"When you find peace within yourself,
you become the kind of person who can live at peace with others."
Mildred Norman, The Peace Pilgrim
----------
"If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten
we belong to each other."
Mother Teresa
----------
"You must be the change you wish to see in the world."
Mahatma Gandhi
----------
"I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must always take sides.Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encouragesthe tormentor, never the tormented."
Elie Wiesel
----------
Baha'i Faith:"Blessed is he who preferreth his brother before himself."
Buddhism: "Hurt not others in that you yourself would find hurtful." --Udana-Varga 5:18
Christianity:"As you wish that men would do to you, do soto them." --Luke 6:31
Confucianism: "Do not unto others what you would not have them do unto you."--Analects 15:23
Hinduism:"Do naught unto others which would cause you pain if done to you." --Mahabharata 5:1517
Islam: "No one of you is a believer until he desires for his brother that which he desires for himself." --Sunnah
Judaism:"That which is hateful unto you, do not imposeon others."--Talmud, Shabbat 31a
Wicca:An ye harm none, do what ye will."--Wiccan Rede
-------------------
Are we all that different??
Thursday, March 31, 2005
Turn it in
I was listening to triple J's program Hack last night. There was a report on a new plagiarism prevention system that been incorporated into Universities around Australia. It is an American company called Turnitin. How it works is, a university pays for a license to use this company's program. Then the Uni can send in essays, assignments, whatever, to this company. They will check it against all the other essays, assignments, whatever, in their database and make sure it has not been copied from somewhere else. Hmm...Sounds okay, right? Wrong.
The intellectual rights of a paper belong to a student. Thus having a company KEEP a copy of the student's work and then use it to make more money is wrong...Unless of course the student agrees to it. This is where it gets hairy. Every student must sign a statement for each paper they turn in that says this is their own work and that the school can check it for plagiarism. This statement, essentially gives turnitin the rights to keep the paper and make money off of keeping it while the student gets...NOTHING. But a student can not complain about this because, they MUST sign the statement if they want their paper marked. This seems a bit wrong to me.
On the other hand, I don't really want other people copying my work, so...What is the solution?
any ideas?
The intellectual rights of a paper belong to a student. Thus having a company KEEP a copy of the student's work and then use it to make more money is wrong...Unless of course the student agrees to it. This is where it gets hairy. Every student must sign a statement for each paper they turn in that says this is their own work and that the school can check it for plagiarism. This statement, essentially gives turnitin the rights to keep the paper and make money off of keeping it while the student gets...NOTHING. But a student can not complain about this because, they MUST sign the statement if they want their paper marked. This seems a bit wrong to me.
On the other hand, I don't really want other people copying my work, so...What is the solution?
any ideas?
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
I am an activist
I am an activist. I wasn’t always this way. Maybe it was the social justice class I took a while back. Maybe it was hanging out with friends who cared about what was happening in the world. Maybe it was my own research into environmental and humanitarian issues. Or maybe it was a combination of all these things.
The point is, I’ve found myself getting into more and more trouble over my beliefs.
At Christmas, I offended my mother by refusing to wear a pair of shoes she had bought me until I found out whether or not they can come from a sweatshop. She felt I was being rude for not just accepting the gift. I think she was very hurt by it.
I also offended a woman I stayed with during the holidays. I made it clear I thought America should be pursuing peace instead of profit. She thought I was not paying attention to all of the facts and turning my back on my Christian upbringing. We were both so angry at each other by the end of our “conversation” that we were both crying.
The other day I firmly rebuked someone for throwing paper out instead of putting it in the recycle bin. I think they felt I was invading their personal space and telling them what to do. I probably was, but it was for a good cause!
Recently I was asked to name some of the most important things in my life. I named environmental and humanitarian issues as two of my real passions. I was then asked if I had given them to God. To be honest, I hadn’t. I had heard of giving God things like, relationships, time, energy, etc. But these are REALLY BIG issues. I’ve never prayed for world peace or to save the rainforest.
My friend says its all useless because the world’s coming to an end anyway. She says no matter what we try to do, its all coming to an end and therefore, our efforts are pointless. I suppose she has a point. Why clean the house yourself, when the maid service is on the way?
I gave it some thought. I thought about it long and hard. I came to a conclusion. I don’t agree.
God is supposed to be a BIG God. He’s supposed to be able to tackle even the biggest problems, right? Someone once told me,
“Don’t tell God how big the storm is, tell the storm how big your God is!”
My friend is right, “God is coming soon”. But He’s been coming soon for quite some time now. And while we wait, we shouldn’t trash the waiting room or abuse other people in that room.
I guess all this should bring me to a closing paragraph. What are my conclusions? I’m still an activist. I’m still likely to offend you by telling you off for knowingly buying products made in sweatshops. I’m still going to take my paper (and yours if you’ll let me), to the recycle bin. But now, I’m more willing to pray for peace or for God to save the environment. I know it sounds funny. I mean, even I laugh when I read it, but hey, what can it really hurt?
The point is, I’ve found myself getting into more and more trouble over my beliefs.
At Christmas, I offended my mother by refusing to wear a pair of shoes she had bought me until I found out whether or not they can come from a sweatshop. She felt I was being rude for not just accepting the gift. I think she was very hurt by it.
I also offended a woman I stayed with during the holidays. I made it clear I thought America should be pursuing peace instead of profit. She thought I was not paying attention to all of the facts and turning my back on my Christian upbringing. We were both so angry at each other by the end of our “conversation” that we were both crying.
The other day I firmly rebuked someone for throwing paper out instead of putting it in the recycle bin. I think they felt I was invading their personal space and telling them what to do. I probably was, but it was for a good cause!
Recently I was asked to name some of the most important things in my life. I named environmental and humanitarian issues as two of my real passions. I was then asked if I had given them to God. To be honest, I hadn’t. I had heard of giving God things like, relationships, time, energy, etc. But these are REALLY BIG issues. I’ve never prayed for world peace or to save the rainforest.
My friend says its all useless because the world’s coming to an end anyway. She says no matter what we try to do, its all coming to an end and therefore, our efforts are pointless. I suppose she has a point. Why clean the house yourself, when the maid service is on the way?
I gave it some thought. I thought about it long and hard. I came to a conclusion. I don’t agree.
God is supposed to be a BIG God. He’s supposed to be able to tackle even the biggest problems, right? Someone once told me,
“Don’t tell God how big the storm is, tell the storm how big your God is!”
My friend is right, “God is coming soon”. But He’s been coming soon for quite some time now. And while we wait, we shouldn’t trash the waiting room or abuse other people in that room.
I guess all this should bring me to a closing paragraph. What are my conclusions? I’m still an activist. I’m still likely to offend you by telling you off for knowingly buying products made in sweatshops. I’m still going to take my paper (and yours if you’ll let me), to the recycle bin. But now, I’m more willing to pray for peace or for God to save the environment. I know it sounds funny. I mean, even I laugh when I read it, but hey, what can it really hurt?
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
Video
Some of you may notice that i've got a video playing on this site. What do you think?
Like the song?
Hate the song?
Like the idea of a video?
Too distracting?
Let me know...i'm always interested in new ideas.
btw: if you do like the video idea, check out kristin's picks for another video clip.
Like the song?
Hate the song?
Like the idea of a video?
Too distracting?
Let me know...i'm always interested in new ideas.
btw: if you do like the video idea, check out kristin's picks for another video clip.
Wednesday, March 09, 2005
Revolutions
I'm sure you've heard of the American revolution, you've probably also heard of the French revolution and possible even the Industrial revolution. So why am I about to embark on a long rambling essay on what a revolution is? Simple, some people (including my history lecturer) doesn't seem to know. This is not to say she's stupid or anything, many leading Historians disagree on the meaning. But as Allen Steele says, "Perception is reality".This leads to the question, "what is my perception of revolution?" Well, here it is:
Revolution is a change in beliefs or thinking that causes, or attempts to cause, a new way of life to emerge, either culturally or politically. This change can take place over any number of years so long as there is not a lapse in movement of growth.
So by my definition I can count the current social and ecological awareness movement a revolution, right? I'm not sure. Because while it is a movement that is looking to change the way of life and politics for everyone around the globe, it isn't always an organised movement and it isn't always moving in one direction. Sometimes it takes an extreme approach while other times it takes a very moderate or even conservative step (usually backwards).
Hmmm...I guess I need to do some more research. I really HAVE to be able to define this better.
Revolution is a change in beliefs or thinking that causes, or attempts to cause, a new way of life to emerge, either culturally or politically. This change can take place over any number of years so long as there is not a lapse in movement of growth.
So by my definition I can count the current social and ecological awareness movement a revolution, right? I'm not sure. Because while it is a movement that is looking to change the way of life and politics for everyone around the globe, it isn't always an organised movement and it isn't always moving in one direction. Sometimes it takes an extreme approach while other times it takes a very moderate or even conservative step (usually backwards).
Hmmm...I guess I need to do some more research. I really HAVE to be able to define this better.
Monday, March 07, 2005
Not for male eyes
Okay, ladies, I've got to share this with you. As you may know, we use far more disposable products then men. The main reason being the monthly visit from "aunt flow". I've been thinking that it would not only save a lot of money in the long run, but it would save a lot of landfill space, trees, and cotton (and all that goes with that) if we had another choice. Well, it turns out that we do! Kasper is selling "Glad Raggs". These environmentally friendly feminine hygiene products allow women the comfort of underpants while going a little easier on the environment.
So I sound like a walking advertisement, don't I? Well, its cause I really would like to try this. I mean, it would increase my washing, but...What is a little bit of extra washing compared to the smaller footprint I will leave?
There is, of course, the catch. I'm a student with no money. So until I get my own job and no longer have to pay school fees, I'll be using the cheap stuff:(
So I sound like a walking advertisement, don't I? Well, its cause I really would like to try this. I mean, it would increase my washing, but...What is a little bit of extra washing compared to the smaller footprint I will leave?
There is, of course, the catch. I'm a student with no money. So until I get my own job and no longer have to pay school fees, I'll be using the cheap stuff:(
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
