One Christmas

By Chris Van Ingen

Almost a week ago I went to the funeral of Leo an Asylum seeker who was that afraid of being sent back to Sri Lanka he felt he had no other option than end his life.

I had the blessing and good luck to spend Leo’s last Christmas with him, in that time I learned that he was quite, gentle, kind and generous a man.

At the funeral I heard a story that illustrated Leo perfectly; Leo was so generous his boss had to stop him from donating his entire wage to charity.

I know our government has to have policies and procedures to process refugees and asylum seekers  but surely Australia wants more people like Leo, not less.

Leo was Tamil and catholic two things that put a target on his back and made him afraid of being tortured if he was forced to go back to Sri Lanka.   

On top of this Leo suffered from serve mental illness, no matter what culture you are from Australia is not very excepting of those that have mental illness.

Despite all his hardships he still believed in putting others before himself a quality that we all should  try and carry with us.

We are all part of one universe, one song we need to recognise our common humanity and stop fearing what is different.

I again urge our government to replace fear with love and while being thorough is necessary we must stop adding to the fear that refugees and asylum seekers have had in their life.

I only knew Leo for a short time but his quiet dignity, compassion and kindness will always make me grateful for that one Christmas.

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

The world game shame.

Last night l happened to catch a Four corners story that horrified, repulsed and strengthened my resolve all at the same time.

This story was about Brazil and the world cup and the Grand Canyon sized chasm between the billions of dollars being spent to host the world cup while millions of Brazilian citizens still live in extreme poverty.

The story followed a fourteen year old girl who was selling herself for sex because she was so poor. How can anyone put a game ahead of the welfare of children?

The story also said that sex tourism is going to increase during the world cup; Sex is such a beautiful thing and should not be corrupted in this way. Children everywhere deserve the right to be children!

Since soccer is called the world game why didn't FIFA choose a host that represents the best the world has to offer?

I have said this many times but after the story last night I will repeat it again how long is it going to take for us all to put humanity at a higher value than money?

Sexploitation is wrong and we all can do our bit to end the extreme poverty that makes this ugly practice possible.

The Brazilian government argues that the money the world cup brings in will help the people in the slums long term but surely the billions spent on the world cup should have been used to help the people rather than such a useless spectacle of entertainment.   

I am more determined than ever to help to continue the movement to end extreme poverty after seeing this story, so if any of you are watching the world cup take a second to think about the young people who are selling themselves mere meters from the stadium in which the world’s attention is focused.

I will never forget Brazil’s world game shame and neither should you.

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

A Dream Killing Budget

By Chris Van Ingen

The Liberal party have always been known for putting the rich ahead all other Australians but never have I seen such a dream killing budget.

This 2014 budget has got me praying that the TARDIS is real so I can travel back in time 10 years and change my decision to join Mr Abbott’s party because even though I found out our beliefs’ were completely opposite and quit the party, after this budget I wish the Liberals were never part of my history.

This budget attacks everything thing that I and the majority of Australians believe in, affordable health care,  education, aged and disability support, sustainable environment and foreign aid. Nothing has escaped the Liberals machete except surprise, surprise the rich.

Many economists and the other parties agree that our debt level is nowhere near a crisis point because the Labor government kept us in a good position throughout the GFC.

We all know governments have to make tough choices but why is the Prime Minister taking us back to the Howard years and beyond, back to the dark ages? When is he going to stop being the Liberal’s attack dog and become a leader moving the country forward?

In thirty-one years of living with a disability I have had thousands of visits to the doctor, over thirty admissions to hospital and seventeen operations which my parents could not have afforded if the co-payment existed then and pensioners cannot afforded it now!

If the government would open its eyes and look at the U.S., where it’s clear this sort of health system doesn’t work  because people delay going to the doctor which then leads to the more expensive acute style medicine rather than a cheaper preventive one and it’s $7 now but what is it going to be in the future?

Through my involvement with Global Poverty Project I know small actions create big changes. So it doesn’t take a genius to see that proposed changes to environmental and foreign aid polices will have a catastrophic affect on the world and on how that world sees Australia.

On a personal note, I am actor, writer and motivation speaker because I want educate and inspire as many people as possible but the Coalition’s decision to join the Arts Council and Screen Australia will reduce our creativity and pretty much kill my dream along with the imagination and dreams of the nation.

Labor here I come! Thank you for this budget Mr Abbott because it has forced back into the political arena to make sure such a dream killing budget never happens again!

Vote 1 Labor at the next election!

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

A simple Minstrel and Orator

It has been awhile since I have posted. I have been spending time in deep reflection and now I will share some of my thoughts. The traditional notions of success have become to complicated I now see myself as just a simple minstrel and orator.
This doesn't mean however that I have given up chasing my goals I would die before I let that happen it is simply down to a change of perspective. Throughout history scientists, priests and spiritual teachers have agreed that there is a energy in the universe, for me it is god but regardless what you believe this energy exists so I now place my goals in the wave of this universal energy and sit as a simple minstrel and orator and wait to see what the universe has in-store. This sounds passive but it is not I make all the moves necessary to achieve all my goals and then see if the universe delivers them. This means that I cut down on stress because I am going with the flow of my life and not fighting against what is in front of me. So gentle reader take stock of where your life is at the moment let your goals surf the wave of universal energy and be happy with your life for now I am just a simple mistral and orator.
" Remember to keep the wheels of life turning in your direction!"



By Chris Van Ingen

The Sessions

By Chris Van Ingen

This week I saw a movie that made me realise I don’t need to act, write or speak another syllable because the wisdom I thought my disability had given me to offer the world has already been perfectly expressed in The Sessions.

 A week ago I went to the video shop and hired The Sessions just to make up the numbers for a deal and a taxi driver told me it was good; little did I know how much it would rock my world!

  

The Sessions tells the real life story of Mark O’Brien a writer and poet with Polio who under goes a sexual awakening when he is asked to write an article on “Sex and the Disabled.”

During the cause of writing the article Mark is introduced to a sex surrogate  Sheryl Cohen-Green  played by Helen Hunt. Her character is not a prostitute and the difference is explained in the movie but through his interaction with her Mark is able to  experience his sexuality for the first time.

The themes, issues and emotions the movie deals with is the most realistic look at the fear, guilt and self esteem issues people with disabilities go through when it comes to sexuality that I’ve ever seen.

  

Writer and director Ben Lewin handled the film with the perfect  blend of humour and drama without being patronising or sentimental.

John Hawks (as Mark O’Brien) and Helen Hunt (Sheryl Cohen-Green) give Oscar calibre performances brilliantly supported by William H. Macy and the other cast to create a movie I had to buy the next day.

It’s eye opening to see that I have spent my artistic and business life teaching people about the same things Mark went through thirty years ago,

How hard is it to work out that people with disabilities are sexual beings too? As a matter of fact sex is one of the only things I would sacrifice my acting goals for. That’s how important sex and sexuality is to me.

The only criticism I have is the lead didn’t really have a disability. So Ben next time, look me up on Showcast. Professional jealousy aside everyone has to see The Sessions.

“Keep the wheels of life turning in your direction.”

Return to the Sacred Feminine

By Chris Van Ingen

In 2013, women are strong, intelligent, creative, caring and beautiful. So how insane is our world if we need to have a night dedicated to stopping violence against people that have these qualities and much more to offer the world?

Growing up with a disability was tough. When my guy friends were doing things I couldn’t do, I would’ve been very lonely if the girls didn’t let me join their circle.

I’ve known since the age of ten how amazing women are and I truly believe they deserve to worshipped; not just sexually!

It horrifies me to know that 1 in 3 women experience violence at the hands of ones who say they love them the most: their partners.

When the majority of these partners are men, it’s enough to make me want to disown my sex in protest.   

When I heard an excerpt from a speech by Police Commissioner Ken Lay which says “if one person a week was murdered at a train station there would be community outrage yet one woman per week is murdered and there’s barely a whisper.” What the f**k?

In the ten years I’ve been with the beautiful Jodi Watts now Van Ingen, I felt no need to use my porn collection because the artificial degrading world could never compare to her beautiful reality.

Women have always liked the way I respected them but from today I intend my respect to multiply by the power of ten.

I intend to make sure that all my interactions and communication with women are done in a spirit of equality and respect.

I intend to sign the G21 Accord to Prevent and End Violence Against Women and I encourage all men if they are “real men!” to do the same.

It is time for women to reclaim more than the night; it is time for women to reclaim their possession as the sacred feminine. 

Demolition Man

By Chris Van Ingen

In the short time our new Prime Minister has been in power, although whether or not he has lived up to honour of that title is up to you...

 He has scraped the Carbon Tax, got rid of the Ministers for Disability, Aged Care,  Youth, Climate Change  and Multicultural Affairs lumping them all in one, like he’s saying here is the reject pile.

During the election, people with disabilities were happy that both parties committed to the NDIS which is the biggest investment in disability in thirty years but how committed is Mr Abbott if he takes away the minister when those with disabilities need one most?

Mr Abbott a “devout Catholic!” is now attacking refuges and asylum seekers who are doing nothing wrong or illegal!

Time for a refresher, Australia signed a UN contract agreeing to take refugees and asylum seekers so coming here by boat is not against the law.

The ignorance and fear Abbott’s government is trading on brings to mind a Zen quote: “labelling as like or don’t like is a disease of the mind”.

People arriving by boat have committed no crime yet they are imprisoned when all they asking is place to be safe.

A blogger recently pointed out that our national anthem boasts “we have land for all to share.” Or the Bible says “what you do to the least of them you do to me.” Statements the government have forgotten based on current events.

Statically most refugees and asylum seekers return home once the danger has passed yet the new government has put laws in place to make it difficult for them to do just that.

Just when you think things are safe, in recent days, reports have surfaced that they are looking into the feasibility of privatising the NDIS effectively making it more arduous for people to access the scheme before it even starts.

Governments are supposed to represent their community with humanity and compassion but how much is going to be left after four years under a demolition man?

Hunger is not a game

This year’s Live Below the Line was a powerful reminder that for 1.4 billion people in our world hunger is not a game.

A lot of us think the world is fine. Some of us even say, “what’s yours is mine”.

Many people have plenty of advice but have they ever had to sacrifice just for a few bowls of rice.

The first day of the challenge, lack of coffee gave me a migraine headache and it got me thinking; shouldn’t the fact that 1.4 billion people live in poverty give everyone a headache?

It is a situation that shouldn’t exist in this day and age.

I lived on two dollars a day for my food for five days but poverty is more than just a lack of food.

A quarter of the world go without shelter, medicine, and even play every single day.

Thank you to all the people who supported me during the Live Below the Line campaign but it is important that we make an end to poverty a daily campaign until no single human being lives in poverty.

You can still donate at https://www.livebelowtheline.com/me/chrisvaningen

A Passion for Easter

I love hot cross buns, chocolate eggs and family fish feasts but while they all taste great none of these things are what Easter is about.

Easter is a reminder of the extraordinary sacrifice that was made to show us all the best way to live in the world.

I know that I have goodness, ability and strength but none of it comes from me. It is all God given.

As a Catholic today, on Good Friday, I participated in the Stations of the Cross. It was a powerful ceremony that reminded me of two things: 1, the power of hatred in our world; 2, the divine courage and grace that is possible.

So this weekend as we all enjoy hot cross buns and chocolate eggs, please remember the true passion for Easter.

God bless.

First Aid

It saddens me to hear that in order to tighten the country’s belt, Wayne Swan is considering cutting foreign aid.

As part of my work with the Global Poverty Project, I have learnt that if each one of us takes a small action it equals big change.

Our Government is supposed to be our leader.

If our leaders aren’t prepared to make a small change, then how is Australia going to make a difference in the world.

Last year, I attended an event called High Five for Point Five where we asked that our foreign aid promise of 0.5% GNI be kept.

For those of you who don’t know, 0.5% foreign aid equals 50c out of every $100.

Surely with our economy being in such good shape in comparison to the rest of the world, there is no need to cut back on a promise which is as little as 50 cents.

So I beg Julia Gilliard, Wayne Swan, Penny Wong, Simon Crean and Bob Carr to think about Australia’s commitment to the world.

It’s time to put votes second and first aid.

To take action head to Global Poverty Project or The Oaktree Foundation.