Who Am I? About Gwen Davis…

Posted by 03/2009

Hi and welcome to my blog!

 

It is a place to share my thoughts, my writing and my poetry with friends, family and anonymous strangers.

I am an artist and a poet – I hope others enjoy the work that I share and that it provokes thought and discussion.

I first began writing in 1985 at the age of 13 – we were given the task of keeping a journal over the summer, I was reluctant at first but grew to love the outlet that writing provided. It is cathartic and allows me to order my thoughts. Writing has taught me a great deal about language with all its nuances. Never stop learning and appreciating the beauty and power of the written word.

 

- Gwen

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Bill Clinton Named PETA Person of the Year

Posted by 12/2010
As the year winds down to a close, many organizations and magazines are writing their “Best and Worsts of 2010,” and the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is no different.  This year, they have named former US president Bill Clinton as their person of the year.

Clinton Cites Health Benefits as Motivation to Stay Away From Meat

In August of this year, Bill Clinton was reported to have switched to a vegetarian diet in order to shed a few pounds before the wedding of his daughter, Chelsea.  Originally, his goal was to only lose 15 pounds.  Yet he quickly realized that by switching to a meat-free diet he not only sped up his metabolism but he lowered his cholesterol, too– which is extremely important considering the man has undergone two heart surgeries.  After a few short weeks the 64 year old dropped 24 pounds and got back to what he weighed in high school.
Additionally, at the end of September, Clinton switched to a vegan diet (with the occasional fish), and reportedly lives off of beans, legumes, vegetables, fruit, and almond milk in place of dairy.  He has found that he is able to prevent and reverse heart disease, and the fact that studies have shown that vegetarians and vegans live longer than carnivores doesn’t hurt, either.  Vegetarianism and other plant-based diets reduces the risk of cancer, strokes, and other diseases.

Political Implications of a Meat-Based Diet

Of course the health benefits are extensive and a huge motivator for many people who are becoming strict herbivores.  But the political implications are very real, as well.  The meat industry is known for exploiting workers and animals alike; contributing to world hunger; and perpetuating the obesity epidemic (especially in the United States).  On top of all that, the detriment that the meat production industry has on the environment is extreme, by increasing pollution and depleting valuable resources such as fossil fuels, water, and land.  As if the health benefits weren’t enough, the impact eating meat has on the environment should solidify why making the switch to vegetarian- or veganism can’t happen soon enough.

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Haiti Still Shaken after Earthquake

Posted by 01/2010

 

 

The aftershocks that took place after the catastrophic earthquake that shook the Caribbean country of Haiti have finally subsided, with over 52 being recorded. Earlier this month, at 4:52 local time on Tuesday 12 January, the earthquake hit with a magnitude of 7.0 on the moment magnitude scale. The epicenter was near the town of Léogâne, about 25 kilometers west of the country’s capital of Port-au-Prince.

 

Already previously considered the poorest country in the Americas (according to the Human Development Index), the devastation that has since occurred in Haiti in terms of casualties as well as damages to the infrastructure has sadly only further insured that it stays the poorest country in the region. Hundreds of Thousands Dead Though the total death toll included civilians and government officials, locals and foreigners alike, the majority of those who were killed and wounded in the earthquake were civilians. The number of casualties, which was marked at 150,000 in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince alone, should only rise higher in the months to come, as medical officials and emergency response members continue to dig through the damage. With the casualty count so high, the earthquake in Haiti is now at number seven on the list of the top ten deadliest earthquakes on record.

 

Aftermath and Relief Efforts

 

So far, vital infrastructure has been most destroyed, including hospitals, all transport facilities (including land, sea, and air transport), and communication systems. In the town of Léogâne, which again is where the epicenter was located, 90% of the town’s buildings had been destroyed. This is not to mention the large amount of homes that were flattened, causing the displacement of a huge amount of Haitians who were forced to sleep in the streets, in their cars, or on sidewalks. Humanitarian aid has been coming in quickly in response to the earthquake, and organizations such as the UN, Giving Children Hope, Partners in Health and the Red Cross have been crucial for their role in sending aid and rescue response teams. An outpouring of public donations has come form all over the world to bring emergency assistance to the victims. It will probably take a very long time for Haiti to rebuild after the catastrophic event, but should run smoothly considering the immense amount of help Haiti has received from the international community.

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The World Digital Library Project

Posted by 04/2009
Ever since my last year of university, when I took a political science class on international law, I have been fascinated with the inner workings of the United Nations.  One of many agencies of the UN is UNESCO, or the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, which was incorporated to contribute to international security and peace by promoting global collaboration in science, education, and culture.  Ultimately the hope of UNESCO is to promote justice, law, freedom, and human rights through its programs in the natural sciences, humanities, communication, information, and education.
UNESCO’s latest endeavor, which is four years in the making, was designed to promote international community and attempt to close the digital divide.  Last week, at their Paris headquarters, UNESCO launched the World Digital Libraryin partnership with the United States Library of Congress in Washington, DC, and the Bibliotheca Alexandrina in Egypt.  The quoted mission statement of the WDL is to “promote international and intercultural understanding; expand the volume and variety of cultural content on the Internet; provide resources for educators, scholars, and general audiences; and to build capacity in partner institutions to narrow the digital divide.”  At the time of the launch, over 1200 exhibits are available in the library, covering a wide variety of topics from North American geography to Asian philosophy.Minimizing the Digital Divide

One of the most important aspects, in my opinion, is the fact that access to the WDL is free.  Additionally, the website is multilingual, as it operates in seven languages (and has content written in forty) with plans to increase it to more.  This means that regardless of location, nationality, or socioeconomic status, no one will be denied access to the library’s database.
If the main goal of UNESCO’s latest undertaking is to bolster international cooperation and increase global internet access to education and culture, then it seems that so far they are doing a good job.  With nineteen partners from all over he globe, including members from Iraq, Russia, Uganda, China, Brazil, and Mexico, the WDL is a great addition to the promotion of UNESCO’s ideals.  Reportedly, the next step in closing the digital gap is to give resources to under-developed countries to allow them to create their own digital libraries.  I can’t wait to see what the future holds.

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