noughties

it was really the eighties end of decade that first brought the concept of a decade to me and put before all a feast of what was consumed both media wise and from the dwindling of memory lane. i was 14 then. i didn't know that i'd be in for a feast of indie music, teen freedom & paranoia, parental control struggles, GCSE and A-levels, travelling and University in & out.

i guess it was nostalgic looking back and it is now. thoughts come flooding back of where i was when the twin towers fell, saying farewell to bachelordom, holding all of my children for the first time... all these won't happen again.

for me, the noughties, have been a privilege to been part of.

snow stories#2

rock n roll

so caleb came in saying he was rock n roll today.

angie asked him why. he replied i like to listen to loud music.

it was a proud moment.

snow stories#1

thursday night football is a bit of an institution. used to be 9 to 10pm of intense footy fun. followed by a beer and unwind usually in the chequers pub. now it's 9.30 kick off. but still just enough time for a post footy brew. all these things have turned into institutions that are more than just routines. they are memories. call it a tradition. i recall the time when the police held me at the pub. ironic. but it turned out i had parked my car where they had found a suspected gunman. the land lord served up some extra special brews.

this thursday. we had heard the weather warnings. heard the street stories of a "storms-a-coming". took pride in ignoring them all. even angie pleaded for me to reconsider my evening of sweat and goal scoring celebrations (i hope). i brushed her comments aside like the silky foot skills that i had been crafting in my imagination. don't mess with my traditions i thought as i walked out into the thin precipitation of snow.

football was great. a little bit cold. but enjoyed my hat trick immensely. then as i walked out. wow. where did all that snow come from.

the journey home started. i didn't know it would be of star trek 4 magnitude.

the roads were ungritted and very skiddy. going down hills with my feet slammed on the brakes yet still picking up speed. managed to slide around past a few cars. my hope was in the main bypass road (the A21) which surely must be ok. it wasn't.

managed to slither to the tonbridge turnoff and past the abandoned cars to an utter stand still. i watched the bmw's rear wheels spinning yet the car remaining still. some were innovative to place blankets in front of those rear wheels and grab the trodden blankets and move them to the front again. it was slow but managed to gain several feet advantage.

we had been stuck for an hour. i popped out to see what was happening. a jackknifed lorry. cars stranded little space to manoeuvre. everyone was talking to each other. i borrowed the guy behind me's phone to text my wife to tell her not to worry. two girls ran down to exclaim "you will never guess who's in the car over there?" (this could indeed be a long night i thought)... "it's only davina mccall!" her friend produced a camera with a shot of the tv celeb.

another hour i managed to get to the lorry. the police helped push my car up the hill. it took me 4 hours to get home for what should usually be a 20 minute journey.

you'd think i would have learnt my lessons about hills and snow and generally not being good to add a "car" into the equation. i live on a hill. i thought should i attempt this or park and walk. instinct kicked in. i managed to get up the hill. game on. got to the top and no parking. tapped the brakes and now i was a potential abandoned car statistic. still i was a stone throw from my house. two drunken guys strolled passed said something about how his mum being screwed in this weather to pick her up. i was stuck. dang.

eventually, a man turned up and offered to help. and no joy. i hopped out to thank him nonetheless. as i was midway through my speech my car started to roll past us. darting back with it. opening the door a-la-goldeneye style jumping in and attempting to slam my foot down on the brakes as hard as i could and steering towards the pavement. it was double yellows and i thought it's reasonably out the way- i'm off home.

angie was still asleep. it was nearly 3am and the text i sent through unread.

raging against the machine

i've been loving this recent campaign to oust the x-factor from the christmas no 1 slot through virally campaigning about getting rage against the machine's "killing in the name of".

i like it for 3 reasons:

1. it reminds me of a campaign i tried to lead at our college to obtain a minimum library fine and refuse to pay it upon graduating. they withhold your degree from all those that have outstanding monies owed to the college. i was angry with the system at the time. i needed an outlet. this was my campaign.

they overlooked my fine.

2. music has become more about tv than music. whilst this particular campaign, ironically, spawned from a reaction to tv and maybe, in my mind a little misguided, it still retains a feeling of being grassroots.

i remember going to friends houses just to listen to bands like to stone roses, house of love, the wonder stuff or happy mondays. one of my good friends tells how when the day sgt pepper came out he was supposed to be revising for an exam and in the end he was so blown away by the music he stopped, with his friends, just to listen to it all weekend.

3. it's fun.

climate change march 05.12.09

"it's not living... just surviving"

Kosova is not recognised as a sovereign land by Serbia.

Nearly 1 million people were displaced through the conlict in 1999.

They can not return to the life they had. Many are still scattered. The life they had will not be there even if they were to go back. The social landscape has changed.

Some are in designated places for such displaced people. Those in Serbia are not refugees as their "country" is not recognised

Nikoleta is staying in "non" refugee camp, in Serbia. She invited 2 of my colleagues into her small 3 x 3m house. She offered them drinks. She uttered these words: "it's not living... just surviving".

My colleagues left after their drink.

joshua's 2nd birthday

some shots from joshie's b'day :)

"people won't do anything because they are stupid"

at university i recall very clearly somebody saying these words to me. so much so that i never forgot. i find myself meditating on his words this past weekend. we were talking about changing the planet and other global issues.

one of my housemates, at the time, even eloborated, people have all this freedom and hardly anyone will use it. most people don't want to use it and are scared of it, very few will and even those with the ability to- will waiver. he cited some fairly intellectual works to back his argument up too.

whilst i was impressed with the intellect and the argument i refused to buy into this mentality. i refused then and i refuse it now. more than this i didn't beleive it. or perhaps i should re-phrase i didn't believe in it.

however, over the years i have been wondering why the changes that i dreamt of weren't happening. firstly, i found myself blaming the powers that be, the government, our political leaders. then it was corruption, war, terrorism, propaganda and then it was the world of consumers that became the blame for me... now... i find it hard to find a global, or macro reason... the problem or blame is legion. one thing that has changed in my thoughts: i don't believe that i'm here to change the world at large as i may have done back then, but rather i am here to change my world and my participation in it.

"man is born free, yet everywhere he is in chains"- Rousseau

blessed are the peacemakers

Today's the day where people lay down there arms. an opportunity for many peace-building efforts. today is peace day.

famous refugees

being a second generation refugee, i have been reading about refugees that made a difference. Some fascinating biographies at: http://www.unhcr.org/pages/49c3646c74.html

hand holding

Reuben Solanky b 09.06.09

Harnessing the power of Business for Development Impact

I'm sitting at my computer waiting for a live feed to start about Business access to markets. You bored?

Not me. I've been attending this very exciting series called Harnessing the Power of Business for Development Impact". It has been addressing the hard questions of the role of business in development.

Increasingly, the work that I am involved in revolves around those that are seeking to help. All too frequently I hear the words: "is there anyone that can help?" or "does anyone out there need this kind of help?"

Just this past week alone, I've spoke with some very large brands about similar questions just rephrased as "Market Access" or "Partnering Options".

Collaboration is often a difficult concept where the language is competition. This series has really allowed businesses to be honest and not just churn out success stories but genuinely add to the debate.

surviving the slums again

last month i was in hong kong.

last month i took part in slum survivor again. 24 hours. simple conditions. forced relocation. family separation. rebels. land mines. refugees camps. border crossings. family reunion. dodgy trinket salesman. building your shacks. standing up to soldiers. finding business opportunities and so on.

it only lasted 24 hours. it was hard going but there's something extraordinary about it.

good friday walk

happy birthday son

i've been wiping away the tears.

i'm not really a crying man, but this story since the first time i was told it has always brought a welling to my eyes.

it's oscar wilde's the happy prince. i first had it read to me by mr robinson, my primary school head teacher in a school assembly. i remember the strong feelings of this swallow that stuck with the prince to the bitter end.

in fact wilde has a tendency to bring some level of tears to me. a month ago i was reading caleb "the selfish giant" and that too is an awesome story.

it is caleb's 3rd birthday today and we've had a party and some games. it has been great fun and i'm grateful for these quieter times with him. over the past 3 years i've come to enjoy the bedtime story with him. we've made up stories and read some great ones... as i reflect back on his, and our, past three years i'm grateful for these stories that have inspired us... and for the gift of children... especially my firstborn, caleb.

happy birthday tiger :)

Davos: a day of rest

sledging. sledging. sledging.... oh yeah :)

Davos: the media says

For a cool article read this

Davos: day 5: A refugee story:

Fleeing from Mozambique to South Africa. Then to Portugal. Then to Switzerland. Eventually in Davos.

Years later the children come. They grow up. They go to school.

This grown up “child” walks in to the simulation we’re running here.

He says at the end: “my mother was a refugee. I never knew what it was like to run away until now.”

An official said that there are 3 mediums to educate. The first is presentation. The second storytelling. Lastly, experience.

Davos: Day 4

There’s a debate going on about the Refugee Run. Some are appalled at the idea of such an event for the world’s elite to be tourists into such a removed world. Others have applauded its audacity to bring a far removed world to the elite.

The jury is out.

I guess in some way I feel like I need to be an apologist for it as I’m so involved. But I’m actually glad that there is debate.

There’s some good points that are argued on each side.

I have been to two refugee camps in my life. Tasovcici in Bosnia, 2002, and recently, last year, to Al Bass in Lebanon. Both times I was struck by the number of people and communities within, this dense population confined to a small area. The families in small homes. Designed to be temporary, but well past their expiry date surviving due to reinforcement.

Also very strikingly was the sense of the “everyday”. People trying to get from ‘a’ to ‘b’. To and from school. Getting their car fixed. Popping to the corner store. There was simply everyday things going on.

I guess what I’m getting at is I had expectations. I expected to feel sorry for these people and I expected to see need head on. I wanted an “experience”. However, it really wasn’t like this. It was rather a case where I just saw people. I spoke with them. I shook their hands, played with their children, kicked a ball around, spoke to them about life inside. Everyone had an opinion. Everyone also had a solution too. We spoke just like I would with my friends down the pub. It was nice to share our time, our space it was just nice to kick back talking about football or some benign topic.

Life as a refugee is different. Life as a CEO is different. Life as a celebrity is different. Surely anyone’s life is different. The criticism that was levied at the simulation was that it dehumanises.

Perhaps it does. Then perhaps it does something else: allow people to see something that they are not familiar with, a chance to simple share their time and space with others.

Like I said the jury is out.

Davos: Day 3

It’s 5.34 as I type this.

I have 26 minutes before I have breakfast and our morning meeting. Then we’re off on a 20 minute car ride through the most beautiful hills to Davos for day 2.

Yesterday I learnt a number of things: the term “climate refugees”, they bomb the potential avalanche areas around here, teenager can be among the most passionate activists around, but the most interesting story I heard, via a UNCHR guy, after they went through the Refugee Run was of two people (one presumably an aid worker and his brother, brought along for the ride, a photographer) who were visiting and photographing an area of former warfare for inspection and observation. As they ventured into this territory they encountered a slight tuft in the dirt. After a little further inspection it turned out to be a mine. They looked up and they had drifted into a mine field. Looking for the border that was relatively nearby they saw the edge and decided they had to head towards it. It was very delicate process. Touch and go all the way. Painstakingly looking, touching, feeling before each step and closely followed with a sigh of relief. Then it started all over. The whole process took 3 days. For a distance that would have taken, presumably, minutes. The incident was so intense that the photographer upon returning to his home country lost all his hair.

And it wasn’t me.

Davos: day 2

My day started at 4.30. I only hit the pillow at midnight this morning. Today it starts.

I haven’t even had breakfast.

Yesterday was relentless. In some ways I feel like the fortunate one that wasn’t around for the grueling construction phase.

But man, does this basement bunker, or the Refugee Run, look good.

Davos: Day 1

All day was spent on the “fine” or “finishing” touches for the Refugee Run.

I was mostly a spare part as my role doesn’t really kick in until tomorrow.

Still there’s a buzz about this place. Maybe it’s just the adrenaline before a performance.

I hear the names banded around and I’m just a lil star struck.

Nearly there.

caleb's favourite joke

caleb has taken a rather fondness to a joke... he tells it to me at every available moment.

it amuses me every time too.

two sausages in a frying pan. one says to the other "gosh, it's a bit hot in here"

the other exclaims, "OH MY GOODNESS A TALKING SAUSAGE!"

he he

greatness is never a given. it must be earned...

my mother said to me: 2 things you must never do. the first, never speak of your wages and second don't speak about politics.

i never was one to listen much.

i can not help but be inspired and touched by the rhetoric of hope that president obama spoke about at his inauguration. it was defining, powerful and meaningful.

i can not help but feel a huge sense of relief that there's a change around the corner.

i can not help but sigh with relief that a change has come and breath with hope that we can start to pick up and start again.

angie, however, brought me back down by saying: "remember, ben... he's just a man. don't pin your hopes on him".

she was right. i remember how, being a child of the 80s, i loathed the government and its campaign of "me" that was pushed and the values of community that were lost. i loathed its dismantling of this country. i loathed the type of people that we were breeding and becoming.

i had great hope when tony blair came in.... i recall sitting with my philosophy lecturers in the hyde park pub drinking and celebrating the "change". one said: "you don't know what this day means to me... it is a triumph" as he downed his peculiar pint of obscure beer.

i also recall the sheer feeling of betrayal when our government chose to go into iraq and cheapen its decision through its attempts at justifying it.

i know president obama isn't the man that i pin my hopes on. he is just a man.

so i wonder am i happy for the change of person in charge or am i happy for the hope that there will be a change in the hearts and minds of the people. it's the latter that excites me.

the jury is out and so it should be. the wheels are turning, the expectation is growing and the burden of hope sits with president obama right now.

still.... what a speech

davos#2: the refugee run

As mentioned in a previous post that we are joining with a team that is running a refugee simulation experience at Davos next week.

Here are a few more details re the event:

http://www.grforum.org/pages_new.php/Refugee-Run-Simulation/611/1/388/

http://www.crossroads.org.hk/our-news/crossroads2019-refugee-run-being-offered-to-world

"that is sick"

... were my thoughts when caleb re-produced his meal all over me this evening for the second time.

gms video

here's a video that some volunteers made about the give me shelter campaign back in 2007...

gh explained

version 1.0 was about goods (see the video beneath)



version 2.0 (the current iteration) is about resources (goods, human resources (or services/competency), freight and funding)

version 3.0 (coming very soon) will be about partnerships

the vision & heart remain the same
.

Davos

all i know about davos is: world economic forum's annual gathering, bono, the UN, angelina jolie, bill gates, skiing and bono.

in 11 days time i'm heading over there. my purpose: to help/encourage and guide participants and parties of a refugee experience, that we're collaborating in, seek solutions/partnering opportunities for development needs across the humanitarian landscape.

looking forward to learning more about bono :)