The Mission, The Stuff & The End
I watched “Millionaire’s Mission” on Tuesday night. I’d recommend it highly. It follows 8 very rich and powerful entrepreneurs into a Village in Africa, where World Vision is conducting an experiment. Is it possible that these entrepreneurs can think of something that we haven’t to change the future of the village, and bring it out of poverty?
Well, their idea was to build a hotel. Sounds outlandish, but their reasoning was reasonably well thought out, in terms of stimulating the economy, and increasing literacy. But when the locals have highest on their priority list, things like “water” and “roads” and “hospital renovation”, I don’t know if they’ll see the hotel idea in the same light. And the shorts for next week see them yielding machetes, so it’ll be VERY interesting to watch!
I guess that is one of the main tensions between short term relief and long term sustainable development.
I was also directed this week to the “Story of Stuff”. It’s similar to things you’ve always heard about the injustices along the production lines of our “stuff”, but it puts it in a very succinct package, that is available to download. If you’re trying to get people around you to understand the impact that their actions have on the sustainability and stewardship of our world’s resources, then host a screening.
From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns.
The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It’ll teach you something, it’ll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever.
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If you’re looking for a way to avoid watching copious amounts of TV this week, hook in with a game of Settlers. You’ll not have as much fun anywhere else!!
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For your ammusement…
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And, go here. You’ll find it thoroughly relaxing.
Freedom Day!
Wow! What a weekend!
Saturday 19th April was Freedom Day in the city of Perth! 
The Salvos and other freedom fighters (world vision, ywam, and a myriad of others..) were out in full strength to walk for freedom in the city.
We blew up balloons, we banged drums, we raised banners and we walked in strength in an effort to allow people to see and hear the call to freedom, justice, mercy, love and the stopping of traffik.
And, we made Stop The Traffik / Salvation Army T-Shirts and looked fantastic while we were wearing them! The logo to the right on the front and a MASSIVE Red Shield on the back!!
During the walk, and the afternoon session in the City we gave out nearly 800 flyers with information about Trafficking, and an invite to a free* screening of The Jammed in Northbridge.
Many conversations were had, many children were excited by the FREE magazine! (KidZone’s galore!) and MANY of the people we gave flyers to during the day, came to watch the movie - and not just because we were offering food** (although that did seem to draw the crowd!)
An estimation of more than 80 people flooded an auxiliary room at the Perth Fortress Corps to watch The Jammed. More than half of those in attendance came through the flyers we gave out, or because of the young enthusiasts just outside the Corps bringing people in!
The movie is incredibly graphic and confronting, but there was opportunity for prayer, support and comfort after the movie, and there is much hope that people did not feel helpless, but through the info from the talk prior to the movie, and the resources available, feel strong to move forward in the fight for freedom.
In the lead up to the event and on the day, we made important connections with organisations and individuals in Perth who are already working for a traffik free world. In particular, a young enthusiastic representative from YWAM walked with us, stayed all afternoon in the city making incredible connections with passers-by and invited 5 of her friends to the movie.
There are some links here, to show you what these groups are up to;
Lost in Traffik (YWAM Perth)
Don’t Trade Lives (World Vision - STIR, Perth)
Thanks for listening to my recap. There will be more news soon about JUSTSalvosWA’s ideas/events and more.
Grace.
*The screening was technically free, but we encouraged a Gold Coin donation on entry, and raised a total of $275.80 for The Salvation Army’s Counter-Traffiking project in India.
**The free food on offer was Fair Trade, and Organic - and for some even gluten and dairy free!! Thanks Fair-Go Trading!
