Myanmar pressed to release Suu Kyi

A brief update on one of our earlier concerns: the unjust imprisonment of the democratically elected opposition leader in Myanmar, Aung San Suu Kyi. Suu Kyi has been under house arrest since 2003 by the military regime in power.

This week, an official from the U.S. State Department has again pressed for her release, unfortunately, it seems, to no avail.

And so the movement to release this symbol of human rights and courage continues.

An Easy Way to Save Darfur

Good news: the Sudanese government has finally agreed to a hybrid United Nations / African Union peace-keeping force of over 17,000 troops to patrol Darfur and curb the continuing violence. For more, go here.

Also, an easy way to Save Darfur: Ask U.S. Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), the Chair of the Senate Banking Committee, to bring the Sudan Divestment Authorization Act to the Senate floor for a vote. The Act would ensure that states divest from any companies with "a qualifying business relationship with Sudan", and would protect the 15 states that have already done so.

Take 1 minute and call Senator Dodd at (202) 224-2823. Actually, take 30 seconds, because that's all you'll need.

For the text of the bill, go here.

Our Own Prejudice, Part II

On behalf of Reeba Monachan, thanks to everyone for taking the time to read this week's posts on prejudices, and sorry for the delay in getting Part II to you. Hopefully, we have all been reminded that the first step for change must come from within. Thank you, Reeba, for your hard work!

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Following up on last week’s Concern I happened to come across this article by a nationally syndicated Harvard grad, Ruben Navarrette Jr.

For more on hate crime statistics, see the sidebar or go to the FBI website here.

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Being a fairly religious person, for Part II of “Our Own Prejudice” I’ve decided to compile a few verses from many of the major religious texts affirming my belief that above all “God is love.”

34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

John 13:34-35


Do not judge or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged and with the measure you use it will be measured you.

Matthew 7:1-2


18 "'Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.'"

Leviticus 19:18

O humankind! We created you from a single [pair] of a male and female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise each other)…T.Q. Sura 49, The Inner Apartments, Ayaa 13.


When you judge, between people, judge with justice: verily how excellent is the teaching which Allah giveth you! T.Q., Sura 4, The Women, Ayaa 58.

O ye who believe! Stand out firmly for Allah, as witnesses to fair dealing, and let not the hatred of others to you make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice. Be just: that is next to piety… T.Q. Sura 5, The Table Spread, Ayaa 8.

"Tolerance is a virtue that is required no matter how one lives, yet its virtues are certainly greater when based on the bigger picture of life described in the sacred literature…The beginning of realizing and living in this bigger picture beyond the duality of sense perception is tolerance." - Bhagavad-Gita: Its Feeling and Philosophy, p. 46

Our Thirteenth Concern: Our Own Prejudice

This week, guest blogger Reeba Monachan asks us to reflect on our inner prejudices -- and to realize those that prevent us from fully acknowledging each other's humanity. Be sure to read her post, take action, and look for an update on Wednesday 5/2.

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Our Own Prejudice

“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.”

- Edmund Burke

Prejudice is all around us. It is involved in most of the topics we’ve discussed, in one form or another, but how often do we sit back and sit astounded by the prejudice around the world? This blog looks at the prejudice in our society and in our culture and more surprisingly in our own home.

There are multiple angles to look at societal, and inner prejudice. The first is through race:

Are these ideas ingrained in us everyday? After Hurricane Katrina, two photos were printed in two different AP news sources. They both displayed individuals wading in water chest-high carrying food items after the destruction caused by the storm. The photo with a young African-American was captioned “looting”, while a similar photo cited two Caucasian individuals in the same deep, murky water “finding” the goods. Check out the pictures of this discrepancy on the side panel.

Maybe these ideas are ingrained into us at a much younger stage, before we are even able to really comprehend news media. Last year, Kiri Davis recreated a 1940s experiment concerning young girl’s images of themselves. Ms. Davis asked these girls to choose the “good” doll and the “bad” doll between a black and white barbie, identical in every other way, but race. 15 of the 21 girls in the study (taken last year) chose the black doll as the bad one.

The video Ms. Davis produced was reposted on youtube.com and can be found here

Check out an interesting article from Time Magazine regarding the immigration debate. Would Americans be concerned with immigration if illegals were coming in from Canada, Australia or England? Are we just afraid of being “over-run by darker skinned people”?

Race is only one of our subconscious prejudices that we may be condoning. I don’t believe that we were born to hate. We are taught our manners, ideas, and opinions by society, by our cultures, and by the individuals with whom we surround ourselves.

Subconsciously, it's there. It is our job to change.

Because this topic is less tangible than others I don’t have statistics or a “top ten list” of how to be a better person. However, the mission of “Our Common Concern” is to “leave the world a better place than we found it.” This is just the first step.

Take Action!

This week, conquer your own inner prejudice. Tell someone they’re beautiful. Influence children in the right way. Think about and rethink your views on certain issues and why you have these views. Donate to organizations and charities established to fight injustice, such as the National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ).

“Be the change you want to see in the world.”

-Gandhi

For more information on this topic and ways people are closing these gaps, try these websites.

- Racial Disparities on the war on drugs

- The National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ)

- The Fight for Your Rights Campaign is geared towards the young MTV crowd, but this page has links to a number of organizations established to fight against various forms of discrimination and to educate those of all ages.

Part III: Burma/Myanmar

To complete his three-part post on the Three Countries You Don't Hear Much About, guest blogger Dan Gilligan takes us to Myanmar, aka Burma.

Dan personally asked that I thank all of you for reading. He noted that while your small actions may not seem like much, "ripples sometimes add up into waves". Which is exactly why we need all of you. Thanks everyone, as always.

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“There exist today as many signs to justify hope as there are to instill fear.”

–Hannah Arendt

Burma or Myanmar, whether you wish to use a colonially imposed name or one imposed by a military junta, is a country we don’t get to hear about much about for a very simple reason: other than North Korea, it is perhaps the most closed off state to the rest of the world. Foreigners -- especially journalists -- are rarely allowed in. What little we do know comes mainly from human rights workers who must sneak into, around, and out of the country illegally. Since its independence from Great Britain, Burma/Myanmar has been marked by internal ethnic struggles. As you may know, this is not uncommon in post-colonial countries where administrative borders of former European powers were imposed on a locality and called a nation. It has, however, given rise to a particularly brutal military government. Forced and child labor as well as human trafficking are common, especially among military ‘officials’. While the military allows a parliament and political parties, they are heavily regulated and their influence is minimal. Further, without an independent judiciary, widespread and summary executions are commonplace in Burma/Myanmar.

Fast Facts:

- 1,300 political prisoners, including 18 members-of-parliament-elect are believed to still be held in Burma/Myanmar.

- While the National League for Democracy won over 60% of the vote and over 80% of parliamentary seats in the 1990 election and the military-backed National Unity Party won less than 2% of the seats, NLD-leader Aung San Suu Kyi was placed under house arrest while Senior General Than Shwe remained in power.

- Myanmar in ranked in the top 15 military spenders in the world, while it is ranked 66^th in GDP.

Learn More By Visiting:

- Amnesty International Country Profile

- BBC country profile

Take Action by:

- Contacting the US and UK Ambassadors to the UN in support of their recent draft resolution for the UN Security council to address the Human Rights and political concerns in Burma/Myanmar.

- And as before, contact the Media and your Representatives to raise their concern for our concerns.

In Memoriam

Friends,

In light of the recent tragedy at Virginia Tech, the University has created the "Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund" to support grief counseling, memorials, and more. Give what you can here.

I'll keep this and related links available for the indefinite future on the top of this page as well.

Thanks,
Jared

Tragedy in Virginia

This blog would be remiss if we did not express our deepest sorrow for the shooting at Virginia Tech today. I for one believe it speaks to the slow devolution of our community fabric that Our Common Concern was formed to resist. In light of this recent tragedy, we should redouble our efforts to care for one another and to realize our stake in the well-being of people, animals, and the environment.

I'm sure there will be opportunities to support the Virginia Tech community. I'll post that information here when it becomes available.

Yours,
Jared

Part II: Zimbabwe

Now, the second country you don't hear much about. By Dan Gilligan:

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Part II of this three-part series takes us to Zimbabwe. The media recently gave some attention to the political and human rights situation there following the March 11^th arrests of several political activists and members of the opposition party, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). Over fifty members were reportedly arrested and brutally beaten by police officers and most are still believed to be held in custody. Their crime? Peacefully assembling in support of open and fair democratic elections for new leadership of their country.

Since initially being elected Prime Minister in 1980 Robert Mugabe has moved to consolidate power and committed egregious violations of human rights to maintain it, including but not limited to:

- Rigging elections

- The forced relocation and evictions of minorities, notably the recent Operation Murambatsvina or ‘Drive out the Rubbish’

- Systematic discrimination against women, the disabled, and homosexuals

-Curtailing basic needs such as: food, shelter, as well as freedom of movement and residence

-Limiting important political freedoms such as assembly, the press, and participation in civil organizations or opposition parties

While Mr. Mugabe focuses on policies that maintain power and offer short-term solutions, his country long ago collapsed economically and continues to worsen. Simultaneously, he’s obstructing the efforts of outside aid organizations to offer even basic humanitarian relief.

Fast Facts:

1. Robert Mugabe just celebrated his 83rd birthday; average life expectancy in Zimbabwe is 38.

2. Zimbabwe’s Infant Mortality Rate nears 52 per 1000 births.

3. Inflation rose from an annual rate of 32% in 1998 to a high of 1,730% on March 10 of this year, which is currently the world’s highest.

4. The ‘official’ unemployment rate in Zimbabwe in 80%.

Operation Murambatsvina is estimated to have affected some 700,000 people. 5,000 - 6,000 are estimated to be housed in ‘transit camps’ while the rest been absorbed into now severely overcrowded households in urban and rural areas or are sleeping outside in small groups scattered across the country.

Learn More By Visiting:

1. Amnesty’s Country Report

2. BBC News Profile

Take Action by:

1. Contacting UK Ambassador to the UN Emyr Jones-Parry and support his effort to get the UN Security Council to step up its actions against Robert Mugabe.

2. Contact National Media and tell them you want to see more coverage of the ongoing political crisis in Zimbabwe following the March 11^th arrests for a peaceful political rally.

Our Twelfth Concern: Three Countries You Don't Hear Much About

Our Common Concern is back with a new look and a very thorough guest blog by Dan Gilligan. Dan's a fellow N.C. State grad and he focuses our attention on three countries we don't hear much about, beginning with Turkmenistan. Look for a discussion on Zimbabwe this coming Sunday.

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Our First Concern was the ongoing genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan. While there are many human rights concerns throughout the world, it may be worth some time to look at three more countries. These nations have very different but sadly very similar problems that don’t get as much media attention as others at the moment: Turkmenistan, Zimbabwe, and Burma/Myanmar. We’ll look at the first of these today and the others shortly. In no way is focusing on these three meant to suggest that there are not many other countries with grave human rights concerns; rather, this is just meant to provide a starting point.

Part 1: Turkmenistan

The most recent coverage of Turkmenistan in mainstream media occurred this past December when their current and only President in the post-soviet era Saparmurad Niyazov, a.k.a. Turkmenbashi or “Father of the Turkmen” passed. Turkmenbashi had long been a punch line, especially in European media, for some of his eccentricities which were reminiscent of the most decadent of the Caesars. Among them:

- renaming months of the Turkmen calendar after himself and his mother

- having an oversized solid-gold statue of himself installed in front of his palace that was rotated to always be facing the sun

- and styling himself after Elvis Presley.

What was not so funny was the fact that while Turkmenbashi was spending much of the profits from his country’s vast resources building palaces and statues meant to build a ‘Turkmen Identity’. 60% of the population lived and still lives in poverty. As well as making a reservoir in the desert and ski slopes on sub-tropical, arid mountains for his and his family’s recreation, minorities suffer under repressive government policies. Religious minorities were persecuted under Turkmenbashi, and the only allowed religion was a truncated form of Islam presented in the form of the Ruhnam, a collection of sayings and Koran tracts collected and authored by Turkmenbashi, which incidentally was the only book that schools are allowed to teach from.

The sort of extreme poverty combined with Islamic fundamentalism present in Turkmenistan has been compared to Afghanistan in the early 1990's. Despite the opportunity for change that the death of President-for-life Saparmurad Niyazov presented, elections this past February brought to power a long-time Saparmurad aide, Acting President and head of the Turkmen Democratic Party Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedow by an Eighty Percent Margin. No other formal political parties have been allowed to organize.

Fast Facts:

- Turkmenistan has the world’s fourth largest *natural gas* reserves.

- Unemployment in Turkmenistan is estimated at about 60%; the same percentage live below the poverty line.

- Turkmenistan had the second-worst press freedom conditions in the world behind North Korea.

- Any act of homosexuality in Turkmenistan is punishable by up to five years in prison.

Learn More By Visiting:

1. The BBC News Country Profile

2. Amnesty 2006 Report

Take Action by:

1. Supporting Amnesty’s recommendations to Turkmenistan’s new government

2. Joining Amnesty’s Appeals for Turkmenistan’s Prisoners of Conscience

3. Writing to your Congressperson and Two Senators asking them to make engagement with and international scrutiny of Turkmenistan a greater concern.

The Show Me Campaign

Hi everyone,

Thought I'd give you updates on previous Concerns in between new ones. Here's one on Extreme Poverty:

- Grammy-winning musician John Legend has started what he's calling "The Show Me Campaign" to eradicate extreme poverty after his visit to a Millenium Village in Ghana. Below are links to the Campaign's partner organizations:

*Millenium Promise

*Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT)

*The Gentlemen's Fund

more soon...

A Brief Hiatus

Dear Readers:

In just three months, Our Common Concern has welcomed hundreds of visitors to its site, hosted six great guest blogs, and highlighted Eleven Concerns on everything from companion animals in disasters to global warming.

This is quite an accomplishment indeed, especially for a brand new site like ours. But really, it's your accomplishment, not mine or anyone else's. It's you who read, posted, and commented every week. And it's you who took action for change.

I think three months is a great time to pause for reflection and to plan for what's next. Which is why, starting this week, I'll be taking a short hiatus from the blog.

But in the meantime, I'm asking you to send your thoughts on the site so far. What works, and what doesn't? What needs changing? Send in your thoughts today, or volunteer to guest post.

On behalf of all the guest bloggers and readers, thanks for sharing Our Common Concern. See you soon.

Best wishes -
Jared

Environmental Justice Update

Thanks again to Patrick Schwing and Jennifer Darrell of the Young Adult Ecumenical Forum for teaching all of us a bit more about Environmental Justice. Now, Part II of Our Eleventh Concern:

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It is horrifying that we have to fight our own government to save the environment.

-Ansel Adams

The Young Adult Ecumenical Forum (YAEF)

As people of faith, we are deeply concerned about justice and the integrity of all creation. Therefore, the mission of the 2007 Young Adult Ecumenical forum is to raise questions about environmental justice and to announce good news about our ecosystem.

YAEF 2007 is a gathering of people between the ages of 18 and 35 and will include speeches on environmental justice and its connection to violence, hunger, and poverty.

More Resources

1. Eco-Justice Ministries

2. Young Adult Ecumenical Forum on Environmental Justice

3. An example of Environmental Justice work in one community

More Ways to Take Action

1. Visit the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to learn more about applying for Environmental Justice grants or becoming an Environmental Justice Community Intern. Also, learn more about the EPA's definition of EJ.

2. Go to Step It Up 2007.org and take action locally!

Our Eleventh Concern: Environmental Justice

This week, Patrick Schwing and Jennifer Darrell, organizers of the 2007 Young Adult Ecumenical Forum to be held in Boston from July 26-29, tackle a topic of growing international concern: Environmental Justice. They also integrate two worldviews that I personally find fascinating: religion and the role it can play in inspiring social change and social action.

Be sure to take action on their post and support the right of every human being to a safe and healthy environment.

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"The whole style of American politics is nonecological. Ecology is a comprehension of systems, interdependencies, webs of relationship, connections extending over space and time -- and the very essence of our politics is to zero in on single causes." -Walter Truett Anderson

Environmental Justice is the right to a safe, healthy, productive, and sustainable environment for all, where "environment" is considered in its totality to include the ecological (biological), physical (natural and built), social, political, aesthetic, and economic environments.

Fast Facts:

1. 437 of the 3,109 counties and independent cities in the U.S. failed to meet at least one of EPA's ambient air quality standards.
2. 313,000 HIRED farm workers in the U.S. suffer from pesticide-related illnesses each year.

Learn More:

1. Environmental Resource Center at Clark Atlanta University

2. E.P.A-Environmental Justice Resource Page

3. Environmental Justice Scorecard

Take Action:

1. Attend the Young Adult Ecumenical Forum on Environmental Justice.

2. Go to Scorecard.org and oppose the EPA's plan to weaken pollution reporting standards.

3. Go to Scorecard.org to find out how your community is affected.

And look out on Sunday for Part II of this two-part post.

Update on Extreme Poverty

Thanks to Sam and Seth for publicizing this emergency that still affects millions. Now, the conclusion to their work:

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While empowering the poorest individuals to escape from extreme poverty is key, it is also important to recognize that the United States government can play a strategic role in supporting anti-poverty initiatives. By increasing foreign aid to support the MDGs and the Millennium Villages on the ground, creating more just trade conditions for poorer nations, and ensuring debt cancellation, the United States and other Western governments can do their best to ensure the end of extreme poverty.

More fast facts:

• More than 40 percent of women in Africa do not have access to basic education.
• A total of 114 million children do not get even a basic education and 584 million women are illiterate.

Learn More:

* Visit ONE.org to learn more about the ONE Campaign, a national US campaign to build political support for ending extreme poverty.

*And please check out The End of Poverty, written by anti-poverty advocate and UN Special Advisor on the MDGs, Professor Jeffrey Sachs

*And with this and all crises, be sure to seek as many perspectives as possible.

Take Action:

This daily crisis can be ended.

* Research the websites and book above.

* To join in the student movement, please visit us at The Positive Foundations to learn how your college or university can play an active role in ending extreme poverty.

* And sign the ONE Declaration to ensure the political support for ending extreme poverty.

Our Tenth Concern: Extreme Poverty

We're back, after a brief slumber, with a Concern that should wake us all up. Extreme Poverty affects millions of men, women, and children in every corner of the globe, of many colors and circumstances. Sam Nemat Vaghar and Seth Werfel, Executive Directors of the Positive Foundations and students at Brandeis University, masterfully take on this issue and offer solutions. Be sure to take action after reading their post and look for an update on Sunday.

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Extreme poverty. Defined as living on less than $1 per day, it is a daily crisis that impacts more than 1.2 billion individuals worldwide. It leads to more than 8 million deaths every year, and more than 20,000 deaths everyday. U2’s Bono has called it “a global emergency”. Here's more about the emergency that is extreme poverty:

Fast facts:

• Every year six million children die from malnutrition before their fifth birthday.
• More than 800 million people go to bed hungry every day...300 million are children.
• Everyday HIV/AIDS kills 6,000 people and another 8,200 people are infected with this deadly virus.
  

To address extreme poverty, 189 countries met in September 2000 and committed to achieving the eight United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015:

1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger (halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people whose income is less than $1 a day; halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people who suffer from hunger)

2. Achieve universal primary education

3. Promote gender equality and empower women

4. Reduce child mortality

5. Improve maternal health

6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases

7. Ensure environmental sustainability

8. Develop a global partnership for development

These eight goals are tangibly supported on the ground through the Millennium Villages Project. To date, 78 villages in 10 nations of sub-Saharan Africa (an epicenter of the crisis) have been supported, allowing community led development to occur with technical and infrastructural support, and the villages will be self-sustaining after five years of initial support. The hope is that this model can be scaled up by African governments to eradicate extreme poverty throughout the respective nations.

Learn More by visiting:

* Millenium Promise and Columbia University to learn more about the Millennium Villages Project.

* The U.N. Millenium Project to learn more about the UN Millennium Development Goals

Take Action by:

*Making a financial contribution to The Millenium Promise,
or by visiting Omni-Peace.com when buying your next shirt. Now, you can be a conscious consumer who supports the Millennium Promise.

*Visiting Brandeis University during our Millenium Development Goals Week, April 11-17, featuring a live videoconference with Professor Jeffrey Sachs and lectures with analysts working in the Millennium Villages.

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Extreme poverty can be eradicated with your support. For further dialogue and/or if you have questions, please contact us at svaghar@brandeis.edu or swerfel@brandeis.edu, and look out for an update on Sunday.

Update on Global Warming

This is a hot issue-- and yes, that's a pun-- so thanks to everyone for posting your comments, and thanks especially to Jen for her hard work! Here's Part 2 of the two-part series... enjoy!

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Learn Even More:

• Visit Climatecrisis.net to check out the trailer for An Inconvenient Truth, buy the DVD, or calculate your personal impact on global warming. If you’re a teacher, you can also download educational materials to share with colleagues and students.
• ...
  
• Read The American Geophysical Union’s position on climate change. The AGU is a respected organization comprising over 41,000 Earth and space scientists, who agree that "natural influences cannot explain the rapid increase in global near-surface temperatures observed during the second half of the 20th century."

Take Even More Action:

• Buy/rent/borrow An Inconvenient Truth and watch it with everyone you know – friends, classmates, family, and neighbors.
• Sign The Heat is On! ... A petition to urge presidential hopefuls to make a commitment to end global warming.
• ...
• And keep the proverbial Heat On in your everyday life to end global warming for good!
  

Our Ninth Concern: Global Warming

You may have heard Al Gore speak about it, read the articles written about it, or seen the newstories discussing it. This week, guest blogger Jen Gaze takes you behind the scenes of Global Warming, and urges you to take action to stop it!

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Global warming is the result of an increase in the earth’s average temperature due to a buildup of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Although you may have heard different opinions in the media about global warming and whether it exists, there is no debate among scientists about the fact that global warming IS happening and that WE are causing it by burning fossil fuels and cutting down forests.

The bad news: the U.S. is the world’s largest carbon emitter, and if we don’t start acting now, parts of the world will be uninhabitable in as little as ten years. Scientists project a 20 foot rise in global sea levels which will put low-lying coastal areas across the globe under water. For the first time, scientists have found evidence that polar bears are drowning because climate change is melting the Arctic ice shelf! These and many other changes in our ecological system are indications that global warming has, and will continue to disrupt nature’s delicate balance.

The good news: there is still time to avert impending environmental disaster. By taking a few simple steps, each one of us can play a role in making our earth healthy again.

Learn More:

• Check out what the Union of Concerned Scientists has to say about global warming
• Watch the Global Warming cartoon presented in An Inconvenient truth if you don’t have time to view the film.

Take Action:

• Easy as 1, 2, 3! -- Commit to making three simple changes in your life to help stop global warming. Here’s just a few I found on the website:
• Switch to energy-efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs. They use 60% less energy than a regular light bulb and can help reduce your electric bill!
• Turn your thermostat down 2° in the winter and up 2° in the summer. Check out the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy for more energy saving tips!
  
• Unplug electronics from the wall when you are not using them. Even when turned off appliances like hairdryers, cell phone chargers and TVs use energy!

• Raise your voice -- Join the Stop Global Warning March, a non-political effort bringing Americans together to declare that global warming is here now and it’s time to act.

An Update on Body Image

And now, Monica Mangual's mid-week post on Body Image. Thank you to Monica and to everyone who's helped address this concern!

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Not only do many individuals suffer with explicit eating disorders, others struggle with body dissatisfaction and sub-clinical disordered eating attitudes and behaviors. For example, it has been shown that 80% of American women are dissatisfied with their appearance. However, because there is a stigma regarding eating disorders, many individuals – especially male-- live in silence about their lifestyle.

Learn More:

• 46% of 9-11 year-olds are “sometimes” or “very often” on diets, and 82% of their families are “sometimes” or “very often” on diets
• 91% of women recently surveyed on a college campus had attempted to control their weight through dieting, 22% dieted “often” or “always”
• 95% of all dieters will regain their lost weight in 1-5 years
• 35% of “normal dieters” progress to pathological dieting. Of those, 20-25% progress to partial or full-syndrome eating disorders
• 25% of American men and 45% of American women are on a diet on any given day
• Americans spend over $40 billion on dieting and diet-related products each year

Take Action:

- Eat when you are hungry
- Rest when you are tired.
- Surround yourself with people that remind you of your inner strength and beauty

And be sure to visit the website of National Eating Disorders Awareness (NEDA)

Our Eighth Concern: Body Image

For Our Eighth Concern, guest blogger Monica Mangual addresses a topic that has probably touched all of our lives at one point or another: Body Image. She's a family counselor who's no amateur on the issue, so be sure to take action on her post and look for an update this Sunday, March 4.

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As someone who's felt the unnecessary and sometimes overwhelming pressure of society to look a certain way and be a certain weight, I have always considered myself an advocate for a healthy body, male or female. Although I've never struggled with an eating disorder, I have fallen into the traps of fad dieting, over-exercising, and basing my worth as a person by the numbers on a scale. This week, February 25 through March 3, 2007 is National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. In the United States, as many as 10 million females and 1 million males are fighting a life and death battle with an eating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia. Millions more are struggling with a binge eating disorder.

The most important thing you can do if you have a friend who is suffering from an eating disorder is address it with them! Remind them that you are there to talk and to offer support in any way you can, without judgment and without criticism.

Below are some statistics I’ve found regarding America’s dieting and drive for thinness:

• Over one-half of teenage girls and nearly one-third of teenage boys use unhealthy weight control behaviors such as skipping meals, fasting, smoking cigarettes, vomiting, and taking laxatives
• Girls who diet frequently are 12 times as likely to binge as girls who don’t diet
• 42% of 1st-3rd grade girls want to be thinner
• 81% of 10 year olds are afraid of being fat
• The average American woman is 5’4” tall and weighs 140 pounds. The average American model is 5’11” tall and weighs 117 pounds.
• Most fashion models are thinner than 98% of American women
  
• And more to come later in the week...

This week, let’s make an effort to celebrate our bodies!! What can we do to do this?

Make a list of all the things your body can do – read this and add to it often!

*Wear clothes that are comfortable and fit your body – throw out those jeans that are restricting and uncomfortable.

*Make a list of all the people that you admire and whether their appearance is important in their success.

*Keep a list of ten positive things about yourself that has nothing to do with appearance – repeat these and add to them regularly!

*And more later to come later in the week... post your suggestions today!

Finally, Visit the National Eating Disorders Awareness website (NEDA) to discover ways to celebrate your body and create positive body image. This site has tons of information regarding various eating disorders and what we can do to prevent and help them. Also, be sure to sign the “No Weigh! A Declaration of Independence From a Weight-Obsessed World”.

And post your suggestions today on how we can all create a world more supportive of who we are and how we look!

Our Seventh Concern: Tibetan Refugee Crisis

We're back this week with yet another great guest blog, this time from Vinita Kamath. Vinita is very knowledgeable on refugee issues, and she presents some very detailed and very helpful info. on the crisis in Tibet.

Be sure to read about Our Seventh Concern. Then post your comments and invite your friends to check it out as well!

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The Tibetan refugee crisis has been an on-going human rights concern for many years, and recent reports of killing and torture by Chinese border control troops have been particularly disturbing. Between 2,500 and 3,000 Tibetans make the dangerous crossing by foot over the Himalayas into exile in Nepal and India each year, fleeing religious and political repression, as well as discriminatory educational and economic policies by the Chinese government. One-third of these refugees are children.

Last fall, Chinese troops opened fire at a group of Tibetan refugees, killing a 17-year-old nun. Other refugees, including children, were detained by these soldiers, and many were tortured while in detention.

Learn More:

1. International Campaign for Tibet

- an international organization that has been working on remedying human rights abuses in Tibet for the past 19 years. ICT’s 2001 report “Dangerous Crossing: Conditions Impacting the Flight of Tibetan Refugees” provides an in-depth and informative analysis of the refugee situation.

2. YouTube video showing Chinese soldiers attacking Tibetan refugees (warning: graphic images)

Take Action:

1. Students for a Free Tibet- Activist Center

- provides students with an “Activist Toolbox” which explains how to organize around this issue within your school

2. Race for Tibet Campaign- Beijing Olympics 2008

- sign a petition urging China to improve its human rights conditions and demanding integrity from China and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) before next year’s Olympics

- also, receive free advocacy tools (including ‘Race for Tibet’ stickers and post-cards) to help raise awareness in your community

3. Amnesty International Online Action Center

- sign and send a letter to various Chinese and Tibetan government actors condemning the shooting and torture of Tibetan refugees

Mid-Week Update: Gender-Based Violence

Our first guest blogger, Abby Garner, continues today with a mid-week update on Our Sixth Concern: Gender-Based Violence.

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The terrifying reality of gender-based violence manifests itself most intensely during periods of armed conflict. Fighting forces use sexual abuse as a strategy of war, intended to destroy and humiliate their opponents. Women and girls are often forced to exchange sexual favors for their survival. The majority of female survivors of the genocide in Rwanda, for example, were sexually assaulted.

In Bosnia, more than 20,000 Muslim women were raped in a single year during conflict (UNHCR 2002). Such atrocities are now recognized as crimes against humanity.

To learn more about this issue and to read first hand accounts from victims, click Here

...Or visit this site to read a poignant story about a Congolese woman who survived sexual assault and is now rebuilding her life with help from the IRC (International Rescue Committee)

To find out how to help, visit:

- The Women’s Edge Coalition

-and make sure to sign the petition to support the GROWTH (Global Resources and Opportunities for Women to Thrive) Act, which would provide economic opportunities to women living in poverty

You can also donate to:

The International Rescue Committee (IRC), a global leader in providing emergency relief, rehabilitation, and protection for people affected by violent conflict and oppression.

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Thanks for reading Abby's posts, and thanks for sharing Our Concern about Gender-Based Violence. Post your comments today and be sure to look out for our next guest blog soon!

Important Update on Cluster Bombs

I won't normally do this, but an important development has occurred on Our Third Concern that I wanted to share with you all.

You may recall that cluster bombs, of which the U.S. has about 5.5 million in its arsenal, have killed millions of civilians in Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon and elsewhere. New legislation sponsored by U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) would ban federal funding for the deployment of such bombs in or near civilian areas. Human rights groups are hailing this bill, and so I'm asking you to do the following:

Learn More... by reading this article and this Press Release by co-sponsor Sen. Feinstein.

Take Action... by urging both of your two U.S. Senators to co-sponsor this legislation. All it takes is a phone call and a few words, i.e. "Hi, I'm a constituent and I'd like to urge Senator X to co-sponsor legislation by Senators Feinstein and Leahy that will end federal funding for dangerous cluster bombs. Will you pass on my message to the Senator?"

A single phone call literally does matter. Find your Senator's phone number Here, and then make the call!

Thanks everyone.

Our Sixth Concern: Gender-Based Violence

You may recall that part of my original intention in creating this blog was to activate a network of concerned citizens. Given that, it's my pleasure to introduce our very first Guest Blogger, Abby Garner.

Abby address Our Sixth Concern, the very important issue of Gender-Based Violence. Be sure to read through her post, post your own thoughts and then look out for a mid-week update:

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Gender-based violence (GBV) is a global epidemic that affects the well being of women and girls from every culture, country, and class. Violence against women has been called "the most pervasive yet least recognized human rights abuse in the world." Studies have shown that at least one in three women have been beaten or sexually abused in their lifetime.

GBV can take many forms, including rape, harassment, domestic violence, and genital mutilation. It is undoubtedly linked to gender-based inequalities that permeate the attitudes and beliefs of many cultures. Because of the stigma surrounding this issue, women are often reluctant or afraid to share their suffering. It is time to give these women a voice. Our Sixth Concern addresses the morally reprehensible, yet widely ignored, public health threat: Gender-Based Violence.

To learn more:

1. Visit:

- UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund)

http://www.unfpa.org/gender/violence.htm

-an international organization dedicated to ensuring basic human rights for every woman, man, and child. UNFPA works with men and boys to change the paradigm of male-dominance that perpetuates violence against women.

- Women Watch

http://www.un.org/womenwatch/

-an inter-agency website created to provide information and resources about gender equality and the empowerment of women throughout the United Nations.

2.

- The World Health Organization (WHO) to read a groundbreaking study that investigated the extensiveness of gender-based violence in 10 countries

http://www.who.int/gender/violence/who_multicountry_study/summary_report/summary_report_English2.pdf

- International Violence Against Women Act (I-VAWA)

- slated for introduction in Congress in 2007, this act proposes ways in which U.S. international assistance programs can help support women all over the world who are working to eliminate violence in their communities.

http://www.womensedge.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=283&Itemid=99999999

***In the mid-week update I’ll offer you more ways to help. I’ll also discuss a particularly pressing matter related to GBV: the increased vulnerability of women and girls during armed conflict.