Game On

I can't cry lately, too busy to be exposed to what triggers tears.  Much to feel fortunate for, however empty at the moment.  Not having to leave the house every day is one small blessing.  It's taken a long time to get here.

A book, more than one, sits in its most raw form tucked away in a bag, awaiting being united with its illustrator; at least one for children, more for the older ones.

Now, a vision lies in wait as well, more brushstrokes to the picture every day, until it becomes something others can see.

'Necessity is the mother of invention' applies.  'Don't try this at home', is what I may tell an audience someday, after yet another season's 'adventure'.

To care about what anyone else thinks would only slow the process; this is for a child, always has been.  What they choose to do when the painting is complete is up to them.  The investment has been made; the time has been put in.  The garden has been watered.  Now it's time to go over the fence until it's harvest time, coming back to pull weeds a few times in the interim, letting the rabbits graze a little; there's enough to go around.

Hope

A mentor once told me along with one of our groups in the recent past that half the world's population cooks its food over an open flame without secure or full time shelter. Watching One Peace At a Time and the story of the Glimmer of Hope organization brougnt this into full living color, as I watched women and children's lives entirely sacrificed to walking hours daily just for water. No education; staying alive was the constant maintenance of a water supply carried on their backs, every day, all day, to and from. What they collect in unsanitary vessels is muddy and often ridden with parasites. Many children don't live until their fifth birthday.

The Glimmer of Hope organization is dedicated to creating wells and ongoing water supplies for such communities. One well costs three thousand dollars; the communities build them themselves with the stones or materials purchased, and they are then free to think beyond daily survival and sickness to clean water and opportunities for education. Those of all ages sit in the same classroom, learning to read for the first time. Lessons are in their language and English simultaneously.

The movie (2009) also brought to light that there is enough food in the world to feed everyone; the problem is barriers to access that are both physical and political. This is no surprise. It's the first concise illustration that included interviews with seven Nobel prize winners that we can in this generation collectively and deliberately end world poverty, without those 'in power' "losing" anything. It's a mindset, known as well. Gratitude to Turk Pipkin for this timely and valuable compilation that illustrates what other related or similar documentaries have commendably attempted yet failed to do. It was a collection of messages from the hearts of the planet's highest thinkers and scholars, with examples of what's working, and how to do more, simply, deliberately, and effectively.

In text across the screen just over a minute were how many children were dying of hunger as the text was read. As this is being written, every five words a child dies of hunger. The movie was also effective in its use of humor and pacing. How it can be cool to promote family planning education in an appealing and profitable way that also contributes to a community economy as well, sitting in the restaurant of the founder and owner who appears like anything but the kind of guy one would picture offering ample supplies every day of free contraception, making a good living, and having found or created a lasting purpose.

Have researched this type of world advancing for a number of years now. The filmmaker has succeeded in putting an effective number of best practices in one place, and shown that anyone who chooses a purpose can do the same in a noble and respectable way for both themselves and future generations.

What is the best of both worlds? Why do separate worlds exist? It's mostly perception. It takes more conscious choice to save more lives, and the film shows just how little collective yet deliberate effort is required to save lives and preserve futures in a short amount of time.

Yes, we have hidden problems in our own backyards, even in Texas where the project and another highlighted organization are based. It is another place we must begin and continue for our own children, with the rest of the globe in our peripheral vision, because there are also the storm clouds.

Without taking care of our own or pushing to have our country represent what others have, there is neither credibility or a firm position that our country practices what it stands for. An example is not signing or ratifying the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The U.S. and Somalia remain in non-participation. Somalia has no government. Ours in many ways is systemically broken. We cannot be strong until what has been swept under the rug is brought to light and addressed. Those who have been affected by unlawful practices know this all too well. Those engaging in it aren't fooling anyone, not in the long term. Short terms gains are acquired by compromising or permanently damaging entire childhoods or breaking families. It can't last.

Thanks for the movie. It's time for some accountability. Many empowered in younger generations are better equipped and informed than those who have contributed to the ruin left for others to clean up. Cable channels appear to have consumed and brainwashed most everyone in distracting their attention from how the world works.

Those working the world aren't watching cable; they're out preparing for what's next. When or if cameras come out for those spectating who have living rooms with TV screens, the ones changing the world are usually too busy to notice, though they're gracious enough to provide a few moments or practical wisdom when possible. There's no question who's really doing the 'living', so that more can live with health and the promise of a future of opportunity: everything every child has a right to, including their children, too.