october 20, 2004

operation clark county

Through their Operation Clark County project, The Guardian newspaper made available the contact details of registered voters in one of the most marginal areas of the USA.

Here's the letter that I sent.

Dear Megan,
I’m writing to you as part of The Guardian newspaper’s Operation Clark County project. Your address (made available through the electoral roll) has been given to me so that I can emphasise the importance of your vote (in this year’s Presidential election) on the international community.

The United States is the most powerful nation in the world and as such great responsibility lies with those who vote. I, and many other Australians are fearful of the far-reaching consequences if George W. Bush wins this election.

Over the past three years I’ve watched as the international community has been divided, international laws ignored, seen lies told by your leader and intentional acts of violence enacted out on many innocent people. I can understand that the threat of terrorism will be important to you in your decision of who to vote for – but understand that there as been a significant increase in acts of terror since the current war on Iraq was started. Bush and the Republicans, whatever their rhetoric – have not made this world safer.

The gap between rich and poor has increased under Bush, unemployment has risen, the environment has been ignored, and defence has been promoted as an issue far more important than health and education. And every other nation watches America and follows in your nation’s footsteps.

I am so afraid of the future of the world if Bush takes power again. I want to have children more than anything else I can think of, but I don’t know what I will say to them when they ask “Why is the world so bad Mum?”. The future generations shouldn’t have to suffer because of our choices.

But this letter shouldn’t be about convincing you to vote one way or another. Your vote is your choice, but I urge you to consider the international community when you go to the polls.

Decisions made in America affect the world so much more than you may imagine, but we don’t have a choice about who leads your nation. You have that responsibility. Even if you’ve voted Republican all your life, the best thing about democracy is that you have the freedom to make a considered decision.

I write this to you as an act of friendship – I respect you greatly for registering to vote, as I value my right and responsibility as a voter most highly.

But let me tell you something about myself, my name is Pippa and I’ve just turned 25. I work in the IT industry, but ultimately I’d like to write professionally (either fiction or journalism – I haven’t decided yet). I live in a beautiful city called Adelaide, we have a population of just under a million and are bounded by the coast to the west and beautiful hills to the east. The CBD is surrounded by parklands, so the air is always fresh and it’s a quick walk to sit under a tree and listen to birds. I grew up in the hills and went to a tiny school with a beautiful garden – we’d build the most amazing cubby houses out of sticks and pine needles.

I love to listen to music; at least once a week I go out to see live music played. And I love country music! I can’t wait to travel to the states where such amazing people as Gram Parsons came from. I’m afraid of your country’s influence – but I love the culture that has evolved there.

Food, music and books – I love these things. And my friends? They’re the loveliest people you’re ever likely to meet.
Food! If I could send you food I would, but I’ll share a recipe with you.

(it’s a cake my mother taught me to make)
Flour Free Orange and Almond Cake
- 2 oranges
- 6 eggs
- 250g ground almonds
- 8 oz sugar
- 1 teaspoon of baking powder
Boil 2 oranges for two hours
Cool the oranges – remove the pips
Blend the oranges
Beat the eggs
Add in sugar, baking powder and almonds
Beat all together
Pour into a greased and battered spring-form cake tin
Bake for about 60 minutes in a moderate-hot oven.
180°c / ?F?

Enjoy! It’s good with cream… (now I’m hungry)

Megan, I want to live without fear. I want everyone to share in the blessings that I’ve received. I want the world to become a peaceful, happier, greener place to live. I want everyone to have the gift of freedom and democracy – and for those already blessed with these gifts to use them wisely. We should always think about others – not just ourselves. So please, take a moment to consider how your vote will effect everyone in this world. You and I both need a good world and I personally feel that a vote for the Democrats will be a vote for true democracy.

Please feel free to write back to me. I will however understand if you chose to not respond, this letter is probably very surprising!

So, on behalf of the international community… please remember us on November 2.

Peace be with you…

Pippa Buchanan

pipstar @ 07:19 PM | link | Comments: *****

october 06, 2004

3000 words

Some good, some bad.

But they're all here.

pipstar @ 12:11 AM | link | Comments: ****

september 16, 2004

you broke my heart and killed my bonsai!

I've had to catch up a couple of times and write two or three days worth at once, but I'm halfway through my first batch of 100 Words.

And I'm feeling confident that I'll actually get through this month.

So confident that I think maybe I'll write 500 words a day throughout October... Or maybe that should be 800? Because I have to prepare for NaNoWriMo!

[Ideas for bestselling novellas gratefully accepted. Though I'd prefer it if you participated as a NaNoWriMo buddy!]

pipstar @ 02:27 AM | link | Comments: **

september 07, 2004

100 words

It's 22.49. Not too late, but my eyes are feeling heavy and my feet are cold.

Rain fell all day, quite heavily for Adelaide and it reminded me that the weather will still be fairly wet when my birthday comes along.

So I bought a new umbrella, having abandoned a broken one this morning and looked at summer clothes, aware that I won’t be able to wear them just yet. Maybe for my birthday party?

I have to reheat the wheat bag now. Increasingly, the days are sunny and it feels quite warm, but at night my feet are cold.

Most of my writing energy is currently being directed towards the 100 words project. I'm hoping that I'll develop some good habits such as restricting my tendency to ramble, and writing every day.

But you'll have to wait until the end of September to see what I've written.

pipstar @ 11:55 PM | link | Comments: *