For centuries, quinoa and amaranth have been cultivated in the High Andes of Peru. These highly nutritious cereals were even consumed by the Incas. Today, demand for these products is on the increase in places like North America, Japan and in European countries. Plant breeder, Professor Luz Gomez Pando, is trying to develop new varieties of quinoa and amaranth that have a higher yield and are more nutritious. She is using a nuclear technique in her work, which uses radiation to … [Read more...]
World Bank endorses new 2-year strategy for Haiti
The World Bank Board of Directors this week endorsed a new two-year strategy for Haiti that will continue to reduce the population's vulnerability to disasters, provide 1.5 million people with cholera education, prevention and treatment, and support the repair and reconstruction of houses so that 45,000 people can return to safe homes. The strategy will also improve access to electricity for 600,000 people and finance tuition of 100,000 children per year. According to a World Bank press … [Read more...]
Sheila Sisulu – WOMAN of ACTION™
A Celebration of Women™ has been inspired this day by the World Food Programme to Celebrate the Life of yet another awesome force. WFP Deputy Executive Director for Hunger Solutions Sheila Sisulu has had many roles - South Africa's Ambassador to the United States, political activist, high school teacher. WFP sat down to talk with her about why forging hunger solutions is her current priority. Join us here today, as we Celebrate the work of this force of charity, hope and … [Read more...]
Key to Recovery – Cosmic Form of the Divine
Strife, Confusion and Conflict be gone If a difference of opinion has clouded your thoughts ... If you change your focus and look for the common ground of peace, focus and look for the common ground of peace,you can bring Harmony into your relationships again, you become an Earth angel. Remember, God tells us that blessed are the peacemakers. When we dwell together in unity, we honor God and open the door for His hand of blessing in every area of our lives. You can bring … [Read more...]
Are you feeling ‘stuck and powerless’? – WOMEN in RECOVERY
How many times have you felt stuck in your recovery or in other areas of your life? Have you ever felt powerless against your eating disorder or powerless in areas of your life making you want your eating disorder even more? These two states of being are extremely powerful forces in one’s recovery, and in life as a whole. You can either allow them to debilitate you, or help move you to a better place. In the past month or so, I have felt these two states of being particularly powerfully, … [Read more...]
VEGAN – What’s in a Word?, Gentle World
The common usage of the word ‘vegan’ has begun to shift in the last decade, largely under the influence of celebrities and the news media. Instead of a philosophy and way of life that seeks to avoid the exploitation of nonhuman animals, 'veganism' is viewed by many as a fad diet now – and often as one that allows the occasional consumption of products derived from other animals. These recent changes in usage parallel the evolution of the meaning of the word ‘vegetarian’ in surprising ways. The … [Read more...]
Assertiveness is a Journey – WOMEN in RECOVERY
Assertiveness is a Journey 'Moving towards assertiveness ... will reduce your stress levels and improve your confidence'. Assertiveness is a form of behavior characterized by a confident declaration or affirmation of a statement without need of proof; this affirms the person's rights or point of view without either aggressively threatening the rights of another (assuming a position of dominance) or submissively permitting another to ignore or deny one's rights or point of … [Read more...]
Violence is not always Visible, Henriette Eiby Christensen
How Anger (and education) Saved Me From Suicide Six years ago, I came out of a 12-year verbally abusive relationship not knowing what had happened. First relief, then not understanding why I felt so bad, and kept feeling like the world would be a better place without me in it. Then ANGER. No way was I going to let him continue to have that kind of power over me – I had to understand everything, not only for myself, but also for my three children. And so I started writing and … [Read more...]
Manifesting Your Empowerment can be a Challenge
When tracking women's empowerment worldwide, organizations look at our economic participation, opportunity, political empowerment, educational attainment and health. However, being empowered from the perspective of government, social, media and business studies can be very different than when you talk to women at a grass root level. Where you live and quality of life found therein can make a huge difference as to whether you feel empowered. When I asked a group of women varying in age … [Read more...]
Solitude is to be Embraced, not Feared – WOMEN in RECOVERY
Loneliness is marked by a sense of isolation. Solitude, on the other hand, is a state of being alone without being lonely and can lead to self-awareness. Solitude is a state of seclusion or isolation, i.e., lack of contact with people. It may stem from bad relationships, deliberate choice, infectious disease, mental disorders, neurological disorders or circumstances of employment or situation. Short-term solitude is often valued as a time when one may work, think or rest without … [Read more...]
UN officials call on countries to strengthen women’s access to justice
September 2012 – United Nations officials today urged countries to implement measures to improve women’s access to and participation in justice systems, stressing that the rule of law can help break down gender barriers. “Our theme of women’s access to justice reminds me of all the women I have met who suffered terrible crimes, including sexual abuse in wartime,” said Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in his remarks at an event at UN Headquarters in New York, entitled ‘Strengthening Women’s … [Read more...]