The Power of Vulnerability

So, this TED talk by Brené Brown pretty much changed my life. I saw it about a year and a half ago. I just started her book Daring Greatly, so I am sure there will be more to come regarding this subject, but for now, enjoy! :)
Cheers!

A little inspiration...

I watch videos like these and I am so inspired. Their bravery and vision are amazing, not to mention their love for their countries and their determination to make the world a better place.

The first video is by Sakena Yacoobi. "Sakena Yacoobi is executive director of the Afghan Institute of Learning (AIL), an Afghan women-led NGO she founded in 1995. After the Taliban closed girls’ schools in the 1990s, AIL supported 80 underground home schools for 3,000 girls in Afghanistan. Now, under Yacoobi’s leadership, AIL works at the grassroots level to empower women and bring education and health services to poor women and girls in rural and urban areas, serving hundreds of thousands of women and children a year through its training programs, Learning Centers, schools and clinics in both Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Yacoobi is the founder of the Afghan Institute of Learning, the Professor Sakena Yacoobi Private Hospital in Herat, the Professor Sakena Yacoobi Private High Schools in Kabul and the radio station Meraj in her hometown of Herat, Afghanistan." - TED

http://www.ted.com/talks/sakena_yacoobi_how_i_stopped_the_taliban_from_shutting_down_my_school?utm_campaign=social&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_content=talk&utm_term=education

The second video is by Meera Vijayann: “The first step to empowerment is to give yourself the authority, the key to independent will. And for women everywhere…that is the most difficult step. We fear the sound of our own voice, for it means admission. But it is this that gives us the power to change our own environment…Most of us would say that women are denied their rights, but the truth is often times women deny themselves these rights.”

 

http://www.ted.com/talks/meera_vijayann_find_your_voice_against_gender_violence?utm_campaign=social&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_content=talk&utm_term=global-social%20issues#t-714714

 

"Meera Vijayann began using digital media to tackle sexual violence in the aftermath of a tragic Delhi rape-and-murder case. In 2013, she won the CNN IBN Citizen Journalist Award for her reporting in the aftermath of the Delhi rape case. Her articles and blogs have appeared in the Guardian, CNN, Forbes, Open Democracy, IBN LIVE, The New Indian Express and other major media outlets." - TED

What problems in the world were you created to solve?

#WhatHaveIDoneWithMyLife #CreatedToSolveAProblem

Sex Trafficking, Prostitution and Pornography

So, to those of you who know me it will come as no surprise to know that I am passionate about combating human trafficking, specifically sex trafficking. There are many reasons why I am passionate about this area, and at some point I will post more about that (the dignity and value of human life, women's rights, & equality - just to name a few brief reasons). You can also expect more posts from me about this issue. However, I came across this video the other day (via a friend) and I think it is definitely worth sharing. Though there are a lot of misconceptions about sex trafficking, prostitution and pornography, I think this video gives a great overview of how they are all related, and does so from an honest, real and fresh perspective. I applaud Ran Gavrieli for talking about his personal and educated decision to stop watching porn; below is his TED talk. I hope more men will be willing to come to some of the decisions he has made, and also willing to talk about it.

Also, here is another link that describes an overview human trafficking via the online world.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRJ_QfP2mhU