4 Things to Think Over

Who Died to Get You Your Smartphone? (GeekTown.ca)

Danny Bradbury wrote this article based on an NPR report about conflict metals, which are necessary for making smartphones and tablets.  He notes that a US law requires companies to reveal where they mine the metals needed for their product, but that there is no law actually preventing the sale of conflict metals.  Essentially, a company says, “We got our metals from X,” and the consumer decides whether to purchase the product.

The question this makes me ask:

Digital communication is becoming increasingly useful, perhaps even necessary, to social justice movements.  Am I correct in this assertion, and, if so, is there a way to use such media without being hypocrites?  The log in my own eye as I ask this question is obvious.  I own a smartphone and make occasional edits to this blog with it.  Predominantly, my blogging – about justice and theology – happens on my PC.  Although laptops aren’t mentioned in Bradbury’s article, I expect there is some technological overlap, but don’t know for sure.  Any hints, anyone? 

20 Ideas For Consideration

Pictures, Moving Pictures, and Sound

Idea #1:

‘Stop Human Trafficking App’ Takes Off (CNN)

Ideas for Consideration

Ideas about responding to injustice...

Violence Never Has and Never Will Be the Answer

Rev. Al Sharpton (Huffington Post)

Rev. Sharpton reflects on the riots in London in light of his own activism.  He states that violence is never an appropriate response to injustice, even if the initial injustice takes the form of a violent act.  This does not seem to be a theoretical or distanced call to non-violence.  He refers to his own stabbing in 1991 and notes that his reaction was a request for leniency for his assaulter and subsequently visited him in jail.

Justice Isn’t Blind, Even in Mock Trial, Students Advised

Kate Hammer, (The Globeand Mail)

Hammer presents a story about a Canadian high school team competing in a US-based mock trial competition.  Students are warned that the style of address is as important as the facts of a case in determining the winner.

“The single greatest story I’ve ever heard.”

John Oliver (The Daily Show)

The Daily Show’s John Oliver interviews a couple whose house was foreclosed on, despite the couple not having a mortgage.  The response is stunning and hilarious.  Enjoy.

Ideas for Consideration

Ideas about money...

How Rich is Rich Enough?

Richard A. Kauffman (Christian Century)

A short article that postulates that the desire to continue gaining more money when already rich doesn't come from the desire to spend, but instead from the desire for power.  

Ending Poverty With Global Christianity's Phantom Trillion

Christopher Cocca (Huffington Post US)

Uses a stat that suggests that Christians' total income is about $10 trillion and then notes what a tithe (10% of income) could pay for.  He suggests that this amount could erradicate poverty worldwide.  Cocca notes that getting all of Christianity to mobilize will be difficult ("impossible" is the word he uses), but also suggests that Jesus commanded it and the promised the Holy Spirit.  These two facts should make a difference.  Suggests Christians can erradicate poverty, but we don't.  

 

Countdown with Keith Olbermann Commentary (Current TV)

This video showed up in the Cocca article above.  The multiple camera angles are irritating, but it raises a couple of interesting points.  Most important is the idea that helping others does not mean doing “everything” but instead doing “something.”  Secondly, is the idea of compromise and presents the idea that compromise is problematic when it is spurred by “manufactured political crisis.”  It is specific to the US debt ceiling and I am Canadian, but these ideas hopefully have big picture resonance.    

Part 1 http://current.com/shows/countdown/videos/dont-cut-care-mr-president-pt-1

Part 2 http://current.com/shows/countdown/videos/dont-cut-care-mr-president-pt-2

Rupert Murdoch: Bible Mogul

Will Braun (Geez)

Notes that Rupert Murdoch, who is dealing with the phone hacking scandal, also owns Christian publisher Zondervan.  Suggests that this presents Christians with a complex problem.  Christians should consdier who profits as they spend their money on Bibles and books.