Saturday, October 3, 2015

Community involvement, and engagement. Banking Seed in the Brutal Climate.

Community members have to come together and address issues of their community for water & food security, preparedness and planning for the future.

Community members are the 'SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS' of their community and no other.

Worldwide time to take charge, get involved in your community.  You are the expert.

BEMA

http://www.unisdr.org/archive/46003

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Banking seeds in a brutal climate

A gathering at the seek bank in El Solis, Guatemala. The community deploys local knowledge of biodiversity to reduce disaster risk and supports International Day for Disaster Reduction. (Photo: UNISDR)
 
EL SOLĺS, Guatemala, 2 October 2015 - The tiny community of El Solís in rural Guatemala is tapping into its local knowledge on biodiversity and maintaining a native seeds bank to help it cope with drought, food insecurity and climate change. 

El Solís is a small community of 51 families or 306 persons, located in the basin of the San Vicente River, Zacapa Department. Only 10 family homes have electricity. 98% of the population is dedicated to seasonal agriculture for family subsistence, which is complemented by migrant labour. 

In the community, traditional knowledge on biodiversity and growing practices has been handed down through generations, an important survival tool in hard times. 

Its territory lies within one of the driest zones of Guatemala, the “Dry Corridor”. It suffers water source scarcity and low levels of rainfall. The terrain is steep and arid, with little vegetation, low potential for crops and limited food availability. 

In these harsh conditions, the people cultivate corn and beans, an essential part of their daily diet. Success depends on water, weather and seeds availability. In 2014 the farmers of the area estimated crop losses at over 60%. Predictions for the future are not positive either. 

The community has allied itself with the Partners for Resilience (PfR). and set up a Coordination Committee with 22 participating families including older persons, guardians of local knowledge on biodiversity. 

Through a technical and practical workshop on seed conservation techniques, the Native Seed Bank was designed and its management was planned. Basic regulations and internal agreements were made for its long-term execution. 

After selecting the location and its concession for 10 years, the building started and required materials were provided, so that the Seed Bank could start operating. It include silos, containers and shelves. The elders and youngsters together collected, selected and naturally treated the seeds native to the area, which were stored in the Seed Bank. 

In this way, a germplasm bank was created that now sustains traditional agrobiodiversity, especially of grains species. In the future, fruit, vegetables and medicinal herbs and native tree species will be included, many of which are threatened by hybrid and genetically modified seeds. 

Of special importance is the conservation of the basic native grains of corn (Zea mayz) and bean (Phaseolus vulgaris). They are the grains that practically sustain the existence and development of the community. 

“We are very happy with the Native Seed Bank. It is the way to secure our food, for our family and community, but most of all it guarantees that the ways that our grandfathers and fathers taught us to cultivate the land and take care of our seeds is maintained. These seeds are our own and we hope to maintain them so that we can keep on feeding our children and grandchildren for years and years,” said Juárez Asencio, elder and member of the Coordination Committee. 

“With this Seed Bank we have the opportunity to store our basic grains or basic seeds so that they can be reproduced and exchanged at any time. I am thankful for this opportunity for our people, our farmers, with a vision towards assuring food security, which is priceless,” said Javier Antonio Ortiz, Mayor of de Cabañas. 

*The community of El Solís has been nominated as a Community Champion of Disaster Risk Reduction to make International Day for Disaster Reduction on October 13 which celebrates local knowledge this year. Sign up for the International Day Thunderclap

**Partners for Resilience – PfR in Guatemala is formed by Red Cross, the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Center, CARE and Wetlands International, plus local partners of the Guatemalan Red Cross, Cáritas Diócesis de Zacapa and Asociación Vivamos Mejor.

Monday, September 28, 2015

Free Online courses to get you on the path to MDG---to----SDG. Coursera

With all the discussion and talk on the MDG's leading to the SDG no need to get lost or confused.

Listed below are two 'free' online courses to get you, your family, and others in into the discussion.  
  • How is my community leaders, private industry and others planning to meet requirements to address the SDG's?
  • How is the local nonprofit, humanitarian aid, and other international organizations contributing to meeting and surpassing SDG's?
  • How is homelessness, poverty, water and food security, and other environmental concerns for me, my family, my grandchildren being addressed?

Time to act, get involved.  One planet, one race.

BEMA




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Introduction to Sustainability
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign • Available Now






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The Age of Sustainable Development
Columbia University • Available Now

SDG Update 3: Take the Next Step Now that the SDGs Have Been Adopted

ISSUE 3 - 28 September 2015

Take the Next Step Now that SDGs are Officially Adopted

On Friday, all 193 Member States of the United Nations adopted a plan for achieving a better future for all – laying out a path over the next 15 years to end extreme poverty, fight inequality and injustice, and protect our planet. At the heart of “Agenda 2030” are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that address the most important economic, social, environmental and governance challenges of our time.
Now that all of us have agreed on where we want the world to go, it’s time for your company to play your part in helping to make the SDGs a reality. Operating in line with universal principles is the first step. Then, there is a world of opportunity once your company has taken care of basic responsibilities.
The SDGs provide a clear, common aspiration that all companies can mobilize around – allowing business to align their own sustainability goals with goals for the broader society. With trillions of dollars in public and private investments expected to redirect towards achieving the SDGs, there is an enormous opportunity for responsible companies in the coming years.

Share your Commitment to the SDGs

This past weekend, companies and other organizations announced their goals and partnerships in support of the SDGs at the UN Private Sector Forum. We hope you will join them.
Make a commitment or find partners at business.un.org.

Use Our New SDG Resources

The UN Global Compact and our partners have launched a number of SDG-related resources to help companies understand how they can leverage these goals to drive good practices and growth opportunities. These include the SDG Compass, A Global Compact for Sustainable Development, the Poverty Footprint and the SDG Industry Matrix.
Visit our library to see all SDG resources.
Sign the Pledge
       
You are receiving this email as a designated Contact Point for . To receive important messages from the UN Global Compact, your organization must designate at least one Contact Point. Please log into your Global Compact Participant Dashboard to change your communication preferences.


Saturday, September 26, 2015

Instructor Training. Critical Incident Stress. November 2015.






Click on the Links Below to Skip Directly to:

Remaining 2015 Instructor Programs Announced!

Dear Charles Sharp, 

Interested in becoming an ICISF Instructor?  See below for the final Instructor Programs of 2015.

Group Crisis Approved Intervention Approved Instructor Candidate Program-ONLY A FEW SEATS REMAINING!
Ellicott City, MD
November 12-14, 2015

Pastoral Crisis Intervention I & II Approved Instructor Candidate Program-FIRST TIME BOTH INSTRUCTOR PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED TOGETHER!
Hanover, MD
November 17-19, 2015

Advanced Group Crisis Intervention Approved Instructor Candidate Program
San Diego, CA
December 2-4, 2015

To request an information packet with tuition details and prerequisites, please email AISupport@icisf.org and indicate which instructor program(s) are of interest to you. 

Details about 2016 Instructor Programs will be emailed and posted to our website as soon as they are available. 

Sincerely,

Kate Looram
Approved Instructor Support Dept. Manager
International Critical Incident Stress Foundation
3290 Pine Orchard Lane, Suite 106
Ellicott City, MD 21042
Tel (410)750-9600
Fax (410) 750-9601

Thursday, September 24, 2015

Essence Poll: Black Women (and Men) Where Does Your Resilience Come From?

http://www.essence.com/2015/09/23/essence-poll-where-does-your-resilience-come

Essence

ESSENCE Poll: Where Does Your Resilience Come From?


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Happy African-American Woman
PHOTO CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES
The notion that Black women are strong and able to cope with many things isn't a new one, yet a new study reveals that this idea does have merit.
A study in the Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities found that Black women reported the highest number of stressful life events while White men reported the least exposure to stress, reports theHuffington Post. The study shows that although Black women face the most stress, White men are the most susceptible to depression.
What sets Black women a part when it comes to stress is the ability to cope.
"You start developing a type of resistance to it," said lead study author Dr. Shervin Assari. "After some types of very severe stressors, people transform."
When a person shows resilience or emerges from a traumatic experience stronger, this is known as post-traumatic growth and Black women seem to have mastered it.
Whether it's your belief in a higher power, your support system or an innate sense of strength, what do you believe makes you resilient?
Let us know below.
QUESTION:
Where does your resilience come from?

Submit




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Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Training Programs for our future leaders that work. The Coalition for Public Safety Training in Schools.

CPSTS a local model for national
consideration & international
implementation for our  cities, and
vulnerable communities.
http://www.cpsts.org/



THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013



High School Fire Science Cadet Program - Introduction of Junior Class


Prince George's County Public Schools (PGCPS) and the Prince George's County Fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Department officially introduced the second class of students of the High School Fire Science Cadet Program.  The 18 Junior (11thgrade) year students will join the 19 Seniors 12th grade) in this 2-year program that involves training for the next generation of firefighters and emergency medical personnel.  This morning’s event was held at the St. Josephs Community Fire/EMS Station in Springdale that serves as the base of operations for the cadet program.

In addition to cadet introductions the instructors and staff of the cadet program were introduced as well.

This two-year program will allow students to take fire and emergency medical services classes, while providing 17 college credits to those who successfully complete the curriculum.  Additionally, students will graduate from the program with all necessary training to be nationally certified as firefighters and Emergency Medical Technicians.

Prince George’s County Council Chair Andrea C. Harrison, Fire Chief Marc S. Bashoor, PGCPS CEO Dr. Kevin M. Maxwell, Flowers HS Principal Gorman Brown, Community Advisory Council President Orlando Bego and Chair of the Program Advisory Committee Darrell Odom all spoke of the advantages of the Cadet Program and each referenced the “opportunity” that cadets have earned by being accepted into the program.

Charles Flowers High School was selected partly because of its close proximity to the Department’s St. Josephs Fire/EMS Station #806.  The station, which is adjacent the school, has both a training tower and classroom.  Students can walk the 200 or so yards to the station where they will receive instruction in fire and emergency medical services.   

High School Cadets will report to the Fire/EMS station at about 11:30 am each school day and will remain until the end of the regular school day at around 2:00 pm.

Sunday, September 20, 2015

$100 PMP Online Training for U.S. Vets (value $1895)

Veterans Day
Appreciation PMP Course

Project Management Academy honors and appreciates our military service members. We are therefore pleased to offer a Veterans Day Appreciation PMP Course for only $100 to the first 100 eligible veterans (form DD214 or DDForm2 required). Our primary mission is to help veterans gain a project management education and earn their PMP certification so they can better compete in the job market. All proceeds collected will be given to charities that support military veterans.

As a general rule all military service members are already qualified as project managers. Military service is project management. Every service member has planned and executed a wide array of missions (projects) and used knowledge, skills, tools and resources to achieve the stated objectives (project management).


http://projectmanagementacademy.net/veterans-day-appreciation-pmp-course

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