Sunday, July 29, 2007

Finishing what another started; 'friends': over 300

...Had never been there before, only heard of it and thought what most everyone else does who hasn't been there. I was wrong.

Over time, found a number of members who advocate for children; name the topic, someone has a page devoted to it. Many of these people have had horrible things happen to their children as well. Last week it was discovered that four times as many registered offenders were found there compared to the number estimated or calculated even earlier this year (two months ago). Many of this last sweep may have been identified because of the 'watchdog' members. The site that has been assisting with the Dateline series is there, where those arrested on the show were also found.

Another TV morning feature regarding this week's sweep aptly pointed out that those ID'd were registered offenders using their real names: they'd already been arrested and convicted of these crimes. They were also quick to mention that if these are the number of those who will actually use their names post conviction and 'on the street' again, think of how many more there are who do not use their own names &/or have not been caught. Whoever did this to that little girl was witnessed by someone, in a ‘private’ place.

Think of the number still, in this country, where there are no witnesses and it happens repeatedly, sometimes for years. The last thing I would want to do particularly here is detail a major 'downer' that has been encountered. Again, grateful for the one who brought this up; accountability begins in one way by zero tolerance of whatever could lead to so many getting away with so much. Our 'contrast' must shine a broad and exposing light in as many places as we can.

http://sheboygan-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070728/SHE0101/70728007/1973

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19939181/

[response by someone praising 'watchdog' group, saying they couldn't do the same]

Thank you; you're right, I couldn't either. We all have unique capacities, and I'm grateful for anyone having such strong feelings that lead them into taking positive action in order to protect others and prevent further harm. Since the last post, the story of the home invasion in Connecticut that wiped out an entire family was in the news again about the funerals; there was one survivor, now speaking through unbearable pain that we cannot go on 'as before'. ‘Wiped out’ simply means that no one in that family that includes grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins will ever be the same again; they are all now changed, and ‘life’ as they knew it is now permanently not like anything they had perhaps ever known before.

An accompanying article highlighted that now the residents are considering gun purchases: also not an appropriate solution. The issues that are the root causes cannot be addressed this way, though it's a 'logical' response. What is exemplified in our daily lives in the smallest ways speaks to our environment.

...We cannot go on as if bad things only happen to other people; with intentions that we have come to know, we may be less prone to tragedy, and fear serves no one. There are ways to be more than ‘spectators’ to Dateline, and still excel at what we each do best. We insure both our own well-being and that of others by living daily what we learn and can apply well respectively in our own unique ways, in what we act on and choose to exchange, with each other and in our communities. Bringing out the same in others in the ways we can and how those exchanges may cause others to choose of themselves to do more within the scope of their skills and talents comprise these possibilities. Now, take the last sentence and look at it in the negative; this is how the ‘other’ happens. This is where contrast comes in.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20015078

Saturday, June 30, 2007

Thanks for asking...

It's amazing sometimes what can happen when someone asks you the 'right' question at a significant time; some also say that an important lesson in life is what is acquired in knowledge or otherwise according to what is asked. This applies in ways both big and small.

Equally amazing that I would not only go to a site not well-regarded up to now by mainstream 'grown-ups' and respectfully comply with a request by a highly-regarded teacher and mentor which required a sign-up, which I did; I also became involved in this newfound 'culture' enough to begin building the resulting page into a mini-portal in its own right.

The concept of online 'friends' was introduced to me through another site I still use as a homepage. Someone asked me to be their 'friend'. Curious, having no idea what that meant, I followed the email alert that directed me to who had made the request, the site being one I trusted for all basic purposes. Not claiming to still grasp how others find each other in all possible ways, I soon became the 'friend' of a small group of 'like minds', many of whom had no more than a few philosophical sentences to describe themselves, sans photo, which was just as well. Who they are in the ways that 'matter' becomes illustrated by their words and sentiments in the trails of topics connected to their names, many of which I'm not aware of as they continue. We got to know each other upon participating in common 'threads' of supportive dialogue. Some go on to exchange emails or leave each other private messages; a few have met successfully, their common interests enriched, when in the same locales.

Who knew? This ever popular 'new' site, that I'd stereotyped along with the masses as a teenager's forum and typical accompanying parents' 'nightmare', as it's been mostly portrayed in the media, would also now contain pages by prominent notables, organizations, musical groups, politicians, and change agents, in addition to the rest it's most known for.

By the end of the third week, I'd located the page by those that helped corner who preyed on the under aged on national television. They became my 'friend', along with now over a hundred from directly or indirectly related purposes. It was now I who was making the requests, having been able to seek out the contacts of others through their 'friends', so accessibly displayed on their pages.

My criteria for accepting many is who does not portray others in any way that does not become them, even when it is they themselves who present in a way that's less about who they are 'inside'. To date, there are no g-strings or exposed abs in the less visible pages of the total number of 'friends' so far. I can't see it happening going forward, though 'never' say 'never'. Even a great humanitarian can have a great physique; I've yet to see one, however, who took away from the whole of their 'gifts' by allowing the former to become their first impression.

Monday, May 28, 2007

Event of the Month

I went to this that is my official first blog (there are now others on other sites yet to be developed; as they contain 'blog' options on 'main' pages) after several weeks of not being back for awhile. Returned because I was entering my profile into another site that requested a webpage, and I thought this was appropriate for where it was going, until I reflected on the content for 'public consumption'.

What are the odds that these musings would be seen and interpreted out of context or used in a way that's not in the original spirit? Well, during the month I ran into vacationing family members in a city of many millions at the exact moment they were on the same subway platform. If that can happen, anything can. I also noticed that the entries already here were each from a previous month, and that nothing had been added for this one.

After pondering for a moment, I decided another page created on another forum was better for now. I'd started it because a mentor had requested 'saying hello' on his page there, and I had to join to follow through. 'NBD', as this generation now texts, which I don't ('no big deal'). There is now represented there individuals of all ages and backgrounds, including politicians (!). It's been a site I've unconsciously avoided until just recently, due to its being known for catering to a younger crowd, not to mention those who 'look' for the same. It's wishful thinking to entertain that just because a full cross-section of the country online now goes there that the questionable activities have diminished, but I can dream can't I?

So, as I immediately put myself under pressure simultaneously creating a 'profile', letting the world know I exist where like minds have been known to gather, while wondering what profound bit of 'universal' wisdom could be added here. A month passing with no entry was not an option; I knew I could come up with something.

As 'luck' would have it, and to my astonishment, as I hadn't recorded anywhere the page ID that was where I'd created it: on the page itself, I went to the site and instead of entering a username and password, I entered my name in the search box. What came up wasn't my page, though my name certainly did. I hadn't noticed that it was my first name on the actual page I'd created (which is just fine).

The search results had referenced a quote of mine I'd recorded on the web some time ago elsewhere. I remember what had inspired it (another mentor's inquiry), and it remains entirely mine, though how they found it remains a mystery. It wasn't just one reference to my now 'famous' quote, listed amongst others who are either well-known or 'immortal', but two! I went to the pages linked to the search results and was pretty overcome. Both who had chosen to include my words seemed to have obtained them from different sources, nor would they necessarily know each other; the chronology and how it was listed was completely different.

The Event of the Month came to me within seconds of my summoning the inspiration, a natural law in action, in a way whatever conscious ability I have now to create was 'topped'; what I expected to find searching for 'myself' illustrated that I'd been 'discovered' by others, and quoted no less. Little do they know I'm right there with them, another 'first name', grateful for certain 'secrets', for now.

Sunday, April 15, 2007

Name of offender known by enough

Written 4/12 p.m. during AC360 (get-well wishes to the NJ Gov., representing another form of fallout that is only beginning): As I write this, he's with them "apologizing" and "tears are being shed". All from one person with 'influence' and an accepted illusion of 'power' having verbally denigrated them, once. Imagine what it's like for hundreds of thousands of women in relationships that have reached the threshold of 'dangerous', also 'acceptable' to the point that if she reaches out for help, it isn't considered 'serious' unless there are documented records of physical abuse; to answer the most 'predictable' question in advance, she doesn't leave because 75% of violent incidents occur when she tries to leave or afterward (sometimes years later), even if 'nothing' happened previously within the household.

And while we're on the subject, the media is now saying that the Duke rape 'victim' is now a 'liar', because her allegations could not be substantiated. According to law, it may or may not have happened; there were simply no 'reliable or credible' witnesses or 'evidence'. By the same token, the players may or may not have been guilty, and are now getting 'applause' as 'innocent'. One of them said, they 'could only imagine' what it would have been like for someone with limited or no resources, like the 'alleged' victim, perhaps? The person 'apologizing' here is merely doing so for expressing 'bias' before 'all' was presented. Usually the bias is simply not so obvious or visible.

If it happened, they can go and do it again, even smarter now and reinforced for what they got away with (like OJ). They could be 'innocent', the point is as in the former scenario the same 'legal' tactics are used against real victims who come out to save themselves (usually with children involved), only to be dismissed or further legally abused because the 'only' witness was a child (with no acknowledged rights), and requests for protection are denied or ignored. Many die this way, literally or spiritually, in this country, often.

Saturday, March 3, 2007

"parallel events"

Seems it's that time of year: everything is happening at once, and in one 'body' I often 'wish' lately I could be three places at one time, or be able to take calls in the middle of meetings or while empathetically listening to the concerns of a longtime friend. Though in the infinite wisdom of the universe, this 'body' doesn't do any of those things, so perhaps that the event that caught my attention at past the half-point had its own purpose in occurring when other significant things were going on.

I'm letting it all go, and passing it on, making a note that this time next year, 'our' world will be different, and those of us whom I've been blessed to make contact with up until this time are aware that perhaps it might be good to schedule our annual events at times that do not overlap so that we can all share more, and be there for each other, for what we have in common. My 'job' (or 'joy') is passing on what can't be absorbed in just one 'body', not taking for granted that something of significance always is on the radar of those we might 'expect' to know the same: why we choose to be there for each other. So this time next year and in the interest of all the moments in between, making time for each other during our annual events that are often consuming will happen at times when we can at least know of each other, so that purposes in common can move forward together. And to be perfectly clear, I mean the collective 'we', not just 'me' and 'you':


"Parallel Events organised by UN Missions, UN Entities and Inter-Governmental Organizations"

The entry that follows the links is condensed from the comprehensive schedule that began last week and continues into this one, during which I'll be attending other events that took as much time to plan (by many equally dedicated souls); my intention is that those that created these and where we were know more about each other going forward. The respective causes merit collaboration, so that more children have more opportunity sooner still. You may know more of the acronyms than I do. Feel free to share.

http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/conf/seforms/dspUNcalendarUN.asp

It began with: Launch of the International Knowledge Network of Women in Politics [iKNOW Politics], then...
ICT is the Key: Global Development, Empowerment, and Gender Equality, the Elimination of Discrimination and Violence against Girls and Young Women
AIT Global
and co-sponsored by:
Division for the Advancement of Women, Global Alliance for ICT and Development (GAID), Department of Public Information, InfoWorld, CIO, and CSO; IBM and AMD
Breaking the cycle of violence against girls -from child labour to education
ILO
Financing for gender equality and the empowerment of women
CSW Bureau
and co-sponsored by:
UN Division for the Advancement of Women
Partnerships for protection in the education of girls
UNICEF
A (Afghanistan) to Z (Zimbabwe) of Tackling Discrimination against Women and Girls
Permanent Mission of the United Kingdom to the United Nations
and co-sponsored by:
Womankind
The role of men in promoting gender equality: The experience of the EU
European Commission
and co-sponsored by:
The Mission of Germany and the Mission of Finland
UN Special Rapporteurs, the Human Rights Council and NGO Networking at the 51st Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women
OHCHR
and co-sponsored by:
Office of the High Commissioner for Rights, International Federation of Women Lawyers, WUNRN
Gender-sensitive indicators and measurements of change
UNDP
How to reach the most marginalized & invisible girls?
UNICEF
State of the World's Children and Women: The double dividend of gender equality
UNICEF
Global Summit for a Better Tomorrow
DESA NGO Section
and co-sponsored by:
Virtue Foundation
Breaking Barriers: Achieving Balance in Numbers and Work Life
OSAGI
ASK ME, I'LL TELL YOU
International Psychoanalytical Association Trust
and co-sponsored by:
Committeeon the Status of Women
Working to Change Girl's lives from the ground up
Rotary International
and co-sponsored by:
Rotary International, Soroptimist and Zonta
The Role of Men and Boys in ending Discrimination and Violence against girls.
International Council of Jewish Women
and co-sponsored by:
Zonta
Legislative Advocacy on the Elimination of Violence and Discrimination Against the Girl Child
International League for Human Rights
and co-sponsored by:
Friends of Africa International
Women on the Edge
Manhattanville College
Saving girls, saving the world: Beyond gender equality, moving toward girls' right
International Association of Educators for World Peace
Violence and the Mental Health Consequences for the Girl Child
World Federation for Mental Health
and co-sponsored by:
International Association of Schools of Social Work
Echoes of Eve
National Council of Women of the United States Inc.
and co-sponsored by:
Sub-Committee for the Elimination of Racism of the International NGO Committee on Human Rights, American Physiological Association, Nat'l assoc. of Negro Bus& Prof. Women's Clubs, Inc
No excuses: Defending Women’s and Children’s Rights in Times of Terror
Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice
and co-sponsored by:
San Diego United Nations Association - Women's Equity Council
Realizing Girls' Entitlement to Quality Public Services
International Confederation of Free Trade Unions
and co-sponsored by:
Education International; Public Services International
The importance of mothers to the girlchild
Associated Country Women of the World
Caucus
Role of Men & Boys in Achieving Gender Equality Review Topic
UN Conference
Rural Women and Violence against Girls
Rural Development Leadership Network
and co-sponsored by:
TBA
School for violence: how young people learn their roles
Womankind Worldwide
Books and Bagels
International Women's Tribune Center IWTC
The impact of discrimination on a girl’s health
World Association of Girl Guides & Girl Scouts
Improving the treatment of women and girl children in prison
Penal Reform International
Sexual Exploitation and the Girl Child
Coalition Against Trafficking in Women
and co-sponsored by:
UNANIMA International
Introducing Women Founders Collective: for Women Founders of NGO's
Project Kesher
and co-sponsored by:
Women Founders Collective
How little resources can protect girl child from getting Fistual & lower child mortality
Zenab for Women in Development, Inc.
and co-sponsored by:
Nation to Nation Networking
Not only victims: Girls as social change agents
International Fellowship of Reconciliation
and co-sponsored by:
IFOR Women Peacemakers Program
The Girl Empowerment Strategy under the Concept of Gender Mainstreaming
Simply Help, Inc.
Creating Global Change with the UN Study on Violence vs Women
Zonta International
and co-sponsored by:
International Council of Women, Soroptimist Int'l, BPWI, IFUW
Female Infanticide
Worldwide Organization for Women
WOMEN’S RIGHTS ACROSS OUR BORDERS: Root Causes in an Uprooted World
International Women Judges Foundation
Drawing attention to the issue of women in decision-making - The other side of discrimination and violence against women and the girl-child
Centro di Ricerca e Documentazione Febbraio 74
and co-sponsored by:
ASDO - Assemblea delle donne per lo sviluppo e la lotta all’esclusione sociale (Assembly of Women for development and the Struggle Against Social Exclusion
Violence Against the Girl Child: Consequences Across the Life Span
NGO CSW NY Subcommittee on Violence Against Women
Crimes Of Honor Against Girls & Women
Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development
Towards The Health and Well - Being of the Girl- Child
International Health Awareness Network
Small Funders: Big Ideas
Virginia Gildersleeve International Fund, Inc.
and co-sponsored by:
Project 5-0
The girl child in the indigenous communities, violence, vulnurability and a constructive way forward
VIVAT International
and co-sponsored by:
NGO Committee on the UN International Decade of the World's Indigenous Peoples
Too Young to Wed: Ending Child Marriage in Developing Countries
International Center for Research on Women (ICRW)
and co-sponsored by:
International Center for Research on Women, UNICEF
Violence of the girlchild in work situations: challenges and responses.
International Alliance of Women
and co-sponsored by:
FIDA, NYWBA
Legal Mechanisms to Protect the Girl Child from Neglect, Abuse and Punishment from around the World
International Federation of Women Lawyers FIDA
Womanhood and motherhood: how to be a world changer
Endeavour Forum Inc.
Discrimination and Violence against the Girl Child: Health Disparities
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
and co-sponsored by:
NCNW, NAACP, Links
Forming Movement of Girls and Boys Against Violence and Discrimination
Kenya Alliance for the Advancement of Children
and co-sponsored by:
NGO Committee on UNICEF
Advancing the Human Rights of Girls: NGOs' approaches in Moving Girls' Rights Forward
Canadian Federation of University Women
and co-sponsored by:
1. Canadian Federation of University Women and 2.The National Council of Women of Canada
Health of Girl Child is Global Wealth
Medical Women's International Association
and co-sponsored by:
National Council of Women( NCW) , American Medical Womens Association(AMWA)
Media exploitation of girls as a form of violence against girls
National Alliance of Women's Organizations
and co-sponsored by:
UK Asian Women's Conference, Women's National Commission, European Women's Lobby and International Council of Jewish Women
The importance of valuing women's caregiving work in the elimination of discrimination against women and the girl child
Federation Europeenne des Femmes Actives au Foyer
WWSF Circles of compassion to help meet UN MDGs
Women's World Summit Foundation
and co-sponsored by:
The Millionth Circle
Legal Perspectives for Advancing the Status of Women and Girls Invitation Only
International Federation of Women in Legal Careers FIFCJ & Partners
Building a Mentally Healthy Environment to Promote Gender Equity for Girls
World Federation for Mental Health
and co-sponsored by:
Mental Health Association
Lift Your Voices
United Nations Association of San Diego
and co-sponsored by:
United Nations Association Pasadena-Foothills Chapter; Fifty-Fifty Leadership
Mothers Empowering Daughter, a panel of experts including the US Parents of the Year in a presentation on Conference related issues.
Association of United Families International
UN Reform and Gender Architecture: Where Do We Stand? Part 2
International Women's Tribune Centre
and co-sponsored by:
Asia-Pacific Women’s Watch
Protecting the Girl Child HIV/AIDS Orphans
Lawyers Without Borders
Girls Building Peace
Worldwide Organization for Women
and co-sponsored by:
World Vision, International Federation of Univeristy Women
UN Security Council Resolution 1325
International Women's Tribune Center IWTC
Fighting the Good Fight: Women's Right Activism in an Era of Global Crisis
Women's Learning Partnership for Rights, Development, and Peace
Workshop on the Responsibility to Protect and Peacebuilding Commission
World Federalist Movement
and co-sponsored by:
World Federalist Movement-Inst. for Global Policy and Centre for Conflict Resolution
World Peace Begins at Home
Worldwide Organization for Women
and co-sponsored by:
World Peace Parents
Patriarchy and its Impact on the Girl Child
PDHRE
WORKING WITH BOYS AND MEN TO END DISCRIMNATION AND VIOLENCE AGAINST GIRLS
International Save the Children Alliance
and co-sponsored by:
SAVE THE CHILDREN
Challenges Confronting Women's Leadership
National Council for Research on Women
Mental Health Implications of Violence and Discrimination against the Girl-Child: Prevention and Interventions
NGO Committee on Mental Health
Women Rights, Child abuse and Human Rights
Peace Worldwide
and co-sponsored by:
Peace Worldwide
The Secretary General’s Report on Violence against Children: Eradicating Sexual Exploitation
Women's Bar Association of the State of New York WBASNY
CSWs: Institutional mechanisms to enhance the status of women and girls
Women's Commission Research and Education Fund (National Association of Commissions for Women)
TheGirl Child: Critical Awareness -impact of global media
National Council of Women of the United States Inc.
and co-sponsored by:
Nat'l Assn of Negro Bus& Prof Women's Clubs, Knowledge Trust,