Saturday, July 26, 2014

ERA: Speak Up and Support New Efforts to Pass the Equal Rights Amendment with Heartful Art by Raphaella Vaisseau

In 1923, Alice Paul authored the Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. Amazingly, it remains unpassed to this day.

According to a July 24, 2014 Ms. Magazine blog post by Stephanie Hallett, new legislation has been proposed by two US Congresswomen, Reps. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and Jackie Speier (D-CA), to finally get this thing passed.

The text of the ERA consists of 24 words: "Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex."

Click here to purchase Raphaella's version of the ERA as an 11x14 poster on Etsy. To support your activism on this issue, volume discounts and smaller versions of this artwork are available. Mail copies to your congressional representatives and ask them to support this important legislation.

Share this news with your friends. Join the congresswomen, Ellie Smeal (Feminist Majority President and publisher of Ms.), Terry O'Neill (NOW President), and other leaders and activists in stepping up.

Speak out. The time is now. Pass the ERA.
-Raphaella Vaisseau

Monday, July 14, 2014

Nature's Magnificent Beauty: Being at Caspersen Beach by Raphaella Vaisseau (heartfulart.com)

Ten minutes from where I live is a magnificent sandy beach that I love. Constantly changing, constantly moving, alive with manta rays, dolphins, sea horses, sand crabs, seagulls, blue herons, egrets, eagles, and more, Caspersen Beach never ceases to uplift and thrill me with its beauty. See more pictures on Flickr  from an hour spent here recently. Follow @heartfulart on Instagram for glimpses of life in southwestern Florida, including many visits to the Gulf.

Thoreau captures the beauty of our world in his timeless book, Walden: "Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads." I wish you the best of days as you walk on this beautiful planet.
- Raphaella Vaisseau