Friday, October 17, 2014

Philomena The Film

Philomena is a 2013 drama film directed by Stephen Frears, based on a powerful true story of a teenager who found herself pregnant in Ireland in 1952, Philomena was sent to the convent of Roscrea to be looked after as a “fallen woman”.

When her baby was only a toddler, he was taken away by the nuns for adoption in America. Philomena has spent the next fifty years in a search for her lost son, when in vain, led by a note-perfect performances from Judi Dench and Steve Coogan, Philomena offers a profoundly affecting drama for adult filmgoers of all ages." -"universal acclaim" but is "torn between contrasting approaches". named it the Best Film of 2013 saying: "It’s profoundly moving and thoroughly mind provoking, and this is film-making at its most refined.
"I agreed to a meeting with a journalist, and then found myself embarking on a five-year quest for a man I had never met before."
An article authored by Martin Sixsmith and published in the Guardian reiterates much of the portrayal of a scheme carried out by Catholic organizations in Ireland that enriched the Church through coerced adoptions and forced labor of unwed mothers.
based on the book The Lost Child of Philomena Lee by journalist Martin Sixsmith, tells a true story of Philomena Lee's 50-year-long search for her forcibly adopted son, and Sixsmith's efforts to help her find him buried at the convent's cemetery after he died from aids from being gay, and the film was co-produced in the United States and the United Kingdom.
The film has been recognized by several international film awards.

The Washington Times found
Martin Sixsmith is approached at a party by the daughter of Philomena Lee. She suggests that he write a story about her mother, who was forced to give up her infant son Anthony fifty years ago. Although he initially opposes the idea of writing a human interest story, he eventually meets with Philomena and decides to investigate further.
After having sex with a young man at a fair in 1951, Philomena became pregnant and was sent by her father to Sean Ross Abbey in Roscrea in Ireland. After giving birth, she was forced to work in the convent laundry, seven days a week, for four years to pay off the cost of her stay. One day she discovered that the nuns had given her son to a couple for adoption, without warning or a chance for Philomena to say goodbye.
Philomena kept her lost son a secret from her family for fifty years, but she visited the convent periodically to try to find him.
The nuns repeatedly told her that they were unable to help her.

So, together they set off for America on a journey's search for her lost son, and this mission would not only reveal the extraordinary story of Philomena’s son, but also create an unexpectedly close bond between them.
The film is a compelling narrative of human love and loss and ultimately celebrates life. It is both funny and sad and concerns two very different people, at different stages of their lives, who help each other and show that there is laughter even in the darkest places. Martin and Philomena begin their search at the convent. The nuns are once again polite but unhelpful, and claim that the adoption records were lost in a fire years earlier, although they later present her with a contract she was forced to sign, forbidding her from contacting her son again, which Martin considers to be too convenient for the Abbey.

Later at a pub, the locals tell Martin that the convent deliberately destroyed the records in a bonfire, and that most of the children were sold for £1,000 each to rich Americans.
Martin's inquiries reach a dead end in Ireland, but he receives a promising lead from the United States and he invites Philomena to accompany him there.    His contacts help him discover that Anthony was adopted by Doc and Marge Hess, who had renamed him Michael. He grew up to be a lawyer and senior official in the Reagan and George H. W. Bush administrations, prompting Martin to realize that he had met Michael several years earlier while working in the US.   They also learn that he had died eight years earlier.
Although distraught, Philomena decides that she wants to meet people who knew Michael.    They visit a former colleague of Michael's and discover that Michael was gay and died of AIDS.
They also visit his sister Mary, who was adopted at the same time from the convent, and learn about his lover Pete Olssen.   After repeatedly avoiding Martin's attempts to contact him, Pete agrees to talk to Philomena.    He shows Philomena some videos of his life with Michael.    To Martin and Philomena's surprise, they see footage of Michael, dated shortly before he died, at the convent in Ireland, and Pete explains that Michael had privately wondered about his birth mother all his life, and, in his final months, had traveled to Ireland in an attempt to find her.

Pete informs them that the nuns had told Michael that his mother had abandoned him and that they had lost contact with her. He also reveals that, against his parents' wishes, he'd had Michael buried in the convent's cemetery.
Philomena and Martin go to the convent where, against Philomena's pleas, an irate Martin storms into the quarters and confronts an elderly nun, Sister Hildegarde McNulty, who worked at the convent when Anthony was forcibly adopted.

He accuses her of lying to a dying man about something that was so important to both him and his mother.    Hildegarde is unrepentant, saying that losing her son was Philomena's penance.    Martin demands an apology from Hildegarde, but is astonished when Philomena instead chooses to forgive her.    Anthony Lee was renamed Michael Hess upon adoption, and he had become a leading lawyer in the first Bush administration, and he struggled to hide secrets that would jeopardize his career in the Republican Party and endanger his quest to find his mother.
A gripping expose told with novelistic intrigue,
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6791212-the-lost-child-of-philomena-leePhilomena, and then she asks to see her son's grave, where Martin tells her he has chosen not to publish the story.    Philomena tells him to publish it anyway."
Martin Sixsmith has said that Coogan's portrayal of him shared his "intolerance of injustice in all walks of life", and his admiration for a woman like Philomena who has the strength to rise above this. However, he is less angry than his on-screen version and is an agnostic rather than an atheist.
The book “The Lost Child Of Philomena Lee” was published in 2009.   It acted as a catalyst for thousands of adopted Irish children and their ‘shamed’ mothers to come forward to tell their stories.   Many are still searching for their lost families.

Philomena pulls back the curtain on the role of the Catholic Church in forced adoptions and on the love between a mother and son who endured a lifelong separation.

Ireland's Baby Export Business

There is an admitted, estimated 60,000 from the 1950's of young Irish women who were forced to give up their babies and young children after becoming pregnant out of wedlock, but there is presumptions of many more from the 1920's to the 90,s, and some is feared to have not been recorded from the disperse of the different orphanages around Ireland at the time.
http://banishedbabies-ireland.blogspot.com/2011/11/list-of-catholic-run-residential.html
Official website:
http://philomenamovie.com/
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2495391/How-I-helped-Philomena-track-son-sold-cruel-nuns-Its-film-toddler-torn-mother-reducing-grown-men-tears--REAL-story-haunt-forever.html
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/2014/02/28/february-28-2014-journey-to-the-real-philomena/22261/

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Things To Do with Girl Scout Brownies

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Things To Do with Girl Scout Brownies
Working with Brownies?
Here is a list of activities we’ve created for you to use when you’re working with Girl Scout Brownies.
1. Make a KaleidoscopeMake a Kaleidoscope – Kaleidoscopes combine colors, shapes, and angles for beautiful viewing. Each has a unique pattern and you can make your own!
Use this to: Tie to WOW! Wonders of Water, girl’s book page 11, discussion of rainbow colors and shapes and the Making Games badge.   Many Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) activities and concepts can be connected with kaleidoscopes—angles, colors, construction, light, patterns, etc.
What girls get from this: Stimulates interest in STEM. Supports artistic expression. Teaches computer skills and eye-hand coordination.
Where you can use this: troop meetings; home; library, and other places with access to ForGirls.
2. Drag & DropDrag & Drop — Have fun creating digital art. Drag and drop pictures, shapes, and words into a background. When you’re ready, print or save the file to show your friends!
Use this to: Connect girls to the basics of digital art. Link to nature theme (images of animals).Tie to the Artist (Painting) and Computer Expert badges. Assist girls in illustrating an experience or Take Action project.
What girls get from this: Stimulates creativity and self-expression. Reflects girls’ interests as they choose images. Teaches computer skills and eye-hand coordination.
Where you can use this: troop meetings; home; library, and other places with access to ForGirls.
3. Print & Play -- Coloring PagesPrint & Play — Coloring Pages – Print these pages for some coloring fun! Go on an adventure in the Bookmobile or have a tea party with Brownie Elf and her friends!
Use this to: Support stories in the girls’ books: images appear in WOW! Wonders of Water (It’s Your Planet—Change It!), A World of Girls (It’s Your Story—Tell It!), and the Brownie Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting. Assist girls in choosing a Journey.
What girls get from this: Connects girls to the Journeys: stories, themes, Girl Scout values. Encourages girls to imagine trips they can take on a Journey of their choosing. Provides a downtime activity girls can do in a group. Introduces the idea of girls traveling together.
Where you can use this: troop meetings, recruitment events, and Girl Scout information night where parents listen and girls enjoy a Girl Scout activity.
4. Map It! Girls Changing the WorldMap It! Girls Changing the World – Looking for ideas for Take Action projects or want the world to know about one you did? Visit the interactive map and see how Girl Scouts all over are changing the world!
Use this to: Explain and encourage girls to complete Journey Take Action projects and share them with the world.
What girls get from this: Inspires understanding of the worldwide sisterhood and impact of their project. Provokes ideas for Take Action projects.   If posting, provides a fun, satisfying culmination to an important leadership-building experience. Engages girls’ use of technology.
Where you can use this: troop meetings; home; library, and other places with access to ForGirls.
5. Color My World - DesertColor My World – Desert — With a few clicks, you can transform the desert into a colorful place!
Use this to: Tie to A World of Girls (It’s Your Story—Tell It!): Shali’s home in the desert city of Amman, Jordan. Connect with WOW! Wonders of Water (It’s Your Planet—Change It!) and concept of water scarcity. Link with Computer Expert badge.
What girls get from this: Expands girls’ world view beyond local community.   Introduces the idea of girls traveling together. Encourages self-expression and love of art.
Where you can use this: troop meetings, recruitment events, and Girl Scout information night where parents listen and girls enjoy a Girl Scout activity.
6. Color My World - RainforestColor My World – Rainforest — With a few clicks, you can make the rainforest look just like you always imagined!

Use this to: Connect to Brownie Journeys, especially A World of Girls where the Brownies explore the world and WOW! Wonders of Water which relates to water conditions and animal habitats around the globe. Links to Artist (Painting) and Computer Expert badges.
What girls get from this: Encourages girls to learn about diverse people, animals, habitats, and world regions. Can all animals adapt to all areas? Promotes study of science and computer skills. Supports artistic expression.
Where you can use this: troop meetings, home, library, outdoors, and other places with access to ForGirls. Printed out, the activity can be used at recruitment events.
7. My World - PolarColor My World – Polar – With a few clicks, you can bring bright colors to the snow and ice of the polar regions! Use this to: Connect to Brownie Journeys, especially A World of Girls where the Brownies explore the world and WOW! Wonders of Water where girls look water conditions and animal habitats around the globe. Refer to “Story Swapping with Latki,” page 28 in A World of Girls. Links to Artist (Painting) and Computer Expert badges.
What girls get from this: Encourages girls to learn about diverse people, animals, habitats, and world regions. Promotes study of science and a global sisterhood. Supports artistic expression.
Where you can use this: troop meetings, home, library, outdoors, and other places with access to ForGirls. Printed out, the activity can be used at recruitment events.
8. Print & Play -- Take to the AirPrint & Play — Take to the Air – The Brownie friends in the Brownie Quest Journey take flight in their plane. Fly Elf Air with this paper airplane Print & Play!
Use this to: Remind girls to Explore, Link Arms, and Fly! Connect girls to Journeys, in particular Brownie Quest where girls take flight and A World of Girls where travel is the thread. Link girls to ideas around new adventures and learning and trying new things! Emphasize science and technology and careers in flight and space.
What girls get from this: Encourages girls to think about engineering, science, and technology. Stimulates the idea of travel and different ways to go. Prompts artistic expression as girls explore paper arts like origami.

Where you can use this: Troop meetings, outdoors in a park or indoors. At camp. At recruitment or other events involving female airplane pilots or engineers.
9.   Print & Play -- Underwater MobilePrint & Play — Underwater Mobile — Put together your own underwater mobile and check out the deep-sea life just like Brownie Elf and friends!
Use this to: Encourage Brownies to learn about the Earth, oceans, water, and related careers. Tie in the description of the submersible (sub) from page 62 of WOW! Wonders of Water and help girls imagine what they would see under the sea. Tie into a trip to the aquarium, hatchery, or science center as well as Journey Take Action projects that focus on nature, fish, oceans, etc.
What girls get from this: Encourages girls’ interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). Supports stewardship of the Earth and exploration of the outdoors. Stimulates artistic expression.
Where you can use this: troop meetings, camp, education centers, and recruitment events.
10.   Print & Play -- Make a BookPrint & Play — Make a Book — Do you like to make up and tell stories? Make your own book! All you need is paper, scissors, and an adult to help you.
Use this to: Encourage girls to write and design their own little books on topics they enjoy. Tie Brownies to A World of Girls and the It’s Your Story: Tell It! series and My Family Story badge.
What girls get from this: Stimulates creative expression and knowledge of paper folding. Encourages reading, writing, and vocabulary. Prompts sharing of stories and friendship; can make books to illustrate Girl Scout events.
Where you can use this: Troop meetings, recruitment events, and outdoors.
11.   Print&Play - Brownie Elf Paper DollPrint&Play – Brownie Elf Paper Doll — If you could design the Girl Scout uniform of the future, what would it look like? Use your elf doll to create your own design.
Use this to: Help girls learn about Brownie Elf and how helpful Brownie Elf is. Tie into the word “style” defined in A World of Girls, page 33. Discuss the Girl Scout uniform (show diagram in The Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting) and its purpose–a way for girls to show they belong to a worldwide sisterhood and an organization that inspires them to make the world better. Tie to Household Elf badge and the dress-up suggestion in Making Games badge.
What girls get from this: Girls can explore the uniform as a symbol of belonging and the history of Girl Scouting. Encourages girls to think about their own senses of style, clothing, fitness, healthy habits. Helps develop dexterity and is an activity girls can do together.
Where you can use this: Troop meetings, at home, recruitment events.
12. Print & Play -- Pinwheels for PeacePrint & Play — Pinwheels for Peace – Create your own pinwheel and display it on September 21, International Peace Day!
Use this to: Link Brownies to Brownie Quest, friendship, peace, the sisterhood of Girl Scouting, and their hopes, feelings, and concerns about the world.
What girls get from this: Connects to the idea of making the world a better place and Take Action projects. Encourages artistic expression. Promotes a worldwide sisterhood, one of the 10 Essential Elements.
Where you can use this: Troop meetings; recruitment events, before International Peace Day (September 21).

13. Print & Play -- Sweet, Spicy, Smooth, and BrightPrint & Play — Sweet, Spicy, Smooth, and Bright – Peppers have many distinct characteristics (small, large, red, green, or multicolored), and so do girls! Celebrate everyone’s similarities and differences and discuss what’s unique and special about you.
Use this to: Explore a diversity of healthy, colorful foods and link to idea that people all over the world come in all colors, shapes, and sizes. Enjoy the textures, tastes, and sight of this vegetable family. Just watch out for the chili peppers! Tie to A World of Girls and Cook (Snacks) badge.
What girls get from this: Serves as a way to discuss healthy living, nutrition, and that people in the world eat different foods. Prompts discussion about the similarities and differences in people. Encourages understanding of the worldwide sisterhood of Girl Scouting.
Where you can use this: Troop meetings, an ethnic food festival they can hold, at home where they can talk about foods their family eats. Brownie Elf & Friends: Manage Money!Brownie Elf & Friends: Manage Money! — In this video, Brownie Elf & friends show how to manage your money so you can save for what you need— and want!
Use this to: Kick off girl-led planning of the Girl Scout Cookie Program. Guide girls in goal setting. Connect Brownies to the Money Manager, Philanthropist, Meet My Customers, and Give Back badges.
What girls get from this: Reminds girls about “wants” and “needs” in money decisions. Inspires girls to set realistic goals. Teaches financial literacy skills.
Where you can use this: places with access to ForGirls; a troop meetings when planning Cookie Program and other money-earning activities, library, home, before field trips that teach girls about financial services.
14. Print & Play -- Brownie Elf & Friends Tree HousePrint & Play — Brownie Elf & Friends Tree House – Make a fun tree house for Brownie Elf and friends and put on a puppet show!
Use this to :Connect girls with the Brownie friends, Brownie Elf, and others in the Journey books, particularly Brownie Quest which introduces the tree house. Use with the Finger Puppets Print & Play and let the tree house serve as a stage.
What girls get from this: Inspires girls to connect with the Brownie friends and their Take Action ideas and projects. Serves as a stage for girls to use finger puppets to express feelings, resolve conflicts, and learn about Girl Scouting. Stimulates artistic expression in making the tree house and staging a play.
Where you can use this: troop meetings or other small-group settings where they can discuss issues, feelings, and ideas; camp.

15. Print & Play -- Finger PuppetsPrint & Play — Finger Puppets — Print out what you need to make your own finger puppets featuring Brownie Elf and friends!
Use this to: Connect girls with the Brownie friends, Brownie Elf, and others in the Journey books and learn about Girl Scouting, Take Action projects, and what Brownies do.
What girls get from this: Encourages girls to “see themselves” and relate to the Brownie friends. Prompts girls to express their views on a topic and work together to solve a problem. Stimulates artistic expression in making puppets and staging a play.
Where you can use this: Troop meetings; camp; recruitment events.
16. Print & Play -- Finger PuppetsPrint & Play — Snowflakes — Make your own unique snowflakes with a pair of scissors and help from an adult!
Use this to: Connect Brownies to Journeys, particularly A World of Girls, page 28, where the Brownie friends travel to northern Canada and to WOW!: Wonders of Water where girls learn about the properties of water. The concept of snowflakes can also support the idea of diversity and different abilities: when all girls are doing the same activity, no two are exactly alike.
What girls get from this: Acquaints girls with the Brownie friends, Elf, and others. Reinforces the idea that snowflakes are unique, like people. Stimulates artistic expression.
Where you can use this: Troop meetings, recruitment events featuring WOW!: Wonders of Water theme. Brownie Elf Hiker SongBrownie Elf Hiker Song — In this video, Brownie Elf goes hiking with her friends and sings the Brownie Hiker Song!

Use this to: Stimulate girls’ interest in hiking, outdoor adventures, and singing! Show the video so girls can learn the song, then enjoy singing it together everywhere.
What girls get from this: Encourages teamwork, togetherness, and the idea of being “friendly and helpful,” as stated in the Girl Scout Law. Connects girls to hiking and the outdoors. Reinforces the Girl Scout tradition of singing together.
Where you can use this: troop meetings, home, and other places with access to ForGirls. Song can be sung at troop meetings, outdoors, camp, trips.
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