Kiva.org

I love this organisation and their philosophy. I am lending money to a couple of different entrepeneurs and love receiving notice that they've paid me back. I think 2 of my loans have been repaid, and I've re-lent the money and other loans are being paid back gradually.

Here's a video to show you what it's all about.


A Fistful Of Dollars: The Story of a Kiva.org Loan from Kieran Ball on Vimeo.

Journal for the Modern Goddess

I'm expecting the arrival of our first published book/journal on the 7th November and it will be very exciting to actually see it complete and beautifully bound (this is the front cover).

The purpose of our Journal for the Modern Goddess is for women to uncover the beautiful, unique and powerful Goddess that they really are. We encourage them to focus on aspects of their own life path – the inspiration and happiness they feel, the strength and wisdom they find in times of change and the dreams and visions for their own future.

Each section offers questions for them to explore as well as affirmations for moving forward.

Our companion guided meditation CD provides them with sacred journeys that will inspire and encourage them to create positive life patterns. This will help them to recognise and invite magic, inspiration and loving energy into their life.

Two tracks on the CD are recorded by me and the other track is recorded by my business partner, Tara Spicer. Tara painted our modern goddess image on the front cover.

We are launching our journal on the 25th November in conjunction with White Ribbon Day. 10% of our sales from the pre-launch and launch day (in Australia) will be donated to the White Ribbon Foundation. The foundation provides educational strategies to eliminate violence against women.

We will also be kick starting our Virtual Book Tour... it's just like a real life book tour but it's online and in the comforts of our own home; pj's, bed hair and all. We have a number of blogs and sites lined up to host a visit from us to promote our journal. It's all very exciting!!!

10% of our online sales from the VBT will be going to sponsoring a business or two through Kiva. Kiva lets you connect with and loan money to unique small businesses in the developing world. I have lent to 2 small businesses, $25USD each and they've both paid me back so I've reinvested my money into 2 new small businesses. Monies raise will continue be put back into small businesses through Kiva.

You will be able to purchase your own copy at http://www.journalsforempowerment.com/ and you can read more about our next journal.

Light a candle...

...to eradicate internet child abuse.

The innocent victims of Internet child abuse cannot speak for themselves. BUT YOU CAN!

With your help, we can eradicate this evil trade. The organisers do not need your money. They need you to light a candle of support because they are aiming to light at least One Million Candles by 31st December 2006.

Their petition will be used to encourage governments, politicians, financial institutions, payment organisations, Internet service providers, technology companies and law enforcement agencies to eradicate the commercial viability of online child abuse.

They have the power to work together. You have the power to get them to take action.

Please light your candle at http://www.lightamillioncandles.com or send an email of support to light@lightamillioncandles.com.

Together, we can destroy the commercial viability of Internet child abuse sites that are destroying the lives of innocent children.

Kindly forward this email to your friends, relatives and work colleagues so that they can light a candle too.

Note: I just lit my candle and I was the 824,948 person to do so.

Update: As of today, 23rd November there are 1,242,560 candles lit... if you lit a candle, thank you!

Cruelty to Animals

Animal Asia Foundation are an organisation trying to stop cruelty to animals in Asia and espeically trying to close down "animal entertainment parks" such as this one in Shanghai who promote Animal Olympics.

Animal Asia is encouraging people to write a polite letter voicing your concerns and calling for urgent legislation to protect all animals from cruelty and abuse. They ask that you send your letter to your local China National Tourist Office and your local Chinese Embassy.

They explain that personal letters are the most effective, or they have a sample letter...

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to you to express my concerns and horror at the recent "Animal Olympics" held at the Shanghai Wild Animal Park.

Cruel and archaic events such as these reflect poorly upon modern China and serve only to tar your international image. The use of animals for entertainment is being phased out in many countries as more and more people recognise the suffering and misery of life in captivity for performing animals.

In the light of the upcoming 2008 Beijing "Green Olympics", it is truly tragic that facilities such as these are still in existence. I urge you to do all that you can to encourage the Chinese Government to implement comprehensive legislation to protect both wild and domestic animals from all forms of abuse.

I look forward to hearing of positive changes in the immediate future.

Yours truly,

All letters can be emailed. The email address for the China National Tourist office in Sydney is sydney@cnta.gov.cn and the China Emabassy email address is chinaemb_au@mfa.gov.cn For my friends in Hong Kong, the China National Tourist office email address is 'th@hkta.org' and the China Embassy email address for your home country can be found through this link.

I am asking that my family and friends send letters because the animals can't speak for themselves.

Animals Asia have been successful in getting Disney to drop Shark's Fin Soup at Hong Kong Disneyland. Unfortunately they were not able to stop the Bullfighting event held in Shanghai but based on their protests it was not a success for the event organisers.

I hope you support this cause!

An Update: I received an email today saying that we were successful in having the Animal Olympic's cancelled - YAY!!! They will also be asking if the park can now provide a permanent home for the poor blind bear that was forced to stand for hours at a time while tourists posed with him for photographs. Thank you anyone who took the time to write a letter... obviously my letters helped the cause.