Back to the unreal world!

So I arrived back from Chile to Australia on the 12th of April. If you have been following my blog or getting my emails while I have been away you know that I love to reflect on what I see and share my experiences with the world, however this dialogue will not be about the journey that has opened my mind and heart to the world. It will be about actions in the minority world of massive excess where most people have reasonable access to the things that the majority of the world don't but don't care enough to take action to fix the emergencies our way of life inflicts on the third world.

As all the biggest companies in the world prove with their human rights records - Capitalism Kills! At best they exploit more often their actions to maintain their interests go much further whenever they think they can get away with it.

Part of the reason that I started this blog and decided to send emails to everyone I know is because I believe that it is an effective way to create change. I know this is true by the overwhelming number of people who respond with their thoughts about issues I have brought up.

Other the things I have done which fit with the way I think about the world include:
* Joining Amnesty international and a member, donor and employee (Fundraiser)
* Blogging my thoughts and experience and encourage people I meet to browse them to get to know more about me and what I care about
* Encouraging dialogue with people from all over the world to get their thoughts and engage debate about important things
* Decreasing my consumption as a consumer. (This is in response to the actions and advertising of big sellers. It has allowed me to travel the world (financial benefit), donate money to people who need it more than I need new shoes, music CD's etc. and not endorse companies that I don't agree with the practices of or wealth distribution)
* Choosing small vendors and companies in Latin America as a way to support local economy and development rather than multinational companies (for example Wal-Mart owns a number of supermarkets chains in Latin America, I strongly disagree with the fundamentals of the biggest company in the world and never support them with my patronage)
* Not driving because it’s not essential for me now.
* Reading about the issues of the world. The history behind current issues is often the key to their solutions
* Applying for Uni to study international development and political development
* Writing letters to government at home and abroad about issues that need to be addressed by government
* Making contact with more people who believe in taking action to create a better world
* Becoming vegetarian because of the inhumane treatment of animals in mass production farming, the health implications of poor quality produce that we are being fed and the environmental costs of farming including: destroying water sources; using scarce water supplies; damage to land; gas emissions both by animals and in transport.
* Supporting the causes of others which I agree with through signing petitions or taking on membership
* Companies that I avoid at all cost include Coke (www.killercoke.org - they are a militant organisation responsible for death and their product is toxic even when it's not filled with pesticides), McDonalds (mcspotlight.org)

I am a little embarrassed by this list because I know that there is so much more that I can do and that what I have done doesn't really fit with the passion that I have for a better world.

To know something is wrong is important but really if we know something is wrong and our lives and actions don't fit with what we know is right we are really being complicit in the things that we don't agree with. In democracy we wear the responsibility for the actions of our governments.

If I become complacent about the worlds problems I make an effort to look through the eyes of the victims. I read a little, watch some movies, check-out some documentaries, look at the newspaper critically with an open-heart or listen to musicians who take on the biggest issues of their times (Bob Dylan, Rage Against the Machine, SOAD, NOFX, Pink Floyd, Michael Franti or whoever else gets your blood flowing!)

If I get a feeling of being overwhelmed I look at what others are doing and the things that have been achieved in the past by people who care about creating a better world.

My journey is trying to be the change I want to see in the world - as prescribed by Ghandi.

Please tell me about any actions you take to try to make a positive influence on the world and think about those, which endorse the problems of the world (we all have these). If currently don’t take any action why not? Every action has significance.

Only when we come together can the world become a better place.

Love for people and love for the earth over corporate dictatorships, destruction and militarisation.

Try the link for a funny look at the world of politics.
http://www.thepeoplescube.com/red/viewtopic.php%3Fp%3D615%26sid%3D4387d09a19f598587033c6af3b613516&h=239&w=200&sz=11&hl=en&start=6&um=1&tbnid=2gcZ-3VQIPmVVM:&tbnh=109&tbnw=91&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcapitalism%2Bkills%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26rls%3Den-us%26sa%3DN