You have probably heard the term global warming.  These words are tossed around all the time these days and so many different causes are suggested.  Do you know what global warming is and what it really means?  It really is just as it sounds.  Global warming means the average surface temperature of the earth, including the temperature of the oceans, is gradually increasing and has been doing so since the middle of the last century.

This global warming is largely due to the increased amount of greenhouse gases that are emitted into the air.  These gases come mostly from human activity including industrial activity, transportation, and the large number of cattle produced to feed us.   Yes, even the cows have an impact.  Actually, they have the largest impact, producing nearly 20% of the greenhouse gases themselves.  The question is, what can we do to help?

There are many suggestions that are given daily.  You can use public transportation, walk, or bike instead of asking your parents to drive you somewhere.  You can also try to support local- and hand-production of food and other goods so that there is less manufacturing and traveling time involved.  You can also choose to eat less meat so that the number of cows on the earth will decrease to a sustainable level.

Last month, during the month of March, the land surface temperatures were the highest ever recorded and when combined with the ocean temperatures, it was the second warmest March on record.  As Earth Day approaches, I would like you to consider global warming, what it means, and what you can do to help.  I always say that together we can make a difference, but we can only do that if each of us does our part.  What’s your part?  I challenge you to think about it and make some changes in your life.

Today I want to talk about Haiti.  It is just one of the many poor countries in the world.  In Haiti, people are feeling the effects of the rising prices of grains and so many are too weak and hungry to do anything except try to survive.

These people are rummaging through the dump to find any food or other useful materials that they can scrounge up.  They are looking through the empty shells of coffee beans to find any beans that might have been missed.  Three quarters of the people earn less than $2 per day and so many children are malnourished.

I tell you this because I want you to understand, really understand, how fortunate we are here in North America.  We live with such abundance.  In 2004, there was a study done that showed that in the United States nearly half the food was wasted, thrown away instead of being eaten.  This is food that could have fed the hungry.

I want to leave you with this thought.  How can you help?  What changes can you make in your life so that you will waste less food?  All change starts with one person and you can be that person.  When many people making changes join together, there is a movement of change that can help others tremendously.  So go ahead and make some changes in your life today.

Have you ever wanted to help others and just didn’t know what to do or where to begin?  I can understand that.  What I suggest to you is that you look at
what is important to you.  Do you feel passionate about animal rights or the lack of drinkable water in the world?  For me the issue was helping the children.  Whatever you decide, you can easily help just by raising much needed money to contribute to your cause.

There are so many ways to raise money for a cause.  A few ideas are to hold a walk-a-thon, a raffle, an auction, a spelling bee, a jelly bean count, a spaghetti dinner, a puppet show, or a craft sale.  For these events and others like them you can charge people to participate or sell tickets to people who want to watch.  Then you can donate all the money you have raised to the charity of your choice.

Of course, you can also volunteer your time and efforts to help your cause, but fundraising is also very important.  If you want more fundraising ideas, you can check out my 99 Fundraising Ideas in my new book , Making Change, coming out this spring.  And remember, together we can make a difference.

Warm Regards,
Bilaal Rajan
"Together We Can Make A Difference"
www.handsforhelp.org

Have you ever thought about who suffers the most when it comes to poverty?  It is the women and the girls.  They are often treated more poorly in countries in conflict and many of them die from preventable complications with pregnancy and childbirth every year.

The women around the world, the female stars, are getting together to help solve this problem.  Women in government, from Hollywood, advocacy groups, and faith-based organizations came together this past Sunday to form an alliance that will help impoverished women and girls around the world.  These women are powerful and they mean business.

Included in this prestigious group is Liberian president Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Queen Noor of Jordan, and former US secretary of state Madeleine Albright.  From Hollywood there is Ashley Judd and Catholic Relief Services and World Vision are also on board.  Ashley Judd, who is also the Global Youth AIDS Ambassador,  took the time to speak about the importance of youth empowerment, stopping the spread of HIV, and managing the clean water crisis in the developing world.  She spoke of how young girls are brought into the workforce at a young age, paid poorly, and exploited daily.

This is a major initiative and you can help.  You can make a Personal Breakthrough Commitment or you can join together with the people you work with to make an Organizational Breakthrough Commitment.  This is something you commit to doing to help women and girls from around the world.  To find out more informaiton or to make your commitment visit:

http://www.wfd-alliance.org/

Have you ever wondered what you can do to help the Earth?  After all, we know the Earth is in trouble and that global warming is a major problem.  Sometimes it can seem overwhelming.  After all, how can just one person help?  What can I do?

I am here to tell you that there is so much you can do.  You might already know of some ways to help, such as recycling, not littering, and walking or riding your bike instead of getting mom or dad to drive you.  Well, here are a few more ideas: carry a bag with you when you go to the store and use it instead of plastic bags, carry your own mug or water bottle to save using disposable cups, eat organic food (you’ll need your parents’ help with this one), plant a garden and grow your own food, help clean up your neighbourhood streets and park.

There are plenty more ideas and I bet you can come up with a few of your own.  I really encourage you to start thinking about ways that you can make a difference because April 22 is earth Day.  This is a day every year when we all pitch in and do something special to help the Earth.  There will be things going on in your community that you can get involved in.  Maybe you can find a tree planting or neighbourhood cleanup.

Whatever you choose to do to help the Earth, whether it is on Earth Day or any day, will count and it will count a lot.  Each and every person makes a difference on their own and together we can make a difference.  Make every day Earth Day and make changes in how you live so that you will have a smaller impact on the environment.