Diary of a bereaved Mother:

I was part of a documentary for the Baby Loss Awareness Week: Oct 9th to 15th. This was showed on National TV on Sunday.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sands-Auckland-Central/112396652171998

Some bereaved mothers and dads went to a park by the beach and released balloons.

Fellow Blogger Scriptor Senex commented on my Photos Site.

Thanks Scriptor Senex, I always feel empathy from fellow bereaved parents and those grandparents and those close friends.

You did a great job, how long ago did your son die? We never fully get over our loss, don't we. Though this year, I am philosophical about not having Andrew. I tell myself, he made me a writer because he died. Otherwise, I will just be a amateur writer.

Many husbands including mine belong to stiff upper lip group, the category that we should accept and move on. I wrote in my book how I wished he continued to attend the Sands meetings.

I go to the Sands meetings, and more women attend the meetings than men. Those men who attend, they are very good.The meetings are not just for their wives but for themselves too.

'Worst ever environmental disaster' in New Zealand

Pictureque coast shore in Tauranga likened to this one at Pt Chevalier in Auckland is facing an environmental disaster.






Photo from Green peace.




http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com




http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com/


http://reducefootprints.blogspot.com/


Today, I received an email from Green peace.
Hi Ann,

You've no doubt been watching in horror as the container ship Rena has continued to leak oil off the beautiful and fragile Bay of Plenty coastline.

Oiled seabirds have already been found dead close to the Rena, and there are grave fears for many of the area's marine species and sensitive ecology.

As I write this, reports have come in that the oil has already reached the shore.

Only a fraction of the oil on board the Rena has been released into the sea so far, and it's already caused a toxic 5 km slick. Bad weather is now approaching so the situation could get much worse.

The response so far has been slow and indecisive consisting mainly of spraying chemicals on the oil from a helicopter. The chemical "dispersant" being used, Corexit 9500, was used in the Gulf of Mexico last year and is known to be toxic to wildlife and humans. The fact is dispersants like Corexit don't clean up an oil spill, nothing can. They only put it out of sight and often add to the harm by increasing the overall toxic load that marine life is exposed to.

Despite the best efforts of those on the front line, New Zealand is simply not prepared for a disaster like this.

It should be seen as a bright red warning as John key's Government opens up new frontiers of oil drilling in New Zealand waters. Drilling at depths similar to the Deepwater Horizon in the Gulf of Mexico could begin as soon as next summer.

But if we can't control the spill from the Rena, then we have no chance at all of containing a deep water oil drilling disaster.

It's time to draw a line in the sand and say no to deep sea oil drilling.

80,000 people have already signed our 'No Deep Sea Oil Petition - Help push that up to 100.000 before the election. Share it on Facebook, email your friends and family, download a copy for work or school.

Nick Young and the whole crew at Greenpeace

PS. Greenpeace has offered our boats, boat drivers and volunteers to the Maritime Safety Authority, which is co-ordinating the response to the spill. For anyone in the area wanting to help, Maritime New Zealand is advising people not to try and work independently, but to call 0800 645 774, or 0800 333 771 to report oiled wildlife. The oil is highly toxic so should be avoided.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10758195

A massive oil spill from the stricken cargo ship off the coast of Tauranga has become New Zealand's worst ever maritime environmental disaster, the Government says.

Environment Minister Nick Smith this afternoon said oil had been pouring out of the Rena at "fivefold" the rate it had in the days after the ship grounded on Astrolabe Reef.

He said significant amounts of oil would start washing up on beaches around Mt Maunganui from tomorrow and into the coming weeks.

Environmental response coordinator Nick Quinn said oil spills arriving from tomorrow would be much more significant than the clumps that washed ashore earlier this week.

He warned residents to prepare for weeks of cleanup work on beaches in the area around Tauranga.

The "tragic" spill was inevitable since the Rena grounded carrying 1700 tonnes of oil at 2:20am last Wednesday, said Mr Smith.

He promised the Government would hold those who were responsible for the grounding to account.

Transport Minister Stephen Joyce said the cost of the Rena cleanup had already risen to millions of dollars.

Much of that cost would be borne by the vessel owners under maritime law, but there would be a cost to the New Zealand Government, he said.

He added that it was a high risk situation.

Save the world, save our women.

This month, I wear my pin to make a difference to support awareness for breast cancer.


I used to wear these two bands and were asked a lot of questions of I had breast cancer. By wearing two, it attracts more attention than just one.

http://reducefootprints.blogspot.com/

http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/TIP03844/Signs-of-Breast-Cancer.html
Do you know the signs and symptoms that might indicate breast cancer? While personal and family histories of breast cancer and lifestyle habits (including diet, exercise and how you handle stress) can all affect breast-cancer risk, learning to recognize the signs of breast cancer may save your life - early diagnosis is key to treatment and recovery. Performing a monthly self-examination is still recommended by many health professionals, as is having a yearly exam performed by your doctor. In addition, the National Cancer Institute suggests keeping an eye out for the following signs:
A lump or thickening in or near the breast or in the underarm area
A change in the size or shape of the breast
Nipple discharge or tenderness
An inverted nipple
Ridges or pitting on the breast (resembling an orange peel)
A change in the look or feel of the breast, areola or nipple (such as temperature, swelling, redness or a scaly feel)

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, see your doctor for a diagnosis and possible treatment. If you are over 40, talk to your doctor about mammograms.

During this year's Waitangi day, I met some lovely ladies who were out in their tent promoting this cause. It was a very hot day, Miriam, Andrea and Elisabeth were there the whole day like me doing their educating.


Gillette Venus is partnering with the National New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation and is launching the popular Embrace razor in pink to help women get closer to the cause.

There is an easy way you can help raise money for the National Breast Cancer Foundation:
Get new Embrace® in pink or any specially marked Venus razor and we will donate 50c from every razor sold to the National New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation.
Discover Venus Embrace

Last August I did this post http://annkschin.blogspot.com/2010/08/save-worldsave-our-women.html

I am very passionate about this topic. Thirty one years ago, I found a little pea sized lump in my left breast. I did not panic because I didn't realise the implications. The doctor just said," I will send you to the hospital to check it out." At the hospital, the junior doctor just said," We will do a little biopsy."

At the ward before I had the procedure, elderly women came and hugged me and cried, saying," we are sorry for you." I was still very innocent telling them I was in for a biopsy." Fortunately, I was in only for a biopsy.

Six years later, I had another cyst. This time, the doctor and the counsellor talked a lot of consequences if it was malignant and if I wanted to remove the breast if it was. That was really scary. Thank God when I woke up, I still have my breast.

I have a two inch scar to show for the battle I underwent. It is better to have the scar than to have the disease. I know a young woman E who is bereaved twice with the same terrible Campomelic Displasia that robbed me my late son Andrew. Now she has recovered from breast cancer.

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/campomelicfamilies/

CaringBridge provides free websites that connect people experiencing a significant health challenge to family and friends, making each health journey easier. It takes just a few moments to create a personal and private CaringBridge website.

I want to add that breast cancer affects men as well.

Sunday Stills: Vanishing points

Sunday Stills-Vanishing Points-October 9th, 2011
Posted in Sunday Stills, Sunday Stills Challenge of the Week, the next challenge on October 2, 2011 by Linda

I’ve been thinking of this challenge for a while…..too bad I waited until Saturday to get some pictures for an example. We’ve had horrendous hot winds most of the week and then yesterday it clouded over (although the wind is still howling) and it’s almost too dull for any sort of pictures.
Vanishing points are just another way of taking pictures with perspective in mind. It’s all a part of composition…..they can create balance or lead your eye to something in the distance. You can maximize the effect if you use a wider angle to get your point across and using the Landscape Mode on a point and shoot will give a sharper focus. A road with lots of autumn color or a creek or river that leads off into the distance would be great subjects for this challenge…… I had neither close by Really watch what angle you take the pictures from….it makes a world of difference as you can see by my bad examples.
A barb wire fence across the road from our buildings, my focus should be on the WHOLE fence not just the first few posts;

http://sundaystills.wordpress.com/

Hi Ed,

Not too sure about this. Ann

FSO: Things you are thankful for

Thanks giving Day is not a national celebration here in New Zealand. In church, we have a service where we bring our produce and giving thanks. There are lots of things I am thankful for.


Parents and school teach their children to help the less fortunate victims of the Christchurch earthquake and organic planting.


<
Farmers bring their animals to city kids,

foreign students get to stay in a marea and learn about zero waste.


I am thankful for living on an isthmus where we are very near the sea, children get to have water wise lessons.




http://mytownshootout.blogspot.com/

http://mytownmrlinky.blogspot.com/

Save the world: Scrap the debit card transaction charges.

http://reducefootprints.blogspot.com/

For 2 weeks, I was teaching about banking. My adult ESOL students couldn't understand why anyone would use a debit card, when they could use a ATM card. It was timely when on Tuesday, Bank of America announced the $5 charge. I see it as the big bank verses the little people. If you have the money, you can have a credit card, and you can spend and pay later. But with you can't qualify for a credit card, you have to pay $5 to spend your own money.

My students came up with different scenarios of needing a debit card if you pay online purchases and you don't have a credit card.

I quote a chapter I copied from a lesson, " What good is a bank when you are spending your own money and get charged for it."

I subscribe to Change Org, and I got this email.

Dear ann,

Whoa. ABC News heard that 135,000 Change.org members signed Molly Katchpole's petition against Bank of America's new $5 monthly fee to use a debit card. So the network tracked down CEO Brian Moynihan and forced him to respond to the petition. (Thanks, ABC News!)

The CEO was flustered and couldn't give a coherent explanation -- an embarrassing moment on national TV for the big bank (and the second night in a row that Molly's petition was a featured story on the newscast).

Bank of America is feeling the pressure from Change.org members. As more people speak out, Bank of America will be forced to cancel its new fee -- and other banks will be too scared to create their own new fees.

Add your name to Molly's petition demanding Bank of America cancel its new $5 debit card fee.

While you're signing, check out the amazing video from ABC News. It's inspiring to see one person's petition can make a bank CEO squirm on TV! Watch it here:

http://www.change.org/petitions/tell-bank-of-america-no-5-debit-card-fees

Thanks for being a change-maker,

- Michael and the Change.org team

Our world Tuesday/outdoor Wed: Windmill

http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com




http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com/
This windmill in Christchurch doesn't generate any power. It is a landmark in Riccarton. My friend Jenny and her family took me to the area to have lunch and dinner.

Sorry for blurry photo. I was in a moving car,