Jun 16 2013

Brilliant Image: “Afghan Girl” in Toronto

"The Afghan Girl" 1985 National Geographic cover photo by Steve McCurry.

“The Afghan Girl” 1985 National Geographic cover photo by Steve McCurry.

A mural of "the Afghan Girl" done with spray paint. Mural found in the heart of Toronto's Kensington Market/Chinatown (I think on Bellevue street corner of Dundas). Artist unknown. Photo taken with my iPhone.

A mural of “the Afghan Girl” done with spray paint. Mural found in the heart of Toronto’s Kensington Market (I think on Bellevue street corner of Dundas). Artist unknown. Photo taken with my iPhone.

 

Do you remember the stunning image of “the Afghan Girl” on  National Geographic’s June 1985 cover?

I was just a kid when it was first published, but I still remember how she stared back at us. People in my family have eyes like hers, but no ones eyes tell a story like hers.  The photo was taken by National Geographic photographer Steve McCurry in a Afghani refugee camp in Peshawar, Pakistan.

You can just imagine to my surprise when I was walking down a grimy side street  in the heart of Toronto’s Kensington Market in April, when out of the corner of my eye I see – “the Afghan Girl” glaring at me. Steve McCurry never knew her name so the world didn’t either. How telling is it that she was nameless?  Nameless, devalued, and invisible, such was the state of the Afghani girl back then and still is today.

Read the stunning story of how McCurry found her 17 years later on National Geographic and how her life turned out since the cover photo.

Jun 12 2013

Brilliant Intentions: Why I Love Vegans

“Why I Love Vegans” is an article written by the founder of the Gentle World, a vegan website that aims to educate people on the benefits of being vegan. I found this article through the Care2.com website this morning and I thought it went right to the crux of why I’ve chosen to live on a vegan diet.

“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. “ 

 

Jun 10 2013

iPhone Photo Inspiration: Heaven Shines on San Clemente, California

Photo taken on my recent trip to San Clemente, California. A quaint, spanish style beach town, popular with surfers. Photo by me, Goldenera

Photo taken on my recent trip to San Clemente, California. A quaint, spanish style beach town, popular with surfers. Photo by me, Goldenera, using my iPhone.

I spent two weeks in San Clemente and Laguna Beach, California this May. I normally don’t vacation in the US and prefer the french rivera (mais oui!) or the Caribbean . I’d rather spend my time in places that don’t look remotely like Canada (ok, California doesn’t look anything like anywhere in Canada!). However, I’m so glad I didn’t miss this quintessential Californian paradise that’s just a short drive from LAX.

Jun 6 2013

IPhone Photo Inspiration: Happiness is “Rainbow Cupcakes”

Rainbow Cupcakes. Photo by Goldenera

Nothing says happiness like rainbow coloured cupcakes. I found these beauties in a bakery in Montreal ( my favourite city), known as “Simplement D’Liche” on St. Denis street (read Mordecai Richler books to get to know why I love Montreal).

Jun 2 2013

Brilliant Quote

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Quote

Glad to know that I’m not the only politically minded person out there that thinks that somehow  spirituality and politics can travel nicely in the same boat in order to advance a more noble world. However, there is a a delicate balance to strive for, as history has taught us that state and religion isn’t always the best cocktail to be had.

May 17 2013

Bangladesh workers: Two bucks more for a T-shirt to help them?

Bangladesh workers: Two bucks more for a T-shirt to help them? – Investing: Canadian Business magazine news and articles.

Would you two bucks more for a t-shirt if it meant that the very people making your clothes would have a safe place to work and earn a decent living wage?

Check out this article by Canadian Business Magazine that raises a few interesting points. I’m surprised that all it takes is two bucks more to raise the standard of the bar to an acceptable level for labourers on the other side of the world. After all, why is it ok for me to work in a safe building and earn and living wage but not “ok” or not worth considering for those across the ocean?

 

Apr 24 2013

Children and Meditation: Brilliant Idea!

What a cutie! Photo from "Dawning Golden Crystal Age" facebook page.

What a cutie! Photo from “Dawning Golden Crystal Age” facebook page.

I’m assuming that most parents would gawk at the idea that their little ones are natural “meditators” considering how much you might have to discipline them and constantly watch them, but in my books it’s true.

Kids, specially before the age of 3 or 4, still have their “spiritual memories” intact and can easily and smoothly ‘reconnect’ to their own divine source. After the age of 4, children quickly loose this divine connection and their past spiritual memories simply because of as they grow older, their daily connection to all things “earthy” become more frequent and prominent. The challenge is that most parents aren’t even aware of their own divine source or aren’t even close to establishing a regular spiritual practice (of any nature) so they aren’t able to support children in continuing on their very own spiritual path (after all feeding and doing homework kind of take a front seat to meditating!).

Next time you catch your  three year old humming some indecipherable song, while it may not make any sense to you and frankly, might be a bit annoying, they are most likely singing their Soul Song.

 

Apr 23 2013

Bollywood Please Stand Up Against Violence Towards Women in Indian!

MARD photo

 

Finally a bollywood heavy weight is standing up against rape and violence towards women in India. Farhan Akhtar is an actor I know very little about, probably because I rarely have time to watch those 3 hour bollywood movie marathons, but he seems to be the only bollywood actor that’s actually organized a public campaign against violence towards women in India. This week the world heard the horrible story of a five year old girl being raped and tortured for two days. How absolutely tragic that a country with such a rich spiritual and religious history has such levels of violence towards women. It is ever more ironic considering that in hinduism so much attention is given to the ‘female’ force, the female energy that is most commonly personified through different goddesses (i.e. the goddess Shakti).

Farhad Akhtar has created a campaign called “MARD” or Men Against Rape and Descrimination”. According to it’s facebook page it is  ”is a social initiative designed to create awareness to instil gender equality and respect towards women.”

He’s now enlisting other famous actors, such as Shahrukh Khan and Preity Zinta, to join in. In a country that worships their actors like no where else on the planet, I was thoroughly disappointed in the lack of really strong voices against the violence that is happening and frankly has ALWAYS happened in India against women.  These actors have so much power to influence the masses. Someday it will be recognized that a country is only truly advanced according to how much respect they give the women of their own country.