Monthly Archives: March 2016

Animals, Kindness, Leadership

Thrombosis – What is it and can it affect you or your pets?

Katie's+Voice+Event+in+IllinoisI became aware of thrombosis and pulmonary embolisms about five years ago and wanted to share what I know about them with you.  In a nutshell, thrombosis means your blood is clotting.  Blot clots occur for a number of reasons including immobility, damage to a vein, or because of health and environmental reasons.  When a clot blocks a blood vessel it can cause serious health problems and even death.  An embolism occurs when the clot breaks up and pieces of it enter the lungs.

I urge you to learn more and protect yourself, your loved ones, and your pets.  And perhaps you would like to support the fundraiser noted in the photo to help promote awareness and prevent needless tragedy.  Sadly, the young lady pictured above died because people in her life (including doctors) were not aware of the signs and symptoms of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism.

Some signs and symptoms include: redness, swelling, and difficulty breathing.

For more information and tickets please go to the following  website. http://www.katiesvoice.org

Thank you.

Animals, Kindness, Penguins

A Penguin Swims 5,000 Miles to See This Man

man-saves-penguin-returns-swims-5000-miles-18Let me introduce you to Dindim, a South American Magellanic penguin.  He swims 5,000 miles every year to see his special friend.

In 2011 Joao Pereira de Souza found Dindim, covered in oil and close to death.  For 11 months Souza nursed the penguin back to health.  Dindim has now been visiting his friend every year for the past four years.  Souza, a retired bricklayer and fisherman, lives in Brazil.

man-saves-penguin-returns-swims-5000-miles-14

 

Animals, Climate Change, Kindness, Leadership

Racing Extinction

Last week I had the chance to watch the film “Racing Extinction”.  It tells the amazing story of people who are making a difference, saving and protecting animals every day.  These people include race car drivers, former chief executive officers, artists and scientists.  Don’t miss it.

 

Carbon Footprint Reduction

A Great Solution for New Orleans

Beads
Beads

A few weeks ago I had the chance to visit New Orleans, Louisiana or NOLA as it is affectionately called. It was fun to walk around the French Quarter and hear all of the live street music and gaze at some of the beautiful French and Spanish architecture. I also enjoyed the warm weather and riding on the old trolley cars. New Orleans has a rich history, being founded by the French and then ruled by the Spanish for 40 years. It was not until 1803 that it was bought by the United States.

New Orleans is well-known for Mardi Gras, and the carnival season of more than 60 parades, music, dances and hundreds of private parties which precede it. Mardi Gras is French for Fat Tuesday, and carnival, from Latin, means farewell to flesh. Carnival season begins on January 6th and ends on Fat Tuesday (which falls 46 days before Easter).

While I can appreciate a great parade, good music and dance, I am dismayed by all of the waste created by millions of plastic beads, drinking cups, and food containers. It ends up everywhere –on trees, in bushes, on fences and in the water. Scientific reports have already warned us of the dangers of plastic. Plastic water bottles leach off toxins into the very water we drink. And eventually, plastic ends up in the stomachs of the very fish we catch and eat. Plastic can cause cancer, birth defects, infertility, obesity and impaired immune function. It is time for New Orleans to change its ways. One solution would be to put a 5 cent charge on water and soda bottles, and start recycling. Another solution would be for New Orleans to totally ban plastic bags, like Mexico City. Come on New Orleans, it is time to reduce your waste!