#RandomThoughts

I begin this edition of with a headline I am particularly proud of:  An Eagle Scout Candidate delivering his project to the California State Guard.   It was great to be witness to it over Veterans Day Week-End 2019.   It was part of what was quite a weekend that saw me attend a Veterans Day Event in Costa Mesa, a Veterans Day Ceremony in Laguna Niguel.

It has also been quite a month in our World.    I was simply shocked as I saw this from a mailing from UC Davis: 

The idea that almost 50 percent of College Kids are Food Insecure is simply unacceptable.    Yet, some of the discourse we have been witness to in our World fails to truly address such fundamentals.     I was glad, though, as I saw the totals of the Annual Orange County Scouts Day of Service and what the community was able to be raised:

San Juan Rotary Club - 983 pounds (appx 819 meals)

Council Center - 3,227 pounds (appx. 2,689 meals)

SHFB - 566 pounds (appx. 472 meals)

Fullerton - 310 pounds (appx. 258 meals)

Total: 5,086 pounds (appx. 4,238 meals)

I was also blown away this weekend as I saw the future in action in Orange County as the new Voting Centers were showcased at the OC Fair Grounds and I had a chance to chat with the Registrar of Voter Team.   I captured the following images of it:

As I close out this mid-point #RandomThoughts, I close out with these image on the agony of these Two Mothers as the fires raged on in Australia courtesy China Daily & Financial Times of London:

This is as I was horrified to see how the Founder of the Syrian White Helmets was assassinated in Istanbul.   I also saw how Hassan Rouhani, the Iranian President, celebrated his Birthday on his Presidential Plane as Iranians continued to suffer and suffocate under a dictatorship as I pay homage to all those who are in prison today in Iran including signatory of the 14-Person Manifesto who continue to be held with no charge.   

We have to do better-and we will!!!

I remain hopeful as I close out my #RandomThoughts as I wish all in the United States a Happy Thanksgiving and remain ever so hopeful.

I look forward to my next edition of #RandomThoughts next month in my Virtual Corner Next Month.

#RandomThoughts

I have been out & about over the past week with on-going initiatives.    While I've been on my prowl today, I decided to be supportive of the call to action by Second Harvest that I saw earlier over the weekend:

Dear Partners, The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently released a proposed rule that would severely restrict eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). If implemented, this rule would result in three million individuals losing SNAP and 500,000 children losing access to free school meals. We are asking you to join Second Harvest Food Bank in opposing this harmful rule by writing comments and sharing how it would increase hunger in your community. Please find below, a template letter for you to use in contacting USDA. The letter can be sent through mail, email, or online link and must be received by September 23, 2019. All comments received by USDA must be read, cataloged and answered in the final rule. As people on the front lines of hunger in our community, we believe it is crucial for USDA to hear your voice. For questions about the proposed rule, please contact Sarah Tolentino or Brana Vlasic at sarah@feedoc.org or brana@feedoc.org. Thank you for your continued support in helping to make sure that we have all the resources we need to help feed the hungry in our community. Sincerely, Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County As I was working away on commitments at the Daily Outsider, I noticed a call out from the NRDC which I had the pleasure to sign off on especially in light of the disaster on-going at the Amazon--what was so sad was seeing how the Brazilian President mocked the First Lady of France as the Amazon Burnt: Mike— For nearly a month, the Amazon rainforest — "the Earth's lungs" — has been on fire. This tragedy affects us all, and is yet another terrible reminder about climate change, how fragile the world's forests are, and how much work needs to be done. Today is National Toilet Paper Day, a day to act to protect another of the Earth's critical carbon-storing forests — the boreal forests of northern Canada. These majestic forests store huge amounts of our climate-busting carbon pollution. But the boreal is also being cut at a dizzying rate… much of it to make toilet paper. And right now, too many toilet paper brands use 100% virgin forest fiber that often comes from clear-cut ancient trees and old-growth forests — like the Canadian boreal. But there's something that we can do to help stop the destruction of the old-growth boreal forest — We Wipe Right. By pledging to switch from 100% virgin forest fiber toilet paper to 100% recycled, each wipe can help save trees and reduce greenhouse gas pollution and also let companies know you want them to switch to making products that don't flush our forests down the toilet. Mike, take the pledge to Wipe Right and save our trees — and our climate — by switching to 100% recycled toilet paper. Help us reach our goal of 100,000 pledges, and find out which toilet paper brands are best for the environment. Never underestimate the importance of toilet paper in our fight against climate change: Destroying forests to make toilet paper is a threat not just to our environment and our climate, but to hundreds of Indigenous communities, iconic boreal caribou, billions of songbirds, and other wildlife that call this ancient forest home. Too many toilet paper brands use 100% virgin forest fiber that often comes from clear-cut ancient trees and old-growth forests — including Canada's boreal forest. But, if every person in the U.S. replaced just one roll of toilet paper made from trees with a roll made with 100% recycled materials, we could save 1,083,000 carbon-storing trees. So, what can we do to help stop the destruction of the old-growth boreal forest? We Wipe Right. Take the pledge to Wipe Right and help us reach our goal of 100,000 pledges. By taking the pledge, you'll be on your way to becoming a more conscious consumer of toilet paper and other paper goods. We'll even share more information and resources with you that will give you the rundown on what brands are the most sustainable. So, in honor of National Toilet Paper Day, help us reach 100,000 pledges by taking the pledge to Wipe Right for our environment. Then find out which toilet paper brands are best for the planet. Thanks, and happy National Toilet Paper Day! Shelley Vinyard Boreal Corporate Campaign Manager, NRDC Such Random Thoughts won't be even possible without my reflecting upon Iran.    One the Iranian Legends, Googosh, produced this clip capturing how she (and all Iranians) were witness to the last 40 years--the lyrics are in Farsi but the images are striking and the music is absolutely stunning and beautiful as she collaborated with another Iranian Legend, Siavash Ghomeshi:  I was so proud of this from my second cousin who served as a member of the Production Team for this Movie and the beautiful retrospective she wrote underscoring the profound challenges Iranians face right now and how I understand it has been shortlisted for the Oscars:    As I finish off these Random Thoughts, It is in the end about making a difference.    But what the Guardian's Simon Tisdall wrote in the aftermath of the G7 Truly gave me a moment of pause as he closed out his column today with this: "...It’s time to think again about who rules the world, and how – while there’s still a world left to rule...."   A chilling thought indeed....