MOTHERS DAY ~ A TRIBUTE TO MOTHERS EVERYWHERE

I thought it would be interesting to check into the history of Mothers Day and also thought it would be nice to create a YouTube video with inspirational quotes on motherhood. I’d appreciate you watching it on YouTube and ‘liking it’. I dedicated my Mothers Day tribute to my amazing daughter who is the fabulous Mom of my 5 year old grandson and is my inspiration, ”my hero” and “the wind beneath my wings” ~ I hope you enjoy it and you are welcome to share with all the Moms near (or far) and dear to you.

EARLIEST HISTORY OF MOTHERS DAY:
The earliest history of Mothers Day dates back to the ancient annual spring festival the Greeks dedicated to maternal goddesses. The Greeks used the occasion to honor Rhea, wife of Cronus and the mother of many deities of Greek mythology. Ancient Romans, too, celebrated a spring festival, called Hilaria dedicated to Cybele, a mother goddess. It may be noted that ceremonies in honour of Cybele began some 250 years before Christ was born. The celebration made on the Ides of March by making offerings in the temple of Cybele lasted for three days and included parades, games and masquerades. The celebrations were notorious enough that followers of Cybele were banished from Rome.

History of Mother’s Day in England:
The more recent history of Mothers Day dates back to 1600s in England. Here a Mothering Sunday was celebrated annually on the fourth Sunday of Lent (the 40 day period leading up to Easter) to honor mothers… Custom of celebrating Mothering Sunday died out almost completely by the 19th century. However, the day came to be celebrated again after World War II, when American servicemen brought the custom and commercial enterprises used it as an occasion for sales.

Mother’s Day in the United States:
The idea of official celebration of Mothers day in US was first suggested by Julia Ward Howe in 1872. An activist, writer and poet Julia shot to fame with her famous Civil War song, “Battle Hymn of the Republic“. Julia Ward Howe suggested that June 2 be annually celebrated as Mothers Day and should be dedicated to peace.
Anna Jarvis is recognised as the Founder of Mothers Day in US. Though Anna Jarvis never married and never had kids, she is also known as the Mother of Mothers Day, an apt title for the lady who worked hard to bestow honor on all mothers… The hard work paid off. By 1911, Mother’s Day was celebrated in almost every state in the Union and on May 8, 1914 President Woodrow Wilson signed a Joint Resolution designating the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day.

Mother’s Day in Canada:
In North American country of Canada, Mothers Day is the most popular festival after Christmas and Valentines Day. Just as in USA, Mothers Day in Canada is celebrated in the second Sunday in the month of May. People pay tribute to their mothers on the day and thank them for their constant support and love.  Here in Ottawa we have the Tulip Festival which coincides with Mother’s Day.

http://www.conservapedia.com/Mother’s_Day

FATHOMS DEEP!!! ~ THE COUSTEAU LEGACY LIVES ON

FATHOMS DEEP ~ Protecting the Seafloor

“The future is in the hands of those who explore… and from all the beauty they discover while crossing perpetually receding frontiers, they develop for nature and humankind an infinite love.” ~ Jacques Cousteau

We have a great opportunity to watch an incredible video created by Alexandra Cousteau – YouTube Sep 13, 2012. I hope you  find this to be as educational and entertaining as I did.

In 2010 and 2011 Oceana partnered with SeaLife Conservation and their eco-research sailboat, the Derek M. Baylis, and the Monterey Bay Sanctuary to explore and document Monterey Bay and other incredible West Coast ocean habitats with a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and camera  ~ “FATHOMS DEEP – Protecting the Seafloor”, narrated by Alexandra Cousteau.

“Mankind has had an affinity for the ocean since our earliest beginnings. Near or far, the ocean draws us in. The longer you stare at the ocean, the more you take in its wonder. The deeper you go, the more you appreciate its complexity.  Landing on the soft substrata of the sea floor is like arriving on another planet. It appears flat and barren, but in fact, it is teeming with life.”

Wikipedia web site has a lengthy bio on Alexandra Phillipe  Cousteau, the granddaughter of world famous French explorer and filmmaker Jacques-Yves Cousteau: “A member of the third generation of the Cousteau family to devote their lives to exploring and explaining the natural world, Cousteau first went on expedition with her father, Philippe Cousteau, when she was four months old, and learned to scuba dive with her grandfather, Jacques-Yves Cousteau, when she was seven. She grew up traveling the globe, developed a passion for adventure and learned firsthand the value of conserving the natural world. Of her father and grandfather, Cousteau says, “The best example they gave me was the importance of living a life of consequence, value, and meaning. I honor their memories by creating a legacy of my own in speaking out for the preservation of our blue planet and all its waters.”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandra_Cousteau

Learn more about the expedition and adventure @ oceana.org

IS YOUR ATTITUDE CONTAGIOUS? ~ INSPIRATIONAL!!!

“ATTITUDES ARE CONTAGIOUS.
IS YOURS WORTH CATCHING?”

YouTube video, “Attitude is Everything” by Vicki Hitzges, uploaded on March 22, 2011.  Music “Free As a Bird” by Omar.

“Attitude is a little thing that makes a BIG difference.”
Three of my favorite quotes from this video are ~

 KEEP AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE ~ “Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” William Arthur Ward

JOY BOOMERANGS ~ “If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.” Booker T. Washington

SURROUND YOURSELF WITH POSITIVE PEOPLE  ~ “To love and be loved is to feel the sun from both sides.” David Viscott

This fantastic book is available from Simple Truths ~ click here to learn more about the book: http://bit.ly/dLbqOS

 

Do you think your attitude is making a difference in your life and the lives around you???

Let us all count our blessings ~
and jot them down.

Best wishes for a great weekend
now that spring is finally here
from your friends at

      

AMAZING K 9 (CANINE) UNIT ~ MAN’S BEST FRIEND!!!

A police dog, often referred to as a “K-9″ (which is a homophone of canine) in some areas, is a dog that is trained specifically to assist police and other law-enforcement personnel in their work.  The most commonly used breed is the German Shepherd, although now Belgian Malinois are also fairly popular dogs to use… A growing number of law-enforcement organizations outfit dogs with ballistic vests,… more info at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Policedog

Jim and Gloria Slater of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, owners of K9 Storm Inc., design and manufacture the best canine tactical force suits used worldwide.

Here are 2 videos related to Military K9 units.

Published on Feb 19, 2013 ~ One look at how cool under pressure these service men are and you can see what made this country great. Remember to watch Glory Hounds, Thursday @ 8pm on Animal Planet. Thanks for your service Len, you do Americans proud.

Published on Feb 21, 2013 ~ The premiere  aired last Thursday at 8/7c. http://animal.discovery.com/tv-shows/…

Inside military dogs’ life-saving role in war
Published on Feb 21, 2013 U.S. Air Force Tech Sgt. Leonard Anderson, who is part of Animal Planet’s “Glory Hounds” two-hour TV special to air Thursday, discusses his dog Azza who he says helped save his life after a roadside explosion.

“A dog has one aim in life ~
to bestow his heart.”

Watch more Animal Planet at http://animal.discovery.com/tv-shows/…

COURAGE DOESN’T ALWAYS ROAR ~ IWD 2013

When we think about courage, it’s usually stories of heroism that come to mind. But for millions of women around the world, courage comes in a very different way. It’s a quiet voice that gives them the strength to go on for another day. Take 3 minutes and be inspired by this new movie celebrating the courage and strength of women just like you.

As today, March 8th is International Women’s Day observed around the world, I thought it would be most fitting to share this Simple Truths video, “ Courage Does Not Always Roar” with you. 

I’m surprised, but pleased to read that it is an official  holiday in many countries  ~ the following excerpts are from http://www.internationalwomensday.com/about.asp                                                                         “IWD is now an official holiday in Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, China (for women only), Cuba, Georgia, Guinea-Bissau, Eritrea, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Madagascar (for women only), Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Nepal (for women only), Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Zambia. The tradition sees men honouring their mothers, wives, girlfriends, colleagues, etc with flowers and small gifts. In some countries IWD has the equivalent status of Mother’s Day where children give small presents to their mothers and grandmothers…

Annually on 8 March, thousands of events are held throughout the world to inspire women and celebrate achievements. A global web of rich and diverse local activity connects women from all around the world ranging from political rallies, business conferences, government activities and networking events through to local women’s craft markets, theatric performances, fashion parades and more.

Many global corporations have also started to more actively support IWD by running their own internal events and through supporting external ones. For example, on 8 March search engine and media giant Google some years even changes its logo on its global search pages. Year on year IWD is certainly increasing in status. The United States even designates the whole month of March as ‘Women’s History Month‘.

So make a difference, think globally and act locally !! Make everyday International Women’s Day. Do your bit to ensure that the future for girls is bright, equal, safe and rewarding.

 

OTTAWA RIVERKEEPER ADVENTURE FILM FESTIVAL

Ottawa’s First Wild and Scenic Film Festival

Join Ottawa Riverkeeper for an evening of adventure-packed films that celebrate our natural world while raising funds to protect the Ottawa River.

The evening includes a silent auction, door prizes and the opportunity to speak to the Ottawa Riverkeeper herself, Meredith Brown!

When: Thursday, February 21, 2013 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
(Doors open at 6:30 pm)

Where: Library and Archives Canada, 395 Wellington Street, Ottawa

Why: All proceeds from this evening support Ottawa Riverkeeper initiatives, including the purchase of water quality test kits for our Riverwatch Program. Swim. Drink. Fish. It’s your river, it’s your right!

Tickets: $12 General Admission, $50 VIP pass (1 ticket with reserved premium seating and admission to our prescreening reception)

Hosted by Ottawa Riverkeeper, this year’s Wild and Scenic Film Festival features award-winning environmental documentaries with a focus on freshwater.

Through stellar filmmaking, beautiful cinematography and first-rate storytelling these films inform, inspire and ignite solutions to restore the earth, build strong communities, and create a positive future for the next generation.

Award Winning Films

White Water, Black Gold
Follows David Lavallee on his three year journey across western Canada in search of the truth about the impact of the world’s thirstiest oil industry. This is a journey of jarring contrasts, from the pristine mountain icefields that are the source of this industry’s water, to the Tar Sands tailings ponds. White Water, Black Gold is a sober look at the untold costs associated with this unconventional ‘oil’. Take a sneak peak!

Chasing Water
Follow the Colorado River, source to sea, with photographer Pete McBride who takes an intimate look at the watershed as he attempts to follow the irrigation water that sustains his family’s Colorado ranch, down river to the sea. Check out the trailer

For a full listing of films…

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Amazing Prizes

A Stand Up Paddle group lesson for six from Paddlefit

An Ocean Wise five-course menu by Executive Chef Walid El-Tawel with Restaurant e18hteen

Buy tickets online or at Delilah (in the Parc), Delilah (in the Glebe), Mountain Equipment Co-op or Trailhead

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“Like” Ottawa Riverkeeper on Facebook and share this contest for a chance to win 2 VIP passes to the festival!

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Not already a member? Join Ottawa Riverkeeper today!

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Forward this message to a friend

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Ottawa Riverkeeper is a charitable organization. Our business number is 862697059RR0001. Please consider making a donation to support our work.

Concerned citizens like you are part of a watershed network of people committed to the protection and conservation of our river. Thank you for helping to keep our watershed healthy!

Copyright ©2012 Ottawa Riverkeeper Inc.
301-1960 Scott Street, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1Z 8L8
Phone 613-321-1120 1-888-9Keeper
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HOW AWESOME IS THIS?! SEADRAGONS PART 2

LEAFY SEADRAGONS, AN ENDANGERED SPECIES, ARE CLOSELY RELATED TO SEAHORSES AND WEEDY SEADRAGONS 

Exotic

   Exquisite

      Enchanting

        Extraordinary

Seadragons are some of the most ornately camouflaged creatures on the planet. Their spectacular gossamer, leaf-shaped appendages over their entire bodies enable them to blend in perfectly in their habitat of seaweed and kelp found in water to the south and east of Australia’s coast.

Seadragon males are responsible for childbearing. The male dragons have a spongy brood patch on the underside of the tail where females deposit their bright-pink eggs during mating. The eggs are fertilized during the transfer from the female to the male. The males incubate the eggs and release miniature sea dragons into the water after about four to six weeks (as seen in the video).

Seadragons survive on tiny crustaceans such as mysids, or sea lice. They are frequently captured by divers hoping to keep them as pets. In fact, such takings shrank their numbers so critically by the early 1990s that the Australian government placed a complete protection on both species. Pollution and habitat loss have also hurt their numbers, and they are currently listed as near threatened.

Leafy seadragon documentary film “The Vanishing Dragon”,   uploaded to YouTube by madge1964 on Jan 5, 2009, was filmed in South Australia. The complete documentary DVD can be purchased at www.abysspictures.com

“Leafy Sea Dragon Compilation” YouTube video, uploaded by combisoft on Sep 23, 2006, is filmed in South Australia under the jetties at Rapid Bay and Wool Bay

Exhibits at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.  ~ Leafy Sea Dragon HD SlowMix, Leafy Sea Dragon, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey California, USA, Uploaded on Mar 21, 2010 by jimg944

Orlando SeaWorld breeds rare seadragons ~ “We see people come up to this (seadragon) exhibit every day, and they’re just amazed to see that there’s something so unusual-looking. They’re a beautiful representation of the marine life of the ocean,” said Teryl Nolan Hesse, assistant curator for aquariums at SeaWorld Orlando. “They come here, see this, and they get excited about it. And when they’re excited about something, they want to learn more.”

http://seattletimes.com/html/nationworld/2018993230_seadragons26.html?syndication=rss

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leafy_sea_dragon

WATER TRIVIA ~ VERITABLE ENCYCLOPEDIA

The following article is taken from http://savethewater.org/did-you-know/water-facts/ ~ a virtual encyclopedia of all things water related – a marvelous site to visit!

The mission of Save the Water™ is to conduct water research to identify toxic chemicals harmful to humans, animals, and the environment.  Save the Water™ is committed to finding methods to eliminate the toxins and improve the quality of drinking water.

Water Trivia ~ part of Save the Water’s “500 Water Facts” site.

• It takes about 1 gallon of water to process a quarter pound of hamburger.

• It takes 2,072 gallons of water to make four new tires.

• The first United States water plant with filters was built in 1872 in Poughkeepsie, New York.
• In 1908, Jersey City, New Jersey and Chicago, Illinois were the first water supplies to be chlorinated    in the United States.
• Water intoxication occurs when water dilutes the sodium level in the bloodstream and causes an imbalance of water in the brain.
• In the 1950’s scientists began to suspect that water might carry diseases. Although earlier treatment of water could make the water safer, it was mainly done to improve the taste, smell or looks of the water. One gallon of water is equal to 3.785 liters of water. The overall amount of water on our planet has remained the same for two billion years.
• The United States consumes water at twice the rate of other industrialized nations.
• One cubic foot of water is equal to 7.48 gallons of water.
• Water boils at 212o Fahrenheit or 100o Celsius.
• Ancient Egyptians treated water by siphoning water out of the top of huge jars after allowing the muddy water from the Nile River to settle
• At any one time, it is estimated that half the world’s hospital beds are occupied with patients suffering from waterborne diseases.
• Average amount of pesticides used, per acre, per year, in agriculture: 2.7 pounds.
• Amount of water used by 60,000 villagers in Thailand, on average, per day: 6,500 cubic meters.
• Amount of water used by one golf course in Thailand, on average, per day: 6,500 cubic meters.
• Most of the earth’s surface water is permanently frozen or salty.
• Approximately 70% of the world’s supply of fresh water is located in Antarctica, locked in 90% of the world’s ice. (Source: Gulf of Maine Research Institute)
• The earth’s total allotment of water has a volume of about 344 million cubic miles. Of this:

• 315 million cubic miles (93%) is sea water!
• 9 million cubic miles (2.5%) is in aquifers deep below the earth’s surface.
• 7 million cubic miles (2%) is frozen in polar ice caps.
• 53,000 cubic miles of water pass through the planet’s lakes and streams.
• 4,000 cubic miles of water is atmospheric moisture.
• 3,400 cubic miles of water are locked within the bodies of living things.
• Water freezes at 32o Fahrenheit or 0o Celsius.
• During the 20th century, water use increased at double the rate of population growth; while the global population tripled, water use per capita increased by six times.

WOMENS’ WATER POLO GOLD ~ FIRST TIME WIN FOR USA!

Water polo made its Olympic debut at the Paris Games in 1900. It was not included in 1904, but would be present at each subsequent edition of the Olympic Games.

In the early days, the players rode on floating barrels that resembled mock horses, and swung at the ball with mallet-like sticks. This made it similar to equestrian polo, hence its name.

London 2012 Men’s Olympic Water Polo gold medal team ~

Croatia secured gold in the men’s Water Polo final at London 2012.  The Balkan outfit have been the outstanding side of the London 2012 tournament, with eight wins from eight matches, and end it as worthy champions.  Their dominance in defence was too much for the Italians, who are reigning world champions.

YouTube video ~Water Polo  Men’s Gold Medal Final – Croatia v Italy Full Replay from the Water Polo Arena at the London 2012 Olympic Games. – 12 August 2012, Published on Aug 12, 2012 by olympic

Americans won their first ever Olympic women’s water polo title.  United States secured gold in the women’s Water Polo final at London 2012 against Spain.  Americans finished 3rd in 2004 and 2nd in 2000 and 2008.

YouTube video ~ Water Polo Women’s Semifinal Round – United States v Australia. Full Replay from the Water Polo Arena at the London 2012 Olympic Games ~ Published on Aug 7, 2012 by olympic

USA women make a splash for Water Polo Gold – full replay.

http://www.olympic.org/videos/usa-women-make-a-splash-for-water-polo-gold-full-replay

YouTube video, “a guide to water polo“, uploaded by TommyGunn54 on Mar 23, 2007 ~”A simple explanation of why water polo is the toughest sport on earth. It’s my first video I’ve ever made. The song is “The Show Must Go On” by Queen. I think it captures the game of water polo well.”

GREAT LAKES ~ COOPERATION ACROSS BORDERS

Great Lakes United’s John Jackson on Ontario’s proposed Great Lakes Protection Act, by Meirav Even-Har of Water Canada November/December 2012 issue ~ excerpts ~

With the amended Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA) recently signed between Canada and the United States …Ontario’s proposed Great Lakes Protection Act (Bill 100) comes at a crucial time… The ambitious goal to restore and protect the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin is no easy task. This proposed legislation is meant to enable the revision and implementation of the now expired Canada-Ontario Agreement Respecting the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem to execute the Province’s obligations under the GLWQA. It’s also meant to build on current work and existing laws and regulations to create a new set of tools that will be driven, to some extent, by a local, community based approach to protection.
As an enabling act, the GLPA will allow for the creation of regulations and specific actions based on consultation with stakeholders, government bodies, First Nations and Métis, as well as the public. According to the draft Great Lakes Strategy—a guiding document to accompany the Act—the key elements
to the proposed legislation include setting a direction on Great Lakes, establishing a Great Lakes Guardians’ Council, identifying priorities for action in a strategy, building on existing tools by establishing clear targets, and taking phased, targeted action with geographically focused initiatives… Water Canada: Is this the right time for a Great Lakes Protection Act? John Jackson: The value of a piece of legislation is to draw attention to the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River as needing broad serious attention,  not just as part of the overall environmental programs. It recognizes the special importance of the Great Lakes and helps draw attention to them. This legislation should not, however, be seen as the answer to all of the problems in the Great Lakes. The government must still focus on making sure it  implements the already existing legislation and Agreements such as the Water Conservation Act and the Great Lakes-St Lawrence River Water Sustainability Agreement with the U.S. Great Lakes states. How will the proposed Act work with current binational management of the Lakes? The Bill commits Ontario to participate in the binational activities and to play a leadership role. This is a very important step forward, since, with the  exception of the Water Sustainability Agreement, the provincial attendees at binational meetings tend to take more of an observer role rather than being active participants. This is a problem that I hope this will help us overcome. What lessons, if any, have we learned? What needs to happen to protect and restore the Great Lakes? We need new long-term  financial commitments by the federal and provincial and state governments to implementing Great Lakes programs and to monitoring and assessing progress. Instead we are confronted by all governments making promises while reducing the amount of staff and scientists working on the issue, et cetera. The new Ontario bill makes no financial commitments. This is a  serious problem. We need commitments by all governments to strengthen legislation and regulations if needed. Unfortunately, all levels of government are now stepping back from strengthening anything that is a non-voluntary program. We need more serious engagement by the government of stakeholders and the public in decision-making on Great Lakes matters. This bill includes components that, if properly implemented, could be important steps forward on this matter.

Meirav Even-Har is a sustainability consultant and writer. She is also 3RCertified program manager at the recycling Council of Ontario.

Link ~ http://watercanada.net/

http://www.ec.gc.ca/stl/default.asp?lang=En&n=F46CF5F8-1