Make Your Promise Today!
Meet one of Life's heroes, Mr Andrew Vachss a Lawyer with a difference. His only clients are children. He's devoted his life's work to prosecuting child abusers, for free, if necessary.
- Quote: "I have never yet met an abused child (of whatever age) who
was not crying to be heard and to be believed, to be validated
and (eventually) assured that there was nothing "special" about
him or her that brought on the abuse — that the child was simply
a "parent's" (or other predator's) target of opportunity."
Andrew Vachss
Now, I know we can't all be Lawyers, and sadly there's only one Andrew Vachss, but each and every one of us can do something to help make life a little safer, a little happier, a little warmer and a lot more hopeful for children.
Let's every one of us make our Promise this very day, to do something to ensure there's a smile in every child's eyes in the New Millennium. Can you imagine the legacy we will leave future generations if every child grows up not knowing fear, abuse, hunger or neglect.
Together We Can Make It Happen
One Hour Of Your Time
Could Change A Child's Life Forever!
For anyone who would like to mark the Final Hour of this Millennium to help Children in your Country, whether there is an official Appeal or not, here are a few ideas you might like to consider.
If you cannot spare a full hour's wage - or you'd like to do something a little more personal to mark the Millennium, perhaps you could donate One Hour of your time? There are lots of things that we could all do in our Community to make Children's lives better.
I'm sure there will be a Children's Ward at your local Hospital that would greatly appreciate an extra visitor. Maybe you could ring them to see if any children might appreciate your family coming in to visit (but be aware that only the most ill children will be still in hospital at Christmas)
Perhaps you'd like to contact your local Children's Services Department, or Child Welfare - I'm sure they'd know where you could volunteer your time - It may be as simple as helping wrap gifts so they can be delivered by 'the appropriate person' at a later date (^o^)
Perhaps you could ring the Headmaster of your local school.. Most schools are likely to have activities planned for which they could use an extra pair of hands..
Perhaps you'd enjoy working in a Charity Shop or something else. And who knows, once you've found the cause that feels right for you and your family you might find it so rewarding that your Millennium One Hour could turn into so much more (^o^)
Some Millennium Promises We Could All Make!
| Try to spend more time with our Children |
| Turn off the television one evening each week and play with our Children. |
| Make time to hear our Children read. |
| Make time to listen to our Children. |
| Commit to having at least one family meal at the table per week. |
| Show our Children each day, how much we love them and how proud we are of their progress or effort |
| Talk to our Children about bullying and how to stay safe. |
| Give our Children clear signals. It's very confusing for a child if what is allowed today, they're chastised for tomorrow. |
| Remember Children learn by example.. So, "Do as i say, not as I do" can never work |
| Teach our Children how to respect others by treating our spouses or partners and friends more respectfully. |
| Remember our ex-spouse or ex-partner is still the child's parent |
Sadly, leaving aside issues of abuse and neglect our children are most at risk in and around our homes. Many of the deaths and injuries could be avoided with just a little more thoughtfulness, forward planning and vigilence. Perhaps we could all make our Millennium Promise to:
Keep to the national speed limits when driving.
|
| Ensure our Children wear a properly fitted seat-belt no matter how short the journey. |
| Ensure our vehicles are well maintained and in a safe and road-worthy condition. |
| Refuse to drink and drive and to persuade others not to do so. |
| Take a few minutes to look at our homes, check if there could be any dangers for a young child and if unsure, to seek advice. |
| Remember, no matter how well behaved our children may be, we should never leave them unsupervised - not even for a few minutes. |
Anyone in Britain can request their employer to deduct One Hour's pay to be sent directly to The Millennium Children's Promise Appeal, or donate it themselves at any Marks And Spencer's store.
For those who are not working or live outside Britain, you can make your cheque, postal order or international money order payable to: Children's Promise then send it to:
- Children's Promise,
Bristol,
BS38 7ER,
England.
For more information or to obtain leaflets, posters and employers' instruction packs for the Children's Promise Millennium Appeal, please call:
- Telephone: 0870 607 1999
E-Mail: children.promise@newmill.co.uk
The Millennium Experience
Email: nmec.nw@newmill.co.uk
Or contact Richard Sharples on:
Tel: 0161 236 0866
Email: rsharples@newmill.co.uk
Some Other Millennium Promise Ideas
ITV - One of Britain's national Television Companies, has many great ideas for our Millennoium Promise.
ITV Year Of Promise - Promise Ideas
- Will You Sign The Pledge For UNESCO
- and for Children throughout the world??
"My signature of the Manifesto 2000 will be part of the
One Hundred million signatures presented to the
United Nations General Assembly in September 2000."
UNESCO: Manifesto 2000. For a new beginning
Take Action!
- A half billion people worldwide will participate
in Earth Day 2000 -- the biggest environmental event
in history. There are lots of ways to get involved,
some of which you can do right now.
Earth Day 2000
Earth Day Canada
Millennium Minute
Drumming in the Year 2000: A Global Event
- People around the world will drum in unison
for the final hours of 1999.
For more information, contact:
- All One Tribe Foundation, P.O. Drawer N,
Taos, New Mexico 87571, USA
Tel: 1-800-442-DRUM
Email: beat@allonetribe.com
Email: year2000@allonetribedrum.com
Survivors of child abuse are involved in creating a memorial - an extraordinary symbol of hope for the new millennium
Creating A Memorial
The Global Millennium Project seeks to organise and channel the immense resources of this planet towards those priority needs and opportunities which most contribute to the world's development and progress. We depend on your assistance to provide this service, so please send us your articles, letters, favorite links, suggestions, hotbreaking news, etc.
Global Millennium Project
Children Write Their Wishes for the New Millennium
- Children all around the world
write their wishes for the new millennium.
For more information, contact:
Vardit Kaplan
General Manager
Israel 2000
Email: Admin.info@israel2000.tourism.gov.il
If you are already running Give As You Earn for staff, this is a great opportunity to relaunch the scheme. If you are not participating in Give As You Earn, what better opportunity than to get involved now?
Give As You Earn
- To celebrate the year 2000 and the new millennium,
citizens of the earth send their wishes by the
air to Humanity ...A flying version
of the bottle in the sea on a world scale...
Written on a special envelope protecting the message, the author's name and addresse, an invitation to get in touch with the unknown person who found the message and who knows... It may very well be the beginning of a real friendship with the "finder".
Ballons-Par-Millions
If you know of any other Millennium Children's Promises ideas, please let me know, and I will include them with the greatest of pleasure.
EndAbuse@givepeaceachance.com