SodaHead - Mollydolly's Blog

A new look at diversity

2009-11-18T19:12:34Z

Mollydolly

+1 raves

http://niemann.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/17/bio-diversity/

Right to Life??

2009-11-08T18:59:53Z

Mollydolly

+4 raves

Sarah Palin … Right to Life?? posted by: Angel Flinn 1 day ago Hello, I saw this on Care2 and thought you'd like it as well. Care2 is the largest and most trusted information and action site for people who care to make a difference in their lives and the world. "I don’t know where to start. Since she became Alaska’s governor in 2006, Sarah Palin has committed so many crimes against Alaska’s wildlife, it’s hard to keep up—even for someone who’s lived in Alaska year-round, day in and day out, for nearly 25 years. I never imagined Alaska’s wildlife could suffer so much at the hands of an elected official. For Alaska’s wild animals, Palin’s is a reign of terror." Marybeth Holleman – author: The Heart of the Sound: An Alaskan Paradise Found and Nearly Lost Former Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin spoke on Friday at a benefit for the anti-abortion organization Wisconsin Right to Life. Having stated publicly that she would oppose abortion even in cases of rape and incest, it is well-known that Palin would accept abortion as an option only if a mother's life was in danger. But there's another side of Palin for which she is also well-known, and it's an aspect of her philosophy which seems to be in direct contradiction to her absolutist stand on abortion. When it comes to living beings outside of the species to which she belongs, Palin is notorious for being decidedly anti-life. Putting aside (for a moment), the enjoyment she finds in personally taking another's life, let's take a quick look at her history in regards to animal protection. In 2008, the president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund stated that Palin "has perhaps done more harm to animals than any other current governor in the United States – and that's a difficult distinction to achieve among our 22 Republican and 28 Democratic chief executives." As stated in a 2008 AlterNet article, "Palin is totally consistent in her anti-environmental stance. She not only wants to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling, but actually vowed to sue the EPA if it dared to declare polar bears an endangered species… It's hard for most people to understand this sort of hatred for the great mammal species struggling to hang on at the edges of this continent." Palin's most controversial stand in regard to animals has undoubtedly been her support of Alaska's aerial wolf killing. When Alaskan residents were anticipating a statewide vote to stop the aerial shooting of wolves and bears (which is notorious for the suffering it causes to its victims) Palin organized a campaign against Measure 2 and funded it with $400,000 of taxpayer money. In 2007, she offered a $150 bounty for the left foreleg of each dead wolf as an incentive for aerial gunners to kill more of the animals. In 2009, Palin's Board of Game approved the use of poison gas and snares to kill wolf pups and their families in and around their dens. When Palin was chosen to be John McCain's running mate, she was introduced at the GOP convention as "the only nominee in the history of either party who knows how to properly field dress a moose." Field dress… It's a lovely euphemism. The term sounds so benign it almost conjures up images of a bucolic scene featuring a young maiden donning robes for a seasonal festival. When you shine the light of truth on the phrase, it means, quite simply, disemboweling. A specific description of what it involves would be too graphic to include here, but if anyone requires greater clarity in regards to what this 'pro-life' advocate is capable of doing to another being who was once alive and sentient, there are many places online where you can read about it exactly what it entails, and why it is necessary to preserve the flesh of a still-warm body. It's not for the faint of heart. Killing for fun was an activity Palin was raised with. “Sarah grew up hunting… She and her daddy would wake up at 3 a.m. on school days to hunt moose,” Palin's mother is quoted as saying. The home where her parents live contains “hundreds of sets of trophy antlers and a taxidermy collection that includes a giant moose head and a full-grown mountain lion.” Photos scattered around the internet during the presidential race showed Palin posing proudly next to the bodies of her victims, and even sitting on a sofa over which was draped the skin of a grizzly bear. I understand that the 'pro-life' position is only concerned with the rights of human beings, and in that regard, Sarah Palin is no different to the rest of the movement. It also seems important to point out that, in her disregard for the inherent value of nonhuman life, Palin is simply an extreme example of the attitude of our entire society. Yet somehow, I can't ignore the twisted irony of the 'pro-life' cause being championed by a woman who actually takes pride in her reputation as a predatory killer. The issue of reproductive rights is a troubling one, precisely because the sanctity of all life is so deeply connected with our spiritual and ethical values. But whatever one's position on abortion might be, surely the absurdity of this match is clear. Perhaps the anti-abortion movement ought to reconsider its use of the term 'pro-life' altogether, and adopt a term that describes its values more accurately. Until that happens, it is contradictory to have as a face of their movement a woman who clearly has no regard for the sacred nature of life itself.

We are not Powerless

2009-11-04T06:30:40Z

Mollydolly

+2 raves

The debate continues. The division is money or well-being for the people. Everyone has a vested interest. This dilemma is locked in a stalemate. This is big business. The people do not win. Health care costs continue to rise. The costs of monthly prescriptions are outrageous. The imbalance is obvious and it is a crime. This system is beyond a dysfunction. How do we collectively shift this heinous health care situation? How do we take care of those who are sick, injured and in pain? How do we invite, envision, and call forth a health care program that is supportive and beneficial for everyone? We are not powerless. The first and foremost aspect of this invitation is for each individual to personally own and recognize that they have the power and ability to transform this dysfunction. This shift and transformation does not take place in the debates that are so polarized. The true transformation takes place in the energy field, the matrix that creates all form. Everything begins with the integrity of the pure idea, held in the hearts and minds of aware individuals who envision a better world. Together our collective consciousness, our focused intention, begins to affect the physical reality. We are all one, all interconnected; this is about our oneness, our true compassion for others. On this auspicious day of 11:11:2009 (in numerology this is an 11-11-11) there is an energetic gateway, a portal, a power vortex for creation. We can call forth a reality that nurtures humanity. We are not powerless. We are the creators, pure and simple. We have the authority and privilege to call forth a better reality. On this day and future days hold the clear vision of the perfect and ideal solutions being brought forth for our health care system. http://psychiclady.co.uk/images/healing.jpg Together on 11-11-2009 I invite you to hold your prescriptions in your hand, or go to the hospitals or medical facility in your area, or access the sacred space of your mind/heart, focus your attention on a total shift in how we care for our sick and disabled. Envision the entire medical paradigm and join others in this sacred service. Ask for assistance from Divine Source, Angels, Archangels, Masters and Celestial Beings in healing our entire health care system. This service of healing our health care can be done continually until it manifests. Each time you take a medication, see your doctor, or talk or read about health care, envision, intend, see and call forward the creation of a health care system available and affordable for all, which supports our families and our society, Call forth a health care that is truly designed to promote soundness of body and freedom from disease. In the realms of truth this is a reality and together we will call this forth. So be it and so it is.

Compassion the new Radicalism

2009-10-19T20:08:17Z

Mollydolly

+3 raves

http://www.nytimes.com/packages/html/nyregion/1-in-8-million/...

Another Blow For Battered Women:

2009-10-15T18:33:07Z

Mollydolly

+4 raves

Another Blow For Battered Women: Health Insurers Deny Coverage for Victims Care2.com One in four women will experience some form of domestic violence in their lifetime. Twenty to thirty-five percent of emergency visits are made by women as a result of domestic violence. These are startling statistics, but what's even more shocking is the fact that abuse can be labeled by health insurance companies as a "pre-existing condition" as a means to deny battered women coverage. While the majority of states have laws in place to prohibit health insurers from doing this, eight states including Idaho, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Wyoming and the District of Columbia do not. In these states it is legal for health insurance companies to deny victims of domestic abuse coverage. What's worse is that the fear of being denied health insurance silences many victims from reporting violence, trapping them in abusive relationships. For women with children, the risks are greater. Losing insurance for a mother often denies her children coverage unless she remains with her abusive partner. While there has been no recent research of how often battered women are denied coverage, an informal survey by the Senate Judiciary Committee subcommittee staff (1994) found that eight of the 16 largest U.S. insurers used domestic violence as a factor in deciding whether or not to offer insurance coverage and how much to charge. The last thing that a battered woman should have to worry about after suffering abuse is not having health insurance, especially with the prevalence of violence that exists today. It is incredible to me that abuse victims must endure so much – even worrying about receiving the proper care after surviving abuse – but their abusers get off scot-free in terms of their coverage? Why aren't the partners who inflict the abuse denied coverage or given higher rates? Isn't their abuse the reason for the added doctor visits and multiple trips to the ER? Why must women take the added blow? How is this just? We need a health care system that does not discriminate against women, but one that defends and protects women when they need it most. Luckily, top House Democrats agree and pledged to incorporate a ban on the practice in the healthcare reform legislation moving its way through Congress. "Think of this," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said. "You've survived domestic violence, and now you are discriminated [against] in the insurance market because you have a pre-existing medical condition. Well, that will all be gone." I certainly hope so, but unfortunately domestic violence isn't the only "pre-existing" condition that discriminates against women. Be sure to to check out Care 2's "Being a Woman Is Not A Pre-Exisiting Condition" for more information on ridiculous circumstances that discriminate against women and RH Reality Check for a round up of other related blog posts. What can you do to help? * Become part of the "I Am Not A Pre-Existing Condition" campaign and sign / tweet their petition! * Sign the Service Employees International Union's petition telling Congress to stop their discriminatory practices against women! * Have a twitter or facebook account? Change your profile picture to the image created by the National Women's Law Center to support change! * Write Congress and remind then that women need health reform that meets their needs too! I am not a "pre-existing" condition and neither are you! Have your voice heard today and show women that you've got their back.

The Return of King Hemp?

2009-09-15T19:38:08Z

Mollydolly

+2 raves

When we think of hemp, many of us may think of those hemp necklaces that we see wannabe hippies wearing, or nowadays, hemp clothing. Yes, with the growing trend of ecologically friendly clothing, hemp has made a return in the textile industry. Of course, cotton is still king, but hemp itself is in fact stronger, better for the environment and easier to grow than cotton. While cotton was (and still is) the backbone of American textiles, the crop itself can only be grown in certain climates and falls prey to many insects and diseases. Cotton uses around 25% of the world’s pesticides and 10% of the world’s insecticides [Source: Organic Trade Organization]. Cotton diseases and pests, especially the boll weevil, can wipe out entire cotton plantations. Although today, the boll weevil population is under control, this pest still costs US cotton producers $300 million a year [Source: Wikipedia]. Still, pesticides and insecticides are not always effective and many cotton growers have become environmentally conscious and realized that spraying cotton with toxic chemicals might not be the best idea. Scientists have created genetically modified cotton that contains a protein from the Bacillus thuringiensis. This protein creates a toxin that is harmful to a handful of insects (moths, butterflies, flies and beetles) and reduces the need for insecticide management. The BT cotton is ineffective against many pests like aphids and plant bugs, which is why cotton is one of the most heavily-sprayed crops in the world. Of course, with the growing trend of eco-conscious products, some cotton producers have begun to grow organic cotton (not to mention the World Health Organization estimated that 20,000 deaths occur from pesticide poisoning in developing worlds [Source: United Nations Environment Programme). What differentiates this cotton from normal? Organic cotton does not use any pesticides and is not genetically modified. The actual growing of the cotton is also different between organic and non-organic cotton. With regular cotton, the crop is planted, harvest and replanted in the same plantations. Since cotton is a very thirsty crop, this can lead to desertification, like what happened in Uzbekistan, or salination, like in the Soviet Union. Organic cotton is rotated every year, allowing time for the nutrients and water in the ground to be replenished. But even with the onset of organic cotton, hemp itself is much more eco-friendly and can be used in much the same way as cotton. In fact, it had been used in the US up until the 1930s and was made illegal the same time as marijuana. Until that point, it was used in almost everything from Revolutionary War uniforms to the Constitution. It has been used for far longer than cotton, since hemp can grow in almost any condition, requires very little pesticide and herbicide and is one of the fastest growing known biomasses. Most of us know that hemp can be used to make various types of clothing and accessories (shoes, purses etc), but due to its tensile strength, fiber length and diameter, it served a variety of purposes like: rope, strengthening building materials and creating paper. And unlike the cotton plant, almost every part of the hemp plant is usable. The seeds contain essential amino acids for humans and can be eaten raw or cooked…or even made into hemp milk, tofu and even butter. The seeds actually contain almost as much protein as milk, meat, eggs or soy and are high in calcium and iron. The oil itself has been shown to relieve symptoms of eczema and also has anti-inflammatory properties. And like vegetable oil, hempseed oil can also be used as a biofuel and allow diesel cars to run off of something more sustainable [Source: Global Hemp]. Even though it is illegal to grow hemp in the US, many other countries - over 30 countries including the UK and Japan - produce industrial hemp. Many states in the US have even passed laws making hemp farms a possibility, Hawaii being the first state to pass licenses on hemp farms. While hemp fibers are used much like cotton is, the plant itself is much better for the environment. It doesn't drain water from the soil and is actually used to purify water and soil. In fact, it is currently being used to clean up the soil at the Chernobyl site [Source: Current.com]. This highly adaptable plant should regain its rightful title as King, and, like that 1940s WWII PSA said, we need to start using Hemp for Victory [Source: YouTube]. http://www.care2.com/causes/environment/blog/the-return-of-ki...

Do we have to pave everything over?

2009-08-20T21:14:49Z

Mollydolly

+2 raves

Recently, the green light was given to logging in Alaska's Tongass Rainforest, and now pristine national forests in other parts of the country could be in jeopardy >> One of the key environmental policies that Barack Obama pledged to support is the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, which protects nearly 60 million acres of our last remaining undeveloped national forests from most road building, logging and other industrial activities. But backed by special interests, the State of Colorado is attempting to get out from under this popular policy and open up some of the best backcountry in the Rocky Mountains to new coal mines, methane wells and oil and gas drilling. As a result, Colorado's national forests could be become a magnet for development and pave the way for similar activity on pristine forestlands across the country. Please ask Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, who oversees the U.S. Forest Service, to reject Colorado's proposal and carry out President Obama's pledge to uphold the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/104716401?z00m=1978... From Care2 Thank you, LiAnna Care2 and ThePetitionSite Team

Clean that dirty money

2009-08-12T20:57:44Z

Mollydolly

+3 raves

Cleanse the Currency on 09-09-09 A Call to Action, I invite you to participate, as we set a powerful intention to energetically clean all the currency and money. Together we will shift, heal and transform the matrix of the monetary system. Please network this invitation everywhere. We live in a sea of vibrations, everything and everyone is frequency. We are becoming aware of our true power to influence the quantum field with our words, emotions and intentions. This truth is especially powerful when we join together as a conscious collective with one common goal and one focused intention for global change. Imagine that all currency/money carries a frequency and vibrational contamination of lack, scarcity, fear, and greed that is energetically attached to the money that we receive and use each day. Think of all the places this money has traveled and all the individuals who have touched this currency leaving an energetic trace of their emotional state and beliefs. Be very aware that you bring this contaminated energy into your wallets and your life. You have the opportunity to use your power of intention to energetically clean and clear all the money that comes into your life with every monetary transaction. Together on 09-09-09 I invite you to go to your bank or financial institution, or in the sacred space of your mind/heart and with earnest intention offer this service to the quantum field. Envision yourself connected to Divine Source, the money matrix and all others doing this sacred service. When at the bank or in your imagination invite Angels, Archangels, Masters and Celestial Beings to assist in this process of clearing the currency/money of all energetic discordance, so that the currency/money now goes out blessing everyone and everything it touches. Imagine the shift in the monetary system when you join with other conscious, enlightened beings offering this transforming service to humanity in a 24-hour period. This service of cleaning/clearing the currency can be done anytime and any place as often as possible. As you hold money in your hand and envision its connection to the entire matrix, energetically clean it and bless it with gratitude. Do this service each day. This transforming process include all aspects of your personal financial matrix, the money you earn, spend, save, and the money you owe. Be creative with your magnificence and power as to how you cleanse the currency and your financial matrix. Together we will create a world of shared abundance. Peggy Black peggyblack@aol.com

To all my wonderful friends.

2009-07-26T22:16:53Z

Mollydolly

+25 raves

I've had a wonderful and interesting year here on SH. I've seen many good people leave and was sorry to see them go. I've made so many terrific connections with you all but have to say that I am tired of Twilight, politics and hate. My recent influx of horrid virus' sealed the deal and I am out of here. I will keep my account open and may return but for now I just can't handle all the stress and mess. You all know who you are that I love and I will never forget. Big hugs to you all

The interesting thing about water

2009-07-13T18:51:00Z

Mollydolly

+24 raves

25 interesting things about water. 1. The world is currently in a water crisis. One out of six people worldwide doesn’t have access to clean water. Every year, 2 million people die of diseases caused by a lack of clean water. 2. Regions throughout the world are experiencing water shortages, due to both droughts and overuse of water. Rivers all over the world, including the Columbia River, now dry up before reaching their ends. 3. Companies like Nestle are taking communities’ water for bottling despite public opposition, in the US and abroad. 4. Bottled water plants don’t provide good jobs. 5. Water advocacy does. http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org. 6. The international financial institutions (World Bank and IMF) have essentially forced many countries to sell their public water utilities to big water corporations. 7. Communities all over the world have organized, and in some cases shed blood, to regain control of their water resources. 8. Bottled water isn’t safer than tap water. Last year, Environmental Working Group did a study that tested popular brands of bottled water for contamination. They found 38 different harmful chemicals, including painkillers, fertilizer and arsenic, in 10 brands of bottled water. 9. The average American’s indoor water use is about 69 gallons of water per day. 10. According to the Washington Post in 2005, “Just one flush of a toilet in the West uses more water than most Africans have to perform an entire day’s washing, cleaning, cooking and drinking.” 11. Worldwide, big investors like T. Boone Pickens are buying up water rights like they have bought up oil. Some have predicted that the next wars will be over water. 12. You can carbonate your own water with a machine like this if you like it fizzy. 13. Plastic bottles can leach chemicals into your water. Lined aluminum or stainless steel bottles are the safest alternative. 14. Industry is pushing technology that makes ocean water into drinking water as a solution to shortages. But really, it’s a bad idea. 15. Conservation can get us farther. Check out a whole bunch of conservation tips here. 16. In the US, people who get their water from a privately owned utility pay up to 80 percent more than those who get it from a public utility. Private sewer service can cost twice as much as public. 17. We may be able to conserve water by investing in renewable energy sources. According to Harper’s magazine in December 2008, half of all freshwater drawn from U.S. sources each year is used to cool power plants. 18. In Bolivia, nearly one out of every ten children dies before the age of five. Most of those deaths are related to illnesses that come from a lack of clean drinking water. This statistic and others are discussed in the movie FLOW. 19. Every day, an estimated seven billion gallons of clean drinking water leak out of pipes in the US. 20. In 1978, the feds paid for 78 percent of water infrastructure in the US. As of 2008, it was 3%. Many communities don’t have the money to make up the difference. You can meet with your legislator to tell them you support the creation of a dedicated source of funding for water infrastructure. 21. Up to 40 percent of bottled water is actually just municipal water that’s been packaged. 22. There’s a growing movement of college campuses and restaurants who have decided not to sell bottled water. You can join the movement with your school or business. 23. Most funky taste in water can be removed with a filter, such as a Brita. Chlorine taste will go away if you leave the water in an open pitcher overnight. 24. In 2003, the city of Johannesburg, South Africa started to install prepaid water meters, preventing the very poorest from accessing clean water. In 2008, the Johannesburg High Court declared this unconstitutional. This was a victory for the people, but the decision is being appealed, and the struggle continues. 25. The movement needs you. This isn’t just for activists–it’s for anyone whose body is made up of over 70 percent water. Food & Water Watch is an organization dedicated to the belief that the public should be able to count on our government to oversee and protect the quality and safety of food and water. For more information, go to http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org