Hello Everyone. I hope you will support this cause; A Better Community for ALL is a group of humanitarians who want to see change in the world. Check out the website at http://abc4all.net, and make sure to show your committment!

Zach K.,
Partner and Youth Coordinator,
A Better Community for All

Ahh... How I wish I would keep this blog updated! Well, I'll try :) Let see.. my life..

First off; I got first place in a 50 meter backstroke competition! I beat the guy by only 1 second, but the most important thing was that I beat my own time. I also beat my time in the 50 meter freestyle, and got 2nd place. This was definately my best swim meet so far, and I hope I get better and better :-)

Also, I won a scholarship to attend a saxophone lessons. I was flabergasted because I had no idea I would get it :) The lessons start tomorrow, so wish me luck with the new teacher. I've never had a "private" lesson teacher before, so this ought to be interesting.

Hmmm... Well thats about it. I'll try to post here more often, and maybe I'll get in a habit of it :-)

Well, last weekend I went to Chicago. It wasn't a ordinary trip to Chicago. It was the United for Peace and Justice's march in the Midwest against the Iraq War. It was an amazing experience; one I will always remember. There were thousands of people. The police, almost 300 of them present at the march, estimated that there were 5,000 people at the march. UFPJ estimated 30,000. The Chicago March was only one of 11 marches around the country; being the 2nd biggest (next to New York City). Here are some of my pictures from the event:

flashvars="p1=Picture4_7.jpg Virtual Orchestra http://www.sport.gr/fun/analatos/video/06162005170419937g.swf&p2=venice_marco2.jpg Venice Blog http://www.pantherhouse.com/newshelton/category/venice/&p3=Picture24103755.jpg Top Ten President Bush Moments http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7em-Vtipp4&mode=related&search=&p4=maui1b.jpg Top 20 Islands http://www.your-dream-island.com/&p5=Picture14_5.jpg Dinner Party Ideas http://www.evite.com/app/cms/ideas/dinner-party&p6=1175742535b.jpg Statistics Pictured http://www.chrisjordan.com/current_set2.php?id=7*&p7=200549766001b.jpg Sound of the Ocean http://www.sound-effect.com/trackinfo.php?songId=634&parentCat=0&p8=homepage_03.jpg Miniature Earth http://www.miniature-earth.com/&p9=giraffe.jpg Long Necked Giraffe http://albaani.org/sekavaa/giraffe.jpg&p10=Picture12_2.jpg IQ tests http://www.highiqsociety.org/iq_tests/&p11=Picture22_1.jpg Grow Online Flash Game http://www.eyezmaze.com/eyezblog_en/blog/2005/09/grow_cube.html#monster&p12=alohagiraffe2.jpg Giraffe Blog http://www.pantherhouse.com/newshelton/category/giraffe/&p13=Picture2_5.jpg Fact About the Pyramids http://www.geocities.com/athens/delphi/3499/gp1.htm&p14=Pharoahs.jpg Embalming with Anubis http://oi.uchicago.edu/OI/MUS/ED/mummy.html&p15=Picture11.jpg Compose your own Masterpiece http://www.grotrian.de/spiel/d/spiel_win.html&p16=Picture4_1.jpg Circular Life http://www.theircircularlife.it/frameset.htm&p17=juice_240x24027.jpg Chow - the Interactive Food Destination http://www.chow.com/&p18=Picture18.jpg A Visual Simulation of CO2 Emission Rates http://www.breathingearth.net/&p19=zero2.jpg Zero Emission Home http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/06/18/lighthouse-uks-first-zero-emission-home/&p20=Picture17_6.jpg President for a Day http://pbskids.org/democracy/presforaday/index.html&p21=Picture16_2.jpg Mount Rushmore http://www.americaslibrary.gov/aa/game/rushmore_game.html&p22=Picture1_15.jpg Fallen Angel http://www.mikrosimage.fr/ajouts_mikrosimage/cdv2006/Cdv2006_FR.html&p23=Picture1_16.jpg Angel Plane http://www.metacafe.com/watch/328542/awesome_c_130_deploys_angel_flares/&bgcolor=##000000&urlbase=http://dna.imagini.net/friends/products/&imgbase=&userhome=http://friends.imagini.net/@1806772-b3ce" >

I found this video on Greenpeace. Very interesting.

Hey. I'm writing this to inform you about the recent experiment done by Greenpeace International which found many hazardous chemicals in Apple's iPhone. Click here to learn more about this issue, and click here to learn more about the GreenMyApple campaign. Here is also a video on what Greenpeace found in the iPhone:


Video © Greenpeace International

PS: I do not own a iPhone or iMac (just iPod!). Oh well :)

Dear Friends,

In my opinion, poverty is one of the worst threats to our planet. What would happen if it was eradicated? Without it, I believe, there would be no violence and hatred. There would be education for all. There would be no hunger or starvation. But, back to reality, these are only dreams.

Today, is the Global Day of Action Against Poverty. Today is also one of the days of STAND UP, an initiative where many people around the world will be holding events demanding action for the UN Millenium Development Goals.

If we want really do want to make poverty history, we have to get our act together now. Signing an online petition will not cut it. We all need to start volunteering in our communities and donating money to worthwhile causes. It's time for action.

Dear All,

I just wanted to wish you a very Happy Blog Action Day. Today, thousands of bloggers from around the world will post about one topic; the environment. I am of course participating; but just wanted to thank Victoria for introducing this project to me.

Ok. Well, as we all know, the enviroment is an essential part of our daily lives. Without it; we would be plain robots not even thinking about stopping to smell the roses, or acknowledge the crispness of the air. Without it, we would not be able to appreciate the beautifulness of nature, and the animals who live there.

But what can we do to save and protect our planet for future generations? We can each do our part. It's actually easier than you might think; just reuse, reduce, and recycle. Each person might find it easier, or harder depending on their lifestyle. We can also help the work of Greenpeace, and The Sierra Club; and we can each pick up trash while walking down the street. You can find more helpful tips at The Green Dream, YFCI's project about global warming.


We must act for the future..

Dear All,

Our Be the Change Awards program will soon come to a close. See Below for more information:

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Youth For Change International, (YFCI), an international youth organisation is pleased to announce their "Be The Change Awards Program" for 2007.Please visit the YFCI website (whose link is given on the right) for more information.

The topic for submissions for the first annual YFCI awards is - what you/we are doing or could do to make a difference. You may also highlight an issue of your choice (e.g: peace).

The Categories for submission of entries include:

- Inspirational Article

- Poetry

- Video / Slide Show

- Photography

- 3D Artwork (Sculpture, Carving, 3D Animation, etc)

- 2D Artwork (Painting, Drawing, Computer Created, etc)

YFCI will publish the winners in their member magazine.The winners will also receive a certificate of recognition in the postmail or by email.

Please check out the YFCI website for rules, regulations, submission guidelines and further information about this program.Visit - http://www.yfci.co.nr

We look forward to your participation. Thanks!

I know I'm a bit late, but I had a wonderful time. San Francisco was one of the best trips I've been to here in the USA. I think its a stop of a lifetime, and I recommend you go there too! Make sure to go to:

-The Golden Gate Bridge (Some people get lucky enought and walk it)
-Coit Tower on Telegraph Hill (maybe you'll find some parrots)
-Fisherman's Warf and Pier 39 (see my video below)
-Sonoma Valley (a beautiful place, and a great stop if you like wine!)

Here's a short video I took while at Pier 39 of the Sea Lions. Enjoy!

Yesterday was a long day of travelling. I got up at 3:45AM and had to catch my plate at 6. It was a long and exhausting morning, but finnally we got to San Francisco and the Golden Gate! On our way to St. Helena (where we're staying), we went to Muir Woods; home of the world's tallest trees; the Redwood. Some of those trees were thousands of years old; quite a lifetime. But was even more fascinating was that there were once 2,000,ooo acres of Redwood forests, but now there are only 150,000. Interesting..

Dear YFCI members and staff,

I hope you all enjoyed your vacations. I hope you also enjoyed the last edition of YFCI summer edition of Alpha Magazine.

It’s time to surge ahead to the next Edition of Alpha Magazine. This time I thought it would be interesting to dedicate a section of the Magazine to a very urgent issue that our world needs to address at the moment. After experiencing a scorching summer where temperature rocketed to 49 Degree Celsius, I felt it was the need of the hour to concentrate on the issue of “Global Warming”.
At YFCI as you all know we encourage country specific articles and reports on issues, so I would like members to conduct a research on the effects of Global warming on their own country or neighbourhood. You can concentrate on the following things for a start;
1. Changes in weather and temperature patterns over the century.
2. Sectors (Industries/household/ farming/etc) which are the largest contributors of the emission of Carbon Dioxide and other harmful gases.
3. The treatment of industrial waste and the regulatory measures for controlling the damage caused to the environment.
4. Contribution of the household sector in the greenhouse effect (a sector which is often neglected) and possible measures to reduce it.
5. Vehicular emission
6. Counter measures to control greenhouse effect ( Existing and proposed)
7. Suggestions to minimize the damage caused.

The above suggestions are given only to help you all in your research and study.
We here at YFCI also welcome people who do not believe in the concept of Global Warming and say that it is a conspiracy to exhort money in the name of research.

You are also welcome to present your views against the concept. The basic submission guidelines are available here ( http://www.freewebs.com/yfcimag/submissionguidelines.htm).
In addition we encourage members to attach relevant photos or paintings or cartoons which can be featured alongside their writings. The picture/cartoon/painting adjudged the most interesting will find special mention in the magazine and the member will earn points on the YFCI discussion board J
Apart from the theme mentioned above the members can still submit country specific articles on the issues mentioned here (http://www.freewebs.com/yfcimag/submissionguidelines.htm ) Please check out the submission guidelines. The last date for submission is July 20, 2007.
Please mail your writings and contributions to the Editor-in-Chief, YFCI Magazine at yfci_editor@yahoo.com

So please hurry!!!! Time is running out!!!!!!

Best,

Anu Maheshwari
Editor-in-Chief
YFCI

P.S . Please send the writings in Times New Roman font size 12 .