Celebrity Author & Motivational Speaker Mark Papadas!

Mark Papadas

Highly successful author, speaker, coach and businessman Mark Papadas has worked with world class self-help authors and motivational leaders like Tony Robins, Brian Tracy, and Zig Ziglar. After years of improving the lives of adults, Mark turned his focus to the most important people in the world — OUR KIDS! 

 

Mark Papadas created I AM 4 Kids  

to fulfill 

the needs of children!

Let’s find out more about this incredible educational foundation and the man behind it!

 Interview

Alex: Please tell us a bit about yourself and what motivated you to create this phenomenal non-profit organization known as I AM 4 KIDS? 

Mark Papadas Bio:

Mark Papadas is an author, speaker, coach and founder of I AM 4 Kids™, an innovative children’s empowerment program that is revolutionizing elementary education. After years of training and coaching adults, he’s delivering those same self-empowerment tools to children.

Being blessed to work in the self-development field for over 20 years, working with and for such leaders as Brian Tracy, Zig Ziglar, and Anthony Robbins, Mark has been witness to countless success stories by those who realize their power and achieve their goals using proven tools and strategies.

When introduced to the concepts of personal growth and self-empowerment in high school, Mark was immediately hooked. Growing up in the 70’s, his parents worked hard to keep food on the table and make ends meet. Frequently, Mark was in the care of two older brothers – one of which often got his point across with his fists. Many times, he was beaten severely. While it was a difficult period growing up, he learned to control his mind and look inward for strength. Those tough childhood years are the threads that help Mark relate to the challenges many children face today.

Mark is an engaging leader, great motivator and superb teacher. His creative energy has compelled him to create several innovative programs that are helping tens of thousands of people today.

Some of his career achievements are:

• Created I AM 4 Kids – an innovative new children’s empowerment program taught in elementary schools teaching each child how to create their own empowering identity.
• Authored the book 10 Secrets to Empower Kids and Awaken the Child in You!
• Nominated for 2011 Chicago Innovation Award for I AM 4 Kids.
• Wrote final chapter in collaborative eBook, "The Way Out…Your Guided Path to Success" with Brian Tracy, Bill Bartmann, Jim Cathcart, Steve Siebold, Hyrum Smith, Marsha Petrie Sue, Ivan Misner, Don Hutson, & others.
• Appeared with legends such as Zig Ziglar and Brian Tracy.
• Hosted live talk radio show - The Motivational Hour - on AM 560 WIND on Sunday mornings from 2005 – 2007.
• Managed the operations of Anthony Robbins & Associates - Chicago.
• Designed programs such as I AM…The Power of Your True Identity™, The R.A.P.I.D. Sales Method™, and Their Lips are Moving™ - which have changed the lives and fortunes of individuals and businesses.

Mark is bringing his message of identity, empowerment and leadership to the most important people in the world — OUR KIDS! 

Why I AM 4 Kids:

As someone who has been a student of personal development for decades and trained/coached adults successfully for years, I can’t tell you how many times people have said, “Why didn’t they teach me this stuff in school?” Also, as a parent of three amazing kids and a coach of multiple youth sports, I had been teaching kids “informally” for a number of years. Then, one night as if by fate, I had an epiphany - a stream of consciousness in which the program, the characters, the format, and the business model came to life. I realized that I had found my life’s purpose. The reason I was on the planet. The “why” of all the things I had learned and experienced up to that moment. All that was left was to build an organization and execute the plan.

Alex: This may seem like a simple or naive question but why does empowering kids at an early age work?

Mark Papadas: First off, let me tell you that I believe every child is born with all the traits and characteristics they need to be successful throughout their lives. It is the stuff they learn from adults as they are growing up that handicaps them.

 There is a reason why we chose the age group of 2^nd thru 5^th graders. It is the optimal time to reach kids. It is the point in where they are developing both their cognitive thought processes as well as their belief system. Unlike adults who have to “unlearn” their disempowering patterns, belief system, and lack of identity, kids are a blank slate at this point in their development. The identity that a person develops as a child is the identity they will have as adults. The younger a child develops an empowering identity, the more likely he/she is to succeed…not just now but as teens and adults.

Alex: What are some of the educational results parents and teachers can expect by implementing I AM 4 KIDS strategies? 

Mark: Children will do better in school. By capitalizing on the Mind/Body connection, the child will be in their peak learning state in school. In our pilot classrooms, over 60% of the kids grades improved and disciplinary actions decreased by over 70%. As the program is implemented in more schools across the country, we fully expect that attendance will improve as well.

Alex: How long does a typical I AM 4 KIDS program take and what are the costs associated with the program?

Mark: The I AM program only takes a couple hours of in-class time but is a lifelong gift for anyone who goes through it. The DVD portion of the program takes between 90-120 minutes – depending on the class size. After that, it literally takes less than two minutes of time in class each day to keep anchoring the identity. All other aspects of the program are extracurricular. We designed the program with input from classroom teachers as well as administrators. We have eliminated all of the objections that a school would have to implementing the program… including cost. The program costs the school ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!!  The costs of implementing (about $3,500 per school) are paid by corporate sponsors and philanthropic donors.

Alex: What does a typical I AM 4 KIDS class look like?

Mark: I think you are asking what happens in the class rather than the socio-economic demographics. So, that’s the direction I’ll go with this answer. The program consists of an interactive DVD of me interacting with the 5 animated I AM 4 Kids characters. It is divided into several short engaging segments with each followed by an exercise to be done in class or for homework. After that, we use technology to communicate and challenge the kids and their family to live up to their identity each and every day.

Alex: I ‘m sure there are many, but can you tell us a few of the success stories from the I AM 4 KIDS graduates?

Mark: Due to privacy laws dealing with minors, I cannot give specific details of individual children. There have been several children who went from failing grades to Honor Roll within a year. But the real successes come from the projects the kids do in the final step of the process. For examples of projects that kids have come up with:

http://www.iam4kids.com/schools/theprogram/iam4kidsprojectexamples.html

Alex: The I AM 4 KIDS supporters/sponsors are people and companies that embrace the mantra “Make a Difference EVERY Day!”  Who are some of the big name supporters for this phenomenal foundation?

Mark: Some of the big name corporations who have supported us to date are Jones Lang LaSalle – the world’s largest commercial real estate company and Goldman Sachs.

In terms of celebrity backing, there is Barbara Niven – one of Hollywood’s busiest actresses, celebrity fragrance designer Geir Ness, and several former NFL players like Emery Moorehead and Shafer Suggs.

Alex: IAM4KIDS works within the educational system how can an interested educator or parent become involved within the United States?  Would it be possible to recreate the IAM4KIDS experience overseas?

Mark: Absolutely. That is part of the reason we chose animated characters. This is becoming a movement that will spread across the globe. It is too important not to.

Alex: Mr. Papadas your new book, “10 Secrets to Empower Kids & Awaken the Child in You!” has been receiving accolades from various educational stakeholders, can you give us a few practical parenting tips that we could start on right away?

Mark:

1. Expect greatness and let your kids know it. For many years, the last thing my wife and I say to our kids when they leave for school each day is “Be Great!” to which they reply enthusiastically, “I AM!”  It is a little thing that has an amazing impact over time.

2. Lead by Example. This is important for many reasons. We all know the old quote, “Action speaks louder than words.” If your words are not congruent with your actions, your kids will doubt what you tell them. They hear one thing but see another. If you are not the trusted source, who then fills that void? Gangs? Cliques?

3. Decisions have consequences. We have to let our kids learn from their mistakes and accept the consequences for their choices and actions. If kids never experience the “bad” of a bad choice, how can we expect them to consistently make good ones?

Alex: Where can we get hold of your new book “10 Secrets to Empower Kids & Awaken theChild in You!”?

  www.10secretsbook.com

or

http://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Empower-Awaken-Child-Volume/dp/1475143362/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1335392397&sr=1-1

Alex:Mr. Mark Papadas, once again thank you for taking the time out of your hectic schedule! 

Mark: Thank you Alex! 

For more information check out this IAM4KIDS informational video!

 Make a Difference EVERY Day!

More information on I Am 4 Kids 

Ambassadors

Geir Ness Celebrity Fragrance Designer 

http://celebrityenglish-alex.blogspot.com/2011_09_11_archive.html

Celebrity & Healthy Lifestyle Consultant SASHA!

http://celebrityenglish-alex.blogspot.ca/2012/09/celebrity-healthy-lifestyle-consultant.html

See you next week!

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How-To's from the Husbands: Hurricane Survival

Happy Halloween! 

Photo tweeted pre-hurricane by Johnny:

"Thank God I found that pumpkin to rest on..."




So the good news is that our beloved husbands made it through Sandy, and although they were still without power as of about 9:30 last night, it certainly takes more than a hurricane to stop the force of nature that is Johnny:





Fingers crossed that PSEG gets power restored ASAP

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Transition

jacket + ring - H & M, flannel shirt + pants - Joe Fresh, white undershirt - Old Navy, boots - Aldo, purse - Rebecca Minkoff

photos by the incomparable Harvey Miedreich

Harvey took these photos of me a few weeks ago, when it was fall. I've had the jacket for a long time, I think it's the perfect autumn coat and I can basically wear it with anything except an evening gown. But now it's winter. Yes folks, we have snow on the ground. And so it begins. I have dug my parka out of the spare room, along with my winter boots and have transplanted my open-toed shoes and sandals from the front entrance to the shelf highest in my closet. How do I feel about this you ask? Let's just say I'm not a winter person. I don't like the cold (-35? No thanks!), I don't like the snow (my car gets stuck at least 7 times every winter and people have to push me out) and I'm not a huge fan of winter sports except maybe hockey, sometimes. Also, it's much harder to take outfit posts outside when it's freezing cold and you feel like at any moment your limbs are going to fall off. I think I lived in California in my past life. Give me sun, hot weather and a beach and I'm a happy camper! (Just no hurricanes or earthquakes please. I'm praying for those affected by Hurricane Sandy.) But I'm going to make the best of this winter and try not to be so negative about it. I'm going to try to embrace the winter season. For example, I haven't skied since I was 16, due to tendinitis in my knees from years of dancing but I think this year I'm going to try it again. Let's just hope I don't throw my hip out of place like I did last year when I tried skating after years of dormancy and fell on the ice ; ). Gosh I'm old.

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Celebrity Halloween

Jim Carrey

Oct. 31- Halloween is in a few days! Halloween is a great time for getting together with friends and family.   Halloween is a time-honored tradition in North America that everyone enjoys with pumpkin carving, food & drink, wearing costumes, trick or treating, and visiting haunted attractions, and more!

Let’s see what the celebrities are up to!  And for those of you who are new to Halloween I have added some common/natural Halloween Language.

Let's go to a pumpkin patch!

Halle Berry and daughter Nahla in the pumpkin patch!

 

Jessica Alba and daughter Honor at the pumpkin patch!

Let's pick a pumpkin!

...get a pumpkin.

...find a pumpkin.

...select a pumpkin.

...buy a pumpkin.

Let's carve a pumpkin!

Scary Pumpkin!

Edward Cullen Pumpkin Carving

Johnny Depp Pumpkin Carving

Let's carve a pumpkin that looks scary!

Let's carve a pumpkin that looks like Johnny Depp!

Dressing up as...

Katy Perry as a Vampire!

Christina Aguilera & Jordan Bratman dressed up as zombies!

to wear a costume.

to go as a ghost or witch or...

to dress up as a zombie or a vampire.

 

Go to a Halloween Party!

Paris Hilton attending a Beverly Hills Halloween Party!

Fergie and Josh Duhamel going to a Halloween party!

Let's go to a Halloween Party.

...go to a Halloween Party for Kids.

...go to a friend’s place for a Halloween Party.

...go to a nightclub for a Halloween Party.

...have/host a Halloween Party.

Let's go trick or treating  (kids and parents or young kids up to about age 10-12years old)!

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie trick or treating with their kids

 Let's give out some Halloween treats!

Mark Zuckerberg and wife giving out treats at Halloween!

...to give out candy.

Let's see a famous haunted attraction!

Woods of Terror (Greensboro, North Carolina)

For more great Haunted Attractions check out  Reader’s Digest!

Scary Food & Drink!

Spider Bug Cookies!

Cheese Fingers!

Hot Dog Mummies!

Scary Apple Monsters!

 

Drink with Eyeball in it!

Witch's Brew!

Have a safe Halloween!

 

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Peter Singer backs abortion for curbing population growth

Peter Singer is an Australian moral philosopher and currently Professor of Bioethics at Princeton University. He is former editor of the Bioethics journal and one of the most influential thinkers in bioethics today.

Singer espouses utilitarianism, a system of ethics that seeks to minimize suffering and maximize wellbeing. The New Yorker has called him ‘the most influential living philosopher’.

One of the clearest expositions of Singer’s position, and interestingly the first thing I read of anything he wrote, is a seminal article titled ‘Sanctity of Life or Quality of Life?’, published in the American Journal ‘Paediatics’ in 1983. In it he argues as follows:

'We can no longer base our ethics on the idea that human beings are a special form of creation, made in the image of God...Once the religious mumbo-jumbo surrounding the term 'human' has been stripped away, we may continue to see normal members of our species as possessing greater qualities of rationality, self-consciousness, communication and so on than members of any other species, but we will not regard as sacrosanct the life of every member of our species, no matter how limited its capacity for intelligent or even conscious life may be... If we can put aside the obsolete and erroneous notion of the sanctity of all human life, we may start to look at human life as it really is, at the quality of human life that each human being has or can achieve.'

To Singer and many influential thinkers like him, man is nothing but the product of matter, chance and time in a godless universe; merely a highly specialised animal. The value of an individual human being is determined by his level of rationality, self-consciousness, physical attributes or capacity for relationships. Human life that has fewer of these qualities is of less value and can be disposed of.

This Darwinian ethic with its aim of 'survival of the fittest', once popularised and politicised, places the demented, mentally handicapped, brain-injured, unborn and disabled newborn in great danger.

Dave Andrusko, writing for Life Site News this week, reviews a blog that science writer John Horgan has written about Singer for the Scientific American after the latter paid a visit to Stevens Institute where Horgan is Director of the Center for Science Writing.

‘(Singer) has a knack for pushing people out of their moral comfort zone,’ Horgan writes. ‘Although his positions—especially on mercy killing of severely disabled infants and adults–have sparked public protests both in the US and abroad, (he) is disarmingly cool on the page and in person, even when talking about the hottest topics.’

Singer has tip-toed around some of his most infamous statements, but still adheres to the position that a child does not attain ‘full moral status’ until somewhere between one and two, which makes infanticide in some cases (actually many cases) acceptable.

To Singer the unborn is a member of the species Homo sapiens but not a ‘person’ because ‘the idea of a person involves the capacity to see oneself as existing over time’.

Says Horgan, ‘Singer nonetheless believes that abortion is ethical, because even a viable fetus is not a rational, self-aware person with desires and plans, which would be cut short by death; hence it should not have the same right as humans who have such qualities. Abortion is also justified, Singer added, both as a female right and as a method for curbing overpopulation’.

In his support for abortion as a means of controlling world population Singer is interestingly in good company with some notable Western politicians and policy-makers.

In 2009 Jonathon Porritt former chairman of the UK Government’s Sustainable Development Commission, said that curbing population growth through contraception and abortion must be at the heart of efforts to combat global warming, and that couples who had more than two children were irresponsible.

In the tradition of Malthus and Ehrlich, Porritt warned of ecological and environmental disaster ahead unless we do something rapidly to curb population growth (I have previously argued against this view here)

Former International development secretary (and until recently Chief Whip) Andrew Mitchell is another supporting abortion (subsumed within ‘family planning’) for population control. He argued recently in the Metro as follows:

‘The British government is working to improve access to contraception and family planning education for 10 million women in the developing world. This will prevent five million unintended pregnancies, save the lives of 50,000 women and avoid the deaths of 250,000 newborns by 2015.’

And the source of the information on which Mitchell based his policy? Well not surprisingly it is a report by the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), a key supporter of China’s population control programme, which is in large part responsible for 160 million missing women (as a result of sex selection abortion) in Asia.

Mitchell’s policy is consistent with a report by UN Special Rapporteur for Health, Anand Grover, which linked unrestricted abortion with the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. Grover adamantly affirmed his intention to redefine the ‘right to health’ in UN conventions and treaties to include abortion.

Peter Singer, like most philosophers, will never personally carry out his plans. To him they are just ideas. But ideas that are whispered in the ivory towers of universities in one generation get shouted in the streets in the next and become the basis of future public policy.

Let’s therefore keep a close eye on Singer and also, perhaps even more carefully, those policy makers who share his worldview and seek to put it into practice.

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School contraceptive jabs to 13 year-olds without parental consent - a dangerous and ill-informed strategy

School nurses have given implants or jabs to girls aged between 13 and 16 more than 900 times in the past two years, a survey by The Daily Telegraph has found.

Girls aged 13 have been given contraceptive jabs and implants on more than 20 occasions.

A further 7,400 girls aged 15 and under have been given contraceptive injections or implants at family planning clinics.

Under the patient confidentiality rules, nurses are banned from seeking the permission of parents beforehand, or even informing them afterwards, without the pupil’s permission.

The implants, which prevent pregnancy for up to three years by releasing hormones into the blood, are inserted into girls’ arms. The injections are effective for up to three months.

Using Freedom of Information laws The Daily Telegraph has discovered that these implants and contraceptive injections are being offered in schools in Bristol, Northumbria, Peterborough, Co Durham, the West Midlands and Berkshire. They give much more detail about individual trusts in their article today.

The number of girls given implants and jabs is likely to be higher as many trusts claimed they did not keep records or said releasing information would breach patient confidentiality.

I was phoned by the Telegraph yesterday about this and they have just used one sentence of a fairly lengthy quote I gave them so I’m giving a more lengthy response here.

Why should we be concerned about this?

First, sex under 16 is not only illegal, it can also be profoundly damaging – physically, emotionally and spiritually. To facilitate such behaviour behind parents’ backs is unprofessional, irresponsible and morally wrong.

When this story first came to light earlier this year there were understandably a lot of angry parents who felt that their responsibility for their own children had been undermined and that their children were being exposed to risk and encouraged to experiment.

Children under 16 cannot drink in a pub, drive, vote or watch certain films and parental consent is required for any other medical or surgical procedure. Why is this issue so different, especially when contraceptive implants pose health risks – in particular the danger of them ‘going missing’ and damaging later fertility.

Second, young people who feel that they are secure and protected by contraception will take more risks sexually. The phenomenon whereby applying a prevention measure results in an increase in the very thing it is trying to prevent is known as ‘risk compensation’. The term has been applied to the fact that the wearing of seatbelts does not decrease the level of some forms of road traffic injuries since drivers are thereby encouraged to drive more recklessly. In the same way it has been convincingly argued that making contraception readily available to vulnerable people can actually increase rather than decrease rates of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections because teenagers are thereby encouraged to take more sexual risks in the false belief that they will not suffer harm.

Third, there are other real risks to the health and well-being of young people in this strategy. A contraceptive implant or jab will protect you to some degree against unplanned pregnancy but it will not protect you against sexually transmitted infections or sexual exploitation. If a young teenage girl is in an abusive relationship or has pressure put on her to have sex then she can be very easily manipulated especially if she is emotionally involved with the boy or man who is trying to coerce her. I am concerned that this contraceptive provision has been moved from the safety of the doctor-patient relationship. Who is taking a detailed history from these girls to ensure that they are not being exploited, coerced or absued?

Fourth, this new strategy is not evidence-based – it is effectively an untested strategy paid for by tax payers’ money and promoted by the government. There is, by contrast, real evidence that making contraceptives more widely available does not reduce unplanned pregnancy rates in a population and may actually increase the incidence of sexually transmitted infections.

The current government teenage sex strategy is not working. Although teenage pregnancy rates in Britain have fallen to their lowest level since 1969, they are around twice as high as those in France and Germany and five times the rate in the Netherlands. That is because the strategy is based on two false premises – that contraceptives are 100% effective and that abstinence is impossible.

Contraceptive provision alone will never address Britain’s epidemic of promiscuity and its consequences. More needs to be doing more to dissuade young people from having sex and promoting abstinence as a good lifestyle choice. The government also needs to be upholding the law about sex with girls under 16 and doing more to curb easy access to pornography. In a pornography-saturated culture many young people have very unrealistic ideas and expectations about sex and will end up making decisions they later regret.

There are communities in the UK – both ethnic and faith communities – which have very low levels of promiscuity and accordingly very low levels of unplanned pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease, divorce and broken relationships. These groups are getting it right and the government should be learning from them rather than basing their strategy on a non-evidence-based ideology involving more and more contraceptives to younger and younger people.

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Government ministers and MPs wade in on Liverpool Care Pathway

The controversial Liverpool care pathway (LCP), a framework used to manage patients who are imminently dying, has not unexpectedly now come to the attention of government ministers and MPs.

Earlier this year, the Daily Mail newspaper claimed in a headline that the NHS was killing off 130,000 patients a year via the LCP.

On the other hand a group of over 20 leading organisations have defended the LCP but at the same time emphasised that it must be used by trained people under expert supervision.

Like any clinical tool, if used on the wrong people for the wrong indications the LCP may well do more harm than good.

It now appears that things may be starting to move toward a long-awaited resolution where the LCP's appropriate use will be affirmed and its misuse will be identified and stamped out.

An article in today’s Express strikes a good balance on this.

Government ministers and MPs are now speaking out about the problem and investigations are being launched.

According to the Daily Mail Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has hit out at the ‘unforgivable failure’ of some doctors to inform relatives that their loved one has been put on an ‘end of life’ programme.

‘People in the last days of their life deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, which at a minimum means involving individuals and their family in any decision regarding their care. I would expect any trust accused of such an unforgivable failure to investigate fully and learn lessons.’

Similarly Stephen Dorrell, chairman of the Commons health select committee, said there were clearly problems at some hospitals with the way the pathway was being used.

‘The idea that a person can be cared for at the end of life without the family being involved – that is not high-quality care as anyone would understand it.’

The Daily Mail also reports that ministers last week officially launched a wide-ranging investigation into the Liverpool Care Pathway after accusations it hastens the deaths of some patients.

Care Minister Norman Lamb said: ‘We need to know how patients and families feel about the care they receive. We need to make sure that health professionals have the best tools to help them with this sensitive work.’

Julian Brazier, Tory MP for Canterbury, said: ‘There should be an independent inquiry and not one run by the practitioners.’

The investigation will be run by a Heath Department organisation, the National End of Life Care Programme, and medical organisations which have been deeply involved in promoting and operating the Pathway.

It will have two elements. In the first, the £300 million NELCP will look into complaints about end of life care, including the Liverpool method. A group called Dying Matters will also talk to families.

The second element will involve consulting medical professionals about their views on the Liverpool pathway and other similar methods.

It will be led by the Association for Palliative Medicine, which represents 1,000 doctors.

The inquiry findings will be sent to the Department of Health but there is no pledge currently to make them public.

I suspect these inquiries, although welcome, will be too slow for critics.

My hope is that specialists in palliative medicine will in the meantime move swiftly to respond to the five key concerns that have been raised.

If they don’t the present controversy may well rage for some time yet.

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The demographic time bomb is most marked in Japan

The demographic time bomb – whereby the elderly population assumes a greater and greater proportion of the total population - is no more marked than in Japan.

Falling birth rates (as a result of abortion, contraception and delaying childbirth) and increasing longevity as a result of better medical care have created this situation.

If we look at the population age structure in Japan (see graph above) we can see how dramatically its shape has changed since 1950 and how much more it will change by 2050.

The same trends are spelt out numerically in the table below where different countries are compared.

The population pyramid of 1950 shows that Japan had a standard-shaped pyramid marked by a broad base. The shape of the pyramid, however, has changed dramatically as both the birth rate and death rate have declined.

In 1950 the population of elderly citizens (65 years and over) accounted for just 4.9% of the total population. This had risen to 21.5% by 2007 and will rise to 39.6% by 2050.

This growth in numbers of older people has been matched by a shrinking of the younger population. In 1950 those under 15 made up 35.4% of the total population but this had fallen to 13.5% by 2007 and will fall further to 8.6% by 2050.

Note also that those of working age (15-65) constituted 65% of the population in 2007 (two thirds) but will account for only 51% (half) by 2050.

They could well account for much less given that many of those in the 15-65 age group, as of now, might be in education, or alternatively not in education, employment or training.

The speed of aging of Japan's population is much faster than in advanced Western European countries or the USA but the trends are similar throughout the industrialised world.

Add in increasing debt and rising unemployment and you have a very toxic cocktail indeed.

Unless something is done to reverse the demographic trends, ‘economic necessity’, together with the ‘culture of death’ ideology which is becoming more openly accepted, may well mean that the generation that killed its children through abortion will in turn be killed by its own children through euthanasia.

Some European politicians and economists have been chillingly open about the economic incentives for euthanasia.

Jacques Attali, the former president of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, said in 1981 in an article in L’Avenir de la vie:

‘As soon as he gets beyond 60-65 years of age, man lives beyond his capacity to produce, and he costs society a lot of money... euthanasia will be one of the essential instruments of our future societies.’

The real answer is not euthanasia. The real answer is in our grasp, but it requires a completely different mind-set to that which has led us, in our reckless pursuit of affluence and personal peace to mortgage our present, bankrupt our futures, and see those who rely on us as a burden rather than a privileged responsibility.

We need instead, as a society, to stop killing our children, build up our families, live more simply, give more generously and focus our priorities on providing for our dependents, especially the older generation which fought for our freedom in two world wars, provided for our health, education and welfare, and left us the legacy of wealth, comfort, peace and security which we have squandered and taken for granted.

Data on Japan obtained from online ‘Statistical Handbook of Japan’

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Ten questions you never hear asked on the media

I was on the Radio Four Today programme earlier this week debating Lord Falconer (listen here for Radio Four and here for Radio Five Live and ) on whether or not assisted suicide should be legalised in the light of ten years of British people going to the Dignitas facility in Switzerland to end their lives.

Prior to our debate the programme ran a prime time recorded interview with Win Crew, wife of one of the first Britons to die there which I listened to in the taxi on the way in.

It was typical of such interviews. The usually robust Evan Davies
(pictured), rather than giving her a challenging and searching cross-examination, instead reverted to slow underarm bowling in the apparent hope that she might hit each question over the boundary in the cause of legalisation.

She, not understandably, made the most of being given an international media platform to propagate her views effectively unchallenged.

The BBC later gave the interview huge prominence in keeping with their ‘assisted suicide cheerleader’ policy whilst our debate was relegated to the graveyard slot just prior to 9am.

In the light of this not atypical experience I was interested to see this post on Life Site News on the not unrelated issue of abortion – another where the liberal elite who dominate the media do what they can to ensure that really searching questions are never asked.

I have virtually never heard these ten questions asked (or answered) on media but invite anyone with a prochoice position to attempt to answer them either here or elsewhere.

They come from over the pond in the lead up to the US presidential election but apply equally well here.

Here’s some food for thought then from Trevin Wax at thegospelcoalition.org blog — ‘Ten questions you never hear a pro-choice candidate asked by the media’.

1. You say you support a woman’s right to make her own reproductive choices in regards to abortion and contraception. Are there any restrictions you would approve of?

2. In 2010, The Economist featured a cover story on “the war on girls” and the growth of “gendercide” in the world – abortion based solely on the sex of the baby. Does this phenomenon pose a problem for you or do you believe in the absolute right of a woman to terminate a pregnancy because the unborn fetus is female?

3. In many states, a teenager can have an abortion without her parents’ consent or knowledge but cannot get an aspirin from the school nurse without parental authorization. Do you support any restrictions or parental notification regarding abortion access for minors?

4. If you do not believe that human life begins at conception, when do you believe it begins? At what stage of development should an unborn child have human rights?

5. Currently, when genetic testing reveals an unborn child has Down’s Syndrome, most women choose to abort. How do you answer the charge that this phenomenon resembles the “eugenics” movement a century ago – the slow, but deliberate “weeding out” of those our society would deem “unfit” to live?

6. Do you believe an employer should be forced to violate his or her religious conscience by providing access to abortifacient drugs and contraception to employees?

7. Alveda King, niece of Martin Luther King, Jr. has said that “abortion is the white supremacist’s best friend,” pointing to the fact that Black and Latinos represent 25% of our population but account for 59% of all abortions. How do you respond to the charge that the majority of abortion clinics are found in inner-city areas with large numbers of minorities?

8. You describe abortion as a “tragic choice.” If abortion is not morally objectionable, then why is it tragic? Does this mean there is something about abortion that is different than other standard surgical procedures?

9. Do you believe abortion should be legal once the unborn fetus is viable – able to survive outside the womb?

10. If a pregnant woman and her unborn child are murdered, do you believe the criminal should face two counts of murder and serve a harsher sentence?

You have read this article Abortion / Assisted Suicide / BBC / Dignitas with the title October 2012. You can bookmark this page URL https://celebrityunitedking.blogspot.com/2012/10/ten-questions-you-never-hear-asked-on.html. Thanks!

Random Friday Roundup

Johnny in the kiss-and-cry with flowers from fans 

after his short program performance at Finlandia Trophy. 

Photo © Elena Vasileva / Elle-velle.



OK! So much to catch up on this week! Here's all the exciting stuff that's been happening in Johnny world whilst I was busy doing boring things interrupted by frequent bouts of cleaning up cat vomit.... #whatismylife





BREAKING NEWS!! 

You have read this article David Ingogly / Finlandia Trophy / Johnny Weir / of course he’d be perfect for SNL / thank God for Victor / the pre-competition cleaning frenzy has begun dear Johnny we love you and believe in you with the title October 2012. You can bookmark this page URL https://celebrityunitedking.blogspot.com/2012/10/random-friday-roundup.html. Thanks!

Specialists in Palliative Medicine need to act swiftly to respond to these five key concerns about the LCP

Yesterday I mentioned that the Association for Palliative Medicine (APM) had announced plans to launch an investigation into the controversial Liverpool Care pathway.

Today both the Daily Telegraph and the Daily Mail have run the story.

In addition a Daily Mail editorial today welcomes the investigation and outlines the major concerns that have been expressed by people contacting them as follows:

1. People have been put on the LCP without the knowledge or consent of their families

2. It is cruel to deny fluids to sentient beings

3. Doctors cannot accurately predict that someone is dying within hours or days

4. When doctors withdraw all treatment and nourishment, believing their patients have only days left, the prediction becomes self-fulfilling

5. When well over 100,000 are dying on the LCP each year, the suspicion inevitably arises that the pathway is being used to hasten death and free up beds

The editorial concludes that these are the fears the profession must address and allay if the LCP is to remain official practice.

These questions I would have thought are not difficult to answer and should be able to be addressed easily by any specialist in palliative medicine.

I would gladly attempt it myself but it would be much better if a specialist were to do it. It should not take more than 800-1,000 words.

I gladly offer this blog to anyone prepared to do so and will do all I can to draw it to media attention or to get the story placed in a major paper as an op ed piece.

Ideally it needs a named author but if you wish to remain anonymous that is fine.

Please contact me via this blog or DT me on twitter at @drpetersaunders

I see that the APM has today issued a fresh statement to the media as follows:

‘Our president’s blog has reported that we have recognised there is ongoing debate around Integrated Care Pathways, and the work we are proposing will identify and explore any concerns properly, and find ways of addressing those concerns and improving practice. The APM intends to join others in undertaking this piece of work. We would be very concerned if this proposal was conveyed in any other way. The members of the Association for Palliative Medicine continue to deliver, and support the delivery of, high quality palliative care, including listening and responding to concerns and anxieties experienced by our patients and their families about many different aspects of their illness and treatment, as part our holistic approach to their care.’

I understand that the National End of Life Strategy has also announced that they are going to carry out ‘a short snapshot review of complaints relating to end of life care within acute hospitals' with partnership organisations.

This will 'include complaints relating to the use of the Liverpool Care Pathway and any communication or perceived communication issues’.

It has invited specialists in palliative medicine to take part.

This are helpful and admirable statements and plans but the real priority now is to address the unanswered questions outlined above.

That is what is required to defuse the current controversy and to stop the Daily Telegraph and the Daily Mail continuing their criticism of the LCP.

You have read this article liverpool care pathway / palliative care with the title October 2012. You can bookmark this page URL https://celebrityunitedking.blogspot.com/2012/10/specialists-in-palliative-medicine-need.html. Thanks!

You Have My Heart

blouse - Winners, blazer - Zara, pants + ring - H & M, shoes - Aldo, necklace - Oak + Fort, clutch - Banana Republic

photos by the very talented Harvey Miedreich

I bought these pants last month and have been trying to get as much wear out of them as possible before it snows and the snow stays. I'm all about the fancy pants these days! Speaking of snow, I'm heading to Canmore this weekend and apparently there's some white stuff on the ground down there and I'm not talking about sugar. Which means, winter is already on its cold, long way : (. I better pack my parka.

Have a great weekend!

You have read this article Harvey Miedreich / Outfit Posts with the title October 2012. You can bookmark this page URL https://celebrityunitedking.blogspot.com/2012/10/you-have-my-heart.html. Thanks!