Well, I apologize for being so political this week,but I can’t help it.

At a recent United Nations summit meeting there was special session focused on improving the lives of the world’s children. It was agreed that no authentic progress would be made until one fundamental question had been addressed: how do we get the people of one nation to actually care about the children of another nation?

From (M)other, MAU Live: Theatre for Empowerment

Mother’s Acting Up is calling on Americans to telephone every day for the next week our senators and representatives to demand we stop funding the war. A sample message suggested by Mother’s Acting Up is:
“My name is ______, I am a Mother Acting Up and I passionately urge the Senator/Representative to vote NO on the Iraq War supplemental spending bill. One of many reasons to Vote NO is: _______________. This war is not making our children safer; vote NO on more war funding. Thank you.” (If you want to add a Mama Grizzly Bear growl to further get your point across, go for it.)

In addition, Mother’s Acting Up suggests we take action with our children.
Chalk messages for Peace in public places with your children and/or friends. Bring activism into the daily life of your family. Along with beautiful peace signs and words of peace, give a call to action: “Ask Representative X at xxx-xxxx to VOTE NO on WAR FUNDING, for children’s sake!” I like this suggestion for involving children in protest, as I have been hesitant to take my children to marches. Too often, these marches turn violent, and I want my children to learn there are peaceful methods of expressing your opinion and bringing about change.

In a related study, the Institute of War and Peace Reporting suggests that Iraqi classrooms are in chaos, and the war may be creating a generation of ignorant civilians.

Iraq’s education system was once the equal of almost anything in the Middle East, a rare bright-spot in Saddam Hussein’s brutal rule. But a decade of war with Iran, then the first Gulf War and a decade of sanctions left it in ruins. Only half of Iraq’s children were in school by the end of the 1990s.

International donors made restoring education a priority after 2003, but in an atmosphere when college professors carry guns, it’s hardly surprising that reconstruction has taken second place to just staying alive.

I promise, after Monday (when I will be discussing child soldiers) I will return to toys and green living posts. Sometimes I have a hard time keeping politics out of my mind when the world’s children are affected.