Two weeks out from the Australian federal election and I am becoming increasingly frustrated in the apparent lack of focus and interest in the needs of international poverty and slavery. While I understand elections are won over domestic issues, it is nigh on impossible to even find policy from any of the major parties that deals with the real issues of global poverty and human trafficking.

As a concerned human and citizen of the earth, I see it as our duty in Australia to acknowledge our contribution to the continued oppression of others for the sake of our comfort and am no longer satisfied to vote purely based on the issues that only effect me.

Regardless of who comes into power, I will still live in a land of plenty in which I count myself among the top 10% of the worlds richest people in the world. (Don't believe me? Check out : http://www.globalrichlist.com/ )
If you too are feeling as helpless as me over this issue, I would love to hear your suggestions of how we can actually do something worth while with our vote on the 21st August 2010.

I still have no idea who I will vote for, but one small step is the initiative that Micah Challenge is suggesting www.micahchallenge.org.au/thepovertyquestion . While it might not seem like alot, something as simple as just making some noise about these issues, can and will make a difference if we do it together.

I encourage you to educate your self about the issues of global poverty and human trafficking and just start somewhere. I’m only just starting out myself, but feel I can no longer sit idly by lamenting the plight of others, if I don’t do anything about it myself.

Some websites I’ve found very enlightening on the issue are:
http://www.callandresponse.com/
http://www.micahchallenge.org.au
http://www.worldvision.com.au/

Please let me know if you have any more ideas.

Make some Noise!
Tarun

 I heard a song on the radio this morning by Sydney Hip Hop artist Urthboy call Hell Song. I've got to admit, I really like the song. It's super catchy and I actually don't mind Aussie Hip Hop. Anyway I digress, the thing that really caught my attention in this song is the line preceding the chorus. "According to the people, The people that resemble, Disciples of the temple... We're all going to Hell..." And so the chorus continues with that refrain. 

It got me thinking. Whether or not you believe that statement, is really by the by, but as someone who calls themselves a follower of Jesus Christ's teaching, I wonder if we have in fact done a grave injustice to the message and teachings of Jesus? Of all the endearing things that Jesus taught; Love, Forgiveness, Hope, Life; the one message that seems to have endured in pop culture psyche, is one of Condemnation, Judgment, Guilt and Shame. When was the last time you heard a song on the radio that said; "According to the people, The people that resemble, Disciples of the temple... You are loved, or your life has meaning, you are valuable and have immense worth...”

Why is it that the message of Judgment and Hell seems to be foremost in the minds people when considering the message that the disciples of Jesus convey? 

 I'd love to get your thoughts, if you do not consider your self a follower of Jesus' teaching, Is this the perception you have of the church, the bible and of the teachings of Jesus?

 If you do consider your self a disciple of Jesus, what do you think? Have we misrepresented the true message of the gospel?

Since relocating to QLD I have been rather quiet on the live front, but have been very busy behind the scenes.... click here to find out more. I've been writing for 2 new album projects which I hope to release towards the end of this year... Stay tuned for more info about them.

But the big news for this week is I have a brand new band supporting me and we will be doing our first show together this coming Saturday 29th at Rock the Styple in Toowoomba QLD. It's going to be an awesome night at St. Lukes church where we'll be showcasing the new line up and a few of my new songs plus a bunch of old favs... If you're any where in the vicinity of Toowoomaba and looking to have a good night of live music, come along. Love to see you there.

Doors open 6.30pm
Saturday 29th August 2009
St. Lukes Church
Toowoomba

 Ok so I know the twitter is the new facebook which was the new myspace which was the new... i don't know... can't keep up... was there anything we did with our lives before social networking completely consumed us?

I digress, some of you know I have been on twitter since before Paris Hilton thought she discovered it, but for those of you that decided to follow me back then, you would know I don't update it that regularly... and it's a rather a boring tweet to follow... well I'm feeling left out cos everyone's tweeting, so I thought I'd try resurrect the account and attempt to keep it a bit more up to date....

so if you're a twitter nut and wanting some one to follow you, I'll will if you follow me... check out @tarunstevenson Only one condition though, none of this one sided following, you need to interact, I get lonely tweeting all by myself....ok nuff rabbiting on, catch you on twitter, and remember i am still on FB so if you haven't added me (yes this message is being read by people outside of FB) please do. Catch you in cyber space....

Tarun

 Hi All,
I've been a bit quiet latley so I thought I better stop by and make and appearence. This is a monolouge by Jay Leno which really tickled my fancy, I hope you enjoy it....

TO ALL THE KIDS WHO SURVIVED THE 30's, 40's, 50's, 60's & 70's....
First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they were pregnant.

They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can and didn't get tested for diabetes.

Then after that trauma, we were put to sleep on our tummies in baby cribs covered with bright colored lead-base paints.

We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, locks on doors or cabinets and, when we rode our bikes, we had baseball caps not helmets on our heads.

As infants & children, we would ride in cars with no car seats, no booster seats, no seat belts, no air bags, bald tires and sometimes no brakes.

Riding in the back of a pick- up truck on a warm day was always a special treat.

We drank water from the garden hose and not from a bottle.

We shared one soft drink with four friends from one bottle and no one actually died from this.

We ate cupcakes, white bread, real butter and bacon. We drank Kool-Aid made with real white sugar. And we weren't overweight. WHY?

Because we were always outside playing...
that's why!

We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on.

No one was able to reach us all day.

And, we were O.K..

We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then ride them down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem.

We did not have Playstations, Nintendo's and X-boxes. There were no video games, no 150 channels on cable, no Nicolodeon, no video movies or DVD's, no surround-sound or CD's, no cell phones, no personal computers, no Internet and no chat rooms.
WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!

We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no lawsuits from these accidents.

We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever.

We were given BB guns for our 10th birthdays, made up games with sticks and tennis balls and, although we were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes.

We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just walked in and talked to them.

Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment.

Imagine that!!

The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law!

These generations have produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever.

The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas.

We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned how to deal with it all.
If YOU are one of them? CONGRATULATIONS!

New songs coming out soon, till then go out and take life by the horns...you're a surviver!
- Catch you soon, Tarun

Hi everyone,
Thought you might enjoy some music for the holidays... Hope you have a great Christmas, warm wishes to you and all your family.

God Bless
Tarun

 

Hey All,
a very happy holiday season to you all. I'd just like to extend a very warm welcome to all the newbie’s who have been joining up to www.tarustevenson.com recently. Thanks so much for your support, I hope you're enjoying your FREE copy of Psalms for the Broken, don't forget to tell a friend or 3.... What's this I hear all of you long term members saying...FREE albums, where's mine? Well if you've only just started taking notice, I have made Psalms for the Broken available as a FREE download to anyone who joins my mailing list, so yes you to can get your FREE download, just go over to

www.tarunstevenson.com/freedownload

Ok, perhaps you didn't want me telling you that there is only 24 days till Christmas! Sorry...but it is amazing, it's at the same time each year, yet if you're anything like me Christmas has once again snuck up on you and with less than 4 weeks to-go my Christmas shopping is not even started. So if like me you're looking for the easiest way to do your last minute shopping without venturing out to the mayhem that is called the shopping centre, I have a suggestion for you...

I personally think the new Cold Play album is fantastic and would make a welcome stocking filler for any music lover check it out.... But seeing that just about everyone already owns or has illegally downloaded a copy of Viva La Vida you may find that your friend or beloved family member has already got a copy...What to do???

Well being the kind caring fellow that I am (no, really I am) I have decided to discount my albums for the silly season, so that you can get something new for the friend who has downloaded or burnt everything! Yes for only au$14.95 you can get a copy of either my first album "Psalms for the Broken (think Jack Johnson, Ben Harper)or my latest second album "Something Old Something New" (think Lenny Kravitiz, Chilli Peppers, Ben Harper). And if you're a real cheap skate and don't like to spend money on buying good music just download Psalms for the Broken for FREE and then you can give everyone a download link as a gift (what a deal, you won't even have to wrap it!)

Add to that, if you live in the States or the UK that is sooo cheap since the Aussie dollar just took tumble and is barely worth anything on the world market :). If you're really keen grab the double pack (of both albums) for only AU$24.95. and remember if you've got either of my albums already, it's ok to buy more; the idea of Christmas gifts is to give them away, so share the love...

www.tarunstevenson.com/merch

Hope you have a great lead up to Christmas, I'm looking forward to catching you all in the New Year, from my new home in Brisbane QLD and with a new release or 2. Stay tuned and stay cool,

Love
Tarun

PS In your time of enjoyment and celebration, don't forget the millions for whom Christmas is a painful and lonely time. I'd encourage everyone to take a moment out of your festivities to give something to those less fortunate than your selves, give a present to an under privileged child, donate some time to a charity, give a gift to a stranger... It makes Christmas that much more enjoyable when we think of others before ourselves. Peace.

This is my cover of the Porgy and Bess musical classic Summertime...

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http://www.tarunstevenson.com

This is an unreleased original all about walking away from the one you love, only to realize that you made a huge mistake...

Rate, Share, Comment, subscribe...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7tfRS9lrUA

Enjoy - tarun
www.tarunstevenson.com

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Another song from my forth coming album Something Old Something New. Is This the Way; is a phat, phunky tune with a massive horn section and killer grooves (on the album that is...) which was recorded in Nashville TN with producer Jim Emrich. Here is an acoustic sample... Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ivkzwTZHhw

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