New Beginnings

Abby Loves Hillary
Originally uploaded by rustykeller.

Abby, my mom, my grandma and I went to see Hillary Clinton speak last week. My 5 year old daughter loves the idea that a woman (and mother) might be president…she insisted on seeing Hillary when she was in town even though it was way past her bedtime and she had to wait for quite awhile. The real icing on the cake was when the Senator made eye contact with Abby, smiled and waved. She will remember this night forever.

I know I haven’t been posting much and I feel kind of bad about it. The problem is this: there are so many things I want to talk about and there is so little time to get them organized and into a blog post. So i don’t post.  Lame excuse, I know. It is what it is, friends.  Anyway, here’s the bitch of the day:

Recently, my 10 year old son had the chance to see both Barack Obama and Bill Clinton speak at local events. He wasn’t impressed with an obviously tired and often adversarial Obama. My son didn’t like the way the senator chose to spend his time slamming Clinton and not offering solutions. Max, on the other hand, was very impressed by Bill Clinton and all the plans and ideas he illustrated. To be fair, who wouldn’t be in awe of one the best orators of our time (I sure as hell was)? Max wanted to show his support for Hillary by wearing a campaign shirt. Apparently, he was teased and ridiculed by the not-so-tolerant children of Southern Oregon. Go figure. The kids had either jumped on the Obama-wagon (of course, they couldn’t actually tell him why) or were for McCain. In fact, one kid (whose mom is an uninsured, unemployed, untreated alcoholic…look, I’m just saying) told Max that Hillary was going to take away his guns (not get him health care, but take away his fucking guns).  People, if we’re going to brainwash our kids and make them parrot our own rhetoric, let’s at least give them some facts and real data so they don’t end up looking so damn stupid! Since my son has actually seen both Obama and President Clinton, I think he’s possibly more qualified than me to favor one over the other. I would be disappointed if he decided he liked Obama more than Clinton (and glad he’s not old enough to vote), but I would be proud that he made an informed and educated choice.

That being said, I would like to tell you that seeing Bill Clinton speaking not more than 20 feet in front of me was really something to check off my “things to do before I die” list. First, let me just say that he’s a good looking man. I kid you not. Second, let me say that in my heart I truly believe that the Clintons can bring us back to the America of before (before the bubble burst, before I lost my home, before my stocks tanked, before I had to cash in our 401Ks, before my children went to school 4 days a week, before, before, before). I believe that Hillary Clinton can fix some of the wrongs that have been to our country. I believe it.

I received the following email from the International Campaign for Tibet: 

Dear Friend,

I know you have been following the unprecedented events inside Tibet this week. If you are pressed for time, please jump to the end of this email for ways you can help.

There are now many reports of Tibetans being killed in the streets of Lhasa by security personnel. And many reports of Tibetans damaging Chinese stores. We now have photos of security vehicles overturned and in flames. And, a Tibetan in Lhasa told ICT staff that martial law has been imposed.

Reports of new developments are coming in every hour.

• Reports by doctors in Lhasa of dozens of wounded streaming into
  hospitals.
• Unconfirmed reports that soldiers are firing on Tibetans in the
  streets.
• Confirmed reports that the major monasteries around Lhasa have been
  sealed off.
• Three hundred monks from Drepung monastery and 100 nuns from Chutsang
  nunnery marched toward the center of Lhasa, stopped by armed
  police.  One was beaten to the ground.
• Unconfirmed reports of scores of Tibetans shot and killed including a
  16 year-old girl killed and taken away by Tibetans on Beijing Middle
  Road.
• Arrest of around 500 students from Tibet University, according to
  CNN.

 A Danish tourist just sent this email. . .

“Lhasa is in flames. There are tanks/armoured vehicles driving round in the streets - what’s going on is crazy . . . . it looks like a war zone. Almost all Chinese shops on the main street up to the Dalai Lama’s Winter Palace have been set on fire.”

His Holiness the Dalai Lama has issued a statement calling on the Chinese to show restraint and calling on Tibetans not to resort to violence.

This appears to be by far the largest uprising in Tibet since 1989, and if unconfirmed reports are true, there may be more Tibetan casualties in the streets of Lhasa than at any time since 1959.

We fear that as I write this, hundreds of Tibetans have been arrested and are being interrogated and tortured. We are still digesting the scope of this emergency and working the phones with governments, the media and others to bring pressure to bear on Beijing.

I want to let you know that the International Campaign for Tibet is currently working on many fronts to improve the situation in Tibet as only we can . . .

• Making preparations now to provide basic necessities for what is
  expected to be a large influx of new Tibetan refugees fleeing to
  Katmandu.
• Beefing up our on-the-ground field team inside Tibet to make sure that
  the facts of what is really happening are getting out, accurately and
  without bias, to world media as quickly as possible.
• Putting pressure on China to open Lhasa and other parts of Tibet to
  the media so the world can know what is really going on behind the
  veil of Chinese propaganda.
• Encouraging our friends in governments here in the U.S. and around the
  world to demand that the Chinese show restraint in their reaction to
  the protests.

As a friend of Tibet, I hope you can help us at this critical time with a generous donation so we will continue to have the resources we need to react quickly and effectively.

Please use the following link to make your contribution securely online:
http://support.savetibet.org/site/R?i=oE5GDu50ZwS8OKXOBU5qCA..

For additional ways to help out in Lhasa, consider the following:

1. Contact you member of Congress and ask that they call on China to
release all detainees, and allow international media access to Lhasa. To find your legislator, click here:
http://support.savetibet.org/site/R?i=0yOvZIL0sgCZHOjiXD2qSQ..

2. If you know any tourists in Lhasa, or others who may have direct
knowledge of what is happening in Tibet, please contact us immediately
at info@savetibet.org.

3. Events of support are happening around the U.S. and Canada. To join a rally at a Chinese consulate or embassy in your area, please
use the link below to review the list of local Tibet Support Groups holding demonstrations:
http://support.savetibet.org/site/R?i=TxNq1OOCO9TKgnWTvluhAw..

And please share this email with friends that you know would like to help. We need as many people with us now as possible:
http://support.savetibet.org/site/R?i=zKbK62D5qegUeF4myUbi1Q..

I also encourage you to visit our web site often,
http://support.savetibet.org/site/R?i=zNUTJCskadAtresyIc7oBw, to keep up to date on what is happening inside Tibet.

We need to act now –  I hope I can count on you.

With thanks for your support,

John Ackerly
President

International Campaign for Tibet
1825 Jefferson Place, NW
Washington, DC 20036

As the protests in Tibet turn violent, we should do our best as citizens of the world to understand what this all means. I’ve compiled some current links for you to review and come to your own conclusions. Later this weekend, I will also put together some information to provide you with the background for the unrest in Tibet.

• His Holiness the 14thd Dalai Lama’s Official Statement
• AFP
• CNN Article #1 - CNN Article #2 - CNN Video
• New York Times -Photos
• YouTube: Tibet Protest on Mt. Everest
• LA Times
• Newsvine/AP
• Bjork is not crazy
• Buddhist Monks in Burma:
  Burma, Buddhism and Power (Speaking of Faith with Krista Tippet

Monk Protests in Tibet Draw Chinese Security

If one more person tells me that our country isn’t ready for a woman or black president, I think I might punch them in the face. WTF does that mean? The progressive land of the free isn’t “ready,” but South Africa can elect a black leader shortly after apartheid ended? Predominately Muslim Pakistan can elect a woman leader? I tell you, I am disgusted by politics in this country and I’m starting to feel shame, not just embarrassment, about my beloved country and our evolution. I’ve tried to be optimistic and share hope with those around me. But, apparently, we’ve already fucking voted and Hillary’s out!?! Gimme a break. What happened to the electoral process? It’s busy watching Britney have a breakdown in front of the world.

Seriously, we finally have an opportunity to show how tired we are of business as usual and all we can do is look down our noses at a pregnant 16 year old actress or beg ebay sellers for a shot at Hannah Montana tickets. We are at war, people. The economy is taking a major dump. Healthcare costs are soaring and we are paying the price. My son only goes to school 4 days a week because the district can’t afford for him to go the entire week. Please tell me that you see these things too, and I’m not going crazy. Vote for a woman. Vote for experience and compassion. Vote for intelligence and hope. Vote for a mother. Vote for change. It’s gotta be better than what we have now, doesn’t it?

Did you know that Martha Stewart contributed $4600 to Hillary Clinton’s campaign?

Did you know that Tim Russert has mentioned UFOs and smoking bans in presidential debates, but not once uttered the words “global warming” on his show or at a debate?

Did you know that there were over 188 veteran suicides last year? It’s being called a silent epidemic. How do we help our soldiers cope with what we are asking them to do? I highly recommend this article about a Marine back from Iraq and his struggle to get back to his life.

Did you know that most writer’s and editorial assistants in the entertainment industry are women? How is really paying for the strike?

Did you know that Pakistani militants have destroyed the second most important Buddhist sculptures in South Asia?

Did you know there’s a new movie about punk icon Joe Strummer? Did you know that Stummer was born in Turkey?

What if we the leader of the free world was also a mother? How would our position in the world change? How would the direction of our country change? Just think about it. What if we all decided that enough was enough and actually did something to change it?

In my heart of hearts, I believe that we can make a difference and change the world we’re living in. To contribute to Hillary’s campaign, to view her campaign videos, or join the fight.

“The president has rediscovered his long lost inner fiscally conservative self,” said Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Oregon, in a mocking tone. “After an orgy of borrowing, spending and misspending on many dubious things, his target? Ten million low-income kids.” - CNN

I’m torn here.  I’m pissed, because, well, duh. The president is still wearing his ass hat. Big surprise. On the other hand, it’s a politically positive move for the democrats. No? We have got to do something about our healthcare system, people. Whether or not you support a federal plan is irrelevant. As I sit, on both sides of the insurance fence (employer/employee) no one is winning here except health insurance companies run by attorneys. Period. It’s fucking killing us.

Have you seen the news?

After decades of brutal dictatorship, the people of Burma are rising. In the past few days, hundreds of thousands of peaceful protesters, led by Buddhist monks (in the spirit of the rebel Buddha), have flooded the streets of Rangoon. But yesterday, the military started shooting monks and journalists.

This is a true emergency. Avaaz.org and MoveOn.org have launched a petition demanding Burmese generals negotiate rather than crush the demonstrators. They’re focused on getting United Nations Security Council members–particularly China’s Hu Jintao–to intervene. Thousands of people from all over the world are adding their names every hour — will you sign? Click here:

http://pol.moveon.org/burma/?r_by=11318-7049029-Ttmhrj&rc=paste

Pass it on! Thanks!!

I got a very needed kick in the pants after reading Amy Karol’s recent post about greening her family. Although I earn my salary (so-to-speak) as a Marketing Ho Jill-of-all-Trades, most of my education is in environmental biology (hence my passion for Al Gore for the past 18 years). Before I grew old and cynical, I was an idealist that was going to change the world. Now, as a beat up old drunk (in recovery), I just can’t afford to live a mediocre semi-green life. So, instead of actually talking about being an environmentally conscious citizen, I’m taking an aggressive, action-oriented stance on cleaning up my family and our way of life. Realistically and simply. I’m not going for pie-in-the-sky perfection, here….just an honest appraisal of how my family consumes and a plan for making us better. I’m starting with the little things like getting rid of my daughter’s toxic sippy cups and replacing them with a cleaner, safer versions; knitting up some net grocery bags out of some hemp yarn that I already have in my stash; buying all my fruits and vegetable locally; joining the local co-op; using a stainless steel coffee cup instead of paper; and commuting to work at least 2-3 times per week. Below are just a few of the resources I’ve used and thought you may be interested in: (more…)

The Raw Story:  Former Powell aide says Bush, Cheney guilty of ‘high crimes’

Well no fucking duh.

Jessica Lynch and Pat Tillman’s younger brother testified in Congress today about the hype surrounding Lynch’s capture and rescue in Iraq and the death of Pat Tillman in Afghanistan. Why isn’t the truth enough anymore? Don’t we deserve the truth? More importantly, don’t they deserve to be supported, honored, and respected for what they’re doing every day? I think that young woman proved today that she really is a hero.

• Pentagon Challenged on Lynch and Tillman
• “Little Girl Rambo” decries US propaganda
• Lynch, Tillman’s brother: US military lies

Technorati Tags: american, patriot, bush, texas, liberal, politics

Court Rebukes Administration in Global Warming Case - New York Times

This is also good news. Although, please notice in the article it explains that converative justices John Roberts, Samuel Alito, Antonin Scalia,  and Clarence Thomas all dissented. Hmmm, so much for checks and balances.

Technorati Tags: court, global warming, al gore, supreme cout, epa, clean air act

Burger King Shifts Policy on Animals - New York Times - Looks like Murder King is trying to clean up it’s act a little. Bummer it’s only 2% of eggs for the next few months and 10% of pork, but it’s a start. And it’s an acknowledgment of a huge problem that, frankly, I didn’t expect the fast food industry to cop to for quite some time. Wow, it warms my little bleeding heart to see big business actually realize that there might be some fiscal advantages to being socially responsible. Go figure.

Technorati Tags: burger king, social responsibility, humane, animal rights