Open Thread

Make this blog yours! Everyday there will be a question posted and the authors ask that you the readers comment and make your voice heard.

So for today, March 29, 2007

What do you feel passionate about?

Idea List.Org Round 2 (GWP Perspective)

The rest of this weekend's conference included informational workshops, amazing speakers, and goodbyes. Everyone at the conference was invited to attend one workshop on Saturday and one on Sunday. The workshop that I attend on Saturday was ran by Campus Progress and discussed how to make media work for social justice movements:

Campus Progress, part of the Center for American Progress, works to help young people -- advocates, activists, journalists, artists, and others -- to make their voices heard on issues that matter. Through an on-line magazine and student publications, public events, and grassroots issue campaigns, Campus Progress acts to empower new progressive leaders nationwide as they develop fresh ideas and perspectives and seek to communicate in new ways.

The workshop discussed methods that journalists should use to make their movement gain some head ways in their community. The group consisted of active journalists and intellectual students. There was a student from UC-Berkley who was attempting to receive her JD and Ph.D. just to name drop the type of people in attendance.
All in all, i learned a lot about how to shape messages appropriately for the media and how to maximize the effectiveness of the message. I want to thank the leaders of Campus Progress for their insight and help, it was an amazing workshop and most definitely made an impact in Dubuque, IA.

Idea List Confrerence Post 1

Hi everybody,

Greeting from The DePaul University Loop Campus in downtown Chicago, Illinois. Jeff and I are currently attending the Idealist Conference. So Far, this has been a very interesting and informative conference. Instead of going to large group workshops, everyone is broken down to small discussion groups. My group is pretty interesting; there are two people from Fargo North Dakota, one person from Portland, Or, and the rest are from all over the country. We discussed today how to connect many groups from ones community into one strong group. There is so much more to do and there will definitely be a re cap post later on today so stay tuned...

Coping with Water Scarcity

The United Nations dubbed March 22nd of every year World Water Day!! I think its safe to say that everyone who can should donate at least $1 dollar:

Face it: Clean tap water is something you take for granted. The thing is, other people, lots of them actually, aren’t so lucky. As a matter of fact, the lack of clean drinking water is one of the most urgent health crises facing the planet today. The Tap Project lets you do something about that. But don’t worry, it’s easy—all you have to do is have a glass of water. On March 22, 2007, the United Nations' World Water Day, hundreds of restaurants in New York City, home to some of the best tap water on the planet, will invite their customers to pay $1 for something they normally get for free. The funds collected will help UNICEF save lives by providing safe drinking water to children around the world.

This is an amazing idea. I'm not usually one for getting water at restaurants (usually go for a diet coke) because I always liked the way that soda pop (soda or pop) but sometimes I just have to get a water. Most of the time its simply because I do not have the money for a pop I will grab a water. I mean, heaven help we get charged for a naturally occurring substance.

Ottowa

No, no, not Ottawa !

More than three-quarters of the world's nations have ratified the Mine Ban Treaty since it came into force in 1999, outlawing the production, stockpiling and use of victim-activated antipersonnel landmines. While the United States has yet to sign the Mine Ban Treaty, it has not used victim-activated antipersonnel landmines since the first Gulf War in 1991. The U.S. has neither exported landmines since 1992, nor produced landmines since 1997.

But, for the first time in nine years, the U.S. Government is currently considering production of a victim-activated antipersonnel mine system.

At least 20% of the people effected yearly are children in countries not where wars are taking place; instead the children are getting hurt because countries have failed to pick up there trash. Land mines are being activated by children who like how colorful and shiny they look. Ottowa is treaty which bans the production and distribution of land mines.
THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT HAS NOT RATIFIED THIS TREATY. With the current rate at which arms are sold for and the need for the United States to pay back some loans there are no guarantees or protections against unleashing these dangerous weapons. Urge your government both your local government and federal government.

Take Action

Originally, I told all of you that the blog authors were working on some type of database where everyone could email their reps and demand action. Well, UNICEF USA already has something of that fashion on there web site.

Here is the Link! I encourage everyone to visit the site and get active.

HIV/AIDS Stats

From UNICEF:

Deaths due to AIDS

Every minute of every day, a child under the age of 15 dies of AIDS-related illness.

AIDS claimed three million lives in 2004. One of every six of them was a child under the age of 15.

In 2004, 510,000 children under 15 years old died because of AIDS.

In the words of some random blog author who has yet to post, "Take a hint." I would advise checking out the link and reading everything on that page. More needs to be done about this situation. The key to winning this battle is information. We have the responsibility to inform as many people about this crisis as possible. Here are some more stats just to leave you with:

Prevention:

The vast majority of young people do not have access to the information, skills and services that are essential for HIV/AIDS prevention.

Sad.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee

These Senators Make-up the Senate Foreign Relations Committee:

Chairman: Joseph R. Biden (Delaware) (302)573-6345
Minority Spokesperson: Richard G. Lugar (Indiana) (202)224-4814
Christopher Dodd (202)224-1083
John Kerry (202)224-2742
Russell Fiengold (202)224-5323
Barbara Boxer (202)224-3553
Bill Nelson (202)224-5274
Barack Obama (202) 224-2854
Robert Menendez (202)224-4744
Benjamin Cardin (202)224-4524
Robert Casey (202) 224-6324
Jim Webb (202) 224-4024
Chuck Hagel (202) 224-4224
Norm Coleman (202)224-5641
Bob Corker (202)224-3344
John Sununu (202) 224-2841
George Voinovich (202) 224-3353
Lisa Murkowski (202)224-6665
Jim DeMint (202)224-6121
Johnny Isakson (202) 224-3643
David Vitter (202) 224-4623

The Phone numbers listed are their Washington DC numbers and the names are linked to their contact by email form. We should not "hassle" them, but we need to start placing some level of pressure on them.

102 Ideas

The first step toward informing our governments about this situation that I am aware of currently is from the Illinois House Republican Organization and their 102 ideas. They have a blog and are asking simply for input on how to make the Illinois state government better.

Tell them that you want think. If you are in favor of Universal Health Care for Illinois Residents, drop them a line. The Web Address is:

http://102illinoisideas.com/



(Disclaimer: I have interned for the HRO for the past 4 years)

Coming Soon...

Dear faithful reader(s), today marks a new day for this blog. The authors are currently working on a database so that you can email your elected representative(s) and start informing them about the situation facing children around the world.

Women in Developing World

(From a Press Release)

Tomorrow, March 8, 2007 is International Women's Day. In preparation for this event Ann Veneman addressed the 51st session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women:

“Despite progress, we continue to live in a world where millions of girls remain out of school, engaged in exploitative labor, are trafficked, are vulnerable to HIV/AIDS and are targets of sexual violence,” Veneman said in advance of International Women’s Day on 8 March.

Doesn't this sound like something out of nineteenth century? For the developing world it is still the nineteenth century. These young women are being denied the education needed to protect themselves against life threating situations. More education is needed for everyone in the world about situations like these. Its too bad America is busy spending money on bigger bombs and having too much fun going into debt to worry about this.

“It is long past time that countries, cultures and communities everywhere accept that it is in their own best interests to treat girls and women as equals,” Veneman said. “Common sense and economics alike tell us that a society cannot possibly marginalize half its population and expect positive outcomes.”

UEFA News (Related to UNICEF)

Last years UEFA Champions League won yesterday in Liverpool but lost the round on goal aggregate. Now you are asking yourself why is the author bringing this up. Simple, check out these uniforms worn by Barcelona.

Its a shame the lucky uniforms couldn't have helped out. I know that a certain other author that will be sorely disappointed with this outcome even though this is the first time s/he will have heard about it.
But any who, I think its safe to say that this is going to be a good year for English football. Chelsea also won their round against Porto, The Gunners and Man U play their rounds today.