Herland Sister Resources

Researchers compared population estimates of overweight and obesity across sexual orientation groups using data from the 2002 National Survey of Family Growth. The study sample of almost 6,000 women found that lesbians were more likely to be overweight and obese, putting themselves at higher risk for conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. The study’s authors said their findings point to “an urgent need for weight-reduction interventions that target the high-risk group of sexual-minority women.”  For more info see: “Overweight and Obesity in Sexual-Minority Women: Evidence From Population-Based Data.” Ulrike Boehmer, PhD, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Mass.

Within 20 minutes of smoking that last cigarette, the body begins a series of changes that continues for years.
20 minutes
Blood pressure drops to normal, Pulse rate drops to normal, Body temperature  of hands and feet increases to normal
8 hours
Carbon monoxide level in blood drops to normal, Oxygen level in blood increases to normal
24 hours
Chance of heart attack decreases
48 hours
Nerve endings start regrowing
Ability to smell and taste is enhanced
2 weeks to 3 months
Circulation improves
Walking becomes easier
Lung function increases up to 30%
1 to 9 months
Coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue, shortness of breath decrease

Our Sisters’ Closet is a new resale shop that was recently opened to benefit the YWCA Oklahoma City.  The YWCA uses volunteers to assist in providing services to women and children in crisis from domestic violence or sexual assault. 
The shop is not your typical thrift store.  It has a touch of class and a look that expresses the dignity that the YWCA strives to maintain for its clients.  This quality will set them apart from most shops–offering quality at bargain  prices. 
Let friends, associates, and family members know what a great store the YWCA has.  Donations are welcome, but right now the main issue is informing the public so that they can have lots of SHOPPERS!!  Volunteers are also needed to help sort, clean and refurbish donated items.
Our Sisters’ Closet
6012 S. Western
Oklahoma City, OK  73110
phone: 631-7171
OPEN: Tuesday—Saturday       from 10 am—6 pm

For a long time, ECPAT has been engaging the travel and tourism industry in efforts to end the abhorrent practice of child sex tourism—traveling away from your home country or region to sexually exploit children.  While the legitimate travel industry is not promoting child sex tourism, their facilities are used by sex tourists to get to destinations where they can find vulnerable children.  This puts the industry in a position to help combat child sex tourism. 
For that reason ECPAT-Sweden developed a Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation in Travel and Tourism (www.thecode.org).  More than 500 companies around the world have signed the Code of Conduct.  In the U.S., one large travel company has signed the Code of Conduct as have several small companies and one travel industry trade association. 
ECPAT estimates that 25% of the sex tourists abusing children around the world are Americans.  But few U.S. companies have signed the Code of Conduct.  We need to let these companies hear from all Americans that this is not acceptable.  Everyone has a role to play.  There are three things you can do: 
Send letters to the four large US hotel companies asking them to sign the Code of Conduct.  Attached are copies of four letters that we ask you to sign and send to the CEOs of these large companies.  If you prefer to have ECPAT-USA send these letters for you, just respond to this email with your name and address and we will send these letters on your behalf. 
Patronize Code of Conduct companies when you travel, for leisure or business.  You might also want to let them know that the reason you are patronizing them is because they have signed the Code of Conduct.  Here’s the list of companies that have signed: www.ecpatusa.org/documents/Signatories_COC_Condensed_2006.doc.  
Encourage the company you work for to get involved.  If you work for a company that has an in-house travel department, ask them to adopt an ethical policy on child sex tourism, such as the one in the Code of Conduct, and to book company travel only with companies that have signed the Code of Conduct.  Some companies might be interested in training their personnel and taking other steps to follow the Code of Conduct. 
Please write your letters today to support all children’s right to be safe from sexual exploitation.  For more information about child sex tourism go on: ecpatusa.org/travel_tourism.asp.  To report suspected cases of child sex tourism, go to: www.cybertipline.com

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