Could it be the news around the world and within our own nation is just a tad bit depressing? Despair seems to be what the media wants us to feel. We have a few choices when despair is coming at us from all directions: fight back, run away, or laugh. That is right, laugh. Personally, I can’t handle being angry, sad, and discouraged for very long. Thankfully, I came across a humorous website geared towards moms.
Archive for the ‘Media’ Category
Humor is Needed Sometimes, Mommy Math
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Ugly Sexism, Real and Alive (despite our close call with the presidency)–
We don’t have cable at our house, and only watch news shows around the political season, or if there is an issue, bill or story I am following. But when I saw this video montage by the Women’s Media Center of the political coverage of Hillary Clinton’s campaign for president, I was reminded why I left much of mega corporate media behind. While Hillary Clinton in many ways elevated America’s comfort and perspective about of having a woman as the commander in chief, she did so while being throttled by many folks in the mainstream media for her pant suits, her husband’s indiscretions, and her dogged determination.
Green Our Vaccines March Held
When I first got word about the Green Our Vaccines March, I was curious to see just how much media coverage there would be on the issue. ABC News has a front page link to the story, under “Celeb Causes”. There is a video from the morning’s interview on “Good Morning America“.
As of a few minutes ago there was over a 140 comments, and folks are letting their opinion be known. The mainstream medical community keeps saying the same thing. Read the rest of this entry »
Positive Media For Your Kids: Gorilla in the Greenhouse, National Geographic Kids
Kids might love Disneyland but the irony about the ‘Happiest Place on Earth’ is that a natural grove of orange trees was destroyed to build an artificial land that has successfully seduced generations of kids with its media. Regardless of your personal feelings about Disneyland, the reality is that it was created out of 160 acres of orange trees and it continues to have a massive carbon footprint. Yet Disney provides the very frame of reference for kids’ media.
Like many parents out there, I am hungry for positive kids’ media and by that I mean media that is positive in what it portrays, in what it teaches and in its ultimate impact on kids. Easier said than done, finding positive media for your kids has got to be one of the hardest challenges of parenting. You might say Why worry? It’s not like my kids are exposed to a lot of the media out there. Truth be told, it might not be in their face but chances are that they will get to it. Even if you do not own a TV or even if you abstain from a certain magazine subscription, most children know (or will know by some point in their childhood) how to find just about anything on the internet.
Given all of this, I was thrilled with the release of “Gorilla in the Greenhouse,” an environmental themed web animation that inspires kids to take real-world steps towards a healthy planet. The pilot episode is about The Great Pacific Garbage Patch (also known as The North Pacific Gyre), a growing collection of plastic waste in the Pacific Ocean. More than just a seven minute animation, this show and the green gorilla website includes interesting tidbits such as information about the gyre, the case for eco-friendly re-usable bags, actions that kids can take in their communities and of course, downloads of some great ‘Jack Johnson’ type music.
What I love about Green Gorilla is that it actually gets kids into action. Having seen the show, my eight-year-old has developed an ardent dislike for plastic waste. He is in the process of gathering all the plastic bags he can find…from the neighbors to create what he calls a “Mega Ball.” He has learned from Green Gorilla that a family of four consumes about 1,000 plastic bags each year. “We don’t need more in the Gyre!” says my son when we go to the grocery store. My ten year old daughter has teamed up with three other kids in the neighborhood to create a poster that encourages the use of re-usable bags. They have been calling upon local grocery stores and libraries to ask permission to post their posters. Finally, some of the teachers in local schools have actually presented the show in their classrooms followed by an entire discussion relating to the issue of plastic waste. The Green Gorilla website (www.greengorilla.com) includes two curricula for teachers, specifically tailored to this issue of plastic waste.
National Geographic Kids, one of my all time favorite kids’ websites is the ultimate positive media guru. In addition to featuring a range stories, videos and interesting animal trivia, their website includes games and tips that get kids thinking about issues. For example, their Get Green tips that actually get kids thinking about issues like recycling and improving the outdoors. Their Car Wash Kit has not only peaked my kids’ interest in washing our car on weekends but it has also helped instill in them a genuine interest in keeping the car clean. As an international parent who is constantly faced with the challenges of multicultural parenting, I love their People & Places section, a relatively new addition to their website that focuses on various people and cultures.
Check it out and let me know your thoughts. I am sure you are hungry for positive media too.
Written by Reenita, a San Francisco based freelance writer, Ayurveda Clinician and mother of two. Check out her personal blog at www.reenita.com
Green Our Vaccines March
Over at Treehugger, there was a short listing of hollywoods sexiest vegetarians. It was not the vegetarian aspect that made my day, or the the sexy part, but the link to Jenny McCarthy and Jim Carrey’s latest press release regarding the Green Our Vaccine march this coming Wednesday on June 4th in Washingtong D.C. What is their goal?
We Control the Horizontal ~ We Control the Vertical (or why media concentration is bad for America)
*cue Twilight Zone theme *
Did you know that just 6 media conglomerates control most of the media in the US?
This may seem unimportant to you and your family and I assure you there are some folks that are banking on that and expecting you will be passive, but don’t be fooled; it’s important to the freedom of all Americans.
Have you ever wondered why some news stories, even really important ones, are buried in the back of the newspaper or only mentioned in your alternative weekly? Ever wonder why the media makes almost no mention of certain alarming or newsworthy topics and other topics (Britney Spears’ escapades, Anna Nicole Smith’s death) get non-stop coverage?
In a free country, media concentration hinders vigorous public debate and limits the news, viewpoints and perspectives presented to citizens — often to their detriment.
The problem just got worse when Bush’s FCC basically gutted a rule that limited the number of both newspaper and television stations giant media conglomerates are able to buy up in the same city.
And independent or dissenting voices are being silenced.
Dooce On The Today Show
What do you get when you take two TV personalities/journalists with little chemistry, one popular blogger and ask them to discuss moms who blog? In the case of Heather Armstrong’s interview on the Today Show’s fourth hour, what you get is not a discussion at all, but a look into what is wrong with mainstream media. Read the rest of this entry »
What will it take to get your attention? Alarming trends in US show serious health care issues
Summary: Lack of preventive health care, lack of access to health care, lifestyle, poverty and pollution combine into a perfect storm that has women’s life expectancy dropping.
Elizabeth Edwards, in her recent NY Times article, coined the term “strobe-light journalism.” She defines this as media attention, “…in which the outlines are accurate enough but we cannot really see the whole picture.”
“Did you, for example, ever know a single fact about Joe Biden’s health care plan? Anything at all? But let me guess, you know Barack Obama’s bowling score.” Edwards asked in her article.
It’s true.
And yet, health care plans are and should be, one of the most important topics.
Recently, I began paying more attention to health and health care. I’m not alone; others have been as well. If you connect the dots between various and plentiful news stories, you can create something meaningful. In this case, you can see a major health care crisis pattern emerge, and not just the “lack of access to care” one you might immediately think of.
Do you want to know about this health crisis? Keep reading…
This morning!: Mothers Acting Up co-founder on public radio call in show!
Posted in Children, Media, Social Justice by Paige La Grone Babcock (Ms. Booty Homemaker) on April 18, 2008
Mothers Acting Up co-founder and communications director Juliana Forbes is on Central Ohio Public Radio THIS MORNING,
Friday April 18, 11AM-noon EST/ 9-10 AM MT, with host Fred Andrle on Open Line.
Tune in online as above or below!!
You can even call in to make a comment or ask a question!
Call Open Line at 614-292-8513 or write to Open Line at openline@wosu.org
The topic to be discussed: We’ll hear how mothers can advocate for the future of children worldwide, with Mothers Acting Up Communications Director Juliana Forbes.
Open Line is a live, public affairs talk show, with listener phone calls, on WOSU public radio.
Open Line is streamed live and archived for two weeks at www.wosu.org/radio/radio-open-line
The Bank Brat Commercial From Nationwide Insurance
Has anyone seen the Nationwide Insurance ‘Bank Brat’ commercial?
If not, click on that link and tell me what you think. If so, skip the link if you’d like, and leave a comment.
Does it not seem a subtle cut against working mothers? Or am I just reading too much into it?
I posted about it at my blog. I was (and am) not thrilled with it.
