… Kevin Bales explains the business of modern slavery, a multibillion-dollar economy that underpins some of the worst industries on earth. He shares stats and personal stories from his on-the-ground research — and names the price of freeing every slave on earth right now.
Monthly Archives: March 2010
Shukla Bose: Parikrma Humanity Foundation
Educating the poor is more than just a numbers game, says Shukla Bose. She tells the story of her groundbreaking Parikrma Humanity Foundation, which brings hope to India’s slums by looking past the daunting statistics and focusing on treating each child as an individual.
Shukla Bose is the founder and head of the Parikrma Humanity Foundation, a nonprofit that runs four extraordinary schools for poor children.
The word “Parikrma” implies a full revolution, a complete path around — and Shukla Bose’s Parikrma Humanity Foundation offers literally that to kids in poor urban areas around Bangalore. Parikrma’s four Schools of Hope teach the full, standard Indian curriculum to children who might not otherwise see the inside of a classroom, with impressive results. Equally important, the schools build an “end-to-end” environment that supports learning — offering lunch every day, health-care and family support. Beyond these schools, Parikrma has inaugurated several afterschool programs and has plans for setting up a central teacher-training hub.
Bose left behind a corporate career in 1992 to found Parikrma with a small group of friends. The nonprofit holds itself to formal business goals and strict accountability, and has developed some clever fundraising and marketing campaigns. As Bose puts it, the goal of Parikrma is to help build a better India by tapping its greatest strength: the vitality and potential of its people.
“Education of children is at the core of our aim to transform poor communities into self-sustaining, contributing communities. ”
–Shukla Bose
CMS animation of the high-energy collisions at 7 TeV on 30th March 2010
LHC Starts Collisions
Today, Marcy 30th ….
Beams collided at 7 TeV in the LHC at 13:06 CEST, marking the start of the LHC research programme. Particle physicists around the world are looking forward to a potentially rich harvest of new physics as the LHC begins its first long run at an energy three and a half times higher than previously achieved at a particle accelerator.
“It’s a great day to be a particle physicist,” said CERN1 Director General Rolf Heuer. “A lot of people have waited a long time for this moment, but their patience and dedication is starting to pay dividends.”
Which is better …
Cats or dogs (Hat tip Glen)
Continue reading Which is better …
Science denial explored–NCSE at Netroots Nation
NCSE’s Josh Rosenau organized a Netroots Nation panel on science denial. Featured speakers: Josh, Bryan Rehm, Michael Stebbins, Mark Sumner, Susan Wood
Continue reading Science denial explored–NCSE at Netroots Nation
Scientists Successfully Teach Gorilla It Will Die Someday
Claim: CERN (pronounced “KERN”?) Collider Sets Record
Supposedly:
The world’s largest atom smasher has set a new record for high-energy atom collisions – with three times more force than ever before.
Continue reading Claim: CERN (pronounced “KERN”?) Collider Sets Record
What if your workout buddy lives a zillion miles away?
I think one of the easiest ways Web 2.0 can contribute to individuals’ health is to help us maintain those buddy relationships, even when we can’t see our buddies in person…
It Came from Outer Space
I’m pretty sure I knew a guy, way back in the 1970s, who thought that Pac Man …. the video game … was an attempt by aliens from another galaxy to communicate with us. Well, with him, actually.
Blast from the Past (1991): Controversial issues in science ed
This video discusses use of animals in dissection in science classes, linking the issue to evolution.
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Blast from the Past: Genie Scott on “Headlines on Trial”
A Day in the Life of an Urban Archaeologist
Dennis removed the top of the hamburger bun, flipped the meat out of the way, laid down catchup on both sides and reassembled the Cheeseburger Special Agnes had just laid before him as deftly as he always did. And, as expected, the new guy shyly and quietly took note of this culinary quirk, and I knew that starting soon, if he remembered having seen this today, he’d be putting the catchup on both sides of his burger too, as we all did once we saw Dennis do it. It’s just better that way. It’s not like it’s more catchup. The same amount of catchup distributed on both sides of the hamburger works better for three or four reasons, all of which anyone who tries it a few times will learn. Now that you know to do it, I think you’ll start doing it too. If you remember….
Continue Reading (QM)
Follow me, America … straw man slippery slope dumb guy might have a point….
Jon Stewart Adds Orifice to Glenn Beck. Again.
Continue reading Follow me, America … straw man slippery slope dumb guy might have a point….
Mishugina Michigan Militias on the Move?
Over the last couple of days, FBI agents have staged a number of raids in Michigan and arrested members of Hutaree, a Christian militia group based there. The Christian Soldiers have been preparing to do battle with “The AntiChrist.” which we suspect either the Democratic Party, the Health Care Bill, or Barack Obama himself. Local Militias (Michigan is famous for it’s radical Militia groups) claim that they have nothing to do with this “cult.”
Continue reading Mishugina Michigan Militias on the Move?