You Rock Foundation http://yourockfoundation.org/ turns tragedy into hope with painful, inspiring and healing testimonies by professional artists who have struggled with depression or thoughts of suicide. Founded by graphic designer, mental health advocate and self-described "music addict", Joseph Penola https://medium.com/@joseph_penola the nonprofit organization allows people of all ages and backgrounds to personally connect with musicians like Bert McCracken, lead singer and song writer for THE USED http://www.theused.net/ . A love of music is an underlying theme for You RockFoundation but those seeking assistance, educators, parents or the curious will find excellent,compassionate resources. Together we can end the stigma of mental illness. #YourStoryMatters#StopSuicide onTwitter.
For additional mental health and suicide prevention information visit :
Sexism is real. Sexism is global. The fight against it should be too.
Co-founded in 2004 by thousands of activists and humanitarian, musician and U2 front man Bono https://www.one.org/us/person/bono/, the ONE Campaign https://www.one.org/us/ is a nonpartisan, nonprofit international advocacy organization striving to end extreme poverty and preventable diseases with economic justice and equality. As part of a world leaders initiative millions of men and women launched the "Poverty is Sexist" action plan educating global citizens of the well researched and documented relationship between equal opportunities for women and extreme poverty. Did you know half a billion girls and women are unable to read? 62 million girls are denied the right to education. Did you know there are over 155 countries that have laws discriminating against women?
"Poverty is Sexist "encourages all world leaders to create and support policies which provide educational and economic empowerment including equal representation in governments. Did you know in many countries women are still denied the right to own a business or property? Many women and girls are denied the right to decide when to give birth or whether they marry. Fighting hunger and disease is a daily reality for many girls. Did you know 40% of African women are anemic due to malnutrition which results in 20% of maternal deaths? 74% of new HIV infections in Africa are female adolescents.
Making headlines this week Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau https://www.liberal.ca/rt-hon-justin-trudeau/ an outspoken feminist and women's rights advocate responded to the campaign with an insightful, inspiring letter. A copy of Justin Trudeau's intuitive feedback to those of us who requested world leaders support through ONE can be viewed in its entirety here: https://www.one.org/us/2016/08/25/trudeau_letter/
-Katherine Johnson, American physicist, mathematician
On August 26th American physicist, mathematician and space scientist, Katherine Johnson will celebrate her birthday. Among her many accomplishments was devising crucial calculations responsible for putting our astronauts on the moon.
Johnson's brilliant mind established the trajectory for the first Mercury Mission https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/mercury/missions/manned_flights.html as well as Alan B Shepard's May 5th expedition in 1961. Shepard was the first American and second person in the world to ever travel into space and back. Katherine Johnson's calculations were so accurate that even after after the first computers were used in 1962 for astronaut and Ohio native John Glenn's http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/k-4/stories/nasa-knows/who-is-john-glenn-k4.html journey into orbit, NASA https://www.nasa.gov/requested Katherine Johnson double check all of the computers conclusions.
Although Katherine Johnson may be readily recognized in the scientific community too many Americans are unfamiliar with her incredible story as a pioneering African-American teacher and mathematician. Making it's debut in January of 2017, HIDDENFIGURES the movie based on the book of the same name features a remarkable cast lead by GoldenGlobe winners Taraji P. Henson (EMPIRE, Hustle & Flow), Octavia Spencer (The Help, Get On Up) and American recording star, Janelle Monae. The cast is rounded out by Hollywood notables Kevin Costner, Kirsten Dunst, Jim Parsons and features a musical score by acclaimed producer, artist Pharrell Williams and world renowned composer Hans Zimmer. HIDDEN FIGURES is directed by Theodore Melfi (St. Vincent ) HIDDEN FIGURES, the amazing nonfiction book written by Margot Lee Shetterly is available here: /http://margotleeshetterly.com/hidden-figures-nasas-african-american-computers/
Rising sea levels and an increase in the intensity of storms are the result of human created and some natural global warming but perhaps the most serious consequences of climate change is the greater emerging threat of deadly diseases.
As evidenced in the CDC( Center for Disease Control) http://www.cdc.gov/climateandhealth/effects/ chart above the relationship between heat, water and environmental change is unprecedented. New and old diseases once thought safe are re-emerging due to melting permafrost or disease spreading insects. The link to the CDC includes access to new information from the APHA (American Public Health Association) https://www.apha.org/The video above is from a CDC- AMA (American Medical Association)http://www.ama-assn.org/ama webinar regarding Zika virus. http://www.cdc.gov/zika/about/
The United States has taken measures to decrease carbon emissions, increase alternative energy sources and enact policies that reduce risk and avert future harm but more work is needed now. Contact your state elected officials to ensure legislation is passed or created for preventative protections, common sense actions and maintaining research funding moves forward quickly to safeguard our health and environment. Each individual state has its own considerations but collectively we need to push for immediate action.
State representatives contact information can be found at USA.gov.
"The human brain now holds the key to our future. We have to recall the image of the planet from outer space: a single entity in which air, water and continents are interconnected.
That is our home."- David Suzuki, scientist, environmental activist
Established in 2012, GLOBAL CITIZEN has initiated over six million petitions, emails, phone calls and social media posts moving closer to the goal of ending extreme poverty by 2030. A global community of advocates continues to put pressure on world leaders emphasizing efforts for policy change and financial responsibility. Hunger and poverty is reality for millions of children and families. In fact, GLOBAL CITIZEN utilizes a combination of grassroots organizing and major action events affecting over 600 million lives with more than 25 billion dollars committed towards improvements in health, education, our environment and challenges facing women and girls worldwide.
The 2016 GLOBAL CITIZEN Festival will take place on September 24th in NYC's Central Park. (See video above for performers.) The festival raises awareness and promotes activism. By doing something we already love we have the opportunity to benefit the lives of others. For more information regarding the 2016 GLOBAL CITIZEN Festival check out the following link https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/festival/2016/education/
GLOBAL CITIZEN headquarters are located in New York City with offices in CANADA, the United Kingdom and Australia. How do small actions make a huge impact? Find out how to get involved at GLOBAL CITIZEN https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/about/who-we-are/
The right to vote in the United States is one of the most fundamental rights we have guaranteed by our Constitution.http://theusconstitution.org/text-history/1621/yes-there-right-vote-constitution Those eligible to vote should have every barrier removed in order for their voice to be heard and ballot counted. Making headlines once again are court judges striking down unjustified restrictions imposed based on state government leadership, district or skin color.
Check your state. Voting should be free, fair and accessible. How quickly and easily will you access a place to vote? Will you have to wait in line for an extended time? Are there enough hours and provisions (special needs parking etc) available? What are the requirements and deadlines? Voter registration information can be found here: https://www.usa.gov/register-to-vote
Need to register? Make it entertaining and informative by checking out Rock the Vote http://www.rockthevote.com/?referrer=https://www.google.com/ Rock the Vote is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that has assisted more first time voters than any other organization since its inception in 1990. The website helps to register visitors as well as answer ballot, candidate and legislative questions. (photo above is author, comedian, actor and Vote Rocker, Chelsea Handler) Voter registration information is also available at TURN UP THE VOTEhttp://www.turnupthevote.org/
State legislatures may be needlessly constructing limitations on citizens voting rights with over 30 states adding roadblocks to the polls. In person voter fraud has been proven to be almost non-existent even though it is often cited as a reason for additional restrictions. Information regarding voter fraud and voter suppression can be accessed here:
" The measure of a country's greatness is its ability to maintain compassion
in times of crisis."
- Thurgood Marshall, former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, civil rights advocate
When we discuss crime or injustice within our own family or social network most individuals tend to cite personal experiences. The harmful difficulty with personal experience is we often fail to fully understand or empathize with actual American communities. We view the world through our own biased lens. Compiling and presenting as much factual information to the public as possible is crucial for our own awareness. Change comes from our own education. Without statistics, observations and first-hand accounts our perception of reality is acutely limited. We cannot change what we don't know. We will not change what we can't acknowledge.
The Marshall Project as presented in their mission statement is a "nonpartisan, nonprofit news organization that seeks to create a sense of urgency about the U.S criminal justice system." By partnering with public forums, esteemed journalists and various news organizations The MarshallProject has created an indispensable resource for criminal justice reform, literacy and verification. Explore The Marshall Project website here:
“In science it often happens that scientists say, 'You know that's a really good argument; my position is mistaken,' and then they would actually change their minds and you never hear that old view from them again. They really do it. It doesn't happen as often as it should, because scientists are human and change is sometimes painful. But it happens every day. I cannot recall the last time something like that happened in politics or religion.” - Carl Sagan quote from "Dictionary of Science" -professor of astronomy, author
During an election year it's important that Americans take the time to examine why they're supporting a particular candidate. Our government is supposed to be working for us. Ask yourself, "How will this candidate affect our country as a whole?" Think big. Ask people around you why they've chosen a candidate and you often hear "because my spouse likes them", "my parents always voted for this party", "my boss will vote for that person.", "I don't like the other candidate so I won't vote." and the worst answer of all, "it doesn't matter." We aren't voting for high school prom king and queen. Why are YOU voting for a particular candidate? What do they have to offer you?
If you're concerned about the economy then voting for a candidate that supports increasing the minimum wage, income equality, increased job growth and family leave are important. Which candidate has a plan? If you're concerned about personal rights and freedoms then voting for someone with a strong civil liberties track record such as protecting freedom of speech, freedom of the press, protecting a woman's right to make her own health care choices, marriage equality and anti-discrimination laws are crucial. If children are a priority then support the candidate who offers comprehensive healthcare plans, increased educational opportunities and debt free college programs. If your concern is for our international security choose the candidate who has the most experience and a proven diplomatic record. Choose a candidate who offers unity over divisive rhetoric and compassion over hatred and fear. Do they have the temperament and demeanor to be president? Two of the most critical issues all Americans need to face right now is climate change and gun control legislation. Where does your candidate stand? Do they have an economic plan which protects the environment or do they disagree with 97% of scientists worldwide by stating global warming is a "hoax started by the Chinese"?
It's important that people take a long, hard realistic look at the people they vote to represent them in government at all levels including state and local offices. From experience talking to good responsible people we are failing as a country to research ballot issues. We deny factual information in favor of conspiracy theories or half truths because we're too afraid to consider our own personal motives. This election will require all American voters to think about what kind of precedent we are setting for generations to come. Change is sometimes painful but it's also necessary for our continued progress. A great research and educational tool available to the voting public is BALLOTPEDIA.ORGhttps://ballotpedia.org/Main_PageBALLOTPEDIA provides up to the minute statistics on state ballot issues as well as comprehensive public policy and federal information. The most consequential question we should ask each other as U.S citizens before an election is- "Are we informed?"
"To reconcile conflicting parties we must have the ability to understand the suffering of both sides....But how many of us are able to do that? " - Thich Nhat Hanh, peace activist, teacher, author, poet
It has been less than a month since the horrible mass shooting of 49 men and women in Orlando, Florida. A week ago innocent citizens in Bangladesh, Turkey, Syria and Iraq were senselessly slaughtered. Within a matter of days Americans have witnessed the murder of two African-American men, Alton Sterling and Philando Castile followed by the brutal slaying of five Dallas police officers: Lorne Ahrens, Michael Smith, Michael Krol, Patrick Zamarripa and Brent Thompson- moments after participating in a peaceful protest march. Many people are mourning in silence choosing to privately process such terribly tragic and purposeless acts of violence. Please, remember that not all silence is dismissive of pain and suffering. Silence can be a true act of deliberate stillness- a contemplative centering so that effective actions and discussions will be taken. Wounds fail to heal without our quiet reflection and we must honor the varying ways we grieve. Sending peace and love to those who are hurting in the United States and to those experiencing deep sorrow around our world. #BlackLivesMatter, #AltonSterling, #PhilandoCastile, #Dallas, #DPD #Orlando, #Bangladesh, #Istanbul, #Syria, #Iraq, #PEACE #NICE #BatonRouge #Munich
"This is the one time I don't mind being stuck in a windowless room on the night of the Fourth of July."- Scott Bolton, principal investigator of JUNO from Southwest Institute in San Antonio, TX
While most Americans celebrated our 240th birthday at music concerts, baseball games or running around the backyard twirling sparklers, an international team at NASA https://www.missionjuno.swri.edu/ was launching Juno http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/k-4/stories/nasa-knows/what-is-juno-k4.html into Jupiter's orbit. Check out all of the incredible details including the Juno spacecraft origin, updates and the amazing team of researchers behind MISSION JUNO at the official website https://www.missionjuno.swri.edu/ Juno was launched from Cape Canaveral AIR FORCE STATION on August 5th, 2011 and arrived on July 4th, 2016. (videos above courtesy of YouTube) Planet Jupiter is the best example of what is known as a "gas giant". Learning the history of Jupiter will help scientists uncover more about the hundreds of giant planets discovered orbiting other stars. After a five- year journey to our solar systems largest planet the Juno spacecraft completed a successful orbit insertion verified by NASA's navigation facilities around the world including NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/ While in the polar orbit the spacecraft will study the polar magnetosphere, magnetic field and gravity field. The more scientists discover about the composition of Jupiter the more we understand our own planet and solar system.
The American Bar Associationhttp://www.americanbar.org/aba.html provided judge Merrick Garland http://www.biography.com/people/merrick-garland-561802 its highest rating. Garland was effortlessly confirmed by a bipartisan vote for the Circuit Court. On March 16th, following the death of Antonin Scalia, February 13th 2016, President Obama nominated Merrick Garland which under our Constitution is customary as well as necessary when a Supreme Court seat is vacated for any reason. Despite an impressive record and impeccable credentials only a few Republican lawmakers have even agreed to meet Merrick Garland. let alone consider confirming him as the ninth US Supreme Court justice. http://www.supremecourt.gov/
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Why do we need nine? Without nine justices our Supreme Court is operating at a diminished capacity. Important determinations will have to be made in upcoming Supreme Court cases this week. All United States citizens have continuously updated information available to them at
Contact your elected officials and tell them #DO YOUR JOB. The historically unprecedented obstruction by Republican lawmakers is preventing our country from moving forward and keeping pace with the rest of the developed world.. Regardless of your party affiliation this act of obstruction effects all Americans and generations of Americans to come.
Those lawmakers who are intentionally harming the lives of American voters and the progress of our country should be voted out. https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials
Video of Minnesota Senator Al Franken courtesy of YouTube
"I do not ask the wounded person how he feels, I myself become the wounded person."
- poet, essayist, journalist and humanist, Walt Whitman - "Song of Myself"
The very definition of dehumanization is to deprive human beings of human qualities. Men, women and children become the "enemy", " other", "different". When we deny human beings have rights, suffer, feel pain, love and are loved we take away the qualities that allow us to share our humanity. Dehumanization causes us to no longer view people as individuals but as targets, targets of unjustified rage, hatred, targets of greed or targets of lesser value than ourselves. Human beings are reduced to a number- a number of victims or a number of casualties. Our mental disconnection between number and human being allows us to justify hatred, bigotry and intolerance. This is our greatest tragedy. There is a deep sense of numbness in our numbers. When we listen or read news stories from media sources, facts are reported. Part of those important facts is relaying numbers-a number of missing, a number of wounded, a number of dead. It is precisely this disconnection that promotes a separation of ourselves from other humans. We lose our compassion.
Twelve innocent people were killed at an Aurora, Colorado movie theater.in 2012. Later that same year in December, twenty children and six adults were brutally murdered at Sandy Hook Elementary School. One year ago this week nine members of a Charleston, South Carolina church were slaughtered. In the early morning of Sunday, June 12th, forty-nine human beings, forty-nine brothers, sisters, friends, lovers, co-workers were senselessly gunned down in an Orlando nightclub massacre. The victims of those horribly violent crimes were human beings who woke up on the morning of their deaths to live their lives as any other day, never suspecting for one moment that their lives would be taken away by a man with a gun.A man with a gun, a man with an assault weaponwho had no right or justification to take their lives. Each human being who had their life cut short had the RIGHT to freedom, to love and be loved, to dream, to pursue happiness, to hope, to dance, to worship, to sing, to cry, to LIVE.
They didn't want to die nor did they deserve to die.
Please visit the HRC- Human Rights Campaign websitehttp://www.hrc.org/ which has posted a memorial with the names and photo's of the forty-nine murder victims in Orlando on June 12th. Look closely at the pictures of the beautiful men and women who had their lives taken from them, taken from their families, taken from their communities. Look at their smiles. Look into their eyes. Read the individual biographies.They were mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, friends, students, soldiers, lovers and children. They are all of us.
Please take a moment to watch the short video clip taken from C- Spanhttp://www.c-span.org/ during a fifteen hour marathon of Senate Democrats pleading with Senate Republicans to enforce laws and continue to enact common sense gun control measures preventing further gun related mass murders. Connecticut Senator, Christopher Murphy describes the life of Dylan Hockley. Dylan was a student at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
My heart was shattered by the death of a beautiful, soft, sweet, soulful brown eyed cocker spaniel a few years ago and it still hasn't mended. Such is the power of love. Pets- our dogs, cats, horses, hamsters, lizards, ferrets and more have been honored with an Appreciation Week, (June 5th thru the 11th) and a World Pet Memorial Day, (June 12th.) Why? Don't be so cynical. As astrophysicist, Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson reaffirms in the Nova http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/ feature above we have a special relationship with our four legged friends stretching far back in human history.
Dogs are not only trusted, affectionate, loyal companions, hunters, guides, searchers and field workers, they are keenly intelligent therapists, intuitive healers and protective guardians. Pets can serve as important sources of social and emotional support. Individuals facing significant health challenges such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) orsevere depression have shown remarkable improvement in overall quality of life from pet companionship. According to research published by the American Psychological Association pet owners were just as close to key people in their lives as to their animals indicating no evidence that relationships with pets came at the expense of relationships with other people or that people relied more on pets when their human social support was poor or unreliable. The results of the study were reported in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, published online by the APA .http://www.apa.org/
According to researchers studying human-pet relationships, " We observed evidence that pet owners fared better both in terms of well-being outcomes and individual differences than non-owners on several dimensions.” said lead researcher, Allen R. McConnell, PhD, of Miami University in Ohio. “Specifically, pet owners had greater self-esteem, were more physically fit, tended to be less lonely, were more conscientious, were more extroverted, tended to be less fearful and tended to be less preoccupied than non-owners." Sounds like caring for a pet has resulted in a wonderful list of physical and mental health benefits. Personally, pet ownership was an enriching, unforgettable experience prompting one simple warning: Be prepared to have your heart broken.
"Knowledge is of two kinds. We know a subject ourselves, or we know where we can find information on it." -Samuel Johnson, renowned English author, journalist, essayist
As frustrating as it may seem numbing ourselves to national newscasts, pouring over political pundits or dissecting horrendous hash tags our country has been diagnosed with dangerous levels of misinformation exposure. With an overload of altered photo social media posts, spastic random Tweets, vlogs, blogs, countdowns, metrics, expert panels, power boards and of course the most distressing of all- the "unofficial" poll, we are bombarded with seemingly meaningless words we haven't had time to process or reflect upon. How do we know what we're reading or hearing is factual? Information isn't knowledge.
Obviously, everything we hear or read isn't true. It's terribly important that we understand where to find the facts and who we can trust. It's even more important that we teach young adults to discriminate information for themselves. Even some of the most respected resources for political facts may be inaccurate or exaggerated. It's important for all of us to research and question especially during a historic election cycle. Political candidates should be held responsible for any erroneous remarks or inflammatory rhetoric spewed when denying scientific evidence or verifiable medical facts. The next leader of the free world shouldn't be ignorant of immigration laws, climate change, human reproduction, economics or international policy. In order for American voters to make informed choices requires educated citizens who know the truth about the same subjects.
Below are website links to recommended nonpartisan, nonprofit fact checking organizations and important research centers.
Red Nose Day raised over 23 million dollars last year helping to change the lives of children and families in the US and around the world.
Hosted by comedian, actor, writer and director Craig Ferguson, the 2016 Red Nose Day festivities will air live Thursday, May 26th at 9PMEST on NBC http://www.nbc.com/. The star studded special not only features celebrities such as musician John Legend, actors Neil PatrickHarris, Anna Kendrick and comedian Michael Che but gives us an inspiring glimpse of what fun-raising actually provides for children and families across the United States and around the world. Donations distribute meals for children in homeless shelters, medicines to treat pneumonia, anti-malaria nets to protect babies, books for students learning to read and so much more. For additional information and fun-raising ideas check out the official Red Nose Day website. http://rednoseday.org/
In 2015 the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children assisted law enforcement with over 13,700 cases of missing children.
The entire month of May is National Missing Children's Month with May 25th designated International Missing Children's Day. Statistics in the United States and worldwide are staggering but there has been a notable expansion in the information and tips provided to law enforcement and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children http://www.missingkids.org/ncmec in the past few years.NCMEC is the leading nonprofit organization in the country working with families, family service professionals and law enforcement since being established in 1984. In 2015 the Cyber Tipline http://www.missingkids.org/cybertiplinewhich the US Congress authorized NCMEC to oversee has received 4.4 million reports relating to child sex trafficking, child sexual molestation, apparent child abuse images and online enticement or what is currently termed "sextortion". The FBI clarifies https://www.fbi.gov/news/videos/what-is-sextortion/view sextortion as a serious felony of sexual exploitation or coercion where by images of a child or an adult are used to blackmail a victim to obtain sexual favors or money. A crime of our digital age, social media predators have become more rampant with a child's increased use of unsupervised online technology.
Raising further awareness in 2016 the NCMEC has created Rock One Sock, a campaign to remind us all that each day there is an estimated 2,185 children reported missing in the United States alone. Across the world, children are the most vulnerable to sex trafficking and sexual abuse. If you have information which may lead to the capture or conviction of child traffickers or those involved in child exploitation please contact the NCMEC or the Cyber Tipline. (video above courtesy of YouTube) For more details regarding Rock One Sock visit the official sitehttp://rockonesock.org/or check out #RockONESock on Twitter.
"If possessing a higher degree of intelligence does not entitle one human to use another human for his or her own ends, how can it entitle humans to exploit non-humans?" - Peter Singer, author, philosopher, professor
With so much information and outstanding streaming content available online it's almost impossible to keep up. One important film you don't want to miss making its theatrical debut on May 25th is Unlocking theCagehttp://www.unlockingthecagethefilm.com/ . The anticipated documentary directed by Chris Hegedus and D A Pennebaker was a highly praised Official Selection of the 2016 Sundance Film Festival https://www.sundance.org/festivals/sundance-film-festival (video trailer above courtesy of YouTube) Unlocking the Cage follows pioneering lawyer Steven Wise and his legal team from The Nonhuman Rights Project http://www.nonhumanrightsproject.org/ through the filing of a groundbreaking series of lawsuits protecting animal rights. In fact The Nonhuman Rights Project is the only civil rights organization in the US fighting for confirmed legal rights for species other than human. Unlocking the Cage premieres at Film Forum http://filmforum.org/ in New York City on Wednesday, May 25th. Check the official film site above for additional dates in your own area. For more information regarding the unprecedented work of TheNonhuman Rights Project follow this link http://www.nonhumanrightsproject.org/
