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Video: ABBA plays their song Chiquitita at the UN Headquarters fundraiser for UNICEF 1979.

The song “Chiquitita” was featured in the Music for UNICEF Concert, broadcast worldwide from the United Nations General Assembly in 1979. As a direct result of this event, ABBA donated 50% of all royalties from the song to UNICEF. As of 2021, the song’s royalties have raised $4.8 million for the charity.

Co-composer and founding member of Abba, Bjorn Ulvaeus, said “I think that the most urgent thing that can be done on this globe is the empowerment of young women and girls. That would change our world,” he said. “It’s so sad that there are cultures and religions around the globe that just don’t give girls equal chances. So, early on we said to Unicef, that’s where we want our money to go.”

“Never in my wildest dreams could I have expected it would be so long-lasting and bring in so much money. It’s the best legacy anyone could wish for.”

Source: BBC – Guatemala school uses Unicef funds
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-64026345

About the Song
“Chiquitita” (“little girl” in Spanish) is a song released in January 1979 by Swedish pop group ABBA and written by Benny Goran Bror Andersson & Bjoern K. Ulvaeus. Agnetha Fältskog performed the lead vocals.

Lyrics for “Chiquitita”

Chiquitita, tell me what’s wrong
You’re enchained by your own sorrow
In your eyes there is no hope for tomorrow
How I hate to see you like this
There is no way you can deny it
I can see that you’re oh so sad, so quiet
Chiquitita, tell me the truth
I’m a shoulder you can cry on
Your best friend, I’m the one you must rely on
You were always sure of yourself
Now I see you’ve broken a feather
I hope we can patch it up together
Chiquitita, you and I know
How the heartaches come and they go and the scars they’re leaving
You’ll be dancing once again and the pain will end
You will have no time for grieving
Chiquitita, you and I cry
But the sun is still in the sky and shining above you
Let me hear you sing once more like you did before
Sing a new song, Chiquitita
Try once more like you did before
Sing a new song, Chiquitita
So the walls came tumbling down
And your love’s a blown out candle
All is gone and it seems too hard to handle
Chiquitita, tell me the truth
There is no way you can deny it
I see that you’re oh so sad, so quiet
Chiquitita, you and I know
How the heartaches come and they go and the scars they’re leaving
You’ll be dancing once again and the pain will end
You will have no time for grieving
Chiquitita, you and I cry
But the sun is still in the sky and shining above you
Let me hear you sing once more like you did before
Sing a new song, Chiquitita
Try once more like you did before
Sing a new song, Chiquitita
Try once more like you did before
Sing a new song, Chiquitita

Songwriters: Benny Goran Bror Andersson / Bjoern K. Ulvaeus

Chiquitita lyrics © Unicef Sweden

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Image from Shutterstock.

To help as many participants attend your meeting as possible,  here are some websites that allow you to schedule group meetings online.

1. Calendar.com
We interviewed over 500 different individuals about how they consume their calendar. Our team asked them everything. We spent over 1000 hours figuring out what makes their calendar tick. We did this so that we could make the most innovative calendar app on the planet.
https://www.calendar.com/

2. Doodle.com is the fastest and easiest way to schedule anything — from meetings to the next great collaboration.
https://doodle.com/en/

3. Calendly.com helps you book better meetings, faster, by syncing and integrating everything in one intuitive platform.
https://calendly.com/

Or take a look at:
The 14 Best Meeting Scheduling Tools for 2022
https://www.recruiterslineup.com/the-10-best-meeting-scheduling-tools/

More →]]> “David Spencer’s Creative Mind” is the blog that provides information about David M.R.D Spencer’s creative community projects,  Christian faith,  education projects, media networking,  music, and outdoor education activities.

You may contact David Spencer using this online form.

David attending the excellent The RCMP Musical Ride. The RCMP Musical Ride performance consists of intricate figures and drills choreographed to music. These movements demand the utmost control, timing and coordination.

David is often found outside camping, canoeing, kayaking, mountain biking, Nordic skiing, snowshoeing or tree planting in Ontario’s wilderness.

His Christian faith and love for God is evident in his work with young people, aboriginal, local community, environmental and outdoor education leadership. He shares his knowledge and teaches others through his speaking engagements, video productions and web development initiatives.

You can follow David’s thoughts and opinions via the Twitter accounts he manages.

@DavidFilmScout  Discovery and sharing of filming locations in southern Ontario.
@DavidSpencerEdu Connecting ideas and educators from around the world.
@DavidSpencer A community building & networking specialist shares his faith and ideas.
@EducatorTrips Leaders providing educational field trips & workshops for Ontario educators.

David Spencer runs six (6) information e-newsletters for his projects that may interest you including:

Beyond Our Classroom (BOC)
An educational network of educators with a passion for finding, planning and running professional learning experiences. We plan field trips and promote skill building, outdoor and environmental learning experiences offered by First Nation communities, museums, subject associations and teacher affiliates.

ChristianRadioCanadaNews (CRCN)
A forum for announcing developments in Canadian Christian radio. Members share CRTC news, Industry Canada news and resources to help radio station staff working in Christian radio. We also announce future gatherings of Canadian Christian radio personnel.

Friends of Bark Lake (FBL)
An international community of former staff and alumni campers who have fond memories of the Ontario Camp Leadership Centre at Bark Lake which operated from 1948 to 1995 in Irondale, Ontario, Canada. We share photos, stories and reflections on our experiences.

Genesis Matters Fellowship News (GMFN)
A group of truth seekers who strive to understand and apply the history, message and principles of the Bible including the book of Genesis chapters 1 to 11. We believe in the authority and inerrancy of the Bible. We believe that the theory of evolution and uniformitarianism in natural history are false teachings that are contrary to true science and mislead our children.

Prayer Warrior Network (PWN)
The Prayer Warrior Network is a group of Christians based in Ontario, Canada who are praying for revival, encouraging neighbours to follow Jesus Christ and connect with a local church.

Wellington Creates (WC)
Wellington Creates is a network of economic development officers, business leaders, film and television location scouts and managers promoting film, music video and television projects in Wellington County, Ontario.

You may request a subscription to one or more of the above e-newsletters or contact David Spencer using this online form.

More →]]> The “Four Yorkshiremen” sketch is a parody of nostalgic conversations about humble beginnings or difficult childhoods. Four Yorkshiremen reminisce about their upbringing, and as the conversation progresses, they try to outdo one another. Their accounts of deprived childhoods become increasingly absurd. (Wikipedia.org)

The first video is the version many are familiar with from Monty Python. From left to right the actors are Michael Palin, Graham Chapman, Terry Jones and Eric Idle. You may follow along with the script.

The “Four Yorkshiremen” sketch was originally written and performed for the 1967 British television comedy series “At Last the 1948 Show” by the show’s four writer-performers: Tim Brooke-Taylor, John Cleese, Graham Chapman and Marty Feldman.

This third version of the Four Yorkshiremen is from Alan Rickman and friends. From left to right, Henry Enfield, Alan Rickman, Eddie Izzard and Vic Reeves perform the Monty Python Sketch for “We Know Where You Live 2001”.

To provide your comments and feedback on this article, please contact David Spencer.

More →]]> To cope with this COVID-19 Pandemic that is now approaching one year, I recommend you take a friend, family member or your dog and go for a fresh air hike.  Matching outfits will help you stay in sync and you’ll receive kind comments from other hikers.

To provide your comments and feedback on this article, please contact David Spencer.

More →]]> AEE Circle Launched a Facebook Page to help connect aboriginal elders and educators.

The Aboriginal and Environmental Education Circle (AEE Circle) was created by David Spencer as a professional learning and sharing network of over  300 educators, teachers, supporters and Aboriginal elders and leaders gathering resources and creating a speakers bureau that will help teachers integrate current cultural, environmental and historical contributions of Aboriginal Canadians into school curriculum.  The email list of active participants was donated to NEAO (Native Education Association of Ontario.

This organization became the FNMIEAO  (First Nations, Métis and Inuit Education Association of Ontario) a subject association for First Nations, Métis and Inuit education in Ontario, Canada. They support and help all educators understand issues related to First Nation, Métis and Inuit Peoples in Canada as well as offer strategies for teaching this content to all learners.

To provide your comments and feedback on this article, please contact David Spencer.

More →]]> Have you considered getting off the treadmill and running outside?. My favourite Bible passage relating to running is Hebrews 12:1-3 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

David Spencer running the Toronto Marathon in 1988

Benefits of Running
There are a number of benefits of running. Here are a few:

• potential weight loss
• slow the effects of aging
• improved cardiovascular and respiratory health
• improved cardiovascular fitness,
• reduced total blood cholesterol
• strengthening of bones (and potentially increased bone density)
• possible strengthening of the immune system
• improved self esteem and emotional state
• enjoyment of nature and scenery
  (Source: Wikipedia)

You may wish to consider finding a running partner or entering a 5 km or 10 km road race to keep yourself motivated to run.

To provide your comments and feedback on this article, please contact David Spencer.

More →]]> The outdoor education and children’s camping community is feeling the loss of Kirk Wipper who died unexpectantly on Friday March 18, 2011. Kirk was an inspiration to canoeists and outdoor educators around the world.

I got to know Kirk at Camp Kandalore where I was a camp counsellor for junior boys in the summer of 1978. Kirk taught me how to solo paddle in a birchbark canoe and encouraged me to take the canoeing instructors course with the Canadian Recreatioonal Canoeing Association (now Paddle Canada)  on site at Camp Kandalore.

Kirk an Alumni of Bark Lake the Ontario Camp Leadership Centre took the time to attend our 2007 Bark Lake Reunion.

Please read the bio I assembled as a tribute to Kirk Wipper .

To provide your comments and feedback on this article, please contact David Spencer.