THE BEST STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS IN MY LIFETIME!

Many believe that President Barack Obama hasn’t been that effective as president of the free world.  Some people believe it’s because he lacks experience, is afraid to ‘rock the boat’, can’t enforce policies because he wants to be bi-partisan or just can’t complete his work because Republicans don’t want him to…..whatever the reason, we can’t deny what his administration has accomplish in the last six years, here are some:

• Nearly 300 million acres of land and water preserved for future generations
• 11.2 million private-sector jobs over 58 straight months of growth
• 165,000 fewer troops in harms way in Afghanistan and Iraq
• 645,000+ young people protected from the threat of deportation
• Gay and lesbian service members no longer forced to hide who they are to serve
• 10 million Americans have gained health coverage
• 7 million minimum wage earners will get a raise
• In 36 states, gay marriage is or will soon be legal

**These facts can be found via http://www.whitehouse.gov/sotu

Whatever you think of this president or the party he represents, you can’t deny that when he was elected he really had some hard work and rebuilding to accomplish.  Here are some of my favorite moments from the State of the Union address on January 20, 2015 from President Barack Obama:

“And to everyone in this Congress who still refuses to raise the minimum wage, I say this:  if you truly believe you could work full-time and support a family on less than $15,000 a year, go try it.”

“I intend to protect a free and open internet, extend its reach to every classroom and every community and help folks build the fastest networks, so that the next generation of digital innovators and entrepreneurs have the platform to keep reshaping our world.”

“2014 was the planet’s warmest year on record.  Now, one year doesn’t make a trend, but this does – 14 of the 15 warmest years on record have all fallen in the first 15 years of this century.”

“I’ve heard some folks try to dodge the evidence by saying they’re not scientists; that we don’t have enough information to act.  Well, I’m not a scientist, either.  But you know what – I know a lot of really good scientists at NASA, and NOAA, and at our major universities.  The best scientists in the world are all telling us that our activities are changing the climate, and if we do not act forcefully, we’ll continue to see rising oceans, longer, hotter heatwaves, dangerous droughts and floods, and massive disruptions that can trigger greater migration, conflict, and hunger around the globe.  The Pentagon says that climate change poses immediate risks to our national security.  We should act like it.”

“As Americans, we respect human dignity, even when we’re threatened, which is why I’ve prohibited torture and worked to make sure our use of new technology like drones is properly constrained.  It’s why we speak out against the deplorable anti-Semitism that has resurfaced in certain parts of the world.  It’s why we continue to reject offensive stereotypes of Muslims – the vast majority of whom share our commitment to peace.  That’s why we defend free speech, and advocate for political prisoner’s, and condemn the persecution of women, or religious minorities, or people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.  We do these things not only because they’re right, but because they make us all safer.”

“We may go at it in campaign season, but surely we can agree that the right to vote is sacred; that it’s being denied to too many; and that , on this 50th anniversary of the great march from Selma to Montgomery and the passage of the Voting Rights Act, we can come together, Democrats and Republicans, to make voting easier for every single American.”

“To every CEO in America…if you want somebody who’s going to get the job done, and get it done right, hire a veteran.”

“I still believe that we are one people.  I still believe that together, we can do great things, even when the odds are long.”

It is sometimes difficult for people to have faith restored in their members of parliament and governments especially when they only show us greed, corruption and scandal.  This State of the Union gives me hope that our governments – not only in the United States of America but around the world, can actually restore that lost faith and hope.

I don’t believe I have ever heard a living president say the words ‘lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender’ in one sentence.  If the purpose of the State of the Union address is to lift the spirits of the people of the world and give them hope for a brighter tomorrow…than President Obama has accomplished that for me and for many people around the world.  This State of the Union really encompasses the idea of creating positivity right across the globe. 

To view the complete State of the Union address – please visit:  http://www.whitehouse.gov/sotu

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

IGNORANCE IS NOT BLISS!

Humanity is at a cross roads regarding the state of our planet – if there is anything we can do about it, WE MUST DO IT NOW.  The debates must stop and we must act.  So, what is the problem?  Modernization, Consumerism and the demand that we put on our planet’s resources for wanting and needing more.  Most of us do not think about the consequences of our actions on a global scale – when we want something, we go out and buy it.  No questions asked and no regard of the outcome of the decision we make in buying that said product.  How many of us ask ourselves:

• “Do I really need (insert whatever it is you are buying)?”
• “What am I supporting when I purchase this?” (Deforestation, human rights issues, low wages, poverty, public safety).
• “Do I really need to buy new, or is there a ‘used’ alternative?” (less packaging, less waste, less impact on the planet’s resources).
• “Do I really need another car, boat, etc…?”
• “What am I supporting when I purchase from this company?” (Do they have great environmental policies, are they working to sustain the planet, do they test on animals, are they part of the environmental problem and not the solution?)

In our desire to want and need, we continue to deplete what little natural resources we have.  An automobile can cost $35,000 but what is the cost to the planet when we need to use steel for the skeleton of the car, leather for the seats, plastic for the body, etc…How much more can our planet take?  Well, according to the majority of climate scientists, we are on the brink of a catastrophe of great proportions – it is not a matter of ‘what if’ anymore but of ‘when’.

In Stephen Emmott’s book, “Ten Billion” – Stephen asks an aspiring and brilliant scientist on the impeding climate crisis what he would advise his child – the scientists reply was shocking to say the least…He indicated that he would ensure his child knew how to use a gun to prepare for the civil unrest due to climate change based on their facts.  I come from a more optimistic view and hope that we can come together and solve this potential crisis.  Here are simple solutions that can decrease your carbon footprint: 

1. Educate yourself – rely on facts not what you hear from our politicians, religious institutes and corporations.  Politicians will tell you anything to get your vote, rely on their actions to make a difference for the planet and for humanity.  Corporations rely on your money and will tell you anything to get it – demand better product for your health, the environment and the ethical treatment of animals.
2. Stop buying products the promote deforestation on a mass scale (paper, palm oil, cotton).  Find alternative products.  For example, hemp can be used for many things and has much less impact on our planet.  Again – demand this from corporations and your politicians.  Hemp is not what they want you to believe it is – educate yourself and stop listening to what ‘they’ want you to believe on hemp.
3. Support politicians that make a real commitment and effort to fight the impacts of climate change.  Ensure they support new technologies that are sustainable and don’t contribute to challenges the children of the future will have to face.
4. Drastically minimize your need to purchase anything new.  Buy used.  More importantly – if you don’t need it, don’t buy it.
5. Bring your breakfast/lunch/dinner in reusable containers/bags – there is no need to contribute to landfills.  Don’t buy anything in plastic or styrofoam containers.  If you do eat out – support a local business and “BIG CHAINS”.  When you eat at a local restaurant, you are supporting local farming and most serve their meals on plates and cutlery that is reusable.
6. Think about fostering/adopting – there are many children in the world that would love the opportunity to receive love.  Having more children contributes to the challenge of over-population.  More people requires more natural resources (food, water, land).  If we are maximizing these resources now having more children will only contribute to the problem.  Educate yourself on this matter and really ask yourself “Do I want to contribute more to this problem, or do I want to help find a solution?”
7. Limit travel to places that are fragile – Borneo forest, Amazon, Madagascar, Great Barrier Reef, etc.  The more you travel to these places – the more they will become endangered due to over development.

The most important thing you can do:

1. Use your common sense:  The more we consume – the more garbage there is.  The more we use pesticides – the more we pollute our soil and water.  The more we fly and drive – the more we pollute the air we breathe.  The more we eat meat – the more forests we destroy.
2. Listen to the experts:  Climate scientists don’t have anything to gain by informing us of the truth.  They are not being paid by politicians or big corporations.  They are providing factual information based on years of study and environmental events that are taking place right now because of our actions (drought, fires, extreme weather, landslides, flooding, rise in temperatures). 
3. See the evidence that is right in front of you:  Look around – developers are cutting forests down to replace them with homes we don’t need, companies are destroying our waters and forests for oil that won’t last.  Governments are spending more money on policing the people and subsidizing wars rather than investing in sustainable energy and saving the planet.

Is ignorance bliss?  NO!

We need a REVOLUTION OF LOVE to save humanity.  We need more people to stand up to corporate bullying and we need politicians that are acting out of love for their countries, the people and the greater good of humanity and not for the kick-backs they can receive.

Please watch Years of Living Dangerously on Showtime.  Here is a link to the premier episode:

Support the following organizations:

www.peta.org

www.worldwildlife.org

www.greenpeace.org

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

EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE!

I can’t believe that it has been 4 years since The United States of America elected President Barack Obama.  It was a time of hope and President Obama was elected on his promise to create change.  Has he?  Let’s look at his key initiatives and then you can decide if he has done enough.  My comments follow in red.

CREATING JOBS

• Took swift action to prevent a second Great Depression.  While much work remains, American businesses have added 5.2 million jobs in the past 31 months.  He could only do what he was able to do without causing further damage to the economy – could any other President have done more?
• Rescued the American auto industry from collapse, saving more than 1 million jobs around the country.  U.S. automakers have added nearly 250,000 jobs since June of 2009 – the best period of growth in more than a decade Imagine the increase in jobs if the auto-industry embraced creating electric cars?  It would decrease our need for dirty oil and at the same time create a more sustainable environment – The United States of America could be the leaders in green energy if they were not so afraid of the oil and auto industry.
• Supported  the resurgence of American manufacturers, who have added more than 500,000 jobs since January 2010,  the strongest period of job growth since 1989.
• Kept teachers in classrooms and police officers, firefighters, and first responders on the job helping keep our communities safe.

ENERGY

• Domestic oil and natural gas production has increased every year since President Obama took office.  In 2011, U.S. oil production reached the highest level in 8 years and natural gas production hit an all-time high.  On Federal lands and waters alone, oil production is up 13% This is good for the government and oil companies but how is it good for our environment – I keep saying this “they can create satellites that can roam our universe but we can’t move forward on sustainable energy”.  There is solar and wind power, why are we not embracing this?  Government is afraid of big oil and the auto industry, that is why!
• U.S. dependence on foreign oil has decreased every year since President Obama took office.  We now import less than half of the oil we consume and in 2011, imports as a share of total consumption declined to a 16-year low If the U.S. is not as dependent on foreign oil, why is the construction of the pipeline from Alberta into the United States still ongoing?  Does the U.S. not consider Canada ‘foreign’?  This pipeline is another environmental catastrophe waiting to happen – we can’t forget the devastation of Exxon Valdez and the BP oil spill in the Gulf – the repercussions of these spills will last a lifetime on our environment, animals and humans.
• The U.S. has doubled renewable energy generation from wind, solar, and geothermal sources since 2008 thanks to the President’s record investments in clean energy.  If this President has doubled renewable energy – what was the previous administration doing in terms of renewable energy.  If we want to continue to have a safe, clean and sustainable environment – doubling the efforts is good, but we can certainly do better!
• New fuel economy standards for cars and trucks, the first in 30 years, will cut oil consumption by 2.2 millon barrels a day, slash emissions by 6 billion metric tons, and save the average driver $8,000 at the pump by 2025.  Again – scratching the backs of the auto industry.  If the government really wanted to save money for the average driver’s, they would create more electric cars – it is doable.  Watch the documentary ‘Who Killed The Electric Car’ by Chris Paine to get the facts.
• New programs to improve energy efficiency in our homes, buildings, factories, and transportation systems will reduce pollution and save money for businesses and families. 

FINANCIAL REFORM

• Fought for and implemented historic financial reforms to create a more stable and responsible financial system that holds Wall Street accountable, discourages irresponsible financial risk-taking, and ends taxpayer-funded bailouts.
• Established tools and resources to investigate and prosecute financial fraud and other abusive practices that led to the financial crisis.
• Created the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau tasked to protect consumers from deceptive and predatory financial practices by ensuring banks, mortgage and student loan lenders, and credit card companies play by the rules.
• Outlawed unfair and deceptive credit card practices, such as retroactive rate increases and charging fees without clearly disclosing them first.
• Ended more than $60 billion in wasteful subsidies for big banks and used the savings to put the cost of college within reach for more families.

I believe there are good intentions here – but I have watched enough programs and documentaries to know that Wall Street and government are too corrupt to make the necessary changes in the bank industry or financial sector for the greater good to the consumer.  Also – those who were somewhat responsible for the financial crisis are now working with the Obama administration.

HEALTH CARE

• Ended insurance companies’ unchecked power to cancel policies, deny coverage, or charge women more than men, and established new rights to appeal insurance company decisions.
• Ensured that no American will be denied care or charged more due to a pre-existing condition as of 2014.  17 million children with pre-existing conditions already benefit from this protection.
• Ensured preventative care is covered by insurance companies and Medicare with no co-pay or cost sharing – including mammograms for women and wellness visits for seniors.
• Helped nearly 5.4 million seniors since 2010 save an average of $768 each on the cost of their prescription drugs after hitting the prescription coverage gap.
• Required insurance companies spend at least 80% of premiums on health care, and less than 20% on advertising, overhead and CEO salaries – or provide customer rebates.
• Guaranteed 6.6 million young adults the security of knowing they can stay on their parent’s health care plan until they’re 26.

Again – this sounds great and some great progress has been made to the health care needs of many American’s but why hasn’t the government talked about preventative health care, proper nutrition, holistic health and wellness?  Preventative measures to health care will ensure that many American’s will not need to visit their doctor and more importantly, rely on prescription drugs to maintain wellness.

I believe that some progress has been made for ‘middle-classed’ Americans but I think the U.S. government works in the best interests of the Wall Street, oil and auto.  How can this stop?  We need to continue to speak out against corporate greed, we need to ensure that our elected officials know that our priority is not to make CEO’s richer by enabling corruption or causing environmental disasters.  The government has to show its citizens that they will not tolerate greed but punish those who break the laws or cut corners to line their pockets with money.

You many not want to vote for Obama, so who is the alternative?  Mitt Romney.  What will Mitt Romney do as President of The United States of American?  Here are Mitt Romney’s stances on the issues:

ABORTION

• Personally against abortion, but pro-choice as Governor. (2002)
• Scientifically, life begins at conception. (January 2012)

CONTRACEPTION

• Vetoed emergency contraception for rape victims. (July 2005)
• 1993:  Morning-after pill could make abortions obsolete
• Every woman in America should have access to contraceptives. (October 2012)

STEM CELLS

• Vetoed stem cell research bill. (May 2005)
• Outlaw embryo farming, but alow using surplus embryos.  (May 2011)

VOTING RECORD

• Oppose Roe v Wade, but won’t tamper with abortion laws. (December 2006)
• Would be delighted to sign federal ban on all abortions.  (November 2007

GAY RIGHTS

• Supports Benefits for gay partners, but not gay marriage. (September 2002)
• Marriage is a sacred institution between a man and a woman. (January 2006)
• 2003:  Worked with cities to prepare for gay marriages. (November 2011)
• Everything but “marriage” for gay couples. (September 2012)

CORPORATIONS

• You don’t help the wage-earner by attacking the wage-payer. (January 2008)
• Corporations won’t send jobs overseas if tax rates lowered. (March 2010)
• Corporations are people. (August 2011)
• Big banks handle massive regulations; small banks get killed. (October 2011)
• Capitalism works; free enterprise works; & profit works. (January 2012)
• You raise taxes on business and you kill jobs. (October 2012)
• Bankruptcy would have allowed Detroit to come out stronger. (October 2012)

DRUGS

• Combat the ruthless narco-terrorists in Colombia. (July 2007)
• Mandatory sentence & higher penalty for repeat drunk driving. (August 2007)
• Opposes legalization of recreational or medical marijuana. (April 2011)
• We share cross-border drug problem with Mexico. (September 2012)

EDUCATION

• Schools can teach family values, but not religion or prayer. (August 2004)
• Supported abolishing the federal Department of Education. (March 2002)
• God created universe, but evolution created human body. (May 2007)
• Eduction is not just the teachers’ union. (December 2007)
• Smaller classroom size only matters to teachers’ unions. (September 2011)
• Higher spending rarely correlates with better results. (September 2012)
• No cuts to college funding. (October 2012)
• Free college for the top quarter of high school graduates. (October 2012)

ENERGY & OIL

• No-regrets policy: energy independence and CO2 reduction. (May 2007)
• Exporting carbon emissions to China hurts US and planet. (August 2007)
• Develop energy technology like nuclear or liquefied coal. (October 2007)
• Need worldwide global warming solutions; not CAFE or US tax. (January 2008)
• They don’t call it “America warming” but “global warming”. (January 2008)
• No-regrets policy at home; reduce greenhouse emissions abroad. (March 2010)
• Humans contribute to world getting warmer. (November 2011)
• No consensus on extent of global warming or human activity. (September 2012)

Every time there is an election, you may hear people comment “I am not voting because both candidates suck”, “why should I vote, I don’t like either candidate” or “I’m going to vote for an independent”.  The people who make these comments will usually be the first to voice their distaste in the election results.  If you didn’t exercise your right to vote – then don’t complain about the outcome!’  I wonder how many American’s knew that Roseanne Barr was running as a presidential candidate for the Green Party and now the Peace and Freedom Party?

Take the time to learn about each of the candidates and if you have the opportunity, review that party’s platform to understand their stance on the issues that are important to you.  Make an informed decision on who and which party you are voting for and vote!

Here are the links to Barack Obama’s, Mitt Romney’s and Roseanne Barr’s websites:

www.barackobama.com

www.roseanneforpresident2012.org

www.mittromney.com

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

 

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT ”REAL MARRIAGE” ANN ROMNEY.

During the Republican National Convention on August 28, 2012 – Ann Romney spoke for just over 20 minutes.  She spoke briefly about how great it is to be an American but mostly, she spoke of love.  She spoke of how much love she and Mitt have for each other and said that some people thought they had a storybook marriage, here is her quote;  “…story book marriage, not at all.  What Mitt and I have is a real marriage”.  I know that many American’s do not think that same-sex couples being married would not be legitimate – but wouldn’t a same-sex marriage be as ‘real’ (it may not be legal right now) as a heterosexual marriage?  I’m not American and I am completely outraged at such a statement.  Is her marriage more legitimate and real than many same-sex couples who have been given that right to marry ?

I have been with my partner in a loving, caring, respectful and committed relationship for over 18 years.  We never really thought about marriage because it was not legal in Ontario, Canada until 2003 (see statistics below).  When it did become legal – we celebrated by ensuring our union was just as important as our peers and married each other.  I have shared so much with Jason.  We have gone through many, many good times but we also had moments that really tested our relationship – we argued, we cried, we laughed.  We grew together in our relationship – we learned to communicate with each other thereby creating a much stronger relationship and bond.  We have and still go through what most married couples go through – we are no different than our heterosexual peers.   Why must Ann Romney point out that she is in a ‘real’ marriage?

Republicans (and Conservatives in Canada), have got to stop throwing the importance of family and family values in our faces – do we not understand the importance of family as gay people?  I don’t understand what makes them think that their lives are so much more legitimate than ours.  Is it their religious beliefs?  Maybe,  but just because I don’t go to their church or belong to their congregation doesn’t make them morally superior than myself or my spouse.

If Ann Romney wants to talk about the love that she and her husband Mitt have for their  fellow American ‘brothers and sisters’ – than why don’t they start by recognizing that love and real marriage should not be exclusive to many same-sex couples.   Most of us are as committed and in love as they are?  Don’t give me the religious argument either – I don’t buy it and besides, I believe and think that the religious beliefs of our elected officials should not affect any choices they make in their political careers.  Religion has no place in politics and politics have no place in religion!

My message to Ann Romney – There is no such thing as ‘real’ marriage because all marriage is real and my marriage to my wonderful spouse is just as legitimate as yours is to Mitt.

GAY MARRIAGE IN CANADA

Same-sex marriage became legal in all of Canada on July 20, 2005, when the “Civil Marriage Act” took effect. Before that, several provinces began legalizing same-sex marriage on their own, the first being Ontario on June 10, 2003. 

Other provinces legalized gay marriage on the following dates: 

British Columbia, 8 July 2003 
Quebec, 16 March 2004 
Yukon Territories, 16 July 2004 
Manitoba, 16 September 2004 
Nova Scotia, 24 September 2004 
Saskatchewan, 5 November 2004 
Newfoundland and Labrador, 21 December 2004 
New Brunswick 23 June 2005

In 2003, the Ontario Court of Appeals upheld a lower court verdict making same-sex marriage legal in Ontario. Ontario was the first jurisdiction in North America to have same-sex marriage legalized, leading the way for the eventual passage of the federal Civil Marriage Act (defining marriage as a “union of two persons”) in 2005 making Canada the fourth country in the world and the first in the Americas to legalize same-sex marriage nationwide.

WAKE UP AMERICA!!!!

Together we can make the world a more positive one!