joseph.oreilly

I picked up a copy of Ode in my local health food shop and was immediately taken with it. I loved its combination of news and analysis. But above all I enjoyed reading stories about people from all around the world trying to make things better. In the face of so many pressing challenges its really inspiring to learn about both people and ideas that are changing the world in positive ways. The fact that Ode is trying to bring those very same people together online, encouraging them to share their ideas and stories and generate a spirit of intelligent optimism, is very exciting. I've got a very wide range of interests that include human and animal rights, the environment, the fight against AIDS, sustainable food production and international social justice. I'm also interested in the role that the arts and culture play in promoting social change. I've been an activist since primary school and have had spent my entire career working in the not-for-profit sector, with a focus on human rights and HIV/AIDS. I've also had the enormous privilege of working and living in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean. I'm originally from Australia but now live on the other side of the world in London. I'm currently the Head of Policy and Programmes at Book Aid International which works to promote literacy and learning in Africa, Palestine and Sri Lanka. I enjoy reading, traveling, yoga, riding my bike, swimming - especially in the sea - going to the theatre, cinema and art galleries and socialising with friends. I also try to find time to meditate and every time I do, I vow to do it more often. I came to meditation through the kind advice of a good friend who, in response to my sense of how badly things were going in the world, suggested I look into Buddhism. She was absolutely right, Buddhism offers a new way of seeing and relating to the world, along with a set of practical tools for achieving both personal and social change. I practice at the London Buddhism Centre which is part of the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order. For more information: http://www.josephoreilly.com http://www.bookaid.org http://www.fwbo.org http://www.lbc.org.uk