Our Socially Constructed Jungle - Poem by Athena Lamberis

Socially Constructed Jungle

by Athena Lamberis

Over the seas

 Far away

In the neck 

Of the jungle

Trees cast shadows on our eyes

Until we wake up

We won't realise

We grew this jungle deep

and under these trees

I weep.

Don't deny that the trees grew

but were planted by you.

Don't forget that the sun is above.

We all belong

All belong to the roots.

We are the children of the bark.

Awaken to truths
before 

we create clouds
to covers the skies

Under these trees

Under these trees

I weep

Under these trees

We weep.

****

Let's consider and understand
 this socially constructed jungle
we live in will suffocate us all
if we don't recognise the harm
it has caused by the seeds
from which it was planted.

Dedicated to lives lost
 families in pain
Our global community mourns
A plea for
Truth and Reconciliation
For hate crimes across
the Globe.

***
"The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil,
but by those who watch them without doing anything"

-Albert Einstein

" What matters is how quickly you do what your soul directs" -Rumi

“What matters is how quickly you do what your soul directs.”
― Rumi

Violence is an act without soul.
Direct life in love
Anger won't last
and we will be
Direct in what we see
Soul will fill
Love will lead.

 -Athena Lambers

  

Public art meets crowd-funding for social change #ANOTHERLIGHTUP in Cape Town, South Africa

 On De Waal Drive, driving out of the city bowl in Cape Town, South Africa, you have the view of the Cape peninsula's valley also known to many people as The Flats.  The Flats extends all the way to areas like Monwabisi, a sub-area of Khayelitsha, one of Cape Town's most populated districts.


 On that same drive, you can see the new Urban Visionary, a multi-storey mural and light installation created by the founders of Thingking and artist Faith47.  They collaborated on the new design and have enabled public street art to be a catalyst for change through crowdfunding for a social cause.  They aim to raise funds for public street lights to be installed in Monwabisi Park, Khayelitsha, through the organisation VPUU (Violence Prevention through Urban Upgrading).  For every light that is funded for in Monwabisi, the Urban Visionary mural is lit up in the evening- inspiring and engaging more people to become more active members in their society through #anotherlightup


 To read more about it here and to donate to #anotherlightup:



About the project | #ANOTHERLIGHTUP







#ANOTHERLIGHTUP from Design Indaba on Vimeo.

The mural on the same wall before Feb 2014 Urban Visionary #anotherlightup was put up

Turkey in Action

Full Page Ad for Turkish Democracy in Action | Indiegogo

What will placing an ad in the New York Times do?  This is just one of the ways messages can be spread and advertisements for what we can change rather than profit gain.  

This could also be done to overcome other issues that are even embedded in culture.  To reverse the use of Rhino horn.  To support non-GMO foods.  To take responsibility for eachother, in solidarity.

What is Happening in Turkey? 

People of Turkey have spoken: We will not be oppressed!

Millions are outraged by the violent reaction of their government to a peaceful protest aimed at saving Istanbul’s Gezi Park.

Outraged, yet not surprised.

Over the course of Prime Minister Erdoğan’s ten-year term, we have witnessed a steady erosion of our civil rights and freedoms. Arrests of numerous journalists, artists, and elected officials and restrictions on freedom of speech, minorities’ and women’s rights all demonstrate that the ruling party is not serious about democracy.

Time and again, the Prime Minister has mocked and trivialized his nation’s concerns while Turkey’s own media have remained shamefully silent.

The people protesting bravely throughout Turkey are ordinary citizens. We span several generations and represent a spectrum of ethnic, religious, socioeconomic, ideological, sexual, and gender identities. We stand united because of our concern for Turkey’s future. Our future.

We demand an end to police brutality.
We demand a free media.
We demand open democratic dialogue between citizens and those elected to public service, not the dictates of special interests.
We demand an investigation of the government’s recent abuse of power, which has led to the loss of innocent lives.

Join the conversation and stand with us in solidarity.

Crowdfunded Entirely by Concerned Individuals from Around the World

The Cape Argus Cycle Tour in Cape Town

 In just under 3 hours, womyn and men of the Cape Argus Cycle Tour completed the ride from Cape Town's city centre and back again on the most beautiful peninsula of the world.  I woke up on Sunday morning to cheers and clapping for the dedication of cyclists making their way around Boyes Drive in Muizenberg.  Just steps from our home was a refueling spot of blue energy drink and I managed to capture some young faces touring their own city's landscape on their self-powered bicycles.  It was a gorgeous Sunday of hope and positivity to watch thousands of people travel through the city.

In just under 3 hours, womyn and men of the Cape Argus Cycle Tour completed the ride from Cape Town's city centre and back again on the most beautiful peninsula of the world.  I woke up on Sunday morning to cheers and clapping for the dedication of cyclists making their way around Boyes Drive in Muizenberg.  Just steps from our home was a refueling spot of blue energy drink and I managed to capture some young faces touring their own city's landscape on their self-powered bicycles.

Joy and Chaos with MP3 experiment

 Improv Everywhere comes to Cape Town, ZA

Balloon battles, and random high-fives.  Peeps got an afternoon of random spontaneity with a lesson in listening in the Bay of sunglasses, six-packs and pouty lips.

The cradle of the West in flames: Another one tears from gas

 This image could be from anywhere at the moment.


Activists are coming out and protesting for what we believe we need as a greater whole. These aren't local issues. We may live within borders but global issues cross and today we are more interconnected to stand in solidarity of human rights than ever before. Greece has started to protest austerity measures implemented by the government which is another stand against a system that isn't working for the people.  The cradle of the west is in flames which well may be a foreshadow of efforts to spark change around the world.  Dictators are stepping down, corrupt governments are being pressured, a call for action towards change is in order.  How many more curtains of tear gas and Molotov cocktails will have to be thrown?

I came across this website: Tips to survive a tear-gas protest which lists first-aid to bring with you and a 101 of all things considered when protecting you from tear-gas at a protest.  We can come prepared and aware, but intuitively I think we are capable to act and stand for peaceful change, educate ourselves and eachother to communicate.  While protesters on ground level are burning and blinding eachother, how can another wave of activism support the same issues and combat on another level without tears from gas?

Inhumane Energy

Source: via Athena on Pinterest           How can we reverse damage already done to the environment in Ecuador and our brothers and sisters who have been affected by the pollutants?

We can start to clean what has already been damaged by not tolerating inhumane systems of power and economy. I hope this case is a call to form better plans for our future and take on our power to make a change.

“The case really sends a message that companies operating in the undeveloped world cannot rely on a compliant government or lax environmental rules as a way of permanently insulating themselves from liability,” said Robert Percival, a law professor and director of the environmental law program at the University of Maryland School of Law in Baltimore. Click for more 

An apology is due but the money stays in those deep pockets fueling more greed and manipulation. Read more en espanol 
 If business' continue to practice in inhumane systems, then a call for compassion and innovation is pending for us to make change.  Let's create a more sustainable form and can we agree on what is sustainable?  

 "Everything lost can be found again in a new form and a new way" -Roan Robbins

Tunisia ☑ Egypt ☑ Iran ☐

"We are great people and we did something great.  This is the expected end for every dictator." Mahmoud Elhetta, an Egyptian protest organiser.

Source: english.aljazeera.net via Athena on Pinterest

The bridge leading to peace is a strong image. My thoughts and solidarity are with protestors in Iran during anti-government protests and the struggle towards change.