LOVE or POSSESSIONS? What Matters Most To You?

2014 has officially started.  It is time to live in the moment and to enjoy what life has to offer.  It is time to look at our lives and assess and ask ourselves, what is it that is really important for us.  We are so influenced by what others think or what society deems is important to have.  We are told what to eat, where we should work, what we should have in order to be happy and who we should love.  Why not forget all that and think for ourselves?  Remove the distractions – the televisions, the magazines, the newspapers, the superficial friends and the influence of big corporations.  Really think for ourselves!  Do we really need to live in the biggest and most expensive house?  Do we really need to drive the biggest SUV?  Do we really need to have a television in each room?  For what?  Our possessions mean nothing when our lives are limited to the time we have on this planet.  So – what is it that is really important to you?  Material possessions or time spent with people you love.  People who encourage, support and love you.  How about spending time reconnecting to the planet – offering your service and compassion to assist in its healing?  How about not buying or consuming anymore for yourself and helping those who are in dire need, those who need food, clothing, shelter and love?

2014 doesn’t only have to be about meeting our financial or materialistic goals – it could also be about giving back and allowing ourselves to feel good about giving back and making positive change in our world.  Instead of walking past, ignoring and making judgments on that homeless person on the street, why not change your feeling by either giving that person a blanket, clothing, food or even some money?  Instead of buying another television or any other materialistic thing you don’t require and making a donation to an environmental advocacy group like WWF or Greenpeace.  Instead of spending money going out to a restaurant or club – why not donate your money to a non-profit organization that saves the lives of so many animals like PETA or PAWS?

Life isn’t about consuming more and more materialistic objects – these things don’t define us.  What really defines us is our actions.  I remember a time were the only thing that mattered in my life was having a job that we allow me the financial freedom to buy a big house, a great car and all the materialistic possessions I wanted.  I grew up and realized that these things would not give me the satisfaction and happiness that I needed.  Giving back and advocating for the things that were important to me is what really matters to me and the things that matter most are animals, the planet and the well-being of those who struggle with their sexuality (LGBTQ).  This doesn’t mean that I am ignorant to the plight of so many others – I just want to ensure I focus on the things that matter most to me.

We keep hearing about those who have everything (the top 1%) and that they can end hunger with the amount of money that they have amassed.  The reality of the 1% is that they obviously do not want to see a better world.  They like the power and control they have over the masses.  We must ensure that we continue spreading the message that all humans have the right to the basic necessaties of life; food, clothing and shelter.  We must continue our REVOLUTION OF LOVE and spread positivity into our world – only then will we be able to heal our planet, respect our animals and respect each other.  So what really matters for you in 2014, feeling good about yourself by being compassionate, loving and giving back to the planet and society or by creating more wealth and greed for those that wish to control and distract us from being our authentic loving selves?

Here is brief video that puts our need for materialistic things into perspective entitled “It All Goes Back Into The Box”:

May the year bring you all love, compassion and health!

Together, we can make the world a more positive one!

REMEMBERING 2013

As we say goodbye to 2013 – I would like to reflect on the stories that I find to be the most inspirational and personal to me.

Saying goodbye to Iringa, Toka and Thika – TORONTO ZOO ELEPHANTS

There has been much controversy surrounding the Toronto Zoo elephant program but it was a controversy that ended with a positive outcome for Iringa, Toka and Thika – the three elephants that have been relocated to PAWS, I 35-hectare sanctuary located in Sand Andreas, California.  The sanctuary has been divided in half to accommodate the African elephants before they are integrated with the other three that are already residing there. 

Bob Barker – who has been pivotal in this relocation, was present when the elephants arrived and indicated that it was about time that the elephants were relocated.  “I have never met with so much acrimony as we did in Toronto,” he said.  “And why I don’t know.”  Bob Barker covered the cost of the move and relocation of the elephants. 

Iringa and Toka, youngsters spared from a deadly cull in Mozambique – arrived at the zoo in 1974, the year it opened.  Thika was born in Toronto and has never known life outside of the Toronto Zoo’s one-hectare zoo.

The elephants will now live on rolling grassland with trees, meadows, lakes a walnut orchard, three heated barns and a Jacuzzi. 

Here is the video of Iringa, Toka and Thika’s arrival:

Iringa, Toka and Thika – the morning after their arrival:

It costs about $70,000+/yr to care for an elephant – PAWS welcomes any donations to ensure their well-being.  To make a donation, please visit the PAWS website at:  http://www.pawsweb.org/donate_online.html

FREEDOM for the ARCTIC 30

Greed speaks loudly when peaceful activists are threatened to be jailed for defending the Arctic waters and wildlife from oil drilling and greedy oil companies.  The 30 activists and crew members of the Arctic Sunrise, were illegally removed from the Arctic waters and their ship (at gunpoint) – for defending the Arctic waters.  Many people supported these brave men and women – government officials from many of the countries the detainees were from spoke out against Russia and demanded their freedom.  As a Canadian – I am ashamed of our government for not getting involved or even making a statement on behalf of the Canadians who were illegally detained in Russia.   Stephen Harper – the Conservative Prime Minister of Canadian supports BIG OIL and has recently announced that it would submit a claim for 1.7 million km of the Arctic seabed, including the North Pole.  The Canadian Alberta tar sands is an environmental nightmare – imagine the damage that will be done if the Conservative and Harper Government are allowed this claim?

The real criminals are not the Arctic 30 – it is those policy makers that ensure that the big oil companies get what they want.  The Arctic 30 should be deemed heroes for protecting our waters and our environment from those the real criminals who have no regard for wildlife and the environment.

The 28 activists and two freelance journalists, including Canadians Ruzycki and Paul, who were illegally detained by Russian forces on board the Arctic Sunrise on September 19th were granted presidential pardon on December 18th after spending more than two months in prison.

http://www.greenpeace.org/canada/en/recent/Canadian-Greenpeace-activists-held-in-Russia-for-three-months-arrive-home/

http://www.greenpeace.org/canada/en/Blog/the-true-north-melting-and-oily/blog/47719/

To ensure that Greenpeace continues to protect our planet – please visit their website for past victories and current battles:  http://www.greenpeace.org/canada/en/  The link will also allow you to make any donation.

The passing of Nelson Mandela

“I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”

There is nothing more than I can say about a man whose legacy speaks volumes.  Nelson Mandela was a pivotal force for equality, compassion and love not only in South Africa, but around the world.  His legacy will live on!

Please read his bio as posted on the Nelson Mandela Foundation website:  http://www.nelsonmandela.org/content/page/biography

PETA’s ACTIVISM in 2013

Here are PETA’s 11 Most Important Animal Rights Videos of 2013 *** Please note:  Some of these videos are graphic and will require you to sign into your account to view the video.  In my opinion – if it is too violent to watch – It is too violent to buy or eat!!!

For more information regarding PETA’s activism or to make a donation to PETA – please visit their website:  http://www.peta.org/#/

BRIDEGROOM – A story about LOVE

Watching this documentary put many things in perspective for me.  Some of us should really be thankful for living in a country where all are treated equally under the law.  This is one reason why so many in the LGBTQ community are fighting for equal rights and protections under the law in the United States and around the world.

If we really make it a point to treat others the same way we want to be treated – we can make so many positive things happen for ourselves, for each other, for our environment, for animals and for the planet.  It is time to break the mold of what you believe to be true – think outside the box and enlighten yourself.  Once you are free from what you believe MUST be the truth – then amazing things will happen and have happened.  Don’t let yourself be the obstacle from what good you can contribute.  Let 2014 be the year you create a life that is authentic, compassionate and loving.

I will leave you with a video and song that was released in December of 2012 – “Clown” by Emeli Sandé, enjoy and HAPPY NEW YEAR – much health, happiness and love to all of you!

Together, we can make the world a more positive one!