Reflections on Poverty

After watching The Line and playing Spent (the interactive game), there is so much information on which we could reflect.  I am going to make an attempt at pulling out some of the statistics and situations that arose in these two blogs.  Did these help you to rethink some of your stereotypes?  John definitely stood out to me, as his falling below the line is the example most within my reality.

The first idea that comes to mind is the idea of choice.  I think both The Line and the game illustrate how poverty takes away our choices.  For example, I would never think I would be the person who hits a parked car and drives away but when doing the activity and that happened, with $125 in my bank account, did I really have a choice?  When we are financially secure, with a strong support system, a good education, good job, no fear of discrimination, we really do have far more choices open to us.  Something, I know I often take for granted.  I think it also allows us to at times be more critical of those struggling in poverty, because we don't realize that what seems like a choice to us, is not really a choice.

"Poor people are just lazy."  We have all heard this, maybe some of us have said it.  The statistic in The Line, "7 million Americans are working two jobs just to make ends meet" debunks that statement fairly quickly.  That kind of schedule is definitely not one of a person who is averse or disinclined to work.  Additionally, let's look at low-wage jobs.  Restaurant work - this is hard on the body and in many states, a large part of income is dependent on tips(so workers have to be upbeat, personable, and great at customer service).  Human services jobs, such as childcare or senior care, are also often staffed by low-wage workers, again we are talking hours on your feet in an exhausting work environment.  Public transportation employees (have you ever paid attention to how these folks are treated). Waste Management, Construction, Store Clerks, Landscape folks, Gas Station Attendants, I could go on and on naming positions.  This makes my desk job seem so relaxing, yes, those have their own challenges, but they are not nearly as physically demanding.  Try one of these jobs for a day and see how you are feeling by the end. There is a great mini-documentary by Morgan Spurlock (the first episode of his show 30 days),  on being a low-wage worker/living on minimum wage.  If you can track down a copy of it, I highly recommend this show- unfortunately, it is no longer on Netflix.  Low-wage workers are often folks that are invisible in our society.  For the next week, we should all try to be conscientious of when we are interacting with these low-wage workers and appreciate the work they put in, not only to support their families but to keep our society functioning.

This one really hit me.  As I sat, doing the interactive activity on the internet.... 44% of people living under the poverty line visit the local library to go online.  Definitely take that one for granted.  To find support resources, find jobs, fill out job applications, find bus schedules, find doctors, think how much of that is online. Many entry level service jobs say, "Just fill-out our application online." When was the last time you saw a phone book?  Taking this a step further, how many teachers, even in elementary and middle school require students to write papers, do projects, or conduct research online.  Those of us with internet in our homes assume that everyone has a home computer with internet, that is an additional barrier that really has only existed for the last 10-15 years.  Just a bit of food for thought!  Please feel free to use the comments section to discuss or take note of concepts that struck you!

Living in Poverty

As the quote goes: "Until you walk a mile in another man's moccasins, you can't imagine the smell."

Many of us may have never lived in economic poverty and some of the decisions that must be made on a daily basis are things which we have never considered.  To attempt to experience what that is like, I encourage you to try playing this game. 

At the end of the game, the organization that created it asks for a donation.  I know nothing about this organization and am not endorsing them, but I have great respect for this activity.  As in life, this is just one example, as we know from the video yesterday, those struggling with economic poverty each face different and unique challenges, but this illustrates some of the recurring trends.

The Face of Poverty in the USA

In the United States, there are certain stereotypes about who lives in economic poverty.  I would like to think that myths about the economically poor being lazy or of a certain race, ethnicity, or religious belief are being debunked.  One of the best examples I have seen, that gives a good perspective of the diversity of those living in economic poverty in the US is this movie called The Line.

I think this a great way for us all to begin our week of reflection on poverty in the United States, and I hope this is as eye-opening for you as it was for me.

Black Friday Basics

Black Friday.  The biggest shopping day of the year.  Why sit back and take the weekend to enjoy your family and friends and think about all you have to be thankful for this year?  Especially, when there are such great deals, on such important items, starting as early as 8pm on Thanksgiving Day...  Insert cynical, sarcastic voice. ;)

I think this song is worth a listen (music video is a bit strange, so maybe look at a picture of a loved one while you listen). 

We put so much pressure on ourselves and others to always have more, better, faster, etc.  Why not 'pay with love' to show your appreciation for those in your life this holiday seaseon? 

I have shared this on my blog before, but, this holiday season, whether you are Christian or not (or somewhere in between), let's take back this season. Advent Conspiracy is a great movement to re-focus our pre-holiday activities.

And, if alternative gifts of time are not going to work for you, but you are looking for holiday gifts that do more good than harm, try some of these places out:
(If you hit CTRL+F, you can search for a specific item ie. food, coffee, chocolate, clothes, toys) 

*Ten Thousand Villages
Sells:
Accessories, Jewelry, Holiday items, Home Decor, Personal Care, Toys, Games, Plant and Garden, Stationery
-All items are fair trade and sourced from their producers.  They also do shopping days to support local non-profit organizations, where part of the total income is donated to a worthy cause, so they are great local supporters.

*Global Mama's
Sells:
Men/Women/Kid Clothing, Pet items, Accessories, Skin Care items, Books, Recycled items
- I was able to visit Global Mama's while in Ghana and meet some of these women, definitely a worthy cause to support.  All products are Fair Trade.

SERVV
Sells: Jewelry, Accessories, Kitchen, Home Decor, Food, Holiday, Eco-Friendly items
- This was a recommendation from a friend last time I did this type of blog post.

Friends of the Orphans
Christmas cards (or symbolic gifts)
- Another great organization.  This link is specifically for the holiday cards, but you can also make donations as a symbolic gift for your loved one.

Trade as One
Clothing, Food, Drink, Jewelry, Stationary, Journals, Bags, House and home goods, Sports, Toys, Health and Beauty
-This group has many practical everyday items that are made in a just manner. I especially took note of the soccer balls which are notoriously made in abusive work environments because the sewing of stitches is best done by small child hands.

*Fair Indigo
Sells:
Men/Women/Kid Clothing, Accessories, Jewelry, Stuffed animals, Holiday items, Home items, Bath and Body, Made in USA
- I have shoes and a sweater from this place and they are amazing. All their clothing is of very high quality.



Threads for Thought
Sells:
Clothing
- Sustainable clothing

*Maggie's
Sells:
Clothing
- Organic, ethical, sustainable clothing

Indigenous
Sells: Clothing
- Organic, Green, Eco-Friendly, Fair Trade Clothing

Better World Books
Sells:
Books
-Part of the profits here go world literacy efforts

*El Castillo del Cacao
Sells:
CHOCOLATE
- This place is in Nicaragua. The chocolate is good and the factory supports sustainable development (I was supposed to visit it while there but it fell through, still should support)

*Cafe Campesino
Sells:
COFFEE, Tea, Mate
-These folks sell Nicaraguan Coffee from some of the places I went to :)

*Esperanza en Accion (Hope in Action)
Sells:
Artisan Crafts and home goods
-I visited this place in Nicaragua. They are doing a lot to empower individuals to provide for themselves and creating jobs in a country that has EXTREME unemployment.

*Koinonia Store
Sells:
Pecans, Chocolate, Coffee, Other Food items, Crafts, Books
- This is a communal living farm that I stayed at for a few days a couple of years ago. The founder of Habitat for Humanity lived there. They are in GA and all about working for peace and justice. The chocolate pecan stuff is AMAZING :)

*TASSATAG
Sells:
Luggage Tags
-This organization works to stop human trafficking. I did research with a partner organization my sophomore year of college.

Amnesty International
Sells:
Clothing, Accessories, Books, Toys, Games, Calendars, Planners, Movies, Music
-Profit benefits Amnesty Internationals human rights campaigns


Alternative/Symbolic Gifts:

*Mercy Corps
Feed a child,buy a goat, launch a female entrepreneur - any of these symbolic gifts will support the life changing work of Mercy Corps.

*Donors Choose
Support great teachers' efforts to make big impacts on their students lives.  You can choose the age group, the kind of program, and then donate for a bookshelf for a reading program or art supplies - just to name a few examples.

**Engage Globally
Donate to support clean water, education, or vocational training for communities in Ghana, West Africa.


*Oxfam
You can help individuals in developing countries finance a business or get medical care or whatever your gift receiver is interested in, you can find a gift that will be meaningful to them. Buy a chocolate lover "helping someone else start a chocolate growing business" or the sports lover "sports equipment for kids in a developing country."

Heifer International
You can buy animals for individuals living in third world countries to help them feed their families or communities as well as establish subsistence farming methods.


These are just a small number of socially conscious shopping options.  Please feel free to share others in the comment section or ask if there is something specific you are looking to purchase.

*I have personally had experiences with these
** This is the NGO I helped launch this past summer. 

An Advent of Awareness

In Christianity, the period leading up to Christmas is Advent.  It is meant to be a time to prepare for the coming of Christ at Christmas.  Growing up, Advent was a time to give up sweets or chocolate or being mean to my siblings - basically something to make me a better, more holy person.  Recently, I have tried each Advent to bring greater awareness or understanding to my life during that time, this is also a way to help me focus on 'the reason for the season.'  About a month ago, while thinking about what this advent would hold, I found myself listening to and reflecting on this song.  It is worth watching the music video as well (Thanks Lacey for introducing me to this song).

This made me think of various vulnerable populations in our world and the challenges they face.  Christmas is Jesus's birthday.  He came into this world born to an economically poor, immigrant family.  His very birth would have brought great scorn to his mother and her family, since she was unmarried when she got pregnant.  He continued to live his entire life with the outcasts of society and those that were vulnerable to ridicule - among other things.

In light of all of these reflections, I decided this Advent, I will focus on a different vulnerable population or social justice issue each week - some of these have been getting significant news coverage recently.  From my perspective, the first step in addressing some of these HUGE challenges is to be aware of them.  As a relational person, this is my invitation to you, to join me on this Advent Adventure.  I plan to make blogging my daily priority and will post from Nov. 24 - Dec. 22.  The four issues I will be addressing will be: Domestic Poverty, Global Water, Global Women's Education, and Domestic Immigration.  I hope to provide video links, interactive activities, personal experiences/reflections, statistics, and solutions/ways to get involved.  Each Saturday, I will send the link/introduction to the new topic.  If you would like daily reminders when the new blog is up, you need to let me know/opt in to that notification.  And, if you know others that would like to join our Advent Adventure, send me their emails and I will add them to the mailing list.

Here's to an Advent of Awareness!  The coming of greater knowledge.

One foot, two foot, Red foot, blue/grey/purple foot...

As many of you know, I love to update you on my many trips. This last one landed me with a broken foot. :) I was running, caught the inside of my foot on the curb, while turning badabing, badaboom. Broken foot. Not my favorite trip this year.

It has caused me to have a number of interesting ponderings. Since, honestly, I haven't been able to do a whole lot else while sitting on my couch, my parent's couch, and a number of other places. I am trying to do my best to remain optimistic in spite of losing not only my way of maintaining mental sanity (running) but my way of getting around (biking/bus/metro). I have ventured out on the bus, needless to say, nearly a mile on crutches is a bit of a work-out (for all you looking for a good upper-body work-out, highly recommend this one). I hate shoes anyway, and now I only have to wear one, so that is good.

I have been faced with a few serious struggles though. For example, I have the boot on my foot and don't really use a sock with that, do I still fold my socks in pairs? Or should my socks each embrace their singlehood? Why does our society demand they go in pairs? And, when packing to fly home, I only had on my packing list, 1) Tennis Shoe, 2) Teva, 3) Dress shoe. If my bag had been searched, they would have thought I had a peg leg. I contemplated throwing a few eye patches, a treasure map, and tattered clothes in the bag for kicks and giggles.

I have decided, this is clearly the way to take mass transportation. When boarding the bus, the driver yells, "I need a seat." And the closest able bodied person has to move. At the airport, I went from check-in to gate in less than ten minutes, my wheel chair driver put all my stuff on the scanner, jumped the entire line, and I didn't have to go through the full body scanner thing.

And, I get the joy of people accidently saying things like "Enjoy your break!" and "Have a nice trip." Then, watching them fumble while they try to recover from mis-speaking. All the while I laugh.

Just thought you all might need some humor as your summer comes to an end! Enjoy all the feet you have!

Cheers!

Unless you love gore, these pictures could traumatize you (most of these were already on facebook)...

'Products' of Ghana

Another love of mine, in foreign countries, is seeing how various products local to the country are produced and the process involved.  With many pictures, I present to you, the products of Ghana :)  If you are interested in any one product, I have tried to include lots of links.  And, yes, I acknowledge this is a LONG post.  So, make a cup of coffee and enjoy :)

Termite Mounds.  One of the most impressive products of Ghana.  Some of these were HUGE!

There are two kinds of cloth that are traditional in Ghana.  Kente Cloth, the making of which you will see below, is typical of the Ashanti region.  They are the tribe in the center of the country that was the richest in Ghana.  They gained their wealth from cocoa, gold, selling of slaves, and the having some of the most fertile land in Ghana. Their cloth is woven, the first part of the process is making spools of yarn/thread using the device below.
 

One of our guides makes a spool of thread

Our guide explains how they use the rebar to make a huge skein of yarn that is then used to weave.

Our guide again making his large skeins...

It is then set up on the loom (no idea how they pull that off) and stretches around 10 ft. from the loom.  It is tied to a rock and pulls toward them as they go.

This is the example one the Obruni got to practice on.  We were doing one of the most simple weaves.

To switch the threads back and forth, you use these pedals that fit between your toes.  That would be my kind of job, no shoes allowed!

And the final product, historically was made into clothe to be warn by the chiefs.  Each weave and color has a different meaning or was to be warn at a certain time.  These are my students (Rugi, So, Shannon, and Diego from Senegal, Japan, Colorado, and Mexico respectively)

For those of you who know me well, you will know, this is my personal favorite product in all of Ghana.

 

Yes, those are cocoa pods.  AKA what they use to make chocolate.  AKA my drug of choice.  My biggest fear in Ghana was the fact, I thought, I would not be able to have any chocolate.  Most of theirs is exported and many of the Ghanians I spoke with were not fans of chocolate.  To my great relief, and I think the benefit of all humanity, I was able to bring Cliff and Luna bars that were chocolate with me and have successfully not gone for a single day without chocolate since October (maybe longer but that was when I started tracking my consumption).

Our guides showed us the chief's orchard and even picked a pod so we could see the beans inside.  He broke it open by knocking it against the tree.

This is what the insides of a pod look like.  The gooey white stuff was sweet-ish and you sucked this off the seeds.

This is what a seed looks like.

If you bite into it (we were told not too because it is very bitter) you see the beautiful brown of cocoa.  YUM! :)

In Ghana, there was very little food diversity relative to the United States (this makes sense since the entire country is the size of Oregon and relatively homogenous in climate).  These were one of my favorites...

Plantain Chips!  They are like corn chips, only better.  They are thinly sliced, fried in palm oil, and salted.  You could buy these on most central and southern Ghana streets from women selling them out of big bowls balanced on their heads.

And this is how the palm oil is made.  Though, some countries are selling this for biofuel, Ghana has laws prohibiting the sale of palm oil except for consumption.  This is one of their 'environmental' protection laws in a way, though it also protects the food prices.  If it could be sold for biofuel, the price, based on demand would potentially rise a level outside what the common folks can afford.  They also may destroy all the 'natural' forests to plant palm trees as a cash crop of sorts.

These are the seeds of the palm tree used to make palm oil

Our guide explaining the machine.  Basically, once they boil and soften the seeds, they are dumped in the big funnel to grind.

The pulp drops in one of these containers and then the oil is pressed out of it.

Then the women empty the strainer barrels of the pulp, and the process starts anew.  A non-profit provided all this machinery for the people to increase their production.  However, they did not train the people on how to repair the machines.  One has broken down, slowing production significantly, so until they can afford to fix it, they are stuck.

Batik is the other kind of cloth we saw, and got to try making.  The basic process is take a piece of muslin cloth.  Use the foam stamps (that are hand made) to stamp onto the cloth.  You dip them in hot melted wax.  This protects the area you stamp from the dye and keeps it white (like making Ukrainian Eggs).  After you stamp on your pattern and the wax has cooled, you dye the fabric.  For the more advanced, multi-color patterns, you repeat this process - lightest color to darkest.  We got to try this at Global Mama's an AWESOME co-op, you can buy their stuff in the US.

First you stamp...

Getting in touch with my crafty side!

These were already died multiple times by the experts.  They were adding more colors.

Some of their example fabrics.  Mine would not have made the cut ;)

After the products are complete, they are inspected for flaws.  Yes, those are tiny baby shoes.


One of the slum communities, right outside Accra has recently started this recycling program through which they create marketable goods.  This provides the youth with jobs, vocational training, and an income for more in the community.  The other benefit is that the community is cleaned up a bit.  There is no trash/recycling program that exists throughout Ghana so trash, such as water sachets are simply discarded on the ground.  As people leave the rural areas for the cities, in hopes of finding jobs and income to support their families, overcrowding in these slums is a challenge.  Thus, you can imagine how the trash would pile up. 

This is a water sachet.  As the water is not safe to drink from the tap (if you even have running water).  Many people buy their drinking water in these 'disposable' plastic bags.  You simply cut or tear a hole in the corner and drink out the water.

This is what the build up of plastic looks like.  EVERYTHING is sold in plastic bags and with no trash and recycling programs, it quickly becomes a huge problem.

Thanks to this new initiative, youth collect and clean the water sachets to be re-purposed. In the community we visited, this was a partnership between CHF International and Trashy Bags, as well as local community leaders.  Engage Globally plans to soon support a similar program in the Teshie Community.

After the bags are collected, others in the community are hired to sew them into reusable grocery bags and other unique products.

This is one of the women we met.  The grocery bags even zip up into these lovely carrying pouches!

Drums are another of the products we saw throughout Ghana.  Though I don't have photos of them being made.  These are some of my favorite photos learning how to drum...

This is what I look like learning to drum in 100 degree weather.  :)

They decided to teach the entire class of students with whom I traveled the art of drumming.  They actually did pretty well!

One of my favorite photos.  And, a video clip of one of the basic drum rhythms.  Those students have some talent.

Shea Butter is another major product in Ghana - and one that is becoming a popular export.  Shea Butter is not only great for the skin, it is rumored to lighten the skin so in cultures where a lighter complexion is valued, more and more companies are marketing Shea Butter.  The shea nut grows in a tree.  The women harvest it from the trees to produce the butter.  Asps (snakes) also enjoy living in those trees, so it can be a risky job.  Once the harvesting is complete the nuts are ground, mixed with water, boiled, and probably a number of other steps I am forgetting to make the butter that cosmetic companies so highly value.

I believe this is one of the grinding machines.  These are some of the women and their husbands that produce shea butter in one of the communities we visited.

At multiple points in the process the ground nut is mixed with water (that may be what the gentleman in the orange hat is explaining here).  This equipment was all purchased by the community to help increase product output.

This is the process the shea butter must go through.  These women sit around all day mixing the pulp with water.  There is a specific ratio and process far outside my ability to understand.  It is then boiled again and the oils separate out. 

The area behind the women is where the product is boiled.  I believe there are two different heatings, multiple mixings, all after the grinding...

And, in the end you get this.  These are barrels of pure shea butter.  I want to say one of these buckets was sold for under $20 (or around what women in the US will pay for a tiny bottle of something containing shea butter).  There is a bit of a mark-up.  Every couple of months, the buyer of the shea butter will come and pick up these buckets of product for export.

Smoked fish is the final product of Ghana that I wanted to highlight.  Many people depend on this industry.  Unfortunately, due to overfishing and pollution, it is getting more difficult for fisherman to sustain themselves. 

This is one of the beach fronts - lined with fishing boats.

Once the men bring back the fish.  Women smoke the fish in these large smoker-canister-thingamabobs.  They are also responsible for selling them in the markets.

This woman was one of the folks smoking the fish.  I had asked if I could take a picture of the fish, as I wanted to be respectful of her livelihood and she enthusiastically agreed, but insisted she be in the photo as well.  The young boy and gentleman were other community members who wanted to be in the shot.  This whole area was surrounded with the smoker-canisters.  They were covered with the cardboard, I am guessing to hold in the smoke.  The entire community was filled with alcoves of smoke-canisters.                                                                                                                    And, that is my summary of the products of Ghana!  Thanks for reading!