I bet it is good to be home again. Hugs, dear friend, Barbara
Monthly Archives: September 2014
Leonardo DiCaprio Named Messenger of Peace by the United Nations
The United Nations has named Leonardo DiCaprio with the title Messenger of Peace. He will give a speech on September 23 at the U.N. Climate Summit where he will address climate change, according to an announcement from the U.N.
“It’s an honor to accept the role of U.N. Messenger of Peace on Climate Change and to support the Secretary General in his efforts to address one of the most important issues we face as a global community. I feel a moral obligation to speak out at this key moment in human history – it is a moment for action,” DiCaprio said in a statement. How we respond to the climate crisis in the coming years will likely determine the fate of humanity and our planet.”
In addition to the U.N. title, DiCaprio will be honored by the Clinton Foundation on September 21 for his environmental work.
DiCaprio is known for…
View original post 86 more words
Finally, We Have A Baby!
We have decided to call her/him Ishi, after the last of the Yahi in California.
She/he also appears to be the only survivor.
All pictures credit: Walkingfox
Because you asked, here is more about Ishi, last of the Yahi.
We would like to introduce our first Gopher Tortoise birth here.
She/he was found yesterday when I took Breanna out, just after lunch.
We are not sure of her/his sex, but this is what we have waited for since moving in here in 2004.
We found no others, only this one.
Gopher Tortoises normally have between 3-15 babies, so we sadly fear the demise of her siblings.
It is said that anything and everything, eats them as soon as they hatch, most do not make it until their first birthday.
From what we have learned from other pictures and information, this one appears to be about two years old, as they are said to grow…
View original post 49 more words
The Dog that lives on the Fishing Raft (A Shower a Day)
All My Longings Scattered…
The Spoils of War
We are ending ten long years of war. Wars not won but thousands of people dead. Now we are putting ourselves into Syria to protect the citizens and the Western world. Peace isn’t being spoken about at all. Yet, there are many of us who know that peace is the only way for us to go.
As sides line up and stories begin to flow out of the war torn countries, we will find that not only will there be deaths and emotional scarring but there will be a huge amount of using women to shame their families and themselves. The countries in Africa and the Middle East are finding that their women and children are in particular danger due to all the wars around the world.
Raping women and girls has become an important aspect to war. It is part of the plans for winning wars. The Democratic Republic of Congo is known as the “rape capital of the world.” Women and children are enslaved and gang raped. If they conceive, they are killed. Why rape women and children? If women can escape, their husbands and families don’t want them. They are dirty and full of shame.
Women and girls raped in war are far more likely to die due to pregnancy and childbirth complications. Young women who are impregnated during war do not receive prenatal care. They are owned, after all. The death rate increases by five times for these young women. It would have been kinder if we could have provided abortions for those that wish them. These babies represent the horrors of their rapes and /or gang rape. All monies going to war-torn countries from America cannot be used to provide a compassionate abortion for these women who have suffered the worst thing that can happen to a women.
So, US aid is prohibited from being used for abortions and they can’t even be discussed. Today’s wars continue to use sexual violence as a tool to win battles and even wars. It is part of genocide. To contaminate the gene pool of a country has a devastating effect on its citizens.
Currently in Syria, reports have found that armed men, often many at a time, kidnap, rape, torture and kill women and girls. One of the primary reasons for human displacement during this conflict has been fear of rape. The Global Summit held in London this past summer, rape as a tactic of war was discussed.
Because we do not provide abortions for rape victims, we are re-victimizing these poor women and children. The United Nations and the Security Council have urged countries to take steps to help these women. Because the US forbids any of its monies from being used for abortions in these cases, America is in violation of the Geneva Conventions policy to comply with the human rights of women and children.
President Bush’s administration specifically forbade funding for rape survivors and child slaves. The Obama administration can take steps to address this injustice but hasn’t so far. The administration has yet to abolish Bush’s unfair restriction.
When applied to women and girls raped in war, the abortion ban not only denies them their rights to all necessary care under the Geneva Convention, it also interferes with the way the aid is distributed by countries that do allow abortion.
For young girls, their bodies are not developed enough to give birth. Young girls who do manage to give birth and live, face long-term economic and psychological trauma. Again, we are re-victimizing these human beings.
Save the Children’s “Unspeakable Crimes Against Children: Sexual Violence in Conflict” report says that these children are being condemned to a lifetime of extreme poverty, illiteracy, increased vulnerability to risky or exploitative economic practices as children and then as adults. Poverty will spread across generations.
Female bodies must not be used as a background in war.
We are all one family and we are all the same species
Victims of rape during war.
Quote by Anita Moorjani
A Mysterious Escape, A Power Switch and Confirmed Green Mosquitoes: Thursday, September 18, 2014
We’ve had dramatic thunderstorms this week so far and are grateful for the rain. Our dog, however, is thoroughly miserable… And some of this week’s news has been troubling, so far. A lot happening, but I will just focus on the major things for now. Lots of little things are bubbling, though, just under the surface.
Fahdeen Ferguson is now on the run.
The great escape: There are so many disturbing aspects to the case of Mario Deane, who was severely beaten in a Montego Bay police lockup and subsequently died on Independence Day, that it is hard to know where to start. Now, a man who is described as a key witness for the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) in the case escaped from custody early on Sunday morning, while he was being transferred for a video identification parade. He was on housebreaking and burglary charges. I heard that…
View original post 1,612 more words
Naughty or Nice, Compassionate or Psychopath!
My Dear Friends,
Compassion, something that is always on my mind, am I compassionate enough, do I help people who are in need of my help and support, do I listen with Empathy (with the intent to really understand), do I go out of my way to do my best for the environment, for mother nature, for the people around me and for the long term good of our planet?
All good questions and ones in which I ask myself each and every day.
I came across this really interesting Nat Geo video re Compassion, it has some really cool observations, tests of compassion and pointers to watch out for in yourself and in others.
Please give it a few minutes of your busy day and think on the content…Are you compassionate?
Have a wonderful weekend full of love, happiness and compassion.
Namaste with Love
Always
Mark
And So There Must Come an End
Charlotte Kitley has blogged on The Huffington Post UK since 2013 and sadly passed away on Tuesday 16 September from bowel cancer. She wrote one final post that she wished to share with all of her readers.
Everyone should read her beautiful words of wisdom.
I’ve always been a good planner. I like lists and tick sheets, to-do notes and objectives. I’m very good at starting things, but honestly, I am also easily bored and quickly lose interest once the original excitement passes.
I haven’t had the luxury of being allowed to be bored of having cancer. It isn’t something you can just give up if you don’t fancy doing it that day. There isn’t a switch you can chose to turn off one day from the next. At least not for me. From my first day as a cancer patient, I have attended every test, scan and appointment. I…
View original post 836 more words
idealisticrebel 