In eastern Libya, Benghazi is a city on the edge, but civil society is stepping up after the collapse of the state.
Organized teams of neighbors are headquartered at a local school working on next steps, like education on what a Constitution and pluralistic government looks like, creating newsletters to keep the community informed, and sending aid to those in need.
Having endured the tumult of their own revolution, Tunisians have traveled from far and wide to serve food and bring supplies to refugee camps along the Libyan border.
Generosity and compassion, they say, are part of the spirit of their revolution.
Even the US military is helping out, with a transport plane carrying hundreds of guest workers fleeing Libya back to their home countries.
Having endured the tumult of their own revolution, Tunisians have traveled from far and wide to serve food and bring supplies to refugee camps along the Libyan border.
Generosity and compassion, they say, are part of the spirit of their revolution.
Even the US military is helping out, with a transport plane carrying hundreds of guest workers fleeing Libya back to their home countries.
Today is the 100-year anniversary of the founding of International Women’s Day—a day to celebrate the achievements of women worldwide and to rekindle efforts toward their advancement.
Celebrating the centennial, performer Annie Lennox will lead a charity march across London’s Millennium Bridge, joining in spirit with 25 countries that have officially recognized the holiday, including the U.S. Afghanistan, Russia, Ukraine, Vietnam and Zambia.
Many women in places like Rwanda, Colombia and Cambodia face two choices: Accept a life in historical poverty, or strive for a brighter future. With hopes of building a business, three women stand out as examples of how to choose the latter.
A Houston man killed last year protecting a woman from a gun-wielding purse snatcher has been named a finalist for an award created by U.S. servicemen who have been recognized for similar selfless acts during war.
20 people from across the country were selected to be considered for the “Citizen Service Before Self Honors” from the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation, a recognition given every year to men and women who have shown courage and sacrifice to help others.
(READ the story at the Houston Chronicle)
Gunnar Sandberg, who recently returned to his high school baseball diamond after nearly dying from a line drive off his skull a year ago, introduced a new helmet prototype that he hopes will become standard equipment for youth leagues nationwide.
Thousands of kids whose parents are overseas serving in the military cling to the memory of hugging their daddy or mommy thanks to the Hug-A-Hero doll, which is imprinted with a photo of their parent in uniform.
The dolls, which are free to families, help kids cope while mothers or fathers are away, said executive director Lisa Berg of Hudson, Florida.
“There’s nothing else like it,” Berg said. “They’re hugging their parent.”
Alamae is 7 years old and loves to keep her doll close. “She brings her daddy to school and shows him to everyone,” said her mom, Amanda Beltran. “It is her favorite thing to take for show and tell — it makes her so proud!”
“These dolls are the most amazing thing ever created,” added Mrs. Beltran.
Operation Hug-a-Hero was started three years ago by the Michigan company Daddy Dolls.
Currently, there’s a waiting list of 800 military children.
You can get more information or provide a doll by donating on their website www.operationhugahero.org.
Thousands of kids whose parents are overseas serving in the military cling to the memory of hugging their daddy or mommy thanks to the Hug-A-Hero doll, which is imprinted with a photo of their parent in uniform.
The dolls, which are free to families, help kids cope while mothers or fathers are away, said executive director Lisa Berg of Hudson, Florida.
“There’s nothing else like it,” Berg said. “They’re hugging their parent.”
Since January 2009, President Obama and Congress has passed or extended 17 small business tax cuts and credits, including the exclusion of up to 75% capital gains on key small business investments and new tax credits for hiring Americans who had been out of work for at least two months.
Parents can’t always be there to hold their babies who are in the hospital for an extended period, but that’s where a group of core volunteers step in.
Sometimes they soothe children who are regularly admitted over years, and the two keep in touch.
WATCH the video below from MSNBC…
Have you ever volunteered to perform this service?
A high school junior’s life was turned upside down. But she was determined to not fall into depression.
“I could no longer attend school and my life became a balancing act between doctor’s appointments and studying at home,” wrote Shelby Makris in a special for the Los Angeles Times. “I had a choice to make: Delve into depression or grasp the opportunities I still had to make the most of them. I decided to go for it.”
She completed every assignment that her classmates were given, she upped the capacity of her charity work (ironically, she was president of her school’s Make-a-Wish Foundation club), and every day she is getting a little bit healthier.
“I have proved to myself that I am a much stronger person than I thought I was.”
(READ her essay in the LA Times)
The U.S. Supreme Court this week ruled in favor of the rights of Westboro Baptist Church members to protest at soldiers’ funerals, reaffirming the protections in the U.S. Constitution for free speech.
But, that doesn’t mean the soldier’s family must listen to the repugnant speech or view the extremist language on the picket signs. 900 bikers from around the country are making sure they don’t have to.
The Patriot Guard Riders, many of them former veterans, protect funeral-goers from the hurtful speech by creating a ‘wall’ of American flags and soaring patriotic music to shield families from the protest.
Since the high court ruling, new members are rushing to join the Patriot Guard Riders, a charitable organization formed in Kansas in 2005, after bikers belonging to the American Legion first heard about the Westboro Baptist protests and decided to take action.
The group doesn’t confront the protestors at all. Instead, they shield the family from the brunt of the abuse.
(WATCH the video below)
The U.S. Supreme Court this week ruled in favor of the rights of Westboro Baptist Church members to protest at soldiers’ funerals, reaffirming the protections in the U.S. Constitution for free speech.
But, that doesn’t mean the soldier’s family must listen to the repugnant speech or view the extremist language on the picket signs. 900 bikers from around the country are making sure they don’t have to.
The Patriot Guard Riders, many of them former veterans, protect funeral-goers from the hurtful speech by creating a ‘wall’ of American flags and soaring patriotic music to shield families from the protest.
After countless rejections from large publishing companies, Amanda Hocking turned to the internet to sell her stories in digital formats that now have made her a million dollars on sales of more than 900,000 copies.
The 26 year-old now has young fans all over the world reading her zombie eBooks. Her successful entrepreneurial effort will land Amanda in the March issue of Elle magazine.
After countless rejections from large publishing companies, Amanda Hocking turned to the internet to sell her stories in digital formats that now have made her a million dollars on sales of more than 900,000 copies.
The 26 year-old now has young fans all over the world reading her zombie eBooks. Her successful entrepreneurial effort will land Amanda in the March issue of Elle magazine.
A large nest egg doesn’t guarantee a happy retirement. While a significant retirement income is likely to make you happier than just scraping by, money isn’t the only necessity.
Here are some tips for cultivating retirement happiness…
(READ the story at US News)
Laughter is good for our health, so I enjoy sharing videos of babies that are sure to make most people giggle.
In this home video, the baby thinks it is hilarious when her father tears some paper.
When Howard Snitzer clutched his chest and crumpled on a freezing sidewalk outside Don’s Foods in Goodhue, Minn., he was wearing gym shorts, fresh from his daily workout.
For the next 96 minutes — more than an hour and a half — two dozen bystanders and first responders took turns performing CPR on the fallen man. Their teamwork saved Snitzer’s life, in what may be one of the longest, successful out-of-hospital resuscitations ever.
A common misconception is repeated that factory jobs are slowly disappearing in the United States. But there have been steady gains recently: Just last month, manufacturing created 33,000 jobs.
U.S. manufacturing in 2010 ended the year with a net annual gain of 136,000 jobs.
This latest jobs report from the Labor Department actually showed “pretty strong growth across most industries”. The private sector is adding 150,000 jobs per month and picking up steam.
A common misconception is repeated that factory jobs are slowly disappearing in the United States. But there have been steady gains recently: Just last month, manufacturing created 33,000 jobs.
U.S. manufacturing in 2010 ended the year with a net annual gain of 136,000 jobs.
This latest jobs report from the Labor Department actually showed “pretty strong growth across most industries”. The private sector is adding 150,000 jobs per month and picking up steam.
