Happy New Year !

If only we could hold the life,

not miss the love,

if only we wouldn't feel regret,

multiply our dreams,

have more time for ourselves,

if only peace would come to all humanity

and to our countries

and happiness.

How nice it would be...

We wanted to wish you all the best for 2011, dear friends.

Don’t judge a man until you’ve walked two moons in his moccasins (Indian Proverb)

I've chosen this quote because of two main reasons.

One is because of Michael - remembering how he was lynched by the media and the public opinion. And two because it reminds me of children's role playing games - when they dress up and put on adults shoes. They do it for fun but also because they want to understand, make sense of an experience/situation and learn about what it is like to be that person. 

The meaning of the saying (as I see it) is not to know everything about a person but respecting and accepting each other in spite of things we do not know about each other's life.
We need to learn from our children.
Not being childish. But we need to recapture as adults their spirit.


We are one - We are here to change the world. It starts with each of us.


Though I find it hard to find the words to fully express all I want to say on the subject I thought I should post this anyway. I'm counting you will help me complete it with your opinion.

"We must learn to live and love each other before it’s too late. 

We have to stop! 

We have to stop the prejudice, we have to stop the hating, we have to stop living in fear of our own neighbors.

Together we can make a change of the world. 

Together we can help to stop racism. 

Together we can help to stop prejudice. We can help the world live without fear. It’s our only hope, without hope we are lost."

Michael Jackson 's Exeter Stadium Speech (June 14, 2002)

"If you judge people you have no time to love them."

Mother Teresa of Calcutta 

"What else is love but understanding and rejoicing in the fact that another person lives, acts, and experiences otherwise than we do?"

F. Nietzsche

The Christmas Spirit is L.O.V.E

 ...from the IAFL-webteam to all our blog-visitors!

Reflecting  what to write for Christmas on the blog, I  read some wise words from wise people and as well some from tpeople who usually were not famous for their wisdom.

You too will have met people, who are convinced that there's nothing sadder in this world than to awake Christmas morning and not be a child. I can not agree to this,  as it is us to keep our inner child alive - at least a little bit and  because the christmas spirit of love is magic for adults as well. 

The video below shows Michael Jackson´s very first Christmas in 1993. He never experienced the wonders of Christmas as a child. It´s amazing to see his joy.

To me, Christmas most cherished presents  are the gift of hope and the gift of love which we get  - unwrapped and unvisible. I found the message of Christmas well expressed by Taylor Cadwell:

~ I am not alone at all, I thought.

I was never alone at all.

And that, of course, is the message of Christmas. 

We are never alone. 

Not when the night is darkest, the wind coldest, the word seemingly most indifferent. 

For this is still the time God chooses. ~

* * * Happy Christmas & Peace on Earth * * *

Thank you for your support and love.




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Children´s Day: What Children wish

This is just the time of the year people all over the world  are wondering what they are going to give the children for Christmas to put  smiles on their faces.
What we give depends a lot on where on this beautiful planet we are living, if and what kind of income we have and many more social factors.


Last week I learned about an internet survey where children were asked how they would spend money if they were rich and had about 1 million $.

The results are interesting:

Here is the top 10 what children would do 

with 1 Million Dollars:

•  place 10     save the money
•  place 9      spend money on a meet and greet       .............. ..           with Celebs
•  place 8      toys
•  place 7      sweets (and not to forget to make an appointment:::                                               ..at the doctors!, notation made by me ) 
•  place 6      clothes
•  place 5      fulfill wishes of all family-members
•  place 4      computer games
•  place 3      pets  
•  2nd place   donations to Charities

•  1st place    a luxury villa for the family

I do not know whether  the children could  run  the questions in a single or multiple instances. This internet survey is only based on  material  things and  therefore somewhat superficial.The more I am pleased about the children thinking clearly  very social  and  to raise the intent "donations to Charity" on the second place. It shows that our children are that kind of dreamers this world needs to survive ; it shows that our children are loving and giving human beings, willing to get in action to make this world a better place.
This is a lesson that our children have less material interests than we mostly assume them to have. Anyone who lives with children, especially those of us who work on a professional base, can experience that children´s real wishes  and dreams deep inside aren´t material at all. They wish health (especially when a family member is not at good health) and they dream of living in a happy family and to be loved.

These wishes and dreams reveal the childlike wisdom that we all do not need much more if we have a warm home, no lack of food, education and when  there is the love and appreciation we need.

                                           Children always felt Michael Jackson´s love

~They who dream by day are cognizant of many things 

which escape those who dream only by night.~

(unknown author)







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Getting ready for Christmas...

 

Credits for the picture: Raven

~ Until one feels the spirit of Christmas, there is no Christmas. 

All else is outward display--so much tinsel and decorations. 

For it isn't the holly, it isn't the snow. 

It isn't the tree not the firelight's glow. 

It's the warmth that comes to the hearts of men when the Christmas spirit returns again. (unknown author)~ 

Michael Jackson might have left this planet,  but he will never be forgotten.  The world will not forget him being an unique artist, but most of us will also always remember him as humanitarian and giving person, a beautiful living soul, who has fought throughout his life for suffering children  All over his lifetime, he donated incredible loads of money to a number of foundations  intending to heal the world.
Michael will have felt the spirit of Christmas all over the year...and not just in december.

By his will he is going to live on as a giving humanitarian;  charities will get support for many, many years beyond his death.

On the occasion of Christmas, I would like  (one more time) to ask for your attention  for a project in Haiti, organized for the children in the poorest area of Port au Prince, Cité Soleil.  After checking out the fotos you will agree that the life in  Cité Soleil is far away from being as nice as it´s name seems to promise, especially not for the children, ....especially not after the devasting earthquake in january 2010.


A  group of volunteers around one of Haiti´s most famous DJs, Carel Pedre, distribute every Sunday a warm meal to about 300 children. 
Take some time to learn more about the project by following into our archive of posts where you find additional links which will give you a picture of "The Sunday Project in Haiti".
Don´t miss to watch Karlitos video.

"To honor the children of the world,

I vow to help the sick & dying, the alone, homeless

 and hungry in every corner of the world."- Michael Jackson

There are many campaigns, organizations, and charities directly related to Michael that you can donate to. If you follow the links, Raven, the appreciated  author of this beautiful blog has published, you will get to Charities which you might like to support.

A special shoutout goes to this project

A Million Trees  For Michael :

This group’s reputation and purpose needs no introduction! Most of you will have already crossed @yogadancer7´s paths or the account @trees4MJ on Twitter. A small donation of $15 ensures the planting of 15 trees in Michael’s name.

Please Support Save Lids to Save Lives!

Hey to all our lovely blog followers, this month we all decided that it would be a great thing to do to promote charities and organizations that are making a difference and spreading the L.O.V.E. there are SO many excellent ones out there & it is our plan to feature a different charity every week for the rest of December. In some peoples eyes Christmas has became the seasons of GETTING when it is, in my opinion the season of giving. This is the time of year to donate to charities and organizations who are trying to help families get through what to many has become a rough time with the economy the way it is these days. Of course we should all donate all year round but I feel like in December love is in the air, there is a peace that isn't felt at other parts of the year. besides helping the charities we feature we ask you to please, if you have extra coats or clothes that are gently used don't throw them out there are so many places in your community that will take them and give them to people in need, the same with food, so many food drives taking place in hopes all families can have some sort of Christmas dinner.....

This weeks featured charity is from Michael Jackson's United Nation International Fan Club or MJSUNIFC they have a charity team the "It's All For Love" team & right now they are supporting the Save Lids to Save Lives. Yoplait's Breast Cancer Awarness, this is the 12th year Yoplait has done this and they gave guaranteed a donation of at least 500,000! please visit www.itsallforlove.com to learn more about MJSUN's Charity Division and please go to http://www.wix.com/mjsunifc/savelidstosavelivesdrive to learn more about the drive!! Cancer affects so many of us, our families, so many of us have lost people to cancer. This charity is drive is close to my heart, about a month ago i had the scare of my life, the doctor told my Mom she could possibly have breast cancer, 3 agonizing weeks and 2 scary biopsys later we learn she only has a benign tumor, my mom was one of the lucky ones, others aren't so lucky and need our help please please go, read up on it & if you can please do what you can to help!
**Note Yoplaits Save Lids To Save Lives is part of the Susan G Komen for the Cure, donations there are always welcomed too and so needed!**

---Next weeks charity spotlight, Make-A-Wish----

World AIDS Day - Universal Access and Human Rights

“No child should be born with HIV; no child should be an orphan because of HIV;
no child should die due to lack of access to treatment.” 

Ebube Sylvia Taylor
11 year old born free of HIV, to world leaders gathered in New York to share
progress made towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals by 2015

Source: UNAIDS Report on the global AIDS epidemic 2010

 Over 30 million people are living with HIV/AIDS world wide. 2.5 million of them are children under the age of 15, according to numbers provided by UNAIDS, WHO reports last year.

"Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person."

Article 3 - Universal Declaration of Human Rights

In 2005 at the UN World Summit there where talks about defining the concept and a steps for universal access to HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care by 2010.

It's 2010.

Where do we stand today ?

People receiving and needing antiretroviral therapy, by region, 2008 and 2009 

click to enlarge

World AIDS Day 2010 is dedicated to emphasizing the need for universal access to HIV prevention, treatment and care as been key to end AIDS epidemic world wide.

Here is a video showing how in just 90 days a woman's life gets turned around with the help of Topsy Foundation in South Africa.

www.stopaidscampaign.org.uk

In spite all efforts,10 million people are still on the waiting list for treatment. 

Please support World AIDS Day.

ACT AWARE

Demand your government for action and join the action NOW so by 2015 universal access to HIV treatment is real and an end to children being born with HIV.

For more information and ways to help please check out these sites

World AIDS Day

 http://www.worldaidsday.org/

amfAR

http://www.amfar.org/

The Elizabeth Taylor HIV/AIDS Foundation

http://www.ethaf.org/

Topsy Foundation

http://www.topsy.org.za/

T.J. Martell Foundation

http://tjmartellfoundation.org/home.aspx

AVERT

http://www.avert.org/

UNAIDS

http://www.unaids.org/en/default.asp

World Health Oragnization

http://www.who.int/hiv/topics/universalaccess/en/index.html

AIDS.org

http://www.aids.org/