When The Ground Shakes You.

I'm away from home right now, working in rural South Australia for a week...which means that, for the rarest of times, I have complete control over the television remote. It's a delicious thing but that's not the reason I'm talking here and now.


I've just finished watching this week's episode of "Australian Story" on our national public broadcaster, the ABC. The episode featured Scott Neeson, a former, major movie mogul in Hollywood (and Adelaide native), who gave up a lucrative career amongst the big players in the movie world, to work among the desperately poor children of Phnom Phen, Cambodia.

These children, many of whom are orphaned, eck out a meagre existence on the rubbish dumps of Phnom Phen, trawling through the putrid rubbish to find scraps of metal and recyclable plastic which they can sell. In many cases, they can hope to earn as much as 25 cents per day. They live on these rubbish dumps, risking the worst infections you can imagine, lethal illness and disease just so they can survive. They derive their dietary needs from the dump - often retrieving food scraps and liquids that have been discarded from the City's restaurants for sustenance.


There are certain tipping points in life that shake you out of your complacency, they make you think, they make you feel.


As Scott Neeson was documenting what he saw on these rubbish dumps, he described these children picking through the most putrid of rubbish - general refuse, feces, restaurant waste. But then he mentioned hospital waste - sharps, disposable medical equipment, amputated limbs, aborted foetuses. For me, that was the tipping point.

I mean, it's terrible enough that children as young as three are forced to live in such unimaginable conditions, but, for me, the image of a child turning over amputated limbs or even an aborted foetus - it shook me. It really shook me.


Scott Neeson has set up Cambodian Children's Fund - a charitable organization whose mission it is to get these children off the pile, to give them health care, education, good food and the chance for a better life. For a man who forged his career in a far different reality, where he dealt with major Hollywood stars who had a shit fit if the thread count on the seats in the private jet was inadequate, I found his left turn journey remarkable and courageous.

He has given hope to these children, access to health care and learning and mist important of all, a chance to forge their own positive future. So much of my life lately has been occupied by worries and concerns that, in the scheme of things, are miniscule, pathetic and petty. I'm greatful that I got to see this documentary. It's given me some perspective. And I've opened my wallet to offer up a small monthly donation. I'd like to do more and I see from the site, there may be an opportunity to do more. I'm giving serious thought to it.

CCF Australia

DFA.

The Brave Ones.

Kayleigh Hendricks is a wonderful soul who is a part of a team behind a campaign to raise awareness of hate crimes.  She recently hit me up via the 'Book' and drew my attention towards a cause that I think is perhaps one of the most noble I've seen in a while.

Kayleigh Hendricks, the wonderful mind behind a wonderful cause.

On November 21 in Hollywood, California a walk will take place for everyone who has ever been an innocent victim of a hate crime(s), for everyone who has ever been discriminated against. People are encouraged to walk for anyone who has ever lived in fear because they were "different". People are encouraged to walk against intolerance so that perhaps those who are fearful and angry can be impacted in a positive way. 

 

The walk is a message to those who strike against beautiful, innocent human beings. Beings who deserve nothing more than to be swimming gracefully and confidently in the same pool all of us swim in. No one here in this world is different lest they choose to be and even then, "the sun rises in the morning on ALL of us." Everyone is encouraged to come together, create a buzz, and show Los Angeles and anyone who hears about or reads about the rally what those participating stand for and what everyone all deserve.

 

It's an awesome thing to do and I really applaud Kayleigh and her friends who have put so much effort into getting this up and off the ground. If I could have been there, I would have but geography as it does, often gets in the way. Still...

Check out their excellent FB page and if you can participate in the event, please do.

DFA.