Author Archive
Posted on July 3, 2009 - by Frank
up:link – Podcast 12 – the “smacking” referendum
This week on up:link we catch up with Steve Tollestrup, the Executive Director of TEAR Fund New Zealand, and talk about the contentious referendum about to be held that will ask the question “Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand?”
up:link - The TEAR Fund Podcast
To support the work of TEAR Fund, visit www.tearfund.org.nz or call us on 0800 800 777
Posted on June 26, 2009 - by Frank
Kicking It – Review
The following was authored by Sarah Heanaghan – Supporter Relations Co-ordinator at TEAR Fund NZ.
Homeless but not Hopeless
Susan Koch and Jeff Werner’s documentary, ‘Kicking It’ based on the Homeless World Cup, explores how a ball can change the world.
Far from the stereotypical view of homelessness, this documentary seeks to challenge our preconceived ideas. It embraces your heart and views with the lives of six diverse individuals from all corners of the globe. As the movie progresses we learn of their stories that lead them into homelessness, into soccer and to the homeless world cup.
Posted on June 25, 2009 - by Frank
Micah Declaration on Integral Mission | Micah Network Community (English)
Integral mission or holistic transformation is the proclamation and demonstration of the gospel. It is not simply that evangelism and social involvement are to be done alongside each other. Rather, in integral mission our proclamation has social consequences as we call people to love and repentance in all areas of life. And our social involvement has evangelistic consequences as we bear witness to the transforming grace of Jesus Christ. If we ignore the world we betray the word of God which sends us out to serve the world. If we ignore the word of God we have nothing to bring to the world. Justice and justification by faith, worship and political action, the spiritual and the material, personal change and structural change belong together. As in the life of Jesus, being, doing and saying are at the heart of our integral task.
We call one another back to the centrality of Jesus Christ. His life of sacrificial service is the pattern for Christian discipleship. In his life and through his death Jesus modelled identification with the poor and inclusion of the other. On the cross God shows us how seriously he takes justice, reconciling both rich and poor to himself as he meets the demands of his justice. We serve by the power of the risen Lord through the Spirit as we journey with the poor, finding our hope in the subjection of all things under Christ and the final defeat of evil. We confess that all too often we have failed to live a life worthy of this gospel.
The grace of God is the heartbeat of integral mission. As recipients of undeserved love we are to show grace, generosity and inclusiveness. Grace redefines justice as not merely honouring a contract, but helping the disadvantaged.
via Micah Declaration on Integral Mission | Micah Network Community (English).
Posted on June 24, 2009 - by Frank
In Favour of Matariki
OK, so it’s not related to humanitarian work or TEAR Fund all that much, but I reckon Matariki deserves all the support it can get here in Aotearoa/New Zealand.
The mayor of Waitekere, Bob Harvey, has come out in favour of creating a public holiday to celebrate Matariki, the time known as the traditional Maori new year. It seems that the Maori Party has been drafting a bill to put forward the same idea.
Matariki refers to the group of stars we generally know as the Pleiades star cluster. The word has two meanings – Mata Riki (Tiny Eyes) and Mata Ariki (Eyes of God). The visibility of Matariki was thought to be a determinant for the coming years crop.
Posted on June 22, 2009 - by Frank
up:link – Podcast 11 – Iran
After missing a week of the Podcast because I made last minute judgment call and then missing it last week because of a technical hitch, I am more than happy to bring you the latest Podcast… even if a little late.
On this episode I discuss Iran and the latest happenings there.
up:link - The TEAR Fund Podcast
To support the work of TEAR Fund, visit www.tearfund.org.nz or call us on 0800 800 777
Posted on June 17, 2009 - by Frank
Iran Election – A New Revolution?
The result of the recent presidential election in Iran that has seen Mahmoud Ahmadinejad returned to the presidency with official results showing a landslide victory, has sparked protests that are being widely reported in the media. The protests are being fueled by claims from Ahmadinejad’s rival, Mir-Hossein Mousavi, that the election results are corrupt and that the whole thing was “rigged” and therefore should be rendered invalid. Some commentators are touting the current Iranian protests as the beginning of a new Iranian revolution – a catalyst towards change.
Is Iran on the verge of a new revolution that could see the current regime overthrown in the same way the previous Iranian revolution did it at the end of the 70’s?
Posted on June 16, 2009 - by Frank
Al Jazeera English – Africa – The pirate kings of Puntland
They don’t wear eye-patches or peg legs and you won’t find any parrots perched on their shoulders, but they are no less pirates for that.
Twenty-first century piracy Somali style is a far cry from the swashbuckling, sea dogs of old but, in recent months, they have captured both the headlines and the public’s imagination.
Their high seas hijackings have also forced the media to focus on Somalia, arguably the globe’s most neglected tragedy.
But who are these men and what drives them to carry out such audacious attacks?
I set off to Puntland, the semi-autonomous region in Somalia’s north-eastern corner, to find out.
Puntland is one of the poorest parts of war-torn Somalia and it is home to most of Somalia’s dreaded pirates.
The pirate’s ranks have been swollen by many of the region’s youths – drawn by the potentially huge profits of one of Somalia’s most successful, if unconventional, business enterprises.
Faced with limited options and even less optimism for the country’s future, the young pirates care little about the risks they will run at sea.
via Al Jazeera English – Africa – The pirate kings of Puntland.
The rest of the article is well worth a read and provides a rare look at the life of the Somali pirates. Well done to the journalist who was able to get so close. That’s what journalism is/should be about.
Posted on June 16, 2009 - by Frank
Bangladesh – Cyclone Aila – Putting a Human Face on a Disaster
Personal Journal #2 of Nancy E. Smith, RN Humedica and Koinonia. Click here to read #1.
Nancy Smith shares more of her experiences of helping the people of Bangladesh following cyclone Aila; working alongside TEAR Fund’s partners.
Tues June 9
We depart today in early daylight to allow for the two-hour boat ride to reach an area that has been cut off by flood waters. Our view from the boat provides a different perspective…mud and stick huts line the embankment.
Posted on June 15, 2009 - by Frank
Christian Radio
A friend asked me recently what connection Christian radio can have with development and relief organizations. He was referencing my work at New Zealand’s largest Christian radio broadcaster and my role as TEAR Fund’s Education and Campaign’s manager. He could see a loose connection between Christian radio and our work at TEAR Fund, but was struggling to work out where the value really lay.
Posted on June 12, 2009 - by Frank
Sri Lanka – Images from the war zone, military victory parade and an IDP camp
The following images from Sri Lanka include a few from within the war zone during the last days of the civil war and the defeat of the Tamil Tigers (they are the images towards the end). We also have images from the war zone that we chose not to include due to their graphic nature – they are heart breaking. The war zone pictures were taken by an unnamed priest.
Also included are images from the Sri Lankan military parade that was held to celebrate the defeat of the LTTE (Tamil Tigers) and pictures taken from within one of the restricted IDP (Internally Displaced People) camps where various aid agencies are assisting. They were taken by a person who shall remain anonymous.
Posted on June 12, 2009 - by Frank
Grief and Despondency in Sri Lanka’s Camps
The following is reprinted with permission from Reuters AlertNet. Images used in this article were obtained from the author and are used with permission from the author. The views expressed in this article are the author’s alone.
Through our partner in Sri Lanka, TEAR Fund is one of the few organisations with good access to those suffering through displacement.
Written by: A writer in Sri Lanka
She stood in the door frame of a former clothing factory in northern Sri Lanka. A tiny little woman with long, slightly grey hair pulled back in a ponytail. In her hand she held a small plastic photo album. She showed it to everyone who passed. There was no way I could understand what she said in Tamil but as I looked at the photos of three children, I understood the tone. It was one of absolute grief.
Posted on June 11, 2009 - by Frank
Cyclone Aila – Images from the Field
The following are images from Bangladesh provided courtesy of Koinonia, our partner working on flood relief after Cyclone Aila, and also Dieter Schmidt. If you wish to use these images please contact us for permission first - frank (@) tearfund.org.nz
To read the diary of a humanitarian worker in the situation check out our post written by Nancy E. Smith from hurmedica.
Click on the images for the full size view.
Posted on June 11, 2009 - by Frank
Cyclone Aila in Bangladesh – Diary of a Humanitarian
TEAR Fund is meeting the needs of the suffering after Cyclone Aila struck Bangladesh last month through its partnership with the Integral Alliance and its local partner Koinonia. Medical field worker with humedica, Nancy E. Smith, tells the story of the work being done through her personal diary.
Personal Journal from Nancy E. Smith – humedica Bangladesh Team 2009
May 31, 2009 “Our God is the God of “suddenly´s…”
The southwest coastal area of Bangladesh survives the winds of Cyclone Aila, but suddenly floodwaters destroy homes, crops, and families are devastated.
Three friends and humedica colleagues are having an evening meal in an outdoor restaurant in Cologne, remembering the past missions with humedica, people and places, and then suddenly an SMS appears… there is need in Bangladesh. Looks of wonder on each face, knowing that is not a polite invitation from God, it is His clear call. Without hesitation, the three are now a humedica team.
Posted on June 10, 2009 - by Frank
TEAR Fund Helping Refugees in Pakistan
TEAR Fund has recently approved a sum of money to be sent to our partner in Pakistan to provide assistance to the many people who are now refugees after fleeing the Swat Valley area to the fighting between government forces and the Taliban.
Pakistan is a country we are monitoring closely.
Posted on June 5, 2009 - by Frank
The Full Speech from Obama to the Muslim World (Video)
The following is the full video from President Obama that he delivered to the Muslim world from Cairo, Egypt.
It is a speech that is worthy of praise and I was especially glad to hear an American President acknowledge the destruction of Iran’s fledgling democracy in the early 50’s and the use of predominantly Muslim countries as proxies for the Cold War.
Posted on June 5, 2009 - by Frank
up:link – Podcast 10 – Dr Tim Meadowcroft
This week we chat with Dr Tim Meadowcroft – Senior theology lecturer at Laidlaw College, TEAR Fund board member and recent visitor to the Palestinian territories.
up:link - The TEAR Fund Podcast
To support the work of TEAR Fund, visit www.tearfund.org.nz or call us on 0800 800 777
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