The Water Carriers is an award winning documentary film about Callie Blackwood, an American engineering student, and Nina Omwerema Oyamo, a 23-year old woman from the Shirali region of southwestern Kenya. The lives of these two women, from altogether different circumstances, intersect as Callie travels to Kenya as a member of Engineers Without Borders-USA Montana State University Chapter. Their mission: to install an aquifer-driven well in the hopes of delivering clean drinking water to over 1,000 school children and community members.
The most effective way to fight global poverty and end civil conflict (including terrorism) is to invest in women and girls. Celebrate 100 years of women by making a gift to the Global Fund For Women.
"With the inexorable march of the modern world many cultures, languages and practices are disappearing at an alarming rate. In some cases whole societies are vanishing. We have undoubtedly reached a turning point for the Human species. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing but what we have been able to do is to produce a lasting record of the incredible skills, diversity, ingenuity and bravery that still make up today’s Human Planet."
Dale Templar, BBC Human Planet Series Producer
Audio Slideshow: BBC Human Planet Timothy Allen Photographer Watch BBC Human Planet http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/humanplanetexplorer/
Matisyahu has rocked not only the hasidic world but also the the nonprofit world. The kosher reggae hip-hop singer's song "One Day" has become "the" song for saving the world. The lyrics are uplifting and powerful even the most pessimistic will be inspired by the song's ability to convey positivity, consciousness and optimism. It is the perfect inspirational feel good song about overcoming struggles. But it is time Do Gooders find a different song to save the world.
Toms One Day Without Shoes Help Toms Shoes raise awareness of the impact a pair of shoes can have on a child's life by going without shoes on April, 5 2011.
Waiting for Superman The Waiting for "Superman" social action campaign has one primary goal: to ensure that every child receives a great education.
Global Fast Globalfast is a totally new way to give. By giving up one meal each month, you change lives without changing your budget. you give off your plate, not out of your wallet.
Slant: Why did you decide to release "One Day" as the first single from the new album?
Matisyahu: To be honest, "One Day" was one of two songs that were written specifically to be released as singles. After the album was done, the record label said that they wanted something that would be an easier sell to radio stations. And I was okay with that. I tried to take a positive view and to approach it as an opportunity to write a song in a style that I would not have otherwise tried. So "One Day" is very different from what most of Light sounds like. It is less distinct and much more accessible. But I had fun making the song, and I do think it is a good Matisyahu song.
Slant: The song also has a very optimistic message. Did that come as a way of making the song more accessible?
Matisyahu: I do think that it is easier to hook people in with a catchy, upbeat song than with something more serious. But also, that sense of optimism that "One Day" expresses is an important part of who I am. I feel that at the core of my being I have always been an optimistic person, with a positive mind. Even though I have made an album that is inspired in a lot of ways by struggle and by being challenged, I always feel that facing those challenges is easier if it is done with a sense of positivity and a belief that one can overcome those struggles. "One Day" takes that mindset and connects it to some of the issues of our times. It is an attempt to spread some of that optimism.
Investing in girls is the most effective way to fight terrorism. Teaching girls to read and write reduces the ignorance that fuel religious extremism and lays a groundwork for prosperity and peace.
Greg Mortenson and the Central Asian Institute (CAI) have been building schools mostly for girls in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Greg Mortenson has even consulted with the US Military about his approach to finding peace. The US Military has embraced Mortenson’s philosophy that the real long-term Foreign Policy fix in Pakistan and Afghanistan’s tribal areas that nurture terrorism is to educate girls.
CAI’s approach is more effective and costs substantially less than past US Military approaches. Building school instead of dropping bombs has proven to be much better avenue toward peace.
To learn more about Greg Mortenson and CAI read “Three Cups of Tea”--One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace...Once School at a Time.
American Jewish World Service (AJWS) is an international development organization motivated by Judaism’s imperative to pursue justice. AJWS is dedicated to alleviating poverty, hunger and disease among the people of the developing world regardless of race, religion or nationality. Through grants to grassroots organizations, volunteer service, advocacy and education, AJWS fosters civil society, sustainable development and human rights for all people, while promoting the values and responsibilities of global citizenship within the Jewish community.
TOMS Shoes was founded on a simple premise: With every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need. One for One. Using the purchasing power of individuals to benefit the greater good is what we're all about. The TOMS mission transforms our customers into benefactors, which allows us to grow a truly sustainable business.
Why shoes? Many children in developing countries grow up barefoot. Whether at play, doing chores or going to school, these children are at risk:
A leading cause of disease in developing countries is soil-transmitted diseases, which can penetrate the skin through bare feet. Wearing shoes can help prevent these diseases, and the long-term physical and cognitive harm they cause.
Wearing shoes also prevents feet from getting cuts and sores. Not only are these injuries painful, they are also dangerous when wounds become infected.
Often, children can't attend school barefoot because shoes are a required part of their uniform. If they don't have shoes, they don't go to school. If they don't receive an education, they don't have the opportunity to realize their potential.
A single idea can make a big difference in the world. What is your idea to change the world? Join us on April 5, 2011 http://www.onedaywithoutshoes.com/splash.php
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