In addition, The World Bank estimates that this current crisis threatens to push 100 million more people deeper into poverty. That's why the G8 must take emergency action to counter high food prices with more and more flexible food assistance. But even more important for the long term, is the need to make long overdue investments in agricultural development.
That is why I signed a petition telling President Bush, his representative at the G8 and the leaders of the most powerful nations in the world that I support urgent action.
Good Deed #121. A few weeks ago I joined Operation Quiet Comfort (OQC). OQC provides meaningful support to our wounded warriors and the amazing medical professionals who care for them. To help their mission, I bought items for their "Project Go Bags," which are transition kits filled with items to help comfort a wounded service member until they reach the next level of care, or get well enough to return to their unit.
Good Deed #122. Even with my absolute fear of bears, I do not wish any harm on them at all (for those who don't know about my near death experience with a bear). Sadly, though each year bears are killed so that their parts can be sold in Traditional Asian Medicine (TAM) shops in the United States and internationally. In a recent undercover investigation, the World Society for the Protection of Animals found that the trade in intact gallbladders had actually increased since their previous investigation in 2000.
Unfortunately, state laws pertaining to the trade in bear parts are inconsistent and, in some cases, non-existent. The solution is clear: a unifying federal law is the only viable solution for bears! U.S. Representative Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) recently introduced H.R. 5534, the Bear Protection Act of 2008, to protect North American bears. The Act specifically bans the import, export and interstate trade of all bear parts and products, while closing loopholes in existing state laws.
To help this cause, I was the 21,445th person to sign this petition. The goal is to get 30,000 signatures - if you are interested in signing please visit: http://www.thepetitionsite.com
Good Deed #123. Keeping with my commitment to send care packages to my adopted soldiers every month or month and a half, I once again bought several goodies for the three remaining guys. (One guy is home on leave for a few weeks and the other finished his deployment.)
Good Deed #124. This weekend Brian and I bought flowers to spruce up our front yard. However, we did not buy the flowers that came in the plastic containers; instead, we bought flowers in recycled cardboard carriers. And, when we got home we reused coffee cups as the planters. Please note, you can't see the bright pink Susan Komen Race for the Cure cup unless you stand directly over the pot (which I am doing when taking this picture).
Good Deed #125. On Saturday Brian and I joined the Parks and Recreation Department and participated in Tending our Foothills. The goal is to help maintain the 85 miles of trails and thousands of acres of open space in the Boise area and help keep it in pristine, safe, and operable condition. Brian and I were assigned to the Oregon Trail (yes, the Oregon Trail - the same one you played in Elementary School). Even today, you can see the ruts from the wagons and can see the impact they had on the environment. To help protect this historic landmark, our team laid down fresh gravel/sand on two different trails and fenced/closed off a social trail. A "social trail" is a trail that people create from constantly taking the same path that is NOT a designated trail. By going off trail, individuals were not only causing environmental problems, but were also damaging the Oregon Trail. Overall, it was a very successful event and we can't wait to help out again next year.
Oregon Trail Signage
Oregon Trail Ruts
Trail One that we worked on
Trail Two we worked on
Fence we put up to close a social trail
Post we put up with the natural debris we put
on the social trail to make it difficult to walk on
Good Deed #126. On one of our many errand runs this weekend, Brian and I stopped at a girls soccer team lemonade / snack stand. All the proceed from the sales were going to support their team. By the time we got there, they were all out of pop (yes, that is what they call it out here), hot dogs, candy, and pretty much everything besides chips. So, we bought two bags of chips and donated several more dollars.
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