CAD number 1 - Glasgow Mela!

On Sunday 21st June, the team attended the Glasgow Mela, where we helped on the Oxfam stall, and staged our own activities to engage the community and raise awareness of the current crisis in Pakistan.

During the Mela, we held a balloon release for peace, and created a wish tree for those affected by the current crisis in Pakistan. People were invited to write their personal wishes and display them on the tree, and we were delighted with the inspiring and emotional response we got from people of all ages and nationalities.

Wishes ranged from ‘I wish for a labradoodle’ to ‘peace for Pakistan’ to ‘I wish my sister would realise she is beautiful.’

Each balloon had a card attached saying, 'Balloon Release for Peace, Oxfam Pakistan Crisis Appeal, Visit http://www.oxfam.org.uk/, with some Urdu script on, also.

I think the day was amazing. I particularly enjoyed the wish tree, and found myself with tears in my eyes at some points whilst reading the wishes of some of the participants. Hopefully we achieved a real fun and inspiring event for everyone involved, and have really shown how little actions (writing a card and sending it away on a balloon, or expressing your wishes and hanging them on a tree) can really make a big difference, both on a personal and wider level; I think the smiles and exclamations from around our stall proves that beyond any publicity we could have! I'd like to say a big thank you to everyone who participated.

The whole team were inspired to hear that their efforts were appreciated by those attending the Multi-Cultural Festival ‘This tree is a milestone for love, and will have a great influence’ Syed Ansar Ul Hassan.

To make donations or find out more about the Pakistan Crisis Appeal from Oxfam, visit http://www.oxfam.org.uk/ or visit any Oxfam shop. We'll also be running the fun run next Sunday in Tollcross Park in aid of this appeal, and you can donate to the cause on www.justgiving.com/gxteam85 - please be generous!

We also helped Oxfam to collect over 230 signatures for their current petition, appealing to Gordon Brown to attend the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen this December. Oxfam are pushing for the UK to lead the way in negotiating an international treaty that will deliver a safe, sustainable future for poor people around the world, millions of whom are already suffering the effects of climate change.

This is a list of all the wishes put onto the tree;;

I wish my sister would realise she is beautiful

I wish for peace, happiness and for all diseases to be cured for all the sick people Fraser

I wish my mum and dad would let me have a hamster

Long Live Pakistan Ryan

I wish Natasha would come back

I wish Olivia embraces and enjoys India

We wish for peace, love to all

I wish my Aunty Anne goes up to heaven well

I wish for a better day

I wish all dads a happy fathers day

I wish for peace and happiness and forgiveness in my family FOREVER

I want Peace Niamh and Aiden

I wish I could live in Pakistan Ibrahim Ahmad

I wish for peace and happiness for all the world

We wish all the women in the UN shelters courage and perseverance

We wish all families would have enough food and water to live for the best of their lives

I wish for peace and love for the world

I wish for a helicopter and world peace

I wish to win the lottery

Sunshine!

I wish I owned a mansion

I wish that people accepted each other - regardless!

Peace in Pakistan

I wish for no more fighting

I wish for a dog

I wish I was a millionaire

I wish Pakistan won the final today

For Peace Worldwide!

I wish for better health and good fortune

I wish I could pass my driving test DW

I wish Dad has a nice day

I wish for all wars to stop

I wish for all my dreams to come true!

I wish for an end to world poverty in my lifetime

I wish I had a big house

I wish every wish came true

Peace, health and happiness for all people

World Peace, Food, Shelter for everyone in the world

I wish for everyone to be happy again

I wish for the war to stop

We want peace Vinay

I wish for a puppy to love and for peace in the world Isla

PEACE IN PAKISTAN

:-) Sarah

I wish for all these wishes to come true =)

I wish for good health and ultimately happiness

Peace and Happiness for everyone!

I wish I could have a real dinosaur (a T-Rex)

I wish Celtic would win the league

I wish upon a star MR

To Pass my driving test first time

I wish that everyone lived happily ever after

I wish that the sun shines in the sky! Coral

I wish I had a sister

I wish for Pakistan to win the match Joe

I want Pakistan to win Twenty20 Cricket 2009

I wish my sister was happy

I wish to be the biggest in my family

We Want a Peaceful Pakistan

Good health to Gina and Wealth for Julia

I wish for epic Lulz

I wish to be a singer

I wish everyone health and happiness

Peace in Pakistan

I wish for Emma to stay in remission from cancer

I wish I could meet Zac and Vanessa from High School Musical

I wish I could have a horsey

I wish that all the wars would STOP!

I wish for Pakistan to be a better place Kaitlin

I wish for Harmony between different cultures! Peace for all!

All the best wishes for PAKISTAN

I love Pakistan. Peace there and everywhere.

Peace and Only Peace! I love Pakistan.

I wish for peace! One World, One Love!

I wish to meet our friends today

I wish happiness to ALL people. Love you all.

I wish for a dog, a labradoodle for me Caitlin

Love and Peace for Glasgow

I wish that Pakistan gets peace and prosperity

I with that the world gets peace and love

I wish I could live in my country forever

I wish for all wishes to come true

I wish that everyone would make the most of every moment

I wish I had my own world where people don't die

I wish for love and happiness in the world Jaimee

I wish animal cruelty would stop Aimee

I wish for RFC to win the league

Pakistan - may there be peace there

I wish that I will go to heaven

I wish for a mansion

I wish my dad did not shout at me

I wish for £52m

I wish I had a nintendo wii

I wish I could find my mam

I wish for this to be the best GX ever.

...And that's not even all of them, as some were blown away in the wind to be found by some lucky wanderer!

=]