Si se puedes!

Yesterday I participated in a rally to support the beleagered fired workers from the Ruby Ridge dairy. The Darigold dozen! To my surprise, they (the fired workers) fed us lunch as well. Tortillas and very spicy grilled beef.

We had a short march and vigil on the road to the dairy (respecting private property) and did garner the attention of a local TV station. It encouraged me that the number of people participating seems to be growing.

Click http://www.utne.com/Politics/The-Dark-Side-of-Dairies.aspx to read the Utne Reader article about the dangers the dairy workers face. And please, consider the source of the milk your family drinks and who besides you pays for it, with their health, their dignity, and their trampled human rights.

Peace, y'all

Molly

A moving prayer for peace

This was in my email inbox this a.m. and I am moved to share it. Enjoy. Peace, y'all


MY MESSAGE FOR PEACE AND HARMONY

Dear Brothers & Sisters,

We all need to pray for one another, and to love one another. We should always pray for the safety, peace, love and brotherhood for people all over the world.

Too bad we can't have an independence day for the entire world. A day of freedom from ignorance, hatred, war, illusions, power and control. A day where we can all love each other as human beings and toss away the weapons of war, and cast out our fears and hatreds from our hearts into the graves. We must mourn the graves of the innocents all over the world, and give the children of the world the hope of a peaceful, loving and beautiful world.

A world full of love and without hatred or fear. A world where we can join hands together and accept one another, regardless of our skin color, ethnic divisions, religion or nationality. If we don't unite as a human race, then we have condemned the future generation of children a dark and very grim future.

Think of love, compassion and peace always...


MY PRAYER FOR PEACE AND HARMONY

Merciful God, You made all of the people of the world in Your own image and placed before us the pathway of salvation through different Preachers who claimed to have been Your Saints and Prophets. But, the contradictions (made by us) in the interpretation of Your teachings have resulted in creating divisions, faith based hatreds and bloodshed in the world community. Millions of innocent men, women and children have so far been brutally killed by the militants of several religions who have been committing horrifying crimes against humanity and millions more would not be butchered by them in the future, if You guide and help us find ways to reunite peacefully.

IN THE NAME OF GOD, THE COMPASSIONATE, THE MERCIFUL, look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the controversial teachings of arrogance, divisions and hatreds which have badly infected our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; reunite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish Your purposes on earth; that, in Your good time, all nations and races could jointly serve You in justice, peace and harmony. (Amen)

Regards,
S.A.Rehman
Peace Activist
PAKISTAN

The plight of dairy workers

The latest issue of UTNE READER shines light on the ugly truth about conditions dairy workers face in southeastern Washington -- and elsewhere in the US, too. It calls out specifically the plight of the workers at the Ruby Ridge dairy just north of Pasco, who were fired after they signed a request for a union vote.

These workers were exercisig rights given to them through the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Find it at http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/

Articles 23 and 24 especially speak to their condition.

Who is looking out for these workers? Besides the good people at the Oregon Farm Workers Ministry? What do you say?

Before our nation shoves democracy down the throats of other nations, we must clean up the mess in our back yard.

Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, brush ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America. I want to live in an America where all the people can enjoy all the rights defined in the UN Declaration.

Peace, y'all

Peace in our time?

The largest part of the federal budget is war, paying for past ones, and supporting today's, plus subsidizing the military industrial complex and caring for our veterans.

The parts of the budget that make peace are miniscule. But they are vital.

Let's work for peace, any way we can.

Nonviolent protest in Iran today

Sojourners is a good group of people. A recent email brought to me a NYT article.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/10/world/middleeast/10arrests.html?th&emc=th

The present situation cannot continue. I want to support the brave people facing an angry, unfair and violent government with their persistent truth and peaceful actions.

Don't know how just yet but I'll pray about it and maybe an angel will send me ideas.

Peace, y'all

Molly

Remaking America? Or just cleaning the house

Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, brush ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.

These are words from Obama's inauguration speech that resonate with me strongly.

Do I remake America when I patronize a local business?
Do I remake America when I fold laundry and groom the cats?
Do I remake America when I attend a fair trade bead party?

I just don't know. I think contributing to the economy helps others, and that helps remake America. So do contributions to charities.

It's just not enough.

Today I will follow the words of Candide instead, and tend the garden.

Peace, y'all

Molly

Retail abstinence phase 2

Today is the first day of February. My month-long experiment ended successfully.

I strayed from my "rules" just once. My spouse and I went out to dinner and blew $4.31 on a fast food dinner.

The best part for me is that I was able to say no to lattes right up until I was on the road on 1/29. The worst part -- I had a latte at Starbucks on 1/31 and it was heaven on earth.

But if I can go cold turkey in cold dark wet January, I can manage other times too. And I liked saving money. I will not return to my pre-abstinence spending levels.

Today I will spend a little money. I have a lunch date. But no big binge as I had envisioned earlier last month.

I have yet to tally up my expenditures and compare them with a similar month (Sept 2009, the first month I was daughter-less. I am eager to see the tally, and will do something good with the savings. Donate to food bank? Donate to Haiti? Put into investments? Make a rainy day fund? It will be fun to decide.

The other good thing about February 1 is at last cold dark wet January is over, and there will be a few signs of spring this month. Bring it on!

Peace, y'all

Molly