Ron Cole : off the map...navigating life.

Global Warming...is this a faith issue?

From Jason Clark...

“The era of procrastination, of half-measures, of soothing, and baffling expedience of delays is coming to a close. In its place, we are coming to a period of consequences.” Winston Churchill

I saw the film An Inconvenient Truth yesterday and it had a powerful impact on me. So powerful in fact that I cried, I felt convicted that as a Christian this was something I should care about and was moved not just emotionally but to making action as well. The science in the film is compelling but it was the moral call I felt as I watched that even if the science was faulty it was something I should be acting on if I am to be true to my faith. ( Read more here )

And don't forget this rally Saturday evening down at the BC legislature...its hard to believe this province is going back to burning coal.

Uganda Rising...post-traumatic stress

Well I pulled myself out of bed early, threw some cold water on my face to jolt my still half asleep body to life. Then met my friend Bob, whom I've had breakfast together with every Saturday for the last 3+ years at our usual Cafe where Mohamed serves the best breakfast on the peninsula. I had mentioned the screening the day before to Bob, and he was going to join my wife Colleen and I.

Iwas unsure of what the turn out would be like, an early Saturday morning...and the reality that what is going on in Uganda really isn't  on alot of people's radar screen. But there was a great turn out at Silvercity, I'm guessing in the neighbourhood of 300+ people. Simon and Amy gave a brief welcome and intro before the screening.( A big thankyou for many of the folks from The Place for helping to make the screening possible.) Simon comes with the reality of Northern Uganda still fresh in his mind, having just recently returned from the region where the Acholi people live.

This is the second time I've seen the documentary, it left me feeling more unsettled than the first. The voices, the images are haunting and graphic...the cut into the core of our humanity. There are times when you want to look away, to try and convince yourself the horror is not real, just a dream. There are times when the human spirit is pierced by the images and tears flow freely.

It is easy to try and disconnect, that some how this is not part of the other human tragedies throughout the global village. This is not our concern, it's not any of our business...just worry about what's going on in your neighbourhood. It is easy to decieve ourselves with lies...to make the lies our truth. The truth is there are global powers, empiralistic powers that form an invisible web underneath much of what we see. These powers can change the reality of much of what we see...but it will take the power and the reality of the Kingdom to change them.

The words of the prophet Isaiah kept flooding into my mind...

"This is the kind of fast day I'm after:
   to break the chains of injustice,
   get rid of exploitation in the workplace,
   free the oppressed,
   cancel debts.
What I'm interested in seeing you do is:
   sharing your food with the hungry,
   inviting the homeless poor into your homes,
   putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad,
   being available to your own families.
Do this and the lights will turn on,
   and your lives will turn around at once.
Your righteousness will pave your way.
   The God of glory will secure your passage.
Then when you pray, God will answer.
   You'll call out for help and I'll say, 'Here I am.'

For years in Northern Uganda, children walk miles in the dark of the night leaving camps in mass for sleep in places where they will be safe from abduction and death. These children are as much ours, in the global village, children are our hope of a future. We can secure a safe passage for these children into there future by being a voice...we can not ignore there cry.

Despite the horror, the poverty, the pain and suffering...there was something in the eyes of these children, a glint of light in the darkness...that was a hope of a peace beyond them.

More info on Uganda
www.ugandarising.com
www.guluwalk.com
www.invisiblechildren.com
Wikipedia entry on Uganda

Wake Up Victoria...Uganda Rising Screening Tomorrow!!!

For two decades, the Acholi people of Northern Uganda have been caught in a civil war between a rebel group whose main objective is inhumane terror and a government whose military response has often increased misery and suffering. Over one and a half million people have been displaced into camps and over 25,000 children have been abducted­­––to be used as soldiers and sex slaves.

And yet through it all, every day across Acholi-land something remarkable happens. Against a backdrop of dismal statistics, miniscule opportunity and unpredictable terror, in a part of Uganda forgotten by the world, children who have never known peace, face the day as if to live this way is normal, as if they still believe in the future. These children are the embodiment of resilience and hope. This film is the story of Uganda, her stolen children, and the fight to be free.

Video clip courtesy of Forum for International Cooperation UBC can be seen ... Here

Silvercity Movie Theater, Tillicum Mall Saturday, September 9th 2006 Doors at 8:30 am Screening begins at 9am with a Q&A to follow Also on the occasion: The launch of a citywide event to raise awareness and stand in solidarity with the children of northern Uganda. More info on Uganda www.ugandarising.com www.guluwalk.com www.invisiblechildren.com Wikipedia entry on Uganda Set your alarm clock. Grab your dark roast...bring a friend, your neighbour...lets awaken Victoria to the plight of these children in Northern Uganda.

Uganda Rising...in the global village, they're are children too

Thanks to James Kingsley &  Simon Goff from over at " The Place ",  talking about the Sept 9th screening of Uganda Rising at Silvercity (at Tillicum Mall) here's the rest of the pertinent info... Screening of Uganda Rising @ Silvercity Tillicum Mall Doors at 8:30 am Screening begins at 9am with a Q&A to follow Also on the occasion: The launch of a citywide event to raise awareness and stand in solidarity with the children of northern Uganda. More info on Uganda www.ugandarising.com www.guluwalk.com www.invisiblechildren.com Wikipedia entry on Uganda

Okay, yah...8:30 on a Saturday morning is a little early. Enough whining...set your alarm, make the coffee extra strong and join us. Invite others help spread the awareness to the plight of these children in Northen Uganda. In the world as a global village...these are our children also. No excuses! Be there.