Category Archives: Humanity

One Week | One Cause

One Week | One Cause

Sevenly.org is an organization I am proud to represent. Each week, they donate $7 from every t-shirt purchased on their website to a different cause.

This weeks charity:
End7

Can A T-Shirt Change The World?
We think so. Watch this video and you tell us.

“END7 is an international advocacy campaign seeking to eliminate seven neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) by 2020. These diseases include elephantiasis, river blindness, trachoma, snail fever, hookworm, whipworm and roundworm.” (sevenly.org)  You can find out more about End7 below.

website
facebook
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Sevenly.org products are stylish, comfortable, make a statement and give back.  I picked out a few of my favorites below.  What do you think?

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// Girls Baseball Raglan // 3 Notebook Kit // Womens Lightweight Hoodie // Muslin Swaddling Cloths 4Pk

Check Out This Week’s Cause Tee – Now at Sevenly.org

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Precious life

Watching the news yesterday (April 15th, 2013, The Boston Marathon Massacre), I felt a surge of emotion like many others.  Life is short.  I cannot express my immediate thoughts.  They seemed all over the place.  I didn’t know how many people were injured or dead, but did know that many of my friends were there watching.  I, like many others, felt helpless.  Watching the news was not easy at all!  Pictures shown were that of runners, families, young children and groups of friends.  It was mass chaos.  

I needed to get away from the TV and clear my head.  Since I had some errands to run, I decided to take a trip to Target.  I dropped off my daughters at my parents house for a visit.  As I drove out of their driveway, the girls smiled and waved goodbye to me.  I started to cry.  It’s not like that was the moment I realized how precious our time together was, but that moment defined much more for me which I can barely explain.  It was something deeper.  An unexplainable feeling that exists between mother and child.  Something that cannot be seen or heard.  It’s simply internal and strong.

Target was quiet.  There were about 20 customers in the store.  While walking through the isles, every time I heard someone talking, it was about The Boston Marathon bombing.  I quickly moved through each aisle, desperately wanting to get out of there.  I kept imagining the look on my daughters faces as I drove away.  I couldn’t get their beautiful smiles out of my mind as they waved goodbye.  I began thinking it would be the last time I saw them.  At any given moment, we could lose the ones we love.  At any given moment, our lives could end.  It is time to stop thinking about what could be though.  It is time to GENUINELY start living for today and enjoying what we have in front of us.

Yesterday, April 15th, 2013, is proof that something tragic could happen at any given moment.  It should be a catalyst for all of us to start living!  Our lives should be spent doing what we enjoy.  Time with our families should be our first priorities.  Laughing and loving should encompass the majority of our daily lives.  

Yesterday, April 15th, 2013 made me realize how happy I was that I no longer worked at my old company.  I was miserable.  I could not stand how unfairly people were treated. I could not stand the office politics and favoritism.  I could not stand the office bullying.  I could not stand that when we had a surge of business and hired multiple people. Each new face I saw, I felt bad for.  In my heart, I knew that the majority of new faces would be let go the moment business slowed.  I could not stand that they did not realize their jobs may have been short-lived, and that they were being viewed as a number and not as people.

Yesterday, April 15th, 2013 reminded me to start living for me.

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Boston Marathon – Pray for Boston

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Too Close To Home…

20 years ago, my parents and I were standing at the finish line, cheering on each runner as they crossed.

15 years ago, my friends and I were standing at the finish line, cheering on each runner as they crossed.

10 years ago, my husband and I were standing at the finish line, cheering on each runner as they crossed.

5 years ago, my eldest daughter was just over a year old and my second daughter, only a few months old.  We were home watching the Boston marathon, cheering on each runner as they crossed.

April 15th, 2013… Minutes before getting ready to leave for the Boston marathon, I decided against it.  My husband had to work.  The crowds made me nervous, and I didn’t want to take my daughters alone.  Had I taken them, we would have stood at the finish line, cheering on each runner as they crossed.

The Boston Marathon is not just another marathon.  It is an event that people around the world look forward to.  It is an event where both professional runners, friends and family members train all year for. It is an event where people run for various causes, their mothers, their children, their loved ones and themselves.  The Boston Marathon is a community event, not only Bostonians take pride in!  On the day of “OUR BOSTON MARATHON, OUR COMMUNITY IS COMPRISED OF PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE AND THROUGHOUT THE WORLD!”  THIS YEAR, A WORLDWIDE COMMUNITY WAS AFFECTED BY A SENSELESS ACT OF VIOLENCE!

Everyone is a Patriot on the day of the Boston Marathon, each of us become True Bostonians for the day.  The heinous crime that affected the 2013 Boston marathon did not take that away from us.  We, our worldwide community, are all still Patriots and True Bostonians.  The crime did not take away what the Boston Marathon is about, nor will it stop future Boston Marathons.  Unfortunately, the attack on Boston took away something greater.  Many were injured, the lives of 3 innocent victims were lost.  Each family torn apart.

The Boston Marathon 2014 will happen.  Will it ever be the same?  No! Will we still be there?  YES!

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Celebrate World Water Day – March 22, 2013


CELEBRATE WORLD WATER DAY WITH ME, AND HELP SAVE UP TO 2,000 CHILDREN EACH DAY FROM DYING!  MAKE YOUR MARK!

Did you know that almost 2,000 children are dying every day because of unsafe drinking water and poor sanitation?  In fact, 11% of our world’s population do not have safe drinking water.  That equates to about 783 Million people!

Imagine you, carrying a parasitic worm in your body.  Now, imagine carrying 1,000 parasitic worms!  Unfortunately, that is not atypical for children in environments without safe drinking water.  There are so many reasons to join WaterAid America with their quest to solve the world’s water problems.  WaterAid America uses a practical approach.  Their solutions to give safe drinking water and better sanitation to the world’s developing countries make sense, and are sustainable.  Their solutions are also community specific.

Intestinal worms, diarrhea, disease, problems for the elderly and disabled are just a few of the negative effects unsafe water conditions have in developing countries.  Remember, 2,000 children each day are dying because of the lack of safe water and sanitation.  That’s almost 700,000 children each year dying.  Those numbers alone should be enough to realize we all need to work together and help WaterAid with their mission.

If those numbers resonate with you, then celebrate with me in a Google+ hangout, and MAKE YOUR MARK for World Water Day 2013:

Learn more about the mission by joining WaterAid America and leading experts in the fight against water poverty for a Google+ hangout marking World Water Day 2013 on Friday, March 22 at 1:30pm EST / 5:30pm GMT at http://ow.ly/iZCdj

World Water Day Is About Joining Together As A Global Community To Eradicate The Devastating Effects Of Unsafe Drinking Water And Poor Sanitation.

For more great information on water aid, see below:
Background on WaterAid America’s World Water Day campaign
Background on WaterAid America Head of Policy and Advocacy, Lisa Schechtman
* I wrote this post as part of The Global Team of 200, a highly specialized group of members of Mom Bloggers for Social Good that concentrates on issues involving women and girls, children, world hunger and maternal health. Our Motto: Individually we are all powerful. Together we can change the world. We believe in the power of collective action to help others and believe in ourselves to make this world a better place for our children and the world’s children.
Follow the Global Team of 200 on Tumblr, on Twitter, Pinterest, and Facebook.

 

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International Women’s Day

photo iwd_square_zpsb21c4351.gifEmbrace what we have accomplished, strive to accomplish more.
 

International Women’s Day, March 8th, 2013 – The Gender Agenda: Gaining Momentum
“The story of women’s struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organization but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights”
Gloria Steinem

Each year, the UN declares an International Women’s Day theme.  This year, their theme hit close to home… “A promise is a promise: Time for action to end violence against women”.

Originally from Delhi, and living in the US, it is hard for me to comprehend what women in India still have to endure today. Unfortunately, it is not only India that still struggles with women’s rights. Throughout the world, including the US, women still fight for equality in some way or another.  Although women in the United States have been able to conquer many obstacles about equality, we still have a long way to go.  It’s common that we are not always considered, or feel equal to men, whether in the workplace, or even home.  

No history book can describe the strength women needed to overcome their hurdles.  It’s hard to believe that “in 1908, 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter hours, better pay and voting rights.”  1909 marked the first International Women’s Day in history.  Since then, it has grown.  Now, International Women’s Day is celebrated throughout the world.  In many countries, it is even considered a National Holiday.  As a woman, I am so proud of the improvements we have been fortunate to benefit from.  Beginning with Suffrage, the simple right to vote, leading to where we are today, with women in the Government and more, it’s important we understand what it took to get here.  We still must continue our efforts.    

“The unfortunate fact is that women are still not paid equally to that of their male counterparts, women still are not present in equal numbers in business or politics, and globally women’s education, health and the violence against them is worse than that of men.”

Although we have come far, our work as women isn’t over yet.  It won’t be until there is equality worldwide.  Celebrate International Women’s Day today, and every day going forward.  Remember, Quiet Voices Are Rarely Heard… we must continue to make our mark.  

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Help Save A Newborn Baby

Did you know that only 6.7% of births in the US occur in “Baby-Friendly” facilities that meet international guidelines for supporting breastfeeding? Breast milk not only contains the ideal amount of nutrition for newborns, breastfeeding immediately after birth could help save 830,000 newborn babies from dying a year and exclusive breastfeeding for six months could save even more babies and children.

Save the children has found there are four major barriers to breastfeeding around the world:
1) Cultural and community pressures
2) The health worker shortage
3) Lack of maternity legislation, and
4) Aggressive marketing of breast-milk substitutes – or formula.

Before marriage, I, like many other women had already planned my fairytale future. I was going to meet a wonderful man, marry him, have his children, and live happily ever after. Meeting the man of my dreams happened. My ideal wedding did as well. Unfortunately, getting pregnant was not the fairytale I had imagined.

My husband and I struggled with infertility for two and a half-years before getting pregnant with out first child. My morning sickness and fatigue were overshadowed by how excited I was to be pregnant. I was determined to give my child the best possible start in life.  I read multiple books about pregnancy and newborns, my eating habits were excellent, I exercised regularly and took pre-natal vitamins.  Nothing could have prepared me for what came next.

Just 36 weeks and 2 days into my pregnancy, I was unexpectedly admitted to the hospital, and in labor. Nine hours later, my daughter was born.  Moments after her delivery, she was whisked away and I didn’t see her until it was time for her first feeding. It had been over an hour.  What I didn’t know then was that it’s estimated that 22% of newborn deaths could be prevented if breastfeeding started within the first hour after birth, and 16% if breastfeeding started within the first 24 hours. (src: UNICEF, Pneumonia and Diarrhoea: Tackling the deadliest diseases for the world’s poorest children, 2012)  As I sat in the nursery trying to breastfeed for the first time, a nurse stood over me. My daughter had trouble latching on, in turn, causing me frustration and tension between the nurse and I. Breastfeeding was a lot more difficult than I expected. Things didn’t get better. Talia, my daughter, was Jaundice. We were told that we needed to supplement by bottle-feeding. Although it helped my daughter recover from Jaundice, it severely impeded my hopes of breast-feeding regularly, and I eventually had to stop. The guilt I felt was overwhelming but I didn’t think I had any other choice.

It wasn’t until I was pregnant with my second child that I learned about how I may have been able to avoid having to stop breastfeeding. My second daughter was born exactly 36 weeks and 2 days into my pregnancy (the same as my first daughter), and was jaundice as well. Fortunately, my support system was much better, I also had a lactation specialist to help me. Although I am proud that I was able to breastfeed Julia (my second child), for more than 6 months, I still feel guilty that Talia was not given the same benefits.

No mother should be denied support to ensure there newborn is given the best possible start in life.  Although I was not concerned with my daughter’s survival due to my inability to breastfeed, many women face that possibility every day.  Around one in eight of the young lives lost each year could be prevented through breastfeeding. (src: Jones, G et al., ‘How many child deaths can we prevent this year?’ Lancet Child Survival Series, 2003, 362:65-71) 

Save the Children is calling on Secretary of State Kerry to recommit to the 1,000 Days Partnership that expires in June. You too, can help by going to http://www.savethechildren.org/1000-days and sign their petition to help mothers around the world get more support around breastfeeding and lifesaving nutrition for their babies. Since 2010, this international partnership has already helped countries such as Indonesia, Ethiopia, Bangladesh and Tanzania develop strategies around fighting childhood malnutrition through supporting breastfeeding and other important steps.

Additional Resources
“Baby-Friendly” facilities in the US that meet international guidelines for supporting breastfeeding can be found here: http://www.babyfriendlyusa.org/find-facilities/list-of-designated-facilities–by-state
Hospitals working toward “Baby-Friendly” status through CDC initiative can be found here: http://www.nichq.org/our_projects/cdcbreastfeeding_participating_teams.html

*I am a part of the Global Team of 200 and Social Good Moms’ 24-Hour Blogathon spreading the word about Save the Children’s new breastfeeding report, Superfood for Babies. Sign the petition urging Secretary Kerry to help mothers around the world get more support around breastfeeding and lifesaving nutrition for their babies.

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The Gift Of Love Accompanied By The Gift Of Life

During my youth, if I were told that giving water as a gift could transform lives, I would not have believed it. Today, it is a reality. Clean water is a lifesaver for people in some of OUR WORLDS poorest countries.

Buying water for life, a hand pump, four faucets for a water point, constructing a well, or buying a composting toilet can be achieved with as little as $25.00 and up to only $150.00. That is less than I spend on groceries for whole week, yet can save the lives of people less fortunate. Simply sacrificing a pair of designer jeans would pay for 3, 4, or maybe even 5 people to have clean water and sanitation for LIFE. Did I mention it was tax-deductible too?

Fortunately, organizations like WaterAid have made giving the gift of life easy and possible for everyone. Rather than buy a box of chocolates or flowers this valentine’s day, give someone the gift of love accompanied with the gift of life. By choosing, and buying a gift on the WaterAid website, you can print a card, including the details of the gift for your loved one. Talk about a gift worth receiving!

*This post was written by Shivani Cotter for the Global Team Of 200, a highly specialized group of members of Mom Bloggers for Social Good that concentrates on issues involving women and girls, children, world hunger and maternal health.

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Help UNICEF End Human Trafficking – Join The Initiative

It doesn’t matter where you live.
It’s estimated that 5.5 million children are victims.
The victims can be ANY age (my 5-year-old could become a victim).
An estimated $32 billion are generated from it each year.

The statistics above are shocking.  Unfortunately, reading them were just the beginning in my search to find out more about the reality of human trafficking.  Children as young as my daughters are bought and sold for a small sum of money then made to work under dangerous conditions including, but not limited to prostitution, pornography, and even forced labor.

Although the impression I had been that Human Trafficking was something that happened in other countries, I was shocked to hear that many children in the US are victims.  In fact, All 50 States in the US have reports of human trafficking.  It doesn’t matter whether male or female, young or old, ANYONE can be trafficked.  As stated on UNICEF’s website, HUMAN TRAFFICKING HAS BEEN LINKED TO MODERN-DAY SLAVERY.  It’s time to take a stand against Human Trafficking.  We need to protect our children, raise awareness and help UNICEF to end human trafficking.

3 Ways You Can Take Action:

  • 1  
  • Join or start a UNICEF club at your high school or college. Visit unicefusa.org/highschool or unicefusa.org/campusinitiative.
  • 2  
  • Find out how many slaves work for you. Slavery Foot print’s website allows consumers to understand how their purchases may connect them. Take the site’s survey and use their action center and mobile app to raise your voice for ethically sourced products. Visit slaveryfootprint.org.
  • 3  
  • Keep Learning. Visit unicefusa.org/endtrafficking and notmylife.org to learn more about what UNICEF and other organizations are doing to protect children.

 

The End Trafficking project is the U.S. Fund for UNICEF’s initiative to raise awareness about child trafficking and mobilize communities to take meaning- full action to help protect children. In partnership with concerned individuals and groups, the End Trafficking project aims to bring us all closer to a day when there are zero exploited children.

Source: http://www.unicefusa.org/assets/pdf/onepager_endtrafficking_oct_2012.pdf

*This post was written by Shivani Cotter for the Global Team Of 200, a highly specialized group of members of Mom Bloggers for Social Good that concentrates on issues involving women and girls, children, world hunger and maternal health.

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