Chic Speaks!

Love.....

In the night of death, hope sees a star, and listening love can hear the rustle of a wing.  Robert Ingersoll

Dedicated to J.A.V. Forever

 

Champion on the Court and Hero off

I'm not a basketball fan but I've always been a Shaq fan. His talent on the court, his humour, honesty, and passion for children's rights and helping communities has made me admire him a great deal. Now he has officially become my favorite male athlete. Shaq paid for the funeral of the beautiful little 5-year-old Shaniya Davis this past sunday.
 He like so many of us was horrified, disturbed and saddened beyond words (I cried so hard I woke up with a headache that lasted for three days) by what happen to that precious little girl and he put his money where his heart is. I was beyond grateful that he stepped up to honour her brief life. He is not only a champion but a man of true character.

 

We Can't Give up! Inspiring Quotes when the going gets tough....

 

To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe. Anatole France

Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart. Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens. Carl Jung

The inability to open up to hope is what blocks trust, and blocked trust is the reason for blighted dreams. Elizabeth Gilbert

 

 

 

Man to Man Changes the Discussion

Beyond Borders begins its Man to Man launch against Child Sex Trafficking and Exploitation today and they are changing the discussion in a major way.

For too long now the discussion has focused on the victims alone, ironically this has allowed the demand side (the johns themselves) to slip into the background thus allowing the problem to skyrocket. Now with famous men such as Jason Priestley (above) and Jacques Villeneuve amongst others, men are coming out to speak to other men and say once and for all that the sexual abuse, exploitation, and trafficking of children and women is wrong (besides illegal and depraved).

As the Beyond Borders press release states: Man to Man is the first campaign of its kind with respect to sexual exploitation, “Most public awareness campaigns about child sexual abuse have focused on the victim,” explains Beyond Borders President, Rosalind Prober. “That’s obviously important but we’ve ignored trying to tackle the demand side of the issue. This campaign changes that.”

 

The importance of this campaign words cannot express. For men to stand up and say sex with children is immoral is not only a beautiful act of solidarity but it also moves this destructive act from simply being a child/woman problem versus man issue and places it where it should be as an act against humanity. Sex with children is a violation of human rights and it is a detriment to what it means to be not only a man but a human being. It takes the discussion outside of women driven organizations into bars and locker rooms. Beyond Borders says it best: “We hope to mobilize the vast majority of men who have no tolerance with the small percentage of their gender responsible for more than 90% of sexual crimes against children both in Canada and abroad. Those perpetrators make up what we call the DEMAND. Without those willing to use children for their sexual pleasure and profit, this abuse would not exist.  Demand drives all forms of sexual exploitation including child sex tourism, child Internet luring, child pornography and trafficking, impacting the lives of countless children in Canada and around the globe. Stop the DEMAND and the SUPPLY (the victims) will be allowed their right to grow up emotionally and physically healthy. It is as simple as that.”

 

I think I fall in love every time a wonderful honest man comes forth to defend the vulnerable even if it means breaking the “man code.” The man code is a lot like that tacky phrase “what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.” Men often feel that it is not their place to scold other men about their private lives but sex with children and trafficked women is not about men's right to live whichever life they choose, this is about the most vulnerable members of our world’s rights being ripped away from them and crushed.

So I would like to say to Jason Priestley (shout out 90210 90’s style) and Jacques Villeneuve and Manoj Sood (Little Mosque on the Prairie actor) and writer Victor Malarek (who I have blogged about previously) and all the others that will join this fight and help change the lives of millions that I am so proud of men like you and thank you.

 

Check out Beyond Borders website for more information: www.beyondborders.org

 

Toronto International Film Festival

I have seen six movies for now and I have about nine more films to go and I am going to start blogging about them on Wednesday. So stay tuned....

Quote of the Day-Change and Growth

 

Scared of Change? It can be the best thing for you...

It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power. Alan Cohen

Sigg Water Bottles and their dirty little secret....

My new ban on Sigg Bottles

I was one of those happy people to jump on the no plastic water bottles bandwagon pretty early on. I hate plastic water bottles. Sometimes I even dislike those who still use them (like many environmentalist who become equally judgemental towards those we consider environmentally backwards or thoughtless. But I'm working on that :). Anyway, my first reusable water bottle was the gorgeous stylish Sigg bottles. As a shopaholic, who has a propensity to buy the same things in different colors, I proudly carried it around everywhere, and bought one for each member of my family, even convinced a few friends to go plastic free.

About a year into using the Sigg bottle I developed a weird soreness/bruise on my lip. I thought it was possibly lip gloss but even when I stopped using it the bruise was still there. I went to the doctor and soon realized that the bruise was exactly where the rim of my Sigg bottle was placed when I drank from it.

I immediately stopped using it and when I went to L.A. I bought a great stainless steel water bottle from Coffee Bean and haven't had a problem since.

Then two weeks ago I heard on the news that Sigg admitted that bottles made before 2008, were made with traces of BPA, a toxic plastic. This has caused huge outrage amongst the many (ex) Sigg fans. This shocked me. It also upset me because my brother and mother still use the Sigg bottles I bought three years ago.

After doing some investigation I saw that  Sigg is allowing people to return the bottle for an exchange to the new BPA-Free (For real this time?) bottles. But I was not going to pay to send my bottle to them to get another one of their bottles. I do not want to support them what-so-ever anymore. Thankfully, I came across a message from Whole Foods stating that they will allow Sigg water bottle users to return it to their store for a full refund. I guess they will then send it to Sigg themselves to get their money back. Thank goodness for Whole Foods.

I quickly grabbed my mothers and brother's bottle and I still have my sister's and my bottle from a few years ago, so I will be returning all four this week and getting them stainless steel ones. They may not be as pretty but at least their exactly what they claim to be.

All Sigg bottle users, return it, and buy from a more honest company.

About a year into using the Sigg bottle I developed a weird soreness/bruise on my lip. I thought it was possibly lip gloss but even when I stopped using it the bruise was still there. I went to the doctor and soon realized that the bruise was exactly where the rim of my Sigg bottle was placed when I drank from it.

I immediately stopped using it and when I went to L.A. I bought a great stainless steel water bottle from Coffee Bean and haven't had a problem since.

Then two weeks ago I heard on the news that Sigg admitted that bottles made before 2008, were made with traces of BPA, a toxic plastic. This has caused huge outrage amongst the many (ex) Sigg fans. This shocked me. It also upset me because my brother and mother still use the Sigg bottles I bought three years ago.

After doing some investigation I saw that  Sigg is allowing people to return the bottle for an exchange to the new BPA-Free (For real this time?) bottles. But I was not going to pay to send my bottle to them to get another one of their bottles. I do not want to support them what-so-ever anymore. Thankfully, I came across a message from Whole Foods stating that they will allow Sigg water bottle users to return it to their store for a full refund. I guess they will then send it to Sigg themselves to get their money back. Thank goodness for Whole Foods.

I quickly grabbed my mothers and brother's bottle and I still have my sister's and my bottle from a few years ago, so I will be returning all four this week and getting them stainless steel ones. They may not be as pretty but at least their exactly what they claim to be.

All Sigg bottle users, return it, and buy from a more honest company.

Quote of the day

 

Ready to quit? Not so fast…

 

“Success seems to be connected with action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don't quit.”

Conrad Hilton

“Effort only fully releases its reward after a person refuses to quit.”

 Napoleon Hill

Beautiful product for an Important Cause

For a long time now, actually ever since I was a kid, I wanted to get involved in activism. I've always held two causes particularly close to my heart, one is the environment and the other is children's rights. Over the years I have promised myself I would really get involve but somehow was too afraid to. Recently, I became compelled to finally join a movement. I figured I am already pretty green, I recycle. I bring my own reusable bags. I walk everywhere. I buy Canadian. I don't drink bottled water and when I can I make donations to great environmental organizations. So I decided that the best place for me to use my voice and writing would be for the rights of women and children (girls and boys) to help protect them from sexual exploitation and help spread awareness for the cause. I am now part of a great organization called Beyond Borders. Two weeks ago Beyond Borders, the Somaly Mam Foundation and The Body Shop launched an international campaign to stop the sex trafficking of women and children. To support international organizations fighting this human rights atrocity, The Body Shop created a product called Soft Hands/Kind Heart and the money will help organizations in various countries fight this growing epidemic. Six dollars from all of the hand creams sold in Canada will go towards Beyond Borders. So for anyone looking for a beautiful product that will really make a difference in people's lives please go out and buy one, give it as gifts, and spread the word. Also get involved. To read more about the Body Shop launch here in Toronto go to my blog: http://www.chicreid.blogs.com/smart_mouth_chic_speaks_o/

 

The View-Hostility taken to an art form

 

I watch the view regularly but I must admit I'm not necessarily a fan of any of the hosts. As a child I was a huge fan of Barbra Walters and wanted to get into journalism because of her then I became an Oprah fan (still am). I was also a fan of Whoopi and Sherri, anyone who knows me knows I love comedians almost as much as I love musicians but now I see both in quite a different light. My views tend to be mirrored closely with Joy's and sometimes Walters. All five of these women are very strong, which I respect tremendously, but the way they talk over each other and talk over guests seems kind of self-centered and immature considering that they're not teenagers and should practice a little more courtesy but I guess that also adds to the chaotic and sometimes entertaining nature of the show.  I do like to hear the latest news and the different perspectives so I tune in.

Today I was watching a pre-recorded show where it was all about Tarot cards, Astrology, and psychics. As soon as the show began you could see Sherri's face screwed up like she had just eaten a sour apple. (This is usually Elizabeth's expression when she talks about President Obama or anything liberal). In my experience there are certain groups of people, often church going folks, that frown upon anything that does not come straight out of the Bible. At one point in the show Sherri angrily insisted that all she knees is to get down on her knees and have her bible to get answers. This kind of anger and resistance to anything different is what makes many people feel like religious outsiders. I am a Catholic school girl but I am also open to the idea that the world is full of many other levels of signs to guide us on a positive path and one does not necessarily have to count out the other. When I go to California my friends do Tarot readings for me on love and career and I have found it soooooo helpful and enlightening. That being said, I don't know who's idea it was to have this kind of show on The View. These women are clearly stuck in their ways and not open to these sorts of experiences. Sherri was outright hostile and defense with the psychic she was speaking too. Her main concern seemed to be to prove that he was wrong before he even spoke a word, and to find out if she had some sexy young man with money coming in her future. It was uncomfortable to watch and shockingly unprofessional. This is not her living room, its a TV show.

 There was also Whoopi who said she was not totally skeptical due to her experience with this during her taping of the movie Ghost. This openness was hard to see since she literally stared at the Tarot card reader suspiciously with a disbelieving smirk on her face and a disinterested posture as she shuffled the cards and listened to her reading. Why was she there if she was clearly suspicious? At least at the end of the reading she admitted that the reading was on the mark. Though Elizabeth, who was at first open, almost bit the head off of the tarot card reader when the woman insinuated that her third baby (she's currently pregnant) is a girl. At that point Elizabeth starting saying, "Excuse?" me in a very angry way and Whoopi started telling her to Let it go, don't go there.  At that point Elizabeth said, "I'll find out in August (About the baby's gender) and that she wasn't going to take anything serious from a women who reads, "Spooky cards." Joy, who had a session of past life regression, denied that the hypnotizing worked, but at least she dealt with her skepticism with a little humor.

Why invite these guests on the show simply to be confrontational with them? Just because there are greedy and manipulative Tarot card readers and psychics, it does not mean that these things cannot be a wonderful freeing experience. If one is not open to something at least be honest about your prejudice and be respectful and generous towards the different points of view. This is something I am trying to practice myself.