Karmajungle

"If there is a light in the soul, there will be beauty in the person. If there is beauty in the person, there will be harmony in the house. If there is harmony in the house, there will be order in the nation. If there is order in the nation, there will be peace in the world " Chinese Proverb

Sometimes harmony feels like a Timothy Leary flashback in a crazy world with  psycho-delic problems that just won`t go away. We`ve got our constant War and greed (somehow they`re always connected at the hip), Global Warming and greed (somehow we can`t see "the forest for the trees" in the continuing saga of greed over common sense) , and Extreme Global Poverty and the greedy neglect that keeps us rationalizing unnecessary suffering and death in the face of real, workable, affordable solutions. And until we wear another woman`s shoes and really empathize suffering it`ll likely be more of the same old shite. Africa just keeps dying and we keep talking.

But maybe we can enjoy saving the world. Maybe we can be inspired by people we admire to "do the right thing". Maybe we can indulge a fantasy that we share the same stage with Sting, Wyclef Jean, Kanye West, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, George Clooney and Madonna. Indulge our pleasures and help save the world. A self serving pipe dream or a party template for change?

I say "show me the money" and whatever form it takes to fund the simple, workable genius of plans like "millennium villages", "H2O for Africa", "spread the Net", and millennium cities" that show how we can overcome corruption and greed to get the money fully delivered to real solutions. Listen for some sage. Its either George Bush and Stevie Harper telling us we can`t afford to make a difference (hey Exxon needs those tax breaks, come on) or Bono and Matt Damon showing us that we can "make a real difference" in desperate people`s lives. They represent organizations that get the money to the people. Organizations that can deliver what elected governments worldwide refuse to do. Make Poverty History.

Matt Damon tells us that "a sustainable clean water well can be created and maintained for a 5 year period for as little as $10,000. Projects like this have the potential to save millions of lives in Africa". And this is Jason Bourne we`re talking about. This guy is a relentless force of good at any cost. Maybe we can indulge a Damon movie (they`re usually great) and dance to the music of U2, or just hitch a ride on any celebrity wagon that Galas for poverty with a passion that our politicians can`t seem to match.

Idiot politicians feeding our neglect will never "make a difference". We should consider Jeffrey Sachs insistence that we can "MakePovertyHistory" in our time. This guy is a gifted economist with a plan to "End Poverty" and he`s got the ear of the Bonos, Damons, Affleks, Wyclefs and so many more. Even the odd politician is moved by this guy. So party harty, turn on, tune in and drop by the next celebrity event that sings the end of poverty. These people are "Making a Difference"! We can be part of the difference at the Poverty Rally on Oct.1 at Massey Hall in Toronto. Share the stage with great local musicians and (hold your nose) politicians trying to affect change.

The winds of change are blowing and maybe the next "great movie" will be "The Poverty Ultimatum" starriing Jason Bourne attacking greed to the next great U2 soundtrack. A high Def attack on poverty. Can`t wait.