Corps Blog

The Politics of Climate Change

Submitted by ashleylulling on Thu, 2010-03-04 17:18

Climate change affects everyone and everything. In El Alto, Bolivia, scientists argue that melting and disappearing glaciers are leading to water scarcity. Engineers warn that melting glaciers in South America could threaten the water supply of 30 million people. In Kenya, deforestation has caused severe floods, ruining crops and taking lives. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a group that studies climate change, estimates that about 20-30% of animal and plant species will face extinction if increases in global temperature are more than 1.5-2.5 degrees Celsius.
City Chambers

Submitted by Grant M on Tue, 2010-03-02 16:16

On the 2nd day of the festival, we began to prepare for the school summit, held in trhe City Chambers. This would require us to teach our peers what we had learned over the past week. There were 4 groups and each one had a different topic to teach: types of conflict, life cycle of a conflict, a role play activity and the role of the media in fuelling conlfict. Here are the thoughts of Yafa, one of the group members from Jordan.
Searching the Streets of Edinburgh

Submitted by bob.farhat on Tue, 2010-03-02 16:12

On Friday 22 GCC leaders from Lebanon, Jordan, US and UK wandered the streets of Edinburgh...Scotland. It was the first day of the Middle East Youth Festival, and it started off with a city scavenger hunt. Even though it was pouring down rain and the wind was blowing umbrellas inside out, it didn't matter, it was really fun and we got to know each other right away.
Help for Haiti

Submitted by Global Citizen ... on Mon, 2010-02-22 15:54

Global Citizen Corps Leader, Dina Y. was quick to act when she found out about the devastation in Haiti. Two days after the quake, she called an emergency meeting with fellow students at school to brainstorm ideas. They quickly came up with a simple fundraising idea, a dollar a student = a huge impact. Dina spoke at spirit assembly on Friday to get the word out.
World AIDS Day Event is a Huge Success

Submitted by NoelM on Tue, 2010-02-16 15:06

In Corvallis, Oregon a group of Global Citizen Corps students involved with their high school’s Human Rights Club had an idea to plan a dance in honor of World AIDS Day. They called their dance the “Red Rave”, encouraging students to wear red to the event, and decided to send all the proceeds to Cascade AIDS Project (CAP), a local HIV/AIDS support and service organization.
UPDATE: Haiti

Submitted by Sailesh on Thu, 2010-01-21 17:14

The public response to the earthquake in Haiti has been strong thus far, with corporations such as Amazon.com, ITT, Best Buy, Western Union, Gap, Nike and Violá generously contributing to our efforts at Mercy Corps. The Chronicle of Philanthropy calculates that donations to 32 US nonprofit groups providing relief in Haiti, including Mercy Corps, have exceeded $305 million.

However, powerful aftershocks continued to shake the ground all week, creating panic and reminding people that an urgent need for help remains. There are widespread casualties and extensive damage. The truth is that no accurate death toll exists, for there are too many problems pertaining to the dire needs of the living to worry about the dead. Logistical challenges continue to slow the delivery of aid, with basic needs such as water, food, and medical supplies are in desperately short supply.

As part of Global Citizen Corps we can all do something. First, learn more about the situation in Haiti and check out the Haiti Emergency Action Pack, read blog posts from Mercy Corps staff on the ground. Share your action projects and ideas with the community so we can all make a difference.
Natural Disaster Youth Summit

Submitted by Global Citizen ... on Wed, 2010-01-20 15:03

The Natural Disaster Youth Summit is organized by Tuncsiper Schools and Uludag University. The summit will be held in the city of Bursa in western Turkey in 2010, August 23-27. There will be 300 students in attendance (150 students from abroad and 150 students from Turkey). Visit www.ndysturkiye.com/index.phb to learn more.
What's happening in Haiti?

Submitted by Amie on Wed, 2010-01-13 18:13

Despite an expanding international aid operation, aid is still needed for hundreds of thousands of people who have yet to receive food and shelter weeks after the powerful earthquake destroyed Haiti’s capital. Hundreds of thousands of homeless earthquake victims have yet to receive materials such as plastic sheeting to build shelter. With the possibility of the tropical rainy season beginning within a few weeks and the Caribbean hurricane season beginning June 1, it is critical that homeless Haitians receive adequate shelter.
Run to End World Hunger
Submitted by Global Citizen ... on Wed, 2009-12-23 19:04
in
Lebanon
The Nike Human Race 10K Run took place on October 24th in Beruit. More than 35 cities joined together for many different causes. The runners individually donated their registration fees to the association or the cause of their choice. No winners, no losers; everyone ran for a cause.
Get the Facts on Copenhagen

Submitted by Sailesh on Mon, 2009-12-21 15:22

UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen was held in Copenhagen, Denmark between December 7^th and December 18^th of 2009. The conference brought together leaders from nearly 200 nations to discuss how to lower emissions rates, slow global warming, and protect the earth and people from the effects of climate change.

The Copenhagen Climate Change Accord has been signed but it isn't legally binding. Learn more about the challenge, the conference and get the facts and then tell the community what you think.