Keep your cup!

Why not?
I'm designing my very own personalised cup right now. I know that at my uni I will save at least $0.50 per cup of coffee I buy, and I will be using one less paper cup in the process. Sounds like a pretty sweet deal to me: save money AND the environment!
If you want to know more, visit the KeepCup website and for those in Australia interested in ordering one online, this website is a little cheaper to do so: http://www.atomikgreen.com.au/products/Keep-Cup.html
So get on there and keep your cup!

Why I study what I study

A month into my Master's program (International Environmental Law), and I found a(nother) reason for doing what I do. In class today our lecturer told us about the Danish Island of Samsø which inhabits ~4,000 people. Why is this island so important? It is the first place that has been able to make itself energy self-sufficient. This is no mean feat and it took the dedication of many of the locals working along side the government to make this happen. It all began when the Danish government in 1997 ran a competition for a model renewable energy community, a competition that Samsø won. From here 10 off-shore wind turbines were built, locally funded, to harness the strong-blowing winds that engulf this area. This provides 100% of their electricity and 75% of their heat comes from solar power and biomass energy.

This is why I study what I study. 

This is what the world needs to see.

Being more environmentally sustainable IS possible 

& WILL be the future.

A report from CBS tells us that:
"The Samsø scheme has become so successful that the island has installed a string of turbines offshore to make surplus power to sell to the mainland."
To read the full article, click here
[I just wish I heard about this place while I was living in Denmark, so I could be talking about it first hand!]

Happy New Year! (including a message from Obama)

March 21st is Naw Ruz (New Day). For Baha'is this brings and end to the Month of Ala, also know as the Fasting period. I have talked about the Baha'i Fast in a previous post (click here for more information). Since ancient times it has been the great national holiday of Iran, the only holiday celebrated by more than one religious group.

Abdu'l-Baha explained the significance of Naw Ruz in terms of the symbolism of the new life of spring. The day coincides with the vernal equinox in the northern hemisphere, signifying the bond of renewal taking place in the physical world with the spiritual reality of renewal pervading all of humanity in this unusual period of history and reflected in the teachings of Bahá'u'lláh. It is "a day of joy, a time of happiness, a period of spiritual growth"

"Praise be Thou, O my God, that Thou has ordained Naw-Ruz as a festival unto those who have observed the Fast for love of Thee and abstained from all that is abhrrent unto Thee..."

Bahá'u'lláh, Prayer for Naw Ruz

On another note, Obama in his address to the Iranian people to wish them a Happy New Year, made mention of the suffering of the Baha'is, along with many others that have suffered under the hands of the Iranian government who has taken it in their hands to make life a living hell for those living within the borders of this once great nation. Here is a link to Obama's message:

And with that, I wish all those who celebrate this time of year, a Happy New Year!

"The whole world is born anew, resurrected. Gentle zephyrs are set in motion, wafting and fragrant; flowers bloom; the trees are in blossom, the air temperate and delightful; how pleasant and beautiful become the mountains, fields and meadows."

Satisfaction

There isn't much that could satisfy me more than discovering a new musical gem. An exception to this would be sharing it with others and seeing their mutual appreciation for such magnificence. And by appreciation, I mean comments like this:

"It's music like this that taught me how to listen, and do nothing else."

That, for me, is satisfaction.

Artist: B. Hemmati

For the moment

• First day of my Masters out of the way.
• Jet lag in full swing.
• Readings already piling up.
• Room is a disaster zone, lets not talk about my desk.
• Humidity is doing illegal things to my hair.
• Fasting starts tomorrow.
• My hard drive is too full to upload my photos from my trip.
• Happy Ayyami'ha!

Air-bound

I lasted 7 months. 
But the time has come to leave Australia's borders again, temporarily.


"I loved her against reason, against promise, against peace, against hope, against happiness, against all discouragement that could be.."

- Charles Dickens, Great Expectations

Metaphors

I'm a riddle in nine syllables. 

An elephant, a ponderous house, 


A melon strolling on two tendrils. 


O red fruit, ivory, fine timbers! 


This loaf's big with its yeasty rising. 


Money's new-minted in this fat purse. 


I'm a means, a stage, a cow in calf. 


I've eaten a bag of green apples,

Boarded the train there’s no getting off.


- Sylvia Plath

You learn, and you learn.

A dear friend of mine shared this with me, and thought it would be a nice addition to my attention-lacking blog.

After a while you learn the subtle difference between holding a hand and chaining a soul.And you learn that love doesn’t mean leaning and company doesn’t mean security.
And you begin to learn that kisses aren’t contracts and presents aren’t promises.

And you begin to accept your defeats with your head up and your eyes ahead, with the grace of an adult, not the grief of a child.
And you learn to build all your roads on today because tomorrow’s ground is too uncertain for plans, and futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight.
After a while you learn that even sunshine burns if you get too much.
So you plant your own garden and decorate your own soul, instead of waiting for someone to leave you flowers.


And you learn that you really can endure;

You really are strong, you really do have worth.
And you learn, and you learn
With every goodbye you learn.


-Veronica Shoftsall

My next endeavor:

A modern masterpiece.

From the age of five I have played and studied music, most of which would be considered classical music. Although I was made to learn, recognise, analyse and discuss a plethora of pieces by an innumerable amount of composers, well-known and otherwise, I was never a fan of this particular music. Classical music gave me a headache.
In more recent times I have had an ever increasing admiration for the music scored for film, also known as soundtracks. I'm not talking about films like Bridget Jones' Diary using songs like 'All by myself' (an already famous pop song). I'm referring to the enigmatic film scores that are crafted specifically for use in films. It is these pieces that I would refer to as the masterpieces of our time. In the previous centuries, it was the likes of Mozart, Vivaldi, Bach etc that produced the pièce de résistance of their time, however with the technological boom of the 20th Century it was only natural that the world of music would also be revolutionised.
The production of masterpieces has now been left up to brilliance of Hans Zimmer, Harry Gregson-Williams, Rachel Portman, Gustavo Santaolalla, James Horner, Thomas Newman, Yann Tiersen.


A few soundtracks you simply must hear:
- The last Samurai

- Man on Fire
- The Chronicles of Narnia
- The Motorcycle Diaries
- Batman Begins
- Avatar
- Chocolat
- Amélie & Goodbye Lenin

Of course, watch the films while you're at it :)

What influences you?

A really interesting video talking about what makes someone/something an 'influencer'.

INFLUENCERS FULL VERSION (FR) from R+I creative on Vimeo.

(Re-post from a friend's blog.)

"I wish that I was born a thousand years ago

I wish that I'd sailed the darkened seas

On a great big clipper ship

Going from this land here to that

Ah, in a sailor's suit and cap

Away from the big city

Where a man can not be free

Of all of the evils of this town

And of himself, and those around"

Velvet Underground -Heroin

Image: Source

Music has a certain power, it is inexplainable and affects everybody in their own way. The significance that this form of art has on me is immeasurable. Not only that, but I feel that no matter how much I say or write my words are inadequate to explain it in a way that does it justice. Having been surrounded in music from a very young age via the piano and various other instruments its really brings joy to my heart seeing the genuine musical abilities of those around me.

An example of such soul-stirring music is by a friend of mine, Arlen Yanch, whom I met whilst serving at the Baha'i World Centre in Haifa, Israel. Not only is his an incredible pianist, but the compositions linked below (click the photo) are just incredible!

"The art of music is divine and effective. It is the food of the soul and spirit.

Through the power and charm of music the spirit of man is uplifted."

- A Compilation on Baha'i Education, Pages 56-57

Laundromat-o-mine

[This post has been published a year later than planned]

Who would've have thought doing my laundry would always be such an adventure?

Once a week (or perhaps a stretch more) I lugged my basket down the windy path through the snow-blanketed Kapelvej courtyard, across the street, making my way to my laundromat. Each time I am greeted by a different encounter. But the one that I will never forget is the one that happened most recently. Usually there are a couple of people in there, Danish, Middle Eastern, Northern African for the most part. The Danes do their part as the non-involved/ head down/ don't acknowledge your existence character. The Middle Eastern is usually a covered woman with several children running around and the Northern African steals glances at you when they think you're not looking.

Why am I talking about this?

When I was there yesterday, I must have given the impression that I was lost or didn't know how to operate the machines - its been a few months, I have it down pat. But this sweet lady, I think she was Iraqi, came and tried to explain it to me. She didn't understand English, I don't understand Arabic, and neither of us spoke a word of Danish. And yet she was so determined to teach me. In the midst of the chaos her children were causing, she managed, by speaking loudly, repeating the same Arabic sentences over and again, with dramatic hand gestures to get her message across. And after all her much appreciated efforts, all I could say in response was "Tak" (Thank you in Danish). She gave me the most warm-hearted smile I have ever gotten and then turned away, told off her children and continued on with her mountain load of washing. I never saw her again.

On the walk back to my flat, trudging through the snow in my chucks (not advisable), I found myself thinking about how different that could have been if we spoke the same language. Maybe she wasn't just talking about how to turn the dryer on. Maybe we could've had a few laughs and she could've told me some thing about her life and me about mine. Not this time Natasha, you can't be friends with everyone.

In all my travels over the past few months it couldn't be more blatantly clear how important language is in all our interactions with other humans and the urgent need for a universal language. Perhaps this is too big an ask for the time being. There are a lot of other pressing matters in the world at current that take precedence over address this social barrier for now but I think its certainly something that deserves more thought. It would certainly remove the issue of communication being lost in translation..

Oltremare

This little piece of Ludovico's magic gets me every time:

Although my consistency leaves much to be desired, I am in the process of learning this piece. Slowly, but surely, I will get there :)

nb. Oltremare is 'overseas' in Italian