Republic of Tea: Sip for the Cure
September 29th, 2006
Don’t forget that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month! Maybe you’d like to take a minute to remember those affected — both victims and survivors — with a warm cup of tea?
Check out the Republic of Tea’s Sip for the Cure teas. Available in a variety of packages for $10.
Flavors come in Pink Grapefruit Green Tea, Pink Rose Green Tea, Pink Lady Apple Green Tea, and Pink Lemonade Green Tea, and a portion of the proceeds are donated directly to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
In the immortal words of Martha Stewart, “It’s a good thing.”
Coping with HIV/AIDS
September 29th, 2006
What is the impact on African families living with HIV/AIDS? How do they cope? Perhaps not surprisingly, women and girls bear a large part of the burden.
International AIDS charity, Avert.org, reports:
Almost invariably, the burden of coping rests with women. Upon a family member becoming ill, the role of women as carers, income-earners and housekeepers is stepped up. They are often forced to step into roles outside their homes as well.
Tapping into savings if available and taking on more debt is usually the first option chosen by households that struggle to pay for medical treatment or funeral costs. Then as debts mount, precious assets such as bicycles, livestock and even land, are sold. Once households are stripped of their productive assets, the chances of them recovering and rebuilding their livelihoods become even slimmer.
One of the more unfortunate responses to a death in poorer households is removing the children (especially girls) from school. Often the school uniforms and fees become unaffordable for the families and the child’s labour and income-generating potential are required in the household.
How can you help? Consider reaching out and helping one of these women by sponsoring a woman through Women for Women International. For just $27 a month — less than a dollar per day — you can make a difference in the lives of women around the world.
Seek God. Seek Justice.
September 29th, 2006
International Justice Mission operates around the world to rescue victims of violence, sexual exploitation, slavery and oppression. Their stated mission to “Seek God, Seek Justice” expresses itself in four key areas: victim relief, perpetrator accountability, structural prevention and victim aftercare.
For a dramatic example of the important work they do, check out this amazing story about sex trafficking in the Cambodian village of Svay Pak:
It was the part of the video footage when men would finally look away in revulsion and women would quietly gasp and involuntarily lift a hand to cover their mouths. For nearly a year we had been showing, to anyone who would watch, video clips from Svay Pak, Cambodia – a little village outside Phnom Penh where hundreds of children were brutally being sold on the open market to be raped and molested by sex tourists. In such showings, there was always that moment when the grainy undercover video would finally become clear. It was then that everyone could see that the girl being offered by the pimp was only about six years old.
IJM investigators were able to infiltrate the Svay Pak sex ring and gather video evidence against the specific pimps and traffickers, and identify the senior police commander who cashed-in by protecting the child molestation business. American diplomats took up the cause with Cambodian authorities and urged vigorous cooperation with IJM. Local NGOs stepped forward in faith to prepare aftercare and social workers; and a mountain of Cambodian police officers (nearly 80 in all) were deployed to conduct the enforcement operation with IJM.
In the end, after some of the most intense moments in IJM’s history, police rescued 37 girls out of the brothels – including nine between the ages of five and ten. A dozen perpetrators were immediately arrested and six were later sentenced to prison terms ranging from five to 20 years. And most miraculous of all, the senior police commander who protected it all is now fired from the police force. According to one Internet chat-room frequented by pedophile customers of Svay Pak: “The party in Cambodia is over!�
IJM invites you to partner with them in protecting defenseless victims around the world in a variety of ways, including financial giving, volunteering and prayer.
Ask yourself what you can to do help!
Tiger Plays for Charity
September 28th, 2006
What are your plans this December 13th-17th? If you love golf and/or Tiger Woods, perhaps you should make plans to be in Thousand Oaks, California for the Target World Challenge golf tournament!
The Tiger Woods Foundation is partnering with Target and Countrywide Mortgage to sponsor the 8th year of the charity golf tournament.
Tiger will lead a group of 16 elite PGA tour players, including the top 11 available from the Official World Golf Ranking. The top prize is a $5.5 million dollar purse,and the proceeds from the tournament will help raise money for the charitable projects of the Tiger Woods Foundation.
Buy your tickets now! If you can’t make it, the event will be televised on the USA and ABC networks - maybe you could invite your friends and take up a collection for Tiger’s foundation instead!
Keep the Ocean Clean
September 28th, 2006
Sadly, we’ve all been to beaches where cigarette butts litter the sand and plastic bags blow around the beach. Just how long does litter stay in the marine enviroment?
The Blue Ocean Society in Portsmouth, New Hampshire provides these sobering statistics on the lifetime of all that trash:
When hundreds of years must pass before a fishing line, an aluminum can or a plastic bottle biodegrades, it is clear that our beaches and oceans will not be able to renew themselves.
For more information on how you can get involved, read on!