January 2010

  • National Mend a Broken Heart Month

    By sarajean on 1/31/10 9:03am
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    It’s very appropriate that February happens to be National Mend a Broken Heart Month. Why should happy lovers, after all, have all the fun? Members of the Broken Hearts Club should also be able to commiserate and have some time for themselves this month, don’t you think?

    But broken hearts aren’t just for lovers. They’re for estranged couples, bereaved friends and families, former friends; many times, mending a broken heart means making peace and giving forgiveness, even when it feels like we’d rather hold onto all of that pain and heartache until it makes us explode. The thing is, holding onto all of those feelings is worse for us than it is for those who’ve hurt us; it’s not making them lose sleep, after all, and only serves to manifest more suffering in our own lives.

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  • It's Definitely OK to Use Social Networking to Help Your Cause

    By becksta on 1/15/10 12:46am
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    Haiti EarthquakeHaiti EarthquakeI haven’t watched much of the footage from Haiti, not because I don’t care, but because I don’t have cable tv. This hasn’t stopped me from reading about it, thinking about it, and wondering what responsibility we in the West have for preventing these kinds of disasters or what we can do now to help.

    The two most straightforward ways remain the same for every type of disaster. They need donations of either your time or your money. I chose money, but only a little bit and then felt bad about my donation and its usefulness or lack thereof after reading an article on Gawker criticizing the “netiquette” of using social media to promote your cause.


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  • Obama Declares January National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month

    By sarajean on 1/14/10 6:37pm
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    All I can say is finally.

    Yes, human trafficking and slavery has been getting a bit more attention lately due to different movements and films (from documentaries to fictional movies like Taken). I appreciate that. But it seems like the general public is still in denial that modern day slavery and human trafficking—human kidnapping and sale—is still very much alive and afoot. In fact, it’s the third largest industry in the world,  generating $32 billion every year with 14,500 to 17,500 foreign nationals trafficked into the U.S. annually alone.

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  • Tomorow is Humanitarian Day

    By sarajean on 1/14/10 4:56pm
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    Humanitarian Day is a holiday that honors the work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by promoting unity, remembrance, and respect. Here are a few ways you might wish to celebrate.

    Light a candle in your home for all of the freedom fighters who have passed on—Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, Miep Gies, Mother Theresa, Harriet Tubman, Susan B. Anthony, Gandhi—any of your heroes who have fought for freedom. You could also light one for all of the victims who have suffered and died due to slavery, sexual slavery, and violence both in the past as well as those who suffer today.

    Vow to be a humanitarian. Talk about what it means to be one with your family. Decide together how you’ll do this—by volunteering, spreading a message of peace, acceptance, and love, traveling to other areas to volunteer as well as expand your global awareness, etc.

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  • Mexico City Water Situation Gets Worse

    By ecoscott on 1/4/10 11:55pm
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    Many Mexico City Residents Have To Get Their Water Delivered.Many Mexico City Residents Have To Get Their Water Delivered.The water situation in Mexico City is going from bad to worse. With a  rising population and dropping water levels in local lakes, government officials and residents alike are watching water sources like Lake Avandaro drop to lows like they have never seen before.

    "I was born here and I have never seen it at that level," said Carlos Gonzalez of the Los Pericos floating restaurant.

    Lake Avandro is one of the places authorities in Mexico City turned last year for water during the drought and in that case it brought such shock and resistance from wealthy vacationers there that there had to be a deal worked out with government officials to keep the lake at 75% of capacity.

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