our developing world(odw) upcoming tours:
2008-2009
- Ecuador August 18-Sept 1 2008
Such diversity! Mountainous Quechua,
Rainforest people, Afro Ecuadorans on the coast And a variety of experiences in Quito including the bilingual/bicultural school Yachay Wasi, the Middle of the World, a communitiy clinic, old town, and much more.
- El Salvador/Nicaragua February 15-March 1 2009
- South Africa July/August 2009
15 days in their winter Be come energized by grassroots people making a difference
Reality Ecotours details
Grassroots America, A Non Profit Newsletter
Memorial Day 2008
Letters from a Desperate Veteran part 1: A memorial service yet to be held
I received two phone calls today. The calls had very similar messages in wording, yet totally different meanings to me. The first was from a fellow veteran and activist, asking that I "try to have a peaceful Memorial Day". The second was from my brother, wishing me "a happy Memorial Day". If you've read my poem "Survivor's Guilt" you already know that I find nothing "happy" about Memorial Day. I type this letter in the hope that I may find some kind of peace today.
Memorial: something designed to preserve the memory of a person, event, etc. as a monument or a holiday.
It's becoming all too apparent to me that every year, on this day, overtake everything. Once again, I find my mind flooding with memories and my finger itching to pull the trigger and splatter those memories across the ceiling. It would seem logical to assume that if memories are merely electronic imprints made on grey matter in my skull that 12 gauge triple aut buckshot is the best way to remove memories. Maybe that's just jarhead logic. Before that day comes I want to share some memories with whomever wishes to read about them.
Most of all, I remember the pain. The pain of back-to-back deployments; The pain of false pride; The pain of a military family's last dinner together before the Marine heads to the armory to check out his rifle and wait for a white bus; The pain of "let's drink until we forget what happened".
The pain of packing up a fellow Marine's combat gear and personal belongings to send back to the states because he didn't have any legs, arms, chest or back to carry it back with him. It's a double edged sword, but lucky for him, he didn't have a head to carry back any memories with either. Even more pain when I couldn't stick a letter in with his stuff to tell his parents that their son had died for a good cause.
I remember the Marines. Not a single one of them needed a campaign medal or a combat action ribbon to wear on their uniform to prove that they had seen what they had seen and endured what they had endured. Most of them wore it on their faces. All wore it on their hearts. When looking back I remember everyone understanding everyone else's pain, because everyone felt it to the same degree, just at different times. We held eachother up and helped eachother through, and I'll always have that memory.
I remember July 15, 2005 with Camp Pendleton in my rear-view, and I was scared. i was scared because I had always thought that when I left, I'd be leaving my memories behind, but they were in the backseat when I left, following me everywhere, no matter how far I run. I guess the memory of a young Iraqi girl losing her face and arm because of American ordnance is a memory with some strong legs on it. I don't even run from them anymore, I'll just end up dying tired.
I remember dying. I see it happen over and over again in my head. It's happened so many times, I can't stop thinking about it. Like when I killed a man for the first time, and the second time and the 50th time. Like when I didn't have the balls to speak how I truly felt and declare " I refuse to take part in this depraved lunacy". I've died so many times, I've forgotten how to live.
So, today is a day for memories, specifically the memory of all those who have made a sacrifice for this country. Today I will honor and remember my morality and my dignity, along with all the heroes who have fallen. May they rest in peace.
I wish for all my brothers and sisters who have ever worn the uniform, that they may find peace this Memorial Day, and that everyone keeps their memories close to their heart.
God bless,
Cloy
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Subject: Lest We Forget: An open letter to my sisters who are brave.
March 27, 2008
I HAVE COME home from a long stay in Mexico to find ¡§C because of the presidential campaign, and especially because of the Obama/Clinton race for the Democratic nomination - a new country existing alongside the old. On any given day we, collectively, become the Goddess of the Three Directions and can look back into the past, look at ourselves just where we are, and take a glance, as well, into the future. It is a space with which I am familiar.
When I was born in 1944 my parents lived on a middle Georgia plantation that was owned by a white distant relative, Miss May Montgomery. (During my childhood it was necessary to address all white girls as "Miss" when they reached the age of twelve.) She would never admit to this relationship, of course, except to mock it. Told by my parents that several of their children would not eat chicken skin she responded that of course they would not. No Montgomerys would... (See the full article at http://www.theroot.com/id/45469)
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Video: Janine Benyus with 12 Sustainable Design Concepts Using Biomimicry
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Stan Seaberg Memorial Travel Scholarship
The scholarship for our developing world(odw) South Africa Tour July 24-August 8 covers the cost of the tour but not the airfare to get to there.
Go to Contact Us to send an email odw@magiclink.net to apply. (Name, Address, Phone, email, School, grade level and/or subject, years of teaching.)
The deadline for application is April 15.
We'll be looking for:
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How flexible you are in traveling in a “developing” country:
experience with diverse cultures, races and economic and social classes
- How you could integrate the experience in your teaching
- How you plan on using your experiences:
what your outreach circles are outside the classroom
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THANK YOU FOR HELPING YACHAY WASI SCHOOL
Your opportunity to help develop caring knowledgeable leaders for
the future.
our developing world(odw) offers you the opportunity to help! Click here for details(pdf file).
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Learning from the People Brings a New Perspective
Wars hopefully end. Military and the private armies come home. But historically, rebuilding the devastation and helping with the medical needs are rarely part of the reality with the exception of the Marshall Plan.
our developing world(odw) EcoReality Tours sometimes visit the countries the US has invaded or held proxy wars in: Central America, Southeast Asia.
When we first went to Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam we expected to experience at least some anti-American feelings. We didn't! Not at all. Part of it probably was because we were there to see what the people were doing to make life better for their communities that we had come to learn from them. And very possibly the very strong Buddhist influence played a role. Focus on today and move forward!
We learn new things every time. And now we find we can even play a unique role. We’ve brought local people together who hadn't met before and they were able to learn from each other and collaborate. As we tell our tour participants what it was like three and six and nine years ago we've given our hosts a perspective they were too close to to see.
July 11-25 $2,100 not including air, we hope to take a small group back to Cambodia and Laos with an option for 5 extra days in Vietnam as an add-on cost and days. We urge everyone to use at least one checked bag for donations to organizations. This time we’re looking for pre-school kindergarteners used flip flops for children in Kampot province who are working with CCAF(Cambodian Children’s Advocacy Foundation), and grade school and middle school used washed tied together tennis shoes that will be used as soles for prostheses for landmine and polio survivors at the Rehab Center. If you're involved with a pre-school could you ask parents to donate outgrown flip-flops?
And if you’re involved with an elementary or middle school we’d love to do a little lesson for classes to encourage them to organize a tennis shoe collection drive.
We always return energized and full of hope that we get from the people we meet. You will, too. Join us. Call us or check our website. 408-379-4431 google our developing world(odw). We come up on top as Non profit.
Click here for Landmines Lesson
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We’re looking for pre-school and kindergarteners used flip-flops washed and tied together for children in Kampot province who are involved with CCAF(Cambodian Children’s Advocacy Foundation), and grade school and middle school used, washed, tied together tennis shoes that will be used as soles for prostheses for landmine and polio survivors at the Rehab Center. If you’re involved with a pre-school could you ask parents to donate outgrown flip-flops? And if you're involved with an elementary or middle school we'd love to do a little lesson for classes to encourage them to organize a tennis shoe collection drive. Check it out on our lessons web page.
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Programs our developing world(odw) is offering:
- Ecuador: Struggles and Hope
The ongoing saga of the suit against TEXACO/CHEVRON oil pollution
Update on the election
- Learning from South Africa
- The Water Story from Stockton to Vietnam to Nicaragua
- Privatization: Nicaragua Electricity as a Model
- International Debt: Who Owes Whom?
- Poverty Reduction: Dream or Possibility?
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AN AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL PLAY MAKES HISTORY PERSONAL A Killing in Choctaw
Barby & Vic Ulmer of our developing world(odw) saw this at Santa Clara University
a month ago and purchased the DVD to share this powerful true experience. It brings you to anger, tears & laughter.
Carl Ray is local but has performed this piece around the country. In 1962 Alabama, amid the birth of the modern civil rights movement and the optimism of rulings such as Brown vs. the Board of Education, eighteen year old Carl ray was preparing to leave for his first semester at Tuskegee Institute. But a run-in with local Bill Carlisle, and the innocuous words “yes” and “no”, changed his life irrevocably. Furious the Ray had not responded to him--a white man-- with “yes, sir” and “no, sir”, Carlisle severely beat the youth, stopping just short of cutting his throat. An hour later Carlisle found Ray’s father and shot him eight times, murdering George Ray while his soon looked on. Although charged with murder, Carlisle was convicted of manslaughter, but served no time because his wife needed
him to support her.
This drama will move you from anger & tears to laughter for after being an engineer for Lockheed he chose to go into stand-up comedy. As Aldo Billingslea, the University professor who brought Ray to Santa Clara said, “It reminds us first-hand about what our history was. It knocks the dust off the history books. This is not just something that happened then, that we’re so beyond now. This is about forgiveness.”
This video is now part of our Lending Library.
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Naledi Angel Doll Project
Mpumi's Story
This photograph was taken two years ago - Mpumi has been told that she only has a few months to live because HIV/Aids has undermined her heart muscles, but despite the threat of imminent heart failure, she continues to face life with determination and courage.
Mpumi is generous of spirit and reaches out to others who are less fortunate than herself. By making beautiful jewellery, she not only raised enough money to take her two daughters with her to Natal but also invited a young orphan of 14 to accompany her - he has suffered from a great deal of abuse and neglect and her wish is to let him experience the pleasure of a traditional family Christmas. For me she is a symbol of feminine courage and beauty and I believe that her story and smile will enrich your lives.
Story by Linda Black lablack@telkomsa.net
Thanks to Lyn Collyer who gave odw Linda Balck's contact information in 2005.
We met and learned about the Naledi Angel Dolls and began the doll sponsorship program. Last year together with Lyn we gathered many sponsors.
Lyn died this fall and in her name odw with the help of Lyn's Cambrian Park Methodist Church and Bellarmine Mom's (where Lyn worked) we gathered
more sponsors and sent $1,400 to the dollmakers and to allow the spearhead of the program, Mpumi, to travel. ~ Barby Ulmer
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 Thank you for caring!
Please become a Naledi Angel Doll sponsor or sponsor an Angel doll for a friend or family member. This gives income to the HIV doll maker and the doll is then given to an HIV child in the Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto?a child who has never had a doll.
$20 sponsors one Naledi Angel doll, $35 sponsors two.
Tax deductible: our developing world(odw)
13004 Paseo Presada, Saratoga, 95070
Checks with Naledi in the memo
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A lesson on Landmines has been field tested and well-received in two middle schools, a fourth grade where kids are making a difference now by collecting tennis shoes for the VVAF sponsored rehab center in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The staff, many wearing prostheses or using wheel chairs or walkers, will use the shoes for those wearing braces and prostheses. The lesson plan can take an hour or less. It uses visuals from the rehab center, videos and simulations and is also appropriate for high school.
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We're offerring new programs:
All Things Are Connected: International Debt, Environmental Degredation, Poverty Increase, Unemployment, Education, AIDS.
- CONSUMERISM: Thinking Globally, Acting Locally.
- We can do it with or without snipets from videos from our library and display boards that can be borrowed. Handouts have stories, websites and action.
- Down the Street and Around the World, A Starter Kit for Global Awareness.
- Lessons with handouts, briefings and activities on globalization andits effect on Education, Environment, Health, Human Rights, Labor, Migration, Security, Trade. Two intensive weeks for the entire series or it can be woven throughout the course or used selectively.
From Cuba we've brought some paper beads and a carved wooden humming bird, handmade paper and a lesson plan of questions and answers about a ecologically planned community in a Biosphere. Also some material in Spanish about solar energy plus other things.
From Guatemala: a handwoven diaper and huipil (hand woven blouse) from Guatemala, PLUS all the other beautiful weavings and corn husk dolls, etc...
And more!
We audio-taped a variety of people speaking about the work that they or their groups do in trying to build a sustainable life. Voices from Cuba, Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua.
Other examples from our lending library are handcrafts that are great teaching tools. A few beautiful Southeast Asian hand weavings, baskets and hand made paper diaries and albums, Vietnamese small zylophones and much much more.
Several new videos with guides:
- Rosa Parks' Story
- Faces of Globalization
Audio cassettes and CDs by National Radio Project's Making Contact program. In depth half hour shows on one topic in three stand alone ten minute segments make them ideal for classroom use. Check www.radioproject.org for catalog.
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PHAPAHAMA CAPE TOWN EMBRACES DIVERSITY
Phaphama Initiatives (PI) Cape Town leadership reflects the diversity of the rainbow nation and also has members from Congo, Burundi and Germany. The experience covers adult education, development studies, Christian ministry, unemployment, community and youth organizing and being a refugee and prisoner. Occasional Newsletter of Phaphpma Cape Town(PDF file)
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Three Jane Addams Award books we´ve added to the library:
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Out of Bounds By Beverley Naidoo
A South African now living in England. Seven Stories of Conflict and Hope. The stories show the effect of the draconian laws of Apartheid on young people through seven succeeding decades.
For Middle and High School
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Getting Away With Murder By Chris Crowe
The true story of the Emmett Till Case.
For Middle and High School
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Harvesting Hope By Kathleen Krull
The Story of Cesar Chavez.
For upper primary or to read to lower primary |
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