 2006
Well, as Lisa well knows, the last few days have been very hard. The time with Japheth, while a blessing, is always the hardest time of the trip. Rough roads, no electricity, etc., it just makes it hard. The way there (8 hours on terrible roads) really wears on us, then while we are there we are always being asked for money, like it's an endless supply for us. We also have trouble as we came home, Ed and I flew back due to a seminar we were conducting, but the rest of the group took the bus, which lost its breaks, and another member got sick. Then we got to the hotel and they didn't have the reservation, even though I called to confirm earlier that day. Finally we got everything straightened out.
The next day was shopping, then yesterday a few of us experienced the closest thing to hell on earth, the Kibera slums. I won't way it was hell, as I believe hell to be the absence of God, and I know God is there, but it's terrible. WOW! I really can't even put it to words.
One of the things that really struck us and really made us hard-hearted after the fact was how we felt like this was just check on our list. Kibera- done that, what's next. Yet was a desperate situation. I was struck, I felt this would be it, I didn't know if I could go on with my work in Kenya, I was down, depressed, homesick, etc. Ed and I prayed last night that we had to put this behind us for the time, we wanted to wake up this morning with renewed energy and a vision for the next few days. Only God could do that.
I woke up felling well this morning and as I went to breakfast I met the team (all 24 of them) from CA that we will be working with the rest of the week. I also greeted Dr. Mutunga, the President of Tumaini, an organization I serve, and his wife and Dr. Meshack, the former head of Nairobi Hospital and one of the leading me in the country. He actually remembered me from two years ago. Great men, they renewed my heart.
After that we went to visit Dotun and Ami Modupe, International Teams ministers who work with refugees, mostly Sudanese and Somali. I began communicating with Dotun last year this time but did not meet him until Thursday. What a man! What a ministry! Our hearts were once again refocused on what the Lord is doing here and how we can catch and support that wave! AMEN.
Thank you all for your prayers. We now head to Masii where we will help with a VBS for AIDS orphans for the next four days, then two days of safari and we are home. The time has been long but it's also been good, we are praying for more strength as we continue on.
Barikewe sana!
The next day was shopping, then yesterday a few of us experienced the closest thing to hell on earth, the Kibera slums. I won't way it was hell, as I believe hell to be the absence of God, and I know God is there, but it's terrible. WOW! I really can't even put it to words.
One of the things that really struck us and really made us hard-hearted after the fact was how we felt like this was just check on our list. Kibera- done that, what's next. Yet was a desperate situation. I was struck, I felt this would be it, I didn't know if I could go on with my work in Kenya, I was down, depressed, homesick, etc. Ed and I prayed last night that we had to put this behind us for the time, we wanted to wake up this morning with renewed energy and a vision for the next few days. Only God could do that.
I woke up felling well this morning and as I went to breakfast I met the team (all 24 of them) from CA that we will be working with the rest of the week. I also greeted Dr. Mutunga, the President of Tumaini, an organization I serve, and his wife and Dr. Meshack, the former head of Nairobi Hospital and one of the leading me in the country. He actually remembered me from two years ago. Great men, they renewed my heart.
After that we went to visit Dotun and Ami Modupe, International Teams ministers who work with refugees, mostly Sudanese and Somali. I began communicating with Dotun last year this time but did not meet him until Thursday. What a man! What a ministry! Our hearts were once again refocused on what the Lord is doing here and how we can catch and support that wave! AMEN.
Thank you all for your prayers. We now head to Masii where we will help with a VBS for AIDS orphans for the next four days, then two days of safari and we are home. The time has been long but it's also been good, we are praying for more strength as we continue on.
Barikewe sana!
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