tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28321828.post4437978273427285407..comments2024-03-12T09:47:58.376+02:00Comments on ChampagneHeathen: Reactionary AidChampagne Heathenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09540128789208726965noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28321828.post-25879636412112300462007-07-26T16:35:00.000+02:002007-07-26T16:35:00.000+02:00so... i wrote this a while back as a draft email t...so... i wrote this a while back as a draft email to you and never finished my thoughts on it... so many things you mentioned in here sparked so many divergent thoughts, so much anger just thinking about it all.<BR/><BR/>I think the real sin is not that people took a week to notice the effects and react to the Tsunami, but rather that people rarely commit to doing anything about such problems and atrocities that are occurring on an everyday basis, particularly within their own communities and own countries. Even with the aid pledged to deal with the impact of the Tsunamai - the commitment lasted the period of convenient TV coverage (free advertising).<BR/><BR/>Ignorance is easiest - people hide from the problems in many ways, whether by blaming their inactions on the fact that nothing will ever change and that they can have no impact; blaming their organisations, their companies; or fear, or by protecting "their own" be that ethnic background, family...<BR/><BR/>I guess in response to your direct question - "when are these elements valid reasons and when are they self-indulgent excuses?" - I would say that if one is considering this question one is probably already doing as much (or at least something) as one can and as such a holiday is no longer a self-indulgent excuse. We are unfortunately not all born to be those that can dedicate their entire lives and sacrifice everything towards bettering our world. <BR/><BR/>Many people would not even bother to ask the question you put forward as their entire life is committed to self-indulgence (so ignorant of the fact that a reality other than their own exists - and so oblivious to how they contribute to the suffering that they conveniently dont see.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28321828.post-51243656380275668822007-06-18T11:14:00.000+02:002007-06-18T11:14:00.000+02:00Hi Gillian! And welcome to my blog, and more so - ...Hi Gillian! And welcome to my blog, and more so - thanks for all the comments and obviously exploring my blog so well! Much appreciated!!<BR/><BR/>Very true about becoming overwhelmed in this game. <BR/><BR/>The collective threshold - like 'the tipping point'. Have you read that book? It's on my list, although by this stage, after everyone else telling me about it, I feel like I have read it. <BR/><BR/>Yeah, I wonder when it will stop all being lipservice & we'll see people making proper concerted efforts. Really dedicating proper TIME and money. And not just using the loopholes and still demanding gratitude for doing so!Champagne Heathenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09540128789208726965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28321828.post-68079157895771504172007-06-16T00:37:00.000+02:002007-06-16T00:37:00.000+02:00The more that needs to be done, the more powerless...The more that needs to be done, the more powerless we seem to feel - or at least I do. How scary does the world have to become before we become brave (enough)? Maybe we all have different thresholds. Maybe one day the collective threshold will be strong enough to make a real difference. Hopefully it'll be in my lifetime... It had better get a fucking move-on! Lol.<BR/><BR/>Really nice piece, Champers.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13558110335100330518noreply@blogger.com