The World Partnership Walk

Here we are: Natalie, Megan, Janey, Amanda and Ashley
Our walk to fight global poverty was a great success. We completed to the 7km walk in just over one hour. As a team we managed to raise over $500! Thank you to everyone to gave their support to us and to fight global poverty.

Recognizing Ones Struggles

Message from Candice - East Coast Challenger

When I went to Cuba I packed a suitcase full of old clothes and shampoo and lotions and anything in the house I had that I wasn't using. I distributed most of these things in my hotel room, leaving a note for the maid so that the hotel wouldn't think she was stealing (as she might otherwise be accused for). I also gave a few bag fulls to one of our tour drivers who has been living with his wife and three children in one room since he had his first child almost eighteen years ago. I think it's important that we as travellers educate ourselves about the living conditions of the local people. When we travel to beautiful places to reap the benefits of their geographies we should remember (especially in places like the Caribbean) that the people cleaning our rooms and serving our meals are often struggling to get by while foreign entrepeneurs are making millions off their land. Every person I gave to in Cuba thanked me personally either with notes or kisses but what I learned is that it wasn't just about the gifts - it was because my offers showed that I cared that really touched them. Sometimes just showing a person in need that you see them and you recognize their struggle is worth as much or more than what you can offer them in material goods.

Gas War... Use Your Power!

GAS WAR - an idea that WILL work!

This was originally sent by a retired Coca Cola executive. It came from one of his engineer buddies who retired from Halliburton. It's worth your consideration.

Join the resistance!!!! I hear we are going to hit close to $2.00 per litre by this summer and it might go higher!! Want gasoline prices to come down? We need to take some intelligent, united action. Phillip Hollsworth offered this good idea.

This makes MUCH MORE SENSE than the "don't buy gas on a certain day" campaign that was going around last April or May! The oil companies just laughed at that because they knew we wouldn't continue to "hurt" ourselves by refusing to buy gas. It was more of an inconvenience to us than it was a problem for them.

BUT, whoever thought of this idea, has come up with a plan that can really work. Please read on and join with us! By now you're probably thinking gasoline priced at about $1.00 is super cheap. Me too! Now that the oil companies and the OPEC nations have conditioned us to think that the cost of a gallon of gas is CHEAP at $1.00 - $1.10, we need to take aggressive action to teach them that BUYERS control the marketplace..... not sellers. With the price of gasoline going up more each day, we consumers need to take action. The only way we are going to see the price of gas come down is if we hit someone in the pocketbook by not purchasing their gas! And, we can do that WITHOUT hurting ourselves. How? Since we all rely on our cars, we can't just stop buying gas. But we CAN have an impact on gas prices if we all act together to force a price war.

Here's the idea:

For the rest of this year, DON'T purchase ANY gasoline from the two biggest companies, ESSO and SHELL. If they are not selling any gas, they will be inclined to reduce their prices. If they reduce their prices, the other companies will have to follow suit.

But to have an impact, we need to reach literally millions of Esso and Shell gas buyers. It's really simple to do! Now, don't wimp out at this point.... keep reading and I'll explain how simple it is to reach millions of people.

I am sending this note to 30 people. If each of us sends it to at least ten more (30 x 10 =300) ... and those 300 send it to at least ten more (300 x 10 =3,000)...and so on, by the time the message reaches the sixth group of people, we will have reached over THREE MILLION consumers. If those three million get excited and pass this on to ten friends each, then 30 million people will have been contacted! If it goes one level further, you guessed it..... THREE
>>>>HUNDRED MILLION >>>>PEOPLE!!!

Again, all you have to do is send this to 10 people. That's all. (If you don't understand how we can reach 300 million and all you have to do is send this to 10 people.... Well, let's face it, you just aren't a mathematician. But I am, so trust me on this one.)

How long would all that take? If each of us sends this e-mail out to ten more people within one day of receipt, all 300 MILLION people could conceivably be contacted within the next 8 days!!!

I'll bet you didn't think you and I had that much potential, did you?

Acting together we can make a difference. If this makes sense to you, please pass this message on. I suggest that we not buy from ESSO/SHELL UNTIL THEY LOWER THEIR PRICES TO THE $0.65 a litre RANGE AND KEEP THEM DOWN.

THIS CAN REALLY WORK.

24 Hour Famine

We realized soon after putting out this month's challenge guidelines that the 24 hour famine landed on the May long weekend. We weren't thinking clearly! We will, however, be doing our 24 hour famine starting this Friday from 12 noon until Saturday 12 noon. Join us then, or pick your own 24 hour window that works best for you.
Although other people around the world and in our own communities do not get to pick how or when they're going to eat, we do, however, have the luxury. Take a moment to be aware of how lucky we actually are. Let's not take for granted the endless choices we have for our health and well-being. We are privileged.
Poverty doesn't just live in third world countries, it lives in our backyards. Live aware and conscience.

Hello Alberta...

Message from Karlee - West Coast Challenger

Here in Calgary, I have found a group home for battered single mothers called the Discovery House. They also need all of the items you mentioned in your list, except they are also in desperate need of baby items. I have challenged my girlfriends and the women I nanny for to donate all they can, and we try to bring a load every month. So if anyone is in Alberta that has items they no longer need, send an email to Amanda and Megan, then she'll pass it on to me.

Karlee, Calgary

World Fair Trade Day - May 12

This years theme is to focus on protecting children's rights; “Kids Need Fair Trade.”

"According to a recent report by the International Labour Organization, 218 million children between the ages of five and seventeen are working worldwide, many in dangerous situations. While figures on child labour have recently gone down, there is still a lot of work to be done. Fair trade organizations play a pivotal role in this since they tackle the root of the problem: poverty."

World Fair Trade events will happen throughout Canada and worldwide to help raise awareness and funds to assist families to meet basic needs and health. Find out where you can visit and support Ten Thousand Villages in their efforts to help children and families in impoverished communities and countries.

Copy and paste this link to find the nearest Ten Thousand Villages retail outlet near you:
http://www.tenthousandvillages.ca/cgi-bin/category.cgi?template=fullpage-en&item=pageFestivalsAll

Maslow's Month of May

This month our focus is on poverty and the basic needs of all humans. We have 4 challenges to participate in this month, one for each weekend in May. Let's take the time to focus on our needs this month instead of our wants. Challenge yourselves once again to not participate in consumerism and in spending money frivolously.

May 5th: Needs of Love, Affection and Belongingness

"People seek to overcome feelings of loneliness and alienation. This involves both giving and receiving love, affection and the sense of belonging."

We challenge you to participate in a day of solitude. This means spending quality time with you and your loved ones. Go for a walk, leave your car at home for the day. Read a book or play a board game, not watch TV. Talk face to face, not on the phone. Write a letter to someone, no computers or text messaging. Reconnect with yourself and with others and find a way to show affection and love to those around you.

May 12th: Safety and Shelter

"Adults have little awareness of their security needs except in times of emergency or periods of disorganization in the social structure. Children often display the signs of insecurity and the need to be safe."

We challenge you to donate your old sleeping bags and blankets for those who are without this safety and shelter. If you would like to donate, please send us an email, and we will gladly donate your items on your behalf to a Homeless Shelter.

May 19th: Food

"Biological needs consist of oxygen, food, water, and a relatively constant body temperature. They are the strongest needs because if a person were deprived of all needs, the physiological ones would come first in the person's search for satisfaction."

We challenge you to "A 24 HOUR FAMINE." Beginning May 19th at 12am to May 20th at 12am, we will be participating in a famine to know what it's like to not have the basic need of food. On this day we will only be able to drink water, juice or tea.

Sunday May 27th: World Partnership Walk

"The World Partnership Walk is Canada's largest annual event dedicated to increasing awareness and raising funds to fight global poverty.
Organized by volunteers in nine cities across the country, the Walk attracts tens of thousands of Canadians united in a common effort to bring hope and renewal to some of the poorest communities in the world.
All funds raised (100%) go directly to programs in health, education and rural development, as well as strengthening community-based organizations in Asia and Africa."

*CHECK OUT OUR WEBPAGE AND JOIN US IN RAISING MONEY FOR THE WORLD PARTNERSHIP WALK OR JOIN OUR TEAM*
http://www.akfcnetcommunity.ca/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?&pid=262&srcid=276&frtid=770

For East Coast and West Coast Challengers, check for your city at this link below:
http://www.worldpartnershipwalk.com/en/cities/index.shtml