Blog Action Day on 365 to 42

Blog Action Day, and its all about poverty. I’ve never done one of these before, but having found myself in a position where I have readers I felt that for once I could have a positive influence. But what do I know about poverty, I’m white, middle class and from a developed country, I have never gone without food, I’ve never not had a roof over my head and I’ve never seen those I love suffer through lack of money. But I’ve come close, there was a time when I was unemployed (my decision and there was always work available) and having to live on what the state handed out, so I did at times eat some very strange combination out of what was left in the kitchen. It was only with the help of friends that I survived to carry on my idle life style.
Having said all that we are all not that far from the drop, only this weekend the fear of losing it all became, if only for a short time, very real as news broke about a possible change within the company we both work for. Like they say “you only know what you’ve got when it’s gone”. If you lost your job or the ability to work how long would it be before you started to suffer? In some respects we are all in this together, so take a moment to check out the Blog Action Day site and see if you can find something to help the situation.
The photo today is an old one, I took it over 15 years ago in York and feel that is fits with today post, the busker when seeing that I was taking the shot, gave me a great big grin, totally spoiling the feel of a dejected down and out, so this was the only workable shot I got.



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Comments

Anonymous said…
saw this post via the front page of blog action day. it's great that you're participating. :)
October 15, 2008 at 9:46 AM
Lisa B said…
Great post Brett and great photo
October 15, 2008 at 11:06 AM
Jannie Funster said…
I remember studying in college about the "culture of poverty," a self-perpetuating cycle. I wonder what could break it. My best guess is Montessori education for every child from ages 3 to 6.

That is a great photo.
October 15, 2008 at 10:32 PM
Jane Hards Photography said…
I missed action day, but have tried to support blogs that joined. Archive shot, just right for the theme.
October 20, 2008 at 1:03 AM
Marshall Family said…
blog action day was such a great cause, Im glad you participated, love the photo :)
October 29, 2008 at 4:29 PM
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