Van Thanh Rudd's painting

Van Thanh Rudd (Kevin Rudd's nephew) has produced a political art piece (above, beside him)that I think is fabulous. It depicts Ronald McDonald happily running with the Olympic Torch beside a burning monk. Unfortunately, it has been banned from the art exhibition which it was created for.

"He said the work reflects his belief that the global economy is a hurdle to dealing with human rights abuses, including those in Tibet."

I think he has conveyed his message powerfully and I agree with him.

You can read the relevant article here.

Musings

2 major natural disasters have hit Asia in the past month. Cyclone Nargis has devastated Burma (Myanmar), with at least 134,000 dead or missing, rice fields ruined and the crisis further exacerbated by the ruling military junta's reluctance to let in aid workers. An earthquake in China last week has left properties ruined and hundreds of thousands of people dead, with the death toll continuing to rise.

There is a global food crisis with dramatic food price increases leaving many in poor and undeveloped countries unable to obtain basic food necessities. There have been food riots and social unrest as a result.

Human slavery is still occurring today, despite its relatively low profile. There is widespread trafficking of women and children for sex exploitation, and there are people who are recruited for seemingly legitimate jobs but are later forced into exploitative and restrictive working environments.

More than 20% of people in developing countries live in extreme economic poverty, surviving on less than US$1 per day. Access to information, education, clean water, medical assistance and many other things that most of us take for granted, are limited or non-existent for many people in poor underdeveloped countries. Children die of starvation, or of illnesses that can be easily treated.

Tibetans are persecuted and treated as second class citizens in their homeland by the Chinese government. Burmese are forced to vote on a referendum strengthening the powers of the ruling junta days after a major cyclone killed their loved ones and destroyed their homes. Women in the Middle East are stoned, sidelined, tortured, or jailed for being a rape victim, or even something as small as going out without a male family escort. A woman lies dead in her flat for 35 years, and no one realised or cared about her shocking absence to go check on her.

We live in a world stricken with poverty, injustice, deprivation, and ugly loneliness, and most of us sit around, hang around, demanding, complaining, envying, and striving for luxuries for ourselves. Luxuries that we deem NECESSARY. Heck, I'm the same. DVDs that I just got to have. Clothes that I have to buy because they are on 'special'. Camembert cheese because they're so yummy. Chips in case I get cravings. Desserts because it's only normal to want something sweet after a meal. A gym membership because I have to work out all those desserts. I do not even have to go into Louis Vuitton to realise I surround myself with luxuries.

I realise... I claim a passion for social justice, for advocating for the voiceless, but really, truly, how much of my life, and my resources, do I give to the less fortunate? Similarly, I claim to be a Christian. But how much of my 'Christianity' actually goes beyond appearing at a church well-dressed, sometimes shabbily dressed, every Sunday?

I'm ashamed to admit I'm probably as much a fashionable facade as the hypocrites I abhor. Hmm I wonder, what do YOU do for the things/causes you claim passion for?

Pledge Your Support for Maternal and Child Health

Make Poverty History: Pledge Your Support for Maternal and Child Health Today!

Every year, millions of women and children die in developing countries, although our medical advances could have prevented most of these deaths. In Southeast Asia and the Pacific, 16 out of 22 developing countries are off track for the child mortality Millenium Development Goal (MDG), 7 are off track for the maternal mortality MDG. These MDGs were set by the international community in the year 2000, with the aim of halving global poverty by 2015. Timewise, we are halfway there. Target wise, our progress is way too slow.

Take 30 seconds now and go to the link above and sign a pledge of support urging Australia to increase its aid towards increasing and improving health services for women and children in underdeveloped countries. The Make Poverty History campaign will deliver your pledges to the Australian Government. Every voice counts, so do sign your name to this important cause!

Thank you so much.

Bigotry and modesty

'Hilali tells Christian women to wear veils'

Outspoken (and foolishly spoken, if I may add) Muslim cleric Taj al-Din al-Hilali, the head of Australia's largest mosque, says that wearing a veil upholds modesty for women and that the Christian Bible 'mandates' that women should wear veils. Now, this man can believe whatever he wants, but when he tries to tell women what to do, and deceitfully uses the Bible to support his tyrannical claims, he has crossed my line.

I fully respect the right of Muslim women to choose to cover their heads. Whether we like it or not, it is their personal freedom to choose their creed and way of fashion. But, I contest the notion that 'the veil upholds the modesty and protects the dignity of women, whether Muslim or non-Muslim', as written by Hilali.

The Macquarie dictionary defines 'modest' as 'not showy or extravagant' and 'having or showing regard for proper behaviour, speech, dress, etc' and 'decent'. How is walking around in public with your own unadorned head on your shoulders showy or extravagant or improper or indecent? I've seen women with straightened hair, curled hair, dyed hair, but never indecent hair. Nor have I seen any female scalps, ears or neck being sexually provocative and extravagant.

Now, Hilali claims the veil is to protect women from senseless sexual predators. If a man decides to violate me because he could see my hair, is that my fault 'tempting' him? If a petty thief sees me carrying a $20 handbag and still decides to rob me, is it my fault that I was robbed, since I was carrying a 'showy' bag? If I get molested while on the bus, is it my fault for attempting to commute with my body on public transport? If a group of men heckled and whistled at me while I walked past them, is it my fault for walking near men? If I was raped while out jogging, is it my fault for exposing myself to danger outside? If I was killed because the perpetrator has a profound hatred for Asian females, is it my fault for showing my ethnicity and gender? How dumb can you be and still breathe?

Rape has so much more to do with power, violence and disrespecting the victim than sexual attraction. It takes an ignorant self-absorbed bigot to push the responsibility on women for the violence that we face. Women of all ages, creed, and styles are violated, hurt and killed everyday. The perpetrators are fully responsible for their criminal barbaric actions and none of these women deserve to be hurt.

Modesty is good, for both men and women, but it is a choice for individuals. It is my choice to dress modestly or minimal. But even if I am to walk around half-naked, yes, I will attract the attention of men and perhaps arouse them, but still, nobody has the right to assault me or disrespect me. What is wrong, is wrong.

If Hilali simply has to boss people around, may I suggest that he teach men, and himself, to treat all women with respect and dignity because women are full-fledged human beings? That men have to respect and honour a woman's right to choose, and it is wrong for them to force themselves, or their opinions on women just because they are physically stronger.

Finally, it is NOT in the Bible that women should wear veils, and Hilali has failed to show specifically where in the Bible he has derived his erroneous information. Perhaps, as the head of a mosque, he has the right to interpret the Koran for the Muslims. But he is way out of line for attempting to tell Christian women what to do. As someone who studies the Bible way more than he does, I shall emphasise that he is wrong, and his ill-researched and ridiculous writings are an insult to the Bible and women all over the world.

Speak for what?

Some of you may come across this blog and wonder if it serves any purpose and if it will make any different. I am not that naive to think that China would give Tibet independence just because there is a blog online that says it should. (But hey China, if you're reading, would you please consider?)

But, I believe in the power of everyday people to change the world and if enough people care about Tibet and its people's freedoms, then there will be positive change. So I do my part. I post updates on the issue, and try my best to research and understand the issue so that I can present it to you. I want to help people understand and perhaps, I may stir someone up to do something phenomenal. I want to prevent Tibet from being forgotten or ignored, and champion their cause for justice.

To be clear, I do not hate China or Chinese people. I simply believe that everyone has the right to freedom, equal treatment and to flourish in a safe environment. Tibetans have been robbed of the resources of their own homeland, their religious rights and their political rights to be heard and to effect change. Their human rights have been compromised by a closed authoritarian system that discriminates against ethnic minorities, and uses force to keep order. People in China are being fed false information, taught an imagined history that Tibet has ALWAYS been part of China, that Tibetans are barbarians in need of Chinese culture and control, and truthful news about Tibet are not made available. In fact, Google in China is censored.

If you think that this is too political, and it is better to be apolitical, let me say this. Being apolitical is a political stand, and the political view is this-- that people who live outside your inner circle do not matter. Unless you believe this to be true, it is time to open your eyes, see the world, and stand up for what is right.

And if you are a Christian, remember that Jesus came for the world, to seek what is lost, to free the captives and give hope to the hopeless. I am not suggesting that you drop Bibles into Tibet. I am suggesting that you live the living Word, and do your part to care about the world that Jesus died for. Be the hands and feet of God, and make justice prevail for the people He loves.

"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,

because the Lord has anointed me

to preach good news to the poor.

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim freedom for the captives

and release from darkness for the prisoners,

to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor

and the day of vengeance of our God,

to comfort all who mourn"

Isaiah 61:1-2

'Protesting Tibetan exiles arrested in Nepal'

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/03/29/tibet.nepal/index.html

'Diplomats Visit Tibet Amid Anxiety over Unrest'

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/30/world/asia/30tibet.html

Speak, you have a voice!

"Be still when you have nothing to say; when genuine passion moves you, say what you've got to say, and say it hot." -- D.H. Lawrence (1885-1930)

It is shameful to be an intelligent human being and yet allow cynicism and apathy to keep one from making a difference. I've heard many sit back and mock, but seen few stand up and speak. But I believe with all my heart that we are able to do so much more for this world we live in, for the poor and needy, for the oppressed and muted. Social injustice cannot and should not be accepted with a mere shrug because they happen to real people. They are not just words on paper.

"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Luke 6:31

Do not expect your governments to take action against horrific injustices in the world like genocides, torture and civil wars if you are not willing to do anything more than sitting in front of the tv and shake your ill-used head. Governments have to protect national interests, even if it means sitting on the fence with extreme diplomacy while the field is drenched with blood. But things can change if we speak up and demand action. If we open our eyes and ears and actually find out what is happening all over the world and be aware. Democratic governments are supposed to be representatives of the people. So if the people are united in pushing for a course of action, I believe governments will have to act.

So please, do not be ignorant of current affairs. Read up, find out, and do something! We seriously cannot afford to do nothing again. History is filled with the bloody shame of humans doing nothing in the face of great evil.

Right now, you have the chance to find out what is happening in Tibet and find out if there is something you can do. This is not a new issue. China has been illegally occupying Tibet since 1950. Tibet is a region with its own unique cultural identity, religion and ethnicity. But China has been conducting an insidious cultural genocide by moving large numbers of low-income Chinese into the region in an attempt to make the indigenous Tibetans a weak minority. The Tibetans have been denied equal rights and opportunities, had their resources exploited by the Chinese and treated as second class people in their own homeland. There has also been massacres and outrageous violations of human rights before. Moreover, because of the highly censored Chinese media, the information we get about casualties and the situation from China are deceptive.

Because of the impending Olympics, all eyes are on China. Use this chance to champion the Tibetan cause. Please. Ideas, words and people do have the power to effect change.

'Detained pro-Tibet protesters at risk of torture'