Going Green–at Home, Abroad, and in the Office!

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It’s always nice to be reminded that we’re not alone in the battle for the planet. Despite my involvement with environmental issues, I sometimes forget how wide-spread the movement really is, and how many wonderful, creative, and hard working allies we have around the world.
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Posted in Action, Empowerment, Harry Potter Alliance News | Tagged , , , ,

Complications in the Congo

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The real problem with real problems is that they are seldom easy to fix. Yeah, and you can quote me on that. It’s almost always easy to see a problem and know that it needs to be fixed, but once you start mucking about and actually trying to do something about it, things suddenly look a whole lot more complicated.
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Posted in Harry Potter Alliance News, Human Rights | Tagged

In Which We Remember We’re Supposed to Learn Things

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In case you hadn’t gotten the sense from my ten point offerings lately, I’m a huge West Wing fan. I quote the show a lot, I love the characters and the arc and the lessons. I reference it in all political arguments, whether I tell you I’m doing it or not. Some people don’t see it as a valid source.

Bah! I say to them. The West Wing is one of my formative experiences growing up. And so I was much dismayed to learn that Aaron Sorkin, the show’s creator and writer, spoke at Syracuse’s commencement ceremony this year. My own commencement speaker in 2011 was rather lackluster. I know, I know – Syracuse is Sorkin’s alma mater, blah blah. Whatever. Doesn’t he hear my appreciation for him calling across the eons?
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Posted in Harry Potter Alliance News, Philosophical Musings | Tagged ,

Come on Colorado!

photo courtesy of THE DENVER POST | RJ Sangost

So remember when I said that I wasn’t getting near politics, cause I’d start throwing things? Well, it’s been an interesting week. This is the third politically oriented blog I’ve written in a row, and I have yet to throw anything (despite being sorely tempted to do so after North Carolina’s ruling).
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Posted in Harry Potter Alliance News, Human Rights, LGBTQ | Tagged , , ,

Please Call Your Mother!

Before I go any further, I want to wish every mother in the world – present, future, and (whether by love or paperwork) adopted, a very happy Mother’s Day. The world would not be what it is without you all. Thank you for everything you have done and everything you will do.

Now, if you will all indulge me for a moment, let me tell you a story of three mothers: one who gave everything for her child, one who–even though she might not have seemed to be there, came through for her family when the chips were down–and one who stuck by her family through absolutely everything. Read more ⇓

Posted in Empowerment, Stories | Tagged , ,

Thank you, Mr. President.

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Okay, I know, this is several days late. What can I say, finals swallowed me whole and blogs kind of weren’t happening. But I’m BACK NOW, and sink me if the President didn’t stand up for gay rights while I was away.

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Posted in Empowerment, Human Rights, LGBTQ | Tagged , , , ,

Look for Alaska All You Want, You Won’t Find It In Sumner County, TN

On the heels of the public reading at University of Oregon protesting an Arizona school board’s ban on multiple books, Sumner County in Tennessee has banned John Green’s Looking for Alaska from schools’ curriculum.  This is the second county in Tennessee to ban Looking for Alaska from its schools, the first being Knox County.

There must be something in the air. Read more ⇓

Posted in Literacy | Tagged , , ,

North Carolina Heads Up the Battle for Equality

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May 8th is just around the corner. Well, technically, it’s tomorrow. And by the time I get this posted, it will probably be today. Now, you are probably thinking to yourself…why is this important?

Good question. I’m glad you asked.
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Posted in Empowerment, Human Rights, LGBTQ | Tagged , , ,

Not Your Ordinary Architects

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There’s a lot of discussion going on about how to reduce waste of all descriptions. Now, I heartily support this cause, but there is still the question of what on earth (quite literally) we’re going to do with all the rubbish that we’ve already collected on this precious planet of ours, and which we’re adding to at a tremendous speed.
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Posted in Action, Empowerment | Tagged , ,

Taking a Stand Against Book Banning

On January 1, 2012, while everyone else in the world was celebrating the new year with toasts and food and friends and family, the Tucson Unified School District in Arizona was ringing it in by banning a bunch of books.

Happy New Year.

But this was beyond what book banning and censorship usually involves.  This wasn’t just saying that a book or books had too much sex in them or too much violence or foul language or witchcraft or any of the other reasons that books usually get challenged and banned.  The books banned by the Tucson Unified School District were “works ranging from William Shakespeare’s The Tempest to Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States.”  And along with that, the schools involved were forced to cut their ethnic studies programs.
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