Solar powered fridge

I had heard of this fridge but not seen the description before:

One of the biggest advantages of Cummins’ design is its relative simplicity. It can be easily made using recycled materials, such as cardboard and metal. 

Ms. Cummins' solar powered refrigerator works like this:
The fridge’s inner chamber, which stores items like milk, cheese and other perishables, is surrounded by a layer of organic material, sand, soil or composted waste.
This layer is then sealed in between the solar fridge’s outer chamber and soaked in water. The device is placed in the sun and as the water evaporates, heat is drawn away from the inner chamber, dramatically cooling items inside.

Found on the energy matters web site.

what to do...

I am watching the canonization of Mary MacKillop and wanting so much more commentary to be happening!

But also reading Bp Gene Robinson's comments that came out a week or so ago: http://walkingwithintegrity.blogspot.com/2010/10/how-religion-is-killing-our-most.html

He writes:

These bullying behaviors would not exist without the undergirding and the patina of respect provided by religious fervor against LGBT people. It's time for "tolerant" religious people to acknowledge the straight line between the official anti-gay theologies of their denominations and the deaths of these young people. Nothing short of changing our theology of human sexuality will save these young and precious lives.

It's time to change our theology. Having heard Dr Scott Cowdell talking about sexuality at the deacon's conference last week I agree! We need to be more courageous in how we tackle it!

On a different, but maybe in a strange way related topic, it is time to encourage our politicians to be courageous and let young people and their families (and others too perhaps) out of the indefinite mandatory detention that occur for boat people who are seeking asylum. Write letters, send faxes, send emails! Chilout is organised again and making a mark. This is the time to make a difference!

The address for the minister is:

The Hon Chris Bowen MP
Minister for Immigration and Citizenship
PO Box 6022
House of Representatives
Parliament House
CANBERRA ACT 2600

Other addresses are at http://www.refugeeaction.org/rac/Contact_details.htm (cc your letter to your local rep and to Scott Morrison shadow minister.)

Prayer

It is very unusual for me to want to say anything at all about prayer. And yet I put together the prayers in the pew sheet every week, just compiled from various cycles (ecumenical, Anglican and Diocesan). Last week a paragraph or two from the Changing Attitude blog made so much sense to me. Of course I should have, maybe I actually have, read it all before. But Colin Coward's comments make it stand out for me.
for more go to: http://changingattitude-england.blogspot.com/2010/09/gay-bishops-still-dont-exist-in-public.html Colin writes:

"I’ve now read the Times interview with the Archbishop in its entirety and want to begin by focussing on something that wasn’t reported elsewhere but is key to my Christian life and witness. Archbishop Rowan told his interviewer that “... the point of praying is to open yourself up to God so God can do what he wants with you. You come with empty hands, as silent as you can be and say, ‘Over to you.’ So you could say the function was to make you the person God wants you to be – in the full awareness that that might not be quite the person you think you want to be.”

Yes indeed. Prayer is opening yourself up to God and both ++Rowan and I pray in a similar way. The intention is to make you the person God wants you to be, and there’s the rub. Does God want me to be a priest? Does God want me to be gay? Does God want me to be celibate? Does God want me to love my partner and enjoy my life with him to the full? What do I do when these conflict, as they do at the moment? When I centre in prayer and say, ‘Over to you’, God still seems to be saying that each of these aspects of me are part of the person God wants me to be."

Perhaps for me it is still as hazy as watching this whale swimming underwater. But there is something huge and powerful there!

The National Gallery

I have photos of the National Gallery's wonderful projection of art works onto the building this week.

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I love this aspect of the gallery. They did it a couple of years ago. I am thrilled with it. I love these photos. They work! I think the gallery should print a book! The projections seem to have a "template" to project through which means the light is only on the building, not windows or openings. There has been a lot of work gone into the show.
These photos were taken on the night the new entrance to the gallery was opened. 30th October 2010.

Unexpected Witnessing

From Canon Susan Russell of the Episcopal Church is a story of the witness that being inclusive can be. A hard morning's work talking to a meeting of bishops and then dinner. Over dinner the conversation continues and the young people serving them overhear the conversations. Read what happens at the bottom of the post on the "Walking with Integrity" blog:
http://walkingwithintegrity.blogspot.com/2010/09/amazing-day-amazing-witness.html

and Susan's conclusion:

While we were obsessing about perfecting PowerPoint slides and refining our messaging about the SCLM project, these earnest young people responded to the few crumbs of conversation they overheard at our dinner table like they were starving for hope. And if those crumbs gave them that hope and energy – and gave them the courage to come up to a table full of “church people” and say, “Wow … we want to know more about what you’re talking about!” then imagine how they and countless others like them are yearning for the banquet we set every time we gather to witness to God’s inclusive love.

(The work being done was about liturgy for blessing same sex relationships in the Episcopal Church. It was not about evangelising!)

wigs for judges?, or justice? (politics)

I found this on a Sri Lankan blog at http://blog.srilankacampaign.org/2010/09/is-colombos-middle-class-waking-up.html
an interesting parable about what we focus on for our political campaigns, is it wigs or justice itself that are important?
Perhaps a comment to be thought about for many of our daily activities!

Some things can be faked but it is dangerous to make them appear as fakes. The old fox Jayewardene who took away most of the substance of democracy from Sri Lankans made sure that all the appearances were kept intact. Sirimavo Bandaranayake’s coalition governments foolishly took away the wigs from judges and that caused such an upset that the minister of justice and his secretary later lost their civil rights. But Jayewardene virtually destroyed the independence of the judiciary while keeping all the outward appearances correct. Not many found fault with him.

But the Rajapakse regime not only wants all power to themselves they also want to make it appear that they have all the power. They not only want make elections a mere ritual without substance but they want to make them appear so. Jayewardene knew that it not wise to disturb Colombo’s middle class. The Rajapakses, on the other hand do not feel happy unless Colombo’s middle class stand to attention whenever they appear before them. They want not only to be big but also to appear big. To feel that way, they are trampling very openly on elections and courts. The two things that Colombo’s middle class attach some importance to.

That perhaps may prove to be too much of a mistake.

In the meantime, let us also remember the Sri Lankan situation and those who seek asylum here and the people who are left behind to survive in a nation after the end of the war there. Canberra has been the home for a number of people from this island over a number of generations. If the exodus from post colonial Ceylon is included then that means some very important people in my life!
And the gradual demise of democracy under the strains of tension in the society may be a worry for us in Australia as we look to the Parliament tomorrow to see how a minority government will govern. I know of three gatherings outside the Parliament that are planned for Tuesday 28th September. Our Women in Black vigil will again be at the back door as the workers come in for work. (7.30am-8.30am ish) Then a Climate Change group at 8.45 on the front lawns and at 12.30 a People's Assembly hoping to bring the plight of detained asylum seekers to the conscience of the nation. This Parliament will have a lot to do. May it work with good will, humour, clarity and do the job well. While I preach about Justice and Peace, perhaps righteousness needs another look. What is a righteous person? One who works well, with good will, humour etc? .

only in Ireland? (cat travel pass)

apologies for the LOL Speak here; Fred's comment was "only in Ireland!"

Dis kitteh, Lilou, hopped on a train to Dublin—wifout paying teh fare, ai might add—and waz later reunited wif her owners after staff tweeted abowt teh incident. Becuz, lyk all kittehs, Lilou iz a spoiled princess, she was issued her very own rail card. So nao she can take trips to teh Temple Bar district anytime she feels tirsy for a pint o’ Guinness!
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