Now just 2 days out from the Live Below the Line challenge (how did that happen so fast?!) I thought it was about time I explained to you all exactly why I’m undertaking the challenge this year. 

To keep it simple, it comes down to this: I struggle, every day, to conceive that we live in a world in which a child’s opportunity for prosperity is largely determined by chance. 

The fact that I am part of the 1% of people globally who reach University level education has much more to do with the fact that I was lucky enough to be born in a country where there is no civil war nor has there been one in recent history, where food is readily available, where a school was located within a 10 minute drive from my house, that my government supports the cost of education and although I worked throughout high school this was not at a detriment to my studies nor was it a necessity for my family survival, than any of my personal virtues. 

If we were to take in to consideration virtues, then there are hundreds of thousands, or even millions of children globally who could arguably be more eligible for higher education that I am. Yet, through no fault of their own, they are deprived the OPPORTUNITY to reach their own potential. 

And that is what it comes down to. Poverty isn’t about not having enough toys or clothes. It isn’t about not having a phone or tv and it isn’t even about not having a meal at night. More than anything, poverty is about not having the same OPPORTUNITY as everyone else. It’s repressive, destructive and perpetual. 

This is why I believe so strongly in the work of The Oaktree Foundation, and the importance of campaigns like Live Below the Line. Because every step we can take to increase a child’s access to education, and to a better life, is a step worth taking.  

This is why I am committed to use my university education, for which I am eternally grateful, to find some small way to improve opportunities for others.

You too can help out by sponsoring me online at: 
https://www.livebelowtheline.com/me/karenanne

Why don’t we just have a little look at exactly what that has meant over the years…

• Like the fact that from the 5th to the 14th centuries, your beloved CATHOLIC CHURCH held sacred ceremonies to bless the unions of same-sex couples (which were almost identical to those for heterosexual couples). 
• Or that in the 16th century, servants and day labourers in some countries weren’t allowed to marry (yep, even the heterosexual kind) without prior approval from local authorities. 
• And then there is the fact that from 1662, some British colonies in North America began outlawing interracial marriages. That’s right, by those standards even Heidi Klum and Seal wouldn’t have been able to marry. 
• In the 1700’s, English common law sated that ‘The very being and legal existence of the woman is suspended during the marriage, or at least is incorporated into that of her husband under whose wing and protection she performs everything.’ I think we can all say we’re (thankfully) a far cry from those kinds of views on married these days. 
• Even as late as the 1900’s, African American slaves were denied the right to marry each other. Now we all know that Beyonce and Jay Z are wouldn’t be to happy about that! 

Clearly, marriage is a SOCIAL INSTITUTION, that for centuries has been modified to  fit the needs of the society in which it sits (or at least the needs of the authorities). So why on earth is everyone so caught up about maintaining the ‘sanctity’ of an institution that in itself has changed countless times.

 I fail to understand why allowing a wider range of the population to publicly declare their love for each other, would do anything other than fill our society with MORE LOVE!  Surely that’s something we could all do with a little more of. 

Don’t even get me started on the delusion that same sex parents are a threat to the family unit, when the LITERATURE (that’s right, people study this shit) states otherwise. In fact, in many studies, the children usually perform better in school and are more active contributors to society. 

/end rant. 

http://www.radcliffe.edu/about/quarterly/w06_marriage.aspx 
http://blogs.theaustralian.news.com.au/jacktheinsider/index.php/theaustralian/comments/getting_it_straight_on_same_sex_marriage/P25/ 
http://www.imow.org/economica/stories/viewStory?storyId=3650 
http://www.1215.org/lawnotes/misc/marriage/history-of-marriage-chronology.pdf 
“Lesbians better at raising children.” Sunday Times [London, England] 15 Nov. 2009: 8. Expanded Academic ASAP. Web. 5 Apr. 2012.

stepuphq:

Got back from Australia yesterday and found myself bombarded by people sharing and encouraging my involvement in the ‘Stop Kony’ campaign. The rise of the free online movie i think is completely unprecedented in the activism world. And I’ve been barraged on twitter and facebook to share the…

Oh Rou, could you be any more perfect? 

and I’ve let him go.

beforeitstoolateadelaide:

you are such an inspiration to all of us. if i am even half the women you are when i get to your age i will be feeling content with my life. love you beautiful girl

-Anonymous

Seeing this just made an incredibly frustrating day more tolerable. I’m 99% sure I know who this was, and to that beautiful lady I say Thank You. You’re more of an amazing woman than you give yourself credit for. I love you <3