Monday, June 26, 2006

The least we can do

Last week, I watched a 2-hour program on CNN... and it has had a PROFOUND effect on my psyche ever since. I hope I am able to maintain this level of interest and horror and desire to help... and I really want to share it with you, if you haven't seen it...

The show was CNN "Anderson Cooper 360" and it was his interview, on World Refugee Day, with ANGELINA JOLIE about her experiences with the UN and on her own as she has travelled the world visiting refugee camps. There is a little bit of fluff and repetition in the 2-hr presentation, but WOW, how it all hits home. We've all heard about and read about and seen glimpses of the horrors that occur around the world, but this piece really presented clearly and effectively what is happening and what we CAN DO ABOUT IT. I am hugely impressed with Jolie and her intelligence, diplomacy, and passion about this. Did you know she donates 1/3 of her income to these causes and she pays her own way for all of her UN-related travel?


(Say what you will about her as a celebrity or politically, she is doing more in this world than any of us will probably ever do -- and no offense to those of you who volunteer and give on a regular basis!)

One comment Angelina made has really stuck with me:
"But you think, Jesus, the things these people go through. I owe it to all of them to get myself together, to stop whining about being tired, and get there and get focused, and, because God, it's the least I can do."

I highly recommend you try to watch this program -- as a human being, I feel like we can't afford not to inform ourselves about what's happening. You can view videoclips of the interview online, and I believe they are repeating the entire 2-hr program this weekend on CNN. You can also read a transcript (which of course, doesn't do it justice) here:
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0606/20/acd.01.html , and you can purchase a tape via CNN as well.

I truly believe that this should be REQUIRED viewing in schools, ages 13 and up... We need to be exposed to this stuff and we need our future leaders and world citizens to CARE about it.

Lastly, you can give to the causes to try to make a difference. Peter and I are struggling to save money and stick to a budget, but there was no way we could NOT give something. Our excuses would all be pretty lame when you consider what millions of people around the world are enduring. Please give if you can. After all, we are --all of us-- so fortunate for what we have.

Click to donate online:
http://www.unhcr.org/donate

It'll make you feel good... I promise.

More information about CNN's Refugee Day programming and the Jolie interview:
http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/refugee.day

More information about the UN's refugee program and actions around the world:
http://www.unhcr.org

Because it's the least we can do...

Thursday, June 01, 2006

Good times in bed

Did I ever tell you about the time I woke up in the middle of the night and Peter was doing *this* to me?
He claims he was having a very intense dream, and my head was just a stand-in for whatever he meant to be squashing. Let's hope so...!