Scared Sacred - Making a Difference

"In the kind of world we have today, transformation of humanity might well be our only real hope for survival." Stanislav Grof 

sa·cred (sā′krid) -  regarded with the respect or reverence accorded holy things; venerated; hallowed.


trans·for·ma·tion (trănsˌfər-māˈshən) - A marked change, as in appearance or character, usually for the better.


em·pa·thy (em′pə t̸hē) -  the projection of one's own personality into the personality of another in order to understand the person better; ability to share in another's emotions, thoughts, or feelings.


You have researched some terrible events in our history.  You have also watched the film Scared Sacred which talks about the hope found in some of these terrible events.  


According to the film-maker, Velcrow Ripper, places of great pain are sacred spaces.  These places are sacred only because the people who have experienced the pain have not given into the fear.  By giving into the fear because we are scared does not let us enter the sacred - the transformation that these sacred spaces offer to us.  Pain is shared - even personal pain.  Humans have empathy for a reason.  Pain is not a bad thing.  While it is sometimes difficult to face, pain can be transformative.  Through pain we find the incentive and desire to change.


By visiting sacred spaces like:

• Ground zero in New York
• Hiroshima Peace Park
• Cambodia's Killing Fields

or by visiting sacred spaces closer to home:

• homeless shelters
• soup kitchens
• hospice
• women's shelters

we face the pain in ourselves and in the world and we transform ourselves and others and make a difference in our world. 

I want you to think about what YOU can do.  Today, you will hear a few people speak about what they do to make a difference.


We Day








Think about what you can do to make a difference.

• Join one of the many school clubs - Amnesty International, GSA, Green Team, Global Perspectives, etc.
• Serve meals at a soup kitchen.
• Collect cans for the food bank.
• Write letters to your MLA or MP.
• Encourage your family to take a "volunteer" holiday.
• Pick up trash and throw it in the garbage or recycling.
• Choose paper instead of plastic.
• Walk or ride your bike instead of driving.
• Buy clothes at a second hand shop.
• Drop your change in the containers by the cashier.
• Sponsor a child overseas.
• Use rechargeable batteries.
• Walk dogs for the SPCA.
• Raise money for a charity you support.
• Help educate others on what they can do.
• Volunteer for AIDS Vancouver Island.
• Buy slave-free chocolate (not from the Congo or Ivory Coast) or buy Fair Trade items.  
• Tell the stores that you want to buy slave-free chocolate or Fair Trade items and would spend your money there if they carried items like that.
• Volunteer at the Global Village Store.
• Make posters, stickers or buttons to inform people about the issue that you want to address.
• Help new immigrants and refugees by volunteering in English classes at the Victoria Intercultural Association.
• Learn about an issue - read a book or a webpage, watch a documentary - then write a letter to the editor.
• Plant a tree (make sure it is a native species).
• Volunteer at a seniors' centre or day care.
• Collect socks, coats, and blankets for the homeless

For more ideas go to http://www.365act.com/ 






Think you can't make a difference?  Craig Keilburger began Free the Children at age 12.

You CAN make a difference.


Write a paragraph in your blog about what things you might like to do.  Write a second paragraph with a plan, including dates, for you to take action.  This will be due on Monday, October 25th.  If you can show me evidence that you followed through with your plan, you will get extra marks.