Happy New Years from Traveling Activist. Hope you all are ready for more interviews with fantastic people and big businesses. I want to thank you all so much for following me on this blog and cant wait to see where the NEW YEAR takes us. Have fun everyone and drink responsibly from your host Zachery Ramos.

Interview with In Defense Of Animals (IDA)

Good Evening. Today on Traveling Activist with your host Zachery Ramos a special interview with the globally known animal saving organization called IN DEFENSE OF ANIMALS.  My guest is Fleur Dawes who is in charge of media for IDA discussed what IDA does and the accomplishments they have achieved around the world.

Q. What does your program stand for.

1. Ever since its birth in 1983, In Defense of Animals has been at the forefront of the fight to expose and end animal suffering and exploitation wherever and whenever possible. We have achieved incredible victories for many animals throughout the decades, providing them with renewed opportunities for safe and happy lives.

We hope you will share the pride in some of IDA’s more noteworthy achievements for animals. These, along with many others, could not have happened without your support. On behalf of these animals, and those who still so desperately need our help, we thank you.

Q. What have you accomplished since the beginning of your program.

1. ● IDA’s investigation of the Cole Bros. Circus, and our filing of federal complaints against them with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Fisheries & Wildlife Service, resulted in both formal charges and fines for multiple violations of the Animal Welfare Act and for their involvement in the illegal sale of endangered Asian elephants, Tina and Jewel.

● Since IDA launched the Elephants in Zoos campaign, we have pressured many zoos in North America to close their elephant exhibits permanently, have inspired other zoos to state they will shut down or phase out their elephant exhibits, and have secured the direct transfer of more than a dozen elephants imprisoned in an artificial zoo enclosure to a natural habitat sanctuary, free from bullhooks and forced breeding…for life!

● IDA was instrumental in the passage of legislation banning the cruel production and sale of foie gras in California.

● IDA helped to ban the cruel practice of canned hunting in the state of Oregon.

Q.World wide how active are you.

1. We work around the world with dedicated campaigns across the US, South Korea, India, Cameroon, Australia and many other places besides. We advocate for animals globally.

Q. What challenges have you faced.

1. Animal exploitation presents itself in many ways - animals are actively exploited for food, entertainment, research, or are abused, threatened and neglected.

Q. What was the toughest challenge or worst experience that happened?

The organization has faced many challenges. It is impossible to say which is worst, since we respect every animal and this is why we advocate across many campaign areas instead of favoring just one.

Q. What's the best thing that has happened in this organization?

1. We have had many successes, but the most significant for the organization was shutting down Coulston Foundation after a nine year campaign, and freeing the animals who were experimented on there. It led In Defense of Animals to become the organization it is today.

Q. What is your goal for the animals in the world save them, or How do you plan to save the animals around the world?

1. We work to expose and end animal experimentation; protect wildlife and restore balance in their natural habitats; end the exploitation and abuse of wild species living in captivity, protect domestic and wild species worldwide from abuse and slaughter for food, conduct cruelty investigations and rescue operations, and provide veterinary care for sick, abused and orphaned animals in our natural habitat sanctuaries.

In Defense of Animals works to educate the public to fight apathy, build empathy and take concrete action to end all forms of animal exploitation worldwide. We work to ensure that decisions made involving animals, from the legislative level to the dinner table, are made with consideration of their needs and interests.

We seek to redefine the role of animals in society on local, national and international levels by elevating human perception of animals from that of mere property, objects and things, to that where animals are recognized to be individuals, with feelings, needs and interests of their own. Through our work to inspire and shift the way people think about non-human beings, we believe a positive change will result in the way people treat them today and in the future.

Fleur Dawes thank you for today's interview about Animal Rescue. We can't wait to hear more from you and your organization about the success of your elephant campaign. For now thank you all for reading and staying tuned for more from Traveling Activist. Zachery Ramos signing off.

Religion and Country on LGBT

Good evening. Today on Traveling Activist with your host Zachery Ramos we have for you all a very touchy subject. LGBT around the world is seen differently and people in this community all go through different events. History is changing, still being created as you read and it is up to us to be apart of it or to stand by and watch it happen. Today I stand on wanting to help it be made. Today's interview is with three very strong people who I had the pleasure to meet. The interview is rather a personal passage of what they see on the LGBT community and how it has grown and seen from both countries views and religious views from around the world. For there privacy there names have been changed and shall not be pictured in this entry.

Q. What are your thoughts on what is happening in countries like Africa, Russia and Ect. to the LGBT community?

Kim- African American stated that: LGBT, a community of people that are just like me and you inside and out but, still on a daily bases are seen and told they are different. LGBT Activist around the world are risking their lives to try to show others that there love is no different than anyone else's. Members in Africa are trying to prove to their fellow people that they are not different but just like everyone else. Yet they are still getting shot and, killed because they will not give up their dream of a future where they won't have to live in fear of who they really are inside. On the streets protesting for their right to be who they are and not worry about being dragged out onto the streets shown to the people as some kind of mistake.

In Russia there is no protection for LGBT couples. They are not noticed by the government and are ineligible for the same legal protection that straight households have. The only way to be who you truly are is to undergo a sex reassignment surgery and even then they are faced with discrimination. Russia’s tends to be the most hostile towards homosexuality in the world and, local survey showed 76% of Russians believe that it should not be accepted by society.

Rafael-Muslim American shared: Islam as well is very straight forward with where they stand on the subject. A Muslim cleric, Sheikh Khalid Yasin asserts that “God is very straightforward” that the ” “punishment for homosexuality” is death. ... Sharia teaches that homosexuality is a vile form of fornication, punishable by death.” This however is not stopping people from standing up trying to get rights for LGBT members in Islam. A rights group called “Muslims for Progressive Values” is trying to dismantle the religious justification for Homophobia in Muslim communities with medical, social and, religious history.

In countries where being gay, lesbian, bi and, trans is punishable by death there are still activist and gay rights groups fighting for equality. They are proud and they should be for standing up to people who tried to push them down and out. No one has the right to say who you are or what you can and cannot do.

Countries all over the world have there own take on same sex marriage and the LGBT community. Even America says that it is growing acceptance to it but everywhere people are still living in fear of coming out or being open with who they are. Religion is brought up a lot when it comes to right and wrong of two people from the same sex being together. Around the world churches, temples, places of worship open their doors to end up casting out those they deem different and to shout out “FAG!” or, “DEMON” at those who try to worship next to them.

Q.When it comes to religion and country what are your thoughts on how they see LGBT? How are the two affected or acting towards the community?

Burkes-From Finland pointed out: The truth that I see is countries need to come to terms that the LGBT community is alive and active and will always be. A country must not divide itself because they do not agree on who can love who or else you are just showing to the youth of the world it is okay to hate someone you think is different. As well as religion, there is no religion that says hate just to hate or to cast out those who are different. No God would condone such violence towards one another, the hate you see in and, from religious groups is from individual people who are afraid of things that are different.  

Kim-African American shared: There are hundred of different religions with millions of different followers. In these religions and in those groups of followers there are all kinds of different types of people. People will go on rampages do to a gay marriage being in a catholic church but not flinch when they hear a rapist is on the streets. The population has completely different morals on what is right and what is wrong, some even allowing religion to blind them at times. We must remember that it doesn't matter how many times you go to church but it does matter how many times you do good for it. The world is forgetting the meaning of equal in religion, taking and turning it into if you are not like us then you can't be with us.

No God cares who you are in love with just as long as you as a person do good, try to help your neighbor and continue to make the world a better place than do not care if someone hates you for they are stock in the dark. Your God is happy with you as long as you give him reason to, no man or woman can tell you what your God thinks. Do not let people's words blind you from what is right and what you believe in, your heart knows who it loves and if it so happens to be someone the same sex as you then so be it. It must have been God’s plan for you.

Q. What would you like to share with those reading today about this topic?

Rafeal-Muslim American said: We must also remember that with both country and religion they both equally choose to follow certain rules and go against others when seemed fit to the person leading. Just remember that it is only you and you alone who can decide who you want love no one else. Don't be afraid to show the world who you are inside. Be you gay, lesbian, bi or, trans you are beautiful never forget that.

Today we had three different people share there thoughts on the subject all from different parts of the world share there input. Through out this interview I would like to point out that none of the three people interviewed showed any hate towards any one and showed respect as well. Would like to give a quick thank you to my three guest today for agreeing to this interview and sharing with us. That’s it for today on the LGBT subject on Traveling Activist with your host Zachery Ramos. Hope you all enjoyed and see you all next time.

Interview with Susan McReynolds and her life in the Dominican Republic

Hello there this is Traveling Activist with your host Zachery Ramos and today's interview is with Susan McReynolds. Susan when she was younger traveled to the Dominican Republic with her grandparents. Her grandparents were in the UN Peace Force and  when she was age 13 she flew from America to join them there. Now let's begin shall we.

Q.What was it that made you decide to travel to the Dominican Republic?

A.Ok  i'll tell you whole thing and you can revise. The year I turned 13, my grandfather who raised me, was given the opportunity to work with AID- a government agency. Grandad was, at the time, the head of the California Certified Public Accounts. We were living in Sacramento. The DR was at the tail end of a minor revolution and there was a UN Peacekeeping force in place because it was still dangerous. My grandparents went 6 weeks before me to find a place to live and get settled. Granddad's job was to start up a fair and equitable taxation system which they had never had. It was not a glamour job, but much needed in a country with such deep poverty versus incredible wealth.

Q.How was school there, what did you do in class and regular life there?

A.The first year we were there I was sent to Carol Morgan...the "American" school...all of the foreign nationals went there and spoke English. It was a newly constructed concrete block of rooms way out in the sticks. I would always be a bad student and watch the farmers till the soil next to the school or listen to the pigs and chickens. The quality of almost all the teachers was ghastly except for a few that were working as though it was with the Peace Corps. They were dedicated and good at their job. I actually paid attention in their classes! Learned to love sentence diagramming of all things. The year progressed without me really making any friends or doing well in school, but it was the bombing that changed everything. We had an end-of-the-year dance planned for all the students but my grandad forbid me to go. He just quietly said it was too dangerous. I was very disappointed. but the whole dance was suddenly cancelled anyway. The rebels decided they needed to use their bomb come what may, so they went to the decent teachers shared apartment and threw it in over an open balcony. Two died instantly. The following year I attended the all Spanish speaking Catholic school in town and things were a whole world of difference.

Q.What happened after the bomb dropped, how was your life affected?

A.The American school went on as usual, but now all my contacts were solely with Dominicans-none of whom spoke English. It's pretty amazing how fast you can learn a language in immersion! First thing every morning we lined up and sang the National Anthem of the DR. Then we went to class and said the Our Father and Hail Mary all in Spanish before we got down to work. My new friends were from all walks of life and curious and openly welcomed me. I integrated totally into their world which was so much more...a small example. If you were American you were only allowed to go to Embassy Beach which was a small cove under heavy guard.  But when I was with my Dominican friends we always went to Boca Chica, a huge long beach shaped like Waikiki. We got to swim out to the reef, waterski, and even stay overnight in their little bungalows. Heaven! I learned rudimentary Spanish and made many friends. Girls were allowed to date at 15, but even at 14 we got to go to the dances (every weekend!!!!) as long as parents accompanied us. We were under real restrictions in some ways, but it felt natural and safe. I was very happy.

Q. How did your experience differ there after you stopped being under the protection of the American Government?

A.Well, it should be mentioned that there was still some rebel activity through 1967 and people were still being killed. But the main point I want to make is that once I separated from the narrowness of American control and guard I was actually MUCH SAFER! Being willing to commit to respecting the country's existing social structure made the people, adults as well as the kids my age, want to welcome you with open arms instead of viewing you with suspicion. I was the only American girl that ever left the "protection" of the Marine guard and took to the country as though I was glad to be there. As far as I know I was the only American girl who ever attended Collegio Santo Domingo. I was even welcomed to the Presidential Palace once and met the president and all the relatives of the girls I was a classmate of. I walked to and from school in perfect safety, no one ever threatened me...I made friends because Dominicans are not "clicky" the way Americans are, and I learned to love a country that was in every way completely foreign at first. I will never go back, because tourism certainly made it unrecognizable. But I celebrate their success and I have wonderful memories of a wild paradise just an hour's plane ride from Miami.

Q.Rule breaker and explorer, how was that like for you in a foreign land so far from US soil?

A.Of course the bombing was the bad...so terribly sad and hard for a 13-year-old to understand. But the good memories are all from the year at Collegio Santo Domingo. The nuns gave a darn about you and tried to quietly and gently help instead of making you feel stupid. The parents of the girls would insist you enjoy their hospitality and learn to have fun Dominican style-mostly learning all about their music and dancing...a source of national pride. The girls were lively and fun loving and open. If they were going any place at all that could be considered fun, you got a phone call right away or we would all chatter away at recess. It is very different from the isolation that many American kids still experience even here. You were expected to do your school work, be polite and respectful and in return the parents made sure your days were happy. No pressure, just genuinely happy. I hope that in the end, I set a good example of what Americans COULD be like, given the chance. The government isolated us so strictly that you were like zombies moving through a ghost town...you weren't even allowed to grocery shop anywhere but the PX/Commissary. But my grandad was sort of a rule breaker...perhaps that's why his contract wasn't renewed after two years. If he hadn't broken rules I would have lost out on the experience of a lifetime and failed to give at least a small impression of how Americans could be without such heavy restrictions.

Q.What bad events took place there during your time abroad?

A.Just the bombing and the terrible American school. The next door neighbor who was big drunk hung herself at home, but my parents kept me away from the family anyway. I think folks that spent a lifetime of the boredom of isolation in many different countries really suffered in the end. I found experiences like the policeman on the border thinking Haitians would eat you funny, not scary. You have to understand that these Dominicans were the most charming people ever. Except for a crush or two gone sour on handsome DR guys, I was happy all the time. No bad experiences once I grew my wings. My grandparents were still more restricted than I so they always made me share my day with them. They loved hearing about all the new people and places. When they had been posted to Indonesia I was not allowed to go...no kids allowed. But they had the time of their lives much as I did in the DR. Again, in Indonesia they broke away from the military confines and got to actually know the people and the country. It was their experience of a lifetime

Q.While there what did you and your grandparents do to help the Dominican Republic?

A.My grandfather instituted a fair and equitable taxation system for the brand new government. What I did was simple. Just what child could do. I reached out in genuine friendship to bridge a very real divide.

Susan lived in a country that was far different from ours and faced many cultural boundaries which she overcame triumphly each time. Susan is currently facing a new challenge of cancer and chemo treatments but after this interview I believe she will prevail and beat it. Stay tuned for more interviews with more amazing and fun people from all walks of life. See you next time on Traveling Activist with your host Zachery Ramos

First Interview with Kristy Lohman-Killough

                                   Kristy Lohman-Killough

Good evening. Today on the Traveling Activist with your host Zachery Ramos we have a special guest Mrs. Kristy Lohman -Killough. Today we will be discussing Feminism Past and Present.

Q.What was it that made you decide to be a Feminist?

A.Wasn't a decision more of a belief that women should be politically, economically and, socially equal to men.

Q.What have you personally done to try to get this message out to woman?

A.Through coaching, trying to get girls to realize that their sports are just as important as male sports. Teaching her students and, kids that she coaches they are not limited by gender.

Q. What Feminist Leaders have you looked up to?

A. Elizabeth Cady Stanton and, Susan B. Anthony because they were pushing for women's suffrage.

Q. Changes for woman past to now.

A. Gained the right to vote, have woman congressman and senators, making ‘gains’ economically, socially for the most part women are seen as equal but there is still those that have a misogynistic viewpoint. Men who think that woman should stay home be a maid basically. Take care of the kids, cook and clean while the husband goes out and works being the breadwinner.

Q. In your life what challenges have you faced being feminist?

A. Students making jokes about feminism, when you are trying to exert yourself and getting upset men sometimes saying, “Oh are you on your period or something”, trying to make it sound like it's a hormonal thing. Being a female athlete, asked if was gay, which goes towards that misogynistic view feminist being lesbian.

Q. What events in your life led you to side with the Feminist point of view?

A. Being raised in a household with three brothers and my father never treating us differently. Mother also never treated us differently, she was encouraging and always wanted me to reach my goals.

Q. Where do you stand on the abortion issue?

A. I believe that woman should have the right to choose what they do or do not do with there bodies. The government should not have the power to control what a woman can and can not do to there own body. People allow their morals to cloud or over shadow circumstances that might be harmful to a woman if they didn't have the right to choose.

Q. If you had a rule in government what would you say and do for the female population?

A. Making sure that woman have the right or the control of their own bodies. Have the right to exercise their voice. Continue on closing the wage gap.

In conclusion with today's interview with Feminist minded teacher/ mother/ coach/ student/ mentor Kristy Lohman-Killough we have learned a lot about Feminist views and what is currently going on in the Feminist community. Thank you for reading and stay tuned for more one on one interviews.

One on One Interviews with World Wide Activist

Already have approved interviews with three Activist from different causes and very excited to share with you the interview videos after the interviews are completed. One traveled from England to the US and will be sharing her stories of events that happened during her time there in England before coming to the US. Second one is Gustine's current City Manager who will be discussing a surprise topic with us. An are third is a man who believes education should come first before the thought of building another prison. Also I will be having a guest on the page who will not be in a video, she will be sharing with us her time abroad in the Dominican Republic. Many interesting topics this month so stay tuned to to see what's up next for the Traveling Activist.

Microsoft Celebrates the Spirit of the Season

Microsoft's newest commercial on television showing when the world seems divided their is still vision for peace and beauty in the world. Remember this holiday season everyone celebrates differently so try talking to someone new, learn something about someone's culture and live life happily. Be the change and, beauty you want to see in the world.

What Activist are about.

An activist is a person who campaigns for some kind of social change. When you participate in a march protesting the closing of a neighborhood library, you're an activist.

Someone who's actively involved in a protest or a political or social cause can be called an activist. Demonstrations, strikes, and sit-ins are all ways that an activist might work toward the change she believes in. The root word of activist is the Latin actus, "a doing, a driving force, or an impulse." Someone who acts on what she believes is an activist.

Activist have been around for years, fighting for different beliefs trying to make the world a better one. In this blog I will be sitting down with Activist from around the US and from other countries in one on one interviews discussing a wide variety of topics and causes. There will be topics and discussions for everyone to partake in and, will be able learn about causes from around the world. Follow me on this journey of discovery and activism throughout the world while we learn new problems and meet new people who are trying to answer those problems.