Nearly 150 of America’s premier search-and-rescue specialists arrived today in Japan en route to a coastal fishing village devastated by Friday’s earthquake. The personnel from two teams, one based in California and the other in Virginia, plan to bus rescue personnel to the village early Monday morning. Other teams from around the world are arriving to help in the relief effort.
US Rescue Teams Arrive in Japan as Russian, Chinese and Other Teams Deploy
US Rescue Teams Arrive in Japan as Russian, Chinese and Other Teams Deploy
Nearly 150 of America’s premier search-and-rescue specialists arrived today in Japan en route to a coastal fishing village devastated by Friday’s earthquake. The personnel from two teams, one based in California and the other in Virginia, plan to bus rescue personnel to the village early Monday morning. Other teams from around the world are arriving to help in the relief effort.
Lady Gaga Creates Prayer Bracelet to Benefit Disaster Relief in Japan
Lady Gaga is turning to her fans, called “little monsters,” to help raise funds for Japanese earthquake and tsunami relief.
The pop singer is selling a newly created bracelet that says “Pray for Japan” in English and Japanese characters for $5 each with the promise that “all proceeds go directly to Japan relief efforts.” Additional donations may be added to the cost of the item as well. Order one here, on her website.
Lady Gaga Creates Prayer Bracelet to Benefit Disaster Relief in Japan
Lady Gaga is turning to her fans, called “little monsters,” to help raise funds for Japanese earthquake and tsunami relief.
The pop singer is selling a newly created bracelet that says “Pray for Japan” in English and Japanese characters for $5 each with the promise that “all proceeds go directly to Japan relief efforts.” Additional donations may be added to the cost of the item as well. Order one here, on her website.
McDonald’s Sets Long-Term Sustainable Beef, Coffee Plans
McDonald’s has laid out a plan to move to more sustainable meat, coffee and product packaging.
Gradually, the company will require suppliers to source food and materials from sustainably-managed land, though there are no specific timelines for now.
With analysis help from the World Wildlife Fund, the company is initially focusing on beef, poultry, coffee, palm oil and packaging.
Be it Depression, Heart Trouble or Arthritis, Fish Oil Helps
These days, many people are taking fish oil supplements, which contain Omega 3 fatty acids, driven by the research data that proves that these lipids actually reduce risk of heart disease.
There are, however, other wide-ranging benefits, including boosting immunity, protection against arthritis, asthma, psoriasis, inflammation, PMS (pre-menstrual syndrome) and certain types of cancer.
Cambodian Towns Renewed by Fair Trade, Employment and Artistic Revival
Siem Reap, famous today for the temples at Angkor Wat, was once famous for something entirely different: silk. Now the city’s old artisan reputation is making a comeback. Not far from the monumental ruins is the quiet and leafy Angkor Silk Farm, part of a fair-trade initiative to employ rural Cambodians and revive a dying art.
As a World Heritage Site, Angkor is renowned for the magnificent vestiges of the ancient Khmer Empire, with its regal builders and craftsmen. In more recent times, years of war and genocide decimated a great number of the heirs of this artistic tradition. With them disappeared a vast body of skills and expertise.
Set against the backdrop of the glorious Angkor temples, Artisans d’Angkor is a Cambodian company of arts and crafts devoted to the revival and preservation of Cambodia’s artistic traditions.
Since its establishment in 1998, Artisans d’Angkor has created over 1,000 jobs and has pioneered a new social policy in Cambodia with guaranteed levels of pay along with social and medical benefits. In 2003, the organization became a limited liability company with a minor public share. It is now completely self-financing and independent.
The 20-acre silk farm in Siem Reap Province provides handicraft training and employment for villagers ages 18 to 25.
(READ more about the farm in CS Monitor)
Cambodian Towns Renewed by Fair Trade, Employment and Artistic Revival
Siem Reap, famous today for the temples at Angkor Wat, was once famous for something entirely different: silk. Now the city’s old artisan reputation is making a comeback. Not far from the monumental ruins is the quiet and leafy Angkor Silk Farm, part of a fair-trade initiative to employ rural Cambodians and revive a dying art.
As a World Heritage Site, Angkor is renowned for the magnificent vestiges of the ancient Khmer Empire, with its regal builders and craftsmen. In more recent times, years of war and genocide decimated a great number of the heirs of this artistic tradition. With them disappeared a vast body of skills and expertise.
Toyota Prius Sales Hit 3 Million as Electric Hybrids Hit the Big Time
Toyota announced this week that the Prius, the first mass-produced hybrid vehicle, passed 3 million sales worldwide in February. This isn’t just a boon for Toyota; it’s a big deal for the entire car industry.
And, with oil prices soaring, the future of EV’s are looking even sunnier.
10 Steps to Happiness
“Work-life balance” is the elusive panacea. But, experts agree that the first step to creating a balanced life is to assess what we need and want from our whole existence, not just work or home in isolation. Sometimes it’s a change in perception that is required, rather than a change in circumstances, and work is not necessarily the enemy if it is managed correctly.
Early Hero of Japan’s Quake Tragedy: Building Codes
Half a day after Japan was struck by a devastating earthquake/tsunami combo, it’s clear that the country can be thankful for its preparedness, especially when it comes to strict building codes and advanced structural engineering.
Twitter is full of praise for Japan’s strong bridges and well-constructed buildings, which may well have saved “millions of lives.”
Early Hero of Japan’s Quake Tragedy: Building Codes
Half a day after Japan was struck by a devastating earthquake/tsunami combo, it’s clear that the country can be thankful for its preparedness, especially when it comes to strict building codes and advanced structural engineering.
Twitter is full of praise for Japan’s strong bridges and well-constructed buildings, which may well have saved “millions of lives.”
Tyson Foods Donates One Million Pounds of Boneless Chicken to Food Banks
Tyson Foods, one of the largest food production companies in the US, has donated one million pounds of boneless chicken to 37 food banks across the country. Each food bank will receive approximately 29,000 pounds of high quality protein, enough to serve 116,000 meals in each community.
Tyson Foods Donates One Million Pounds of Boneless Chicken to Food Banks
Tyson Foods, one of the largest food production companies in the US, has donated one million pounds of boneless chicken to 37 food banks across the country. Each food bank will receive approximately 29,000 pounds of high quality protein, enough to serve 116,000 meals in each community.
Women of Courage Awardees Set Example for the World
On Tuesday, the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day, First Lady Michelle Obama joined Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton to recognize ten remarkable women, recipients of the 2011 International Women of Courage Award. The State Department Award created in 2007 annually recognizes women around the globe who have shown exceptional courage and leadership in advocating for women’s rights and empowerment, often at great personal risk.
Blind Man Keeps His Old Guide Dog After it Loses its Sight
After six years of loyal service, Graham Waspe was devastated when his guide dog Edward was left blind after developing cataracts.
Instead of discarding the dog, he got a new one and now the new guide dog leads them both around.
Named Opal, she turned out to be a ‘real gem’.
America’s Oldest Wild Bird is a New Mom at 60
The oldest known U.S. wild bird, a 60 year-old Laysan albatross named Wisdom, is a new mother. The bird, which has likely logged 50,000 miles per year in flight as an adult, returned to Midway Atoll to nest and was spotted a few weeks ago with a new chick by a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist.
America’s Oldest Wild Bird is a New Mom at 60
The oldest known U.S. wild bird, a 60 year-old Laysan albatross named Wisdom, is a new mother. The bird, which has likely logged 50,000 miles per year in flight as an adult, returned to Midway Atoll to nest and was spotted a few weeks ago with a new chick by a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist.
Senate Rejects House Attempt to Roll Back Environmental Laws
The U.S. Senate yesterday rejected the House of Representative’s attempt to roll back some of the nation’s laws protecting public health and the environment. The House’s continuing resolution (HR1) would have stopped the Environmental Protection Agency from implementing a U.S. Supreme Court order and curbing carbon dioxide and other dangerous greenhouse gas pollutants under the Clean Air Act.
Illinois Abolishes Death Penalty to Avoid Mistaken Executions
Illinois has banned the death penalty, becoming the sixteenth state to abolish capital punishment. Gov. Patrick Quinn signed the bill to end the practice and commuted the sentences for 15 inmates on Death Row to life in prison without parole.
“We cannot have a death penalty system in our state that kills innocent people,” Quinn said. “Unfortunately that system was in grave danger of doing exactly that in 20 different instances in Illinois.”