believe me good will come

Starting points (things you can do, organisations you can support, etc…):

Buy books from GoodBooksNZ.
“Every time you buy a book from Goodbooks - any book - we contribute all
profits to Oxfam to help fight its global battle against poverty and
social injustice. There is no extra cost to you. We do not mark up our
books to cover this contribution; our prices remain among the lowest you
will find; delivery worldwide is completely free, and with over two million
titles in stock our range is one of the largest you will find.” [how great is that?]

Buy your friends and family gifts from Oxfam or World Vision.

Put an item in the Food Bank bin at the supermarket each week.

Buy clothes from Op Shops, or try to find stockists of Fair Trade clothing.

Find out where you can buy Fair Trade products (in New Zealand).

Shop at Trade Aid.

Check out some NGOs such as Oxfam, World Vision, Tear Fund and Amnesty International. Read about their work and support them with your time and money (you can give as little as $5 or $10 a month – even a poor university student can manage that…).   

Give blood.

Volunteer with the New Zealand Blood Service.

Volunteering New Zealand

Volunteer Wellington

ESOL Home Tutor Services – one hour a week to help a refugee or new migrant improve their English

Refugee Migrant Service – help refugees adapt to life in NZ

Volunteer Work in Prisons

Prison Fellowship of New Zealand – volunteer, donate, give toys to prisoner’s children at Christmas

Consider working in a developing country for VSA.

Volunteer with IHC.

Volunteer with the Salvation Army.

Don’t take plastic bags from Supermarkets, shop with a reusable bag.

Reduce Your Rubbish – tips for shopping, home and at work.

Buy free-range eggs.

Seek out and support local farmers’ markets.
Wellington market

Eat less meat – eat meat-free meals (at least) one day a week.

Drive less – walk, bike, carpool or take public transport to work (at least) once a week - here, here & here.  

Replace your regular incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs. Fluorescent bulbs use 60% less energy than regular bulbs.

Wrap your water heater in an insulation blanket.

Turn off electronic devices you’re not using them – appliances like TVs left on standby still use power.

I’m breathing the dirt, but I have clean hands

Paris Hilton released from jail!

Apple iPhone release 29 June 2007!

New Harry Potter release July 2007!

Sony Bravia site about their ad.

A picture of a cat (with at least six legs) that I drew in 1988:

Here is the Catbus from the film My Neighbour Totoro (となりのトトロ), released in 1988:

I first saw My Neighbour Totoro at the 2004 New Zealand International Film Festival. The film is about two young girls who spend a summer in the Japanese countryside. In the forest near their house they discover a secret world of magical creatures. Totoro is one of my favourite films. The animation is truly beautiful:

Shine is one of my good friends from China. She used to teach at the school I taught at in Changzhou, but now works for CCTV (Chinese television). Late last year she traveled to Tajikstan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India as part of a television documentary series. She was in New Zealand last week and spent four days in Wellington.

Shine and a surprised Rochelle. We (six Wellingtonians who had all taught at Changzhou International School plus assorted friends) gathered at a Chinese restaurant last Thursday, with everyone but Rochelle knowing that Shine was in the country. Shine disguised herself as a waitress and then surprised Rochelle.

Shine and Rochelle on a bushwalk in the Rimutakas.

Shine and Don on Petone Beach.

Rochelle, Shine, Renee, Andrew and Don enjoying home-cooked Chinese food at Rochelle’s (and Renee and Andrew’s) flat.

Looking out the flat window. Not bad.

Martin and Amanda’s (23 February):

Kate and Chris’ (24 February):

You can see more photos from Kate and Chris’ wedding here, on Dave’s blog. And also here on Sarah’s blog.

…pulled back the curtains -

One of the wedding tasks assigned to me by Sarah was to take photos with Jesus:

Jesus miraculously appears…

Jesus with Bishop Tom and Vicar Paul.

Jesus drumming.

Jesus and the happy couple.

Jesus on the high altar.

Jesus with Grace and some farm animals.

Michael, the church cat, ignoring Jesus.

Jesus with my nephew Oliver - the youngest person at the wedding.

Jesus with my Nana - the oldest person at the wedding.

Jesus with Rich - the scariest person at the wedding.

There are plenty more photos, you can see some more here on Flickr.