Bullshit Thread #7

[lithium royalty]

A human rights group is demanding that the Namibia government ban actors Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie from their country following the birth of their child Shiloh. Namibia's National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) claims the couple are "colonial overlords" and allege that they took over the African country when their daughter Shiloh was born there this month.

An NSHR spokesman said: "To shut down a national border so she can give birth in peace is a massive abuse of power." The human rights group claims Angelina and Brad "used heavy-handed and brutal tactics" to persuade the Namibian government to agree to their demands.

"We condemn the heavy-handed and brutal tactics by security agents directed at selected journalists covering the holidays of Hollywood celebrities Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt in Namibia," a spokesperson said. 

"The National Society for Human Rights  has condemned the reported deportation of photojournalists from Namibia accused of 'harassing' Hollywood celebrities Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, who are on holidays in the country."

"They [Pitt and Jolie] are, like anyone else, entitled to virtually all the human rights, including the right to privacy but only in private places, such as their home and similar other enclosure. Invoking the right to privacy in a public place is absurd!" said a NSHR press release.

The group also condemned the government of Namibia: "Again Messrs. Jolie and Pitt are celebrities and as reasonable beings they are fully aware of this fact. If they probably thought of coming to Namibia (in the bundus to enjoy their right to privacy) where there apparently is no freedom of speech and the press, then they were ill informed."

"Is there no privacy in Hollywood? We wish our government had similar or even better care and social protection for the hundreds of our own pregnant Namibian mothers who go without medical care, food and shelter! But government can afford to spend thousands of taxpayers' money on the so-called protection of the privacy for a filthy rich Hollywood family! Who is fooling whom?" NSHR stated.

now i know that a lot of you like Angelina, i can respect the work that she has done on behalf of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). but it is a bit ridiculous and "colonial" for a white couple to go to an African nation and demand the countries basic human rights be put on the back burner so that they can have a private birth.

i really don't understand why these people who have all the money in the world can't just stay in America (where they are from) and go through all this mess. they have no business OR right to go to another country and impose their will on the native population. and although the couple did make a generous contribution to various hospitals in the country we have to look at what actually happened. the government of this country basically pandered to the whims and needs of a multi-millionaire white couple who graced the country with their presence...and i am sure that they only got their way because the local gov. felt like they would benefit out of the publicity but in the meantime fundamental freedom of speech and human rights were pushed to this side so that this couple could have their way. not cool at all especially when local human rights from the area take offense to it.

on another note, when it comes to using celebrities to push forth various social/human rights issues i used to be in full favour of it. but i have been working with a medical NGO for a few years now and i no longer see it that way. i think celebrities are only good for one thing and that's their money. usually it ends up costing NGO's more money to work with these people, their security is always a huge issue, and they are the most obnoxious individuals. in the past 5 years the ONLY celebrities (that i have ever come across) who were down to earth and actually humble about what they were doing were zack de la rocha, benicio del toro, claire danes, and that dude from Lord of The Rings. don't know his name, but he was the King at the end. anyways they were the only who were chill, easy going, and NORMAL. they were SO easy to work with, they showed up to events at the last minute when we would just make one phone call. they drove their own cars, didn't ask for dressing rooms, didn't really ask for anything...would just show up and act like normal people - they would give money without making a big deal out of it or wanting some expensive award, etc. just CHILL...the rest just cost us money and annoyed the shit out of EVERYONE working on an event with them.

and further, although celebrities bring in the big bucks. i am no longer really convinced that they actually raise awareness about the issues that we're working on. in fact i think that they dumb and water things down. take that live 8 bullshit in scotland last year. what a crock of shit. they didn't even attempt to raise money and they had put on this giant expensive show - and hmmm have you heard anything about what it actually accomplished? nada.

i know that most NGO's work with celebrities because it helps the NGO get their name out, but usually i have also seen a backlash. people eventually associate the NGO with celebrities (take PETA for example) and think that's it's just some fluff piece that's out there trying to "convert" others. most of the NGO's that actually end up doing the work that's needed for the long haul, are the ones that are not well known but understand that fundamental basic needs of their work (food, water/waste sanitation, shelter, and medical care.)

call me cynical or whatever, but i think that there are two types of people in the world. those who care and spend time educating themselves about various issues going on in the international community, and those who watch MTV, put their ipod on and are content playing computer games and doing whatever else it is they do with all their free time/so called life. when it comes to the second group of people i really don't think that any hot celebrity is actually going to change their mind, or motivate them into doing SOMETHING or anything at all.

i think those types of things actually damage the work that's being down on the field in various countries. You have all of these students running around wanting to go "help" in Africa blah blah blah - yet they have no needed skills. they are liberal arts, law school students etc. and they want to go Afghanistan, Haiti or Africa to "help" - usually when we have events i have students asking us about wanting to go these "other" countries to help. i ask them what skills they have, and they usually just say that they want to go there to "advocate" for the people - and my response to them is that the people in those countries don't need you to go there to advocate for them. they can do that themselves. what they need is MONEY so that the people who live there and the NGO's who provide the basic needs can do their job.

recently i have been coming across a lot of students who want to go "advocate" for human rights in Sudan. i always say to them "you want to help people there? you can start by petitioning your local, state and federal gov to give more money and aid to the groups already doing work there. push for the UN to do something about the situation. fundraise, organise teach-ins but forget about going to Darfur unless you have some skill that's really needed there." ya know it's eaiser to have the people in those refugee camps "advocate" for themselves if we ensure that they have a full tummy, a clean glass of water, a safe shelter, and medical treatment for themselves and their family. as long as we help provide those staples they can fight back and work the situation out themselves.

and it might sound offensive but that's why i always tell these people that unless they have some skill (doctor, engineer, nurse, psychologist, architect, computer nerd, construction, reporter, Human rights observer, etc) you are not needed there. you want help people out? do your research and raise money for NGO's that are are doing basic aid work, and make sure that they don't have a large overhead. they don't need a bunch of students to go in there and tell them how to help themselves. in fact it's actually harder to have a bunch of students there, they are going to have to help the students adjust, learn the language, and the students are most likely going to be somewhat of a security liability.

i have always strongly believed that when people are suffering, what they need the most is the emotional and financial support of the international community. that does not mean going in there and doing the work for them, you give the people on the ground the basic thigns to get on their own feet and they will know what to do for themselves a lot better than someone from another country can. that's the only reason why i respect and work with groups like engineers without borders, doctors without borders and many others like them. they don't just go into a country, do the work and leave. they actually train many people within the local population to do the work that's needed to maintain the various humanitarian projects. they provide the basics and understand that the funding and education go hand in hand.

i feel like it's so selfish. if you want to help someone out and if it's really about doing the work, go help someone in your own local community. look around or drive 20 minutes away and i am sure you'll find a local group that needs your volunteer hours. but i guess that kind of work might not sound noble enough. i mean who wants to do some thankless job like filing paper work at a local food bank or womens shelter when you can tell all of your friends that you've been saving peoples lives in Ethiopia!



[this is something that a friend i used to go to high school with wrote on an online-journal. it's her way of communicating with us. it's her opinion, not mine and i highly respect it. she does great work.]

I wish I wasn't lazy and that I could read that... Too bad I can't...

yes this is definitely way too much to read..... atleast on a deftones message board.

[jsutin]

I'm gonna be rollin' this time tomorrow !!!!

[Moz La Punk]

A human rights group is demanding that the Namibia government ban actors Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie from their country following the birth of their child Shiloh. Namibia's National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) claims the couple are "colonial overlords" and allege that they took over the African country when their daughter Shiloh was born there this month.

An NSHR spokesman said: "To shut down a national border so she can give birth in peace is a massive abuse of power." The human rights group claims Angelina and Brad "used heavy-handed and brutal tactics" to persuade the Namibian government to agree to their demands.

"We condemn the heavy-handed and brutal tactics by security agents directed at selected journalists covering the holidays of Hollywood celebrities Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt in Namibia," a spokesperson said. 

"The National Society for Human Rights  has condemned the reported deportation of photojournalists from Namibia accused of 'harassing' Hollywood celebrities Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, who are on holidays in the country."

"They [Pitt and Jolie] are, like anyone else, entitled to virtually all the human rights, including the right to privacy but only in private places, such as their home and similar other enclosure. Invoking the right to privacy in a public place is absurd!" said a NSHR press release.

The group also condemned the government of Namibia: "Again Messrs. Jolie and Pitt are celebrities and as reasonable beings they are fully aware of this fact. If they probably thought of coming to Namibia (in the bundus to enjoy their right to privacy) where there apparently is no freedom of speech and the press, then they were ill informed."

"Is there no privacy in Hollywood? We wish our government had similar or even better care and social protection for the hundreds of our own pregnant Namibian mothers who go without medical care, food and shelter! But government can afford to spend thousands of taxpayers' money on the so-called protection of the privacy for a filthy rich Hollywood family! Who is fooling whom?" NSHR stated.

now i know that a lot of you like Angelina, i can respect the work that she has done on behalf of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). but it is a bit ridiculous and "colonial" for a white couple to go to an African nation and demand the countries basic human rights be put on the back burner so that they can have a private birth.

i really don't understand why these people who have all the money in the world can't just stay in America (where they are from) and go through all this mess. they have no business OR right to go to another country and impose their will on the native population. and although the couple did make a generous contribution to various hospitals in the country we have to look at what actually happened. the government of this country basically pandered to the whims and needs of a multi-millionaire white couple who graced the country with their presence...and i am sure that they only got their way because the local gov. felt like they would benefit out of the publicity but in the meantime fundamental freedom of speech and human rights were pushed to this side so that this couple could have their way. not cool at all especially when local human rights from the area take offense to it.

on another note, when it comes to using celebrities to push forth various social/human rights issues i used to be in full favour of it. but i have been working with a medical NGO for a few years now and i no longer see it that way. i think celebrities are only good for one thing and that's their money. usually it ends up costing NGO's more money to work with these people, their security is always a huge issue, and they are the most obnoxious individuals. in the past 5 years the ONLY celebrities (that i have ever come across) who were down to earth and actually humble about what they were doing were zack de la rocha, benicio del toro, claire danes, and that dude from Lord of The Rings. don't know his name, but he was the King at the end. anyways they were the only who were chill, easy going, and NORMAL. they were SO easy to work with, they showed up to events at the last minute when we would just make one phone call. they drove their own cars, didn't ask for dressing rooms, didn't really ask for anything...would just show up and act like normal people - they would give money without making a big deal out of it or wanting some expensive award, etc. just CHILL...the rest just cost us money and annoyed the shit out of EVERYONE working on an event with them.

and further, although celebrities bring in the big bucks. i am no longer really convinced that they actually raise awareness about the issues that we're working on. in fact i think that they dumb and water things down. take that live 8 bullshit in scotland last year. what a crock of shit. they didn't even attempt to raise money and they had put on this giant expensive show - and hmmm have you heard anything about what it actually accomplished? nada.

i know that most NGO's work with celebrities because it helps the NGO get their name out, but usually i have also seen a backlash. people eventually associate the NGO with celebrities (take PETA for example) and think that's it's just some fluff piece that's out there trying to "convert" others. most of the NGO's that actually end up doing the work that's needed for the long haul, are the ones that are not well known but understand that fundamental basic needs of their work (food, water/waste sanitation, shelter, and medical care.)

call me cynical or whatever, but i think that there are two types of people in the world. those who care and spend time educating themselves about various issues going on in the international community, and those who watch MTV, put their ipod on and are content playing computer games and doing whatever else it is they do with all their free time/so called life. when it comes to the second group of people i really don't think that any hot celebrity is actually going to change their mind, or motivate them into doing SOMETHING or anything at all.

i think those types of things actually damage the work that's being down on the field in various countries. You have all of these students running around wanting to go "help" in Africa blah blah blah - yet they have no needed skills. they are liberal arts, law school students etc. and they want to go Afghanistan, Haiti or Africa to "help" - usually when we have events i have students asking us about wanting to go these "other" countries to help. i ask them what skills they have, and they usually just say that they want to go there to "advocate" for the people - and my response to them is that the people in those countries don't need you to go there to advocate for them. they can do that themselves. what they need is MONEY so that the people who live there and the NGO's who provide the basic needs can do their job.

recently i have been coming across a lot of students who want to go "advocate" for human rights in Sudan. i always say to them "you want to help people there? you can start by petitioning your local, state and federal gov to give more money and aid to the groups already doing work there. push for the UN to do something about the situation. fundraise, organise teach-ins but forget about going to Darfur unless you have some skill that's really needed there." ya know it's eaiser to have the people in those refugee camps "advocate" for themselves if we ensure that they have a full tummy, a clean glass of water, a safe shelter, and medical treatment for themselves and their family. as long as we help provide those staples they can fight back and work the situation out themselves.

and it might sound offensive but that's why i always tell these people that unless they have some skill (doctor, engineer, nurse, psychologist, architect, computer nerd, construction, reporter, Human rights observer, etc) you are not needed there. you want help people out? do your research and raise money for NGO's that are are doing basic aid work, and make sure that they don't have a large overhead. they don't need a bunch of students to go in there and tell them how to help themselves. in fact it's actually harder to have a bunch of students there, they are going to have to help the students adjust, learn the language, and the students are most likely going to be somewhat of a security liability.

i have always strongly believed that when people are suffering, what they need the most is the emotional and financial support of the international community. that does not mean going in there and doing the work for them, you give the people on the ground the basic thigns to get on their own feet and they will know what to do for themselves a lot better than someone from another country can. that's the only reason why i respect and work with groups like engineers without borders, doctors without borders and many others like them. they don't just go into a country, do the work and leave. they actually train many people within the local population to do the work that's needed to maintain the various humanitarian projects. they provide the basics and understand that the funding and education go hand in hand.

i feel like it's so selfish. if you want to help someone out and if it's really about doing the work, go help someone in your own local community. look around or drive 20 minutes away and i am sure you'll find a local group that needs your volunteer hours. but i guess that kind of work might not sound noble enough. i mean who wants to do some thankless job like filing paper work at a local food bank or womens shelter when you can tell all of your friends that you've been saving peoples lives in Ethiopia!



[this is something that a friend i used to go to high school with wrote on an online-journal. it's her way of communicating with us. it's her opinion, not mine and i highly respect it. she does great work.]

I wish I wasn't lazy and that I could read that... Too bad I can't...

yes this is definitely way too much to read..... atleast on a deftones message board.

People quoting this... what a mess!

[tarkil]

A human rights group is demanding that the Namibia government ban actors Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie from their country following the birth of their child Shiloh. Namibia's National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) claims the couple are "colonial overlords" and allege that they took over the African country when their daughter Shiloh was born there this month.

An NSHR spokesman said: "To shut down a national border so she can give birth in peace is a massive abuse of power." The human rights group claims Angelina and Brad "used heavy-handed and brutal tactics" to persuade the Namibian government to agree to their demands.

"We condemn the heavy-handed and brutal tactics by security agents directed at selected journalists covering the holidays of Hollywood celebrities Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt in Namibia," a spokesperson said. 

"The National Society for Human Rights  has condemned the reported deportation of photojournalists from Namibia accused of 'harassing' Hollywood celebrities Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, who are on holidays in the country."

"They [Pitt and Jolie] are, like anyone else, entitled to virtually all the human rights, including the right to privacy but only in private places, such as their home and similar other enclosure. Invoking the right to privacy in a public place is absurd!" said a NSHR press release.

The group also condemned the government of Namibia: "Again Messrs. Jolie and Pitt are celebrities and as reasonable beings they are fully aware of this fact. If they probably thought of coming to Namibia (in the bundus to enjoy their right to privacy) where there apparently is no freedom of speech and the press, then they were ill informed."

"Is there no privacy in Hollywood? We wish our government had similar or even better care and social protection for the hundreds of our own pregnant Namibian mothers who go without medical care, food and shelter! But government can afford to spend thousands of taxpayers' money on the so-called protection of the privacy for a filthy rich Hollywood family! Who is fooling whom?" NSHR stated.

now i know that a lot of you like Angelina, i can respect the work that she has done on behalf of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). but it is a bit ridiculous and "colonial" for a white couple to go to an African nation and demand the countries basic human rights be put on the back burner so that they can have a private birth.

i really don't understand why these people who have all the money in the world can't just stay in America (where they are from) and go through all this mess. they have no business OR right to go to another country and impose their will on the native population. and although the couple did make a generous contribution to various hospitals in the country we have to look at what actually happened. the government of this country basically pandered to the whims and needs of a multi-millionaire white couple who graced the country with their presence...and i am sure that they only got their way because the local gov. felt like they would benefit out of the publicity but in the meantime fundamental freedom of speech and human rights were pushed to this side so that this couple could have their way. not cool at all especially when local human rights from the area take offense to it.

on another note, when it comes to using celebrities to push forth various social/human rights issues i used to be in full favour of it. but i have been working with a medical NGO for a few years now and i no longer see it that way. i think celebrities are only good for one thing and that's their money. usually it ends up costing NGO's more money to work with these people, their security is always a huge issue, and they are the most obnoxious individuals. in the past 5 years the ONLY celebrities (that i have ever come across) who were down to earth and actually humble about what they were doing were zack de la rocha, benicio del toro, claire danes, and that dude from Lord of The Rings. don't know his name, but he was the King at the end. anyways they were the only who were chill, easy going, and NORMAL. they were SO easy to work with, they showed up to events at the last minute when we would just make one phone call. they drove their own cars, didn't ask for dressing rooms, didn't really ask for anything...would just show up and act like normal people - they would give money without making a big deal out of it or wanting some expensive award, etc. just CHILL...the rest just cost us money and annoyed the shit out of EVERYONE working on an event with them.

and further, although celebrities bring in the big bucks. i am no longer really convinced that they actually raise awareness about the issues that we're working on. in fact i think that they dumb and water things down. take that live 8 bullshit in scotland last year. what a crock of shit. they didn't even attempt to raise money and they had put on this giant expensive show - and hmmm have you heard anything about what it actually accomplished? nada.

i know that most NGO's work with celebrities because it helps the NGO get their name out, but usually i have also seen a backlash. people eventually associate the NGO with celebrities (take PETA for example) and think that's it's just some fluff piece that's out there trying to "convert" others. most of the NGO's that actually end up doing the work that's needed for the long haul, are the ones that are not well known but understand that fundamental basic needs of their work (food, water/waste sanitation, shelter, and medical care.)

call me cynical or whatever, but i think that there are two types of people in the world. those who care and spend time educating themselves about various issues going on in the international community, and those who watch MTV, put their ipod on and are content playing computer games and doing whatever else it is they do with all their free time/so called life. when it comes to the second group of people i really don't think that any hot celebrity is actually going to change their mind, or motivate them into doing SOMETHING or anything at all.

i think those types of things actually damage the work that's being down on the field in various countries. You have all of these students running around wanting to go "help" in Africa blah blah blah - yet they have no needed skills. they are liberal arts, law school students etc. and they want to go Afghanistan, Haiti or Africa to "help" - usually when we have events i have students asking us about wanting to go these "other" countries to help. i ask them what skills they have, and they usually just say that they want to go there to "advocate" for the people - and my response to them is that the people in those countries don't need you to go there to advocate for them. they can do that themselves. what they need is MONEY so that the people who live there and the NGO's who provide the basic needs can do their job.

recently i have been coming across a lot of students who want to go "advocate" for human rights in Sudan. i always say to them "you want to help people there? you can start by petitioning your local, state and federal gov to give more money and aid to the groups already doing work there. push for the UN to do something about the situation. fundraise, organise teach-ins but forget about going to Darfur unless you have some skill that's really needed there." ya know it's eaiser to have the people in those refugee camps "advocate" for themselves if we ensure that they have a full tummy, a clean glass of water, a safe shelter, and medical treatment for themselves and their family. as long as we help provide those staples they can fight back and work the situation out themselves.

and it might sound offensive but that's why i always tell these people that unless they have some skill (doctor, engineer, nurse, psychologist, architect, computer nerd, construction, reporter, Human rights observer, etc) you are not needed there. you want help people out? do your research and raise money for NGO's that are are doing basic aid work, and make sure that they don't have a large overhead. they don't need a bunch of students to go in there and tell them how to help themselves. in fact it's actually harder to have a bunch of students there, they are going to have to help the students adjust, learn the language, and the students are most likely going to be somewhat of a security liability.

i have always strongly believed that when people are suffering, what they need the most is the emotional and financial support of the international community. that does not mean going in there and doing the work for them, you give the people on the ground the basic thigns to get on their own feet and they will know what to do for themselves a lot better than someone from another country can. that's the only reason why i respect and work with groups like engineers without borders, doctors without borders and many others like them. they don't just go into a country, do the work and leave. they actually train many people within the local population to do the work that's needed to maintain the various humanitarian projects. they provide the basics and understand that the funding and education go hand in hand.

i feel like it's so selfish. if you want to help someone out and if it's really about doing the work, go help someone in your own local community. look around or drive 20 minutes away and i am sure you'll find a local group that needs your volunteer hours. but i guess that kind of work might not sound noble enough. i mean who wants to do some thankless job like filing paper work at a local food bank or womens shelter when you can tell all of your friends that you've been saving peoples lives in Ethiopia!



[this is something that a friend i used to go to high school with wrote on an online-journal. it's her way of communicating with us. it's her opinion, not mine and i highly respect it. she does great work.]

I wish I wasn't lazy and that I could read that... Too bad I can't...

yes this is definitely way too much to read..... atleast on a deftones message board.

People quoting this... what a mess!

Yeah, it's really messy... People shouldn't do it...

[Moz La Punk]

A human rights group is demanding that the Namibia government ban actors Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie from their country following the birth of their child Shiloh. Namibia's National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) claims the couple are "colonial overlords" and allege that they took over the African country when their daughter Shiloh was born there this month.

An NSHR spokesman said: "To shut down a national border so she can give birth in peace is a massive abuse of power." The human rights group claims Angelina and Brad "used heavy-handed and brutal tactics" to persuade the Namibian government to agree to their demands.

"We condemn the heavy-handed and brutal tactics by security agents directed at selected journalists covering the holidays of Hollywood celebrities Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt in Namibia," a spokesperson said. 

"The National Society for Human Rights  has condemned the reported deportation of photojournalists from Namibia accused of 'harassing' Hollywood celebrities Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, who are on holidays in the country."

"They [Pitt and Jolie] are, like anyone else, entitled to virtually all the human rights, including the right to privacy but only in private places, such as their home and similar other enclosure. Invoking the right to privacy in a public place is absurd!" said a NSHR press release.

The group also condemned the government of Namibia: "Again Messrs. Jolie and Pitt are celebrities and as reasonable beings they are fully aware of this fact. If they probably thought of coming to Namibia (in the bundus to enjoy their right to privacy) where there apparently is no freedom of speech and the press, then they were ill informed."

"Is there no privacy in Hollywood? We wish our government had similar or even better care and social protection for the hundreds of our own pregnant Namibian mothers who go without medical care, food and shelter! But government can afford to spend thousands of taxpayers' money on the so-called protection of the privacy for a filthy rich Hollywood family! Who is fooling whom?" NSHR stated.

now i know that a lot of you like Angelina, i can respect the work that she has done on behalf of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). but it is a bit ridiculous and "colonial" for a white couple to go to an African nation and demand the countries basic human rights be put on the back burner so that they can have a private birth.

i really don't understand why these people who have all the money in the world can't just stay in America (where they are from) and go through all this mess. they have no business OR right to go to another country and impose their will on the native population. and although the couple did make a generous contribution to various hospitals in the country we have to look at what actually happened. the government of this country basically pandered to the whims and needs of a multi-millionaire white couple who graced the country with their presence...and i am sure that they only got their way because the local gov. felt like they would benefit out of the publicity but in the meantime fundamental freedom of speech and human rights were pushed to this side so that this couple could have their way. not cool at all especially when local human rights from the area take offense to it.

on another note, when it comes to using celebrities to push forth various social/human rights issues i used to be in full favour of it. but i have been working with a medical NGO for a few years now and i no longer see it that way. i think celebrities are only good for one thing and that's their money. usually it ends up costing NGO's more money to work with these people, their security is always a huge issue, and they are the most obnoxious individuals. in the past 5 years the ONLY celebrities (that i have ever come across) who were down to earth and actually humble about what they were doing were zack de la rocha, benicio del toro, claire danes, and that dude from Lord of The Rings. don't know his name, but he was the King at the end. anyways they were the only who were chill, easy going, and NORMAL. they were SO easy to work with, they showed up to events at the last minute when we would just make one phone call. they drove their own cars, didn't ask for dressing rooms, didn't really ask for anything...would just show up and act like normal people - they would give money without making a big deal out of it or wanting some expensive award, etc. just CHILL...the rest just cost us money and annoyed the shit out of EVERYONE working on an event with them.

and further, although celebrities bring in the big bucks. i am no longer really convinced that they actually raise awareness about the issues that we're working on. in fact i think that they dumb and water things down. take that live 8 bullshit in scotland last year. what a crock of shit. they didn't even attempt to raise money and they had put on this giant expensive show - and hmmm have you heard anything about what it actually accomplished? nada.

i know that most NGO's work with celebrities because it helps the NGO get their name out, but usually i have also seen a backlash. people eventually associate the NGO with celebrities (take PETA for example) and think that's it's just some fluff piece that's out there trying to "convert" others. most of the NGO's that actually end up doing the work that's needed for the long haul, are the ones that are not well known but understand that fundamental basic needs of their work (food, water/waste sanitation, shelter, and medical care.)

call me cynical or whatever, but i think that there are two types of people in the world. those who care and spend time educating themselves about various issues going on in the international community, and those who watch MTV, put their ipod on and are content playing computer games and doing whatever else it is they do with all their free time/so called life. when it comes to the second group of people i really don't think that any hot celebrity is actually going to change their mind, or motivate them into doing SOMETHING or anything at all.

i think those types of things actually damage the work that's being down on the field in various countries. You have all of these students running around wanting to go "help" in Africa blah blah blah - yet they have no needed skills. they are liberal arts, law school students etc. and they want to go Afghanistan, Haiti or Africa to "help" - usually when we have events i have students asking us about wanting to go these "other" countries to help. i ask them what skills they have, and they usually just say that they want to go there to "advocate" for the people - and my response to them is that the people in those countries don't need you to go there to advocate for them. they can do that themselves. what they need is MONEY so that the people who live there and the NGO's who provide the basic needs can do their job.

recently i have been coming across a lot of students who want to go "advocate" for human rights in Sudan. i always say to them "you want to help people there? you can start by petitioning your local, state and federal gov to give more money and aid to the groups already doing work there. push for the UN to do something about the situation. fundraise, organise teach-ins but forget about going to Darfur unless you have some skill that's really needed there." ya know it's eaiser to have the people in those refugee camps "advocate" for themselves if we ensure that they have a full tummy, a clean glass of water, a safe shelter, and medical treatment for themselves and their family. as long as we help provide those staples they can fight back and work the situation out themselves.

and it might sound offensive but that's why i always tell these people that unless they have some skill (doctor, engineer, nurse, psychologist, architect, computer nerd, construction, reporter, Human rights observer, etc) you are not needed there. you want help people out? do your research and raise money for NGO's that are are doing basic aid work, and make sure that they don't have a large overhead. they don't need a bunch of students to go in there and tell them how to help themselves. in fact it's actually harder to have a bunch of students there, they are going to have to help the students adjust, learn the language, and the students are most likely going to be somewhat of a security liability.

i have always strongly believed that when people are suffering, what they need the most is the emotional and financial support of the international community. that does not mean going in there and doing the work for them, you give the people on the ground the basic thigns to get on their own feet and they will know what to do for themselves a lot better than someone from another country can. that's the only reason why i respect and work with groups like engineers without borders, doctors without borders and many others like them. they don't just go into a country, do the work and leave. they actually train many people within the local population to do the work that's needed to maintain the various humanitarian projects. they provide the basics and understand that the funding and education go hand in hand.

i feel like it's so selfish. if you want to help someone out and if it's really about doing the work, go help someone in your own local community. look around or drive 20 minutes away and i am sure you'll find a local group that needs your volunteer hours. but i guess that kind of work might not sound noble enough. i mean who wants to do some thankless job like filing paper work at a local food bank or womens shelter when you can tell all of your friends that you've been saving peoples lives in Ethiopia!



[this is something that a friend i used to go to high school with wrote on an online-journal. it's her way of communicating with us. it's her opinion, not mine and i highly respect it. she does great work.]

I wish I wasn't lazy and that I could read that... Too bad I can't...

yes this is definitely way too much to read..... atleast on a deftones message board.

People quoting this... what a mess!

Yeah, it's really messy... People shouldn't do it...

Agreed.

[tarkil]

A human rights group is demanding that the Namibia government ban actors Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie from their country following the birth of their child Shiloh. Namibia's National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) claims the couple are "colonial overlords" and allege that they took over the African country when their daughter Shiloh was born there this month.

An NSHR spokesman said: "To shut down a national border so she can give birth in peace is a massive abuse of power." The human rights group claims Angelina and Brad "used heavy-handed and brutal tactics" to persuade the Namibian government to agree to their demands.

"We condemn the heavy-handed and brutal tactics by security agents directed at selected journalists covering the holidays of Hollywood celebrities Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt in Namibia," a spokesperson said. 

"The National Society for Human Rights  has condemned the reported deportation of photojournalists from Namibia accused of 'harassing' Hollywood celebrities Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, who are on holidays in the country."

"They [Pitt and Jolie] are, like anyone else, entitled to virtually all the human rights, including the right to privacy but only in private places, such as their home and similar other enclosure. Invoking the right to privacy in a public place is absurd!" said a NSHR press release.

The group also condemned the government of Namibia: "Again Messrs. Jolie and Pitt are celebrities and as reasonable beings they are fully aware of this fact. If they probably thought of coming to Namibia (in the bundus to enjoy their right to privacy) where there apparently is no freedom of speech and the press, then they were ill informed."

"Is there no privacy in Hollywood? We wish our government had similar or even better care and social protection for the hundreds of our own pregnant Namibian mothers who go without medical care, food and shelter! But government can afford to spend thousands of taxpayers' money on the so-called protection of the privacy for a filthy rich Hollywood family! Who is fooling whom?" NSHR stated.

now i know that a lot of you like Angelina, i can respect the work that she has done on behalf of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). but it is a bit ridiculous and "colonial" for a white couple to go to an African nation and demand the countries basic human rights be put on the back burner so that they can have a private birth.

i really don't understand why these people who have all the money in the world can't just stay in America (where they are from) and go through all this mess. they have no business OR right to go to another country and impose their will on the native population. and although the couple did make a generous contribution to various hospitals in the country we have to look at what actually happened. the government of this country basically pandered to the whims and needs of a multi-millionaire white couple who graced the country with their presence...and i am sure that they only got their way because the local gov. felt like they would benefit out of the publicity but in the meantime fundamental freedom of speech and human rights were pushed to this side so that this couple could have their way. not cool at all especially when local human rights from the area take offense to it.

on another note, when it comes to using celebrities to push forth various social/human rights issues i used to be in full favour of it. but i have been working with a medical NGO for a few years now and i no longer see it that way. i think celebrities are only good for one thing and that's their money. usually it ends up costing NGO's more money to work with these people, their security is always a huge issue, and they are the most obnoxious individuals. in the past 5 years the ONLY celebrities (that i have ever come across) who were down to earth and actually humble about what they were doing were zack de la rocha, benicio del toro, claire danes, and that dude from Lord of The Rings. don't know his name, but he was the King at the end. anyways they were the only who were chill, easy going, and NORMAL. they were SO easy to work with, they showed up to events at the last minute when we would just make one phone call. they drove their own cars, didn't ask for dressing rooms, didn't really ask for anything...would just show up and act like normal people - they would give money without making a big deal out of it or wanting some expensive award, etc. just CHILL...the rest just cost us money and annoyed the shit out of EVERYONE working on an event with them.

and further, although celebrities bring in the big bucks. i am no longer really convinced that they actually raise awareness about the issues that we're working on. in fact i think that they dumb and water things down. take that live 8 bullshit in scotland last year. what a crock of shit. they didn't even attempt to raise money and they had put on this giant expensive show - and hmmm have you heard anything about what it actually accomplished? nada.

i know that most NGO's work with celebrities because it helps the NGO get their name out, but usually i have also seen a backlash. people eventually associate the NGO with celebrities (take PETA for example) and think that's it's just some fluff piece that's out there trying to "convert" others. most of the NGO's that actually end up doing the work that's needed for the long haul, are the ones that are not well known but understand that fundamental basic needs of their work (food, water/waste sanitation, shelter, and medical care.)

call me cynical or whatever, but i think that there are two types of people in the world. those who care and spend time educating themselves about various issues going on in the international community, and those who watch MTV, put their ipod on and are content playing computer games and doing whatever else it is they do with all their free time/so called life. when it comes to the second group of people i really don't think that any hot celebrity is actually going to change their mind, or motivate them into doing SOMETHING or anything at all.

i think those types of things actually damage the work that's being down on the field in various countries. You have all of these students running around wanting to go "help" in Africa blah blah blah - yet they have no needed skills. they are liberal arts, law school students etc. and they want to go Afghanistan, Haiti or Africa to "help" - usually when we have events i have students asking us about wanting to go these "other" countries to help. i ask them what skills they have, and they usually just say that they want to go there to "advocate" for the people - and my response to them is that the people in those countries don't need you to go there to advocate for them. they can do that themselves. what they need is MONEY so that the people who live there and the NGO's who provide the basic needs can do their job.

recently i have been coming across a lot of students who want to go "advocate" for human rights in Sudan. i always say to them "you want to help people there? you can start by petitioning your local, state and federal gov to give more money and aid to the groups already doing work there. push for the UN to do something about the situation. fundraise, organise teach-ins but forget about going to Darfur unless you have some skill that's really needed there." ya know it's eaiser to have the people in those refugee camps "advocate" for themselves if we ensure that they have a full tummy, a clean glass of water, a safe shelter, and medical treatment for themselves and their family. as long as we help provide those staples they can fight back and work the situation out themselves.

and it might sound offensive but that's why i always tell these people that unless they have some skill (doctor, engineer, nurse, psychologist, architect, computer nerd, construction, reporter, Human rights observer, etc) you are not needed there. you want help people out? do your research and raise money for NGO's that are are doing basic aid work, and make sure that they don't have a large overhead. they don't need a bunch of students to go in there and tell them how to help themselves. in fact it's actually harder to have a bunch of students there, they are going to have to help the students adjust, learn the language, and the students are most likely going to be somewhat of a security liability.

i have always strongly believed that when people are suffering, what they need the most is the emotional and financial support of the international community. that does not mean going in there and doing the work for them, you give the people on the ground the basic thigns to get on their own feet and they will know what to do for themselves a lot better than someone from another country can. that's the only reason why i respect and work with groups like engineers without borders, doctors without borders and many others like them. they don't just go into a country, do the work and leave. they actually train many people within the local population to do the work that's needed to maintain the various humanitarian projects. they provide the basics and understand that the funding and education go hand in hand.

i feel like it's so selfish. if you want to help someone out and if it's really about doing the work, go help someone in your own local community. look around or drive 20 minutes away and i am sure you'll find a local group that needs your volunteer hours. but i guess that kind of work might not sound noble enough. i mean who wants to do some thankless job like filing paper work at a local food bank or womens shelter when you can tell all of your friends that you've been saving peoples lives in Ethiopia!



[this is something that a friend i used to go to high school with wrote on an online-journal. it's her way of communicating with us. it's her opinion, not mine and i highly respect it. she does great work.]

I wish I wasn't lazy and that I could read that... Too bad I can't...

yes this is definitely way too much to read..... atleast on a deftones message board.

People quoting this... what a mess!

Yeah, it's really messy... People shouldn't do it...

Agreed.

Oh man, I'm so glad we came to an agreement on that point. Hopefully, world will be better now...

[Martin]

Going home. Done enough work on my paper for one day.
Gonna get myself a few beers. Yes.
Later all.

[raynor]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/luderbrus/sets/72157594173774382/

[lostcancer]

http://198.173.81.240/forum/index.php?s=01eb22e8caf98568394dc8862e707eaf&showtopic=441

[lithium royalty]

http://198.173.81.240/forum/index.php?s=01eb22e8caf98568394dc8862e707eaf&showtopic=441

and thats what's up

[Martin]

Word.

[Martin]

Where's Mei?

[DeftonesATF27]

nothing special for the 4000 big one although im going to retire tonight. everybody have fun.

[Chrisbo]

http://198.173.81.240/forum/index.php?s=01eb22e8caf98568394dc8862e707eaf&showtopic=441

and thats what's up

Nice!

[chinosbeltbuckle]

Tired of getting spammed viagra ads in my yahoo mailbox.

I'm a WOMAN! Grrr!

[Martin]

Vacation. I need a vacation.
I'm getting pretty confused. I don't know what time it is, well it (being the clock) says 17:35, but my body feels different...I have no grasp of time.
That's why, up untill half way through the day, I was convinced it was tuesday instead of wednesday, and it doesn't feel like a wednesday.
Besides that, I'm starting to think to hard again, which, being me, is never a good thing.
I'm hungry and tired.

[Martin]

Out to get something to eat. Later.

[Chrisbo]

Vacation. I need a vacation.
I'm getting pretty confused. I don't know what time it is, well it (being the clock) says 17:35, but my body feels different...I have no grasp of time.
That's why, up untill half way through the day, I was convinced it was tuesday instead of wednesday, and it doesn't feel like a wednesday.
Besides that, I'm starting to think to hard again, which, being me, is never a good thing.
I'm hungry and tired.

I dont know what to say apart from chill man! But you're right, it doesnt feel like a Wednesday to me either, this weeks going by pretty quick!

Yeah man all you need is some food, food always makes me feel better anyway!

[Fireal1222]

im really hoping we dont have a flood, i dont think things are looking good

[lithium royalty]

my shit flooded last week..

it was a flash flood too, shit got crazy within an hour

fuckin bayous overflowing and shit.. i got pictures of it, i'll post em in a little bit.




that thing in the middle of the shot on this one is a piece of wood dangling from a wind chime










the bayou in those pictures is the Sims bayou, it's always empty.
i live 4 blocks away from it.