Bullies

This is Ukraine. I was there in 2008. These are the people who live in Ukraine. They make a living growing, farming, fishing and selling their food. Babushkas on the street sell berries and traditional eggs to tourists.

I remember how difficult it was to travel around Ukraine, not only because of the language barrier and lack of tourist infrastructure - which was some of the appeal, but because I met so many struggling, wounded and oppressed people.


Bullies. They are not only in schools. They are countries.

We need Canada to standup against bullying of other countries. If we stay silent we are to blame for the bloodshed.

Complete Sadness

Today I read the news and saw some video clips about Ashley Smith, the 19 year old who died in prison and I am overwhelmed with complete sadness and rage about how she was treated.

"An inquest concluded with a ruling Thursday that teenager Ashley Smith's shocking in-custody death was a homicide.

However, the National Post noted such recommendations are non-binding, which means the Correctional Service of Canada can decide whether or not to implement them.

The homicide verdict means the jurors found Smith's death was neither suicide nor accidental, but that other people contributed to her death, CTV News reported."

Ashley was treated inhumanly.

What happened was complete horror. It was misogynistic. It was abuse. She suffered. If justice is not done in Ashley's name, if people are not held accountable, if policies do not change, if a huge fundamental shift does not happen the message will continue that women are not safe in our society and this is not okay.

Disenfranchised women experience abuse and violence all the time on many levels. Disenfranchised women were girls who experienced at a very young age that the system not only fails them but will hurt them. It is inherent in our policies and practices, from corrections, to health care, including social workers and counsellors. It is misogynistic. If there are no binding recommendations we have failed Ashley one more time. If there are no criminal charges shame on us.

Shame on us.

Using the facilities in Vancouver, BC

Universal Washroom. Finally. Okay, well they could have gone without the stereotypical family depiction however I still give them two thumbs us for stating it's universal.

Hooray for a positive display of abilities - even if you just using the facilities!

Another awesome woman's washroom. (I would have taken a photo of the great guys one too but hanging out with a camera at a washroom isn't something you want to spend too long doing).

Gender Benders Welcomed!

Where do I even start?! I could rant about the pink and blue toy store divide again or that I just received a "Canadian Girls Doll" magazine in the mail... when I emailed the company and told them they have very lovely dolls and awesome accessories and asked them if they have any boy dolls - especially without it all being about trucks, monsters and bad guy accessories, not surprisingly the answer was no. They are thinking about it but nothing is "imminent." Why even ask if we know what the outcome will be? If we don't ask nothing will change.

Boys will be boys because they are given no other options and girls will be girls as they are trained to be.  Before I started this blog I had another one called "STOP THE MADNESS." This was spurred from trying to buy a toddler toothbrush and only having the choice of blue and pink.  This shit starts young. Who knew teeth were gendered?

But to save us from despair I have a few great resources to share:

41 Transgender friendly books for young kids:
http://bitchmagazine.org/post/41-transgender-friendly-books-for-young-kids

Girl clothes without the girly:
http://www.girlswillbehq.com/

Redefine girly and reclaim boyhood clothing:
http://www.pigtailpals.com/whdoregime.html

Coloring books every child should have. Gender Queer and Gender bending.
http://www.girlsnotchicks.com/www.girlsnotchicks.com/home.html

Connections

Please and thank-you's are important for teaching our kids - and even more when modeled by us. And at the age of three, four, five, it's a lot about balancing "I want" with "please may I have" and learning about gratitude.

There are some great books that I totally recommend which focus on family love and attachment with others. Imagine if all the kids in your child's class got to read over and over a handful of books about unconditional love, standing up for others, and believing in yourself. What an impact that would have on peer relationships, on community involvement and committing to a joyful, adventurous life. Give your child this chance, read these books!

Wherever You Are My Love Will Find You Nancy Tillman
The Invisible String Patrice Karst
One Kathryn Otoshi
Zero Kathryn Otoshi

  

Flooding in Calgary and Uttarakhand

It saddens me, our egocentric ways in North America and how this is encouraged through media coverage. As with most Canadians and especially because of living in a metropolitan rainforest I've watched in disbelief as Calgary slowly tries to recover from the massive flooding this past week.

But did you know, 1000 people died in a flood that wiped out homes, roads, bridges and communication in Uttarakhand India the same time flooding was happening in Calgary?! Why have you not heard about it?

While Calgary is making sense of the damage from the flood, Indians are preparing for a mass cremation for the flood victims. While local citizens are helping each other in Calgary creating a sense of community, a helicopter rescuing flood victims in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand crashed killing everyone. Are our tragedies in North America worth more than the lives of 1000 Indians?

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57591049/india-rescue-helicopter-crash-leaves-at-least-20-dead-on-top-of-more-than-1000-killed-by-monsoon-flooding-landslides/

Recipes to keep you in the 1950's.

Finally! A course for new mama's that can be a real use of time. Why, when she is not cooking, cleaning, and changing diapers she can be sending recipes to all of her friends and family.

Really?! This course has such potential. Do you think the dads & cis males can share recipes too?

What about teaching how to use icloud and to coordinate all of your gazillion photos to save time so when the moment does come up you too can sit with your feet up sipping a gin and tonic with all the other new parents.

This course was offered 2013 spring session.