Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Seeing all the angles

2011 is rapidly coming to a close and I have spent most of my time this year deep in thought. During this time I have made some interesting discoveries about myself and the world.

My biggest discovery this year is the belief that it is important to see all the angles and take a holistic view of life.

The old me was homophobic, selfish and believed in ruling the world. This year I have discovered that the only thing that matters is peace and love.

I am a Catholic Christian who has taken a big interest in the philosophies of Buddhism and during this process I have realised that all of the world’s religions just want to bring us together.

This year has also seen me join the fight to end extreme poverty. Lifting 1.4 billion people out of poverty can only be achieved by everyone “doing a small action times by lots of people” Global Poverty Project.

Personally I now know that until this year I had been trying to beat my disability but now that I am trying to be a social advocate I see that my disability is a strength not a weakness.

I have changed everything from the way I shop to the way I think in this year and in order to keep the wheels of life turning in my direction I will continue to take a holistic view and encourage my friends and family to do the same.

I personally pledge to no longer be blinded by ignorance.

Monday, June 20, 2011

Chasing cars

By Chris Van Ingen
Can you hear the environmental alarm bells ringing, can you believe the shocking seven news report stating that we are buying cars at a rate of more than one per person? How long are we going to continue to drive our planet into the ground?
Last time l checked whether you a man or a women you only have one butt so how can we drive more than one car at a time.
In the not to distance future there is going to be a major oil crisis because we continue to buy these gas guzzlers.
It hasn’t escaped my attention that along with the increase of traffic there has also been an increase in respitory illness. A coincidence?
It is clear that we need transport no one is denying that but more than one car per person isn’t that taking consumerism to fair.
There is no point having two cars if there is no planet to drive them on! The late great Arron Spelling had a 100 hundred car garage, what the!
Please close your eyes for 2 minutes and ask yourself do you really need more than one car or is the second car just pure ego?
Before you buy your next car think about the planet, it is time for us to stop chasing cars.
“Remember to keep the wheels of life turning in your direction.”

Monday, June 13, 2011

Life Manifesto

By Chris Van Ingen
My friends, with strength, courage, skill and wisdom we should do whatever it takes to keep people we love safe. Further more we should use those same values to make a difference in the world, from this day forward I ask you to become a spiritual warrior but the message of peace will be our only weapon. With the protection of the universal spirit we will never back down from any enemy no matter how large a threat of pain or death confronts us.
I urge everyone to hold true to the fighting spirit of humanity and keep honour, faith and justice in our hearts like the noble warriors that have gone before us. Today it is time for the world to place our life at the universal alter, so that fear has no power over us. In all things our thoughts will be clear and our actions will be quick.
There are many things we must be if we want to be free. We must take a holistic view of life and if we can, try to be gentle. A person should be a warrior ready for the fight or at least a leader prepared to do what’s right. The world should take care of the business of life and do everything we can for our fellow man when in strife.
We should learn the skills of art so we can express the wisdom in our heart .It is essential that humanity be well versed in the spiritual intimacy of sex and its power; A practice we should study for many an hour.
It is said mixing religion, sex and politics is wrong but if we truly understand these topics we will always get along. We should never neglect our spirit because faith will get you through when life is on the edge of a knife. All of us must keep an open mind on warfare, business, philosophy and more if we want to find the truth everyone searches for.
I humble myself with the taking of this oath and will stay true to it forever so help me God.
"Remember to keep the wheels of life turning in your direction".

Thursday, February 10, 2011

A little bit of insurance...

By Chris Van Ingen

Today I attended the ‘Having a Say’ conference rally calling for a fair go for all people with disabilities. With all my persuasive skills I call on the state and federal governments to implement the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

With a growing number of Australians living with disabilities, the scheme aims to provide a better quality of service to people with disabilities and reduce the financial burdens that people living with a disability face.

Everyone that attended the rally knows what it’s like to fight for funding and how disempowering that can be and it is clear that a national disability insurance scheme will be a major step forward in empowering all people with disabilities.

The whole crowd cheered in agreement when campaign director, John Della Bosca, said, “that the time had come for a new approach to how disability services are structured and funded in Australia”.

With more than two million Australians affected by significant disability, doesn’t that give us two million reasons to do something about it?

Here’s a reality check; God forbid but any one of us can end up with a disability at any time. Wouldn’t you feel better if there was a structure in place to make sure you are taken care of? If you answered yes, then join with me and all fellow supporters to demand a fair go for people with disabilities.

For further information on the campaign go to www.everyaustraliancounts.com.au

“Remember to keep the wheels of life turning in your direction.”

Monday, January 31, 2011

People Power.

By Chris Van Ingen.

Over the last few days, we have been lucky to witness yet again the rebirth of people power.

Once again the people of Egypt are doing what they did centuries ago; standing up for the basic rights of all human beings.

How is it possible that in a world where we have learnt so many lessons that a man who is supposed to lead his people repeats history and oppresses them for the last thirty years?

The events of the past few days show that people will only put up with dictatorship for so long. Everyone deserves to be free. Everyone deserves the right to more than two dollars a day.

Readers please watch the unfolding events in Egypt and use them as motivation to change the world. All we need to do to make the world a better place is to act. I ask you to join me in the movement to unite the world and if you’re reading this I know you want to.

“Remember to keep the wheels of life turning in your direction.”