I am often heard, several times a month, expounding the benefits of hugging. 7 a day is the ticket, apparently, for maximum sense of well-being. So bring on the hug, friends and family come hither! That is, those of us who have people to hug... too many people literally go years without someone to touch them, let alone hug them. Therefore, I love to hug.
Unbenownst to me was this chap who, lonely, burdened with trouble and empathy for others who were feeling this way, pulled out a marker and a bit of cardboard and scrawled "Free Hugs." He says for a while the whole street ignored him but then someone "stopped, tapped me on the shoulder and told me how her dog had just died that morning. How that morning had been the one year anniversary of her only daughter dying in a car accident. How what she needed now, when she felt most alone in the world, was a hug." And there was he and thus began his Free Hugs Campaign.
(I know, I know, too many videos. A sure indicator of a laaazzy blogger. Wa, wa, waahhhh. But I love this one! So fabulous!)
On hugs for the lonely...Red Cross in Sweden have just launced their "Hugs for the Lonely" campaign, a pre- Christmas depression weapon. It sounds nice.. but the hugs cost! Yep, hard cash. Hmm... It sounds like the perfect "Social Enterprise" model... something I'm not completley convinced about (I think thats just my cyncial mind.) I could be convinced though. What are your thoughts on market based philanthropy?
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5 comments:
Ha ha. One of the most beautiful videos I've seen for a while. Love it.
love it too lucy...btw, have you ever listened to any music by Foy Vance? If not, you should...great artist from the Emerald Isle, full of soul and messages of hope. Think you would like it x
market based philanthropy - sounds like something maxim would invent. I just had dinner with a bunch of new maxim interns. I've never heard so much anti-socialist and unfounded thinking from a group of christians in my life. Not that socialism and christianity are the same but it was unusual to hear people so passionate about having free market everything. so i didn't answer the question but i'm against it coz we should place on conditions on our love or giving.
i mean 'shouldn't place condition'
Hmm... scary about the Maxim peeps, being pretty much NZ's only Christian think tank.
Yeah. I'm with you I think Justin... it seems like social enterprise is about doing the things The Church are meant to do the way businesses do them- for profit. I guess this has happened because th Church has failed in what it is meant to do. In which case, I guess someone needs to step up and do it, and if the only sustainable way is on market terms then, thats better than nothing?
Primarily I think the world of social enterprise should be one big fat challenge to the church...
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