Invisible Children

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Today I met three incredibly inspiring people: Jason Russel, 27, Bobby Bailey, 24 (both graduated from USC film school), and Laren Poole, 22. They screened their movie today at Omidyar Network, which has provided funding to Invisible Children. These three guys had heard about what is going on in Uganda and decided to go there and shoot a documentary about it. They thought they are just going to show the final movie to their friends and family and none of them expected that they would actually found a nonprofit and become full time activists.

Watch the trailer

The movie is incredibly powerful. I am going to get the DVD and throw one of the suggested house parties at our place. When you buy a DVD, they provide you with a second one to pass on to friends and family and help spread the word.

Another one of their projects is the bracelet production. Ever since the war started 20 years ago (Yes! 20 years! Have you ever seen any frontpage coverage of what is going on in Uganda and Sudan? Very very rarely), the job situation has become worse and worse. These days basically no one can hold down a job; all people do is run for their survival. The bracelet production gives them work and it provides funding to Invisible Children.

Please spread the word – and if possible, host a Invisible Children movie screening.

You can also take part in the global night commute. On this night, thousands will commute to their cities' designated location and sleep outside on behalf of the invisible children of Northern Uganda. This event is a plea to the U.S. government to help put an end to this horrific 20-year-long war. There is one in San Francisco, too.

From their media kit on www.invisiblechildren.com:

MOVIE: how it all began.

Can a story change the world? In the spring of 2003, three young Americans traveled to Africa in search of such a story. What they found was a tragedy that disgusted and inspired them. A story where children are the weapons and the victims. The "Invisible Children: Rough Cut" film exposes the effects of a 20-year-long war on the children of Northern Uganda. Children who live in fear of abduction by rebel soldiers, and are being forced to fight as part of a violent army. This wonderfully reckless documentary is fast paced, with an MTV beat, and is truly unique. To see Africa through young eyes is humorous and heart breaking, quick and informative - all in the same breath. See this film, you will be forever changed.

MOVEMEnT: how it involves you.

After people viewed the movie the one question repeatedly asked was, "What can I do?" And so a non-profit was born in 2004. The Movement is the awareness, mobilization, and fundraising effort taking place throughout America and other countries around the world by people who are inspired to act. The goal of the Movement is to empower the individual viewer to become a part of the story, and "be the change they wish to see in the world" through action.

MIssIOn: how we are creating change.

The Mission is the ultimate goal of Invisible Children. It is the resources, skills, and funds that hit the ground in Uganda. These resources will provide health, safety and education for the children of Northern Uganda who are affected by this 20-year-long war. It is our belief that we need to live for more, because the invisible children need more to live.

Dreyer's Rocky Road Ice Cream

How about a cheerful topic for a change. I discovered my favorite ice cream in the world! Please note: I'm not a huge ice cream fan, but this one is TO DIE FOR. Dreyer's Rocky Road: Chocolate ice cream (German taste kind of chocolate) with almonds and mini MARSHMALLOWS. YUMMMMMM!!! Love it love it love it! And that's the story (from Dreyer's Web site):

In 1929, after the stock market crash, our founder calmed his Black Thursday jitters by creating The Original Rocky Road. Mixing chunky almonds, mini marshmallows and delicious milk chocolate ice cream, he created a flavor that was a sign of the times, but made people smile!

Nightmare Situations

Today happened what I always dream of in my worst nightmares. You are driving, and someone suddenly jumps on the road and you hit him. Luckily it didn't happen to me, but I was involved as a witness. I just drove off Highway 101, coming from work ... then there is this underpass under a bridge where a lot of homeless people "live." It was dark and raining and suddenly I saw this guy running from the right side right onto the street. The car in front of me braked, but couldn't stop in time and hit him. I stopped right behind the woman, who was of course totally upset. We both went up to the man, who apparently seemed to be a drunk homeless guy, and checked on him. But you realize how helpless you are. You don't really dare moving an injured person, so we just talked to him. There was blood around his head. It was quite horrible. Some other homeless guy brought a blanket, and then finally 911 picked up the phone (after about 3 minutes). The woman told them where we are, and it took at least another 10 mintues by the time the police arrived - well, at least it seemed like it. Then the fire rescue arrived next, finally with some doctors, and at the very last the ambulance. All the while the woman and I were standing in the rain and the homeless guy she hit was lying on the hard, cold asphalt. I stayed because I wanted to make sure that the woman has a witness, and that it really wasn't her fault that she hit him. Honestly, in this case nothing will probably happen anyway. But imagine the same situation, a drunk but wealthy guy in the Marina who gets hit. He'll probably sue the shit out of the woman and win in the end. Sad sad world ... So, then the police guy started taking down our information and I could leave. I'm sure the whole thing caused a huge traffic jam on the 101 exit... I truly hope that after having been fined guilty for driving with only my parking lights on at the aiport in October, and having faced that cop this week, and now those ones, I'll finally have some peace. Well, and of course I hope the poor homeless guy gets the appropriate treatment - you never know - I'm sure he doesn't have insurance. Good night America.

Sunday afternoon picnic

What do you do on a beautful, sunny, Sunday afternoon when you live in San Francisco? Well, it depends - when you live in the Marina or Pacific Heights, you probably pack your froofroo doggie in your fashionable handbag, wear the biggest sunglasses you can find, and go shopping. If you live on Russian Hill, you probably hang out in the park (with your dog) or sip an original Italian cappuccino, made by Mamma, in one of the neighborhood cafes. If you live in the Hayes Valley, again, you might go take your dog for a walk in another park or go have a beer at Arlequin or Frijtz (very tasty french fries), and if you live in the Mission, you go take a walk in Dolores Park (you guessed it, most likely with your dog) or have a coffee at one of the many coffee shops (our favorite: Ritual Coffee Roasters).

OR

... you take a drive across Golden Gate Bridge and take Highway 1 for about another 15 minutes and go hang out at Muir Beach :-)

Far away family ...

I just spoke to Tillu and Madhu, my brother and sister in law in Dubai. They have a little son, my nephew, whose name is Rishi. I haven't seen him in 1 year and 4 months, and I feel like a bad bad auntie :-( They are constantly telling me to come and visit, but how to do this with the little vacation you get here in the U.S.? And, admittedly, I really feel like I've seen enough of Dubai - so today I suggested to meet in a different country at one point. Anyways, I'll be posting the last picture I have of Rishi to encourage them to send me a new one :-) - and guess what: this one is not even a real picture!!! It was made for his 2nd birthday last September. So, please please please, send me a new one - I'll post it here. It will also be good to know whether he really has hair like that :-)

Awwwwww !!!

Awww, Tie, can you teach Tyler a Korean song? :-)

Posting new blog posts on my blog

Ok, I feel bad. I haven't posted anything in 5 days, I've only been to two different conferences where people talked about blogs. Blogs, podcasts, video casts, and RSS to be precise. VON conference and VentureOne Summit. VentureOne Summit was at the Four Seasons Hotel in San Francisco, one of these places where you have beautiful thick throw away towels in the restrooms and get your coffee in actual cups with a silver spoon to stir ... Ok, I'm blahblahing ...

So, I thought, what could I update my blog with? And I couldn't really think of anything, so I served around bloglines and found the "Overheard in the Office" blog. Something I'm checking out once in a while because it's so funny. People submit what they overheard in their office that day, with the actual address of the company. I liked that one because it's so typical American:

March 21, 2006

12PM Schedule Next Week's Meeting

Meeting Attendee #1: When's a good time to schedule the meeting with [Gary]?
Meeting Attendee #2: Well, he will be back from his heart attack next week.

2964 Peachtree Road NW
Atlanta, Georgia

The sad truth is that it's actual true ... people tend to be back in the office only a week after they've had serious surgery. In Germany you'd be home sick (PAID sick) for about 2 months or so. I'm not saying this is right, it just showcases once again the two extremes I've lived in in my life so far. I think I should seriously consider moving to India: because then I would just stay at home forever, living off our interest money. Ok, maybe not forever, a year or so -- good enough.

Gute Nacht! :-)

Surviving on a low income

In my last post I was writing about the rich of this world, today I want to focus on the poor. Well, these people actually don’t even classify as poor since they live on more than $2 dollars a day. One in five people in the world - more than one billion people - survive on less than one dollar a day, a level of poverty so abject that it threatens survival. Another 1.5 billion people live on $1-$2 a day, so more than 40% of the world's population constitute, in effect, a global underclass (Source: Microcredit Summit Campaign).

I don't want to sound hypocritical, but reading these stories really makes you put your life into perspective. We take it for granted to walk over to the kitchen, open the fridge, take out some sparkling water (ha, here you go, the German girl is writing ;-) ) and some snacks, toss out some old leftovers, walk back into an air-conditioned room and watch a movie. Somewhere else people have to walk more than 6 miles a day to get water, or they have to buy it. Please read the story of Lyli, a 35 year old woman, who unlike her counterparts in the Western world also takes care of her nephews, nieces, and her mother.

Surviving on a low income: Kenya

Kenyan Lily, 35, tells the BBC News Web site how she manages to get by working as a tailor at a clothing factory in Nairobi.

I live alone in a small one-roomed mud house in Kibera, for which I pay 1,500 Kenyan shillings per month (US$21). I earn 220 Kenyan shillings a day working as a tailor in an apparel factory. But with overtime, I can earn just over 240 Kenyan shillings.

I support my late brother's children, who live in another village here in Kibera. My mother, who lives up country, relies on me too.

Between them all I give them 2,000 Kenyan shillings a month. This caters for my mother's needs and for my nieces' and nephews' school fees. However, at times the children end up not going to school because they don't have enough money for everything else.

I buy my water in jerry cans from vendors in the area and this costs me 600 shillings each month.

Recently I bought myself a cellphone. Note: Having a cell phone at her income level is a pretty common thing. Cell phones are already the most important communications devices in third world countries. Not computers, but cell phones are helping people to stay connected and even make payments to local microfinance banks. See: Grameen Bank

Lily would rather walk to work and save her money to buy credit for her phone. It was 6,300 Kenyan shillings (US$87) and each week I spend approximately 250 Kenyan shillings on phone credit.

Sometimes I take public transport to work, when I can afford it. A one-way trip is 30 Kenyan shillings. However, when I can't afford to pay I walk to work.

In order to meet some of my needs I had borrow from some lenders at work - people you borrow from and then when you pay them back you do so with interest.

Currently I am 5,000 Kenyan shillings in debt (US$69).

Luckily, as I can sew I make my own dresses and so I only have to spend money on buying the fabric that I like.

US$1 = 72.36 Kenyan shillings

LILY'S MONTHLY BUDGET

Per month Kenya Shillings US $

Pay 3,256 45

Overtime 450 6

Rent -1,500 -21

Dependents -2,000 -28

Electricity -800 -11

Water -600 -8

Transport -1,300 -18

Food -3,072 -42

Phone -1,083 -15

KENYA: BASICS IN US$

Lily paying for bread and vegetables at a shop near her home

A loaf of bread = 35c

Packet of sugar = 83c

Bottle of Coca Cola = 21c

You can find more stories here: BBC News Africa

The burden of being rich

Have you ever thought about what you’d do if you had one billion dollars (note dear Germans … billion = Milliarde in German)? Well, apart from the fact that you wouldn’t even be among the 100 richest people in the world, wouldn’t you feel a huge burden? You have all this money, you are rich, and you know that millions and millions of people in this world live below the poverty line. So, what would you do? Have you ever thought about the fact that giving away money in an effective way is really hard? Think about it – and enjoy the annual Forbes RICH LIST.

Some statistics:

The average billionaire is 65 years old (what a relief, I still have some time!! :-) ) and lives in the following places:

USA – 38
Germany – 13 (hey, how about creating some more jobs in Germany?)
Russia – 12
Gulf states – 6
India – 3
Others - 28

******

The ranking of the world's 100 richest people as estimated by Forbes
magazine. Listings include rank, name, home country, age where known,
wealth in billions of US dollars and source of the money.

1. William Gates III, US, 50, $50, Microsoft
2. Warren Buffett, US, 75, $42, Berkshire Hathaway
3. Carlos Slim Helu, Mexico, 66, $30, telecom
4. Ingvar Kamprad, Sweden, 79, $28, Ikea
5. Lakshmi Mittal, India, 55, $23.5, steel
6. Paul Allen, Washington, 53, $22, Microsoft, investments
7. Bernard Arnault, France, 57, $21.5, LVMH
8. Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Alsaud, Saudi Arabia, 49, $20, investments
9. Kenneth Thomson and family, Canada, 82, $19.6, publishing
10. Li Ka-shing, Hong Kong, 77, $18.8, diversified
11. Roman Abramovich, Russia, 39, $18.2, oil
12. Michael Dell, US, 41, $17.1, Dell
13. Karl Albrecht, Germany, 86, $17, supermarkets
14. Sheldon Adelson, US, 72, $16.1, casinos, hotels
15. Liliane Bettencourt, France, 83, $16, L'Oreal
15. Lawrence Ellison, US, 61, $16, Oracle
17. Christy Walton, US, 51, $15.9, Wal-Mart inheritance
17. Jim Walton, US, 58, $15.9, Wal-Mart
19. S Robson Walton, US, 62, $15.8, Wal-Mart
20. Alice Walton, US, 56, $15.7, Wal-Mart
21. Helen Walton, US, 86, $15.6, Wal-Mart
22. Theo Albrecht, Germany, 83, $15.2, supermarkets
23. Amancio Ortega, Spain, 70, $14.8, Zara
24. Steven Ballmer, US, 50, $13.6, Microsoft
25. Azim Premji, India, 60, $13.3, software
26. Sergey Brin, US, 32, $12.9, Google
27. Larry Page, US, 33, $12.8, Google
28. Abigail Johnson, US, 44, $12.5, Fidelity
29. Nasser Al-Kharafi and family, Kuwait, 62, $12.4, construction
29. Barbara Cox Anthony, Hawaii, 82, $12.4, Cox Enterprises
29. Anne Cox Chambers, US, 86, $12.4, Cox Enterprises
32. Stefan Persson, Sweden, 58, $12.3, Hennes & Mauritz
33. Charles Koch, US, 70, $12, oil, commodities
33. David Koch, US, 65, $12, oil, commodities
35. Raymond, Thomas and Walter Kwok, Hong Kong, $11.6, real estate
36. Adolf Merckle, Germany, 71, $11.5, drugs
37. Sulaiman Bin Abdul Al Rajhi, Saudi Arabia, 86, $11, banking
37. Vagit Alekperov, Russia, 55, $11, oil
37. Silvio Berlusconi, Italy, 69, $11, media
37. Lee Shau Kee, Hong Kong, 78, $11, real estate
41. Vladimir Lisin, Russia, 49, $10.7, steel
42. Michael Otto and family, Germany, 62, $10.4, retail
43. Pierre Omidyar, US, 38, $10.1, eBay
44. Leonardo Del Vecchio, Italy, 70, $10, eyewear
44. Michele Ferrero and family, Italy, 79, $10, chocolates
44. Forrest Mars Jr, US, 74, $10, candy
44. Jacqueline Mars, US, 66, $10, candy
44. John Mars, US, 69, $10, candy
44. Viktor Vekselberg, Russia, 48, $10, oil, metals
50. Mikhail Fridman, Russia, 41, $9.7, oil, banking
51. Spiro Latsis and family, Greece, 59, $9.1, banking
52. John Kluge, US, 91, $9, Metromedia
53. Carl Icahn, US, 70, $8.7, leveraged buyouts
53. Kirk Kerkorian, US, 88, $8.7, investments, casinos
55. Birgit Rausing and family, Sweden, 82, $8.6, packaging
56. Mukesh Ambani, India, 48, $8.5, petrochemicals
56. Serge Dassault and family, France, 80, $8.5, aviation
56. Hans Rausing, Sweden, 80, $8.5, packaging
59. Galen Weston and family, Canada, 65, $8.4, retail
60. Susanne Klatten, Germany, 43, $8.1, BMW
61. Rudolf August Oetker and family, Germany, 89, $8, food
62. Oleg Deripaska, Russia, 37, $7.8, aluminum
63. Sumner Redstone, US, 82, $7.7, Viacom
64. Alexei Mordashov, Russia, 40, $7.6, steel
65. Donald Newhouse, US, 76, $7.5, publishing
65. Samuel Newhouse Jr, New York, 78, $7.5, publishing
65. Alain and Gerard Wertheimer, France, $7.5, Chanel
65. Reinhold Wurth, Germany, 70, $7.5, manufacturing
69. Joseph and Moise Safra, Brazil, $7.4, banking
70. Philip Knight, Oregon, 68, $7.3, Nike
71. George Soros, US, 75, $7.2, hedge funds
72. Ernesto Bertarelli, Switzerland, 40, $7.1, biotech
72. Suleiman Kerimov, Russia, 40, $7.1, stocks
74. Philip and Cristina Green, Britain, $7, retail
74. Francois Pinault, France, 69, $7, retail
74. August von Finck, Germany, 76, $7, investments
77. Mohammed Al Amoudi, Saudi Arabia, 60, $6.9, oil
77. Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair and family, United Arab Emirates, 52, $6.9,
banking
79. Maria-Elisabeth and Georg Schaeffler, Germany, $6.8, ball bearings
80. Charles Ergen, US, 53, $6.7, EchoStar
80. Edward Johnson III, US, 75, $6.7, Fidelity
82. Kun-Hee Lee and family, South Korea, 64, $6.6, Samsung
82. Stefan Quandt, Germany, 40, $6.6, BMW
84. Saleh Bin Abdul Aziz Al Rajhi, Saudi Arabia, 94, $6.5, banking
84. Rafael del Pino and family, Spain, 85, $6.5, construction
84. Stanley Ho, Hong Kong, 84, $6.5, gaming
84. Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller, Denmark, 92, $6.5, shipping
84. Keith Rupert Murdoch, US, 75, $6.5, News Corp.
89. Philip Anschutz, US, 66, $6.4, investments
89. Hasso Plattner, Germany, 62, $6.4, SAP
89. Vladimir Potanin, Russia, 45, $6.4, metals
89. Mikhail Prokhorov, Russia, 40, $6.4, metals
93. Vladimir Yevtushenkov, Russia, 57, $6.3, telecom
94. Micky Arison, US, 56, $6.1, Carnival Cruises
94. Curt Engelhorn, Germany, 79, $6.1, drugs
94. Friedrich Flick Jr, Germany, 79, $6.1, investments
94. German Khan, Russia, 44, $6.1, oil, banking
94. Ronald Perelman, US, 63, $6.1, leveraged buyouts
94. Johanna Quandt, Germany, 78, $6.1, BMW
100. Dan Duncan, US, 73, $6, energy
100. Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor and family, Britain, 54, $6, real estate

A new U.S. American citizen: Mr Malayali N Americandran

Today was Navin's oath ceremony (N: "I was the ONLY one who didn't have any relatives at the ceremony!" *pout* - well, you never told me I could come jaaa) ...

... and now he's officially an U.S. citizen! Aetsch baetsch German embassy: one person less to harrass :-)

CONGRATULATIONS NAVIN !!! :-)

German Winter Wonderland

I thought I'll share some recent pics from my home town.

It's been snowing for weeks, and the other day they had more than 60 centimeters of snow in just one night! My grandma is 83, and she's never seen that much snow in our town! Schools were closed, 2 lane streets have become one ways, trains and street cars couldn't drive, and people spent their Sundays freeing cars and pavements from the snow. Theoretically it could be quite fun and I'm sure if I was there right now I'd probably enjoy it in a way - but the cold and the snow/rain/drizzle/overcast sky has been going now for more than 3 months. Stefan wasn't even able to shoot one of his famous Sunday sunset pics last week!

Screensaver: San Francisco skyline

Saturday, March 4th, 12:11 p.m.

1:34 p.m.

2:14 p.m.

... so, what is this? Correct, it's the San Francisco skyline, but more importanly, this is what happens when you go sailing in the Bay with cero wind: you are going to stare at the same picture for hours and hours and hours and you feel like you were just hired as photographer for the latest San Francisco skyline postcard series... arghhhhhhhh ... Ok ok, it was NICE, and thankfully our captain, Sparky, was quite entertaining (world traveller, acupuncturist, and ex-hippie). And just in case you wonder why we did this in the first place: the company Navin works for hosts so called 'offeree events' to convince potential new hires to join the company.

Here are some snap shots:

Navin and Robin.
By the time someone asked Navin if he would like to sit down for a while (after about 1.5 hours of standing like this), his hands were frozen to the wheel.