Earth from the Air

Earth from the Air

My 'Do Something Extra' for this week (month) is to peruse this site. It's a collection of photos by Yann Arthus-Bertrand that are striking and in some cases defy any words.
It also provides links to things that you can do for yourself to help to global community.
Definitely recommended.

Just what is it about the Tsunami that hit SE Asia that has had such a global appeal when the earthquakes, monsoons and hurricanes that battered Iran, America, Bangladesh barely got a mention.

It is a tragedy certainly, one that 165,000 are presumed to have died and http://www.dec.org.uk are current saying that 5 million people have been affected. I trust that everyone has donated and will continue to do so. But remember that there are many other tragedies in the world also.

I urge you to make a commitment to start a regular donation to a charitable cause, be it global or local and support your chosen cause in addition to other events that occur.

If we are did just one little thing more, surely we could improve our planet just that little bit more.

Jerry Springer encourages debate

BBC NEWS | Entertainment | TV and Radio | Group to act over Springer opera

Christian Voice say they intend to sue the Beeb for broadcasting a live recording of Jerry Springer the Opera.
WHY?
At what point does a TV station become liable for that? Certainly the content of the show is offensive to some people. I won't dispute that. Oddly enough, many things are offensive to some people. But the BBC are just portraying something that has been running for a few years in one form or another. Why is it suddenly a big thing? What is it about putting the show on the TV that has caused such a fracas? Especially when the TV show itself has been running for over a decade.

For pity's sake, over 150,000 people are dead in South Asia because of a tsunami, millions of people across Africa are starving, Iraqi citizens of all creeds are experiencing one of the most troubled times of their history, and a few Brits are burning their TV license because they don't seem to understand the concept of satire. I fail to see how Jerry is any worse than, say The Producers.

Answers on a postcard ...

I was watching a documentary about Cirque du Soliel and the looks of absolute awe on the faces of the audience reminded me just why I work in the theatre biz.

Sure you get the more political-make-a-statement-style pieces such as the abortive Behzti but there is definitely something in helping people experience a piece of live theatre that will never come again and brings a little joy into a world that seems to care less and less.