Articles written by Patty Bates-Ballard

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About me - Patty Bates-Ballard

Patty Bates-Ballard is a mother and writer who advocates respect for the earth and its people. The owner of WordSmooth, a Dallas-based communications company, Patty has just published her first book, Navigating Diversity. She has written for Environmental

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Politics, News & Issues > Environmental Awareness How to get involved with helping the environment: 6 of 27

Most Americans believe that preserving the environment is important, whether from a perspective of self-preservation, or a broader spiritual worldview. Teaching ecological principles to your children could make a difference in their future quality of life. But who can keep it all straight? Can't tell a greenhouse gas from a ...
Politics, News & Issues > Environment (Other) With so much water apparently available on the planet, how can there be so many shortages of drinking water?: 5 of 21

This morning when I flushed the toilet, I was very grateful. That's because I've been learning about the water situation in Africa. In the western African nation of Cameroon, two-thirds of the people live in cities. But less than one in five city dwellers has access to potable water. As a single man, Julius Awafong can affor...
Society & Lifestyle > Racism Is racism taught or learned?: 12 of 42

This article explains in detail how racism was directly taught for so long that now it is simply learned by cultural osmosis. Have you ever wondered why America is still struggling with the issue of racism? The laws changed years ago, so why does progress lag? Why are most churches still so segregated? Why do famous (and not...
Politics, News & Issues > US Elections US elections 2008: Obama and the issue of race: 3 of 8

When someone says something offensive, do you know what to say? While millions of Americans celebrated the election of our nation's first African-American president on November 4, many others raged, penned racist rants threatening president-elect Obama's life, and assaulted their neighbors. America, it's time we find a way t...
Health & Fitness > Health Risks Lead and associated dangers to health: 1 of 2

With all the attention on lead in toys after the seven Mattel/Fisher-Price recalls in 2007, you might have assumed the issue was resolved. Think again. From January through November 2008, there were more than 60 recalls of over a million products due to high lead content. The vast majority of these recalled products are chil...
Creative Writing > Memoirs Memoirs: My baby is special: 1 of 1

I love so many things about my baby boy: The way he winks one eye as he smiles, the way his head feels on my chest as he falls asleep, and oh, do I love the sounds he makes. His baby noises have a strange power over me. As I give him his bottle, his sounds draw me closer until my ear is so close to his mouth that I hear ever...
Health & Fitness > Alternative Therapies What is alternative medicine?: 17 of 18

From exercise to organic food to greener products, more and more North Americans are seeking a healthier lifestyle, and that includes natural healthcare options. The good news is that better information and more options are available today than ever before. From chiropractors to acupuncturists to naturopathic physicians, in ...
Parenting & Pregnancy > Parenting Methods How to understand what your child is saying: 18 of 19

Engaging and clarifying what children say are powerful communication tools. I learned them from speech therapists when my first son was born with Down syndrome. He is still learning to communicate at age six, but I was so in the habit of repeating every sound he made that I did it without thinking with my second son as well....