May Our Daughters Return Home, Civil Association

"Not one more death" - Susana Chavez

In my relatively short time on earth, I have learned that acknowledgement of an issue is often the starting point to finding a solution.  We hear a lot these days about Mexico; whether the debate on immigration, the issues with drug smuggling, or the lack of jobs within the country.  What we don't hear about is rampant ongoing femicide devastation that is taking over the town of Juarez.

According to Nuestras Hijias de Regreso a Casa a.c. (May Our Daughters Return Home, C.A.) more than 420 girls and women have been killed in Juarez in the past decade.  Many of these victims were raped and mutilated prior to death.  These women come from poor families to work at the border town's factories called maquiladoras. 

Despite several pronouncements by local officials that these slayings are unconnected or that the crimes have been solved, women keep disappearing with their bodies turning up later in ditches and abandoned lots.  Many people suspect the investigations into these femicides have stopped or halted sue to the corruption within the local police, the incompetence of the investigators, and the intimidation and harassment of witnesses.

But how can we help?  Isn't that always the fundamental question?  Again I say that acknowledgement and knowledge of the issue is power.  Juarez is just 10 miles from El Paso, TX separated by the Rio Grande River.  It is a huge border crossing and yet despite it's proximity to and ties with our own country we have consistently looked the other way at the raging violence happening in our own back yard.

There have been several documentaries made and books published regarding the femicides in the past few years:

The Killing Fields: Harvest of Women by Diana Washington Valdez is an investigative look at the Juarez murders, drug cartels, and government corruption in Mexico.

The Daughters of Juarez by Teresa Rodriguez is another book with over 10 years of research.

Juarez is a documentary film about the murders and their lack of investigation.

Each and Her is a book of poems about the Juarez women's murders

Border Echoes is a documentary film made with the help of Diana Washington Valdez

Take the time to search out these materials, educate yourself and your loved ones.  These killings won't stop unless we demand that the international community puts continuous pressure on the Mexican government to find justice for the victims and their families.  Not one more death.

A Word on Sustainable Agriculture and it's Cost

"It's bizarre that the produce manager is more important to my children's health than the pediatrician."  ~Meryl Streep

No doubt you have heard the debate for organic and locally sourced foods.  My husband and I are huge proponents of buying organic and local as much as we can.  We are blessed within our area to have 3 strictly organic grocery stores and a variety of farmer's markets that enable us to buy local products.  We have even taken to having our milk and eggs delivered from a local farm.

One of the main arguments I hear against the movement is that it is cost prohibitive, but I have a few things for you to consider.

1.  We have all heard the phrase, "You are what you eat" right?  Well how about this phrase, "You are what your food eats"?  Commercial and industrial farming practices are making our soil deficient.  A recent study conducted over 4 years in Britain found that organically grown produce has over 40% more antioxidants than commercially or industrially grown produce.  One of the main reasons for this is organic farming respects soil.  It enriches soil, and the soil is where our produce absorbs its nutrients from.  

2.  Among natural and organic food champions, it has long been held that you'd have to eat 5 commercially farmed apples today to get the nutritional value of 1 apple from 40 years ago.  This ties in with my first point, but also brings up a second.  There are over 15,000 chemicals that are allowed to be added to or sprayed on foods that the government does not require to be listed on nutritional labels.  These chemicals and additives can contribute to the loss of nutritional value.

3.  If I had told you 20 years ago that you would be able to find $125.00 more in monthly budget for cable you would have called me crazy.  If I then told you that you would have another $125.00 in your monthly budget for a smart phone with a data plan, I think you probably would have laughed.  And yet, here we are, with a large percentage of Americans finding that $250.00 extra a month for those luxuries.  Yet, we will search for the lowest cost and most cheaply made food.   That food comes at a price; chemical and additive laden, it rarely provides the nutritional essentials.

Food is the foundation of our livelihood.  It supports our cellular structure and all of the systems within.  There is more and more evidence to suggest that food also can help regulate our moods, help with the treatment of various diseases, and enhance our productivity and overall well being.  It is true that organic and locally sourced food can be more expensive, but many big stores are producing their own label of organic food that is more wallet-friendly.  You don't have to go to Whole Foods; Wal-Mart, Giant Food Stores, Safeway, even Food Lion are offering organics at lower cost.

Here are some of the ways you can support the Food Revolution:

-Find out if your community has a farmer's market.  In addition to sometimes being cheaper than grocery store food (as you're cutting out the middle man) you also get the freshest foods available in any given season.  Our son loves to go with me to the farmer's market and help pick out the fruits and veggies for that week of lunches.

-See if your local grocery store carries its own organic line or other organic lines.  Do a true cost comparison and see if there are items you could swap out of your weekly list and replace with some organic alternatives.

-Plant your own vegetable garden and use compost made from your own food scraps.  (We started composting a year ago and we are going to plant a winter garden this year with kale, beets, potatoes, and carrots.)

Lastly, one of the most important things you can do to support the food revolution is to simply cook fresh.  Every time you cook a meal from scratch you support the idea that food is life.  Every time you buy ingredients instead of a packaged meal you are sending a message to corporate food companies that you will not tolerate the dismal options they are giving us.

Wounded Warrior Project

"The greatest casualty is being forgotten"

Their mission is simple, straightforward and I would call it a no-brainer; "To honor and empower wounded warriors."  Their definition of wounded though, is what truly draws me to this great organization. 

With a sister who is a clinical psychologist, I have heard a lot about the current VA Administration's inability and inadequacy in handling soldiers returning from active duty that have PTSD and severe depression.  Many cases are going undiagnosed and many soldiers are not getting the psychological support that they need.

The Wounded Warrior Project clarifies it's programs as helping the following; Mind, Body, Economic Empowerment, and Engagement.  In truth, they look at the whole person, not just an aspect, and they have programs that range from giving support services to families whose loved one is affected by PTSD to physical rehabilitation and nutrition services to peer mentoring and an alumni program to keep soldiers connected to one another.

In addition to donating, there are several other ways to become involved.  I just had a friend who did a relay race from Gettysburg to DC to support the Wounded Warrior Project and I couldn't be prouder to know her.  They also ask that you show your support by wearing apparel that draws attention to the cause.  You can purchase items through Under Armour and Overstock.com.  Again, the main focus of their initiatives is awareness.  The more you know, the more others can learn from you.  Friend them on facebook, or join their volunteer network.  Tell your family and friends. 

Wounded Warrior Project

The Somaly Mam Foundation

"Envisioning a world where women and children are safe from slavery"

The Somaly Mam foundation is a great organization that seeks to end human trafficking with a special emphasis on women and children in Southeast Asia.  Their goals are Rescue & Recovery of victims, education, reintegration of victims into society, giving a voice to survivors, advocacy, and global awareness of the issues. 

The foundation is named for Somaly Mam, a survivor of human trafficking and forced sexual slavery from Cambodia.  She was sold to a brothel at the age of 14 and regularly serviced 5-7 clients per day.  After seeing her best friend shot by a pimp she escaped with the help of an aid worker and went to Paris.  After learning that there were so many other women forced into the same sexual slavery she had been, she returned to Cambodia and worked as a nurse with Doctors Without Borders.  In her spare time, she handed out soap, condoms, and information to prostitutes.  In 2007 she officially launched the Somaly Mam Foundation, which supports anti-trafficking groups and helps survivors of trafficking reintegrate with the world.  To date, she has helped over 4,000 women and has sanctuaries in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam.

On the Somaly Mam website, they list ways you can help their cause.  Tell 10 of your friends on Facebook and raise awareness within your own circle of friends and family.  They point to a student organization in Connecticut that organized a 5K race in their community to raise funds.  Somaly Mam also has a store with items made by survivors that support survivors.  Just within this year Somaly Mam created a program called PROJECT FUTURES which will be a global platform for students, professionals, and activists to join the fight against human trafficking.  They will have packets of information and ideas for how to raise awareness and help within your own community.

Somaly Mam Foundation

Kicking Off the Blog

To all my non-existent readers,

This blog was started because I read.  I read about current events, the happenings in the world, and I end up feeling lost and helpless.  When I hear the story of a 12 year old girl trafficked into sexual slavery, a young child battling cancer, the massive rape epidemic resulting from years of civil war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, or the soldier who was not afforded the emotional care necessary after returning from defending my freedom, well I can't just look the other way.

It is difficult for me to not feel guilty for my wonderful, full and joyful life.  There are so many things I take for granted on a daily basis; simple trips to the grocery store with a world of food at my fingertips, my car that carts myself and my growing family from place to place, my house which is comfortable, safe, and dry.  It is easy to escape that guilt by writing a check but it is far more difficult to actually do something.

The purpose of this blog is to inspire action.  I will try to post organizations to volunteer with, ways to be a more responsible consumer, reviews on documentaries and books that deal with issues, and general thoughts on better ways to become involved.  Perhaps you will be introduced to an issue or an organization you didn't know existed.  It may turn out that despite being passionate about different causes, you still take away new ways of supporting those organizations you love.  Whatever you take away from this blog, I hope it is worth wile.

With love,
Ingrid