30 Days Wild in June Wildlife Trust Challenge

Portrait entitled, 'Flaming June', by Sir Frederic Leighton

June is one of my favourite months of the year. We have several birthdays to celebrate and (usually) decent warm weather by the middle of the month, so I thought it would be fun to give the 30 Days Wild challenge a go - here's a link explaining more: Wildlife Trust June Challenge

I'm hoping to run a project throughout the month with December and June on top of the daily 'Wild' activity and am going to discuss it with them tomorrow, to see what they would like to do.

They have already each 'adopted' a tree in local woodland which they have measured and drawn and, having noted down their locations, we plan to return regularly throughout the year(s) to note any changes.

I'll blog our progress over the course of the month and would love to hear about activities that other people are doing.

Contentious Issues #4 : Homelessness

Now, first of all, I have to say that I wasn't going to put this blog post under my Contentious Issues banner - but on researching the issue further, I feel that this is the appropriate place for it. Which makes me very sad.

So, homelessness.

A problem? Certainly for those who are without homes.

A problem too for those in authority, according to actions being carried out in various First World Nations.

However, the problem seems to be viewed differently by these people than the majority of the rest of us.

I would like to think that most people agree that everyone should be entitled to the following basic living conditions:

A safe place to live;
Food;
Clothes.

And yet, and yet . . . those in power appear to view the problem of homelessness from the perception that those who are homeless are being difficult and that, if their few meagre possessions are removed from them and life on the street is made harder than it already is for them, they will disappear as if by magic.

Exactly where these people are meant to go away to is never revealed. They are just meant to go somewhere else, where they cannot be seen as the sight of them makes others feel uncomfortable.

The fact that people are made to feel like this when they see people less fortunate than them should really make them want to help, perhaps by organising hostels where those without a home can rest and recover from their ordeal and then begin, with support, to get their lives back on track.

Yet from everything I am reading and hearing that is not the case.

In many cities and towns in the UK and in many of the US states the homeless appear to be treated like vermin - something to be disposed of as quickly as possible.

That this is the case in countries that consider themselves to be civilised and 'First World' is obscene. No-one in these countries should be in the position of not having, at the very least, a safe place to shelter at night.

Obviously the subject is a tricky matter from the point of view that there are many reasons that can lead a person to become homeless in the first place, ranging from losing a job to depression and to drug or alcohol dependancy. 

What concerns me is how these people come to fall through the cracks of society in the first place and how they could be helped to climb back up.

Many people are only one wageslip away from poverty - it is frightening how quickly people can end up with nothing.

I don't have the answers to what needs to be done, however I do know that we must not treat those without a home as pariahs. I am wondering how on earth removing sleeping bags and food from homeless people is going to crackdown on homelessness? Or how putting large spikes on paved areas under cover that people might use for shelter in the night is going to improve the situation? I mean, do they think that these people are pretending to be homeless and will return to their habitations when their sleeping bag has been forcibly removed?

Contentious Issues #3 : Double Standards

Even from my limited knowledge of the news, I have become aware of the apparent surge in numbers of displaced people travelling over the seas in overcrowded and, often, poorly maintained vessels seeking sanctuary from war torn and impoverished countries.

This is due to the very broad reporting of the recent tragedy in the Mediterranean.

Having read further information about this issue, it appears to me that one of the biggest problems is the fact that these people are forced to take to the water in the first place.

When countries like China take actions that infringe on human rights they are thoroughly pilloried. How is the refusal by self-proclaimed civilised 'First World' nations to allow impoverished migrants to travel without danger and fear any different? It would appear that Italy is already working to try and help, however others need to step up to provide aid too.

What should be done to improve the outcomes for these desperate people? For, make no doubt about it, anyone prepared to take the sorts of chances taken by these people is in dire straits.

Ideally, the cause for escape would be removed however that is no easy task and, perhaps in the short to middle terms, the best course to take is one of acceptance and support. That is, accepting that the refugees are in need and supporting them to recover from the ordeals they have suffered.

There are many organisations that are already carrying out this work, including Amnesty International and The Red Cross.

Perhaps the hardest work is in removing the stigma attached to being a refugee and helping us all to co-exist in a supportive, peaceful and caring environment.

Defending your Data

Whilst washing my hair this morning, I found myself wondering about the way we are all expected to respond when receiving a phone call from companies that we have accounts with, such as a Bank.

The scenario is:

The telephone rings. We answer it and a person at the other end tells us that the call will be recorded for training purposes and then asks us for a range of personal information, to confirm who we are, before continuing with the call.

We automatically answer all these questions.

Then we are told which company the call is from and the purpose of the call.

What guarantee is there that someone, or some people, could not make calls like this to gather personal information to use in illegal activities, such as fraud? After all, once you'd given the details how would you react if the call came to a sudden end? You'd probably wonder what had happened; maybe wait for the company to call back and, perhaps, wonder which company it was that made the call.

What can we do to safeguard our personal information?

I suppose the first step to take is to ensure, in so far as it is possible, that the phone call is from a company that you know you have an account with. Which sounds easy, doesn't it?

Have you ever asked the person which company they are calling from and what the call is about, before giving the responses they require?

I have and they don't seem to like it. Which seems odd to me, after all if the call is legitimate, why not say which company the call is from and what it is about?

You Know You're a Movie Geek When . . . .

I was driving home this morning listening to the radio, when the presenter announced a piece from Peru. Unwittingly I found myself thinking of the film, Better Off Dead!, in which the main character's Mom is creating a French themed dinner and mistakes the pronunciation of Perrier for Peru. Which has stuck firmly in my mind so that now, whenever I see the Perrier label I think of Peru and when I see or hear the name Peru, I see a glistening bottle of Perrier.

I don't know whether this was a clever marketing ploy or just accidental subliminal implanting, however it hasn't made me buy any Perrier (too fizzy and doesn't taste nice) or visit Peru (mainly down to lack of money!).

Mostly is another word that conjures another world up in my mind's eye. A terrifying, dark world full of danger and painful death. Yes, mostly is the word used by the little girl called Newt in Aliens as, gazing down at the head of her disembodied doll, she tells Ripley that the Aliens only come out at night. Mostly.

Finally (for today!), my last movie memory jogger are castles and fortifications.  Whilst watching any programme - whether documentary, serial or film - that features castles and/or buildings surrounded by high walls, I find myself subconsciously assessing them for weak points. Do they have windows on the ground floor? Is there a well? How many gates are there in the main wall and are they easily defensible? Could they be self sufficient in food?  All this, to see if the fortress could withstand assault during a Zombie apocalypse!

Am I alone in this?

Well, I have had several discussions with my husband and a couple of friends over the various strengths and weaknesses of strongholds, such as Windsor and Edinburgh castles. One suggestion made was that a Tibetan Monastery, that can only be accessed by a basket lift, would be the best place to be.

So I guess that at least confirms I'm not alone in my post-disaster movie hangover!

Thoughts from the Shower #6

Why is it that heterosexuals are not defined by their sexuality in society, whilst any other type of sexuality appears to become a label?

For example, if I were to introduce myself as, 'Hello my name is Lesley and I'm heterosexual ", people would find that odd and yet seem to expect any other type of sexuality to be announced and used as a tag, as in, "This is Fred and he's transsexual".

Why? I just can't understand the need to define people by their sexuality when there are so many more important aspects to consider.

Beltane

A gift from my youngest daughter

Beltane was an overcast, slightly chilly and occasionally damp day so I am very glad that I had been able to get these lovely tulips as our centrepiece as they really brightened our home up. The chick and fairies were added by my daughters :)

New life on the village pond

Wherever you are, I hope that this coming Summer enables you to attain personal growth and helps you to bring to fruition any plans that you have made.

Contentious Issues #2 : Parental involvement in Early Childhood

Several years ago, when December was about 18 months old, I made contact with the leader of a nearby Parent & Toddler group to ask about when they met and if we could go along. The lady was very welcoming and explained how the group ran - the Mums all sat in one room having coffee whilst the children were in another room being looked after, 'by a nice lady we all like'. When I asked what activities the parents and children did together she appeared confused and explained to me how much the Mums enjoyed talking to each other.

When I asked if it would be alright for me to have December with me for at least some of the time, as I was still breastfeeding, she was surprised and explained that the other Mums probably wouldn't want a child in the room. I thanked her for the information and never joined them.

Fortunately for me several of my friends from antenatal class had a similar attitude, so we continued organising our own group meet ups and outings. 

I had expected a Parent & Toddler group to be something akin to the Playschool that I attended with my Mother as a small child: a place where parents and children shared the same space so that children felt able to go and explore new surroundings, activities and playmates, secure in the knowledge that Mummy (or Daddy) was there, should they need them.

After this first foray into Parent & Toddler group research I discovered that nurseries and pre-schools seemed to have almost completely replaced the Playschools and Playgroups that I knew as a child, which made me very sad.

What had changed so much in 40 years that meant parents (usually Mothers) appeared to no longer be able (or want) to spend quality time with their young child(ren)?

As I looked into the changes in approach to child care more, I realised that the biggest change was in both peer and societal pressures and expectations on Mothers - expectation that one of the first thoughts a new Mother would have would be how soon they could return to work; pressure on a new Mother to accept the perceived low value of stay at home status versus perceived high value of working away from home; expectation that, of course, your tiny baby will be going to a nursery to be cared for by strangers; pressure to leave your young child before either of you are ready.

None of which was inspiring. None of which convinced me this would be the path to follow for my child.

I didn't have a child just to hand her over to strangers to rear. I wanted my child to learn about my values and ethos, to understand her place in our family. I wanted her to be confident, secure and settled.

Eventually, after much searching, I realised that once you and your child(ren) are too old for Mother & Baby groups there is little provision for groups where parents and children spend time together - certainly here in the UK.