Today is September 11 for much of the world. Like everyone I know, I vividly remember that day. It was the first time Life FM didn't play Stacie Orrico at 7:20am. It was the first time my group of Christian friends prayed publicly in school grounds, all sorts of people joined us.

I spent the afternoon at Bryanna's house, watching the horrifying videos repeat. I don't know how we managed to get out of school but I think everyone was too shocked to care.

Today we remember those who lost their lives that day.



For me, I often stuggle with the lack of humanity and justice in our world but I heard a lovely story the other day.

See Michelle from All Saints had her microwave oven blow up. She has young twins who needed their bottles heating quickly, and lacked all the other fantastically useful things microwaves do for busy families. An anonymous person (who knows the family) left a comment on Michelle's blog asking about the type of microwave she had. Last Friday, a new microwave (and delivery man) showed up on Michelle's doorstop. Stories like this remind me that the world isn't completely lost. People still care about those around them. Totally random acts of kindness, it blows me away!

Many of you have heard me talk about "apples" or my "apple" project (it's a code word). Today my "apple" project was publicly released and I can now tell you all that I know far far more than your average citizen about local government and the domestic rates system in New Zealand. I started this project on my second week in this job. It seems rather fitting that it is released 9 months later, in the week that I leave my job. Ask me about it if you really want to know more, but trust me, it's a very very boring, but essential, issue.

Lastly, I was just unofficially farewelled by the United Future caucus. I don't leave until Friday but caucus only meet officially once a week on Tuesday. I've realised that I'm not just leaving a job, but a group of people that have been family to me. I've been involved in the party for three years or so, and I have truly loved working for them for the past 9 months. I really shall miss everyone.

Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter, is dead. He was 44.

It is understood he was killed by a sting-ray barb that went through his chest.

On Saturday morning, a 6.3 magnitude earthquake shook Indonesia's Java Island. The death toll has reached 5136, and UNICEF believe some 20,000 are injured and more than 130,000 homeless. Hospitals are struggling to cope with the numbers of injured and everyone is keeping an eye on the volcano Mount Merapi, whcih is sporadically emitting hot lava and highly toxic hot gas.

In Timor-Leste (East Timor), political unrest has led to violence between feuding army, police units, and gangs of youth. Seven years ago, Timor-Leste voted for independence and this led to militia violence and a UN presence in the soon-to-be state. In the last few months, the UN has been discussing finally removing the remnants of their presence there. Now Timor-Leste requires a heightened presence of Australian & New Zealand soldiers and for many it looks increasingly like Timor Leste is again where it was 7 years ago.

New Zealand is a tiny country, we have just over 4 million people and we're stuck in the bottom of the Pacific. There's a few maps that ignore New Zealand completely by cutting us off the edge. The thing I guess I want to show is that New Zealand plays a crucial role in the Pacific and South East Asia and shouldn't be forgotten.

While you're busy doing whatever you're doing today, spare a thought for those stuck in Dili and Yogyakarta. Aid agencies are currently scaling up their operations in Yogyakarta and would appreciate any donations you can give.

Rod Donald, co-leader of the New Zealand Green Party, died today. Tomorrow the new Parliament, including him, was due to be sworn in. His death is a terrible loss for his family, the Green Party, and wider New Zealand.

He was a man of strong principles and his death has shocked many in this nation, including myself. I really respected his views, and although we had different policy ideas in some areas, he argued his case strongly and with a lot of style and humour.

This is important news because the loss of a co-leader for the Greens will be very hard and the death of any parliamentary representative is a huge deal for a nation. To those that knew him, my deepest condolences.

The thing about politics is that in reality, on a very personal level, our parliamentary representatives are elected leaders and although there's bickering on policies, there is a lot of cross-party friendship. This is a sad loss for New Zealand.

The past year has seen some incredible disasters, affecting people all over the world. From the December 2004 Tsunami, to New Orleans, and then onto yesterday's tragic earthquake in Pakistan and the mud-slide in Guatemala . . . we live in fragile times. We live in global times. We know about the disasters that go on a world away (for me), and communities like TIG make us realise that although it's a world away for some of us, it's real people's villages, homes, lives.

Disasters make me think. Unlike absolute poverty, which is equally devastating, there's a lot less control over a natural disaster. You will never know if the extremes you take will be enough. New Zealand has a lot of earthquakes and we are very lucky that we haven't had a big one for some time. We've done a lot of ensure that structures are "earthquake proof", we have little earthquake kits . . . but when the big earthquake hits, and it will, will this be enough?

I want to offer my sympathy, but I don't want it to sound pithy, I do truly mourn for everyone that has died this year in all disasters. The thought that I have been gifted life, while others' lives have been cut short is a bit hard to bear right now, so I'm mourning for everyone that died today.