Patriotism

As I reflect on this photograph, I see once again that not all the brave leave the "home of the brave" to enter battle; some are required now to be the brave of the home It is said a picture is worth a thousand words but it leaves me speechless and tears in my eyes.

Help Stop the Genocide in Darfur

More than five years have passed since the start of the genocide in Darfur. As many as 400,000 innocent people have been killed and more than 2.5 million more have been driven from their homes.

After years of delay, the U.N. finally authorized a joint United Nations-African Union peacekeeping mission for Darfur in July. But the peacekeeping mission will fail without significant support from the U.S. and the global community.

154 House Republicans Tell Sick Kids 'Get Lost.'

Thursday afternoon, by a vote of 273 to 156, the House of Representatives failed to gather the 290 votes needed to override the president's veto of the State Children's Health Insurance Program bill (SCHIP). Both the Senate and House have previously cast bipartisan votes to reauthorize this ten-year-old program and to extend coverage to an additional ten million children who live in low income families with no health insurance, even though the average annual cost of the expansion was less than three weeks of Iraq war spending.
Bush's veto required that two-thirds of the 435 House members vote to override the veto before the bill can become law. Despite overwhelming public support and the backing of many in the medical and health insurance industries, the president and his House allies have carried on a campaign of mistruths and unfounded allegations, leading to the bill's demise this afternoon.
NOW decries the cruelty of denying the most basic health care to children whose parents cannot afford health insurance. The 156 House members -- 154 Republicans and two Democrats - who voted against the override have let down not only the vulnerable children of this nation, but also put an undue burden on single parents and low-income families who can only pray their children do not get sick or hurt.
"It's purely political," says NOW President Kim Gandy. "George Bush has no trouble funding a government sponsored, 'socialized' war, yet bristles at the thought of helping poor children who need health care, branding the expanded SCHIP as a program leading us down the slippery slope to 'socialized' medicine." In his book it's fine to provide subsidies, tax breaks and federal grants to industries, businesses and colleges to ensure their economic health and well-being, but kids just don't count.
The vetoed bill would have extended health insurance coverage to an additional four million low income children and would have cost $35 billion over five years, an average of $7 billion per year, compared to the $12 billion every month that George Bush is spending in Iraq. The President says he might sign a proposal to reauthorize the program and increase the spending by $5 billion -- but with inflation, that amount would represent a reduction in real dollars, which means that 1 million children who are currently covered by the states with SCHIP funding will be kicked out of the health insurance plan. The failed SCHIP legislation was already a shell of its former self because the final proposal did not include the House-passed language allowing legal immigrant children to participate in the program.
"It's hard to imagine that Bush, his Cabinet, and all 154 of those Republicans in Congress are enjoying 'government funded' healthcare, subsidized by the same taxpayers who overwhelmingly supported continuing and enhancing the SCHIP program," said Gandy. "It may be time for those 154 members of Congress to go without health care for awhile…or get lost. They have let down the children and the parents in their Congressional districts who are wondering where they will ever get the money or the job that will enable them to provide health care for their families," said Gandy.

Mom stress and blessings

It is so hard to be Mom, especially to see your little one sick. As I watched all the tests being run, worried about the worst case scenario, and prayed for the best, I could not help but remember when I sat by his side when he was in the NICU fighting with all he had for his life.Of course, to find out all was okay, was a great relief and an answered prayer, but it also made me feel like an overprotective Mom. Here's a pic of my precious baby!

Annual Love Your Body Day

October 18 marks the tenth anniversary of the National Organization for Women Foundation's Annual Love Your Body Day (LYBD). For the past ten years, the Love Your Body Campaign has promoted healthy body images for women and girls through creative actions and consumer education. The campaign calls for women and girls to be in control of what makes them feel healthy and comfortable with their bodies, on their own terms and not based on unrealistic images promoted by advertisers and the mass media.
"Sex, Stereotypes and Beauty: The ABCs and Ds of Commercial Images of Women" is a new slide show presentation created by the NOW Foundation and available beginning today through the Love Your Body website for viewing and download. This presentation illustrates ways that advertisers and the media enforce unrealistic beauty standards, sexual ideals and gender stereotypes that girls and women are expected to follow.
"'Sex, Stereotypes and Beauty' is a fast-paced and compelling way for women and girls to identify and think about the impact that these images have on their health and well-being, and what can they do about it," NOW Foundation President Kim Gandy says. "Using examples from current advertisements, we brought these images together to present them in a way that will spark discussion. We hope that our chapters, or anyone visiting our website, will present the slide show, forward it to their friends, and use it to strategize ways to combat the daily barrage of messages that say to women and girls 'You're not good enough.'"

Hollywood and the fashion, cosmetics and diet industries work hard to make women believe that our bodies are unacceptable and need constant improvement. Print ads and television commercials reduce women to body parts -- lips, legs, breasts -- airbrushed and touched up to meet impossible standards. TV shows tell women and teenage girls that cosmetic surgery is a necessary step toward positive self-esteem.

"Is it any wonder that 80% of U.S. women are dissatisfied with their appearance?" asks Gandy. "The NOW Foundation is committed to empowering women to say, 'Enough is enough!' We want all women and girls to be positive about their bodies and not feel pressured by the media's negative portrayals and pressure to conform -- to look or feel a particular way."

Dear God

Thank you for another day, Within this life of mine.
Give me the strength to live it well, Whatever I may find.
Bestow from Your abundance, Whatever I may lack.
To use the hours wisely, For I cannot have them back.
Thank you for another day, In which to made amends
For little slights or petty words, Inflicted on my friends.

For sometimes losing patience, With problems that I find.
For seeing. faults in other lives, But not the ones in mine.
Thank you for another chance, In which to try to be
A little more deserving Of the fits You've given me.
For yesterday is over, And tomorrow's far away,
And I remain committed, To the good I do today!

Take action and Help Amensty International!

Visit the length below to see what action you can take to help Amnesty International.

http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/c.jhKPIXPCIoE/b.2590179/k.C43E/Take_Action_Online/siteapps/advocacy/ActionCenter.aspx

NOW Calls for Judiciary Committee Investigation

On Sept. 28, the Judicial Council of the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals formally reprimanded U.S. District Court Judge Samuel B. Kent of Galveston, Texas, suspended him for four months, and reassigned many of his pending cases to other judges. This nearly unprecedented action came after a lengthy secret investigation of allegations that the judge had sexually harassed and inappropriately touched a female employee. During their investigation, the committee expanded the inquiry to include additional complaints against Judge Kent.
Based on the seriousness of the allegations and the actions of the Judicial Council, the National Organization for Women (NOW) has requested, through Hon. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas), a member of the committee, that the House Judiciary Committee open an investigation into the accusations against Judge Kent. If they find that Judge Kent violated federal law, including federal civil rights law, we will urge the committee to begin impeachment proceeding.
"There is an Alice in Wonderland feel to this process. The Fifth Circuit's investigation of its own judge was completely secret, none of the findings were revealed to the public, not even after the investigation was complete, the public 'reprimand' contained no details, and all documents uncovered in the investigation are sealed," said NOW President Kim Gandy, an attorney admitted to practice in the Fifth Circuit. "To make matters worse, the Fifth Circuit says that even if a judicial panel finds that a judge did commit a crime, it is not obligated to refer it to law enforcement. Federal judges are protected by law from the law."
"This judicial panel seems to be protecting its own. The reported punishment -- a four-month paid vacation and a slap on the wrist -- seems extraordinarily light, and doesn't seem to 'fit the crime' as it has been reported in the press. His punishment, for all practical purposes, has been a taxpayer-paid four month vacation and a reduced workload at full pay. When he returns to the bench in a few months, he will resume his normal duties, including ruling on cases involving sex discrimination and sexual harassment. If that happens, and he is indeed a sexual harasser, it would be an injustice to every woman whose case could come before his court," said Gandy.

The Budweiser Story

How Budweiser handled those who laughed at those who died on the 11th of September, 2001...

Thought you might like to know what happened in a little town north of Bakersfield , California . On September 11th, A Budweiser employee was making a delivery to a convenience store in a California town named McFarland. He knew of the tragedy that had occurred in New York when he entered the business to find the two Arabs, who owned the business, whooping and hollering to show their approval and support of this treacherous attack.

The Budweiser employee went to his truck, called his boss and told him of the very upsetting event! He didn't feel he could be in that store with those horrible people. His boss asked him, 'Do you think you could go in there long enough to pull every Budweiser product and item our beverage company sells there? We'll never deliver to them again.' The employee walked in, proceeded to pull every single product his beverage company provided and left with an incredible grin on his face. He told them never to bother to call for a delivery again. Budweiser happens to be the beer of choice for that community.

And Now The Rest Of The Story:

It seems that the Bud driver and the Pepsi man are neighbors. Bud called Pepsi and told him.Pepsi called his boss who told him to pull all Pepsi products as well!!! That would include Frito Lay, etc.Furthermore, word spread and all vendors followed suit! At last report, the store was closed indefinitely. Good old American Passive-Aggressive A$$ Whoopin! Pass this along, America needs to knowthat we're all working together! If you can read this.Thank a teacher. If you are reading it in English.... THANK A SOLDIER!!!

Thougths on Al Gore

You know, as I heard about he latest news Al Gore winning the Nobel Peace Prize, I was pleased. It makes me feel good when I see Politicians doing things to make the world a little better. However, don't count me in as one of his supporters for President. Not that he would be any worse than some of the front runners, but he does not have what I think it takes.

If you click on the link above, you can read about his winning the prize as reported in the New York Times, yet there are other opinions out there, such as the USA Today editorial that reports: "For someone who says the sky is falling, he does very little. He says he recycles and drives a hybrid. And he claims he uses renewable energy credits to offset the pollution he produces when using a private jet to promote his film. (In reality, Paramount Classics, the film's distributor, pays this.) Public records reveal that as Gore lectures Americans on excessive consumption, he and his wife Tipper live in two properties: a 10,000-square-foot, 20-room, eight-bathroom home in Nashville, and a 4,000-square-foot home in Arlington, Va. (He also has a third home in Carthage, Tenn.) For someone rallying the planet to pursue a path of extreme personal sacrifice, Gore requires little from himself. Then there is the troubling matter of his energy use. In the Washington, D.C., area, utility companies offer wind energy as an alternative to traditional energy. In Nashville, similar programs exist. Utility customers must simply pay a few extra pennies per kilowatt hour, and they can continue living their carbon-neutral lifestyles knowing that they are supporting wind energy. Plenty of businesses and institutions have signed up. Even the Bush administration is using green energy for some federal office buildings, as are thousands of area residents.
But according to public records, there is no evidence that Gore has signed up to use green energy in either of his large residences. When contacted Wednesday, Gore's office confirmed as much but said the Gores were looking into making the switch at both homes. Talk about inconvenient truths. "
http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2006-08-09-gore-green_x.htm

CREW makes more repairs and mitigates!

CREW Mitigates more homes!
CREW continues to Mitigate homes, to help low income families in Hendry and Glades Counties prepare for future storms. Workers came today and began work on two homes and will be shuttering eleven homes in the next couple weeks. More are being certified and inspected everyday.

Methodist Volunteers Help Local Residents
Beymer Memorial United Methodist Church volunteers worked all day Wednesday, returned to the local Clewiston First United Church (where they are sleeping in Sunday School rooms, and traveling to marina for showers) for dinner and fellowship, where they presented the local Church with a monetary gift for hosting them. They worked again all day Thursday, trying to help those still suffering the effects of homes destroyed by Hurricane Wilma. Thursday night, Community Presbyterian Church in Clewiston hosted them for dinner and fellowship as well.

There are good people out there

Check out this website, how cool!

Here is a story from the website:

There are good people out there!
I work for a bus company in where I am an aide on a school van with two disabled teen boys. One of my guys, Tyrell is almost completely blind and has some other physical and mental issues as well. Tyrell was all smiles for about a week at this point. He's normally a quite happy kid but I could tell this was different than the normal silly Tyrell that I enjoyed. He just never let the smile go. Wednesday morning my curiosity finally got to me and I asked him why he was all smiles. He told me that he was going to ride his brand new 3-wheeled bike that very day when he got home from school. This is huge for Tyrell because he barely got to go out and play let alone go around the block. No one wanted to deal with him because of his disabilities let alone be his friend. He told me all about his bike and couldn't control his happiness... some times he got so excited he broke out in giggles. We let him off at his stop and I reminded him about what was coming up and he gave me a smile from ear to ear. A smile that will forever be in my heart. The next morning when we picked him up from his stop, I noticed that his eyes were quite puffy, like his allergies were really bothering him. His Mom had the same eyes. As I was getting him into the van, I asked him how his bike was and his Mom let out a sad like sigh. She explained that the puffy eyes weren't from allergies but from many many hours of tears the night before. She said that Tyrell got to ride it once around the block before he had to come in for dinner and was promised that he could go back out and ride it again afterward. He left it in the back of his yard where they thought it would be safe, especially since he would be back to take it for another spin in a half an hour or so.That was a promise that would not be able to be kept. After dinner Tyrell came out by himself to go back out on it and couldn't seem to find it. In tears because of his frustration he called into the house for his mom to help him locate the bike. The bike was gone. Nowhere to be found. She immediately broke out in tears because she had to tell her boy the thing that he treasured so much was stolen.She called the police. While they were waiting for the police she called her close friend to find some consolation or comfort. They talked for a bit and hung up when the police arrived.To no ones surprise the Police could do nothing but take the report. The close friend called her up later and said that she forgot to tell Tyrell's mom that she had something for them and asked if it would be ok to bring it over. She of course, still crying from the thought of knowing they could barely afford that bike but another bike would be impossible to do, said yes. The friend brought over a huge box. While Tyrell and his mom were talking to the police their angelic friend was making calls to and gathering money from her friends. When she gathered it all up she went to the store and bought a brand new bike, the same style and color and everything for Tyrell.When Tyrell's mom noticed what was in the box she cried even harder and called for Tyrell. Tyrell had just stopped crying of his loss when he asked what was going on. His mom told him to say Hi and Thank You to her angel and he being the silly guy he is asked why that you mom? She told him reach down on the floor and when he did he knew exactly what it was. He's very good at remembering shapes. They all began to cry, not of sadness but of happiness, joy, thankfulness, and confusion as to how it all worked together and from the smile that was once again on his face. This story serves as reminder in my life to remember that in a world of evil, there is still goodness, compassion, caring, a deep love for others and a good kind heart. For one evil person there are many more great hearts... pass it on.

NOW urges action against IMUS

Imus Back On the Public Airwaves?

NOW Takes on Media Giant October 8, 2007

Citadel Broadcasting is paving the way for the return of misogynist poster boy Don Imus to the public airwaves. If the deal goes through, Imus' debut will be Dec. 1, and already there’s talk that the show may go into syndication. Imus was fired by CBS and NBC last spring for his derogatory and misogynist comments about the Rutgers women's basketball team.

The National Organization for Women was the first women's organization to speak out against Don Imus' insulting and degrading language directed at those accomplished young women, generating over 30,000 message through our website. In April, NOW and other civil rights organizations went to New York City and told CBS and MSNBC that it was time for Imus to go.

"CBS and MSNBC did the right thing and fired Don Imus. Not one but two major media corporations understood the cost of hate speech and the value of public confidence," said NOW President Kim Gandy. "Now, after a six-month vacation and a seven-figure settlement, Imus is looking for a comeback with another big corporation. It's like a bad dream. Didn't they learn anything? No one has a right to a platform on the radio -- if they did, we'd have more talk shows than we have airtime."

So what does it say to the public when a big corporation provides a stage for someone with a history of using the public airwaves for hateful and racist speech? It says they've made a choice about the kind of audience they want, and women and people of color aren't included.

NOW has alerted supporters so they can write to Citadel Broadcasting urging them to reconsider, and to take a stand against hate speech.

Blackwater, Wiretapping and Torture

In response to Blackwater's September 16 massacre of 11 Iraqi civilians in Nisour Square, the House voted overwhelmingly (389-30) for Rep. David Price's bill to bring Blackwater and other contractors under U.S. law and FBI enforcement and take away Blackwater's license to kill. On 9/27, Sen. Barack Obama's similar amendment passed the Senate by unanimous consent.
And when "Bush Dog" Leader Steny Hoyer quietly tried to legalize the NSA's warrantless wiretapping of American citizens, 72 members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus rose up in protest, and Hoyer suddenly cancelled the vote.
And when the NY Times revealed Alberto Gonzales secretly re-authorized torture in 2005, key Democrats demanded the war crimes memos written by Steve Bradbury.
But these victories were tenuous. The Blackwater bill must overcome a Bush veto. Warrantless wiretapping must be permanently ended without immunity for the telephone companies. Torture must be permanently ended without immunity for the torturers.
Together, we can and will change the Congress that we elected in 2006. So please send the Democrats Weekly Agenda for 10/8/07 to your Representatives:http://democrats.com/weekly-agenda

Proud Mom

My oldest son was an acolyte for the first time in service today. An acolyte is "a person who assists in the worship service. Normally the acolyte serves by lighting and extinguishing the candles on the communion or altar table and distributing and collecting the offering plates. At the discretion of the pastor, the acolyte may also assist in other portions of the worship service. It is the custom in most local churches for the acolytes to be young persons, giving them an early opportunity to be participants in the service. Adults, however, also may serve as acolytes." I found this definition on the UMC website's glossary. I was so proud to see him up there, and despite my fears, he did very well, lol.

It was especially cool because today is also World Communion Sunday. The World Communion Sunday (in the Methodist churches) offering provides scholarships for U.S. (racial-and ethnic-minority) and international students, on both undergraduate and graduate levels. Originally a Presbyterian observance, the Federal Council of Churches of Christ in America established World-wide Communion Sunday in 1940 as a global, interdenominational event. Prompted by the impact of World War II, the Methodist Church received an offering on this Sunday for the Fellowship of Suffering and Service. It aided the work of the Methodist Committee on Overseas Relief (now UMCOR), the Commission on Chaplains and the Commission on Camp Activities.

In 1971 The United Methodist Church changed the name of the observance to World Communion Sunday and redistributed the offering to support the Crusade Scholarship Program (begun in 1944), the Ethnic Minority Scholarship Program and the Division of Chaplains and Related Ministries.
In 1980 Chaplains and Related Ministries was moved to World Service funding, but the World Communion Sunday offering continued to assist racial- and ethnic-minority persons pursuing various avenues of ministry.

Men and Politics are destroying the US

"I'm constantly fascinated by the lack of real discussion on the Sunday gab fests. I'm watching last week's Real Time with Bill Maher show and Barbara Bodine is offering more insight on Iraq "reconstruction" than 2 hrs of male talking heads on ABC and NBC. Slate tells me I must read the NYT and WaPo stories on Iraq as background to the coming week's announcements. Quite honestly, I'm done wasting my time on such articles. Until SCR 1325 and human security become part of the dialog, what's the point of me reading mainstream news accounts of the US imperialistic occupation of the 2nd largest oil reserve in the world? "

http://youtube.com/watch?v=WIFLAuLm0Q8

Homeless Children

According to the National Coalition for the Homeless, 1.35 million U.S. children are homeless on any given night. (2000) Families are now the fastest growing segment of the homeless population, accounting for almost. 39% of the nation's homeless. (2000) The average age of a homeless person in the U.S. is 9 years old. 41% of homeless children are under the age of five. Nearly 20% of homeless children lack a regular source of medical care. Homeless children are hungry more than twice as often as other children. Almost 1/3 of low-income families do not have enough money to prepare three meals a day. 14% of homeless children are diagnosed with learning disabilities - double the rate of other children.
21% of homeless children repeat a grade because of frequent absence from school. Within a single school year, 41% of homeless students attend two different schools, 28% attend three or more. For children and youth identified as homeless by State Departments of Education, 35% lived in shelters, 34% lived doubled up with family or friends and 23% lived in motels or other locations. (FY 2000).

There are over 1.3 million homeless children just in the United States. While many are struggling with their families just to survive, many of them are making an effort to get an education; often overcoming what seems like insurmountable odds.

Watch the exclusive CW Network Special on Monday afternoon, from 3-4, hosted by Joan Lunden. http://www.americasinvisiblechildren.com/

In this show you will meet some of these remarkable children and see what they have to do just to go to school everyday so they can get an education.

For more information you can visit, the National Coalition for the Homeless website. http://www.nationalhomeless.org/, you can also visit them on My Space! http://www.myspace.com/nationalhomeless

Amnesty International

It comes down to people like you and me fighting everyday to end abuse, violence and exploitation. That's why I'd like to invite you to take the next step and give a gift of support to Amnesty International.You might think that ending abuses worldwide is a tall order, but as I face this challenge day-to-day, I take heart that there are over 1.8 million Amnesty supporters worldwide - people like you - who are standing with me and fighting. Stand with us, and you'll stand for freedom and justice around the world. Together, we can create a world where every man, woman and child can enjoy the rights of life and liberty; a world where torture and slavery are abolished; a world filled with respect for the dignity of all people. Your gift to Amnesty International today will make a world of difference.Thank you for all that you have done in support of human rights.Sincerely,Larry CoxExecutive DirectorP.S. Because it is critical to maintain impartiality, Amnesty does not accept any money from the government. That's why it is so important for individuals like you to support our life-saving work.

“Amnesty grew out of a simple idea. Many people have been saved from death and torture by the writing of letters from people around the world. People have power. We all have the power to change and influence our world. Use it.”- Peter Gabriel, musician
“I was dying and you saved me.”- Maina wa Kinyatti, a former prisoner of conscience
Copyright 2005 Amnesty International USA5 Penn Plaza New York, NY 10001Tel: 212.807.8400

Visit their website to see what you can do to help!

Christian Fasting

In bible study tonight, we talked about and studied fasting. I have to admit, it was not something I have spent much time thinking about or participating in. I have gone along with groups I was in that were fasting, but I never really understood the purpose. At last I think I finally get it.

Picture of Moses and followers fasting.

In my own simple terms, it is a time to communicate with God, for our bodies, minds, souls to be still, and listen. God communicates to us when we are still and quiet. It is also important that we keep our fast between us and God. There is no need to proclaim it or make others aware, it is not for their benefit, or for us to appear to be more Christian, but a time for us to prepare, show reverence and be ready to hear and listen to God, to communicate with him.





In searching the Internet I found some great websites about fasting, please visit them and discover for yourself the benefits that others have experienced as a result of their fasting. One of the sites I visited describes fasting as: "the most powerful spiritual discipline of all the Christian disciplines. Through fasting and prayer, the Holy Spirit can transform your life. "





http://www.freedomyou.com/fasting_book/Fasting%20Testimonies.htm





http://www.allaboutgod.com/christian-fasting.htm





http://www.billbright.com/howtofast/

Save Darfur!

For the most updated news & actions, visit www.amnestyusa.org/darfur

October 24, a day of action for Darfur, will be the culmination of months of hard work.
No more delays in deploying peacekeepers to Darfur. No more needless deaths.
We demand immediate action to end the violence in Darfur.
And on October 24, United Nations Day, we're going to make sure our demands are heard. By mobilizing all of our resources and our activists from coast to coast, we'll show the President, Congress and the United Nations that we will not sit back as long as one of the world's worst human rights catastrophes continues to unfold.
But I'll be honest. The only way we'll be able to deliver lasting results is with the firm commitment of each and every one of our activists. We need a tidal wave of support - and I hope you'll take a little time out of your busy schedule to join our day of action.
Here are some ways you can play a role:
- Sign the global petition to end the violence in Darfur. We are only 43,000* signatures short of our half million goal – and we only have two and a half weeks left.
- On October 24, Amnesty will deliver a half million Global Petition for Darfur signatures directly to the White House. Join our efforts and host a solidarity vigil in your hometown. Get tips on organizing an event here (PDF).
- Organize your family and friends to participate in our White House Call-In Days. Download (PDF) the White House call-in days flyer, with talking points. Our goal is to flood the White House phone lines with calls from Amnesty activists demanding action for Darfur.
Amnesty began its campaign to end the bloodshed in Darfur four years ago. And while the violence endures today, progress toward a peaceful resolution has been made - thanks to millions of activists around the world. But until the killings, torture, rape and displacement end, we'll continue to press for urgent change.
On behalf of my colleagues at Amnesty International, thank you for joining our effort.
Sincerely,
Meredith LarsonCampaign ManagerAmnesty International USACampaign to Save Darfur

CREW wants to do another rebuild!

Above is a picture of our first rebuild, we want to do another!

CREW wants to rebuild a home for Pamela. Pamela is a 53 year old Florida born Caucasian woman who works for Southern Gardens and has for many years. She also cleans offices for extra money. In addition to working two jobs, she finds time to volunteer, so she can help others. After Hurricane Wilma, Pamela's home was severely damaged. The winds were so strong that they picked up Pamela's mobile home and twisted it. Pamela who was inside of the mobile home during the storm began to screw the walls back together as they were ripping apart. After the hurricane had passed she was told to leave but had no where to go. She was unable to go to a shelter because she feared that her belongings that were left would be stolen. Pamela had insurance a few days prior to the storm but her insurance company cancelled due to no hand rails being on her porch right before the storm. Pamela did not have sufficient time to put the hand rails on before Wilma hit. She did receive $2,600.00 from FEMA and used to repair her water system and to sit the mobile home back on the blocks. Pamela is low- income and is unable to repair the mobile home. She also has numerous medical problems and the mold in the home is increasing the severity of her breathing problems. Pamela is living in the only room in her home that is livable, the living room. Pamela was forced to move all of her belongings into that room. She also must sleep, cook, and eat in the living room due to the fact that she does not have electricity in the other rooms of the home. All in all Pamela did not receive enough funds to repair her mobile home and now is living in a severely damaged home that is unsafe and un-repairable. Pamela says "All I want is my life back how it was before Hurricane Wilma".It is the Mission of C.R.E.W., Community Rebuilding Ecumenical Workforce, a caring network of Hendry and Glades counties' civic, social services, faith-based groups, agencies, and organizations along with concerned individual and business, formed to address the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of the community in the restoration and rebuilding of their lives and homes in times of a natural or man-made disasters. Additionally, C.R.E.W. will provide collaborative leadership and advocacy in the discernment of the long term systemic needs for continuing to assist Pamela and her family with as much as we can, however we are extending a hand as asking for your organization's assist regarding this project. We have found volunteers that want to build her a home, and we have found people willing to draw the plans, all we need now is the money. We believe it will cost about $50,000 to accomplish this, both in materials and to pay contractors for plumbing and electricity. We are pleading for assistance in raising these funds.

If you want to help, please contact us at 863-983-2390!

Expansion of Hate Crimes Law Necessary for Women's Safety

According to NOW press,

By a vote of 60 to 39, the Senate passed the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which would permit federal prosecution of hate crimes based on a person's actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.

This is the most comprehensive hate crimes legislation ever, and with this new law federal investigators could step in if local authorities were unwilling or unable to act, or needed federal assistance. Already, George W. Bush has announced his intent to veto the legislation.
Currently federal laws define hate crimes as those in which the victim is targeted because of her or his race, color, religion, or national origin. Yet we know that these are not the only groups targeted for hate-based violence.

The National Organization for Women knows first hand how deeply this kind of terror and danger can affect entire communities, destroying lives and livelihoods. Expanding the definition of hate crimes is important, if not critical, to women's overall health and safety.

The Senate did the right thing by voting for legislation that will help prosecute, reduce, and perhaps eventually eliminate, hate-based crimes. We urge George Bush to do the same.

Send a mission to Burma.

In Burma, Buddhist monks, marching against tyranny, are reported to have been disrobed and shackled. Many detained, many killed. They marched against injustice and oppression, and their actions were met with a cruel and ruthless crackdown.
You can take a stand against the oppression of these peaceful monks. Take action today.
The death counts vary wildly. But you can be sure that the military junta has brutally beaten and possibly murdered many more than we'll ever be able to confirm.
Please take action today for the people of Burma.
As you know, Amnesty International has been working for decades to protect human rights in Burma (Myanmar) and to support the pro-democracy forces' right to peaceful dissent. When the people of Burma last staged mass pro-democracy protests back in 1988, the military junta murdered thousands. But history does not have to repeat itself.
Take action now to help prevent more killings by the military government. Tell your friends and family to do the same.
The world is watching. Please do your part.

Buy American Made Toys

Tired of buying harmful toys from China? Check out these places where you can buy US made toys! Consumers can make a difference and refuse to buy the harmful junk from overseas! We have to send a message that we don't want imports!

http://www.holgatetoy.com/

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The Health of Millions of Children is in Bush's Hands

The Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) provides health coverage to children whose parents do not qualify for Medicaid, but can't afford private insurance. On Thursday, Sept. 27, the Senate passed a bill reauthorizing funding for CHIP for an additional five years -- funding that would guarantee coverage to about 10 million children. That bill now heads to George Bush's desk for his signature.

But he has threatened not to sign it.

Bush is threatening to veto this bill because he has his own proposal for CHIP funding, one that would cut off around 800,000 children from receiving the health care they so desperately need.

Send a message to President Bush today urging him to protect these vulnerable children and not veto the CHIP reauthorization bill. Ask your friends to tell him, too. With hundreds of thousands of messages from across the country, Bush may decide to sign the bill after all. Many Republicans are urging him to do just that, and your voice will help.
Learn more about the bipartisan Children's Health Insurance Program funding bill

NOW Urges House to Maintain Broad Protections Against Employment Discrimination

Last week, just before it was slated to go to the House floor for a vote, the civil rights bill known as the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) was stripped of protections for the transgender community.

"NOW opposes this weakened version and encourages sponsors of the original ENDA to ask House leaders to withdraw the weaker bill and support the more inclusive bill, H.R. 2015," said Kim Gandy, President of NOW.

"Our members, through resolutions at our national conferences, have determined that any civil rights bill must include protections against discrimination based on gender identity. We cannot support a bill that does not include a group of people who need the protection addressed by the more inclusive bill," added Olga Vives, NOW's Executive Vice President.
On Tuesday, October 2, the House Education and Labor committee will be discussing ENDA, which was originally introduced to prohibit employers from using a person's real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity as a factor in employment decisions, such as hiring, firing or promotion.

Due to an unfortunate turn of events, the committee will be discussing a version of the bill that limits its protections solely to discrimination based on sexual orientation. Democratic leaders have decided that the original (transgender-inclusive) version, H.R. 2015, is unlikely to pass, so they have proposed a watered down version, H.R. 3685, which removes the language about gender identity.

"NOW joins with hundreds of civil, women's, and human rights organizations in calling on Speaker Pelosi to bring the original ENDA, H.R. 2015, to the House floor for a vote, and present a bill that recognizes all the various forms of potential workplace discrimination. The recently passed hate crimes bill ­ supported by a bipartisan group of House and Senate members - includes gender identity, and ENDA should too," stated Vives as she summed up NOW's opposition to the gutted bill.

http://www.democrats.com/no-jail-time-for-libby

There's one reason why Bush kept Libby out of jail: not because the sentence was excessive, but simply to keep him from ratting on Cheney and himself. In mob circles, that's called silencing a witness. Here's Marcy Wheeler:
Well, George did it. Made sure that Scooter wouldn’t flip rather than do jail time. He commuted Libby’s sentence, guaranteeing not only that Libby wouldn’t talk, but retaining Libby’s right to invoke the Fifth. This amounts to nothing less than obstruction of justice.
Bush has now joined Libby and Cheney in the criminal coverup of the felonious outing a covert CIA agent. And the public is outraged - 72% of Americans oppose a pardon. What can you do?
Email your Representatives to Impeach Cheney
Email your Representatives to Impeach Bush
Email the House Judiciary Committee to Start Hearings on H.Res. 333, Articles of Impeachment for Vice President Cheney
Organize a Honk to Impeach
Join your local Congressional District Impeachment Committee
Don't waste your time calling the White House. Call your Representative to impeach Cheney and Bush:(800) 828-0498 / (800) 459-1887 / (800) 614-2803 / (866) 340-9281 / (866) 338-1015