The farishde Blog

2010 City2Surf "Move Together For Humanity"

2010-07-13T20:55:00.009+10:00

***** NEWS FLASH ****** **** NEWS FLASH *****

This year, farishde.com will be sponsoring the first 35 people to join

http://www.everydayhero.com.au/move_together_for_humanity

with a $35 donation each!

So simply by joining our team! ANY city2surfer can automatically raise $35

***** NEWS FLASH ****** **** NEWS FLASH *****

A great day out together with people from all walks of life to support work that changes attitudes from prejudice to respect and cooperation.

We want serious runners, walkers & Plodders, Atheists, Bhudists, Christians, Carnivores & Vegans, Jews and Muslims, Easties & Westies.

Please spread the word. It was great fun last year, and raised quite a bit of $ which enabled us to do great work in schools. Let's do even better this year.

If you haven't heard about or seen the great work this kids charity does? check out
http://www.togetherforhumanity.org.au/

Step 1: Ensure that you have registered to participate in the City2Surf. If you haven't yet signed up go to http://www.city2surf.com.au

- You can start in any of the starting groups, however if you've never done it before, select the "BACK OF THE PACK" this is where our "Move Together for Humanity" team will be all starting from. (after we start together, you're welcome to go as fast or as slow as you want)
- If you want to join our "Move together For Humanity" fundraising team, there is no need to create your own fundraising page.

Step 2: Go to our fundraising page here

http://www.everydayhero.com.au/move_together_for_humanity

- To join our team, click on the grey "JOIN THIS TEAM"
- You will be asked for a password to join this team, our password is together

Step 3: Start training and email/facebook/twitter/blog as many people as you can, telling them what you’re doing and ask for them to show their support e.g. by clicking on our fundraising webpage

http://www.everydayhero.com.au/move_together_for_humanity

and either

a) making a donation online
b) joining our team
c) telling any of their city2surf mates to think about joining our diverse team

If you have more questions, please contact me or Zalman anytime.

Phil Costas

on behalf of the 2010 City2Surf "Move together for humanity" team
0415 406 914 (Int +61 415 406 914)
phil@farishde.com

If you have a comment about this blog post, feel free to tell the world about it by clicking the comment link below.

I saw this in Amsterdam

2010-07-10T12:10:00.002+10:00

2009 "MOVE Together For Humanity"

2009-06-18T20:29:00.004+10:00

With the 2009 "MOVE Together For Humanity" coming up on 9th August. I thought it would be useful if I shared with everyone where the money raised last year went. Below is a email I sent to last years generous supporters :)

If you want to join or support the

2009 MOVE Together For Humanity team

http://city2surf.everydayhero.com.au/together_for_humanity

Im writing to thank you for your very generous support with the very first 'move together for humanity'. Thanks to YOU, we raised $600 which goes directly to the not-for-profit organisation http://www.togetherforhumanity.org.au

This was the first time we have done this, so we learnt lots for next year. Firstly, we will give people (you) more warning so you can join our team. I also noticed that most people think the City2Surf is only for super fit runners. In actual fact the thing I LOVE about the city2surf is watching VERY diverse/strange people all doing the best they can. Which coincidentally is one of the messages "togetherfor humanity" tries to leave kids on their school visits :)

I know you all know me personally and maybe you thought, this was just Phil getting excited again! But, its not!! I'm desperate for all Australians (but especially you guys) to understand, what your financial support means.

Apart from our free school visits, in which we take a Jew, Muslim, Christian and Indigenous person to talk to kids. We also have a 'sister school program'. Id like to tell you about my recent experience with one of these.

On the 13th August, 'together for humanity' organised a HUGE day in Sydney, we organised for 12 x yr8 classes classes to sister up with each other. On this day we talk to them about making assumption and what it means to be Australian? etc etc I was blessed to be at the first meeting of two classes from Moriah College (Jewish) and the Australian International Academy (Islamic).

The moment these two classes came into the room, there was deadly silence.

After we did our standard presentation, things started to warm up abit and we did a task called the listening circle. The rule was that who ever is holding the stick could say anything they wanted and everyone else has to listen. It nearly broke my heart to hear a Muslim kid talk about how people thought he was terriost AND when I heard a Jewish kid tell the circle about people calling him names and throwing money at him in the streets of Sydney.

Then something I wasn't expecting happened. These kids (in year 8) started talking unprovoked about how everyone deserves a home, one very brave kid said he thinks Jews should have a home in Isreal.

Then just as passionately another kid said he thought its unfair that Palestinians have been forced out of their homes.

Then there was a very very awkward silence.......all the kids lowered their heads.

It was at this point I personally started to get abit worried/scared, I wasnt sure if I was meant to say something or not?? But I remembered the training for this event, therefore I remained quiet and listened.

THEN....this thing happened, I wish you all could have experienced it with me. This one kid from the Australian International Academy (Islamic) simply said "yeah but we should just have peace!"...then a kid from Moriah College says "yeah their should be peace, not only in the middle east, but also in Goergia too". They kept talking like this until the end of the session, it made me proud to be human :)

Ok... I wasnt expecting this email to be so long...so Ill quickly tell you why I personally love supporting "together for humanity". At every sister school event, the two classes are encouraged to think about what they think is unjust in the world and how THEY "together" could help in some way. For example, the two classes I was involved with decided they didnt think it was fair that so many people in other countries have no food while we have so much.

So the two classes aggreed to work together, to send seeds to countries where they are needed. Its up to the kids and teachers to talk to eachother so as to coordinate the funding and logistics of this effort. Additionally, 'together for humanity' assists the kids in anyway with planning and excection of their proposal.

THEREFORE, I want "YOU" to know that the money you very generously donated to "move together for humanity" could end up feeding hungry kids all over the world, or stopping child slavery or helping stop global warming etc etc........ in other words your donation does not stop here in Australia.

Below, I've pasted in a email from the National Director of the Together For Humanity Foundation, Zalman Kastel, about the same sister school day on the 13th. It may give you another point of view of where your money is going.

-------------------
Dear Kathleen

One transformational moment for me on the 13th was listening to Donna Mulhearne's story about when she held a fundraising evening for Iraqis. As she walked out, she met a homeless transvestite who told her 'I was listening through the window to all the stories you were telling and I like what you are doing. When you go to Iraq, send them my love. She/he then took out a small purse with one $2 coin in it, and gave it to Donna. "Please take this for them". It was all the money she had and was not getting any more till her next welfare payment two weeks away. I must admit that I carry a lot of religious baggage when it comes to transvestites and that whole scene, in that Moment Donna reinforced my belief that everyone, absolutely everyone has the spark of G_d in them.

It was also interesting listening to the students after the mostly Arabic Public School boys and the Jewish private school co-ed students initially found it hard to approach each other. They reflected on the activity and talked about their fear. Later as the day progressed they really relaxed with each other and chatted about their projects and activities, presenting their ideas together, it was quite amazing.

The other thing happening was this conversation between a Jewish studies teacher who had studied in Jerusalem and a Palestinian teacher at the school. There was this strong closeness, they couldn't stop talking to each other. I had to interrupt them to get on with the program. The Jewish Studies teacher was profoundly moved by the whole day, saying "I never spoke to a Palestinian from Jerusalem before", and watching his students he said a few times, some thing along the lines of 'this is such a great thing'.

Zalman Kastel
National Director
Together for Humanity Foundation
www.togetherforhumanity.org.au
(02) 9988 3318, 0423 981 368
-----------------------------------------------------

Thank you all again, and just so you know, Zalman has told me that the money we raised here in Sydney will be going to Melbourne for the program down there.

If you want to join or support the

2009 MOVE Together For Humanity team

http://city2surf.everydayhero.com.au/together_for_humanity

If you have a comment about this blog post, feel free to tell the world about it by clicking the comment link below.

ABC News Special (1989): Black in White America

2009-03-19T20:32:00.001+11:00

This is gold.

I encourage any and every parent to watch this. Its worth it.

The little girl at the 4:55 min is AMAZING!! If her parents wrote a book on parenting, Id buy at least 21.5 million copies today!

Peace :)

Sir Ken Robinson: Do schools kill creativity?

2009-03-17T21:07:00.001+11:00

One of the best things ever put on the web.

Kate Miller-Heidke - Caught in the Crowd

2009-03-17T00:14:00.002+11:00

Who says pop music is shallow??

Asch's Conformity Experiment

2009-03-16T23:38:00.001+11:00

abc Primetime - How Muslims Are Treated In USA

2009-03-16T18:42:00.001+11:00

This is why I LOVE the USA, they have the right to be racist, indifferent and VERY VERY passionate about social justice.

Lynne Hinton - Philosophy in Schools

2009-03-16T18:12:00.003+11:00

Broadcast date Thursday 12th March 2009

Lynne Hinton

When Lynne first arrived at Buranda State School there were just 48 pupils. Now this thriving inner-city school is at capacity with 214 children and every year Lynne has to turn people away.

What she introduced to the school when she started 14 years ago was the teaching of philosophy. Now children in all classes learn philosophy, including the little ones, and there's plenty of evidence to suggest it benefits the children socially, emotionally - and academically.

Lynne has won multiple accolades for her innovative work at Buranda and educators from all over the world ask to visit. Lynne is also in high demand to speak overseas.

To listen to this GREAT interview click here

If you have a comment about this blog post, feel free to tell the world about it by clicking the comment link below.

4 - Move Together For Humanity

2008-07-18T14:27:00.018+10:00

Peace Idea Name : Move Together For Humanity
Peace Idea Number : 4
Peace Idea launch date : 17th July 2008
Who Can Use This Peace Idea? : Anyone
How Much Does It Cost? : FREE (well sort of, if you run/walk in a "fun run" you need to pay them to register)

How Does This Idea Work? :

This idea came about after thinking why I wouldn't spend $50 dollars on a ticket to see two football teams beat each other. But why I would spend $100 dollars to see two football teams raise money to find a cure for Aids?

In association with farishde.com

This idea is brought to you by

For information on why this great organization should make any Australian/human even prouder, check out their website. http://www.togetherforhumanity.org.au/

Together, we invite you to use the power of old and new hatreds or misconceptions to create a even more powerful future for us all. So if you’re proud of the fact you live in a world/country/city/time where you can walk with anyone you want, without out fear of persecution. Here is one idea on how to celebrate.

Move Together for Humanity!
Run or Walk with someone “different” to you.

What you can do if you wanna walk or run?

1. Decide who "some" in your society/family/workplace/religious community etc. or the media would say you shouldn’t be seen with. (let alone raise money for a charity with)

Some examples of this could be.

- A really famous movie star and a concierge with a phone embedded in his head.
- A Islamic school kid and a Camden resident
- The Melbourne lord mayor and the Sydney lord mayor.
- Shannon Nole and Wil Anderson.
- A driver who really loves Holden’s and a driver who really loves Fords.
- A Jewish Rabbi and a really famous Australian movie star in the USA.
- A Indian chef and a Pakistani chef.
- Someone from China and someone from Tibet.
- A migrant from Iran and a migrant from the USA.
- Or maybe you know two people who haven’t got along for a while? maybe you could offer to donate to a charity of their choice if they walk/run together?
- etc etc etc (i think you get the idea)

2. Contact them and ask them if they would like to walk/run with you to raise money for a charity of their choice. Choose an event you both can walk/run in. For example 'The City to Surf' in Sydney. www.city2surf.com.au/

3. Then both people (or groups of people) decide who they're going to raise money for from the large selection of charities doing great stuff everyday.

option 1. Join our Team : If you like you can raise money for Together for Humanity, a charity devoted to bringing people together. Everyone/anyone is welcome to join our team. For more info check out our team page here. http://city2surf.everydayhero.com.au/move_together_for_humanity

option 2. Individually : You can both create individual fundraising pages, on here you should explain to the world who it is your walking/running with. Chose your charity. NOTE: Both individuals don’t have to pick the same charity, you could use your imagination here... imagine if you both raised money for each others preferred charity? OR imagine if two people 'of difference' from Sydney decided to raise money for Children's Hospital in Melbourne? "I'd pay to see that!"

option 3. Create your own Team : Maybe your a large commercial, governmental, non-profit or community organization. Simply get as many diverse people from within your own organization, for example a Jew, Muslim, Hindu, Christian, Atheist, Indigenous person, A Mighty Sharks fan, A Manly fan, A Swans fan, Labor voter, Liberal Voter, Japanese fisherman, Greenpeace member etc etc... chose your charity and create a Team fundraising page.

4. Then both people contact all their friends, family and workmates etc and explain to them what your're doing to build a more harmonious society. Then ask them to sponsor your walk/run if they like the idea. All money going to the charity you chose in step chose in step 3.

Easy right?...well if you think so get going, ring up or email someone you never thought you could/would and start raising money for something we all believe in.

Click on the 'comments' link below if you have a comment about this idea OR if you want to find someone different to run with etc etc. You can also click on the envelope below if you want to tell a friend about this idea.

If you have any questions about this idea, contact;

Phil from farishde.com
mail@farishde.com
0415 406 914
Or
Zalman Kastel
National Director
Together for Humanity Foundation
http://www.togetherforhumanity.org.au/
(02) 9988 3318, 0423 981 368

Salamgdayshalom

The first time we were added to a links list.

2008-05-21T20:33:00.005+10:00

Today is the most exciting day so far for farishde.com, let me explain.

On the farishde ideas page, I have a list of links to peaceful websites, organisations and people who make 'me' proud to be human. Anytime I add someone to this list, I try and send them an email confirming I have done so and to give them the option of being removed if they believe my site would offend them or their readers.

Well, usually, I don't get a reply which is understandable, I'm sure most websites get loads of emails from all over the world. I never expect a reply.

But yesterday I received a reply from the webmaster of http://www.theparentscircle.com/

Words can't describe the admiration I have for the Israeli and Palestinian parents involved in 'the parents circle - families forum' project.

THEREFORE :) I'll let you imagine for a second......how shocked and proud I was to be informed by the webmaster, that my little site from Cronulla Australia will be added to their links list, next to some REALLY peaceful sites. check out our first link here... http://www.theparentscircle.com/Links.asp

I knew from the moment I started farishde.com that I was bound to see some amazing things. But this is ridiculous.

Salamgdayshalom

Phil
http://www.farishde.com/
PO Box 1296 Cronulla 2230 Sydney AUSTRALIA

3 - Peacerist

2008-02-06T23:00:00.003+11:00

Peace Idea Name : Peacerist - A human who participates in acts of peacerism
Peace Idea Number : 3
Peace Idea launch date : 6th Feb 2008
Who Can Use This Peace Idea? : Anyone
How Much Does It Cost? : FREE

How Does This Idea Work? :

Why terrorism works is because of the mystery and fear! The public never knows who the terrorists are, they dont know if and when a act of terrorism will occur.

Why peacerism will work is because of the mystery and hope! The public will never know who the peacerists are, they will never know if and when an a act of peacerism will occur.

If and when you hear, see or read about an act of peacerism, tell the world by commenting about it below, and we will tell the world.

Or ring your favourite radio and TV station, write to your favourite newspaper Or write about it on your blog etc

This idea is in its infancy, their is lots more to come. If I told you all the details, I wouldn't be a true peacerist.

Why I Love this idea :

The person sitting next to you on a bus or plane could be a peacerist.

Salamgdayshalom

Click on the 'comments' link below if you have a comment about this idea OR you know a good story about someone you think is a Peacerist. You can also click on the envelope below if you want to tell a friend about this idea.

2 - farishde Peace Brokerage

2008-02-06T21:02:00.012+11:00

Peace Idea Name : farishde^TM Peace Brokerage
Peace Idea Number : 2
Peace Idea launch date : 6th Feb 2008
Who Can Use This Peace Idea? : Anyone with a peaceful idea or helpful spirit.
How Much Does It Cost? : FREE

How Does This Idea Work? :

If you have a peaceful idea, invention or business idea BUT need help on how to bring it to be. We will try to set you up with peaceful people who may be able to help you. Simply contact us with your details and needs.

If you work in or have experience in a industry that could possibly assist people with peaceful ideas AND you want to offer your services, advice or a helping hand. Simply contact us with your details. Here are some people who may be able to help.

Patent lawyers
Manufaturers
Organisations who offer assistance to new businesses
Advertising companies
Media agents
Journalists
Public Relations specialists
Event Organisers
Local councils
Government agencies
etc

Why I Love this idea :

No human should ever have an excuse as to why their potentially peacefully idea never got a chance.

Salamgdayshalom

Click on the 'comments' link below if you have a comment about this idea OR you want to advertise your peaceful project or business. You can also click on the envelope below if you want to tell a friend about this idea.

1 - This is how I chose to spell wwoarrr

2008-02-06T18:46:00.003+11:00

Peace Idea Name : This is how I chose to spell wwoarrr
Peace Idea Number : 1
Peace Idea launch date : 6th Feb 2008
Who Can Use This Peace Idea? : Anyone who can spell and/or write.
How Much Does It Cost? : FREE

How Does This Idea Work? :

The basic concept is that we dont have to blindly accept everything our ancestors have blindly passed down to us.

In this case, I believe we 'can' all individually choose how we spell a word that means so many different things to so many different people.

From this day forward, I will spell wwoarrr with an o, two extra r's and one extra w. I've personally chosen to spell this word this way because;

I have come to the conclusion that the act of violence to get what you want is stupid and something that looks uncivalised and feels wrong, therefore I chose a way of spelling it that resembles this.

One day while trying to understand why so many people around me believed violence was their only alternative, I wondered why? I thought perhaps these people have never been exposed to ideas of non-volience? Then I wondered why this is? Then I wondered maybe its because there isnt enough information in the public domain about peaceful ideas or people?

Then I thought about Nelson Mandela, I wondered how anyone who understands what this man did could ever think violence was ok.

Then I wondered why a women who shares the last name of a major hotel chain is so well known and gets so much media publicity?

Then I wondered, maybe its becuase there is lots of information about this women in the public domain?

Then out of curiousity, I decided to do a web search for both Nelson Mandela and this woman.

I was amazed, shocked and momentarily demoralised by the results below.

Then I wondered, what if a kid did a similar search for two other words like PEACE and W*R (where * is A). The results are below.

Why I Love this idea : This idea is free.

It allows anyone to peacefully demonstrate daily their desire for something different.

It allows people to non-violently demonstrate to the world that they have thought about violence and it's use in society.

It will give businesses (small and large), governments, individuals, schools, universities, faith based organisations, authors and artists an opportuntity to demonstrate their unique and well thought out stance on violence.

We will all be able to think more deeply about our own definition of wwoarrr and how we want to spell/use it in the future. Its crucial that we each decide on the spelling and use of this word. For example, a mother who lost a child due to wwoarrr will have a very different opinion of it to someone who only knows it through playing a video game. A soldier who watched his friend die in his arms will think differently of wwoarrr to someone whos economic sustainablility relies on the sale of bullets. etc etc etc etc

It doesn't stop anyone from spelling/using this word the old fashioned way. If someone isnt ready to think about this issue, they can simply pretend they haven't heard about this idea.

My dream is for my children to never get into trouble for spelling this word anyway they want.

This idea is measurable via a simply webpage search for W*r (where * is A) and peace anytime by anyone with access to the internet. If more people choose to spell this word differently and/or choose to use peace more often, peace will win out.

Please note : I'm Australian therefore appreciate not everyone in the world speaks Australian, so if you speak another language feel free to change the way 'your' ancestors chose to spell/use this word.

On a brighter note, before you let anyone give up on the overwhelming goodness of humanity, feel free to do a similar internet search for two other words, "Love" and "Hate".

Salamgdayshalom

Click on the 'comments' link below if you have a comment about this idea OR want to share how you spell this word. You can also click on the envelope below if you want to tell a friend about this idea.

Farishde's first blog

2007-12-15T17:18:00.005+11:00

Welcome all, this is farishde's first blog. If you're like me and not too sure what a blog is, I can tell you that this is where I will try to document the journey of www.farishde.com and everything that comes from it.

I hope to show on here;

how I started a peaceful business in industries I have no experience, with no money, and made a profit
how I advertised a peaceful business with no money
how to build positive brand association as opposed to negative or neutral
how the peaceful people we all meet through our actions help us in ways we don't expect
the challenges that running a peaceful business bring
the pleasant surprises that running a peaceful business bring

I think its only fair to tell you that I have no idea what I'm doing. I have never owned a business before, I have basic html experience but have never owned a website before.

example : After paying for my web hosting and getting my domain name, I'm trying to see my own website, but no luck!!! so I asked all my friends to see if they can see my new site, and they can!! ??? so even as I'm writing this, everyone else in the world can see my website "except me!!!".

Why am I telling you all this?..... If someone as hopelessly out of their depth as me (and the people I will meet) can build a successful brand based purely on peace. I want other organisations with hundreds, thousands or billions of dollars and buildings full of creative/bored employees to think about the profits they could be making by proudly declaring /marketing their peace.

If anyone ever has a comment or would like to get in touch, my contact details are below. Or you can always leave a comment to any blog here.

Salamgdayshalom

Phil

www.farishde.com
PO Box 1296 Cronulla 2230 Sydney AUSTRALIA