I find it interesting that America’s Christian activity is everywhere first.

Islamonline.com
Calls for Better Child Care in Disaster-hit Asia

“We need to strengthen our collaborative efforts… be committed to help the children rebuild their lives,” Balakrishnan said.

SINGAPORE, November 16, 2005

Disaster-prone Asian countries must create a regional mechanism to help rebuild the lives of children when a disaster strikes, an international conference on child protection was told Wednesday, November 16.

Singapore’s Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports said that the December 26 Tsunami disaster left thousands of children as orphans and vulnerable to abuse and disease, Malaysia’s Bernama News Agency reported.

Dr Vivian Balakrishnan said that although other Asian countries had been quick in their response following the disaster, more should be done to help the affected children in the long term.

“As a region vulnerable to natural disasters, we need to strengthen our collaborative efforts on early warning systems and be committed to help the children rebuild their lives when disaster strikes,” he said.

He was speaking at the three-day 6th Asian Regional International Society for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (Ispcan) Conference which opened Wednesday.

Ispcan, based in Illinois, was founded in 1977 to support individuals and organizations working to protect children from abuse and neglect worldwide.

Asia’s worst earthquake in decades and the resulting tsunami in the Indian Ocean left tens of thousands dead and millions displaced in several Asian countries.

The Indonesian government estimated that 35,000 children have been made homeless, orphaned or separated from their parents in Aceh, where Muslims make 98 percent of the population.

While acknowledging the near impossibility of predicting tsunamis, especially those triggered by strong earthquakes, a Thai daily had said earlier that good forecasting, early warning systems and education could have lessened the scope of Sunday’s disaster and saved lives.

Thai daily The Nation has reported countries in South and Southeast Asia must put in place without further delay an effective international communications system to ensure quick dissemination of information throughout the region.

Challenges
Thousands of Asian children have lost their families.

Balakrishnan also spoke on the new challenges facing Asia arising from its economic progress and tourism industry.

“The impact of this progress on our children is significant. But there are also new challenges that we face… child exploitation is one of them,” he said.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) was aware of the challenges and had recently reviewed their positions on tourism to put children’s interests as a top priority, he added.

“The 10 Asean countries are now working on the Asean Traveller’s Code to promote responsible tourism, including preventing the abuse and exploitation of people.”

Asians in areas battered by the killer tsunami, triggered by a 9.0 magnitude underwater quake, are falling prey to proselytizing and human trafficking.

Immediately after the tidal waves devastated several countries, a number of Christian missionary groups rushed to the affected areas to offer not only relief aid, but more importantly spiritual counselling.

Gospel for Asia, a group seeking to train and send 100,000 native missionaries into the most un-reached areas of Asia, was among the first on the scene of the tsunami disaster in India and Sri Lanka.

According to its Web site, GFA’s volunteers are working around the clock to bring food, clean water, medicines, clothing, shelter, and spiritual counselling “in the name of Jesus” to those who lost everything in the killer tidal waves.

Overall, Balakrishnan said, Asia had made great strides to improve children’s lives this past decade.

“The latest ‘State of the World’s Children’ report by UNICEF indicates that most Asian countries have significantly reduced their infant mortality rate for children under five years old since 1990,” he added.

The Asian sub-continent was also hit by a 7.6-magnitude quake that killed more than 25,000 people in Pakistan and 1,300 in India, leaving some 2.5 million people homeless and destroying entire towns across an area of 20,000 square kilometres.

The UN said that the trail of devastation caused by the quake was “beyond belief.”

Can we imagine how little less than one percent of our total budget spent on women and children’s health and other issues would mean in our own country of plenty?

The Hindu
Karat Dismayed Over Govt.’s Neglecting Women and Child Care
Bangalore, Nov. 9

Expressing dismay over the governments neglecting women and child care, General Secretary Prakash Karat, today demanded that top priority be given to programmes targeted towards women and child welfare.

“It is unfortunate that in a developed country like India, women and child care is one of the most negelcted areas.The governments should demonstrate political will to accord priority to these areas,” he said while participating as a chief guest at the 5th All India Conference of Federation of Anganwadi workers and Helpers here.

He regretted that the national expenditure on health care was only 0.9 per cent of the total budget, and demanded more allocation for health care especially of women and children.
Karat wanted the Centre and state government to consider the demands of Anganwadi workers who have been playing a vital role in implementing ICDS (Integrated Child Development Scheme).

Karnataka Chief Minister N Dharam Singh, who inaugurated the conference, promised Anganwadi workers that he would consider the demand for regularising their services, a measure that would cost Rs 7.5 crores annually to the exchequer.

Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, virtually supporting the demands of anganwadi workers, said he would prevail upon the coalition government to enhance their salaries.
Gowda said anganwadi workers wages should be enhanced to the level of primary and secondary school teachers.

Karnataka Minister for Women and Child Welfare, Bhagirathi Marulasiddanagouda, also spoke.

From what my daughter says, this is a very poor country with lots of social issues. This is a good sign.

Bahrain News Agency
Cairo to host childhood forum
11. 15 2005

Cairo, Egypt will host the Arab Civil Society Forum for Childhood on 27 29 November, with the participation of a large number of Civil Society Representatives, regional and global organizations in addition to experts from Research and Media Centers.

The forum will be organized in cooperation with GCC program for Support of UN Development Bodies, UNICEF Office for the Middle East and Africa and the Arab League.

The forum aims at exploring civil society role and setting child care priorities, where 40 experiences in combating poverty, providing health care and adequate education, developing early childhood and integrating children will be studied.

I love this kind of news story because it seems so far from home, and yet it’s so near to waht we do every day.

National Indigenous Times
Australia

Shepparton to get new child care
Nov 10, 2005

Premier Steve Bracks has announced $500,000 towards a new Children’s Centre in Shepparton.

Mr Bracks said the State Government grant to the Batdja Aboriginal Corporation would help fund the $1.18 million merger of the Batdja Preschool and Child Care Centre and the Lidje Child Care Centre to boost the range of children’s services for young families living in the area.

“The new children’s centre will come about from the merger of the Batdja centre in Harold Street with the Lidje centre in Moorroopna. The new centre will be based in Harold Street.

“The Lidje centre currently provides childcare places for 65 children. The new expanded centre will also offer a kindergarten program, long day care, occasional and outside school hours care, maternal and child health and parenting programs and a meeting room for parents.

As you can see from the map, the country of Bhutan is high in the Himalayas. We take prenatal care for granted in this country, but in places like Bhutan, it’s a new concept.

Mother & child care: challenges remain
November 03

Kuensel on line
On a two week working visit to Bhutan, from October 16 to 30, the Regional Director of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in South Asia, Ms.Ceceila Lotse, said that Bhutanese women and children were blessed with a favorable and a committed government working to fulfill their needs and aspirations.

Ms. Lotse, who visited schools and health units in Punakha and Wangduephodrang, said the intention of the visit was to go around the country to understand and see the developmental activities, especially involving women and children.

“It is heartening to see that the government’s continued effort to extend education to all has been successful,” she said.

The non-formal education (NFE) programme, according to the regional director, was a blessing for those deprived of early education. “It is great to see that people are made to feel they are not left behind in a society that is developing quickly,” she said.

The regional director, however, pointed out that challenges remain. For instance, Bhutan’s harsh topography posed problems where children had to walk long distances to reach school.

“These are some of the challenges where UNICEF and the government can work collaboratively,” she said.

While Bhutan’s maternal mortality rate was high in the region, Ms. Lotse said that the policy decision made to introduce institutional delivery was commendable. “The main challenge that remains is to convince expectant mothers to visit the available health units on time,” she said, adding that this would tremendously help to bring down the high rate.

Ms. Lotse, who met with the prime minister, Lyonpo Sangay Ngedup, the chief justice, Lyonpo Sonam Tobgye and the cabinet ministers, also expressed her satisfaction on Bhutan’s commitment to realise the provisions of the Convention on Rights of Child (CRC) of which Bhutan is a signatory.

“CRC is relatively a new instrument and there is need to incorporate ways to create awareness among the people about it,” she said.

By Karma Chodenkchoden@kuensel.com.bt

Friday was a truly wonderful day, filled with emotion and children’s pranks, and anticipation and just about every passion I can think of.

When you think about it, we’re really blessed. The little Thanksgiving play Miss Stacey and Miss Rachel wrote, designed, directed and made costumes and backdrops for was delightful. I was so proud of them. It takes a lot of affection, not to mention the work to get a children’s play off the ground. It’s a huge undertaking and I can say, it’s always worth doing.

I was doing crowd control, and I didn’t hear Seth, who got out of the stage curtain and took one look at the audience said, “I’m not doing this.” What a lark. Kids are so funny.

I want to thank parents for bringing all the food. It was a delicious spread. I don’t think I’ve seen such a feast for a long time. We still have a huge cake that we will use for treats this week.

Getting together with parents every month during the school year is important. It’s a time when we can get to know some of the families. When grandmothers, and grandfathers visit the school, it means a lot to the children and to the teachers.

Next week the children will attend regular classes except on Wednesday when they will bake cranberry bread for their families as their contribution to Thanksgiving dinner. We have been practicing several Thanksgiving songs, and working on some art work.

We will be out on Friday.

Aidan’s grandmother asked for the cranberry bread recipe:

2 cups flour
3/4 cup sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
salt
2 tablespoons oil
1 egg
2 oranges ground up (cut the orange slightly askew of the center all four cuts, and you can easily remove the webbing.)
2 cups cranberries raw
1 cup+ nuts – I used walnuts
1 cup raisins
1 can fruit – I used mandarin oranges, but pineapple would be good too.

Any dried fruit works. Coconut makes the muffins lighter.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes.

TOP TEN THINGS ONLY WOMEN UNDERSTAND

10. Cats’ facial expressions.

9. The need for the same style of shoes in different colors.

8. Why bean sprouts aren’t just weeds.

7. Fat clothes.

6 Taking a car trip without trying to beat yourbest time.

5. The difference between beige, ecru, cream, off-white, and eggshell.

4. Cutting your hair to make it grow.

3. Eyelash curlers.

2. The inaccuracy of every bathroom scale ever made.

1. Other women

This is closer to home, and made me laugh. Judy

“ESTROGEN ISSUES”10 WAYS TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE “ESTROGEN ISSUES”

1. Everyone around you has an attitude problem.

2. You’re adding chocolate chips to your cheese omelet.

3. The dryer has shrunk every last pair of your jeans.

4. Your husband is suddenly agreeing to everything you say.

5. You’re using your cellular phone to dial up every bumper sticker that says: “How’s my driving-call 1- 800-“.

6. Everyone’s head looks like an invitation to batting practice.

7. Everyone seems to have just landed here from “outer space”.

8. You can’t believe they don’t make a tampon bigger than Super Plus.

9. You’re sure that everyone is scheming to drive you crazy.

10. The ibuprofen bottle is empty and you bought it yesterday..

I thought these were hilarious. Of course, I’ve been through all this, and remembering back is much more fun than trying to imagine.

Judy

Pregnancy Q &A &more!

Q: Should I have a baby after 35?
A: No, 35 children is enough.

Q: I’m two months pregnant now. When will my baby move?
A: With any luck, right after he finishes college.

Q: What is the most reliable method to determine a baby’s sex?
A: Childbirth.

Q: My wife is five months pregnant and so moody that sometimes she’s borderline irrational.
A: So what’s your question?

Q: My childbirth instructor says it’s not pain I’ll feel during labor, but pressure. Is she right?
A: Yes, in the same way that a tornado might be called an air current.

Q: When is the best time to get an epidural?
A: Right after you find out you’re pregnant.

Q: Is there any reason I have to be in the delivery room while my wife is in labor?
A: Not unless the word “alimony” means anything to you.

Q: Is there anything I should avoid while recovering from childbirth?
A: Yes, pregnancy.

Q: Do I have to have a baby shower?
A: Not if you change the baby’s diaper very quickly.

Q: Our baby was born last week. When will my wife begin to feel and act normal again?
A: When the kids are in college.

Wow! What a week. Between 70 degree weather and frightening thunder storms and tornadoes that now not two days later has gone to 20 degree weather and a chance for snow flurries, I think we’re all slightly confused.

It’s play week, and that’s confusing enough. Sitting still, being quiet, remembering lines with all the weather changes and worries and on top of it, knowing that something big – Thanksgiving is on the cusp of our next adventure is enough to turn the school upside down, and I need to clean the pig pens – watch out!

Yet amid it all, the hugs and kisses and lap approaches have been abundant. The kids have been loving, fun, and a great growth has occurred. They have rediscovered geometry on the coloring table, and have invested in patterns with colors and shapes and have been wildly coloring some complicated geometric designs. Normally, I despise color sheets, but in this case, the children are using color to satisfy a need for mind order. It’s interesting to see what they come up with.

Normally, I’m a sucker for ordinary time. I’m not an occasion person. I love ordinary days that come without fuss. I have to admit that Miss Stacey and Miss Rachel have really taken on the whole play and all the responsibilities and have done a great job. But towards the end, it’s a project for the entire school. Everyone has to help.

Yesterday, the outfitting took place;

“Girls wear that.”

“Not four hundred years ago.”

“Growl“

“You look mah velous, dah ling.”

“growl”

And that brings us to another question – ethnicity. One of our beloved parents wanted to know if we paid a lot of attention to race.

My racial preference is for green people with purple heads, but they’re rare — race is a compliment to God. It’s as simple as that. One doesn’t choose race, God does, and in His infinite wisdom He has allowed us the privilege of several, and each one is more wonderful than the next.

Culture is our compliment to God for what he has given us. The culture options are more diverse and even more descriptive than race, and symbolize in many ways our free will.

Some people are dispensing with culture in favor of this “citizen of the world” approach to living. I suppose that’s fine for some, but refusing to attach oneself to a particular culture is a fairly arrogant and alarming thing. Nathan Hale comes to mind.

As for me, I’m a lost dog when it comes to culture. I have always thought I was Dutch – I’m adopted, and I was told by my adoptive parents that I was Dutch. When I found out recently that I am not Dutch at all, I was wounded by the lie and the confusion. I want to have a nationality to admire and be a part of, and I feel as if it’s been ripped out of my hands. To adopt one at this point seems too far to go.

I think it’s from not having an attachment that I treasure physical and cultural and ethnic participation. Who doesn’t love a festival especially as a visitor? Who wouldn’t love to visit any part of the world to experience the joy of the people who live there? My preference has always been to visit a village in any one of the African nations. How exciting to exchange lives with someone who lives so differently from us? To taste their food, and watch their children play, and see how they problem solve would be a joy.

I had a chance to go to China, but Miss Judy doesn’t get along with airplanes. My preference on traveling is 20 mule team, and it’s not feasible to cross the pole with a mule team. I’d rather ride a mule across the mountains than get into an airplane. Mrs. St. Louis feels the same about ships.

Culture and ethnicity are probably the most precious part of our lives, and it is our duty as teachers not only to encourage belief, but pride in every cultural background for the sake of the child and the family he comes from.

Religious views – ditto. As a Catholic, my religion demands that I respect all that is true and holy about any faith. It is part of our teaching. To love one another does not mean to cast aside someone’s religious beliefs in favor of my own. The great Catholic missionaries did not go into places forcing belief, they went quietly and tended the ill, and fed the hungry, and shared their homes with any and all who came to them. They did not stay among themselves, they did not keep education for a few, they gave all that they had including their lives, and as a result, people came to be like them. That’s the real story of evangelization. Mother Theresa did the same in our own lifetime, and she never once forced anyone to be a Catholic in order to reap the goods she had to offer. Faith is a gift from God, and who am I to try to change that?

So as far as differences among people go, bring ’em on.