My mother said I must always be intolerant of ignorance but understanding of illiteracy. That some people, unable to go to school, were more educated and more intelligent than college professors.

-Maya Angelou

http://mayaangelou.com/

Agadir, Morocco, June 25 (WWF) – The 62nd annual International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting ended today with governments failing to reach an agreement on a proposed package on whaling.

The IWC, which began Monday, took the unprecedented decision to open discussions at this year’s meeting behind closed doors, shutting out civil society and members of the news media. The Commission also did not allow NGOs to speak until late Thursday.

Negotiations fell apart on a proposal by the Commission’s Chair that attempted to reduce current whaling and bring it under the IWC’s control. WWF did not support the proposal as drafted, but was urging the IWC to find a solution that would at a minimum eliminate whaling in the Southern Ocean, a critical whale feeding ground, and halt whaling of threatened species.

“The IWC has been at a standstill for several years now. While the Chair’s proposal was not acceptable as drafted, we are left with a situation in which yet again, Japan’s whaling fleet will kill hundreds of whales in the Southern Ocean in the name of ‘science’.”

“At this IWC meeting, politics have yet again won over the conservation of whales. The IWC’s commercial whaling ban was one of the greatest conservation achievements of our time, saving many whale species from the brink of extinction. (continue reading…)

Stress is a major factor in illnesses and problems of all kinds. Stress comes not so much from the world, but from the way we think about and deal with the world. Much of our suffering is due to the unconscious habits that control and dictate our lives.

Here is a simple technique that can help you handle stressful situations and return to peace. You can practice this meditation whenever you need to regain your equilibrium.

A SIMPLE BREATH MEDITATION

Consciously bring your attention to your breath. Notice how you are breathing, how your body is feeling, and what you are thinking. Now begin to count your breaths. Count four breaths: one, two, three, four, in a gentle, rhythmic way, and then begin again: one, two, three, four. When you find that your mind has strayed, gently bring yourself back to counting. If you use a mantra,[i] a prayer, or a rosary, you may like to synchronize their use with your breathing until you feel calm. Find a method that works for you and repeat it in peaceful times and in stressful times, until it becomes a habit — a healthy habit!
Peace may not be your normal state, but it is your natural state. Peace is not something you must acquire and hold on to; it is simply your natural state becoming naturally apparent. Is the peace of your natural state apparent to you? Or do you allow unconscious, unhealthy thoughts to be a parent to you? (continue reading…)

News and Insights on our World Peace Missions

Stranded on an Island Without Food and Boat space rent-To help with donations, see info after this release….

October 10th, 2009 SPAIN: Our recent encounter with a Category 4 hurricane left us in terrible shape. It’s truly a miracle the crew survived. They survived the full storm and their story of survival (next story after this) will give you goosebumps!

If you can help in any way, please let us know. We need some funds for the slip rent for the boat which Detlef and his first mate live in as well as some food money. Right now the crew (2 people now) is in Los Palmos Grand Canari Spain living/anchored off a pier pontoon since they cannot afford the space rent. Mostly everything they owned of value went overboard as they struggled with 30 meter (100 foot) waves and 140 mph winds.

You can help with a direct deposit into one of our accounts, or our paypal account. Ask us and we will send you the account info.

Another way you can help: (continue reading…)

Send your Rainforest SOS to the world and help create a climate for change

The rainforests are a rich, green belt that surrounds the world at the equator and contain over half the living plant and animal species on the planet. Some people have described these forests as the ‘Earth’s lifebelt’ and you can see why. Without their services in storing greenhouse gases, creating oxygen and rainfall, and providing a home to the most important array of biodiversity on the planet, our Earth would be a very different place and certainly one uninhabitable by mankind.

Vast quantities of carbon are stored in the trees and soils of tropical forest areas. When they are burned and cleared this is converted into carbon dioxide which helps to accelerate climate change. Recent estimates say that some 17 per cent of greenhouse gases come from deforestation. Tropical rainforests are also removing about 15 per cent of the carbon dioxide we are releasing. Clearing the rainforests thus creates a double whammy for the climate – it creates a source of emissions, and at the same time removes a vast natural sink.

While the world struggles with emissions from transport, energy and industry, political attention on the tropical forests has been somewhat limited. This must change. If we are to meet the target set out by the major economies at the G8 summit in July to limit global average temperature increase to below 2 degrees compared with the pre-industrial average, then forest loss must be urgently reduced. (continue reading…)

NEW YORK,  September 2009 - Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan and UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman today met with students and staff at the highly successful Young Women’s Leadership School in East Harlem to discuss the important role that quality education plays in improving children’s lives.

Queen Rania, who has served as UNICEF’s Eminent Advocate for Children since 2007, has supported a number of education initiatives focused on getting girls into school. She became United Nations Girls’ Education Initiative’s (UNGEI) Honorary Global Chair in July 2009.

The visit is Her Majesty Queen Rania’s first to New York since her UNGEI appointment.

“Providing quality education to girls is a sound investment that helps build a brighter future for their communities and their countries,” said Veneman. “Her Majesty Queen Rania is a strong voice promoting access to a quality education for children around the world.”

For nine consecutive years, 100 per cent of graduates of the Young Women’s Leadership School of East Harlem have been accepted into institutions of higher education. (continue reading…)

NEW YORK, 22 September 2009 - The Government of the Republic of Korea (ROK) and UNICEF signed a new agreement today to strengthen collaboration in support of the world’s children.

The agreement was signed by UNICEF Executive Director, Ann M. Veneman and ROK’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, H.E. YU Myung-hwan.

“The Republic of Korea’s support to UNICEF is providing life-saving help to children in need around the world,” said Veneman. “This agreement will inspire even closer collaboration between the Republic of Korea and UNICEF, in the interests of the world’s most vulnerable children.”

The Framework Agreement between UNICEF and ROK sets a framework for joint programmes, particularly in African countries.

Until 1994, children in The Republic of Korea benefited from UNICEF assistance programmes. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has often made reference to the support he received from UNICEF as a young child growing up in the country. (continue reading…)