hey hey

[tarotgal]

Two days without a major stomach problem and counting! Bloodwork came back normal today (which is good. Apparently no ulcers or infections so yay for that). And the very VERY not good side effects of the medicine have worn off as well. So here's hoping I'll be okay (albeit stuck on the meds for at least a month). *knock on virtual wood*

I'm attempting to do a small website update tonight. Because I'm leaving and want some stuff up there. It won't be complete, but it'll be something. I won't be able to get to the archive before I leave, however. Sorry 'bout that, all.

I'm going to post a few short ficlets tonight, and the part of one onlist. Just to get those out of the way, too. Nothing huge. Just short PWP fluff with bad titles. You know, my normal crap ;-)


Now for the actually important stuff. *WARNING: Lots of ramblings* Since watching 'The Girl in the Cafe' on Saturday (and not only being astounded by the FANTSTIC dialogue and nummy actor from Love Actually and actress from Trainspotting) I've sort of been majorly obsessed with these Millennium Goals and the G8 conference. I mean, I signed the One campaign thing weeks ago and all, but this just floors me. FLOORS me. All it would take to end world hunger is, like, $5 from everyone in a developed nation. And that'd be it. The END of hunger. It's just... it's mind-blowing to me how it's SO bloody achievable and, yet, it's not already done. I mean... what the HELL?! $3.56 from everyone and the HIPC's are all out of debt. Why the fuck haven't we done that? Why don't people act like global citizens? Why is it even a QUESTION of whether we should do it or not? I'm just... astounded. The goals are amazingly huge and, yet, so possible to achieve. And then we'd be a completely different world. I mean, it would change the entire world. Like, completely change it. I just... I just cannot imagine how even bloody Bush could not fight to keep his promise. And this issue is SO incredible. It transcends labels and boundaries. Liberals, conservatives, normal people, celebrities, artists, politians- HUMANS. Ever have one of those moments where you can literally just stop and see things from a completely different viewpoint? Had one of those yesterday. Words fail to decribe it, but it was like seeing a completely different world. And I'm just fascinated and obsessed with the whole thing right now. Completely and utterly.

And yesterday I was curious to see if some of my favorite celebs were involved in the thing. Turns out Jim from BNL went to Tanzania yesterday. DAMN! I wish I'd looked that up on their blog earlier! I could have given him advice since my dad just got back from there! :-) Looks like enough people gave him tips, though. So that's good.
And Ewan. He was chosen to hose the youth version of the G8. OH my gods I love this man. I had NO idea! Somehow I managed to miss that (though I did know about his UNICEF G&D performances). But.. yeah... astounded I am. Just so much good out there. And everything so within reach. Yeah. I'm totally obsessed with this whole thing. How in the WORLD did I manage to NOT know about these goals until just now? I mean, you'd think I would have heard about them in my global soch class at least! That's the sort of thing we would have spent weeks on! LOL But I guess these things are never well known until we realize we're five years in and many years behind. Or until Bono tells us about them. LOL! But, yeah, Ewan. SO my hero. Plus his Make Poverty History ad is just too adorable for words!!

http://www.makepovertyhistory.org/video/?pageVideo=/flv/clickuk512k.flv
Film Star to Host Youth 'G8 Summit'
Tue 14 Jun 2005
By Jude Sheerin, Scottish Press Association

Movie star Ewan McGregor is to host the first children’s version of the G8 summit, it was confirmed today.

The 34-year-old Unicef ambassador will be joined by violin prodigy Nicola Benedetti at the launch of C8 in Dunblane, Stirlingshire.

Youngsters from eight of the world’s poorest countries will be flown in by the charity to join children from some of the richest nations at the forum on July 3.

The 16 youngsters will produce a manifesto to be presented to world leaders when they arrive for the G8 summit at nearby Gleneagles in Perthshire.

Young people aged from 11 to 18 have been chosen on the basis of their anti-poverty work in schools and communities.

Children from the developing nations of Bhutan, Moldova, Yemen, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Cambodia, Lesotho and Bolivia will attend.

They will discuss issues such as poverty, HIV/Aids and education with youngsters from the UK, France, Germany and Italy for three days at the Hilton Hydro.

McGregor, from Crieff in Perthshire, said: “Whenever I meet children as Unicef ambassador, I am amazed at their eloquent, articulate and passionate views.

“They really have a unique perspective on the world. Many living in other countries have had direct experience of issues such as poverty, education, HIV and Aids and deserve to have their voices heard.”

Unicef said Star Wars actor McGregor and Benedetti, 17, from West Kilbride in Ayrshire, were perfect to represent the voice of youth.

A spokeswoman for the international children’s charity added: “The decisions made by the G8 leaders will directly affect children’s lives all over the world.

“The C8 offers an opportunity for young people to have their opinions and voices heard by G8 leaders and the rest of the world.”

After meeting, the children will attend the anti-poverty concert at Edinburgh’s Murrayfield on July 6, as the G8 summit gets under way.

The five C8 youngsters from the UK are Jamie Brown, 17, from Dennistoun, Glasgow; Rachel Parker, 15, from Annan, Dumfries-shire; Laura Calvert, 17, from Bangor, Co Down; Saranda Hajdari, 15, from Liverpool; and Jon Hudson, 18, from Birmingham.

Source: The Scotsman

So... yeah... I spent at least a half an hour (closer to an hour, probably) crying after watching the movie. And I keep bursting into tears at random times during the day when things pop into my head about it. Both good and bad tears, of course. I'm just overwhelmed. My father's practically responsible for these statistics getting out in the first place so it hits kind of close to home and... GODS but I cannot BELIEVE the way the world is right now and how possible some of these goals are. Not to say all it will take is money. That's just silly. But it's all so attainable. So close. I just... I'm astounded by it all. I've followed this stuff on and off for half my life and I honestly have NO idea how I could have missed these goals. Then again, these last 7 years have been weird for me, so I must have slipped up (and I went into uber environmental mode for a few years instead, as well). But... yeah. Obsessed. And holding my breath until news this weekend.

Comments

[smokeycat-430.livejournal.com]

Not to say that trying to end world hunger isn't a worthy cause and all but it is also not exactly as simple as "$5 from everyone in a developed nation." It would not be the end of hunger. Not every one in every developed nation has $5 to give. And how long and far would the $5 go and last? Not forever. It's not that simple. Tons of bureaucracy. A lot of the organizations take forever to distribute the money, get it organized; paper work, accountants they have to pay - it all doens't all go to the cause, no matter what they say. Dictators and other crazy leaders that won't allow relief workers into their counties to help. How many millions of dollars did the US try to give to workers in Hussein's rule to help his people out? Didn't help. He wouldn't allow it. Of course he's been taken care of now but there are dozens just like him still out there. Take a look at this countries recent history, the way the Red Cross screwed up during WWII.

So, while I'm not saying that it isn't a worthy sounding cause, I don't think it's plausible. Just like all those idealist that want world peace. Ain't going to happen. Problems like these have been going on for hundreds of thousands of years and they are not going to end any time soon with the population growing the way it is.

Anyway, just my two cents. Know you'll probably disagree with me, I'm kinda conservative in thinking but thought I'd share.

[tarotgal]

No, I totally get that. Hense my "Not to say all it will take is money. That's just silly." And usually I'm the biggest realist on the block. And I know donated money doesn't ever go straight to the causes (which is why I have spent DAYS in the past going over annual reports and Better Business Bureau ones before I'll give anything because I want to know how much money is directly going to the people who need it and for what). But my point is that there are actually sustainability programs in place, HIPC debt erasal programs in place (which some countries have already voluntarily worked towards- so it's not like all the countries are resistant), and a chance for world leaders to actually work towards it for a change instead of just focusing on their country's goals (wars included). I know it's not as simple as everyone giving five bucks and we have no more poor. That was more a direct nod towards how much the top 50-something countries are repaying in debt (money they could use for education and healthcare instead). There's no magical place to send money and have all this suddenly solved, I know that. But to me it's not really about the money. It's about the fact that we have to make a choice about whether to take care of our own needs first (which, IMHO, will be a never-ending task) or whether we're willing to sacrifice a little (effort, time, blood) to solve the things which actually CAN be solved. Starting with the attainable and going from there (as opposed to fighting wars where we face resistance). Not to say we shouldn't fight... but the point is creating sustainability plans and actually knowing where we're ending up. And the leaders have a chance to actually DO that together. To shape where the world is going to be in ten, fiften, fifty years. And to start working towards things they've already promised rather than letting them slide.

And I'm really late and need to go. Damn. Anyway... I still think it's attainable. Of course it won't be instantaneous and there's no magical solution that works for every community and every country. But it's also pretty clear that there's a problem and a choice that needs to be made.

[(Anonymous)]

Funny you mentioned that, I signed up for the One thing yesterday. I also saw Ewan's add a couple of days ago, loved it!
~A