Saving Lives

One thing I haven't done yet is acknowledge the inspiration for the challenge other than the students of the Umoja Centre.

In 2009 well-known Australian ethicist, author and academic published a book called The Life You Can Save. It was recommended to me by a very dear friend. Singer makes some compelling arguments around the ethics of giving, especailly in relation to Third World aid. It's a really good read and has helped me think about my own contribution to creating a better, more equitable world. In the book Singer mentioned the 'extreme poverty line' - $1.25/per day, and my challenge was born! Better and more meaningful than some of the other personal challenges I could have come up with, I thought.

So thanks Peter, but while the challenge went well, and I was thrilled with how much I was able to raise, if I ever do a  challenge again I have decided it will not involve food! Food glorious food...

I survived!

Well I'm really pleased that's over and done with, although it sort of got easier as the week went on. Thanks so much to all my wonderful supporters- we've raised $1600 to go into the Umoja land fund. Keep an eye on the Umoja website over the next few months if you're interested in how things progress. Of course I'm looking forward to continuing to do what I can to support the centre and the wonderful students.

I did try to be restrained over the weekend, but only partially succeeded. I discovered Saturday morning, when I tried to get a large cooked breakfast down, that my stomach had shrunk! It's now Sunday evening and I think I've done a pretty good job of stretching it again. I did come the the realisation during my week of deprivation that I eat way more than I need to and treat myself far to often, just for the sheer pleasure of it. I had hoped not to go back to being a glutton. But while I can manage a week of self-restraint for a worthy cause, I'm not convinced I've got what it takes to keep being disciplined, even on much lower scale, over the longer term.

Can I last one more day?

I'm really hungry and I've had enough of doing the challenge! And having Masterchef going in the background is not helping. Thank goodness tomorrow is the last day. I really don't want to see rice again for quite a while. Al in all, it hasn't been as bad as I'd thought it would be, but it's really wearing thin now! I've actually learnt quite a bit about myself, and the role food plays in my life (a very bloody important one that goes well beyond mere sustenance) but more about that tomorrow night...I have to go to bed now so I stop thinking about food.

3 days to go

Well at least the week is going quickly. The physical side effects haven't been as bad as I expected- no headaches or anything. I am getting a bit cranky though!

I've realised how dominant a role food plays in my life. I love the stuff! I love thinking about it, talking about it, cooking it, eating it, sharing it and reminiscing about it. I'd kill for a coffee. And a piece of cake. In fact anything that isn't watery soup, rice, or toast....

On a more positive note, my carbon footprint for the week will be smaller than usual. I'm only doing the $1.25/day challenge in a limited way (food and transport) so I'm still consuming water, electricity, and a whole bunch of other stuff, but I am consuming fewer resources than I normally would. I can see why the carbon footprint of people living in developing countries is so much lower than ours in the West. Do Australians still have the second biggest per capita emissions in the world (behind the US)? One of the many downsides of excessive affluence. Not that I'm advocating extreme poverty- there's not much joy in this!

Must go now- yukky rice pudding beckons....