Bloggers Unite for Human Rights: 10 Female Human Rights Heroes

In the midst of some of the world’s most darkest of times, a few seek to bring light.

Women have LONG played a significant role in human rights activism, yet historically receive much less attention than their male counter parts.

So, today…

As bloggers all over the world unite for human rights…

I direct your eyes

And your attention

And your heart

to 10 women you may or may not have heard of

And to the causes for which each woman either fought with her life

Or fights with her life now.

1. Harriet Tubman

Abolitionist :: Humanitarian :: Union Spy

Having escaped from slavery herself, Harriet Tubman made 13 dangerous missions to free 70 slaves through the “Underground Railroad” - safe houses set up by antislavery activists; aided John Brown in recruiting men for his raid on Harper’s Ferry; was the first woman to lead an armed exhibition in the war; guided the raid on the Combahee River liberating more than 700 slaves; and in the post-war era she fought for women’s suffrage. Harriet Tubman was a woman of great courage, faith, and determination to help change the world for the betterment of all man and woman kind and she was a great humanitarian hero. To learn more about HarrietTubman, visit www.harriettubmanbiography.com.

2. Margaret Utinsky

War Hero :: Nurse :: Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipient

Married to a civil engineer working for the U.S. Government in the Philippines, Margaret Utinsky enjoyed her life in Manila. It was the 1930’s and her husband had a good job. However, as the world began to change in the 1940’s, so did life in the Philippines. When it became clear that the Japanese were going to attack the islands of the Pacific, the U.S. Government ordered all American wives back to the States. Only Margaret refused to leave her husband. When her husband was relocated to work on Bataan, Margaret stayed behind. In December of 1941, as the Japanese invaded the Philippines and occupied Manila, Margaret hid in her apartment for more than 10 weeks. Eventually obtaining false identity documents, Margaret began to work for the Red Cross and began to search for her husband. Seeing the conditions of the captured soldiers who survived the Bataan Death March and learning of the death of her husband, Margaret set about to save as many of the POWs as she could. Recruiting and organizing a team of helpers, Margaret and her network began smuggling food, medicine, shoes, and money for the captured men being held by the Japanese in Camp O’Donnell and Cabanatuan . Through Margaret’s and her team’s work, hundreds of lives were saved. This life-saving work was not without danger. A number of Margaret’s team members were captured and killed. Margaret, too, was captured, beaten and tortured, but she would not reveal any of those within her network and she was eventually released. Escaping to the mountains near Bataan, Margaret continued her work as a nurse with the Filipino forces moving from camp to camp to help everyone in need. Upon the American liberation of the Philippines, Margaret returned to the United States where she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and would write a book, Miss U, detailing her life story. To learn more about Margaret Utinsky, visit World War II Remembered.

3. Irena Sendler

Champion of Children :: Rescuer :: Order of the Smile Recipient

Appalled by Hitler’s holocaust, Irena Sendler set out to save as many Jews as she could in her native Warsaw, Poland. As a social worker, Irena first began documenting Jewish families as having highly contagious diseases so the Nazis would not visit the families. However, when the Warsaw Ghetto was built and all Jews were walled off from the rest of society and systematically killed, Irena came up with a new plan. Organizing a team of 20 rescuers, Irena worked out ways to not only enter the Ghetto herself, but for her team as well. During her many working visits inside the Ghetto, Irena convinced as many Jewish families with babies and young children as she could to give up their young ones to Irena and her team. All counted, Irena and her fellow rescuers smuggled 2,500 Jewish children out of the Warsaw Ghetto and out of certain death at the hands of the Nazis. Finding homes with non-Jewish families, convents, and orphanages, Irena also documented each child as being Catholic. Careful to never reveal their true identities and names to anyone, Irena vowed to herself that she would one day work to reunite the children with their families. To keep the records of each child’s true name safe, Irena wrote the names on slips of paper, placed the papers in jars, and buried the jars in one of her team member’s yard. Irena was eventually caught and beaten by the Gestapo. Even with both feet and legs broken, injuries that would leave her crippled for life, and sentenced to die, Irena never revealed any information. Successfully escaping from prison, Irena was hunted by the Gestapo until the end of the war. True to her word, Irena dug up the jars and set about finding children and families. Sadly, many of the families were killed by the Nazis, but those that survived were found by Irena and reunited with either their children or their relatives children. Irena Sendler died this week at the age of 98. She is a hero of not just 2,500 Jewish children, but of all the generations of their children. To learn more about Irena Sendler, visit Life in a Jar.

4. Alice Paul 5. Lucy Burns

Suffragists :: Leaders :: Committed to Equality

Knowing how government affects our daily lives, real life suffragists Alice Paul and Lucy Burns fought with all of their might to win women the right to vote in the United States of America. Taking on not only Washington D. C. politicians and President Woodrow Wilson, but the National American Woman Suffrage Association founded in 1890 by Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Alice Paul and Lucy Burns successfully led the campaign that brought the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1920 giving women the right to vote. However, in doing so Alice and Lucy discovered just how determined many men — and women — were to prevent this from happening. At times fighting with their very lives, these courageous women and their team of fellow suffragists soldiered on. Lobbying, picketing, organizing demonstrations and parades, the suffragists including Alice and Lucy were eventually convicted and incarcerated for obstructing traffic. As an act of protest of their conditions and treatment while incarcerated, Alice Paul began a hunger strike and a number of her fellow inmate suffragists followed suit. Having used the press for the demonstrations and parades, Alice Paul was a known figure. When news of her hunger strike and an order for her to be force fed leaked to the press, pressure on President Wilson and Congress mounted. Committed to see women have an equal vote in how America’s government runs, Alice Paul and Lucy Burns fought with their lives to make this world a better place for all women who would come after them — a place where your daughter(s) have an equal voice to your son(s). To learn more about Alice Paul and her legacy,visit the Alice Paul Institute. To learn more about Lucy Burns, visit the National Women’s History Museum.

6. Zainab Salbi

Survivor :: Humanitarian :: Builder of Lives

Having survived bombs in Iraq and living under the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein, Zainab Salbi escaped from Iraq knowing something better must be ahead of her. Discovering other women whose lives had been torn apart by war, Zainab began reaching out to these women in all ways she could. Seeing a great need for women who survive war, Zainab founded Women for Women International in 1993. Along with co-founder Amjad Atallah, Zainab worked to build the organization into a place where women would help women become stronger. Since its opening, more than 93,000 women have been served through Women for Women International’s various programs. To learn more about Zainab Salbi and her work, visit Women for Women International.

7. Esther Chavez Cano

Care Giver :: Advocate :: Champion for Women’s Rights

1993 brought a wave of violence against women and young girls to Juarez, Mexico — a town bordering El Paso, Texas. With more than 400 + women and young girls having been brutally raped, murdered and some disappearing, surely one would think that law enforcement would be working all that much harder to stop the violence and bring the killers to justice — if justice on earth is possible for the horrendous nature of these crimes. But, to this day, the law has turned a relatively blind eye to stopping the violence. Seeking a way to help the victims and gain stronger rights for women, Esther Chavez Cano started the Casa Amiga Rape Crisis Center in Juarez. Amazingly, in this community of 1.5 million, Casa Amiga is the ONLY facility of its kind created to female victims of rape and violent crimes. Last year alone, Casa Amiga provided help for 1, 172 new cases and served 5,803 clients. With a small, mainly volunteer staff, Casa Amiga is a light in a very dark place for women. To learn more about the work of Esther Chavez Cano, visit the Casa Amiga Rape Crisis Center.

8. Mutabar Tadzhibaeva

Activist :: Prisoner of Conscience :: Noble Peace Prize Nominee

Founder of the national Uzbekistan movement, Civil Society, Mutabar Tadzhibaeva is currently in prison in her native Uzbekistan serving an eight year sentence for 13 counts of economic and political counts against the Uzbekistan government. Detained in October of 2005 on her way to an international conference on human rights defenders,Mutabar’s trial began on January 30, 2006. Being forced to sit in a cage throughout her trial, Mutabar was also denied access to private meetings with her attorney, files associated with her case, and sufficient time to review material pertaining to her case. In 2005, when the Uzbekistan government forces fired into crowds of unarmed protesters, killing hundreds, Mutabar Tadzhibaeva’s human rights work increased and she became more vocal. After giving a radio interview in which she condemned the government for their harrassment of human rights activists, Mutabar’s own well being began to be threatened. To learn how you can speak up for Mutabar and demand her release, visit Amnesty International.

8. Angelica Gonzalez 9. Jennifer Echeverria

Lawyers :: Seekers of Justice :: Human Rights Advocates

As part of a team of lawyers at the Center for Legal Action of Human Rights in Guatemala, Angelica Gonzalez and Jennifer Echeverria provide legal support for families seeking justice for their relatives killed during Guatemala’s internal armed conflict. With many massacres and mass killings — one proven to be carried out by the government in 1982, families of relatives killed in this massacre won a court battle and have been awarded compensation to be paid by the Guatemalan government. With more trials coming against military officers and the former Head of State of Guatemala, threats are now being made against the legal teams. Recently, both Angelica and Jennifer have been threatened to the point of fearing for their lives — simply because they are defending the rights of their fellow man/womankind. To learn how you can speak on behalf of Angelica Gonzalez and Jennifer Echeverria in an appeal for their safety, visit Amnesty International.

10. Betty Makoni

Schoolteacher :: Silence Breaker :: Ginetta Sagan Award Recipient

As a victim of sexual abuse at the age of six and having her mother die three years later from domestic violence, Betty Makoni knew at an early age that her native country of Zimbabwe would not change for women unless violence against women was talked about openly. As a former schoolteacher, Betty knew the importance of education for women in stopping the cycle of domestic violence. In 1998, Betty started Girl Child Network by helping to educate six girls on how to fight back against sexual exploitation, poverty and violence. Since then, more than 500,000 girls in Zimbabwe have been served through the Girl Child Network with 3,000 of them having become doctors, lawyers, teachers and professionals in other areas. Empowering girls to stay in school, covering educational fees and school supplies, and providing safe houses for counseling and rehabilitation for girls who are victims of sexual violence and abuse are only a few of the many ways Girl Child Network has helped and continues to help young girls break free from cycles of poverty, abuse, violence and disease. Demonstrating such a success, the Girl Child Network program is now being replicated in Sweden, Swaziland, Sweden, Canada, South Africa, and the United States. To learn more about Betty Makoni’s work, visit the Girl Child Network.

Each of these women had/have the same number of hours in the day that each one of us has and none of these women achieved/are achieving their goals because they’ve been gifted with some special talent.

Each of these women simply looked beyond themselves to their fellow man/womankind and determined to make a difference for the better.

Each of these women first had a thought and refusing to let fear prevail, each of these women took action for the betterment of others.

In the midst of some of the world’s most darkest of times, a few seek to bring light.

What about you?

Are you of the many?

Or

Are you of the few?

Irena Sendler: Life in a Jar

In the darkest of times, strength of character still rises…in some.

Irena Sendler’s strength ran as deep as her courage ran high.

Irena passed away this week at the age of 98.

Who was Irena Sendler?

She was strength beyond measure.

She was courage defined.

She was humanity at its best.

She was willingness to help.

She was fear defied.

She was refusal to give in.

She was the woman who planned and organized the rescue of 2,500 Jewish children from certain death at the hands of the Nazis during World War II.

As a social worker in Warsaw, Poland, Irena was appalled by the treatment, murders, and annihilation of the Jewish people she had known all her life. To protect as many families as she could, Irena would document these families as being infected with terribly contagious diseases so they would not be visited by the Nazis. When the Nazis forced all Jews into one section of town and walled them off from the rest of society, Irena came up with a new way to protect as many of these hurting people as she could.

Organizing a team of 20 rescuers, Irena developed a plan for her and her team to enter the Warsaw Ghetto. Once inside, Irena convinced Jewish families with babies and small children to turn over their young ones to her and her team. Smuggling the babies and children out by any means possible (sometimes making them look like sacks of grain), Irena found non-Jewish families to adopt the children, placed them in convents or orphanages, and documented the children with Catholic identities.

Determined to not let the children’s true identities remain unknown, Irena wrote every name of every child on pieces of paper she kept hidden in jars in her home. As the Nazis started to move in on her, Irena hid the jars in one of her team member’s yard. Upon capture, Irena was beaten severely breaking both her feet and legs, crippling her for life, but Irena refused to give any information. Sentenced to death, Irena’s team bribed one of the Gestapo and at the last minute, Irena’s execution was halted. Although Irena eventually escaped from prison, she was hunted by the Gestapo throughout the remaining years of the war.

True to her character, after the war Irena faithfully sought out to reunite each rescued child with any surviving relatives throughout Europe. While most families perished during the horrors of the holocaust, a small number were able to be located.

Here’s where this story takes a twist.

A dark twist.

With the invasion of communism and eventual reign in Poland, Irena’s story remained silent for more than 40 years.

Irena’s heroism and acts of true greatness were virtually unknown to all in her home country.

But the truth ALWAYS finds exactly who it is meant to find.

Enter 1999 and Norman Conrad, rural Kansas high school history teacher.

Encouraging and challenging his students to extend the boundaries of the classroom; contribute to the teaching of history, tolerance, and respect; and do all of this with the goal of submitting a project to that year’s National History Day event.

Megan Stewart, Elizabeth Chambers and Jessica Shelton, all in ninth grade, and Sabrina Coons, eleventh grade, joined forces and set about finding a project to submit.

Having read a 1994 article on an historically unknown Irena Sendler, which he thought may have been in error, Mr. Conrad suggested the girls research the validity of the story and determine if a project could be developed from it.

Like I wrote before…

The truth ALWAYS finds who it is meant to find.

With great tenacity, these four young girls went to work.

And what a job they did.

Discovering not only the truth of Irena Sendler’s heroism, but Irena Sendler herself!

What grew to become a tremendous friendship of respect and admiration between the four girls and Irena also grew into a live presentation, Life in a Jar, that continues to be performed this day throughout the United States.

Through Life in a Jar, the national and international media learned the story of Irena Sendler and now, so has the world.

To learn more about Life in a Jar and Irena Sendler, honorary citizen of Israel; recipient of the internationally prestigious Order of the Smile; recipient of Poland’s highest honor, Order of the White Eagle; title bearer of Righteous Among Nations; and Noble Peace Prize nominee, visit Life in a Jar: The Irena Sendler Project.

Top 10 Movies About Real Life Heroes

This coming Thursday, May 15, is the big Bloggers Unite for Human Rights Internet event where thousands of bloggers worldwide will be blogging on human rights issues.

So, I thought I’d start the week off with my top 10 list (in no particular order) of movies with storylines centering on real life human rights heroes. All but one of the movies may be found on DVD and are worthy of watching again…and again!

1. Hotel Rwanda

Director Terry George’s 2004 film of how one man, Paul Rusesabagina, a hotel manager, dared what seemed to be impossible odds by protecting more than a thousand Tutsi refugees during one of the world’s worst acts of genocide. While the majority of the world turned their back on the Tutsi in Rwanda, Paul Rusesabagina bravely opened up the hotel to as many Tutsi refugees as he could and at the risk of his own life and the life of his family, he stood strong against the Hutu militia and all other forces. Don Cheadle’s performance of real life hero, Paul Rusesabagina is one of the finest screen performances of all time. This is a movie not to be missed. In the midst of the most horrible of times, hope and courage prevail. To learn more about Paul Rusesabagina and his continuing work to help the women and children affected by the genocides in Rwanda and other African nations, visit the Hotel Rwanda Rusesabagina Foundation

2. Rabbit-Proof Fence

For more than 60 years, 1910 - 1970, children born of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander decent were forcibly taken from their parents by the Australian and State government agencies for the purposes of training them to become domestic workers and thus, integrating them into a white society. Director Philip Noyce’s 2002 film tells the true life story of three young mixed-race girls who were a part of this “Stolen Generation” in Australia. In 1931, Molly Craig, her younger sister and a young cousin were stolen from their mothers and taken to the Moore River Native Settlement 1500 miles from their home. Escaping not long after their arrival, Molly leads her sister and cousin on a nine week journey back home — all the while being tracked by both a white man of the law and a black tracker. Staying one step ahead, Molly leads the girls home by following the rabbit-proof fence that bisects the continent. This story is beautifully told in both dialogue and imagery. To learn more about Australia’s Stolen Generation, visit the European Network for Indigenous Australian Rights.

3. A Woman Called Moses

Cicely Tyson is an actress that can cause tears to well up in my eyes just at the mention of her name. To me, her ability to bring the power, vulnerability, and beauty of a character to the big screen is rarely matched. She is simply outstanding. In 1978, Cicely Tyson brought a performance to the small screen that I have never forgotten. Director Paul Wendkos’s television movie brought the real life story of humanitarian, abolitionist, and Union spy, Harriet Tubman to the public. Having escaped from slavery herself, Harriet Tubman made 13 dangerous missions to free 70 slaves through the “Underground Railroad” - safe houses set up by antislavery activists; aided John Brown in recruiting men for his raid on Harper’s Ferry; was the first woman to lead an armed exhibition in the war; guided the raid on the Combahee River liberating more than 700 slaves; and in the post-war era she fought for women’s suffrage. Harriet Tubman was a woman of great courage, faith, and determination to help change the world for the betterment of all man and woman kind and Cicely Tyson could not have been a better choice to play such a noble human being. To learn more about Harriet Tubman, visit www.harriettubmanbiography.com.

4. Anne Frank Remembered

Jon Blair’s 1995 Academy Award-winning Best Documentary on the life of Anne Frank and her family should be a must see on everyone’s list. With previously unseen archival footage, this film brings a picture of Anne Frank, who some call “the holocaust’s most famous victim” to life like never before. With narration by Glenn Close, Kenneth Branaugh and Joely Richardson, this story of the Frank family’s time in hiding during World War II in Amsterdam, Holland and Anne’s wise-beyond-her-years outlook on life is the first time an audience fully sees Anne for the person she was — a young girl who would change the world by teaching us that even in the darkest of hours, believing in the goodness of humanity is not only possible, but right. To learn more about Anne Frank, visit the online Anne Frank Museum.

5. The Killing Fields

Anyone who saw director Roland Joffe’s 1984 film when it was first released will probably remember leaving the theater in silence. The power of this movie earned it 7 Academy Award nominations in all of the major fields including Best Picture, and Oscar wins for Best Supporting Actor Haing S. Ngor, Best Film Editing and Best Cinematography. Based upon the true story of New York Times reporter Sydney Schanberg’s coverage of the civil war in Cambodia in which 2 million “undesirables” were “ethnically cleansed” under the direction of tyrant Pol Pot. During one of the most horrific acts of genocide, Sydney Schanberg and local representative, Dith Pran record and report the most tragic of events shedding light on the truth and the madness — reporting which would lead Sydney to receive the Pulitzer Prize. When the American forces leave Cambodia, Dith manages to get his wife and children on the transports, but stays behind to continue helping his friend cover the horrific events. Being an American, Sydney is able to freely leave Cambodia, but the same is not for Dith. True life hero, Dith Pran was captured by the Khmer Rouge and spent nearly 4 years in labor camps throughout Cambodia suffering extreme hardships. This film shares the amazing story of strength in friendship and the strength in the human spirit during the reign of one of history’s most brutal dictators. To learn more about Dith Pran and Cambodia’s Killing Fields, visit The Dith Pran Holocaust Awareness Project.

6. Gandhi

Nominated for 11 Academy Awards, director Richard Attenborough’s 1982 film received an outstanding 9 Oscars in 1983: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Writing, Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design, and Best Actor in a Leading Role for Ben Kingsley. Serving as a biography of Mahatma Gandhi, Attenborough tells the tale of the lawyer turned leader who led the people of India — advocating non-violence and truth — in campaigns to organize poor farmers and laborers against discrimination and oppressive taxation; the liberation of women; the alleviation of rampant poverty; economic self-sufficiency for the nation; a commonality among the various religious and ethnic groups; an end to the “untouchability” and caste discrimination; and most of all, independence for India from foreign domination. Ben Kingsley’s moving performance of Gandhi is something to watch again if you have not seen this film since its release in 1982. To learn more about the life and teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, visit www.mkgandhi.org.

7. Schindler’s List

As history teaches when a brutal dictator arises, whether it be out of fear, greed, ignorance or whatever, many people, weak in character, succumb to the ways of such brutality. However, as history also teaches, greatness of character also arises within the few unwilling to give into fear, but rather bravely hold fast to their belief in humanity and the rights of their fellow mankind. Nominated for an incredible 12 Academy Awards and receiving 7 including Best Picture and Best Director, director Steven Spielberg’s 1992 film brings the heroism of real life Oscar Schindler to the big screen and to the world. Set during the autraucities of Hitler’s holocaust, Spielberg brilliantly recounts Schindler’s courageous work to save more than 1,200 Jews from death at the hands of the Nazis. An unlikely hero, Schindler discovers the truth within him — humanity is more valuable than money — and proceeds to defy all odds in saving as many Jews as he can. Once a war profiteer, Schindler eventually died penniless having spent all his money to save and protect his list of Jews. To learn more about Oscar Schindler and his wife, Emilie, who served along side him, visit The Oscar Schindler Story.

8. Iron Jawed Angels

Some may claim this to be more of a civil liberties film, but I see it as both a civil liberties film AND a human rights film. When an entire population of human beings is shut out of having a voice in how their government is to be run because of their gender, race, or religion, then I see it as a human rights issue. Knowing how government affects our daily lives, real life suffragists Alice Paul and Lucy Burns fought with all of their might to win women the right to vote in the United States of America. Director Katja von Garnier’s incredible 2004 HBO film sets a new standard for period pieces. Incorporating contemporary music, camera and editing techniques, Katja tells the story of Alice Paul and Lucy Burns, played by Hillary Swank and Francis O’Connor respectively, as they take on not only Washington D. C. politicians and President Woodrow Wilson, but the National American Woman Suffrage Association founded in 1890 by Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Successfully leading the campaign that brought the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1920 giving women the right to vote, Alice Paul and Lucy Burns discovered just how determined many men — and women — were to prevent this from happening. At times fighting with their very lives, these courageous women and their team soldiered on. Two women that should be in every American history school book, OH GOSH, surprisingly are not. If you have a daughter, BUY this dynamic DVD! Have it on hand. Teach your daughter(s) about the women who fought with their lives to make this world a better place for all women who would come after them — a place where your daughter(s) have an equal voice to your son(s). To learn more about Alice Paul and her legacy, visit the Alice Paul Institute. To learn more about Lucy Burns, visit the National Women’s History Museum.

9. The Great Raid

What’s a war movie doing in a top 10 human rights hero movie list? Exactly what it should be…telling the real life story of a small group of Army Rangers and Filipino soldiers who risked their lives to liberate more than 500 American Prisoners of War in the Philippines during World War II AND telling the story the real life woman, Margaret Utinsky, a Medal of Freedom recipient, who risked her own life to smuggle life saving medication, food, shoes, and money into the Japanese POW Camps during this same war. Director John Dahl’s 2005 film relives the Army Ranger raid on Cabanatuan, a real life Japanese POW Camp in the Philippines, with amazing historical accuracy. Understanding that this is a major motion picture and not a documentary and certain film license is needed, the director’s cut of this movie is truly a credit to John Dahl’s dedication to honoring the heroes of this war in the Pacific. The culture of the Japanese military at the time of World War II viewed prisoners of war as almost non-human. Their treatment of POW’s was barbaric to say the least. Under the command of real life heroes Captain Bob Prince and Lt. Colonel Henry Mucci, a small band of 120 Army Rangers and a group of Filipino soldiers travel 30 miles behind enemy lines and up against thousands of Japanese to successfully achieve the greatest military rescue in the history of war. The director’s cut of this film is the version to see and the additional material included in this set is powerful beyond description. To learn more about Margaret Utinsky, visit WW II Remembered. To learn more about the raid on Cabanatuan, visit Army Public Affairs.

10. Norma Rae

Based upon real life hero Crystal Lee Jordan, director Martin Ritt’s 1979 film, which won Sally Field her first Oscar, focuses the world’s attention on the rights of workers. Fighting for the rights of decent pay for decent wages and decent working conditions - the right to unionize, Norma Rae stands up to not only corporate pressure and threats, but to those in her own circle of relations who want her to just shut up. With dialogue like this, it’s a no wonder that this film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Writing:

Agreeing to organize a campaign, Norma asks her minister to use the church for a union meeting. “That’s black and whites sitting together,” Norma tells him. Horrified, the minister responds, “We’re going to miss your voice in the choir, Norma. To which she says, “You’re going to hear it raised up somewhere else.”

What Crystal Lee Jordan was able to accomplish for workers in America, through great threat, pressure and the loss of her job, was no small miracle. And Sally Field’s performance stand today as one of the great performances in the history of the cinema. To learn more about how labor unions fought to honor the American workforce, visit infoplease.com.

When you think of movies that tell the story of real life human rights heroes, which ones come to your mind?

Doug Seus, Alive and Well

Every day for the past couple of weeks a number of people have arrived at this blog after searching for information on Doug Seus, trainer of grizzly bears Bart the Bear, Little Bart, Honey Bump, and Tank. Evidently many people have been concerned that Doug was the trainer accidentally killed while working with one of the grizzlies.

Doug is alive and well and so are Little Bart, Honey Bump, and Tank.

How is an Election Ever Truly Won When Liberties are Lost?

I am and have always been a believer that our right to vote as an [eligible to vote] American citizen is something that should never be tampered with on a state or federal level.

From day one of the DNC’s [and GOP's] decision to strip the voters of Michigan and/or Florida of their right to have their vote count, I have actively voiced my opposition.

Good for those voters who went to the polls in the MILLIONS and voted anyway!! Good for you!!

This debacle with Michigan and Florida is a lesson to be learned…on many levels.

When leadership of a political party has the power to strip eligible American citizens of their right to have their vote count in an election — through absolutely no fault of the voters — then those leaders have WAAAAY toooo much power and the rules need to be changed.

How We Choose Our Political Leaders Befuddles Me

Politics befuddle me.

A friend of mine recently went through a rigorous series of 5 interviews just to sell online advertising and then she didn’t get the job. Someone from the competing publication with “more” experience got the job.

Another friend of mine recently said that he would NEVER hire a person with television editing experience ONLY to edit a feature film because that person just wouldn’t have enough knowledge of how films work.

In researching for this blog, I visited a number of sites listing job openings. In every “professional” job posting, a minimum number of YEARS in the respective field is required of each applicant.

How is it that we require — no demand — a person have years of experience to perform sales, secretarial, research, journalism, accounting, managerial, etc., type jobs, but when it comes to electing a president of the United States of America we don’t care that they don’t have any experience, we just want them to either look like us, tell us what we want to hear, or make us feel good.

10 Mother’s Day Gifts Under $20 that Rock the World

Still looking for that just-perfect-for-mom Mother’s Day gift?

Here are 10 gifts (in no particular order) that are sure to make any mom “oooo, ahhh, ohhh,” and think she’s raised the most thoughtful, caring, world-friendly child in the world.

1. “Don’t Give Up [Africa]” duet by Alicia Keys and Bono available as a download on iTunes. All proceeds benefit Keep A Child Alive, the nonprofit organization partnered with the ONE campaign actively working to combat the AIDS pandemic ravaging Africa.

2. Light of Love Candle with a soothing lavender scent available in sets also on The Animal Rescue Site. With each candle, or set, purchased The Animal Rescue Site will fund 14.0 bowls of food for animals living in sanctuaries or shelters. The candles are made of a lavender colored blend of soy and paraffin waxes and the wicks are 100% lead and zinc free. Soy wax burns cleaner, longer and with less heat than pure paraffin wax. Single candles sell $3.95 and a set of 5 sells for $15.95.

3. Elegant Pashmina Scarf 70% pashmina, 30% raw silk, handmade, hand dyed, hand knotted and fair trade imported from India available on The Rainforest Site. With each scarf purchased, The Rainforest Site will preserve 2290.0 square feet of land. The scarves are available in 4 different colors and are on sale now for $19.95 each.

4. Darling Daisy Shopping Tote by Freeset Bags available on The Literacy Site for only $14.00. With each tote purchased The Literacy Site will fund 1.0 children(s) books to various causes. Darling Daisy Shopping Totes are made of 100% eco-friendly, natural and renewable jute fiber and come in 3 different colors. Handmade and fair trade from India, Freeset Bags tell the individual stories of women rescued from sex trafficking in North Calcutta, India and empowered to live a life of dignity, earning a decent wage while working decent hours with the opportunity to become literate and serve as role models to their daughters and other young women showing them how to break the cycle of poverty and forced prostitution.

5. The Words and Inspiration of Mother Teresa — LOVE (Hardcover) book available on The Child Health Site for $14.95. With each book purchased, The Child Health Site will fund health services to save or improve the lives of 4.5 children. Inspiring all to believe in the power of love for each other, this wonderful book contains quotes, pictures, and excerpts from Noble Peace Prize-winning humanitarian and Catholic Nun, Mother Teresa.

6. Solar Sunflower Garden Stake available on The Breast Cancer Site starting at $12.00. Each environmentally friendly sunflower is made of heavy-duty resin and mounted atop an easy-to-use garden stake. Also available in sets, the solar LED light in each stake stores the sun’s rays during the day and then creates a gentle glow through the sunflower at night.

7. Yachana Jungle Chocolate from Yachana Gourmet available on The Hunger Site comes in 4 different mouth-watering all natural, fair trade, vegan varieties: Pineapple; Macadamia Nuts; Brazil Nuts and Coffee; and Raisin and Coconut. From the rainforest of Ecuador, these cocoa beans are sun-dried, slow-roasted, coarsely cracked, and sweetened with fresh sugar cane juice creating an end result of pure unprocessed chocolate heaven. The 2 oz. boxes sell for $4.95 and with the purchase of each box The Hunger Site will fund 25.0 cups of food for various charities.

8. Instant Karma CD featuring 23 John Lennon songs sung by today’s top artists including U2, Los Lonely Boys, Lenny Kravitz, Big & Rich, Avril Lavigne, Black Eyed Peas, Regina Spektor, Green Day, Aerosmith, Christina Aguerila, Jackson Browne, R.E. M. and more sells for a mere $11.95 from Amnesty International USA with proceeds supporting Amnesty International’s work for human rights in Darfur and around the world.

9. Sterling Silver Bear Necklace from the Willow Creek Trading Company available for only $19.95 from The Vital Ground Foundation. Both beautiful and unique, this necklace, which I own, never fails to draw attention. With proceeds from the sale of each necklace supporting Vital Ground’s work to reconnect fragmented landscapes in the U.S. and Canada critical to wildlife movement and biodiversity, this piece of jewelry creates a fashion statement as great as the Great Bear itself.

10. Baby Bear Stone Cast Coasters by Big Sky Carvers come in a set of four and are sure to not only bring a bit of the West into any home, but are sure to protect mom’s treasured coffee tables and other surfaces from annoying water rings. Also available from The Vital Ground Foundation and with proceeds supporting Vital Ground’s important land trust work, these charming conversation starters sell for only $15.00. I own multiple sets of these too!

So, there you go…10 fantastic Mother’s Day gifts all for under $20.00 and all that benefit someone or something else in the world while telling your mom how much you love her and how much you care.

Cinco de Mayo and the Women of Juarez, Mexico

Cinco de Mayo!

One of my favorite holidays for food — especially since I consider chips and salsa and chips and guacamole a food group.

Set me on a beach in Mexico with a Corona and some chips and salsa and call it a day. My heaven on earth.

Cinco de Mayo, the celebration of Mexico’s victory over the French in 1862. OK, so it was a short lived victory, but a victory none the less.

Cinco de Mayo…how I would love to be on that beach in Mexico celebrating right now, but I’m not sure I could…celebrate that is.

My mind keeps thinking about the 400 + women and girls of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico that have been brutally raped and murdered since 1993.

My mind keeps thinking of the fear the women and girls of Juarez live in on a daily basis.

Justice has not come for the victims or the families of the victims yet.

How does one celebrate victory when fear, terror, heartache, and lack of justice dominates everyday life?

How can these families of Juarez, Mexico truly celebrate victory when the women and girls live in fear and the families of the 400 women and girls murdered continue to seek justice?

What is justice for the rape and murder of a young girl or anyone for that matter?

Having studied business law, I can wrap my mind around the ins and outs of “justice” in the white collar crime field, but defining “justice” for the brutal torture, rape and murder of another person is something I am challenged in imagining any human being able to define. I think we can come as close as we can within our legal systems…legal systems that are not broken, defective, and corrupt that is.

But what about finding a sense of justice in just reporting the news that these women and girls existed and that their lives were brutally taken?

AND

That their torturers and killers have not been imprisoned?

How is it that the torture, rape and murder of 400 young girls and women in Juarez, Mexico failed to make the evening news or the majority of the world’s newspapers?

These young girls and women did not fail in their lives, the progression of corporate news failed these 400 young girls and women.

On this Cinco de Mayo, this day of celebration of victory, I share with you two special works of art acknowledging the women and girls of Juarez, Mexico.

Thank God for artists!

First, Bordertown.

Gregory Nava’s 2006 movie starring Jennifer Lopez, Antonio Banderas, and Martin Sheen among others tells the story of Lauren (Lopez), an American reporter from Chicago who heads to Mexico to investigate a number of murders near American-owned factories on the border of Juarez and El Paso. Her discovery is shocking.

Shocking in what she discovers about the murders and shocking in the discovery of who decides what part of her story will be printed.

Bordertown is available for rent on DVD. Watch the powerful clip posted with Jennifer Lopez and Martin Sheen and then take action by visiting Artists for Amnesty to learn more on the women of Juarez.

Second, jewelery designer Colleen Berg.

Partnering with Amnesty International, Ms. Berg designed a meaningful silver pendant on a stainless steel ball chain honoring the young girls and women of Juarez. Donating 20% of the proceeds from each necklace to Amnesty International’s programs that help stop violence against women, this special piece of jewelery is the perfect Cinco de Mayo gift or upcoming Mother’s Day gift. On the back of each necklace is engraved, “Hope, Esperanza, Juarez, 1993-”

Take action by visiting Artists for Amnesty to learn more about Ms. Berg’s necklace and the women of Juarez.

Keeping Jericho Alive!

What an amazing group of loyal fans!

Jericho fans seem to be like no other and I can understand why.

It’s a GREAT show!

Working on two fronts, a Nuts to Nielsen movement and a vast media and press campaign the fans are keeping Jericho alive!

And financially this is no small feat.

A Tough Week for Barack Obama

Sometimes things and/or people we don’t deal with effectively come back to bite us in the butt.

And

For Barack Obama, Jeremiah Wright has done just that.

And

Maybe that’s a good thing.