Sunday, April 30, 2006

Gasoline Prices

Gas prices are rising consistently.  What can we do about this?  Since it seems the reason is demand is higher in the summer, maybe we should limit our driving, so that we spend less gas and as a result demand wanes and therefore prices drop or at least don't rise as much as they are going now...Any better ideas?

Saturday, April 29, 2006

United 93

This movie is riveting and done in real time, giving you the sense that you're right there experiencing what happened on September 11 all over again, but from the perspective of those close to the events themselves.  I came out of the movie feeling exhausted from the intense emotions I felt throughout the movie.  It was well done and acted.  I only found one familiar face in the whole movie.  One of the passengers was a known actor.  However, I don't think it deserves to be called one of the best movies of the year because it is like a docudrama, where we all know the basic story and the outcome.  I recommend it to all those who feel they are strong enough to re-live the events of 9/11.

Thursday, April 27, 2006

Twist of Faith (2004)

In this emotional documentary (a 2005 Sundance selection), director Kirby Dick takes a closer look at one of the stories to come out of the Catholic church abuse scandals of 2002. When he finds out that his alleged abuser lives down the street, former victim Tony Comes -- now a husband, father and firefighter -- is forced to deal with his past. He chooses to do so publicly, a decision that, sadly, brings more pain and embarrassment into his life.

Wednesday, April 26, 2006

Women for Women International

Get connected to a woman in need through Zainab Salbi's organization. The goal of Women for Women International is to take women from victim to survivor to active citizen. With the Emergency Response Fund, Women for Women International can move quickly to help women in post-conflict societies.

For more information, please visit www.womenforwomen.org.

UNICEF

800-4-UNICEF

Contributions to UNICEF's emergency relief efforts can help provide education, health care, nutrition, protection, clean water and sanitation to the children and women affected by the Pakistani earthquake disaster.

Uganda Rising

'Uganda Rising' For two decades, the Acholi people of Northern Uganda have been caught in a civil war between a rebel group whose main objective is inhumane terror and a government whose military response has often increased misery and suffering. Over one and a half million people have been displaced into camps and over 25,000 children have been abducted to be used as soldiers and sex slaves. And yet through it all, every day across Acholi-land something remarkable happens. Against a backdrop of dismal statistics, miniscule opportunity and unpredictable terror, in a part of Uganda forgotten by the world, children who have never known peace, face the day as if to live this way is normal, as if they still believe in the future. These children are the embodiment of resilience and hope. This film is the story of Uganda, her stolen children, and the fight to be free.

Uganda Rising is a Mindset Media Production. It will world premiere at HotDocs International Film Festival, May 4th, in Toronto, Canada. For more information, visit www.ugandarising.com.

World Vision

World Vision is a Christian relief and development organization dedicated to helping children and their communities worldwide reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty.

For more information, please visit www.worldvision.org.

Genocide Intervention Network

The Genocide Intervention Network envisions a world in which the global community is willing and able to protect civilians from genocide and mass atrocities. Its current mission is to empower individuals and communities with the tools to prevent and stop genocide.

For more information, please visit www.genocideintervention.net.

The Save Darfur Coalition

800-224-2084

The Save Darfur Coalition's mission is to raise public awareness and to mobilize an effective unified response to the atrocities that threaten the lives of 2 million people in the Darfur region. The Rally to Stop Genocide will take place in Washington, D.C. on April 30, 2006. It will feature leading voices in the effort to stop genocide in Darfur.

For more information on the Rally to Stop Genocide and more, please visit www.savedarfur.org.

The International Rescue Committee

The International Rescue Committee is a global leader in emergency relief and advocacy for those uprooted or affected by conflict and oppression. The IRC is providing help to thousands of uprooted people fleeing ongoing violence in Darfur, Sudan. The conflict has driven more than 2 million people from their homes and into overcrowded camps, and as many as 400,000 people are now dead or have disappeared from Darfur.

In addition, the IRC works in all four conflict-affected regions of Uganda aiding victims of violence and providing assistance to the most needy. A total of 5 million people are estimated to benefit from the IRC's programs in Uganda.

For more information on the IRC, please visit www.theirc.org.

Creative Visions

Creative Visions' The Name Campaign seeks to end the conflict in Northern Uganda through awareness. They have collected the names of thousands of children abducted by Kony and have imprinted each one on a distinctive silver dogtag with a green band. All profits from the sale of the tags go to programs that support the children of Northern Uganda.

For more information, please visit www.creativevisions.org.

Invisible Children

Invisible Children, Inc. is dedicated to providing financial resources to invisible children by documenting their true, untold stories in a creative and relevant way, resulting in positive change. On April 29th in more than 130 cities across the country, thousands will participate in The Global Night Commute to put an end to child abduction, the need for night commuting, and war in northern Uganda.

For more information, please visit www.invisiblechildren.com.

Monday, April 24, 2006

Elections in Peru

If choosing between two evils was the only consideration in the case of the presidential elections in Peru, the choice would not be so difficult.  But the fact that nobody can foresee the future makes this choice a very difficult one.  Most people seem to have decided to choose the lesser of two evils, namely voting for a "known" evil such as Alan Garcia.  But the other choice, Mr. Ollanta Humala is easily disregarded simply because he has taken a stand to support the people of poor means; in other words, the majority of Peruvians.  I've heard he has threatened to become a dictator and to take companies away from their owners by making them part of the government.  This clearly scares those with means and investments in the country.  I do not blame them.  I simply wish to point out that the majority of Peruvians may vote for change.  And that means Mr. Ollanta Humala.  Lets pray that whatever the outcome is in these elections, it is a government that will be just and will promote the growth of the whole country.