"Poverty is the worst form of violence" - Mahatma Gandi
For those as fortunate as myself, Sundays are a glorious time of the week. Today was especially so; I stayed in bed late, ate all my favourite foods (ok, not ALL, I have a lot), strolled in the sunshine, talked and laughed with the people I love, sipped margaritas at sunset by the beach and to top it all off I was gifted a gorgeous bunch of flowers from one of my most favourite people (thank you!!). However between the sleeping, strolling, tequila and talking I must confess I was having a severe battle of the conscience. And here's why...
I heard about this campaign yesterday and went online this morning to see what it was all about. As soon as I watched this video I immediately wanted to jump up and shout "Hell yes! I'm in Hugh! Sign me up! Send me the t-shirt! I'm your girl". For a good five minutes I thought, without question I can make the small sacrifice and eat for $2 a day ($1.50 was the American equivalent) for five days to help raise awareness for world poverty. My social conscience was already mentally putting up the banners and streamers for anti-poverty party week and then the bubble burst, I came out of my "do-gooder" induced hyperactivity for a moment and stopped to think.
The Live Below the Line challenge begins tomorrow, so first of all I'm a little behind the eight ball for registration and fundraising. But secondly and slightly more significantly, I have two huge uni assessments due this Friday, I have a 40 hour work week and just to keep it interesting I've been battling some form of cold/flu/virus for the past couple of weeks, which I just can't seem to shake. So I sat myself down and I said, "Rachel, given all of the above factors, do you really think this week is a good time to potentially deprive yourself of nutrition and energy for a boat which has practically set sail?". I found the answer to be depressingly ironic, "I can't afford to live BELOW the poverty line", at least not this week anyway. This was the sensible choice and at that moment I thought about how ridiculously privileged I was to be able to make it. There are 1.4 billion people on the planet who do not have that privilege. Those people live on the equivalent of $2 a day and for them that is not just for food, that is for EVERYTHING.
So in between all the glory that was my Sunday as mentioned above, I kept experiencing those occasional moments of inner turmoil that only come from a battle of the conscience: "Will I? Won't I? Of course you can! You can't afford to! Make a sacrifice!", and back and forth it went. Finally this evening I sat down and decided I needed to make peace with myself and this is what I came up with...
Firstly I would like to convey my support to all those beautiful, amazing, generous people who have taken the pledge, raised money and will for the next five days sacrifice one of my favourite comforts: food. Secondly I would like to express my overwhelming gratitude for the all the comforts and luxuries I was privileged to today (and every day), that I often take for granted. I am so extremely fortunate to live in a country and in a manner which affords me the choice to say, "No, I will not live below the poverty line". Thirdly in a gesture of support I have sponsored five people, one for each day of the challenge in which I will not be taking part. And lastly, as a symbolic gesture and to quiet my conscience I've decided to give up some of my favourite comforts this week: coffee, sugar and wine. It's not much but sometimes making a little sacrifice helps us to stop, contemplate and appreciate the things for which we are so fortunate that we often take for granted.
For anybody interested in finding out more about global poverty, joining the challenge or supporting those taking part please visit http://www.livebelowtheline.com.au/.
Showing posts with label social conscience. Show all posts
Showing posts with label social conscience. Show all posts
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Friday, April 22, 2011
Confessions of a Conscience
Today's post is on little more of a personal note than usual, a long overdue self-critique of the conscience if you will, which I am afraid to say falls somewhat short of my own expectations. It's been a little quiet on the blogging front over the past week. You know how it is; work, assignments, a little cold and flu and before I knew it I was feeling completely drained with nothing left to give. I know this isn't unusual, most of us lead extremely busy lives and at the end of the week you want to keep what little time and energy leftover you have for yourself.
I got up this morning and all I wanted to do was draw the curtains, put on a dvd and spend the day vegetating on the couch but much to my dismay, not long after I picked up the remote, the little voice in the back of my head started: "Really? You have a whole day at your disposal, you don't feel sick anymore, there are no assignment deadlines hanging over your head or pressing engagements and you're just going to sit here and do absolutely nothing?!". I then started thinking about this blog and wondering why I wasn't feeling more motivated to make up for lost time when all week I'd been wishing for this exact opportunity to devote myself to the cause which I usually feel so passionately about. Then it hit me, I was avoiding it. But not due to a lack of interest or passion. I was only avoiding the blog because I wanted to avoid myself.
With each post I publish (whether it is always evident or not) I examine my own social conscience and this week that means examining the lack of it. That is not to say of course that this week I have conducted myself with absolutely no consideration of the world around me. I have smiled at strangers, I have stopped to let people in during peak hour traffic, I have taken my family Easter gifts, I have stood up on the bus to let others sit down, I have recycled. However, none of these things were very out of the ordinary, they took no real extra effort and considering the purpose of this endeavour is to step outside my comfort zone and really push my social conscience to a higher level, I feel as if this week I have failed. But...
"There is no failure except in no longer trying." - Elbert Hubbard
So this is my confession: this week I have not done all that I can and I have not been the best that I can be. I am not perfect, but that is okay. To move forward I think it is important to let go of the guilt (which I never find a very productive emotion) and get up and start again. So I am clearing my conscience right here and right now and starting fresh. I think sometimes we all get a little weighed down with feelings of inadequacy and there's no time like the present to acknowledge it, shake it off and make a change. I am so grateful that I have a new minute, a new hour, a new day and a new week to try again.
I got up this morning and all I wanted to do was draw the curtains, put on a dvd and spend the day vegetating on the couch but much to my dismay, not long after I picked up the remote, the little voice in the back of my head started: "Really? You have a whole day at your disposal, you don't feel sick anymore, there are no assignment deadlines hanging over your head or pressing engagements and you're just going to sit here and do absolutely nothing?!". I then started thinking about this blog and wondering why I wasn't feeling more motivated to make up for lost time when all week I'd been wishing for this exact opportunity to devote myself to the cause which I usually feel so passionately about. Then it hit me, I was avoiding it. But not due to a lack of interest or passion. I was only avoiding the blog because I wanted to avoid myself.
With each post I publish (whether it is always evident or not) I examine my own social conscience and this week that means examining the lack of it. That is not to say of course that this week I have conducted myself with absolutely no consideration of the world around me. I have smiled at strangers, I have stopped to let people in during peak hour traffic, I have taken my family Easter gifts, I have stood up on the bus to let others sit down, I have recycled. However, none of these things were very out of the ordinary, they took no real extra effort and considering the purpose of this endeavour is to step outside my comfort zone and really push my social conscience to a higher level, I feel as if this week I have failed. But...
"There is no failure except in no longer trying." - Elbert Hubbard
So this is my confession: this week I have not done all that I can and I have not been the best that I can be. I am not perfect, but that is okay. To move forward I think it is important to let go of the guilt (which I never find a very productive emotion) and get up and start again. So I am clearing my conscience right here and right now and starting fresh. I think sometimes we all get a little weighed down with feelings of inadequacy and there's no time like the present to acknowledge it, shake it off and make a change. I am so grateful that I have a new minute, a new hour, a new day and a new week to try again.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Online Activism: can we REALLY make a difference?
"The medium is the message." - Marshall McLuhan
You're going to have to forgive my Cultural Studies background! It's not enough for me to simply jump online, express my thoughts on the social conscience (as promised) and log out as I have a plethora of noisy theorists whom, during the course of my studies, have lodged themselves within the quiet recesses of my brain and cannot be silenced! As a result, each time I begin typing one of these entries a theorist pops up and begins his/her musings and I can't help but to start unpacking the cultural processes of communication and the roles they play in the production of meaning. However, I do think this is relevant (even to those who aren't Media/Cultural studies nerds such as myself) so bear with me!
It seems only fitting that in this online exposition of my social conscience I also consider the medium which provides the platform for my expression (it's a "Cultural Studies thing"). Where (or what) would my message be without this blog and the network of social media platforms (Twitter, Facebook, email etc) that enable me to share it? Marshall McLuhan was a communication theorist (among other things) and was well known for coining the idiom quoted above in which he is basically asserting that the medium and the message cannot be separated. According to his assumption my musings on the social conscience (message) and this blog (medium) are inextricably linked, therefore the way in which you are receiving this blog post (via email, twitter link, facebook post etc) will ultimately influence the way you interpret the message.
Still with me? So taking this into account, the issue I really want to explore is how social media platforms and networks are influencing and enabling online activism on a global scale. What is the potential power of social media as a medium to communicate messages of activism in meaningful ways which bring about REAL positive change? I could unleash a torrent of theory upon you now but instead I think I'll pass over to Gina Bianchini (CEO and co founder of Ning) in her interview for the BBC Series, The Virtual Revolution, discussing the potential of social technology to change humanity...
You're going to have to forgive my Cultural Studies background! It's not enough for me to simply jump online, express my thoughts on the social conscience (as promised) and log out as I have a plethora of noisy theorists whom, during the course of my studies, have lodged themselves within the quiet recesses of my brain and cannot be silenced! As a result, each time I begin typing one of these entries a theorist pops up and begins his/her musings and I can't help but to start unpacking the cultural processes of communication and the roles they play in the production of meaning. However, I do think this is relevant (even to those who aren't Media/Cultural studies nerds such as myself) so bear with me!
It seems only fitting that in this online exposition of my social conscience I also consider the medium which provides the platform for my expression (it's a "Cultural Studies thing"). Where (or what) would my message be without this blog and the network of social media platforms (Twitter, Facebook, email etc) that enable me to share it? Marshall McLuhan was a communication theorist (among other things) and was well known for coining the idiom quoted above in which he is basically asserting that the medium and the message cannot be separated. According to his assumption my musings on the social conscience (message) and this blog (medium) are inextricably linked, therefore the way in which you are receiving this blog post (via email, twitter link, facebook post etc) will ultimately influence the way you interpret the message.
Still with me? So taking this into account, the issue I really want to explore is how social media platforms and networks are influencing and enabling online activism on a global scale. What is the potential power of social media as a medium to communicate messages of activism in meaningful ways which bring about REAL positive change? I could unleash a torrent of theory upon you now but instead I think I'll pass over to Gina Bianchini (CEO and co founder of Ning) in her interview for the BBC Series, The Virtual Revolution, discussing the potential of social technology to change humanity...
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
In the beginning there was... an aim.
"Every art and every inquiry, and similarly every action and choice, is thought to aim at some good; and for this reason the good has rightly been declared to be that at which all things aim." - Aristotle.
For me encounters with my social conscience are a daily occurrence, a mixture of intention and (in)action which I often struggle to reconcile. This blog is an exploration of the internal battle; I’m taking it external, stripping it back and laying it bare for the world to see, with the blogosphere and as my mediator, regulator and guide.
I don't claim to be a saint nor do I have any plans to become one and whilst it would be nice to achieve world peace my aims are much more modest. What I know is that each of us has the capacity do some good and whether we're fulfilling our potential or not, there seems to be little discussion of it. So why aren't we talking about it? Does the silence speak of our inaction and guilt because we know we can and should be contributing but aren't? Or, do we keep quiet to avoid the public perception of the hedonistic do-gooder who only speaks of their deeds to boost their own image and esteem? Perhaps it is both or neither but either way I think that becoming involved in this dialogue has great potential to bridge the gap between intention and action.
I want to be held responsible and I want to be inspired. This blog is the platform for my journey into the social conscience and I hope that readers will join with me and come along for the ride. Any contributions would be greatly appreciated!
Rachel
For me encounters with my social conscience are a daily occurrence, a mixture of intention and (in)action which I often struggle to reconcile. This blog is an exploration of the internal battle; I’m taking it external, stripping it back and laying it bare for the world to see, with the blogosphere and as my mediator, regulator and guide.
I don't claim to be a saint nor do I have any plans to become one and whilst it would be nice to achieve world peace my aims are much more modest. What I know is that each of us has the capacity do some good and whether we're fulfilling our potential or not, there seems to be little discussion of it. So why aren't we talking about it? Does the silence speak of our inaction and guilt because we know we can and should be contributing but aren't? Or, do we keep quiet to avoid the public perception of the hedonistic do-gooder who only speaks of their deeds to boost their own image and esteem? Perhaps it is both or neither but either way I think that becoming involved in this dialogue has great potential to bridge the gap between intention and action.
I want to be held responsible and I want to be inspired. This blog is the platform for my journey into the social conscience and I hope that readers will join with me and come along for the ride. Any contributions would be greatly appreciated!
Rachel
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