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Sumya 'the island girl' Anani, 4x World Champion Boxer, was voted Most Avoided Female Fighter in the World in 2004 and 2005.
Now she wants to ...
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Fighting For Peace Imports

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Living in Jamaica really impacted my life.  It was the first move out of my mom’s house, and to go from my mother’s nest in 1995 to a developing country lifestyle was a wonderful, yet challenging experience.  I am so grateful for it!  It opened my eyes to so much.  I learned a lot about myself and the world in my experiences in Jamaica.

 I witnessed poverty for the first time.  Right now, in 2007, the minimum wage in Jamaica is $50 U.S. a week.  It was $30 U.S. a week when I lived there.  Yeah, exactly, how could anyone survive on that?!  Well, it’s not easy.  Some people say “Oh, but they can survive on that.”  No, they can’t.  They don’t have a quality of life that they deserve.  They don’t have opportunities that people in developed countries do.  They don’t have health care and retirement plans.  For many of them, they will never have opportunities to get out of the cycle of poverty they’re in. 

 So, I planted a seed in my heart years ago that I wanted to do something to help people in Jamaica.  Now, I’m a visionary and I tend to dream really big.  That’s a good thing, but I also know that I have to come out of the clouds sometimes and realize that helping the entire country of Jamaica might be a bit out of my hands.  But if I, God willing, can make a difference in the lives of a few, then it’s change and progress in the right direction.  I know that each of us has a sincere desire to make a difference in other people’s lives.  It’s a desire that I’m glad we all share.  It’s called humanity.

 I’m getting to the point of all this. 

 I’ve developed direct trade relationships with some wood carvers in Jamaica.  By eliminating the middleman, they are being paid fair wages and given a chance to improve the quality of life for their families.

 Fair trade is a social movement and it’s something we all need to learn more about.  There’s lots of information on the internet.  We need to study the corporations that we are supporting with our dollars.  Are they being socially responsible?  Are they investing in communities and the environment?  But we can’t stop there.  Each of us needs to get actively involved by using our purchasing power to make a difference.  These are the most important votes we make. We vote every time we spend money. 

So why are all the carvings of the sun and moon?  I teach HHHa-tha yoga.  It is a practice that continues to bless my life with so many gifts. The word ‘Ha-tha’ is a compound of two Sanskrit words:

Ha   means "sun"      Tha   means "moon”

Yoga means “Union"

So Hatha Yoga means "Union of the Sun and Moon"

This refers to unifying our opposites; bringing together our light and dark sides, our masculine (strength) and feminine (gentle) sides, and our constant nature and our changing nature.  Ha-tha Yoga is designed to help us discover and fulfill our unique potential.  Yea, a big order, but in time and with patience and practice, it ultimately teaches us to be better people, partners, and better parents.  We are all a work of art in progress!

Every sun & moon carving is a wall hanging made of one piece of cedar wood.  If you look closely, you’ll see that different colors of sand have been glued on.  Most of the carvings are decorated partly in sand and partly with the natural wood.  The sands are from the many colored world famous beaches in Jamaica. 

As you can see, the carvers took great time and care on the details of each design.  Each piece is an original.  You may see 2 carvings that are similar, but the way the artist chose to decorate the carving with sand is unique.  There are a few that are entirely decorated with sand and a few that all natural wood too. 

Sizes range from small to really large, and prices range from $35 - $1200 for the most elaborate piece.  Every carving is unique and they add beauty and inspiration to any decor.  But I think the best part is that you can rest assured that your purchase is empowering a few Jamaican families towards economic self-sufficiency.

 The Inspiration for Fighting for Peace Imports was born on my 2nd Annual Spiritual Warrior Yoga Retreat in Jamaica in 2006!  (See Empowered by Yoga)  It is my small contribution to improving others lives through activism. 

You can change the world today!  Regular purchases of Fair Trade products are long-term contributions to tackling poverty.  Our choices really do make a difference.  So buy Fair Trade, and together, we can Fight for Peace.  Namaste` Sumya. 

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“Because we all share this planet earth, we have to learn to live in harmony and peace with each other and with nature. That is not just a dream, but a necessity. We are dependent on each other in so many ways that we can no longer live in isolated communities and ignore what is happening outside those communities.” ~ His Holiness the Dalai Lama

A.C.T. MISSION STATEMENT
    A.C.T. stands for A.wakening C.hange T.ogether


A.C.T.’s intention is to:

Direct people to be a positive force for change through their unique contributions, talents, and actions.

Foster a sense of involvement by encouraging people to volunteer and offering various volunteer opportunities monthly to organizations and/or people in need.

Awaken in everyone that our personal responsibility should be towards the “establishment of the beloved community.”  (Martin Luther King, Jr.)  A healthy society is a family unit, and everyone has a profound duty to contribute to the higher good of the community.

Provide group learning and a positive social activity for everyone involved.

Be a unified and positive influence in the community.

We can only Awaken Change Together. 

A.C.T. was founded in 2002 as a way to encourage people to get A.C.T.ively involved in being a positive influence in their community.  Quarterly volunteer opportunities are arranged around the Kansas City metro area.  There are many ways to volunteer.  If you'd like to be on the mailing list, email Sumya. You can be an A.C.T.ivities Director and help organize an event.  There is no commitment from you that you must join every event.  You come when it's convenient for you. Most of the opportunities are kid-friendly and A.C.T. encourages volunteering with family and friends.

 The healing of the planet begins with us!

We must A.C.T. now.
"How wonderful that no one need wait a single moment to improve the world."   Anne Frank

 

 

 

 

 

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