strict warning: date() [function.date]: It is not safe to rely on the system's timezone settings. Please use the date.timezone setting, the TZ environment variable or the date_default_timezone_set() function. In case you used any of those methods and you are still getting this warning, you most likely misspelled the timezone identifier. We selected 'America/New_York' for 'EST/-5.0/no DST' instead in /usr/www/users/scouten/mn-leon.org/modules/node.module on line 1158.
strict warning: date() [function.date]: It is not safe to rely on the system's timezone settings. Please use the date.timezone setting, the TZ environment variable or the date_default_timezone_set() function. In case you used any of those methods and you are still getting this warning, you most likely misspelled the timezone identifier. We selected 'America/New_York' for 'EST/-5.0/no DST' instead in /usr/www/users/scouten/mn-leon.org/modules/node.module on line 1158.
strict warning: date() [function.date]: It is not safe to rely on the system's timezone settings. Please use the date.timezone setting, the TZ environment variable or the date_default_timezone_set() function. In case you used any of those methods and you are still getting this warning, you most likely misspelled the timezone identifier. We selected 'America/New_York' for 'EST/-5.0/no DST' instead in /usr/www/users/scouten/mn-leon.org/modules/node.module on line 1158.
strict warning: date() [function.date]: It is not safe to rely on the system's timezone settings. Please use the date.timezone setting, the TZ environment variable or the date_default_timezone_set() function. In case you used any of those methods and you are still getting this warning, you most likely misspelled the timezone identifier. We selected 'America/New_York' for 'EST/-5.0/no DST' instead in /usr/www/users/scouten/mn-leon.org/modules/node.module on line 1158.
strict warning: date() [function.date]: It is not safe to rely on the system's timezone settings. Please use the date.timezone setting, the TZ environment variable or the date_default_timezone_set() function. In case you used any of those methods and you are still getting this warning, you most likely misspelled the timezone identifier. We selected 'America/New_York' for 'EST/-5.0/no DST' instead in /usr/www/users/scouten/mn-leon.org/modules/node.module on line 1158.
strict warning: date() [function.date]: It is not safe to rely on the system's timezone settings. Please use the date.timezone setting, the TZ environment variable or the date_default_timezone_set() function. In case you used any of those methods and you are still getting this warning, you most likely misspelled the timezone identifier. We selected 'America/New_York' for 'EST/-5.0/no DST' instead in /usr/www/users/scouten/mn-leon.org/modules/node.module on line 1158.
strict warning: date() [function.date]: It is not safe to rely on the system's timezone settings. Please use the date.timezone setting, the TZ environment variable or the date_default_timezone_set() function. In case you used any of those methods and you are still getting this warning, you most likely misspelled the timezone identifier. We selected 'America/New_York' for 'EST/-5.0/no DST' instead in /usr/www/users/scouten/mn-leon.org/modules/node.module on line 1158.
strict warning: date() [function.date]: It is not safe to rely on the system's timezone settings. Please use the date.timezone setting, the TZ environment variable or the date_default_timezone_set() function. In case you used any of those methods and you are still getting this warning, you most likely misspelled the timezone identifier. We selected 'America/New_York' for 'EST/-5.0/no DST' instead in /usr/www/users/scouten/mn-leon.org/modules/node.module on line 1158.
strict warning: date() [function.date]: It is not safe to rely on the system's timezone settings. Please use the date.timezone setting, the TZ environment variable or the date_default_timezone_set() function. In case you used any of those methods and you are still getting this warning, you most likely misspelled the timezone identifier. We selected 'America/New_York' for 'EST/-5.0/no DST' instead in /usr/www/users/scouten/mn-leon.org/modules/node.module on line 1158.
warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /usr/www/users/scouten/mn-leon.org/includes/common.inc:385) in /usr/www/users/scouten/mn-leon.org/includes/common.inc on line 99.
]> Stephanie Owen's blog http://mn-leon.org/blog/13 en Stephanie Owen, On the Scene for Miami FTAA Protest http://mn-leon.org/node/138 <p>The free trade protesters that descended on Miami last November were all young, pierced and tattooed, right?</p><p>A few. But most were much more luscious.</p><p>Some carried puppets or giant flowers, some dressed as tomatoes and many chanted slogans against the Free Trade Area of the Americas, or FTAA, and a globalized economy. Now and then a guitar serenaded the eclectic and powerful group.</p><p>Some wore a &quot;gapatista&quot; sash over a white T-shirt bearing the word &quot;Crap&quot; in letters like those used by the Gap logo. During the demonstration, organized to highlight what protesters said was the Gap's poor labor and environmental record, many sang songs to the crowd and did what activists try to do -- educate people.</p> Tue, 29 Mar 2005 21:39:14 -0500 Letter from Stephanie, October 2003 http://mn-leon.org/node/73 <p>Hello friends from sunny, rainy, sunny León, Nicaragua!</p><p>Today Amati attended school without mom, an event that has brought the typical mix of emotions of both relief and anxiety (for me). I have been attending with him since he started; can you imagine a parent whispering in your ear for six hours a day, &quot;write, tie your shoe, take out your science notebook, all papers need to go into folders, she asked if you understand, he asked if you speak Spanish, they said ... she said ... say this ...&quot;? Chances are good he's quite happy with my lips detached from his earlobes. And, if you can believe it, I was happy being able to wash my clothes at 6:15 (by hand) rather than the typical 2pm when the sun is so hot. (Mom, you are right...one <em>can</em> wear some things twice in a row before washing them.)</p> Tue, 14 Oct 2003 20:45:20 -0400 Thoughts While Meeting, In a Closet, With My Heart... http://mn-leon.org/node/76 <p>Queridos amigos y familia,</p><p>A few weeks ago Amati and I made a spiritual pilgrimage to San Salvador for a visit to the tomb of my hero, the late Archbishop Oscar Romero. Romero advocated for government changes that would feed and educate the people, and he knew he would die a violent death because of it.</p><p>During the 1970s and 80s, death squads were hired by the ARENA government to rape, torture, and murder rural poor people in fear that the poor, restless with their hunger, might find a way to organize themselves and topple the government. The death squads were also hired to murder professors, teachers, nuns, priests, university students and anyone else speaking on behalf of lawful elections, land reform, or free education. In all, over 75,000 Salvadorans were killed, one million would flee the country, another million were left homeless, constantly on the run from the army, and this in a country of only 5.5 million persons. Most of those killed (women and children) never touched a gun.</p> Sat, 16 Aug 2003 21:07:16 -0400 Minnesota Nice, Nica Warm http://mn-leon.org/node/60 <p>Hello from Nicaragua,</p><p>After a brief visit to Minnesota, we are now once again in León. My tail between my legs, I feel sorry I have come and gone from the states twice since I updated you last. Many of my closest friends didn't even get a phone call as a result of my visits to family in Milwaukee, Stillwater, and Minneapolis. You are my priority when I arrive in August. After both trips several Nicaraguans noted I appeared <em>un poco mas chelita y un poco mas gordita </em>(i.e. a bit more pale and a bit more chubby).</p><h2>Transitions</h2><p>Traveling <i>to</i> the United States from Nicaragua has been more taxing emotionally than traveling <i>from</i> the US to Nicaragua. After my trip last January we traveled from one shocking extreme (10 below and blustery) to the next (95 and sunny -- feels like 108), but other than that and missing my family, adjustment was fairly smooth. As a contrast, during my time in the US I felt drugged up on Nyquil: languid, spiritless. I also felt peeved and prickly with the noise of the TV, bombardment of marketing by billboards and telemarketers.</p> Fri, 18 Apr 2003 20:56:18 -0400 Self Reflections: What's My Role? http://mn-leon.org/node/57 <ul><li>How does my vote and my voice affect developing countries?<br />   </li><li>How is it that historically beleaguered Nicaraguan friends are so much less anxious about life despite the uncertainty of the harvest, the increasing water prices, and the six-hour trip by foot to birth a baby?<br />   </li><li>Phones and email keep us more in touch than ever. Why, then, do many of us feel more isolated than ever?<br />   </li><li>Who sells Fair Trade Coffee in my community?<br />   </li><li>Why is it that folks in León aren't carrying around signs that say &quot;US ... think about why the world hates you?&quot; Could PML have something to do with that? Thu, 10 Apr 2003 19:27:22 -0400 Stephanie's February Letter http://mn-leon.org/node/38 <p>Greetings from Nicaragua!</p><p>How is everyone? Seems to me this is normally one of the coldest times of the year. Light those fires! Thanks to many of you for attending the dance benefit. Your support raised about $2300 for projects in Nicaragua.</p><p>Amati is once again in school so I have time to continue work with Project MN León. Today’s effort is &quot;550 Books.&quot;</p><p>I have mentioned before that I will be leading several teacher training sessions for preschool teachers who practically volunteer their time. I am in the process of collecting books in <strong>Spanish</strong> for 55 (up from 47) of these community preschools in the state of León.</p> Thu, 20 Feb 2003 18:25:15 -0500 Stephanie's January Letter http://mn-leon.org/node/36 <p>Greetings all!</p><p>Often I imagine you in your sweaters, enjoying a walk around the Lakes. I was hoping I would escape the most frigid winter of the past century. Will I have a snowball to throw when I visit Minnesota? I now understand why folks who move to places with hot climates say they really miss the seasons. Oh for a wool sweater and a pair of mittens!</p><p><strong><img hspace="0" src="images/dustystreetscene-265.jpg" align="baseline" border="0" />One day in November, winter turned to summer in Nicaragua. It has not rained since then and will not until May. Ahhhh! A man that passes from home to home, blowing poison into the homes to kill dengue mosquitos which are abundant during the months of September and October (Winter). It is quite scary to see these guys enter and leave homes, smoke pouring out of the doors and street drains (see picture). Afterward I question which is more dangerous, the mosquito itself or the poison used to kill it.</strong></p> Mon, 27 Jan 2003 17:46:49 -0500 PML's History of Impact http://mn-leon.org/node/20 <p>Dear PML Friends,</p><p>Greetings from León! I am now in the second month of a delicious, one-year repose with my 9-1/2 year old son, Amati. Cool weather made washing clothes easy this morning. As I observed Rojito, our hummingbird friend that sips nectar from our patio flower, I felt profound gratitude for my life and this opportunity.</p><p>I think it is time to acknowledge you, PML friends, for your part in enriching lives both here and at home. our tireless work is transforming lives in both very <strong>visible</strong> and <strong>quiet</strong> ways. The Primitivista Art School, the community gardens, and the training programs for volunteer nurse midwives and pre-school teachers are among the many projects you support, projects that empower communities.</p> Tue, 19 Nov 2002 13:49:13 -0500 Letter from Stephanie Owen http://mn-leon.org/node/19 <h2>Well, Minnesota?</h2><p>I ran to a computer this morning to read the results of yesterday’s election in Minnesota. Complex emotions flooded my mind and heart. To alleviate the pain a little I took off out the door, ran to the León baseball stadium, and ran up and down the stairs twenty times. How eerie it was to vote for Paul Wellstone via absentee ballot and hear about his death the next day. He received over 6,000 absentee votes and I felt thankful that mine was one of them.</p><p>Moments after I found out about the accident my friend Idalia happened to stop by with a plant for my garden. &quot;Let me plant it for you.&quot; she said. The flower, bright orange, sends me Paul’s fire whenever I look at it.</p> Thu, 14 Nov 2002 21:50:46 -0500