American Grown: Michelle Obama’s New Book

Yesterday, Crown Publishers (a Random House imprint) announced their newest title,  American Grown: How the White House Kitchen Garden Inspires Families, Schools, and Communities by First Lady Michelle Obama. The book will be on sale nationwide on April 10, 2012.

This book is Mrs. Obama’s first,  and her goal is to use the story of the White House kitchen garden. She will continue her quest for Americans to understand how increased access to healthy, affordable food can promote better eating habits and improve health of families and communities across America.

I applaud FLOTUS’ efforts at changing the dialogue and through it, the culture, around food and sustainability in the US. I think her efforts to talk about food deserts (low-income urban ...

Yesterday, Crown Publishers (a Random House imprint) announced their newest title,  American Grown: How the White House Kitchen Garden Inspires Families, Schools, and Communities by First Lady Michelle Obama. The book will be on sale nationwide on ...

Quick Hit: Mississippi’s “Personhood” amendment likely to pass

On November 8, voters in Mississippi will vote on a constitutional amendment declaring a fertilized egg to be a person. As election day approaches, the New York Times reports on the final push:

The amendment in Mississippi would ban virtually all abortions, including those resulting from rape or incest. It would bar some birth control methods, including IUDs and “morning-after pills” that prevent fertilized eggs from implanting in the uterus. It would also outlaw the destruction of embryos created in laboratories.

The amendment has been endorsed by candidates for governor from both major parties, and it appears likely to pass, said W. Martin Wiseman, director of the John C. Stennis Institute of Government at Mississippi State University. Legal challenges would surely ...

On November 8, voters in Mississippi will vote on a constitutional amendment declaring a fertilized egg to be a person. As election day approaches, the New York Times reports on the final push:

The amendment in Mississippi ...

Judge blocks North Carolina’s forced ultrasound law

It’s nice to see some good pro-choice news out of North Carolina after Monday’s scary report on crisis pregnancy centers. Yesterday, a federal judge blocked the mandatory ultrasound provision in a new anti-choice state law that was set to go into effect today. (Unfortunately, the judge upheld the part requiring a 24-hour waiting period before an abortion.)

The law would require doctors to show a woman an ultrasound image, give a detailed description of the embryo or fetus, and offer her the chance to hear the fetal heartbeat at least four hours before an abortion. The doctor would be forced to do so even if the woman objected. No exceptions whatsoever. The measure ever-so-kindly allows the woman to avert ...

It’s nice to see some good pro-choice news out of North Carolina after Monday’s scary report on crisis pregnancy centers. Yesterday, a federal judge blocked the mandatory ultrasound provision in a new anti-choice state law ...

What We Missed

The first emergency response system dedicated to sexual assault just launched in Haiti.

Ohio’s “Personhood Amendment” petition was rejected by the Attorney General (who is anti-choice).

A government panel is recommending that boys also receive the HPV vaccine.

The first emergency response system dedicated to sexual assault just launched in Haiti.

Ohio’s “Personhood Amendment” petition was rejected by the Attorney General (who is anti-choice).

A government panel is recommending that boys also receive the ...

UN report says all states should provide access to safe abortion, contraception

A groundbreaking new report by the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to health, Anand Grover, was released yesterday. And it is big!!

In the new report, Grover calls for the immediate removal of all impeding restrictions to abortion, full access to modern contraceptive methods, and complete and accurate information on sexual and reproductive health.

As the International Planned Parenthood Federation explains, “the report examines the disproportionate impact these laws and policies have on those who already suffer human rights violations and the denial of adequate heath care (e.g., women, impoverished peoples) and emphasizes individuals’ right to dignity and autonomy in health-related decision making.”

Having someone this high up basically say that all UN members states should provide safe abortion and ...

A groundbreaking new report by the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to health, Anand Grover, was released yesterday. And it is big!!

In the new report, Grover calls for the immediate removal of all impeding restrictions ...

TSA encourages blogger to “get her freak on” after finding vibrator in bag

Yesterday it felt like the Internet exploded when friend and fellow feminist blogger Jill Filipovic Tweeted the following:

“Just unpacked my suitcase and found this note from TSA. Guess they discovered a “personal item” in my bag. Wow.”

The Tweet was accompanied by this picture depicting a handwritten note that read “Get your freak on girl”.

Jill is a blogger for Feministe and a longtime friend of Feministing. She wrote a post about the experience on her blog, calling the note a “total violation of privacy, wildly inappropriate and clearly not ok” but admitting that she did have a good laugh about it.

I too had something of an ambiguous reaction. It is pretty hilarious, but at the same ...

Yesterday it felt like the Internet exploded when friend and fellow feminist blogger Jill Filipovic Tweeted the following:

“Just unpacked my suitcase and found this note from TSA. Guess they discovered a “personal item” in my bag. Wow.”

The ...

New video brings women’s stories of climate change to the forefront

As you may know, the world’s population is set to hit 7 billion on October 31st.

As Miriam pointed out back in July, coverage of global issues related to population, health, and development can easily take on an alarmist tone, and often missing from the conversation are the voices of the people most affected.

That’s why this stunning video “Weathering Change” by Population Action International is so welcome and important.

“Weathering Change” follows women in Ethiopia, Nepal and Peru as they struggle to care for their families while enduring crop failures and water scarcity. The film shows that women and families are already adapting to the climate change challenges that threaten their health and their livelihoods, and allows women to tell their ...

As you may know, the world’s population is set to hit 7 billion on October 31st.

As Miriam pointed out back in July, coverage of global issues related to population, health, and development can easily take on ...

Welfare drug testing law blocked by Florida Judge

The battle continues between State legislature’s passing all sorts of frightening laws and the judicial system fighting to see what pieces can be enacted.

This time, its the controversial Florida law that required welfare recipients to submit to a drug test before receiving their benefits. From the Associated Press:

A federal judge temporarily blocked Florida’s new law that requires welfare applicants to pass a drug test before receiving benefits on Monday, saying it may violate the Constitution’s ban on unreasonable searches and seizures.

Judge Mary Scriven ruled in response to a lawsuit filed on behalf of a 35-year-old Navy veteran and single father who sought the benefits while finishing his college degree, but refused to take ...

The battle continues between State legislature’s passing all sorts of frightening laws and the judicial system fighting to see what pieces can be enacted.

This time, its the controversial Florida law that required welfare recipients to submit to ...

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