The United Nations has an important founding document: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. All member nations have signed it.
In a first world urban environment, it is critical that there be an URBAN DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS. Many homeless people in cities lack basic needs: trash disposal containers so they don't have to sleep surrounded by garbage; safe, pure drinking water from water stations with
filler spouts; finally, free use of toilets in public areas.
Homeless people should be entitled to the dignity that is our right as humans. In cities, we have the absolute ability to afford them that dignity with toilets, water and garbage disposal. We should also provide mobile bathrooms so they can shower, shampoo their hair and better attend to their hygiene.
If we have the technology to create automobiles that drive themselves, certainly we can prioritize these three or four basics for humans in an urban society. It is healthier for our environment, for those of us fortunate to have homes, and for our homeless brothers and sisters.
"One Earth-One People"
Professora Merylee
Thursday, December 10, 2015
Monday, December 7, 2015
Donald Trump - 95,000 Words, Many Of Them Are Ominous, From Donald Trump
If there is anything that undermines the very principles America stands for it's intolerance and bigotry. Like a child who
immaturely believes that even bad attention is better than no attention at all, Mr. Trump is running
a desperately underwhelming campaign. His campaign caters to the frustrated, often uneducated
and frightened citizens who are "mad as hell and don't want to take it anymore". He is smart
enough to know better, but he says what he thinks will appeal to a certain group of voters.
Hitler appealed to the same disenchanted souls before World War II...
"One Earth-One People"
Professora Merylee
immaturely believes that even bad attention is better than no attention at all, Mr. Trump is running
a desperately underwhelming campaign. His campaign caters to the frustrated, often uneducated
and frightened citizens who are "mad as hell and don't want to take it anymore". He is smart
enough to know better, but he says what he thinks will appeal to a certain group of voters.
Hitler appealed to the same disenchanted souls before World War II...
"One Earth-One People"
Professora Merylee
Tuesday, December 1, 2015
Xenophobia & Terrorism/Compassion & Understanding
It is unfortunate so many brothers and sisters of our world community have just recently realized the horrors of terrorism after the brutal violence in Paris.
Where have they been lately? Have they been placing the flag colors of Nigeria over their faces when brutal acts of the Islamic terrorists abducted 200 schoolgirls? How about when over 100,000 people in that country had to flee their homes? The Haram claims they are the African branch of ISIS. The amount of violence the French have endured in these last few days is a conservative week of violence in Nigeria. Nigeria, the fastest growing and largest economy in Africa. Its wealthy class is growing faster than our's in the US. Nigeria, the holder of the world's 5th largest oil reserves.
Do we only value the loss of life and hardship of people who are white?
As we threaten to close our borders to Syrian refugees, what are we doing to secure our borders to American terrorists, Neo Nazi's worldwide, the Stormfront and followers in Europe of David Duke? Sincere compassion dictates we act consistently to demonstrate our condemnation of cruelty and violence to all of our brothers & sisters of our Mother Earth.
"One Earth-One People"
Professora Merylee
Tuesday, November 24, 2015
Human Trafficking
The most upbeat way to look at human trafficking or MODERN HUMAN SLAVERY is to realize we can stop it. Easily.
It may be difficult to reverse global warming leading to climate change and other complex issues confronting Mother Earth, but when it comes to Human Slavery, there are simple ways world citizens can stop it from happening.
One of the greatest solutions to ending human trafficking is to purchase Fair Trade products, products that certify the worker is paid a living wage for the product or service he/she provides. In the United States, for example, coffee is the 2nd most imported product we bring here. Much coffee in Latin America is produced in conditions of virtual slavery. A reasonable alternative is to look for the fair trade label on coffee we purchase. For example, Costco's Kirkland brand coffee is fair trade. Don't buy coffee if it isn't fair trade or "fairly traded" (Pete's Coffee). That puts a stop to our #2 import. It would have a huge impact on the indigenous populations who harvest coffee in El Salvador, Guatemala, or states like Chiapas in Mexico. If we want to buy coffee so cheap that we are willing to turn our backs on those who work in the industry, perhaps we need to realize, we don't have to have it at all.
Chocolate. Most chocolate in the US comes from plantations in west Africa. The cocoa beans are picked by children, mostly little boys with big machetes who are sold to their owners by their families. Many of the families are in refugee camps in other parts of Africa. The conservative world average stay in a refugee camp is seven years. For many, like those in the Kakuma Refugee Camp in western Kenya where over 180,000 people have lived since 1991, hope of ever leaving or "wining the lottery" but obtaining a visa to another country, is unlikely. Many of the people came there as "Lost Boys of Sudan" or from Somalia. Parents often hope selling their sons will provide the family with an income from wages they mistakenly believe the boys will receive. Worldwide, many refugees will die in the camps from starvation, violence or disease without having an opportunity to leave. So they indenture their children. Only buy fair trade chocolate. Cadbury UK is fair trade. DevineChocolateUSA is a fair trade chocolate supplier. Give something to children for Halloween other than non fair trade chocolate - try sugarless bubble gum. Don't express your love for your sweetheart by buying a product harvested by child slaves.
The Hilton Hotels are one of the few properties that have a zero tolorence policy against men buying all-inclusive stay packages for a week or two with a child of their choice. Popular in many first world countries, these predators pay by credit card and go to third world countries like Cambodia, the Philippines or Brazil for vacations. When we witness questionable relationships, speak-up, complain and demand change. Change occurs when we stand-up for others. These are our children, our relatives.
Ethical consumerism is a powerful weapon against human slavery. We can all make a difference.
"One Earth-One People"
Professora Merylee
It may be difficult to reverse global warming leading to climate change and other complex issues confronting Mother Earth, but when it comes to Human Slavery, there are simple ways world citizens can stop it from happening.
One of the greatest solutions to ending human trafficking is to purchase Fair Trade products, products that certify the worker is paid a living wage for the product or service he/she provides. In the United States, for example, coffee is the 2nd most imported product we bring here. Much coffee in Latin America is produced in conditions of virtual slavery. A reasonable alternative is to look for the fair trade label on coffee we purchase. For example, Costco's Kirkland brand coffee is fair trade. Don't buy coffee if it isn't fair trade or "fairly traded" (Pete's Coffee). That puts a stop to our #2 import. It would have a huge impact on the indigenous populations who harvest coffee in El Salvador, Guatemala, or states like Chiapas in Mexico. If we want to buy coffee so cheap that we are willing to turn our backs on those who work in the industry, perhaps we need to realize, we don't have to have it at all.
Chocolate. Most chocolate in the US comes from plantations in west Africa. The cocoa beans are picked by children, mostly little boys with big machetes who are sold to their owners by their families. Many of the families are in refugee camps in other parts of Africa. The conservative world average stay in a refugee camp is seven years. For many, like those in the Kakuma Refugee Camp in western Kenya where over 180,000 people have lived since 1991, hope of ever leaving or "wining the lottery" but obtaining a visa to another country, is unlikely. Many of the people came there as "Lost Boys of Sudan" or from Somalia. Parents often hope selling their sons will provide the family with an income from wages they mistakenly believe the boys will receive. Worldwide, many refugees will die in the camps from starvation, violence or disease without having an opportunity to leave. So they indenture their children. Only buy fair trade chocolate. Cadbury UK is fair trade. DevineChocolateUSA is a fair trade chocolate supplier. Give something to children for Halloween other than non fair trade chocolate - try sugarless bubble gum. Don't express your love for your sweetheart by buying a product harvested by child slaves.
The Hilton Hotels are one of the few properties that have a zero tolorence policy against men buying all-inclusive stay packages for a week or two with a child of their choice. Popular in many first world countries, these predators pay by credit card and go to third world countries like Cambodia, the Philippines or Brazil for vacations. When we witness questionable relationships, speak-up, complain and demand change. Change occurs when we stand-up for others. These are our children, our relatives.
Ethical consumerism is a powerful weapon against human slavery. We can all make a difference.
"One Earth-One People"
Professora Merylee
Women’s Ordination Conference music
Women as Roman Catholic priests? Opinions are divided -- and fiery http://fw.to/EmWJIRU
Those of us who ARE THE CHURCH aren't leaving, but The Church in America needs major work.
In the United States, a democracy, the Church's stance on Women's Ordination is unconstitutional. Maybe in countries ruled by dictators, excluding over half of the members of a religion might not seem so grating, but it is just plain wrong here.
The only thing worse, than allowing the Church to operate outside the spirit of the law, is to give
them tax-exempt status while they do it. We don't allow other organizations to discriminate against
our citizens without making them deal with the legal consequences, we cannot engage in selective
law enforcement for the Roman Catholic Church.
It is a matter of time before one of two things happen: the Church will expire, due to lack of morally
competent leadership (priest abuse cases) and inability move from the dark ages; or, there will be
Roman Catholic Women Priests in the end.
This painful issue would be more swiftly resolved, with less damage to the Church, if our courts
began hearing civil right challenges to our CONSTITUTION. In short: women are the greatest
victims of discrimination in the Church and it will stop, sooner or later.
Monday, November 23, 2015
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