Vote Earth!

This is just a short post to invite you to turn off your lights tomorrow (March, 28th), at 20h30, local time, no matter where you are, in order to support the WWF cause, the "Earth Hour"!

For the first time in history, people of all ages, nationalities, race and background have the opportunity to use their light switch as their vote – Switching off your lights is a vote for Earth, or leaving them on is a vote for global warming. WWF are urging the world to VOTE EARTH and reach the target of 1 billion votes, which will be presented to world leaders at the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen 2009. (Source: Earth Hour website).

By the way, what will you do in the dark hour? Take a nap? Enjoy a candlelight dinner? Let your imagination fly! :D

One more day to hope

Well, we all know that violence is out there, in different countries, cities, neighborhoods. We also know that sometimes the violence goes inside people's home, as we read in daily newspapers.

Today the city I live (Rio de Janeiro) got the world's attention, after a shoot-out between Brazilian police and gang members in famous Copacabana (Read news).

I believe when we face such situations our first reaction is to feel discouraged and hopeless about the humanity, as we see the world getting worse in so many aspects. But I also realized it is exactly the moment when our faith should get stronger, so we can turn things out positively.

As long as we trust in people, as long as we hope, as long as we fight for the good, we shall win.

As said by Mahatma Gandhi (wikipedia): "You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty."

Source: Wisdom Quotes

Todos nós sabemos que a violência está aí fora, em diferentes países, cidades, bairros. Também sabemos que a violência tem chegado à casa das pessoas, como lemos diariamente nos jornais.

Hoje a cidade em que vivo (Rio de Janeiro) chamou a atenção do mundo, após um tiroteio entre a polícia brasileira e traficantes no famoso bairro de Copacabana.

Eu acredito que quando enfrentamos situações como essa nossa primeira reação é nos sentir desanimados e deseperançosos em relação à humanidade, ao vermos o mundo piorando em tantos aspectos. Mas eu também percebi que é exatamente esse o momento em que a nossa fé deveria se fortalecer, nos permitindo resolver a situação de maneira positiva.

Enquanto acreditarmos nas pessoas, enquanto tivermos esperança, enquanto lutarmos pelo bem, venceremos.

Como disse Mahatma Gandhi (wikipedia): "Nunca perca a fé na humanidade, pois ela é como um oceano. Só porque existem algumas gotas de água suja nele, não quer dizer que ele esteja sujo por completo."

A day to hope

Today is a day to hope. Kenya police destroys more than 4000 arms, apprehended since 2007, that had been used by criminals in the country. You might think that's nothing comparing to all bad news we read everyday. But I believe we should celebrate the good news, no matter how relevant they are, so we keep our hearts warm and full of hope.

I haven't found much more in the web, but these two pictures from Associated Press caught my attention. They were posted in G1, a brazilian news website. Check them out!

Hoje é um dia para ter esperança. Polícia do Quênia destrói mais de 4000 armas, apreendidas desde 2007, que vinham sendo utilizadas por criminosos no país. Talvez você pense que isso não é nada diante das notícias ruins que lemos todos os dias. Mas eu penso que devemos celebrar toda notícia boa, não importa a sua relevância, para assim mantermos nossos corações aquecidos e cheios de esperança.

Não encontrei muito mais sobre essa notícia, mas essas duas fotos da "Associated Press" chamaram a minha atenção. Eles foram postados no site de notícias G1. Confira!

Awww... the true love...

"Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails." (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)

Aww, what an amazing love. Imagine all men in the world being able to love each other this way!

Now take time to examine the love you nurture in your heart. If it is not that great yet, and we know how difficult can be to get there, encourage yourself to take it step by step. Start with forgiveness. Hope things will get better, if this is what you've been missing. Believe, dream, trust. Be patient still, but do your part to make things happen. And be happy!