See Change Global

New Site!

noreply@blogger.com (michael) — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 20:12:00 +0000

We have been putting in 16 hour days on the website to update it with stories from the journey. Next week our first story will be published in the Huffington Post and we will relaunch the site with new media galleries. Thanks for your patience! For more check out www.seechangeglobal.blogspot.com and www.seechangeglobal.org

Games for Change

noreply@blogger.com (michael) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 05:34:00 +0000

Multimedia games that simulate real-world problems are becoming popular tools to educate youth about social issues."Games for Change" supports the people and organizations that create and use these digital games to raise-awareness about the issues they work on. Here are a few links to some of the games that organizations like UNHCR and the World Food Programme are using.

http://www.playagainstallodds.com/
http://ff.fighthunger.org/index.php/game/downloads/
http://www.karmatycoon.com/
http://www.educationalsimulations.com/
http://costoflife.ning.com/
http://www.3rdworldfarmer.com/

Many of these games also have links to sites where you can take action!

How does a film do more than tell a story?

noreply@blogger.com (michael) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 03:35:00 +0000

I've been thinking a lot about how film can result in action for social causes. The first thought I have is that documentaries generate very impassioned responses from people. That's a documentary's first job, to get the attention of your conscience.

But less clear, and more important, is how can this sudden sense of solidarity, this empathy felt by the viewers, motivate them to take individual steps that will result in resolutions. And what about action on a larger scale? Do documentary films about social problems facilitate coalitions between the public, civil society organizations and government agencies that will solve them?

These questions arose after I watched a film at the Human Rights Watch International Film festival, Crude by Joe Berlinger. Crude follows a U.S. lawyer, an Ecuadorian Lawyer and the Secoya community in Ecuador as they fight Chevron in a law suit over the 18 billion gallons of toxic waste the company dumped into the Amazon over 28 years of oil drilling. I'm not going to go into depth about the film here, but you can read about it http://www.crudethemovie.com/. Definitely see it. The film brings to light real human struggles in the face of a powerful company's inhumane actions. It premiers in NYC at the IFC Center from Sept 9 - 22.

The poignant question for the filmmaker afterwards was how this film can do something tangible to bring justice to the Ecuadorians suffering because of this environmental disaster. One part of the answer was of course to generate a critical mass for the cause, but another was that film can be a tool to build the efforts of ongoing campaigns that fight injustice.

In making the film, the crew forged a connection with the organization Amazon Watch. Amazon Watch works to protect the Amazon and to advance the rights of indigenous people. Their website: http://www.amazonwatch.org/

One of their campaigns aims to hold Chevron accountable for their environmental negligence in Ecuador and the $27 billion in damage they caused in local indigenous communities. Crude has definitely created buzz for Amazon Watch and the issue as a whole. The film screening is an opportunity for the organization to reach a large audience at a moment when they are particularly inspired and primed to take action - when the cause is fresh in their mind.

This blog post is an example of how film inspires action. I saw the movie, and now I'm doing what I can to spread the word. Go to the campaign website to help realize their goal. You can send a letter to Chevron shareholders, send Chevron a message that you disapprove of their actions or encourage a city to boycott Chevron products. http://chevrontoxico.com

But a question that lingers for me is what has this film done for the indigenous communities? What has this publicity - this display of their lives; their health defects; and their vulnerability and strength in the face of an environmental disaster to millions of people - done for them? Have they been empowered? Did they feel like the story was told accurately and in consultation with them?

If a film can tell a story the way the people it's about want it to be told, that's when a film is empowering. This builds confidence, and for communities with minimal political power, gives them a voice to advocate for their recognition and well-being.

I'm interested in hearing thoughts about how you think documentary film and media can positively impact social causes.

Playing for Change

noreply@blogger.com (michael) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 01:14:00 +0000

The New York Times recently featured Playing for Change in its new visual journalism blog called Lens. Playing for Change is a multimedia organization that inspires, connects and brings peace to the world through music.

Left Littered by War

noreply@blogger.com (michael) — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 19:40:00 +0000

The Vietnam war ended in 1975. But now, more than thirty years later, the people of Lao are still caught in it's aftermath. From 1964 to 1973 the U.S. flew more than half a million bomb missions to block North Vietnamese troupes through Laos(1).

Cluster bombs - one type of bomb the U.S. dropped during its missions - release dozens of smaller sub-munitions. These weapons injure so many civilians because they spread widely across heavily populated areas. When the bombs fail to explode on impact - and 30% of them do - they can stay on the ground years after combat ends. Approximately 78 million remain today in Laos(1).

People who come into contact with these bombs suffer severely. Loss of limbs and disability are common. Because Laotians living in rural areas (where many of these unexploded bombs are) have Limited access to health care, or the care is of poor quality, many victims die unnecessarily or end up in a worse medical condition than they would have if they had better treatment. Cluster bombs also perpetuate and exacerbate poverty. All of a sudden an injured person's family has medical bills it can't pay. The energy spent to help an injured person recuperate leaves less time for other day-to-day life sustaining activities.

An Organization in Lao called COPE (Cooperative Orthotic and Prosthetic Enterprise) was established in 1997 to help those affected by unexploded bombs. COPE trains community members in rehabilitation services and provides prosthetic and mobility devices for those who can't afford them. Cope also aims to prevent accidents from happening by informing the community about the dangers of unexploded ordnances. Check out the website for stories and pictures about their amazing work. (http://www.copelaos.org/)

Over 15 countries have used cluster munitions, and 85 countries have stockpiled them. Laos is only one of more than two dozen countries that have been affected by the use of these munitions(2). But as important as organizations like COPE are, they can't address the problem alone. The problem is a world-wide concern.

The problem can be broken down into three main issues: preventing future use of cluster bombs, assisting survivors and cleaning up cluster bombs that remain on the ground. The Convention on Cluster Munitions - signed by 94 countries as of December 2008 - is an effort to find solutions to these three problems. (http://www.clusterconvention.org/)

This treaty prohibits the use, production, transfer and stockpiling of cluster munitions; provides a framework for assistance to survivors; and calls for clearance of contaminated areas within 10 years. If ratified, the instrument will create a stronger global intolerance towards the use and storage of cluster bombs.

The United States heavily bombed Laos during the Vietnam war (and thus contributed to the abundance of unexploded cluster bombs on the ground now) but still hasn't signed the treaty. 28 NATO member countries have signed. As a NATO member country, the US is out of step with most of its major military allies says Steve Goose, Arms Division director of Human Rights Watch. Russia, China and Israel are also major users of cluster bomb that haven't signed. There is hope, though. President Obama passed legislation on March 11, 2009 stating that cluster munitions can only be exported if they leave behind less than 1 percent of their sub-munitions as duds.

The true heroes are not the signatories of the convention but rather the organizations that brought states together around the issue in the first place. The Coalition on Cluster Munitions, composed of civil society organizations such as Handicap International and Human Rights Watch, spearheaded the development of the Convention on Cluster Munitions. The Coalition encourages civil society to participate by writing letters or emails to their representatives in government, organizing public meetings, debates, exhibitions and other events to raise awareness of the problem. Their website is a great resource for how to get involved in the campaign to ban cluster bombs. And please do! http://stopclustermunitions.org/take-action/

1. Cluster Munitions Problem. http://www.uxolao.org/

2. Cluster Munitions Coalition - The Problem http://www.stopclustermunitions.org/the-problem/

Seeds For Change

noreply@blogger.com (michael) — Thu, 21 May 2009 01:15:00 +0000

Michael Trainer's vision for See Change Global came to fruition on a 9 month journey to document the work of individuals and organizations creating sustainable solutions to grave social problems. After meeting with dedicated people, Micheal wanted to share, with the world, his glimpses of a humanity determined to lift itself up. See Change Global transformed into a way to communicate this through media.

But he knew that "action" needed to follow the communication. It is the critical component in his cause, and to inspire action he not only tells engaging stories about social change, but also wants to build a community, a community where people create meaningful work. See Change Global thus became a campaign to connect the individuals and organizations devoted to solving deep-rooted social problems.

Michael started traveling in South East Asia, where in Cambodia a visit to the remains of the victims of the Pol Pot regime left him feeling helpless. But it was this devastation that marked a critical point in his consciousness. He could continue feel disheartened or he could channel his energy productively. He chose the latter, and raised money alongside Charity:Water, an organization that builds wells for communities in need of water systems, to build one in Cambodia. It was with this same spirit of service that Michael was ready to document the shapers of social change in another part of the world. His next stop was Africa.

In Africa, Michael connected with an organization that is forging an organic renewal of Kenyan communities: the Greenbelt Movement. Started by the Nobel Peace Prize winner, Wangari Maathai, the GBM is an example of how to reinvigorate a community by involving Kenyans in their own sustainable development.

The GBM pays local communities to plant seeds in forest catchment areas, private farms and public spaces. As a holistic development organization, GBM trains communities in good governance, advocacy and environmental justice through seminars; shares approaches with development workers in Africa; creates opportunities for eco-tourism, a program by which travelers learn about conservation in Kenya and contribute to the work themselves; and facilitates the involvement of women and children in income generating projects.

Machakos, one area in Kenya where Greenbelt Movement works, suffers from tremendous drought. Many people in the community are dying because of lack of water.

For only an inch of dirty water people dig into a dried out riverbed. This young girl in the picture has come to siphon the little bit of water she can from the ground. Juxtaposed by the five gallon water can, the cup full of water she will get is the only source of water for an entire community of people.

The best way to communicate the value of the Greenbelt Movement's work is through stories about the people whose lives have improved dramatically because of its efforts. One family went from struggling to eat enough every day to having a perpetual source of revenue, allowing three daughters to get an education. Staring in the 80's this family regenerated a deforested area.

Through this project they acquired enough money to buy a chicken house - a production of 170 eggs a day - and a bee hive that they harvest 4 times a year.

Now this family can subsist entirely on its own. The only time they need to leave the house is for wheat and oil.

The idea started with a seed and grew into something that transcends the challenges of poverty: healthy and empowered communities with the ability to subsist independently. The Economic benefit, for example, is clear; compared to the children in the slums of Nairobi, communities touched by GBM had better clothes, were better nourished and healthier overall.

The Greenbelt Movement is now one of See Change Global's partners, one model of many that social entrepreneurs are using to battle the systemic causes of poverty, hunger and disease. Can you imagine how you might become part of this movement? or perhaps how your skills - whether they be medical, technical, entrepreneurial or artistic - can help? Well, even if you can't, that's where See Change Global can. And See Change Global will take you past imagining to banding together to make it happen.

Sustainable Development

noreply@blogger.com (michael) — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 03:06:00 +0000

Sustainable development is a word we hear often now. We hear it in the news, political speeches promising better policies and in the everyday conversation about the fate of our environment and livelihoods. Despite our exposure to the term, most of us have a hard time defining it.

Sustainable development is about the actions we take today and how they affect our world in the future. Seems simple, but it’s not easy to understand how this translates into our day-to-day lives. It takes energy, knowledge and practice to live while thinking about the impact of our actions on the environment. Difficult but essential, and worth everything if humanity wants to reduce pollution, promote conservation and to use natural resources responsibly on a daily basis. Only then will there be hope for a bright future.

Complications in making sustainable development a reality arise because environmental, social and economic phenomena are not mutually exclusive. Changes in environmental policies may affect economic progress. For example, rural farmers might suffer economically if they can’t clear forestland for crops to make a living. On the other hand, if we don’t protect forests, the environment may become too inhospitable for farmers to grow crops at all. An important objective is to find a balance between economic, environmental and social approaches to development.

A multi-sector approach is needed for solutions to complicated problems like these. The main actors in society bring different skills to the table. The public sector creates policies and laws that limit harmful practices while the private sector creates markets for resources important to local communities and funds non-profits dedicated to the social good. Ultimately, progress is up to individuals and communities because they know the needs of the land and their people. The community is what brings together multi-sector partnerships that take up challenges such as climate change and resource management. Sustainable development is a global effort in every sense of the word.

These are some big ideas that are not east to digest in one sitting. To illustrate the importance of sustainable development in our lives today I’ll get more specific with an example.

Indonesia is a country rich in resources that need protection and conservation. The Archaepelago covers 1.3% of the earth’s land with 17% of the earth’s plant and animal species. Indonesia is also where 451 million tonnes of CO2 emissions are emitted per year from energy, agriculture and waste. Wild fire and peat bogs also contribute to the emissions.

In 1997, as a result in weather changes from “el Nino”, the forests were uncharacteristically dry. Fires intentionally started to clear the land for farming got out of control and caused a huge spike in atmospheric CO2. This was subsequently called the South East Asian Haze.

Since the South East Asian Haze, multiple partnerships have developed to prevent further environmental degradation and crises. Of note is the work of the Nature Conservancy in collaboration with nine international and Indonesian organizations. The Conservation training and Resource Center was the result of this collaboration. The main goals of the center are to develop a conservation curriculum and to train natural resource managers. In essence, it’s sustainable development from a grassroots approach. http://www.nature.org/wherewework/asiapacific/indonesia/strategies/index.html

The USAID Mission in Indonesia for development resource management is part of various partnerships. They work with the Indonesian government, NGOs and international organizations to increase orangutan conservation, prevent logging and improve water and environment programs.http://www.rmportal.net/groups/id_webhs

For more information on conservation and sustainable development in Indonesia there are two films I’d suggest watching. The first I haven’t seen yet. It’s called The Burning Season http://www.theburningseasonmovie.com. It’s about the fires in Indonesian forests and an entrepreneur that sets out to see how he can help. It’s showing at the Tribeca Film Festival until Tuesday 4/28. My coworker sent the other one to me. It’s about orangutan conservation in Indonesia. http://greenfilm.free.fr/index.html It’s 48 minutes long. Click “streaming”.

P.S. - I recommend looking at The Greenbelt Movement website, an organization based in Kenya.
http://www.greenbeltmovement.org

Resources

noreply@blogger.com (michael) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 00:15:00 +0000

You may be interested in getting involved with the campaigns that See Change Global supports, but where do you begin? The best way to get started is to educate yourself.

Plenty of partnerships focus on poverty alleviation and corporate social responsibility. The world is becoming more interconnected and people are creating more and more innovative ways to tackle the greatest social and economic challenges.

Read about these types of ideas and organizations by starting with this list:

Online communities

Social Edge http://www.socialedge.com
Great resource for social entrepreneurs (or those interested in social entrepenuership). The site has blogs about pioneers in micro-finance and business solutions to poverty as well as forums that discuss topics related to sustaining these ventures. Hear from others experienced in the field.

Causecast: http://www.causecast.org/
An online platform to connect people who support important causes. Organized by issue. Also has news updates and information on organizations.

TED: Ideas Worth Spreading http://www.ted.com
Free videos of leaders and individuals with inspiring ideas and talks about topics important to humanity.

Organizations

Charity: Water http://www.charitywater.org
non-profit bringing clean and safe drinking water to developing nations.

KIVA http://www.kiva.org
Connects lenders to local entrepreneurs.

ASHOKA http://www.ashoka.org
Supports social entrepreneurs and their work.

ACUMEN http://www.acumenfund.org
Builds enterprises that alleviate poverty and deliver affordable goods and services to the poor.

These are great places to start and will lead you to other resources. Enjoy!

Internews - Empowering Local Media Worldwide

noreply@blogger.com (michael) — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 02:26:00 +0000

If you are interested in finding out more about the importance of local media in development check out Internews (http://www.internews.org).

Internews is an international non-governmental organization that aims to strengthen local media so that people can access information and have their voices heard. Internews runs programs that build the capacity of communities to sustain their own information systems.

The organization trains local residents in media coverage and reporting, supports the production of independent media in emerging democracies, provides equipment and advocates for fair media laws. They use journalism to influence health and environmental policies, to encourage women's leadership and mainstream women's issues into media, and to improve access to information, governance and transparency.

Internews has started a humanitarian news service in Gaza that supports three news stations. In response to the recent attacks, these stations have informed victims about relief services and reconstruction activities in time for them to get appropriate care.

The news channels host discussions about how international projects and their partners aid the reconstruction process. They also provide information and education about health services, security, water and sanitation issues.

For many people in Gaza, the information provided by the news services have helped them live through the crisis, providing them with pertinent information that otherwise might not have been accessible quickly enough, if at all. clearly information does save lives.

link to the news brief http://www.internews.org/prs/2009/20090407_gaza.shtm

Participatory Media and Good Governance

noreply@blogger.com (michael) — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 04:14:00 +0000

Thai Protests Reveal Deep Divisions - http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/15/world/asia/15bangkok.html?emc=eta1

Since the military coup in 2006, Thailand has gone through three Prime Ministers. Protesters have gotten progressively more charged since the coup, and the most violent one yet ended on Tuesday Morning.

Civil unrest in Thailand is divided among the People's Alliance for Democracy (royalists and military supporters) and the Red Shirts (farmers, small business men and supporters of PM Thaksin). Although there is opposition between these two groups, in the end, most Thais simply want a functioning democracy and a restoration of fair elections. The Thai media has been accused of being biased towards the government, and the government has a tight grip on the media, often limiting exposure of the Red Shirts.

This conflict is an example of the importance of free and transparent media in democracy. The Thais protest to be heard and to highlight the ways in which their government thwarts democracy. They protest because they feel cut off from the decisions that affect them.

Participatory media (the involvement of citizens) is an essential part of the equation for good governance and thus a functioning, progressive society. Free media holds governments accountable for their actions and unveils corruption. As a government gains tighter control on the media, however, citizens find fewer channels for their voices to be heard and to challenge discriminatory policies. This is why free and transparent media is so important, to prevent the loss of these channels and to strengthen democracy.

Welcome

noreply@blogger.com (michael) — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 03:14:00 +0000

Thanks for checking out the See Change Global blog. This is the place to go for updates on our projects and for information about innovative ideas for social change.

We're about making connections and taking action; we link people actively improving the lives of communities and individuals around the world with those who will support their efforts. By using interactive media to tell stories, disseminate ideas and inspire action we strive to create a forum for people passionate about making a difference. This will be a portal in which seeds of action are planted and spread.

What can I get out of this blog?

For one, by reading this blog you are tapping into an interactive community. Given the plethora of organizations devoted to community development and the common good, this blog aims to highlight specific social issues and campaigns so that the information can be taken in. It's a way to familiarize yourself with the work of social entrepreneurs, listen to stories, stay up to date on news relating to social policies, engage with others passionate about promoting action and to inspire yourself to get involved.

Thanks for your interest in our work! Please visit us again to join our community for change.

Planning

noreply@blogger.com (michael) — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 20:15:00 +0000

Hello Friends,

After my 6-week trip to South and South-East Asia I am now building relationships with organizations and individuals in New York in advance of my trip to Ethiopia. The blog will be dormant during this time, but will be continued upon my departure.

Thank you to all those who gave to build a well in Ethiopia. Your support is a tremendous gift and inspiration.

If you know of any compelling social change agents or video editors/web developers please let me know.

Wishing you health and happiness,

Michael

cambodia

noreply@blogger.com (michael) — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 10:33:00 +0000

noreply@blogger.com (michael) — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 10:31:00 +0000

the gift of life

noreply@blogger.com (michael) — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 10:29:00 +0000

Dear Friends,

It’s been a while since I talked to many of you so you may not know that currently, I am on an around the world trip to document and support the work of extraordinary social change agents. Since I’ve been off the radar, I thought I’d send a friendly reminder that my 32nd birthday is in less than a week. While I won’t be in town to accept your well wishes, generous gifts, and dinner offers I would be flattered if you would help me celebrate by donating 32 dollars in honor of my 32nd year to the charity that has become my passion, charity: water.

I have seen great deal on this trip. It has made me thankful for everything I have and, most importantly, everyone I have in my life. Last week I went to the Killing Fields and a former school turned torture museum in Phnom Penn to bear witness to the legacy of the Khmer Rouge. It is hard to describe the experience, seeing a place where so many had been dehumanized in the most unconscionable of ways.

I will spare you the details, but what struck me most on this day were the faces of the children frozen in raw black and white staring back at me; hundreds of innocent children whose lives were taken during the course of my own.

As I processed these events my thoughts turned to children around the world whose futures are in jeopardy.

I set a goal to raise enough to build a well that will provide clean drinking water for an entire village. Your 32 dollar birthday gift in the form of a donation can help me reach my goal. 1.1 billion people lack access to clean drinking water, and as a result 4,500 children die each day from water related diseases. While I can do little to change the fate of those lost during the Khmer Rouge, I can do my small part to make certain others are not robbed of their future.

The well will be built under the guidance of an organization I have the privilege of supporting, charity: water. Their track record shows a history of amazing work improving the futures of communities and children around the world. Charity: water calculates a single gift will provide fresh water to a child for approximately 20 years. Additionally, Matt Damon and other donors pledge to match all contributions made before the end of September not
once, but twice! Meaning your gift grows to three times its value. For the cost of a birthday lunch you could give four children access to the life-saving gift of clean water.

100% of funds raised will go directly to support communities in need and coordinates and images logged during my travels in the recipient community will be posted online so you can see the results of your support and goodwill.

Please make checks payable to charity:water and send them to me at

Michael Trainer
1653 N. Vine St.
Chicago, IL 60614

for a collective donation to be made when I return, or go to www.charitywater.org to contribute directly and let me know, so I can send you images and coordinates on google earth to commemorate your life-saving gift.

Thank you so much for your continued support! Please forward this message to friends who would be interested in supporting children in need of clean water, and check out www.borninseptember.org to learn more about their innovative campaign.

I look forward to celebrating another great year with you all.

With warm regards from Laos,

Michael Trainer

Legacy of War imagery

noreply@blogger.com (michael) — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 09:37:00 +0000

The Legacy of War

noreply@blogger.com (michael) — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 08:09:00 +0000

Laos is the most bombed country on the planet. More bombs were dropped on Laos than during the whole of Allied missions during the course of the Second World War. In an effort to stem the spread of communism, and to cut of supply lines to Vietnam, the U.S. waged a ‘secret war’ against Laos.

There are estimates that for the 8 years that this ‘secret war’ ensued, there was a bombing mission every 8 minutes for 9 years, totaling 580,000 bombing missions, with each mission dropping cluster bombs and their sub-munitions, known in Laos as ‘bombies,’ all over the country. With a 30% failure rate, this means there are now millions of bombs, live unexploded ordinance, littering the Laos landscape.

The issue with these bombies is that they spread indiscriminately, and now thirty years later, an agrarian people are left with more than 30% of their agricultural land unusable due to unexploded ordinance.

The U.S. spent more than 2 million dollars a day bombing Laos, and now children, in a country where the average person makes a dollar a day, risk their lives to harvest bomb metal for $.20 a kilo. The problem is much of this scrap metal is spread amidst live ordinance, making scrap harvesting a deadly pursuit.

The insatiable need for steel in booming economies throughout the region fuels demand for steel to support construction. With little economic opportunity, the people of Laos make due with whatever resources are available. With ‘the best of Detroit steel’ spread throughout the landscape, this means the lucrative and extremely dangerous livelihood of scrap metal harvesting is flourishing in Laos despite the danger.

Children can easily secure a Vietnamese made metal detector on credit for $9, an amount that can be paid back with the $4 a child can make on a good day collecting bomb fragments. I was exposed to the stories of several children who had lost their lives and limbs while visiting COPE in Laos’s capital of Vientiane.

COPE supports the survivors of unexploded ordinance by providing prosthetic limbs, community education, and hope to those survivors of unexploded ordinance. I spent the day with Jo Pereira, the project coordinator for COPE, to learn about the issue. There work is amazing. You can learn about COPE’s work at www.copelaos.org

Children can be robbed of their future here in Laos because of the insidious nature of bomb design. 'Bombies' are actually the size and shape of a tennis ball, but they are actually explosives with ball bearings that tear flesh and an explosive radius of 30 meters. I heard a heart wrenching story of a three boys who touched two together and died instantly with a third being taken to the hospital by his parents only to find they didn’t have the resources of life saving blood and oxygen, so they had to take their son home to watch him die.

The United States, China, and Israel have yet to sign the ban on cluster munitions. They are still in use today. There is to be a gathering this December by nations as yet uncommitted to the banning of cluster munitions. Spread the word to others and tell your representative that you want cluster munitions banned! You can also help organizations such as COPE that support the survivors of unexploded ordinance long after the bombs are dropped.

Other excellent resources on the issue:
Angela Robeson’s report “Bomb hunters” for the BBC world service
The Most Secret Place in Laos: the CIA’s Covert War in Laos, a film by Marc Eberle
The US group Legacies of War
http://laos.everestinfo.org
and www.nra.gov.la

Beyond the Streets

noreply@blogger.com (michael) — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 09:36:00 +0000

Refuge for Sri Lanka's street children

noreply@blogger.com (michael) — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 14:11:00 +0000

Colombo, Sri Lanka's capital city, has been buzzing with the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) summit since my arrival. Ak-47s and check-points greet the traveler and every turn. The mangy dogs have been "exported" as have some of the poor folk littering the landscape, all in an effort to put on a good public face.

A week and fifty million dollars later what is there to show for it? A few politicians now have the personal pleasure of a bullet-proof mercedez to add to their detail and a bit of pomp and circumstance to remember.

While the privileged few milk the country for all its worth, people surviving on an average household income of $1100 a year, contend with 30% inflation and $7 a gallon gasoline, a 25 year civil war raging on, and little hope for the future.

Yet amidst this climate of repression, the spirit of the Sri Lankan people shines bright. There is utter resilience and on their part, exhibited in the daily acts of sacrifice and kindness exhibited by these people who struggle tooth and nail to survive. Those with the least are often the most giving, if not with what little food they have, then with whatever they can give with the ubiquitous smile.

I got a first hand tour of these small graces when I visited a home for Colombo's street children. There I spent the afternoon playing with children who would otherwise be on the streets contending with poverty and all its ugliness. Here at the home, they had a refuge. Children were feed meals of rice and curry, they were cared for by a loving staff, and played constantly when not receiving private instruction. Without abundant resources, the imagination was left to run free and ingenuity prevailed. Local foliage became a toy-r-us Sri Lanka style; snakes were made out of palm tree leaves, and crowns were made out of twigs and leaves.

While there may be little I can do to alter the behavior of those exploiting their own people, I do look for ways to support the great efforts of those who provide support, refuge, and opportunity to societies most vulnerable. If you have creative ideas on ways to create opportunities for vulnerable children please contact me at: michael.e.trainer@gmail.com

Singapore

noreply@blogger.com (michael) — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 09:06:00 +0000

Sri Lanka's Sarvodaya movement

noreply@blogger.com (michael) — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 08:28:00 +0000

I came to Sri Lanka, a country I have lived in on and off for the past twelve years, to document the work of Dr. Ariyaratne, a nobel peace prize nominee and tireless advocate for the poor and marginalized in Sri Lanka. Fifty years ago, as a school principal he started a service movement which supported rural communities in organizing for self-empowerment. At the heart of this movement were shramadana camps, where people shared their labor for the benefit of the entire village. In this way roads were build, wells dug, and communities strengethened in the knowledge that they could create what they needed to themselves. Sarvodaya has a saying "we build the road and the road builds us." For the last nine months I studies the nuances of International development, never have I witnessed such a holistic ground-up movement.

Turning fifty in 2008, the movement has grown into the country's largest NGO serving millions in more than 15,000 villages across the island. As I travel and work with Sarvodaya, I am blown away by the scale of what they have been able to achieve with modest means. I have been to peace-building camps serving youth traumatized by generations of intractable civil conflict, to homes for teenage mothers, and homes for orphans in need of intensive medical care. In all of these places I felt a heart behind the work, a genuine care and commitment. These were not mere programs, created and left after completion of a contract. They were homes filled with the intangibles. The spaces were immaculate, the care diligent, and the commitment profound. I am humbled by how comprehensive, how holistic, Sarvodaya's approach is to their work. They create a family where those who otherwise fall through cracks of society find a home.

noreply@blogger.com (michael) — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 14:12:00 +0000

daily practice

noreply@blogger.com (michael) — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 13:09:00 +0000

i have never been much for practice. i like things i am good at right away. never been much for criticism either. i suppose that is why i have an fairy substantial body of work that few people have ever seen. as i have committed myself to traveling around the world over the course of the next nine months, visualizing social change, it seems only appropriate that i get over myself and put it out there. it won't be perfect, but here we go...