It's Poetry Week at New Moon! I'm So Excited!!!

Do you love to express yourself through poetry? Or maybe you’re not that into writing it, but you love to read it? If so, this is your week at New Moon Girls. It’s Poetry Week! Whoohoo!poetry_scroll1

There are so many great poems, written by girls just like you, on New Moon, I could never name them all! But here are some shout outs for just a few of the fabulous poems submitted over the weekend:

I loved seeing this historical poem, “To Augustus,” by Emily from Alabama. I thought it was so interesting how she wrote the poem from the perspective of a citizen of Rome. If you check out Emily’s Stuff, you’ll see writing is an important part of her identity. She shares tons of beautiful writing with New Moon Girls, so check it out, and give her a sticker to let her know you appreciate her great talent! And if the topic of life in ancient Rome interests you, check out the video Roman Amphitheatre by New Moon Girl Media staff member, Autumn.

Another poem I spotted this weekend was “Rejoice!” by Emma of Alabama. This reminded me to look on the bright side. We all need that reminder sometimes! For more of Emma’s poems, check our her stuff, and sticker Emma to let her know what you thought.

For a poem on the lighter side, check out “Winter…then Spring” by Piper of Alaska. If you liked it too, visit Piper’s Wall and leave a sticker.

poetry_scroll2And my last poetry shout out for today goes to “Pencils Are Possibilities” by Eleanor of Arizona. This poem is a tribute to the world of potential a pencil holds when in the hands of a creative individual. Check out more of Eleanor’s Stuff, leave her a sticker, and then pick up your own pencil (or computer keyboard) and share your poetry with us at New Moon Girls!

I’ll be giving poetry shout outs all this week! Give your shout outs too by leaving stickers and comments!

Earth Hour is Tonight! Turn Off Your Lights!

Don’t miss it! Tonight is Earth Hour! Be part of this important movement. At 8:30 pm in your time zone, turn off your lights for one hour. If you care for the Earth, and I know New Moon Girls do, be a part of this global event.earth_hour2

The first Earth Hour took place in Sydney, Australia in 2007 and 2.2 million homes and businesses participated! Last year, the event swelled to 50 million participants around the world! This year, Earth Hour will be an election between Planet Earth and Global Warming. Everyone who participates and turns off their lights will be counted as a vote for Planet Earth. This year’s goal is a billion votes for the planet!

Use Your Voice! Vote!

Use Your Voice! Vote!

So tonight, turn off your lights, look out the window, and let the darkness be your vote for a better world! It’s for the planet, and it’s for you. I’ll be participating, and I hope you will too!

Check out the Earth Hour Website to learn more. This year, participants are encouraged to make videos of their participation and share them on YouTube.  I hope you will share your videos at New Moon Girls too!

Cool Story! Check it Out!

Today I’ve got to give a shout out to Mathilda from Washington for her super-cool story, Through a Robot’s Eyes. This was so much fun to read! It’s totally imaginative, has very clever names (like the cook, Spagg Hetti), and even makes you think!

Mathilda is new at New Moon  Girls, so check out her story, then stop by her wall and leave her a sticker! But don’t stop there! Write something of your own and share, share, share!

Fiction will soon join these great Voices features!

Fiction will soon join these great Voices features!

And while we’re talking about stories, I have some exciting news. In a few weeks, we’ll be adding a new fiction hub at New Moon so all of your stories can be featured in one place! It will be the newest feature in Voices, where New Moon Girls share all their great creations. You’ve been asking for a special place to share your stories, and we’ve been listening! It will be here soon!

Peace Conference Postponed

I know many New Moon Girls care about big issues, like politics, world peace, global warming, and many more. That’s why I thought you might be interested in this story. I hope you’ll share your thoughts with me here and discuss with each other at Shout Out!

The other day, the South African government decided to bar the Dalai

The Dalai Lama

The Dalai Lama

Lama from visiting the country to attend a conference on peace and sports.  The Dalai Lama, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989, is one of the world’s most recognized spiritual leaders and advocates for peace.

South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu, himself a world-renowned advocate for peace and Nobel Peace Prize recipient, immediately pulled out of the conference in protest and declared the government’s actions “disgraceful.”

As criticism of the government’s move flared up around the world, the conference organizers decided to postpone the conference completely. You can read the complete BBC story here.

The postponement of the conference may be recognition that, to carry on when one of the world’s greatest peace leaders was banned, would be hypocritical. It may show solidarity for the values of democracy and human rights in the world. But if so, it is still a very small bright spot in an otherwise entirely troubling situation. In the words of Nelson Mandela‘s grandson, Mandla Mandela, “It’s a sad day for South Africa, and it’s a sad day for Africa.” I would add, it is a sad day for the world as well.

If you are interested in this story, you may also be interested in learning more about South Africa, it’s history of Apartheid, and why hopes for it’s progress as a multicultural democracy led it to be deemed the Rainbow Nation.

Artwork is like Sunshine!

I don’t know about where you are, but where I am the weather can’t decide if it wants to be winter or spring, and that had me feeling a little down. So I decided to look at some New Moon Girls artwork to cheer me up! I think artwork is like sunshine! It can be warm and beautiful. It can make you happy. Sometimes it can be harsh and glaring. It can even wake you up and make you think!

I think this painting captures the spirit of New Moon!

I think this painting captures the spirit of New Moon!

The Moon Glow Gallery has tons of artwork to cheer me up! Like the painting Girls Under the Moon by GEB-member, Emma of Minnesota. I think this painting captures the spirit of our community at New Moon, a community committed to supporting one another, finding the true beauty in ourselves and others, and learning to express ourselves in ways that matter in the world!

I was smiling a lot by the time I got to

I love this little alien!

I love this little alien!

this great sticker submission, Alien Sticker, by Veda from New York. This little alien is super cute and funny! I can’t wait to see it as a new sticker on everyone’s walls!

YUM!!!

YUM!!!

By the time I got to Slug Sandwich, I had to laugh aloud! This hilarious take on lunch, by Serena from Washington, is exactly what you need if some gloomy weather is getting you down.

For artwork that made me think, I loved Misted Autumn, by Ellen from California. I thought her use of geometric shapes to represent natural objects was really interesting!

I think this is a really interesting representation of nature!

I think this is a really interesting representation of nature!

I also couldn’t help but think of the United States of America and the

This made me think of the election. Can you guess why?

This made me think of the election. Can you guess why?

most recent election when I saw Blue and Red by Kyanna from Florida. Check it out and see what it makes you think of!

Thank you, New Moon Girls, for sharing your artwork with me and with each other! I can’t wait to see what you submit next!