On January 12, 2010, Haiti suffered a devastation of tremendous proportions. Ten miles southwest of Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital, the worst earthquake in 200 years hit the area. The damage amounts are still being calculated, but are currently at between $7.2 and $13.2 billion.
Losses of people have unfortunately been just as bad, with the current death toll at between 200,000 and 250,000 people. (more…)
In an effort to combat global violence against women, the United States has proposed the International Violence Against Women Act. The Act, if passed, would help protect women worldwide, particularly those facing war or natural disasters, by providing health care, economic and education opportunities, and legal support.
At least one in three women will be victims of violence in her lifetime. (more…)
The 1960s–were they really that long ago? A time of peaceful protests, mind blowing music and, let’s face it, mind altering drugs, starry-eyed bell-bottom wearers who cared more about flowers and music than money fought to change the world, end war forever and just give peace a chance, already.
And fans can say Yoko Ono broke up the Beatles all they want–because, well, she was involved–but the fact remains that she and John Lennon held some of the most peaceful protests ever witnessed in history. (more…)
This Saturday, October 24, will mark one of the largest protests against global warming in history.
Though a “global warming protest” sounds a bit silly–after all, is global warming going to back off because it listens to the citizens of the world protesting against it?–it’s actually a worldwide event of solidarity and action against a villain that threatens all of us–climate change.
Behind that villain, of course, is we the people, ourselves. (more…)
The 16th annual Nobel Peace Prize Concert will be held on December 11 this year. The event, taking place in Oslo, Norway, will be hosted by Hollywood couple singer-actor Will Smith and actress Jada Pinkett Smith.
This year’s Nobel Peace Prize winner will be announced October 6. The award will be given on December 10, which is the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death.
So far, the concert’s lineup features Donna Summer, Wyclef Jean, Luis Fonsi, Amadou & Mariamand, and Toby Keith. (more…)
On the International Day of Peace, September 21, people around the world will join together and call for an end to global violence. They won’t do it with protest banners, strange costumes, or by setting themselves on fire.
They’ll be doing it with pinwheels.
An estimated 3 million peaceful pin-wheelers will be spinning their colorful creations on Monday. (more…)
On Wednesday October 7, His Holiness the Dalai Lama will be making a special address at the International Campaign for Tibet’s annual Light of Truth Awards in Washington, D.C.
Each year the Light of Truth Award is presented to a person or an organization who has made significant progress toward raising awareness about the plight of Tibet and has fought for human rights and democracy for the people of Tibet.
A Tibetan butter lamp serves as the reward. (more…)
Grammy-award winning Colombian singer Juanes is planning on holding his next “Peace Without Borders” concert in Havana, Cuba this fall. While the activist is trying to promote peace, Cuban exiles say that the concert will only serve to support Cuba’s communism.
The singer’s promotion team argues that the concert, scheduled for September 20, will not be condemning nor supporting any political dogma; that said, it is supposed to be held at the very same place where Che Guevara is honored, Revolution Plaza. (more…)
Following weeks of negotiations to orchestrate the release of two American journalists between Secretary of State Hilary Rodham Clinton, the United Nations and North Korea, former President Bill Clinton held a rare and “exhaustive” meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il to finally bring the reporters home today.
The women, Euna Lee and Laura Ling, had entered the country illegally and were sentenced to hard labor as a result. After talks with Clinton, Kim issued the journalists a pardon–less than 24 hours after Clinton’s visit. (more…)
In what was perhaps the most wonderful news story of the week, the BBC reported that thousands of child soldiers are being freed from former Maoist training camps in Nepal and sent to rehabilitation centers. These programs are to offer vocational training as well as psychological support for the children. They will also be offered a stay for up to 45 days in transit camps before going back home.
An estimated 3,000 child soldeirs will be released. (more…)