Lisa Kristine // Humanitarian & Fine Arts Photographer & Anti-Slavery Activist

A friend of mine who shares my passions for photography and putting an end to injustice (modern day slavery in particular) introduced me to the incredible work of Lisa Kristine and I'm blown away!

Lisa Kristine is a San Francisco based photographer specializing in indigenous peoples worldwide. Through her work, Lisa wishes to encourage a dialogue about the beauty, diversity and hardship of our inter-locking world. The more meaning born in the images, the deeper that dialogue may be. Lisa Kristine aims to enhance her viewer’s awareness and engage them in a visual journey that is also a questioning of our existence. She wants to welcome them into the exploration of our mysterious existence with a spirit of importance, astonishment and hope.

For more than twenty-five years, Lisa Kristine has explored the globe, looking for the peoples, cultures and places that time forgot, creating indelible and unforgettable images. She brings the distant and the ancient and the rare into clearer focus. Best known for her evocative and saturated use of color, her fine art prints are among the most sought after and collected in her field. Lisa’s work has been auctioned by Christie’s New York for the United Nations with Kofi Annan; she works with foundations , educational venues and museums.

Not only is she an absolutely incredible photographer, but an amazing anti-slavery activist. You can see/buy her work on her website: http://www.lisakristine.com/ , which directly contributes to the causes she supports. You can also buy her books, DVDs, posters, etc in her online store: http://www.lisakristine.com/lisa-kristine-store/ 

Also, check out what other organisations like TED, Reuters and The Huffington Post have to say about her in these videos: http://www.lisakristine.com/press-and-media-video-archives/

Cosette Thompson of Amnesty International said of Lisa Kristine: "Few artists know how to capture the diversity and dignity of indigenous people. Lisa Kristine's portraits exquisitely convey their silenced messages."

Lisa is an amazing example of using your talents to end modern day slavery in the 21st century! And I pose to you the same question that was posted earlier this evening by @freedomforother on twitter: 

"Start where you are Use what you have Do what you can @Ronell1984 What can you do with what you have in your location to end #Trafficking?"

So I challenge you to start where you are and use what you have to fight against modern day slavery in the 21st century!

Blessings!

Ronell x



OH HOW I ADORE THIS PHOTO!! 
{photo credit: http://www.lisakristine.com/portfolio/freedom-ghana/ }

iCancer: People before profit. Let's crowdfund the anti-cancer virus that could save thousands

iCancer represents a team of guerrilla fundraisers who have launched a global campaign to fund research into a potential treatment for cancer (the kind that killed Steve Jobs). To find out more about the campaign, watch the campaign video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7W-52AwmH4 and read about iCancer below (information from http://icancer.org.uk/).

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The potential therapy, a cancer-busting virus, which if successfully developed could significantly extend the lives of patients with the same cancer as  Steve Jobs, is currently sitting in a freezer in Sweden – but it can’t be tested for lack of just £2million.

Without the money, the research will cease and the virus will be thrown away, placing in jeopardy a therapy that could significantly extend the lives of thousands of NET cancer sufferers.

We’ve put this campaign together in a little over a week. We have no money behind us and everybody is volunteering their time for free. So there is no fancy website, now motivational wristband and no rock concert.

It’s just us, the scientists, the virus and you.

The campaign is led by author Alexander Masters who wrote the bestseller Stuart: A Life Backwards and Dominic Nutt, who has the same cancer as Steve Jobs. Masters took up the campaign when his close friend Dido Davies was diagnosed with the incurable cancer, known as a neuroendocrine tumour, or NET.

NETs are cancers of the neuroendocrine system which incorporate glands that produce insulin, adrenalin and the ‘happy hormone’ serotonin. They can appear all over the body. NETs are silent killers. Most don’t have any symptoms – until the cancer is critically advanced.

But there is a new potential treatment for NETs – a cancer which is on the increase – but big business won’t stump up the £2million needed to fund the first stage of trials, because at this early stage there is no money to be made. The Swedish research team, led by Prof Magnus Essand, is so keen to collaborate and share his findings, he published his research. But now it is out in the public domain it can’t be protected by a patent and make a profit.

But we want to put people before profit and bring this potential therapy to people.

Fellow iCancer campaigner and social media expert Liz Scarff said: “We are appealing direct to the people. We are mavericks taking this to our Twitter communities across the world. We are cutting out the middlemen and the

“Steve Jobs would not have given up. He would have found a way round the problem. That’s what we’re doing. As Steve Jobs said: ‘Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn’t matter to me. Going to bed at night saying we’ve done something wonderful…that’s what matters to me.’

There has been a huge and unexplained increase in the incidence of NET cancers in recent years, of up to 500 per cent, according to some research papers. In the case of Steve Jobs it was reported that he died of pancreatic cancer – although in fact he had a NET tumour on his pancreas.

The virus’ creator, Prof Magnus Essand of Uppsala University, says the £2million  will bring the virus to the point where a big pharmaceuticals company can take it over, test it, patent it, bring it to full-scale development and make a profit.

“The virus may have a similar relationship with a NET patient as drugs have with diabetics or patients with heart disease. Insulin doesn’t cure diabetes, but it manages it so that a diabetic doesn’t die from lack of insulin. Cancer, too, is becoming a chronic disease, which, even when incurable, can be controlled for long periods of time. If we get this right, virus treatments may have huge

For more information on NETs and help and support please visit the NET Patient Foundation.

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To support the campaign, follow @iCancer on Twitter and tweet details about the campaign using #iCancer. You can donate  from £2 using links to the Indiegogo site, the Twitter feed, the Facebook page and YouTube.

Please give generously! Just think, £2 is basically a cup of coffee! If a million people gave just £2 each, that’s it!

Blessings!

Ronell x

“Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.” {Proverbs 3:27}

21 Ways to get involved with the A21 Campaign (4/21): get social

OK, so I’m finally getting back on track with the A21 Campaign’s ’21 ways to get involved’ series! Today’s suggestion (4 of 21) from the A21 Campaign to fight against modern day slavery and human trafficking: get social!

That’s right, the A21 Campaign is asking us to be social with social media. Whether through Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, or Causes, you can find ways to connect with the A21 Campaign for updated information, as well as quickly share information with friends, family, or people you just met. It’s the easiest way spread the word, as well as to stay connected to freedom fighters all over the globe.

Sometimes it can be daunting to share things via social media, as you are revealing something personal about yourself- something you believe in- but share you must! It is the only way for awareness to be raised! People share about what they are passionate about: be it football, or fashion, or your children- everyone has something that they feel passionately enough about to risk looking silly for! So why not make your ‘thing’ God and the causes that He puts a passion in your heart for?

So today, I challenge you to make a commitment- no matter how small- to share a cause that you believe in and feel passionate about via social media. You can choose one cause and share it via one of your social portals, or maybe you’ll be brave enough to share it through all of them..? Or better yet, why not set yourself a challenge to post one cause/way to promote the cause of your choice every day for a week, a month, or maybe even a year..?

And be encouraged! Many of the people that you are connected to on the social media sites of your choice are either like-minded, care about you, or will care about a worthy cause! Either way, most of them should be interested in what you have to say! So post away and see- you will be pleasantly surprised.

Blessings!

Ronell x

“The probability that we may fail in the struggle ought not to deter us from the support of a cause we believe to be just.” {Abraham Lincoln}

Wear it Pink Today! (26th October)

Today’s post is about an initiative by the Breast Cancer Campaign, called Wear it Pink. I am obviously a fan, not only because it is about extreme pinkness, but also because it is supporting such an amazing cause! Fighting for cancer research is a cause that is close to my heart as it has impacted many members of my own family and my friends and their families.

This month, my aunt was featured in a South African magazine (Sarie), who chose to tell her inspirational story of her fight against breast cancer. Her story is absolutely inspirational! It is in Afrikaans, so I can’t really share it on here, but if anyone would particularly like to read it, leave me a request in the comment box at the bottom of this page.

The information below is from the official site: http://www.wearitpink.co.uk/

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Breast Cancer Campaign is a unique community of scientists, supporters and people touched by breast cancer. 

wear it pink is part of our focus on Pink Science – a pioneering approach to breast cancer research that funds projects with the greatest potential to save and improve lives, and ultimately find a cure.

The Breast Cancer Campaign Tissue Bank is an example of this innovative approach. The UK’s first national breast cancer tissue bank is a unique collaboration with four leading research institutions to create a vital resource of breast cancer tissue for researchers across the UK and Ireland. There is currently no other large source of breast tissue available to scientists and doctors, like this one, anywhere in the world.

Today, you are joining supporters in offices, schools, universities and homes across the UK in putting on your pink to raise money for Breast Cancer Campaign. Thank you for being a superhero and joining in!

For a last minute way to raise a bit more money today and help us reach our 10 year £25 million target, why not download our fun sweepstake game for your friends and colleagues to take part in?

If you’ve forgotten to wear pink, but don’t want to miss out on the fun – don’t worry! You can simply download and print off our Pink Masks, Pink Quiz and Gift Aid form so you can join in instantly. You can also ‘superhero yourself' and share your photo on Facebook for all your friends to see, with our easy to use online tool!

If you can’t wear it pink today and would just like to make a donation, thank you - you can do so by simply clicking here. Or you can organise a big night in to raise money with your friends. It’s a simple idea: invite your friends over for a fun, pink-filled evening at home and ask each guest to make a £5 donation (http://www.wearitpink.co.uk/bignightin).

Thank you for being a superhero in the fight against breast cancer - have an amazing day from all of us at Breast Cancer Campaign.

A Big Pink P.S.

Don't forget to add your photos to Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, Flickr and facebook. Where you can make sure you tag them with @BCCampaign and #wearitpink and we'll be adding them to our wonderful pink Pinterest board throughout the day! (Check out how many are already up on Instagram here!)

Thank you to everyone who is throwing on something pink today to help us raise money to research the cure for breast cancer.

You are all part of the movement that will see an end to the disease. You can still register for wear it pink now (http://registration.wearitpink.co.uk/register/register.aspx).

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Please help to make a much-needed difference to this very worthy cause!

Blessings!

Ronell x

“Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits:
Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.” {Psalm 103:2-5}

re:think – life skills at re:generation church

Last night was Life Skills (re:think) at re:generation church (every Tuesday @ 7.30pm: http://www.regenerationchurch.co.uk/). It was a truly thought provoking and inspirational session.

The night kicked off with an amazing Tajik woman who came to share about the incredible work that God is doing in Tajikistan through her and her husband’s joint work with Scripture Union (http://www.subi.org.uk/page14/page20/page20.html). They are putting themselves in danger, reaching out to the Muslim youth and families in Tajikistan, and spreading the Gospel.

I was really challenged by the amount of freedom of religion and speech that we have compared to the people of Tajikistan and how poorly we are using those freedoms! (this really tied in with the next section of the evening, which I will get into in a bit).

She asked us to pray for three very specific things, so it would be great if you could join us in praying for the following three things for our brothers and sister’s in Tajikistan:

1.   protection and safety for themselves, their family and all their volunteers.

2.   safety and courage for the children and young people who have heard about God from them, but are too scared to become Christians due to the potentially fatal repercussions from family and friends.

3.   completion of their camp on their newly acquired piece of land, on which they will finally be able to hold Christian camps, pray and preach the Gospel (not freely allowed on other premises).

The next part of the evening was a very thought-provoking talk on gossiping by Alicia. She has kindly forwarded me her notes, which I have adapted below. Please take the time to read this and seriously ponder on the gravity of the scriptures that she has included to illustrate her points. Before I get onto Alicia’s notes, I also just wanted to share two very relevant quotes that were posted on facebook today by two other friends of mine:

Jamie (@JamiePoch) wrote:

“I once read the following paragraph in a book by Catherine Marshall called A Closer Walk. It had a significant impact on my life. See what you think...

One morning last week He gave me an assignment: for one day I was to go on a 'fast' from criticism. I was not to criticize anybody about anything. For the first half of the day, I simply felt a void, almost as if I had been wiped out as a person. This was especially true at lunch...I listened to the others and kept silent... In our talkative family no one seemed to notice. Bemused, I noticed that my comments were not missed. The federal government, the judicial system, and the institutional church could apparently get along fine without my penetrating observations. But still I didn't see what this fast on criticism was accomplishing -- until mid-afternoon. That afternoon, a specific, positive vision for this life was dropped into my mind with God's unmistakable hallmark on it -- joy! Ideas began to flow in a way I had not experienced in years. Now it was apparent what the Lord wanted me to see. My critical nature had not corrected a single one of the multitudinous things I found fault with. What it had done was to stifle my own creativity. Criticism is a poison that infiltrates friendships, relationships in our businesses, and even our own families. Like a wrecking ball to a condemned building, our criticism destroys the spirit of those who are scrutinized.”

Michael (@jellyoats) wrote:

“#GodPosts: Your WORDS will tell others what you THINK, but your ACTIONS will tell others what you BELIEVE.”

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Gossip and a tainted tongue

Statistics on UK Gossip Magazine are ambiguous – ranging from £24m – 8billion. Although the statistics are unclear, the popularity of these magazines are not. If gossip affects the world around us then it must have an impact on us, right?

The Bible’s perspective on gossip?

When doing a ‘key word search’ on a Bible app, the word ‘gossip’ has very negative connotations, sitting alongside words like pride, untrustworthy, liars, God-haters, murder, insolent, arrogant, greed, hate. {Romans 1:27-31}

The tongue has the power to steer a soul off course: “¹Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers and sisters, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. ²We all stumble in many ways. Those who are never at fault in what they say are perfect, able to keep their whole body in check. ³When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. ⁴Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. ⁵Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. ⁶The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. ⁷All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by human beings, ⁸but no one can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. ⁹With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. ¹⁰Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. ¹¹Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? ¹²My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water?” {James 3: 1-12}

Where does gossip grow from?

“For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart” {Matthew 12:34}. Often, it stems from pride, insecurity, arrogance and dishonesty. We need to bear in mind that words have more authority than we know. Think of the saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me”… Is that saying really true? No: self-esteem issues and insecurities are not born only out of physical abuse!

Imagine someone, complete stranger, walks in and has an opinion of you based on a lie. Or relays a story in your life and it so far from the truth, how would you feel? A good example of just how devasating gossip can be (particularly when it is based on a lie) can be seen in this video of the McCann family at the Leveson Inquiry: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15860071.

We should speak words that have intent/purpose:

§  Good effect: “The right word at the right time is like a custom-made piece of jewellery” {Proverbs 25:11}

§  Bad effects: Life damaging – causing paranoia, anxiety, insecurity. Ruin reputations - breaking stigmas can be difficult.

Practical tips in resisting gossip:

§   Build one another up (Ephesians 4:29)

§   Break the chain (think of the game ‘Chinese whispers’)

§   Disagreement (Acts 15, Paul & Barnabas model how to respond)

§   Boldness to stand out from the crowd (Psalm 101:5)

§   ‘I am really concerned about ‘W’ so I am going speak about it to ‘X’, ‘Y’ & ‘Z’ ’. The pastoral way of doing things – (1) prayerfully approach the person, (2) have a private conversation with the person, (3) escalate the issue to someone in leadership.

§   Change friendship groups (Proverbs 20:19) – delete people on facebook, stop following people on twitter, sit in different places in class, hang out with them less, confront what was said

§   As people, we will always have an opinion about a person, situation, organization, but consider for once that maybe your opinion isn’t valid.

§   Dealing with the deeper issues – gossip can be borne out of a place of insecurity, arrogance, etc

§   Be reconciled (Matthew 5:23|4)

We are called to be people of truth:

§  Each of us are called to worship in Spirit and in TRUTH (John 4)

§  “For I speak the truth and detest every kind of deception” {Proverbs 8:7}

Speaking Truth has a direct Impact on our Spiritual Walk:

“Who may worship your sanctuary, Lord? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill? ²Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts” {Psalm 15:1-2}

“³¹Jesus said to the Jews who believed in him, ‘You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teaching. ³² Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” {John 8:31-32}

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Help to break the chain of gossiping and bullying by making a change in the way YOU speak and act towards others today! You will be amazed at the effect that you can have on others around you.

Blessings!

Ronell x

“No one gossips about other people’s secret virtues” {Bertrand Russell}