...what it's good for.
January 28, 2009
January 23, 2009
Life is divine
"'Always be the happiest man on earth, wherever you are and whatever you do.' If you look at it that way, being in prison is actually a rather interesting experience."
I took this quote from a very inspiring article I found after Larry Brilliant mentioned the guy responsible for the quote in a panel discussion.
The person I would like to point your attention to is Robert Muller, former UN Assistant Secretary General and former Chancellor of the University for Peace in Costa Rica (a demilitarized country).
Not only is he my namesake, but he could well be my next big role model for how to see the world and how to act in it. Among his achievements are that China joined the United Nations and the Pope adressed the UN Assembly for the first time. His optimism, as I see it, is unparalleled, and it is so refreshing when you compare his positive approach to today's challenges with the one we are used to. When others say: "We need to develop global consciousness" he says: "We will develop global consciousness".
Please take a moment to read what this man has to say and I will cut my descriptions short :)
"To be unhappy, to be ungrateful, not to feel wonder and appreciation for the incredible gift of life is a most foolish and short-sighted attitude. The toughest prison of all is that which man imposes upon himself."
For more go here
I took this quote from a very inspiring article I found after Larry Brilliant mentioned the guy responsible for the quote in a panel discussion.
The person I would like to point your attention to is Robert Muller, former UN Assistant Secretary General and former Chancellor of the University for Peace in Costa Rica (a demilitarized country). Not only is he my namesake, but he could well be my next big role model for how to see the world and how to act in it. Among his achievements are that China joined the United Nations and the Pope adressed the UN Assembly for the first time. His optimism, as I see it, is unparalleled, and it is so refreshing when you compare his positive approach to today's challenges with the one we are used to. When others say: "We need to develop global consciousness" he says: "We will develop global consciousness".
Please take a moment to read what this man has to say and I will cut my descriptions short :)
"To be unhappy, to be ungrateful, not to feel wonder and appreciation for the incredible gift of life is a most foolish and short-sighted attitude. The toughest prison of all is that which man imposes upon himself."
For more go here
January 18, 2009
Engaged Filmmaking
Garbage Dreams A friend recommended this short film to me and I found it fascinating. Imagine how you can be so very passionate about garbage! These people in Kairo, the Zaballeen, are proud of their knowledge to recycle and of their service to the community. They seem like really happy people! They are going to suffer from the profit approach multinational corporations take to the business those people have been in for generations. Instead of thinking of ourselves and our economy as top notch we could choose to learn and ride the wave of development these people are generating...
By-standing: The beginning of an American Lifetime This one hit me especially, because it I think that the pain we suffer too often comes from our own complacency. It comes from our readiness to accept and tolerate the fate of others and our own. It comes from our helplessness while we deem ourselves to be progressive or green or pacifists: Are we not "people who think it's hip to be radical and don't strategize, vote or DO shit beyond talk"? You see, sometimes I am so impatient. I tell myself to wait for my time to come, because tomorrow, with the right education and at the right age, when people start taking you more seriously, with a university degree and ideas and hopefully a job, THAT will be the time to DO something. What I am doing today, blogging about it, seems so much like just talk, no action. Yet...
... I am working on the building of global consciousness. I am trying to have people look at the problem and I am convinced that my contribution counts, or else I would not do it. I just appeal to all of you out there who read this, grab a shovel and plant a tree, spread happiness in your surrounding and further away, as far as you can reach. Be passionate about your life and know that you are in control, whatever your fears may tell you! I know you can. I know I can. And I will. Have a wonderful week!
January 11, 2009
A movie review
A blogger friend recently posted some movies that he liked in 2008. This reminded me of a movie that has touched a nerve with me and I would like to describe it to you, hopefully without spoiling it. I am talking about Vicky Cristina Barcelona, another masterpiece by Woody Allen.
The story is about two American girlfriends who are spending a summer in Barcelona. Vicky (Rebecca Hall) is about to get married, Cristina (Scarlett Johansson) just broke up with yet another boyfriend. "The two best friends had been close since college and shared the same tastes and opinions on most matters yet when it came to the subject of love, it would be hard to find two more dissimilar viewpoints."
They meet a painter, Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem), and later on his ex-wife María Elena (Penélope Cruz). "He had this hot divorce and she tried to kill him." Romance ensues and with it comedy and tragedy.
This study of happiness and love comes round full circle and on the way touches on some of the questions that probably move everybody in the course of their life. Difficult decisions to be made, the choice between passion and reason, the occasional backlapse after you've already decided, not knowing what you want and knowing what you don't want.
Here are some of many memorable quotes from the movie:
"Maria Elena used to say that only unfulfilled love can be romantic."
"I'm sure any dissatisfaction I have is my own problem."
"The dream is exciting."
"...a growing restlessness that she dreaded, but recognized only too well. Suddenly thoughts started taking precedence over feelings. Toughts and questions about life and love."
"I'm too scared."
The movie does not offer solutions, but after watching it I somehow realized that everybody's happiness is their own responsibility and it begins with being happy with what is and stop worrying about what might be. I shall leave it at that and hope all of you have a wonderful week and maybe go see the movie :)
The story is about two American girlfriends who are spending a summer in Barcelona. Vicky (Rebecca Hall) is about to get married, Cristina (Scarlett Johansson) just broke up with yet another boyfriend. "The two best friends had been close since college and shared the same tastes and opinions on most matters yet when it came to the subject of love, it would be hard to find two more dissimilar viewpoints."They meet a painter, Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem), and later on his ex-wife María Elena (Penélope Cruz). "He had this hot divorce and she tried to kill him." Romance ensues and with it comedy and tragedy.
This study of happiness and love comes round full circle and on the way touches on some of the questions that probably move everybody in the course of their life. Difficult decisions to be made, the choice between passion and reason, the occasional backlapse after you've already decided, not knowing what you want and knowing what you don't want.
Here are some of many memorable quotes from the movie:
"Maria Elena used to say that only unfulfilled love can be romantic."
"I'm sure any dissatisfaction I have is my own problem."
"The dream is exciting."
"...a growing restlessness that she dreaded, but recognized only too well. Suddenly thoughts started taking precedence over feelings. Toughts and questions about life and love."
"I'm too scared."
The movie does not offer solutions, but after watching it I somehow realized that everybody's happiness is their own responsibility and it begins with being happy with what is and stop worrying about what might be. I shall leave it at that and hope all of you have a wonderful week and maybe go see the movie :)
January 06, 2009
"Leisure" by W. H. Davies
WHAT is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare?—
No time to stand beneath the boughs,
And stare as long as sheep and cows:
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass:
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night:
No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance:
No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began?
A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
**********
Maybe you like to think about this for a moment, and if you have a little more time to reflect, you may also want to read this. Stop for a minute today and enjoy some of the beauty around you. Have a wonderful day!
We have no time to stand and stare?—
No time to stand beneath the boughs,
And stare as long as sheep and cows:
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass:
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night:
No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance:
No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began?
A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
**********
Maybe you like to think about this for a moment, and if you have a little more time to reflect, you may also want to read this. Stop for a minute today and enjoy some of the beauty around you. Have a wonderful day!
January 05, 2009
Life is in our hands
Nothing more important at the beginning of a new year than to make one thing perfectly clear: 2009 is ours to shape in a positive way! If we mess up, well, then it will be our problem for next year, and who wants that?! ;)
I just found this on a friend's blog and although I did not quite agree with the message at first I watched the whole two and a half minutes. And YES, what earth has to say is exactly my point.
I feel if we need to worry at all, we should be worried about our own fate, not the planet's. We need to start doing the things that are good for ourselves in the long run.
My suggestion: One less war would spare many lives. It would also mean one less argument against the rotten idea that we just can't live peacefully and have to fight for our lives...NOOO, we need to cooperate for our lives! Trust each other. Man is not only man's biggest enemy, but also man's biggest asset. If everybody on earth could see this truth we would start thinking of each other as partners for our common future. What we need for that is in us, the capacity to trust. Let this be my message for the new year: Give trust freely and be trustworthy yourself, the reward is mutual :)
I just found this on a friend's blog and although I did not quite agree with the message at first I watched the whole two and a half minutes. And YES, what earth has to say is exactly my point.
I feel if we need to worry at all, we should be worried about our own fate, not the planet's. We need to start doing the things that are good for ourselves in the long run.
My suggestion: One less war would spare many lives. It would also mean one less argument against the rotten idea that we just can't live peacefully and have to fight for our lives...NOOO, we need to cooperate for our lives! Trust each other. Man is not only man's biggest enemy, but also man's biggest asset. If everybody on earth could see this truth we would start thinking of each other as partners for our common future. What we need for that is in us, the capacity to trust. Let this be my message for the new year: Give trust freely and be trustworthy yourself, the reward is mutual :)
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