Letter! Book! Stickers!

It's well known I love mail & ma'pen pals.
& it should be known that I love Kim.

So, mail from Kim - is terribly exciting. & let me tell ya, I was not happy about having to find some obscure UPS hub until I saw that lil'rocket man.

The thing about Kim is she always seems to know how to - bring you back.
After bringing a close to the hazy rock & roll world of Keith Richard's LIFE, Kim gracefully swooped in with Not for Sale by David Batstone (a signed copy) to bring the reality of human trafficking back around into my hazy world. Like a true friend should. I cannot wait to read it. & I cannot wait until 2012, because that's when Kim told me I'm coming to visit her.

II

Alrighty. TWO matters of Internet business. 

I. The Bad. This morning I got a pretty informative/creepy e-mail from Student PIRG (public interest research groups) about facebook & it's non-existent privacy. For those of you like I who cannot bear to delete the addiction, but want to keep 'er safe - I suggest you read here. To be fair, I also read on the Huffington Post that facebook has announced new and easier privacy settings should be released in the next few weeks. 
II. The Beautiful. I have a new blog for everyone to check out/become a part of! Introducing -- http://culturesmash.wordpress.com/  In the words of it's creator Kim Hope Athay, 

"... This blog is going to create one stage for many people I know - and hopefully many people I’ve never before met - to share about their cultural experiences.  The good, the hard, the funny, the classic, the traumatic, the life-changers, the life-alterers.  The lessons we learn while traveling abroad need a place to be planted, nourished, and grow into fruits for future world travelers to digest.  
It is my belief that we have no way of appreciating, respecting, or loving the world outside of our borders and comfort zone until we have traveled beyond.  Likewise, how can we know what to appreciate here until we know that others live differently?  The greatest experiences in my own life have happened on foreign soil - for many reasons, not least of which that it taught me to understand America better in the context of the world.
If you have traveled abroad and would like to be a regular (or irregular) contributor, please click on “Submit your Experience” in the right-hand column.  Frequently I will ask for submissions based on a certain topic (like food, taboos, religion, bars, education, sports, etc.), however, you can really write about any cultural experience you have had abroad… I’m anxious to help you share your stories here."

A great way to learn about culture, people! I personally hope to become a frequent contributor (there is even talk of somehow/day linking my new monthly travel feature and Culture Smash) & I beam at the thought of you doing the same. 

UNTIL THE VIOLENCE STOPS

February's here. Time to start talking vaginas.

Yes, yes, check it again, I said vaginas.

Now, as a lover of love, I LOOOOVE me my valentines day. Just what the depressing month of February needs; glittery hearts, secret admirers, romantic comedies, dark chocolate, and looooove in the air.

But for millions of women and girls worldwide, it is not love, but violence that consumes daily life.

Eve Ensler, the author of works such as The Vagina Monologues, The Good Body, and Insecure At Last, started the movement known as V-Day. The most common way to support V-Day is to attend a Vagina Monologues performance or Ensler film showing near you! Ames M-Shop, I'll be seeing you Friday, February 12th! (Cheering on my beautiful friends Kimmy and Christelle!)

I know it sounds scary. Really, I do. I was scared too, but after my first show in 2008 I went home and wrote this to my aunties, mommy, and friends:

"On Valentines Day, Megen and I went to the Vagina Monologues. ALL you females in the house- find a performance somewhere AND GO. Bring the men. Sounds scary- sounds too feminist or awkward - but it is fabulous. We laughed. We cried. We really did feel empowered and educated. We went home wanting to scream VAGINA! ... not. even. kidding. Really. GO! GO! GO!"

You will not find man haters, flaming bras, or tampons.

Instead, expect to sit in an atmosphere of love. Expect to hear stories of both confusion and understanding, of peace and violence. Expect to leave inspired. Expect to feel sexy and proud to be a woman (or a man who appreciates women). Expect to laugh, cry, and go, mmmhmmm. & if you're in Ames, expect chocolate vaginas for sale.

Ticket proceeds are donated to local women's shelters/organizations and also support V-Day's spotlight area. 2010's spotlight is the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where rape, forced prostitution, kidnapping, and other gender-based horrors are a daily threat to women and girls. This Valentines season, don't forget about the women and girls around the world who need our dire help. Take time during this dreary month to learn more about the V-Day movement because us Vagina Warriors aren't going anywhere "Until the Violence Stops".

(read more about V-Day from: www.vday.org where you can also find more information on Eve Ensler, her mission, ways to participate, and your nearest V-Day performance)

V-day's mission:

V-Day is an organized response against violence toward women.

V-Day is a vision: We see a world where women live safely and freely.

V-Day is a demand: Rape, incest, battery, genital mutilation and sexual slavery must end now.

V-Day is a spirit: We believe women should spend their lives creating and thriving rather than surviving or recovering from terrible atrocities.

V-Day is a catalyst: By raising money and consciousness, it will unify and strengthen existing anti-violence efforts. Triggering far-reaching awareness, it will lay the groundwork for new educational, protective, and legislative endeavors throughout the world.

V-Day is a process: We will work as long as it takes. We will not stop until the violence stops.

V-Day is a day. We proclaim Valentine's Day as V-Day, to celebrate women and end the violence.

V-Day is a fierce, wild, unstoppable movement and community. Join us!

Forgot One

My good friend Kim is a huge advocate for the awareness of human trafficking, so this shout out is for her and the millions around the world working to end and/or affected by trafficking. This will definitely need some more research and time on my part, but for now... I'll use the words of Kim and love146.org

This week (January 11th) was Global Human Trafficking Awareness Day. According to love146.org,

"There are roughly 27 million people enslaved today. Victims are sold, forced, defrauded, and coerced into labor or sexual exploitation. Trafficking generates $32 Billion annually.

Two children are sold every minute. Over 1.2 million children are trafficked annually.

Approximately 800,000 people are trafficked across national borders, which does not include millions trafficked within their own countries. 80% of transnational victims are women and girls; up to 50% are minors.These numbers make human trafficking the 2nd most lucrative crime in the world (drug trafficking being the first). An estimated 45-50,000 persons are trafficked into the U.S. each year; 15,000 of them are children. The majority of transnational victims are females trafficked into commercial sexual exploitation."

Check out www.love146.org for more information.
The issue of Human Trafficking is also the spotlight issue of 2010 V-Day. Find your nearest performance of the Vagina Monologues this February and GO!