Living On The Edge

Thank You for Your Visit, Have a Nice Day (Wearable Sculpture) by Agata Olek / Art in Odd Places 2009: SIGN, New York City / 20091010.10D.55121.P1.L1 / SML: See-ming Lee 李思明 SML

Author: Rabbi Simcha Weinberg

Standing on the corner of 95th and Broadway, I had a perfect opportunity to observe peoples’ faces. I love the fact that New York provides a glimpse of people from all over the world. I tried counting how many different countries were represented by the people climbing up from the subway, when I noticed that no matter where these people came from, they had assumed the New York Face: no one was smiling. People didn’t look happy.

I stopped counting countries to begin counting smiles. The only people smiling or laughing were children. There were smiles of pure joy. There were smiles of satisfaction. I saw guffaws, belly laughs, giggles, and chuckles. The kids were the only ones who looked human.

Just as I began laughing with joy at the sight, I saw a mirror of my past when two parents were struggling with a screaming child. The children may be the only ones laughing, but they certainly were the only people having tantrums. No wonder so many people choose to stop laughing: Raw emotions come at a price. When we feel free enough to wholeheartedly express our joy, we usually have to deal with raw sadness and anger. To live with the freedom to laugh with such abandon, we must live on the edge, right where all our emotions bubble and pop, laughter and anger, happiness and sadness. I guess most New Yorkers already feel that they live on the edge, and smother their smiles to prevent themselves from venting their fury.

Reuben, the Bechor – First Born – of Jacob and Leah, lived on the edge. The Talmud (Bava Batra 126b) teaches us that a Bechor has special gifts: There was once a certain man who came before Rabbi Chaninah and said to the Sage, “I am convinced regarding this individual that he is the firstborn of his father.” Rabbi Chaninah said to him, “From where do you know this?”

The witness said to him in reply, “Because when people would come to the son’s father with eye ailments, he would tell them: ‘Go to my son Shichas for he is a firstborn son, and his saliva can heal eye ailments.’”

Rabbi Chaninah accepted this proof, and awarded the son in question a double portion of his father’s property.

Firstborns have great power, but they are also susceptible to stealing, hatred and resentment. (Yalkut Shimoni, Vayechi #157)

Reuben lived this conflict: He moved Jacob’s bed to prevent him from fathering more children and further diluting Reuben’s inheritance. (Ramban, Genesis 35:22) He liked money.

Yet, he also was careful not to steal, “he went during the harvest and found mandrakes growing wildly in a field,” he would not take anything from another’s property. He would only collect wild flowers for his mother. The Alshich says that Reuben intended the flowers to help Leah attract her husband and bear more children!

Reuben was impetuous (Genesis 49:3-4), enough for Jacob to fear that if rebuked by his father, he would turn away from Jacob and join Eisav! (Rashi, Deuteronomy 1:3) Reuben impetuously moved his bed directly in front of Bilhah’s tent to make his father uncomfortable (Ha’amek Davar) and yet he planned to repair his sin by saving Joseph.

Reuben lived on the edge of greatness and terrible evil. Yet, he did not assume the New York face; he thrived where he was, learning to derive greatness from his challenge.

How would Reuben look as he came up from the subway? He would either be laughing or screaming, but he would certainly never be neutral.

About the Author:

Learn & discover the Divine prophecies with Rabbi Simcha Weinberg from the holy Torah, Jewish Law, Mysticism, Kabbalah and Jewish Prophecies. The Foundation Stone is the ultimate resource for Jews, Judaism, Jewish Education, Jewish Spirituality & the holy Torah.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Living On The Edge

Earthly Legacy Lunacy

Consumerism Reflected: Zohar Manor-Abel

By Donald Mehl

We frequently hear of people who are planning an earthly legacy of their good works as a name remembrance for others. Some legacies might be in the form of accomplishments, contributions, recognitions, or generosities all proudly and visibly displayed so that others might admire them. Other legacies simply are a tribute to the person’s character, their compassion for others, their spirituality, or their selfless sacrifices for the benefit of others.

Many legacies are intended to be a long lasting memorial – insuring that earthly works or personal achievements will be remembered long after the person is gone. Legacies of that type could include substantial wealth, possessions, and properties donated to charities, or, simply passed down into the hands of heirs. Other noteworthy items of involvement perceived as lasting legacies might include a successful business, one’s name prominently displayed on a marquee or permanently carved in stone as a remembrance, significant books written or music beautifully composed, or the establishment of a Foundation or Trust for those in need. The list could go on and on.

A few of those items listed certainly are noble endeavors, and can be carried out with honorable and Godly intentions. However, the motives behind many of the others would need to be questioned. All legacies are, in part, attempts to answer the question, “How do I want to be remembered?”

The legacies formed using questionable motives will most often recognize and glorify the individual as the primary focus. They desire to create some visible means of memorializing their name along with the accomplishments. They want their name, their fame, and their fortune etched in history for all to see. Those legacies seem to shout, “Look at all the good things I’ve done”, or, “See how successful I’ve been”, or, “Just imagine all the money I’ve earned in my life and I did it my way.”

Sadly, many of those legacies have the wrong motives since they’re all about promotion and glorification of one’s self self-importance, self-image, self-achievement, and pride.

There’s no doubt that most people work hard to achieve their so-called earthly success. However, there are some who inherit wealth or a “famous” business and family name that might allow them to continue a prior legacy. Also, there are many today embracing and giving praises to the popular self-help books that promote self-esteem and positive thinking for success in life, but most of those books are totally void of sound Biblical wisdom.

Some people might even give token lip service recognizing God for what He has allowed them to accomplish. However, few if any will give Him all the honor and glory, nor can they say their complete faith and trust is in the hands of the One who is in control of all things. Instead of seeking His Will and guidance through prayer and Scripture, most people depend on their own wisdom and understanding along with the help of others.

For those of us who have worked long and hard to acquire, create, and accomplish many things toward a legacy, it should be disconcerting to learn that we don’t own any of it. Like it or not, God owns it all. According to Psalm 89:11, the Lord God founded the heavens and earth, and they are His and everything in them. Psalm 24:1 tells us the earth is the Lord’s, and everything and everyone in it. In Haggai 2:8, the Lord is declaring that all the silver and gold is His.

God only permits us to use that which has always belonged, and will always belong, to Him. Also, we must never assume that our successes and good works are the result of God having blessed them, nor does it mean that we have followed His Will. Often times He simply allows events, both good and bad, to happen or take place to teach us and draw us closer to Him.

Sometimes we think we’re pretty smart, and will often pat ourselves on the back for the new and great things we’ve managed to develop and accomplish. However, Ecclesiastes 1:9,10 explains that there’s nothing new under the sun. In Galatians 6:3 we are told that we deceive ourselves if we think we are something when we are nothing. For the high-minded among us, we are told in Romans 12:3 not to think of ourselves more highly than we ought to think. Also, it’s written in Matthew 23:12 that whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

The words of Jesus as recorded in Matthew 6:1-4 should be seriously heeded by all who would desire public recognition for their contributions and good works.

Matthew 6:1-4 (NASB)

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”

Millions of people have been misled to believe they must earn God’s favor through their earthly works, and that those works will play an essential role in where and how they will spend eternity. The Scriptures, however, teach something entirely different. We learn from Isaiah 64:6 that all of our righteous acts are like filthy rags in the sight of God. Those people fail to understand that all the good things they do count for nothing without first repenting and reaching out by faith alone to receive God’s free gift of salvation. The Bible clearly teaches that we are saved not by good works, but rather, for good works.

Ephesians 2:8-10 (NKJV)

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Titus 3:5 (NASB)

He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,

Earthly treasures and riches are not long lasting as written in both Proverbs 27:24 and Matthew 6:19. In fact, according to Proverbs 11:28a, he who trusts in them will fail. We are warned in 1 Timothy 6:9-10 that those who seek worldly riches fall into temptation, becoming trapped in foolish and harmful desires causing their destruction some even wandering from their faith.

Jesus, speaking to His disciples, asked these questions as recorded in Matthew 16:26 (NASB), “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or, what will a man give in exchange for his own soul?” We are clearly told in Colossians 3:2 to keep our minds set on things above, not on the earth.

All repentant, redeemed, born again, washed-by-the-blood sons and daughters of the most high God, all who have confessed that Jesus is Lord, and all who by faith alone have received His salvation are commanded to be Christ-like in everything we do.

Jesus came down to earth to be born in the most humble of surroundings. During His 33 years here He was poor by worldly standards, but told of how we would have treasures in heaven if we choose to follow Him. Jesus never taught self-esteem, positive thinking, motivation, or wealth preservation, but rather, taught self-denial, humility, and submission. His earthly life temporarily came to an end while hanging naked, beaten, and bleeding on the cross in our place paying the sin penalty in full for all who would believe. Then, when He arose on the third day as He said he would, He proclaimed victory over death and the grave – promising all believers that they, too, would have eternal life through Him.

Jesus’ life is the greatest and most powerful example of a legacy that has no equal, and it will endure forever. He alone is worthy of all the praise, honor, and glory not only for what He did and continues to do, but for Who He is.

What will be your legacy? How do you want to be remembered? Are your treasures in the form of earthly deeds and material things, or, as Jesus commanded in Matthew 6:19-20, are your treasures stored up in heaven? Is the name of Jesus publicly praised with all thanksgiving given to Him who makes all things possible, or, is His name suppressed?

He reminds us in Matthew 6:21 that where our treasure is, there our heart will be also. Hebrews 4:13 has a warning that nothing can be hidden from the eyes of God. As written in Romans 14:12, each of us will give an account of himself to God. Will our life’s legacy bear witness that we have loved Him, trusted Him, served Him, and have given Him the honor and glory above all else as Savior, Lord and Master of our life?

We all must think about that!

During retirement, my prayer is that I might serve the Lord by sharing the Gospel through my writing. As the Lord leads, my work will inform, challenge and encourage. I also enjoy Biblical theme woodcarving, Bible studies and Christian music. Watch, pray and keep looking up!

Donald Mehl

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS-MAKE A WEBSITE

Is Conflict an Inherent Factor of Religion?

Conflict: Rishi S

by Anagarika Eddie Rock

One of the most difficult areas to get past in human relations is the idea that “my” religion or ideal is Truth and yours isn’t. When someone says to you that your beliefs are all wet compared to his or hers, how does that make you feel? Historically, it has made people feel so bad that they have killed each other. This is not good.

If only there was a way where we could sincerely say to those who are not of our faith, “You’re okay, even if you do not believe our way.” Unless we find a way to honestly and openly do that, unless we as a nation find a way to say to other countries that they are okay just as they are developing, (as if we didn’t have our problems as a young nation), then we will be in constant conflict.

If, for a moment, we can leave aside threatening and incendiary remarks, such as, “If you don’t become enlightened, you will be reborn into suffering forever,” “Unless you accept Jesus as your savior, you will go to hell,” and “Allah is the only God, accept him or else,” along with all the other claims of various religions (and the numerous branches of the various religions that separate us further, i.e., Catholic and Baptist in the Christian faith), what is there left to talk about?

If we have nothing left to talk about, then of course religion can justifiably be termed a vehicle of separation; something that has caused violence in the past and continues to be a destructive force in the present.

Some might say that their beliefs and principles are more important than any conflict, and that they are ready and willing to die for them. Okay, passion is an important factor, and if their religion or ideal sanctifies conversion by force, then one would be justified in their mind. I posit, however, that in the deep tentacles of all religions lies a universal love for all mankind, regardless of beliefs, and that conversion by force comes from man‘s ego.

In reality, we usually tolerate beliefs other than our own and generally smile and make nice to people of other faiths. But down deep, if we think that they are misguided and that we should save them, or resent the fact that they can’t see the light and consider them inferior to ourselves, then we are two-faced.

Perhaps better than becoming two-faced is having it out with them; arguing about our religions until we are blue in the face, totally exhausted, and ready to strangle each other. At least we would be honest.

In my articles, I try to promote principles that apply to all religions regardless of beliefs. I do this in order to advance past narrow opinions and toward more universal love and respect for each other. I’m not always successful.

I try to see the end product of what a particular religion produces regarding the type of people that result. Are they only nice in a playacting way, closet bigots, or are they genuinely interested in others well being, regardless of the others beliefs?

I can’t say that one way or the other is right or Truth, but I can say, as I look back at history, that one way promotes peace and the other conflict. Again, if conflict is your cup of tea, then I can’t say that you are wrong, but I can say that conflict will create suffering for yourself and others. Also, I can safely, I believe, say that peace promotes ease and joy for yourself and others. Just look at a family in conflict compared to a family in peace. To playact peace is to pretend to be peaceful around your peers but scream at your kids or husband in Wal-Mart! This is also being two-faced.

What it all boils down to is whether or not strong beliefs are worth conflict. If you say yes, then your life will be in conflict. You can’t have conflict with those outside of your immediate group without eventually having conflict within your group. It’s never an outside influence that brings up conflict, conflict is already planted in your mind just looking for a target, and when the outside targets aren’t there, the sharks eat themselves.

The question is; do you want to change your mind from one of conflict to one of peace? Don’t answer too quickly; many people prefer conflict. Conflict, win or lose, boosts the ego and makes one feel that they are alive. Peace, on the other hand does not increase ego or support the notion of a person separate from everyone else.

In my articles, I mention ego or self all the time, because ego, not religion or ideals per se, is the central reason for our internal and external conflicts. The idea of “me.”

So how can you change your state of mind of conflict? Can you keep your strong beliefs and resolve the conflict in yourself? That would be the best of both worlds.

I believe that we can do that, it‘s just a matter of calming down an ego that we have created and now must constantly shore up. This creates the fundamental conflict within ourselves, and has nothing to do with religion or religious beliefs, but everything to do with how we get along with ourselves, our group, and fellow human beings.

If ever there would be a universal religion, it would work toward resolving this problem of conflict within ourselves. Regardless of what we believe or what books we follow, until we understand ourselves and how we interact with that little person inside our heads, all of our actions and ideas will be skewed.

But once we know ourselves and how we operate, we can then believe as we choose, while at the same time understanding and accepting the rest of humanity regardless of their beliefs, because we will know that we are all fundamentally the same.

Anagarika eddie is a meditation teacher at the Dhammabucha Rocksprings Meditation Retreat Sanctuary www.dhammarocksprings.org and author of A Year to Enlightenment. His 30 years of meditation experience has taken him across four continents including two stopovers in Thailand where he practiced in the remote northeast forests as an ordained Thervada Buddhist monk.

He lived at Wat Pah Nanachat under Ajahn Chah, at Wat Pah Baan Taad under Ajahn Maha Boowa, and at Wat Pah Daan Wi Weg under Ajahn Tui. He had been a postulant at Shasta Abbey, a Zen Buddhist monastery in northern California under Roshi Kennett; and a Theravada Buddhist anagarika at both Amaravati Monastery in the UK and Bodhinyanarama Monastery in New Zealand, both under Ajahn Sumedho. The author has meditated with the Korean Master Sueng Sahn Sunim; with Bhante Gunaratana at the Bhavana Society in West Virginia; and with the Tibetan Master Trungpa Rinpoche in Boulder, Colorado. He has also practiced at the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts, and the Zen Center in San Francisco. 

Article Source: Amazines.com

Hindus ask financial compensation for Czech Roma women victims of forced sterilization

Image credit: Eoin Campbell

Special to Earthpages.org

Welcoming Czech Prime Minister’s “regret” over involuntary sterilization of Roma women, Hindus have demanded fair and adequate financial compensation to the victims.

Hindu leader Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that Czech Prime Minister Jan Fischer should offer formal “apology” as the misconduct in this case was very serious and just “regret” would not be sufficient to heal the deep wounds caused. Perpetrators should be prosecuted for the irreversible crimes against these women which permanently deprived them from having children.

Zed, who is the president of Universal Society of Hinduism, further said that neighboring Slovakia also now needed to acknowledge this blunder and apologize on this issue. Czech Republic should make Roma upliftment her first priority as they were facing apartheid like conditions. Their maltreatment was a dark stain on the face of Czech Republic and Europe.

Rajan Zed argued that Roma people in Czech Republic reportedly faced violent attacks, stereotyping, racism, prejudice, growing gap between Roma and other Czechs, fear, beatings, poor quality housing, systemic employment and overall discrimination, persecution, throwing of Molotov cocktails, social exclusion, segregated schools, marginalization; refused service at restaurants, stores, discos, etc.; municipalities/towns failing to support them; and the state being unwilling or unable to offer protection.

Zed stressed that the country of Franz Kafka, Antonin Dvorak, Jaroslav Hasek, Karlovy Vary, and rich cultural heritage should not continue staying apathetic and silent spectator ignoring Roma apartheid.

References to Roma people in Europe, who are believed to have their roots in the Indian subcontinent, reportedly went as far back as ninth century AD.

Environmental Activism – For a Pollution-free Planet

Traffic: zoonabar / Chris Brown

Author: oil

Pollution caused by oil spills from tankers is one of the biggest threats to the environment. But it is only one part of the picture. Not many know that oil runoff from cars, trucks, and other vehicles also cause severe marine pollution. When it rains, oil leaked onto roads and driveways is washed into the storm drains, which ultimately flows into lakes or streams.

Used motor oil is the largest source of oil pollution. In fact, of the 20 million gallons of oil that escape into the North American waters every year, only 15% are caused by pipeline or tanker spills, whereas the remaining 17 million gallons are due to oil spills from cars and trucks, fuel dumping by commercial pilots, and contamination by recreational boaters.

Oil leaked from cars pollutes drinking water and waterways in more ways than you can imagine. One of the main reasons why auto fluids are termed as very harmful is that they do not dissolve in water like oil. One pint of motor oil results in a slick that is larger than a football field.

The underground aquifers that supply us drinking water are polluted costing millions of dollars to municipalities in drinking water treatment and operational expenses. Oil, antifreeze, and break fluids that seep into the water contain heavy metals wrecking havoc on the wildlife. Hypothermia in birds, damage to the immune system in animals, and death of fish are only some of the effects.

You can see how a simple oversight on our part can pollute our planet. It is our responsibility to take steps to protect our environment. First and foremost would be to take steps to prevent oil spills, and if an oil spill does occur even after all these, being prepared to deal with it.

For oil spill cleanup from driveways or anywhere else at home, use eco-friendly oil spill cleaners, such as Oil Gone Easy S-200 rather than other toxic oil stain removers. This environmentally-friendly oil stain remover uses bio-remediation technology to cleanup driveway oil stains the natural way without causing any further harm.

About the Author:

OilSpillBlog

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Environmental Activism – For a Pollution-free Planet

Conflict and poverty

Fight poverty not war, on camera: RubyJi / Ruby Sinreich

Author: Mack Brandon

Violence of any kind can make victims of innocent bystanders. Pedestrians are killed in automobile accidents and gang wars have led to the death of ordinary people. War, being the epitome of violence, is no different. Every day, armed conflicts all around the world take their toll on ordinary citizens. The plight of victims of war and conflict is similar, whether CARE is in the Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo or the Swat valley in Pakistan.

Conflict and war causes death and destruction, such as the breakdown of infrastructure. This in turn leads to greater human suffering; increased poverty and a need for aid for the people caught in the crossfire. Providing immediate relief such as food, shelter, clean water, sanitation facilities, medical care, tools and seeds to those who need it most, and helping people rebuild lives and restore livelihoods long after a disaster has struck is essential in fighting poverty and injustice. In addition, longer-term community rehabilitation and strategies to mitigate the impact of future disasters on vulnerable communities must be addressed. CARE is an international humanitarian aid organisation fighting global poverty, with a special focus on working with women and girls to bring lasting change in their communities. CARE is non-religious and non- political, and works together with communities to provide emergency relief and address the underlying causes of poverty. CARE believes that supporting women and girls is one of the most effective ways to create sustainable outcomes in poor communities.

CARE’s long-term development projects help communities break the cycle of hunger and poverty. CARE’s projects support people to take charge of their lives, equipping them with skills and resources so they can work towards a better future. CARE’s long-term projects cover agriculture and food security, education, health, economic development, nutrition, water, sanitation and environmental health. To know more about CARE, CARE’s projects and the countries around the world where CARE works, please visit http://www.careaustralia.org.au.Your support will help to change the lives of women, families and communities.

About the Author:

Mack Brandon has worked for NGO’s around the world and has a special interest in working for the marginal communities in various countries. His articles on his work are both interesting and informative.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Conflict and poverty

Capitalism: A Love Story – Superfast Review

Caring for the world ecology

Let's Get Green! by ecstaticist / Evan Leeson

Author: goyal.ishaa

BOTH THE developed and the developing countries are between the devil and the deep sea. The developed countries do not wish to cut green house gas emissions as it would slow down their progress and enable competing countries to take over. The developing countries including China, a surprise entrant, take the plea that they have to reach the level of the developed countries and for that cutting the green house-gas emissions would be like committing Harakiri.

Be that as it may, numerous conferences on promoting ecology and checking environmental pollution have turned out to be mere discussions in a debating club. Be it Kyoto, or Latin America or now Copenhagen in December 2009, the talking shops did not produce any positive results. Many hundred reams of paper, secretarial work, a lot of wining and dining and track two diplomacy failed to produce any positive results. Time and energy went down the drain.

Now some light can be seen at the end of the tunnel. On Sunday, November 15, 2009, at Singapore at the session of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit, President Obama of the United States and other opinion makers and shapers arrived at an agreement ahead of the Copenhagen Summit on Ecology to tone down criticism of the advanced nations.

A deal was struck by agreeing to tone down the target and also to renew efforts to achieve positive results.The Prime Minister of Denmark, Lars Lokke Rasmussen put forth the compromise formula and called it one agreement two steps that would be legally binding as a treaty by 2010.

Indeed, the developed nations may be happy but it is a compromise that would not reduce the global warming substantially. In another 11 years, China will account for 50 per cent of the global emissions. Maldives and parts of Mumbai and London may bid adieu to the earth and become a part of the surging waters of the sea.

Let us hope and pray that the Gangotri, source of our Ganges river does not melt as it would spell disaster for the plains of India. We must keep on convincing those who are not affected now by global warming and climate change to listen to the suffering humanity.

About the Author:

Hi, I am Ishaa Goyal from India, by profession i am a journalist. Recently i m covering news on Global Warming and China News.I have written number of climate related articles.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Caring for the world ecology

Free Speech Harming the Speechless

"Peace for Animals" by Br Lawrence Lew, O.P.

By: Abigail Taggart

Ten years ago Congress put into place a federal law to make illegal video depictions of animal torture and murder that were made to appeal to “crush fetishists” among others. Crushing is a sexual fetish which generally shows women, often clad in high heals or dominatrix style clothing stepping on small animals or bugs. They occasionally also depict other forms of animal abuse.

In the years since its being put on the books, the law has only been called upon only three times, including the case being heard, United States v. Stevens. While the law was written to crack down on the “crush videos”, all three times its use has been applied to prosecute manufacturers of videos of dog fights. In Stevens, the defendant was convicted of selling recordings of a dogfight that he had made in Japan. His lawyers argued that, as dog fighting is legal in Japan, Mr. Stevens has not broken any law.

The first amendment is a complicated thing. It very clearly asserts our freedom of speech, but since its inception, the courts have added multiple clauses limiting this right. The most applicable to this issue are Miller v. California and New York v. Ferber. In Millier, the court ruled that a work could be banded if it was considered obscene and the standard for judging obscenity would be based on the current societal standards of decency and whether or not the work or statement had merit of a literary, political, scientific or artistic ilk. Ferber made an additional exception. Child pornography would be not be allowed to be produced or possessed in any circumstance. The Court ruled that society’s duty to protect children was of greater importance than protecting freedom of expression. Only the most staunch civil liberties advocates could argue that possession of such filth should be allowed and the majority of society would write these individuals off as overly zealous wackos. Why then is a nation, that is so universally committed to protecting children who are unable to protect themselves, not willing to extend this protection to other living things desperate for care?

It is my sincere hope that when the Court rules on Stevens (which won’t happen for several months) that they will choose common sense over party lines or personal opinion. Crush videos and the like are obscene; that anyone would argue otherwise is appalling. Showing the brutalization and victimization of innocent, and often helpless, animals cannot be seen as art and should not be available to satisfy certain individual’s depraved cravings. Videos that exploit animal cruelty for profit are also obscene, and therefore do not have to be afforded the protection of the first amendment. The Supreme Court should behave responsibly and rule against Stevens in this case. Such a decision could prevent the suffering of more animals at the hands of profit hungry monsters.

About the Author:

Abigail Taggart is one of the founding members of Kristag Design. Her creative spirit is behind much of the work that ends up as the finished product. Abby did her undergraduate work in English and uses her talent for expression for both commercial and non-profit institutions. She is a strong advocate of animal rights and has used her talents to support the efforts of proactive organizations that help this important cause.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Free Speech Harming the Speechless

Green Cleaning Technologies

Green Leaf of a Bio Plant in Nature: epSos .de

Author: oil

Green cleaning is a term that refers to cleaning techniques and products that make use of eco-friendly materials and substances rather than toxic ingredients. Certain products emit volatile organic compounds, which can cause irreparable damage, respiratory problems, and skin infections. Green cleaning techniques are a much safer and healthier way to treat water, purify air, and clean a home or land.

Sunrays are natural disinfectants. Ultraviolet radiation emitted from the sun can be used to disinfect water and air. UV radiation is commonly used in waste water treatment and is increasingly being used in drinking water treatment. In fact, there are several manufactures that offer water purifiers that use UV light. This cleaning technique is more eco-friendly than treating water with chemicals. Almost all the pollutants in the air are carbon-based compounds. These compounds break down when exposed to high-intensity UV light at 240-280 nm.

Hospitals have used UV technology for years to sterilize the air in their facilities. Halo vacuum cleaners also use this green cleaning technology to kill germs, bacteria, mold, dust mite eggs, and flea eggs that fester deep in carpet fibers. Halo vacuum cleaners suck up dirt as well as any other vacuum, but unlike other models, they kill microorganisms like E.coli and Samonella. Rather than use toxic chemicals that are harmful to the environment and humans to sterilize surfaces, a Halo vacuum cleaner is a great alternative.

Electrokinetic remediation is a green technology used to clean land, especially to restore contaminated waste sites. The section of soil that has been contaminated is exposed to a low voltage direct-current electric field. When the electrodes are charged, ions and water move toward the electrodes. The ions flow through the outer casing of the electrode, which contains water, where they are then removed for treatment. Bioreactors and bioventing technology are two forms of bioremediation that are used to remediate soil that has been contaminated by fuel.

Oil Gone Easy S-200 also uses bioremediation to help fight oil spill pollution both on land and in water. This eco-friendly product is more readily available than bioreactors or bioventing technology and is ideal for home and boat owners.

About the Author:

http://www.oilgoneeasy.com/oil_spill_blog/

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Green Cleaning Technologies