Foreskin: Don't Go Commando Without It

Just wanted to share some anti-circumcision graphics that I came across recently and a quick anecdote.

First the anecdote: So I'm recently divorced, and have started dating again for the first time in eleven years. Since I began dating, I've quickly come to the realization that early-twenties me knew who she was and what she wanted and talked openly about those things.  Mid-thirties me really knows who she is and she'll talk about anything important to her including intactivism, even on a first date.

Here's kind of how the conversation went:

Date: Tell me some things you are passionate about.
Me: Of course my kids (that's pretty much a given), health and wellness, natural living, eating organic/whole foods, vegetarianism, avoiding toxins, libertarianism, circumcision . . .
Date: You're passionate about circumcision?
Me: No, I'm highly against infant circumcision. Are you circumcised?
Date: Yes
Me: Did you know that when babies are circumcised they don't receive any pain medication and the foreskin that is removed, for no medical reason whatsoever, has 20,000 highly sensitive nerve endings?
Date: I had no idea. 20,000 nerve-endings gone? 20,000 nerve endings cut with or without pain meds sounds horrific.
Me: I know. That's one of the reasons why I'm so against it and why I feel so passionate about it.
Date: I heard they circumcise baby boys, so they are easier to clean.  That has never made much sense to me.
Me: One of the reasons that infant circumcision continues is because doctors, heedless of their vow to do no harm, make big money off the procedures, and then they can sell the removed foreskin tissue to labs and cosmetic companies for even more profit.  It's all about the money.
Date: That is really messed up.
Me: I know, right?

Then, the date proceeded like we had just been talking about movies we liked or something equally benign.  Later, he asked me out again.  I'm not sure if I'll go, but I like that I was able to speak my crunchy, little mind to someone I had never met before, and he didn't say I was crazy. HE ASKED ME ON A SECOND DATE!  The End.

Now on to the graphics:   
This great anti-circ graphic is from Intact OH.  "Foreskin: don't go commando without it.  The foreskin protects the glans from injury, and the urinary meatus from contaminants.  So play outside with no pants on.  It's got you covered." 

And, I found another anti-circumcision someecard on Mama's Milkies to add to my collection.

Ash writes, "This argument has always confused me. 'My son is circumcised and he is just fine!' But... He was just fine at birth too and you still had him restrained and had part of his penis amputated, so... You can't really use that as your defense. That's MY defense. He was JUST FINE when he was born too. So why mess with it? 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it!'" I agree, Ash, I very much agree!!!

35 Uses for Coconut Oil

Crunchy Mamas Do It With Coconut Oil!

35 Uses for Coconut Oil

1. Body Lotion
2. Oil Pulling -- This is a great way to detox!
3. Splinter Removal -- Put on a small amount of CCO and cover with a bandage. The oil soaks in and the wood pops out overnight.
4. Shaving Cream -- Leaves skin feeling so smooth and soft.
5. Deep Conditioner for Hair and Scalp -- Rub into hair and scalp, leave it for as long as you can, then wash it away.  You may have to rinse and repeat to clean away all the excess oil. 
6. Cuticle Oil
7. Diaper Rash Ointment. It's cloth diaper safe!
8. Rub on Newborn's Bottoms to Keep Meconium from Sticking to Baby's Skin
9. Massage Oil
10. Ditch the K-Y and use it as Lube!  You're going to come back and thank me for this one :-)
11. Feed it to Cats to Alleviate Hair Balls
12. Feed it to Dogs for a Healthier, Shinier Coat
13. Face Wash and Moisturizer in One
14. Lip Balm
15. Topically CCO Helps Heal Canker or Cold Sores
16. Hemorrhoid Cream
17. Use on Underarms as a Natural Deodorant
18. On Baby Bump or Stretch Marks
19. Make Miracle Soup when your not feeling well --saute a small sliced onion with at least 6 cloves of garlic in 1-2 TBSP of coconut oil, stirring occasionally, until soft and as brown as you like. Add 4 Cups Veggie Stock and 4-6 peeled, cubed potatoes. Simmer until potatoes are cooked through, then mash with a potato masher until smooth-ish. Salt and pepper to taste.
20. Spread on Toast instead of Butter
21. Replace Unhealthy Oils like Vegetable, Soy, Corn or Canola Oil in Recipes
22. Use it to Make Homemade Body Scrub -- Here's my recipe: Organic Grapefruit Body Scrub
23. For Dry or Cracked Heals -- Rub it in at night, put on wool or cotton socks, go to sleep, wake up softer.
24. Hair Gel -- This works well for short wet-look styles.
25. Hot Tea or Coffee Creamer
26. Make-up Remover
27. Natural Sunscreen - SPF 4
28. Use on Perineum for Healing after Childbirth
29. Athlete's Foot Ointment
30. Use with Apple Cider Vinegar to Kill Head Lice
31. Whiting Toothpaste -- Just Mix with Baking Soda
32. Natural Laxative and Stool Softener
33. Whip 1 Part Cocoa Butter: 4 parts CCO for a Soothing Body Butter
34. Use it to Make Natural Vapor Rub
35. Cure Thrush -- Apply to Breastfeeding Mom's Nipples and in Baby's Mouth

Leave me a comment: What are your favorite healthy uses for coconut oil?

Let's see how many different uses we can come up with!

EU Bans Animal Testing for Cosmetics

Today, the European Union banned the sale of cosmetics that have been tested on animals. Both animal testing on EU soil and the sale of cosmetic products tested on animals are now illegal in the European Union. 

Since my early teens, I have believed that we, as consumers, have the responsibility to make informed decisions about our purchases and the power to vote with our dollars. I have always purposely avoided make-up and beauty products that were tested on animals, because animal testing is known to be not only ruthless and extremely cruel, but also ineffective, since animals often react completely differently than humans to the chemicals used.

I hope today's ban of animal testing in Europe will lead to further scientific exploration and global acceptance of more accurate, cruelty-free testing methods like testing on donated human tissue and cultures. These alternative methods have the potential to not only spare millions of animals from senseless torture each year, but also to save human cosmetic users from needless irritation and suffering. Compared to cosmetics tested on animals, the probability of cosmetics tested on donated human tissue having an adverse effect on users is greatly diminished. Tests done on human tissue are usually a better indicator of the effects of a chemical than tests performed on animals. Additionally, non-animal testing techniques are frequently less costly and bear results more rapidly than animal tests do, helping to keep prices down for buyers.

These days I actually make the vast majority of my beauty products at home in my own kitchen with products that are healthy, organic and usually safe enough to eat. However, the push for the beauty industry to stop animal testing has been one of my pet causes (no pun intended) for more than twenty years, so I am glad to see Europe take this step in the right direction and hope the rest of the world will soon follow suit.