Category: General Information

Bridging Social Capital for your Community

The United Nations is currently developing comprehensive assessments of the impact of social capital in communities and purports that volunteerism is the heart of social capital.  As such, it is significant for volunteers and those creating volunteer opportunities to be mindful of the approaches and opportunities being created.  To create bridging social capital requires a …

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Getting the Truth in Syria

Syria has, understandably, been a top point in the news lately as conflict continues to rage.  Indeed, I’ve written quite a few posts on Syria in the past, and could continue to write about the country for some time while only barely scratching the surface of the issues.  A quick Google search for news in …

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Thailand’s Deep South

Some people might wonder why I am writing a blog post about the South Thailand Insurgency. It is well known that this Islamic insurgency took place in 2004 and had experienced its peak in 2007. It may seem like an outdated conflict that had dissipated throughout the years, but it is in fact still an …

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Is Burma really on the path to Democracy?

The religious crisis in Arakan state, Burma against the Rohingya Muslims is escalating by the second. I had previously written about this subject in my blog posts, but I want to update everyone on what is currently going on. To briefly explain what the conflict is about, there are groups of Buddhist extremists and Burmese …

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International Migration and Economic Development

Today I want to focus on an issue that is very dear to me: international migration.  I am currently residing in a foreign country, finishing up school and looking for work, and so naturally I have quite a vested interest in international immigration regulations and restrictions.  I don’t want to focus on my own story, …

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BGI Web Series – Interview with Health Equity Initiative

Health is a basic human right. Health equity, by definition, is providing every person with the same opportunity to stay healthy, regardless of their race, gender, age, economic conditions, social status, environment, and other social determined factors. It’s a huge goal that people everywhere are working for. Health Equity Initiative (HEI) is a nonprofit organization …

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Responsible Tourism in Madagascar

I’m sure most of you have heard of the island of Madagascar, particularly since the release of the Madagascar animated films, and know that the country is home to numerous animal species that cannot be found anywhere else on earth.  10,000 of the islands 12,000 plant species, for example, are endemic, as are half of the …

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The Injustice of Climate Change

Last week I wrote about the looming health consequences of climate change. As I was finishing that post I thought, how are these things going unnoticed and unsolved, why is such little being done about them? These question could really be extended to the topic of climate change in general, which is what makes is …

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The Everyday Fears of an Ordinary Woman

I don’t want to live like this. I don’t want to live in fear. I don’t want to live in fear of every person who comes to the door. The plumber, the electrician, the cable guy. The mailman, the FedEx driver who comes to drop off a package on the front steps. The new neighbor …

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Transition Towns

I spent the last month studying abroad, I have realized how differently Western Cultures actually think from each other. I’ve spent the last month traveling around Denmark and England, and have really come to realize how different the countries are from the United States. My class in Denmark focused on sustainable food efforts. This means …

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