See the Bigger Picture Photography Contest

Eco Child's Play Blog discusses this awesome photography contest called: "See the Bigger Picture". It is such a cool concept, and I love the take the author has on it.

From the Eco Child's Play Blog post:

Per the Press Release: “Youngsters around the world are invited to enter the “See the Bigger Picture” photography contest by submitting images illustrating plants, animals, or anything else that captures biodiversity. The winner will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to National Geographic headquarters in Washington, D.C., and will meet with renowned photojournalist Joel Sartore, a contest judge.”

See the Bigger Picture is a joint project of Airbus, National Geographic and the Secretariat of the Convention of Biological Diversity in support of “The Green Wave” — an outreach program that promotes the goals of the United Nations biodiversity treaty and that will contribute to the celebration of the International Year of Biodiversity in 2010.” You can learn more by visiting the website.

Check out Eco Child's Play Blog and See the Bigger Picture.

Operation Beautiful

Operation Beautiful is a random kindness crusade, encouraging people to leave random kind notes in public spaces. This is a simple and powerful idea. It's also free and accessible to anyone.

Operation Beautiful is simple: all you need is a pen and a piece of paper.

I’ve begun leaving positive messages on the mirrors of public restrooms — at work, at the gym, at the grocery store. I scribble down whatever comes to mind — “You are beautiful!” or “You are amazing just the way you are!”

My goal is to leave as many Operation Beautiful notes as I can. Maybe some people read them and just smile, but I bet some people are truly touched by the effort of a random stranger.

If you want to join the mission, send me an e-mail at seebriderun@gmail.com with a photograph of your Operation Beautiful note or a description of your experience, and I’ll post it on my blog and on this page! And feel free to spread the word on your blog as well!

Check out Operation Beautiful to find out more or to see what others are doing.

Operation Backpack NYC

"Nearly 11,000 school-age children live with their families in New York City homeless shelters. Most of these children will go back to school in September without the basic school supplies they need unless we help. Last year, with more than 90 community partners and hundreds of individuals participating, we gave 7,000 children filled backpacks. This year our goal is even more ambitious: 11,000 filled backpacks."

How You Can Participate in Operation Backpack:

· Fill a backpack, then drop it at one of our

· Official drop locations July 27th-August 9th.

· Donate online over our secure server today.

· Organize a back-to-school drive now!

Organizing for Health Care

Health care reform is a major issue in the U.S. right now.

President Obama has announced three bedrock requirements for real health care reform:

* Reduce Costs — Rising health care costs are crushing the budgets of governments, businesses, individuals and families and they must be brought under control
* Guarantee Choice — Every American must have the freedom to choose their plan and doctor – including the choice of a public insurance option
* Ensure Quality Care for All — All Americans must have quality and affordable health care

Visit BarackObama to find out more and to show your support.

July 22: Summer, Sex and Spirits!

Location:
Museum of Sex
233 5th Avenue
New York, NY
212-274-7312

Date: 7/23/2009 from 8:00 pm - 11:00 pm (Eastern Time)

Hosted By:PPNYC Activist Council
activists@ppnyc.org
RSVP by:July 23, 2009 at 12:00 am (Eastern Time)


The PPNYC Activist Council invites you to the 5th Annual
Summer, Sex & Spirits
a benefit for Planned Parenthood of New York City
at the Museum of Sex

Music by world-renowned Donna D'Cruz

Open Bar All Night

VIP Tickets: $75

includes exclusive champagne reception pre-event at 7:30pm, early access to museum exhibits and silent auction, a chance to meet some very special guests, and a gift bag with some sexy contents.

General admission: $40 Presale/$50 day of event

includes after-hours access to one of NYC's most provocative museums, OPEN BAR ALL NIGHT, and access to fabulous silent auction prizes.

Show Support for Judge Sandra Sotomayor

Show your support for Judge Sotomayor's Supreme Court nomination.

Your signature and comments will be part of a public display of support for this historic nomination. Judge Sotomayor's unique qualifications include:

Experience: She would start with more federal judicial experience than any new Justice in a century.

Brilliance: She’s studied and taught at America’s top universities, and is widely regarded as one of our nation’s finest legal minds.

Perseverance: Born and raised in a South Bronx public housing project, Judge Sotomayor has broken barriers all her life, honing a common-sense understanding of how the law affects our daily lives.

Please add your name today to show you stand with Judge Sonia Sotomayor.

Visit BarackObama.com to show your support and find out more about Judge Sotomayor.

Summer, Sex and Spirits 2009

Location:
Museum of Sex
233 5th Avenue
New York, NY
212-274-7312

Date: 7/23/2009 from 8:00 pm - 11:00 pm (Eastern Time)

Hosted By:PPNYC Activist Council
activists@ppnyc.org
RSVP by:July 23, 2009 at 12:00 am (Eastern Time)


The PPNYC Activist Council invites you to the 5th Annual
Summer, Sex & Spirits
a benefit for Planned Parenthood of New York City
at the Museum of Sex

Music by world-renowned Donna D'Cruz

Open Bar All Night

VIP Tickets: $75

includes exclusive champagne reception pre-event at 7:30pm, early access to museum exhibits and silent auction, a chance to meet some very special guests, and a gift bag with some sexy contents.

General admission: $40 Presale/$50 day of event

includes after-hours access to one of NYC's most provocative museums, OPEN BAR ALL NIGHT, and access to fabulous silent auction prizes.

Health Care Reform Petition

From Care2.org:

Are Senator Gillibrand and Senator Schumer representing your interests in the health care debate raging in Congress? Now that the Senate is back from recess, they're buckling down for the summer session – and they're reviewing five separate health care bills at the moment.

Whatever the final bill looks like, your interests need to be in there. Tell Senator Gillibrand and Senator Schumer that you want a public plan option in health care reform.

Sign the petition.

Judge Sotomayor's Opening Statement

To check out Judge Sotomayor's statement in its entirety, check out the White House blog.

Clean Energy Sticker from Move On

From MoveOn:

Shepard Fairey, creator of the iconic Obama "Hope" poster, has created a beautiful image depicting a clean energy future. We're offering stickers with the image for FREE to all MoveOn members.

Click here to get yours: http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51607&id=16560-9767478-pmd9Olx&t=2

We need to show Congress that Americans are ready to make the switch to clean, renewable sources of energy.

If hundreds of thousands of us put these stickers on our cars, bikes, laptops, lockers, cubicles, and dorm-room doors, we'll send a strong message that America's clean energy future matters to all of us

Check out Move On to get your sticker.

Back to School Kick Off: August 22

(click the flyer to find out more information)

Out of Town

I will return July 10.

6/2: Watch the WFP NYC Mayoral Forum online!

Check out the WFP website to watch the mayoral forum online tonight.

WFP is also letting people give feedback and share their opinions on the forum at the WFP site.

Here is the agenda:
5:30pm Introductions and explanation of the rules
6:00pm Mayor Bloomberg’s Interview
6:35pm Councilmember Avella’s Interview
7:25pm Comptroller Thompson’s Interview
8:00pm Closing Remarks

The Afghan Women Empowerment Act of 2009

Sign the petition to support the Afghan Women Empowerment Act and support human rights for Afghan women:

Despite efforts by the U.S. government, the United Nations, and others to improve the lives of women and girls in Afghanistan, most still do not enjoy even basic human rights. You have the power to help them.

The Afghan Women Empowerment Act (S. 229) was introduced by Barbara Boxer (D-CA) in the U.S. Senate. If passed, this bill would provide critical resources for Afghan women for literacy education, technical and vocational training and health care services that would reduce maternal and infant mortality. The bill will also fund programs to protect women and girls against sexual and physical abuse, abduction, trafficking, exploitation, and includes emergency shelters for women and girls who face danger from violence.

Urge your senator to co-sponsor the Afghan Women Empowerment Act today, and give millions of women and girls a better chance in life.

Send a letter of support at Change.org.