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There is a raging debate about plastic that has my head spinning. Bisphenol-A found in polycarbonates and resins worldwide is scientifically proven to leach from plastics into our food. What is not known or can be agreed upon are the levels of Bisphenol-A that are safe in the human body.

Researching all of the possibilities was really crazy because the plastic and chemical industries are in damage control mode and are releasing general statements, which are in conflict with the statements made by mass media. I used primary sources to understand the crux of the debate and really understand what is at stake.

The following video from Israeli television outlines the issue.

Earth Birth is a project run by midwives and doulas to help mothers in war and trauma affected areas give birth safely and peacefully.

Our pilot program is based in Gulu, Uganda. We are setting up small on site birthing centers in refugee camps where women can come for comprehensive services, counseling, education and care. We are linking with community organizations and hospitals in these areas to help “child mothers” (women who were impregnated as victims of political abduction and rape) gain access to jobs, school and childcare so that they can mother with every possible opportunity.

Our goals include community sustainability, lowered maternal and infant mortality rates, lowered HIV/AIDS transmission rates from mother to child, access to supplies and local herbs, access to trauma therapy and counseling, the experience of a ‘positive’ birth to facilitate empowerment and mother/child bonding and the ability to articulate one’s story.

The ability to articulate one’s story is an integral theme of the Earth Birth project. Women have always told stories as a form of information transmission and ownership of events. To have safe spaces for the sharing of taboo and traumatic events allows for understanding and processing of events in context, ownership of experience and networking among women- all of which are integral to a healthy women’s movement and improved practice of motherhood. Our spaces function as a community centers for story circles, workshops in active listening and sharing.

Traditional birth attendants live throughout the refugee camps, most of them victims of war and mothers themselves. These women are the cornerstone of the birthing center sites. Our international group of midwives work with the TBAs to develop practices that are community centered, culturally competent and sustainable. The TBA’s are offered professional development, training, counseling and jobs.

We are partnering with Sister Rosemary Nyirumbe, school director, midwife and winner of the CNN Hero’s award to create a project that is truly of and for women’s health in this area. Safe and peaceful birth experiences are necessary for a generation that is to live without war.

Earth Birth has begun fund raising and are using an incredible fund raising site called givemeaning.org. On this site anyone can develop a project and allow potential funders to see and donate. We have set up a site and now we need ‘votes’ from the community in order to make it an active project. You do not need to give money, you just have to read the description and vote for us!  VOTE HERE!

All content is from Rachel Zaslow - Midwife

Dear friends,

The Belfast Branch have received the following urgent Press Release from the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights based in Gaza, which is under a murderous siege from Israeli forces at this very moment.

We need to raise awareness - please forward this on.

Press Statement

“Tightened Siege on Gaza Reaches Unprecedented Levels and Endangers the Life of 1.5 Million Civilians”

Israel has imposed a severe siege on the Gaza Strip since Hamas’ winning of the parliamentary elections in January, 2006. Furthermore, Israel has tightened this siege following Hamas military domination over the Gaza Strip in June, 2007 when Israel declared that the Gaza Strip is an enemy entity.

Two weeks ago, Israel has tightened the siege and embargo imposed on the Gaza Strip reaching unprecedented levels. This action included various sanctions such as: cut-off fuel and electricity provisions to Gaza as well as all other energy resources. Israel has also imposed strict closure on all Gaza Strip border crossings, preventing movement of civilians including patients’ for medical services. Such procedures led to entire shut-down of the sole energy producing station in the Gaza Strip, two days ago. As a consequence, Gaza is drowning in darkness whereas electricity from all homes, industrial, and health facilities in the Gaza Strip was cut-off entirely.

The electricity cut-off, therefore, has paralyzed all aspects of life in the Gaza Strip as water supply couldn’t reach the homes of Palestinians; elevators in the high-rise towers have not functioned properly; and household electrical instruments have been shut down completely. Nonetheless, what is more critical is the water and sewage systems are about to shut down in addition to electricity generators in major hospitals and sanitation vehicles. All such matters warn of a humanitarian, health and environmental crisis.

Due to the denial of deliveries of vital supplies of food, fuel and humanitarian aids to the Gaza Strip, there has been a crisis in obtaining necessary food supplies for the people in Gaza. This situation added to the already existing crisis due to the fact that 85% of the Palestinian population in the Gaza Strip depends mainly on the humanitarian aids for securing their basic needs of survival. Furthermore, the stoppage of electricity and fuel as well as flour cut-off have caused even more paralysis in the bakeries in the Gaza Strip, thus preventing the Palestinians from receiving their necessary needs of bread.

All forms and consequences of the siege imposed by Israel aggravate the Palestinians’ sufferings in Gaza Strip, coinciding with the economic crisis and high rate of poverty and unemployment. The new procedures of siege have led to significant rise of burdens on the Palestinian civilians and families, as well as an emergence of a new wave of feelings of panic, anger, suppression and helplessness. As a result, the psychological sufferings of people are intensifying in the presence of the economic hardships.

Gaza Community Mental Health Programme (GCMHP) is gravely concerned over the continuation of the tightened siege and isolating Gaza from the outside world. Further, GCMHP warns against the critical humanitarian, health and mental ramifications of this siege on the civilians which threaten their life and significantly deepen their suffering. Such consequences are becoming more apparent as reports warning of the death of patients in intensive care units and
deterioration of the health conditions of chronic disease patients including cancer and kidney failure.

In this critical time, GCMHP calls upon the international community, human rights organizations and all peace activists around the world to hold their moral and legal responsibilities to end the Israeli inhumane siege and its repercussions that reach the levels of war crimes. Additionally, GCMHP demands the international community not to remain silent towards the Israeli crimes and to immediately intervene and pressure Israel to end its siege and collective punishment imposed on the Gaza Strip that threatens the life of 1.5 million innocent civilians.

Gaza Community Mental Health Program

An excellent opportunity to give! The One Laptop Per Child organization will give an XO laptop to a child in Afghanistan, Cambodia, Haiti, Mongolia or Rwanda when you purchase one. http://laptop.org/

Reviews for the XO laptop….

GIVE.GIVE.GIVE.GIVE.GIVE.GIVE.

The NYT says….