a brief tv spot about the function:
brisant @ ARD mediathek 2009
Filed under: General, Networking, Uncategorized, dresden, HOPE Cape Town Association & Trust, HOPE Gala
11/02/2009 • 1:06 pm Comments Off on 02.11.2009 Your very own face looking at you…
02.11.2009 Your very own face looking at you…
It is amazing to come to town and you are greeted by your own face in town. An experience I still have to come to terms with as it is not usual for me to see myself at any other place as in the bathroom while shaving… 🙂 Well, some photo albums as well, but that is it. On the other hand people who are in the advertising industry tell me, that it is necessary to put a face to a project – and in this case it is me. Ok, I don’t mind if this helps the cause of HOPE Cape Town and brings people to learn about the project, to understand the situation in South Africa and to encourage them to help in a way they feel comfortable with.
What I don’t like if people see me as a role model or similar – I don’t think that is no good. I am just me and I don’t strive to achieve being an example – what I want to encourage people is only that they live their own lives, find their very own destiny. And as in every life there is black and white and so much grey in between. We shouldn’t strive to be saints in the common sense of the word – we should strive to be humans. And we should deal with each other as such humans – also when it comes to tolerate and forgive the darker sides of oneself and around oneself.Right?? 🙂
Filed under: General, HOPE Cape Town Association & Trust, Networking, Reflection, Society and living environment, Uncategorized, advertising, Aids, black and white, destiny, dresden, hiv, HOPE Dresden Gala, humanity, live, meaning in life, role model
11/01/2009 • 5:31 pm 1
01.11.2009 HOPE Gala Dresden afterthoughts
After some hours of sleep and a long brunch with people it this now time to reflect on the HOPE Gala Dresden again. It was a marvellous event, the first “red carpet” charity event in Dresden. With the Federal Minister of Interior, Thomas de Mezier and wife, many stars and starlets, security and media attention have been marvellous. And the announcement of the cancellation of the announced laudators presence at the gala during the press conference before created also interest, it comes seldom that one hears of a cancelation of a star a week before the event.
The diversity in this programme, singers, pianists, artists contributed to the success and the aftershow- party was great. Lots of good food, music and interesting people. I had lots of good talks and networking was like always a priority. We also had guests coming from St. Wendel and even from Russia to attend the gala. Global village. From all it is clear that the connection Dresden – HOPE Cape Town is a good and developing one – and I do hope that we can develop even a sort of partnership between Dresden and Cape Town. During my next stay in Dresden in will see the mayor of Dresden to discuss possible further connections.
I am grateful to Saxonia Systems and Viola Klein and all those marvellous people who made this evening possible. And as I said at the press conference last Thursday: The love of two people, which lead them to come to Cape Town and being married with my assistance as marriage officer was the beginning of a connection bringing people from Dresden and Cape Town close together. It shows for me clearly that love can move the world, two people, one love, one committment and now hundreds are meanwhile joining to make this connection stronger and stronger every year. It is a fantastic story as only real life can write it.
Another highlight of my stay in Dresden was the possibility to bring people together, I work with and now there is emerging a network so powerful that we will be able to move the world even a bit further. Watch the space – if only half of what is planed will be realised, my life will not be the same again – and that of many other people as well. And for HOPE Cape Town it means to find even more partner and friends – for our clients it means more hope and a greater future.
Filed under: General, HOPE Cape Town Association & Trust, Networking, cape town, committment, dresden, HOPE Cape Town Association & Trust, HOPE Gala Dresden, love, press conference, saxonia systems, St. Wendel, Viola Klein
10/30/2009 • 3:27 pm Comments Off on 30.10.2009 Last dramas before a gala
30.10.2009 Last dramas before a gala
For the HOPE Dresden Gala, the organisers have donated an award, the so-called HOPE Award. The first award winner is Waris Dirie, former model and UN ambassador fighting against female circumcision. Her book and movie “Desert rose” has touched the lives of many people. She is a symbol for the beauty and the suffering of Africa in many ways reading her lifestory. XXX XXX XXX So I will do the “laudatio”.. and Waris Dirie is fine with it.Al Martino was due to sing – he died a fortnight ago – that is life pure and one cannot do anything to prevent it. But also here we are grateful that somebody else just agreed to come, no fees asked and herself being a world star. Great!!
So many big and small things are to be considered and prepared before such a big event – and I am grateful and humbled to see how people sacrifice their free time and energy to achieve a great event for the sake of their brothers and sisters in Africa. On http://www.hopegala.de, one can see the programme and also pics from the last three years. Have a look. And I salute all organisers, sponsors and the Dresdener for hosting such a great event. Viva Dresden!!
Filed under: General, HOPE Cape Town Association & Trust, Networking, Reflection, Uncategorized, dresden, HOPC Gala, HOPE Cape Town Association & Trust, Waris Dirie
10/29/2009 • 12:24 am Comments Off on 29.10.2009 Do we need a theology of AIDS?
29.10.2009 Do we need a theology of AIDS?
A talk and discussion with the Catholic Community of the University of Aachen. Do we need a theology of AIDS? Is HIV a sign of the times? – quite a handful of questions to discuss and it was a good evening. I could bounce my ideas about a theology of AIDS onto the students and at the end I guess we had a consent that we need a theology of HIV and AIDS. We also agreed that we have to network and start working on it as the people of God and trying to involve others in the church. It was also acknowledges how much we need a pastoral approach towards those within the church living with the virus, be it laity, clergy or religious.
It was in summary an amazing day with lots of good encounters – a real exchange of ideas, yes, a bridging of ideas, life circumstances, life realities. I am very grateful for this day and I am now looking forward to the days in Dresden. A total different set of encounters there, but also very important – getting a whole town to realise the reality of HIV and AIDS and to do some about it. I guess, I will sleep tonight very well.
Filed under: Networking, Aachen, Aids, Bitburg, Church Matters, dresden, hiv, positive clergy, POZ, theology, Theology, theology of AIDS
God, AIDS, Africa & HOPE 