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"He who breaks a New Year resolution
is a weakling; he who makes one is a fool."
F.M. Knowles
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All joking aside, I don't think you're a weakling nor a fool. New Year
resolutions can be inspiring. It's helpful to set goals and focus on
the things we want in life. Cheers to all who want to make their life
and the life of others better and happier.
At least you have one thing going for you ...
Look for an article about pigs and pig farming to come in the new year ....
Photo from Flickr Creative Commons
Anonymous photographerDescription: Land Girl with Pig
Date: WWI
TRANSITIONS GLOBAL HELPING YOUNG, RESCUED SEX WORKERSA friend of mine works for Transitions Global. It's truly an amazing organization. I find it hugely inspiring to hear about people who are so moved by some of life's great injustices that they end up devoting their entire life to healing those in need. James Pond and his wife Athena are two such people who would not turn a blind eye to the horrors of sex trafficking. Here's an excerpt from an interview with James Pond. By: Tanya O'RourkeJames Pond says selling girls as young as 8 or 9 years old into sexual slavery is a global issue. He estimates in Cambodia alone there are 50,000 to 60,000 girls being trafficked. Many ask, what exactly is sex trafficking? The National Human Trafficking Resource Center put together a fact sheet of what it means to be involved in sex trafficking. (To read those facts see below.)
Pond says the damage to these girls mentally and physically is hard to imagine.
"When a girl has been in a brothel for a month, and seeing 10-20 customers a day, that's anywhere form three to 600 serial rapes that girl is going to undergo in a month," said Pond.
One young lady who has been through Transitions Global's program, Neth, was in a brothel for close to one year. Neth's mother sold Neth's virginity for $300 and then sold her to a pimp.
"When she was there," said Pond, "she went through some really brutal things ranging from being beaten and electrocuted to seeing anywhere from seven to 10 customers a day."
Neth is now 21 years old and a yoga instructor to the girls living at Transitions Global. But her wounds, so deep, may never heal. When asked if she is still afraid, Neth says yes, when she hears a door bell ring.
"Because when I lived in the brothel, when the people ring the bell, it means the guests come," said Neth. Those 'clients', or johns she says sometimes beat her.
Liya is another success story for Transitions Global. She survived, addicted to drugs, in a brothel in Cambodia for two years before being rescued. "The men would beat me with a stick," said Liya. "A long stick that is still painful to think about."
DATELINE DID A STORY ON TRANSITIONS GLOBAL
Dear Humans,
Please take a few minutes to read about this issue. Be the voice of the voiceless. Think about how humans treat animals ....
The abuse must not continue. People must not turn a blind eye. Take a moment to learn. Take a moment to sign on to the humane chain ... please be part of making a difference.
Yours Truly,
Jasper
"I fully intended to only read this article from SightSavers.org and then sadly delete it and go onto the next news story. But something happened. I put myself in their place. I thought about facing blindness. I thought about how it’s preventable. And then I took their plea for money to heart and chose to give $32 so that 4 people could receive sight saving surgery today." Betsy Seeton
I receive emails from dozens and dozens of non-profit organizations every day. Reading through them with my morning coffee has become a daily ritual. With the new year approaching, the emails have doubled and the pleas for money seem endless. I'm not keeping above water myself these days, but I can't turn a blind eye either and expect help to come from others without reaching into my own pockets at times.
I don't set out as a goal to do this, but I'm always learning about new forms of suffering. This morning I learned about trachoma. The word means “rough eye” in ancient Greek. It's a bacterial infection of the eye. It starts out like conjunctivitis aka “pink eye” and left untreated is the leading cause of the world’s infectious blindness.
photo from sightsavers.org
It spreads through direct contact with the infected eye, nose, or throat secretions or by contact with contaminated objects, such as towels or clothes. Certain flies can also spread the bacteria. It strikes in third world countries, often affecting children as young as two years old. It's painful and devastating. It's also preventable.
For as little as $32, you could cover the cost of antibiotic treatments for about 40 people with trachoma, provide 4 people with sight-saving surgery for trichiasis, protect 400 people from river blindness or provide 23 artificial lenses to be used in cataract operations.
Sightsavers is an international nonprofit working in some of the poorest countries in the world to restore the sight of blind people, provide medical care to prevent blindness, and promote equality of opportunity for disabled people. 
CLICK TO SIGN UP FOR SIGHTSAVERS NEWSLETTER
"Every five minutes a person loses their sight, yet the majority of blindness could be prevented if health care was available to all. With our partners we save sight and prevent people going blind."
Please share this story and consider the ways you can make a difference. Small efforts count just like one step at a time counts. To peace and happiness.
Very Sincerely,
Betsy Seeton
(This is not an advertisement. I make no money from sightsavers.org I truly am telling you about this great organization. I apologize for the other ads sprinkled in. I just started adding ads to see if I can cover any of my expenses. I've done this website for free for three years.)
Being healthy is key in life. Take care of your mind, body and spirit.
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"Humans need nature for the health
and the soul and for peace of mind.
We are part of nature. Within nature
can be found many clues to happiness." Daphne Sheldrick
In an interview by Linda Ruck she asks posed this question to Daphne:
The scientific world believes it is unethical to humanize animals. What
are your thoughts on this ?
"This shows huge ignorance. Elephants, dolphins and whales have almost identical emotions to humans. Others are equally sophisticated but on a different branch of life. For instance, the rhino that stepped out of the dinosaur age whose life is governed by chemistry and scent which we don't fully understand. Antelopes too, who communicate with telepathy and an unspoken language. Some people believe animals are put on earth for our benefit
and enrichment. This is a selfish and ignorant point of view."
Read an interview (below) with Daphne Sheldrick and get to know this incredible wildlife warrior who has dedicated her life to making such a beautiful difference for animals and making the world a better place. We need more people with her heart, vision and devotion. READ MUCH MORE ABOUT DAPHNE AND HER WORK _____________________________________________________
"Within nature can be found many clues to happiness. One simply has to listen look and learn, and by appreciating the miracle of life on earth, and the beauty of all things natural, one will discover a panacea to encounter many human problems -- loneliness, self-pity, boredom and resentment, to name just a few." Daphne Sheldrick_______________________________________________________ By Betsy Seeton ~
For animal lovers who are especially in love with elephants, fostering an orphaned elephant at the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust organization is one of the best gifts money can buy. To my 5-year old granddaughter, I am giving the opportunity to make a difference in the life of an elephant in Africa by adopting Ajok. This lovely and magnificent elephant was orphaned when he was one week old. His mother was probably killed by poachers. Read all about AJOK here. Click the images below to enter their website. "You won't find a better organization
out there making a bigger difference
in the lives of orphaned elephants." Betsy Seeton
It's hard to feel like there are good ways to help end the suffering that so many animals endure. For me, my heart is warmed by knowing a non-profit organization like the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is out there, spending its donated funds wisely and making such a wonderful difference in the lives of elephants, rhinos and other animals through its years and years of hands on experience. I whole heartedly endorse this organization and ask that you put them at the top of your list when you're seeking to donate to a worthy wildlife organization.
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