politico

Cedaw, What is it, and Why Should You Care?
CEDAW, the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women, is a United Nations treaty that sets out internationally-accepted principles that uphold women’s rights. In the united States women have waited 27 years, since 1980 for the Unite States Senate to take action on this United Nations treaty which sets out internationaly -accepted principles that uphold women’s rights.
On Monday, September 24, delegations of activists will converge on the nation’s capital through the 28th to deliver their messages in person.
Acccording to the NOW organization:
Background on CEDAW:

What CEDAW Does – CEDAW prohibits all forms of discrimination against women by legally binding those countries that ratify it to the following measures. Countries ratifying CEDAW must:

* incorporate the equality of men and women in their legal systems,
* abolish discriminatory laws and adopt appropriate ones,
* establish tribunals to ensure the protection of women, and
* eliminate acts of discrimination against women by persons, organizations or enterprises.

In addition to these requirements, CEDAW also lays out a clear definition of discrimination and states specific steps that nations are obligated to take to eliminate discrimination. Specifically addressed are: sex stereotyping and customary practices detrimental to women, prostitution, political and public life, health care and family planning, economic and social benefits, rural women, equality before the law, and marriage and family relationships.

Failure to Ratify a Disgrace – It is a national disgrace that the United States – supposedly a world leader in human rights (up until recently, at least) – has failed to ratify the CEDAW. Also known as the Treaty on Women’s Rights, CEDAW has been ratified by 185 countries – more than any other human rights treaty. It is being used by advocates in many of those countries to document abuses of women’s human rights and the failures of those governments to adopt and enforce policies that promote gender equality. The U.S. stands among a small group of outliers such as Liberia, Sudan and a few others which have not yet ratified CEDAW.

Senators Fail to Act – Although it was adopted by the United Nations in 1979 and signed by President Carter in 1980, the Senate has failed in the past 27 years to ratify this treaty, an appalling case of neglect on the part of both Democratic and Republican leaders. It may also be a clear statement on how little esteem is placed on women’s rights by our elected officials! After much prodding by NOW and other women’s rights activists, on July 30, 2002, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee finally recommended that the full Senate vote to ratify CEDAW. But, again, Senate leadership (then Republican) refused to act on this recommendation and schedule a floor vote. With new Senate leadership, the NOW organization is trying again to push for ratification of CEDAW.

Local CEDAW Activities – Some U.S. jurisdictions are moving forward to implement CEDAW. In 1998, San Francisco enacted a local ordinance which mirrors CEDAW’s provisions. Under the San Francisco Commission on the Status of Women, the city is implementing CEDAW by creating task forces that monitor policies and actions of city departments (such as the Adult Probation Department, Department of Public Works, the Juvenile Probation Department, the Arts Commission, the Rent Board, and the Department on the Environment) by writing reports on the status of women in these departments and others. Learn more about San Francisco’s Commission on the Status of Women.

The CEDAW ordinance helps in promoting programs that educate the public on violence against women, advocates policies for city and county governments that ensure equity for women and girls, monitors complaints made of inequality, provides resources for businesses and organizations on women’s rights, maintains a free job resource library open to the public, and works with local organizations and coalitions to promote issues that improve the quality of life for women and girls.

You Can Lead Local Efforts -Your own city or state can make a similar effort to address discrimination against women. Once CEDAW is ratified in the U.S. (or if your state or locality has adopted CEDAW statutes or ordinances), any individual or organization may submit reports to the U.N. CEDAW Committee about how this is being implemented. Additionally, some women’s rights advocates are promoting adoption of resolutions by state legislatures, city or county councils in support of CEDAW ratification at the federal level. Learn more about this process from International Women’s Rights Action Watch.
This really means that Senators, will have to belly up and vote for the right reasons. After all is said and done, they have women who are family members also. They currently are getting paid, (in most cases that is) the same wages as everyone else. They must be treated the same as you or me in times of chaos or medical emergencies and job opportunities. We all must be treated the same if there is a crime committed against any of us, this must happen now, not in anaother six years or later, now! The international treaty must be ratified now! Call your Senators and tell them your feelings, now!

8-14-2007

Looks like the British Royals are changing their shoes this time around with grandson William’s current love interest. Maybe they don’t want to make the same mistakes their footsteps caused them so much bad press with Prince Charles and Princess Diana. With the exception of the castle inhabitants interference with Catherine’s’ desire to be on a rowing team, the royals are being decent to Catherine. Citing safety issues Catherine has dropped out of the charity race just a short two weeks before the race.

Too bad, what a disappointment for her and the rest of the team. Even though British paparazzi are notorious for their interference in the royals lives, they should not really interfere in her activities, especially since Diana’s death. Lawyers for Catherine Middleton and Prince Charles have sent warning letters to editors in the realm about their photographers antics along with video footage of their activities.

Grandmum Queen Elizabeth has invited Catherine to holiday dinners this year at the palace. This should be a match to watch between the royals and Prince William. You have to remember that Prince Charles divorced Diana to eventually marry Camilla Bowles, his first real love.

Stem Cell Research 6-7-2007

To “benefit all mankind” is one way to explain the current stem cell research projects. The time is now for President George Bush to really please the majority of the American public , 62% of whom support tstem cell research. If he is truly concerned about what his historic legacy will be, this is the major bill that can make it better. Life and death decisions, disorders and disease can be much easier to live with if there are new treatments or preventive measures to help mankind when found by doing stem cell research.

Generally speaking, yes, I know that generally speaking is dangerous, however, George Bush tends to lean to the right politically. That means he allows religious and political extremism to influence his thought and enactment of laws for the US rather than medical and scientific reason. You can hear that when he speaks about the earth warming trends as well, although to be fair it looks as if he is changing his mind. You can read about it when researching family health concerns in his health department press releases because he has instructed his people to change the outcomes of findings according to his beliefs. That has been proven folks. This is not an exageration.

Stem cell research can definitely change the health of mankid. Bill Gates foundation has taken it upon themselves to help disseminate information and vaccines with their Global Health initiative actions to help third world families lead healthier lives. Imagine what stem cell research can do to save even more lives.

Six Important Things you can do to Help your environment, the first is support the following bill.

Occasionally I get information from global solutions. This post is a direct result from them.

We urge you to support S.193 as a critical first step in achieving a comprehensive, globally focused U.S. energy policy. Here is why we urge that support!

S.193 – The Enegy Diplomacy and Security Act

Introduced by Senator Lugar on January 4, 2007 and co-sponsored by Senators Biden, Coleman, Craig, Hagel, Landrieu, Lieberman, Salazar, Snowe, S.193 enhances U.S. capacity to overcome today’s energy challenges by increasing international cooperation on energy issues and improving energy policy coordination.

As the world’s largest consumer of energy, and the largest emitter of greenhouse gases, the U.S. has both a unique power and a real responsibility to exercise its leadership on energy issues.

The U.S. needs to work with other nations to address threats to security, environment and development, and S.193 is an important first step towards a comprehensive, globally-focused U.S. energy policy.

If we as a nation don’t get behind good legislation when it is being offered, then we deserve what we get in the end, even if it is a stick in the eye. Too many times we get Presidents who run amuck, and approve or veto laws like they run a kingdom, or a dude ranch.
However, there are things every citizen can do to promote better air quality of air where you live.

5 Areas of Action we can use as Individual Citizens
Gardening
Use poison free garden products. They all get washed into the rivers eventually and can harm the fish we eat. Grow your own vegetables and use organic soil. Look for organic foods in your supermarket.
Cars
Choose a fuel efficient vehicle if you are going to buy a new car, or if you drive a car that is more than ten years old, be sure that you change the spark plugs, air filter, at least once a year. Check the tire pressure at least once every three months. Don’t drive on bald tires, get new ones they will help you with car performance, which slows down the harmful emissions from your car. Walk, bike, carpool or take public transit, and don’t idle your car for more than 10 seconds because of gas emissions.
Your Home
If you are buying a new home, choose a home close to work or school.
Reduce your home energy use as much as you can. If your furnace, air conditioner, washer, dryer, gasoline lawn mower, stove, is over ten years old consider replacing it. Change the filters in the furnace every three months, replace automobile spark plugs, every six months, and air filter in the lawn mower, and air conditioner every year. If you can wash the filters in the air conditioners, do so three times a season. The air conditioner unit won’t work so hard, and will save on your electricity bill. Replace windows in your home over ten years old with fiberglass ones. Get water filtering and air quality devices for your entire home.
Renovating
If you are renovating, choose environmentally safe products , you will save more money, and be happier. Make sure that you put the old pieces in the proper place for reclamation.
Plant Trees
Landscape your property, plant evergreen trees or bushes, and other native plants. Trees remove carbon dioxide the dominant greenhouse gas from the air and cleans the air for all of us. These are the things we can do as individuals for ourselves and our families without legislation. It is up to us to improve our own land and home environment. But, we must be cognizant of what our legislators are doing and our larger role in international policies. Is that up to you, yes it is.
According to the FACT Sheet supplied from the Bill:
S.193: Key Provisions

Reforms Policymaking and Implementation Structures: [Sections 3b and 4g]

Establishes Coordinator for International Energy Affairs within the Office of the Secretary of State, integrating energy security into the Department’s core mission and improving policy coordination.

Requires the Executive to Report on current bilateral and multilateral energy agreements, providing policymakers with the information they need to improve energy security.

Expands Strategic Energy Partnerships: [Section 3b and 4]

Makes it the policy of the United States to advance global energy security through partnership with other nations.

Authorizes the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of Energy, to establish and expand strategic energy partnerships with other nations

Establishes Policy Guidelines for International Energy Affairs: [Section 4]

Promote reliable, diverse and sustainable sources of all types of energy

Increase global availability of renewable and clean sources of energy

Decrease global dependence on oil and natural gas energy sources

Advance access to reliable and affordable energy for underdeveloped areas, in particular energy access for the poor

Strengthens Global Energy Crisis Response mechanisms: [Section 5]

Calls for establishing bilateral strategic energy partnerships with India and China focused on the development and management of strategic petroleum reserves

Calls for establishing a Western Hemisphere energy crisis response mechanism under the auspices of the Hemisphere Energy Cooperation Forum

Calls for expanding developing countries’ access to strategic petroleum reserves

Conclusion

Today’s energy challenges cannot be overcome by the U.S. alone. As the United States Congress continues to move forward with a series of ground-breaking domestic energy legislation, the U.S. must also work in partnership with other nations to address shared threats to climate, security and development posed by global fossil fuel dependence.
I challenge you to become more proactive for you and your families welfare. Do something positive, let your Congressman, Senator, House of Delegates representative know how you feel today. Yes, I said today.
We all live in a house, breathe the same air, and walk, ride, or drive on the same streets. Lets us do something good for all of us. Yes, even your mother-in-law, whom you really love anyhow, and other family members. Those energy partnerships also extend to you and your family members.

Politics in publishing the violent deaths of women, we see it everyday on television. Then another woman is raped and beaten to death, then another woman is  set on fire and killed by a jealous husband.The list goes on and on and on.  If television shows were cancelled because there was too much violence against women in them, the networks would have to drastically change their tv prime time shows.

This was sent to info@barclayroad.com after publisher Herbert Becker said He would publish the fictional account of Nicole Brown Simpsons’ death.

Good Afternoon,

I have just read of Mr. Herbert Beckers’ quote that he would publish the OJ book if he could. Ohhh boy are you guys gonna catch hell. And let me be the first one to say, you have lost your minds to even think about publishing an account of Nicole s death. I mean come on, is it only the money you guys are after. His quote was that it would be “an entertaining read”. Oh so now it is entertaining to read about how a woman was  gruesomly stabbed to death.

What you guys never seem to really get, like in “Get it” is the fact that a woman’s death is never entertaining, not even if it is violent is it ever, even remotely, entertaining.

Maybe Mr. Becker was one of those kids who never got caught killing animals. Maybe that is how he rose to the top in publishing with a killer instinct. I do not know Mr. Becker, nor do I even remotely want to. But, I am surprised to know that a person a the top of Lifetime publications is so callous. Well now we know his dirty little secret, he likes to make money off of women being killed.

I don’t care if Nicoles’ parents are going to get the monies from the sales, or even if the monies are split with all of the abused women shelters in the state where she was killed. It is still the same thing making money because a person got violently killed. Have you no shame! Make a buck where you can huh! Well, let me tell you I am going to put this on my blog immediately after I write it and we will see how fast it gets published elsewhere.

In my opinion, I think you guys have lost what ever percent of decency you were ever born with.

What I want to know about is, what happened to the dog that was with Nicole when she was attacked? The dog surely would recognize who attacked her. Who has the dog now, and if he sees OJ what is the dogs reaction when OJ comes around. Was the dog put to sleep?

Just a few questions for your sense of integrity, if there is any at all left of it !