Archive for November, 2010

23
Nov

The Girl Effect – Its a Powerful Idea

   Posted by: Lita    in General

Are you a person who considers themselves blessed in life? Have you been wondering how you can give back some of these blessings to those in need? Please have a look at this worthy collaborative effort that was inspired by the lovely Tara Sophia Mohr who helps all of us with wise living, and then consider how you may help with the Girl Effect campaign.   The following article has been written to support Tara’s Girl Effect campaign. “The Girl Effect” is a powerful idea: by investing in girls in the developing world, we make an incredibly effective investment in eradicating poverty, creating thriving communities and slowing the spread of AIDS.

I was lucky enough to spend 5 weeks in Portugal during the summer of 2009.  We stayed with my friend who was born and, for many years, raised in the Algarve.  We saw the inner workings of Portugal life through her family and friends.  We took a trip to a market one Sunday.  We were shopping and looking at the goods.  Many of the vendors are Gypsys.  My friend looked at a tablecloth but decided it wasn’t what she wanted.  When she indicated she wouldn’t be buying it the gypsy vendor began yelling, pointing her finger and cursing.  I couldn’t understand a word the woman was saying but my friend told me the lady was putting a curse on her.  We all laughed about it but it’s really not funny.

While we were eating at an outdoor restaurant in Olhao, a young gypsy girl who couldn’t have been more than 12 years old, came up to our table looking for a handout as she played a musical instrument for us.  There is nothing funny about this way of life.  The gypsy life is a harsh reality for young girls and women of all ages.

In a sad and disturbing documentary about Romanian Gypsies in Spain and Italy the footage follows their participation in criminal activities.  The children are sent out by their parents to beg and steal.  In other reports from Madrid, the targets were ATM machines where 2 or 3 gypsy children would aggressively try to grab the money from people at any time of the day.  As minors, they cannot be charged, only picked up, transferred to a “youth centre” and released shortly after. These children are often “supervised” by adults who take the stolen money from them.

In a report titled Four Corners, hidden cameras were used in several locations around Madrid to capture children stealing from locals and tourists.  A producer of this film tracked the children back to the slums that they call home.  He was shocked.  Gypsys often live in rat infested, filthy camps in the outskirts of big cities.  While the rest of Europe enjoys an expensive public education and welfare system, a majority of Gypsy children do not attend school. Many live in tin sheds next to rubbish dumps with no running water or official power sources.

The Four Corners report also informs us of the Gypsy practice of selling female children into marriage. Secret filming shows a 13-year-old girl’s wedding celebration underway. She has been sold for nearly $10,000.  In the first instance she is valuable because she is a virgin, but her major selling point is her ability to steal up to $600 a day. Her husband fully expects she will quickly provide him a return on his investment.  There are varied responses to the crimes. In some cases, right-wing political activists want the gypsys eliminated. Other groups want to socialize them by helping to educate children while encouraging the older Roma, as they are also called, to get jobs.

Whichever side the response comes from, so far it is evident that more needs to be done and if governments do not react in a positive way then citizens may take the law into their own hands and we know this may result in violence as well as deaths.

I don’t know what I can do to personally make a difference to gypsy children but Tara Sophia Mohr’s Girl Effect campaign has inspired me to dig deeper and to find a way to give back the many blessings I have had in life to help girls in need.

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23
Nov

Beat Stress With Hot Stone Massage

   Posted by: author1    in Self Improvement: Stress Management

If only you could literally remove the stress from your mind and body, seal it inside a box and throw it so far away that it cannot come back to bother you, you would. Unfortunately, that can only happen in a farfetched dream.

In reality, stress is here to stay. And it will get the better of you after some time. That is of course if you do not learn how to deal with it. So, how does one deal with stress?

For one, it is important that you should surrender to the fact that running away or hiding from it is not the solution to this problem. Managing stress, on the other hand, is the only way you can keep your sanity despite the piles of work and the overload of daily stressors in your life.

Another way to lower stress is to get your daily recommended amount of sleep. Take a couple of minutes out of your day to sit down, relax and remove busy thoughts from your mind. These few minutes of your day can make a big difference in your life. So, for a short while, stop worrying about what meals to cook or the deadlines that your boss gave you. Give yourself a well-deserved sanity break.

Another great way to beat stress is by getting a hot stone massage therapy session. This variation in the traditional massage is an excellent way to relax both your mind and body. This relaxation technique incorporates the use of hot stones which, when placed in key points of your body, can regulate energy flow and release muscular tension.

During a session, the therapist will place massage stones on different parts of your body. These stones, which are efficient in storing heat, will enable the muscles to loosen up and relax to make the tissue manipulation easier. These stones also release toxins that are clogged within the muscles.

The positive effects of a hot stone therapy are also enhanced with the use of aromatherapy oils and candles, which give off scents that can soothe and calm your mind.

To make sure you make the most out of your massage experience, here are some of the things you need to do:

  1. Drink plenty of water before and after the session to flush out toxins.
  2. Don’t eat a full meal before the therapy starts.
  3. Stop thinking about work or stress.
  4. Relax in a warm bath before the session.

What is also great about this therapy is that it will not take a lot of your time. For just an hour and a half, you will experience the intense benefits of a massage that can do wonders for your well-being.

Some may see this as an unnecessary luxury but what most people do not know is that its positive effects on your physical and mental health make it a necessity in life.

Mary Singleton regularly writes for TIR Massage Stone, the leading hot stone massage supplies provider. They carry products such as hot stone massage kit, as well as many other many other accessories for hot and cold stone therapy.

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12
Nov

Skin Infections – A New Solution to an Old Problem

   Posted by: Lita    in Skin Infections

Skin infections are common and they can range anywhere between merely annoying to absolutely deadly.

One thing is certain; healing skin infections is frequently difficult and sometimes requires a new solution to an old problem.

There are 4 different types of skin infection:

Viral Skin Infections:
These commonly result in skin lesions and rashes.  Typically, the rash will occur and once your immune system clears the infection the rash will disappear.  Children commonly experience viral skin infection patterns.  Some viruses will lie dormant in your cells only to reactivate at another time which could be years later.  Chronic infections occur when viruses infect the skin by direct introduction of a microorganism or an agent of disease or by localized spreading or systemic infection.

Bacterial Skin Infections:
Although there are many bacteria that come into contact with our skin they are normally unable to cause an infection. When you do end up with a bacterial skin infection it can range from a tiny spot to covering a large area of the body. The most common cause of bacterial skin infections is Staphylococcus and Streptococcus.  Less common bacteria may cause skin infections in those hospitalized or living in a nursing home or may develop while you are gardening, swimming in a pond, lake or the ocean.   People with diabetes are susceptible as they often have poor blood flow, especially to the hands and feet while the high levels of sugar in their blood decrease the ability of white blood cells to fight infection.  Often, diabetic ulcers become infected and antibiotic resistant leading to amputation or even death.  There is a proven, natural remedy for healing chronic diabetic ulcers.  People suffering from HIV or AIDS or other immune system disorders as well as anyone being treated with chemotherapy are at a higher risk of bacterial skin infections due to their weakened immune systems.  Bedsores also become a chronic problem leading to infection.  Bedsores will not heal if they are infected. There is a natural solution with no harmful side effects for bedsores.  Also, if your skin is inflamed, damaged by sunburn, scratching or other trauma then it is more likely to become infected.  

Fungal Skin Infections:
Fungi lives on your body in moist areas such as your toes, breasts and groin. Symptoms include itching, swelling, blisters and scaling.  People who have weakened immune systems are susceptible to candidiasis or yeast infection.  Fungal skin infections can occur in the vagina as well as the underside of the penis.  Fungal infections in the mouth are called thrush while perleche are cracks and tiny cuts at the corners of your mouth.  Fungal skin infections can also occur in the nail beds.  Ringworm is a fungal skin infection.  Tinea versicolor is also a fungal skin infection where patches of skin are lighter or darker than normal skin and they become worse in the heat and humidity or with individuals using steroid therapy or that have compromised immune systems.

Parasitic Skin Infections:
This type of skin infection is generally from tiny insects or worms that burrow into your skin with no intention of leaving while they lay their eggs.  Some of these parasites live in your skin for part of their life cycle while others will stay for their entire life cycle.  This type of skin infection is associated with severe itching and inflammation.  Lice and Scabies are two examples of this type of infection.

To get rid of skin infections use a solution that is NATURALLY anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal and anti-parasitic and will heal even chronic skin infections. Visit The BreakthroughSecret.  This solution is Doctor and Pharmacist recommended.

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