Human Trafficking? August 3, 2010

Q. What is Human trafficking?

A. The United Nations defines Human Trafficking as “the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, 0f abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation.”

Q. Who are the victims of human trafficking?

A. Victims of human trafficking are people forced or coerced into labor or sexual exploitation. Women and children are disproportionately affected by human trafficking.

Q. Where does human trafficking occur?

A. Human trafficking occurs all over the world. It does not require crossing international borders. Victims of human trafficking can be either nationals or foreign nationals. Many victims are trafficked and enslaved entirely within their own country.

Q. What are some of the factors that lead to human trafficking?

A. Poverty, isolation, inequality, natural disasters, conflict and political turmoil are important factors in making certain populations more vulnerable to being trafficked. However, trafficking is a criminal industry driven by 1)the ability to make large profits due to high demand and 2) negligible-to-low risk of prosecution. As long as demand is unchecked and the risks for traffickers are low, trafficking will exist regardless of other contributing factors.

Q. What is the total annual revenue for trafficking in persons?

A. The total annual revenue for trafficking in persons is estimated to be approximately $32 billion, making it one of the top three illicit activities in terms of profits in the world along with the illegal sale of narcotics and arms.

Q. What forms of trafficking are most common?

A. Sexual exploitation is by far the most commonly identified form of human trafficking (79 percent), followed by forced labor (18 percent), such as domestic service, agriculture, factory, restaurant and hotel work.

Q. How many people are in modern-day slavery?

A. There are an estimated 27 million people currently in modern-day slavery around the world. According to the United Nation’s Children Fund (UNICEF), an estimated 1.2 million children are trafficked each year.

Q. How many people are trafficked across international borders each year?

A. There are an estimated 800,000 people trafficked across international borders each year. The United States is the second highest destination in the world for trafficked women. An estimated 20,000-50,000 people are trafficked into the United States each year.

Q. What is the United Nations doing about human trafficking?

A. Many UN agencies are working to end human trafficking. In 2007, the UN Office on Drugs and Crimes established the Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking (UN.GIFT; www.ungift.org/) “based on a simple principle: human trafficking is a crime of such magnitude and atrocity that it cannot be dealt with successfully by any government alone. This global problem requires a global, multi-stakeholder strategy that builds on national efforts throughout the world.”

Source: Jay Godfrey and Jennifer McCallum, Let’s Get Together United Methodist Women 2010 Program Book

I am sure some will not be a bit interested in this article. It may look to lengthy to read or you just don’t care about human trafficking. I felt a need to spread this word. If we don’t we won’t know. How awful that the United States is the second highest destination. Also, the total number of children an estimated 1.2 million. Could your neighbor be one? I always wonder if this is where some of our missing children are. In another country because of “Human Trafficking”. This is a possibility as to why we never find them. I know I would not want either of my beautiful daughters to become a victim. I am getting a little upset at just typing that sentence. Let’s spread the word. Help make this crime more known. Pass this along to someone you know. We all know how easy word spreads. Let us do one for a good cause.

Spring Sprung into Summer & Hobby Farming April 8, 2010

Has the weather been nice or what? We won’t complain will we? Not after the winter we had. It has been such great weather to get outside and get yard work done. We are currently working on putting our yard back to normal after all the excavating. The messes you have to make just to make something nice. Say that three times.

Our farm is growing and cattle are headed out. We had one loose. For all of you that have read my blog before and know about my Big Momma stories, she was not around to teach him this. As my daughter and I were heading down the driveway we noticed one of the smaller calves on the opposite side of the fence. We had both thought and said the same thing at the same time. “Hey, he is not supposed to be there.” I stopped the car so I wouldn’t scare him. I had gotten out and walked in a very big semi-circle around him and told my daughter to send him toward the gate. With me standing where I was he wouldn’t come my way.  I was hoping. She decides to take a different plan of action. She calls her father at work freaking out that a cow was loose. I think us hobby farmers can get him back in. (Read below why we are hobby farmers.) After she decides to do it my way, we get him in the gate. She proceeds through the gate and into the barnyard where she will then need to chase him through another gate into the pasture. She did…it worked…all is well.

We have moved two of the smaller cattle into another field. These particular two were the ones we purchased as babies and bottle fed. There is so much green grass in this field now that we  thought it would fatten them up a little better. I know we all know the saying “The grass is  greener on the other side.” Milkshake decided it was greener on the other side.  With just the two of them and the field we put them in they had plenty to eat. He decided to stretch his head under the fence and have a taste of the greener grass.

My explanation for calling myself a “Hobby Farmer”. There seems to be some people who just like don’t like what others do and they just can’t mind their own business.  According to this gentlemen, anyone that has a farm on the side and has a few cattle with a few little pieces of equipment is a hobby farmer and only registers as a business so they can claim everything on their taxes.

Ok, here is my reason for farming. My husband and I decided to raise cattle for our daughter. We want her to know what hard work is all about. We are not slave drivers. We do think that life nowadays for some of our younger generation is too easy. It is not easy keeping a farm. You do not sit down and place the order online for the cattle to be: fed, watered and medicated, manured moved, hay to be made, worrying about calves being born healthy, purchasing some equipment so you can be self-sufficient and I think you get the picture.  We also decided on farming to raise our own beef cattle. We do want to know what we are eating. Or perhaps, we may have to go back to the good ole days where we know how to raise and grow our own food. Another reason we found out later was us experiencing real quality family time. That is something that happens so little today. So excuse someone for wanting to be just a “Hobby Farmer”. By the way my husband went on his hobby tractor and plowed our elderly neighbors driveway. OOPS.

I can’t believe it’s not snowing March 17, 2010

Wow, I think it’s Spring. Yesterday I was so excited with the sun and finally being able to see my flower beds…I had to get out in them. I know it is early. I couldn’t resist. I did some mapping out of what I want to move and what I need to plant. I did dig a shrub out of a flower bed and plant it into another one. In this particular flower bed there was a tree stump that was around 2 feet tall. It was a focal point. I added a huge flower bed around it. Low and behold a chipmunk decided he would make his home in the stump. He dug tunnels under the flower bed and ruined the shrub, tulips and hosta’s. So guess what is going to happen? I am moving all flowers and rocks. Then we are having someone finish up our culverts and remove a few stumps. Guess what stump is going?

We added a patio off our kitchen last fall and now I need flower beds wrapping around that. I told my husband once he builds this one I am done. That went over well. He believes  me and is eager to get it done. We also need some top soil and  fix the yard where we had some other things done.  We are considering river pebbles in the flower beds verses mulch. That will cut down on all the loads of mulch we bring in about every other spring. I have a flower bed that wraps around all 3 sides of my house and will finish wrapping around the patio. Then there are five throughout my yard. I love flower gardening. I guess I could say I cheat a little. I plant shrubs, hosta’s and ferns most places. They come up every year on their own. Then will add some color with annuals. A few rocks, drift wood and solar lights here and there and my flower beds are done. Until, the shrubs, hosta’s and ferns get too big for their area.

Have a good ‘warm’ day. Until next time, keep it simple.

We have another new baby…and it is a girl. March 11, 2010

I am so excited and I just can’t hide it. We had another new baby calf born on our farm. She has no name but is very precious. She was  born yesterday. So far we have had two steers and now we have our girl. My family has really enjoyed farming. It has been a little crazy, but we are getting into a routine. There is alot to learn in reference to how to feed, medicate, breed and all sorts of other things. The end results will be quality family time, showing our youngest what hard work is about and raising our own beef. We will definitely know what we are eating. I have been considering some chickens. Will keep thinking about that one.

Did you know? March 4, 2010

** The best time of day to schedule surgery is in the morning. You are four times less likely to have surgery-related problems. Fatigue among the hospital staff sets in during evening hours.

** Olive oil actually can reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease because it contains phenol, an ingredient that keeps your arteries elastic.

** Arm & Hammer Deodorizing Air Freshener Spray, Air Wick Stick Ups and Humidifier Air Freshener are a few of the best brands of air fresheners. They won’t irritate your skin, eye and respiratory tract.

** Adding mushrooms and broccoli to your diet will help fight cancer. They are an excellent source of disease- fighting antioxidants.

** You can boost your memory by walking, reducing stress and drinking fruit and vegetable juices.

Have a great weekend and pass one of these did you know to someone who didn’t.

7 Ways to Save at the Supermarket February 25, 2010

1. Buy bagged produce. Some produce is much cheaper by the bag than by the pound.

2. Buy at the bakery. More and more supermarkets sell store-made baked goods, often for less than the commercial alternatives.

3. Look high and low. Supermarkets are in the real estate business, and prime selling space includes the middle or eye-level shelving. Vendors will sometimes pay retailers hundreds, even thousands of dollars in slotting fees to take on new products or display products prominently.

4. Eye end caps. Some shoppers assume that products on aisle end caps are on sale, which is why those displays can boost sales by a third. End caps can highlight items about to expire or those that aren’t a bargain.Also make sure you didn’t pick up that bottle or item the person before you put there because they had it in their shopping cart, but once they noticed the sale item on the end cap they switched for the cheaper one. Been there, done that.

5. Weigh the cost of convenience. Is it that much work to cut up carrots, celery, lettuce and cheese? Sometimes pre-cut vegetables are worth the cost.

6. Avoid checkout temptations. Snacks at the checkout look more appealing the longer you’re in line. But they are overpriced. For instance gum. You can buy a three pack in the candy aisle for way cheaper and have extra. Although at times, that pack at the checkout looks too good.

7. CHECK THAT RECEIPT. Cashiers are only human and humans do make mistakes. They may ring one to many of an item. They may have looked at the wrong upc on the vegetable check list. There are many reasons for over rings. So be sure to check your receipt. Some will give you the item free if it scans at the wrong price, but you have to point it out.

This is my kind of article February 22, 2010

You have to check out the “Be Jane” article this week. Go to our Web site, www.hampshirereview.com and click on Lifestyle. You will then need to scroll down to the Be Jane button. 7 Tips for organizing your Home Office. I love those tips. Life is so much easier when you are organized. It is for me. I can’t do chaos.

There is another link I want you to check out. Our editor, Sallie, passed this along to us.  It is a great Web site for you to find when a certain food has extended its shelf life. There is also information on how to store the items. Check it here,  www.stilltasty. You can always find it on our Web site www.hampshirereview.com for future reference. We have added a link for your convenience. Just look it up on our Lifestyle page.

Stay safer online February 18, 2010

I have found 5 quick little  tips to keep you safe while being online. They are listed in the Consumer Reports magazine.

1. Regularly back up important data using portable backup drives. (Those neat little travel drives come in all colors and storage size varies.)

2. Make sure your security software includes anti-virus, anti-spam and anti-spy ware components. (There are many to choose from, do some research before you buy.)

3. Control the privacy settings on your social-networking sites. If you include your birth date, at least leave out the year. (You don’t always have to give all your info out.)

4. To avoid phishers, don’t click on links in e-mail from financial institutions to access your account. (Watch what you click.)

5. To avoid viruses, update application software only at the software publisher’s site. Don’t click on any e-mail attachment unless you expect to receive it.

You can find more online security tips and advice free of charge at ConsumerReports.org/security.

Stay safe while you are surfing and clicking.

Birthdays, Births and Daycare February 3, 2010

Wow, what a Monday in my life. It was all about births, birthdays, daycare and more births. To begin with Monday, January 11 was my husbands birthday. We had our second calf born on the farm. My cousin gave birth to twin boys. A new daycare  opened. We found out the daughter of a late co-worker  had a baby girl in December.

My husband has teased me and our daughter for over a month that our cow was going to have the calf on his birthday. I thought to myself, wouldn’t that be neat, but I didn’t think it would happen. We have kept her in the barn. If she did give birth we could keep her and the baby out of the snow. Everyday we drive by our farm and look for a newborn calf. On Monday, we looked and there he was. He was too cute. We see nothing for weeks, and then there was a calf.

My cousin was scheduled for a C-section. She had the boys around 2:30 pm. They are healthy and doing well. She has a 7 yr. old son already. She owns a male dog and then has a fiance. Poor girl, all those men in the house.

We were told at our office one of co-workers (who has passed away) daughter had a baby girl.

Wow…a newborn calf, babies, baby and birthdays. I think I said the word birth, birthday, twins and daycare too many times.

Out with the Christmas decor January 6, 2010

Ok, all my Christmas decor has been put away for another year. I worked on this all day yesterday. I took the decor down, cleaned out the totes it was in before I put the decor in the totes. Thought I would do a little sorting out. Tried to get rid of some things I have not used for the last few years. Also tried to put items in the tote from the room it came from. Thought maybe next year, wait that will be at the end of this year, thinking of Christmas already. Again, I thought this next Christmas it would be easier to grab a tote take it to a room, decorate and I am done. I will more than likely change my mind where some things go.

I rearranged the living room after taking down the Christmas tree. I also put out some snowmen decor. I guess I could say I had a prosperous day. Adding to this, I fixed dinner, washed two loads of clothes and put all Christmas gifts away. Yes, I did have a prosperous day.