Here and There Blog

This year's #BAD is one tough topic - Human Rights. Guidance on writing about today comes from sources of the UN doctrine on Human Rights and Amnesty International's position.Great sweeping statements that have never reached the millions of people living in poor conditions, in camps or tents, or under threat of death or rape by what ever group is currently controlling the drug/money/illegal arms trade in any number of countries. Human Rights for all people can't change until the world as a whole changes. There is not much that I can do to stop one group of people from killing another. Even the United States can't stop dictatorships, coups, civil wars, and the mind set of the people who perform those acts. Human Rights is based on the idea that all people agree with this idea. So how to change the idea? How does one girl in Pakistan go to be a hero while countless others are still made child brides at 8 years old? Can the one girl go back and initiate change or will...

WATER is the topic for this year's Blog Action Day. Each year I'm at a loss for what to write about and then the story manifests itself with impeccable timing. California is always in a drought situation but we still have water to waste. Many parts of the world are in drought and have to water at all. I can't help create a lake in a remote region but I can do something at home. I leave tomorrow for a trip, followed by another trip, then one more. In many of these places I will drink bottled water and enjoy hot showers while some people in those countries might not have the same lifestyle. Keeping that in mind, my showers are short and the water bottles are used as needed to keep me healthy on the road. But Karma has a way One of the toilets has decided to spring itself a leak. Now in worst case scenario a leaking toilet results in gallons of lost water each day. I'm out of here tomorrow and don't want to deal with this. So I've dried, caulked and shut off the ...