Category Archives: Viva!

Lesvos: Crossing to Safety by UNHCR

A boy from Afghanistan tries to keep warm after a cold and wet crossing from Turkey. Cases of hypothermia are on the increase as the weather deteriorates across the eastern Mediterranean.
© UNHCR/Giles Duley

via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/AUvovP

Lesvos: Crossing to Safety by UNHCR

An overcrowded boat carrying Syrian refugees heads to shore. One Syrian man had fallen from the boat into cold water. He was later rescued by volunteer Spanish lifeguards. Despite the approach of winter and worsening weather, refugees are continuing to arrive on the island at a rate of more than 3,200 per day. As of mid-November, at least 64 people have drowned this year in 11 shipwrecks off Lesvos.
© UNHCR/Giles Duley

via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/BqHfCC

Lesvos: Crossing to Safety by UNHCR

Survivors struggle ashore after their boat has capsized. In the background a Spanish lifeguard, one of the many volunteers working on the beach, swims out to help other survivors.
© UNHCR/Giles Duley

via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/Avundy

What Does Belonging Look Like? – Global Gallery – TakingITGlobal

“Isolation is the feeling of sitting alone at the bottom of a well. Connectedness is the feeling of belonging.” Kim SamuelWhen you hear the word belonging, what images come to mind? What memories, feelings and life experiences have informed your personal sense of belonging? How are young people today fostering a culture of belonging and inclusion within your community?A sense of belonging is a human need, like the need for food and shelter and who we are is shaped by the people who we are connected to! Our communities thrive when people feel connected, welcomed, accepted for who they are and supported by those around us.We are interested in reflecting together on the theme of belonging in order to grow a global movement of fostering social connectedness.In the past, geographic boundaries often defined our identities and communities. In a digital age, people are either feeling hyper connected or excluded from opportunities for meaningful connection.We invite your imagination, voice and perspective on depicting visual representations on the theme of belonging so that we tackle the issue of isolation together.Our plan is to curate an online collection and exhibit to showcase at international conferences and events to inspire decision makers in policy making and action. With that in mind, please include a description with the image or video that you submit to provide additional context on the meaning of what you create.

Source: What Does Belonging Look Like? – Global Gallery – TakingITGlobal

This Muslim Marine Has the Perfect Response to Donald Trump | GOOD

Last week, GOP presidential hopeful Donald Trump told Yahoo News that he would not rule out “a form of special identification” for Muslims “that noted their religion”—a recommendation that has drawn more than a few comparisons to Nazi Germany. Hours later, Sergeant Tayyib Rashid, a retired Marine from Chicago, posted his response on Twitter:

Source: This Muslim Marine Has the Perfect Response to Donald Trump | GOOD

Afghan Women’s Writing Project | Picture of Black and White

My soul is tired and aged,

Struggling without gain,

In limbo.

SometimesI break down into a hundred pieces,

Only to come together once again.

Sometimes

I don’t know where I am—

Here, there, everywhere, nowhere…

Sometimes

While out searching myself,

In the chaos of my mind,

I sink into the ocean of thoughts;

Mixed up with present, past, and future,

A question reflecting in my ear:

Who am I, who am I?

But I am nothing more than a picture of black and white.

Uncertain, confused, and lifeless—without light.

By Farida

Source: Afghan Women’s Writing Project | Picture of Black and White

Blue Shield got millions in excess 2014 Obamacare profits but has an explanation

markovichpaul-zek*100xx1200-1200-0-75.jpBlue Shield of California accounted for nearly 30 percent of what some call “excess profits” nationally from Obamacare exchanges, according to Nov.19 report by the federal government. It reported nearly $107 million in excess profits, out of a national total of $362 million.

Those figures relate to individual coverage on Covered California and other Affordable Care Act exchanges nationwide.

San Franicsco-based Blue Shield tallied the most excess profits of the 319 insurers included in the report…

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