OK, I know I haven't written a blog for some time but I am going to try and turn over a new leaf and use this as a place to share thoughts and get things off my chest. And looky look at what I read in the letters page of the Daily Record earlier ... 

"Shell Shame - On Easter Sunday, I was astounded to find the smashed remains of dozens of hard boiled eggs littering a local park. In this day and age, is it really sensible to teach children, the remnants of whose egg rolling exploits I presume these to be, that it is OK to waste food? Starving people in the Third World would not understand such wanton waste and I certainly could not explain or justify it to them. I wonder if the parents of the youngsters concerned would feel themselves able to do so?"  Daily Record, April 14, 2009  

Oh my word! You can understand the .... (there's more, click the button below to read it)

I remember when i was a child if you were round at a friends and you didn't finish your macaroni cheese your friend might say something like "well if you're not going to finish it, which is bad, I will put the rest in an envelope and send it to Bob Geldof to feed the people who are starving" Surely we have a greater understanding of sustainable aid and relief where we give and invest in areas of need to help them cultivate and grow so they have what they need. Yes, I know we have far too much in our country and I am also convinced that someone somewhere will be able to tell us how many times we can circle the earth or go to the moon and back if we lay all the eggs rolled on Sunday end to end, but have we really lost the ability to let kids share in traditions that are good fun, and that help encourage them to think about why they are doing it? And surely it is better, as most aid charities do, to ask for money to develop the long term solutions and stabilise the economies of poorer countries, then sending food as a short term fix? Perhaps both are important but I can guess at which one makes the biggest difference.

I, for one, can share with my kids why we roll the eggs. I can also share with them that there are people who starve and that we should not waste food or resources. And I can also square it in my conscience as I strive to help organisations that provide aid and the means to live a sustainable life in some of the most difficult areas of the world.

Let us be saved from the madness! 

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