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Teaching to Fish, Teaching to Farm: Zimbabwe's Continued Mismanagement of Land
03/05/07 - 10:22:58 am Categories: ZimbabweImagine taking a poor person, likely born and raised in a bustling urban center or township, putting a pole in their hand with some thin yarn, a rock for a sinker and a paper-clip for a hook. Say you gave this person a private pond and said, "Here you go. Fish." In fact you push them into the pond so the fish get acclimated to the foreign person.
Of course, this person, who had very little to speak of except battle wounds from gang violence that you brought him into earlier on. His very own pond. His very own place to provide.
What a nice thing you have done.
This is what happened to black Zimbabweans after the redistribution of white-owned land. People drove the whites out (and with them the only major knowledge of working farms), and the government took the food for the military, took the machinery for parts and other personal resources and handed over the deed to the barren, ravaged land. The new farmer, very excited knows nothing about farming, but he has land.
And now the government, who gave them nothing much in the first place are pulling away subsidies and will likely evict current tenants for poor production.
So now imagine after the person in the pond fishing with deplorable materials, who hasn't caught a fish in a really short amount of time and you cut the bait. In fact imagine yourself clocking the guy in the side of the head and pulling him from the pond, throwing the makeshift fishing rod at him and driving him out.
Then you can imagine being the Zimbabwean government.
Central American Missions
02/01/07 - 11:06:34 am Categories: PersonalMy wife and I are looking at agencies to explore serving in Central America with. Any recommendations?
Zimbabwe Inflation
02/01/07 - 11:05:08 am Categories: ZimbabweZimbabwe's inflation is at 1283%, up about 80% since the last time I even posted. This figure comes in after energy costs are factored.
Very sad. The deplorable thing is that the government values the currency at $250zim to $1US. The black market price is $5000zim to $1US. Where then are people going to trade their money?
(Remember Zimbabwe recently lopped off three 0's at the end of its currency, so really the price was $250,000 to $1 with the black market worth $5,000,000 to $1).
This incredible disparity between government value and black market value makes me question...where are the government leaders, notorious for being corrupt in Zimbabwe going to go with their foreign earned cash?
The Cost of Bread
What if your $2.50 loaf of bread skyrocketed to $7.00 next month. Imagine if the same increase occurred again the following month. Your bread would then cost $19.60. Imagine what that would be in a year. Like eating dirt? Well, Zimbabwe's cost of bread, a basic staple is on this trend currently.
Want to Dissent
01/11/07 - 05:35:48 pm Categories: PoliticsI tell you...a day like today, with increase of troops, an attack on Iran's consulate, the recent implication that 1 Billion dollars of promised money to eradicate extreme poverty will be withheld as usual and many other small things, make me want to be a dissenter. I held out a little bit of hope that politics would at least do something good, but today I'm done with it. Maybe tomorrow I will be healthily skeptical rather than just put off by the whole system.
Zimbabwe Governor Gets Hot New Car
01/08/07 - 03:06:55 pm Categories: ZimbabweA Zimbabwe governor gets a pricy new car, one of the fastest in the world, reports The East African. Reserve bank employees are furious as they cannot afford to get to work by bus.
Apparently workers for the governor were told that they could not get a raise because there was not enough money, yet the car the governor bought is worth nearly $400,000.
The worst part about it is the furiousness of the governor, for having it delivered to his office.
Zimbabwe is in a horribly obnoxious state of affairs. Somebody put pressure on these guys to not destroy their country and citizens any further on stupid, lavish personal gain.
Saddam Hanging
Well, it is old news by now, but it is important to me to comment on it. The rejoicing of the former dictator's death is appauling. I will not deny that he was a terrible man, but nonetheless his death executes any opportunity for his reconciliation.
In discussing with a friend, what would a Christian president do regarding his enemy Saddam. Well I think it would look something like this:
Bush: Tell Secret Service I'm travelling to Iraq to speak with Mr. Hussein.
(enters cell)
Bush: I am here to ask a favor and give you another opportunity at reconciliation with your own people and the global community. I am not offering to pardon you, or even ask the new Iraqi government to renig your punishment. You did horrible things and you must face those consequences. But rather than death, I offer you a chance at new life. It is a life behind walls, cinderblocks and bars with guards and administration bent on keeping your sentence, but it can be a profitable life. I want you to be an honorary Iraqi political advisor to my cabinet. You did horrible things as a leader. Your Machiavelli style rule is contemptible, but you know your people and your country better than I and have some sway with some. You can be rehabilitated, reconciled and given regular opportunity to turn your life around.
Instead his death is celebrated and encouraged, given no more opportunities at social or spiritual reconciliation.
16,000 Jobless People Arrested
12/28/06 - 11:28:42 am Categories: ZimbabweBBC reports that 16000 illegal miners have been arrested in Zimbabwe. Though I know safety is a major issue with shallow mines and no government control on the mines, these people don't need jail, they need a job and a source of income. The Zim government needs to do more than burn peoples' houses and arrest them. They ought to get their act together and promote a solid economy for the people rather than for Mugabe and his cronies!
Johny Cash a Hero for Both Camps
Over Christmas, my cousin-in-law got pretty near all the Johnny Cash CD's a guy could ever want. And from what his family says about him, he will never get tired of them and will play them over and over and over again, long past the time when the rest of the family gets tired of them.
I know lots of folks who like Johnny Cash, but I recognized the irony of his fanbase today. My cousin-in-law also got a confederate jacket, talks about big trucks and likes all things "good old all American country" and stuff like that. But then, my hippy friend, who until recently had long hair, used to wear patch hats and pants and walked around barefoot also loves Cash. The two could not be any more opposite in the community or people they identify with.
So I guess Cash is a man for all people, except for me, because I do not like him all that much.
Zimbabwe's Plight - CNN
12/19/06 - 01:43:35 pm Categories: ZimbabweCNN.com's cover story discussed the plight of Zimbabweans. No doubt the article is hostile to the Zimbabwean state, possibly as a backlash against censorship of Western journalists there. Nonetheless, it is another reminder of the suffering of Zimbabweans.
The article again highlights the quick downfall of Zimbabwe:
This is a story about how Zimbabwe, once dubbed southern Africa's bread basket, has in six short years become a basket case. It is about a country that once exported surplus food now apparently falling apart, with many residents scrounging for rodents to survive.
Education as a Mechanism for Staving Conflict
Ghana has a thriving secondary boarding school system comparatively with its surrounding countries. As such, they can look to their history and see that integration at boarding schools has kept them from the dramatic conflicts their neighbors have suffered. Read the BBC article.
Zimbabwe's Sad State
12/19/06 - 11:48:28 am Categories: ZimbabweZimbabwe is continuing its declining state. I hope to see Mugabe take the advice from the IMF, but he likely will not.
Tourism Breeds Child Sex-Workers in Kenya
It is no secret that the tourism industry breeds sex workers, especially among children. An uncanny percentage of Thailand's economy rests with the sex industry there, and tourist money fuels it voraciously.
BBC reports that children are selling themselves in Kenya as well. One should not be surprised, but it often goes without saying. A large portion of sex-buyers are nationals - Kenyans themselves, however over 40% of the industry's clientele in Kenya come from just 3 European countries. This is despicable and detrimental to the developing country.
Tamil Tigers Kidnap Children
Child soldiers is an immense problem throughout the world. Most people think of it happening only in Africa, where issues of the Lord's Resistance Army have recently been highlighted, as well as with Blood Diamond discussing the issue in Sierra Leone's civil war. It happens elsewhere. Sri Lanka has been caught in civil unrest for some time, and amidst the fighting, they have been kidnapping children to fight for wars. Rebel leaders deny that the movement has willingly kidnapped children, and upon learning the age of some of the children, they "return" them.
I would like to be inclined to believe them, but I'm just not. There are too many instances where children are kidnapped, abused and rapped. I hope for the 21 girls that were discussed in the BBC article. I hope they can continue to live their lives without recalling any pains they may have suffered.
Kenyan President Passes on Salary Hike
12/18/06 - 11:30:56 am Categories: KenyaKenya's president was given an increase of $18000 per month to his current salary, but he rejected it. I am glad to see that the President turned down this request in favor of other projects.
Kibaki has been riddled with corruption scandals and problems with graf throughout his entire presidency. He promised to clean up corruption, and yet has lost international credibility because his government is fraught with it.
This move to deny the new funds may be more out of political salvation, but at least 18,000 a month can hopefully be redirected to the growing problem of orphans and HIV/AIDS.
New Sub-Category - Kenya
12/18/06 - 11:23:49 am Categories: KenyaSince my wife spent time in Kenya this summer, and I have some good friends there currently, I have decided to make a Kenya sub-category under my Africa section.
ACLU Fighting My, A Middle-Class, White, Male, Cause?!?
12/15/06 - 04:49:47 pm Categories: MarriageAs many know I am hyphenating my name as my wife did. Yet, in the state of CA you are unable to do so as the male in the relationship without a fee of $320, a hearing before the court and without advertising the name for 4 weeks in a local newspaper, which will cost about $60 more dollars. Unreal. Usually it is the woman who gets screwed out of equality. This time it is me.
But the ACLU of So. Cal is fighting for people in my predicament. I have not changed the name yet due to the time of year and the name that is on my plane tickets - I can't change the name until after I travel or I will have too much hassle.
I'm not the hugest ACLU fan. Often I find them unbalanced, but I'll take their action on this one.
The article prints the comment of the male in the couple interview:
A hyphenated name is a cop-out. A family to be a family, should all have the same name.
Now I do not agree in entirety with Mr. soon-to-be Bijon (if the ACLU wins), because I will have a hyphenated name, but it will match my wife's last name. Also I know others who do not share it exactly, which I don't particularly like, but I would in no way classify them as not being a family.
What's Next in Christianity and Empire?
Please forgive the ramblings below. I have not organized the thoughts in this post and though I may choose to do so later, I will just let the floods poor, drown in them and sort it out another day.
The turn of the 20th century saw committed Christians as outcasts, the "remnant" of a population of Christians who believed in more than the human condition. They are called Fundamentalists.
For many reasons I do not agree with Fundamentalism, but I can sympathize with Fundamentalists of the early 1900's. They were crowded out by the Social Gospel movement, a seemingly powerful understanding of Christ that eliminates Christ all together. I am biased, and though I will take principals of this movement to my grave, I find it in practice a humanist approach with some Jesus make-up.
Fundamentalists saw the center of their faith waning in the world. The empirical Christians, at the time, the mainline denominations, were collapsing the elements of faith.
I have posted sometime earlier that Fundamentalists switched their "remnant" self-identity to achieve the Kingdom of God as a massive population, mostly brainwashed by very specific and narrow doctrines established by white middle-aged men with something to lose.
So what comes next? I see a trend of Christian activism for social concerns. I am thrilled by the increase in humanitarian aide. Christians are again discussing issues of the Kingdom that go beyond number of conversions. They are seeking to adhere to the requests of Christ - to feed, clothe, bathe, visit - to love. I hope that this trend can go on, gain greater momentum and people will no longer be hungry, naked, dirty, lonely - unloved.
But I predict that this is not so. As any movement goes, a counter movement will take fashion. It scares me to think that again we will find top leaders of Christianity claiming that evangelism has been subordinated to the cause of humanitarian aid and that the push will move back to the already heavy evangelistic conversion model.
As a quick disclaimer, I do not intend to play down evangelism, for I do believe in its necessity. I do believe that goodness comes from God and I do believe in the Holy Spirit's work within the world, compelling Christians and non-Christians alike to press forward and cultivate the Kingdom of God. I believe Christians have a charge put forth to take active responsibility in this.
So what comes next in Christianity? When post-modernity changes, the Emergent movement has reached its Zenith? Will we again look to establish Empire rather than Kingdom? Will Christians seek to dominate the world again, or serve with Godliness and devotion the oncoming Kingdom of God?
(Red)Emption
Oprah and Bono recently introduced the (Red) product line to assist in fighting poverty.
I support (red), but prices are so high for the products that it does not seem feasible for my family to purchase any.
An initiative based in reaction to Oprah and Bono's high profile campaign is called (RED)EMPTION. Please follow the link.
The quote at the end of today's post is something I think we really need to latch on to:
Remember, we are the people we've been waiting for
Mugabe Will Likely Rule Longer
12/14/06 - 11:01:12 am Categories: ZimbabweBBC reports that Zimbabwe's ZANU-PF political party, the controlling party and the party of the current president, Robert Mugabe, will move to extend Mugabe's term of service two years in order to have elections coincide with parliamentary elections. Their justification is to cut costs.
It is no surprise that Mugabe and his party are pushing to stay in power longer. Mugabe and his party have been criticized greatly over the last years, especially since 2001, for the choices they make: The eviction of many white farmers from their land, multiple corrupt elections, political abuse of opposition leader Morgan Tsvingari, the eradication of street vendors in Harare and Bulawayo and for having the highest inflation rate in the world at over 1000%.
I was planning on posting about Mugabe today anyway, because I saw the movie the Interpreter last night which highlights a corrupt African leader who was once notably a hero. Mugabe, even among his critics is still considered a hero, leading the rebellion against Britain to gain independence. But he is blood thirsty in power, and foolish in politics. He is tyrannical and whimsical. He manipulates his people and lets them starve for his own political gain.
Mugabe is in good health for an 82 year old. He once had one of the most developed nations in Africa, but Zimbabwe is failing under his recent leadership. It is time for change.
Clash in Church
12/11/06 - 01:29:48 pm Categories: MinistryI went to my friend's ordination yesterday. He is now a deacon in the Charismatic Episcopal Church. It was quite an experience.
I was brought home to a familiar upbringing, seeing that I grew up Episcopal. It was very high church, with lots of incense and jazz. The garments were very traditional, more so than the ones I wore as an acolyte. The service was at times a bit stuffy, and very reverent, until at one point the rock band began to blare. Hymns turned into a trio of contemporary praise songs. The small church blared with horrible acoustics and old men in collars through up their hands and irreverently rocked their bodies to the concert-like atmosphere. Screaming shouts of praise upon each song's completion. Then back again to the more formal atmosphere.
One incredible observation about the assignment to the deacon is the incredible stress the bishop laid upon the diaconates to serve the poor and oppressed. It is their watch as associates of the bishop to charge and serve these people.
I do not agree with the Charismatic Episcopal Church regarding women, and I'm sure other theological positions I would typically oppose, but the time was a treasured one. It was great to support a friend and great to experience two forms of church that I never thought to be compatible in the States.
Congrats to Deacon Michael. I am thankful for your charge to serve the poor and oppressed.
Write 7-Eleven and Ask to drop Styrofoam Cups
Please Write a short letter, or steal mine below and ask 7-Eleven to change their materials from Styrofoam to something healthier for the environment. It will cost you $.39 or an email. I included a small piece about Fair Trade coffee as well. Please expand as you will.
Bloggers this is where you can again come in handy. I am a nothing blogger, but some of my readers actually have an audience. Please post about this and let the blogsphere send a simple message to 7-Eleven. If you do, please link your blog in the comments of this post and begin to share the networks of simple activism.
You can send your letter to this address:
7-Eleven, Inc.
Corporate Headquarters
P.O. Box 711
Dallas, TX 75221-0711
Phone: 214-828-7011
My simple quick letter:
Dear 7-Eleven:
I am writing to respectfully ask you to change the material of your coffee cups from Styrofoam to something that is healthier for the environment. Styrofoam is difficult on the environment during production as well as consumption. I would contend that this practice can be a marketable change drawing on-the-go customers from places such as Starbucks or Seattle’s Best. Eliminating Styrofoam from your coffee materials to then offer fair-trade coffee can bring 7-Eleven into a niche of coffee sellers that is increasingly in demand.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Winding Down the Pursuit of CNI
Well I told myself that I would work on creating the Church Networking Institute until it got started or until I could no longer run with it. After a couple meetings last week I have come to the conclusion that though the pursuit is something I am passionate about, I cannot, in its current form push for CNI any longer. The efforts necessary to begin CNI are too extensive to volunteer for while I am in the middle of a degree, working full-time and laying the foundation for my new marriage.
I have no regrets as all I lost was a bit of time and a few bucks in coffee. I learned a great deal through this process. I learned a lot about setting up a non-profit and a good deal of what a non-profit needs to have in place in order to receive grants. I learned about the state of the Church, sad as it is and where things can be improved upon. I am very grateful for the opportunity and all my support.
I gained even greater respect for my church Foothill Community Church and am so blessed that Pastor Dale told me to "sick 'em" in my pursuit. Translation: Go for it. Foothill is a wonderfully open church allowing people to push for their dreams and ministry.
I also am grateful for all the work that Mindful Mission did to help CNI with a logo and website. I would totally recommend the founder to do your work and possibly a very creative business partner he may have in the future. Thanks Mindful Mission.
So, for now, I will bench CNI. If somebody with the big-bucks wants to give it a Rudy-like shot, then I'm open to the idea, but I am unable as of now to put in unbillable hours to see it to fruition. Maybe someday I will be able to incorporate it into what I'm doing on the field.
Thanks for your prayers and support regarding CNI>
Wallis Bi-Partisan?
12/01/06 - 05:16:09 pm Categories: PoliticsJim Wallis claims to be bi-partisan, which I don't really buy. I believe he truly thinks that God is not a Democrat or Republican, but I don't think his actions speak this way. I received an email that intended to convince me:
I work hard to maintain my independence and non-partisanship, and didn't want to be perceived as supporting one party over the other.
But I'm really not. I like Wallis, generally. I have much criticism about him, but I would side with Wallis over a conservative Right agenda any day. Nonetheless, I am not convinced that Wallis is truly bi-partisan. He is unrelenting against the GOP and has glorified Senators Obama and Clinton many times.
Yet, if Wallis maintains it, from this point now I will give him the benefit of the doubt. I hope to see him working with solid GOP compassionate conservatives on issues of poverty. That would be a good thing for this country.
More AIDS Awareness Day
12/01/06 - 11:36:31 am Categories: AfricaThanks to Rudy at Urban Onramps I was alerted to this quote from an LA Times article:
Bush and his Christian supporters seldom get the credit they deserve for their role in the global fight against AIDS. U.S. spending on the disease overseas has risen more than tenfold under Bush, while Christian groups have given unselfishly to the cause. Churches, in fact, run health clinics in much of rural Africa; without them, stemming AIDS would be all but impossible. So praise the Lord and pass the antiretrovirals.
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