Although I am teaching a basic American Constitutional Rights class at the law school here, I was asked not to discuss gay marriage and other similar cases during the class.  To respect the wished of the law school administration, I do not discuss my feelings on the issue within the classroom setting.  However, on my personal time and during meals outside of the classroom, I am going to be spouting my pro-LGBT rights views.

Seriously, why deny anyone the right to get married and adopt children?  More money for the divorce lawyers when things fail and in the mean time more people to take in children who need homes…   I know this is a cheeky way to view the world but honestly, people should be able to make their own choices and live with the consequences.

Nothing is perfect but as long as you are not hurting anyone else, why should you care who sleeps with who?

Utah Judge Reverses His Ruling on Lesbian Parents – http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-34813352

So we all know that it is time that I got back into the flow with the blog.  Now the weekly animal news is of course going up first because I miss Peanut due to the overflowing cuteness attack of geese flooding a road way in China and a picture of a Spicy Rabbit Head dish from Sichuan on my friend’s we chat moment.

From my adopted home province of Hubei – the BBC presents 1,300 geese wandering to the market along the GuangZhou expressway… Adorable to look at.  Sad for the geese who are going to market to be sold for a variety of reasons.  Sad for the farmer who does not have a choice but to herd his geese to market via the highway to save money.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-34758075

Also from China – Decoding the Panda Language.  However, sometimes I wonder if the Chinese Government spends too much money on the Pandas versus its citizens.  If we spent as much time and effort researching the way and mannerisms people communicate with each other, maybe the world would be a better place?  Just saying…

http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-34733258

Loane Teitiota was the man from Kiribati who went to New Zealand to try to claim climate refugee status,  There were many small island folks who were really invested in the outcome of his case as their homes are slowly sinking into the ocean.  Unfortunately, he lost his appeals and has been deported back to his home country of Kiribati.

Part of the discussions at the UN and during the Climate COP’s of recent years has been the compensation for small island nations which need to be resettled with the increase in sea level rise.  How exactly do you compensate people who are losing their lives, culture, and everything they have known?  They are not the reason for the increased sea level rise as none of the countries have had an industrial revolution with the puffing smoke and burning of natural resources.

Mr. Teitiota’s case is typical of the plight of many small island people.  He lives in housing which many first world citizens would not consider – a cinder block house.  He drinks water which is contaminated by sea water intrusion.  His children have health issues associated with malnutrition, lack of finances, and poor food security.

So while President Obama and President Xi have signed an agreement outlining a potential climate change policies for their respective countries, the question still remains if we are going to be able to truly affect change…  This is especially worrisome with the change in administration about to occur in the U.S. with Presidential elections right around the corner.

The Man Who Would Be the First Climate Change Refugee – http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-34674374