“In the final analysis, human security is a child who did not die, a disease that did not spread, a job that was not cut, an ethnic tension that did not explode in violence, a dissident who was not silenced. Human security is not a concern with weapons-it is a concern with human life and dignity.”
UN Human Development Report 1994, p229.
Powerful words which I found in an equally powerful reading by Steve Smith (Smith, S. (2004). Singing Our World into Existence: International Relations Theory and September 11: Presidential Address to the International Studies Association, February 27, 2003, Portland. International Studies Quarterly, 48 (3) pp. 499-515(17)), if you happen to come across it or have access to any of the various academic databases it is well worth a read even if you are not an International Relations person and is quite an easy read too.
The last couple of days I have spent doing exams, studying, not studying and studying (probably more of the middle one than I should have done but I have kept up with my study all semester so it is all in there somewhere I just need to pull it out at the right time). I have one exam tomorrow worth 50% and then I have my last one on Monday morning.
Mum saw the lower limb specialist the other night and was told that she has a Tibial Plateau Fracture and is booked in for a CAT scan on Monday morning to decide if she will need surgery or not, it seems that this type of brake can be quite iffy in terms of management. At the moment she looks like having 6 weeks in plaster and than another 6 weeks at home getting back on her legs.
I had started to write a bit on my love of the grocery store but I don’t really know if it had any point so it can wait for another time.
I have been doing some thinking, well actually I am always thinking in fact my brain feels like it is going 200km/hr most of the time making connections between things and thoughts, you know the six degrees of Kevin Bacon thing? that is what my thought process is like. I think of one thing that makes me think of one thing and suddenly I am no where near where I started off
One day I would love to find a phrase I have penned in a big important book of quotes, because that would rock
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
We will remember them.
- For the Fallen by Laurence Binyon
Today is ANZAC Day, which without a doubt is the most revered day in Australia and New Zealand, more so than our respective national days (Australia Day and Waitangi Day).
Today is the day when we commemorate those who didn’t come home and honour those who have, the day we thank those who have served and those who are. We know that peace and freedom do not always come without a sacrifice and we thank those who made that sacrifice.
World War I forged the Australian identity, as a federated nation we were only 14 years old at the beginning of the war. We sent 40% (330 000) of our male population to the war, they were all volunteers. 60 000 of these did not return. Australia had the highest casualty rate of WWI and New Zealand had the highest casualty and death rate per capita of any country involved in WWI. It was not a war that threatened either of our nations personally but as members of the Commonwealth we felt a duty to serve.
The Last Post
We now pause for two minutes to reflect on the significance of the day and to show our respect to those who served. The idea of a minute’s silence is credited to Edward Honey, an Australian journalist in London during WW1 who published a letter in the Evening News on 8 May 1918 appealing for a moment of silence during the celebrations of the first anniversary of the Armistice (11/11/1918)
Rouse and Reveille
Since this is not a Dawn Service, we follow the moment of silence with Rouse instead of Reveille which is played as the first call of the day.
Sean and I were mucking about with my camera last night and the very last one was this one. Then I stumbled across the quote in the book I am reading at the moment - Abounding Grace (I love this book so much, I am going to have to buy it) It is quotes with thoughts and ideas by the collector, just so great.
“It is a curious thought, but it is only when you see people looking ridiculous that you realize just how much you love them.” - Agatha Christie.
Every day I get two quotes in my inbox, one from real simple and one from Think.Exist, this one from “real simple” struck a chord with me the other day.
Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.
— Maya Angelou
