Ask 5 for 5: A Hungry Child Can't Wait - A Guest Post

Today I'm going to introduce you to Sarah.  Well, actually, I'm going to let her introduce herself.  But thanks to my friend Lindsay for connecting us.  Please read her heartfelt words!

Guest Blogger: Sarah Lenssen from #Ask5for5

Family photos by Mike Fiechtner Photography

Thank you Krista and nearly 150 other bloggers from around the world for allowing me to share a story with you today, during Social Media Week.

A hungry child in East Africa can't wait. Her hunger consumes her while we decide if we'll respond and save her life. In Somalia, children are stumbling along for days, even weeks, on dangerous roads and with empty stomachs in search of food and water. Their crops failed for the third year in a row. All their animals died. They lost everything. Thousands are dying along the road before they find help in refugee camps. 

At my house, when my three children are hungry, they wait minutes for food, maybe an hour if dinner is approaching. Children affected by the food crisis in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia aren't so lucky. Did you know that the worst drought in 60 years is ravaging whole countries right now, as you read this? Famine, a term not used lightly, has been declared in Somalia. This is the world's first famine in 20 years. 12.4 million people are in need of emergency assistance and over 29,000 children have died in the last three months alone. A child is dying every 5 minutes. It it estimated that 750,000 people could die before this famine is over. Take a moment and let that settle in.

The media plays a major role in disasters. They have the power to draw the attention of society to respond--or not. Unfortunately, this horrific disaster has become merely a footnote in most national media outlets. News of the U.S. national debt squabble and the latest celebrity's baby bump dominate headlines. That is why I am thrilled that nearly 150 bloggers from all over the world are joining together today to use the power of social media to make their own headlines; to share the urgent need of the almost forgotten with their blog readers. Humans have the capacity to care deeply for those who are suffering, but in a situation like this when the numbers are too huge to grasp and the people so far away, we often feel like the little we can do will be a drop in the ocean, and don't do anything at all.

When news of the famine first hit the news in late July, I selfishly avoided it. I didn't want to read about it or hear about it because I knew I would feel overwhelmed and uncomfortable. I wanted to protect myself. I knew I would need to do something if I knew what was really happening. You see, this food crisis is personal. I have a 4-year-old son and a 1 yr-old daughter who were adopted from Ethiopia and born in regions now affected by the drought. If my children still lived in their home villages, they would be two of the 12.4 million. My children: extremely hungry and malnourished? Gulp. I think any one of us would do anything we could for our hungry child. But would you do something for another mother's hungry child?

My friend and World Vision staffer, Jon Warren, was recently in Dadaab Refugee Camp in Kenya--the largest refugee camp in the world with over 400,000 people. He told me the story of Isnino Siyat, 22, a mother who walked for 10 days and nights with her husband, 1 yr-old-baby, Suleiman, and 4 yr.-old son Adan Hussein, fleeing the drought in Somalia. When she arrived at Dadaab, she built the family a shelter with borrowed materials while carrying her baby on her back. Even her dress is borrowed. As she sat in the shelter on her second night in camp she told Jon, "I left because of hunger. It is a very horrible drought which finished both our livestock and our farm." The family lost their 5 cows and 10 goats one by one over 3 months, as grazing lands dried up. "We don't have enough food now...our food is finished. I am really worried about the future of my children and myself if the situation continues."

Will you help a child like Baby Suleiman? Ask5for5 is a dream built upon the belief that you will.

That something I knew I would need to do became a campaign called #Ask5for5 to raise awareness and funds for famine and drought victims. The concept is simple, give $5 and ask five of your friends to give $5, and then they each ask five of their friends to give $5 and so on--in nine generations of 5x5x5...we could raise $2.4 Million! In one month, over 750 people have donated over $25,000! I set up a fundraiser at See Your Impact and 100% of the funds will go to World Vision, an organization that has been fighting hunger in the Horn of Africa for decades and will continue long after this famine has ended. Donations can multiply up to 5 times in impact by government grants to help provide emergency food, clean water, agricultural support,
healthcare, and other vital assistance to children and families suffering in the Horn.

I need you to help me save lives. It's so so simple; here's what you need to do:

1. Donate $5 or more on this page (http://seeyourimpact.org/members/ask5for5)
2. Send an email to your friends and ask them to join us.
3. Share #Ask5for5 on Facebook and Twitter!

I'm looking for another 100 bloggers to share this post on their blogs throughout Social Media Week. Email me at ask5for5@gmail.com if you're interested in participating this week.

A hungry child doesn't wait. She doesn't wait for us to finish the other things on our to-do list, or get to it next month when we might have a little more money to give. She doesn't wait for us to decide if she's important enough to deserve a response. She will only wait as long as her weakened little body will hold on...please respond now and help save her life. Ask 5 for 5.

Thank you on behalf of all of those who will be helped--you are saving lives and changing history.

p.s. Please don't move on to the next website before you donate and email your friends right now. It only takes 5 minutes and just $5, and if you're life is busy like mine, you probably won't get back to it later. Let's not be a generation that ignores hundreds of thousands of starving people, instead let's leave a legacy of compassion. You have the opportunity to save a life today!

Thanks Sarah, for sharing about this so that it makes us think.

Global Food Crisis Day

Instead of a Wordless Wednesday post today I'd like to bring you a short PSA (public service announcement).

Today is Global Food Crisis Day.

What does that mean? It's a day to stop and think about those in the world who are in crisis because they don't have enough food to eat. It's a time to stop and think about what we can do to alleviate their suffering.

Because of the global economy more people than ever are suffering with not enough to eat. Compassion International is committed to helping as many of these people, especially children, as they can. Right now their Global Food Crisis Fund is being directed to help those in the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti.

You can be assured that Compassion will use your donation to serve as many people as possible. Over 80% (and this is high for charity organizations) of all donated money goes directly to help children and families and they have received the highest awards for charity standards. Also, because Compassion already had a presence in Haiti before the earthquake they have people there who know the area and the people of Haiti know they can be trusted.

I have been a partner with Compassion for the past 14 years and have always been impressed with the work they do. Thanks for considering those in the world who are less fortunate than we are.

Help for Haiti

I know that at the moment I don't think I can even process what is going on in Haiti. I saw the devastation of Katrina first hand months after the fact, when things were relatively cleaned up. I can't imagine living in the middle of that devastation with no water, food, or shelter.

Right now I wish with all my heart there was something physical and tangible I could do, but I can't. If you can, do it! If not, consider donating to help. I know there are many good organizations out there that are helping. Please make sure you do your research and aren't supporting a scam.

One that I know is NOT a scam is Compassion. They already have people living and working in Haiti and some of their employees from the Dominican Republic have come across the border to help. They are using relief funds to provide kits for families that include food, water, and basic supplies necessary for survival.

Haiti Earthquate

If you can spare even a few dollars, Compassion meets the highest standards for charities in the US and your money will be used to help those suffering after the Haiti Earthquake.

Thank you for helping.

Freedom of Choice

Ever heard of the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA)? Seen that button over on the top of my right sidebar? Wondering what it's all about?

Well, today I've written a short summary for you... but you'll have to head on over to Type-A Mom to read it!

Please leave me a comment there!

CPSIA Issue

Hello friends,

You know I try to avoid politics at all costs on this blog, but I've run across something I just can't keep quiet about anymore.

I wonder how many of you have heard about the CPSIA Act of 2008? It stands for the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act.

First off let me say, I'm all for keeping our products safe... But this piece of legislation has created a lot more problems than it will solve.

In a nutshell it requires that all products (toys, clothing, bedding, dishes, etc) intended for use by children under the age of 12 be tested for lead and pthalates and labeled accordingly.

On the surface this looks like a good idea. It would save us from all the recall scares from toys made in China and such. We could know that we weren't inadvertently poisoning our children when we give them a plastic gummy toy to chew on.

But here's the rub. This applies to all products no matter where they were made if they are for sale in the US. So... you want to make some carved wooden toys and sell them on Etsy or Ebay or even out of your home? You have to test them. To the tune of up to $4,000 per item. Me thinks that might just put a few small businesses out of business entirely! Here's a link to the Handmade Toy Alliance where they explain it much better than I can.
Here's an excerpt from that example:

The CPSIA simply forgot to exclude the class of children's goods that have earned and kept the public's trust: Toys, clothes, and accessories made in the US, Canada, and Europe. The result, unless the law is modified, is that handmade children's products will no longer be legal in the US.

If this law had been applied to the food industry, every farmers market in the country would be forced to close while Kraft and Dole prospered. (because they can afford the testing fees based on the bulk that they sell - my explanation)

It also applies to all items for resale after February 10, 2009. Think about your local resale clothing shop? They either have to test all their clothing or throw it away. They can't sell it, they can't even give it away. It's considered contraband. (Wonder how fast our landfills are going to be filled with perfectly good clothes?) Ebay and Amazon Marketplace will also be enforcing this. You won't be able to sell anything used either.

What can we do?

Let's write our congressmen and senators and ask them to please amend this piece of legislation!

Tests are already done by materials makers (to comply with current regulations) so much of this testing is redundant in the US. We need an exemption for items made in the US of US materials.
Conversely the Handmade Toy Alliance is proposing that the CSPC provide free testing for small businesses.

If you want to be able to buy local, handmade, or even used goods for children after February 10th we need to take action on this!

Write to your senators and congressmen, even the CSPC - try modifying the letter found here. All links will open in a new tab.

And thanks for caring!

50,000 for Soles4Souls

Random post title, right?

Not quite. See, there's this organization called Soles4Souls whose mission is: to impact as many lives as possible with the gift of shoes.

Right now they've got a little challenge going on... 50,000 pairs in 50 days.

Fifty Thousand.

Seems like a huge number, right? But consider this.

Each pair of shoes only costs 2.50. That's two dollars and fifty cents.

So, for less than the price of your favorite coffee shop drink you could give someone a pair of shoes. Maybe someone who's never owned a pair of shoes in their life.

I know times are tough. But would you consider giving up one or two drinks this week to give someone a pair of shoes? You never know how that might change their life!




And... they'll be choosing one person who donates to go on a trip with them to Mexico to see just how these shoes can impact lives! Wouldn't that be an amazing trip?

How Much Does It Cost You To Eat?

I'm thinking of my monthly "budget" and I'd say we spend between 10 and 15% of our income on food. We don't eat extravagantly, but we do eat well.

Now imagine spending 80% of your income on food. On the bare minimum to get by.

This is what's being called the Global Food Crisis.

I'm sure you've noticed that the price of food has gone up due to the price of fuel going up. (well, and a few other things like natural disasters and such) Maybe it's affected you, maybe it hasn't. To be honest, it hasn't really affected us that much.

I'm wondering when it will.

When will it affect me that more and more people around the world are starving every day?

Mothers who are going without food so their children can have a bite to eat. Fathers who are working longer hours and being able to buy less food. (if the family is even intact)

Sometimes I feel overwhelmed. How can I help feed millions of starving people?

I can be a better steward of the resources I have for one. I can pay attention to those in my own community that need help (local food pantries anyone?)

And I can give to Compassion's Global Food Crisis Fund.

Donations to the fund will provide:
• food vouchers to children and families needing immediate relief.
• seeds and agricultural tools so that families can grow their own food as well as earn extra income.
• supplemental nutrition services offered at Compassion-assisted centers around the world.

I made some money this month. That's where some of it is going.

Would you also consider joining us tomorrow, June 25th, for a day of prayer and fasting for those in need? Pray about how you can participate and pray for those whose lives depend on the compassion of others.

Prayers

I just read on Shaun Groves blog that this afternoon a tragedy occurred in the Steven Curtis Chapman family. One of his teenage sons was driving an SUV and hit or ran over his 5 year old sister, Maria. She died.

Please pray for the family and I'm sure especially for the boy. I can't imagine the guilt and pain he and they are going through right now.

Thanks everyone.

Mea Culpa

Originally when I read about the craziness of BPA I sent an email to all my mom friends as well as posting here. Well, it appears I was misled. Since I have already written to them I will simply post that email here.

It appears I owe you all a giant apology. So, I'm sorry for scaring you!!!

I have been doing a lot of reading on the subject of BPA's in plastics in the last 2 days. Here are a couple things I've found out. First of all the highest level of concern that the US Toxicology report lists is a simple "some" concern about BPA exposure for infants and possibly behavioral/neurological affects. (see link: http://zrecs.blogspot.com/2008/04/national-toxicology-program-concurs.html) This report has not even been peer reviewed yet, that's scheduled for June. Which means that it might get thrown out all together.

But the biggest thing I found was this link from a friend of mine.
http://www.stats.org/stories/2008/should_baby_bottles_feb9_08.html
The entire website is about how we interpret data and their goal is to correct misleading or false media reports about science. Statistics can be twisted to say pretty much anything you want them to.
This article in particular talks about how Europe, Japan, and even a separate US study have all found the levels of BPA leaching out of plastic to be so low as to be considered non-existent. And the study that is causing all the uproar here is based on really bad science and one guy's hypothesis that trace amounts of this chemical (which mimics estrogen) can have the same effects as large doses. Plus these studies were done on mice and rats which digest this chemical differently than humans do. In this case that means that the effects on humans wouldn't be the same at all.

Do with this information what you will. The links are still good if you are looking for totally BPA free plastics. However I am relieved to know that this appears to be a major distortion of the truth and my son is not in dire jeopardy because of one chemical - which kind of doesn't make sense anyway considering how many years this has been used and we haven't seen things like what happened to the thalidomide babies.

What I meant by this last line (which I now see could be rather confusing) is that if all the bad things could really happen that they are claiming this chemical does then we would have seen it long before now.

Relief

Well, I am somewhat relieved to discover that my son's favorite sippy cup is actually NOT on the list of cups containing BPA like I feared last night. There was a little factory code on the bottom that said E3 and I thought that meant it was a #3 plastic. So don't be fooled! It must be in the recycling rectangle or else it's just some random number they have printed on there. Whew!
Here's the site specific to Nuby that has pictures of all the safe vs. unsafe cups and bottles. I also found a place to buy replacement nozzles (Good For the Kids) so I'm happy about that since Cory stuck his finger through the top and now it leaks everywhere.
To find out if other brands of cups/bottles and dishware is safe see The Safer Landing or Z Recommends. See if you can find a picture of your specific item because many of them are named similarly with one being safe and another not. That's what caused my confusion over Cory's cup.
This page at Z Recommends also has a great graphic to help you figure out which brands are good and which are not.

Speaking of Cory... he's still not feeling well. Today he spiked a pretty high fever, but thankfully one of my best friends is a nurse and one of Brian's good friends is a doctor so I have resources! He's been keeping down fluids and a little cracker and toast so I think we'll be okay. He's just so sad when he lays around and whimpers. :(

The Nightmare Day

Literally and figuratively, unfortunately.

It started even before I woke up with this crazy dream...

Where first I was in a tent with some caged animals and I was running from some bad people. And then one of the bad guys caught me and poured acid on the back of my neck and my wrists. Somehow I managed to get away and was hosing myself off outside this lady's house when some boys started shooting at me with blow guns and darts dipped in acid. I go in the lady's house to try to hide and she refuses to call the police. Also it seems that there is nowhere in her house that is not visible from the windows. Eventually the boys get inside and when I ask how she says, through Macy's. 'Cuz you know her house was connected to the mall and the doors were open. Weirdness! And actually one of the freakier dreams I've had in awhile.

And then when I woke up and Brian brought Cory in to nurse, he promptly threw up in our bed. Poor little guy.
After stripping the bed and wiping the baby down we weren't going back to bed. I eventually tried to nurse him and put him back to bed. I went to sleep on the couch while Brian got ready for school. About 20 minutes after he left I hear Cory kind of doing his moan thing (it's normal) so I go in to get him and find that he had thrown up all over his bed. So it begins: bath, laundry, nap, rinse, repeat.
He didn't throw up too much more and I had hopes he was getting better, but he wouldn't eat anything all day. And then it started coming out the other end. Good thing he likes baths because he got three today. He also had a fever, but it seems to be responding to Tylenol. It's just so sad to see him not want to crawl around and play with his toys, but just roll a little bit to reach one or two.

So, you can see how I spent my day. Reading books and snuggling as well as doing lots of laundry. I did manage to switch out some of the photos in my header while Cory was sleeping though!

Then to top off my day I discovered this website: Z Recommends. Where they talk about all the baby products that are or aren't safe due to the bisphenol-A chemicals in plastics. The main thing you need to know is that any plastic container with the number 3, 6, or 7 inside that little recycling triangle means BAD NEWS! I found both my baby bottles, Cory's favorite sippy cup :( the sippy at my parents house, and one of Cory's favorite teething rings all had those. The saddest part though? My beloved Nalgenes are a number 7! How many years have I been drinking out of them?!!!
At this point the research shows more harm to young children due to the lack of an enzyme which removes the chemical from your body. Older people have more of this enzyme so it's not as big of an issue. However in small children it can possibly cause behavioral issues as well as early onset of puberty.
Good news is that Canada is probably going to ban this and hopefully the US will come down hard as well as companies bend to consumer pressure. Nalgene finally admitted (after many years of reassurances that it was safe) they are making a new line of bottles, due out this summer, that don't have this chemical in them. In the mean time, I discovered that the Gatorade bottles Brian brought home for Cory tonight are an okay type of plastic. I guess that's my new water bottle.

February is Compassion Month

com·pas·sion
–noun, a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.
We could all stand to be more compassionate towards our fellow human beings. There is a lot of misfortune and suffering we could be alleviating if we all just gave a little bit of our time/money/love.

This is the basic purpose of Compassion International. Anyone heard of them? (raise your hand!) Their mission statement is "releasing children from poverty in Jesus' name". No matter your religious background I think we'd all agree that a child in poverty is one of the saddest things there is. Compassion is trying to improve children's health, education, and well being in some of the poorest countries around the world.

And they're asking YOU to help.

Their sponsorship program costs $32 a month and if I'm not mistaken the entire cost goes to the programs that help children. Overhead costs are covered by donations intended for that purpose and overall they spend more than 80% of their budget directly on the children. (That's really high for a charity in case you were wondering).

The best part about all this is you can choose a child from any country the work in, boy or girl, and an age range. You are that child's individual sponsor and that child is depending on you. You can write letters and send small gifts and you will receive letters in return as well as an annual picture.

I have been a sponsor since I was in high school. My first boy graduated 2 years ago and is off on his own now, with an education!!! My second boy just started the 8th grade. Both of them were from South America so I could communicate with them in Spanish (an added bonus for me!)

As I sat down to write this post I remembered I was going to get the mail... and guess what I got today?!! (well, technically it's not yesterday...) A letter from my boy! His name is Nelson and he lives in Columbia (in a slum). Like I said he just entered the 8th grade and he's in a shoe-making apprenticeship (through Compassion). He writes,

May the grace of the most high God be over you daily. My family is well as God has cared for us and filled us with good health...
I want you to know that God, in his grace, has permitted me to do well in my studies. He has also allowed me to excel more and more each day in my favorite subject, math. Next year I will be in the 8th grade, something new, but I trust in God, that He will help me to do well.
In the (Compassion Project) I am in the shoe-making class and have learned a lot...
I ask that you remember me in your prayers. Thank you for your support.
With love,
Nelson

I learned from Compassion's country website (for Columbia) that Nelson lives in a high plains area and that most people there are unemployed. If they are so lucky to be able to earn money (typically as a street vendor) the average wage is $62 per month. Nelson's parents have 3 children. I'm sure that money doesn't go far and I'm excited that he will have other options available to him as he grows up because of the education and care he is getting from Compassion. Whole families benefit when a child is signed up because often parenting/other skills classes are offered and younger children are enrolled at the proper time.

Won't you consider sponsoring a child and building a life long friendship? There are so many children who could use this opportunity. Who knows, you might just have a budding scientist or leader for world peace writing you letters!

Compassion - it keeps the world turning.

Conduct Unbecoming a Human

I have always known since my mother was a high school teacher that "sports are king". If a student/person is an athlete they will get a hundred second chances and "exceptions" that any other student or human being will never get.
Today I was reading the comics on the Seattle Times when a headline in the sidebar caught my eye.

Convicted of assault and accused of rape, star player received raft of second chances.

Now, before you go read the article (it's long) let me just summarize a bit. Anyone heard of Jerramy Stevens? Used to play for the Seahawks. Signed last year to Tampa Bay. Supposed to be an up and coming star... if he could keep his act together.

This is the worst example I have ever seen of someone getting away with "murder" simply because he's an athlete.

Stomping on a fellow students head (resulting in a broken jaw) while in high school. Plea deal.

Still being signed to the University of Washington football team. (on scholarship)

Raping a girl who was drugged by something in her drink.

Arrested but, never being charged due to the fact that he was a football star.

Driving away from the scene of an accident and receiving a ticket rather than a misdemeanor charge (as is appropriate under Washington law).

Dropping out of college (yet claiming to have graduated) to play for the NFL.

Having multiple run-ins with the law for DUI's (yet still driving and never really having his license revoked and never spending more than a few days at a time in jail).

This guy has never learned that his actions have consequences simply because no one wants their "team" to lose a star player. The actions of the King County prosecutors and athletic administration at the UW are despicable. The fact that everyone says he's a "good kid" who is getting straightened out when evidence points to the contrary is simply sick and wrong. How long are we going to let him get away with this before someone else's life is damaged or destroyed entirely? (not to mention the girl he raped)

I don't know what we can do about this. I hope everyone who has 15 minutes reads the article. Think about it. What do you do when someone gets in trouble? Are you blinded by the fact that they may be "star" potential or simply who's kid they are?

Let's make our world a better place. YOU are responsible for YOUR actions no matter who you are, football player, politician, teacher, anyone.
What kind of message are you sending your kids?

A Wrinkle In Time

This is my ode to an author. I was just merrily going about my day when I log out of hotmail and on the main MSN page, just in a little link, it says "Wrinkle In Time" Author Madeleine L'Engle dies.
Wow. At first I wondered how old she was and if it was just time. I didn't know so I read the article and she was 88 and living in a nursing home. I suppose it was mostly age. But still, it makes me sad. She really was a great author. You know how you can read a book and a year later hardly remember that you read it let alone what it was about? Not so with her. I think I was in junior high when I read A Wrinkle In Time and I still remember the premise as well as some specific scenes. Her other books are just as good if not nearly as famous. I tried to read most of them over the years, but even in college I found one I hadn't read. Go figure, they were always checked out!
It was said that her writing was a precursor to Harry Potter. I'm sorry, but that just makes me gag. There's NO comparing the two! Madeleine makes you think about your life, your choices, and how you affect humanity. And they are a great read on top of that!
Anyways, I hope you all go out and read at least one of her books, you won't be sorry!

Since this took over my day, I'll save my post about being the human Kleenex for tomorrow...