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We live in the attention of others. We turn to it as flowers to the sun. James Salter " Light Years" Photography by Denise Blasor |
HELPING PEOPLE IN NEED
Buy, buy, buy. That is the first commandment we observe
each day.
No sooner do we wake up in the morning, that we are
bombarded by advertisements: from the radio, from the TV,
from the newspapers.
Advertising follows in our footsteps every day of our lives.
Everywhere we go, ads for every imaginable good are a
vivid and constant reminder that life on Earth is based on
consumption and the more the merrier.
But as should be well known by now, this profligate
consumption of ours is leading to environmental disaster
so instead of buying endless consumer goods, we might
do better, at least occasionally, to put our hard-earned
dollars towards more helpful uses.
Like subsidizing museums and theaters and organizations that
do good all around. You would still be making a contribution
to the economy while at the same time enriching your life or
helping people in serious need.
Here is one suggestion.
The International Rescue Committee is a formidable aid,
relief and development non-government organization that
comes to the aid of survivors of the world's worst humanitarian
crises, helping them pull through adversity and rebuild their lives.
With a presence in more than 40 countries (and 22
American cities), IRC is usually found where disaster -- either
of the natural or the man made kind, like war or persecution --
strikes. This organization helps refugees in countless
ways, providing food and shelter and hope. And it does
this through the contributions of concerned people.
Besides straight donations to the organization, you might consider
donating a specific sum to fund a specific project. If you go to
the IRC website, you will find a "catalogue" offering a whole
list of fundable choices.
For example, for $56 you can supply the tuition, books and supplies
that a young woman in Afghanistan, Congo or Ethiopia needs for one
year of schooling. Imagine: for less than the typical amount many
people splurge on a night on the town, you could help fund a girl's
education and contribute in a fundamental way to an underdeveloped
country.
An $18 gift helps pay for a mosquito net, a necessity in countries
with high levels of malaria, which kills 660,000 people each year;
$54 helps fund a temporary shelter for a family; $110 helps provide
clean water for three people for one year.
Next time you feel the urge to squander money, put your money
where it can make a difference. Help people in need.
www.rescue.org
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| Photography by Denise Blasor "There is no lie in her fire." Charles Bukowski "An almost Made Up Poem" |
☛ A SIMPLE TIP
An old, worn, discolored lamp shade can be made new again
with little effort. All it takes is some acrylic medium gloss from
your nearest art store, a paint brush, and torn bits of paper
courtesy of your favorite magazine. The New Yorker was used
in this case.
Dust off the shade before beginning, then take a piece of paper
and brush the gloss over it to affix to the shade. Continue doing
this until the whole shade is covered, making sure to use gloss
sparingly. Brush more gloss to the completed shade and
voilá, a new lamp. In the case of the illustration, the shade
was trimmed with a a vertical lineup of acrylic paint colors.
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| Photography by Ulrike Blasor One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well. Virginia Woolf "A Room of One's Own" ⓒ2014 Lorraine Blasor All Rights Reserved❉ |
