Night - Elie Wiesel

I just finished this book. Winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, Night by Elie Wiesel is a truly historical novel. It is a short read but jammed with the first hand recounting of Elie's childhood in Auschwitz, the concentration camp. The story of Auschwitz is one that continues to have significance in our understanding of genocide and the meaning of human rights.

Elie is a true testament of the soul of a human being and the ability to use words to remind the world to value the life of man. When he accepted the Nobel Prize for this work he said some truly resounding things. If you want to read the whole speech do so here, but here are the passages that I found most compelling:

"...now the boy is turning to me. 'Tell me,' he asks, 'what have you done with my future, what have you done with your life?' And I tell him that I have tried. That I have tried to keep memory alive, that I have tried to fight those who would forget. Because if we forget, we are guilty, we are accomplices.
And then I explain to him how naive we were, that the world did know and remained silent. And that is why I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endured suffering and humiliation. We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Sometimes we must interfere. When human lives are endangered, when human dignity is in jeopardy, national borders and sensitivities become irrelevant. Wherever men and women are persecuted because of their race, religion, or political views, that place must - at that moment- become the center of the universe.

...There is so much to be done, there is so much that can be done. One person - a Raoul Wallenberg, an Albert Schweitzer, a Martin Luther King Jr. - one person of integrity can make a difference, a difference of life and death...

...Our lives no longer belong to us alone; they belong to all those who need us desperately."

Words have meaning. I say this over and over again in conversation. As a graduate of Communications Studies I could give you all kinds of reason that words mean more than their construction. We need read works such as this to truly grasp the power that words have. Every chance you have and every thing that you say or write has the power to make a difference. It is an unbelievable power to have and for those of us that can use it without fear of persecution, it is our duty to use it to help those that don't.
Speak up.

A Long Way Gone - Ishmael Beah

I read a great book over my holidays and forgot to write a little review about it. One of the best accounts of the tragedy in Sierra Leon and the use of child solidiers, A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a boy solider by Ishmael Beah, Beah recounted his time during the war and his recovery from the experience that he endured.

The book jacket has this to say:

This is how wars are fought now: by children, traumatized, hopped-up on drugs, and wielding AK-47s. The UN estimates that there are 300,000 child soldiers fighting in fifty conflicts worldwide. Ishmael Beah used to be one of them.
What does ware look like through the eyes of a child soldier? How does one become a killer? How does one stop? Child soldiers have been profiled by journalists and novelists, but few who have endured this hell have told their tales. In A Long Way Gone Ishmael Beah, now twenty-six years old, tells a gripping story: At the age of twelve, he fled attacking rebels and wandered a land rendered unrecognizable by violence. By thirteen, he'd been picked up by the government army, and Beah, at heart a gentle boy, found that he was capable of truly terrible acts. At sixteen, he was rehabilitated by UNICEF, learning how to forgive himself, to regain his humanity and, finally, to heal.
This is an extraordinary and mesmerizing account, told with real literary force and heartbreaking honesty.

If you have any interest in understanding the effects that wars have on the young then A Long Way Gone should be included in your reading list. I personally was gripped by the story and am in awe of someone who is able to recount it for all to read. It takes an extremely strong person to share such a disparaging story in all its details.

Give this book a read. If I was a critic I would give it a 5 out of 5.

Celebrities and the UN

It has become ALMOST popular culture. Celebrities are increasingly entering the realm of activism. While celebrities such as Bono and Angelina Jolie have taken most of the spotlight for their roles as Co-Founder of DATA (Product Red and ONE) and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, others such as Don Cheadle, in his role as Darfur activist, George Clooney, in the same role, and Brad Pitt with his environmental housing project in New Orleans, have also been making headlines. Most recently, George Clooney was named a UN "Messenger of Peace", a role he will take to help mediate the growing conflict in Nigeria.

A letter from militants in Nigeria shows fears that the escalating conflict could grow to be even worse than what is happening in Darfur.

The blending of celebrity with activist is an important step in the process of raising awareness. While they are often criticized for not doing enough, these celebrities are doing more than most to swing the tide of global degeneration. The fact that it is becoming popular culture means more to make average people aware of the world around them than does the traditional forms of activism. To reach the masses it must come from sources that the masses pay attention to.

The UN is making a bold and important step by associating itself with celebrities. It is averting its nation-to-nation role and entering the global-to-person arena. To do so it is using the celebrity avenue. Sports marketing companies have done this for years with great success. Nike, Reebok, and Adidas, have all made billions by garnering celebrity endorsement.

This video by the ONE organization (Bono's) depicts celebrities asking for the average persons help. It is a powerful message that creates a connection that people can share.



The importance of celebrity activism and popular culture is one that we can all share. You can buy a t-shirt that shows your favorite cause and parade it around for all to see, you can wear a rubber bracelet that has a few words of awareness, you can even post a video to YouTube that puts you alongside these celebrities in a medium that others can share in. The point is in order for awareness and activism to take the next step WE all need to do our part to make it hip and popular. WE need to help them to make it catch on. For it to become a movement WE need to participate.

If the UN can make the steps to start making activism cool, then we too can show others it is cool. It might come at us like a sales pitch, but don't be fooled by the criticism - It still needs to be sold. The world wont change when you purchase a t-shirt, but when you wear it around you open up the chance to change someones mind.

Join George, Brad, Angelina, Don and Bono and help make activism cool.

Mt. Kilimanjaro

I have had this dream of climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro and it is my goal to do so later this year. I will be doing an internship (although I am not sure where or with who, if anyone has any ideas I would love to hear them!) with any luck in Africa. Once I am over there, which is the expensive part, I want to travel around a little and see some of the continent. My last destination before heading home will be to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro. Why you ask? I am afraid of heights. I want to test myself on my greatest fear, and push my body to limits it has not seen before because I believe I can. Mt. Kilimanjaro is a mountain in both the physical and mental senses. Getting to the top will show me what I am capable of.

For most people to find this point in their minds it is not a mountain that you ascend. For me it is because of my fear of it. We all have some fear the cripples us. Some people are able to cope with it better than others, and some don't even recognize just how debilitating the fear has actually become. Ask yourself this: "Do I do everything I want or does something stop me?" Now if it is your conscience or morals that stop you then you are probably ok, but if it is this little gut feeling that tells you your goal is something to be scared of or to fear then you have found your mental mountain.

Climbing your mental mountain is about more than just the feeling you will have after you accomplish your feat, it is about showing yourself you can believe in yourself. Everyone thinks that changing the world is about some grand event or large movement. The fact is that changing the world is incremental. Nothing happens overnight, it takes time and energy. The place to start is within ourselves. If we can break down our own barriers and start to live the lives we can imagine and start to see that our dreams can become reality, then we open the world up to the possibility that what is does not have to be. We need to start replacing fear and cynicism with hope and optimism. When we do this then change can begin to be made in leaps and bounds.

Our obstacle to a better world lies within us. We have the means to change the world every day and the best place to start is to defeat your fears. Reach the apex and show the world what is possible.

Top 10 Things To Do That Can Change the World

I thought it was about time I create a list of the things that people can do to make the world a better place. This is my list and there are certainly other ways that I will not mention but that could easily be included. I would love to hear what you think should be included on this list.

1. Seek first to understand before being understood.
This one is a no brainer. We live in a world where we expect everyone to see our point of view and unfortunately that just doesn't work. If you want people to hear your point of view then listen to someone else's first. More importantly listen with an open mind and leave your judgement's at home. What is often forgotten is that there are at least '7 different truths' to every question, every situation, and every event. Your viewpoint makes all the difference and it is important to remember that yours is not the only way to look at the answer. Look at the world through another persons eyes and you might learn something both new and beautiful.

2. Start a conversation with a stranger.
Awkward? Maybe. Incredible experience? Definitely. There are exceptions of course, like when the stranger looks at you like you are crazy, or they have nothing to say. But I have an example. This past holiday season I was at the mall and sat down for lunch. It was extremely busy and seats were a luxury. I happened to have an empty seat across from me at my table and noticed a lady looking for a place to sit. I invited her to take a seat and I struck up a conversation. Turns out she was doing jury duty on a rather interesting case, and while she couldn't fill me in on the details she was able to tell me enough that the story was one I will remember. She also gave me some great tips for presents for my mom and sister, AND wished me a merry Christmas. The point, however, was that it was an opportunity to learn something new and we are constantly passing up these opportunities for fear of awkwardness. You never know who you might meet out of sheer accident and if you believe in Karma then I guarantee it will come right back to you.

3. Make an educated donation.
In this day in age it is not enough just to make a donation. You need to know what and who your donation is going to. There are many methods to make your donation or to do the research (many of which I have mentioned over the last 4 months). The important thing about making a donation isn't the money but that you make the effort to put it in the right place. Your values are of as much importance when making a donation as the actual amount. While millions of people give to cancer this doesn't mean it is the best place to put your money (it also doesn't mean it isn't). There are too many valuable causes and far too many non-valuable ones. Take the time to research your cause and you will find that you feel far better about the donation than you normally would.

4. Give your time to your local community organization.
This is an opportunity to do several things. You will have an opportunity to help out an organization that needs the help and skills that you bring to the table. (It is important that you provide your help on a constant basis like once every other week, once a month, or more. Organizations can become taxed by dealing with a nomadic group of volunteers but if you give your continued time then they wont need to train you or watch over you over time.) You will also be able to learn about the problems affecting your community, which may at first not be so apparent. (You would be entirely surprised to see the rate of homelessness or poverty in your community when you give your time to a soup kitchen or shelter.) You will find yourself increasingly appreciative of what you have in life. (While this may sound bad, the truth is we tend to get far too caught up in our own lives and when we are confronted with those who are worse off then we tend to see the value in our own lives a little more.) Finally, you will meet with and work alongside some people in your community you would not normally have a chance to or even think to get to know. (Some of the best people, and the ones I have learned the most from, have come during a volunteer experience. Getting outside your comfort zone and meeting people with different perspectives will only help you to see the world in new ways.)

5. Read a book a month.
Any book will do, but I would suggest something of the non-fiction variety if for nothing else than it will be an opportunity to learn something new and real. Fiction books will also do, so don't be at all scared to read one of those as well. Books have a funny way of helping you expand both your mind and horizons. A nice side effect is an increased vocabulary, and while I am not a particularly good example, your grammar is likely to improve as well. There are all kinds of books about world issues, and biographies of people who have walked the path that we too want to take.

6. Find a new quote every day or week and put it on your bathroom mirror.
The quote should represent something internal to you and specific to how you feel in the moment or would like to feel. Inspiration abounds in the words of others and it can make your day to read it in the morning before you leave for work or school and get you inspired to take on the world.

7. Write down your dreams.
Everyone has dreams. Very few people follow them. Every day you neglect them your cynicism takes a greater hold on your life. Not following our dreams is to avoid our life purpose. There is a reason we dream what we do and it is because that is what will make us happy. You want the world to change then you had better start with yourself and changing how you neglect yourself. Dreams are meant to be achieved, not ignored or chalked up to a casualty of reality. I don't believe for a second that realism needs to exclude idealism. It just means that we have to really try to make our ideal world a reality. Nothing will happen without effort and the first thing to do is write down what you want to put the effort into. Putting it on paper makes it a reality and you are far more likely to pursue what is on paper than what is in your head.

8. Love someone or something.
I wish I could say that everyone will find their true love and that person will love them that way back. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Love is a funny thing because it isn't something you can control. It is important, however, to let yourself love someone or something with all your heart. We are conditioned over time, by being rejected, and getting hurt, to put walls to protect ourselves from the hurt and pain - these same walls, though, prevent us from feeling love. Love is the most powerful, and often times painful, emotion someone can have. I will tell you this, however, when you love someone or something there is nothing else like it in life. It will bring you the highest of highs in life, and even the lowest of lows - but you can't have one without the other. Love will take you where you never expected to go but when you get there you will feel as though you were meant to be there all along. The world needs more people to love, and take down the walls that prevent it from occurring. Rejecting love out of fear is the worlds greatest problem. We put up walls (both metaphorically and in reality) to stop ourselves from connecting and when we take them down we will open up the world to a whole new outlook and a world of new possibilities.

9. Say thank you, sorry, excuse me, pardon, open the door for someone, etc.
It is simple but lacking on so many levels. It used to be that manners were a valued quality and implied good character. While the former still holds true, the reality is that we as a world have collectively lost our manners. I don't know how many times I have witnessed someone bypass their manners for reasons that are so obviously as a result of no one appreciating them. The cool factor seems to be that for those who have manners are the ones who are seen as strange and uncool. Manners are a good thing and meant to be used. They imply that you appreciate someone and that you respect them as a person. They may not be your closest friend and are often times a stranger or someone you may never meet again, but they are human and should be treated as such. The point is that manners are learned and we learn them from people who give us the respect, such as friends, family, or even strangers. The world would be a far better place if people would simply use our manners.

10. Smile.
By far greatest lesson I was ever taught in life was to smile. A smile has the greatest power of any outward display or gesture. It has the ability to brighten anyones day and instantly make the world a better place. It is like a burst of sunshine on even the cloudiest of days. If there was one thing that anyone has the power to do it is smile more. If Everyone smiled could you imagine how much happier everyone would be? There are some people I know that when they smile it just makes my day - I keep reminding them to do it more often (selfishly for sure) because it is the greatest pick-me-up.

Everything on this list is something within your power to begin doing right now. It requires very little resources on your part, just your energy and passion for making the world a better place. While the world could use a few big gestures to make it better, it is the simple and small things that will have the greatest impact. Try them and tell me what you think.

Earth Hour

I was sent this video about Earth Hour which started in Australia and is now spreading all over the world. It can have a huge impact and I implore you to take part. Check out the video.

Imagine - By John Lennon

I wanted to share the words of a visionary after my own heart. This was John Lennon's Ideal World and I think it is a good one.



Imagine there's no Heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one