Pay It Forward Foundation: simple action worldwide

"Founded in 2000 by Catherine Ryan Hyde (author of the Pay it Forward novel), the Pay It Forward Foundation is a non-profit organization that leads a worldwide movement committed to inspiring, recognizing, and celebrating the kindness and gratitude of individuals who simply choose to pay it forward.

Our Mission: To inspire and educate individuals of all ages and walks of life about the human impact of making a personal decision to change the world through simple acts of kindness—big or small. To help the world reclaim simplicity in a complex world.

OUR GOAL:  Worldwide engagement of the pay-it-forward philosophy, to re-establish the Human Connection in an all digital world and help people understand they can do something good for someone right now!"

Visit the site.

Puzzuka the largest puzzle ever build online

I did this puzzle at the Puzzuka site because it helps "Enfants du Monde" (Children of the World). I'm a little bit puzzled about the whole concept of the largest puzzle online.

There are these little puzzles we do but they are part of the big project that contains over 260 million mini-puzzles, over 40 billion pieces. How can we see this image?
I'm still trying to understand so I'm reading this post at Puzzuka's blog.
This is the important aspect for me:

"Our aim is to generate funds that will help drive education initiatives. Currently, we have teamed up with Enfants du Monde (Children of the World) to help us launch the project. We have agreed to give 20% of the funds generated to Enfants du Monde to help them with their important work in developing countries. The remaining funds will be allocated to other similar initiatives. In fact, I am working on an idea to have Puzzuka players determine how the funds raised are spent. This will allow people to get more involved in the project."

I hope the project that is still being done keeps helping good initiatives and doesn't lose it on the way.

'Democracy is the government of the people, by the people, for the people.' Abraham Lincoln

Sometimes we look at the past to try to find some answers for today's problems.

At this post I remembered Abraham Lincoln definition of democracy that was taken from one of his speeches.

This is a project by University of Pennsylvania at Second Life that recreated Abrahan Lincoln's memorial.
The project has more but now I would only like to remember:

'Democracy is the government of the people, by the people, for the people.'* Abraham Lincoln*

and also the expression "New Birth of Freedom" that also at the speech.

"...these dead shall not have died in vain..."

It is a lot to reconsider. Hope the world and America is ready for that.

Athletes for Citizenship: the active citizens the mainstream media forgets

I don't understand why the mainstream media never has in it's agenda what people have been doing of good. When we watch the news today there's only room for blood, sweat and tears.

Without exception the TV channels worldwide broadcast not only the wars, conflicts, people in pain no matter what the reason, and even an accident that has not made victims or hurt people are detailed described.

It has some results being one of them keep the status quo alive and kicking since people feel overwhelmed and paralyzed in fear of such an evil world.

I try doing the opposite here showing the bright side of the vast majority of people in this world.

"Atletas pela Cidadania, 'Athletes for citizenship', is one of this projects that makes the flame alive. It is a non-profit organization that unites athletes and former athletes of diferent generations to raise awareness and mobilize people to support important national issues to promote a fair social development.

The strategy is simple: "the popularity and credibility of athletes makes it possible to call attention and mobilize Brazilians informing and acting for a better society." (from their site)

Here you can find the Brazilian athletes that are at the project.

Don't give up on human beings. There is also the "Instituto Guga Kuerten"/ "Guga Kuerten's Institute" that the tennis player Guga Kuerten created and other athletes who have done the same. I'll do another post about them.

Iraq Veterans Against the War fighting for peace with other vets's organizations

Some people don't know about the associations of veterans of wars that fight for peace like the 'Iraq Veterans Against the War'; 'Vietnam Veterans Against the War'; 'Gulf War Veterans'; 'Veterans for peace' or about'The National Veterans Services Fund, Inc.' formely Vietnam Veterans Agent Orange Victims, Inc

They are not only helping soldiers when they return home but also doing an important political work. The right photo is Watermelon Slim of Vietnam Veterans Against the War being taken into custody March 19 at the White House.

History of Resistance

"As long as there have been militaries and war, soldiers around the world have resisted, deserted, and refused combat duty for both moral and political reasons, and civilians have supported them. The term “GI,” meaning “Government Issue,” came into use in World War One to refer to Army soldiers and their equipment. It emphasizes the service members’ status as pieces of property belonging to the government, which GI resisters are all too aware of!"

........... "In July of 2004, just months after the first units returned from deployment, Iraq Veterans Against the War was founded and quickly emerged as a significant political force. Veterans for Peace, Vietnam Veterans Against the War, and some other long-time peace activists and groups supported IVAW in its growth." (read the whole story here).

They raise awareness about a lot of the problems that war causes to anyone and are always expressing their views like in the 'Resolution Against the War in Afghanistan' - here -. They were there and they know what it means to be and come back from there.

Thank you veterans! You are doing a great job!

Right picture: Photo by Ellen Davidson copied from this site.

Left: Gulf War Veterans.

Refugees in Darfur: send them reading glasses and books

This is at The Book Wish Foundation: Peepers Fun Reading Glasses Donated for Refugees

Posted by logan on 24 May 2008

in

• Chad/Darfur
• Vision

What better way to encourage reading than with the gift of colorful, cheerful, fun reading glasses? Especially in the Darfur refugee camps of eastern Chad, where hope needs a helping hand, adding to the enjoyment of reading can yield big returns in education and mental health. That's why the Book Wish Foundation was so excited to receive 126 pairs of Peepers Fun Reading Glasses, in dozens of colors and styles, like these:

It might sound superfluous to same people that reading glasses were sent to refugees because we think they only need to survive starvation and have some medicines for diseases but a library is being build at the refugee camp for the literacy project. Donate here 2 dollars. A group with new reading glasses in Bredjing Refugee Camp. Note the books in their hands. By providing books and reading glasses to the same people, we are enhancing the value of each. How many lives in this photo have just taken a giant step forward, even if they are still in the refugee camp? The school and children in the background remind us of the lost educational opportunities for adults who need, but don't have reading glasses.

Supporting literacy

Submitted by Lisa Goldner on Thu, 01/22/2009 - 2:56pm.

We will add the link to your site to our bookshelf pages with BookCrossing.com (http://www.goldlis.bookcrossing.com). My family and I help to raise public awareness of the genocide in Darfur through informational labels we place on the books we donate through our BookCrossing challenge project, READ: Respond in Earnest Action for Darfur. We will also advise the San Antonio Interfaith Darfur Coalition and local university STAND groups of your needs. We hope you find growing support for all of your projects.

Read about the forgotten refugee here:

by Eric Reeves at ENOUGH.

"Ongoing human suffering and destruction in Darfur have been largely eclipsed both by recent national elections in Sudan and by growing, if belated, international attention to the imperiled southern self-determination referendum (slated for January 9, 2011). Even more completely obscured by recent events in Sudan, however, is the continuing humanitarian crisis in eastern Chad." ... keep reading.

I joined Nonja's Facebook's photographer profile and now she has 79.885 fans

This is what is written at her profile:

Nonja is a 33 year old female orangutan from the Borneo subspecies "Pongo pygmaeus pygmaeus", and was born in 1976 with us here at the zoo. When she was younger, Nonja needed to be hand fed by a keeper, so she is especially familiar with the human environment. A few years ago, to satisfy her need for new and exciting challenges, Nonja took up painting. In total she painted around 250 works of art with brushes and paint. Over 2000 Euro was paid for one particular painting. Now, with help from the Samsung ST1000, Nonja has discovered photography and the internet. Using WiFi the camera can automatically connect to her Facebook account. Thanks to the simplest operation, Nonja can now take her own photos – all of which you can find on her Wall. Also, the curious Sol and even the commanding male Vladimir won’t allow such an opportunity to escape, and from time to time to play with the camera themselves. Sol comes from northern Europe. She was born in Boras Zoo in Sweden, on the 4th July 1996, and then from May 2004 lived at the Kristiansand in Norway. Now, since the 17th May 2009 she lives in Vienna. The only male, Vladimir, was born in 1974, came from Moskow to Amsterdam in 1988 and since the 18th July 1991 lives in Vienna. Mota came from the Artis Zoo, in Amsterdam, on October 7th 2009 due to the closure of the orangutan enclosure. The European conservational breeding program for endangered animals ‚EEP’ decided that the best place for the 45 year old female would be in Vienna. Since the beginning of 2009 our orangutans are accommodated in what was previously the Orangery, now a 750 square meter open air enclosure. In the future, a breeding group will take care of new offspring and further research projects are being planned. In many projects the zoo is instrumental in the protection of both nature and the species. Here in Vienna, the orangutans are ambassadors for their kind in Borneo. An association of friends of the Schönbrunn Zoo, the animal protection organisation ‚Vier Pfoten’ (Four Paws) helps to support the projects for resettlement of orangutans in Borneo. Further information: www.orang-utans.org

. Some comments:

Wendy escreveu às 02:02 do dia 10 de dezembro de 2009

haha Rory.. it's an animal taking photographs... I think she's doing a great job taking photographs of her friends and surroundings.. (I can't believe I am a fan... haha) It is just so darn cute!!

Mick escreveu às 01:11 do dia 23 de dezembro de 2009

Brightens up my day, cheers Nonja.

Max escreveu às 00:31

i Love you Nonja xDD

Ana Luiza

Great job! :)

3 hours ago · (at the right picture :) )

Project Gutemberg - Top 100 downloads last 30 days

Supported by ten thousands volunteers Project Gutenberg, created in 1971, has already made available nearly 30,000 free books in their Online Book Catalog. This is a great way to
See if your favorite author is among the top 100 authors downloaded last 30 days:

1. Dickens, Charles (59647)
2. Twain, Mark (38058)
3. Carroll, Lewis (30429)
4. Austen, Jane (30324)
5. Doyle, Arthur Conan, Sir (28820)
6. Shakespeare, William (26928)
7. Thomson, J. Arthur (19103)
8. Verne, Jules (18950)
9. Jacob, P. L. (17073)
10. Rackham, Arthur (16736)
11. Wilde, Oscar (16518)
12. Baum, L. Frank (Lyman Frank) (16432)
13. Maspero, G. (Gaston) (15830)
14. Poe, Edgar Allan (15420)
15. Grimm, Jacob (14225)
16. Grimm, Wilhelm (14225)
17. Aesop (13652)
18. Doré, Gustave (12874)
19. Burton, Richard Francis, Sir (12569)
20. Wells, H. G. (Herbert George) (11869)
21. Sayce, A. H. (Archibald Henry) (11564)
22. McClure, M. L. (11556)
23. Stoker, Bram (11206)
24. Litchfield, Frederick (11205)
25. Dumas père, Alexandre (10929)
26. Defoe, Daniel (10791)
27. Stevenson, Robert Louis (10781)
28. Eliot, George (10739)
29. Joyce, James (10571)
30. Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von (10014)
31. Burroughs, Edgar Rice (9997)
32. Tolstoy, Leo, graf (9908)
33. Homer (9850)
34. Vatsyayana (9714)
35. Hugo, Victor (9578)
36. Landor, Arnold Henry Savage (9452)
37. Bhide, Shivaram Parashuram (9353)
38. Indrajit, Bhagavanlal (9353)
39. Wodehouse, P. G. (Pelham Grenville) (9250)
40. Plato (9232)
41. Chesterton, G. K. (Gilbert Keith) (9149)
42. Dante Alighieri (9016)
43. Beard, Charles A. (Charles Austin) (8776)
44. Beard, Mary Ritter (8776)
45. Conrad, Joseph (8583)
46. Jowett, Benjamin (8112)
47. Kipling, Rudyard (8056)
48. Nietzsche, Friedrich Wilhelm (7814)
49. Lang, Andrew (7777)
50. Nichols, J. L. (James Lawrence) (7652)
51. Library of Congress. Copyright Office (7563)
52. Kafka, Franz (7558)
53. Irving, Washington (7557)
54. Spicer, William Ambrose (7551)
55. Jefferis, B. G. (7545)
56. Swift, Jonathan (7542)
57. Balzac, Honoré de (7342)
58. Dostoyevsky, Fyodor (7288)
59. Cervantes Saavedra, Miguel de (7219)
60. Pope, Alexander (7191)
61. Ukers, William H. (William Harrison) (7156)
62. Potter, Beatrix (7060)
63. Sunzi 6th cent. B.C. (7032)
64. Montgomery, L. M. (Lucy Maud) (6980)
65. Montgomery, D. H. (David Henry) (6954)
66. Hubbard, Elbert (6845)
67. Guizot, M. (François) (6821)
68. Haggard, Henry Rider (6716)
69. James, Henry (6667)
70. Hawthorne, Nathaniel (6592)
71. London, Jack (6576)
72. Scott, Walter, Sir (6497)
73. Pierce, Ray Vaughn (6478)
74. Ditchfield, P. H. (Peter Hampson) (6458)
75. Brontë, Charlotte (6455)
76. Maupassant, Guy de (6429)
77. Melville, Herman (6303)
78. Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft (6285)
79. Andersen, H. C. (Hans Christian) (6206)
80. Alcott, Louisa May (6141)
81. Machiavelli, Niccolò (6038)
82. Darwin, Charles (5991)
83. Campbell, Douglas Houghton (5933)
84. Shaw, Edward R. (Edward Richard) (5726)
85. Clark, Bertha M. (5687)
86. Widger, David (5670)
87. Ibsen, Henrik (5662)
88. Speed, Harold (5646)
89. Garnett, Constance (5617)
90. Giles, Lionel (5612)
91. Maclise, Joseph (5550)
92. Buckley, Theodore Alois (5547)
93. Burbank, Emily (5508)
94. Hardy, Thomas (5421)
95. Wyllie, David (5421)
96. Cary, Henry Francis (5337)
97. Russell, R. V. (Robert Vane) (5299)
98. Dillmont, Thérèse de (5299)
99. Bierce, Ambrose (5148)
100. Marriott, W. K. (William K.) (5095)

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Go to their site: Project Gutenberg. This is a great way to distribute the classics helping not only students but those who like to read or even readers candidates.
How about downloading a book for this month?

Patrick Leer, CaregivinglyYours.Org - great work

Patrick Leer's wife has multiple sclerosis since 1989 and in 2004 he entered for this project. He created this blog to talk about his wife's problems and how he is helping her. There is an association of caregivers

"The National Family Caregivers Association educates, supports, empowers and speaks up for the more than 50 million Americans who care for loved ones with a chronic illness or disability or the frailties of old age."

What Patrick did was unite people in blogs, exchange informations and make the concept "caregiver" that is already known and has some institutions spread There is already the autism caregiving linked to CaregivinglyYours. This is an inspiration to talk about health problems. It's amazing how little is done and said about those who are not healthy. I want to thank and congratulate Patrick for this amazing work. If you know any good initiative, please let me know. These people must be recognized.