The Official Blog of Patricia Gras

The Making of a Peaceful Warrior:My Name is Jody Williams

Patricia Gras — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 21:09:44 +0000

Two years ago, I was working on a television show about the increasing violence against women around the world for Houston PBS. For years, I had been trying to interview Jody Williams, the 1997 Nobel Peace Laureate who had led the international campaign to ban land mines. As a Professor at the Graduate School of Social Work at the University of Houston, she conducts lectures here twice a year.

When I finally got a hold of her, she was surprised I had not reached her before. I thought she had avoided my requests because of her celebrity status. I was wrong. She was one of the most kind, authentic, and humble people I had ever met.

I have interviewed admirable people in my lifetime, Desmond Tutu, Jimmy Carter, Dominique De Menil, Alice Walker, met Nelson Mandela, the Dalai Lama, and other lesser-known human rights activists, but Williams truly surprised me. Like all of them, she is dedicated and fearless, but when you are around her, you feel like she could be your next-door neighbor who you can trust with your children. She has no airs whatsoever. She is not afraid to speak her mind, nor does she mince her words. To me She is a modern day grassroots peaceful warrior. What you see is what you get.

When her book “My Name is Jody Williams: A Vermont Girls Winding Path to the Nobel Peace Prize came out, I quickly got a copy and I was not disappointed. I got to meet Williams at a more personal level in January of 2012. I was invited to be part of her delegation of the
Nobel Women’s Initiative (which she leads with all the women laureates) and Just Associates (JASS) on a fact-finding mission. The goal was to hear from women confronting violence in Mexico, Honduras and Guatemala. We were to investigate the impact of the war on drugs and increased mining operations on the lives of women.

According to the report released in June of 2012 on that mission.
“The delegation found that violence against women is reaching crisis dimensions in Mexico, Honduras and Guatemala. In the last decade, femicides have risen by alarming rates – as much as 257% in Honduras. Indigenous women and women human rights defenders are particularly vulnerable to attacks, which include rape, torture, murder, and forced disappearances.”

On that trip, Williams was focused, passionate, quietly driven to get answers and empowering the women we heard. Most had suffered atrocious violence. I believed she helped them find their own voice, with her compassion, knowledge and assurance something would be done.

I didn’t know much about her personal life until I read the book. She was raised in Vermont with a very close and modest Catholic family and early on, discovered her own activist soul by chance.
The turning point came when she was handed a flyer about the Salvadoran war and the US role in it.
The following years, she spent time in Central America for different causes, generally helping the forgotten victims of violence and war.

In her memoir, and with great candor she shares her family’s ordeal with her mentally ill brother, a failed marriage with her high school sweetheart, her frustration with the US Governments’ role in the Vietnam and Central American conflicts and her ultimate as she sees it, “average America girl” response through social justice activism.

In a very easy to read and conversational style we also learn about her rape by a Salvadoran Death Squad member, her roller coaster love life and how she ended up working to ban landmines.

It happened unexpectedly in 1991, when she met executive director Bobby Muller of the Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation who along with Thomas Gebauer of Medico International, a German Humanitarian organization felt “she was the right person to build a political movement to ban landmines. “They just knew I was going to be able to bring together non governmental organizations to put sustained pressure on governments to make them get rid of the weapons forever.”She said and they were right.

The next few years she would dedicate her life, passion and determination to ban landmines, while learning everything she could about international law and surrounding herself with activists around the world with the same goals and perseverance. She was awarded the Nobel Prize along with the International Campaign to Ban Landmines in 1997.

Williams paid a lot of personal prizes for her activism, but she reminds us peace is not something you just imagine, or just talk and sing about. It is something you fight for. To understand peace, she says you must understand the causes of war. “Human security requires directing our resources toward providing for the basic needs of human beings so they are secure in their daily lives.” She reminds us peace is not for the faint of heart.” You have to fight for it! She has certainly proved that in how she has lived her life and how she continues her relentless pursuit of justice wherever she goes.

If you are in New York on April 18th. She speaking about her life at the Paley Center. For more information, here’s the link.

http://www.paleycenter.org/2013-spring-jody-williams

The new Pope Francis from Argentina: What will change

Patricia Gras — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 20:28:30 +0000

What will change in the Vatican now with an Argentinian pope

1. Choripanes will be sold by unauthorized vendors(typical Argentine sausage)
2. Every time the Argentinian soccer team plays in a world cup, Argentinian and Papal flags will fly.
3. Anyone who is excited inside the Vatican will now have to jump up and down just like Argentinians do. (and scream) El que no salta no es Papista!
4. You will have to wait in line to see anything or anyone. (Argentinian past time)
5. Italian will have to be spoken with an Argentinian accent and vice versa.
6. On the 29th of each month (noqui day) everyone will have the day off!
7. Sundays people will start cooking asados (BBQ’s) in the square and bring the whole family.
8. Soccer matches will be organized inside St. Peter’s square.
9. The Argentinian soccer shirt will be the biggest cash cow for the Vatican.
10. Mate (Argentine tea) will replace the Italian Cappucino!

11. The whole world will rejoice because now we will have an excuse to celebrate ANYTHING that happens. (Argentinians like to party..what can I say!

Nobel Peace Laureate Jody Williams: How to Stop Violence Against Women

Patricia Gras — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 14:42:02 +0000

Nobel Peace Laureate shares what the Nobel Women’s Initiative is conducting a worldwide campaign to stop the increasing sexual violence against women.

How To Be Lucky by Matt Kinsella

Patricia Gras — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 13:35:38 +0000

For those of us whose parents are immigrants, the American experience is certainly different than from those who have been here for generations, so when I picked up Matt Kinsella’s book “How To Be Lucky” I could relate to something he mentions a few times in his book. “I don’t live to work, I work to live.” I have always believed that to be my philosophy of life. I want to create enough wealth and abundance to live life, not to spend the lot of it creating wealth for someone else to enjoy!
“How to be Lucky. From Teenage Homeless Hostel to Successful Entrepreneur: A Guide to Making Things Happen.” is a must read for those who want to hear simple lessons about creating your own reality, and your own wealth and happiness. A fine work of literature, it is not, but it is a fast, uncomplicated, simple read, especially for those who need a “kick in the pants.” (That’s my quote)
Matt Kinsella may not be a household name in the USA (He is British) but his story rings true to those of us who have covered homeless people with the most incredible stories.
There is nothing new in this book to help you get off your comfort zone and create your own reality, fulfill your own dreams, and as he says, “create your own luck,” but Kinsella has an authentic voice that motivates you to believe With the right attitude and understanding, you can create your own opportunities.
“How true is that? “Determination grows from an idea and enthusiasm.” He says.
Here is some of Matt Kinsella’s advice: “Ask for help when you need it, but do it graciously, confidently and humbly. People want to help if it does not take too much of their time. And don’t forget to do the same for others. Then, do what you have to do. Opportunities are everywhere so don’t discard them. If you have a brain, anything can be learned. See possibilities. Lose the bad friends who only take but don’t give back”
Be yourself and stand up for who you are. Rely on yourself to make things happen for you. Don’t be scared of failure, but don’t be afraid to call it a day when your business fails. Formula structure and routine are like death and poison to creativity, happiness, enjoyment and ultimately success.”
To understand how the author became a millionaire, and learned all the tips he is sharing with readers, you would have to know he was homeless as a teenager, drinking too much with little schooling, surrounding by illegal activity and doing little until one day, he made a choice to change his life, create his own luck, work hard but most importantly work smartly.
Here is what I like the most about his book. He says he now only works 20 hours a week so he can spend time with his family and friends, which he finds, is of most importance. How nice is that? I find the mindset here in the USA is that you have to work hard, hours on end to achieve wealth and prosperity. Kinsella disagrees. You may have to work very hard at least for a while but making money does not always require hard work. Kinsella reminds us, that is what the masses think you have to do. It is human nature. What does he do? He is always looking for opportunities, and then he does his homework. Entrepreneurs, he says don’t do things from inside an office, they get out into the world, talk to as many people as possible and get new ideas to make things happen. Kinsella also has a moral compass. Help other people, don’t steal their ideas and believe in your own capacity to make things happen.
How did Kinsella make his wealth and how does he advise you do? Buying the right kind of property after extensive homework, investing in good ideas, writing a book, alternative work from home options, make something, do what you love. Confucius, Kinsella wrote, said “If you do what you love for a living, you will never do a day’s work in your life. ”

I believe this book may be too simplistic for some, but I find the lessons valuable. I just produced my own CD called “Simplicity.” Why? I believe most of what happens to us in life has to do with what inside the space between our ears, our heart and our souls. We do create our own reality, our own luck. That does not mean we often fail miserably as I have but that is part of the journey. Yesterday I was having a conversation with a dear friend. We have both been on this planet for many decades. We are not old, but I believe vibrant youthful thinking women. She believes there is a lot of age discrimination going on right now. My answer is that may be a reality, but you and I have to create another reality, our own! In my mind I am still young and I believe like Kinsella does, that we will create our own wealth and any obstacle such as discrimination will be irrelevant because “There are ways one can become lucky.” It is not easy, but I agree you have to focus on what matters, on service, on ideas and most importantly on execution. The world is full of ideas, but we are here to make them come true. Kinsella in his simple book shows us how.

The Impossible: A movie about hope

Patricia Gras — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 21:53:29 +0000

For a few months, I have been reading about a movie based on a true story about a Spanish family with three children that survived the Tsunami in 2004. The natural disaster claimed the lives of 240,000 people.

There were several reasons I wanted to see this movie. I love true stories. As a journalist, I am more of a non fiction gal. I like the truth, raw and real. It is true what they say, the truth shall set you free. Look at how the world has changed because we now have access to information through the web we never had before. We know if someone in the middle of no where gets raped, mutilated or killed. We know which politicians lie (most of them) and why. We know how the world works and who really has the power. We are aware of injustices in our back yard and millions of miles away. Because we know, I believe change happens faster than it ever has.

I have seen just in the past few weeks some major tipping points around the world. Here in the USA, many have said enough is enough. No more semi automatic weapons for whoever wants them! In India, stop the rape of women. We’ve had enough. In Egypt, demonstrators shout, we are done with dictators! I believe all this happened because people now have access to the truth.

The movie is about the true nature of a storm. A real story about a natural disaster this family had no control over. They went to Thailand on vacation and the day after Christmas, a monster tsunami almost took their lives. What I loved about this movie was the message. It was beautifully produced, photographed and acted but for me the most important gift I got from it was hope.

I believe the family that survived and those who helped them are here to teach us a lot of lessons about the human spirit, generosity, family ties and hope.

Was it a miracle this family remained intact? Not one died in the storm. There were a lot of factors that kept at least one member alive. One of the Thai village people carried the mom for hours to get her to a place of safety and then drive her to a hospital. When I say carry, I say walk through the mud in the rubble for hours. The village did what they could for her there. Then at the hospital the villagers insisted she be taken care of before they left. She had so many injuries, she was holding on for dear live so she could see if her children were alive. Once she did, she was about to give up and even said so, when her husband begged her to keep fighting for her life. She spent almost two years in and out of hospitals but in the end she did survive and so did her children.

The movie is based on Maria Belon and her family and she says the movie is very close to the truth, but that it was even worse than what we saw. I can’t imagine. At one point I saw the greatest act of love. Maria and her son Lucas had barely survived and they were trying to climb up a tree before the second wave could come. Instead, Maria insisted they search for the little voice they heard in the rubble. Her son Lucas begged her to let it go so they could save themselves and she answered, what if that child you hear now was your brother or you. Wouldn’t you want to be saved? I say no more.

We have a choice, always. I don’t know how I would act in a situation like that, but I would hope that I would do the right thing, and that ….gives me hope.

Creativity, The Artist’s way and the End of the year

Patricia Gras — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 19:19:04 +0000

This year began with a major change in my life. I left a job I had for 22 years and found myself on a path I had never travelled before. I started my own production company and experimented with more creative tasks such writing a book, engaging in social media, recording a CD and two music videos.

A friend suggested I get The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron and it truly came in handy. As a television producer/host and musician/singer I am torn between my so called “art” and every day reality of creating abundance to pay the bills. Many artists struggle with this but Julia Cameron reminds us in her book, “The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path To Higher Creativity” that artists can harness their creative talent and skills if can only trust their spiritual connection with God.

As a woman of faith, I can relate. When you work in creative fields, there tends to be less economic stability than say medicine, business, engineering, law etc, but in my case, I have to be highly connected to my higher power to trust the process. What is important to me is that I love, adore and be passionate about what I do. I have several degrees that could lead me to a more comfortable, secure, economically stable lifestyle, but I have chosen to do what I love even if at times, it leaves me with a sense of ambiguity about my future. I do know however, that I can and will find that through my art as well, only because I remind myself every day there is higher power watching over me.

This year I had the honor of teaching young inventors in Medellin Colombia at the International Park of Creativity, spearheaded by my friend and celebrated scientist Raul Cuero PhD. For 12 days, 20 teenagers under 16, under the guidance of mentors in different fields, but primarily scientists and Dr. Cuero, learn the creative process and how to invent. Those who stick with it after the camp and begin to work in a laboratory to engage in scientific inventions, get their work funded, patented and commercialized. Since 2007, the Park has patented the work of 8 of these young inventors. Dr. Cuero is trying to do this worldwide.

I taught a creativity course in communications because the process of producing a television story is indeed a creative process. It requires brainstorming, working as a team, solving problems, interviewing, writing, shooting, editing, and presenting.

What I love about Dr. Cuero’s approach is that he believes these young inventors have to be well rounded in their education and they must also learn with their hands, not so much with theory or books but by DOING. He understands they have to create inventions the can help industry, business and humanity solve problems.

We are here for a very short time in the scheme of things, so being part of this creative process has been utter joy combined with panic at times. I have no regrets for I didn’t come here to innovate, I came here to create and I have to start somewhere!

Will Legalization of Pot Decrease or Increase Drug War Crime?

Patricia Gras — Sun, 25 Nov 2012 15:31:37 +0000

It is a very simple question, should we legalize pot to decrease drug war crime? Well if we take the sample of my Facebook page, most agree we need to legalize pot to decrease crime. This is by no means as you know a scientific model but it sure sounds like most of the people I know of both political persuasions, yet one out of three Americans feel pot should remain illegal.

I spent a few days talking to my friend Laura Carlsen, Director of the Americas Program at Center for International Policy who lives in Mexico. I met her when I visited Mexico with a Nobel Peace laureate delegation led by Jody Williams in January. With a PhD from Stanford, She spends her life doing research among many subjects on the drug war and its impact on society, and she did tell me marijuana is a big cash cow for drug cartels and deserves debate.

Here is a link to one of her many interesting articles on the subject

http://www.cipamericas.org/archives/4159

She states many reasons why it deserves more discussion based on evidence. There are many who disagree.

Here is a case against legalization by Baker Institute Joan Neuhaus Schaan

http://blog.chron.com/bakerblog/2012/09/why-legalizing-marijuana-is-a-bad-idea/

Whatever happens in the next few years, I believe the laws will change. The drug war has been and continues to be a failure. There are valid arguments on both sides, but the fact is one of the definitions of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome (I am referring to our drug war policy.)

Marijuana like any drug is harmful to your health period. The question is whether legalizing it would increase its use or simply keep those people who already use it out of prison or jail or hurting others.

Finally, a good read on the topic.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/07/22/in-marijuana-legalization-hard-truths-for-all-sides-of-the-debate.html

What do you think? Should we legalize it or not? Under what conditions? Will it decrease the violence? Who are the winners and losers?

HAHMP Lifetime Achievement Award

Patricia Gras — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 03:10:24 +0000

Many of you asked for a copy of my speech on why for me this was not about my achievements at all. Here it is. First of all, thanks to everyone…aren’t you glad I didn’t mention names?

Here is what I have learned after 25 years in this business. I want to start asking you a question….aren’t you mad, there are no Latinas in the View or the Talk or any other show that you think there should be more Latinos on air, including my former employer Ch. 8 ….raise your hand..OKAY..here is my answer to that..quit being mad and get even…for us Latinos to get on mainstream TV, we have to own our own TV networks and our own shows…that means you young people young journalists..besides journalism you must learn to be ENTREPRENEURS..which now after 25 years I realize myself. I promise you..I will from now on..OWN (IF YOU WANT A SIT AT THE TABLE YOU MUST OWN THE TABLE) WE MUST OWN OUR OWN FUTURES I AM NOT RENTING IT TO ANYONE ELSE and I challenge you to do the same..learn the business side of journalism, so you are not so dependent on others..I JUST HAD TO SAY THAT..
(and don’t do what I did..BE SCARED….BE BOLD AND THINK WHAT DOES IT TAKE..BE A :WHY NOT PERSON: AS LOPEZ NEGRETE SAYS WHY NOT A :NOT BECAUSE!!!!!

I AM HONORED WITH THIS LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD (now that I am only 30 years old) AMAZING ISN’T IT?
SO THANK YOU BECAUSE IN ANOTHER 30 YEARS I HOPE TO BE GETTING MY SECOND LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

IN REALITY I DO FEEL THIS IS THE END OF ONE TYPE OF CAREER I HAVE HAD AS A JOURNALIST ( MORE OF AS A CAREER OF DEPENDENCE) I WAS DEPENDENT..NOW I AM GOING TO BE GOD WILLING INDEPENDENT type of journalist

I FEEL LIKE I CAN TALK ABOUT MY PAST CAREER AND YOU ARE GIVING ME AN AWARD FOR THAT ONE WHICH ENDED LAST YEAR, WHEN I LIKE SO MANY JOURNALISTS IN THE CHANGING WORLD OF MEDIA left after 22 YEARS AT PBS

BUT TODAY BELEIVE IT OR NOT I WILL NOT TALK ABOUT MY CAREER, I WILL TALK ABOUT WHO MADE IT HAPPEN….SO

WHAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS THOSE PEOPLE WHO MADE MY LIFE MISERABLE WHO WERE UNCOOPERATIVE, MEAN, DISHONEST AND CRUEL..THANK YOU BECAUSE YOU WERE MY MASTER TEACHERS AND I WOULD HAVE NEVER GOTTEN THIS WITHOUT YOU…YOU MADE ME STRONGER AND THE PERSON I AM TODAY.

BUT DON’T WORRY I AM NOT A VICTIM.THIS SPEECH IS REALLY ABOUT
TRYING TO LEAD A PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE.I WENT INTO JOURNALISM TO IMPROVE PEOPLE’S LIVES THROUGH EDUCATION..IT WASN’T SO MUCH TO COVER NEWS, BUT THE ONLY REASON I DID AS YOU SAY WELL IN MY CAREER WAS

FRIENDS AND FAMILY… MY CAREER AND WHETHER IT WAS STELLAR OR NOT, THAT IS ALWAYS A MATTER OF OPINION, WHEN YOU LOSE YOUR JOB (FOR WHATEVER REASON..NO I WASN’T FIRED) ..YOUR AWARDS DON’T MATTER..THEY DON’T MEAN THAT MUCH, THEY VALIDATE YOU SOMEWHAT BUT THEY DON’T MAKE YOU A GREAT HUMAN BEING, AN HONORABLE HUMAN BEING, THEY DON’T SAVE YOU FROM LOSS, OR REALITY.

WHAT SAVED ME AND WILL ALLOW ME TO START A NEW CAREER IN JOURNALISM OR TELEVISION OR GOD KNOWS WHAT… ARE MY FRIENDS AND MY FAMILY. THIS AWARD OR ANY OF THE ONES I HAVE EVER WON(NEVER ALONE, YOU NEVER WIN ANYTHING ALONE)WOULD MEAN NOTHING TO ME IF IT WAS NOT FOR MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY. AND TODAY SITTING AT MY TABLE ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT PEOPLE OF MY LIFE AND YOU KNOW WHY? BECAUSE

THEY HAVE ALWAYS, THE REAL ONES, VALUED ME FOR WHO I WAS AND NOT FOR WHAT I DID..SOMETIMES THERE IS DIFFERENCE.

SO TONIGHT AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED I AM TRANSFORMING THE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD INTO A NIGHT OF HONORING MY FRIENDS, FAMILY AND YOU AWARD..BECAUSE WITHOUT YOU..THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO WAY IN HECK THAT I WOULD BE RECEIVING THIS AWARD.

YOU SEE, I HAD NEVER BEEN IN THE SITUATION I WAS LAST YEAR, I FELT THAT CAREER THAT YOU ARE HONORING ME FOR TONIGHT. WAS OVER, AND I HAD NO IDEA WHAT THE FUTURE WOULD PROMISE. I WAS FILLED WITH FEAR, SOMEWHAT PARALIZED AND I WAS BROKEN IN MANY WAYS. AND THEN, ONE MY ONE, SOME OF MY FRIENDS AND MY FAMILY BEGAN TO CALL ME, (MANY DISSAPPEARED) BUT THE ONES THAT REALLY MATTERED THAT HELPED ME PICK UP THE PIECES OF WHO I WAS, BEGAN TO CONTACT ME.

SO WHAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS THE FRIENDS, THE DEAR FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT BUILD A NET OF LOVE, HOPE AND COURAGE, THAT ALLOWED ME TO NOW START BUILDING ANOTHER CAREER THAT I HOPE YOU CAN HONOR ME WITH IN THE NEXT 30 YEARS. YOU SEE TO ME LAST YEAR WAS THE MOST VULNERABLE YEAR OF MY LIFE AND WHAT THAT VULNERABILITY HAS GIFTED ME WITH IS THE REALIZATION THAT WE MUST HONOR THOSE WHO SUPPORT US IN THE WORST TIMES OF OUR LIVES.

SO TONIGHT I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT BEING A FRIENDS AND SUPPORTING YOUR FRIENDS WHEN THEY ARE FACED WITH DIFFICULT TRYING TIMES. I FACED MANY LOSSES LAST YEAR AND I WASN’T READY FOR THEM.THEY JUST ..LIFE HAS A WAY OF DOING THAT….WHEN IT RAINS IT POURS.

SO TONIGHT I HAVE INVITED MY CLOSEST FRIENDS AND MANY NOT ALL ARE SITTING HERE KNOW WHO YOU ARE…NO DON’T WORRY I WONT’ MENTION NAMES YET BECAUSE WE WOULD BE HERE ALL NIGHT..BUT THESE FRIENDS, CAME TO MY RESCUE..THEY WENT OUT OF THEIR WAY TO FIND ME FREELANCE GIGS, MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS, REWRITE RESUMES, NETWORK, , EDITED WHOLE SHOWS FOR ME FOR FREE, HELPED ME WRITE BUSINESS PLANS, SHOT WHOLE SHOWS FOR ME FOR FREE. PRODUCED MY MUSIC CD…THEY BOUGHT ME COFFE AND LUNCH AND DINNER AND ADVISE ME ON HOW TO STAY AFLOAT, HOW TO STRETCH A DOLLAR..MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY WHO DID NOT JUDGE ME, BERATE ME, DOUBT ME, OR DISSAPPEAR BECAUSE I WASN’T SERVING A PURPOSE OR THEIR PURPOSE.

MY FRIENDS AND MY FAMILY DID NOT ALLOW ME TO FEEL LIKE A FAILURE, BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH I MAY HAVE FELT LIKE ONE AT TIMES, I WASN’T AND THEY REMINDED ME THAT MY ESSENSE WAS STILL ALIVE AND WELL. THEY REMINDED ME THAT WHATEVER HAD ALLOWED ME TO FIND SOME SUCCESS IN MY CAREER IN THE PAST. WAS STILL THERE AND THAT SOMEHOW, SOMEWHERE, SOMEWHAT, I WOULD FIND THAT AGAIN. IT WAS THEY WHO ALLOWED ME TO FINALLY JUMP OFF A CLIFF.THAT IS WHY I HAVE A FOOT THAT NEEDS TO BE REBUILT, BECAUSE MY LIFE IS ABOUT TO BE REBUILT AND GUESS WHAT? I COULD NOT HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT THEM…
SO HERE IS MY ADVISE IN THIS VERY SHORT SPEECH I HAVE FOR YOU

HONOR THOSE FRIENDS AND FAMILY, WHO ARE THERE FOR YOU, NOT IN THE GOOD TIMES, WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE THE MASTER OF THE UNIVERSE AND EVERYONE RECOGNIZES YOU. HONOR YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND LOVE THEM WHEN THEY ARE AT THEIR LOWEST, BECAUSE BELIEVE ME YOU WILL BE THERE TOO. EVERYONE OF US HAS BEEN THERE. THAT’S JUST THE WAY LIFE IS. WE ARE HUMAN AND IF YOU WANT TO
SUCCEED, TRULY SUCCEED IN ANY CAREER, YOU WIL NEED THEM. BECAUSE SUCCESS IS NOT ABOUT MONEY ACCOLADES, AWARDS AND FAME …A LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD ..SUCCESS IS ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS..THE ONES THAT HOLD YOU WHEN YOU DON’T THINK YOU CAN GO ON. WHEN YOUR WORLD HAS FALLEN APART AND WHEN YOU HAVE TO WALK WITH CRUTCHES LIKE A CHILD, BECAUSE YOU ARE BROKEN..SO TONIGHT..IN PAIN..I AM THE LUCKIEST WOMAN ON EARTH..THE MOST SUCCESSFUL, NOT BECAUSE OF THIS ACHIEVEMENT AWARD YOU HONOR ME WITH BUT BECAUSE SITTING RIGHT BESIDE ME IN THE MOST VULNERABLE TIME OF MY LIFE. MY DEAREST FRIENDS AND FAMILY ARE WITH ME..CELEBRATING..WHAT THEY DON’T KNOW..IS THAT THIS AWARD IS FOR THEM, NOT FOR ME..BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT MEAN A THING TO ME.. IF THEY WERE NOT IN MY LIFE…

BECAUSE WHEN I SAID I CAN’T////// THEY SAID YES YOU CAN
WHEN I SAID I DON’T HAVE THE RESOURCES /////
THEY SAID NECESSITY FUELS INVENTION.
WHEN I SAID THERE IS NOT ENOUGH TIME, /////THEY SAID YOU WILL CHANGE HOW YOU WORK,
WHEN I SAID IT WILL NOT GET ANY BETTER /////
THEY SAID THEN TRY AGAIN AND AGAIN AGAIN

THEY REMINDED ME
SAYING YOU BELIEVE IN YOURSELF WIILL NOT GUARANTEE YOUR SUCCESS BUT SAYING YOU DON’T BELIEVE IN YOURSELF /////WILL GUARANTEE YOUR FAILURE.

THEY REMIND ME OF THAT EVERY DAY AND FOR THAT I LOVE THEM MORE THAN ANYTHING

SO MOM AN DAD ERIC, GINA, YNGRID, MANDY SANDRA, BEATRIZ, AURORA, ROSEMARY, LUIS , (EVERYONE YOU KNOW) DARLENE, TANYA, (GARY), ANA AND ANYONE WHO STILL BELIEVED IN ME NO MATTER WHAT..

THANK YOU. THIS IS YOURS.

The Television Emmy and the World’s Forgotten Refugees

Patricia Gras — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 22:04:42 +0000

I didn’t realize until later in life that my grandparents were all refugees. Let me explain. My grandparents on my dad’s side were Catalan from northern Spain. At the time my grandfather was a very young man who was about to be sent to fight in northern Morocco, a Spanish colony. His father decided to send him away before he could end up in the sand war.
My other grandfather, a Syrian Christian had to flee his country at the age of six because at the time the Ottoman empire was sending very young men to the front, so families in these small towns would collect money to make sure the young men could flee from the madness of war. Today the story is repeating itself, except Syrians are fleeing from their civil war to Turkey (former Ottoman empire and Lebanon.)

I have always had a soft spot for refugees. They are forced to live elsewhere from the familiar, the common, and what is comfortable. They often suffer tremendous trauma. Many lose everything; their homes, their jobs, family members and many are forced to lose their dignity through no fault of their own. They are often discriminated for being the wrong religion, color or tribe. Some end up living in refugee’s camps all their lives in squalid conditions. Today the country with the largest number of refugees is South Sudan with 5 million. In Syria where over 35,000 people have died in the civil conflict, hundreds of thousands refugees are fleeing daily from the violence. http://bit.ly/Tw3vto

While the world watches the bloodbath without much action, I wonder when humanity will stop its relentless cruelty towards others.

Last year I found out from friends at the Alliance for Progress, a refugee resettlement center that they were struggling to get funding for the refugees. Houston is one of the largest recipients of refugees in the United States. What grabbed my attention is how little is known about this mostly self-sufficient communities. They come here, hardly speaking the English language. They have suffered so much trauma, including rape, physical and mental violence, starvation, isolation and tremendous loss. Yet what I found so incredibly uplifting was their spirit. These people tend to live in the same apartment complexes. Therefore, they all learn to help each other, even if that means they don’t speak the same language. They know if someone needs bread, or daycare. They worry if someone needs a ride, or a bus token. They simply care for each other and they know they can’t survive any other way. I was blessed to meet three women who came from three very different cultures Congo, Burma and Bhutan. Their stories were similar but also very different. What they had in common was a sense of loss and the inability to go back. Can you imagine being forced out of your country, culture, and people and know you most likely never see that place again?
That is the case of the three strong, intelligent, peace warrior women I featured in the special that won most probably last Emmy I will win for HoustonPBS. What they suffered cannot be put in words or images, yet they were not angry. They focused in the future and what they would do for their children. They were full of hope and what they taught me is much more valuable than any award could give me.

They taught me that you can’t look back, that family has to remain strong and driven to survive, that their children will have to value every bit of life they have been given because they were lucky enough to survive, that there is no time to think of the past, that work is a way out and education is a way up. These three quiet women are my heroes.

I am full of gratitude for this Emmy, my 7th. It is the most meaningful to me because I am no longer working for the station and because we worked really hard with the team (Fujio Watanabe, Joe Brueggeman, Shannon Harrison and Julie Coan) and my production interns Todnesha Brown, Esti Garcia, Hiren Yoshi, Monique Andy, Blanca Perez to give a voice to the voiceless.

I thank God for this opportunity. Now every time I complain about life, I think of these women and what they have endured and I smile at heaven for I am so blessed to have met them. They remind me what’s important, resilience and love of family and community. They just won the Emmy for us. They did it.

If you are interested in helping out this community, please contact me.
pattigras@gmail.com

Climate Change and Global Warming: Are We Ready?

Patricia Gras — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 22:39:48 +0000

Tags: global warming
Global Warming
Posted on 29 September 2011 by Ashley Mancha
When do I need to toss out my wool sweaters? While most scientists agree that climate change is particularly due to human activities, it is important for us to remember that scientists are always testing and retesting their hypotheses as the climate changes.
According to the National Academy of Sciences, “there is no doubt that climate will continue to change throughout the 21st century and beyond, but there are still important questions regarding how large and how fast these changes will be, and what effects they will have in different regions.”
Even if not all of us are scientists, we know that the weather is changing. For example, Texas, a state experienced with plenty of rain is now experiencing record breaking weather: droughts, temperatures in the 100s and a breakout of wildfires. The East Coast on the other hand is suffering from too much rain. Recently, Hurricane Irene was the first hurricane to make landfall in New Jersey since 1903. 1903! Well over a century ago!
But let’s go back to Texas. Texas’ governor and running mate for the Republican presidential ticket, Rick Perry, does not believe in global warming. He has made it very clear that we humans are not contributing to global warming. He also thinks that “a substantial number of scientists…have manipulated data so that they will have dollars rolling into their projects.”

Global warming, a scientific phenomenon has become very much a political issue. Ultimately, it will and does affect us all because we live on this planet, breathe the same air and share the same moon and sun.
Here are some basic things you can do to make a difference. Whether you believe global warming is caused by man or not. Something major is happening to our climate and there are things you can do protect the environment. According to Globalwarmingfacts.org here are some things you can do to help:
Change an incandescent light bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb. CFLs use 60% less energy, which will save about 300 pounds of carbon dioxide a year (and our energy bill!)
Cover your pots while cooking. They save a great amount of energy while preparing your meals
Use the washing machine and dishwasher only when they are full
Recycle. You can save around 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide a year by recycling.
Purchase a plastic water bottle and reuse it. The packaged water bottles we buy at the stores aren’t any good-plus how purified is their water? If we fill up at home, we know our water is clean
Reuse shopping bags. Many places sell bags at a convenient price. You can tote them from store to store. Some places even give you a discount if you use these bags
Even if you don’t believe in global warming, you can benefit from using these tips- that can also save you some money.
If you are interested in this topic. Here are more articles on the subject.

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2011/aug/22/rick-perry/rick-perry-says-more-and-more-scientists-are-quest/

http://dels-old.nas.edu/dels/rpt_briefs/climate_chawww.pewclimate.org

www.ipcc.ch
www.climatetechnology.gov
nge_2008_final.pdf

http://www.nwf.org/~/media/PDFs/Global%20Warming/Global%20Warming%20State%20Fact%20Sheets/Texas.ashx

http://www.mindingthecampus.com/originals/global-warming-2.jpg

Why we should care