Today is ‘Bloggers Unite For Human Rights‘ day. You will read a much different topic here today to what I normally write about. This blog is about Mindset and the power of Motivation. Many of us have the luxury of making our own choices and are fortunate to live in ‘Fortunate Countries’. However, it seems many of us take this for granted and certainly take many of our luxuries ‘in our stride’.
Freedom Of Speech
Freedom Of Speech is something we take for granted yet it seems most don’t quite understand how much our rights are being undermined, literally by the day, in the western world.
While we are busy watching 3rd world disasters and human rights issues across the world on the news, it seems we have our focuses diverted to areas where we have little power to help. Meanwhile, our very own governments remove more and more human rights from us (gradually of course) until, over a few generations, our rights have ‘de-generated’.
Third World Rights Today, Are Our Rights Tomorrow
How do you think the other places got so bad? Overnight? Hm, not likely! Let’s realise for a moment that the very people you and I voted in, whether it’s the USA, Australia or the UK, are the ones that are creating massive squalor across the world. The further away, the better it seems. Meanwhile, we can comfortably sit in our lounges, eat our dinner, and watch the proceedings on Fox News while our popular ‘pollies’ are supporting criminal acts of war. Of course, most of their own sons are kept at home, because they are above us mere mortals. And someone needs to count the spoils, I guess.
History DOES Repeat
The countries that won the wars of the 20th Century had the benefit of heavily influencing the history books for us the learn from. While we seemed to be fighting a thing called Fascism for many years, the world is going down that path again very fast. When the German Reichstag was burned to the ground in the 1930’s, citizens rights were removed very fast with the excuse of protecting them from one ethnic group and certain political alliances.
When the 9/11 attacks happened in 2001, the same thing happened again. Instead of persecuting one people, we just started persucuting another. An eye for an eye – so we kill hundred of thousand of innocent people in retaliation… the mind boggles at how fast people forget!
Once again, credible(?) politicians started a racist persecution and in the process diverted our attention from ourselves to the other side of the world. Then – BANG – away goes the rights! Why? “Because we need to protect you” – Bollocks!
History DOES Repeat. Don’t realize this when it’s too late.
Remember Your Own Rights
In order to help others, we have to also help ourselves. That doesn’t mean we ignore anyone. By all means, stay aware of world events and help where you can. But don’t forget to stand up for your own rights, because when they are gone, you too may be living in another ‘Zimbabwe’ or some country where you may rather not live at the moment.
And next time our own people want to drop Depleted Uranium Bombs, Cluster Bombs, MOAB’s (Mother Of All Bomb’s – can you believe they nick-named it that?) on civilian populations and call it collateral damage…. don’t accept it! Don’t buy the lies! Because next time around someone else will be dropping them in your backyard and someone else will be watching us on TV while microwaving their TV dinner.
The Most Precious Thing In The World
A child is the most precious person in the world to a mother or father. No matter what religion, color, race or belief, we have no rights to take that little soul away from this world. Protect them in the future by protecting yourself now.
Remember to protect your rights. Others took it for granted – and lost it. We are doing the same, right now…
I personally support these charities. Please consider supporting ones of your own choice. I don’t care what you support, just support someone that cares!
Angel Flight, Surf Life Saving Australia, Royal Flying Doctors, Greenpeace
Make yourself heard! No one hears your thoughts. Start by posting a response right here and now. Show me that you, too, care. Thanks!
Next time, I’m back on track again with the ‘Normal’ posts
Sean Rasmussen
Success Communicator
SeanRasmussen.com © 2004 – 2008
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Hi Sean,
Yeah I agree the rich seems to have forgotten they were once poor. Then adults forgot that they were once a child too.
With all the laws , making and breaking them, and the history repeating, there’s one important person we should protect and give all due rights … our children, the children of the world. Their rigths are more important than any rights in the world.
Thanks for dropping by my blog, signing my guest book and the comment.
Hi Earthling!
I enjoyed your blog and certainly admire your ability to make your voice heard. We need more people like you in the world.
Thanks for calling in
I am amazed at how well you wrote this! I like that you put personal feelings in this as well. Reading in Reality shows just how serious you feel about Human Rights as well. Well written and meaningful!
ARose
Hi ARose
Thank you! I am passionate about many things. I have to hold back on topics like these because I don’t want to alienate people. Some issues are very sensitive and the written word can easily be misunderstood.
Thanks for the kind words.
I would like to see Australian’s concentrate on what’s happening in their own country in regards to human rights, Aboriginal people are living in third world condition’s and yet we quickly fly out to save the world or send million’s of dollars over seas, but the Aboriginal issues stay in the too hard basket.
I would love to see the WA State Government recognise our Noongar People as the Traditional Owners of Noongar Country (lower corner of WA).This is so important to our people and our future generations who can stand tall and be proud of who they are and where they have come from, accepting their past history and events and moving forward in reconcilliation with all Australians.
Racism does not exist in the Kingdom of Heaven, why do we tolerate it here on earth?
Hi Rod
This is an issue that has many white Australians get their ‘knickers in a knot’. We like to ignore this issue. I don’t really understand the whole landrights issue and don’t get involved in it. I do however acknowledge the absolute arrogance and ignorance around the issue of many Aboriginal Australians living in third world conditions in a country that goes to elections on issues of ‘illegal boatpeople’ and the price of fuel.
The previous government of Australia was named by international welfare organisations as ‘Racist and ignorant’. Well, I can’t say that instilled pride in me, exactly.
All racism is, is a fear of the unknown; no different to fear of other religions. Racism unfortunately works both ways and that even fuels the fire even more. People like George W Bush certainly have done their part to widen the gap in our society. Hopefully, all they have done is broaden the awareness to improve the world.
Hi Rod and Sean,
I agree Australian’s must concentrate on what’s happening in their own country in regards to human rights, “I do however acknowledge the absolute arrogance and ignorance around the issue of many Aboriginal Australians living in third world conditions in a country that goes to elections on issues of ‘illegal boatpeople’ and the price of fuel.” Quote from Sean….
If we were to see that our own backyard was in good shape and we solved our own problems, we could show the world how to do i t, and they just might listen.
We all know Charity Begins At Home
Excellent post! I enjoyed it. Kudos.
Thanks Pentad!
Hi Sean,
My head shook in affirmation all the way through this post. I live in a so called “Third World”/ “Developing” country, however my island is not so depressed and we (as far as I am concerned) live on an island paradise. While studying in the States, I often commented on the fact that the “land of the FREE” was one of the most “un-free” places I had ever been. Were I ever to bring this point forward to an American citizen, first off they would get mad, since I of course “had no right” (however they had the right to sit quietly while their government assumes all sorts of rights with regards to my country, its people, and how we govern ourselves) and second they would say in a very children of the corn kind of way…”It’s for our own protection”. This somehow makes it ok that a war mongering and profiteering government continues on its course of neo-colonialism across the globe. One wonders at the fact that every few decades or so, the US government has the face of a new “enemy” to portray before its people and very conveniently turns the eyes of its populace outward while at home “liberty” is eroded. I am by no means anti-American, since some of my closest friends and greatest mentors live in the US, however how do I sit quietly when atrocity after atrocity is perpetrated in the name of “freedom”, “democracy” and “liberty”.
What I would ask is the same as you Sean, to those that live in the “lands of milk and honey” to the north…. reclaim your power…..reclaim democracy……reclaim liberty…..not just for yourselves, but for the rest of us. With power comes responsibility and what we need for the people of the “developed” north to recognise is that “their” power is being eroded, twisted and used in a manner most foul.
Remember that the true power of any and every nation does not lie in its guns, bombs or politicians…….. but in the combined hearts and will of its people. If all of you that agreed stood up, the fate of the world would have no recourse but to CHANGE.
Well said, Rene-Marie.
Funny enough, an Australian (Dick Smith) said:
“I wouldn’t be the prime-minister of Australia unless they allowed me to be a dictator. You can’t possibly achieve anything in 3 years”
Scary thought, yet there is some truth to that. Democracy in the form we experience it is far from fair.
lest we forget
peace
Hi Tangitehau. I’m with you.
I personally have for a few years now seen the need to pull back and strengthen my connection to the inner realms as I learn & experience more and more about the potentially treacherous times we live in. I feel it is from this inner strength that I can make a difference. Also getting active locally is so important. The grassroots networks will eventually be essential for survival if the predicted outcomes of global warming & peak oil occur. At this time we have an information overload happening of unprecedented nature. My hope is that this empowers us rather than confuses and perplexes us even more. The powers that are running this planet are proving to be non – benevolent.
Hi Russ
Unfortunately, bad news sells. So the media will feed it to us, seek it out and exaggerate it to make it saleable. So many people become more depressed about the world situation. Much of the news, we don’t really need to know about in our every day lives.
Dear Sean,
You have said a lot things and covered lots of ground. I have a Jim Rohn MP3 at home and he talks about being nudged off your course. You can be nudged and notice it, for example being pushed by another person and you notice it right ?. Then there is the other type of nudge: this is the nudge where you are nudged but, you don’t really notice it. It is gentle, subtle and stealth like and these are the nudges that are happening in the world. So much so, we forget as human beings who we are, what we are about and what life is about. I believe what Jesus said: he said to love your neighbour as you would yourself. If we loved our neighbour just as we love oursleves, then we would take care of one another right ?. My last point is this and it comes from Bill Clinton: we need to be “vigilant”.
Hi Roger
I believe it is in the interest of the authorities to “nudge you off your course”. They don’t want you to break away from the every day rat race! They need you to fill your role in society. Otherwise the system as we know it falls down in a big heap. No workers – no system
well, all comments are greatly described in an openness and importance of being at now. Our responsibilities for now as human being for our kids (next generation) is well said, and bring awareness to us.
May to accept changes for the better, to accept non institutional ideas, no matter who says it from which background, race, idea-logy or land.
Feeling about all kids and try to do some thing about it now rather than getting too late, is a say at least to condemn politicians who does war mongering around the world, or simply turning their heads off either because big brother says it is for freedom/ liberty or their own ego.
Uphold human rights everywhere in and out.
Hi Alan
Looking after our kids, respecting them and others futures is paramount. What a great place to live!
Thanks Alan
For me defining what is rich or what is poor and what is third world was simply a paradox of nothing.
What was the truth was a political notion of curruptions racism to a self gear denyance to self seclussion. No one can say your rich,
when you think having a villa made of stone and a shinny car and eating froozen foods for ten years in the middle of ravaging snow,And at the end of twenty years you just found yourselves paying great deal of wealth to hospitals as your famous lifestyle of the rich in sickness horror, due
of first world definition when you cloth yourselves seven clothes at a time. Is it to be a third world when we stay in a country
you don’t have to were anything but because of decensy I just have my spaghitti at least with a mini skirt to cover my sensitive part..
For me when you say HUMAN RIGHT is BORDERLESS JUST -FAIR – EQUAL TREATMENT REGARDLESS OF COLOR AND RACE.
THERE IS ONLY ONE WORLD AND ONE HUMAN BEING. And it’s practicality is always earthly.
Thanks for sharing
Hi Sean,
I love this post because it frustrates me the difference we could make if we were just willing to get involved. For instance, nearly 20 years ago, I started working for a supermarket in Australia. At the end of each day we would throw out so much food you would not believe it. I asked why we were not donating this food to homeless shelters and there were legal reasons that prevented the supermarket from doing this. Yet, just recently, I see that at least one of the major supermarkets are now trialling this in the larger cities. So, we could do it if we really wanted to.
We have so much in Australia and yet the standard of living for Australian Aborigines is a national disgrace. It’s not just the Aborigines; it’s the elderly, the disabled, the homeless and the list goes on. All of these people need our help in one form or another. I think we should be more compassionate and start taking care of those who for one reason or another can’t take care of themselves. We really need to re-think the way we treat all of our people.
20 years ago in Adelaide I used to help David do his local supermarket rounds, as he picked up (out of their big waste bins) and delivered to several charities around town. He took the best stuff for himself, but that left about half a ton daily of excellent food for charity. As someone from England said “the vegetables that David gives away are better than the vegetables you can buy at the shops in England”. The supermarkets tried to stop him, but generally failed.
Wal Heinrich´s last blog ..Think And Grow Rich Mindset Mastery
Sadly enough Jazz, 20 years on nothing changes – I still work at one of the major grocery chains (that shall remain nameless, but if you are thinking Fresh Food People, it’s not always the case!..
)
The disgraceful amount of waste at the end of a trading day really p-sses me off… Only recently has there been a half-hearted attempt to keep dented cans for food drives & produce/bakery leftovers for local farmers animals. This is still quality food fit for human consumption, but due to us being “protected” from harm with a million laws, what was good to sell at 9.00pm on any given night, is deemed toxic & thrown in the bin at 9.01pm, they won’t even donate to the staff.
It breaks our hearts seeing what happens behind the scenes, knowing how many people are starving, not just in third world countries, but 5 minutes down the street…
Mel Smith´s last blog ..Effective Twitter Marketing Techniques for Online Businesses
I totally agree – it is almost criminal the wastage of good food from groceries and restaurants. The laws meant to protect us are two-edged swords.
You would think our law-makers and health departments could come up with a plan that ensures that the ‘expired’ foodstuffs and damaged sealed goods could be safely distributed.
Not much chance of that being a headline policy even during an election, but I bet there are millions of Australians who would agree with you – and would support any pollie who proposed a solution.
Hi Sean,
Good on you! Not many people will speak out on such issues as Human Rights for fear of being persecuted or branded with a label of some sort. Our rights in Australia are being eroded so quickly and people seem to be not aware of it. They are not becoming alarmed and just accept an unjust law without questioning anything.
Like just recently, the other night on TV, on the news, they interviewed people in the street who were being fined $58 each for “Jaywalking” and this was including school children being fined. I was absolutely horrified. Two schoolgirls who were fined said they had part-time jobs and stated how many hours they will have to work to pay the fine. This type of practice is totally illegal and against human rights. In Australians have protection against such things happening like this. We have protection under the Annotated Constitution of the Australian Commonwealth. We have this protection due to, a. innocent until proven guilty, law, b. no punishment before conviction, law, c. An accused person has a right to put his accuser in the witness box. d. There is no crime committed when there is no victim, e. Guilt has to be proven and they are making laws just to take our money and the law was not meant for that, f. We have a legal obligation to practice civil disobedience if laws are made that are in conflict with the Federal Constitution. Being fined for jaywalking fits that bill along with other traffic fines including speeding fines, etc. Statute law is the lowest law of the land, however “authorities” would have you believe it is “the only law of the land” this is not so – see more on this at, http://www.upmart.org
Jill.
Thanks Jill. That is some very handy information. I will look further into that for sure.
I’m very inspired to know that there is a cause that brings bloggers together for human rights.
Lina Nguyen´s last blog ..Richard Branson Business School: A day visit
For those who do not know me, I won’t sit down and watch injustice – that is not a role I have ever been able to play. Even so, it takes good self-awareness to ensure the nudging that goes on is rectified, especially when it’s supposedly friendly.
We must do something. The old ‘think globally and acting locally’ is a great way to start; a bit like cleaning a room – just start somewhere and keep going.
Applying Mr Hill’s principles of ’success’ can be transferred effectively too.
Jo Carey-Bradshaw´s last blog ..Empowering Mindset – Mindfulness
Fortunately or not, Napoleon Hills 13 principles work whether someone wants to better their life or whether someone wants power over others. There is nothing in his books that say someone needs to personify angelic-ness. Some of the people Napoleon mentions as being proponents of his methods were generally thought of as tyrants. Ultimately I believe we need to see human rights and political freedom as an aspect of being rich. Then think and grow rich takes on a new meaning.
Wal Heinrich´s last blog ..Think And Grow Rich Mindset Mastery
Excellent point Wal. Ask anyone who has experineced someone’s death intimately, who knows what the last thoughts are about. Go visit someone in a hospice. Or an aged home, or read a book. No-one gives half a second to the coin/plastic/numbers on a bit of paper. Like a school reunion, or a funeral alike, the thing that is remembered is the feeling of abundance, of love, of respect and worth, life and laughter and human qualities abounding. We have lost that with our social engineering .
A bully can only be a bully when there are people willing to both play victims, and those willing to watch. This is what we need to change within ourselves.
Jo Carey-Bradshaw´s last blog ..Empowering Mindset – Mastering Self
Jo & Wal those are both excellent viewpoints! There is certainly a lot more to being “rich” than simply having a lot of cash in the bank: “the thing that is remembered is the feeling of abundance, of love, of respect and worth, life and laughter and human qualities abounding.” Absolutely!!
What else is the point in becoming financially abundant, if we can find no joy or reason to be that way?..
Sharing the love, wealth & everything we have in this life & world, allows us to remember who we really are – no victims unless we choose, no perpetrators unless we choose. So many people still don’t realise/remember that we are responsible for our choices & without choosing abundance in all forms, so many “go without”.
Awareness is possibly the first great blessing…
Mel Smith´s last blog ..Effective Twitter Marketing Techniques for Online Businesses
We are so used to our rights in the “developed world” that we might start to forget to fight for them and make sure they stay our rights. Thank you Sean for this post, it is a great reminder that we have to stay aware of what is happening.
Is that “Bloggers Unite” a regular event or was it a one off?
Renee´s last blog ..Definition Of Motivation
Hi Sean,
Unfortunately the situation can also be: Third world problems today will become our problems tomorrow. That’s if we do not have eternal vigilance. We do not have eternal vigilance because he have full bellies.
Once a population has allowed a corrupt government to erode away their Human Rights so that a basic human right is thing of the past (such as a right of passage) then so will a full belly be a thing of the past as well. New arrivals to Australia can not see the writing on the wall. The problem with that is political protesters become the minority and without a voice. Governments are then not made accountable for their actions by the voter.
We then have the problems of the third world. The same problems that caused the new arrivals to flee their own country. New arrivals can not see the decline because they don’t know anything better.
Jill Brown´s last blog ..Common Law Marriage – What is Common Law Marriage?
Before I begin to see others as downtrodden, abused and terrorised I must look within myself and stop that happening to me.
Where do I say yes when I really mean no?
Do I terrorise myself with my own thoughts and if so can I stop them?
Do I stand up to those who try to convince me they are honourable when their behaviour is contradictory to what they say?
Do I stop oppression in my own life?
Do I stand strong to my own values despite the ridicule from others?
Do I really care about helping others or do I want to be seen to be ‘Important’?
When I have stopped oppression and bullying in my own life , then I can really make a difference to those who need help.
Elly´s last blog ..
I followed your link here from Facebook Elly – so glad you posted it, thanks!
Asking ourselves the hard questions first is the best starting point – I think sometimes it can be so hard to be completely honest with ourselves, as no one really likes to look too deep inside, in case we find things we don’t like or are not too proud of. I know I have my moments of not wanting to face my real fears, which are often centered on not wanting to let other people down.
As the saying goes, ” If we don’t learn to go within, we go without”..
Mel Smith´s last blog ..Effective Twitter Marketing Techniques for Online Businesses
The euphemisms of the military are mind-blowing! MOABs and collateral damage – it is a great way to use words to cover up real meaning – sort of LSI at its worst!
Another one is “friendly fire” – when someone on the same side is bombed etc by an ally – nothing freindly about it and it reeks of covering up a bloody great stuff up.
It seems we are in an era where no one really wants to take true responsibility – especially in acts of warfare.
This is always a timely post Sean, as sadly there seems to be a constant stream of oppression & bastardization inflicting wounds on countless people around the globe…
After visiting Thailand in September 2009, seeing over 700 children who have been rescued from the horrors of the sex-slave trade & realising that’s barely the tip of the iceberg, I made my resolve to do whatever I can in my lifetime to help ensure modern slavery is stamped out. Raising awareness is the first step, as so many people don’t even realise what brutality lurks in the shadows – from family abuse in the suburbs where wives & kids feel trapped, to child soldiers & mining slaves in Africa, to women & girls being trafficked from the Balkans, Asia, Europe, USA & even Australia, being enslaved in brothels around the world, until they escape, or die…
It seems like an endless task, almost insurmountable, but there is ALWAYS HOPE. Those who are freed are able to go on & help others as they rebuild their own lives, as with just one project at work in northern Thailand. I hope you don’t mind me sharing this link here Sean, I simply hope to be able to use my future skills in internet marketing to create great project sites that can bring in much needed funds, but even more importantly – TELL PEOPLE what is going on & how we all have the power to help.
My family sponsors two kids at this orphanage/training centre for Akha tribal children in Thailand: http://childrengoldentriangle.org Almost 500 kids call this home now & they have only 6 adults to care for them! (Asa Stevenson can be found on Facebook & Linked In) Volunteers come & go, but overall the older kids look after & teach the younger ones varied life-skills & help prevent them being kidnapped & enslaved. They appreciate it if people can pass on the message to others, that children (& all people) are NOT FOR SALE…
Thanks so much Sean – sharing your work, knowledge & gifts with us in this competition will have a huge impact on the positive work I can do in the near future!
Mel Smith´s last blog ..Effective Twitter Marketing Techniques for Online Businesses
It may seem like an endless task Mel – but every little step is one step further on that journey. It is better than standing still!
The thing is for us not to get tragedy fatigue – these types of events are always with us and we can shut off if we are not careful…… and then those who need our support – such as you mention get left working on alone.