two cups of tea

I am a big fan of Bonhoeffer and came over this from the German theologian.

God sets out upon the humiliating path of reconciliation and thereby pronounces the world free. God wills to be guilty of our sin, and takes over the punishment and suffering sin has brought upon us. God answers for godlessness, love for hatred, the saint for the sinner. Now there is no godlessness, no hatred, no sin which God has not carried, suffered, and atoned. Now there is no reality, no world that is not reconciled and in peace with God. God did this in the beloved son Jesus Christ.

- Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Meditations on the Cross

I have been following the situation in Georgia with great sadness. A completely unnecessary war in every aspect. It is hard for a complete observer far from the center of the problem, try find a reason for it to start in the first place. The big picture is quite clear, Its the details that complicate things. That many innocent lives needed to be killed just to come to a stop a few days later is for me a mystery. Call me naive and living in a dream world, but there must be other ways to resolve this than military power?

A problem created by the west?

I would however like to put some of the blame on someone outside the whole conflict. The war started in a conflict that saw its daylight in 1992-93 in the midst of the old USSR falling apart. The international political scene has in many ways not dealt seriously enough with the fact that this big proud nation was falling apart. The warning signals have been there all the time. South Osstesia was one of these problem areas in the old Sovjet state. What the west certainly could have done was show the new Russia respect and leave them with some dignity and pride. In stead the west systematically has tried to oppose any Russian effort to regain peace in difficult areas by not offering much international help.

Who is to blame then?

At the same time Russia is to blame for wanting to use power and military force to solve these problems. And in this case to punish Georgia for going into what they claim is there own land. It is clearly not a solution. Tsjetsjnia should prove my point in many ways. Hopefully South Ossetia and Abkhazia will not turn out to be a new Tsjetsjnia. See footage from the conflict here.

A bad peace is always better than a good war.

We can’t let little countries screw around with big companies like this—companies that have made big investments around the world.

- a Chevron lobbyist, who asked not to be identified, speaking about a lawsuit brought on behalf of thousands of Indigenous Ecuadorian peasants over the dumping of billions of gallons of toxic oil wastes into their region’s rivers and streams. Chevron is pressuring the Bush administration to eliminate special trade preferences for Ecuador if its government doesn’t quash the case. (Source: Newsweek)

Referendum for independence

War has come to a new part of our world today. As in all wars, innocent lives are affected in tragic ways. This does not come as a surprise on any of the party’s involved in the conflict. Georgia has recently recalled its1000 man strong troops from Iraq to muster a stronger attack.

It is sad however that Georgia, Russia and South Ossetia can not come to a peaceful solution.

South Ossetians nearly unanimously approved a referendum on November 12 2006, opting for independence from Georgia. The referendum was hugely popular, winning between 98 and 99 percent of the ballots, flag waving and celebration marked were seen across South Ossetia, but elsewhere observers were less enthusiastic. International critics claimed that the move could worsen regional tensions, and the Tblisi government thoroughly discounted the results.

Russia wants to play a part in who South Ossetia belongs to. Russia wants it to be independant and Georgia wants it to be a part of Georgia.

Look to Abkhazia

Abkhazia a similar “country” within the borders of Georgia who have managed to live in peace with Georgia, whom they also belong to. One of the reasons for the war may be that Georgia is afraid that what is happening in South Ossetia, will also happen i Abkhazia.

We can only hope and pray peace, brotherhood and the willingness to listen to the people of Ossetia and Georgia, will win over pain and war.

As Thomas pointed out in a comment in a previous blog post of mine, aid to the third world is not working as many want, or even believe it does. He wrote;

“Aid and trade blocks have been used systematically by the west to keep foreign markets down and protect own industry. Yet it has no problems with selling its own goods in the third world, thus keeping it further down. Trade not aid is a mantra heard from Africa and the third world, not from Europe.”

I Agree 100 % with him. (but not with the fact that shutting down Norad would help solve this problem.)

Aid gone wrong

Time reports in the their next issue that Ethiopia is a clear example of this being the case;

“Over time, sustained food aid creates dependence on handouts and shifts focus away from improving agricultural practices to increase local food supplies. Ethiopia exemplifies the consequences of giving a starving man a fish instead of teaching him to catch his own. This year the U.S. will give more than $800 million to Ethiopia: $460 million for food, $350 million for HIV/AIDS treatment — and just $7 million for agricultural development. Western governments are loath to halt programs that create a market for their farm surpluses, but for countries receiving their charity, long-term food aid can become addictive. Why bother with development when shortfalls are met by aid? Ethiopian farmers can’t compete with free food, so they stop trying. Over time, there’s a loss of key skills, and a country that doesn’t have to feed itself soon becomes a country that can’t. All too often, its rulers use resources elsewhere — Ethiopia has one of Africa’s largest armies.”

what is the problem?

“Why do we get aid so wrong? Because it feels so right. “The American people,” says U.S. ambassador to Ethiopia Donald Yamamoto, “are simply not going to sit tight while they see children dying.” Nor should they: a starving man needs to be saved first, before he can be taught to fish — or farm. But as the world rallies again to Ethiopia’s aid, donors face a dilemma. “We’re not getting to the real problem,” says Yamamoto.”

Time sums up the piece like this;

“The sobering lesson: even the best efforts to eliminate hunger are expensive, slow and uncertain of success. Depressing as it may be, this may not be the last time Ethiopia needs help.”

“Fremskrittspartiet” is Norway’s biggest political parti. 32 % of all Norwegians support them according to a new poll. Siv Jensen the Current leader of Frp. is uneasy about this and so am I.

I remember a few years back when the previous leader, Carl I Hagen came to my little town Askim, and held a speech in the midst of egg and tomatoes hailing down from the unsympathetic crowd. Nobody really looked at Frp as a serious contendors back then. Today many years later the political landscape has changed dramatically.

Why is “Fremskrittspartiet” dangerous ?

I have read through frps “program” which you can find on their homepage. Many of the ideals and political goals are valid and of course good, unfortunately many are also harmful to Norway’s well being.

Let me show you one example, the fact that they want to literally get rid of Norad which is the Norwegian Agency for Development and aid in the third world. Norad writes on their homepage what their most important task is:

“Norad’s most important task is to contribute in the international cooperation to fight poverty.”

Frp writes in their party program that they want to shut this agency down. Not only do they want to shut this agency down, but they want to move from a government based aid program, and move to the private sector for providing aid. The only time they want as a nation to go in and help is when there is big earthquakes, tsunamis etc.

Why give your support ?

Sometimes I wonder how many of Frps supporters actually read what they support? And if they look at frps program as a whole?

As I wrote in a previous post it seems to me that this is how a big majority votes in Norway:

“If a candidate is right on issue A and issue B, support him without reservation,” which carried the tacit message, “These issues are so important –don’t worry what he says about issue C and issue D.”

I hope we come to our senses and wake up to the fact that there is a big specter of political parties that are much more suited for our vote than Fremskrittspartiet. There are parties who realize that this world is not about me, myself and I. That the world as a whole is not an enemy and something we should want to alienate ourselves from.

Impressive?

China has been doing an impressive job getting ready for the Olympics. That is, if you see it from an organizing and cleanness (on the outside) perspective.

I have been following the debate on all fronts on if China should be hosting it at all. Many human right activists say no, others say it is all about sports and humanity uniting.The Chinese themselves are quietly split. Today the attack against a police station in Xinjiang proved it is not all controllable.

Links to Darfur

What astonishes me is that China is so sensitive to its image being hurt by anti-government demonstrations, yet it will paint garbage on its image, by helping out with the genocide in Sudan.

The BBC has uncovered eveidence of Chinese military support for Sudanese forces in Darfur. That is certainly reckless behavior on the part of China, especially in these image building times.

Hope

My hope is that China will do an impressive Job cleaning up on the “inside too”, i hope the olympics will be a launching pad for a better Chinese tomorrow.

This is taken from Jokim Schnoebbe’s blog, he is also known as the Author Jacob Schriftman. I first met Jokim a few years back in South Africa and we traveled together for a teaching tour in the far east. We also lived together here in Sweden for a few months where we both were involved in a course with YWAM. He is a talented speaker,artist,teacher,author,father,husband and fotball player (and a few other things). I warmly recommend his work.You can read more about him on his site schriftman.net and purchase his books on Amazon as Jacob Schriftman or as Jokim Schnoebbe. I will share a few of his blog entries here from time to time, Enjoy!

British writer and literary critic C.S. Lewis was a Christian who did not overly protect his faith. His reading habits especially exemplify this. Unlike some Christians, he did not only read Christian literature but almost anything. He especially liked imaginative literature and approached it unlike many other Christians.

The narrow-minded Christian, if he reads imaginative literature at all, values it only for telling him truths about life—not truths, however, which he does not yet know, but only confirmations of his preconceived ideas. Those are the only ideas his faith-based narrow-mindedness will permit. This leads him, of course, to limit his appreciation of authors to those who confirm his own views.

Read the rest of this entry »

I saw “Shut up and sing” at the Gothenburg film festival yesterday and it was fantastic.

In 2003, the female country band, The Dixie Chicks, are at the top of their game being one of the most successful bands of all time. However with the US invasion of Iraq about to begin over frustrated worldwide objections about this needless war, one of the Chick vents off the cuff in concert about being ashamed of US President George W. Bush. This statement sparks a firestorm of organized and personal right wing attacks against the Chicks for daring to think they have the right to express a negative personal opinion about the President. This film covers the band’s effort to ride out the turmoil that would leave their careers under a cloud, but would eventually give them a opportunity to grow as great artists who bow to no one.

It surprises me to see the hate and the oppositsition the girls would get for quite an innocent bunch of words. Anyways a great documentary about 3 inspiring rich texan girls.

Life in Africa

A recent article in the Economist writes that matters might not be getting better in Africa, than claimed and hoped for. Here is one claim from the article.

“the regional figure for government effectiveness has deteriorated some 17%, as has regulatory quality and the control of corruption. Africa’s performance as regards rule of law has barely changed since 1996.”

I lived a number of years in Cape Town, South Africa. During this time I also visited many of the neighboring countries like Lesotho, Zimbabwe and Malawi to name a few.

Last year I went back to my former home, Cape town for a 6 month visit. I spent some of that stay, visiting some of the projects I formerly was a part of. The visit took me back to khayelitsha, the biggest township outside Cape Town. As always, the contrast between the luxury, a big part of Cape Town represents comes to life driving down the freeway from the Airport, and into the city center. This drive also reminded me of the contrasts between Khayelitsha, and Malawi. A contrast between two “inhuman ways to live life”.

A Norwegian in Malawi

The contrast between rich and poor, is apparent in a place like Cape Town. But the contrast is also apparent between the poor in Cape Town and the poor in Malawi. I remember stepping of the plane in Lilongwe, northern Malawi, seeing poverty, death, sickness all around. It was in stark contrast to how life should be; vibrant and alive.

The question I bear with me to this day is this, what can I actually do here? I am a rich white male, from one of the wealthiest countries in the world. I represent resources, and possibilities that certainly should inspire me to do something. Bringing Malawi with me home is certainly not an option. How could my friends in Malawi and myself share anything?

Hope?

I soon found out we had a lot in common, and there was lots to share. Hope is one such thing. Any human being, in or outside Malawi, or any other developing African nation, can contribute to change.

Several sources develop this idea well, the Boston globe is one example, they write,

“The number of democratically elected governments has risen sharply in the past decade, and the number of violent conflicts has dropped.”

Some ways that have helped me be involved in projects, or lives of specific people are the following.

Going there, visiting Malawi for instance, has been eyeopening for me. My travels have taught me what the gap looks like. It has taught me, this is not what life should look like. It has taught me that the world is a big “boarder free” landscape, given to all of us. Not to me in Norway, or Thabo in Malawi. We share humanity and should together pursue making this place a better place for us all.

Friendships and interactions with foreigners in Sweden and Norway have also been important in understanding this. It has given me contact and opportunities to interact and take part in projects and life in more than 70 nations.

I am still learning what it means to be a part of helping the world “one person at a time”, or like Obama recently said in a speach in England, “we can not solve the world problems on our own”. I don’t completely like the taste of the word “help” always, but I realize I often need the help myself. The sharing of life is not a utopia, despite people doing things we find strange, unlawful or unacceptable.

What are your thoughts, do I have any business whatsoever putting my feet in Malawi again? And how can we make Africa a better place?