The Show Must Go On?

The show is still in theatres with the Jeffrey Epstein cohorts still roaming unchecked…..

Latin – collusionem “act of colluding,” from colludere, from com- “together” + ludere “to play,” from ludus “game” (see ludicrous).

English – collusion – secret agreement for a fraudulent purpose; connivance; conspiracy. To defraud another of his or her rights.

Esther Rantzen (English journalist and television presented who worked at he BBC from 1965-2006 and founder of the child protection charity, ChildLine) is quoted in the ITV documentary Exposure: Tthe Other Side of Jimmy Savile, “We colluded in this”.

There are now over 200 claims of sexual abuse and pedophilia against Jimmy Savile from women (who were girls) from charities he was the patron, hospitals he volunteered in, while he was at the BBC, in the girl’s home he was a patron – over a period of about 60 years. The man was a predator and if he was alive, the documentary claims he would be arrested.

Let’s…

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Celebrating Alcohol Abuse

More and more, on every social platform, there is a recurring theme of fashion magazines promoting and encouraging women to drink alcohol … lots and lots of alcohol.

I know for a fact that we are powerfully intuitive, wise and sensitive, beautiful women who feel everything, all the time. This power is easily and swiftly reduced by the numbing effects of alcohol.

This latest delish promotion from Marie Claire is selling the solution to all your problems, “Did we mention you’ll always have a drink in your hand? … the fruit punch is booze goals”. The insidiousness then goes on to play to your guilt and lets you know that the tour company will give “20% of it’s proceed to [hurricane] relief efforts” and remember ladies, “Ready, set, booze!”. A beautifully edited video with lashings of gorgeous cocktails, beaches, palm trees, crystal clear water and sunshine to tantalise you into booking. Throw in a few shots of hurricane devastation and you have the perfect seductive package to justify a ‘glamourous’, alcohol fuelled vacation that you will send you back to work needing a detox.

Here’s another classic from Marie Claire via Cosmopolitan celebrating how you need a jug and not a glass to drink wine. Actually, don’t worry about the jug, just drink vodka straight from the bottle.

National Vodka Day (is that even a thing?!) was a big hitter for Cosmopolitan with this video getting a tidy 6.2m views – that’s a lot of shots ..

Cosmo are also encouraging hiding wine so you can keep your habit hidden “When you need a desk-side pick me up” or you need to take your meeting from business to boozy”.

Harpers Bazaar are really giving it up for women to start drinking on Friday with this latest offering that has over 62k views (and counting!) and the comments from women celebrating how drunk they get on Friday

Cosmo strike again, I’ll stop for one drink *three drinks later* – 1.7m views!

There are numerous ‘studies’ that are released that celebrate that “three glasses of champagne a day/a glass of red wine is good for you” … Harpers Bazaar’s obvious advertorial piece with this informative embedded video from Elle promoting the benefits of drinking rose is among the many articles promoting alcohol consumption.

Every single one of these videos promotes the denigration of women – and these are only a few examples of the many out there. I know they are seen as just-for-fun and that no-one takes them seriously … but in truth they are celebrating self-abuse and excess consumption and making it normal to need, hide, indulge and binge on booze. It’s on your holidays with you, your Friday night and all your friends are with you when you have it. How can I have fun without it? I deserve it!

We have created a drinking obsessed culture. According to Breastcancer.org women are now 15% more likely to get breast cancer than women who consume none. Breastcancer.org are really clear in what the facts reveal about alcohol and it’s direct links to breast cancer.

“Compared to women who don’t drink at all, women who have three alcoholic drinks per week have a 15% higher risk of breast cancer. Experts estimate that the risk of breast cancer goes up another 10% for each additional drink women regularly have each day.

Teen and tween girls aged 9 to 15 who drink three to five drinks a week have three times the risk of developing benign breast lumps. (Certain categories of non-cancerous breast lumps are associated with a higher risk of breast cancer later in life.)

While only a few studies have been done on drinking alcohol and the risk of recurrence, a 2009 study found that drinking even a few alcoholic beverages per week (three to four drinks) increased the risk of breast cancer coming back in women who’d been diagnosed with early-stage disease.

The bottom line is that regularly drinking alcohol can harm your health, even if you don’t binge drink or get drunk. All types of alcohol count. One drink equals 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of hard liquor.”

Sobering statistics? One can only hope.

Based on the consumption promoted by our best selling women’s magazines, there’s no amount of breast cancer research that will help one iota of women if women continue to buy into this alcohol infused life that is supposed to be so glamorous and acceptable. A life that is supposed to build amazing friendships and memories …

The fashion mags are being read by young women who are being encouraged to drink a lot, often and with their friends. Where is the responsibility by our elders? Where are the women publishers who are being mentors to our young women? Alcohol related violence towards young women in universities, colleges and schools is on the rise. When are we going to be responsible and lead by example?

These NHS statistics released in May 2017 expose:

“Alcohol-related hospital admissions in England have increased by 64% in a decade and are at their highest ever level, prompting experts to warn that baby boomers are continuing to risk their health through frequent and excessive drinking.

Surveys found 60% of women aged 45 to 64 and 69% of men of the same age had drunk alcohol in the last week – the highest proportions of any age group.”

For women aged 45 to 64, we are in the most divine period of our lives. Our true expression is to mentor, support and nurture people at home, in the workplace and society as a whole.

Step up ladies. It’s time to try another way, this one isn’t working.

Australia – Marriage Equality

Dear Mr Hockey,

Fortunately, we are living in a democratic society, where we have the right to vote on what governs our lives. Those votes are attached to people like you and me, who have a voice and choose to exercise that.

The vote against a free vote for marriage equality has shown the world, through the expression of the sitting government, that Australia is retarded, misguided and bigoted in our view on humanity. We are all equal, in essence, regardless of gender, socio economic status, ethnicity or sexual orientation.

The Coalition party has given all Australians the opportunity to voice their disappointment (disgust is more truthful) at the appalling lack of understanding, care or compassion for our equal citizens.

We implore you to take a stand and honour all of us, equally so, and express your compassion and understanding for every single Australian.

What if one of your three children is LGBT? What will you say to them in 15 years time when they ask why you didn’t act?

Yours sincerely, Sarah Cloutier

Relationships Workshop – Sydney

Esoteric Women’s Health is hosting the upcoming: Women In Livingness Relationships Workshop 1 day | Cost $85 | SUNDAY 19th JULY 2015 Leichhardt Town Hall, corner Marion and Norton Streets, Leichhardt. This full day workshop offers women the opportunity to expand their understanding of relationships with family, intimate partners, friends and work colleagues. It offers pathways for breaking down the ideals, beliefs and misconceptions that hinder the loving relationships we all desire.

Find out more at the Women in Livingness Sydney page

Beat Women …

Why isn’t the media talking about domestic violence?

Do they think it won’t sell papers?

They are probably right.

Who wants to hear that UN statistics show that 1 in 3 women worldwide will be the victim of domestic violence?

Does the world really want to know that 73% of homicide murder results in the death of a woman at the hands of a partner or ex-partner?

Who really wants to hear that almost 50% of women who were in a relationship had their previous partner be violent towards them? The media think you really don’t want to know that even though these women got themselves out of the abusive relationship, their ex-partner found them and attacked them. Do you?

Who wants to know that women are then going to be ridiculed and blamed for their attack? “Don’t provoke the man”.

Do you want to be reminded of how it felt to be attacked or attack?

Do we really think that by ignoring the FACT of the enormity of the violence that it will go away? The ‘ostrich’ approach isn’t working. Obviously.

The rates are increasing and no one cares.

Do you want to think about your sister, mother, daughter, friend, cousin, niece, grand daughter being beaten senseless? Or do you see those statistics as something that happens to other people?

Why are you not saying to your brother, son, father, grand father, cousin, nephew or friend that being violent towards women is not acceptable under any circumstances? Is it too confronting to challenge someone on their cowardice and the evil they are allowing to run through them?

The media want us to focus on other things – get us infuriated about fracking or global warming or celebrities because that means we don’t have to look in the mirror.

They know what they’re doing – don’t be fooled that they don’t know how to manipulate you.

Wake up.

Speak up.

Don’t beat women.

The Wonder of our Elders

This week has been a gift for me to experience the grace, wisdom and inspiration from our Elders. I have been producing a series of national radio commercials for the Australian Government to support their new Aged Care policy.

Spanish, Greek, Croatian, Italian, Vietnamese, Dutch, Polish, Arabic, German, Cantonese, Indigenous and Australian Elders aged between 55 and 75 years old graced me with their presence to record a beautiful array of their voices, speaking in their natural language.

Their expression is timeless.

How often do we actually listen to our Elders?

I realised that I don’t have many in my life apart from my parents and relatives, so it was truly beautiful to feel their enthusiasm and gratitude to be involved in this wonderful project. I cherish what they offer – wisdom, humour, joie de vivre and heart.

Even though the engineer and I didn’t know what they were saying, we could absolutely feel whether they were relaxed or tense, confident or shy, natural or forced by the way they were reading the script. Each one had their own passion and commitment to life.

Truly inspirational.

Remember – treat them with the essence of honour they deserve – that will be us one day.

With love, Sarah

Inspirational Young Australians

Viv Benjamin, Ben Milgate, Otis Carey and Marita Cheng are all inspirational young Australians and I had the pleasure of working with them on a series of online videos to promote their part in the Optus Live More #Yes Project.

How often we are force-fed media stories about young people who are in trouble with the law, drugs and excess? They sell news subscriptions, magazines and newspapers. The trouble with these stories is that they show that celebrity and fame often have a negative effect on those in the spotlight.

Optus decided to find some inspirational young Australians and direct their energy to supporting other young Australians to make some waves, shake things up and get some inspirational projects happening in our world.

Great to be involved in the #yesproject and meet these wonderfully humble, gracious and awesome overachievers.

We really can do anything we want if we stay strong and are doing something we love!

Simply live the real you!

Sarah

(Production manager + post supervisor + stills photographer)

Letter to the Health Minister of Australia

Dear Tanya Plibersek,

With the Federal Election immanent, I would like to know your future strategy on mental health for the coming term, should you retain power.

My mother is looking after my mentally ill brother and is exhausted. He’s now 46 was diagnosed schizophrenic 26 years ago.

Could you please let me know what your policy will be for mental health support? It has been stripped bare over the last ten years and families all over the country are suffering because there is no federal initiative and state governments are not receiving funding or strategy so are cutting back on resources, facilities and phone support.

With mental illness, bipolar disorder, depression and suicide rates increasing dramatically, it is obvious there is a time bomb waiting to explode. This is deeply concerning and the worrying trend of ignoring mental health support will come at a huge cost to our fabric of society. What is your strategy for dealing with the impact on families and society of mental illness?
Why is no-one talking about this issue?

Your response will be very much appreciated.

Yours truly,
Sarah M Cloutier

The Deceit in Research and the Media – Let’s get back to Truth

What is truth? Stephen Fry, a broadcaster and academic in the UK stated, “Truth is what is felt in the heart.”

Lies are everywhere, we are bombarded by the insidious evil of them – they permeate our thoughts, our language, written word, our entire existence is built on this false foundation.

We use them to bolster our fragile status quo and we create whole belief systems around the lies to justify our actions.

Look at the research around food. One study will say coffee is good for you; another will state the fact that it is a psychoactive drug that harms the nervous system, brain function and liver. Some doctors say that alcohol in moderation is good for your heart and are now informing pregnant women that drinking is harmless to their unborn child, others have proven that it damages the arteries, blood quality and brain function. The dairy industry marketing machine continues to say it (dairy) is our main source of calcium. Yet, facts prove that our bodies retain more calcium from leafy greens/broccoli and that consistent dairy product consumption causes lung, sinus conditions, IBS and a higher risk of cancer in adults.

The research shows that there is a clear distinction between what is considered fact and what our bodies are telling us. And our bodies are shouting loudly with diabetes, obesity, cancer of all kinds, mental illness, suicide and sick leave, to name a few. These are skyrocketing globally. Multi-symptomatic cases are presenting that require many specialists working together towards finding a solution for people who are desperate for an end to their pain.

It doesn’t make any sense, Does It?

Similarly, the worldwide press continues to print lies and half-truths for the masses that enable a general populace to remain ignorant and misled. Fed on a stingy meal of gossip, tabloid criticism and lies, the world’s population picks up the crumbs of ‘truth’ and builds a whole belief system based on scraps of flimsy ‘evidence’ and innuendo. Our ‘intelligence’ is read, absorbed and regurgitated.

Every press has its modus operandi – to gain more readership than another. The more readers, the more they will come back for another bowl of trifle. Profits have clearly become more important than truth and care, and so the people behind the press (researchers, journalists, marketers) lie to convince you to believe their story. Then they are rewarded for telling lies with higher share prices, promotions, status or awards. Every day we are reading cruel anecdotes passed off as ‘news’ that denigrate people who are unlikely to have the funds to take legal action against the rot of lies flung against them. And we gorge ourselves on it. Why?

Actors, musicians, politicians and their families and their children – literally anyone in the public eye has a target marked on their back. It seems that ‘freedom of speech’ has created the public execution by pen and this modern media expression is everywhere, and can attack by many means. Burning at the stake was the easy way out compared to the long, drawn out torture by faceless perpetrators on Twitter, Facebook, and commenting on blog posts. ‘Perceived strength through anonymous, abusive actions’. Why are they in hiding?

If you deign to stick your head above the parapet and start speaking truth, there are those out there who do not want their life of lies to be exposed – and they will inevitably take a shot. The pen can definitely be mightier than the sword – or so they think.

Lies are calculated and manufactured to mislead, control and manipulate. And whether intended or not, they always hurt people. Even when we lie to ‘protect’ someone, there is always an intention of control and manipulation. Truth, on the other hand, offers the opportunity to see things as they really are. From truth, we can begin to make changes in the world and break from the illusion we are choosing.

The truth can only be veiled by lies – it is never destroyed. What we perceive is truth can only be felt and discerned by one who truly commits to feeling first from the heart. Stephen Fry is one individual who, like many, is observing that we have this knowing within us and can expose the true quality of lies, naturally.

By continuing to allow lies to dictate how we think, we are choosing to stay separate and judge each other in harsh criticism, comparison and jealousy.

By continuing to perpetuate the lies by NOT SPEAKING UP, we allow others to wallow in the rotting waste of misappropriated truths we have been force-fed for millennia. The biggest lie of all is that we think that nothing we say in defence of truth will make a difference. I was speaking with a colleague and they said that speaking out is only a drop in the ocean and it won’t change anything. But this complacency and accepting the current status quo is our own undoing. Only through our responsibility will we be able to shift the current norm.

It’s time to take off the blindfold and clearly see the world. We have created it. Only when we stand up and tenderly and compassionately deal with childhood hurts will we be truly free to choose to take responsibility. With acceptance, humility and deep care for ourselves, we can then choose to feel more and live in a way that honours everyone, equally. When we move past the pain that we carry, we stop living to keep the world out – we can choose to let the world in. Only then can we truly feel what is really going on.

What I am seeing more and more is that when I come to the truth, I am not alone. There are many others gathering around the world who have chosen to not compromise on truth – to observe, feel and speak it. We have an opportunity to expose lies and their insidious nature in our lives. When I connect to truth, it offers an awareness of the possibility of exploring another way, where we all live and express according to the love that we are within. This will reveal a very different world; the choice rests with us.

Are We Really So Different?

I see it every single day … there are different skin, hair and eye colours. Height, weight, feet and hand sizes are different. We look around everywhere and see difference. Not one of us looks the same. We’ve created a world that celebrates that we are all different. You have to have your niche, stand out from the crowd, and elbow your way to the top. Being different is championed! We hate to see someone else wearing the same shirt/dress/jacket/shoes because it feels like they have taken some part of our individuality. Our idea that we need to be unique drives everything from fashion to food, music to books, computers to cars, studies to jobs, movies to make-up, hobbies to hair styles – the list goes on!

So we’ve created a world to cater for all the individualism.

Before I go on, I wish to clarify that we need individual professions and occupations. We have created a world that is complicated and involves the services of people to support the world, as we know it. That expression is vital to bring harmony back to how we live. We need lawyers, shopkeepers, managers, nurses, builders, fishermen, gardeners, doctors, mothers and fathers.

But what if we are miles from the truth? What if the individualism keeps us from our one-unified-soul? What if we are all in a glorious constellation that keeps us in a divine flow, naturally? What if we are feeling everything all of the time? What if we can express our unique divine light without all the unique, individual distractions?

What would happen if we allowed ourselves to feel the truth that we have separated from our true nature and load ourselves with all the myriad of distractions available to us to NOT feel that we have separated! Whew! That was a mouthful.

So could it be said that, as a direct result of our indulgences in being individuals, we are stopping the fact that we are feeling everything all of the time and in doing so resist what and who we naturally are?

Sarah Michon Cloutier