Our Children
Wow. There are a couple things that happen in this world that are hard to understand and then there are things which I find impossible to understand. It literally makes me feel sick. Last year I watched the movie "the Invisible Children". It is a documentary that follows children who are running from the militia during the night. At nightfall millions of children leave there homes in rural areas and go and find parkades or alleys to sleep in for the night. They are scared of being kidnapped by various rebel groups. Some of the kids had been kidnapped and escaped. Before they left they saw lots of thier friends die or had been asked to go and kill thier famalies.
Apparently children make good soldiers for rebel groups because they can be manipulated and brainwashed. For the rebels children are expendable and there are more to be found and broken down.
Finally the UN is forcing action and I really hope and pray that things begin to change. Last year there were at least 19 countries actively using children as soldiers. The UN wants to place sanctions by jailing rebel leaders and/or freezing bank accounts. 30 years ago this issue was ignored. Why? Where have we been? There are so many vulnerable children. We take action against famalies who abuse children. In fact often I wish more could be done. In this case it is only now that we are taking action. Better now than never however we have neglected children for over 30 years, probably a lot longer.
What else is the world ignoring? I think with globalization perhaps we are becoming more aware. Its harder to silence what we don't want to see. Who would want to watch a child become a soldier, sex-slave, or abandoned in extreme poverty?
There are some horrible things that go in the world. There are also people who speak out, that want to do what good, advocate for those who are quiet or don't even know how life can be different. I appreciate these people. I really really appreciate the work they do.
posted by Chryslyn @ 10:59 AM
4 Comments:
My buddy Kyle and I were talking about the documentary An Inconvenient Truth, and how it seems some of these powerful documentaries are getting people thinking about things more seriously than in the past. The media is saying global warming (& related environmental issues) is the number one issue the public is identifying in polls related to potential election issues. There have been numerous interesting, well-made documentaries the past several years that have caused much discussion on this and other topics... guns, media violence and fear, politicians, fast food, Wal-Mart, corporations. I enjoy these films and believe they play an important role in generating discussion.
Globalization.... yes, indeed. The world is becoming a smaller and smaller place. The Internet also plays a role. Sites such as makepovertyhistory.ca allow people to stay connected and work together in an effort to make a difference.
And even beyond electronic means, the world has shrunk throughout the 20th and 21st century as transportation has become easier, allowing people to visit other cultures and broaden their understandings of places away from home. This was certainly my experience when I visited Honduras a few years back. For years, I had been exposed to the realities of third world countries by their portrayal in the media. I had seen the pictures in magazines, watched the World Vision shows on TV, etc. Now, perhaps that's enough for some people, but for me, the realities of extreme poverty didn't set in until I saw it for myself by traveling to Honduras and experiencing it... Seeing the "homes" of the people, interacting with them, loving them.
I'm reading a novel set in the middle ages with my Grade 8 students, and a poor woman in the novel questions a member of the upper class, why, if they come from the same parents (Adam & Eve), why is he rich and free of worries while she lives in poverty.
We live in a world of extreme inequalities and injustices. It's so difficult to understand. And it's so difficult to remember. May we continue to remind each other... whether through arm bands, email internet links, or simply documentaries...
Thanks for those sobering pictures and thoughts mate!
What prompted this post?
Wow, I hadn't checked your bog for a bit and I had missed three posts and a template change. Love it.
I just watched an Oprah last week that showcased Childern in Ghana that were being sold as slaves by their parents to work these really long days supporting fisherman. It gives you a good perspective check. The documentary did a good jib of talking about how the parents are starving, have many childern and then are ofered large sums of money for their kids. Sadly, they are often not given the money after all and their childern are treated really badly through the process.
Glad I watched it...really had no idea.
I have honestly begun to worry how growing up as a white Canadian has made me blind to racism and it's effects. What makes us turn a blind eye to the plight of these children and so many others like them? What makes us turn a blind eye to the plight of Black Canadians and the systemic racism they face in our own country? I can't answer these questions completely yet, but reflecting on them is really disquieting. Is awareness enough? Does that alone spark enough action to solve anything? If not, how can we start to do what needs doing?
Thanks for posting this, my friend. We need to know, and think, and do.
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