Sustainable Good

Teach Humanitarian Law in High School

The American Red Cross is calling on high schools around the country to teach classes on international humanitarian law, the laws that govern the conduct of armed conflict (such as the Geneva Conventions), protect noncombatants and outline the role of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

The American Red Cross has produced a “Exploring Humantiarian Law” curriculum made up of five modules that meet the National Social Studies Standards. The lessons explore issues such as students’ understandings of war, possibilities for limiting suffering in conflict, the role of outsiders, child soldier issues, military justice and provision of humanitarian assistance.

International Youth Forum- Finding purpose amoung the masses

In the middle of the stress and strain of preparing for an event at the International Youth Forum (IYF), I suddenly felt a deep sense of appreciation for the opportunity to be a part of the work of Outreach International. I was part of the team of interns and staff of Outreach International that were in charge of the Wednesday activity at IYF in Independence, MO. It was a daunting and stressful task to lead a group of almost 1,000 high school aged youth from around the world in a group activity.

But as I sat listening to Matt Naylor, the President of Outreach International, talk about the difference we are making in the lives of the poor, I was inspired! 

"What If..." A Multimedia Competition on Landmines and Cluster Munitions for Young Adults

Mines Action Canada, a member organization of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, is calling on young people to enter short multimedia presentations on the theme of "What If...", as it relates to landmines and cluster munitions. There are only 12 days left in this competition -- the top three winners will receive a camcorder. The winning presentation will be shown at the international conference marking 10 years of the antipersonnel landmine ban in Cartagena, Colombia in November. The competition is only open to young people, 18 to 30 years old, who live outside Canada.  For more information on the competition, click here.

The Dictionary is Wrong

Looking over the headlines from today, one major thought kept coming into my mind: When did governments quit serving their people and start controlling them?

The Iranian government is still holding protesters arrested after the election dispute. Charles Taylor, the former Liberian president accused of atrocious war crimes denied everything at the International Criminal Court. I talked to a South Carolinian today who said their governor missed some very important meetings recently because he is taking time to reconcile with his wife for his unfaithfulness (while unemployment is soaring in SC). Coal companies benefit more from the climate bill that the House passed than the environment does.

So my question is again when did governments stop serving people? Even better, how did we let this happen?

After thinking about this, I realized maybe I was wrong. Maybe I misunderstood what government means. So I looked up the definition. And it focuses mostly on control, not service: "the political direction and control exercised over the actions of the members, citizens, or inhabitants of communities, societies, and states". I disagree.

Government is about service. It is about taking care of the people one is elected to represent. It is about representing them fairly.

Maybe I am too idealistic, maybe I am just a dreamer, but as John Lennon says: "I'm not the only one." Join us. Let's create a better world.

-Stephen Donahoe

What do words mean?

As an advocate for Native Americans, I was glad to see that Sen. Brownback from Kansas introduced a joint resolution to "acknowledge a long history of official depredations and ill-conceived policies by the United States Government regarding Indian tribes and offer an apology to all Native Peoples on behalf of the United States." 

Finally -- SOMEONE representing the U.S. government will simply acknowledge the fact that our European ancestors committed awful crimes against humanity:  genocide against a people who have lived on this land for thousands of years before white settlers stepped foot on it.

SOMEONE will apologize for the forced removal of Native Americans from their homes and their sacred and spiritual spaces.  Someone will apologize for stealing lands and treasures and never returning them. 

SOMEONE will apologize for the forced assimilation techniques white people used to "kill the Indian, save the man."  This included separating children from their families and forcing them into boarding schools where they were punished if they spoke their own language or practiced their tribal customs.  This also included sterilizing many women and some men so that they could not bear children.

Point A to Point B Isn't So Simple

I arrived at the bus stop in NYC’s Chinatown just as our bus was pulling away.  Two hours of waiting in the hot summer sun later, I finally got on the bus to DC.  What I thought was going to be a simple bus ride from point A to point B turned out to be a sweaty, frustrating, complicated ordeal.

It was easy to be angry about the transportation situation that I faced today.  But now that I am on the air conditioned bus it is important for me to realize that most of the world has it much worse.  Transportation is one of the key factors in a country’s development; depending on its quality, it can be a huge hindrance or an immense boon for growth.

Obama's Going to Africa, Tell Him We Need Change!

Obama is planning a trip to Ghana for July 10-11. This trip shows how high a priority Africa is for the Obama administration because no other president has made a trip to Africa so early in his term. This is a  big step forward in realizing how important relations between the US and the nations of Africa really are. It also demonstrates a real desire to make real change in the region.

Join Obama in recognizing that US policy in Africa needs to change. Exploitation, militarization and ineffective aid have been the paradigm for too long.

Add your name to this petition, organized by a coalition of African advocacy groups. The letter suggests four policy changes that could make a world of difference for the millions living in African nations:

Does Aid Work?

At the beginning of this month, four highly articulate and accomplished academics -- Stephen Lewis, Paul Collier, Hernando De Soto and Dambisa Moyo -- gathered in Toronto to debate the resolution "Be it resolved, foreign aid does more harm than good." With two arguing for and two against, the speeches and accompanying materials posted on this site present the foreign aid debate in a compelling and accessible manner.