Saturday, June 20, 2009

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Jim Luce: CharityHelp: An Electronic Bridge to Kids in Need Top
CharityHelp International (CHI) is using the power of communication technologies and the Internet to assist individuals and organizations in the most challenging of developing nations. Like Afghanistan. "By combining several available technologies and services such as mobile data communications, mobile banking, and others with 'tele-mentoring,' CHI is creating a self-reinforcing process that can accelerate sustainable development," says Paul Severs, CharityHelp International's founder and president. The organization has been on the ground -- supporting children and economic development -- since 2004. Pinwheels in an Afghani refugee camp supported by CharityHelp. According to the Human Rights Watch, schools in Afghanistan have become a frontline in the military conflict between the Afghan government and the Taliban: Girls not educated today are the missing teachers, administrators, and policy makers of tomorrow. After the Taliban, Afghanistan cannot afford to lose another generation. Such a tragedy would compound the misfortune the already beleaguered nation has faced. CharityHelp cooperates with an orphanage outside Kabul. All the children there have survived poverty. Some have overcome forced child labor, homelessness, and prostitution. They come from backgrounds defined by decades of war and Taliban rule. Afghani boy scavenges Coke bottles to support his family. Run by Afghans for Child Education and Care Organization (AFCECO), these orphanages must teach the children the most rudimentary skills, such as how to use an indoor bathroom. The program provides food, clothing, life skills, education, and most importantly a dream and hope for a new life in an environment of gender equality, peace, and safety. Children of Nahid Orphanage supported by CharityHelp. The youth there are learning many skills including life skills, computer skills, and English. They are benefiting from the cross-cultural exchange with their sponsors. The AFCECO orphanage supports more than 200 youth. The program is helping to raise the next generation of potential Afghan leaders in every sector of society. This is crucial to the future of Afghanistan. "When you help a child, you help an entire family. That family, in turn, inspires a whole village. That village affects a whole society; and a changed society impacts the world," the orphanage director explained. A family in an Afghani refugee camp. "With the success of the CHI orphanage support program, we became convinced that by integrating our systems and programs with available mobile communications technologies, we could build cultural bridges, empower women, and facilitate a wide variety of non-profit and for-profit initiatives that build peace, understanding and free societies," Paul says. One application of CHI's technologies link patients in Afghanistan to doctors in the U.S. CHI recently conducted a successful video conference using Skype between a doctor and patient in Kabul with Johns Hopkins International Medicine in Baltimore. This experiment has paved the way for a future Afghans who do not have access to proper health care in their country. In this test, a patient with Parkinson's disease consulted two physicians at Johns Hopkins for one hour. The patient described the consultation as very helpful. This patient says that he spends nearly $3,000 a year on travel and lodging to visit his doctor in Islamabad. Lack of health care facilities has made life for most Afghans very challenging and troublesome in this war-ravaged country. People are often advised by the local doctors to go abroad for medical treatment. Those who cannot afford the travel and lodging often feel helpless with this advice. Another way CHI uses technology is to connect children in developing nations with sponsorship opportunities in developed nations. CHI's sponsorship engine facilitates the financial transactions to support child education and support in five countries. I happen to know that this works because the organization I founded, Orphans International Worldwide [www.oiww.org], uses CHI's electronic bridge to connect our own child sponsors to our kids in Haiti , Sri Lanka , and Indonesia. The donors and supporters for the Afghani orphanage are now sharing photos, videos, and life experiences. One sponsor wrote CHI recently, "I am so proud that my sponsored child has gone to the fifth grade. She is looking so happy and grown up in her photo. I am so glad to know that my contribution has made a difference for life in Afghanistan." As C.E.O. of a major child scholarship organization, Orphans International Worldwide , I am frequently asked, "Is my sponsorship real?" For us, it is. For CHI, it is. Sadly, for many other organizations, it is an illusion. The funds are pooled and only about 70% of the funding actually reaches the children. The children in CHI's Afghani program are greatly benefiting from the cross-cultural exchange with their sponsors. A number of sponsors have visited the AFCECO facilities and have been impressed by the love, care, and compassion. Supervised groups of children have even visited supporters in Italy and the U.S. CHI also works with Ripples International. The CHI-Ripples project supports community-based fostering for children made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS in Kenya. CHI is well aware of the dangers inherent in enabling cross-cultural communication between adults and children. To address those issues, they have developed many safe guards to ensure the communication between donors and recipients are safe and appropriate. All communications are monitored by the Project Coordinator in the region and by the Managing Director or Communications Coordinator of CHI. The CHI e-mail messaging and forwarding system (EMFS) also monitors all e-mail, which is sent through their system for offensive content. In recognition for his humanitarian work, thought leader and global citizen Paul Stevers has been presented with a humanitarian award by Prince Albert II of Monaco. Paul's group is currently in competition for The Tech Awards Laureates with its $50,000 cash prize. The Tech Awards [www.techawards.org] honor innovators from around the world who are creatively applying technology to benefit humanity. Founded in 2000, The Tech Awards have recognized over 200 innovators from over 70 countries in five universal categories: Environment, Economic Development, Education, Equality, and Health. Supporters for CharityHelp International come from around the world including U.S., Canada , Europe and Australia. The organization's video which introduces the exciting potential of combining new technologies may be viewed here . More on Afghanistan
 
Earl Ofari Hutchinson: A Little Talk with the Man who prayed For Obama's Death Top
Even by the nut case standard of the assorted pack of neo-Nazi unreconstructed Klan members, Aryan Nation haters, and the legion of loose screw religious cranks and loonies, the Reverend Wiley S. Drake's public prayer for the death of President Obama stretched far past the outer limit of credulity. The unrepentant Drake did not back away from the prayer when asked about it by Alan Colmes on Fox News Radio on June 2. He pleaded that he didn't understand why people were upset with his comments. Drake is not just a garden variety religious crank. In 2006, he reigned as the second vice president of the nearly 20 million strong Southern Baptist Convention. The group is by far the nation's biggest evangelical denomination. He pastors a bonafide church, the First Southern Baptist Church in the middle-class bedroom city of Buena Park, California. Drake has his own popular radio show on the Crusade Radio Network. In April, Southern Baptist Convention spokesperson Richard Land even had kind words for Obama for his family values emphasis. Convention officials, though, were far less forthright about Wiley's death prayer death for Obama. It issued a perfunctory statement saying that his views were his and his alone. It did not vigorously denounce those views, especially his Obama death prayer. Wiley skirted the legal definition of what constitutes a threat to the president by attributing the death prayer to a phony, made up prayer from God. The operative term is willful in the federal statute that makes it an offense to threaten the president. It's punishable by up to five years in prison. Every year, the Secret Service investigates about 1500 reported or discovered threats to the president. Drake's God attribute threat didn't escape their attention. But Drake doesn't just speak for Drake, and a handful of cranks, but says what more than a few ultra conservative, religious fundamentalists actually think and belief, and in their scariest and darkest moments the violence they actually wish for. With the murder of Kansas abortion provider Dr. George Tiller, the Holocaust Museum shoot-up, the recent report from the Southern Poverty Law Center on a surge in hate groups, and the demand by a worried US Attorney General Eric Holder for a tougher hate law, death threats against public figures can't be shrugged off. This writer, however, couldn't let Drake's purported death prayer on Obama lightly pass. So I had a little talk with him mostly to give him another chance to back off his prayer. Here's an excerpt from the June 19 talk with Drake: "Did you actually pray for President Obama's death?" "No, I was merely citing an imprecatory prayer which in scripture is a prayer mandated by God to smite down the enemies....those that do evil." "So you're saying that you did not actually call for Obama's death?" "I was asked in an interview about the murder of Kansas doctor George Tiller and I said in an imprecatory prayer that Tiller who was responsible for the murder of thousands of children was given a chance at salvation and that didn't happen so he was condemned in prayer to die. I had no regrets about his death. I was then asked if the imprecatory prayer for the death of evil doers could even extend to the president. I said yes. I was merely citing a prayer." "Do you stand by that?" "Unfortunately in the interview I said Obama. I'm not wanting (sic) the president dead. The prayer for his death is not my prayer but comes from God." Drake said since the story hit he's gotten personal death threats and threats to picket and even burn down his church. The unrepentant Drake laughed them off saying he had nothing to fear since he was doing God's work. A final question: "Pastor will you come on my weekly radio show and explain to listeners the reason for citing a prayer against the president?" "I'd better talk to my attorney first." Stay tuned on that one. Earl Ofari Hutchinson is an author and political analyst. His weekly radio show, "The Hutchinson Report" can be heard weekly in Los Angeles Fridays on KTYM Radio 1460 AM and live streamed nationally on ktym.com
 
Alan Rabinowitz: The Quest for One of the Most Elusive Cats in the World Top
The snow leopard is one of the most elusive cats in the world. As few as 3,500 of them may still roam the harsh, forbidding mountains of Central Asia. No one knows for sure. In 1999 my editor at National Geographic Magazine circulated an email asking for ideas on our "dream assignment". I remembered how my life had been touched when years before I had read George Schaller 's "Stones of Silence" and Peter Matthiessen's "The Snow Leopard". I chose snow leopards - and so began the quest. But how do you produce a story about a animal you may never see? Our answer: a six-month expedition into the Indian Himalayas armed with 14 "camera traps." When a snow leopard walked by it would break the infrared beam, fire the camera and take its own picture. High Camp Our seven-person team trekked into Hemis High Altitude National Park in mid-January, with packhorses ferrying our 60+ bags into base camp. I'm a steamy jungle kind of guy, so the first night in my tent when temperatures plummeted to 40-below was a bit of a shock. I'd dragged propane tent heaters with me from the States, but at 14,000 feet there wasn't enough oxygen to keep them burning. The cook gave me a bottle filled with boiling water to put in my sleeping bag, but by morning it was a solid block of ice. Welcome to winter in the Himalayas. Our camp was nestled in a valley surrounded by towering peaks. Visually it looks like you're on the moon. Day after day, we climbed those steep, rocky peaks hunting for clues that snow leopards were in the area, looking for places they'd marked territory or left a scented invitation for a possible mate. We discovered a trail with a series of markings: fresh tracks, patches of fur where a cat had rubbed on a rock, places where it had raked the ground with scratch marks or sprayed its scent. If it was a photogenic location, I would set one of my 14 camera traps. I'd compose the frame, light the scene with three flashes -- much like a movie set -- and hope that the actor would step onstage. Then the waiting game began. Would the cat walk by? Would it be shocked by the flashes? Getting the Shot In three days we got our first pictures, which gave us hope. But it was completely random. One camera captured just one snow leopard image in six months -- one of the best pictures. Another produced just two pictures. With no pictures for weeks on some cameras, and changing weather, we moved the cameras again and again, ultimately setting them up in 45 different locations. Conservation Snow leopards are still threatened by their only predator -- humans. Many cats are shot or poisoned by herders in retaliation for killing their goats, sheep, or yaks, the livestock they rely on for survival in a harsh environment. It's a problem across all 12 Central Asian countries where snow leopards live. The cats eat more livestock as their main prey -- wild sheep and goats -- disappear, hunted by local people or starved out by livestock. And then there's the poachers who kill the cats for their luxurious pelts (worth at least $600 on the black market) or their bones, which are still used in traditional Asian medicine (the bones can fetch a whopping $5,000 or more)! Community-based conservation programs that put money in the pockets of local people are making a difference. Panthera , the world's largest big cat conservation organization, is funding programs to sell local handicrafts in the U.S., vaccinate livestock herds, and bring foreign trekkers to stay in villager's homes -- as long as the villagers sign a contract that they won't kill snow leopards. Because the cats live in such a forbidding environment -- and are so rarely seen by humans -- there are huge holes in our knowledge of this mysterious cat. Like what their range is, how many kittens are born in the wild, what they do when they meet up in those mountains. Less is known about the snow leopard than any of the big cats, but Panthera has recently launched the first-ever range-wide research and conservation project for this species. Each of my images of this ghostly cat was a gift , a collaboration between the snow leopard, local naturalists and myself. Learn more at Panthera Snow Leopard Project Internationally renowned, award winning wildlife photographer and explorer Steve Winter has been named Director of Media at Panthera, the premier global organization dedicated to assuring the future of the world's wild cats and their landscapes. Winter's appointment comes on the heels of his Wildlife Photographer of the Year Award from the BBC and the Museum of Natural History in London, which he received in November for his photographs of the elusive snow leopard. Most recently, Winter was honored with first prize for best nature story for his snow leopard images during the 52nd Annual World Press Photo Awards in Amsterdam- the world's premier photojournalism awards.
 
Yoani Sanchez: Claudia Cadelo: Is Cuba At War? And If So, Against Whom? Top
This post is one in a weekly series in which I am introducing the writings of the wider Cuban blogosphere to Huffington Post Readers. Are We On Red Alert? By: Claudia Cadelo The poster is glued to the window of "The Polynesian" restaurant in the basement of the "Habana Libre" hotel. I think it shows clearly the objectives the Cuban government has for us. It's one of the most extreme public signs I've read and I think marks a new sentiment in the so-called "Battle of Ideas." The militaristic and alarming tone of its statements make me wonder if we're at war and against whom; where does it come from, the philosophy that tells me that I, as a citizen, must destroy, kill, annihilate, sacrifice, die, command, direct and obey? It reminds me of the documentaries I've seen of the 1960s where people were shouting, "To the Wall!" and Cubans were arrested by other Cubans, like scum. Maybe it's a little sad for all those who still hope for changes, to see that these are the new reforms that are planned; and despite its proven failure, this is still the "New Man" of the Cuban Revolution. I transcribe here the entire text of the poster, in case you can't read it from the photo: Fighting Philosophy of Our People - The words surrender and defeat are completely erased from our revolutionary terminology. - A revolutionary must surrender to the enemy and continue to fight until death if necessary. - Every revolutionary should think, particularly when he is isolated, "The revolution is me!" And continue the fight without waiting for guidance from others. - We will have to defend every inch of our soil. - To cause the greatest possible number of casualties on the active enemy forces is our main goal. - Keep the fighting spirit, for huge and painful sacrifices are required to win the day. - The final victory will be ours, through the difficult circumstances in which the fight takes place. - In every military and political leader at any level, in every soldier, every man in the village, there is a potential Commander-in-Chief who knows what to do, and in each particular situation each one may become his own Commander-in-Chief. - A fighter is like a powerful army and no cause will be lost. - Create the belief that people will never be ruled by any foreign power nor by the counterrevolution. Claudia Cadelo is a twenty-five year old French teacher living in Havana. Her blog, Octavo Cerco , can be read here in English Translation . More on Cuba
 
International Rescue Committee: Iraqi Refugees in the United States - In Dire Straits Top
By Alaa Naji Every day the violence was getting worse in Baghdad. Every day we saw death, destruction and suffering. It all touches a place in your soul that you want to keep pure, but you cannot. My husband and I knew we were in danger and decided it was time to flee. But three days before we were to escape to Jordan with our two small children, my husband, who worked for the UN, was killed in a bomb attack. I was 28 at the time and numb with grief. How do you tell your 3 and 4-year-old children that their dad will not be coming home tonight or ever again? I knew I had to pick up the pieces and search for a job to support my kids. It was extremely dangerous to go out, but I did find work as a translator for the US Army. It was a good job, even though it was risky, and I thought I was doing my part to help rebuild my country. But the terrorists were everywhere. They threatened to kill me if I did not quit my job with the Americans. This time, I had no choice. My children and I fled to Amman. And there, I joined many Iraqi refugee war widows who also felt scared, unsafe and uncertain about the future as we struggled, as single mothers, to provide for our children. When the United States opened its door to Iraqi refugees, I was praying that we would be given the opportunity to come here and start a new life, a safe life. Last year, our chance finally came and we were resettled to Georgia, a place where people are so helpful and quick to smile. I knew life was not going to be easy at the beginning, but I also knew that the only way that my family could begin again was to find a job as soon as possible. I could not rely on government assistance, because there was so little available. Even though my background was working for international organizations, I started searching everywhere for a job. I was willing to do anything. I sent my resume to shops, groceries, schools and community organizations. And eventually, with determination and God's grace, I found a job as a case manager at the International Rescue Committee in Atlanta, helping other newly arrived refugees to get on their feet. I realize now how lucky I am to have found this job. Most other refugees who arrived when the economy was going bad are struggling to survive. The government program that brings refugees here does offer financial assistance, and Iraqi refugees are grateful for it. But it is usually not enough to cover rent and other basic necessities and it expires within months of their arrival. The program works when we can find jobs for refugees fast. As you can imagine, the program is not working very well now. Today, many Iraqi refugees, even highly qualified professionals, are losing their benefits before they are able to find jobs. Case by case, organizations like mine are doing everything we can to help with rent and utilities, but we can only do so much, and for so long, with private donations. Many refugees now face eviction. Iraqi refugees always tell me that they are thankful to be in a place where they are safe. But they never dreamed that they would be struggling to survive here in America. They never imagined they could be homeless in the country that invited them here and offered them shelter. They thought that the country that was involved in the violence that destroyed their land, their homes and their loved ones would provide better care. Many people say that now is not the time for America to bring in more Iraqi refugees. I tell them that Iraqi refugees cannot wait for the economy to improve. Resettlement is saving their lives. If the United States doesn't help and protect them, especially the ones targeted for assisting Americans in Iraq, who will? Alaa Naji is a case manager with the International Rescue Committee. This week, she helped launch a new IRC report, " Iraqi Refugees in the United States: In Dire Straits ," which calls for an overhaul of the US refugee resettlement system. She has a Bachelor's Degree in English literature from Baghdad University and a Master's Degree in Arabic-English translation. She has worked for the World Health Organization in Iraq and the International Committee of the Red Cross in Jordan.
 
Zondra Hughes: The 12 Women of the Zodiac (A Roadmap for Lovers) Top
Hello my dears. Just in time for Father's Day, I will impart these words of wisdom to give you clarity about your girlfriend, wife, secret lover or soon-to-be-ex. This is the most accurate, double-guaranteed zodiac love chart that you will find anywhere, and I should know, because I wrote it. I don't have credentials in astrology, but I do have a cadre of female friends and, of course, my gut feelings. And my gut is never wrong. Lady Aries She's curious and energetic. This is my gentle way of warning you that within the span of a week, Lady Aries will know all of your passwords and will snoop in your wallet as you sleep. She bores quickly, so play like James Bond and maintain the illusion that you're in high demand. Lady Taurus She is elegant, gentle as a summer's breeze. She's reliable, keeps a steady job and a steady pace. She's always in control of herself, that is, until you cross her. If you should ever trample on a Taurus, she will become the raging bull. I have a three-word warning for you: CRIME OF PASSION. Lady Gemini O.K., let's say you're a playboy at heart (the kind of fellow who must date at least two women simultaneously), but you also realize that it's time to settle down with just one. What do you do? You grab a hold of the nearest Gemini -- she's your gal! She's smart, a great conversationalist, and she quickly becomes a totally different person on a whim. At last, a ménage a trois without ever straying. Lady Cancer As a Cancer, I must say that the rumors are true--Cancers are, indeed, the most fascinating women on the planet. Now if you're into hermits and prison chicks, the Cancer woman is the woman to keep. We never like to go out. We make few friends outside of our family and coworkers (notice both sets of people are forced upon us) and, much like prison culture, we are ruthlessly evil if slighted. Be good to us, however, and we guarantee three square meals and a clean abode. Lady Leo Do you like working behind the scenes? Were you a member of the high school Glee Club? Do you sell women's shoes at the mall? If so, you are the perfect mate for this shameless DRAMA QUEEN. Don't let the pretty face and the good cooking fool you, your Leo demands the spotlight and the only way to keep her near is to roll out the red carpet and stanchions. And scene! Lady Virgo Attention all masochists and momma's boys--Lady Virgo is your dreamgirl! She strives for excellence in every facet of her life, and she is quite adept at pointing out your flaws, from your slight overbite to your wrinkled jeans. If you seek a sensual woman with super-sharp elbows, the Virgo is the vixen for you. But know this: Once Lady Virgo whips you into shape, she'll want a commitment. Or else. Lady Libra Are you a barfly in need of sobering? Have you been inducted into the Anger Management Hall of Shame? Do you have jailhouse tats? Do you own a Harley? If you are a bad boy in search of the simple life, Lady Libra may provide the harmony you seek. She prides herself on being the peacekeeper, and her one flaw -- unbeknownst to her -- is that she flirts every time she says hello. Lady Scorpio Lady Scorpio will hook you with those soul-less eyes. Most women like to gossip, but Lady Scorpio likes to trash talk to your face. And if you don't like what she has to say, she's quick to crack a pool stick over her bended knee and challenge you to "Do something about it, punk." She's intense and some men may find her rogue honesty seductive, but know this: Once you fall for Lady Scorpio, no other meek woman will do. You've ventured to the Goth Side. Lady Sagittarius Do you seek excitement? Adventure? Frequent abandonment? Well, then, Lady Sagittarius is your Gypsy of Love. How many ways will this pretty one hurt you?! Lady Sagittarius loves the wind at her back and will be on the open road sooner than you can ask, "Hey--has anyone seen my girlfriend?" You may have to check her Facebook relationship status often. Lady Capricorn At first blush, Lady Capricorn appears quiet and reserved; she's the sweetheart you'd invite to a dinner party. When you're out and about, Lady Capricorn is sensitive enough to silence her cell phone. And her home phone. She prefers not to network or spend much time online, she'd rather be there for you. Lady Capricorn is absolutely perfect, until you discover the truth about your lonesome dove: She's so damn mean that she has no friends! (Arrogance is yet another of her more alluring traits.) Lady Aquarius If you are in a funk and are in search of the nearest rainbow, Lady Aquarius will meet your needs. She's artistic and wild -- she hates rules and confinement. In a perfect world, Lady Aquarius would be a traveling nudist who paints rainbow murals all over the land. (And she'd collect admirers in every state.) Lady Pisces She is regal. She is enlightened. She is armed and dangerous. Yes, Lady Pisces is one-part gentle lover, two-parts insane genius, and she has a track record for sending men to the nuthouse and the poorhouse, and not necessarily in that order. I sincerely hope this guide is as helpful as it is accurate. More on Sex
 
Marc Hershon: Healthy Hating Top
Hating, just like everything else in life, can be a healthy habit as long as it's done in moderation. Yes, it can even be good for your career. Here are three tips to help you get into the swing of Healthy Hating. Does any of this sound familiar from your childhood? "Don't say 'hate'!", "You don't hate anybody!", and "'Hate' is a very strong word." They're the sorts of "be nice" phrases we were told by our parents as kids whenever we might say, "I hate my homeroom teacher." So, naturally, we all have developed a deep-seated stigma against saying -- and hearing -- the word Hate. Just like your aversion to eating broccoli or doing your chores, it's time to get over it. As the co-author, with Jonathan Littman, of the book I Hate People! , I've taken a lot of heat for using the "H" word in our title. "It's not that I don't hate some people," I often hear, "It's just that I don't want to be seen buying it in public or carrying it around." Which means there are a lot of hidden Haters around. Thank god there's Amazon.com and other online booksellers -- that help people express their true nature. We don't care if you're a Secret People Hater, just don't be afraid to admit it to yourself. Self-loathing issues aside, you're probably the one person on Earth you hate less than anyone else. On the other hand, we've recently found the Hate Mecca. Jon and I were drumming up awareness for I Hate People! on the streets of New York. Taking turns, we pounded Times Square wearing sandwich boards and t-shirts with the book's title in giant letters across them. Although we'd get the occasional "It's wrong to hate!" flung at us by some misguided, though well-meaning schmoe, the numbers ran roughly 30-to-1 for comments in blatant support for the sentiment: "I hate people, too!", "Where can I get a shirt like that?", and "That's what I'm talkin' about!" Eating Well Once you've started in on a diet of Healthy Hating, it will become easier to keep your day on course while evading the treacherous waters that threaten to capsize you. Here are some appetizers to get you started. • Serve Notice On The Side When you start getting e-mails that are threatening or off-color or objectionable in some way from a superior (or peer) too dumb to realize they're leaving a paper trail, help them out. Send a reply that their message has been received and CC your friendly neighborhood HR person. Your tormentor should get the hint. • Knock The Ball Into Their Court Many meetings are unavoidable. But there is still a hefty portion of interoffice confabs that don't truly concern you and really shouldn't be chomping up your day. Depending on the nature of the meeting, and more importantly, who called it, you might be able to start a pattern of playing meeting hooky. If it's at the behest of a superior, mention that you're finishing up that report or the research or the whatever-it-is that they wanted. Point out that the meeting you're heading for isn't immediately "impactful" on you but if it's important to your superior that you're there, you'll put off finishing the assigned task until later. If this tactic works, just make sure to finish that damned report. • Pitch A Shutout Silence is golden. And nearly non-existent at most of the worlds' workspaces. Ringtones, e-mail alerts, noisy intercoms and the incessant buzz of office chatter is the baseline level of ambient sound, just varied enough to keep pulling you out of blissful concentration. You may be lucky enough to have an office door that can be closed but chances are you're in one of the office/shared workspace/cube farm hellholes that dominate most of today's corporate salt mines. How can you shut out the yammer when there's nothing to shut? The first and easiest solution is headphones. Feeding music into your noggin at a sound level that cancels out the rest of humanity is easy genius. Grab your laptop and score an empty room. It could be a vacant meeting room, the break room or a quiet corner of that gloriously decorated lobby that never gets used. The important thing is that it's mostly devoid of people. For those people who have not yet come around to Healthy Hating, never fear. Sooner or later you'll give "I" a try. When you do, remember that it's not necessary to let others know about what you're doing. Unless, of course, someone asks why you seem so much happier of late. That's when you can give them a big, cheery smile and let them know: "I hate people!" Marc Hershon is the co-author of the new book I HATE PEOPLE (Little, Brown and Company; June 2009) with Jonathan Littman. Marc is a branding expert who, through his Simmer Branding Studio, has created such memorable names as nüvi, Crackle.com and the title for Dr. Phil's book "Love Smart".
 
Susanna Speier: Father's Day Politiku Top
Dad's Pentagon career began in the early 80s when this issue of nuclear non-proliferation --- his area of expertise -- was considered more of an industrial and diplomatic issue than one of national defense. As would be bureaucratically expected, Dad's attempts to stop the US government from approving the trafficking in arsenal quantities of "commercial" plutonium met with direct opposition from the Departments of State and of Energy who, at the time, wanted to befriend the nuclear industry and nurture diplomatic relationships. When Dad asked if I would be willing to part with my seldom used teenage dartboard, I assumed he was looking for a new way to energize the drab walls of his windowless, Ring D office. When the then State Department's Ambassador at Large for Nuclear Affairs got wind of the fact that his photographic likeness was mounted on a Pentagon underling's dartboard, however, he was more than just a little bit perturbed. The then Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Negotiations Policy, Michael Huffington was consequently put in an extremely awkward position when the Ambassador got in touch. Having been made to promise to personally ensure that no likeness of the Ambassador's face would ever appear on a Pentagon dartboard again, Michael Huffington was given no choice but to enter my dad's office and request the removal of the photo. The Ambassador's photographic likeness was consequently excised, leaving as a target only the Ambassador's silhouette and a cluster of darts in the area where the face had been cut out. Dad did as he was told. He took the cut out of the Ambassador's face home with him at the end of the day. He did not, however, discard the excised photo but instead, mounted it beneath the tail of one of the antique carousel horses we had in our house. Constance Congdon Politiku My Dad, machinist, Said never force anything, Motors know the truth. Andrew Solomon Politiku Child in my arms, you Can be anything. Except A Republican. Michael O'Brien Politiku Daddy flew airplanes Brought the admiral's mail And mom's little wing Aaron Landsman Politiku Will my son grow up To wax nostalgic about What he couldn't change? David Amram Politiku My father always said Some day you'll be a father your world becomes theirs! Susanna Speier Politiku Dad would always vote Liberatarian. And then... Barack Obama.
 
Paul Begala Schools Meghan McCain (VIDEO) Top
Meghan McCain got taken to task by Paul Begala during her appearance on "Real Time with Bill Maher" Friday, leading her to tell Begala at one point "you clearly know everything and I'm just the blond sitting here." It all got started during a discussion of George Bush, who McCain acknowledged was a less than perfect president. But McCain also pointed a finger at the Obama administration in Bush's defense, saying she felt that the Obama administration "has to stop completely blaming everything on its predecessor." When Maher asked McCain if she really thought this is what Obama is doing, McCain said "I do to a degree." A clearly annoyed Begala immediately shook his head and said "not to enough of a degree, I'm sorry not nearly enough." He then began to explain how President Reagan blamed Jimmy Carter for years, to which McCain responded blithely "you know I wasn't born yet so I wouldn't know." Going in for the kill, Begala fired back "I wasn't born during the French Revolution but I know about it." And it only got more embarrassing for McCain from there. More on Video
 
Dr. Peter Breggin: Antidepressants Cause Suicide and Violence in Soldiers Top
Here are the starting facts: Death by suicide is at record levels in the armed services. Simultaneously the use of antidepressant drugs is also at record levels, including brand names like Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, Celexa and Lexapro. According to the army, in 2007 17% of combat troops in Afghanistan were taking prescription antidepressants or sleeping pills. Inside sources have given me an even bleaker picture: During Vietnam, a mere 1% our troops were taking prescribed psychiatric drugs. By contrast, in the past year one-third of marines in combat zones were taking psychiatric drugs. Are the pills helping? The army confirms that since 2002 the number of suicide attempts has increased six-fold. And more than 128 soldiers killed themselves last year. One theory states that the increased prescription of drugs is a response to increased depression among the soldiers. In reality, the use of psychiatric drugs escalates when, and only when, drug companies and their minions target new markets. In this case, the armed services have been pushing drugs as a cheap alternative to taking genuine care of the young men and women in our military. Instead of shortening tours of duty, instead of temporarily removing stressed-out soldiers from combat zones, and instead of providing counseling--the new army policy is to drug the troops. There are many excellent therapeutic and educational programs for helping soldiers and veterans deal with war-related stresses. I recently addressed a national conference on stress in the military where I learned more about these approaches. I talked with many military officers and healthcare providers who want human services to replace the increasing prescription of psychiatric drugs. Some observed that the drugs often change the personality of the soldiers, making them irritable, edgy, and angry. They fear these drugs many unleash impulsive violence. Meanwhile, because many soldiers don't want to take psychiatric medications, they avoid seeking any kind of help. It's worth re-emphasizing that used of antidepressants is based more on myth than on science. Here are some proven facts totally at odds with medical propaganda: First, there is no evidence that antidepressants prevent suicide and a great deal of evidence that they cause it. Second, antidepressants almost never cure depression and instead they frequently worsen depression. Third, antidepressants never cure biochemical imbalances. Instead, they always cause them. There are no known biochemical imbalances in the brains of depressed people until they start taking toxic psychiatric drugs and every person who takes one of these drugs end up with a significant biochemical disturbance in the brain. That's how the drugs work--by disrupting normal biochemical processes in the brain. Fourth, when all antidepressant studies are examined as a group, rather than cherry picked by the drug companies, antidepressants are no better than placebo. FDA approval for an antidepressant requires that the drug companies produce only two positive clinical trials showing that the drug performs better than a sugar pill. So the drug companies carry out numerous studies using their more reliable paid hacks. Back at company headquarters, they then manipulate the data until they can make two studies look positive. Meanwhile, when all the studies are examined in what's called a meta-analysis, the antidepressants are no better than a sugar pill. And of course, they are extraordinarily more dangerous. Conclusion? Antidepressants are a hoax--in this case, a hoax that is killing members of our armed services. With billions of dollars at stake, the drug companies also do everything they can to downplay the risks of their products. Thus the pharmaceutical industry failed to find any evidence that antidepressants cause suicidality until the FDA forced them to re-evaluate their old data. The result? Now the FDA requires a black box warning that antidepressants increase the risk of suicidal behavior in children, youth and young adults. Limiting the risk to that age group is of course nonsense; these drugs cause suicidality in all ages. In addition to suicide, the drugs cause a spectrum of adverse effects that are especially hazardous to soldiers who need the ability to control their emotions, especially their frustration and anger. Many of the most common antidepressant side effects involve over-stimulation. The FDA requires drug companies to list the following negative effects in their descriptions of their antidepressant medications: "anxiety, agitation, panic attacks, insomnia, irritability, hostility, aggressiveness, impulsivity...and mania." We are giving our troops drugs that provide a prescription for uncontrolled, disinhibited violence, including agitation, irritability, impulsivity, hostility, and aggressiveness. In my latest book, Medication Madness , I describe dozens of dramatic cases in which peace-loving citizens have become suicidal, violent and psychotic from taking antidepressant drugs like Prozac, Paxil and Zoloft. Meanwhile, as dangerous as it is to take antidepressant drugs, people should not rush into stopping them. After being exposed to these chemical agents for months or years, many people undergo agonizing emotional and physical withdrawal reactions. Some people crash into depression, some feel driven into anxiety, and others become irrationally angry. Many have bizarre neurological reactions like electric shocks in the head and weird feelings in their extremities. Withdrawal from antidepressants should be done gradually with experienced clinical supervision and the supportive involvement of family and friends. Despite all the emphasis of giving drugs to depressed people, many recover from depression with time on their own, while others receive help from a variety of sources, including therapy, family, and religion. Depression is a loss of hope. Depressed people are unable to see any ethical or viable options that will bring them happiness. They feel stymied, even emotionally paralyzed, because every choice seems bleak or overwhelming. They have given up. That's why, in the extreme, they sometimes want to die. They feel utterly helpless and hopeless in regard to making good lives for themselves. The restoration of hope is key to overcoming depression and hope can come from many sources. The alternative to antidepressants is all of life: romantic love, family, friends, community, nature, and religion all help people overcome depression. Scientific studies show that everything from a new pet to an exercise program, as well as the passage of time, can relieve depression. I explain to my patients: You have lost faith in your life--that you will ever love anyone or anything again. Getting over your depression will require pushing through your conflicts and fears, and finding the courage to love again--to love people, to love creative work, to love nature, and to love life. Modern biological psychiatry reflects and reinforces the worst in human values. Instead of liberating the spirit of overburdened and overwhelmed people, psychiatry denies and rejects the human spirit. It makes up fake biochemical theories that drive people feel even more helpless. Most tragically, psychiatry then subdues the spirit by blunting the functions of the brain. The principles for overcoming depression are exactly the same principles required for living a good and happy life. Good counseling offers an enthusiastic approach that inspires hope, while helping individuals to understand and to overcome their psychological barriers in order to exercise personal freedom, to take charge of their lives and to pursue happiness according to their own chose ethics and ideals. I am not talking about unleashing a narcissistic approach--that kind of self-centeredness is more characteristic of depression itself. I'm talking about a whole-hearted embracing of life in which individuals overcome hopelessness, and renew their determination to take responsibility, to love, and to contribute to the family and community. Peter R. Breggin, M.D. is the author of Medication Madness: The Role of Psychiatric Drugs in Violence, Suicide, and Murder (St. Martin's Press, 2008, now in paperback). Dr. Breggin's website is www.breggin.com. He can be contacted by email: psychiatricdrugfacts@hotmail.com.
 
Nathan Gardels: Will Iran Look More Like Turkey, or Turkey Like Iran? Top
ISTANBUL -- The effort to forge new forms of non-Western modernity in the Muslim world has pushed Iran into bloody civil strife while Turkey swirls with persistent rumors of military plots against the Islamist-rooted government. The great historical question is whether, at the end of the day, Iran will look more like Turkey, or Turkey like Iran? As the legendary M16 agent Alastair Crooke argues in his new book, Resistance: The Essence of the Islamist Revolution , the Iranian revolution was a direct consequence a half century later of the forced secularization of the Ottoman Caliphate by Kemal Ataturk. With the superstructure of the Muslim ummah dismantled and replaced with the Turkish nation-state, insurgent religious movements, from the (Sunni) Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt to the Shiite imams of Qum and Najaf, moved into the vacuum to reclaim Islam from the shadow of Western modernization. Paradoxically, Ataturk's whole modernization project is today being recalibrated by the ruling Islamist-rooted (Justice and Development) AK party, which is seeking to reintroduce piety into public life while projecting Turkey as a neo-Ottoman regional power in the Muslim Middle East instead of a mere NATO appendage or European supplicant. At the same time, Iran, the other regional power, is moving in the opposite direction: the Twittering partisans of popular sovereignty are locked in a battle with their theocratic guardians over the legitimacy of power in the Islamic Republic. What goes around comes around, it seems. The reaction to the Great Transformation of early 20th century modernization may have given rise to what Crooke calls the "Great Refusal" of the Islamist resistance. But now the legacy of the Great Transformation in Turkey as well as the Great Refusal in Iran are facing the reverse challenges of bringing faith back into the public realm on the one hand, and democratizing a religious state on the other. The historical cross currents are complex. In Turkey, one AK Party leader told me, by way of allaying suspicions about an Islamist takeover, that "without its Western orientation, Turkey would be just another Muslim country." Yet, a publisher friend worries that "without the military guarding Turkey's secular institutions, the Islamists would take over tomorrow." And yet again his 20-something daughter, despite the ever more prevalent sight of headscarves on the street, shrugs her bare shoulders doubtfully at the idea of Turkey ever becoming a repressive religious society like Iran. In Iran, the very idea of an Islamic Republic, borne out of the 1979 revolution, is coming apart. What we are witnessing is a contest between the Shiite idea of an imamate, where, essentially, God is the head of state, versus the Republic, in which the people rule. What happens to the legitimacy of the state when the people, through their democratic institutions, disagree with God? How can this contradiction at the very heart of the constitutional arrangement of the Islamic Republic ever be resolved? For all its grumblings and even rumblings, the military that stands behind secularism in Turkey has not so far frustrated the democratic aspirations of the religious resurgence there. In Iran, the Revolutionary Guards that are protecting theocracy have done just that: they have sought to crush the assertion of popular sovereignty. The clerical establishment aligned with the Revolutionary Guard in Iran won't be easily dislodged from power. Yet, once they've felt their power in the streets, as in 1979, neither will the people accept the suppression of their rights. By reasserting his authority after the election through brutal repression, Ayatollah Khameini has undermined the legitimacy of his rule. It may be a long, slow erosion, but the repression of legitimate aspirations is always the beginning of the end for any system of governance. For now, the Turkish experiment in creating a non-Western, post-secular order seems more sustainable because it respects the will of the people. That is now the challenge for Iran. More on Iranian Election
 
Steven Weber: When Hope Dies Top
The Facebook video of a young Iranian woman dying from an assassin's bullet (June 20th, 2009 1:15 PM") brings home the situation not only in Iran but in any country people live where freedom must be fought for. Because freedom should be a natural state of being, an expectation from birth, rather than a political concept subject to sometimes tragically violent conflict. While standing alongside her father about a mile from the main protests, a woman observed the tumult and was struck in the chest by a bullet. The damage was so extensive she died in two minutes. In the video we see her already fallen, her eyes wide with terror and wonder, being tended to by passersby, helpless as her blood begins to flow from her nose and eyes, her life visibly ebbing. And then she is dead. Hope, when it dies, dies in the gutter. This scene has been played over and over throughout history, its repetition inciting callous comparisons by well-off fat-cats to prove an inane point, or the stuff of bleak, black jokes; so commonplace is the inhumanity. Governments routinely either support or decry such acts, rarely, if ever, aware of their own complicity or their own mortality. They are, as their policies of control over the masses have proven, fatally corrupt and exist only because they are allowed to through sheer force. And every political argument begins with its impact upon a single life and no clearer is that truth more evident than in this video. But not only in this video. It is shown in the millions of images revealed to our eyes and souls for generations, from human rights violations to genocide, from domestic abuse to sexual abuse to routine humiliations between class, race, gender. On and on, the images of violence rippling through the sea of humanity continually remind us of the horrors we inflict upon each other. And yet those reminders are at best impotent or last but a moment before our baser natures overwhelm both sense and the senses and more atrocities tumble forth, barely staunched. We are all born innocent and yet many of us, through exposure to ideologies which inflame outmoded and dangerously base instincts, become corrupt and to degrees complicit in the suffering of our fellows who have been caught beneath the boot of brutal political regimes, religious extremism and commercial exploitation. And as we have all regularly been witness to, the words of our leaders can inspire or terrorize. In either case it is the people who have in them the power to give aid to hope and to staunch the blood flowing from innocents who have been felled by the indifferent bullets of the radical ideologue. Or else hope will continue to die over and over, in fields, in living rooms, in the gutter. More on Iranian Election
 
Rwanda 'Baptises' 18 Endangered Baby Gorillas Top
Rwanda "baptised" 18 rare baby mountain gorillas at what has become an annual event to highlight the plight of the endangered species. More on Animals
 
Magda Abu-Fadil: Corruption Charges Pit MP Against Talk Show Host on Lebanese TV Top
On-air charges of vote buying during Lebanon's recent parliamentary election triggered a fiery shouting match between a legislator and a provocative TV talk show host that have reverberated in the country days after the incident occurred. The accusations began when a guest on the show accused Member of Parliament Ibrahim Kanaan of buying votes in his electoral district but not paying the 400 voters when the ballots were cast. The guest, Nabil Al Fala, was given free rein on the program for almost 20 minutes. Ghada Eid in shouting match with legislator Ibrahim Kanaan by phone (Assafir) When Kanaan was contacted by telephone and asked to respond, he began shouting and accused the host of lying, of political assassination, of being bribed by his detractors, and he threatened to sue her. "You've blown this matter out of proportion and someone has paid you," yelled Kanaan at Ghada Eid, the host of "Al Fasad" (corruption) on New TV ( http://www.newtvsat.tv ). She defied him to prove it, and he retorted that she was in no position to challenge anyone. "You have no manners, shame on you" he slammed back. The fight lasted almost 10 minutes on the air and was viewed on satellite TV in other Arab countries as well. It also made it onto YouTube and drew 300 comments in Arabic and English -- many of them obscene -- and has to date attracted 31,501 viewers. MP Ibrahim Kanaan's home page "Shame" was also the title of a comment in the key newspaper An-Nahar's weekly TV supplement that blasted Kanaan and presenter Eid for their live verbal altercation. The argument, devoid of any ethical or professional constraints, "Shows the level we've reached of not considering people's position and dignity, on the one hand, and the ease of attacking journalists with the worst insults, on the other, particularly by a responsible legislator who lost control of his nerves," said the comment. It added that what was broadcast on that program, dedicated to fighting wrongdoing, was totally rejected given its offense to the public. "The (host's) standard was bad and the response was bad," said Najia Houssari , an editor for the pan-Arab daily Al Hayat . "The person (Al Fala) who accused the MP is not reliable, so he's hardly a reference." Other comments poured in from media analysts complaining about "gotcha journalism" who said charges that weren't fully substantiated should not have been aired that way, even if the legislator was at fault. Kanaan's bloc colleagues, and he personally, have often campaigned on anti-corruption platforms. In a play on words, a cartoon on his site showed Kanaan telling a constituent his vote wasn't a tradeoff for paving roads, in a reference to candidates who asphalt potholed streets on election eve to curry favor and secure votes. "Your vote isn't asphalt" "Ghada's style is not journalistic or professional," said Lebanese journalist/blogger Ibrahim Arab. "She attacks and is provocative, but even if she were right, Kanaan should have controlled himself." Assafir newspaper later reported that Kanaan had appeared on a friendlier station, OTV , and accused the other guest on Eid's show of having a criminal record, to demonstrate that his statements of electoral bribery were questionable. "The program, focusing on fighting corruption, is good as an idea," said Lebanese University media professor Ali Rammal. "But we viewers have a problem with evaluating facts." He noted that incriminating evidence from the show's many episodes never seemed to take its legal course and the lack of follow-up meant criminals went scot-free, so the program's credibility was at stake. Other critics said the station's owner traditionally used the show to lash out at opponents and turned even the smallest of issues into causes for political grandstanding or bargaining chips for favors. "There's no investigation and no link between the news event (on corruption) and the source of information," said Rammal. "The show isn't about corruption, it is corruption." Al Fasad (corruption) show ad He added that a statement by host Eid days after the program was aired that she still had information to divulge was a form of hectoring and represented unprofessional intimidation. Lebanese comedian André Jadeah, also writing in An-Nahar , said the loud mudslinging had terrified children in his neighborhood into hiding under their beds. "I don't care who's right or wrong, but barging into our homes with such street talk is unacceptable. It's enough, forget live broadcasts," he complained. Kanaan, a lawyer who is a member of the Free Patriotic Movement party allied with Hezbollah, is apparently known for his short fuse and outbursts at journalists. According to Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper, he has a track record of run-ins with the media and is famous for using foul language. Eid, a Lebanese University journalism graduate, had worked as a newspaper and magazine reporter and editor before moving to TV news and landing her own show. An Arab website listed her as one of the most powerful Lebanese women of 2007. She has been accused alternatively of attacking the majority and minority factions in parliament. But after the explosive show with minority coalition member Kanaan was aired, his partisans targeted her saying her motive to attack the MP was because of her family ties to a cabinet minister in the majority bloc, at odds with Kanaan's. She told Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper she would sue Kanaan for slander. More on Hezbollah
 
Ellen Sterling: Larry King? Yes! Larry King Top
I was not a Larry King fan. I didn't dislike him, but one interview I saw when he interviewed a celebrity I have met and with whose background I am familiar, kind of sounded to me like the celeb's management not only set the ground rules, but wrote the softball questions used. It was disappointing. That's why when I learned King, with his singer wife Shawn opening for him, was to do an evening of Larry King Live at the Wynn Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, I really didn't want to go. But curiosity got the better of me. I went. Of course, before King did his thing, his wife who had somewhat mysteriously and very erroneously been billed as a "country" singer, did hers. Reed slim with legs up to here and a big blonde mane, Shawn King's music was all over the place. She did Motown, standards, Smile and sang along with the video of the lovely duet she did with Willie Nelson, I Give . She's very engaging and her performance was nice. As soon as King began his part of the show I knew I'd made a good decision. My father was a terrific raconteur and, with an interesting career, always had good stories. I grew up with them and know there's nothing like a good story. Larry King has many. This is a guy who clearly loves to tell his stories. He reads people very well and, for what it's worth, is a pretty good impressionist. Listen to him talk about his escapades as a kid in Bensonhurst, about his first forays into public speaking or about how his name got changed from Larry Zeiger to Larry King. In each story he slips on the character of the person he's talking about. His childhood friend Herb Cohen, today an author and master negotiator is a key figure in King's childhood memories, as are friends "Hoo-Ha" Horowitz and "Mopsy." He does each voice, every mannerism so that the audience can relive the moment with him. If the audience is having fun, King is having a ball. Of course, Las Vegas audiences differ slightly from those in New York and Los Angeles. The woman sitting on my right was clearly baffled when the spirit of Don Rickles briefly inhabited King and he said to a very insistent, loud woman in the audience who was trying to get his attention, "You must be Jewish." She was and my next-seat neighbor informed me, "Well, he knows Jewish people are like that." I just replied, "I think he meant that to call out like that took chutzpah." When he finished his set material, King opened up the floor for questions. Most were innocuous, but some led him on interesting tangents. He suggested that Steve Wynn, seated in the audience, book Yogi Berra: "He won't be funny until a few weeks later. Then people will realize what he said and laugh." He quoted some random Yogi-isms, including '"No one goes to that restaurant any more. It's too crowded.'" Then, from former Yankee Gil McDougal: "Yogi, did you hear the news? They've elected a Jewish mayor in Dublin." Yogi: "Only in America." Berra's childhood friend Joe Garagiola contributed this: "I asked Yogi, 'what time is it?' Yogi replied, 'Do you mean now?'" King introduced his invited guest Warren Buffett to stand and when the applause died down, said to Wynn, "Steve, Warren sold his [Wynn] stock." He talked about being kissed on the lips by Marlon Brando and, in response to an audience question, he talked about his toughest interview -- the monosyllabic Robert Mitchum. Aside from the "20-minute interview that seemed like two hours" with Mitchum, King said his most memorable interview was with Martin Luther King, Jr. Others of note were with Sinatra and Nelson Mandela. When someone asked about his interviewing and broadcasting philosophy, his answer was simple: "Be honest. My guests don't get offended because they know I'm interested and that's why I'm asking. And if you're honest with the audience, they're with you." When the question of retirement came up, he pointed out that his contact runs through 2011. But, "when I retire, I can see Ryan Seacrest taking over." Even though he's 75, retirement is not in Larry King's plans. In fact, he said, "I'll probably die on the air." But, while he's still here, take any opportunity you have to see him do his thing on stage. Wynn said he'd book King again. I'm looking forward to it. I could have listened to his stories for hours. More on Warren Buffett
 
Greg Mitchell: Why We Joined the Media Blackout on Kidnapping of NYT Reporter Top
It was a happy surprise, this morning, just before noon ET, to see the New York Times reveal that one of its top reporters, David Rohde, had escaped from his Taliban kidnappers, after seven months, and was now safe and unharmed. I can't imagine how shocking this was for nearly everyone else, who had no idea he had even been kidnapped. My magazine, Editor & Publisher , was among the media outlets aware, very early on (probably ahead of many others), that Rohde had been snatched along the Afghanistan/Pakistan border. I can't even recall how we learned of it. Like others, we did not write about it, even after New York Times editors confirmed it for us, off the record, of course. Times executive editor Bill Keller today told our Joe Strupp that we were among at least 40 news outlets that knew about the kidnapping. In fact, what I witnessed in the six months after we found out about it was the most amazing press blackout on a major event that I have ever seen: at least in the case of a story involving such a prominent news outlet and a leading reporter. I wonder how strongly, if at all, this non-reporting will be criticized in the weeks to come. Remember: when Jill Carroll was kidnapped, the Christian Science Monitor only managed to keep it a secret over a weekend. Even the blogosphere was almost totally silent, or in the dark. Every few days I googled it and found almost nothing from blogs and foreign sources. This was even more astounding than the mainstream media blackout. You could say the blackout worked, or that all sorts of people, around the world, were scrupulous about this tragedy. We did occasionally weigh going public, as months, and months passed. Every few weeks we checked in with one Times editor or another. Editors explained that efforts were going on to free Rohde and it was so sensitive any news break might jeopardize this. But the editors were not heavy handed in demanding silence on our part, although they must have been worried that (even) we knew about the kidnapping. Frankly, we wondered why they weren't more insistent -- perhaps they assumed the best about their media colleagues. If so, that faith certainly was upheld. We also talked to a top journalism ethicist, an editor for another top foreign news outlet and a foreign reporter quite aware of the Rohde situation. One editor wondered if the Times , or anyone else, was considering paying ransom money, as often happens (apparently this did not take place). He also claimed that someone at the Times had been shown a photo of Rohde in captivity and it was worrisome to be sure. I had one major personal concern: In keeping the story secret were we jeopardizing other reporters, or even other citizens, who might be traveling in the region of the kidnapping unaware of the dangers? I feared that we were all doing a disservice to many others for the sake of, maybe, helping the cause of one reporter. My own daughter had traveled for several weeks to Afghanistan and the region just last year, so this seemed like a legit concern. However, I was told by someone who knew the details of the Rohde episode that he had been kidnapped in a region where almost no outsider would ever fear to tread. So, like everyone else, we kept the story secret. I wonder now if a great debate will break out over media ethics in not reporting a story involving one of their own when they so eagerly rush out piece about nearly everything else. I imagine some may claim that the blackout would not have held if a smaller paper, not the mighty New York Times , had been involved. Or is saving this life (actually two, there was a local reporter also snatched) self-evidently justification enough? Bob Steele, the Poynter media ethicist, summed it up well for Strupp just now: "News organizations are balancing competing obligations if a journalist is kidnapped or detained, The primary obligation to the public is to report accurately and timely on meaningful events. If you have a journalist who is detained or kidnapped, that will generally reach the level of newsworthiness. News organizations also have an equal obligation to minimize harm. That means showing care and caution to not further endanger someone whose life may be in jeopardy. These are competing obligations and loyalties. "There is also a matter of fairness and consistency. Would a news organization apply different standards in the case of a government diplomat or a business executive or a tourist than they would one of their own?" But he concluded: "You should not be bound by a rigid rule. Rather you make the best journalistic decision in each case. In almost all cases, the value of a human life outweighs the value of revealing facts in a kidnapping that you would usually report." For more coverage, go to E&P here. Greg Mitchell is editor of Editor & Publisher. His latest book is " Why Obama Won ."
 
Ryan Scott: The Future of Giving Top
We all want to help, but we inevitably end up denying more than giving. We give to the cancer fund at the supermarket so we feel comfortable ignoring the homeless man outside. We sponsored a friend's walk for AIDS so it's unnecessary to bring cans of soup into the office. We turn our Twitter avatars green so we're okay to skip the fast for Darfur. We want to help, but with the dog, the kids, the commute, the work, the in-laws, the baby shower, the birthday party and the farmers market, the time to give simply doesn't seem available. You're not interested in just one organization and you want to spread your time and effort around. This is one of the reasons I created Causecast.org . We're one of several online organizations attempting to make it easier for you to give both time and money. Not only does the Internet let you connect to like-minded individuals, but you can organize your own philanthropic events, keep current on the news that affects your passions, and give to nonprofits with complete confidence that the money is going directly to the cause (Causecast, for example, takes 0% from donations). The online world is revolutionary in its dispersal of information, but it's also made us passive, content to absorb words and images by the thousands and then forget them. The real challenge nonprofits face is not to get you to care, but to get you to act. Some organizations have already figured this out. Right now, Invisible Children is lobbying in Washington, D.C. for the passage of Senate Bill 1067 , which would put pressure on the White House to act against Joseph Kony, a warlord using child soldiers in his ongoing civil war in Uganda. IC has used the power of media not just to anger American youth, but to encourage thousands of them to join in with rallies and donations. Their interactive website makes volunteering look much more like a party than a public service. For all of Twitter's faults, February's related Twestival raised over $250,000 for charity: water , money which all goes to water projects in developing nations. Once again, the "stoned slackers" on Twitter prove effective. One more example: Kiva , another organization with which Causecast is proud to be affiliated, makes it easy and effective to give microloans to entrepreneurs. The social aspect of the site creates a relationship between the giver and the recipient, an endlessly better connection than we have to the plastic container at the supermarket. It is with this technological understanding that President Obama and the White House have announced their United We Serve initiative. Many credit Obama's Internet savvy with his victory last November, at least among America's youth. The future of public service is online, and the White House is pushing itself to the front of this movement by spreading information through blogs and YouTube videos instead of press releases. The dynamism of the medium influences the cause. The success Invisible Children and charity: water have seen in recent years could not have been possible without the Internet and progressive technologies that make it easier to connect. Nearly all volunteerism in the coming years will start online, in the form of Facebook groups, Twitter trends, blog initiatives and Causecast fundraising pages. There's really no downside to this. More involvement and more interest equals more donations, more volunteer hours and more activism. What we see today in Washington is just the beginning. Online interest is becoming offline action. More on Barack Obama
 

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