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Movie Screening in DC

If you're in the Washington, DC area and you're interested in the Middle East, check out this film by Just Vision. Located at  2301 M Street, NW, West End Cinemas is showing Budrus this week from Friday October 29th- November 4th. $8 matinees, $9 students.

The True Size of Africa

This map is thanks to Foreign Policy, and specifically Joshua Keating. It really puts into perspective common geographic discrepancies represented by 2D maps. Click on the title link to view a larger version of the map.

Plas Timoun: Helping Haiti's Kiddos

Photo Credit: Plas Timoun

Since Haiti's devastating earthquake on January 12th, the country is continuing on a path of snail-slow recovery. Much of the debris covering the streets remains where it fell earlier this year, and structural rehabilitation hasn't materialized the way that donor nations had pledged it would due to their financial and resource contributions. The United States' Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, pledged $1.5 billion in post-quake reconstruction funds, none of which has been delivered to Haiti. Likewise, international governments had pledged $8.75 billion for reconstruction efforts, and as of today, only 15% has reached the country. Over a billion dollars reached humanitarian organizations  after the earthquake, but these funds were utilized mostly for medical attention and life-saving rescue procedures. As a result, long-term reconstructive efforts have been pushed to the wayside, and much needed infrastructure repair continues to be tied up over legislative red tape in the US Congress.

However, there is a bright spot in Port- Au- Prince, where counselors and teachers are using art to bring a sense of creativity and normalcy to Haiti's kids. Plas Timoun, a psychotherapy rehabilitation center for children operated through Haiti's Ministry of Youth and Sports, is one of two centers working to reach kids suffering from post-traumatic disorder. There, teachers and therapists are slowly reintroducing students to their childhoods through activities such as painting, ceramics, drawing, and music, as a method of comfort and healing to deal with the the trauma they experienced during and after the earthquake. In the words of Haitian First Lady Elisabeth Preval,
The programs have a healing effect on the children's minds as evidenced by their artworks, which have gradually moved from a gloomy to a brighter outlook. With the guidance of experienced trainers, the art activities at Plas Timoun can reflect, and in fact communicate, what is happening in the minds of the children: both their suffering and their dreams for a better future.
Plas Timoun has helped about 900 children, and feeds 2,000 kids daily. In addition to art and music, this refuge gives children safe drinking water, nutrition, and a welcoming place to go during the day.

Currently about the size of Maryland, Haiti was originally colonized by the Spanish, but was ceded to the French Republic in 1697. Due to its prime location in the Caribbean Sea, Haiti was a regional commercial power as a prime trading hub for cane sugar, timber, and slaves. In 1804, Haiti became the first independent black republic, and the second independent state in the Americas. However, since independence, healthy political and economic growth has been stagnated by debilitating challenges, including poverty, natural disasters, political instability, crime, and violence.

Photo Credit: The Washington Post

These immense challenges have prohibited sustainable development, and the earthquake in January highlighted gaping holes in Haiti's infrastructure. Today, in a country of 10 million, 80% of Haitians live below the poverty line, and 2/3 do not have employment within the formal sector. After the earthquake, 1.3 million people were left homeless, including the First Family. Nine months after the earthquake, most of these families are still living in temporary camps. Under conditions like these, it's essential that people continue to provide support for youth, through centers like Plas Timoun.

If you would like to contribute to reconstruction efforts in Haiti, please click here. If you would like to give to Plas Timoun, please click here.

What would you end?

http://heymooon.tumblr.com/post/1302358917

Estamos bien en el refugio los 33

Photograph: Ho/REUTERS

Nothing in the current media has reflected such an uplifting story as the rescue of the 33 miners trapped 600m underground in northern Chile. The 33 (32 Chilean and one Bolivian) miners were successfully recovered last night to tearful families, smiles, cheers, and the presence of the entire world watching to see if they would be okay. The reunions of miners and their families served as a happy reminder that under times of trouble, people can triumph over significant adversity. No one has ever survived below surface for as long as these men, and the outpouring of support is incredible.
To the miners: welcome back, we're glad you're here!

Travel the World for Wicked Cheap

This is the coolest way to travel without ever leaving your seat. On my first try, I traveled to Ireland and then I instantly teleported to Los Angeles, California. Take a minute and explore our beautiful world (for free!) thanks to creator Joe McMichael: http://web.mit.edu/~jmcmicha/www/globegenie/index.html

This contribution thanks to activist Kayly, who has an uncanny knack for finding cool gadgets.

Activist Profile: Who is Jared Cohen?

Jared Cohen rocks. At the age of 29, Cohen has worked for the State Department as a member of the Secretary of State's Policy Planning Staff (the youngest in history) and is now the head of Google Ideas, a Google sponsored think tank. He has made incredible strides in reaching out to youth in the Middle East, getting to know the young adults who are growing into the harsh realities of conflict. During the 2009 post-election protests in Iran, he called his friend and founder of Twitter, Jack Dorsey, to reschedule maintenance repairs for the social network, so that the protestors could continue to coordinate with each other and foreign media. 


If you want to follow him on Twitter, his name is JaredCohen. (The Peace Report is on Twitter, too, so start following!) Here he is with Stephen Colbert, discussing hanging out with kids in the Middle East.

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Jared Cohen
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes 2010 Election March to Keep Fear Alive

For Tyler

I know many of us have been deeply saddened by the loss of Tyler Clementi. To honor his life, I wanted to re-post the compassionate words of Ellen DeGeneres:

I am devastated by the death of 18-year-old Tyler Clementi. If you don’t know, Tyler was a bright student at Rutgers University whose life was senselessly cut short. He was outed as being gay on the internet and he killed himself.

Something must be done. This month alone, there has been a shocking number of news stories about teens who have been teased and bullied and then committed suicide; like 13-year-old Seth Walsh in Tehachapi, California. Asher Brown, 13, of Cypress, Texas and 15-year-old Billy Lucas in Greensberg, Indiana. This needs to be a wake-up call to everyone: teenage bullying and teasing is an epidemic in this country, and the death rate is climbing.

One life lost in this senseless way is tragic. Four lives lost is a crisis. And these are just the stories we hear about. How many other teens have we lost? How many others are suffering in silence? Being a teenager and figuring out who you are is hard enough without someone attacking you.

My heart is breaking for their families, their friends and for a society that continues to let this happen. These kids needed us. We have an obligation to change this. There are messages everywhere that validate this kind of bullying and taunting and we have to make it stop. We can’t let intolerance and ignorance take another kid’s life.

I want anyone out there who feels different and alone to know that I know how you feel. There is help out there. You can find support in your community. If you need someone to talk to or if you want to get involved, there are some really great organizations listed on our website.

Things will get easier, people’s minds will change, and you should be alive to see it.

— 

Ellen

Perspective

Contribution thanks to activist Mary S.