Movie: FLOW

A new documentary, FLOW, discusses the growing privatization of the world's dwindling fresh water supply and how these handful of water corporations spend millions a year in marketing to convince us that bottled water is better than tap water.

Opening in New York and Los Angeles on Sept. 12.

Click here to: Help Haiti Now!

This month three hurricanes have devastatingly hit Haiti. If you want to help these unfortunate people desperate for help in the after-math of three natural disasters please visit Wyclef Jean's organization, http://www.yele.org/, to donate today.

Meat: Making Global Warming Worse

Attention all cheeseburger fans! You should read this TIME Magazine article. You will be baffled by the facts. To understand how what is on your dinner plate might be emitting more greenhouse gases than your car, read on.

Need another reason to feel guilty about feeding your children that Happy Meal — aside from the fat, the calories and that voice in your head asking why you can't be bothered to actually cook a well-balanced meal now and then? Rajendra Pachauri would like to offer you one. The head of the U.N.'s Nobel Prize–winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Pachauri on Monday urged people around the world to cut back on meat in order to combat climate change. "Give up meat for one day [per week] at least initially, and decrease it from there," Pachauri told Britain's Observer newspaper. "In terms of immediacy of action and the feasibility of bringing about reductions in a short period of time, it clearly is the most attractive opportunity." So, that addiction to pork and beef isn't just clogging your arteries; it's flame-broiling the earth, too.

By the numbers, Pachauri is absolutely right. In a 2006 report, the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) concluded that worldwide livestock farming generates 18% of the planet's greenhouse gas emissions — by comparison, all the world's cars, trains, planes and boats account for a combined 13% of greenhouse gas emissions. Much of livestock's contribution to global warming come from deforestation, as the growing demand for meat results in trees being cut down to make space for pasture or farmland to grow animal feed. Livestock takes up a lot of space — nearly one-third of the earth's entire landmass. In Latin America, the FAO estimates that some 70% of former forest cover has been converted for grazing. Lost forest cover heats the planet, because trees absorb CO2 while they're alive — and when they're burned or cut down, the greenhouse gas is released back into the atmosphere.
Then there's manure — all that animal waste generates nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas that has 296 times the warming effect of CO2. And of course, there is cow flatulence: as cattle digest grass or grain, they produce methane gas, of which they expel up to 200 L a day. Given that there are 100 million cattle in the U.S. alone, and that methane has 23 times the warming impact of CO2, the gas adds up.
The worrisome news is that as the world economy grows, so does global meat consumption. The average person in the industrialized world eats more than 176 lb. of meat annually, compared with around 66 lb. consumed by the average resident of the developing world. As developing nations get richer, one of the first things citizens spend their extra income on is a more meat-rich diet. Whereas pork would once have been a rare luxury in China, today even the relatively poor in the country's cities can afford a little meat at almost every meal — so much so that pork imports to China rose more than 900% through the first four months of the year. In 2008, global meat production is expected to top 280 million tons, and that figure could nearly double by 2050.
Producing all that meat will do more than just warm the world; it will also raise pressure on land resources. The FAO estimates that about 20% of the planet's pastureland has been degraded by grazing animals, and increased demand for meat means increased demand for animal feed — much of the world's grain production is fed to animals rather than to humans. (The global spike in grain prices over the past year is in large part due to the impact on grain supplies of the growing demand for meat.) The expanded production of meat has been facilitated by industrial feedlots, which bleed antibiotics and other noxious chemicals. And of course, the human health impact of too much meat can be seen in everything from bloated waistlines in America to rising rates of cardiovascular disease in developing nations, where heart attacks were once as rare as a T-bone steak.
So is Pachauri right that going vegetarian can save the planet? (At least the 68-year-old Indian economist practices what he preaches.) It's true that giving up that average 176 lb. of meat a year is one of the greenest lifestyle changes you can make as an individual. You can drive a more fuel-efficient car, or install compact fluorescent lightbulbs, or improve your insulation, but unless you intend to hunt wild buffalo and boar, there's really no green way to get meat — although organic, locally farmed beef or chicken is better than its factory-raised equivalents. The geophysicists Gidon Eschel and Pamela Martin have estimated that if every American reduced meat consumption by just 20%, the greenhouse gas savings would be the same as if we all switched from a normal sedan to a hybrid Prius.
Still, Pachauri is just slightly off. It's a tactical mistake, first of all, to focus global warming action on personal restrictions. The developed world could cut back hugely on its meat consumption, but those gains would be largely swallowed up — sorry — by the developing world, which isn't likely to give up its newly acquired taste for cheeseburgers and pork. The same goes for energy use, or travel. It's great for magazines to come up with 51 ways you can save the environment, but relying on individuals to voluntarily change their behavior is nowhere near as effective as political change aimed at speeding the transition to an economy far less carbon-intensive than our current one. So, by all means cut back on the burgers — I recommend a nice deep-fried scorpion — but remember that your choices from the takeout menu will matter less than the choices made by those who inherit the White House next January.

Time Magazine - Author Bryan Walsh

Click here: BBC Video Discussion on the Future of Cars and Oil

Linked above is a video from the program, BBC World Debate, held in Houston, Texas. Extremely informative video on The Future of Oil and with a focus on the U.S. markets. The lively panel includes the CEO of Shell Oil and the President of Nissan, who is introducing a Nissan Electric Car by 2010.

Al Gore: A Generational Challenge to Repower America

This speech was given on July 17, 2008 at the D.A.R. Constitutional Hall.

The G8 summit Climate Change Agreement

Photo: The G8 Leaders: France’s Nicolas Sarkozy, America’s George W Bush, Russia’s Dmitry Medvedev, Britain’s Gordon Brown, Canada’s Stephen Harper, Germany’s Angela Merkel, Japan’s Yasuo Fukuda and Italy’s Silvio Berlusconi are joined by European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.

The G8 Summit held a meeting this week to tackle the global issue of climate change. The pathetic result only aimed for a change to be made by 2050, by cutting 50% of carbon emmisions (at current levels.)

There seems to be a standoff between the G8 and developing nations like China and India. China and India have not wanted to step-up and make any commitments to lowering carbon emissions. Bush's reaction: if they don't lower carbon emissions then why should we? Answer: because the earth is at stake and if we want our children to live in a sustainable earth tommorrow changes need to be made today. Plus, Bush has even refused to set any interim targets before 2050. Therefore no goals will be met until most of those leaders either die or live until they are 100 and something years old.

The G8 leaders reaction to China and India (and especially Bush because our country holds the most carbon emissions per capita,) should have been, "We'll assist you to move to a pattern of development which is sustainable, low in terms of emissions intensity. But we as the richest nations are willing to take the lead and we affirm our commitment to do so and we expect you to follow suit."

I am very dissapointed at their hesitance in inititating any real targets to lowering carbon emissions, but I have been shocked by Bush and China's "I won't do it, if you don't do it" child-like attitude. Neither of them wants to take the lead and come the first initiative. Soon enough their this world into one big unsolvable mess that our children or grandchildren will have to clean up, if it's not already too late.

The Minitaure Earth

What would the world be like if it were scaled down to only 100 people? Watch and see
The resounding theme to me is how I should share as much as I can with those less fortunate.

What reaction did you have?

Water Powered Car

Yes, that's right! Genepax, a Japanese company just came out with the cutest electric car that runs on H2O! Check it out.

Iraqi Refugees in Sweden?

So have you wondered where many Iraqi refugees are fleeing to in order to escape their war zone country? Well, I have and countries like Jordan maybe Turkey come to mind, but never Sweden. Yup, that's right Sweden has taken in more Iraqi refugees than Canada and the US combined. Here is the interesting reaction of some swedes.

What's your reaction?

Movie: If The Oil Runs Out

This week the well-awaited film, "If The Oil Runs Out," has been released by BBC's IF series. This docu-drama (documentary drama) documents what experts fear will come true when cheap oil we depend on starts to run out. We may not be able to take anything for granted anymore. If you want to see what can happen when global demand for oil rises and supply is running out, watch this movie.

Part 2 -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXeXxWSgT_o

Part 3 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBL8sx7BS5Y

Part 4 -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVG4ID-PxMc

Part 5 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajFNlEdRzGw

Part 6 -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mo_cwaeXpE4

CLICK HERE: 6 Billion Others Project

6 BILLION OTHERS is the latest video project by Yann Arthus-Bertrand, famous french philanthropist photographer, is a sensitive and human portrait of the inhabitants of the planet at the beginning of the 21st century. He journeyed to 65 countries and visited people far and wide, asking major questions on universal ideas like love, family, joy, fears and the meaning of life. These testimonials are unscripted sincere honest personal answers from real people around the globe. They provide a clear outline of what separates us as human beings but also shows how much we have in common.

Over 3,600 interviews were filmed for this project.

Click title to view project. http://www.6billionothers.org/

Dunkin Donuts Pulls Ad With Rachel Ray Wearing A Scarf That Looks To Arab?

Dunkin Dounuts pulls commercial featuring Rachel Ray wearing a scarf that looks to Arab after Michelle Malkin, right-wing Blogger, and other conservatives complained the scarf looked too much like a keffiyeh, what Malkin describes as, "the traditional scarf of Arab men that has come to symbolize murderous Palestinian jihad."

Did Malkin wake-up on the wrong side of the bed this morning? or maybe she just forgot to have her Dunkin Iced Coffee. How can she equate a scarf innocently worn by billions everyday as a symbol of "murderous jihadists?" This just demonstrates the misunderstandings of arab culture and how some people insist on having a narrow vision of the Arab world.

As I vacationed in the the Middle-East last summer I became quite familiar with the keffiyeh as everyone in the streets wears the light cotton head-dress (including tourists like myself) whether on their way to work, school or just to protect their heads from the brutal desert sun. I found this out the hard way after getting a bad sunburn on my scalp. I then copied the locals and became quite fond of the cool benefits of having a keffiyeh covering my head.

These scarves has been worn for thousands of years in the region by everyone from indigenous Arab men to Bedouin desert travelers. There are only three colors of head-dresses worn in the region, white, red & black. Usually the red color is identified by the Bedouin and the black by Palestine but by no means is there a universally accepted symbolic meaning. Red, white or black scarves are used by anyone with or without any particular political sympathy.

Anyone remember Che Guevara? Well, a keffiyeh does not symbolize terrorism anymore than a beret symbolizes a marxist revolutionary. Che Guevara, the popular murderous guerrilla leader, always wore a beret and now so does Prince William. Are these same right-wing bloggers going to now accuse Prince William of being a "guerilla warfare sympathizer" because he wears a beret??
And how about Timothy McVeigh, the American terrorist responsible for the Oklahoma bombing. He wore Denim Jeans! Are jeans going to now symbolize "American terrorist sympathizer?" Jeans are just as common in my country as the keffiyeh is in the middle-east.

Plus, this scarf has become fashion-forward ever since French Designer Balenciaga revamped one in his 2006 collection. It's common practice for designers to get inspiration from traditional ethnic clothing whether a Japanese kimono, Greek toga or an Arab keffiyeh. Sorry to burst your bubble Michelle Malkin but there is no political meaning behind it. Rachel Ray, Cindy McCain, Kanye West and all the others youngsters wearing the scarf in the streets of New York or Paris are not guilty "terrorist sympathizers" but only guilty of one thing, being "in style."

We must embrace one another's cultures and not be allergic to them, even if it is a culture from a region that since the gulf war (1990's) has been often presented to us by our president and the media as "the enemy."

Before Malkin and her conservative friends make these inaccurate cultural stereotypes and accusations they should inform themselves so as not to fuel the ignorance, which so often breeds hatred.

Still no response from the celebrity chef, Rachel Ray.

Me, wearing my keffiyeh in Petra, Jordan one of the seven man-made wonders of the world.

McCain, Clinton & Obama Unite To Address Darfur

Not since World War II have all the American presidential candidates come together on an international issue. In a joint statement John McCain, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama addressed the Darfur situation.

Putting their many differences aside I applaud their unity to stand in solidarity against genocide in Darfur. Ideally that's what politics should be all about.

Solutions for the American Healthcare System

Ok, so I do know that our Health-care system has huge problems but I never really understood what could be the best solutions. Here is a PBS FRONTLINE video that goes around the globe to examine the world's best Health-care systems. Very interesting!

Sincerely,

Bianca

*Plus, if you have the Right to Vote this information is vital to understand what candidate in the 2008 elections will install the policy that best suits you.

Part 1

Part 2

Entertaining Videos: Isabel Allende & Queen Rania

Want to watch some entertaining videos at home tonight? Well, here are some watch-worthy videos of absolutely remarkable women sharing some (often funny!) stories. Enjoy!

This latina, award-winning writer and captivating story-teller, Isabel Allende, discusses Tales of Passions.

Queen Rania at Google's Zeitgeist conference discussing using technology (like this blog) as a tool for cross-cultural connectivity.

Television: Quality Information or Sensationalism & Tabloidism?

What type of TV stations/information are we really attracted to via news report, television programs or online?

I hope to believe that the average audience perfers to watch quality informative tv instead of trash tv. Many tv execs do not agree they say the average viewer is not very educated and what attracts viewers is sensationalism and tabloidism (like tabloid talk shows including Jerry Springer.) Tv execs also believe if the stories are too "foreign" people tune-out because they are not interested in news that does not directly affect them in one degree. This might explain why our average 6pm evening news is only "local news" and why you only see often violent stories (which falls under the "sensationalism" category) within a 50 mile radius from you and often missing the important global news. I beg to differ with tv networks and feel if the story is compelling enough than people will tune in because we are tired of all the trash reality shows like Dr. 90210, Real World or my personal fav, Celebrity Rehab.

I write this blog in hopes that people are compelled and interested in real human stories. Whether if it's a human story about a Tibetan Monk from Cambodia half way around the world or someone in your neighborhood it can in someway help you have a better understanding of love, life and relationships and in the end hopefully it makes you appreciate your own life.

It is a small world and we are all neighbors in this small place called Earth and "whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly." A quote by Martin Luther King Jr.
you choose? PBS, CNN, TLC, BBC, Discovery Vrs. MTV, E!, ET, SPIKE

Sincerely,
Bianca Lee

A Mighty Heart Movie

A Mighty Heart by Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt

I just rented this DVD this saturday night and really enjoyed it! Mainly because it is a real-life heroic story about Mariane Pearl, wife to journalist Daniel Pearl who was kipnapped and murdered while she was 6 months pregnant. (Not to mention Mariane Pearl has a Cuban mother and lives in Paris, which I can really relate with ;o))

Inside North Korea

Here is a great report on North Korea to better understand the most isolated country in the world.

North Korea was always a great mystery to me until I watched this fantastic report by Christiane Amanpour on CNN world, in my madrid hotel room.

New York Philharmonic in North Korea

I was in utter surprise to find out that the most renowned American orchestra, New York Philharmonic, was commissioned to play in North Korea, the communist state that posses nuclear weapons. My first reaction was to be quite fearful for the musicians safety and after seeing the report on Christiane Amanpour I realized how this moment of real people to people connection between two countries, that not too long ago were battling in the Korean War, was a necessary and long-awaited icebreaker. This moment allowed for the first time, an exchange of art and culture between Americans and North Koreans, in hopes of shedding any previous negative stereotypes and the beginning of better communication.

Sincerely,

Bianca Lee

World Food Crisis

850 million people starving globally

1 billion obese people globally

Have you heard about the World Food Crisis? Well, there is a detrimental food crisis affecting the world. There is a shortage in staple foods that has caused soaring food inflation. A bag of rice raised 50% in 3 months. While this means only some inconveniences for us living on the top of the economic level of the world, meanwhile the poorest of the poor are starving of hunger. This problem disproportionately affects the poorer regions and there have already been food riots in Mexico India, Haiti, Bangladesh, Egypt & Paraguay. In some situations people are left malnourished or in violent food riots, in the worst situation they are dieing of hunger.

Causes of the World Food Crisis:

-Higher Fuel Prices

-Biofuels: The amount of land it takes to fill a tank of gas would feed a person for a year. Biofuels takes the corn out of the mouths of the poor and into the gas tanks of the world's rich. This is an a energy hungry planet and the high price we pay for energy has allowed the Biofuel companies pay top dollar to mais (corn) farmers in order to produce energy to fuel our household appliances & cars in the west.

-Bad weather in crop producing area. Because of global warming there were many floods or droughts in regions of India, Thailand, & Australia affecting the agriculural farming.

-A higher demand of meat, (which requires alot of grains to produce) from developing countries such as China & India due to their rapidly growing middle and upper classes who pay top dollar for meat. In most countries meat is a luxury eaten perphaps once a week, in the US & Europe meat is eaten in almost every meal. Essentially us in the western world we are taking the food out of of the belly's of the poor and into the belly's of livestock.

What needs to be done? The main thing that needs to be done is a worldwide effort to develop agriculture. The UN is working on that now and has invested in new crop production.

What we can do? We could avoid wasting food, fuel or energy. I will eat less meat and change my diet to mainly fruits, vegetables, fish, rice, beans & nuts (things that naturally grow from earth). Plant some fruits or veggies in my balcony garden and support the UN world food program by making donation or going to http://www.freerice.com/ to play a vocabulary game that donates rice to help end hunger.

Sincerely,

Bianca Lee

China Bans Free Plastic Bags

China bans free plastic bags at all stores in efforts to tackle a significant source of litter. The Chinese use up to 3 billion plastic shopping bags per day. Can you believe that worldwide only 1-3% of plastic bags end up getting recycled?

It takes 10,000 barrels of oil to manufacture 100 million plastic bags. So, this means not only a dramatic cut in litter and consumerism but also a significant reduction in greenhouse gases released by China that cause Global Warming.

Now, the Chinese will form new habits and bring their enviornmental resuseable bags to the supermarket and when shopping, if they do not want to get charged. They will be encouraged to use clothbags and baskets to hold their vegetables.

What you can do is to be sure to reduce, reuse and recylce your plastic bags. And ask for paper bags at the supermarket not plastic or better yet bring your own cloth bag , like over a Billion people are doing in China.

Other places where plastic bags are banned:

South Africa, Uganda, Bangladesh and in San Francisco, California where plastic bags are outlawed at checkout in supermarkets.

TODAY IS EARTH DAY!

Every day is earth day but today, April 22nd, we celebrate the date worldwide. On Earth Day millions of people all around the world will be going green today. Here are some things you can do:

-Call your Congressman and tell them: "The current global warming proposals in Congress are inadequate. I want renewable energy, no more new coal-burning plants, carbon-neutral buildings, and a new green economy." (capitol: 202-224-3121 and ask for your city's Congressman. Direct line to Lincoln Diaz-Balart 202-225-4211)

-Get rid of plastic bags! Use a reusable cloth or paper bags or no bag at all. Reuse your grocery bags as trash bags. If you do have plastic bags make sure to recycle them!

-Never ever liter into the ocean.

-Use empty jars to hold leftover food instead of buying Tupperware.

-Use cloth napkins or towels.

-Recycle your electronics (by either giving it away or dropping it off at a Best Buy store recycling kiosks located just inside the door. )

-Take a 5 minute cold shower.

-Plant a tree.

-Go organic today and only buy local grown organic food.

-Use public transportation or car pool to work today and if you want to be really eco-friendly use your god-given form of transportation, your pretty set of feet!

Environment impact of plastic shopping bags

The raw material of plastic bags is oil. Therefore, the more we use plastic bags, the more we waste oil - a non-renewable energy source. The petroleum-based plastic bags take decades to break down, so if they are not recycled they litter. It creates visual pollution: in the streets, on the beaches etc. Also, they can clog roadside drains, which could cause street flooding during heavy rainfall. Plastic bags can be recycled but it rarely happens: according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, only 1% of plastic bags were recycled in 2000, against twenty percent for paper bags.

They endanger wildlife and particularly sea life such as sea turtles and dolphins which can die of entanglement, suffocation, and ingestion because they assume that these bags are jellyfish.

For the past few years, there has been rising international awareness regarding the damaging and dangerous impact on the environment of plastic bags. Governments all over the world have decided to get involved in that particular issue: Some governments have decided to ban them: Bangladesh, Bhutan and Zanzibar. Plastic bags should no more be given for free in China from June 1st. These bags are surcharged in Germany, South Africa, Ireland and Israel. Several countries try and promote, trough major retailers, the use of cloth bags, paper bags or grocery bags: United Kingdom (with Tesco), France (with Carrefour), New Zeland.

Plastic bags are already used less than paper bags by American consumers, and there have been no government actions to further curb their use. But large cities such as San Francisco and Portland, OR, have planned or plan to ban plastic bags, whereas Seattle, WA will certainly launch a 20 cent “green fee” on plastic bags.

What YOU can still do!
Reuse your plastic shopping bags: use them as trash so as not to buy others that are more energy wasting; use them for storage.
Use paper bags rather than plastic bags when you are given the choice.
Use reusable grocery bags, which always have a lower environmental impact.

http://www.earthday.gov/athome.htm#waste

Is the United States the Leading Country in Carbon Emsissions? Not Anymore

And yet with all these numbers, Chinese per capita emissions remain one-quarter of our own here in the US. If the Chinese economy steps into our carbon footprint, all other greenhouse gas reduction efforts will be for naught.
But I have hope for China because their government knows that climate change will impact their country as much, if not more, than many others. That would leave them with a structural competitive disadvantage, which the Chinese have generally avoided.
Just take a look at the Chinese water situation. Half of the country's land is arid or semi-arid, and like the American West, vulnerable to drying out in the early stages of climate change. Climate change linked drying could reduce China's agricultural output by 5 to 10 percent by 2030, which would be a disaster in a country that the authors point out has 20 percent of the world's population and 7 percent of its arable land.
Chinese government officials know they have an environmental disaster unfolding within their country. If the US takes positive steps towards reducing our own emissions and helping the Chinese with theirs, I think we will find a willing partner.
After all, there is one bright spot in the journal article. China's reforestation efforts, which replant trees that act as carbon sinks. Forest cover has increased from 12% in 1980 to 18.2% in 2005. My back-of-the-envelope math says that added 348,000 square miles of forest to China. That's a whopping 223 million acres.

Courtesy of Alexis Madrigal from Wired Science

Why China Won't Save Darfur?

China is Darfur's biggest trading partner. They buy more than 75% of Sudanese oil and in addition sell guns to Sudan. Many believe this lucrative arrangement is buying Sudan diplomatic cover in Darfur. Beijing has blocked all efforts to send UN peacekeepers into Darfur. Prompting accusation that Beijing is complicit to the Darfur genocide.

Facts in Darfur:

400,000 thousand killed

2 million displaced (chased out of their homes. Often their homes and villages are burned down. Their alternative in the best case is to live in refugee camps most end up living under trees.)

QUESTION: is targeting the Olympics the only way to get the Chinese government to use its influence to stop the Darfur Genocide?

What do you think?

Post your comments below.

My Sunday morning with the Queen of Jordan from the Middle-East

This Sunday, I was privileged with an invitation to attend the conference at La Sorbonne University, hosted by Queen Rania of Jordan. I found the conference to be quite moving and inspiring not to mention Queen Rania was absolutely exquisite. She is not only compellingly intelligent but disarmingly poised. She impeccably addressed the crowd with affection and commanded the podium with such adeptness and knowledge of the world's major humanitarian concerns of today. She is perhaps one of the most eloquent and captivating speakers I have ever heard. Her two-hour discourse and interview was given without one minute falter, stutter, incomplete thought or unclear message. With optimal use of the English language (Arabic being her native language) she began her speech with an anecdote that brought the crowd to a burst of laughter. This queen even has a good sense of humor!

HM Queen Rania is undoubtedly the face of modern royalty and is a wonderful representation of an Arab, a Muslim, and a Mother. She is constantly taken with her non-stop philanthropic work with poverty, women rights, children's issues and initiating dialogue with young people across the world to challenge Arab stereotypes.

She gave a speech and was addressed by questions from a student panel on the discussion of Civil Engagement. Civil Engagement described by Queen Rania is the sense of dedicating ourselves to the betterment of humanity…and working -- as individuals and together -- for understanding, global harmony, and peace.

Photo: Queen Rania of Jordan on April 6, 2008 at La Sorbonne University in Paris. photo taken by me.

Below is my favorite part of her speech....

For me, as an Arab, a Muslim and a mother of four, the schism that worries me most is the growing gulf of perception and trust between the Muslim world and the West. The only people who benefit from our disunity are the extremists – the very forces who threaten the hopes we all share for a brighter tomorrow.

Too often, this rift is reflected and reinforced by the tone of our interactions – whether the issue is how to balance the right to free speech with the need for respect among faiths… or the wearing of religious symbols… or the root causes of conflict… or immigration… or Islam itself. Instead of joining in conversation, each side feels that the other is shouting. Both sides feel increasingly aggrieved. Emotions overtake fact.

And just as troubling, our lack of empathy for each other can limit our own potential for progress. Because when we are blind to one other’s point of view, we often cease to look inward as well.

We know that as Muslims, we cannot complain that we are negatively stereotyped by the West, unless we ourselves address some of the factors behind those perceptions.

And while we are right to deplore Islamophobia, and the branding of Muslims as terrorists… we must face up to the fact that many terrorist attacks in recent years have been committed by people who wrongly claim to be acting in the name of Islam.

And I cannot speak for the West…I cannot suggest the issues for introspection or the areas for self-assessment, but I hope that all of you will think about what they might be… because building cross-cultural acceptance has to be a two-way street.
Dialogue requires us all to take part… to speak… to share… and to listen.

We must break that cycle. We have to restore a sense of shared humanity… of connection… compassion… and willingness to stand in one another’s shoes.

And it may sound daunting. But I believe there is real cause for optimism too – starting with the findings of a fascinating poll that Gallup released earlier this year.

On the one hand, the poll shows that many in Europe and the United States are convinced the Muslim world isn’t committed to improving relations with the West.

Likewise, large majorities in every Middle Eastern country surveyed said they don’t think the West is committed to better relations with the Muslim world.

At the same time, people on both sides say, in overwhelming numbers, that the quality of the relationship between the Muslim and Western worlds is something important to them.

In other words: East and West both honestly believe it is important to fix the relationship. But both sides genuinely think that the other side doesn’t feel the same way.

So the problem isn’t that people don’t care. It’s that they don’t see their caring reflected. They don’t perceive an equal sense of commitment from the other side.

We can change this. But we have to start by dismantling mutual stereotypes. We have to reject easy caricatures in favor of close inspection – whether we’re dealing with matters of integration and assimilation… or international relations more broadly… or the simple act of getting to know others different from ourselves.

That’s why I recently set up a YouTube account, so that the YouTubers everywhere can join me in a cyber conversation, and break down the damaging stereotypes of the Arab world which malign my region and its people. I hope to show viewers everywhere the truth about the part of the world I cherish and call home.

And the interesting thing is that as we exchange knowledge, we forge friendships in the process…virtual handshakes are extended, and new paths of understanding and acceptance are formed.

It’s that kind of caring that matters; and it can’t be decreed or imposed from above. It has to emerge from the bottom up… one open mind and open heart at a time.

Thank you very much.

Click here for Speech---http://www.californiawomen.org/conference_media.html

Darfur Genocide in Sudan

Why we need to take action in Darfur, NOW.

Visit SaveDarfur.org and sign the petitions which send emails to the White House and investment companies that invest in stocks that support the Sudanese oil companies, such as PetroChina. The petition requests these companies and the White House to DINVEST and make sure our American tax-paying dollars do not go to Sudan.

I signed the petitions and I just received email reply from the White House! Go to SaveDarfur.org now and sign the petition.

George Clooney addresses the United Nations about Darfur.

Oscar-Nominated Film: NO END IN SIGHT

Click above title for the movie link (full-length) or rent it.

"Watch this. Get your friends to watch it. Talk about it. Argue about it. And then call someone." - George Clooney


Above is a nice summary of the movie by CNN.



NO END IN SIGHT, based on the Iraq War, was nominated for an Oscar this year for Best Documentary. Charles Ferguson, political science professor, created the documentary without a narrator or fancy story-telling but rather by a compilation of interviews with Iraq-War insiders. This is what makes the film so powerful, the fact that the story is being told first-hand from the inside. He gathered over 200 hours of footage and interviews with former Bush-administration officials, soldiers, journalists and academics who were working in the war in Baghdad or Washington.

After I watched this film I felt like sharing it with every American because it truly reinforced the importance of the Right to Vote. How disastrous the results can be, for our country and the world, when electing the wrong incapable candidate for President.

Watch it! Click the blog title above for the full-length movie link.

Hybrid Cars

(Click the title link for information on Hybrids)

Since 2001, starting with Cameron Diaz, celebrities have turned in their lux cars for eco-friendly hybrids like the Toyota Prius.

Today all the leading car companies have a Hybrid. Here

is the list.

Acura RD-X, RL
BMW X5
Chevrolet Malibu, Tahoe, Equinox
Dodge Durango, Intrepid ESX
Ford Escape HEV
GMC Sierra Partial Hybrid
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Easy Things You Can Do to Reduce Global Warming

Photo: Leonardo DiCaprio's - The 11 th Hour Film
"A Tale of Ancient Sunlight & Global Warming"




Well, by now we have all heard about Global Warming, but I have often wondered what I can do in my daily life to reduce it? Well here is an article I found with all the details. Collectively, we can make a difference!

Top 10 Things You Can Do to Reduce Global Warming

1. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Do your part to reduce waste by choosing reusable products instead of disposables. Buying products with minimal packaging (including the economy size when that makes sense for you) will help to reduce waste. And whenever you can, recycle paper, plastic, newspaper, glass and aluminum cans. If there isn't a recycling program at your workplace, school, or in your community, ask about starting one. By recycling half of your household waste, you can save 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide annually.
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2. Use Less Heat and Air Conditioning. Adding insulation to your walls and attic, and installing weather stripping or caulking around doors and windows can lower your heating costs more than 25 percent, by reducing the amount of energy you need to heat and cool your home.
Turn down the heat while you’re sleeping at night or away during the day, and keep temperatures moderate at all times। Setting your thermostat just 2 degrees lower in winter and higher in summer could save about 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide each year.

3. Change a Light BulbWherever practical, replace regular light bulbs with compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs. Replacing just one 60-watt incandescent light bulb with a CFL will save you $30 over the life of the bulb. CFLs also last 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs, use two-thirds less energy, and give off 70 percent less heat.
If every U।S. family replaced one regular light bulb with a CFL, it would eliminate 90 billion pounds of greenhouse gases, the same as taking 7.5 million cars off the road.

4. Drive Less and Drive Smart driving means fewer emissions. Besides saving gasoline, walking and biking are great forms of exercise. Explore your community’s mass transit system, and check out options for carpooling to work or school.
When you do drive, make sure your car is running efficiently. For example, keeping your tires properly inflated can improve your gas mileage by more than 3 percent. Every gallon of gas you save not only helps your budget, it also keeps 20 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.

5. Buy Energy-Efficient Products. When it's time to buy a new car, choose one that offers good gas mileage. Home appliances now come in a range of energy-efficient models, and compact florescent bulbs are designed to provide more natural-looking light while using far less energy than standard light bulbs. Avoid products that come with excess packaging, especially molded plastic and other packaging that can't be recycled। If you reduce your household garbage by 10 percent, you can save 1,200 pounds of carbon dioxide annually.

6. Use Less Hot Water. Set your water heater at 120 degrees to save energy, and wrap it in an insulating blanket if it is more than 5 years old. Buy low-flow showerheads to save hot water and about 350 pounds of carbon dioxide yearly. Wash your clothes in warm or cold water to reduce your use of hot water and the energy required to produce it. That change alone can save at least 500 pounds of carbon dioxide annually in most households. Use the energy-saving settings on your dishwasher and let the dishes air-dry।

7. Use the "Off" Switch. Save electricity and reduce global warming by turning off lights when you leave a room, and using only as much light as you need. And remember to turn off your television, video player, stereo and computer when you're not using them.
It's also a good idea to turn off the water when you're not using it। While brushing your teeth, shampooing the dog or washing your car, turn off the water until you actually need it for rinsing. You'll reduce your water bill and help to conserve a vital resource.

8. Plant a Tree. If you have the means to plant a tree, start digging। During photosynthesis, trees and other plants absorb carbon dioxide and give off oxygen. They are an integral part of the natural atmospheric exchange cycle here on Earth, but there are too few of them to fully counter the increases in carbon dioxide caused by automobile traffic, manufacturing and other human activities. A single tree will absorb approximately one ton of carbon dioxide during its lifetime.

9. Get a Report Card from Your Utility Company. Many utility companies provide free home energy audits to help consumers identify areas in their homes that may not be energy efficient। In addition, many utility companies offer rebate programs to help pay for the cost of energy-efficient upgrades.

10. Encourage Others to Conserve. Share information about recycling and energy conservation with your friends, neighbors and co-workers, and take opportunities to encourage public officials to establish programs and policies that are good for the environment.

These 10 steps will take you a long way toward reducing your energy use and your monthly budget. And less energy use means less dependence on the fossil fuels that create greenhouse gases and contribute to global warming.

-From: Larry West on About.com

So, now you know a few simple ways you can contribute to caring for our earth. Was the "reducing garbage" one a surprise to you? It was for me. I did not realize garbage and landfills (where all our garbage ends up) released high carbon emissions. So, I will definitely be more conscious of what I throw in the garbage and think twice before ordering or serving myself food I can't finish that ends up in the garbage. Plus, I will stop going to restaurants that serve obnoxiously large amounts of food ("All you can eat" Buffets, Nexxt Café, etc.) I will also turn off my AC/heater when I leave the house and when I get home I might just open the windows and not use it at all for one week. Lets see how that goes!

What efforts will you make to reduce Global Warming tomorrow?? Let us know in the comment box.

Global Battle of Ideas

Further explanation on how we can advance counter-terror.

The struggle against Islamic-based terrorism will be not simply a military campaign but a battle for public opinion in the Islamic world, among our allies, and in the United States. Osama bin Laden understands that he cannot defeat or even incapacitate the United States in a conventional war. What he and his allies can do is inflict enough pain to provoke a reaction of the sort we've seen in Iraq-- a botched and ill-advised U.S. military incursion into a Muslim country, which in turn spurs on insurgencies based on religious sentiment and nationalist pride, which in turn necessitates a lengthy and difficult U.S. occupation, which in turn leads to an escalating death toll on the part of U.S. troops and the local civilian population. All of this fans anti-American sentiment among Muslims, increases the pool of potential terrorists recruits.

That's the plan for Bin Laden for winning the war from a cave, and so far, at least, we are playing to script. To change the script, we'll need to make sure that any exercises of American military power helps rather than hinders our broader goals: to incapacitate the destructive potential of terrorists networks and win this global battle of ideas.

-Excerpt from the Audacity of Hope

Ending Muslim Stereotypes

Video: Queen Rania of Jordan's Speech at the First Lady's California Women's Conference






http://www.californiawomen.org/conference_media.html

After spending this Easter weekend in Rome I have been thinking alot about religion and extremists who use religion to poetically justify their extreme ideas.

Above, I have a link to my favorite speech regarding east and west by Queen Rania, at the California Women's Conference, emphasizing a sentiment I feel we all, as Americans, need to embrace in order to battle the current trends of terrorism.

I feel our first step to truly battle terrorism from the mid-east is to eliminate the stereotypes and discrimination towards Muslims here in the west.

It is often said that the KKK is to Christianity what Islamic Extremists is to Muslims. They have almost the same correlation. So, if you are Christian hopefully by considering that it might further open your perspective to this situation. Here are some estimated facts.

There are 200 Million Christians in America.

and 5 Million KKK members in the United States (In the 1920's). Today there are a 3,500 thousand KKK members.(or Christian Extremists)


There are 1.5 Billion Muslims in the world.

and 2,000 thousand Al Qaeda terrorists in Iraq.


There are 44 Million people in Colombia

16,000 thousand FARC terrorists.

Colombia has a higher ratio of terrorists in their country than Al Qaeda does in Iraq. Colombians are not as foreign to us here in the West therefore we rightfully do not make stereotypes of them. We acknowledge their beautiful community fairly and we do not identify them by the few terrorists present in their region. We feel true sentiment and anguish when we see Colombia's people suffer as a result of terrorism. I wish we could find this same sincere sentiment for Iraqis and all Arab countries half-way around the world from us who are suffering due to the mis-managed war our president began. That same great sentiment we find for our courageous troops.

As a Christian Moderate, myself I do not want those in the east to assume all Christians have the same ideals as the Christian extremists in the KKK. And I think it is our duty not to make the same assumptions about those religions foreign to us.

I often hear on some cable news station, like Fox news, careless comments such as, "THEY are terrorists over there, in Iraq" or "THOSE people." They have to be more careful with their wording if not they are just promoting prejudices. (They should rather be politically correct and refer to Al Qaeda as Religious Islamic-Based Extremists.) Comments like this are isolating billions of Muslims who are not terrorists and are just placing them in the same pool as Al Qaeda. Put, yourself in their shoes, wouldn't that make you very, very upset? If we continue making these stereotypes we will only fan the flames of Anti-Americanism in the East.

"It is not the exremists that define a religion it is the moderates." - Queen Rania

We, the moderates in the Christian and Muslim religions must build a relationship so we can unite to eliminate terrorism. There is no other solution, Americans can not do it alone. East and West needs to join forces, Muslims and Christians need to join hands as Global Citizens in the pursuit of peace in our world. So, we need to reach-out to the Arab community and prove to them that we do not identify all followers of Islam by the actions of a few. We and the Media need to stop making generalizations and let's prove to extremist leaders, like Osama bin Laden, that they're wrong and that the West is a free democracy that promotes peace and human rights worldwide. We are in a "global war of ideas" and I feel like America might just be losing after the actions of the current White House administration. That is why all americans need to desperately take positive actions like this, no matter how small, to counteract the violence we have caused in the arab region in the past decade. There is no way to "win" this war in Iraq, but there is a way to "win" this "global war of ideas" and it begins with human compassion and education on the subject.


"Let's be a global citizen, understanding that others are like you then you want for others what you want for yourself" -Queen Rania




Video by Tariq

Examples of Americans and Iraqis working together:

http://www.combatbrothers.com/