BlogHers ACT Canada

All Aboard the Crazy Train! We're Talking about Postpartum Depression

I never thought depression would happen to me. I naively thought that depression affects those who have something traumatic happen in their lives. I will admit that was completely uneducated as to how depression affects us. That was until it affected me.

When my maternal grandfather passed away in 1997 my family was devastated. Not only did we lose someone we loved immensely but we lost the glue that held our fragile family together. Over the past ten years that side of my family had deteriorated to virtually non-existent. No visits, not even Christmas or Birthday cards. Essentially my mother cut herself off from her family - justly I believe - which percolated down the line leaving my brother and I without contact with our extended family on the maternal side.

Stand Up Proud with Your Boobs Held High!

Being a nursing mother is one of the most challenging things I've done. Scratch that. It IS the most challenging thing I've done.

Oh, sure! Really hard! I bet you're thinking.

But if you've ever been in a situation where you're surrounding by prying, judgmental eyes because you're child is throwing a tantrum, then you have a minute idea. Compound that by having to raise your shirt, position your body and baby hoping to avoid exposure of your truly offensive breasts (sarcasm, yes) because someone may be offended by boobs. You'd think that lady had just shoved a fish under her blanket.

Oh, Hey! Welcome To BlogHers Act Canada, v. 2.0!

(Actually, it's more like BHAC Vista, but Vista gets such a bad rap that I'm choosing to not go there.)

(Ahem.)

Welcome to Year Two of BlogHers Act Canada!

Our first year, inaugurated at BlogHer '07, was great fun. So much fun, that we decided that in year two, we should expand the fun. Still love the environment? Good - because Amy will continue to helm the environmental activism portion of BHAC. But in addition to blogging the cause of the environment, we're taking up another cause: family health (which will include child health and maternal health). The amazing Sam - who has logged a few posts for the cause already - will be lead writer for family health: she'll cover relevant issues and occasionally pester you to involve yourself in some of the causes that we highlight here.

Over the next two weeks, we'll be introducing our game-plan for the year for the environment, and introducing Sam and the other writers who will join her and Amy in making BHAC Year Two a banner year for online activism.

Let the fun begin!

posted by super sonic BHAC brainchild: Catherine

Go Green or Go Home: Canadian Election 2008

As we all know well, our American friends will be electing their new president in just a couple of months.  It seems we Canadians will also be going to the polls this fall…October 14, to be exact. 

Yesterday Prime Minister Stephen Harper went to visit Governor General Michaëlle Jean, in order to ask her to dissolve the current parliament.  The question I keep asking myself is, “Why?”  Well, the National Post quoted Prime Minister Harper answering this very question:  "This Parliament is at its useful end," Harper said. "Canadians have to give somebody a mandate."

So basically, Harper just isn’t getting his way.

A big part of the new mandate should be focused on the Canadian parliament’s view of ecological concerns and their policies affecting the environment.  Here’s a quick rundown of four major party’s views and political promises when it comes to being green.  (And for a quick rundown of the Canadian electoral system, see Karen’s excellent article over at BlogHer, Canadian Elections 101.)