Sunday, December 28, 2008
♥ poverty : the environmental aspect
there was quite an inspiring speaker at church today. a very intersting guy.
often i would look at the MDGs and as a priority i would see hunger and health as a priority.
it's also part of the motivation to be a doctor. to be able to assist in that way.
but i sorta never really realized the real importance of environmental sustainability. i mean yeah i knew it was important. but not as much as i do now.
the simple things like roads.. building wells... it doesn't just affect the infrastructure, but also can have economic and social issues etc...
he brought up a goood point.. about how many people think its really easy - to just go into a community and do things "our" way. often we lack the "understanding" part.
we often think because we live in developed countries... that our way of doing things is right - but this isnt necessarily true.
i remember thinking about this for preparing for my yoty impromptus.. i was rehearsing answers from made up questions... and one of the made up questions was about aboriginal communities. and how we could help them. i think often we fail to realize the importance of the community. we dont understand their culture. their priorities. their way of life. and often we intrude in their community and attempt to improve it - only for it to eventually fail, because we dont listen or understand them.
in order for projects to work - there needs to be a better consideration for the people around it - and all those affected. the impacts need to be assessed - and the community ensured that it will be beneficial. projects can be completed all the time - but are they effective? i think that depends muchly on the community.
so yes, my eyes were opened today. i think to a different aspect of poverty - not just the health one (which i usually focus on, aside from gender inequality hehe)
anyways. i rushed home today and quickly ate lunch (in like 10minutes) and then rocked up to work, only to find out they were closing early because the shopping center was dead. walked around - ended up buying some shorts and a dress from jayjays... and then met up with parents in woolies and followed them food shopping for a bit. then dropped by betts for mum to try on shoes. found the shoes she wanted - but no size. so got them put on hold! then we went home so mum could start cooking for guests tonight.
after changing into some clothess (and out of my work uniform).. me and dad headed off to galleria to get mums shoesss and then checked out camera prices at tandy/myer.. then ended up getting it at officeworks... funny how prices vary so much - $299 at myer, $245 at officeworks.
so i got him to get the canon ixus 80is. simple camera, really. but easy to use and a good camera for its price. i mean yeahh for 299 he could have got the ixus 90is (my camera) but i dont think he'll know how to use it - its not exactly the most user friendly camera (especially for older people who aren't techsavy).
so yes i still got lots packing to do.. but 11 more hours to goo until i fly out to sydney <3
often i would look at the MDGs and as a priority i would see hunger and health as a priority.
it's also part of the motivation to be a doctor. to be able to assist in that way.
but i sorta never really realized the real importance of environmental sustainability. i mean yeah i knew it was important. but not as much as i do now.
the simple things like roads.. building wells... it doesn't just affect the infrastructure, but also can have economic and social issues etc...
he brought up a goood point.. about how many people think its really easy - to just go into a community and do things "our" way. often we lack the "understanding" part.
we often think because we live in developed countries... that our way of doing things is right - but this isnt necessarily true.
i remember thinking about this for preparing for my yoty impromptus.. i was rehearsing answers from made up questions... and one of the made up questions was about aboriginal communities. and how we could help them. i think often we fail to realize the importance of the community. we dont understand their culture. their priorities. their way of life. and often we intrude in their community and attempt to improve it - only for it to eventually fail, because we dont listen or understand them.
in order for projects to work - there needs to be a better consideration for the people around it - and all those affected. the impacts need to be assessed - and the community ensured that it will be beneficial. projects can be completed all the time - but are they effective? i think that depends muchly on the community.
so yes, my eyes were opened today. i think to a different aspect of poverty - not just the health one (which i usually focus on, aside from gender inequality hehe)
anyways. i rushed home today and quickly ate lunch (in like 10minutes) and then rocked up to work, only to find out they were closing early because the shopping center was dead. walked around - ended up buying some shorts and a dress from jayjays... and then met up with parents in woolies and followed them food shopping for a bit. then dropped by betts for mum to try on shoes. found the shoes she wanted - but no size. so got them put on hold! then we went home so mum could start cooking for guests tonight.
after changing into some clothess (and out of my work uniform).. me and dad headed off to galleria to get mums shoesss and then checked out camera prices at tandy/myer.. then ended up getting it at officeworks... funny how prices vary so much - $299 at myer, $245 at officeworks.
so i got him to get the canon ixus 80is. simple camera, really. but easy to use and a good camera for its price. i mean yeahh for 299 he could have got the ixus 90is (my camera) but i dont think he'll know how to use it - its not exactly the most user friendly camera (especially for older people who aren't techsavy).
so yes i still got lots packing to do.. but 11 more hours to goo until i fly out to sydney <3
Labels: MDG, poverty, shopping, sunday sermon, youth service
5:37 PM
