Poverty is it an important news story?

Poverty is like a bad television show. It doesn't seem real, not until it happens to you. Poverty in Third World developing countries is widespread and opens your eyes to the reality. Street children and homeless people are increasing in number day by day. We catch a glimpse of almost naked children plying the streets for food and for shelter. Sometimes they even resort to drastic means to sate their hunger pangs.

Poverty causes child prostitution and sex slavery. But do we truly care? We read about them, sometimes watch these stories on TV; but does the story make the front pages? Do we do anything to help these people?



How many of us would stop by and help a person in dire need? How many of us would even dare to help one of these unlucky people or feel it was our business to do so? We drive in our air-conditioned cars and close our windows so we what's happening won't bother us in our safe cocoon.

We pretend not to notice anything amiss when we happen to pass by a crawling, hungry child. We watch in horror as children recount what horrible things they had to go through to be able to feed their hungry siblings, but we never do anything that would help these miserable lot.

For those in the more developed countries: have you ever donated to charity any amount to show your support? Have you, at any point in your life, given something from your heart to needy and indigent people? This need not be material.

You can share your time, your knowledge or your sympathetic ear; or are you one of those who shrug their shoulders and say, "Who cares?" and go on their daily, merry way? It is this apathy, which causes poverty to be low on the agenda of news agencies.

It does not bother you because it does not concern you. You can't understand because you haven't experienced waking up in the morning with a gnawing, hungry stomach. Poverty will be important news to you, only when you'll find yourself among these indigent people someday. Then - it will be real for you.

You must remember that life is like a wheel. Sometimes you'll be up and sometimes you'll be down. Why wait for poverty to become your own important news story? Be generous to help while you have the means. Help alleviate poverty by contributing in your own little way and by showing the news media that this is an issue important enough to address.

Your contribution maybe in kind or in whatever forms you can afford, as long as these are heartily given. You need not to be rich to do this: old clothing may help the homeless woman across the street; contribute to help feed the poor; or better yet, help all those whom you can recommend for a decent job. Teach a man how to fish, and you would help him for the rest of his life.

Poverty should always be an important news story to you and to the society in which we live in. Be concerned and make this your headline news. Don't wait for it to be knocking at your doorstep before you decide to help. As the cliché goes: "Ensuring the welfare of others is ensuring your welfare as well." When society accepts this, perhaps the problem will be given the media attention it merits

Photo by Matti Mattila

Reliable Health and Life Insurance Leads

The economic recession has made people wary and selective of what services they would utilize. If I were a health and life insurance agent, I would ascertain I get connected with a reliable company. The next option would be to look for prospective clients. Various clients are still looking for the right health and life insurance companies. An insurance lead from a reliable source would be definitely needed. They should be able to match the client and the insurance agent accordingly.

Insurance leads should provide high quality leads, which would open the venue for truly interested clients who have validated information. These clients are genuinely interested in applying for a health and life insurance without any incentive given to them.

Affordable exclusive leads minimize competition among agents. There is also a variety of leads for other sectors. When the lead proves to be invalid, then an insurance agent could have a replacement credit.

The future is much more secure when clients and insurance agents are given the appropriate insurance leads by reliable companies. An example of such company is ProspectZone Insurance Leads, which would render you these services plus complimentary BrokerOffice software.

Insurance agents should take advantage of this largest provider of health insurance leads to have the best choice. It is always safe to make sure that you are given leads which are validated and reliable which would eventually lead to satisfactory conclusion. Take the lead and be part of what is considered as the widest and biggest insurance leads provider in the states.

Head Hunting in Kalinga

Is head hunting true? What are the reasons for doing such a gruesome act? Read here in my new blog at Jena Isle's Random Thoughts.

Here's the link. Head Hunting in Kalinga, Is It True?

LET'S PROTECT OUR CHILDREN FROM TV VIOLENCE - JOIN ME BY ADDING YOUR NAME BELOW. THANK YOU.

DO ADD YOUR COMMENTS TO THIS THREAD IF YOU SUPPORT THIS CAMPAIGN. THANKS A LOT!

An Invitation to a Book Tour: A Puppy, Not a Guppy on December 15, 2009

There will be a virtual tour of the book : A Puppy, Not a Guppy by Holly Jahangiri which is scheduled in my other blog Jena Isle’s Random Thoughts on December 15. It's a collector's item, and you'll learn why on December 15.

To make it more exciting, a contest would be held; the detailed mechanics will be posted on December 14, 2009.

There would be four (4) winners of the contest:

1. Two (2) winners of the Contest proper, to be awarded by the book author – Holly Jahangiri.

2. One winner of a $10 prize (thru paypal) to whoever would be asking the book author the most interesting question. I will be sponsoring and selecting this winner. A link back to my blog, ( if you have a blog) would be the only requirement.

3. One free Inspirational Book (Anthology of Bloggers all Over the World) would be awarded to whoever has the most interesting comment on the blog post about the book tour.

More detailed information about the book would be posted at Jena Isle’s Random Thoughts http://www.jenaisleonline.com on the date scheduled.

Holly Jahangiri would be online to answer all your questions.

I look forward to your participation!

A NOTEWORTHY REMINDER FOR TV DIRECTORS AND FILM PRODUCERS

FROM : http://www.cybercollege.com/violence.htm

QUOTE:

"Many TV and film producers have elected to "take a higher road" and not rely on gratuitous violence to capture and hold an audience.



This route typically results in more accolades for their work and more personal respect from the creative community.



But the higher road is often the more difficult one. It takes talent to engage an audience through the strength of your storytelling and production expertise."

UNQUOTE

What they See, is What They Imitate

Photo by Red Castro


Never do anything in front of your child that you don't want him/her to imitate. Be the good model for your kids of being a non-violent person.

Even your language should not be violent. Avoid using sentences like, "I'll kill you, " etc. even if it's in jest.

Things I've Learned From Watching TV

I don't write commentaries, reviews or factual thoughts. I am more into creative writing. I am not a psychologist either, so I don't claim expertise in this field. I wrote this piece because I have observed and learned that TV has a very significant effect on children's behavior. I speak most specifically of violence on TV, which is slowly but surely destroying the basic non-violent mind-set of our children.

There are several factors affecting how the young are developed and molded into adults. These are the environment in which they grew in, the people around them, their genetic make-up, and their experiences and interactions with society.

A child who grew amidst love would think that the world "out there" is a "loving" world. On the other hand, the child who grew up amidst violence will assume that it is normal for people to hurt each other. Children will learn as they grow up that there is always the good and the bad and that these two exist in the real world. The belief they acquired; however, during their vulnerable childhood days would be more predominant in developing their personality.

Exposure to violence as a kid will have its lasting effects. These maybe deep seated or just "floating" on the surface of the child's subconscious. This will depend upon the intensity of his experiences. One thing is certain though - whatever memory he would have acquired, would be indelible.

Some TV programs have made violence as a selling point of their drama series/soap operas. There is no problem with adults watching these programs because they are able to identify the real from the fantasy world, but children do not have adult discernment to be able to do so.

People would say, "So don't allow the child to watch!" This is not possible though because families belonging to the lower economic stratum who have only one room - living room cum bedroom - are not allowed this luxury. And these families are growing in numbers!

This is most especially observed in third world countries where TV is the most convenient and cheapest method of entertainment. All these poor families could afford is a TV so while the mother puts the child to sleep, she watches; and the child's eyes are also glued to the TV, while trying to get some sleep.

Every single day, I watched the characters in these soaps in various violent scenes; they maybe in a gunfight, pulling each other's hairs, slapping each other or shouting at each other. These scenes say to the children that problems and conflicts could not be settled amicably and peacefully; that we have to be violent to settle disputes. Even family members plot and kill each other in some "soaps".

Are these the values we would like our children to learn? Several researches have proven that indeed violence on TV negatively influences children. As one researcher observed that most people believe this is so, but as expected, people in the TV industry do not believe in the results of these scientifically conducted studies.

I know it would be hard work for the TV people to create a high rating soap opera that does not involve violence, but that is the challenge I confront them with.

A talented and creative writer/producer would be able to write/produce TV soaps which would concentrate on non violent approaches, which would focus more on the positive aspects of the human character.

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