2005-12-28  Dear Friends

Hello from Zhaoqing for the last time this solar year. Hope you've had a Happy Christmas. I wish everyone good health, safety and happiness in 2006

Has been a memorable Christmas week here:

* Friday December 23: Christmas party at Ricci Centre, with HK friends Ah Yau, Dorothy, Mavis & Tracy  (who also visited Bahkita, Mazenod and Marco Polo centres).   Friday night: CAS kindergarten party (+  Shaun on his birthday, Dec 27 + Garth's artwork)

* Christmas Eve, Dec 24:  CAS end of semester Christmas Dinner for overseas staff + welcome back Liam + CAS secondary Christmas parties  +   Christmas Eve Dinner at Marco Polo for migrant worker families, with HK special friends Ah Yau, Dorothy, Mavis & Tracy

* Christmas Day, Dec 25: Church, Christmas Dinner at Area K, concert at Area D community centre -thank you  Louis for being Santa Claus! (+ welcome HK dear friends Clare, Marie & Theresa....sorry no special photo...)

* And a new baby born/launched  on Christmas Day: www.chinabiblequiz.com DG! 
Sincere thanks to kind friends who took part in Quiz.  Results tomorrow DV (on cbq.com)

* Monday, Dec 26, Boxing Day: Wedding reception of CAS primary teachers Mr Mai and Sharon.  The same day: visit to poor areas & CAS by Macau friends Ben, Clara, Daisy, Joseph, Loretta & Rocco (+ photo of Christmas crib at CAS)

Many thanks to our team of teachers and volunteers for all the Christmas activities of the past week for the people of the poor areas!  And.....every good wish to overseas staff in their last week at CAS: Margaret (due to leave on Sunday) + Greg/Lucy/Sabrina/Damyn (due to leave on Monday)

Calendar:

2005-12-27: China's Floating Citizens  (china.org.cn)

+ Prayers please for following friends on Sick List: Mr On, Mr Lin (CAS neighbour, terminally ill in San Mau hospital, needing a miracle to be here for more than a month or so), Bernadette (ill in HK), Mr Lo (Area C, gallstones)

Wishing everyone a Happy Solar New Year of 2006!  Thank you for a prayer

God bless!

John W omi

2005-12-21  Dear Friends

Happy Christmas from Zhaoqing!  May this sacred season be a time of more compassion, justice and peace in our world

Has been a busy week for the cameraman:

* Last Wednesday, Thursday & Friday nights: final Ricci Centre evening English classes for this semester

* Last Thursday: CAS secondary sports

* Last Friday: Margaret & Matthew at Ricci Centre

* Last Saturday: Another donation of toys, this time for new poor area, Area L + DJW's 100th + taxi mirror + Marco Polo meal

* Last Sunday: CAS promotion in Yunfu  (...Fr Ma that day an outpatient, on drip, in nearby hospital. Not in danger)

* Last Monday....a really happy event: first ever visit of Ricci Centre children to CAS!

* Yesterday, Tuesday: new bridge on path between CAS & Marco Polo; Mr On; meal for Area L people

* This morning, Wednesday: Mazenod Centre after break-in & robbery!

* CAS students preparing for exams and fast-approaching end of semester. Garth, Greg & Lucy and Margaret planning their return trips to Australia and UK; Louis, Shaun and I due to continue next semester. Happy Christmas to all past, present and future CAS overseas staff!

* Not forgetting all the day time classes/tuition sessions & help for the sick and poor being run by our team at our four centres + peoples' homes. Thank you Rosa C, Rosa H, Florence, Maria, Mary Grace, Rosina, Mrs Chu & family, Cherry, Janet, Rosa J, Wilson, A-Lin, Mr & Mrs Law - Special Christmas blessings to you all!

Calendar:

+ Prayers please for following friends on Sick List: Mr On, Mr Lin (CAS neighbour, terminally ill in San Mau hospital, needing a miracle to be here for more than a month or so), Bernadette (ill in HK), Mrs Ren (from Area L, in Gao Yue hospital)

I am most, most grateful to the following friends who have already sent emailed their entries (up to right now, 12.20pm HK time): Bob, Kath (Australia) Tracy, Windie (HK), Betty (USA).
Five people so far....may that five become 10....and that 10 become 20 before 2pm this Sunday Christmas Day!

December 13: The Corporate Begging Bowl (Monbiot/Guardian)

December 15: Food for thought: "Democracy" produces leaders like Bush, Blair and Howard, while China's increasingly benevolent dictatorship (c.f. Plato's "Republic"!) produces leaders who make enlightened speeches like this and take concrete steps to implement them

December 16: From Crikey....and the bit about peasants moving to cities is sure true:

Happy Christmas to everyone!  Thank you for a prayer

God bless!

John W omi

2005-12-14  Dear Friends

Good morning from cold Zhaoqing.  Eleven days to Christmas.  May Christmas be a time for a bit more compassion and caring in our world of growing poverty (...starting with the W.T.O. meeting in Hong Kong this week...)

The past week:

* Last Saturday & Sunday: new signs at Marco Polo, Mazenod and Ricci Centres (+ meals with migrant workers)

* Last Monday: Mr On at home in Area C, after several months in hospital and meal at Mazeod Centre for Area K rubbish collectors (+ study centre)

* Yesterday/ last night: new babies in Area C + Ricci Centre final evening English class this semester for primary 1 & 2 (+ Christmas card game)  If any kind HK friends could please save 2005 Christmas cards for us to use in Christmas card game this time next year, thank you!

* Today: first of 3 days of sports for CAS secondary. Cameraman might have report next week

Calendar:

+ Middle East File update: Blair should be tried as war criminal (Guardian Dec 9)

Wishing everyone the special peace of Christmas

Thank you for a prayer

God bless!

John W omi

2005-12-07  Dear Friends

Brrrrr, I mean good morning, from Zhaoqing where we had about 6 degrees overnight.  Sure is great for a good night's sleep

The past week:

Last Saturday Dec 3: visit to poor areas by future social workers from a university in Guangzhou (preparing large group visit  Dec 31)

Last Sunday Dec 4: visit to Yunfu,   visit to Area K,   street sleepers,   Mazenod meal.  Hoping that street sleepers will move to Marco Polo ...for protection from cold weather

Last Monday Dec 5: Very first  canteen meal with rubbish collectors of Area K - DG!  I'm trying each day at lunch time to arrange for the 20 children at Area K to have something to eat (e.g. a hot cob of corn, costs Y1 per cob)

Yesterday, Tues Dec 6: Welcome Garth's Dad, Ed, to Senior One CAS classes!

Not forgetting day and night classes/tuitions/activities at Bakhita, Marco Polo, Mazenod and Ricci Centres. Interesting to notice how the numbers usually don't go down in the cold weather. Weather doesn't make much difference to the migrant worker children/adults who are always keen/grateful for classes/activities 

Also in the past week or so: The Wild East - a brawl at a San Mau canteen (broken tables and chairs...just like in the movies), and in the vicinity of our next door railway station ....two robberies and one murder 

Calendar:

+ Updated: Maps of Zhaoqing (now has a new map....thank you Lin)

+ Travel report of Peter Barry's latest trip to China available....fascinating reading!....just email me for it 

+ Nov 25: The Disappearing Bishops (NCR)

+ Dec 5: The Struggle Against Ourselves (Monbiot)

+ Dec 6: Worse Than Fossil Fuel (Monbiot)

+ Dec 6: The Ugly Face of the Beauty Industry (China.org.cn)

+ Religious Affairs Website (Chinese Govt) (only in Chinese so far)

+ Bird Flu update from Guangzhou Australian Consulate- General (current for today, Dec 7)

+ New file: reflection on Buddhism 

May the coming of Christmas bring a bit more compassion, justice and peace to our troubled world

Thank you for a prayer

God bless!

John W omi

2005-11-30 Dear Friends

Good morning from Zhaoqing. Happy St. Andrew's Day for Scotland  and people with Scottish names (...like "W'spoon"...)

The past week:

* Thank you Florence (Tues/Wed/Thurs) and Garth (Frid) for taking Ricci Centre evening classes last week

* Meals with migrant worker families: last Saturday night at Marco Polo and last Sunday night at Mazenod

* Last Monday: Happy Birthday Margaret 

* Hope you saw Simone/Judy update

* Tomorrow, December 1: World Aids Day

Calendar:

+ Bird Flu update from Guangzhou Australian Consulate- General (current for today, Nov 30)

+ Cheap phone calls from China to anywhere

+ If only Advent and Christmas could follow this schedule

+ Recommended: China Development Gateway

+ Interactive summary of Matteo Ricci's life

Thank you for a prayer

God bless!

John W omi

2005-11-23 Dear Friends  (updated 2005-11-24 re Simone & Judy, below)

Good morning from a fine and sunny Zhaoqing, where the temperature these days is 12-22.  This is excursion week at CAS....a day at an amusement park in Dongguan (almost half way between Guangzhou and Hong Kong). Senior students (+ Garth, Louis and Margaret) went yesterday; primary students (+ Greg, Lucy, Sabrina & Damyn) today; junior students tomorrow

Other amusements of the past week:

* A round up of November 16-22: CAS, Marco Polo, Mazenod Centre, more toys, Cecilia.  

* No photos: usual meals last Sat & Sun night with migrant workers at Marco Polo & Mazenod Centres; day and  evening classes at Ricci Centre; tuition & playgroup at Bakhita Centre.  Not to mention Rosa C's work for the sick - including care of one more soon to be Mum (...will be baby no. 30 something for Rosa!)

* This morning: "Agnes", who sleeps in park near Cecilia (above photo)  agreed to go to Marco Polo Centre (which is fast becoming a refuge for street sleepers as Winter sets in).  Marco Polo Centre now has new (inside) toilet/shower (photos next week)

* Quote of the week: Margaret's contract finishes at end of December (needs to be back in UK for family commitment) but her Go Abroad classes continue for another week or so.  When she asked "What can be done for the Go Abroads?",  Louis replied: "Take them with you"!

* Smile of the week:  Police preying in church (ABC)

Calendar:

+ Five  important articles:
* "This is not the country that I once knew" by Jimmy Carter  (Guardian, Nov 20)
* "China's young escape into the web"  (Guardian, Nov 20)
* US Evangelist on Religious Freedom in China  (china.org.cn)
* "A War Crime Within a War Crime Within a War Crime" (Monbiot, Guardian, Nov 22)

+ Bird Flu update from Guangzhou Australian Consulate- General (current for today, Nov 23)

Thank you for a prayer.  One special prayer these days:  may a certain event not go ahead in Singapore on Dec 2

Happy Thanksgiving Day tomorrow and Happy Advent next week

God bless!

John W omi

p.s. this morning I learnt from Louis that Canada also has a Thanksgiving Day - the first Monday of October. Wish Australia had one....

2005-11-16 Dear Friends 

Good morning from fine, cool, sunny, blue-sky Zhaoqing.  This time of year in this part of the world usually has the year's best weather. 

The past week:

* Last Wednesday night, November 9: wedding reception of CAS kindergarten English teacher Minnie

* Last Thursday Nov 10 & Friday Nov 11: Welcome back Garth & Paul; Ricci day & evening classes; Bakhita study centre

* Last Saturday Nov 12 & Sunday Nov 13:  Marco Polo gathering;  Gerard at CAS; Gathering at Mazenod Centre.  Mistake in last week's diary....caused by misplaced hopes.....no place has been found for Simone ...  she and Judy are still at Marco Polo, being cared for with very special dedication by Paddy's family

* At CAS  Garth is now helping Louis & me with secondary oral.....Shaun is in kindergarten.....Greg & Lucy in primary....and Margaret is proving more than a match for Go Abroads (GA's recently forced to repeat exam after, shall we say, irregularities, first time round)

Calendar

+ November 6:  photos of Betty running in New York Marathon on behalf of Ricci Centre for school-less children. Thank you again, Betty & sponsors!

+ November 8: photo of OMI meeting in Hong Kong

+ From Guangzhou Australian Consulate-General November 14:
On 13 November 2005, the United States Consulate in Guangzhou issued a warning message stating ''The United States Government has received credible information that a terrorist threat may exist against official US Government facilities in Guangzhou. This threat may also exist for places where Americans are known to congregate or visit, including clubs, restaurants, places of worship, schools or outdoor recreation events. American citizens in south China are advised to be aware of their surroundings and remain alert to possible threats.'' Westerners frequenting the areas mentioned in the US warning message, including Australians, could be caught up in any attacks.  
(My first reaction: it's another part of the fear campaign.  My second reaction: Dear Lord, please don't let anyone do this sort of thing in China....or anywhere else)

+ Monbiot:   War without rules (Nov 15)  &   How many people have died in Iraq? (Nov 8)

+ Bird Flu update from Guangzhou Australian Consulate- General (current for today, Nov 16)

Terrorists, bird flu, Go Abroads.....what a life!

Thank you for a prayer

God bless!

John W omi

p.s. C'mon Socceroos in Sydney tonight against Uruguay. I just hope Australian fans at Olympic Stadium are dead quiet during national anthem of Uruguay....to shame Uruguay fans who booed right through Australian national anthem in Montevideo last Sunday

2005-11-09 Dear Friends 

Good afternoon  from Zhaoqing….Louis and I got back at midday from OMI meeting in HK (photos coming).

Also coming: photos of Betty running in New York Marathon  November 6…..in a time of 5 hours & 5 minutes), for a ranking of 28,050 (out of 35,000).  Many, many thanks again Betty for running to raise funds for our Ricci Centre for school-less children.  Sure hope you can visit the centre some day soon DV 

Also running in the past week….many people….trying to do something for Simone and Judy.   After several nights at Marco Polo Centre, Simone (the mother) proved too much of a handful (not toilet trained, biting her daughter, hitting other children) so another place had to be found for her.  Police and welfare department in Zhaoqing have found a temporary place.  Many thanks again to Paddy’s family for taking on management of Marco Polo Centre from this month (including the care of Simone and Judy). Many thanks also to several kind friends in Australia for donations to support care of Simone and Judy 

Last Wednesday November 2: one day visit to Ricci/Mazenod/Bakhita centres by kind friends from St Benedict’s Parish in Shatin in HK  

Last Thursday Nov 3: visit to CAS  + Ricci/Mazenod/Bakhita Centres by HK OMI’s  

Last Saturday Nov 4: Mr An in hospital + evening meal at Marco Polo + water shortage problem in Area C solved, thanks to Rosa H

Welcome back to CAS/Zhaoqing:
- Last Thursday: Susanna from HK
- Last Saturday night: Garth, after finishing another year at Sydney University
- Last weekend:  Gerard, presently at university in Guangzhou
- Yesterday: Paul….and thank you for more books for Ricci Centre and other students 

Calendar

 New file: Bird Flu updates  (one English student asked very intelligent question: shouldn’t it be spelt “the bird flew”?)

Have just finished reading “The End of Poverty” by Jeffry Sachs    A must read book…..

Tonight: Wedding Banquet of CAS kindergarten teacher Minnie....photos next week

Thank you for a prayer

God bless!

John W omi 

Nov 4:  Next diary....maybe not till Nov 10 or 11....I'm due to go to HK for meeting Nov 6-9....
HK mobile: (852) 67095674

2005-11-02 Dear Friends

November All Souls Day hello from Zhaoqing.....hope you had happy Halloween and All Saints....+ MD in Melbourne Cup (what a horse!)

Has been a race on here the past few days....to find accommodation for "Simone" & "Judy" ...handicapped and homeless

* Last Thursday: Greg, Lucy, Sabrina and Damyn at Ricci evening class

* Last Friday & Saturday: Ricci children + new babies for Rosa C + Marco Polo evening meal

* Last Sunday: evening meal at Mazenod Centre (Area F)

Calendar

+ Pioneer CAS teacher Peter Barry recently made another most interesting trip to a poor area of China. Please let me know if you'd like a copy of his fascinating travel report

+ Photos of Mum's trip to Bourke in 1984 now on www

+ No Iraq invasion, no London bombing memorial service (Guardian)......

+ Betty, every good wish as you prepare for NY Marathon on November 06.  Hope many friends have sent you an email: bettychu001@yahoo.com

Now back to Simon and Judy

Thank you for a prayer

God bless!

John W omi

2005-10-26 Dear Friends

Hello from Zhaoqing ..... where people are starting to wear warmer clothing as cool weather arrives.  The past week arrived and went very quickly:

* Last Wednesday October 19: Greg and Lucy and children enjoyed visit to Zhaoqing Middle School (near university) for English Corner.  Same family also looked after primary 5 & 6 girls at Ricci evening classes on Thursday (...photos next week ...)

* Evening classes at Ricci now in their third week. Bahkita Centre team continuing their  tuition for students of poor area C (+ playgroup in mornings). Mazenod Centre morning playgroup also going well

* Also Oct 19-20 we welcomed  Hong Kong  AITECE  assistant manager William who  visited Ricci Centre P3 -4 evening class and CAS

* Last Saturday Oct 22: thank you Olivier and company for another kind truckload of toys....this time given to Xinqiao primary school (with help of wonderful group of people from Xinqiao Evangelical Church)

* Last Saturday night: regular meal with migrant worker families at Marco Polo Centre

* Last Sunday: evening meal with migrant worker families at Mazenod Centre (Area F)

* Last Monday night: Florence's dear Mum went home to Heaven after a long battle with cancer. Sincere sympathy to Florence and her family.....may her Mum's prayers in Heaven help us all

* Also to Heaven on Oct 24: Rosa Parks   a courageous woman who made a difference to life in USA

* Yesterday, Tuesday: visit to CAS by HK OMI's Luc and William

+ Louis and I recently watched Hotel Rwanda with a group of senior students. What a powerful movie..."shaming and compelling" as the linked review says

+ Galloway Goes to Washington (Guardian)

+ Warning to prospective CAS overseas staff: situation re motivation/discipline etc very poor at moment in secondary school (just as in many other countries).  Many students spend night using mobile phones.....then next day sleep in class....just don't want to work.  Go Abroad teachers (overseas and local) have longest faces in Zhaoqing.....GA students sleep, skip class (then interrupt other classes), refuse to do any work.  So....before you come to CAS: get clear decision from Doris on what work you'll have....and if it's secondary (espy GA), come and enter Blackboard Jungle at your risk

+ Needed: several kind people in Australia to use my GoTalk card to phone San Mao ex-adult shop.
Background: adult shop opened for several months......when I went past I used to say one it would close.....then when it was being renovated for what I thought was a bigger business, I prayed reverse blessings on it (may the keys not work - may the roof leak - may the lights and water have problems - may there be all sorts of communication problems etc etc).  
But then I found out the renovations were for new owners for a mini-canteen selling very harmless noodles....and I felt guilty I had  cursed the place....so now when I walk past I pray a blessing.  But the young couple running the shop are really struggling to make a living....to try to earn money they've even installed cheap pay phones for people to use.....so.....the idea is.....adults and older students who'd like to practise English with someone in Australia, can pay say 2 cents (AUD$) per minute to the shop to speak to someone in Australia (who pays only a local call to phone China by using a free GoTalk card I have)
So....looking for several people who'd be willing to spend one hour on a Sunday afternoon in what may not be such a crazy idea....."outsourcing" is in these days.  Please let me know if you'd like to be part of this experiment: jdwomi@hotmail.com 

+ Betty, every good wish as you prepare for NY Marathon on November 6.  Hope many friends have sent you an email: bettychu001@yahoo.com

Thank you for a prayer

God bless!

John W omi

2005-10-19 Dear Friends

Good morning from Zhaoqing on 30th anniversary of beatification of Eugene and 2nd anniversary of beatification of Mother Teresa of Calcutta.....in a week of three highly significant happenings  that will become part of Chinese history:

- Last Saturday: the completion of the world's highest railway,  linking Tibet and Qinghai....a feat that European tunnel drillers and railway experts said was impossible
- Last Monday: the return to earth of two Chinese astronauts after several days in space.....not much mention in Western media
- also Monday: the death in Shanghai of one of the 20th century's greatest authors: Ba Jin 

And on the Zhaoqing front:

* Last Friday October 14: visit to CAS by three Josephs.  The same day - new connection for overseas teachers'  internet (arranged from now on by CAS....and faster than before!). Also the same day: news that former Ricci Centre student Karen (aged 8), now in primary two at local San Mao school, in a class of 53 children, in monthly exam came 1st in Maths and 2nd in Chinese.....up against children who had done 3 years kindergarten compared with her 3 months kindergarten. What a difference one year in primary one at Ricci made....(note: no English exam.....local school doesn't start English till P3)

* Last Saturday Oct 15: visit to poor areas by Macau friends Clare, Edith and Pearl 

* Last Sunday Oct 16: Opening of and first meal at Mazenod Centre in newly renovated Area F building
(+ welcome again Magealane from HK)

Calendar

+ Tuesday Oct 11: Beijing CCTV team at old church for filming of Zhaoqing promotion

+ Betty, every good wish as you prepare for NY Marathon on November 11.  Hope many friends have sent you an email: bettychu001@yahoo.com

Thank you for a prayer

God bless!

John W omi

2005-10-12 Dear Friends

Good morning from Zhaoqing.   Many thanks to so many kind people who phoned or sent emails/cards with sympathy for Mum's death (see last week's diary).  Special thanks to all who attended funeral on October 5....especially old friend Bill O who made the trip from Melbourne. 
Has been a special week back at work here.....knowing that a very special someone is now in the unseen world able to see and prayerfully support our life here. Mum is now more present than when she was on earth!

On the train from Gold Coast to Brisbane last Thursday Oct 6, I saw a man reading "The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail".  Saw same book and "The Da Vinci Code" (which is based on THB & THG) in bookstore at Brisbane airport. Then.... on Qantas QF97 from Brisbane to Hong Kong I watched a documentary movie "The Real Da Vinci Code" .....oh boy....ya gotta see it (available on DVD from ABC shops in Australia).  It shows how the two books are frauds of the first nature....in fact the author of THB & THG admits his work is fiction!....yet Dan Brown (author of TDVC) claims it's fact!  I have a suggestion for a new Dan Brown book: "The Holy Weapons of Mass Destruction".  See also Guardian Article

Life continues back here in Zhaoqing. Most CAS overseas staff had some time in Hong Kong.     HK Rosa C has been looking after two new babies in the past two weeks (one born at home in a poor area) + the usual list of sick people.  Last Sunday Rosa visited Joe in Guangzhou....now living and studying at a new school (thank you HK sponsors!).  Meanwhile HK Rosa H and team have been continuing their tuition of poor students at the Bakhita Centre in Area C....helping especially the 22 former Ricci students now at San Mao Primary School

Same San Mao School has invited me to help its 90 Junior Three students with English....so....from October 21, our  Friday night English Corner will be held at San Mao School.  San Mao School now has 902 students:  647 in primary, 254 in secondary.   536 of the 902 are from outside Zhaoqing (= from the poor provinces)

Evening English Classes at Ricci started last night with primary 1 & 2 (Tuesday)....then P3 &4 tonight (Wed)...then P5 Thurs & P6/secondary on Friday.....but from next week P6 will join P5 on Thurs ....with Friday night English corner shifting to San Mao School

Renovations at Area F centre, to be known in English as the Mazenod Centre, in Chinese as the Sin Lok Centre, now complete.....hoping to have community meal there this Sunday night for the people of Area F (next to railway line behind San Mao main market)

Calendar

Thank you for a prayer

God bless!

John W omi

2005-10-04 Dear Friends

Hello from the Gold Coast from where on this Feast of Saint Francis, at 1.20am this morning, dear 94 year old Mum went home to Heaven......very peacefully, in her sleep, with Pete & Yve and I holding her hands + praying + final Anointing of the Sick.  Funeral Mass is 1:00pm  tomorrow, Wednesday October 5, at Guardian Angels Church, Wynnum in Brisbane.  Funeral Service    Photos of Mum  "God was kind in giving us a Mother as lovely as you"....hope you are enjoying your first day in Heaven!

Also this day:  evening gathering at Southport of past and future CAS China teachers

I'm due to leave from Brisbane for Hong Kong on Thursday morning as per original ticket. Due to stay at Notre Dame Thursday night.....then to Zhaoqing by train on Friday afternoon....for re-start of school on Sat Oct 8. 
Australia mobile: (61)(0)406330307
HK mobile:  (852) 67095674

* Last Wednesday- Friday Sep 27-30: visit to Zhaoqing poor areas by HK friend Maria

* Also Sep 30: last ferry service between HK & Zhaoqing. Ferry in future will go only as far as Gaoming....with a bus service between Zhaoqing and Gaoming

Calendar

+ Recently discovered English report in People's Daily

+ Eternal Rest to Bali bombing dead, sympathy to relatives, speedy recovery for the injured. Interesting how not a word (?) in Bali reports re link with Iraq invasion (....yet first Bali bombers said at trial  "we did it because of Iraq" .....+ 70% of people in UK believe in strong link between Iraq & London bombings...)

See: 

Iraq Connection - July 20, 2005

Cause & Consequence - July 27,2005

Bush & Blair (& Howard) have Blood on their hands - August 5, 2005

and: February 10, 2003: 
Ex-general buckets PM's 'political' war
By Simon King

PRIME Minister John Howard was on the verge of sacrificing young Australian lives just for political gain, a former defence chief-of-staff said today.

Retired Major-General Alan Stretton also said committing troops to the war on Iraq could make Australia a military target.

Mr Stretton today had a statement read on his behalf as part of the Walk Against the War Coalition against war with Iraq.

"Our prime minister must be stopped in sacrificing our young Australian lives for what he originally thought would be short term political gains," he said.

He said Australia would reap none of the benefits of war but could become a victim of Iraqi aggression if it joined the attack.

"Australia will not be given any say on the control of Iraqi oil, Australia is currently under no threat from Iraq but an attack on Iraq will only raise the likelihood of that," he said.

Mr Stretton also lambasted US Secretary of State Colin Powell's presentation to the UN Security Council last week.

"The evidence produced by (Mr Powell) is most unconvincing and certainly does not provide any excuse to embark on a war in the Middle East," he said.

"President (George W) Bush's endeavour to link al-Qaeda and the fight against terrorism to Saddam Hussein has produced no evidence."

Mr Stretton described Mr Bush's behaviour as "irrational and dangerous".

"The real reason for war is the presence of America in the Middle East in order to control more than 10 per cent of the world's oil which Iraq produces," he said.

2005-09-28 Dear Friends

Good morning from Zhaoqing. Has been very wet here....climate change causing more rain. Holiday week coming up Oct 1-7 and most of the overseas staff will be away from Zhaoqing

My dear 94 year old Mum is gravely ill....was anointed last Wednesday and not expected to last the night....but (as so often happens after anointings) has picked up a little.....she just wants to go home to Heaven....can just hear her saying: "Next time I'm about to depart, for Heaven's sake please don't anoint me!".....so....since CAS has a week's holiday for the National Day celebrations (Oct 1-7), I'm due to go to Hong Kong this Friday afternoon, September 30 (mobile in HK 6.30pm to 10.30pm: 67095674), then Qantas Flight 98 at 11.15pm to Brisbane (mobile in Australia from 12noon Oct 1: (61)(0)406330307)....due, at this stage, to return to HK on Oct 6, stay HK overnight, then return to Zhaoqing Oct 7 for school re-starting on Oct 8.  But....if Mum's condition requires it, I might stay in Australia a few more days.  She's in Good Hands.  Our prayer is that she goes in the Lord's peace in His time

Last Saturday: regular Sat night meal with the poor at Marco Polo

Last Sunday: Louis and Margaret joined the "I've walked from CAS to town" club.  Congrats!

And congratulations former CAS teacher Steve and wife Angel on birth in UK of Jessica Liu C. on Sep 7!

Some more photos of HK visitors at Ricci Centre in July

Well done Swans in last Saturday's AFL Grand Final.  C'mon Cowboys in this Sunday's NRL Grand Final!

Calendar

Thank you for a prayer

God bless!

John W omi

2005-09-21 Dear Friends

Good morning from Zhaoqing on Saint Matthew's Day....happy Feastday to all Matthews/Matts and Mateos!

Has been a another full week:

* Last Thursday/Friday/Saturday:  a team from Hunan TV came to the poor areas and CAS

* Last Saturday night:  I went from regular meal with poor at Marco Polo to a different world: the start of semester (& Mid-Autumn Festival) CAS staff dinner at the Dynasty Hotel

* Last Sunday: Another group of poor people discovered....Area J...not far from railway station. A very special Mid-Autumn evening meal. The same day: welcome two new local volunteers to work in the poor areas: Maria and Rosina

* Last Monday: BINGO English at Xinqiao and Ng Chuen Primary Schools

* Yesterday: Welcome Susanna, here to visit the poor areas for a few days

* Each day since last Sunday I've been visiting a 61 year old  Area C man in a city hospital after brain hemorrage + many complications. Very moving experience seeing how a member of his family stays with him 24 hours  (all very ill patients are required to have  a member of the family  stay with them + feed/wash/change them). Problem is: hospital costs Y1,000 or more a day...and poor families are reduced to destitution by lengthy hospital stays.    17 year old boy  in coma in same ward taken home by parents yesterday....after 18 days they just can't afford the bills anymore.
No wonder Premier Wan Jiabo is trying hard to introduce some form of medical coverage for the poor. Just hope he can do it soon......maybe with help of taxes on cigarettes and alcohol?

* Since school resumed I've enjoyed following life of one Yao Ming with secondary students...looking at parts of the movie "The Year of Yao" + reports like this and this.   Maybe soon can also check about the Chinese footballer who has just started with Celtic.  Which reminds me: C'mon Swans on Saturday in AFL Grand Final. (...Perth used to be the city of Swans, now Sydney Swans more famous?...)

+ File re historical Red Building in Zhaoqing has had further update

Calendar

Thank you for a prayer

God bless!

John W omi

2005-09-14 Dear Friends

Good morning from a hot and sticky Zhaoqing.  I know someone who had 4 cold showers to combat yesterday's 38 degrees. Mid-Autumn Festival this Sunday Sep 18 usually sees Summer start to go away

School has been back two weeks and so far so very good. Many people have commented how CAS secondary students are a much-improved group.  Margaret has the Go Abroads, Louis & I have secondary oral, Louis also takes Go Abroads for extra oral, Greg & Lucy (assisted by Sabrina & Damyn) have primary oral, Shaun has kindergarten

22 former Ricci Centre students are now at the local government primary school, helped by after school tuition at the Bakhita Centre (..thank you tutors Rosa H, Betty, Florence, Mary-Grace & visitors...). e.g. Last Wednesday with HK visitor Eva who is here for a week helping look after the poor

Ricci Centre itself still has some 50 students....make that near 60 as new arrivals reach Zhaoqing

Rosa C has been extra busy lately with Summer rashes/colds + new babies+ people in hospital. One slight improvement has been the decrease in home accidents.....maybe the many course run by HK friends + local reminders    are starting to have an effect

About last Friday, Sep 9: Paddy at work (a photo to make Thomas happy...)

Last Saturday Sep 10: Regular Sat night meal with the poor at Marco Polo Centre, with HK visitors Bernadette and Clare here for a visit to the poor areas. Thank you Bernadette and Clare for a most informative visit to the Red Building in Zhaoqing

Calendar

Even as the G8 promises fall apart, Geldof stays silent (Monbiot, Sep 6) 

Thank you for a prayer. Wishing everyone a Happy Mid-Autumn Festival. May you see a beautiful full moon on Sunday night!

God bless!

John W omi

Congrats England on winning Ashes (...no doubt an email from Jock & Hazel awaits me...) 

2005-09-07 Dear Friends

Good morning from a fine and warm Zhaoqing. Early in the morning and after sunset the air is cooling.....autumn due after Mid(?)-Autumn Festival September 18

School resumed at CAS on Sep 1.....and at the local government school in San Mao where 22 former Ricci Centre children are now enrolled. Many thanks again to Zhaoqing E.D. officer Mr Wong, San Mao principals and Rosa C for all your work over the past week.  3 Ricci students have gone into Primary 1, 12 into P2, 1 into P3, 5 into P4, and 1 into P6.  Ricci Centre still has some 50 students....with new children continuing to arrive as their parents ("migrant workers") move here looking for jobs

Last Friday Sep 2: a group of kind Immigration officers visited Ricci and gave gifts to the children. The officers are on duty each day at Zhaoqing Railway Station (when HK train leaves at 9.37am and when it returns at 6.30pm....and also at ferry pier to welcome HK boat each day at 12.15.....and farewell it at 2pm)

Last Saturday Sep 3: Regular evening meal with the poor at Marco Polo - with guests Louis, Lynne (from Western Australia.....teaching English at Zhaoqing Nursing College) & Margaret + kind donation of shoes from CAS

Calendar

+ Cruel joke: Katrina disaster in USA now gives George Bush an excuse to invade Iran.  Iran had nothing to do with Katrina?.....doesn't matter.....Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11

+ Maybe not in Western media: China also has had a devastating typhoon....more than a hundred dead

Thank you for a prayer

God bless!

John W omi

Diary  2005  May-June-July-August