Ending Modern Day Slavery

Most of us relate slavery to African-Americans being shipped over from Africa to the United States in the 16th through the 19th centuries...few of us are aware of the ongoing struggle many people face in the 21st century.

Modern day slavery is still a strong cell of activity around the world: Globally, some 600,000 to 800,000 people are being trafficked across international boarders each year, 20% of the victims are children.*
In the United States, the CIA estimates 50,000 people are trafficked through the USA annually as sex slaves, domestics, garment and agricultural slaves.*


These numbers are startling to say the least; thankfully, there are many groups dedicated to ending this disturbing trend.

Members of IALF will share information via CNN's Freedom Project. Please feel free to check out the following link for information, stats, and ways to help: http://thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com/

For additional information about human trafficing, visit UNICEF (www.unicef.org), World Hope International (www.worldhope.org), and Save the Children (www.savethechildren.org)

*stats from grnet.com and US State Department

You can destroy buildings but you can't destroy L.O.V.E.

Ai Weiwei's studio before the destruction. photo (c) The Telegraph
Chinese artist Ai Weiwei was featured here already as he is a true Soldier of L.O.V.E. fighting for the rights of the unheard voices of the lost children and as a peaceful activist for freedom and democracy in China and around the world.

He uses his phenomenal art to truely make a change and is therefore seriously and constantly under the attack of Chinese authorities, where he almost lost his life being beaten down so hard on the head.

Ai Weiwei never gives up and doesn't even turn his back on China.

On January 11th, 2011 Chinese authorities took another method to bring him down. They completely destroyed his studio building in Shanghai (worth about 1 million US-$). This was probably also a reaction to Ai Weiwei's support of Nobel Peace Price winner Liu Xiaobo.

The New York Times writes about the incident:

BEIJING — The studio would have stood at the heart of an embryonic arts cluster on the outskirts of Shanghai, a draw for luminaries from around the world.

It took two years to build, and one day to tear down. (...)

“Everything is gone,” he said. “It’s all black now. They finished the job at 9 o’clock last night.” (...)


Ai Weiwei standing in the rubble of his studio in Shanghai. photo (c) Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
Ai has come to see his escalating conflict with government officials over the Communist Party’s authoritarian rule as performance art. (...)

Full article here.

Meanwhile Ai Weiwei's fantastic work of Art "Sunflower Seeds" is still shown in Tate Modern in London.


This outstanding piece of Art shows hundreds of millions of Sunflower Seeds that seem to be identical but are apparently unique and handmade porcelaine in China.

As we all know about Michael Jackson's love for Sunflowers, the Sunflower Seeds represent the "seeds of love" and a basis for love to grow...


Ai Weiwei's "Sunflower Seeds" in the Turbine Hall of Tate Modern.
Watch the video about "Sunflower Seeds" here:


Let's show human rights activist Ai Weiwei and China our love and support!!! I guess you all saw what happened when the Michael Jackson bronze statue was unveiled in China recently...

Follow Ai Weiwei on Twitter: @aiww

Getting ready for Christmas...

 

Credits for the picture: Raven

~ Until one feels the spirit of Christmas, there is no Christmas. 

All else is outward display--so much tinsel and decorations. 

For it isn't the holly, it isn't the snow. 

It isn't the tree not the firelight's glow. 

It's the warmth that comes to the hearts of men when the Christmas spirit returns again. (unknown author)~ 

Michael Jackson might have left this planet,  but he will never be forgotten.  The world will not forget him being an unique artist, but most of us will also always remember him as humanitarian and giving person, a beautiful living soul, who has fought throughout his life for suffering children  All over his lifetime, he donated incredible loads of money to a number of foundations  intending to heal the world.
Michael will have felt the spirit of Christmas all over the year...and not just in december.

By his will he is going to live on as a giving humanitarian;  charities will get support for many, many years beyond his death.

On the occasion of Christmas, I would like  (one more time) to ask for your attention  for a project in Haiti, organized for the children in the poorest area of Port au Prince, Cité Soleil.  After checking out the fotos you will agree that the life in  Cité Soleil is far away from being as nice as it´s name seems to promise, especially not for the children, ....especially not after the devasting earthquake in january 2010.


A  group of volunteers around one of Haiti´s most famous DJs, Carel Pedre, distribute every Sunday a warm meal to about 300 children. 
Take some time to learn more about the project by following into our archive of posts where you find additional links which will give you a picture of "The Sunday Project in Haiti".
Don´t miss to watch Karlitos video.

"To honor the children of the world,

I vow to help the sick & dying, the alone, homeless

 and hungry in every corner of the world."- Michael Jackson

There are many campaigns, organizations, and charities directly related to Michael that you can donate to. If you follow the links, Raven, the appreciated  author of this beautiful blog has published, you will get to Charities which you might like to support.

A special shoutout goes to this project

A Million Trees  For Michael :

This group’s reputation and purpose needs no introduction! Most of you will have already crossed @yogadancer7´s paths or the account @trees4MJ on Twitter. A small donation of $15 ensures the planting of 15 trees in Michael’s name.

Children´s Day: Poem: What Children Know

Children know laughter
They know tears
Children know peace
They know chaos
Children know acceptance
They know rejection
Children know joy
They know pain
Children know abundance
They know lack
Children know health
They know illness
Children know fulfillment
They know emptiness
Children know hope
They know dismay
Children know love
They know hatred
What they don’t know is WHY!

(Credits to: Namie Elisha)

"When I see children, I see the face of God. 
That's why I love them so much. That's what I see." 
~Michael Jackson, 2003 60 Minutes with Ed Bradley

*

Children´s Day: Songlyrics from B. Wegener

Every child needs L.O.V.E
M. Jackson with his son Prince M.

Instead of growing up surrounded by loving and caring parents,many children have to suffer lack of education, lack of respect, lack of caring, lack of love.
Violence against Children needs a global effort to paint a detailed picture of the nature, extent and causes of violence against children, and to propose clear recommendations for action to prevent and respond to it. 

The background of the  lyrics below is the daily experienced domestic violance - which still is a dark horse...

Let us not get blind for this kind of child abuse but takie it as a call for action  and  a call for giving our L.O.V.E whenever we see any kind of violance against a child.

Children

Tiny hands, with tiny fingers 

Never beat them, otherwise they break

Tiny feet, with tiny toes

Never step on them, otherwise they can’t walk

Tiny ears, keen and you permit

Never shout at them, otherwise they become deaf

Beautiful mouths, speak out everything

Never stop them talking, for they´ll fall silent at all.

Clear eyes which yet see everything

Never bandage, otherwise they´ll not understand anything

Tiny souls, open and totally free
Never do any pain to them, for they´ll break apart

Tiny spine, hardly can be seen
Never  bow it, ... for it will break.

Straight clear persons would be an ambitious aim

People without spine, we’ve already got a lot.

(Songlyrics from B. Wegener, 
translated from German into English)


 

*

June, 25th: Keeping Michael´s L.O.V.E alive - Donate to Charity

The Sunday Project – Distribution of Meals to hungry Children in Haiti

„It´s unbelievable that it´s been a whole year. We still can´t believe it´s true. It´s like unreal, it´s a dream, but unfortunately it is reality,” Tito Jackson told  in an interview. The entrie´s headline is

“A Year Without Michael”

Bet, we are millions, who feel the way Tito feels, though our way of grief may be different. One year ... and doesnt´t it more feel like this tragedy happened yesterday?

For me this was no year without Michael – just the opposite! I think most of us will have spent much more time than before with talking and writing about Michael, re-reading his books and books written about him, interpretating the lyrics of his songs, listening to his music, watching videos with him on You Tube, reading tribute-sites on the internet, going into the theater to see “This is it”,  paying attention to audio files of his  speeches, researching the web for some wandwritten, lovely notes to his fans such as

and so much more....What it all comes down to is: he kept us pretty busy.:))

His loss made some of us even creating an own MJ-related website or blog, to keep his legacy of L.O.V.E alive...

So this year was both: A year without Michael – and on the other hand so fullfilled with thinking of him. We felt frustrated to the extreme because he has physically left us – and we were blessed enough to feel his spirit all around us, making us meeting wonderful friends on an international level and inspiring us for actions and activities of L.O.V.E.

The anniversary of Michael´s passing will be a hard and strange day. There will be people visiting Forest Lawn`s Holy Terrasse and various memorials all over the world; there will be prayers, candlelight and ...tears – though Michael would like us to smile. There will be events to celebrate Michael Jackson for what he was and will always be: The world´s greatest entertainer.

People will spend this day in many different ways – how about doing something this day to honor him and his humanitarian efforts for children?

He spend hundreds of million dollars for children who were in need.

Let´s follow him  on his  humanitarian path and donate some money for some of the poorest of the poor: The children of Cité Soleil in Port au Prince, Haiti.

After the devasting earthquake in January 2010  Carel Pedre, a born Haitian became THE VOICE of Haiti, keeping the world updated with what was going on in Port au Prince and coordinating via his account on Twitter (@carelpedre) aid supplies given  to charity to come to people who were in strong need for it over weeks. Left himself with bread and water and sleeping in his car with some friends he was still on air to send stories from people who survived to encouraged the  haitian people. 

Carel Pedre (wearing the Sunday Project shirt)

This world could really need more people like this.

Carel did not leave Haiti - he remained staying there. He sent his wife with his little daughter to The States, where they are save.

On EasterSunday he started a project called "theSundayProject" intending to distribute food to the children in Soleil Cité,  one of the poorest departments in Port au Prince. 

 Cité Soleil, department of Port au Prince

It´s great work these guys are doing and the world needs more people who just look around and feel that they have to care and start acting having nothing left but their life, their love and their intent to care for others.

Dear #MJfam, let us support #TheSundayProject on Haiti and donate money  in Michael Jacksons´s name to honor him on his first anniversary of death.

Michael has taught us, that the children of the world are OUR children, especially when their parents not able to care about them. 

 Children attending their Sunday Meal

Therefore WE have to care about them. 
We can not relax and say “they´ll” help them.

Who - if not WE?

WE have to make that change and help. 

Go for it, spread the word around and help Carel Pedre and his team be able to buy food for the hungry children of Cité Soleil -so that we can go on dreaming of a better tomorrow.

Every Dollar can help. Do not give up the idea of donating just because your are not able to spend much. Help spreading the word around to finally get many, many people of the MJfam helping #TheSundayProjet to go on with their great work.

Do it to honor Michael. Do it all for L.O.V.E.

Thank you. Love and peace to you.

God bless you.

How you can support:

Follow TheSundayProject on Facebook

 Follow TheSundayProject on Twitter

Donating: watch the project´s website
(add the note: Donation in remembrance of Michael Jackson ...or something similar)

Get some more  informations about the project and how to donate here:

http://www.sundayprojecthaiti.org/ 

Two freelance writers, Eleanor Miller from the USA and Gemma Pitcher from Australia, whom both visited Cite Soleil on two different occasions  The Sunday Project and wrote great articles about Carel Pedre and The Sunday Project. 

Article from Eleanor Miller

Article from Gemma Pitcher 

Please take the time to follow the links, they are very positive. Get ready for pictures and updates this sunday as  the amazing people of #TheSundayProject  are getting ready to do their 11th Distribution.
 

June 13 - The truth runs marathons

Today marks the 5th anniversary of Michael Jackson's vindication from all charges...

We probably all remember that day more than vividly and thinking about it sends shivers down my spine. More than ever I was afraid of his life and the life of his family. The verdict made me cry of relief but all of this never stopped to crunch my stomach from pain.

When Jay-Z sang "Guilty Until Proven Innocent" it reminded me of the trial and I felt not even this applied for Michael.... WHY??!?

Now here we stand 5 years later still facing his legacy being smeared with lies and absurd accusations that those people don't even have to prove. They can just say it and make big money from it all around the world!

I'm really "tired of injustice, tired of these schemes" and I often feel hurt and helpless seeing it happen over and over again.

But then I remember what he tought me and the world and know that we cannot let this happen. We must raise our voice as one and bit by bit, piece by piece make that change.

I see so much love for Michael everywhere I go and I know millions around the world feel the same way. Let's bundle this energy and let the truth unfurl!!!

Michael deserves it.

His children deserve it.

His family deserves it.

We deserve it.


"The man's innocent. He always was."
Tom Mesereau, following the verdict, June 13, 2005
Watch:
- Tom Mesereau's tribute to Michael Jackson (slideshow)
- VICTORY short film

The Lost Children - Child-Soldiers

This cannot continue...

 credit for the picture:www.theinspirationroom.com/

"Children need be the victims of war only if there is no will to prevent it. Experiences in dozens of conflicts confirm that extraordinary actions have been taken and can be taken to protect and provide for children." State of the World's Children, UNICEF, 1996.

With total misregard for  “The Convention on fhe Rights of the Child”, Article 29 (1), approximately 250.000 children under the age of 18 are thought to be fighting in conflicts around the world, and hundreds of thousands more are members of armed forces who could be sent into combat at any time. (Source for dates: www.amnestyusa.org)

Any war and any armed conflict always accompanies massive crimes against humanity, against civilians and especially against children. The less defense a person has the more this person has to suffer demages. In wars, hate rules and children have to suffer agonies – physically and  psychologically.

We can hardly imagine the impact of armed conflicts on children who are fighting as child soldiers. There is no source giving datas how many child soldiers lost their lifes , but we all know for sure that any child soldier looses his childhood and his soul was sold for war.

We all are supporting the problem as long as we do nothing to stop it. 

So let´s do something...

let´s

•  get facts
•  stay informed
•  spread the word
•  sign petitions
•  shop for the cause
•  donate
•  join the movement                                                                                                                            ....and never forget to care about the "lost children". Thank you for reading.

Choose what you want to know. You´ll find a lot of informations here:

• http://www.lost-children.de/en/home.htm

• http://www.un.org/rights/concerns.htm

• http://www.child-soldier.org/

• http://www.amnestyusa.org/children/child-soldiers/page.do?id=1051047

Magnitude 7,2 quake rocks Aceh

About 170,000 people were killed in Aceh from the 2004 earthquake and the tsunami it launched. 

 Child left homeless in Aceh province after 2004 earthquake 

Photo credits:Choo Youn-Kong/AFP/Getty Images 

Last week another powerful earthquake measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale jolted Indonesia`s Aceh province and its vicinity on Wednesday in the early morning.

People are still traumatized because of the devasting effects of the  2004 earthquake and a tsunami, that gave the world a picture of the apocalypse.

The impact of the actual earthquake are not foreseeable yet. 

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the people in Indonesio.

Happy Birthday Mrs. Katherine Jackson!

The L.O.V.E. blog team would like to wish Mrs. Katherine Jackson a very happy 80th birthday today!!!

Words cannot express the love and respect we have for you. Thank you for everything you have done for Michael and his children!!! It will never be forgotten...

We wish you all the very best for the next year to come. May it be filled with love and luck!

You are always in our prayers. Thank you!





The L.O.V.E. blog team would also like to wish Mr. Jackie Jackson a very happy 59th birthday today!!!

Thank you for being an amazing big brother to Michael, a great person and a true fighter for truth and justice!

You're also in our prayers. Stay true!

Children´s Day: Your Children Are Not Your Children...

Since we started this blog, 
the 22th of a month is
our  children´s day.

Children

Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them,
but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

You are the bows from which your children
as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,
and He bends you with His might
that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let your bending in the archer’s hand be for gladness;
For even as He loves the arrow that flies,
so He loves also the bow that is stable.

~Kahlil Gibran

-------------a note to our visitors-----------

Soon you will have payed 4000 visits

in just 4 months to our

It´s all for L.O.V.E blog.

We want to thank you for for stepping in, reading, commenting and sharing our intend to make this world a better place - your presence is very much appreciated and keeps us busy and going on to share entries with you.

Today, take some flowers from us as a gift and thank you for not forgetting MJ´s message of L.O.V.E and for the love you are spreading around in your world.

Not being that big fan of "dead flowers" you might like to take this bunch of flowers from Pablo Picasso.

 

Happy Birthday Blanket!!!

♥ ♥ ♥ HAPPY BIRTHDAY dear Blanket!!!!!! ♥ ♥ ♥

We hope you can feel the love now and for the years to come. You are a very special young man...

L.O.V.E. always! The "It's all for L.O.V.E." blog team

Michael Jackson Will Be A Part Of ‘We Are The World’ Remake

Michael Jackson Will Be A Part Of ‘We Are The World’ Remake

Full article:
http://www.accesshollywood.com/_article_28871

Excerpt:
Michael will appear posthumously in a split-screen with sister Janet Jackson joining him.

“To have Michael’s presence singing his part is the best gift we could ever get,” Lionel said. “His original image and him seeing his part.”

Lionel called the duet with Janet “magical.”

“She’s singing with Mike,” Lionel said. “It was all put together with fabulous choreography. It’s magical.”

The request came straight from Katherine Jackson, Michael’s mother, herself, the pair told Access.



Just reading this is giving me chills... The song will be premiered tomorrow for the Olympic Games opening ceremony in Vancouver.

Let's not forget: WE ARE THE WORLD!!! For Haiti... for Africa... and for everyone in need...

"We must lend a hand to life..."

Further information on the project can be found here:

http://www.world25.org/

Children's day: Remembering the Lost Children in the fatal earthquake of Sichuan 2008

As today is children's day and the fatal power of earthquake has come to our painful remembrance in Haiti again, I would like to put the spotlight on the children that have lost their lives in the province of Sichuan that was hit by earthquake in 2008 and on a very brave Chinese artist that acts as their ambassador ever since.

Chinese artist Ai Weiwei almost lost his life remembering the thousands of children that had to die in the earthquake in the province Sichuan 2008 because their schools had been built neglecting the building code due to corrupt officials that cared more for their personal livelihood than for the lives of the children that went to study in these buildings every day.

After the government refused to issue a detailed report on the events and the names of children and adolescents who have died in the earthquake in Sichuan, Ai Weiwei has published with the help of volunteers such names on his blog.

Therefore Ai Weiwei got beaten down by government authorities for several hours in a hotel room in Sichuan. So hard that he had to under go emergency operation weeks later in Munich, Germany which was very last minute according to the doctors.

He has dedicated a huge installation called "Remembering" that was shown in Munich to the kids that lost their lives for no reason...



The arrangement of the 9000 children's backpacks, hanging on the museum's facade, resulting in Chinese characters the words "For seven years she lived happily in this world." The quotation is from the mother of a victims.

The colors in this table refer to the logo of the toy retailer "Toys R Us". Ai Weiwei has written them with backpacks, because after the earthquake in the area of school satchels, of many the buried children had been found. With his art, he puts the lost and buried in those days, the world public. In a colorful, cheerful colors change, he exposes the buried hope.

In an article I read that the journalist had asked Ai Weiwei in 2007 if he had any children and he said: "No, I have a kid inside myself." and when she asked him that same question again in 2009, he said: "Yes, now I have kids. The children of Sichuan."

This message and the whole concept of it reminded me so much of MJ's message: It's about saving the kids that have no voice, true commitment, freedom of speech and positive and hopeful energy at the same time...

Therefore I today dedicate "The Lost Children" to all children that have been harmed in earthquakes around the world. -> Make That Change!!!

Help Haiti - Cross Reference to "Make That Change" Blog

Considering the current earthquake in one of the poorest countries on this planet, it's our duty to "Make That Change"!!!



So I want to ask everyone of you to check out possibilities to help the people of HAITI! Eighty percent of Haiti's population lives under the poverty line,

according to the CIA World Factbook.



It's easy to help at least with donating money for the people in need.



You can find references how to help here or go support Wyclef's organization www.yele.org or go to your local Red Cross website and donate online:

http://makethatchange.mjdreams.net/2010/01/13/help-haiti/

Thank you so much!!! It's all for L.O.V.E.!

Happy Holidays !!!

Michael Jackson Christmas Message Top Of The Pops 1995

Michael Jackson's Christmas Message - 2002

Michael Jackson 1992 Christmas message

Michael Jackson Christmas Special Message