advocacy

Join the Internet Blackout. Stop Censorship. Stop SOPA/PIPA.

January 18, 2012 By Lisa Leave a Comment

You may have noticed a black bar on the top of my website today, as well as my avatar on my Twitter & Facebook accounts depicting black tape over my mouth.

Today, January 18th, the internet is being “blacked out” to lend support to the STOP SOPA/PIPA movement (SOPA=Stop Online Piracy Act. PIPA= Protect IP Act). If these damaging “anti-piracy” bills are passed, would censor the free internet as you know it. Your Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, favorite websites and blogs, all content user-generated as you know it, could and would be censored. Blocked.

Google has a quick, succinct and easy way to help you contact Congress and let them know your vote is NO. Or, watch these videos for more information about what SOPA/PIPA can mean for the internet, small businesses, social networking, and much more.

Do you have a website and want to support this blackout, too? Add the following code to your header to get a bar like mine:

Replace xyz with the width value of your header, masthead or website (i.e. 1100px).

Use Picnik.com to edit your avatar to add text to say “STOP SOPA & PIPA” like I did.

Visit americancensorship.org to find out what you can do to help stop SOPA and PIPA from happening.

Image courtesy of AmericanCensorship.org

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I Love Babywearing. Let’s Keep It Safe and Educate

October 3, 2010 By Lisa Leave a Comment

My love for babywearing always becomes renewed when I get something new to play with. Introducing our family’s newest sling by Seven Slings called “Carmel Latte.”

I. Love. It. So. Much.

You can’t beat getting a well-sized sling. He sits so comfortably on my hip in this, snuggling him up against me.

Taken with my camera phone, apparently in need of cleaning.

I broke this baby out at Type-A Mom and gladly wore him through the airport, lending it to friends when needed at the conference.

I can’t begin to tell you how babywearing has helped me in my parenting my small children. When children are worn properly, it increases the bond between child and parent and allows for that closeness long after the arms have grown tired. (Note: I did not say mother, as my husband wears our children, too.)

Even my kids have gotten into babywearing, too.

Babywearing has been around for centuries. Women in other countries have worn their children with fabric and cloth draped over their bodies forever, and with good reason, because it’s a wonderful way to bond. I don’t think I can elaborate on how much it pains me to see it torn apart by companies, or continually under the microscope by the CPSC because of uneducated folks doing it wrong and, as a result, innocent babies being hurt (or worse).

We babywearers should help to not only spread the good word about babywearing, but to help ensure others are properly educated on how to use their chosen babywearing item. We need to rally together in our love for babywearing, and help anyone who needs it. I personally would love to see babywearing parties around the US, to help show interested parents the different kinds and give them face-to-face contact with babywearers in which they could seek out immediate help and support locally.

What do YOU think? Do you babywear, too? What do you use, and what do you think we could do to help others? Link up in our Babywearing Call to Action at Steph’s.

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Inadequate is an Understatement #BRESMA

January 15, 2010 By Lisa Leave a Comment

It was one of those days where my babies and I played and played, and then I cleaned and re-cleaned. The messes arrived and disappeared, the plates grew and food eaten or refused, as usual. Nothing was really out of the ordinary or out of sorts, except me.

I felt wrong.

My children have the luxury of sitting here, shielded by the elements, free to choose not to eat our Asian-inspired dinner, and there are those in need, those who had a house that now lies in shambles around them, currently sheltered under tents, hoping for help.

I feel like life shouldn’t be going on as normal right now, that the world should halt and pick up and do SOMETHING collectively. That *I* should be doing something, doing more than I am. Donating money just doesn’t seem to be enough to me. I feel I should be boxing up clothing, fixing care packages, baking food, sending water, contacting companies to send help.

As if the devastation in Haiti wasn’t enough as a whole, I then learned of the BRESMA orphanage, and of the two Pittsburgh women living amongst a flock of their orphan-children, all homeless in the yard where the orphanage once stood, currently in limbo, unwilling to abandon them, all desperately in need of food, water, and a way out.

Looking at my happy, plump, and playful babies, I realize I am so thankful and fortunate, and yet, so worried at the same time for these Haiti babies big and small. They need help, and while Haiti itself is getting help, it isn’t getting to them.

I sat immediately and furiously typed away, tweeting and re-tweeting messages getting the word out. I then took the fury behind those fingers and put it to good work emailing senators and congressmen about the issues surrounding citizenship, asylum, refugee-status, just to get these almost-adopted kids home.

But it isn’t getting food and water into their empty bellies this very second. And despite all my work and desire to help, I still feel it isn’t enough. It isn’t a pallet arriving right.this.very.second with the provisions they so desperately need. I can feel my soul turned inside out, weeping.

And I don’t know what else to do. But pray, and wait. And hope.

To follow the progress made in aiding Jamie, Ali and the children at the BRESMA orphanage, follow the hashtag #BRESMA on twitter for frequent updates.

OMG *edit* 9:59pm CST US Government is allowing the children to enter the US. Literally as I hit enter to this post. Wow.

CNN picked up the story here. So did ABCNews. Also, Dooce mentioned it in her blog post, too (Thanks Heather!)

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