Matt C's Musings

An (In)convenient Truth

2006-10-02T16:51:00.000+01:00

The latest article on issues regarding contemporary culture from the LICC is a reflection on climate change and the issues both a) brought up in relation to Al Gore's latest film and also b) the business response and particularly that of Richard Branson. Its well worth a read and also has some really great links at the foot of the article!

Can you or your Church work a miracle?

2006-09-27T13:32:00.000+01:00

Stopping AIDS. All together.

A baby is born with HIV every minute. But you can stop this happening. Your giving, campaigning and prayer can give a child the chance of an HIV-free start in life. Want to be part of this? Tearfund have recently launched the Work a Miracle initiative and you can learn, give, pray etc by clicking on the above links.

Beth By The Pepper Patch

2006-09-21T17:34:00.000+01:00

Further evidence that our wonderful little girl is growing up fast! Today was the day that she did a full scale roll! Not long now until the roll becomes a crawl and the crawl becomes a walk! She is almost 5 months old now and wants to be older in some ways! Food is also a thing that is about to change! The plan is to begin to wean her onto a few solids this weekend, so that should be fun and great that Daddy can be involved in feeding to! She continues to sleep well at night and provide very little hassle to us both! We are loving her and the whole experience so much!

The Irresistible Revolution

2006-09-21T17:23:00.000+01:00

The Irresistible Revolution is the title of a book by Shane Claiborne that is currently getting a lot of attention, readers, critique, excitement and debate going. Shane is one of the founders of a movement called The Simple Way who's mission is simply "To Love God. To Love people. To Follow Jesus." Its finally in my hands and I intend to give it a good reading over the next week or two!

How Much Reality Can You Take?

2006-09-21T17:07:00.000+01:00

Is the title of George Monbiot's latest musings and research on the issue of climate change. Well worth a read, engaging, controversial and challenging as ever! In addition to this article he has also written a piece regarding the reduction of carbon emissions and the necessity of it for the UK to reach a very high reduction figure by 2030.

Change the World 9-5

2006-09-15T14:19:00.000+01:00

Change the World 9-5 is the latest publication from We are what we do. The Book is a follow on from the last publication 'Change the World for a Fiver' and contains 50 more actions we can take to make the world a better place to live in not just for ourselves but also for future generations. This weeks Big Issue also has a great feature about the book and the organisation!

The Truth Isn't Sexy

2006-08-23T13:29:00.000+01:00

Truth Isn't Sexy is a new campaign and website aimed at tackling Human Trafficking. Protest4, which grew out of a few em:church communities in London has launched this as its first anti-trafficking campaign in the UK. Human trafficking is dubbed as the human rights crisis of the 21st century. The campaign is aiming to launch by the 25th March which represents the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave-trade (or so it was thought). Now with 3 times more people in slavery today, the onus is upon us all to do it over again.

To read a very moving and challenging piece of writing on this issue by a friend Emily, who is currently based in Thailand, please click here.

Globalisation Debate

2006-08-23T13:24:00.000+01:00

Philippe Legrain has written an interesting article on Globalisation. Lots to debate as usual!

Gap Years

2006-08-21T13:40:00.000+01:00

There has been a lot of debate and comment in the media lately concerning the validity and importance of 'Gap Years', which was sparked off by some rather interesting comments from VSO. The Guardian ran this article on Friday, which is a good read and puts some balance into the debate.

Personally I would agree with some of what VSO have said, that the projects need to be credible, sustainable and that at times the motivation and ethos of the 'team' or participants going needs to be kept in check or questioned. But working for Tearfund and Transform has enabled me to be very impressed with the commitment and perspective that many of the participants have before, during and after their trip.

The whole industry/market is also an interesting one. There is so much choice out there. I read a 'gap year guide' the other day that had 50+ organisations on it and none were any of the Christian orgs that are more similar perhaps to Transform. Its weird as with all of these and the ones not listed, are we in competition or are we in partnership? I guess a bit of both and its a case of walking the tightrope and not falling off. Will growth continue or will a plateau be reached? Will more and more have to be done to attract people to a specific programme?

Our numbers have certainly plateaued in recent years, but a new partnership with Soul Action means that we will be experiencing growth again in 2007.

Weekend and Wedding (2)

2006-08-15T15:59:00.000+01:00

It was (Em's and Phils) a classic wedding and the tale of the days events is told very well by Dave! Great pictures also!

Beautiful and Barmy Beth

2006-08-15T15:41:00.000+01:00

Here are the very latest pics of Beth at her Barmy and Beautiful Best! I guess this is another sign that it won't be long before she is rolling, then crawling, then walking!! Wow!!

Bolds Fold

2006-08-15T13:56:00.000+01:00

This is just pure genius!

Climate Chaos (2)

2006-08-15T13:39:00.000+01:00

Rewatching David Attenborough's mini series on climate change and reflecting on some of the issues again has challenged me about the importance of tackling climate change. Carbon Footprint is a great site and Stop Climate Chaos are also doing some great stuff, including an event on 4th Nov. Cycling, recycling, products I use and getting more into Leo Hickman's great book have helped me begin to outwork this more but I recognise that I am still very much at the novice/beginner level really, relative to the things I do that cause harm to the planet.

China Blue

2006-08-15T13:13:00.000+01:00

Early to flag up I know but this looks like a good event.

Labour Behind the Label and partners invite you to join Chinese human rights activists and trade unionists for an award-winning film and discussion.

Thursday 28th September, 7.00pm (LBL AGM at 6.15pm) Amnesty International Human Rights Action Centre,
17-25 New Inn Yard, London EC2A 3EA (Tube: Old Street)

CHINA BLUE A unique and intimate portrayal of the lives of a group of migrant workers inside and outside a Chinese garment factory.
* Winner of the IDFA Amnesty Human Rights Award
* Official selection of the Toronto Film Festival

Cute and Curious

2006-08-14T16:06:00.000+01:00

Weekend and Wedding

2006-08-14T14:11:00.000+01:00

I was in Norfolk for the past few days for my Cousin Emily's Wedding to Phil at the fantastic Letton Hall. It was a real classic (even with major traffic, weather and power cut problems) and the bracketed problems seemed to make it even better with flexibility, resolve and alternative entertainment winning the day! Great to see so many people and have such a great time and great that so many of us helped out before and after to make it happen! Real community and love in action and for me a taste of how great life can and should be! Pure Quality!

Cheeky Smile

2006-08-08T14:45:00.000+01:00

Beth is changing by the day and evidence that her legs are strengthening fast!!

Faith Untapped

2006-08-08T14:13:00.000+01:00

This is the title of a new report by Tearfund exploring the concept and reality of Churches playing a crucial role in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Africa. The report reveals that a hidden army of millions of church volunteers is tackling Africa’s AIDS crisis head on. But they lack the international support and funding which could turn the continent’s one million churches into one of the single most effective weapons for halting the pandemic.

One week ahead of the 16th UN International AIDS Conference in Toronto (August 13-18), which will look at ‘bringing effective HIV prevention and treatment strategies to communities the world over’, the Tearfund report states: “Churches’ long reach, deep into people’s psyche and far down pot-holed tracks into even the most remote villages, means they are uniquely placed to respond to people’s needs. Their reach often extends far beyond that of governments and NGOs.” Veena O’Sullivan, Tearfund’s HIV and AIDS advisor, says: “We need fresh thinking on tackling AIDS in Africa. There are 2 million congregations of different faiths. In some churches every single member is involved in caring for orphans and vulnerable children. International donors must urgently seek to understand the nature of faith, recognise churches’ potential to be more effective and ensure funding quickly reaches the grassroots of African society where the money is most needed.”

The Weekend

2006-08-08T14:01:00.000+01:00

Just had a truly great weekend with friends (Bonus of 3 days due to Monday off work) that involved lots of relaxing, eating, quality time and playing lots of great games. The Weekend began by celebrating Matt's birthday by combining a meal with a game by tasting the most incredible sausages from this place and trying to guess their names, flavours and the type of meat etc!! When you then combine games like Articulate, Risk and Horse Racing... lots more good food (excellent cooked on the BBQ pictured above) and plenty of quality conversation and great walks we were onto something special and it was just that, thanks guys for such a great one!

Super (Snack) Size Me

2006-08-03T13:48:00.000+01:00

Great to see The Giant Jaffa Cake on Gordon Ramsey's F Word last night. I had no idea that guy on his show had done this with Pimp That Snack, hilarious and got to be worth having a go at something!!

Leadership

2006-08-03T13:34:00.000+01:00

There seems to be a lot of discussion at the moment about approriate leadership, leadership credibility, leaders pay and lots of other issues. The De Pree Leadership Centre has lots of good resources and research to offer and I keep being reminded and encouraged to read Bill Hybels book on Courageous Leadership, which I must get around to doing! In terms of Servant Leadership and Leadership that breaks down the stereotypes De Pree's Serving Without Power has come as being highly recommended, especially in realtion to peer based leadership.

The Miracles of Jesus

2006-08-01T11:29:00.000+01:00

This is the title of a new 3 part BBC Series presneted by Rageh Omaar that begins on BBC1 on Sunday 6th August at 18:35pm. Looks interesting and like it will be well worth watching.

White Band

2006-08-01T08:25:00.000+01:00

The global movement to make poverty history, symbolised by the white band, already unites over 150 million people from over 80 countries. On 14 September people from across the world will come together for a Global Month of Action which builds up to a White Band Day on the International Day for the Eradication for Poverty on 17 October.

The theme of the month is Stand Up Against Poverty and there will be actions on trade justice, debt and aid as well as a global world record attempt on 15-16 October. All these actions will be calling on world leaders to keep the promises they made in 2005 to make poverty history and to do much more.

Over the next few weeks there will be more information on the Make Poverty History and other websites. You can download a preview toolkit to get your plans started right now.

Ethical Business

2006-07-31T14:21:00.000+01:00

BBC Breakfast's Business News with Declan Curry was focusing on this issue this morning (Same surname same blog design!) and had time and interviews with Jerry from 'Ben and Jerry's' fame. Some good debate and interesting questions.

Congo: By Paul Vallely

2006-07-28T13:15:00.000+01:00

Tragic and moving history of the Congo in today's Independent in the week that the country goes to the polls.

First Festival

2006-07-28T10:08:00.000+01:00

Beth and her Daddy at Ealing Jazz Festival

Green Fingers

2006-07-25T15:01:00.000+01:00

Not content with knitting, Beth has now moved onto gardening! Here she is stealing the glory and trying to take credit for the Peppers that I have grown this summer!

WTO Talks Collapse

2006-07-25T08:28:00.000+01:00

The world trade talks that were supposed to relieve poverty and improve economic growth collapsed into indefinite suspension on Monday, after nearly five years of protracted wrangling.
Read more of the FT Article here , which also has lots of other good links and interesting reads.

It is all a bit overwhelming and hard to comprehend perhaps what this may or will really mean for the world's poor and the economies of the countries in which they live. I am convinced that Kurt Hoffmann is correct in stating the huge significance and importance of economic trade being a real key alongside all that Governments and NGO's do, but if initiatives like this fall to the ground then where is the hope and change to come from that most of us surely desire?

There is a lot to be optimistic about, real change is happening on the ground, but if this change is to turn into a really significant impact on the ground then a lot more has to be done. Beyond the words, white papers and endless meetings is the reality of the real names, lives and communities that are broken by poverty and it is for these people, not for noterity or 'success' that change must happen.

Ealing Jazz Festival

2006-07-25T08:09:00.000+01:00

Ealing Jazz Festival begins tomorrow in Walpole Park, always one of the highlights for me of the Summer in West London. Looks like another great line up on the main and also second stage. Hope to make it down tomorrow with the family for Beth's first festival! I am also really looking forward to the Friday Night line up. Zoe Rahman is headlining the second stage and there has been a lot of buzz, what with her Mercury Nomination and all, so should/could be interesting.

Starting Young

2006-07-24T16:08:00.000+01:00

This may not be the clearest of Photo's of Beth, but thought it was to amusing not to go on the blog! This is obviously all Hazel's work and her antidote to all the sport of late that Beth has had to endure!

It's a Sin to Fly

2006-07-24T14:50:00.000+01:00

Interesting Article in Yesterday's Times reflecting on The Church of England's latest word about The Environment and Climate Change. Some good quotes and good stuff to think about. Should be interesting to read the report 'Treasures on Earth'. There is also this from Church House Publishing that looks like its worth a read.

Andrew Marshall (Legend!!)

2006-07-24T13:53:00.000+01:00

I finally got to relax yesterday afternoon and was able to watch the Open Golf! More interest than usual as an old friend Andrew Marshall featured. He had a brilliant 3rd Round, which prompted this brilliant article in The Independent. Its been quite a year for Andy as he finished 2nd Recently in the Johnny Walker Event at Gleneagles. Ok, not Tiger like (what a performance and what a great moment at the end (not the flour bombs) where he had that outpouring of emotion) but a quality tournament for Andy, even though he didn't quite deliver in the final round. Respect!

Tearfund’s response to the Russian G8 Summit

2006-07-19T12:06:00.000+01:00

This year’s G8 Summit in Russia has come to an end without any significant progress in the fight against global poverty. With events in the Middle East high on the agenda and a focus on energy security and education, reviewing the commitments made to Africa last year seemed to be a low priority for the leaders of the world’s richest nations. While previous announcements and initiatives were endorsed and reaffirmed, leaders displayed little energy for taking these forward. We are hopeful that when the G8 next meets in Germany next year, Chancellor Merkel will put global poverty back at the top of the agenda.

Tearfund was particularly hoping for progress to be made on the global challenges of HIV and AIDS, Trade and Climate Change. Click here to read the full article.

God 360

2006-07-13T16:36:00.000+01:00

Is the excellent looking and excellent sounding new book from Andy Flannagan. Andy is a great guy, a legend and this 'devotional book with a difference' looks really creative, edgy and practical and well worth checking out!

Thanks, But No Thanks!

2006-07-13T13:33:00.000+01:00

George Monbiot at his usual best here, reflecting on the issue of Nuclear Power in the current energy debate. Love his honesty and with it his passion rather than pessimism! Love the fact that he is comfortable with critiquing people from 'his stable' and offering alternatives!

One Year On

2006-07-12T08:17:00.000+01:00

A year since the G8 Summit in Scotland and since The London Blasts my thoughts today are with the people of Mumbai after yesterday's shocking explosions and also those who will hopefully benefit from this years summit and also the promises made from last years summit.

They Think Its all over...

2006-07-10T13:58:00.000+01:00

... It is now! For me a 'good' but not 'great' World Cup has come to an end, its always disappointing that it ends and this time around with England hopes so high it was a disappointing performance and result . Still, lots to be positive about..... Great Drama, Great games, great goals and I have to say from what I have seen and heard a great host, great venues, great England fans!! Role on Euro 2008 and World Cup 2010!! England, I will journey with you again and no love will have diminished in any way and no doubt no hope will have either!!

Friday's Child

2006-07-07T13:29:00.000+01:00

Beth has new clothes and a new playmat! She was also born exactly 10 weeks ago today!

Amazing (Biased)

2006-07-04T14:44:00.000+01:00

Beth is growing up fast, mastering the thumb sucking technique and also turning her hand to knitting today so I am told!

This is also a sign that she is beginning to also master the concept of being awake more in the day time and asleep more at night!!

I appreciate the fact that I am a somewhat biased and proud Dad, but awww, what the heck, she is amazing, end of!

Copenhagen Consensus

2006-07-04T08:57:00.000+01:00

There was, as previously posted, a very interesting article in Sunday's Observer by Bjorn Lomberg who heads up The Copenhagen Consensus Centre regarding the tackling of the world's biggest problems and issues and how we prioritise them. Lomberg also has a book out this week entitled 'How to Spend $50 Billion to Make the World a Better Place', which looks like an interesting read and will no doubt cause some great debate. Lets just hope that 1 year on from the Gleneagles G8 summit that debate also leads to action! Its all well and good having comissions, consensuses, summits and the like, but talk and promises do need to convert into action and positive change. Lots of good is happening but lots more needs to be done. Lets hope that this initiative is another one that leads to good and a positive impact!

Beautiful Baby Girl

2006-07-03T16:54:00.000+01:00

Ladies and Gentlemen, this is one of the latest pics we took at the weekend of Beth, Looking a bit special in the pink!
Its amazing to think she is already over 2 months old and in that time, so much has changed! She is a real smiler and is now sleeping much better at night!! We adore her and are loving the parenting experience so far!

20 Key Questions

2006-07-03T16:32:00.000+01:00

Is the hysteria around this match (Portugal v England) symptomatic of a nation in crisis?

Oliver James wrote quite an insightful answer to this question as part of a very interesting lead article in Saturday's Independent. Paragraph 2 in partucular is very pertinent challenge and insight into our lives and society!? In one sense I am tempted to dismiss what he says and just say, stuff you mate, Its footy and we love it! But I know that would be folly as he has a good point! Still gutted though and will still no doubt get just as into Euro 2008 and World Cup 2010!

English-speaking nations are obsessed with results, outcomes, rewards and praise, that is why they have twice the rate of mental illness compared to mainland western European nations. Having has replaced Being, Wanting has replaced meeting real Needs, very sadly, we are preoccupied with winning rather than the process of getting there.

ASHA News - Tackling Injustice

2006-07-03T16:14:00.000+01:00

ASHA is the amazing project that Hazel and I visited/worked with when in India last year. This is there latest Newsletter, very inspiring and heart wrenching stuff.

Climate Change Debate

2006-07-03T12:16:00.000+01:00

Life is complex. Interesting Article in yesterday's Observer about priorities and issues, set to cause a good bebate no doubt!! Debate is good but so is action and this article from Today's Independent is worth checking out!

One year on from the mass mobilisation of poverty campaigners on July 2 before the G8 meeting in Gleneagles, Tearfund is urging G8 leaders to take concrete action on climate change. At the G8 Summit in 2005, G8 leaders agreed to “help vulnerable communities adapt to the impact of climate change”. Tearfund welcomed this agreement, but one year on very little has been achieved. The World Bank has been tasked with developing a work programme that helps poor communities adapt to climate change, but this is not enough.

Rachel Roach, Tearfund’s climate change policy officer, says: “The G8 is making appallingly slow progress with helping vulnerable countries cope with climate change. Poor, rural farmers in Africa struggling to cope with drought are still struggling this year and will be next year. We have heard enough about talks - we want to see action”. In Ethiopia Tearfund Programme Support Advisor, Tadesse Dadi says: “A drought is currently affecting some 11 million people across the Horn of Africa, mainly due to four years of failed rains. We are helping people to adapt so they can continue with the way they have been doing things in the past. When the climate changes they don’t have enough resources to fall back on.” A series of high-level ministerial meetings will continue in September leading up to the UN Conference on Climate Change in Kenya.

David Cameron on Poverty

2006-06-30T11:26:00.000+01:00

David Cameron gave a speech yesterday at an Oxfam Event on Global Poverty. To read the speech and also interact, debate and gauge reaction this Oxfam link is well worth checking out!

ANERELA+

2006-06-29T14:07:00.000+01:00

I was privileged to hear a very moving and challenging talk yesterday bt Jonannes Heath, a South African Church Leader, living with the reality of HIV/AIDS. He helped to set up ANERELA+ , an initiative that has received support from Christian Aid and Johannes is now with Tearfund for 2 days to help advise on issues of HIV/AIDS and churches.

NEPAD

2006-06-27T08:52:00.000+01:00

A Year on from Live8 and The G8 this is a timely reminder of the importance of follow through and monitoring of promises made at a big event/meeting! Live 8 concert organiser Bob Geldof, Microsoft founder Bill Gates and UN secretary general, Kofi Annan, are to sit on a panel set up to track aid promises made to Africa. British prime minister Tony Blair is to announce the new body, the Africa Progress Panel, to monitor the progress of pledges made at last summer's Gleneagles G8 summit. Annan will chair the panel, which will produce an annual report to be submitted to the G8, UN and the Africa Partnership Forum. Blair will also warn against Africa slipping down the global priority list.

NEPAD is another boby/group well worth checking out in relation to this issue!

WTO and Doha Round

2006-06-23T12:51:00.000+01:00

By the end of next week, the world could know the outcome of the Doha round of the World Trade Organisation talks and if they in any way can be deemed as a success? If negotiators fail to find compromises on the issues, such as trade tariffs, that are deadlocking the talks, it will not only mean the Doha round has failed but could mean the collapse of the WTO.

There is so much debate and confusion concerning the rights and wrongs of global trade, free trade, fair trade and trade justice and I really don't know where I stand on it all. For me its the most complex thing concerning justice, poverty and development and I am not sold on the Trade Justice/Free Trade mandate by any means!

What will the WTO Doha round really acheive anyway? Are all businesses as corrupt as they are often made out to be? Is the complexity and sheer size of global trade to big a dream to really resolve in any massive way? I just don't know and yet I do ultimately believe in Fair Trade and a form of justice in trade but I guess its the small steps thing again. Consumption, waste, fairness, ethics etc begin at home and our homes then do impact on the world, don't they?

Summer (Madness)

2006-06-22T13:43:00.000+01:00

2 Great events/performers that are well worth checking out this Summer! Local to me! Ealing Summer Festival (Inc Jazz Fest) and The Hilarious Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain. Pure Genius!

World Cup (More than just Footy!)

2006-06-22T10:08:00.000+01:00

Came across an excellent World Cup site called 'Who should I cheer for?' Its a World Deevlopment Movement Gem! Much learning and colour await you if you click on the above link!!

Energy and Stuff

2006-06-22T08:27:00.000+01:00

Its National Bike to work week this week (And yes amazingly I have hired a bike from work and amy cycling in and loving it!) The Fresh air, extra energy and feeling invigorated has got me thinking about how easy it can be to do little things that can make a small difference. This is partly from being challenged by reading the excellent Thom Yorke Interview from my previous blog and also by The Carbon Trust. We have lots of their posters up in our loos at work at the moment and the statements certainly hit you between the eyes

' Leaving office lights on at night uses enough energy to make 1000 hot drinks' or

'Leaving on office equipment for one night uses enough energy to drive a small car'

Challenging, but simple and achieveable stuff!

Thom Yorke Interview

2006-06-19T11:40:00.000+01:00

Excellent Thom Yorke interview in this month’s observer music monthly out yesterday. Even better, that you can click here if you wish and read it! Looking forward to seeing the results of the much anticipated solo project as well as new Radiohead material!

Thirty, Trente, Treinta, Dreißig

2006-06-16T08:03:00.000+01:00

Yes I have reached the grand old age of 30! I have to say that it does not feel as strange, unnerving and certainly not as 'different' as I thought it may! What a week! England have certainly done their best to try and spoil my celebrations (But then again, could we really expect it any other way, its always agonising and is summed up well by Mr Woo here, aah the memories, I can vividly remember 86 when we also started so poorly and in the end had to beat Poland just to get through the group phase, hence my age!) but credit to the lads for digging in and not conceding! Hopefully it will only get better from here?!?

Thanks to my wonderful wife, daughter, family and friends for so much - For some great (including a genuine surprise) parties, some really special memories and some really great presents! Its been a very special week! Its also been a week where Beth got to meet her cousin Dan for the first time and also a week where my food contract came to an end having sucessfully lost 2 stone!!

Not so successful was the fact that my wife is trouncing me (and she don't even care one hoot for the game off footy) in several worl cup sweepstakes and prediction leagues we are doing with friends! Still I am at least doing ok in the work one!

So bring on more games, more bbq's, more sun and an excellent summer! I may well post from time to time but anticipate being busy with Transform (Events and Aiport trips galore) Soul Survivor and as well as The World Cup , Weddings and also a holiday we hope!

Like Hils, my blog time is limited and hence also the quality of what I could provide or write. The page will remain but the content may fade. So, Enjoy the Summer!!!

$1 per day (reality and stunt)

2006-06-07T10:42:00.000+01:00

There is a humbling reality that over 1 Billion people who live on planet earth live on just $1 per day. What is even more humbling and challenging is that behind the statistics these are actually real people's, real families lives and stories.

Craig Borlase is this week attempting to live on just $1 per day for 7 days. Check out his 'stunt' and attempts by clicking on the active links.

Climate Chaos

2006-05-25T08:04:00.000+01:00

No doubt like many others I sat and watched in awe, fear, amazement and horror at David Attenborough's launch programme last night for the BBC's Climate Chaos season. Like all of his programme's it was visually stunning, engaging, in depth and incredibly interesting, but watching it I felt there was an added urgency and tension as the subject matter (very objectively and yet also passionately presented with a huge slice of honesty) was so crucial. For me it was a wake up call, action is required and we can all play a part. Check out the site above for more info and more programmes etc. Part 2 of 'Are we changing planet earth' is on Thursday 1st June at 9pm.

Beth Update

2006-05-08T10:35:00.000+01:00

All is going very well for the newly increased in size Currey Family. Beth has slept through the night (feeds aside) for the last 3 nights so we are feeling encouraged and much more rested! She is such a joy and it has been amazing to have so many people to see her already, but also special these past 2 days to have just the 3 of us together!

Many thanks for ongoing supply of presents, texts, calls, prayers and best wishes.

I promise that soon photos will be available

Beth Annabel Currey

2006-05-03T12:30:00.000+01:00

Our beautiful baby daughter was born on Friday 28th April at 7.06pm and weiighed 8lbs 4oz at birth! It was an amazing, emotional and brilliant experience that words cannot describe! In the end Hazel's labour, although very painful, was very quick as Beth was certianly keen to enter the world!! (She arrived only 2 1/2 hours after we arrived at hospital having prepared ourselves for a very long and very painful night ahead)

The first few days of parenthood have certainly been amazing, rollercoasteresque and again so much more than words can adequately describe. We are very tired but equally very happy! When Home Internet is shortly restored I promise to post up photos!

For now, we would like to express huge love and thanks to our family and friends for all the help, visits, texts, calls and support and especially for people's prayers both around the time of delivery and also now as we begin the adjustment to family life!

I could go all gushy, all lost in awe and wonder and amazement, but I will wait and let the photos do that in a few days!

Vulnerability

2006-04-26T08:55:00.000+01:00

I was taking with some good friends recently about the frustration of some church leaders who feel that asking the big questions, expressing doubt/vulnerability is not helpful from 'the front' and that we need to be showing certainty and security form this position. What Rubbish. Instead are we brave enough to be able to have the grace and wisdom to show a different kind of leadership. Brian McLaren has written about 'A New Kind of Christian' and I wonder whether we also need to be talling about a New Kind of Leader? Yes Leadership needs to show credibility, authority etc etc but its also so much more than this and its interesting that often when leaders do show weakness, vulnerability etc they often do seem to gain more respect.

I am currently reading Steve Chalke's latest offering 'Intelligent Church' and it offers some very moving, powerful and well thought through perspectives on the importance of an intelligent church being an honest, messy and vulnerable church. Far from just using examples though, Chalke also delves deep into Scripture and highlights the importance that Jesus placed on being vulnerable, servant hearted and I guess exposed. (Phil 2 one of just many examples).

Can we, should we, must we be more vulnerable? I have a lot of thinking to do, so will not add anything at this stage, but any thoughts or pearlsof wisdom appreciated

The Now and The Not Yet

2006-04-25T16:17:00.000+01:00

Well our baby's 'due date' has arrived today but there is no baby yet in the big wide world! Its amazing and strange thinking things could happen today or still not have happened in a week (or more). About only 5% of babies are actually born on the due date and it looks increasingly like we won't be in that special select minority! Ah well, what will be will be. Thanks to many friends and family for the many texts, emails, call and prayers at this time. Hope to be blogging about baby soon!

Secrets and Lies

2006-04-21T16:12:00.000+01:00

No... Not in reference to a film or a dodgy old music track, but The latest book by Brian McLaren, called The Secret Message of Jesus. The book, like many of Mclaren has prompted healthy and equally unhelpful debate and comment, but it looks like a very interesting read and am looking forward to reading it. Any opinions, views, comments (without ruining it for me) appreciated, but as Brian says below, would be helpful if you have actually read the book!!

This is from Brian's Website

As for The Secret Message of Jesus, I’m thrilled because I think this will be the most important book I’ve written so far. It pulls together the themes that have captivated my heart over the last ten years or so. A number of people have asked about the title. Some people are concerned that it has “Gnostic connotations.” Obviously, I was aware that some might draw this conclusion, but my main audience for the book (and really, for most of my books) is not members of the Christian subculture who would even know what “Gnostic” means. Instead, my primary audience is the “spiritual but not religious” people who are interested in what Jesus was about, but are generally turned off by the Religious Right, institutional religion, etc. I felt that the title would connect with this audience, and I was willing to risk being misunderstood for that purpose. Jesus, I think, took similar risks again and again.

As I worked on the book, I was repeatedly struck by how “strategically indirect” Jesus was – hiding his message in parable, sign, and wonder. I began to realize that this strategy of hiddenness was integral to Jesus’ whole message and ministry. I think people who read the book will be struck by this theme as well. I’m a little nervous because it breaks my heart to see people who haven’t even read the book (or at least, not read it carefully!) writing negative and unfair things about it. I suppose one’s books are like one’s kids – every parent wants their kids to be treated fairly when they send them out into the world.

It’s quite sad to see the way that some readers (generally those of a more fundamentalistic bent) respond to the book on amazon.com and elsewhere on the web. Some write reviews without having read the book. Others misinterpret or miss the main point in nearly unbelievable ways. Many say, “McLaren says” or “McLaren believes” – with no apparent basis at all for their assertions, ignoring places where I say the very opposite of what they claim. Several friends have told me that these kinds of caustic reviews actually help sell the book, but I’m sad anyway because I think this kind of sloppy thought and uncharitable rhetoric doesn’t reflect well on our common Christian faith.

I just read Bob Dylan’s wonderful autobiography (Chronicles: Volume One – what a great read!), and at one point Dylan meets this odd character named Sun Pie deep down in Louisiana. Sun Pie asks him if he’s a praying man, and if so, what he prays for. “I pray that I can be a kinder person,” Dylan replies. Not a bad idea!

4 Days.. And Counting

2006-04-21T15:30:00.000+01:00

4 days and counting till young precious life,
enters this world mixed with joy and with strife
What will it be like for them and for us?
Fear, joy, relief and a whole lot of fuss?

4 days and counting till a world upside down
Be Boy or Girl there will be love and a crown
Choices and Freedom for this priviledged child
May they not simply be typed meek and mild

Yep, Its 4 days and counting until Hazel and I become Parents. There is a real mixture of excitement, fear, the unknown, the uncertain and yet also certainty that this is a journey/ride/adventure that we are really looking forward to! News, photos etc etc will be sent asap as and when things happen via this site, email, text, call or maybe even face to face!!

There therefore may or may not be many or any posts for a while

Transformation

2006-04-21T15:23:00.000+01:00

Its days like today where I realise just how fortunate, priviledged, hopeful and humbling life can be. Its great that we can celebrate the mundane, the ordinary, everyday and how that can be taken and transformed into something really special. Its just that for so many people that ordinary, everyday mundane can be a lot tougher or a lot different from mine, our everyday. Its a basic priviledge for me to be involved (In a very small way really) with Tearfund and Transform and some really amazing, inspiring partners/projects and seeing lives and people Transformed! There are currently lots of great people out in various parts of the world, doing great things and two teams in Peru and Thailand have set up blogs/websites to keep us informed, inspired and up to date, so if you want to, check out the active links! Its great stuff.

Photographic Exhibition

2006-04-21T15:20:00.000+01:00

Walk with Joyce photographic exhibition at the Spitz Gallery, April 23th - May 7th Click on the following link for the gallery (for directions etc) www.spitz.co.uk

‘Walk With Joyce’: an intimate view of one woman's life in rural Tanzania. Photography by Caroline Irby.

One year on from the Make Poverty History campaign and 2005’s unbelievable litany of human tragedy – the Asian tsunami, famine in Niger and the South Asia earthquake – an exhibition of one woman’s life in rural Tanzania is a stark reminder of the continuing vulnerability of the billion-plus people on our shared planet who live on less than $1 a day.

This is a portrait of Joyce Mbwilo, in her village. There is no crisis here: no war, no famine, just everyday people doing everyday things, living in poverty with a lot of humour and resilience.
This is also the story of how communities in the developing world are affected by the way we live in the West. Climate change in Joyce’s village, Uhambingeto, has meant half the maize crop has failed each year for the past four years; the country’s debt means insufficient funds to subside secondary education.

Yet Uhambingeto also benefits from out actions: with the initial round of debt relief in 2000, the government made primary education free and compulsory: all the children in Joyce’s village now go to school. And with support from the Christian development agency Tearfund, Joyce no longer walks ten hours a night to collect water: the water is pumped to the village centre.

Supported by Tearfund

Transforming Business

2006-03-23T11:41:00.000Z

On mumerous occasions I have blogged about the debate concerning Globalization and Business and whether or not there can be some good, redeemable and postive aspects to this in the light of issues concerning Global Poverty. I am very grateful and extremely priviledged to know Dr Peter Heslam who for some time now has been a key writer, thinker and networker in this whole area. Formely head of LICC's Capitalism project, Peter has now gone on to pioneering a new initiative through the University of Cambridge called Transforming Business. I am pleased to say that there is now an excellent website that has this week been launched. The website is already packed full of interesting articles and resources for debate, discussion and reading and I highly recommend a visit!

As well as this initiative I would also recommend a visit to a site/org called The Transformational Business Network, who actually have a very interesting conference lined up on Friday 24th March in Hammersmith!

Learn and Have Fun

2006-03-17T16:26:00.000Z

Friends and colleagues at Tearfund have produced an excellent new game called 'The Climate Change Pentathlon'. Enjoy and learn! The record Score to date is 5862, can you beat it!?

Wonderland

2006-03-17T16:23:00.000Z

Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls...... May I simply point you in the direction of the most excellent blog that is called 'Wonderland'. In terms of passion, resources, ideas and care for our planet its just simply genius.. so check it out!!

Calorific!

2006-03-17T15:39:00.000Z

This idea and concept is certainly an interesting concept and idea regarding diet/food/consumption and issues of inequality and disparity! Check it out!

Pants to Poverty

2006-03-17T15:34:00.000Z

A friend and colleague was involved in the launch of a new initiative last weekend called 'Pants to Poverty' , hilarious, a bit racey, but a great idea!! Check out the launch photos!! V Amusing!!

Becoming a Dad

2006-02-23T13:38:00.000Z

No this wonderful moment has not happened yet but now that we are in the midst of reading, classes and beginning to think about the future and also about what to buy I have become amazed at the responsibility not only as a parent to our child but also the responsibility of the resources we use and consume. Just take the issue of nappies for example! The extract below is from this excellent site we have found and so we plan to use these and hope therefore to save resources and money!

In the UK 8 million disposable nappies are thrown away each and every day. That’s almost 3 billion disposable nappies a year! Most disposable nappies contain paper pulp, plastics, super absorbent gel granules, chemical additives and perfume. Obviously once they are used they contain human waste. Most of these end up in landfill sites with a small proportion being incinerated. No-one knows how long nappies take to fully decompose, but it's possible that parts of every disposable nappy dumped in a landfill site are still there. And that’s the nappies that aren’t sealed inside a polythene nappy bag, being mummified for future generations! Estimates of the decomposition of disposable nappies vary from 40-500 years, depending on landfill conditions. Imagine that, if baby Queen Elizabeth I had been in disposables, we might be able to tell today what she had for tea! And we call them ‘disposable’! Four percent of all household waste are disposable nappies and the nations taxpayers spend £40 million annually disposing of 800 000 tonnes produced. Human waste should not be put into the earth for obvious reasons but into the sewerage system to be treated correctly and hygienically, thus removing the possibility of disease.

At least two (probably more) sides to every story!

2006-02-20T15:57:00.000Z

Following on from my post last week about Corruption in African government I was soemwhat challenged and encouraged/humbled to receive the latest edition of Developments on Friday, which focuses on Nigeria and how they have focused on wielding out corruption and the steps to securing debt cancellation. Pretty good stuff and a very worthwhile read and very good resource. Why not subscribe today? The latest edition is not yet on the web but will be soon.

How Green are You?

2006-02-20T15:54:00.000Z

Check out this latest informative and challenging quiz from the Co-op Bank. I managed to score 29, but know that I have a long way to go to be able to claim that I am not doing much damage to the planet!

Corruption Chaos

2006-02-17T13:08:00.000Z

In the light of all that is happening in Kenya at the moment and debates concerning the merits of MPH gained AID having the potential to fall into the wrong hands this latest BBC article concerning corruption in Africa is rather concerning. I completely believe in the good that MPH did and will do for both awareness and for Africa, but it is concerning to say the least that corruption is still so rife. The Africa Comission highlighted the need for corruption to be dealt with and I have no doubt that in many places steps are being taken but to be honest more questions and doubts are in my mind than examples of positive governmental stories.

Interesting Goat Debate

2006-02-16T14:10:00.000Z

It sounds weird.. but its good stuff honest! BBC Breakfast News covered a very interesting debate this morning between The Likes of Oxfam and The World Land Trust concerning the rise of a new form of charitable giving. The very fashionable method of sending things like Goats, Cows etc to people/projects rather than money has really taken off in the past 2-3 years especially but The World Land Trust are concerned that the rise in Goats particularly being sent is causing a real problem of desertification of land. The debate is certainly an interesting one but from it I felt I was still siding with Oxfam et al.

Talking of the bizarre, check this out, which is also causing environmental debate with FoE. What a crazy world we live in! Which Reminds me... Rufus Wainwright... What a genius (First sonf on Want One Album is kind of this theme 'Oh what a world we live in')... Just check him out especially the Want One and Two Albums, currently going for a very nice combined price here.

Troubling Tension

2006-02-16T14:01:00.000Z

Why is is that despite having so much I seem to want even more? I am particularly unsure at the moment around the tension between self analysis and pain and the more global perspective that compared to so many people's situations my pain, frustration, anguish and agonising seems so pale, so minimal, so meaningless in comparison.

Life is so complex, so fragile, so difficult and in he same breath it is hopeful, exciting and so full of potential. It is about Action over self absortion? Being so close now to being a Father I am aware more than ever before of the preciousness, the fragility of life and what it means to care for and really think about others. May I be given the strength to live in this tension between excitement and fear, between joy and pain, between The Gospels and the hope of glory and the gritty reality of Ecclesiates.

You give and take away but my heart will choose to say Lord blessed be your name.

Poetic Genius

2006-02-16T13:48:00.000Z

I am simply loving the current creativity and depth of the Poetry and Writing of Mr Chris Woo. Please check out his excellent blog here. Here is a sample to inspire you!

Was it for this?

Pale light shadows our thoughts,
Whizzing from here to there and nowhere,
No maps to hand, we wander into plastic lives
Behind screens and magazine gloss.

Time ceases. To rush and crackle,
It surges all around but never forward,
Tomorrow never comes, strangled dead
By Today’s presents

Which we hoard. What dreams may come?
But those we are taught by masked men,
Branding our imaginations, until colours drain grey
and hope is but a click away.

Was it for this we are born?
Neat streets and neon lights
And shops selling our souls for gated fence.
Nothing to do but laugh or cry
‘Cos tomorrow we all gonna die’.

Transformation

2006-02-16T13:44:00.000Z

I work for Tearfund in the Transform Team, which gives people the opportunity in teams to go out to visit and work with Tearfund Partners/Projects for short term periods from 2 weeks up to 4 months. We are currently advertsing spaces for our Summer Programmes of 4 or 6 weeks. If you are interested in these opportunities or just Transform in General then please visit the links.

The Bible in a Year

2006-02-16T13:35:00.000Z

My Good friend Matt Valler is attempting an ambitious but very applaudable thing, Reading the Bible in a year but also doing an interactive blog style commentary alongside this. Check it out here. It looks like being a great venture with lots of scope for good discussion.

Bono at US NPB

2006-02-16T13:32:00.000Z

Not come across this until now but Bono's speech at recentish US National Prayer Breakfast are well worth a read. Pretty amazing stuff.

Music

2006-02-16T13:27:00.000Z

Its been a while, a long while, but I am back in blogworld after a break/sabbatical etc. Bit of a combination of not really having much to say but also not having the time!! I have recently retrurned from a week in Beautiful Derbyshire.... Buxton, Bakewell, Matlock Bath and just delightful countryside.

I have also been getting some quality time listening to music! Latest recommendations include Sufjan Stevens' - Illinois, Isobel Campbell and Mark Langhan's - Ballads of the Broken Seas and Tina Dico's New Album In The Red.

Happy Christmas!!

2005-12-20T18:44:00.000Z

Well for me the busyness is now over for 2005 and Hazel and I have headed North for a big family Christmas, looking forward to quality times, food, games and precious time with family and a whole bunch of people who we pretty much see as family! Looking forward also to a fairly minimalist Christmas and just the one present! Its been a good few days, finishing up at work for 2005, going to see Narnia at Cinema (We enjoyed it but came away a little bit disapointed, Lord of the Rings Trilogy had raised the bar and we felt whilst good that Narnia didn't quite reach those same heights, but we hope more good is yet to come) and time with friends. Our Church Carol Service was also great and we had a great social afterwards which was a great way to end our time in London before the holidays. Here's to a Happy Christmas to all and a great start to 2006.

Its been a while...

2005-12-13T12:37:00.000Z

... since I last posted on my blog. Been a busy time, but that is almost at an end and I have nearly 3 weeks to chill out, holiday and take time out from the busy stuff of life. Its also been almost a year since I started blogging, still not sure if it will continue, but its been an experience I have enjoyed and its been good to be part of the blogging community. Thanks one and all for your visits, comments and encouragement and to the bloggers on my blogroll who have inspired, challenged and often amused me with great humour! Have a great Christmas and maybe see you in the blogosphere in 2006!!

WTO Summit

2005-12-13T12:15:00.000Z

The WTO Summit has begun, the last big event of 2005 that has been on the campaigning agenda in this the year of Make Poverty History. I personally find this subject the most complex but also the most crucial in the fight against poverty. This appears to be relected this week at the summit with a diverse range of opinions, protests and debate taking place. Two good places for lots of info and reflection are The Trade Justice Movement website and also The Workers Voice Site. Its about prayer, action and hopefully change but also about listening and debate as this complex issue is set to remain prominant in 2006 and beyond.

Aids and Fair Trade

2005-12-01T17:20:00.000Z

Today is World Aids Day. Was priviledged and also challenged to hear about a Tearfund presentation on the whole issue. BBC 2 are showing a documentary tonight called Living Positive.

On a seperate matter, next weekend sees the annual Fair Trade Fair at Westminster Central Hall. Looks like it will be a great event, with lots of variety and diversity of exhibitors and sellers. Shame I can't attend as I will be here doing an event with work! Still that should also be great!

Southern Africa Food Crisis

2005-11-29T14:36:00.000Z

Tearfund’s partners in the region say the humanitarian crisis will deepen in the coming months if rapid international action is not taken. The UN World Food Programme has stated that the numbers of people affected in the worst hit countries are Malawi (4.6 million), Zambia (1.7 million) and Zimbabwe (3-5 million). Failed rains are a common trigger across the region, but underlying causes include chronic poverty, weakened agriculture and health sectors due to widespread HIV and AIDS, political inertia and inappropriate agricultural and economic policies. Other countries affected by the food crisis are Mozambique, Lesotho and Swaziland.

Victor Mughogho (35), Director of Relief and Development for the Living Waters denomination in Malawi, a Tearfund partner says, “In the southern district of Chikwawa where we are working it has reached crisis proportions. In some places as many as 70% of households do not have enough food. How they will survive the coming months we do not know.” He continues: “We urgently need the support of people in the UK for funds but also for prayer. The people of Malawi are not sitting around waiting for help. They want to solve their own problems; it is just that their level of vulnerability is too high.”

Tearfund has recently launched a major appeal for funding, which also aims to educate and resource people about the situation and inspire the prayer referred to above.

Buy Nothing Day

2005-11-25T11:13:00.000Z

Christmas is indeed coming, but to challenge the annual shopping fest is tomorrow's annual 'Buy Nothing Day'. LICC provide an interesting reflection on the event/issue.

Buy Nothing Day may be a minor blip on the British cultural radar, but it’s an intriguing one, nevertheless and it provides a window of sacred space in an advent calendar packed with ungodly busyness.

Saving Grace

2005-11-24T08:41:00.000Z

Three years ago the Guardian published an award-winning supplement featuring the story of Grace Mathanga, an ordinary African woman with HIV. The linked article now revisits her to see how life is 3 years on. Its an inspiring but also gut wrenching story. It also acts as the catalyst for the Guardians Christmas Appeal, which also sees them launch an interactive page on their website. These pages will have reports from various parts of the world over the coming weeks. World Aids Day is next Thursday.

Chancellor warns Christians that global justice will take a lifetime

2005-11-23T17:02:00.000Z

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Rt. Hon. Gordon Brown MP has told Christians that their campaigning efforts for debt relief and increased aid levels had brought results that no-one could have foreseen - but warned that their work will take a 'lifetime' to complete. But he warned that, in 2006, campaigning for global justice had to be even more powerful than in 2005, and more powerful still in 2007 in order to hold world leaders to the promises of debt relief and aid levels that they made at the G8 summit this year. The Chancellor told the 1,500 strong audience at the rally hosted by catholic aid agency CAFOD in Manchester: “The cause that we represent requires more than a week’s work at Gleneagles, more than a year’s campaigning right up and down the country. It’s a lifetime crusade for justice.” He admitted that political promises were seen as easy to make but often came to nothing: “And all too often the promises that are made about world poverty are downgraded from pledge to possibility to just words and that is why people become disillusioned.”

I have been thinking a lot lately about what Global Justice might begin to look like for the world's poor. I have however also been challenged to ask what it might look like for us, the worlds rich. What sacrifices and changes we must also make as well as rightly urging our politicians to act and use the influence they have. I find that an uncomfortable but necessary and humbling question/challenge.

Development and Technology

2005-11-17T08:57:00.000Z

There is an interesting debate rumbling at the moment regarding issues of development and technology. There can/should be little debate that Technology can be a good thing and bring much good to the developng world and the poor. Such cases are highlighted well in the latest issue of developments, which looks at the very positive impact of technology on development. More questionable and debateable is an new initiative to get laptops to children via a new initiative. The debate reached Newsnight last night and the head of Policy at Christian Aid was in dialogue with the above linked organisation and Kirsty Walk. For me this 2nd initiative is extremely questionable, especially when you consider $100 (the cost of each of these laptops) would at a basic level provide arguably a lot more to a person/child in terms of sanitation, medication, school education and other key things that are currently lacking. Technology has to play an increasing role and this initiative may have some good in it, but surely there must be other priorities ahead of this one, however well meant.

UK Music Hall of Fame

2005-11-16T08:14:00.000Z

Channel 4 have been running an excellent late night series over the past 2 weeks. Lots of good documentaries and insights along the way. It culminates tomorrow with the latest ceremony inducting more legends into the newish UK Music Hall of Fame, but before that why not check out U2 tonight at 11pm on C4!!

Whilst on the subject of 'The Arts', I am intending to check out the annual Turner Prize at Tate Britain next week. Anyone been yet? Opinions, without giving to much away are welcome.

Disturb us - Francis Drake

2005-11-14T11:29:00.000Z

Disturb us, Lord,
when we are too well pleased with ourselves;
when our dreams have come true because we dreamed too little;
when we arrive safely because we sailed too close to the shore.

Disturb us, Lord, when with the abundance of things we possess
we have lost our thirst for the Waters of Life;
having fallen in love with life, we have ceased to dream of eternity;
and in our efforts to build a new earth,
we have allowed our vision of the new heaven to dim.

Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly -
to venture on wider seas where storms will show your mastery;
where losing sight of land, we shall find the stars.
We ask you push back the horizons of our hopes,
and to push us into the future with strength, courage, hope and love. Amen
Sir Francis Drake

Developments and Jeffrey Sachs

2005-11-14T08:57:00.000Z

Developments is a quarterly Magazine published by DFID and the latest issue is just out. Its an excellent resource with excellent articles and issues covered. Its free and well worth subscribing to. The latest issue also comes with a free CDROM, which includes the DFID 'Rough Guide to a Better World' publication.

The St Pauls Institute have also made available the transcipts from their current series, Global Poverty: What can one person do? The most recent session featured Jeffrey Sachs as the keynote speaker and is well worth a read.

Thankful

2005-11-11T10:53:00.000Z

I am extremely grateful and priviledged to work for Tearfund, an organisation doing amazing development work but also providing very valuable resources for learning about key issues, about responding to and preventing disasters and also resources to challenge personal and everyday life. It has really hit me afresh today just how much I have and how little I make use of these things. In the desire to see Global Justice and change, its also about resourcing, using resources wisely and actually thinking about having less and what that might mean/look like.

Ken Saro-Wiwa: In Remembrance

2005-11-10T13:14:00.000Z

Its 10 years ago today since the shocking death of Ken Saro-Wiwa. His son reflects on his Fathers death on the BBC news site. This is his concluding quote.

Looking back, the issues my father died for - greater political and ecological accountability in the oil industry - are now at the front and centre of international affairs with climate change and the war on terror dominating world affairs. In a way, the future of the planet is very much at stake in these issues and I appreciate why so many people are committed to remembering my father. As Milan Kundera wrote, 'The struggle of humanity against power, is the struggle of memory against forgetting.'

LICC Environment Event

2005-11-09T15:02:00.000Z

Sustainable Energy and the Future of Business
Wednesday 7th December at 6.45pm – 9pm

With Jeremy Bentham, CEO of Shell Hydrogen

Over the next 50 years we will face three closely linked energy challenges. Energy demand will increase enormously – perhaps double or even triple as economic development hopefully moves billions of people out of poverty. Secondly, oil supply and possibly natural gas will plateau. The third challenge is the need to meet demand in a way that doesn’t damage the environment. We will not only need more energy, but cleaner energy. Jeremy will introduce scenarios for energy development and pose the question “Why do we care?”

Cost £8. More info here.

Music... Makes the people come together

2005-11-09T08:40:00.000Z

I do Love Music and it does seemingly bring people together!! I am very priviledged and honoured to have good friends and family who are involved in music. Erode, Crystalline, Echostar, National Heroes (All on my sidebar) are all great bands worth checking out!! I am yet to see/hear Airbourne, but they have a gig this Friday (11th) at The Bull and Gate in Camden. Should be a great night in a great venue.

One Artist that is still fairly 'underground' but where buzz and interest is growing is Sufjan Stevens. Looks like he intends to be around for quite some time as he is aiming to record 50 albums, each one representing a US State!! XFM are also 'bringing people together' with their annual Winter Wonderland event(s) with proceeds going to Shelter.

Its.... Monty Python

2005-11-08T13:17:00.000Z

I was with friends over the weekend celebrating birthdays and one present that was given was the Monty Python box set, so we sat together and watched some of the many highlights! I had forgotten just how funny it was, pure genius in fact. The BBC offer some great resources on Python as do these people and also this site. One of the many highlights was The Lumberjack Song! Truly great viewing.

Passion/Puritan/Porritt

2005-11-07T17:31:00.000Z

I have been doing a lot of reflecting lately on the pro's and con's of being passionate. Taking issues such as Poverty or The Environment, is it possible to be passionate and not become puritanical or even passionately pessimistic? I was further prompted by a very interesting article in yesterdays observer by Jonathon Porritt, one of the founders of the 'green' movement, who was now questioning the approach that many green campaigners seem to take when it comes to engaging in the 'green' issues of the day. I know that for me issues of poverty and caring for the environment have become increasingly important, but am I in danger of just becoming puritanical or overly focused on them? How can I/we avoid Porritts seemingly accurate diagnosis? I guess one thought, is to be critical and questioning without being judgemental? To not take the 'higher ground'but recognise in my life/our lives where we can act to make a difference etc. We certainly need to campaign/lobby/advocate for change, but perhaps its not always in a 'protest' or 'public' way? Perhaps quiet but effective lifstyle choices are just as key? I want to be passionate but also not puritanical. I want to be passionate but also considered and well thought through. I really hope that this is a possibility.

Planet under pressure?

2005-11-02T14:22:00.000Z

Another week and another series of meetings, debates and discussions regarding climate change and the environment. The BBC offer a very good interactive and informative site on these issues. There are many things to debate in terms of appropriate energy, renewable energy, contraction and convergence of use and emissions etc, but in the midst of all of this action is also required. Action by Governments and key leading orgs and businesses but also surely by us as citizens and consumers. The energy we use, the type of lightbulbs we use, the amount we use our car and numerous appliances is also key and can make a difference.

Generating Change

2005-10-30T15:06:00.000Z

I had the priviledge of being in Northampton earlier this week, in my work role, at The Global Connections Short Term Mission Forum. The sessions were being led by Rob and Sarah Hay of Generating Change and were excellent. We were unpacking and exploring a lot about team dynamics and putting together and keeping together a team. Leadership and Peer Leadership were also on the menu. These events are always great for simply getting together and sharing joys and also struggles with other orgs and people in similar jobs. It was great to be together and not feel in competition but genuinely sharing together under a common vision.

It seems that not much work has been written/done/researched on Peer Leadership? Please feel free to prove me wrong!! Rob recommended a book called 'Leading without Power' By Max DePree. Looks good and he is a very respected author and practitioner. If anyone else has any thoughts or tools on peer leadership then by all means post a comment.

Cow Power

2005-10-25T13:14:00.000+01:00

Check out this rather amusing but also resourceful story from Sweden courtesy of the BBC.