Near and Dear to Me...

Lu Guang (卢广), freelancer photographer

2009-12-16T14:02:00.001-08:00

This photographer has taken phenomenal award winning photographs of pollution in China. Lu Guang (卢广), from People’s Republic of China won the $30,000 W. Eugene Smith Grant in Humanistic Photography for his documentary project “Pollution in China.”

"A Dare to Remember!"

2009-09-29T07:18:00.001-07:00

Canadian Gold Medal Olympian Duff Gibson is participating in the Stephen Lewis Foundation's "Dare to Remember" fundraiser this October.

In an effort to raise awareness of the reality that African grandmothers, mothers and even young children travel great distances each day for water that is often contaminated, as well as the great work the Stephen Lewis Foundation is doing in Africa to turn the tide of HIV/AIDS, Duff's dare is to carry a 20 hours, on a journey through Calgary from Canada Olympic Park to his son’s school. Duff's sons spent their early years in Ethiopia.

You can sponsor Duff in his dare, and learn more about it by clicking here. Donations will be accepted until December 1st, 2009, World AIDS Day. By clicking on the link, you can also read about Duff's walk.

Update: Duff completed his dare and raised almost $22,000 for the Stephen Lewis Foundation! He writes on his Dare page "One of the best aspects of the dare is that the average SLF project costs in the neighborhood of $10,000 so our dare alone will fund two entire projects! "

Learn more about the "Dare to Remember" and the Stephen Lewis Foundation...be inspired, and make a difference.

Fair Trade, Oxfam, and Coldplay

2009-09-08T13:18:00.000-07:00

Oxfam America and Make Trade Fair teamed up to send Coldplay's Chris Martin to Africa to see firsthand the extreme poverty endured by so many and how fair trade in these areas can improve the lives of those who live and work there. For more information, visit http://www.oxfamamerica.org

Condition: Critical

2009-01-06T15:44:00.000-08:00

"Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has been working in North and South Kivu since 1992. Medical teams carry out emergency surgery, treating injuries including gunshot wounds and burns; run mobile clinics to reach those who have fled to safer, more remote areas; provide health care in hospitals and health centres; respond to epidemics like cholera; provide medical care to victims of sexual violence; and provide psychological support for those traumatized by what they have experienced...

MSF works under the principles of independence, impartiality and neutrality. It is important that our neutral stance is both understood and respected by all parties involved in a conflict. This is crucial to access people in critical need. To continue to work independently we need support from the general public worldwide."

Please visit the Condition: Critical web site and watch this amazing video here.

Dream Now!

2008-11-28T07:39:00.001-08:00

Dream Now is a dynamic, charitable organisation out to change the world. Their new publication available at www.myoccupation.org is chock full of inspiration and resources.

How does Dream Now hope to change the world? Here's an excerpt from their web site:

DreamNow is a charitable organization that produces ideas that do good for the world.

As a producer, we bring together people, raise money and plan for the growth of ideas that we believe will do good for the world. We are a charity but some of the ideas we help grow are social enterprises while others are more traditional such as research programs.

Me to We

2008-05-26T07:27:00.000-07:00

"...embraces the idea that we can all build a better life-and our ideal world-through reaching out to others. In practice, it involves focusing less on "Me", and more on "We"-our communities, our nation and our world as a whole. Today, Me to We is a worldwide movement of people finding purpose through living with compassion, strengthening community and making a commitment to our shared humanity. Me to We is about living our lives as socially conscious and responsible people, engaging in daily acts kindness, and building meaningful relationships with others."

Vist Mark and Craig Kielburger's web site.

Me to We | Responsible Style. Better clothes for a better world. Online store, wholesale and custom design!

Canadian Centre for Diversity

2008-02-29T06:55:00.000-08:00

"We believe that the more we can look at one another with fresh eyes and without the preconceived notions that invariably lead to fear and bigotry, the better we will be able to eliminate prejudice. That's why we want people to stand in one another's shoes, even for just a moment.

That's what our programs are dedicated to bringing about."

Current Day Slavery and Human Trafficking

2008-02-17T18:58:00.001-08:00

Free The Slaves is an organisation that is working towards eradicating slavery and human trafficking world wide. Are you aware that There are 27 million slaves in the world today? People -- many of them children -- who are forced to work without pay, under threat of violence and unable to walk away?

Help children in American Public Schools

2008-01-28T08:44:00.000-08:00

Donorschoose.org is a simple way to provide students in need with resources that American public schools often lack. At this not-for-profit web site, teachers submit project proposals for materials or experiences their students need to learn. These ideas become classroom reality when concerned individuals choose projects to fund.

Free footwear to people in developing countries and disaster areas

2007-12-13T17:56:00.001-08:00

Make a Commitment...tiny or big!

2007-09-28T08:25:00.000-07:00

The Clinton Global Initiative has launched My Commitment to help people help others improve the world and make a difference, big or small. Check it out!

Kiva: loans that change lives...

2007-09-13T13:49:00.000-07:00

Can you spare $25? Check out www.kiva.org. Kiva lets you connect with and loan money to unique small businesses in the developing world. By choosing a business on Kiva.org, you can "sponsor a business" and help the world's working poor make great strides towards economic independence. Throughout the course of the loan (usually 6-12 months), you can receive email journal updates from the business you've sponsored. As loans are repaid, you get your loan money back.

Words of Wisdom from Anne Frank:

2007-08-01T10:14:00.000-07:00

"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single minute before starting to improve the world.'
- Anne Frank

United Nations World Food Program

2007-02-25T13:16:00.000-08:00

The United Nations World Food Program

Make a Difference

2007-02-03T14:36:00.000-08:00

If you're reading this on your own computer, you are a person of privilege! Please keep scrolling right down to the bottom of the page and have a look at just some of the CHARITABLE organisations that are working to help people around our planet...it's our responsibility as human beings to take care of each other. It doesn't take much time, effort, or money for an individual to make a difference.

Use your potential for "great good"

2007-02-03T14:32:00.000-08:00

"The potential of the average person is like a huge ocean unsailed, a new continent unexplored, a world of possibilities waiting to be released and channeled toward some great good."
~ Brian Tracy

Please scroll down to look at the links...

Remember to be Thankful...

2007-02-03T14:21:00.000-08:00

If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the million who will not survive this week.

If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation, you are ahead of five hundred million people in the world.

If you can attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death, you are more blessed than three billion people in the world.

If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of this world.

If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace, you are among the top 8% of the world’s wealthy.

If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful, you are blessed because the majority can, but most do not.

If you can hold someone’s hand, hug them, or even touch them on the shoulder, you are blessed because you can offer healing touch.

If you can read this message you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world that cannot read at all.

Human Rights Campaign (for Americans)

2007-02-03T14:20:00.002-08:00

Peaceful Schools International

2007-02-03T14:20:00.001-08:00

Plan

2007-02-03T14:20:00.000-08:00

Action Aid

2007-02-03T14:19:00.001-08:00

ONE - fight poverty

2007-02-03T14:19:00.000-08:00

CARE

2007-02-03T14:18:00.001-08:00

Keep a Child Alive

2007-02-03T14:18:00.000-08:00

Doctors Without Borders

2007-02-03T14:17:00.001-08:00