Cat Lovers Against the Bomb

Yesterday a coworker admired my calendar's October calendar cat, and ended up looking through the whole calendar. She was looking for the entries such as "Fluffy, age 12, returned home to Des Moines after stowing away to Denver, in just 3weeks in 1988."

While seeking entries like that, we both saw many other anniversaries related to peace and justice.

Through love of cats I reached someone I would not expect to have much in common with.

Thank you, Nebraskans for Peace, for this fine calendar, and maybe you'll thank me when this coworker buys the 2012 calendar!

Speaking of buying, tonight I hold a bead for life party and I sure hope I sell lots of beads--and raise more Ugandans out of poverty,

Peace y'all

Molly

Converging thoughts:

We have temporal lives and spiritual lives.

We have physical health and beauty and spiritual beauty and health.

We make the world better when we focus on our and other's spiritual health and beauty and life.

Peace, y'all

Molly

I'm a role model!!

A short visit with an old friend today has me in a happy and contented orbit. She told me she is taking a page from my book and starting a retail abstinence to save some money.

Purrr....

This so surprised and pleased me. That to someone who I admire, I have something to share, and

I'm a role model!!!

It's also a good day because I sold (so far)$30 in beads today, and I found out the source of chocolate our favorite bakery uses. Guittard. Looks fairly fair trade, though the more I learn about chocolate production, the more slippery that concept becomes.

I see myself as a peacemaker and when my behavior influences another's, I'm really glad.

Peace, y'all

Molly

Hello reader(s) in Indonesia!

A year ago, blogspot started offering "stats" so bloggers can see where readers are from, which blog entries get read, how readers come to the site, and the like.

It thrills me to know my modest thoughts about peacemaking are read across the globe.

For several days someone or ones from Indonesia have been reading, so I want to say hello, and thank you! Will you tell me via comments what resonates, and what ideas my writing leads you to?

Readers in USA, Canada, Australia, Belarus, China, France, ANYWHERE--thanks and Hi to you too. What ideas have I inspired? What has resonated? What did you disagree with? What have I missed?

Peace, Y'all

Molly

Peacemaking priorities

This weekend I listed my peacemaking priorities. These are the areas I care about most deeply and where I want to put my efforts (and money). There are so many worthy causes, some related to peace and some not.

Human rights, fighting slavery and torture and supporting the work of Amnesty International.

Climat change- cutting carbon personally, urging and helping others, and changing laws and rules.

Immigration reform

Clean water for all

Opposition to war--the bloated military budget, landmines, and obsolete and overpriced weapons. Justice for veterans.

Prison reform, mitigating the new Jim Crow, harsh sentencing, and supporting marijuana decriminalization.

Repairing the impacts of racism and colonialism.

Protecting abortion rights

Help prevent abortions and unwanted pregnancy through family planning

Justice

Mercy

Health care reform.

This list helped me say no to a fundraising appeal that came to me this weekend.

What's on your list, friends?

Peace,y'all

Molly

Moving planet day is tomorrow

Tomorrow's the big day for 350.org's big event, Moving Planet. In dozens of countries, hundreds of communities.

I will not drive that day. Not because I'm using an alternative means, just because I'll be at a camp for the weekend.

Last few days I have not driven. When I do drive, it's in a hybrid. So I have some room for improvement, probably other areas will be more fruitful in my personal quest to lower carbon levels.

How about you?

Peace, y'all

Molly

On homelessness.

Home. Home is where the heart is. The ultimate aim of all ambition is to be happy at home, so said someone long ago.

II love my home. It's comfortable and pretty, and every part of it reflects the tastes and efforts of my husband and me. There is no other home I like so well, though I do suffer some kitchen envy when I visit a few friends.

Today, visiting the big city, I saw homeless people. I tried to truly see them, not to stare but not to ignore either. I am so grateful for my lovely safe home. How I wish everyone were so blessed.

The book Nickeled and Dimed revealed to me the surprising number of employed people who are homeless, and how difficult it is to find a decent place to live when you live check to check.

The USA's poverty rate is determined based on what it costs to feed someone or a family. Yet food prices in the US are low, artificially and inappropriately so. So you can have a full belly but no place to set it down to rest?

Income polarization is a bad thing.

What are your thoughts on affordable housing and homelessness?

Peace, y'all

Molly