Earth Hour 2009

In the next day 28th of March, more than 75 countrys will go switch off the lights, the computers, the Televisions during 60 minutes. Why?
Because the earth is getting too hot. Portugal (Lisbon), UK (London), USA and many other countries have joined in this case, shutting down around 8:30 pm the lights of the monuments, squares, gardens and more.

"What can I do?" you ask.
We can all switch off our lights, electronic equipment, at least for 60 minutes, and play cards with the family for example.

For more informations about this initiative, go to www.wwf.pt

The Trailer about the initiative:

TV preferences and how important TV is in my life, compared to the other media

I am a selective viewer.
The mass media are very important in people’s opinion. They are considered to be important because they show people what’s happening all over the world and present a variety of subjects.
For example, people believe in things that appear on television, magazines and newspapers and the truth is that some of them are real and true.
As far as I’m concerned I like watching TV, listening to the radioand reading magazines and newspapers.
I prefer listening to the radio to watching TV, I don’t know why, maybe because I love listening to music.
But, sometimes, when I’m tired I watch TV, because when I watch TV I don’t have to imagine things, while I’m reading I have to imagine everything and to be very attentive.
On television I like watching cartoons (cartoons are very funny, for me!), TV series (for example: “Grey’s anatomy”, “Dr. House”, etc.), soap-operas (for example “Morangos com açucar”) and I like watching movies. My favourites of movies are thrillers and romantic films.
The television is of great importance to people.
Sometimes, my brother watches his favourite TV series and he wants to be copy things that appear on television. My parents hate it.
Sometimes, the mass media aren’t a good influence for children; therefore we have to be selective viewers.

Easter

By Twins :)

Bedtime Story - Party in heaven

The animals that were living in the forest spread the news that there would be a party in heaven.

However, only the flying animals were invited. The birds were very happy with the news and started to talk about the party to the whole forest and so the other animals were very sad filled with envy. A very naughty frog that lived in the swamp, right in the middle of the forest, was very willing to participate in the event. He resolved that he would go anyway and went out spreading to all the animals that he had also been a guest.

The animals that were hearing the frog telling that he also had been a guest for the party in heaven were laughing at him.

Imagine the frog, very heavy, he couldn’t possibly run, how was he going to manage to fly?

For many days, the frog was a cause of mockery of the whole forest.

“You’d better forget about it, my dear friend frog!”, said the squirrel, up the tree. Animals like us, which do not fly, have no chance to appear in the party in heaven.

“I will go!”, said the very hopeful frog but deep inside he wasn’t sure and didn’t know how to do it. A party like this shouldn’t exclude most of the animals. After much thought, the frog formulated a plan.

Hours before the party, he looked at the vulture. They talked very much, and enjoyed themselves with the jokes that the frog was telling.

It was almost night and the frog said goodbye to his friend:

-“Good, my dear friend, I am going to rest, because I need to look well and refreshed for the party."

-“You’re going, friendly frog? He asked the vulture, very suspicious.

- Of course! I would not lose this party for anything. - said the frog, ready to go. See you tomorrow!

However, instead of going out, the frog went round, jumped of the window of the house of the vulture and seeing the guitar on top of the bed, he decided to be hidden inside it.

The party was almost beginning and the vulture caught his guitar, tied it to his neck and flew towards heaven.

When he reached heaven, the vulture left his guitar in a corner and looked for the other birds. The frog peeped around him and seeing that he was alone, jumped and got out of the guitar, very happy.

The birds were very surprised when they saw the frog dancing in heaven. They all wanted to know how he had arrived there, but he changed the subject and was determined to enjoy the party.

It was almost dawn when the frog decided that was time to get ready to go home with the vulture. He went out without anybody noticing and he entered the guitar of the vulture that was right in a nook of the hall.

The sun was already appearing when the party finished and the guests went away, to their homes.

The vulture caught the guitar and flew towards the forest.

He was flying calmly when in the middle of the way it felt something moving inside the guitar. He looked inside the instrument and he saw the frog sleeping, completely shrugged, it seemed a ball.

Oh! What a devious frog! Was it that way that you went to the party in heaven? Without asking, without warning and you still made a fool out of me!

Right after saying this, very angrily, he turned the guitar upside down and let the frog fell to the ground.

The fall was impressive. The frog fell on top of the stones of the river-bed and even more impressive was the fact that he didn’t die.

But on his back was the mark of the fall: a bunch of patches.

That is the reason why the frogs have a few strange drawings in their backs; it is a God's tribute to this naughty but kind-hearted little frog.

The end
Mónica and Tatiana

Peace :)

Father’s Day

In Matthew's Gospel (15.15), Jesus asks the profound question of His disciples, “But, who do you say that I am?” Their answer shows that He could be seen as many things – a prophet, a teacher. And while these are true, there is one answer that was more important than the rest of them. Peter answers, You are “the Christ of God.” Above all the other ways that they might see Jesus, it is as the Christ, as the Messiah, that was and is the most important distinction. It is in this role, after all, that Jesus is not only a prophet and a teacher; but also is God Himself and the Savior of the world.

And this is an important message for today, Father’s Day. When we think of our father’s there are many qualities about them, many ways to think of them – in relation to their job; in relation to their interests; even in terms of the many relationships they have as friends, co-workers, husbands. So, if we as the same question of dads as was asked of Jesus, “Who do you say that I am?” there is one answer that is more important than the rest of them – father. A man may be many things but of all the roles he may fulfill in life, none of them will be more important than being a father. That needs to be the role that defines him.

The history of Father’s Day goes back to 1909 when Sonora Dodd heard a sermon on the virtues of Mother’s Day in Spokane, Washington. This sermon made her recall many fond memories of her deceased father and she began a campaign for a similar day to honor Dad’s. But, while Mother’s Day has been a national celebration since 1911, it wasn’t until 1972 that Father’s Day was made a national holiday. However, in 1924, although falling short of naming it a holiday, President Calvin Coolidge signed a Father’s Day resolution. In that resolution, he called for this day to have as its goal to “establish more intimate relations between fathers and their children and to impress upon fathers the full measure of their obligations.” It is both a thank you to our dads, a deepening of our relationship with our dads, and a reminder to fathers of the great importance of their role in the family.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church says that the father's role comes from the fact that he “cooperates with God the Creator.” If you asked people who the most powerful man in America is, they would probably answer the President, or Bill Gates with his billions of dollars, or Ted Turner with his media influence or maybe some great surgeon who has the skills to extend people's lives. But all those answers miss the mark. The most powerful man in the United States is not the president or a billionaire or a doctor. Rather the one with greatest power is a father. Together with mothers, fathers cooperate with God in bringing a new human life into the world; into loving and shaping those lives; guiding their children to become good members of society, and holy members of God’s family. There is no power or role in life greater than that. Fathers, along with mothers, are at the very heart of God's plan.

As President Coolidge said, one of the reasons for this day is “to impress upon fathers the full measure of their obligations.” It seems in our world today that we often have a parenting crisis. Parents are frequently more concerned with being their child’s friend, instead of fulfilling the more necessary role of parent. Just look at the stories in the newspapers too often about parents purchasing large quantities of alcohol so their children can have parties. This is not parenting. Today is a day for fathers to remember how much their children need them to be just that; a father.

There is great worry that fathers often share – a fear of not being able to provide adequately for their children, or that he won't be able get them the things they need or the right education. Fathers should never these worries because no matter their economic status, they have the one thing their children need and want the most, and they are the only ones who can give it – their love and guidance.

I always recall an experience when I was around 10 years old. It was during the recession of the late 70s. My Dad was a long haul truck driver. He would often travel across the country and be gone for weeks at a time. If you remember those years, fuel prices were accelerating (not unlike today actually), and my Dad found himself out of work for two full years. Now on any worldly standard, this would be seen as a time of failure in my family. Money was incredibly tight. We had to do without many things we were accustomed to as a family. But, my brother, my sister and I always remember this period as just about the best time in our lives. Why? Because Dad was home, all the time; and that was all that mattered – that was worth more than anything else. Fathers should not be afraid that they cannot give their children a lot of material advantages. Those things are secondary. What the child wants most is time, attention and love.

Fathers should also remember that their role is a spiritual one too. Although I will never be a biological father, as a priest my greatest joy is being able to fulfill the role of spiritual fatherhood for others. That is one of the reasons I enjoy working with our youth so much; for the opportunities to be a spiritual father to them. There is no greater joy than being a spiritual father. But, spiritual fatherhood is not restricted to priests. It is the call of all fathers. That's part of the challenge of fatherhood; to be good and loving men of God who show love to their children and help them to see the love of God. What counts most in life will not be how much money you make, the size of your house, the cost of your car, the position you acquire – it will be whether or not you are a good, holy father.

And so we pray today that we may all appreciate our own fathers – both living and dead; for all of the good ways that they have impacted our lives, shaped the people we’ve become; and we pray for them that they may become each and every day holier men of God.

Happy Father's Day
http://afriarslife.blogspot.com/2007/06/happy-fathers-day.html

"How technologies changed my life"

Since i was born, i've been living in a planet full of technology. But how was it before? Before all the electricity, before the steam engine...
It probably wasn't not so good! But, at least, the world wasn't as dirty as it is now. Before all this, you could swim in lakes, you could find ice in the north... Ok, now everything is much easier, you can buy things with a mouse click, and talk to the loved ones and see them trough the internet, even if they are miles apart... But they wouldn't have to live that far if the world wasn't so evolved either! But now we think: Is it worth it? Shops within the distance of a click, at the cust of one world...
This is what technology brought to us... along with many other beautifull things.