Ramblings on a spring evening:

Driving home from work today I had a real privilege to listen to the dramatised diary and an interview with a young doctor who spent some time on the Ugandan border with Mediciens San Frontiers (French for Doctors Without Borders).

Her tales of her sense of helplessness when she encountered malaria, parasitic infections and nutritional disorders as well as coping with a corrupt political system at the local level was invigorating.

Inspirational and enlightening it is important to realise that even sending people to assist those in disaster areas does not necessarily improve their lot. However to have tried and failed is better than not having tried at all.

I had the humbling experience of sitting with a Moslem couple the day after Ramadan ended, they had been fasting from 3.30am to 7.30pm until daylight saving began 4 days before the end of Ramadan. Makes lenten practice almost laughable. I was also moved to learn of the disrespect and abuse they receive from some of their neighbours. Their stoic acceptance of evil and inhumanity in our neighbourhood was challenging.

France is rocked by sectarian and class warfare at present, it is possible that it can occur locally in my area going by the treatment of Moslems by some white aussies.

Whilst hunger and tragedy occur and re-occur in Africa and Pakistan, to name just two, Avian Flu provides an easy cop out for people to lose concentration. mea culpa.