Is Charity Still Practiced Today?

Poverty is not only a third world problem. There are plenty of homeless people even in a progressive country like America. But being poor does not necessarily mean you have to live on the streets.

Entrepreneurs feed on consumerism. Many consumer goods and services are sold and marketed as essential needs when in reality they aren’t. For example, do you need to change your phone every time major telecom companies release a new model?

With the growing need to acquire stuff, people feel that what they have is not enough. Hence, they forgot to share to others who are desperately in need when they themselves feel that they are lacking. It is why the religious sector is stepping in and gives back to the people what the government can’t always provide.

Religious groups are reclaiming their role from the welfare state, says Anne Danks of the Trussell Trust. It does not always make for an easy relationship with government. Their existence highlights the fact that the welfare state is not plugging the holes, she says. “Sometimes we need to speak hard truths to people in power in order to help the marginalised.”

American contemporaries should learn from the Brits and look after their own poor.

One in four British charities—nearly 50,000 in all—is faith-based, says Rachel Wharton of New Philanthropy Capital, a think-tank. Half of all charities working in overseas aid have religious roots. Such groups receive nearly a quarter of the total income of registered charities in England and Wales—about £16bn ($20bn) a year. Stalwarts such as the Salvation Army dominate the work in Britain (80% of the money raised by faith-based groups goes to just 4% of organisations). But new groups are springing up, too. “We are helping 5-10 new Christian charities set up every month,” says Michael O’Neill of Stewardship, an organisation that assists groups in managing their charitable giving.

It is hard to know if numbers are growing overall, says Ms Wharton, because a change in the Charities Act a decade ago meant almost all existing congregations of any religion now qualify as charities and must register as such. Mr O’Neill says two-thirds of the groups he helps are new, but some are churches with only small social programmes. Even so, Karl Wilding of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations says numbers of faith-based groups that are not congregations are increasing.

(Via: http://www.economist.com/news/britain/21717401-welfare-cuts-mean-more-need-charities-are-doing-more-religious-charities-are-stepping)

Fortunately, charity is not a lost cause yet. Others are following the steps of these religious based charities. If you are an active citizen and want to be in the loop on daily life issues and ways to give back to others, Redeeming America's Promise is a must-visit site.

Technology also comes in handy in trying to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor through social payment apps that allow ordinary citizens to share their blessings.

A new study carried out by social payment app Moneymailme finds that 72 percent of 18-25 year-olds would give to charity via a mobile app if given the chance. 48 percent of this generation believe physical money will be obsolete within 20 years so the ability to donate via apps will become key.

The survey of 1,000 18-25 year-olds in the UK finds that 74 percent of young people give to charitable causes. This includes 17 percent who have a direct debit set up with charities of their choice and 12 percent who regularly donate to disaster relief funds online.

Nearly three quarters (72 percent) say that they would donate small amounts of money on a mobile app, in real time, to charities around the world, representing a significant opportunity for the charity sector if it fully embraces digital. As well as feeling that money may become obsolete, 62 percent of those surveyed say they feel frustrated if they are forced to make purchases with cash.  

(Via: https://betanews.com/2017/03/02/mobile-app-charity-giving/)

We can all learn from the Brits on the value of charity. It is not yet too late for America to embrace this practice. Even a small amount can go a long way. And these monetary donations add up over time.  It appears that the younger generation who are naturally tech-savvy has found a way to support charity efforts using gadgets they use on a daily basis.

Even the popular dating app, Tinder, found a way to give back. The app is not only good at hooking people up but will also donate to different women causes this Wednesday, which happens to be International Women’s Day. What’s even better is you simply just tweet your support.

Tinder in partnership with Pledgeling.com, will give people $100 to donate to a women's charity in honor of International Women's Day.

"Now more than ever, Tinder wants to provide a platform for people throughout the U.S. to stand proud in their support of women," the company said in a statement.

Tinder will donate up to $250,000 to women's causes.

(Via: http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/nation-now/2017/03/07/tinder-giving-100-cause-your-choice-international-womens-day/98796790/)

Charities that give back to the people have been around for ages. And it is comforting to learn that it is still practiced in our modern society. A little more love in the world can go a long way especially in countries like Kenya where food and water are scarce. Your donation can change and uplift the lives of many, that's for sure.

Is Charity Still Practiced Today? was initially published on The IPAC Blog

source https://ipaction.org/blog/is-charity-still-practiced-today/

Women And Their Passion For The Arts

Men have conquered the arts since the beginning of recorded history. Most notable artists are males like Rembrandt, Vincent Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso and Leonardo Da Vinci – who all made a name in the field of culture and the arts and forever etched in history books. But how about women artists? I am sure there are plenty of women who made huge artistic contributions but only a handful probably know about them.

As we celebrate International Women’s Month, let us pay tribute to the contribution of women to the arts and how they continue to break out of the norms and share their talent and passion to the world.

Back in the day, it was very unusual for women to become professional artists, they were well known as domestic workers and child bears.

 Things have changed women are taking over the male dominated industry by storm and are doing beautiful work.  We’ve seen Aleta’s work through Yebo Contemporary Art Gallery, Velemseni; the only left-handed female guitarist we have in the country, Bongie’s motion pictures and film, just to name a few.

Discrimination persists and may be one of the greatest obstacles women artists face in their professional career.

“Women artists have always been – and unfortunately continue to be – underrepresented in the art world.”

“This imbalance is in no way unique to the arts – it's evident in all other major international exhibition of contemporary art has achieved gender parity and the highest-level jobs sectors of society where women earn less and are absent in management positions.”

She believes that the attitude to women artists has slowly improved but there is a long, long way to go.

“Many women still lack self-confidence and creative opportunities due to the restraints in our society. But I know that more women will rise up and become strong, independent and creative and lead the way. It is starting to happen.”

Just like any other profession, women in art too face different challenges. Everything comes with pros and cons but that doesn’t mean you have to give up.

(Via: http://www.observer.org.sz/the-entertainment/86339-celebrating-women-in-art.html)

Art exhibits done by women and for the women are set up all over the world to highlight women’s artistic capabilities and their contributions to society.

With this female art exhibition, for instance, we are not just celebrating the International Women’s Day, but strong women are trying to come together as a body and achievers to produce art that explains different events surrounding our societies. We are asking for change, and we want people to know that female artists are actually in the sector. Gone are the days when we sit down and watch our men take over the art space. We are not competing with men; we want to complement what they are doing. We want to come out; we want to speak and we want to express ourselves through our works.”

(Via: https://guardian.ng/art/with-women-arise-female-artists-set-for-exhibition/)

We should never underestimate the role of women in the today’s modern art.

“There’s women’s art, queer art, there’s black art, and then there’s the art that gets shown, which is not any of that,” Fagan said. “I wanted to create spaces for all this art but not have it pigeonholed as ‘this’ art.”

According to the National Museum of Women in the Arts, over half of visual artists in America today are women, though only 30 percent of works in commercial galleries are made by women. As of 2017, Fagan has managed five residencies with seven artists, hosting shows, events, and recently, a film screening. She also held a feminist conversation the day after the 2016 election. Since then, Fagan said, politics have become an ever-present part of the art community.

(Via: http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/chicago-feminists-create-spaces-for-art-and-activism/)

The times have changed and women enjoy more opportunities to express their passion for the arts. They can share their talents on a bigger platform and earn the admiration of many and with far less discrimination. Nowadays, the public is more interested in the work of art itself than on the gender of the person who made it. Women artists can still thrive in a field that used to be dominated by men and fill the world with art pieces that we can all admire and be proud of.

Women And Their Passion For The Arts was first seen on The IPAC Blog

source https://ipaction.org/blog/women-and-their-passion-for-the-arts/

Community Groups And Their Impact To The World At Large

Community groups have a big influence in their community in bringing about a positive change that benefits everybody. Unlike government organizations, they operate independently and support causes that hit home. Often made up of like-minded individuals, community groups offer social support to citizens through various activities, charity work, and in voicing out people’s concerns to make sure it is heard.

Wherever you may be, there are community groups in place that you can tap for support. In California, for instance, community groups met with officials of the State Board of Education to discuss their sentiments regarding the school accountability system.

Parent Revolution, Center for American Progress, and Teach Plus California issued the 18-page report with the support of Educators 4 Excellence, National Council of Negro Women, Students Matter, Students for Education Reform and others. The report offers a variety of suggestions on how to simplify the state’s idea of a color-coded and more nuanced ranking of schools called the California School Dashboard.

(Via: http://laschoolreport.com/community-groups-offer-ways-to-simplify-state-accountability-system/)

Meanwhile, some community groups have a global impact and operate in many countries worldwide. They are a collective body of concerned individuals and professionals that looks after the rights of a child, including the right to an education while working hand in hand with their respective families.

You can likewise visit this page for an example of an active community group that cultivates a community that is evolving and nurtures economic, environmental, and social responsibility among its people.

Community groups are taking the initiative to help citizens in a major way and it is not only happening on American soil. These groups get involved in various causes not only limited to the youth’s education but even the community’s infrastructure in far-flung areas of Zimbabwe.

“To prevent further deterioration of the network, the engineering services department proposed to introduce the adopt-a-road scheme.

“The scheme is intended to help to maintain and beautify sections of the City of Bulawayo’s road network through community members volunteering to sponsor and/or undertake road maintenance and rehabilitation works at no cost to BCC,” part the latest council report of the engineering, housing and services committee reads.

“The scheme would save Bulawayo ratepayers millions of dollars every year while providing participants a great opportunity by giving back to their community and be leaders in promoting civic responsibility and community pride.”

(Via: https://www.newsday.co.zw/2017/03/04/bcc-turns-individual-community-groups-road-maintenance/)

Strong local community groups also help in implementing law and order. Although it is generally the government and the police’s responsibility to ensure the people are safe at all times, a community that looks after each other helps curb down crime rates and encourages each other to report crimes when they see one. With a little funding, it is made possible and the community becomes a better place to live in for everyone.

“The local community are doing a fantastic job encouraging people to get involved and are also reducing incidents of anti-social behaviour, vandalism and theft.

“I am committed to working with residents in Hyndburn and other community groups to support them in keeping their local area safe and reducing crime.

“This is what my Community Action Fund is all about, providing small grants to assist groups in tackling any local concerns.”

Rishton ward councillor Clare Cleary said Hyndburn council and residents were ‘extremely grateful’ to Mr. Grunshaw for his support, which has helped eliminate certain problems in the area.

She said: “It is great that he has given the project some money and the whole community can now see the benefits.

(Via: http://www.accringtonobserver.co.uk/news/community-group-grateful-after-grant-12700131)

Nothing is impossible if the community unites on a certain cause, whatever that cause may be. Monetary funding is also crucial to help mobilize these community groups in the right direction.

Community Groups And Their Impact To The World At Large Read more on: The IPAC Blog

source https://ipaction.org/blog/community-groups-and-their-impact-to-the-world-at-large/

Why Do Young Boys Are Increasingly Becoming More Suicidal?

Men may be the stronger sex (physically) but that does not mean they do not get hurt too. At a young age, boys are trained to act tough and refrain from crying even when they are hurt. Boys learn to keep their feelings to themselves in fear of being bullied for not being man enough. This culture makes it harder for boys to grow up and have a healthy emotional state.

Regardless of how far we’ve come when it comes to technology, nothing much has changed on how we view male masculinity. Boys fail to develop a positive sense of self when they can no longer escape the scrutiny of other people through various social media platforms they frequent. Cyberbullying is common and it can cause severe anxiety on vulnerable victims., boys increasingly become suicidal because they never learned how to speak up and express their feeling without the fear of being judged for who they are. And the sad fact about this is that it affects boys all over the world – without exception. And boys bottling up their feelings will not do them any good once they reach adulthood.

Hence, boys increasingly become suicidal because they never learned how to speak up and express their feeling without the fear of being judged for who they are. And the sad fact about this is that it affects boys all over the world – without exception. And boys bottling up their feelings will not do them any good once they reach adulthood - if they ever do.

As the government attempts to improve the health scenario of the state by assuring to provide ‘quality access to all’, with its health schemes, introduction of high-tech machines and hospital upgrades, the question of where mental illness would stand in the list of health sector improvements lingers on.

According to the World Health Organisation, approximately one million people commit suicide each year worldwide, which is about one death every 40 seconds or 3,000 per day. It is the 10th leading cause of death globally, and the statistics continue to increase with each passing year.
Itanagar alone reported a steep increase in unnatural deaths or suicides in over a year’s time. According to available records in the Itanagar Police Station, there were 14 cases of suicide in 2015. The numbers saw a high rise with 23 cases in 2016, which roughly makes two deaths in a month. The figures for 2017 currently remain at two suicides, which occurred in January.

(Via: http://www.arunachaltimes.in/the-silence-on-suicide/)

Boys are just as vulnerable as girls to suicide.

“For boys in particular it can be harder to ask for help due to a reluctance to talk about their feelings, but this could be stopping boys from accessing support when they most need it.

“We hope that by putting the spotlight on male suicide we can help boys see that they are not alone. If they can’t talk to friends or parents then Childline is here to listen to them, whenever they need us.”

“But we know that boys particularly struggle to talk about their despair because they regard it as weakness to share their feelings, so we want to encourage them to speak to us on the phone, or online because we also know that if they try to combat these suicidal thoughts alone, they can become overwhelmed by them, and that’s when we can lose precious young lives.

“Suicide is one of the leading causes of death for boys and young men. We need to draw attention to this growing problem, and make sure all our desperate children know that Childline is there for them, day and night.”

(Via: https://coventryobserver.co.uk/news/childline-urges-boys-to-speak-out-about-suicidal-feelings/)

The good thing about tragedies like this one is that it raises awareness to the issue. People in authority can make advocacies and policies that help young boys deal with their suicidal tendencies and improve their outlook on life. Moreover, more and more young boys break out of their silence to help others who are still struggling with their depression and let them know that suicide is not the answer to their problems.

Boys in Northern Ireland are less likely than girls to seek help if they are feeling

suicidal, according to the NSPCC.

Childline is urging boys to speak out as figures reveal they are significantly less likely than girls to talk to counsellors about thoughts of ending their lives.

In 2015/16, Childline delivered over twice as many counselling sessions to girls in Northern Ireland compared to boys, where the child’s gender was known with 70 sessions delivered to boys and 168 to girls.

Statistics show that across Northern Ireland, more than twice as many boys aged 10-19 died by suicide than girls in 2015.

(Via: http://www.itv.com/news/utv/2017-03-07/boys-less-likely-than-girls-to-seek-support-for-suicidal-feelings/)

Establish an open relationship with your son if you are a parent of a young boy. You are your son’s primary support system and they should not be afraid to open up to you about their problems. It may be heartbreaking for a parent to see your child suffer but you can always ask for help yourself, so you may be able to help your child too. The most important thing is to learn how to distinguish early signs of suicidal tendencies and find out what you can do to help.

Why Do Young Boys Are Increasingly Becoming More Suicidal? was first published on IPAction.org/blog

source https://ipaction.org/blog/why-do-young-boys-are-increasingly-becoming-more-suicidal/

The Circus That Is Politics

Politics never fail to keep us amused. The crazy antics of politicians is both entertaining and irritating to watch depending on which party you support. They say things you would not dare utter because you know that anything posted on the Internet stays forever. However, most politicians appear to forget this and often make a spectacle of themselves in the pursuit of their self-interests.

The United States became more divisive than ever with the unprecedented win of President Trump. Conservative Americans are thrilled with his win but it has become a nightmare for the rest. After all, America is a nation of migrants and many of its big cities are melting pots of different nationalities.

It’s a weird time to be a scientist, with the funding cuts, political snubs, and colleagues going rogue. But when your scientific province actually is politics? The discombobulation goes up by an order of magnitude.

It’s a tricky balancing act. Having an entire field of researchers with their noses buried in arcane journals read only by their peers is a missed opportunity. But if those researchers dumb down their work, and tailor (or even skew) it to better suit what’s trending, or what CNN or Fox News will cover, that’s bad science. Then again, no science is even worse. No matter how political scientists are feeling about political science, they all agree on that.

(Via: https://www.wired.com/2017/03/topsy-turvy-world-political-science-trumps-america/)

It is safe to say many are not happy about the current political situation and are just as confused as the rest of the American population. Only Mike Pence earned the thumbs up of the people and no one else as reported by usatoday.com.

In a new USA TODAY/Suffolk University Poll, Americans say they have mostly unfavorable impressions of just about everybody on a list of public figures and institutions — except, that is, for the vice president, who has become a familiar figure in interviews on Sunday TV shows and elsewhere as he explains and defends President Trump.

Only Mike Pence scored a net positive rating, with 47% of those surveyed saying they had a generally favorable impression of him and 35% a mostly unfavorable one. The rest were undecided. That 11-point advantage sets him apart from everyone else on the survey, including his boss. Trump's favorable rating has improved a bit since our December poll, but it's still narrowly in negative territory: 45% favorable, 47% unfavorable.

People are interested to find out every bits and piece in politics. It’s like a TV series they can’t afford to miss each week. The thing is that they don’t only do it during their free time but even at work too. What’s to blame, technology? As smartphone users increases, it also proved to be a distraction at work as many Americans get into heated arguments with other people on Facebook and Twitter.

“The results were shocking,” Duggan said, “We found that 87 percent of employees are reading political social media posts during the workday.”

The survey, which has a margin of error of 4.5 percent, included people from across the political spectrum. Other findings: Workers were spending an average of two hours a day reading or talking about politics on the job. For some workers it is three or four hours each day.

(Via: https://www.marketplace.org/2017/03/06/business/its-official-politics-distracting-us-work)

While many employers are not happy about this, they can’t just tell their employees to totally avoid it when they just want to stay updated on political issues that can possibly affect their lives. And for many of them, social media is the answer.

Fortunately, you do not live in China where the Chinese government persecutes activists for voicing out their opposition against the administration. If you live in the U.S., you can pledge your support to the protection of children that is also supported by the White House. (http://www.childrensjusticecampaign.org/) With the colorful personality of Donald Trump, it is hard to tell what the U.S. political landscape will be like in the next four years.

The blog post The Circus That Is Politics Read more on: https://ipaction.org

source https://ipaction.org/blog/the-circus-that-is-politics/

Is Medical Marijuana The Answer?

Marijuana has been the subject of many heated arguments for decades now. People are torn as to whether marijuana should be used to help treat sick people or whether legalizing it can trigger many addictions.

However, medical experts and equipment and pipe providers advocate its use in the field of medicine when most traditional prescription drugs have failed to cure or offer relief to suffering patients. Their fight has been fought hard and long, and now, these medical experts and doctors are meeting with senators for a dialogue regarding the legalization of medical marijuana.

Leaders of the group Compassionate South Carolina are organizing the group’s testimony in favor of passing bill S. 212, the Compassionate Care Act, sponsored by Sen. Tom Davis (R-Beaufort). The bill would allow certain patients with debilitating conditions to access cannabis for medical use if a doctor recommends it.

The group cites how effective medical cannabis is as a drug alternative especially when taken under medical guidance. It has been found to be of extreme help in the pain management of terminally ill patients or those who have undergone surgery.

"There is a large and rapidly growing body of evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of medical cannabis," Dr. Sue Sisley, who traveled to Columbia to provide expert testimony at Wednesday’s hearing, said.

"It is often a much safer option than traditional prescription medications, especially when it comes to treating chronic pain. Patients who could benefit from medical cannabis should be able to access it safely and legally with the guidance of their physicians," Sisley said.

(Via: http://www.wistv.com/story/34697699/doctors-to-speak-on-behalf-of-legalizing-medical-marijuana)

Despite plans of legalizing medical marijuana, Florida legislature is pushing a bill that imposes medical weed regulations to prevent abuse and ensure only those who need cannabis have access to it.

Yesterday, Fort Myers Rep. Ray Rodrigues finally unveiled the first medical weed regulations — and they would ban people from smoking marijuana or using edibles. Patients would also be prohibited from vaporizing weed if they aren't terminally ill.

Specifically, however, the bill says medical use does not include "possession, use, or administration of marijuana in a form for smoking or vaping or in the form of commercially produced food items made with marijuana or marijuana oils, except for vapable forms possessed, used, or administered by or for a qualified patient diagnosed with a terminal condition."

The bill also mandates an "education campaign" to publicize the "short-term and long-term health effects of cannabis and marijuana use, particularly on minors and young adults," the "legal requirements for licit use and possession of marijuana in this state," and the "safe use of marijuana." The bill also sets up an impaired-driving education campaign.

(Via: http://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/florida-medical-marijuana-bill-would-outlaw-smokable-and-edible-cannabis-9190847)

Many patients would benefit from a medical treatment that involves the use of medical marijuana as evidenced by cases like this:

After Carey Tilghman’s 6-year-old daughter, Paisley, suffered from a stroke, doctors drafted a plan to use a round of Botox injections and muscle relaxers to treat her condition.

Searching for an alternative for her daughter, Tilghman found that a transdermal patch filled with cannabis, which has been linked to shielding the brain from stroke damage, could possibly be helpful to her daughter, but she hasn’t been able access the drug in Maryland’s stalled medical cannabis industry.

(Via: http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2017/03/08/bills-would-increase-diversity-in-medical-marijuana-business/)

The question now lingers, will the use of medical cannabis finally be legalized? Will the potential benefits terminally ill patients can get from such a controversial treatment outweigh the dangers of a possible drug addiction?

Such a bold move in the medical community requires a thorough investigation similar to what the field of laser medicine had to go through to earn the approval of medical professionals here and abroad. But if the regulated use of medical marijuana can uplift the lives of many suffering patients, who are we to deny them of a cure that has been right there all along?

Is Medical Marijuana The Answer? was initially published to IPAB

source https://ipaction.org/blog/is-medical-marijuana-the-answer/