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World’s Greatest Smile

News / Blog
Archive 2015

12/10/2016, Meike


Today is Human Rights Day!

“Human Rights Day is observed every year on 10 December. It commemorates the day on which, in 1948, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In 1950, the Assembly passed resolution 423 (V), inviting all States and interested organizations to observe 10 December of each year as Human Rights Day.” UN

Read more...

 

10/07/2016, Meike


The Nobel Peace Prize for 2016

“The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the Nobel Peace Prize for 2016 to Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos for his resolute efforts to bring the country's more than 50-year-long civil war to an end, a war that has cost the lives of at least 220 000 Colombians and displaced close to six million people. The award should also be seen as a tribute to the Colombian people who, despite great hardships and abuses, have not given up hope of a just peace, and to all the parties who have contributed to the peace process. This tribute is paid, not least, to the representatives of the countless victims of the civil war.” nobelprize.org

Read more here: The Nobel Peace Prize for 2016

 

09/25/2016, Meike


Report by the Global Panel on Agriculture and Food Systems for Nutrition: Poor food risks health of half the world

The report by the Global Panel on Agriculture and Food Systems for Nutrition presented to the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation says under-nourishment is stunting the growth of nearly a quarter of children under five while big parts of the population is overweight or obese.

Read more here: Poor food 'risks health of half the world'

 

09/24/2016, Meike


Well done, Finland!

After about 32,000 asylum seekers came to Finland last year, more than 15,000 people gathered in Helsinki today to protest - against racism.

Read more here: Finns protest against racism

 

09/22/2016, Meike


Right Livelihood Award

The Laureates of this year’s Right Livelihood Award, widely referred to as the ‘Alternative Nobel Prize’, were announced today.

“This years’ Laureates are:

  • Syria Civil Defence (The White Helmets), ‘for their outstanding bravery, compassion and humanitarian engagement in rescuing civilians from the destruction of the Syrian civil war’. It is the first time that a Right Livelihood Award goes to a Laureate from Syria.
  • Egypt’s Mozn Hassan and Nazra for Feminist Studies, ‘for asserting the equality and rights of women in circumstances where they are subject to ongoing violence, abuse and discrimination’.
  • Russia’s Svetlana Gannushkina, ‘for her decades-long commitment to promoting human rights and justice for refugees and forced migrants, and tolerance among different ethnic groups’.
  • Cumhuriyet, a leading independent newspaper in Turkey, ‘for their fearless investigative journalism and commitment to freedom of expression in the face of oppression, censorship, imprisonment and death threats’”  Right Livelihood Award

Read more here: 2016 Right Livelihood Awards Uphold Fundamental Human Rights and Values in the Face of War and Repression

 

09/01/2016, Meike


Jim Macken - a true hero

“A retired judge in Australia has offered to swap places with a refugee and live the rest of his life in one of the country's offshore detention camps.
Jim Macken, who is 88, said he had written to Immigration Minister Peter Dutton to offer a "body swap". ...
Mr Macken said: "I can no  longer remain silent as innocent men, women and children are being held  in appalling circumstances...” 
bbc.com

Read more here: Australia ex-judge Jim Macken offers swap with refugee

 

08/08/2016, Meike


Today is Earth Overshoot Day - and it's in August...

"Earth Overshoot Day marks the date when humanity’s demand for ecological resources and services in a given year exceeds what Earth can regenerate in that year."
www.overshootday.org

 

06/21/2016, Meike


New study by Oxford University researchers says, adopting a vegan diet could avoid 8.1 million human deaths per year by 2050.

A new study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, estimates both the health and climate change impacts of a global move toward a plant-based diet.

When it comes to climate change, adopting a vegetarian diet would cut  food-related emissions by 63 percent and a vegan diet by even 70 percent.

Read more here:
A vegetarian world would be healthier, cooler and richer: scientists

 

03/16/2016, Meike


The World Happiness Report 2016 Update, which ranks 156 countries by their happiness levels, was released today.

United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network publishes the third World Happiness Report - read it here: World Happiness Report

 

03/14/2016, Meike


“We just want peace; we want our children to enjoy their childhoods in peace,” Hanan Al Hroub says.

Hanan Al Hroub, teacher at Samiha Khalil High School in the Palestinian city of al-Bireh, winns the Global Teacher Prize 2016.

"Hanan grew up in the Palestinian refugee camp, Bethlehem, where she was regularly exposed to acts of violence. She went into primary education after her children were left deeply traumatised by a shooting incident they witnessed on their way home from school." Global Teacher Prize

Read more here: Global Teacher Prize

 

02/19/2016, Meike


In today's joint statement the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) urge safety measures for those fleeing conflict

“Two children have drowned every day on average since September 2015 as their families try to cross the eastern Mediterranean, and the number is growing, three United Nations humanitarian agencies said today, calling for enhancing the safety of those escaping conflict and despair.

In a joint statement, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) warned that since this past September, when the tragic death of toddler Aylan Kurdi captured the world's attention, more than 340 children – many of them babies and toddlers – have drowned in the eastern Mediterranean. The total number may be even greater become some bodies have been lost at sea. “ UN

Read more here: With rising numbers of child deaths at sea, UN urges safety measures for those fleeing conflict

 

01/20/2016, Meike


New study finds: It’s getting warmer on Earth - really, really warm!

“Global temperatures in 2015 were the warmest on record, according to data published by meteorologists in the UK and US.
The Met Office figures show that 2015 was 0.75C warmer than the long-term average between 1961-1990.
US data suggests that 2015 "shattered" the temperature record by the widest margin ever recorded.
Experts say the record temperatures were due to a combination of El Niño and human-induced warming. “
BBC Science & Environment

Read more here: Industrial-era global ocean heat uptake doubles in recent decades

 

01/18/2016, Meike


62 people own the same as half the world, reveals Oxfam Davos report published today

“Oxfam is calling for urgent action to tackle the extreme inequality crisis which threatens to undermine the progress made in tackling poverty during the last quarter of a century.” Oxfam Davos report

Read the full report here.

 

01/18/2016, Meike


Female refugees face physical assault, exploitation and sexual harassment on their journey through Europe, says Amnesty International

"Governments and aid agencies are failing to provide even basic protections to women refugees traveling from Syria and Iraq. New research conducted by Amnesty International shows that women and girl refugees face violence, assault, exploitation and sexual harassment at every stage of their journey, including on European soil." Amnesty International

Read the full report here.

 

01/01/2016, Meike


We wish you all a peaceful and save new year!
May all your Human Rights are honoured and protected.
 

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