Archive - Aug 15, 2005
Before the last revolving year is through….
Submitted by Aldon Hynes on Mon, 08/15/2005 - 21:02I kiss Fiona on the head and tell her to sleep well and that I love her. I have just finished reading a ‘Tanya’ story to her. Tanya is a young ballerina. I read these stories to my older daughters when they were her age. Back then, I was making a good salary and I could afford to send them to ballet school. The money is tight and Fiona hasn’t had ballet lessons, but she still has her dreams, and I have some dreams left too.
Kim had sent me in to say good night. A daughter needed her father. That is poignant for me tonight. While Fiona was brushing her teeth we got a phone call that her aunt Mary’s father had died. He had been fighting cancer for a while, so there are the standard comments about it being sad, yet a relief. He died six hours short of Mary’s birthday. Kim’s mother died on Kim’s birthday. It seems parents have a way of doing things like that.
Peace in Banda Aceh
Submitted by Aldon Hynes on Mon, 08/15/2005 - 09:32(Originally published at Progressive Blog Alliance Headquarters)
Banda Aceh gained the attention of people around the world when a devastating Tsunami hit last December. People around the world contributed to help with relief efforts, but Banda Aceh has slowly slipped from people’s consciousness. Now, over half a year later, it returns to the news.
Banda Aceh suffered not only from the Tsunami, but from years of armed conflict. The international press is reporting that a new peace treaty has been signed in Banda Aceh. Two years ago, a peace deal was signed, which fell apart, so we shall see what happens with this peace treaty.
The devastation of the Tsunami on top of the devastation of the war has left many orphans. Bata Industries makes flip-flops in its factory in Jakarta. They were designed by orphans of the Tsunami and profits from the sale go to support the Schools for Aceh Foundation.
In North America, you can purchase these flip-flops through No Sweat!. No Sweat! is a company providing 100% union made apparel. If you click on the link, I get a commission on the sales. However, I would also encourage each of you that has a blog to set up a link to promote their products.
