March 14, 2012

andong..

by shelleymorris

The last few months of 2011 proved to be reasonably lousy for yours truly, and I have to admit I was glad to see the tail end of it. The weight of doubt and disappointment can be relentless, and learning to be content within my seemingly ceaseless discontent is a continual battle for me.

I recently returned home from a short trip to Vietnam and Cambodia where I was working with a relief organisation. Vietnam is truly magnificent and as the orphanage we were visiting was up in the highlands, we were privileged to some spectacular scenery en route, which was a real treat. With only a few days in Cambodia, we spent most of our time visiting projects in Andong slum. This particular slum reflected some of the harshest living conditions I have seen, as a result of unfair relocation practices. The people that we met were amazing and beautiful, and at one stage I think I had a scrumptious little child hanging of every limb. I followed a sweet young girl along wobbly and unstable planks jig-sawed above the sewer line leading to her house, which was also built on top of the open sewer.  I found it incredibly sad, and the image of her running along those rickety planks, with late afternoon sunrays beaming from her, dressed in pearls and lace, is burned into my memory forever.

I am grateful for my family, health, hope, freedom and Purpose. I know that life does not have to be perfect to be extraordinary and I always try to keep that in mind.  Although I find it difficult to reconcile so many aspects of this unjust world we live in, a genuine love for doing what I do keeps me going, it is when my heart beats the hardest.

Some time spent in my turtle shell provided sanctuary when I needed to get things in perspective, and give my frame of reference a shake-up. Contemplating the intricacies of life, and my place and responsibility in it, this quote by Mary Oliver has been of significant consideration and somewhat of a personal challenge for me over recent days and months..

“The world calls to each of us to make a serious response. The big question the world throws at you every morning…

‘Here you are, alive. Would you like to make a comment?’ ”

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November 26, 2011

Six summits..

by shelleymorris

Six Summits is hosted by One Billion, an organization committed to raising financial support for global humanitarian projects. 100% of the funds raised through Six Summits will be directed towards water projects through “Charity:Water”

On November 27, Sixteen cyclists will embark on tackling six of the toughest climbs the Victorian alps has to offer, in one day. Starting their first pedal stroke before dawn, the cyclists will continue riding well into the evening. With over 130km of pedaling and 6525 vertical meters of climbing at an average gradient of over 5%, the mountains will try to destroy them. To summarize this ride as a challenge would be insulting to the mountains.

What would possibly motivate these boys to ride the Six Summits…?

Currently nearly One billion people in the world don’t have access to clean and safe drinking water, and unsafe water and a lack of basic sanitation cause 80% of disease and kill more people than all forms of violence, including war. Each day 4500 children die from water related disease.

The boys motto… “Water. This is why we ride!”

These boys are seriously inspirational.. You can check out the website here for more info!

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October 20, 2011

little suckers..

by shelleymorris

I’ve recently returned home from an amazing time in Kenya, where I was travelling with thankyou water and one of their partner organizations Samaritans purse.  We were able to visit some very remote villages and see a few of the projects that all the thankyou water drinkers have funded! It was incredible to see and hear about the importance of safe water in these communities.

Unbeknownst to me, I arrived home with unsolicited company, and a few weeks ago I started experiencing some questionable symptoms. When Leigh (my hubby) insisted he take me to the hospital, I reluctantly complied.  You could say that patience is not really one of my strong points, so after 6 torturous hours and what seemed like 183 blood tests later, I lay on the plastic covered hospital bed seriously contemplating my exit strategy from the emergency ward (after convincing myself that it was a total waste of time as I probably just had the flu..)

My plan of action was fast interrupted when the doctor came back to explain to me that there are five different species of Malaria, four of which are generally mild and rarely fatal. The fifth strain is P. falciparum, which is the most dangerous, has the highest rates of complications and mortality, is responsible for 90% of malaria caused deaths, and is very common in the horn of Africa. Unfortunately I had contracted the latter.

I have never had to stay in hospital before and although I wanted out, (I was stuck in the geriatrics ward after all!) I was also grateful to be there.  It was reassuring to know I was being looked after, and that despite my numerous requests to leave, they would not let me go until my blood was clear of the pesky parasite.

Malaria is no walk in the park.  It is a deadly parasite that is transmitted by a mosquito bite, and then invades and destroys blood cells. About 3.3 billion people – half of the world’s population, especially pregnant women and children – are at risk of malaria. Every year Malaria leads to nearly one million deaths, and every 30 seconds a child dies from Malaria. They are staggering figures considering that it is preventable and curable.

My recent experience with Malaria led me to consider once again the disparity and discriminating nature between developed nations and developing nations. Malaria is not selective; those little suckers are not picky when it comes to their victims. We are all the same, and yet sadly a mother or child in Africa, in the same scenario as I was, will inevitably end up with a vastly different outcome. I had access to a free health care system, unlike people living in the poorest countries, who cannot afford treatment or who have limited access to health care.

Access to Malaria management should be seen as a fundamental right of all populations at risk.  The ‘Roll Back Malaria’ Partnership was launched in 1998 by WHO, UNICEF, UNDP and the World Bank, in an effort to provide a coordinated global response to the disease. It is the framework needed to implement coordinated action against malaria, and see a ‘world free from the burden of malaria.’

Major success has been made thus far towards eradicating Malaria, using vector control methods such as long-lasting insecticidal nets and indoor residual spraying, and this week it was announced that the first results from a Wide-scale trial of malaria vaccine has had promising results, and would provide significant protection against clinical and severe malaria. If you would like to read more about the vaccine you can do so on the NEJM website, or visit the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation website, or the Roll Back Malaria website.

“Innovation is one of the most powerful forces in the world. It can make the impossible possible.” Bill Gates

I’ll be sharing lots of stories on the thankyou water blog and website over the next few months, but here are just a few of my favorite images from my time in Kenya..

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August 7, 2011

kenya bound..

by shelleymorris

Nearly one billion people in the world today do not have access to safe drinking water.. It is a very sad reality, and one that can be changed.

Thankyou water is a social enterprise making a difference, a bottled water company that uses its profits to fund water projects, and committed to bringing safe drinking water to as many people as possible.

Im currently en route to Mombasa Kenya, on my very first trip with Thankyou water to spend some time visiting water projects that Thankyou water have funded. Its an incredible privilege to visit these communities and villages, and to see what a monumental difference having a safe source of drinking water can make to peoples lives.  It is a pleasure and honor to be able to meet, and hear the stories of people who’s lives have been changed forever, through one simple purchase – a bottle of Thankyou water.

Looking forward to sharing some of the stories with you soon!

Ill only be gone for a few weeks but I think ill miss these little monkeys.. (who by the way are ‘safe water’ warriors themselves – an update on what they are doing about the world water crisis is coming soon, and will totally rock your socks off!)

 

 

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July 12, 2011

This old rag..

by shelleymorris

Spent a fabulous afternoon at the printers…  checking, tweaking and re-checking proofs over and over for hours.

We are using an incredible new paper stock called rag paper and the colours and detail are unbelievably rich and lovely..You know you have struck gold when the printer is almost, if not more, as enthusiastic about the paper and final product as I am!  Darren from Resolution Imaging sure is one in a million..

I learnt all about this enormous enlarger while waiting for the ‘slowly does it’ printer, with bellows as big as… a small car? Once inside the dark room it reminded me of a submarine (not that I have ever been inside a submarine mind you) with huge metal bits and bobs and jumbo focusing mechanisms.. what a day!

 

 

 

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July 11, 2011

I WANT to be frustrated..

by shelleymorris

 

Reading a brilliant book at the moment called The Justice Project, this particular excerpt was written by Doug Pagitt. I just had to share it with you, as I found it an incredibly inspiring thought…

 

…………………………..

Hope disappears when we say that whatever will be, will be. When we are no longer looking for a better outcome, when we are no longer frustrated, we become hopeless people.

Situations of injustice can be a breeding ground for hope, for it is then, frustrated by injustice, that we see clearly what ought to be. In our frustration, in our refusal to resign ourselves to things as they are, our communities tell stories of struggle, tragedy, pain, and brokenness, By telling those stories, we keep resignation at bay and we dedicate ourselves, in hope, to participate in the dawning of a better day.

We refuse to resign ourselves to the world as it is, so it can become the world as it ought to be. That is when we are buoyed to keep living, to keep looking, to keep going. Some fear that to talk about injustice, struggle and frustration will destroy the morale of a people or cause a gloomy spirit. But I find that this attempt to mute or hide difficulty and struggle actually cuts off hope.

We will never find hope if we only tell the satisfying stories “For who hopes for what he already has?” Hope is about the future and what ought to be. We should not fear telling what is, for we are groaning for more than what is, we are committed to what ought to be.

So may we be people of frustration in all times when we know that things are not as they are means to be. And may we be those who participate in bringing about the very world whose absence and delay frustrates us. May we be children of a hope and a future. May we, believing, be people of just hope.

…………………………..

 

I have been privileged to spend time in many different places around the world, and I have seen a great deal of injustice and suffering. I met this beautiful Karayu woman when I was in Ethiopia, and when I look at her picture I feel a lot of affection and hope for her as she is a truly beautiful soul, but I am also frustrated all over again at the reality of her situation.. I get so frustrated at the word that we live in, at the unfairness and cruelty of life.

This passage gave me a new revelation and appreciation for my frustration..

What are your thoughts..?

 

 

 

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July 5, 2011

Cooking with Poo.. new cookbook

by shelleymorris

Correct, that really is the name of this cookbook, a little unconventional for a Thai cookbook but catchy none the less.  In case your wondering, Khun Poo is the name of the author, and Poo is her nickname. You have to admit it got your attention! This is a project that has been quite a few months in the making, and ultimately it’s a good news story that will warm the cockles of your heart…

Poo is a long time resident of the Klong toey slum, the largest and most notorious slum in Bangkok. She supports her parents and two siblings, husband, and their two cheeky sons. She used to cook and sell noodles from a window at the front of her home (we chose to take the front cover image for the cookbook at that very window.. see below) but when the price of food went up a few years ago she found it was no longer a feasible option.

With a helping hand from Anji Barker, a UNOH worker who also lives in the slum, Poo launched her cooking school “Cooking with Poo” aimed at foreigners and tourists. The class offers a unique and authentic experience, with a trip to the local markets to learn about all the wonderful fresh and exotic foods available in Thailand. Then off to the slum and a short walk through the maze of sio’s (very narrow alleyways/paths) until you eventually arrive at Poo’s cooking school, where you learn to master the art of Thai cooking. It is a fabulous adventure and is rated #1 on the trip advisors list of things to do in Bangkok.

I was in Bangkok last September and spent a few weeks in Klong Toey working on this book. Everything was shot in the slum, with minimal equipment, and just a few willing helpers… We worked long days to get all the recipes cooked and photographed; it was hot and sweaty, and very challenging. The soi’s are narrow, and many a time I found myself in some strange contortionist position, leaning up against an icky mouldy wall to get a shot that I wanted.

We didn’t have a stylist or any props to use, so I foraged through everybody’s kitchenware, had a good rummage around the community kitchen and used anything else I could find laying around. As we had such limited options when it came to utensils and plates, improvisation and creativity played heavily when considering backgrounds. We sure were a sight walking around the slum, food and all necessary equipment in hand, looking for a new ‘location’ to shoot in (I probably shouldn’t admit this, but some of the backgrounds used may or may not be of the sewer drain variety…!)

Poo, Noi and Pippa are all simply gorgeous and were an absolute treat to work with, and given my die-hard addiction to Poo’s coconut stick rice, as a running joke each of them were thoughtful enough to warn me (several times over) about my guaranteed weight gain if I was to continue eating such copious amounts of that sweet sticky deliciousness! My oh my that rice is good… Just wait till you have tasted it, and you too, will be transported straight to sticky rice heaven.

What an extraordinary story from a place where gangs, violence, drugs and poverty typically reign. Poo has broken the pattern and is now looking forward, along with her family and community, to a future of hope and possibility. I have a great deal of admiration for her, what a remarkable individual.

Poo and her family are currently in Australia to launch her cookbook, so get onto the website  and order yourself a copy, by purchasing her book you will be helping her family, as well as the entire Klong Toey community.

The lovely lady herself has been kind enough to let me share a few my favorite recipes with you.

I’m generally pretty unorganized when it comes to cooking dinner, and end up just using what I have on hand. The green curry inevitably becomes a vegie curry, the prawns are usually missing from my soup, I almost always use a kohlrabi instead of green papaya when making the salad, and I use a combo of toasted almonds and cashews in place of peanuts. It all STILL tastes delicious even with a little bit of improvisation! I hope you enjoy..

Posted in bangkok, Photography | 1 Comment »

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June 28, 2011

Parliament House exhibition..

by shelleymorris

Last week I had the privilege of holding the ‘Sound of Silence’ exhibition in Parliament house Canberra, generously hosted by Ms Rowland, the Federal Member for Greenway in Sydney.

We arrived at parliament house early and immediately we were off to an interesting start with the tight and somewhat unaccommodating security, and what could have potentially been a serious debacle (an exhibition with no images…?) Thankfully I had a small entourage with me, all clever and capable women of course, so the issue at hand was resolved and we were back on track in the nick of time.

It was an invite only event, and although we did not see the likes K Rudd, Julia, Bob, or Tony, I was very happy to see their representatives along with numerous other MP’s, Senators and staff who attended the exhibition.

Taking into account the multitudinous work commitments of our guests and the impending question time, I decided to take a casual approach to the planned floor talk, and instead spoke directly with the people that were there at the time and who were very interested in hearing more.  The bell signaling a division instantly brought my ‘presentation’ to a halt while everyone promptly departed, and then just as promptly returned (Life in Parliament house is quite unusual..)

What an extraordinary opportunity this was, to be able to present what I have seen first hand in Sri Lanka, and to convey a side of the story that is often not widely considered. The sound of silence shows the truth and communicates a greater understanding into the human cost of the civil war, and the ongoing desperation of these people who have lost all hope.

The Images and stories can be confronting, especially as they are not aligned with some of the common opinions many people hold, and are most definitely inconsistent with what we hear in our media regarding asylum seekers.

This is a quote by one of my favorite photographers Sebastião Salgado…

“What I want is the world to remember the problems and the people I photograph. What I want is to create a discussion about what is happening around the world and to provoke some debate with these pictures. Nothing more than this. I don’t want people to look at them and appreciate the light and the palate of tones. I want them to look inside and see what the pictures represent, and the kind of people I photograph.”

That is why we showed the exhibition in Parliament, to create discussion and evoke a compassionate response on this issue. We represent and advocate for justice and equality for the many people I met in Sri Lanka, who are living souls no different to you or I, who have been through horrific experiences, and whom we are turning away from our shores. (On a side note, if you have not watched ‘SBS Go Back to Where you Came From’, I think you should…)

Over the last week we’ve had some incredible feedback about the exhibition, and have seen a number of speeches made in Parliament highlighting the issue and urging the Australian government to take action and support the UN’s recent findings. I am thrilled to see some positive outcomes from this exhibition, and it reminds me, as the Honorable John Murphy also reminded me last Wednesday, that sometimes a picture really is worth a thousand words…

 

 

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June 14, 2011

sydney sound of silence..

by shelleymorris

Thankyou everyone who came to the Sydney exhibition of the ‘sound of silence’ last week.

It was a great evening, our outstandingly accomplished guest speaker Gordon Weiss was very impressive, and throughout the night was surrounded by an unrelenting huddle of followers! Yes, Gordon Weiss (aka Mr. Popular) was definitely in hot demand!

Matt Corby captivated the crowd with his own memorable rendition of the Simon and Garfunkel song  ‘The Sound of Silence’.  Poignant, evocative and alluring, It really was truly beautiful.  (You can listen to it here)

The peoples wall was compelling and thought provoking, and in the end it turned out to be quite a masterpiece.

It was continually evolving throughout the weekend as people a came and added their own expression to it, and there is now a possibility that a small book will be created featuring pictures of the finished work… I’ll keep you posted!

We had over 12 projects sponsored,  so thankyou all for your wonderful generosity..

It was a very hectic week, but with the supreme efforts of many lovely people, it was a magic week.. Thanks Sydney!

 

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May 27, 2011

On the road..

by shelleymorris

Exhibition images packed and ready to go, they are all tucked safely into their custom-made transport boxes, thanks to the clever Rosco!  The specially framed and massively oversized ‘auction’ Image even has its own special oversized box to go in..

Fingers crossed they all arrive safe and Sound in Sydney!

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