8.04.2009

Plans for Next Year

I'm not sure who is still watching this right now. Anyway, Corey was able to get a speaker from IJM to come on October 28, so that is the week I am planning the Human Trafficking Awareness week for that week. This is what I have planned so far.

1. Chapel on Wednesday and then possibly an afternoon session with the speaker as well.

2. Movie night on Friday- I got Trade for my birthday. I have reserved Canterbury lecture hall from 7-10 that day.

3. An Odd job auction, possibly on Monday or Tuesday. This would be where people would donate their time to do things like babysitting, dog walking, car washing, etc and then people would buy those times. The money would go to one of the anti-trafficking groups.

4. I want to do some sort of prayer service Thursday evening. I'm not sure how I'd go about setting that up, but I think that would be a good followup to the speaker on Wednesday.

If any of you have any ideas, I would be really grateful. I'm not sure how we'd go advertising in the community and such. Leif and Ashley, since you guys planned the Poverty Week last year, any advice you guys have would be really helpful.

Edit: I looked on IJM, and we're on their official callender: http://www.ijm.org/component/option,com_jcalpro/Itemid,92/extmode,cal/date,2009-10-01/
This makes me really excited.

Edit 2: Prayer service is set up for Thursday in Angell Chapel.

6.02.2009

Howdy:)

I just wanted to say hi to everyone! I am in VA and trying to get settled being so far from everybody. I hope things are going well with the garden and community:) I miss you all and can not wait to see everyone again in the fall:)

4.20.2009

Hey,
I just met with Corey, and it seems like everything is going to come together. IJM had already been in contact with him interested in coming out. He is going to contact them about having a speaker for chapel on October 28.

The only thing is that he is giving us only one chapel day. That means if we want someone from Love146, it will have to be an evening meeting or something.

Still, I think this will be good. He is excited about this too, so I think it will all come together.

4.17.2009

Creative Ideas

Hey guys
Sorry for the multiple posts. I was talking to my parents about our plans, and they were telling me about a couple who we used to know. They have founded an organization that helps women and children get off the streets and out of prostitution by giving them alternatives. Their work is fascinating because they are artists, and they donate their art to raise funds for their mission work. Their organization is all about artists using their gifts to help. I think that is just such a great idea. Here is their website:
http://www.christiancultural.com/
Also, since I know them personally, there is a possibility that they could come out and speak next year if there is an interest and if times work out.

Poem

Some powerful videos:




Also, a very powerful video about a guy who decided to prosecute himself for eating chocolate made with slave labor: http://www.onevoicetoendslavery.com/video/chocolonly-video

And a bunch of other videos: http://humantrafficking.change.org/videos

Ideas for Next Year

Hey guys,
Just a couple of things I found while doing research:
- I emailed IJM, and they said that we can become a chapter. All we need to do is fill out the form on the website and then request a toolkit. I'm not sure if it would be better to do it for the whole group or for the smaller Abolition group we were talking about setting up for next year, but I think that it is a great idea for next semester.

- Did you know that Hershey's, Mars, and Nestle all use child slave labor in their factories? I knew about Mars, but not the other two. I have made the decision for myself not to buy their chocolate. Here is a site with more information:
http://humantrafficking.change.org/actions/view/tell_hershey_mars_nestle_to_stop_child_labor
There is also a pledge to fill out there that can be sent to the companies.

- I'm thinking for next year to try to schedule Human Trafficking Week for the week of January 11, which is National Human Trafficking Awareness Day.

- I found a bunch of cool ideas of events that other groups have come up with. For example, one group "traveled for traffick." They took the subway and went to each stop in their city, taking a picture at each stop and holding a sign so everyone would know why they were there. I thought that was a kind of cool idea. Another group did a job auction where they auctioned off odd jobs like dog walking and car washing to raise money for Stop The Traffick.

4.02.2009

Fun stuff this weekend

Hey everyone-
There are a couple of cool-sounding things going on soon that SSJers might be interested in. I don't know if I can go or not, but I figured I'd post them in here if any of you want to.

First is a movie showing called The Examined Life:

In Examined Life, filmmaker Astra Taylor accompanies some of today's most influential thinkers on a series of unique excursions through places and spaces that hold particular resonance to them and their ideas. By pulling philosophy out of academic journals and classrooms, Taylor puts it back on the streets where it began and creates an intellectual smorgasbord.

Topics discussed include:
-Ethics of consumption
-The environment
-The nature of revolution
-Our culture's fixation on individualism

"The unexamined life is not worth living."-Socrates



Second is  Down:2:Earth Sustainable Living Expo:

Friday, April 3: 5:oopm-9:00pm
Saturday, April 4: 11:00am-7:00pm
Sunday, April 5: 11:00am-5:00pm

Hynes Convention Center

$8 for students, $10 for losers

D2E emphasizes local and innovative solutions and connects our consumers with progressive companies that are investing in a more sustainable future. Attendees will explore the latest in green careers/green collar jobs, sustainably produced food, eco fashion and design, green building, socially responsible investing, clean technology, renewable energy, and more.
Fashion shows, cooking demonstrations, a "Kids Block," book signings, workshops on GARDENING, food, energy, public policy, and home remodeling.

3.20.2009

why do we garden?

I'd like to start a discussion about why we're doing this gardening stuff. Here's just one idea:



One of God's first commands for humanity was to tend a garden.