Archives November 2017

Syria Joins Paris Climate Accord, Leaving Only U.S. Opposed https://nyti.ms/2j7PycS
Never would have thought a decade ago that this is where we would end up. Clearly, massive climate change action is taking place globally, regardless of what happens federally in the US. Besides working hard, all that’s left is to hope that we are doing enough to avert a major catastrophe.

What Explains U.S. Mass Shootings? International Comparisons Suggest an Answer https://nyti.ms/2hODjP5
As a Canadian, living only a few hours from the US border, and as a pacifst, I struggle to see how essentially unregulated gun ownership has any upside. I see very little reason for anybody to keep a gun in their house/car/purse etc. When there has been this much escalation already, what can be done to turn the cycle of violence and gun ownership around? Changing social norms? Trading guns in for something else that people want more? Education? Any ideas?

Today is World Vegan Day! And, the UK vegan society, I found out, has turned vegan food day into a vegan food month, with a challenge to go vegan for the month of Nov. (https://www.vegansociety.com/take-action/campaigns/world-vegan-month#pledge).  I couldn’t find anything equivalent for Canada – although that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. So, if it isn’t in Canada yet, let’s start it now. How many of you will join the challenge and go vegan for Nov?  🙂 It’s really not as hard as it sounds – there is so much great vegan cheese and yogurt available, amazing vegan restaurants etc etc. If going 100% doesn’t feel right, how about going part way and nudging yourself a bit further towards plant-based eating from where you are now? Maybe grab a few friends and have them join you and try it together. Working as a group usually makes challenges more enjoyable. 🙂
Share your successes, challenges and questions here and see how you feel at the end of Nov. 🙂
 

https://www.glamour.com/story/reese-witherspoon-women-of-the-year-speech
Came across part of this speech by Reese Witherspoon recently on Facebook, and thought it was worth finding the full speech. Turns out that it is a couple of years old – but well worth highlighting. I’ve always appreciated the effort she puts into promoting strong female characters, and this highlights her efforts to promote strong women in leadership, and with ambition, in all aspects of life.
Here are a couple of quotes:

“I dread reading scripts that have no women involved in their creation
because inevitably I get to that part where the girl turns to the guy,
and she says, “What do we do now?!” Do you know any woman in any
crisis situation who has absolutely no idea what to do? I mean, don’t
they tell people in crisis, even children, “If you’re in trouble, talk
to a woman.” It’s ridiculous that a woman wouldn’t know what to do.”

“I think we are in a culture crisis in every field. In every industry,
women are underrepresented and underpaid in leadership positions.
Under 5 percent of CEOs of fortune 500 companies are women. Only 19
percent of Congress is women. No wonder we don’t have the health care
we deserve or paid family leave or public access to early childhood
education. That really worries me. How can we expect legislation or
our needs to be served if we don’t have equal representation? So
here’s my hope: If you’re in politics, media, the tech industry, or
working as an entrepreneur or a teacher or a construction worker or a
caregiver, you know the problems we are all facing.

I urge each one of you to ask yourselves: What do we do now? That’s a
big question. What is it in life that you think you can’t accomplish?
Or what is it that people have said that you cannot do? Wouldn’t it
feel really good to prove them all wrong? Because I believe ambition
is not a dirty word. It’s just believing in yourself and your
abilities. Imagine this: What would happen if we were all brave enough
to be a little bit more ambitious? I think the world would change.”