PeaceBeMine

As one lit the torch passing it from one person to the next, I could feel the excitement within me slowly increase. With this year’s olympics held in Vancouver and around 2,600 athletes participating, I knew it was something to watch. The winter olympics has been held by Canada three times, including this year’s, and the first in British Columbia. The opening ceremony held a very cultural aspect to it while adding a Cirque du Soleil-esque feel to it as well. It is an event of historic importance that allowed Canada to tell an inspirational story to a world audience of three billion. The floor, where the entire ceremony was performed on, had images projected onto it but I frequently got it mistaken it for real objects like the maple leaves. And in the air were LED screens that created a surreal atmosphere like you were a part of the entire show. “The Opening Ceremony is our biggest chance to speak to a global audience and tell the story of a contemporary Canada that will inspire the world. So many talented Canadians have shared their thoughts and hopes for the ceremonies over the past six weeks and we are most grateful,” said John Furlong, Chief Executive Officer of the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC). “We knew that Canadians were passionate about this country, but the level of energy and excitement and the positive response our team received from symposia participants were truly inspiring,” said David Atkins, Vancouver 2010 Executive Producer, Ceremonies. “The input we received will be an indispensable resource as we collaborate to deliver spectacular, truly Canadian Ceremonies in 2010.” Cheers to everyone who made this opening one to remember. Go World.

Unfortunately, the 7.0 earthquake that hit Haiti came with many consequences. Amongst the plethora of events following the disaster was the difficulty of managing gang leaders who have escaped a heavily damaged prison. Haitian police officials fear that gang leaders are filling the vacuity left by Haiti’s decimated police and United Nation peacekeepers battling to provide aid. There is the chance for violence in any disaster zone where health aid and food don’t have the capability to keep up with increasing hunger and mass casualties. Many people that live in Cite Slum Soleil are currently leaving their homes to go to others because their homes are in an unpredictably dangerous location. Inhabitants have been told to not rely on security forces for help. However, police and other forces have tried to help out with the problematic situation by distributing photos and tracking the gang members which, fortunately, has led to some arrests. They will continue to discuss ways of combating the escaped convicts as officials have estimated as many as 4,000 prisoners have fled from the main prison.  

A 7.0 earthquake struck southern Haiti on Tuesday January 12, knocking down buildings and power lines. The epicenter of the quake was just off the capital, Port-au-Prince. The presidential palace was destroyed. In my opinion, it is by far the most devastating event in history.
Haiti is an impoverished country, one of the world’s poorest and least developed. According to the International Red Cross, there are as many as 3 million people affected by the quake, and an estimated 50,000 deaths…the numbers are rising everyday. Several countries have sent relief and help such as Doctors Without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontieres) who have been treating patients. Inflatable hospitals are expected to arrive along with medical personnel and supplies. Let’s keep Haiti in our prayers and keep our fingers crossed.
It’s comforting to see many countries coming together in the rescue efforts. We realize that during times like these, somehow, the world can be united and lend a hand to those in need.

Here are some facts about Haiti:

• 80% live below poverty level
• 52.3% literacy rate (US literacy rate is 99%)
• Haiti is the size of the state of Maryland
• Haiti is located in a mountainous area

Haiti is in desperate need of help:
www.CNN.com/impact
www.doctorswithoutborders.org
www.redcross.org
www.worldvision.org

Kiva’s mission is to connect people through lending for the sake of alleviating poverty.

Kiva is the world’s first person-to-person micro-lending website, empowering individuals to lend to unique entrepreneurs around the globe.

The people you see on Kiva’s site are real individuals. When you browse entrepreneurs’ profiles on Kiva, choose someone to lend to, and then make a loan, you are helping a real person make great strides towards economic independence and improve life for themselves, their family, and their community. Throughout the course of the loan (usually 6-12 months), you can receive email journal updates and track repayments. Then, when you get your loan money back, you can relend to someone else.

Kiva partners with existing microfinance institutions. In doing so, we gain access to entrepreneurs from communities world-wide. Our partners are experts in choosing qualified entrepreneurs. That said, they are usually short on funds. Through Kiva, our partners upload their entrepreneur profiles directly to the site so you can lend to them. When you do, not only do you get a unique experience connecting to a specific entrepreneur on the other side of the planet, but our microfinance partners can do more of what they do, more efficiently.

Kiva provides a data-rich, transparent lending platform. We are constantly working to make the system more transparent to show how money flows throughout the entire cycle, and what effect it has on the people and institutions lending it, borrowing it, and managing it along the way. To do this, we are using the power of the internet to facilitate one-to-one connections that were previously prohibitively expensive. Kiva creates an interpersonal connection at low costs due to the instant, inexpensive nature of internet delivery.

If you would like to participate this great cause, please visit www.kiva.org.

Below are 9 new year reflection questions that you will find helpful as you think about your New Year’s resolutions.

1. What does having fun mean to you?
2. What does doing good mean to you?
3. How did you have fun in 2009?
4. How did you do good in 2009?
5. How did you have fun and do good in 2009?
6. How do you want to have fun in 2010?
7. How do you want to do good in 2010?
8. How do you want to have fun and do good in 2010?
9. What is the one have fun do good 2010 resolution you are the most excited to keep?

Civilians attacked, bombed, and cut off from aid in Pakistan, Somalia, Yemen, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), along with stagnant funding for treating HIV/AIDS and ongoing neglect of other diseases, were among the worst emergencies in 2009, the international medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reported today in its annual list of the "Top Ten" humanitarian crises.

Continuing crises in north and south Sudan, along with the failure of the international community to finally combat childhood malnutrition were also included on this year’s list.  The list is drawn from MSF’s operational activities in close to 70 countries, where the organization’s medical teams witnessed some of the worst humanitarian conditions.

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When I Look at You by Miley Cyrus.

Can it get any better? Songs included:

The Black Eyed Peas – BOOM BOOM POW
Lady Gaga – POKER FACE
Lady Gaga Featuring Colby O’Donis – JUST DANCE
The Black Eyed Peas – I GOTTA FEELING
Taylor Swift – LOVE STORY
Flo Rida – RIGHT ROUND
Jason Mraz – I’M YOURS
Beyonce – SINGLE LADIES (PUT A RING ON IT)
Kanye West – HEARTLESS
The All-American Rejects – GIVES YOU HELL
Taylor Swift – YOU BELONG WITH ME
T.I. Featuring Justin Timberlake – DEAD AND GONE
The Fray – YOU FOUND ME
Kings Of Leon – USE SOMEBODY
Keri Hilson Featuring Kanye West & Ne-Yo – KNOCK YOU DOWN
Jamie Foxx Featuring T-Pain – BLAME IT
Pitbull – I KNOW YOU WANT ME (CALLE OCHO)
T.I. Featuring Rihanna – LIVE YOUR LIFE
Soulja Boy Tell ‘em Featuring Sammie – KISS ME THRU THE PHONE
Jay Sean Featuring Lil Wayne – DOWN
Miley Cyrus – THE CLIMB
Drake – BEST I EVER HAD
Kelly Clarkson – MY LIFE WOULD SUCK WITHOUT YOU
Beyonce – HALO
Katy Perry – HOT N COLD

If so, the book I recommend you to read is…Dear John by Nicholas Sparks. My only complaint about the book is that it’s a bit clichéd but it is no doubt enticing. Being a girl, it’s easy to see almost everything from an emotional standpoint but Dear John is told from a male’s perspective which allows all readers to realize we all may experience that love sickness even when you think that your used-to-be-significant other does not. This novel is soon to be a major motion picture starring Channing Tatum and Amanda Seyfried. Needless to say, I am really looking forward to watching this movie!!!