There has been much discussion about the demographic makeup of the 2012 electorate, and one thing is clear: Women’s voices determined the outcome of the election.
Across the board, women made the difference.
Here are seven key facts about women voters and the gender gap in the 2012 elections.
Women were the majority of voters
The gender gap grew to 10 points
Women decided the 2012 election
The gender gap extends beyond women of color
The top issues for women were the economy and a candidate who will fight for them
Extreme remarks and candidates changed the debate
Abortion and women’s health issues played a real role
Back in 2012, the famous actor did something close to a standup routine at the RNC, asking questions of an imaginary President Obama in a chair next to the podium.
After grilling invisible Obama on jobs, Afghanistan, and more, Eastwood responded to the (rather rude) president: “I’m not gonna shut up.
It’s my turn.”
And later, pretending that Obama had asked him to relay an unpleasant message to Romney, Eastwood said:
“I’m not going to tell him to do that, he can’t do that to himself, you’re absolutely crazy.”
He rambled from topic to topic, knocking Obama along the way for flying around in a big plane and running negative ads. He called Joe Biden “the intellect of the Democratic Party. Kind of a grin with a body behind it.”
But the four-term congressman and second-ranking Republican in the House surprised everyone on Thursday by dropping out of the race to succeed John Boehner. The House Freedom Caucus, a group of the chamber’s conservative hard-liners, announced Wednesday it would support Representative Daniel Webster of Florida for speaker, casting doubt on whether McCarthy could get the 218 floor votes he would have needed to be elected later this month.
McCarthy, the immediate favorite for speaker, reportedly told members that he’s “not the right person” for the job.
So, who is?
In the meantime, Clint will have to repeat his action of talking to an empty chair.
Growing up we are told many things,
One being, you can do anything.
But somewhere between child and adult,
Things change and we no longer sing.
Life takes on a whole different meaning,
From what we may have first believed.
We all get so caught up in what life expects,
And forget what we all could achieve.
Whoever told you, you weren’t allow,
To follow all of your dreams?
Was it someone who took away your dream,
Or was it you who was afraid of your schemes.
Whatever the reason, I now must ask,
Why not you, don’t you think
It’s time for you to take control of your life,
So you’ll be happy to look back with no regret.
~~Published on May 19, 2015~~
We all have different “why’s”.
Whether it is for one’s own pleasure or for the deeper purpose it’s not always about finding the answers, sometimes you just need to be asking the right questions.
On August 12, 2012, the inaugural World Elephant Day was launched to bring attention to the urgent plight of Asian and African elephants. The elephant is loved, revered and respected by people and cultures around the world, yet we balance on the brink of seeing the last of this magnificent creature.
The escalation of poaching, habitat loss, human-elephant conflict and mistreatment in captivity are just some of the threats to both African and Asian elephants. Working towards better protection for wild elephants, improving enforcement policies to prevent the illegal poaching and trade of ivory, conserving elephant habitats, better treatment for captive elephants and, when appropriate, reintroducing captive elephants into natural, protected sanctuaries are the goals that numerous elephant conservation organizations are focusing on around the world.
World Elephant Day asks you to experience elephants in non-exploitive and sustainable environments where elephants can thrive under care and protection. On World Elephant Day, August 12, express your concern, share your knowledge and support solutions for the better care of captive and wild elephants alike.
Let’s celebrate with facts about elephants that live around the world.
The first World Elephant Day was celebrated Aug. 12, 2012.
World Elephant Day was created to bring awareness to the plight of African and Asian elephants throughout the world.
Some of the threats elephants face are poachers, habitat loss and mistreatment in captivity.
Canadian filmmaker and elephant advocate Patricia Sims, and the Elephant Reintroduction Foundation in Thailand, founded the day.
They ask people to celebrate elephants in non-exploitive and sustainable environments.
According to the World Elephant Day Website, to get involved in the plight of the world’s elephant populations and take action, individuals and organizations can:
Support organizations that are working to: stop the illegal poaching and trade of elephant ivory and other wildlife products; protect wild elephant habitat; and provide sanctuaries and alternative habitats for domesticated elephants to live freely.
If you wish to experience elephants in their natural environment, choose eco-tourism operators who support local elephant conservation projects and who treat elephants with respect and dignity.
Support healthy, alternative, sustainable livelihoods for people who have traditionally relied on elephants, wild animals, and natural resources.
Support orphaned elephants by fostering one whose parents have been killed by poachers.
Learn about indigenous cultures that have traditionally lived in harmony with elephants;
Be an elephant-aware consumer. Never buy ivory or other wildlife products.
Support a U.S. national ban on the sale of ivory. Contact your representatives and write to your country’s leaders, supporting national and local legislation to ban the sale of ivory;
Do not support organizations that exploit or abuse elephants and other animals for entertainment and profit.
A June 2014 report by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species said 20 percent of Africa’s elephants may be killed in the next 10 years if poaching continues at current levels.
Others estimate all African elephants in the wild could be extinct by 2025.
Experts say fewer than 400,000 wild African elephants remain, the release continued.
Meanwhile, with less than 40,000 left in the world, Asian elephants have now been given “Endangered” status on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of threatened species.
Asian elephants have faced and will continue to face extensive loss of their natural habitats. Adults are killed for their ivory, meat and body parts, as young elephants are removed from their natural homes for use in the tourism industry.
Have a look at how life is for elephants when they’re free in the forest. These are elephants who were once captive and now released back to the wild in Thailand by the Elephant Reintroduction Foundation. No mahouts, no chains, no tourists – just elephants roaming free in vast protected forest habitat. You can see their natural behaviours, social communication, mud-bathing, foraging and playing – elephants really being elephants.
It’s a pleasure to see them this way – just the way elephants ought to be.
We ALL are connected through NATURE!!
~~Wild Elephants gather inexplicably mourn death of Elephant Whisperer~~
For 12 hours, two herds of wild South African elephants slowly made their way through the Zululand bush until they reached the house of late author Lawrence Anthony, the conservationist who saved their lives.The formerly violent, rogue elephants, destined to be shot a few years ago as pests, were rescued and rehabilitated by Anthony, who had grown up in the bush and was known as the “Elephant Whisperer.”
For two days the herds loitered at Anthony’s rural compound on the vast Thula Thula game reserve in the South African KwaZulu — to say good-bye to the man they loved. But how did they know he had died? Known for his unique ability to calm traumatized elephants, Anthony had become a legend. He is the author of three books, Babylon Ark, detailing his efforts to rescue the animals at Baghdad Zoo during the Iraqi war, the forthcoming The Last Rhinos, and his bestselling The Elephant Whisperer.
