Beauty, Rubbish and Picking Up
RESPECT is the cornerstone of the Baglady ethos; if we all think about it more often, the world won’t be in such a mess, and our lives will be much happier. Here, Mehary from Lalibela, Ethiopia, tells us his word for RESPECT, and what it means to him.
TELL US: What’s the word for RESPECT in your language? What does RESPECT mean to you?
Send us piks, drawings, poems, whatever…
He was a gift for three children (all under 10) who treated him like a toy.
The novelty wore off so fast they didn’t even bother to give him a name.
Needless to say, he’s incredibly nervous and wets himself if you go to lift him.
Ballymena’s Diane Wilson from Mid-Antrim Animal Sanctuary writes:
Dear Friends,
As you are no doubt aware, the current financial climate has left everyone tightening their belts, leaving Sanctuaries such as Mid-Antrim in an even more precarious position. Family pets, along with their veterinary treatment and upkeep, are no longer a priority in most households; the impact of which has hit charity organisations in the worst possible way. The influx of unwanted Christmas ‘presents’ and general apathy towards long-time family pets has put us in a crippling state financially. As such, we ask that if you have a talent or trade to offer, no matter how insignificant you feel it is, we could certainly use your input!
There’s nothing more fulfilling than the act of giving.
Karen says:
The Rubbish Diet blog has been shortlisted for the MediaGuardian Innovation Awards 2009, in the independent media category.
Needless to say I am chuffed to bits…what a fantastic platform to promote the power of household waste reduction and the opportunities for Zero Waste. The awards ceremony will be in March when the winners of each category will be announced.
A huge congrats to Karen. We had the pleasure of meeting her last September on our visit to London. Head over to The Rubbish Diet to read more, and look out for the results late in March at the MediaGuardian Innovation Awards site.
As part of our campaign to move environment right up the agenda in Northern Ireland media, politics and education, Baglady Productions are researching TV coverage of environment issues and actions against climate change in NI.
We intend to take our results, whatever they may be, to politicians and to the public via the media in early 2009.
Netherlands Baglady Evelien Boskma visits the small Frisian town of Workum, for the annual Dungrace, from Workum to Warmond.
Evelien writes: Yes, dung! Let me explain.
Before the Industrial Revolution, ships would sail from Workum to Warmond with manure (cow-dung) for the bulb-fields in the West of the Netherlands. Later lorries took over the job.
But in the seventies oil became really scarce. A Frisian named Reid de Jong then came up with the idea of re-introducing fuel-free transport. He wanted to use the Workum-Warmond trade route as an exercise. The first exercise took place in 1974.
Although Reid’s suggestion didn’t catch on at the time, the exercise is now repeated every year and is hugely popular, as I witnessed today.
What happens is this:
Because the ships are not allowed to use their engines, people will have to pull them out of the harbour into the lake (see picture). Very hard work, especially if there’s head wind, like today! The ships set sail and use wind power to reach their destination. So, totally eco!
Fortunately Reid de Jong is still able to watch the races. He lives in the Workum lighthouse and is entirely self-sufficient. Very eco.
You’re not supposed to laugh about the environment, are you? We did.
People from ages 8-75 got together at storyteller Liz Weir’s Ballyeamon Barn at the head of Glenariff. The craic started with the first cup of tea.
We also talked very seriously about the local-global problems we all face at present. And on the Saturday night, we sang, danced, told stories and poems at Liz’s regular ceili session.
Everybody conspired to help us: the BBC with a live piece on Your Place and Mine, Mother Earth with a big storm overnight, Jacky Ingram with her laughter workshop, Darren from the Ballymena Guardian taking our photo. Furthermore, there was a centrefold on Baglady in Sunday Life (our thanks to reporter Clare and photographer Liam).
A brilliant workshop, the first of many, we hope. The next is already planned for 29-30 November in Omagh. Details later.
As people concerned about environmental issues the pupils and staff of Garvagh P.S. supports the Need a Bag campaign. We would encourage all our young people to encourage their parents to help the environment by reusing the plastic bags they get from supermarkets. Every little helps!!
— Mr. Sam McQuiston, Principal, Garvagh PS
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