I was shocked to learn that the U.S. foreign aid system hasn't been reformed since the 1960's and is still based on Cold War thinking. The United States is a very generous country but our system for delivering aid is outdated and not as efficient as it could be. For example, U.S. global development policies and programs are scattered across 12 departments, 25 different agencies, and nearly 60 government offices. Our aid needs to be refocused and streamlined so that we can continue to help some of the world's poorest people.
On April 28, a bi-partisan bill (H.R. 2139) was introduced called the “Initiating Foreign Assistance Reform Act of 2009.” This bill directs the president to develop and implement a comprehensive national strategy to promote global development. The bill is intended to be a precursor to a broader reform effort later this year, which will include re-writing and updating the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.
The "Initiating Foreign Assistance Reform Act of 2009":
Requires the president to develop and implement a comprehensive National Strategy for Global Development.
Requires the president to develop and implement a rigorous system to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of U.S. foreign assistance.
Requires that both American taxpayers and recipients of U.S. foreign assistance have full access to information on U.S. foreign assistance.
Urge Congress to reform foreign aid here. This is a great chance to affect policy change and it only takes 2 minutes! Go on...
Monday, 18 May 2009
Tuesday, 21 April 2009
Amazing first dance video!
This is the most amazing first dance! Also, scroll down on the link for her rendition of Beyonce's single ladies. Amazing.
Monday, 23 March 2009
Holiday!
I can't wait to leave the office on Thursday and head to LA, Seattle, New York AND Boston for two weeks. I'm especially excited to be warm in California, and of course get reacquainted with my old friend the Coffee Bean. Looking forward to seeing everyone soon!
Friday, 6 March 2009
Weekend in London
I live in London, obviously, but sometimes I can take that for granted. I can get frustrated by all the frustrating things in this old, wet city. So this weekend I'm going to think like a tourist and hit up places that make me happy to remind myself that this really is a great city.
Wednesday, 11 February 2009
Nice Prayer
Here's a nice prayer from good ol' St Theresa:
May today there be peace within.
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be content knowing you are a child of God. Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.
It is there for each and every one of us.
May today there be peace within.
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be content knowing you are a child of God. Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.
It is there for each and every one of us.
Wednesday, 21 January 2009
What I do all day...
Today I attended a 'flash squat' on the South Bank to highlight the world's need for better taps and toilets. At 9am about a hundred of us, led by a chief squatter, squatted for 2 minutes (note toilet paper and faux poo). I have a very intellectual job as you can see. (This isn't me by the way...I'm farther down in the crowd)
Saturday, 17 January 2009
Welcome 2009
It has indeed been awhile. Oh well, here's a bit of a catch up of the things I'm thinking about lately:
* Holistic health: I've always been pretty health conscious, but after getting married and committing to a strict budget, often price and convenience sideline health. Then there was the chocolate. I felt like a Cathy cartoon how chocoholic I became, eating it to get through the afternoon slump rather than as a special treat every once in awhile. This past winter I became reinvigorated to take care of myself. Stress, cold and a cake competition I'm still determined to win contributed to bad skin and just feeling very blah- the perfect recipe for change. I read a fantastic book called...wait...What Would Jesus Eat? and it's amazing. I'm not so theologically zealous that I feel I need to literally eat like Jesus did, but I do appreciate that what people ate 2,000 years ago was much healthier, whole, and less processed. It showed me just how much crap I eat without realising. So my new year's aim is to cut out all the refined and processed garbage from my diet and focus on eating as whole wheaty, brown ricey, EVOO- filled, and fruit and vegelicious as I can.
* Fish: One thing's for sure, Jesus sure ate a lot of fish. As a pescetarian, you'd think I'd be a fish preparing master, but in fact I find cooking them daunting. So this year my goal is to cook more fish. I started with salmon - the one fish I know how to cook, and have gone from there. Last night, cod baked with olive oil, lemon and rosemary. Hopefully it will be a slippery slope to mastery from here.
* Detox: To celebrate the Chinese year of the OX I'm considering this my personal year of the detOX. I'm learning about all sorts of detox plans and plan to do one soon hopefully. Any tips welcome.
* Pilates: Amy, whilst she was in London (sigh) signed up for weekly (?) pilates courses. It's all about core strength and being more aware of your body (I think). I'd be there in a heartbeat if it wasn't so pricey. My credit crunch solution was to raid the local library, where I picked up every sort of pilates for dummies book on the shelf. For now I'm feeling really good just reading about how great pilates is. Hopefully soon I'll find out if doing it for real is even better. Yes, I am obsessively thinking about health at the moment. But I think it's important to go through seasons like this to remind you to be healthy. I don't think organic brown rice or pilates should just be posh novelty; how you treat your body impacts on every other part of life.
* Threads: OK, aside from health, I'm thinking about sewing and knitting. I got a sewing machine for Christmas and just need to sit down and figure out how to work it and avoid sticking a needle through my finger - a real fear. I'm also going to start to learn to knit, just to really even out my domestic pursuits. Expect to see some scarf work and simple bags coming soon.
* Travel: Got some big ol' plans coming up. First to the US of A in February for work, hitting up the East Coast for a week. Then in April to Los Angeles, Seattle and New York with Dan (!). Then hopefully going to Central/ South America with work. Just checked out some travel books at the library today to get clued up on the region. My thoughts now are either Honduras or Peru/ Bolivia. Any thoughts?
* Ethiopian food: Sorry, back to food. Not sure how healthy it is but Dan and I have really fallen for it. If you haven't had it, go find some some. If you have, then you know my joy. Having gone through a Mexican food withdrawl since moving the the UK I am happy to have found a cuisine I love just as much. Indeed, I'm about to go have some for dinner.
* Mudhouse Sabbath: Read this book over Christmas and it's fab. Lauren Winner is kind of my writing hero. She converted to Christianity from Orthodox Judaism and in this book outlines 10 Jewish practices that she finds lacking in Christianity, and describes how to translate them in her spiritual life. Need more books like this. The next book on my list is O2 by Jenny's pastor Richard Dahlstrom. Will let you know...
Well, that's kind of me in a nutshell for now.
* Holistic health: I've always been pretty health conscious, but after getting married and committing to a strict budget, often price and convenience sideline health. Then there was the chocolate. I felt like a Cathy cartoon how chocoholic I became, eating it to get through the afternoon slump rather than as a special treat every once in awhile. This past winter I became reinvigorated to take care of myself. Stress, cold and a cake competition I'm still determined to win contributed to bad skin and just feeling very blah- the perfect recipe for change. I read a fantastic book called...wait...What Would Jesus Eat? and it's amazing. I'm not so theologically zealous that I feel I need to literally eat like Jesus did, but I do appreciate that what people ate 2,000 years ago was much healthier, whole, and less processed. It showed me just how much crap I eat without realising. So my new year's aim is to cut out all the refined and processed garbage from my diet and focus on eating as whole wheaty, brown ricey, EVOO- filled, and fruit and vegelicious as I can.
* Fish: One thing's for sure, Jesus sure ate a lot of fish. As a pescetarian, you'd think I'd be a fish preparing master, but in fact I find cooking them daunting. So this year my goal is to cook more fish. I started with salmon - the one fish I know how to cook, and have gone from there. Last night, cod baked with olive oil, lemon and rosemary. Hopefully it will be a slippery slope to mastery from here.
* Detox: To celebrate the Chinese year of the OX I'm considering this my personal year of the detOX. I'm learning about all sorts of detox plans and plan to do one soon hopefully. Any tips welcome.
* Pilates: Amy, whilst she was in London (sigh) signed up for weekly (?) pilates courses. It's all about core strength and being more aware of your body (I think). I'd be there in a heartbeat if it wasn't so pricey. My credit crunch solution was to raid the local library, where I picked up every sort of pilates for dummies book on the shelf. For now I'm feeling really good just reading about how great pilates is. Hopefully soon I'll find out if doing it for real is even better. Yes, I am obsessively thinking about health at the moment. But I think it's important to go through seasons like this to remind you to be healthy. I don't think organic brown rice or pilates should just be posh novelty; how you treat your body impacts on every other part of life.
* Threads: OK, aside from health, I'm thinking about sewing and knitting. I got a sewing machine for Christmas and just need to sit down and figure out how to work it and avoid sticking a needle through my finger - a real fear. I'm also going to start to learn to knit, just to really even out my domestic pursuits. Expect to see some scarf work and simple bags coming soon.
* Travel: Got some big ol' plans coming up. First to the US of A in February for work, hitting up the East Coast for a week. Then in April to Los Angeles, Seattle and New York with Dan (!). Then hopefully going to Central/ South America with work. Just checked out some travel books at the library today to get clued up on the region. My thoughts now are either Honduras or Peru/ Bolivia. Any thoughts?
* Ethiopian food: Sorry, back to food. Not sure how healthy it is but Dan and I have really fallen for it. If you haven't had it, go find some some. If you have, then you know my joy. Having gone through a Mexican food withdrawl since moving the the UK I am happy to have found a cuisine I love just as much. Indeed, I'm about to go have some for dinner.
* Mudhouse Sabbath: Read this book over Christmas and it's fab. Lauren Winner is kind of my writing hero. She converted to Christianity from Orthodox Judaism and in this book outlines 10 Jewish practices that she finds lacking in Christianity, and describes how to translate them in her spiritual life. Need more books like this. The next book on my list is O2 by Jenny's pastor Richard Dahlstrom. Will let you know...
Well, that's kind of me in a nutshell for now.
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