Lots of people may have heard of UNICEF, but some may not know what it even is. If you don't keep reading, and if you do, read anyway.
UNICEF was created by the United Nations General Assembly back in 1946 to provide food and health care for children in countries that had been devastated by World War II. In 1953, UNICEF became a permanent part of the United Nations System and its name was shortened from the original United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund but it has continued to be known by the popular acronym based on this old name.
UNICEF helps build a world where the rights of every child are realized. UNICEF's work is carried out in 191 countries through country programmes and National Committees. Some 88 per cent of the organization's posts are located in the field. There are eight regional offices and country offices worldwide, as well as a research centre in Florence, a supply operation in Copenhagen and offices in Tokyo and Brussels. UNICEF headquarters are in New York.
For more information on UNICEF, visit their website:
http://www.unicef.org/
Also visit this link. What UNICEF is doing about poverty: http://www.unicef.org/voy/explore/mdg/explore_4580.html
February 24, 2011
Brad Pitt
Earlier on in my blogging I had a post about celebrities that help poverty called 'Putting An End To Poverty'. (http://justjuliawilkie.blogspot.com/2010/12/putting-end-to-poverty.html <-- Check it out if you haven't read it yet). I mentioned that Brad Pitt was the top contributer to poverty, so in this post, I'll tell you about some of the things he does to help.
Brad Pitt’s knowledgeable interest in architecture is focused on worldwide efforts to build environmentally friendly structures through sustainable architecture and design. This led him to convene a group of experts in New Orleans to brainstorm building green, affordable housing on a large scale to help those families most in need after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. That same group now formally comprises The Make It Right Foundation, a nonprofit organization committed to the object of financing and constructing 150 new houses in New Orleans’ Ninth Ward, rebuilding lives and communities with an emphasis on sustainability and affordability.
In October 2008, The first six houses had been completed. In March 2009, Brad Pitt met with the United States president Barack Obama to promote his concept of green housing and discussed possibilities of federal funding.
In June 2009, The Jolie-Pitt Foundation dedicated to eradicating extreme rural poverty, protecting natural resources and conserving wildlife, donated to a U.N. refugee agency to help Pakistanis displaced by fighting between troops and Taliban militants.
Other Facts:
Brad Pitt’s knowledgeable interest in architecture is focused on worldwide efforts to build environmentally friendly structures through sustainable architecture and design. This led him to convene a group of experts in New Orleans to brainstorm building green, affordable housing on a large scale to help those families most in need after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. That same group now formally comprises The Make It Right Foundation, a nonprofit organization committed to the object of financing and constructing 150 new houses in New Orleans’ Ninth Ward, rebuilding lives and communities with an emphasis on sustainability and affordability.
In October 2008, The first six houses had been completed. In March 2009, Brad Pitt met with the United States president Barack Obama to promote his concept of green housing and discussed possibilities of federal funding.
In June 2009, The Jolie-Pitt Foundation dedicated to eradicating extreme rural poverty, protecting natural resources and conserving wildlife, donated to a U.N. refugee agency to help Pakistanis displaced by fighting between troops and Taliban militants.
Other Facts:
- Newsweek Magazine named Pitt as one of “15 People Who Make America Great” for bringing attention to causes in Africa.
- Travelled to Africa to raise awareness for the Make Poverty History campaign.
- Pitt and Angelina Jolie took time to help Wyclef Jean with his Clean Streets project.
- According to tax records, the couple donated more than $8 million to charity in 2006 alone.
- Brad took part in the America: A Tribute to Heroes charity telethon for victims of 9/11.
February 20, 2011
Poverty Poem
Here is another poem... :) This is for my friend Kristian (Hey_You!) because she requested that I do another one :) So here it is! Enjoy :)
Today, a girl is dying.
You must have seen her, with cracked hands
And cheeks as hollow as her eyes, staring defiantly
At every person that passes her without a glance.
She thinks they must be able to smell it on her:
The bitter tang of metals and grit in her water
And the faint but penetrating scent of sickness.
She sells candies and paper flowers from a cart,
And stands up straight with her dress hanging
Like a sack, though it was a lovely yellow once.
Every so often as she passes her wares to a buyer,
She thinks that the petals and colorful wrappers
Look like wishes should; but she cannot have them.
She must always return to the same cramped room
And dream fitfully of fresh food, health, and comfort
While life pales from her face, like the waxing moon.
One cannot live on bread alone,
But that would be a start.
Bye for now :)
Today, a girl is dying.
You must have seen her, with cracked hands
And cheeks as hollow as her eyes, staring defiantly
At every person that passes her without a glance.
She thinks they must be able to smell it on her:
The bitter tang of metals and grit in her water
And the faint but penetrating scent of sickness.
She sells candies and paper flowers from a cart,
And stands up straight with her dress hanging
Like a sack, though it was a lovely yellow once.
Every so often as she passes her wares to a buyer,
She thinks that the petals and colorful wrappers
Look like wishes should; but she cannot have them.
She must always return to the same cramped room
And dream fitfully of fresh food, health, and comfort
While life pales from her face, like the waxing moon.
One cannot live on bread alone,
But that would be a start.
Bye for now :)
Julia Wilkie
February 15, 2011
End Hunger & Poverty... With 1 Click.
A few years ago, I was just browsing around online and came across a website. It is called the Hunger Site.
With the click of one button, the sponsors pay for cups of food for kids who need it. Since the website started in June of 1999, this website has provided people with 760,000,000 cups of food. If everyone in the 8-4 class at SBS visited this website and clicked the button everyday for a month, our class alone would provide 990 cups of food.
Every day, an average of 220,000 people visit this website and click the button. Funds from this website are split between organizations and go to the aid of hungry people in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Latin America and North America.
By also going to the Hunger Site's store and buying something. You don't have to, but 100% of the profits go to the Hungry.
Do your part to end world hunger and poverty, and click today :)
vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv
> http://www.thehungersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=1 <
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I just read this post over and realized.... this sounds slightly like a commercial.... lol... :)
With the click of one button, the sponsors pay for cups of food for kids who need it. Since the website started in June of 1999, this website has provided people with 760,000,000 cups of food. If everyone in the 8-4 class at SBS visited this website and clicked the button everyday for a month, our class alone would provide 990 cups of food.
Every day, an average of 220,000 people visit this website and click the button. Funds from this website are split between organizations and go to the aid of hungry people in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Latin America and North America.
By also going to the Hunger Site's store and buying something. You don't have to, but 100% of the profits go to the Hungry.
Do your part to end world hunger and poverty, and click today :)
vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv
> http://www.thehungersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=1 <
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I just read this post over and realized.... this sounds slightly like a commercial.... lol... :)
-Julia Wilkie
February 11, 2011
Some Good Books On Poverty!
Ello! Soo...I've been looking around for a good list of some books on poverty in case you want to learn more... I finally found a good list so I'll put it here and then put the link on the bottom :) Enjoy!
Nickel And Dimed: On (Not) Getting By In America - Barbara Ehrenreich
The Glass Castle - Jeannette Walls
Angela's Ashes - Frank McCourt
The End Of Poverty - Jeffrey D. Sachs
Banker To The Poor: Micro-Lending and the Battle Against World - Muhammad Yunus
The Grapes Of Wrath - John Steinbeck
The Bottom Billion: Why The Poorest Countries Are Failing And What Can Be Done About It - Paul Collier
The Good Earth (House Of Earth #1) - Pearl S. Buck
Three Cups of Tea - Greg Mortenson
The Life You Can Save - Peter Singer
Those are only the top 10 but go to THIS LINK to see the other 559 books :) It's good to know that that many authors want to make a difference.
While I was writing this I realized my friend Kristian (Hey_You!) posted the same list.... Click on the link I posted (The Hey_you! thing) to check out her blog too :)
Tschüs! (Yes... I speak a little German :D )
~Julia Wilkie
Nickel And Dimed: On (Not) Getting By In America - Barbara Ehrenreich
The Glass Castle - Jeannette Walls
Angela's Ashes - Frank McCourt
The End Of Poverty - Jeffrey D. Sachs
Banker To The Poor: Micro-Lending and the Battle Against World - Muhammad Yunus
The Grapes Of Wrath - John Steinbeck
The Bottom Billion: Why The Poorest Countries Are Failing And What Can Be Done About It - Paul Collier
The Good Earth (House Of Earth #1) - Pearl S. Buck
Three Cups of Tea - Greg Mortenson
The Life You Can Save - Peter Singer
Those are only the top 10 but go to THIS LINK to see the other 559 books :) It's good to know that that many authors want to make a difference.
While I was writing this I realized my friend Kristian (Hey_You!) posted the same list.... Click on the link I posted (The Hey_you! thing) to check out her blog too :)
Tschüs! (Yes... I speak a little German :D )
~Julia Wilkie
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