As I headed off yesterday to return my OAM medals, to my local Federal Member Warren Entsch's office in Cairns. Being a bit early I decided to stop,to pick up a few items at the shopping centre.

It was there before me - so obvious what has brought about this

In aisle number ? at Coles as I looked for a deodorant. I found myself looking at about six beautifully displayed, different colours of Rexona brand in amongst so many other brands. I had to step back to look at them all to find what I was after.

Would I have the sports one, 24 hour one, or the unscented one, or the one in the black container. I take the top of one to smell it.

Just then next to me another shopper was bent looking at the lower shelf. My eyes went down to where she was looking and there low and behold where 5 more Rexona deodorants.

I said to her. "I can't believe we need all these different deodorants of one brand."

Shopper replied "No it is ridicules" " Yes look at this one silk, what does silk mean."

Kerry " I don't know, I can't figure out why so many brands?"

Shopper " How many are there" as we both count them

Kerry " 11! in all different colour containers, Maybe, so we are attracted to our favourite colour"

Shopper " Yes maybe this blue one will go with my bathroom?"

Kerry " I think you have it, we need to pick one to go with our decor". In that case I can only have blue for the bathroom or white in the bedroom. Yellow would clash"

Shopper "I like yellow, but yes your right it won't go with my bathroom either"

Kerry " Yer yellow is a happy looking colour, but I still like the black one"

Shopper " I think we have got it, in that case, I will have white that will fit in anywhere" as she picks it up

Kerry " I will have white also" as we both put them in our trolley.

Shopper "Who cares as long as it works?"

Kerry " I am only buying it because it is on special"

Shopper 'Me too"

Kerry "Here we are trying to work out which deodorant we are having, while people in Iraq are working out how they will survive the night" Lets hope the war is over quickly for the mothers and children of Iraq"

Shopper " Yes we can only hope" as we both continue on our way down the aisle in the opposite direction.

I pick up the white container from my trolley and think what is cotten dry?

I had found the reason we are where we are at this time in history. Greed!

We all of us, are the reason there is the War of the Bushes, letting people in power convince us we need 11 different Rexona deodorants.

No wonder people who are starving hate the Western world. I don't blame them at all.

I can understand as I look at the items in each aisles. If you want to see the reason for this war, go to your local shopping centre and look with open eyes at what is before you and decide - do you really need all this and would you step back a bit in your life, so others can take a step forward?

I couldn't wait to get over to Warren's office to retune my medals and to promise.

That's how we will get these people WE call terrorists to trust us again. Not bombing and destroying their countries in fire which will only end up as a fire in their bellies, giving just another reason to hate us.

I walked out of Warren's office feeling good and knowing War is not the Answer, We are the answer, when we are game to survive on less, so other can survive, how simple is that.

WOW. I now will be buying the deodorant with just one brand that says Deodorant.

Kerry Bowden ( no longer with OAM after her name)
Global Children's Alliance
A Family of Humanity
One Mind One Voice
To remind us all to look after all children not only our own. Please support our HOPE project, by making a handprint of any child under the age of 18 years, we will exchange it for the handprint of another child around the world.