NEW YEAR'S EVE
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has! - Margaret Mead, anthropologist
New Year's Eve is a time to look back and to reflect on all that has happened in the past year. What have you been able to achieve in your efforts to change the world? What has been your most successful action? What was most fun? What had most impact? What have you learned? What new friends have you made? How have you changed?
But it is also a time to look forward - to make a commitment to continue your efforts next year and into the future.
Through your actions, you can do your bit to change the world. You can also inspire others to action. Congratulations on what you have done so far. Keep up the good work. And best wishes for an enjoyable and successful New Year of making a difference!
...light up the future
Take Action
Say goodbye to the old year and welcome in the new with an outdoor celebration, even if it's only in your street or garden.
Use some kind of illumination - home-made lanterns, torches, tea-lights - anything you can lay your hands on at short notice to symbolise your hopes for a bright future.
And next New Year's Eve, think about involving your whole community in a lantern parade.
Bethesda Arts Centre: Nieu Bethesda is a poverty-stricken township in semi-arid desert of South Africa attached to the town of Bethesda. It has become a popular tourist attraction because of 'The Owl House', a tiny museum devoted to the work of the eccentric sculptor Helen Martins, who lived and worked there. The township also has underground pools from which the local people draw water with windmills.
The New Year of 2005 was welcomed in by a choir and a procession of lantern bearers, who walked through the streets and alleyways of Nieu Bethesda. Before the event, workshops were held to involve as many local people as possible in lantern making. Long withies (willow sticks) were bound together to form a three-dimensional framework, which was covered with tissue paper and decorated with patterns. Some of the lanterns were geometric and others were in the shape of wild animals and birds.
When night fell, candles were placed inside the lanterns and the procession started off. The local police and volunteers were there to ensure safety. It was a great night, which will be long remembered.
Find Out More
Find out about the Bethesda Arts Centre and its New Year's Eve lantern parade: www.bethesdafoundation.org
How to make?
- A paper lantern: www.funsocialstudies.learninghaven.com/articles/lantern.htm
- A Chinese New Year paper lantern: www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/chinesenewyear/lantern
- A tin can lantern: www.ehow.com/how_3431_make-tin-can.html
- A pumpkin lantern (for Halloween): http://landscaping.about.com/cs/forthebirds/ht/gourd_lanterns.htm
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Happy New Year
...change the world one day at a time. Find out how at www.365act.com
