 Goose Shapes #3 - by Betsy Seeton I've posted new information about blood diamonds. According to Commodity on Line, " ..diamonds from Zimbabwe, Africa continue to fund murders, forced labor, rape, and political oppression." The monitoring organization called the Kimberly Process (KP), intended to prevent blood diamonds continues to certify diamonds from Zimbabwe. So when KP fails to do its job, then diamonds marked with "conflict free" certification hit the market even though they originated from diamond mining where unspeakable human suffering has resulted. My advice? Don't rest easy when you buy your next diamond. Better yet... buy some other stone that doesn't have such a bloody, greedy and corrupt association. Personally, I don't buy or wear diamonds. I'd rather wear something without such a tainted history. The whole marketing of diamonds turns me away... but that's a story for another day. I read at prlog.org today that approximately 50% of the $57.8 billion American jewelry market comes from diamonds. What percentage are 'blood diamonds' has not been determined, but what is known is that the diamond business is still bloody and still corrupt. People are still losing their lives because of greed in the diamond industry. I've been regularly posting information under Featured Blogs. Lately, I posted a petition to demand justice in San Salvador for women sexually assaulted by police officers. Petitions are powerful tools for the activist. I've witnessed many good changes this last year as a result of people speaking out. There's also an interesting posting on the Ethical Clothing Pledge. It's amazing what some people are doing to make a difference! I've updated information about Uzbekistan regarding child slavery in their cotton fields. Anyone truly interested in buying slave free clothing should be aware of what atrocities continue to go on in that country. I've also updated Saving America's Mustangs. It's a must read for any horse lover. It has a youtube interview about the debate between activists and the BLM. THE PLASTIC DEATH TRAP 03/10/2010
This was a HUGE wake up call for me this morning when I read a statement by the Surfrider Foundation: "...more than a million seabirds and 100,000 marine mammals die every year from ingestion of or entanglement in plastics." It inspired me to take the pledge to make changes in my own life. I've long known about the problems with plastic and I've tried to reduce my use, but I wasn't very vigilant. I will be now. I was remiss to not be more proactive before now. Read More.. RISEABOVEPLASTICS.ORG has such good information about this important issue and so does the Surfrider Foundation. I know I can't solve any of the world's problems, but I can take steps in my own life to be part of making the planet better. FAIR TRADE EXPLAINED BY GLOBAL EXCHANGE 03/09/2010
I posted this under BLOG FOR CHANGE today, but I want to make sure it gets maximum exposure so I'm reposting on today's blog. People often ask me about fair trade and wonder exactly what it is. Click on the label or the links below to get your questions answered.  On Being Different 03/08/2010
My mother is a great example of one who embraces and appreciates the differences in the human race. It's a message and concept that parents should be passing along to their children every day. So much strife in the world can be attributed to denying the right to be different.  quote by Betsy Seeton I read an article this morning about Shiloh, the 3-year old daughter of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. The toddler purportedly had been at the hairdresser's and upon her exit she was photographed by the paparazzi and later judged by various tabloids as looking like a tom boy and even criticized for wearing 'boy clothes'. The Hollywood and stardom obsession is a whole other issue, but for my purposes here, I use this as an illustration of how there's a side to our culture that is so narrowly obsessed with conformity. How absurd, arrogant and self righteous to be judging the way a toddler looks! I won't go on and on because this is one of those stories that could branch off into so many ways our culture is dangerously self-absorbed, myopic, judgmental .... and the list goes on. As for my goose picture above, there’s only one goose like this one at the pond I regularly visit. I’m told it’s a mixed breed of some sort. A fellow bird photographer told me he’s been around for several years. The white around his face is from white feathers and not from dipping his head into something! I find him quite adorable. PLEASE CHECK OUT BLOG FOR CHANGE TODAY AND SIGN THE PETITION TO PAY GARMENT WORKERS A LIVING WAGE! Enduring Beauty 03/07/2010
I read that the Mallard is the most recognizable duck of all ducks. What I find interesting is how I never tire of seeing them. Their beauty is ever present. I photographed this one a few days ago.  by Betsy Seeton  Female Mallard - by Betsy Seeton Day of Reflection 03/06/2010
I think we are drawn to reflection not only in images but in our hearts. The older I get, the more I appreciate and value time spent meditating and reflecting. I find it’s a healing thing to let our thoughts “float” and flow like water. Below are photos I took today ...  X Marks The Spot - by Betsy Seeton  Muskrat - by Betsy Seeton  Hooded Merganser - by Betsy Seeton   Camouflage - by Betsy Seeton  Hooded Mergansers - by Betsy Seeton Below is a Belted Kingfisher. It's another first sighting for me! My thanks goes out to Phillip, another photographer in the area today, for identifying it for me. "Firsts" make life exhilarating. I think it's one of the best parts of life.  Hooded Merganser 03/05/2010
Sometimes I am left feeling a bit cynical about the human race. I spend many early mornings reading through my activist newsletters./newspapers and signing various petitions to bring the change I think is needed. But it gets heavy sometimes. I see a very dark side of humanity by not turning a blind eye. It's hard at times to digest all the chaos, killing, abuse, corruption and injustice going on around the planet. I simply don't understand all the hate in the world. I especially don't understand all the hate between religions and races. Why is it so hard to live and let live? Why do so many seem incapable of allowing others to live their lives according to beliefs that are different than their own? Why do so many use their religion to sanction intolerance? Why are women and children ( more than half the world's population) still so poorly regarded and terribly treated around the world? My questions are seemingly unending while my answers are few. So I turn to nature and wildlife and bathe in its beauty and soulful energy. It heals and soothes ...  Male (L) Female (R) Late this afternoon I got out with my camera on one of my nature walks. What a privilege to experience my first sighting of Hooded Mergansers! I had to Google 'ducks' to find out what I was looking at! This deliciously warm weather has brought out so many birds that I've not seen before, but spring may be going on break since snow is predicted sometime in the next couple of days. I know weather-talk is boring, but it has such an affect on our moods. It does mine anyway. Interestingly, I've noticed how it also affects wildlife. The birds have seemed happier this week. I brought a little food to both of my injured geese today. It's the first time I've ever fed them. Both ate right out of my hand. One was more gentle than the other. It's always so interesting to experience the different personalities of wildlife. One of the geese (not the injured ones) was being mean and I had to wave him away following a scolding. I detest bullying of any kind -- human or animal. (BTW -- I always refer to the wild animals and birds that I interact with on a regular basis as "my" or "mine".) I found the goose with the broken wing (from yesterday's blog) very nearly in the same spot I left him in yesterday. He seemed grateful for the bread though I thought he was going to choke on the dryness. He had difficulty getting it down his throat. He looked like someone having a terrible time swallowing and even had a panic in his eyes until he hopped in the pond and gulped down, and I mean gulped down, some water. I quickly learned to dunk the bread in water first and then give it to him! I'd like to to figure out what would be a better food source for him. I didn't feed the other geese since the rules forbid it, but it was hard not to. About a half dozen approached me even though I thought I was doing a good job of being discreet. Feeding an injured bird seems compassionate, but I know that feeding the others could disturb the eco-system. I sure wanted to but I had to put their best interest first... My Greeting Card Series 03/04/2010
Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures. ~Henry Ward Beecher  Chippy on the left with her baby This is one of my favorite greeting cards. I took this picture last summer. While I love photographing just about everything, I am presently and intently focused on creating a line of greeting cards with images of animals and birds where the personality is captured and matched with words. Images of geese can be seen in “yoga” positions. Ground squirrels talk. All are meant to inspire. I also try capturing nature shots in combination with inspiring quotes. Here's a happy birthday dedication to my own mother in case you haven't read it. She is one of the most remarkable people I've ever known. I just felt like honoring mothers today.... I also posted a new BLOG FOR CHANGE, a new page called Straight From The Horse's Heart (partly about saving wild horses) and entered a FEATURED BLOG website to check out. Daily quote: "The Magic is not to Whisper to a Horse, but to Listen..." by Author R.T. Fitch  Second injured bird resting... Life is presenting some large challenges these days. I was glad to feel the warmth of another gorgeous spring-like day. Birds were singing at sunrise. The ducks were enjoying new ponds created from the ice melt. I visited my injured goose twice; once in the morning and once in the late afternoon. I sadly discovered another injured goose and this time it looks bad. The right wing appears broken and the poor dear was too exhausted to be bothered with me being inches away. When he did get up it was with great effort and his waddle-walk was made with a painful limp. I have been unsuccessful so far at finding a bird rescue place to see if anything can be done. If it would be in the bird's best interest, I'd like to see if someone would want to "adopt" him. I'm guessing the goose would need to have ready access to a pond and an easy food source. But I don't want him removed if he's in a social structure and/or would feel isolated. I don't know what to do... Do I just let the cycle of life take its course?  Communing With Nature 03/03/2010
 photo by Betsy Seeton [I had this whole blog page written with photos uploaded and then hit the wrong button and lost everything in an instant. I had to start completely over.... sigh...] I woke to a spring-like day this morning and made time to visit my favorite pond in the city where my injured goose calls home. If she's out on the ice she'll come ashore to greet me. I visit her often. Today she sat down near me and enjoyed the warmth. Usually her mate is nearby but the last couple of times he hasn't been around. I'm a little concerned....  INSIDE THE GREETING CARD WOULD READ: "Life's been a little rough on me ..." The most meditative thing I do for myself is to commune with nature. Being around birds and animals restores a certain amount of balance that tends to get lost during trying times.  My injured goose getting some shut-eye  While I try figuring out what direction to take this website, I still find stories to post. Check out the youtube video on my new page called MILK. It came from Shirley's Wellness Cafe. What an interesting website! Let me know what you think. I've been only buying organic milk since I became aware of the bovine growth hormone and how certain dairy operations compromise the health of milk and cows. Entire websites are devoted to this issue. If you're new to BGH, I strongly suggest reading up on this ....  by Betsy Seeton I've never photographed prairie dogs until yesterday. It was my first experience around these adorable little creatures. They resemble miniature polar bears. This little guy let me get within about three feet of him. I learned quickly how they move when they are feeling threatened. Several of them would "bark" until I moved on. It was like being in the middle of a nature show. I can't wait to go back!  by Betsy Seeton  I've seen this brown goose several times. He's the only brown one I've seen among 100's of geese this winter...  I see this duck often ... his beak has such distinct markings    The birds are really starting to come out with the recent warm weather. I love the idea of spring in the air.... Before I close, I want to thank Stephanie Michele for leaving such a nice comment today on yesterday's blog called Information Overload. She has an amazing and soulful website called www.socialbling.org . INFORMATION OVERLOAD? 03/01/2010
 by Betsy Seeton I haven't posted in several weeks because I've been thinking about what direction I'd like this website to continue heading. It's a labor of love, but I've been questioning how much value I'm providing. There are so many, many sources on the Internet that cover similar information. I need to believe this site is making a positive difference and contributing something good, yet I'm uncertain that it is. I've said this before, but it bears repeating. The most popular search that lands someone on this site is googling "zebras for sale" which takes the viewer to my article about how easy it is to buy exotic animals through the internet. I do not support owning exotic animals unless it's clearly a rescue operation. Why are people from around the world, the majority of whom are from the U.S., searching zebras for sale each and every day? Are people seriously looking to buy zebras that often? Or are there that many zebras for sale? Or is it some other reason entirely? It boggles my mind. As I've been reassessing things, I came across an article about a group on Facebook that had 20,000 fans supporting the idea (joke or not) of how to save money by killing your prostitute before you have to pay for her. The humor is lost on me. But 20,000 fans? Come on! Really? It seems that people have little time or interest in reading about the kind of information I provide. On the other hand, there's also information overload. There is so much information out there and so many websites, articles, and organizations bringing people information, that it's simply overwhelming. I don't want to be just repeating what is already out there. So I've been giving these issues A LOT of thought. I'm trying to figure out if I should redirect my energy in order to produce a better outcome.... To be continued.... | Author by Betsy Seeton ArchivesMarch 2010 Please Share:
 Me at the Tiger Temple in Thailand |
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