At the time, Helen was forced to import suitable play dolls from the United States, but she realised that not everyone would go to so much trouble to find suitable toys. She took matters into her own hands by creating Australian Girl Dolls.

The idea of a uniquely Australian play doll was sparked when Helen Schofield couldn’t find quality dolls for her own granddaughters that weren’t either babies or teenagers. She searched many stores and websites but could only find dolls similar to what she wanted overseas or imports in specialty shops at high prices.

At the same time Helen became aware that the concern she already had regarding the negative impact of popular culture on young children appeared to be growing in many others across the Australian community. These two things were her inspiration and motivation to do something. Why not design dolls especially for our own Australian girls! So with the help and encouragement of family and friends she did.

Australian Girl is fully Australian owned and endorses the work of Kids Free 2B Kids and Women’s Forum Australia. Through research and education regarding the sexualisation of children in the media, advertising and clothing industries these organisations promote psychological health and emotional well being of Australia’s children.

Obviously, concerns about the over sexualisation of children isn’t only a concern in Australia. All around the world our daughters and sons are being forced to grow up way to fast by a sex soaked culture.

“If the message is that you should be sexy and grown up, instead of being a kid - then kids aren’t practicing and learning how to be whole human beings that will actually make them into great adults. They are instead only imitating adult behaviour, without understanding it - and that’s very dangerous for their development”. - Amanda Gordon. President, Australian Psychology Society.

“I tell parents, ‘don’t buy sexy clothes for your children’. There’s nothing smart about having a 4 yr old in a little bra. It’s time for adults to take a stand, for parents to take a stand and say ‘this is what we want for our children’ - instead of children saying ‘this is what I want for me”. - Amanda Gordon. President, Australian Psychology Society.

“There is a concern that we are sending very conflicting messages to people. On the one hand, we’re telling people that children need to be protected - that paedophilia is regarded as one of the most heinous crimes - on the other hand we allow advertisers and marketers to present images and saturate our media with images that might be sexually arousing to some paedophiles in the community.” - Dr Louise Newman. Director, Institute of Psychiatry.

“Childhood is shrinking. We are exposing children to adult concepts that they can’t manage, that are developmentally inappropriate, and I think we are going to pay the cost for this in a range of emotional and psychological costs down the track.” - Dr Joe Tucci. Australian Childhood Foundation.

“Sex is being used to grab the attention of not just adults but kids as well. If the multibillion dollar ‘tween’ market is any indication, it’s a sales pitch that’s working”. - Dr Karen Brooks. Senior Lecturer Communication & Cultural Studies, University of Sunshine Coast.

“It is folly for us to pretend that the trend towards sexualisation of childrens fashion and advertising is harmless. It is part of a cynical but savage fight for our spending dollar, and the earlier children are pressed into thinking sexually, the earlier they will act sexually”. -
Rob Robertson. Ministerial co-ordinator, Australia. Setting Captives Free.

Helen joined me in the studio at 98.5 Sonshine FM this morning to talk about her concerns and the positive action she took to help others facing the same struggle. You can hear our conversation by clicking the play button on the audio player at the bottom of this post.

I’d be interested in your point of view on this topic. Do you think we need to protect our children from the negative effects of our culture?

Other posts you may enjoy:

• December 4, 2008 — The Bishop of Harare
• December 2, 2008 — Hope for those with Autism
• October 29, 2008 — Post Secret
• October 20, 2008 — In conversation with Aled Jones
• August 15, 2008 — Gambling on God

This video is pretty mind blowing.

What does it mean for us and for the generations to come? What does it mean for business? What does it mean for community? What does it mean for churches?

Thanks to Shane at Caffeinated Thoughts for pointing me to the video.

Other posts you may enjoy:

• July 12, 2008 — iPhones hit Australia
• February 27, 2008 — The Big Question
• January 29, 2008 — Back to School goes upmarket

Zimbabwe is currently experiencing chronic shortages in food and other essentials causing massive suffering throughout the population.

In Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe, there has been a large outbreak of cholera with hundreds of people dead and thousands more suffering from the disease.

The Rt Rev Dr. Sebastian Bakare is the current Anglican Bishop of the Diocese of Harare. Last month he received a prestigious peace award in Sweden for his committed work for human rights in a politically unstable Zimbabwe.

Bakare spoke of Zimbabwe to the media at the Lambeth Conference in Canterbury, England in July this year.

“The ruling system is so oppressive that it has denied the people their human rights, including religious freedom. My diocese continues to suffer persecution. We have been denied the freedom to worship.”

It was a pleasure to have him join me in the studio this morning during my programme on 98.5 Sonshine FM. He spoke about the persucution many have suffered and are continuing to suffer. You can hear what he had to say by clicking play on the audio player at the bottom of this post.

Other posts you may enjoy:

• August 15, 2008 — Gambling on God
• August 6, 2008 — A Christian Response to Climate Change
• June 25, 2008 — Antony Flew says There Is A God
• June 17, 2008 — Soweto Gospel Choir in Perth
• March 27, 2008 — Miracles

Grab your tissues and watch this video.

A new centre, the first of its kind in Western Australia, designed to help children with autism and developmental delays, was launched in East Fremantle, near Perth, Western Australia on Wednesday of last week.

The centre, known as the Learning, Education and Research Network (L.E.A.R.N.), aims to ensure that children suspected of having autism or developmental delays are diagnosed and receive intensive treatment at the earliest possible time.

L.E.A.R.N. was established by Perth woman Mandy Mason, whose daughter was diagnosed with autism in 2006 at the age of two. That’s Mandy and Juliette in the video.

I had the privilege of interviewing Mandy during my morning radio programme on 98.5 Sonshine FM last week. It was a delight to hear the passion Mandy has for the centre and the help that is being provided for dozens of families.

You can hear my chat with Mandy by clicking the play button on the audio player at the bottom of this post.

If you’ve had experience with Autism I’d really appreciate hearing a little bit of your story through the comments section of this post.

Other posts you may enjoy:

• March 11, 2008 — $2051.60
• January 31, 2008 — A New Blog Launch
• January 18, 2008 — Are you really insured?
• December 5, 2008 — Too Sexy?
• December 4, 2008 — The Bishop of Harare

Already throughout spring we’ve seen more people in shorts and t-shirts but we need to get ready to see more white legs making an appearance for the first time since last summer. My cyclists’ tan is coming along nicely. My brown arms stop where my cycling shirt starts and my legs have a similar thing going on with the very white bits suddenly turning very brown where my shorts end. By the end of summer I’m sure the difference will be even more pronounced. I could always try to tan the white bits but a cyclists’ tan is a badge of honour.

I’m sure that BBQs are being wheeled out everywhere and their gas bottles being filled, air conditioners being serviced. Summer has arrived and we’re getting ready for some scorching hot days.

A white Christmas is the last thing we’re ever likely to experience here, unless it’s the magnificent, white, sandy beaches along our coast.

How’s the weather where you are? Is it getting hotter or colder right now?

Other posts you may enjoy:

• November 13, 2008 — Finding a New Way
• November 17, 2008 — Ten things I’ve done you probably haven’t
• November 3, 2008 — Riding out an attack
• July 2, 2008 — Collecting Glass
• June 4, 2008 — Just pop a cheque in the mail

Have you ever been in the doghouse?

Other posts you may enjoy:

• June 6, 2008 — Run Kitty Run
• May 17, 2008 — Video from Haiti
• February 12, 2008 — Frozen
• January 11, 2008 — What does ‘missional church’ really mean?
• December 21, 2007 — Buyer Beware

Most of us love receiving gifts and now that we’re into the Christmas season our thoughts go to giving and receiving. I’ve got to be honest and say that I’d love to get lots of exciting gifts this Christmas but while I’m being honest I also have to admit that there’s not really much that I need.

On the other hand there are millions of people around the world who, through no fault of their own, don’t even have enough to feed themselves or their families.

The Global Food Crisis continues to claim lives and the crisis is only deepening.

Compassion Australia has now released their Global Food Crisis Appeal Gift Catalogue. It’s full of a gift ideas that will save lives. Did you realise that just $14 can help feed a child for a month? How can we indulge ourselves with stuff we don’t need when such a small gift can give life? How thankful would we be if it was our child being saved with that gift?

Compassion Australia’s CEO, Paul O’Rourke explains the need for the catalogue.

Every night over 300 million children go to bed hungry. An emerging global food crisis threatens to widen this tragedy by forcing an additional 100 million people into extreme poverty.

Knowing that children are going without food for one day is bad enough, but knowing that, because of the global food crisis, children are going without food for days on end is simply too hard to stomach.

Here in Australia we may be feeling the pinch of having to pay a few cents more for petrol and food, but it is those who already struggle to live on less than a dollar a day that are paying the worst price of all - the inability to feed their children.

Here at Compassion we have committed to raise $2 million dollars by 30 June 2009. We are constantly asked if we have a gift catalogue, so we have combined the need to raise money for this urgent cause with people’s desire to buy gifts for friends, colleagues and family. We hope that as you eat dinner each evening you will pray for those who don’t have what you have, and when you need to buy a gift, as we all do, consider buying a gift that has more meaning than most.

Thank you for your support.

Blessings

Paul O’Rourke
Chief Executive Officer

I hope you’ll have a wonderful Christmas and that you enjoy the giving and receiving of gifts, but I also hope that you’ll carefully consider helping those in desperate need by choosing something from the Compassion catalogue.

I don’t want my selfishness to contribute to the problem so I’m hoping that when people consider what gifts to give me this year they’ll choose them from a catalogue like this one.

Other posts you may enjoy:

• October 30, 2008 — Global Food Crisis
• November 30, 2008 — FAST for FOOD - Day Thirty
• November 29, 2008 — Fast for FOOD - Day Twenty Nine
• November 28, 2008 — FAST for FOOD - Day Twenty Eight
• November 27, 2008 — FAST for FOOD - Day Twenty Seven

He’s usually there when I’m having coffee with my cycling mates on Saturday mornings. I’ve seen him as I’ve hurriedly walked past cafés on my way somewhere else. He’s been there when I’ve been enjoying a quiet cuppa with Pauline. He’s there in shopping centres, airports and cafés everywhere.

Sometimes he’s tall and middle aged. Other times he’s a little shorter and fairly young. He’s bald or with a full head of hair. He’s dozens of different people but I always want to be him.

Yesterday I was that guy.

I was the guy sitting on my own in the café, sipping a long black while reading a good book. There’s something very therapeutic about sitting in a busy café, letting the world buzz around nearby as you bury yourself in the pages.

I had to be at Mia Café in Inglewood yesterday for a Christmas afternoon tea. The rest of the family had to be across the other side of town so Pauline dropped me off an hour and a half early. That gave me the opportunity to partake in the magnificent pastime that I see so often yet so rarely enjoy.

Maybe I need to make that one of my New Year’s Resolutions for 2009. “Spend more time alone in cafés.” In 2009 I intend to be that guy a lot more often.

Other posts you may enjoy:

• August 18, 2008 — An almost perfect Perth weekend
• July 18, 2008 — The Morning Tea’s On Me
• December 6, 2007 — Summer Reading Challenge