I was unbelievably shocked and disturbed by the images plastered on the television screen of a two year old boy from Tianjin in China smoking cigarettes.
It was reported that this boy's father had encouraged his two year old son to smoke to alleviate hernia pain. How incredibly selfish is this father?
I am flabbergasted by the complete disregard for the health of his own child. Does this man not know of the dangers that smoking has on a fully grown adult let alone a child beginning their life?
This child was able to demonstrate that he could draw back and inhale the deadly concoction of chemicals. I could not stop looking at this poor child. His parents should be ashamed of their obvious compliance in this travesty against this child's human rights.
This is quite simply child abuse; I hope whichever television studio broke this story informed the parents of the danger they are placing their child in.
Now this child has a forty cigarette a day habit; a two year old addicted to nicotine!
I am distressed by the fact that man can be so cruel to fellow man. It seems to be that children seem to get placed in the crossfire.
In this case cruelty begins at home.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Monday, May 24, 2010
"Theory - Bullying Is Good For Your Children"
Okay who said bullying is good for our children? Well apparently a survey conducted recently stated that bullying encourages our children to become tougher. It helps our children be more assertive.
I am a parent of two now grown boys who have at times over the years been bullied in some form. For being the new kid, for maybe looking different in some way, or for just being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I am sorry but you cannot tell a parent that it is for their child's own good to be bullied.
I can only speak from my experience but all children should be able to feel safe at home and at school. Sometimes I think these surveys are conducted to drum up controversy, to somehow get funding for these institutions who deliver this kind of drivel out into the public.
It is hard enough for some parents to get their children to want to go to school. I think this kind of survey is setting a bad precedent. It could contribute to school bullying programs becoming non existent.
Do we need to give anymore ammunition to classroom bullies?
Oh it is for your own good so chin up and carry on.
I do understand that bullying procedures at schools are hard to implement. However after so many visits and phone calls over the years to the schools my boys attended regarding bullying, I am appalled that we would now condone such behaviour.
Even paying out tax payers money for someone to produce such a survey is ludicrous.
Haven't we come along way in recognising bullying for what it really is?
We have all heard the stories about children committing suicide from constant bullying.
This survey has just put back all the good work that has been done in our schools.
It did state that they are referring to name calling and a little bit of push and shove.
Well with today's technology we have seen an increase in bullying via Internet sites and text
messaging; isn't that name calling?
This only reiterates why bullying programs are so important.
I think we are way beyond the name calling and the push and shove debate!
It is a serious social issue that deserves priority.
I am a parent of two now grown boys who have at times over the years been bullied in some form. For being the new kid, for maybe looking different in some way, or for just being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I am sorry but you cannot tell a parent that it is for their child's own good to be bullied.
I can only speak from my experience but all children should be able to feel safe at home and at school. Sometimes I think these surveys are conducted to drum up controversy, to somehow get funding for these institutions who deliver this kind of drivel out into the public.
It is hard enough for some parents to get their children to want to go to school. I think this kind of survey is setting a bad precedent. It could contribute to school bullying programs becoming non existent.
Do we need to give anymore ammunition to classroom bullies?
Oh it is for your own good so chin up and carry on.
I do understand that bullying procedures at schools are hard to implement. However after so many visits and phone calls over the years to the schools my boys attended regarding bullying, I am appalled that we would now condone such behaviour.
Even paying out tax payers money for someone to produce such a survey is ludicrous.
Haven't we come along way in recognising bullying for what it really is?
We have all heard the stories about children committing suicide from constant bullying.
This survey has just put back all the good work that has been done in our schools.
It did state that they are referring to name calling and a little bit of push and shove.
Well with today's technology we have seen an increase in bullying via Internet sites and text
messaging; isn't that name calling?
This only reiterates why bullying programs are so important.
I think we are way beyond the name calling and the push and shove debate!
It is a serious social issue that deserves priority.
Friday, May 21, 2010
"Good Old Friday"
Isn't Friday the best day of the week?
I think just about everybody loves Friday's. The day of the week where everyone comes to work or school feeling happy!
Unlike the middle of the week, and of course the dreaded Monday's. Friday's are positively the happiest day of the week. Well I think they are anyway.
On Friday's you are aware that the weekend is near and it is time for relaxation. The weekend's thoughts revolve around whether you plan to rise from slumber early or late; you can decide not to rush off without eating a sumptuous breakfast and you don't have to wear the appropriate apparel. The weekend belongs to tracksuit pants, slippers and the newspaper.
Even though you are aware, somewhere in the back of your mind, that all the work will be there when you arrive on Monday, Friday's are designated for "what are you doing on the weekend?" conversations. It is the topic of choice.
Lets see, what am I doing? Well hopefully as little as possible. I somehow do not think I will get away with not doing any type of work over the weekend.
I would love to finish the novel I am reading, maybe start another from the stacks of books just waiting for my attention. I would like to catch up with my Mum as I am sure that she has forgotten what I look like. Finally I would like to spend Sunday with my husband and boys, maybe take a stroll or grab a bite to eat together.
This is a lot to fit into two days. Who else thinks that rallying for a three day weekend is the go?
Let's turn the dreaded Monday into another day of leisure. I do not like my chances!
All who read this blog should go forth and indulge, put on your comfy clothes, listen to your favourite music or just sleep the weekend away. Aren't Friday's great?
I think just about everybody loves Friday's. The day of the week where everyone comes to work or school feeling happy!
Unlike the middle of the week, and of course the dreaded Monday's. Friday's are positively the happiest day of the week. Well I think they are anyway.
On Friday's you are aware that the weekend is near and it is time for relaxation. The weekend's thoughts revolve around whether you plan to rise from slumber early or late; you can decide not to rush off without eating a sumptuous breakfast and you don't have to wear the appropriate apparel. The weekend belongs to tracksuit pants, slippers and the newspaper.
Even though you are aware, somewhere in the back of your mind, that all the work will be there when you arrive on Monday, Friday's are designated for "what are you doing on the weekend?" conversations. It is the topic of choice.
Lets see, what am I doing? Well hopefully as little as possible. I somehow do not think I will get away with not doing any type of work over the weekend.
I would love to finish the novel I am reading, maybe start another from the stacks of books just waiting for my attention. I would like to catch up with my Mum as I am sure that she has forgotten what I look like. Finally I would like to spend Sunday with my husband and boys, maybe take a stroll or grab a bite to eat together.
This is a lot to fit into two days. Who else thinks that rallying for a three day weekend is the go?
Let's turn the dreaded Monday into another day of leisure. I do not like my chances!
All who read this blog should go forth and indulge, put on your comfy clothes, listen to your favourite music or just sleep the weekend away. Aren't Friday's great?
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
'Inspiration From Fellow Writers'
It is amazing how a simple assignment can inspire, even inform us in ways we didn't expect.
I am encouraged by the information I have obtained from listening to my fellow writers/students.
We have all been busy collaborating in little groups to put forward presentations about writing in some form. There have been so many different subjects but they all have something in common.
The parallels I experienced was the knowledge that there is so many ways to get your writing out into the world. Subjects from Poetry, Travel, Zines, Music, and of course your novels.
I have been inspired to get out there and develop my writing, networking and submission skills.
Clearly there is something said for cooperative team work. It is a rich, textured environment to throw ideas out there and it is the support and advice that is invaluable.
We will have more ideas placed in front of us in the next few weeks and I am looking forward to some more new ideas being presented.
It is the kinship of writers that I enjoy the most. Helping each other to succeed!
It is certainly a moral boost considering being a writer can be a lonely existence at times.
Returning to education after an extended break is empowering for the writer in me. It gives me a chance to brush up on my craft and to make new acquaintances.
Not to mention learn something I don't know!
I will get out there and tweak my writing and send it out into the world.
"There are no mistakes or failures, only lessons" - quote by Dennis Waitley
I am encouraged by the information I have obtained from listening to my fellow writers/students.
We have all been busy collaborating in little groups to put forward presentations about writing in some form. There have been so many different subjects but they all have something in common.
The parallels I experienced was the knowledge that there is so many ways to get your writing out into the world. Subjects from Poetry, Travel, Zines, Music, and of course your novels.
I have been inspired to get out there and develop my writing, networking and submission skills.
Clearly there is something said for cooperative team work. It is a rich, textured environment to throw ideas out there and it is the support and advice that is invaluable.
We will have more ideas placed in front of us in the next few weeks and I am looking forward to some more new ideas being presented.
It is the kinship of writers that I enjoy the most. Helping each other to succeed!
It is certainly a moral boost considering being a writer can be a lonely existence at times.
Returning to education after an extended break is empowering for the writer in me. It gives me a chance to brush up on my craft and to make new acquaintances.
Not to mention learn something I don't know!
I will get out there and tweak my writing and send it out into the world.
"There are no mistakes or failures, only lessons" - quote by Dennis Waitley
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
"An Environmental Gem"
I am a little bit behind the reviews for this book, but Varmints by Helen Ward & Marc Craste is an amazing piece of children's literature. I only picked it up today and after several readings of this wonderful book I am hooked. The medium used by the illustrator are images developed from Adobe Photoshop. I am so taken with the messages in this book.
The idea that is conveyed allows the reader/viewer take a good look at themselves. How we impact the environment and the devastating effect that comes from urban development.
This book is a social commentary about the way in which the human race overtakes the environment for its own gain. I must say that I am guilty of taking forgranted the fact that I can touch, smell and see Mother Nature at her best whenever I want. I know I am guilty of using products that have come from reaping the environment. At least I am willing to admit it!
This picture book is a beautiful example of how to use the medium to inform the masses. Straight to the heart of the future. Children are the future. These messages I hope will reach the next generation; our children and our children's children. We need more picture books that get straight to the issues. Confronting as they have been suggested; these are the issues that will challenge humanity in the future.
Maybe we can start the conversation about the impact of urban development. What is the plan for the future? Do we have one? We are already seeing the consequences of overpopulation; no water; no home grown food; the cutting down of trees; the fishing out of our oceans. Dare I say more? What happens next?
Picture books like Varmints teach our children how to be one with nature; how to be conscious of the impact they have on the environment and learn from our mistakes!
Not being scared to give our children a confronting picture book is only the first stage to empowering them with knowledge; sustainability is inevitable!
Read it, I know you will love it!
"There was once only the sound of the bees and the wind in the wiry grass" - Varmints by Helen Ward & Marc Craste- 2007, Koala Books.
The idea that is conveyed allows the reader/viewer take a good look at themselves. How we impact the environment and the devastating effect that comes from urban development.
This book is a social commentary about the way in which the human race overtakes the environment for its own gain. I must say that I am guilty of taking forgranted the fact that I can touch, smell and see Mother Nature at her best whenever I want. I know I am guilty of using products that have come from reaping the environment. At least I am willing to admit it!
This picture book is a beautiful example of how to use the medium to inform the masses. Straight to the heart of the future. Children are the future. These messages I hope will reach the next generation; our children and our children's children. We need more picture books that get straight to the issues. Confronting as they have been suggested; these are the issues that will challenge humanity in the future.
Maybe we can start the conversation about the impact of urban development. What is the plan for the future? Do we have one? We are already seeing the consequences of overpopulation; no water; no home grown food; the cutting down of trees; the fishing out of our oceans. Dare I say more? What happens next?
Picture books like Varmints teach our children how to be one with nature; how to be conscious of the impact they have on the environment and learn from our mistakes!
Not being scared to give our children a confronting picture book is only the first stage to empowering them with knowledge; sustainability is inevitable!
Read it, I know you will love it!
"There was once only the sound of the bees and the wind in the wiry grass" - Varmints by Helen Ward & Marc Craste- 2007, Koala Books.
Monday, May 17, 2010
"A Man's Home Is His Castle"
While watching a current affairs program last night, I was enraged!
I sat quietly and observed time and time again the avoidance of a politician to answer some simple questions.
The issue raised by the program was the governments ability to acquisition your land for whatever and whenever they like.
What is the point of dreaming the ideal, wanting the whole white picket fence, if they can come along and take it?
Why should we go through life, working our guts out to afford this dream, to only have it ripped out from under your nose.
The land that we thought was ours is simply not ours at all. We pay out our hardworking money to the banks in the hope that we are purchasing something we can call our own!
According to this story presented the government can come in and demand your land whenever they want it. What happened to "A Man's Home Is His Castle"?
Obviously this has been a false ideal; a lie, a tool used to lure us into buying safety, buying security. What security, if it not really ours?
Apparently a loop whole in the law allows companies to come in and place whatever they like on your land. In the end that patch of land belongs to them. No argument!
Interestingly enough the government have negotiated a deal with another country to supply them with a particular resource. This resource is abundant in certain areas. Amazingly this resource has supplies for the next 200 years!
What happens after that? What happens to the land once it has been reaped of all its resources?
What's to say these companies won't want to take more land from these same land owners.
According to the laws they are entitled to do so.
Just because you are entitled does not mean you have to!
The Minister who oversees these practices does not even know what the ramifications are for the environment! Does that not ring alarm bells?
I am horrified at the thought that home owners could be forced without compensation to give up that dream. Everything they have worked for and more could be potentially stripped from them.
I am sure that if it was known that your property had an abundant natural resource, they would acquisition it for the "good of the country".
Here is an example of the government taking what they want when they want without any thought to the consequences. I think there needs to be more tweaking of the laws that condone stealing of ones "Castle".
I thought we were advertising the Australian dream! Sorry my mistake!
I sat quietly and observed time and time again the avoidance of a politician to answer some simple questions.
The issue raised by the program was the governments ability to acquisition your land for whatever and whenever they like.
What is the point of dreaming the ideal, wanting the whole white picket fence, if they can come along and take it?
Why should we go through life, working our guts out to afford this dream, to only have it ripped out from under your nose.
The land that we thought was ours is simply not ours at all. We pay out our hardworking money to the banks in the hope that we are purchasing something we can call our own!
According to this story presented the government can come in and demand your land whenever they want it. What happened to "A Man's Home Is His Castle"?
Obviously this has been a false ideal; a lie, a tool used to lure us into buying safety, buying security. What security, if it not really ours?
Apparently a loop whole in the law allows companies to come in and place whatever they like on your land. In the end that patch of land belongs to them. No argument!
Interestingly enough the government have negotiated a deal with another country to supply them with a particular resource. This resource is abundant in certain areas. Amazingly this resource has supplies for the next 200 years!
What happens after that? What happens to the land once it has been reaped of all its resources?
What's to say these companies won't want to take more land from these same land owners.
According to the laws they are entitled to do so.
Just because you are entitled does not mean you have to!
The Minister who oversees these practices does not even know what the ramifications are for the environment! Does that not ring alarm bells?
I am horrified at the thought that home owners could be forced without compensation to give up that dream. Everything they have worked for and more could be potentially stripped from them.
I am sure that if it was known that your property had an abundant natural resource, they would acquisition it for the "good of the country".
Here is an example of the government taking what they want when they want without any thought to the consequences. I think there needs to be more tweaking of the laws that condone stealing of ones "Castle".
I thought we were advertising the Australian dream! Sorry my mistake!
Saturday, May 15, 2010
"See No Evil, Hear No Evil"
Everyday the newspapers are full of stories relating to child abuse in some form or another: isn't the theory stated that if we see and hear it enough the issues become part of the very lives we lead! We have become desensitized to the very issue we despise.
Do not get me wrong I think we need to make these sorts of issues public, but can't we rally our politians and our law makers to stop making excuses for not implementing laws of punishment; ones which are parallel to the views of the people.
What is wrong with us that these criminals get less sentences for these horrific acts performed on children! Children! These are not consenting adults; these are children!
The sentences imposed on child abusers are sometimes less than someone who breaks into someones premises. What is wrong with this ideal? Just because it is reported on so much now doesn't give us the right to pretend it is not happening. What we don't see won't hurt us! Pretending it doesn't happen, does not keep our children safe or make the victims feel like they have obtained justice.
Well I think it is about time we made a stand for children around the world who have experienced mental, physical or sexual abuse; or maybe all of these.
The laws need to represent the crime committed; what price do we place on our children's mental and physical wellbeing: not top mention the right to their own sexuality.
Sexualisation of everything in society has deemed children fair game for these criminals. Technology has become a tool of sorts; one that can be used to lure our children into a world of depravity.
We have placed our children in harms way without any even realising it. Or is it that we don''t want to think it would happen to us!
If these criminals want to do this then give them a punishment that fits. Make the penalties harsher; justice should prevail.
Every human being has a right to their own safety, especially children!
Maybe our society needs to take a good look at itself!
Do not get me wrong I think we need to make these sorts of issues public, but can't we rally our politians and our law makers to stop making excuses for not implementing laws of punishment; ones which are parallel to the views of the people.
What is wrong with us that these criminals get less sentences for these horrific acts performed on children! Children! These are not consenting adults; these are children!
The sentences imposed on child abusers are sometimes less than someone who breaks into someones premises. What is wrong with this ideal? Just because it is reported on so much now doesn't give us the right to pretend it is not happening. What we don't see won't hurt us! Pretending it doesn't happen, does not keep our children safe or make the victims feel like they have obtained justice.
Well I think it is about time we made a stand for children around the world who have experienced mental, physical or sexual abuse; or maybe all of these.
The laws need to represent the crime committed; what price do we place on our children's mental and physical wellbeing: not top mention the right to their own sexuality.
Sexualisation of everything in society has deemed children fair game for these criminals. Technology has become a tool of sorts; one that can be used to lure our children into a world of depravity.
We have placed our children in harms way without any even realising it. Or is it that we don''t want to think it would happen to us!
If these criminals want to do this then give them a punishment that fits. Make the penalties harsher; justice should prevail.
Every human being has a right to their own safety, especially children!
Maybe our society needs to take a good look at itself!
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