Hi, If you are reading this, you probably just got the email I sent you, and clicked on the link to this blog.
I just want to say Hi to all my friends back in Florida, and at Palm Beach Atlantic University. I miss all of you, and it is very cold here in D.C.
Please post a comment if you want, I believe you will need to add your name to the post, since I am not sure if I will be able to tell who is posting. SO, please, no anonymous posting.
With His Love,
Jason
Friday, January 26, 2007
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Starting Out at Jubilee
SO, for those of you who want to know where I am working, I am interning at Jubilee USA, which is an organization which tries to get the debt of poor nations erased. Why, is that a good thing? Well, imagine that the United States had to pay off the national debt. Currently, we just have it sitting there and nobody is really making us pay anything except interest, which if we don't no one cares. BUT, African, Latin American, and Asian countries don't have the privilages associated with being a super power.
Countries like Liberia have large debts (many in the billions, but not hundreds of billions). However, the national budget of Liberia is not even near what it needs to be to pay off mere interest payments. The worst thing is that the debt was caused by the last two dictators to rule the country. Liberia has elected a woman president, and just come out of a very bloody civil war. Liberia especially needs to heal from the problems associated with war.
Liberian citizens do not receive social services like free or even reduced cost education. Basic social services are not available because there is no funding. People need medical attention and no one can afford it on their own. Unfortunately the government is spending most of its taxes on paying the banks (IMF, World Bank) which lent the money to dictators.
Jubilee takes the biblical message found in Leviticus that calls for debt forgiveness every 7 years, and a for a Jubilee celebration every 50 years, and applies it to forgiving debts of the Third World, a.k.a. the Global South. 2007 is a year of Jubilee and we are working to get a bill introduced in Congress to relieve the debt of numerous African countries.
I encourage you to Wikipedia the IMF and World Bank to get a better description, but baiscally all the countries that are members of the IMF and World Bank have to agree to forgive the debt of each country on an individual basis. Its like a vote in a board meeting. The US has the largest number of shares. In one of the banks we have 17% of the shares, and a vote of 85% is necessary to relieve the debt. Obviously our vote puts a lot towards the vote of reliving debt, but because we have 17% we could also vote no, and cause the measure to fall short of the 85% requirement. That is why the US position is so important. The US Treasury is who can tell the IMF and World Bank to relieve the debt, but the US Congress has the sway to influence the Treasury.
Its a long process, but because President Bush has done so much already to send money to Africa, and convince G8 countries to help out some, Congress could really get a lot of countries debts cancelled if they think that it is something the American people want.
Several thousand hearts are being made for Valentines Day to send to the Treasury, along with phone calls to the Treas. and letters to the editor in Congresspeople's local districts. I can give you more info on how to get involved leter, but so far this has been an interesting and exciting first week at work.
I will update more on this later, but now I need to go to bed.
Countries like Liberia have large debts (many in the billions, but not hundreds of billions). However, the national budget of Liberia is not even near what it needs to be to pay off mere interest payments. The worst thing is that the debt was caused by the last two dictators to rule the country. Liberia has elected a woman president, and just come out of a very bloody civil war. Liberia especially needs to heal from the problems associated with war.
Liberian citizens do not receive social services like free or even reduced cost education. Basic social services are not available because there is no funding. People need medical attention and no one can afford it on their own. Unfortunately the government is spending most of its taxes on paying the banks (IMF, World Bank) which lent the money to dictators.
Jubilee takes the biblical message found in Leviticus that calls for debt forgiveness every 7 years, and a for a Jubilee celebration every 50 years, and applies it to forgiving debts of the Third World, a.k.a. the Global South. 2007 is a year of Jubilee and we are working to get a bill introduced in Congress to relieve the debt of numerous African countries.
I encourage you to Wikipedia the IMF and World Bank to get a better description, but baiscally all the countries that are members of the IMF and World Bank have to agree to forgive the debt of each country on an individual basis. Its like a vote in a board meeting. The US has the largest number of shares. In one of the banks we have 17% of the shares, and a vote of 85% is necessary to relieve the debt. Obviously our vote puts a lot towards the vote of reliving debt, but because we have 17% we could also vote no, and cause the measure to fall short of the 85% requirement. That is why the US position is so important. The US Treasury is who can tell the IMF and World Bank to relieve the debt, but the US Congress has the sway to influence the Treasury.
Its a long process, but because President Bush has done so much already to send money to Africa, and convince G8 countries to help out some, Congress could really get a lot of countries debts cancelled if they think that it is something the American people want.
Several thousand hearts are being made for Valentines Day to send to the Treasury, along with phone calls to the Treas. and letters to the editor in Congresspeople's local districts. I can give you more info on how to get involved leter, but so far this has been an interesting and exciting first week at work.
I will update more on this later, but now I need to go to bed.
Sunday, January 21, 2007
IT SNOWED TODAY!
Its the first time I have seen snow in YEARS, possibly since 1994. In other words, I can't remember the last time I saw snow, and we got 2 inches of it today. It was so awesome. A nice coat of it all over everything. I even walked down to the corner store and walked through it... it was so cool. Its so amazing how God created snow. I know its cold outside and I am going to have to walk to work in it a few times this semester, but after all its just cold air. The beauty of the snow falling is totally worth it.
Check out MySpace for videos of the snow.
Friday, January 19, 2007
Washington by moonlight
Last night the ASP gang got together for a walk around D.C. We walked to the Capital and then to the Washington Monument. I have some pictures but they are at night, and I will post them here very soon. From the W-Monument we went to the WWII Memorial which is very nice. Some of the better pictures I took last night are from this memorial, so I will be sure to put some of them up here too.
We went also to the Vietnam and Korean memorials and to the Lincoln Memorial. All of these I have seen before, but the experience was nice with this new group of friends. Its easy for me to reflect on why some of the wars got started, how they continued and why we were fighting them, but I tried no to do so since this was more of a "getting to know new people/friends" night.
I did stop to read Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. When you think about the circumstances under which he wrote the address, and then read the final product... the power in his words, and the structure of his sentences as they flow in the english language resound within your heart, mind, and soul. Hearing his speach first hand must have truely been a soul penetrating experience! Lincoln wrote the address on the way over by train. Preparation time was short, thus the message is short, but the directness and the sources from which the letter draws upon in the hearer's mind and emotions do a lot for so few words. President Lincoln was also addressing the circumstance of the most bloody battle to date in the context of the 74-year-old nation's newly begun Civil War. The future was bleak indeed. If you haven't read the Gettysburg Address ina while I encourage you to do so. It won't take you anytime at all.
We went also to the Vietnam and Korean memorials and to the Lincoln Memorial. All of these I have seen before, but the experience was nice with this new group of friends. Its easy for me to reflect on why some of the wars got started, how they continued and why we were fighting them, but I tried no to do so since this was more of a "getting to know new people/friends" night.
I did stop to read Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. When you think about the circumstances under which he wrote the address, and then read the final product... the power in his words, and the structure of his sentences as they flow in the english language resound within your heart, mind, and soul. Hearing his speach first hand must have truely been a soul penetrating experience! Lincoln wrote the address on the way over by train. Preparation time was short, thus the message is short, but the directness and the sources from which the letter draws upon in the hearer's mind and emotions do a lot for so few words. President Lincoln was also addressing the circumstance of the most bloody battle to date in the context of the 74-year-old nation's newly begun Civil War. The future was bleak indeed. If you haven't read the Gettysburg Address ina while I encourage you to do so. It won't take you anytime at all.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
The Year of Jubilee: 2007
As part of the semester program we are required to take an internship position somewhere in the city. Before arriving I had been in communication with Jubilee USA for a researching position which would give me access to office discussions about policy and initiatives. I really wanted the position because it would have given me greater influence inthe thinking and actions of the organization than some gopher position pushing pencils.
I did not get the position, but just Tuesday they called while I was on the way with my group to Ben's Chili place and they asked if I were interested in working in the Communications office, which overlaps a lot with the research office. I have been reviewing the position since Wednesday when I got a more detailed email about the position.
I really do like the job, but I am wondering how qualified I am to do some of the more technical things. I am not a Communications major or minor, I am a Communication minor, notice the "s" is different but it makes a world of difference. So... I have some free time this afternoon and have emailed and left a phone message asking if its ok to come by this afternoon for a quick tour and a little OJT before I fully commit to accepting the position. I hope that none of what I would be doing is beyond difficult, so that with a little practice and some intitial questions, I will be able to pick it up quickly and easily.
I will report back later today or tomorrow with intern news... We are all going out tonight for the Monument Walk to see some of the monuments around town.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Picture of my bedroom
My bedroom. My bunk is out of the shot on the left. You can see my comforter. Kevin's desk is on the left, his bed is in the middle and my desk is on the right.
Welcome to the American Studies Program
Hello! So, I am doing great so far. Its been an interesting few days since move-in. It was 65 degrees on Monday and it was nice being able to move in and haul luggage in Florida-esq weather. Some of us guys went to Safe Way on Monday for basic groceries and I had to get a twin comforter and pillow from a REALLY cheap place.
Tuesday we went with groups to different service projects and lunch. My group went to Ben's Chili in the area of D.C. that was part of the Black Renaisance, when New York's Harlem Renaisance was going on. It was really great food, all sorts of famous people have been there. President Bush was actually there on Monday the day before, so we missed him. After lunch we went to a Mennonite house and moved furniture and painted walls. The house is used by missionaries who commit two years to serve in the local area and international offices. All their health care and living necesities are paid for, but it is still a very modest living arrangement.
Today there was our first class session. This is going to be an interesting semester. I am still not quite sure how we are going to be taught... its not your normal syllabus, reading material, and regurgitating it back to the professor in a mid-term, final, and term paper. There are three classes, each one lasting for about a few weeks, and begining as soon as the previous one ends. So I am not in three classes at once. I am glad to have had Dr. Janet Metzger for several classes because her West Coast teaching styles that are unorthodox compared to the very structured East Coast style of lecturing is exactly what the ASP program resembles. Our projects are done and evaluated in very fair, but also very creative ways.
So, getting to some of the funny stuff... my roomates and I have been trying to figure out how EXACTLY the thermostat works. Its very easy to read, everything is ordinary and in English. However, that all being said, we are at a loss when understanding what goes on in the air conditioning system when the A/C is turned to "auto" and set to 80 degrees, and the heat is set to "auto" and 75 degrees. Does the A/C and heat work in tandem to create a mild temperature of 77-78 degrees? Do the two conflict with each other? Or does one override the other completely? Kevin has declared me the resident A/C philosopher for my public ponderings. But when I do delve into the metaphysics of air-conditioning my roommates are still inquisitive.
So here is a picture of my dorm for your viewing pleasure:
The living room, with Kevin (left), Cesar (middle), and Justin (right).
Tuesday we went with groups to different service projects and lunch. My group went to Ben's Chili in the area of D.C. that was part of the Black Renaisance, when New York's Harlem Renaisance was going on. It was really great food, all sorts of famous people have been there. President Bush was actually there on Monday the day before, so we missed him. After lunch we went to a Mennonite house and moved furniture and painted walls. The house is used by missionaries who commit two years to serve in the local area and international offices. All their health care and living necesities are paid for, but it is still a very modest living arrangement.
Today there was our first class session. This is going to be an interesting semester. I am still not quite sure how we are going to be taught... its not your normal syllabus, reading material, and regurgitating it back to the professor in a mid-term, final, and term paper. There are three classes, each one lasting for about a few weeks, and begining as soon as the previous one ends. So I am not in three classes at once. I am glad to have had Dr. Janet Metzger for several classes because her West Coast teaching styles that are unorthodox compared to the very structured East Coast style of lecturing is exactly what the ASP program resembles. Our projects are done and evaluated in very fair, but also very creative ways.
So, getting to some of the funny stuff... my roomates and I have been trying to figure out how EXACTLY the thermostat works. Its very easy to read, everything is ordinary and in English. However, that all being said, we are at a loss when understanding what goes on in the air conditioning system when the A/C is turned to "auto" and set to 80 degrees, and the heat is set to "auto" and 75 degrees. Does the A/C and heat work in tandem to create a mild temperature of 77-78 degrees? Do the two conflict with each other? Or does one override the other completely? Kevin has declared me the resident A/C philosopher for my public ponderings. But when I do delve into the metaphysics of air-conditioning my roommates are still inquisitive.
So here is a picture of my dorm for your viewing pleasure:
The living room, with Kevin (left), Cesar (middle), and Justin (right).
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