Amazon rainforest under threat - please help

The Amazon is spoken of as being the lungs of the earth - twenty percent of our oxygen comes from this forest. Lumiere Charity received an email from Luis and the Avaaz team asking us to support the safety of this vital forest. They highlight a situation which is close to the Charity's heart - that of conservation of the beauties of the earth God created for us to exercise stewardship over. 


Luis and the Avaaz team apprise a forestry bill has been passed that gives free rein to loggers and farmers to cut down huge swathes of the Amazon.  Avaaz has an urgent petition to stop the chainsaws. 
The petition will be presented by Avaaz shortly.  Please sign the urgent petition and send this to everyone you know. Please send the information on to your family,  friends and colleagues, and post the link on to your Facebook and share it on Twitter. 
Let us hold hands together in our global village and save the wonderful world our God has made.


Here is the petition;  http://www.avaaz.org/en/veto_dilma_global/?vl

The Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming apprises that the Amazon rainforest is a critical influence on the South American climate and one of the world's most important carbon banks. It is home to twenty percent of the world's animal and plant species, and plays a crucial part in the precipitation cycle of South America, pumping oxygen into the atmosphere. *



Avaaz; http://mainstreetags.wordpress.com/2012/05/10/avaaz-org-stop-the-amazon-chainsaw-massacre%E2%80%8F-petition/

*  http://globalwarming.house.gov/impactzones/amazon

The wondrous plant life of the Amazon, see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igkjcuw_n_U

Ants create a lifeboat in the Amazon, see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A042J0IDQK4&feature=relmfu

*Photograph taken by Catherine Nicolette - please feel free to use copyright free for any worthy purpose

A Hot Box for Food

Many people struggle in areas without electricity, or to keep bills down. A great way - especially in squatter camps and areas with minimal facilities for full electricity - is to build a hot box for food. Teresa explains in her ehow article, that a hot box can keep cold food cold, and hot food hot. It is also an alternative to using regular stoves or ovens. A hot box can be used in combination with a stove top and cooking container. The items needed are a large cardboard box, towels, medium cardboard box, small blankets, large pot and newspaper. Teresa goes on to explain step by step how to build a hot box for food. This is an excellent way to cook food for families who are undergoing difficult times. Please find the link to the ehow article at the bottom of this blog post.


Many hot box recipes are available, such as for brown and white rice; stews and soups. Please find links to recipes. Working in Charity brings us in contact with people needing practical guidance and help with difficult circumstances. Why not print out the instructions to the hot box and give them around? They can really make a big difference ...

http://www.ehow.co.uk/how_6306239_build-hot-box-food.html

http://www.thehotboxco.co.za/recipes.html

Can you help in Central African Republic?

The wonderful group War Child have advised in a tweet of the great need in Central African Republic. CAR urgently requires help as it experiences severe humanitarian funding shortfalls, according to a report by Alertnet//George Fomineyn, Dakar*. The report apprises that hundreds of thousands of people have been uprooted from their homes. Funding for basic humanitarian needs is urgently needed, according to John Ging, the Director of Operations at the UN office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). War Child is operational in the area, and doing great work. They affirm they are there, 'trying to turn things around'.


War Child are supporting street children in C.A.R.'s capital Bangui, and in the South East. The population in Bangui is four million, and the life expectancy is 47 years old. War Child has a drop-in centre for street children in Bangui, and are supporting children's education in Rafai and Zemio. 


It costs just £30 to send a street child in Bangui to school for a year. It is true that many of us have been hard hit by the recession, and have commitments such as care for our families, paying the mortgage for the family home, and children's schooling. Yet there are so many needs, and one child receiving education and having his or her life turned around by this great privilege, can break the cycle of poverty and emotional pain for the child and his or her future family and generations to come. Education is the great key to a better future. So, in the spirit of Lumiere, why not get together with your community at your local place of worship/ with your colleagues at your place of employment/ with your family members/ at your local school with your principal and parents' permission/ at your local library/ at your local store/ and fundraise with a coffee morning, or fete, or collection, or raffle; and make £30 per year for War Child, in order to help one specific child.


We individually cannot save the whole world. We, as community, can help to save one child. If every group in every area sponsored the education of one child, what a difference it would make to future generations. Children marked by war have so much emotional pain and at times, physical disability to work through. What a blessing it would be for them if at least they received the gift of education. Why not donate to War Child? You can do this by clicking into the following link,
http://www.warchild.org.uk/what-we-do/central-african-republic/project-street-and-vulnerable-children-bangui-and-rafai

* http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/cars-dire-humanitarian-crisis-hit-by-funding-shortfall-un

Why not start a Sewing Circle for Unemployed

Are you struggling with high unemployment in an area? Working in an area with people desperate for work, and few options? Why not start a sewing circle? Lumiere Charity has assisted in the founding of numerous sewing circles, which have all been successful without exception.


Here's how we did it. Fundraise among friends, your church group and at coffee mornings. With the funds collected, purchase donations of sewing machines, material, scissors, sewing needles, cottons, tape measures, rulers, pins, unpickers, sewing needles. If the area where you are starting has no electricity, try and get the old fashioned style of treadle machines. We will be writing a number of blogs giving ideas on items to make for sale. Items which have proved popular and always in demand include duvets, pillow slips, sheets, dresses, trousers, clothing for adults and children, clothing for services in churches.


Today we will pass on some tips to make duvet covers. Remember, the two main stitches always needed in any kind of sewing are straight stitching and zigzag stitching. Always helpful in sewing items are zips and buttonholes. A very simple duvet cover can be made as follows;


For a single duvet cover, cut two rectangles of fabric, the breadth 150 centimetres, and the length 213 centimetres  (or 59 inches in breadth, and 83 inches in length). For a double duvet cover, cut two rectangles of fabric 213 centimetres in length, and 213 centimetres in breadth (or 83 inches in breadth, and 83 inches in length). Prepare the bottom end of the cover to take the Velcro fastening. Do this by neatening the two raw material edges with zigzag stitch. Turn back a hem of 2.5 centimetres (two and a half centimetres) or 1 inch (one inch). The hem needs to be turned to the 'wrong'side. (The wrong side is the side of the material which is less brightly patterned, the side which will not be facing outwards when the duvet is put on the bed). Iron or press the seam down. Remember, if you iron or press each  seam while you are sewing your duvet, the finish will always be professional. 


The next step is to place the right sides of the fabric together. Pin the fabric, and then tack it. Tacking is when you sew large stitches by hand with needle and thread to hold the material firmly in place, so that when you sew  your duvet with the sewing machine, it will not move but stay firmly in place. The tacking is taking out after the seams have been sewn on the sewing machine.


So; with right sides of the fabric together, stitch the two bottom edges of the cover together along the crease line, leaving an opening in the centre large enough to insert the duvet later. Cut the Velcro strips to length.


Now stitch the Velcro to each side of the opening. Iron or press the turnings in. With the right sides of the fabric facing, sew the remaining three sides together with straight stitch on the machine. Remember to take 1.5centimetres (one and a half centimetres or half inch) turnings at the corners. Neaten the corners with a zigzag stitch. Turn the cover through the the right side and iron or press.


Another way to get a pattern for a duvet is to get a duvet cover, and unpick the stitching. Look carefully how it is made, and use the unpicked pieces as a pattern. A good plan is to ask a trained seamstress or tailor to volunteer their time to the new sewing group in order to teach them how to sew the duvet cover without hurting themselves on the sewing machine. Whenever you sew, keep your fingers away from the sewing machine needles which flashes up and down and can go into and through your finger (yes, I have done that when I was learning sewing. It is really sore, and not a good idea...) Another risk is if you pull on the needles while the fabric is still under the needle. The needle can break, and fly outwards. Be careful of your eyes.


Do not sew while children, babies or animals are nearby. Always close up your sewing machine carefully afterwards. If you are using electricity, switch the machine off, and pull the plug out. Don't leave scissors, needles and other sharp objects where children can get at them.


Good luck with your sewing circle! Sell your items and you can make funds to pay your and your family's needs again.


*Photograph taken by Catherine Nicolette. Please feel free to use copyright free for any worthy purpose

Lumiere Charity remembers India

Lumiere Charity remembers those all in the tragedy of the recent ferry sinking on Brahmaputra River in Dhubri, Assam. Our thoughts are with all those who have lost their lives, for those injured, for their families and for all who have assisted in caring for the injured. A lit candle has been burning in remembrance for India.

Our oceans are endangered - please sign petition

Lumiere Charity received an email from Stephanie and the Avaaz team asking us to support a rescue package for the world's oceans. They highlight a situation which is close to the Charity's heart - that of conservation of the wonderful earth God created for us to enjoy and to use its resources responsibly. It is a fact that species are either extinct or threatened with extinction. Now the Avaaz team tell us that the oceans are dying, beset by pollution and demolition fishing.

 

In the next 72 hours, governments are considering a new rescue plan - and we can help to push it through. The plan is to craft a new treaty to protect the high seas, and establish critical marine protection reserves. The vision of Avaaz is to champion the idea. This crucial meeting is being held at the UN. Avaaz wishes to deliver global support to Europe to save our oceans. Please sign the urgent petition and send this to everyone - once Avaaz hits 500,000 signatures, they will deliver the petition straight into the meeting.  Here is the link to the petition;

 

http://www.avaaz.org/en/72_hours_to_save_our_oceans/?tta

 

There are just three days left - please send the information to friends and family, and post this link on your Facebook wall and share it on Twitter.  According to Avaaz, our marine ecosystems are under threat, and 85% of fish stocks are depleted. They go on to tell that scientists say that what we need right now is a plan that sets aside 20% of our blue planet as conservation areas by 2020, allowing the seas to replenish themselves for generations to come, and create a new protection agreement for the oceans outside of national boundaries.

 

In  the beginning God created the earth and all in it;  let us not be able to write that in 2012 humanity by not protecting its resources helped to destroy some of it.

 

Thank you for taking action to support a rescue package for the world's oceans.

 

Please place the link on your Facebook wall or link it to Twitter;

 

http://www.avaaz.org/en/72_hours_to_save_our_oceans/?tta


SOURCES made available by Avaaz

International Policy: United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Pew Environment Group)
http://www.pewenvironment.org/news-room/compilations/international-policy-united-nations-conference-on-sustainable-development-328397

Six steps for successful oceans negotiations (Greenpeace)
http://www.scribd.com/doc/89557361/Six-Steps-Rio-Oceans-Rescue-Plan-Greenpeace

Our Endangered Oceans (Ecoworld)
http://www.ecoworld.com/animals/our-endangered-oceans.html

Threats to Oceans and Coasts (WWF)
http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/blue_planet/problems/

 

*Photograph courtesy of Avaaz petition

Lumiere Charity remembers women in Uzbekistan

Lumiere Charity remembers the women in Uzbekistan who allege being forcibly sterilised, and are no longer able to have children. In the Book of Genesis God graced men and women with the gift of bringing new life forth from their love, to bear children who would comfort and support them in advancing years. A woman's ability to bear children is an integral part of her God gifted being. Our thoughts are with the women who grieve the loss of this gift of the human right to bear sons and daughters. A lit candle has been burning in remembrance of the women of Uzbekistan, and for their husbands and loved ones.

An online petition to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to stop forced sterilisations is available. Why not sign the petition to add to the numbers of those concerned for the rights of the vulnerable mother and her right to bear children?


Below please find a link to information about the alleged sterilisations.
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2012/04/23/2003531064
and
http://www.salon.com/2010/07/19/uzbek_women_forced_sterilizations/