September 19, 2012
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Find a Solution: Day 5
(Or at least a website) www.live58.org I read the book for this site and I really liked its optimism and hope. Finally—someone was telling me what I felt was right all along—that we can end extreme poverty. Begin a discussion—see how fast people tell you it cannot be done.
http://youtu.be/7uZV90fsoCY . And maybe it can’t be done. Maybe it is a scam: that is what part of you thinks, right? But I am sick of worrying about being taken in (Kony, anyone?) and I think we should just go for it. And maybe your “going for it” doesn’t include rice and beans or Brazil or this organization…but do something besides putting down everyone else’s attempts at making this world a better place for those who have nothing.
http://www.live58.org/survive125 is an interesting interactive “game” that gives you some ideas of what it might be like in extreme poverty. Some of these things are what my children at Living Stones are dealing with. The idea of live58: “58 is an unprecedented, action-based, global alliance of Christians, churches and world-class poverty-fighting organizations working together to end extreme poverty in our lifetime by living the True Fast of Isaiah (chapter 58).”
“We are a movement of Christians who are willing to make personal sacrifices (or “fast”) to free up resources to help the poor… who give to effective projects led by world-class poverty fighting organizations (the 58: Alliance), and who pray to align our hearts with God’s will as expressed in Isaiah 58. And here’s the good news: not only is it possible, it’s already starting to happen:
In the past thirty years, extreme poverty has been cut in half. In 1981, 52% of the world’s population lived in extreme poverty (defined by the U.N. as living on less than $1.25 per day). But by 2006, that number was 26%.” (http://www.live58.org/about/what-is-58 )
Wow. Social justice causes and poverty are the easiest ways for people to put aside their differences. I’ve seen it here in Brazil, and trust me—nothing warms my heart faster to a perfect stranger than seeing them care about the same kids I care about. I love finding ways that people have made to help connect people to the need. And this is one of them. It is well organized, and relevant.
I didn’t eat enough last night. I couldn’t go to sleep because my tummy hurt, empty-like, and I was rolling around thinking, “food food!” But my brain was not willing to get out of bed to open the fridge and eat cold rice and beans. Eww. So a big breakfast of…rice and beans. My friend invited me over for dinner and made…rice and beans. That is true friendship, and I appreciate it. My mind is beginning to chant “Thursday, Thursday” when I will enjoy garnishing my rice and beans with creativity. Ohhhhh.
I find it interesting all the people who are worried about my health. Once I let them know that I will be adding more variety of vegetables after the first week they are fine…but really, even without the other vegetables, I am still (with just my rice and beans) eating healthier that most Americans—and most of the people in poverty who only have the starches (rice and maize). I am not the one to be worried about.
