058 - Chapter 58

(Illustration: Two anonymous cartoons: ‘Man in armchair’, and ‘What can one person do?’)

I once saw a cartoon strip, which showed a series of four sketches of a man sitting in his armchair, nonchalantly turning over the pages of his newspaper. He is unfazed reading about 10,000 people dying in floods in Bangladesh on the first page; 50,000 dying of starvation in Ethopia on the second page; and 20,000 unaccounted for in an earthquake in Turkey on the third. The fourth picture however, makes the man leap out of his seat with shock! A friend of his has been killed in a traffic accident!

He only cares when the matter affects him directly. The cartoonist was making the comment that we are often immune to tragedies in life, unless it affects us personally.

This cartoon proved to be quite prophetic, for in 2004, the great Boxing Day tsunami hit Thailand, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, the Maldives, Myanmar, Seychelles, Somalia and Tanzania killing 230.000 people, many people right across the world were horrified; they sat up and took notice. It brought home to them, that tragedies take their toll on real people, that such victims were not just ‘numbers’, they were people they knew personally; in some cases their own loved ones, who were on holiday in many of these locations. 

In the aftermath of a tragedy, when you have no knowledge of a loved one’s whereabouts and communication is difficult, it is a really anxious time. My daughter Sarah and her husband had been working for Operation Raleigh on a building and renovation programme at the time in Namibia; they had almost opted for Borneo, but their medical team was full, so Sarah chose Africa instead. They could so easily have been travelling in the danger zone at the time! One of our closest friends, Jennie was in Thailand at the time, and we didn’t know where exactly she was. A couple of days later, we managed to contact her, and we discovered to our relief that she had been staying in the north, which hadn’t been affected at to some all. A few days later Bob and I went up to Newcastle airport to collect her and bring her home. It could have been a far different story. She, and members of our family, could have been just one of many, a number to some!

We read about so many disasters all over the world escalating, like birth pangs increasing in number and force! So thank goodness for those who raise our awareness about climate change and environmental issues. Food insecurity is a very real issue we will have to face in the future, alongside the extreme weather conditions we're facing such heat waves, drought, floods and increasingly powerful storms.

I’ve attached a newsletter at the end of this chapter which may help those of us who really care about our planet to do something positive to help care for it.

Bob and I visited an exhibition in London, on one of our trips there. It was by world-class photo journalist, Tom Stoddart, who was originally from Beadnell, in Northumberland. His dramatic black and white photographs at the exhibition were a stark and haunting reminder of all kinds of injustices, in trouble spots right across our world. One of the photographs he displayed was of a young African boy, all skin and bone, who was reaching out piteously to an adult male who was walking off having stolen this boy's meagre ration of food. Each of his pictures ‘painted a thousand words’! We bought Tom’ s book and he signed it for us, and then offered us another one free, when we told him about a charity event we were organising at church. Many of our folk singer friends and United Folk sang at that event.

Singers in the secular world, as well as in church, can help to raise awareness too. At the folk club we attended in Durham, a singer called John Wrightson sang a touching song, reminding listeners of the need to give generously. It was called, ‘With a little bit more.’

Films can be used to great effect too, in helping us to empathise with others. At the close of the film Schindler’s List, Oscar Schindler, a business man who had already helped save many Jewish lives, was grieving that he was still wearing expensive cufflinks, when he could have bought the freedom of one more person with them, and he had failed to do so.

There have been many appeals and protests encouraging people to empathise with the poor and the underprivileged.

Early in 2005, Joan and I took the train to London for the day, for a large protest there, to do with the ‘Make Poverty History’ campaign. It was an overwhelming and exhilarating feeling to meet up with so many others of like minds also on protest, so many of them women priests. Dawn French (Vicar of Dibley) made an appearance as did Gary Waldhorn who played David Houghton.(Hugo’s dad). They walked in solidarity, with us.

The ‘Make Poverty History’ campaign was powerful, it spoke mountains and the BBC British sitcom ‘The Vicar of Dibley’ admirably took up the cause, despite some viewers accusing that rules of 'impartiality' had been broken.

There are so many ways we can get involved with the battle for justice and peace, but we often tell ourselves, 

‘What difference can I possibly make? What can one person do?

This was the subject of another anonymous cartoon, (see the ‘Illustration section), which says exactly that, only more effectively. It really spoke to me then, it speaks to me now.

Together we can make a difference! Since the onset of social media, we are no longer need to be silent or bemoan the fact we're just a single voice; people have found a way to express their opinions as one, openly, and it is the means of influencing others to support just causes.

I took a series of assemblies based on this theme of ‘Making Poverty History’, in the Willington Team, where I was curate, and as I was leaving one local Primary school, a little boy sidled up to me in the playground as I was putting some of my resources in the boot of my car. He tapped me on the arm in order to get my attention, and he said in a very sad little voice, “I’m poor as well Sheila!”.

In remembering the poor of the world, we sometimes overlook the poor on our own doorstep.

I think of a little girl in our congregation who at the end of a family service, on the theme of ‘Poverty’, put all of her pocket money in the collection plate!

 I also think of my youngest grandson, who insisted on buying a drink and sandwich, with his pocket money, for a homeless man sitting outside in the cold.

‘ . . .and a little child will lead them’. (Isaiah 11.6)

There are many ways that love can be put into action, many ways in which we can feed God’s world. If we really want to serve God in some way but aren’t sure how, all we need do is ask Him, and some door will open. He will direct our paths, and show us how our particular gifts and strengths can be used.

I’ve already mentioned United Folk, in chapters 36/37, an ecumenical singing group, whose members took up so many different roles in service of others, when the group came to a close, but Margaret Storey is one who deserves a further mention here.

She took on the really challenging role of missionary to Bluefields, in Nicaragua, serving the needs of the poor there, gathering support here in this country, in order to secure better education and food and water for the people there. Despite plagues of ants, poverty, disease, flooding, injury to herself and the Covid epidemic, she has soldiered on and worked mini miracles out there and is thoroughly deserving of the respect of her people. Her family here miss her so much, but accepted that she had a calling to fulfil.

Margaret is a wonderful example of someone who once went through personal struggles herself, but rather than mope and pine, she set herself the task of serving others. God brought great good out of her situation and her resolve.

People like her, are to be admired.

Kath Wade on behalf of Wallsend Churches Working Together produced this excellent newsletter below, inviting us to share it, (which is what I’m doing now), so that everyone can make a difference, and be a force for change.

What can one person do?

Everything!

ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL JUSTICE NEWSLETTER. September 2023

From Kath Wade on behalf of Wallsend Churches Working Together

We are in the Season of Creation – this year’s theme is Let Justice and Peace Flow.

So how can we as individuals work towards a state of justice for our environment – please read on but never compromise your health and well-being or spend money you do not have:

Be a person of prayer.

Be informed, then you will be equipped to have conversations with friends, family and those you wish to influence. There are some suggestions for reading below.

Use your voice. We are the first generation to know we’re destroying the planet and we could be the last that can do anything about it. Together, we are powerful.

Be politically engaged. Our leaders have made many promises but are not on track to deliver. We need to hold our government to account on its promises. Contact your MP and make your voice heard.

Travel responsibly to lower your personal environmental impact: walk, cycle, use public transport or car-share. When it comes to holidays, get creative and try to find alternatives to flying.

Eat sustainably. Food production is a major driver of wildlife extinction. What we eat contributes around a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions and is responsible for almost 60 per cent of global biodiversity loss.

Reduce meat and dairy consumption – you will reduce your weekly food bills at the same time.

Reduce waste, especially food waste. Enough food is produced each year to feed around 10 billion people – current global population is just over 8 billion – yet almost 30 per cent of the global population face dangerous levels of food insecurity with 193 million people, including children, experiencing acute hunger. Additionally, a third of the food produced is lost along the supply chain with households contributing most of the waste. And food waste which goes to landfill emits methane – one of the most potent greenhouse gases.

Consume Less and use your purchasing power wisely – supporting eco-friendly products will encourage companies to source and produce their products in a sustainable way while buying less will save you money too!

Scatter wildflower seeds on part of your garden to attract and help our insect populations. At the end of the season, scythe the growth if you can and then leave the foliage on the ground for a few days to give the seeds time to embed in the soil.

Compost – an excellent way to sustainably deal with vegetable and garden waste.

Choose reusable over single use for your beverages, straws, plates, utensils etc.

Support the Wildlife Trust Plan to Restore Nature. https://action.wildlifetrusts.org/page/130179/petition/1....

Recycle properly – if you put the wrong items in the recycle bin it can result in an entire load being rejected and ending up in landfill.

Up-cycle whenever you can – you can get creative and save money at the same time.

Shop secondhand for clothes, or trade with friends to save precious resources — it takes over 700 gallons of water to grow enough cotton to make just one plain T-shirt.

Buy local whenever possible.

Use fewer chemicals by buying natural household cleaners and all-natural beauty and hygiene items.

Use less water – be mindful each time you turn on a tap or the shower, start the washing machine or dishwasher.

Conserve electricity – think about your level of home insulation, turning things off when not in use, choosing energy-efficient appliances when possible.

Resources and further reading:

https://www.un.org/en/actnow/ten-actions

https://www.wwf.org.uk/thingsyoucando

https://www.greenmountainenergy.com/.../protect-the...

https://livingplanet.panda.org/en-GB/

And for younger people:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bit.../topics/zshp34j/articles/zrsbn9q