Friday, September 30, 2011

$5 Monthly Charge for Using Your Bank of America Debit Card

I was catching up on the news this morning and came across this article in the Bangor Daily News. Bank of America has done it again. They are always thinking up new tricks to come up with new procedures and costs that affect your money and my money. Not just nickel and diming us, but dollaring away all our hard earned cash. Their latest gambit is—starting next year, when you use your debit card they will charge you $5.00 a month. Ouch!

Now that pretty much all vendors including the local hot dog vendor and ice cream truck accept debit cards, Bank of America wants us to take a step back in time and go back to the old fashioned ways—go to their atm & withdraw money before you can spend it. Highly inconvenient. I can guarantee that, despite your best efforts, you will end up using your debit card at least once a month so it might as well be at the beginning of the month rather than at the end of the month.

Alternatively you can use your card as a credit card (if you have that facility), but more and more businesses prefer debit cards (it’s cheaper for them) so they offer discounts for cash and cash equivalents e.g. debit cards. So bye, bye discounts and hello more fees. I used to be a long time Bank of America customer until a few months ago when I finally had it with them and closed my account. If I had not closed it then, I would definitely have closed it now because of this new policy.

Apparently other banks have been testing this out with both Wells and Chase charging $3.00 a month in some states. I had not heard about that until now, but since I am not (or was not) their customer I may have tuned out that news.

Let’s hope that my friendly, neighborhood credit union doesn’t get in on the action because at this rate I think am better off keeping my money under my mattress.

Thursday, September 29, 2011

What Wangari Maathai Means To Me

I have struggled all week to write a tribute to Wangari Maathai. Her most notable accomplishment was the first woman in Africa to win the Nobel peace prize in 2004. She lost her battle to cancer this past Sunday and I sat to reflect on her life I realized she had quite an impact on me.

The first time I heard about the Green belt movement, I was less than 10 years old visiting my grandmother in Muranga, Kenya. The women were pumped about planting trees and had the most beautiful forests in some pretty remote places. When I asked my grandmother why they had so many trees, she told that trees are important because they bring rain and we should keep planting them. My grandmother and her friends were not educated but were rallying around a cause which they understood in their own terms.

As I grew older I discovered that Wangari Maathai was involved in the Green Belt Movement which was an environmental non-governmental organization. It focused on planting of trees, environmental conservation and women's rights. Here are some of the lessons that Wangari's life has taught me

Education makes a difference: Wangari Maathai was well educated. She was the first East-african woman to receive a PHD. Her education gave her a passion for the environment by providing information and also gave her platform from which to speak from. It gave her credibility which was important in mostly male circles.
One person can make a big difference: I am still amazed at how much Ms. Maathai gave a voice to the voiceless. She helped rural women in Kenya stand taller as they learned about the difference they could make in their environment. Despite her challenges, she pressed on and gained an international platform for her message of conservatism and human rights.
Never be afraid of being the first: If Wangari Maathai was bashful about being the first, she would not have got her PHD, accepted appointments for senior positions at the university or received the nobel peace prize among many others. She set a great example for paving the way for women in a patriachal society. I bet many people thought" how dare she?"
Dining with kings does not have to change who you are: Wangari Maathai was exposed to kings and the poor alike and still remained unmoved. She often talked about not always knowing protocol yet she remained graceful in awkward situations and continued to relate the people in her village like she always had.
Let your voice be heard: If you have a message,speak to all those who will listen. Do not give up fighting for what you believe in. One of the most profound memories I have of Wangari Maathai is when she joined other mothers of political prisoners for a hunger strike. They were beaten and jailed and did not relent until the political prisoners were finally released. She stood against the Kenyan government at the time, something that many people had failed to do because they felt they had too much to lose.
Activism has a cost: Wangari Maathai lost jobs, a husband and even spending time with her children while living for her cause. I can only imagine how hard some of those decisions were yet she continued to press on. It is great to know that one can be called a wayward women, too strong a wife to be controlled  and still accomplish a great deal.

Wangari Maathai is a great example of an immigrant (US and Germany) who took her opportunities and made them something bigger than herself. She was an amazing woman of courage and will be greatly missed by her country and the world. What a legacy! What will yours be?

To learn more about her life, check out the following links
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wangari_Maathai
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2011/09/26/mckenzie-maathai-nobel-prize.cnn
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGMW6YWjMxw
http://greenbeltmovement.org/index.php

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Driving In Traffic So Like Life

Someone once told me that traffic flows are efficient because everyone chooses their own way of getting to their destination. Those who have been in countries where people try to control traffic know this to be true especially if they have been stuck in a round-about trying to get out while a traffic police officer is watching. Here are some lessons that traffic can teach us about life.
Traffic vs Life
  • We do not rely on the person next to us to figure out where we are going 
  • We determine where we are going before we start
  • Some of us stick to the same lane while others go in and out of the lane just like all our life journeys are different
  • We may get caught in the momentary thrill of racing the person next to us but we must find our way back to our original plan to get to our destination
  • Only the driver can determine the proper pace to get them to their destination
  • How you respond on the road will determine if you will get to your destination
  • You determine the means of getting to your destination
You are on the driver's seat of your life, determine your destination and go in the direction of your dreams. The next time you are driving, ask yourself, who is on your driver's seat? 


Monday, September 26, 2011

The Two Sets of Immigrants


What makes someone leave a place they know and love and go to a distant country?

More on that later...

Sometime back while brain storming on a solution for a client of ours with offices around the world, I had a prevailing thought that kept coming up. I was sure that without the diverse background of our team, there's just no way we could come up with a viable solution. We can trace our roots to Peru, India, Vietnam, South America, Europe and Africa. We’ve been able to solve some huge challenges because of our diverse backgrounds.

As a first generation American, one thing I love about this country is its ability to absorb new people from many backgrounds with many ideas and have a positive impact not just locally or nationally, but around the world. Any country capable of that means it won't just survive, but will thrive.

Part of the reason the country is able to thrive is because of a working system that’s been in place since its inception. At its core is a series of checks and balances so that no one person or institution has control of all of it. That system providers us liberty, helps us make use of opportunities while protecting us from injustices.

There are many who immigrate solely for personal economic gain but at the heart of visionary living is a desire to always bring value anywhere you find yourself. That stems from the belief that as individuals we should always leave things better than we found them. This is a commitment that as we use up resources, we’re always choosing to be a resource. It requires great character which is able to sail above any perceived or real unfairness.

Staying away from the politics of the day, I’ve found that those who migrate usually break out into two main sets.
The first set is the group who are always looking to see how the system could benefit them personally. They find ways of taking advantage of loopholes and figure out how to exploit the system. Others go as far as breaking laws to benefit from the system. In other words they degrade the very system that was designed for their success. The extreme worst of this set choose to attack the system since they can’t participate in it. Over time, they are a drag on the overall country and make the idea of immigration a problem rather than the great solution for a country that has long thrived on immigration.

A better approach is to be part of the second set who are actively finding ways to add to the system. Even though they benefit from the system, they focus on providing opportunities for others. Regardless of their struggles and situations, others are able to benefit by being around them. The community improves because they are able to volunteer, educate and serve. While still being proud of their culture, they quickly assimilate, adapt, learn and understand so as to make sure they are always bringing value. In their businesses and at work, many others benefit from their ideas, products and services. 
No wonder getting to know them is always a pleasure and a wonderful experience. In the short term they may appear to be struggling and behind their first set counterparts, but in the long term they prevail.

This second set is the group that the founding fathers and policy designers had hopped to attract. To get them to this country they discarded oppressive laws and evened the playing field so everyone could participate and add value to the new system. Policies were designed to make sure that those who brought value to America were justly protected and compensated for their ideas and rewarded for their risks. They would be protected by laws, protected from unnecessary government intrusion and guaranteed certain liberties.

Know anyone is either set?
What does it take to add value? It boils down to a much larger understanding that our time here on earth is very limited. Make it count.

By Bernard Wambugu
CEO, Lantell Sytems and Consulting

Sunday, September 25, 2011

10 Nominated 2011 CNN Heroes

Today we have upped our popular "8 List" to a "10 List" to allow us to feature the 10 nominated 2011 CNN heroes.

CNN heroes are people who are making a difference either in their communities or in communities far away from their own. These are people who have dedicated their lives to improving the lives of others.

Now is the time to vote for your favorite hero who will win the 2011 CNN Hero of the Year Award, plus a cool $250,000. The deadline for voting is December 7th.

In alphabetical order, below is the list of this year's nominees. Click on each name to learn more about each nominee and how they are making the world a better place.


  1. Eddie Canales, Gridiron Heroes
  2. Taryn Davis, American Widow Project
  3. Sal Dimiceli, The Time Is Now To Help
  4. Elena Durón Miranda, PETISOS
  5. Derreck Kayongo, Global Soap Project
  6. Diane Latiker, Kids Off The Block
  7. Robin Lim, Bumi Sehat Foundation International
  8. Patrice Millet, FONDAPS
  9. Bruno Serato, Caterina's Club
  10. Amy Stokes, Infinite Family

Click here to vote now for the Hero who inspires you the most.

Friday, September 23, 2011

NACA—Restructure Your Mortgage

Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America (NACA) is committed to building strong neighborhoods by providing access and avenues to affordable home ownership.

Currently they are holding events across the country to give homeowners access to lenders willing to restructure mortgages resulting in affordable mortgages.

The events and services offered by NACA are free. Lenders will be on site at each event to provide assessments and offer possible solutions to get you better mortgage terms and save money . . . but make sure you read and understand the fine print, before you sign the dotted line.

Click here to see the calendar and get more information on NACA programs.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Open Culture: The best free cultural and educational media on the web

Have you ever heard of open culture? If you a life long learner and are passionate about acquiring knowledge, open culture is the place to go. It is a one-stop-shop for learning about almost anything. You can find various links to numerous subjects on the site. Some of the resources you can find on the site are

  • Free audio books: 
  • Free courses
  • Free language lessons
  • A compilation of intelligence video sites
  • Free text books
  • Free movies etc
Some of the authors available in the free audible books section are Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Edgar Allen Poe and others. The website has online courses from some of the most prestigious universities in the world.  Many if the course link back to Itunes account so it is a good idea to have an Itunes account set up. 

Here is an informative video from their intelligent YouTube channels link on the relationship between stress and memory. It can be found on the sciencentral channel
If you are curious about something, check out http://www.openculture.com/

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Discounts for Dental Care

Dental costs like all other medical related costs continue to increase every year. And most of us do not have dental insurance meaning that every visit to the dentist is bound to hit your wallet really hard.

I recently read about a company called Brighter.com that helps you save money on dental costs for you and your family. How does it work? Become a member for as little as $79 a year and enjoy discounts of up to 60% on some procedures.

Even better, their website features an easy to use interface that allows you to search for dentists by zip code and see what the typical cost for a procedure is plus the cost that Brighter members pay.

The company also claims that even if you have insurance, you can save money by using your Brighter membership with your insurance.

Further, if your dentist does not currently participate in the Brighter program, you can ask Brighter to contact your dentist to enroll in the program. This way you can enjoy discounts without having to change dentists.

If you are a small business, you can also purchase Brighter memberships for your employees.

Has anyone used Brighter for their dental services? We would like to know what your experience has been with both Brighter, the company, and the Brighter dentists that participate in the program. Click here to comment.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

The Elusive Inner Ring

One of my favorite authors is C.S. Lewis. His writing always causes me to think more deeply and desire to live more authentically. His article "The inner ring" does not disappoint in provoking me to think about who sits at the table when I make my life decisions. I do not mean who I go to for advice or who is physically present when I am making decisions but whose opinions drive me to make the choices I make.

Most of us would like to think that we are free to make our own decisions but many of us have people or groups of people whose acceptance of our decisions matters more than our own dreams. We want to feel like we did the right things, made someone proud and fit in with our peers. Inherently there is nothing wrong with wanting to belong unless our need to be in the inner circle drives us away from who we are. Here are some excerpts from the article
"All this is rather obvious. I wonder whether you will say the same of my next step, which is this. I believe that in all men’s lives at certain periods, and in many men’s lives at all periods between infancy and extreme old age, one of the most dominant elements is the desire to be inside the local Ring and the terror of being left outside. "
"Let Inner Rings be unavoidable and even an innocent feature of life, though certainly not a beautiful one: but what of our longing to enter them, our anguish when we are excluded, and the kind of pleasure we feel when we get in? "
As an immigrant I live in the tension of the opportunities I have been given and the desire to follow my heart to places that may not make sense based on where I am coming from. Many people would be willing give up a lot to have the opportunities of living abroad. Living with the reality that you have an opportunity that many would love creates a responsibility. It also creates a tension when my desires lead me back to the simple life and away from all the things that make for a "progressive" society. It seems so important to appear successful, to be part of the inner circle of those that who 'have it together and have made it big"

I often think that the worlds biggest problems are lack of food, water, extreme poverty and disease around the world. Those are the problems that we should be solving. Yet I have not chosen to be a farmer neither have I chosen to dig wells. There is nothing wrong with being in the corporate world but many of us landed here because we were obligated by the opportunities that we have been given. Take some time to evaluate the inner circles you need to belong to and mentally look at each of the members straight in the face. If the expectations and desires are not true to who you are, take one last look and say goodbye. In time you will find a place where you are celebrated, where you do not need to be invited because you are always welcome. C.S. Lewis writes..
"The quest of the Inner Ring will break your hearts unless you break it. But if you break it, a surprising result will follow. If in your working hours you make the work your end, you will presently find yourself all unawares inside the only circle in your profession that really matters. You will be one of the sound craftsmen, and other sound craftsmen will know it. This group of craftsmen will by no means coincide with the Inner Ring or the Important People or the People in the Know. It will not shape that professional policy or work up that professional influence which fights for the profession as a whole against the public: nor will it lead to those periodic scandals and crises which the Inner Ring produces. But it will do those things which that profession exists to do and will in the long run be responsible for all the respect which that profession in fact enjoys and which the speeches and advertisements cannot maintain."
Have the courage to listen to that inner voice and live from your heart. Ask yourself, how can I make my greatest contribution?

Monday, September 19, 2011

Visionary Living Series: Unalienable rights


How is the phrase “unalienable rights” and the 11th day of September forever linked? At the very least, on this 10th anniversary I feel we owe those directly affected by the unfortunate events a time to reflect. How are we doing 10 years removed from those horrific events?

Speaking of reflection, I realized that taking time off about once a quarter to be alone and reflect has been an invaluable exercise. It allows me the necessary space and time to think through a variety of things going on in my world and how I can improve or correct them. In fact, I can directly link successes in my spiritual, marital, parental, physical and business life to it.

 On this first post on the Makuti lounge, I am fortunate to be sitting by a long winding river watching kayakers go by and reflecting back. Other than the comforting swooshes of paddles hitting the water and occasional chirping of birds, there is complete silence. But in my head there is a phrase blaring loud: “Unalienable Rights” 

Of course, that phrase refers to the amazing section in the US Declaration of Independence that asserts:
"We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable Rights."
That very phrase "unalienable rights," has always stuck with me and I’ve always wondered why.
Perhaps it’s because the phrase jumps out of a very profound sentence. Within that sentence, the founding fathers reflected on their new hard fought freedom and rightfully concluded that there are certain rights that God has bestowed upon every person. Because they are God instituted, no man, organization or government should ever take them away. These rights include life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. 

A bigger reason that phrase has stuck with me is because the first time I really gave thought to the phrase “unalienable rights” was a few days after September 11th2001. There is this image that has been seared in my memory from that fateful day. I remember that as the twin towers were burning, there was a lady facing a decision far greater than a life or death decision. She knew she was going to probably die and in those few minutes was forced to ‘choose a means of death.’

In the cruelest of ways her pursuit of life, liberty and happiness were being taken away.  I give no credit to the terrorists. They simply did not sit down and think this through, but the unintended result of their terror was an attempt to take away the sacred “unalienable rights”. In the most gut wrenching of decisions this precious lady jumped to her death rather than be engulfed in the blazing fire.  

In light of that day what have I learned since?  
  1. Live this life understanding that many others have paid the ultimate sacrifice to make these “unalienable rights” possible.
  2. Those who seek to cause terror amongst us will always win if we don’t live up to these unalienable rights. Failing to pursue life, liberty and happiness is giving in to the unintended consequences of terror.
  3. Pass it on: In other words, live in such a way others can benefit from the same “unalienable rights” afforded to us. This requires paying no attention to culture, race, background, religion or country of origin in who gets to benefit. 
I have found it requires cultivating a sense of joy and happiness in seeing others finally live up to these rights we all share.
Ultimately, we have this one life to live. Through future blogs I’ll post some of the best lessons and experiences I have picked up over the years. I hope to provide examples of mentors, friends, clients, colleagues and strangers who have impacted my life in ways I never thought possible. 



Written by Bernard Wambugu, CEO, Lantel Systems

Sunday, September 18, 2011

8 Free Online Learning Resources

  1. JHSPH Open Courseware at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
  2. Khan Academy
  3. MIT Open Courseware at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  4. Learning Space at Open University
  5. Stanford on iTunes U at Stanford University
  6. Webcast.Berkeley at University of California, Berkeley
  7. Open Yale Courses at Yale University
  8. Oxford on iTunes U at University of Oxford


Saturday, September 17, 2011

Fashion Week and I

The glamorous New York fashion week just concluded this past Thursday. Though I was many miles away from New York City, I still felt the energy of the event. After all it is the biggest event in fashion and kicks off the global fashion week with events following in Paris, Milan and London. Though my personal style is chic-boho, I like to sprinkle some trendy styles every season. Here are a few trends I will be picking up this fall and spring.

Romantic: What's not to love about ladylike fashion with a touch of lace, pleats and soft fabric
Moschino Fall Winter 2011-2012
Tribal prints: I love wearing fun tribal prints, perhaps it is my big hair or a feeling of a certain kinship.
Tribal print by lamb. Photo credit:Rebekah Sager
Bold and fun color: Most of the bold color in fashion week was pink which I love but there is something about this green and white that makes me look forward to the spring.
Diane Von Furstenberg Spring 2012
What will you be adding to your wardrobe? Read more: New York Fashion Week Spring 2012 Runway Looks - Best Spring 2012 Runway Fashion - Harper's BAZAAR
Click here to read more on fashion personalities. 

Friday, September 16, 2011

Friday Laughs—Webcam 101 for Seniors

Checkout these grandparents trying to use their laptop to take a picture of themselves for their grandkids.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Are you looking for a Job? Prepare a Killer elevator speech

Every semester we attend various college career fairs to recruit graduating students. This week I attended two career fairs that reminded me the importance of a good elevator speech. Recruiters and hiring managers at any career fair have lines of people waiting and can only spend one or two minutes with the student. It is very important that each student have an elevator speech that will jumpstart the conversation and make you stand out.

An elevator speech is a 30 second introduction of who you are. A good one should have the following characteristics

Memorable: It is important to think about what makes you stand out. In a career fair, you must think about the uniqueness you would bring to the job that makes you the best candidate. one of the phrases I use when people ask me why I do HR is "I get a kick from finding out what makes people tick. " 

Succinct: An elevator speech should not be too long because you may lose your audience. Do not try to cram too much information in a 30 second speech. Come up with a few good points that you can communicate clearly. 

Communicate value: A good elevator speech should point out how you make a difference and not just state a function or a role. An example of this is 
"Hi, my name is John and I am a mechanic." vs "Hi, my name is John and I have been working on car engines for the past 10 years. I help car owners get the best out if their engines." 
The second example will lead to another question while the first one may not get you any response. Always have a speech that gets the other person's attention and makes them want to hear more of your story. This can be difficult especially for college students who do not have any work experience. Here is a example of a student's elevator speech 
"I have been serious about programming since I was in high school. For the last two year I have experimented with various technologies and created programs to help other students become more efficient. One of my programs is used regularly as a collaboration tool on group projects. I have also volunteered to help build a database for the local animal shelter"
It tells a compelling story about the candidate and shows initiative and eagerness. If you are worried that you do not have direct experience, use your activities to show your initiative. 
" My name is Joe and I am studying to be an engineer. I have been involved in the engineering council since I was a freshman and was elected as the membership chair in my sophomore year. That year we increased membership and engagement by 40%. We achieved this by increasing communication and coming up with activities that were interesting to the potential members."
Though this student does not have work experience, it shows they have leadership and communication skills which are key to building great teams. The speech will start a conversation and leave an impression and make the person want to hear more.

Effortless: An elevator speech should be easy for you to deliver. It is important to sound genuine and excited about what you are talking about. Create a speech that matches your personality and demeanor so you do not sound too crafted or cheesy. Let it flow like a normal conversation that draws the other person in.

If you do not have an elevator speech, take a stab at creating one, share it with your friends and ask for feedback. Continue to work on it until you feel comfortable enough to share it with a total stranger.

Check out these websites to help you craft the killer elevator speech.
http://www.dalekurow.com/elevator_speech
http://www.expressionsofexcellence.com/sample_elevator.html
http://theclosetentrepreneur.com/elevator-pitch-101-intro-to-writing-a-30-second-elevator-pitch


Wednesday, September 14, 2011

National Sex Offender Database

CriminalCheck.com hosts a National Sex Offender Database that allows you to search by name for sex offenders and also search by zip code to find any offenders in your neighborhood.

The data is provided in a list format or plotted on a map. By clicking on a name on the list or a flag on the map, you will get the full name, address, photo and offense information for the offender.

Some states have privacy restrictions that do not allow them to release the addresses of sex offenders. This means that the database will not allow for a comprehensive search but it is a start. Check it out here.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

I Attended The Careers in Africa Recruitment Symposium-Houston

This weekend I attended the Careers in Africa recruitment summit in Houston, Texas. It was a great event that was very well organized. The event is invitation only for candidates based on the needs of the companies in attendance. I was thrilled to be among such a great group of people. There was great energy and lots of opportunities to learn and network.

Most of the companies that attended were oil and gas companies with opportunities all over Africa but mainly concentrated in West Africa. Most openings were in the engineering and logistics/supply chain management functions. Some of the companies represented in the Houston summit included Total, Capital, Halliburton and others. 

The only downside to the event was the small number of companies for the large number of candidates invited. Overall this is a great event for anyone interested in a professional career in Africa. If nothing else, you can make great contacts and talk to company representatives about available opportunities. I hope the number of companies that sign up for this event will continue to grow. 

Careers in Africa recruitment summit is sponsored by the global career company which holds events around the world. Their mission is to recruit internationally based professionals around the world back into jobs within their home countries. To learn more about them and find out where their next recruitment event will be held, click here. They also advertise open opportunities on their website

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Graduate Scholarships for New Americans and Immigrants

The Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans is offering 30 graduate scholarships for the year 2012.

The scholarships are available to people who are New Americans defined us one of the following:
  1. Green card holder
  2. Naturalized citizen (i.e. you were born abroad and are now an American citizen)
  3. Child born in America of Naturalized Citizens
The scholarships are very generous offering up to $25,000 for maintenance and $20,000 for tuition f0r each year of graduate study.

With the rising costs of higher education, if you are contemplating graduate school you owe it to yourself to apply for as many scholarships as you can find.

It is very difficult to focus on your studies if you are always wondering how you are going to pay for your next meal or next class. And graduate school is very demanding, expect not to be able to work much if at all as you have to devote a lot of time to studying.

The deadline for applications is November 1, 2011. Click here for more details.

Friday, September 9, 2011

Are you interested in a MBA? Check out the QS World MBA Tour

As a recruiter I regularly attend job fairs. It took me a while to get used to the concept because employers are doing the selling. It is a great opportunity to make connections with recruiters/hiring managers and learn about the company. I was surprised to learn that some of the toughest schools to get into send representatives around the world to meet potential students.

The most prestigious fair for potential MBA students is the QS world MBA tour. It gives them the opportunity for a face-to-face meeting with representatives of the best business schools from around the world. Features of the fair typically include
  • Workshops designed to help improve GMAT scores
  • Admissions strategy workshops
  • Career panel with MBA recruiters and alumni
  • MBA masterclass from top professors
Some of the schools that participate in this fair are
  • Harvard
  • The Wharton School of Business
  • UC Berkeley, Haas
  • Cornell University, Johnson
  • Columbia
  • MIT among many others
The best part is candidates who attend the fair qualify to apply for scholarships worth over $1.6 Million. The admission officers also provide additional information on financing options. To find out if the tour is coming to a city near you, check out the schedule here
Check out their website for additional details. 

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Want To Immigrate To Canada?

If you are considering immigrating to Canada, your first step should be to thoroughly review the "Citizenship and Immigration Canada" website that is maintained by the Canadian government.

The website has a ton of useful information regarding the entire process. The first step should be to review the different immigration categories and determine which one is most suitable for you. The different categories include:
  1. Skilled Workers and Professionals
  2. Provincial Nominees
  3. Quebec-selected Skilled Workers
  4. Entrepreneurs, Investors and Self-Employed People
Application forms are also available on the website. Check out the video below to learn more about the Canadian immigration process.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

The Great Concept Of Africa Rural Connect


Africa Rural Connect (ARC), is a program of the National Peace Corps Association, is an online social network where people can collaborate to communicate and respond to the needs of African farmers. It brings great ideas together and allows others to participate in molding these ideas to make them better. The ARC platform allows you take an active role in building development initiatives that can directly affect the lives of rural farmers.

You can get involved in the following ways
  • Find Ideas
  • Offer Ideas
  • Remix Ideas
  • Endorse Ideas
  • Pledge Ideas
Here is a highlight of one of the great ideas on the website: 
Solar Sister:This is a social enterprise that empowers women with an Avon-style distribution system for solar technology, enabling them to earn income and improve their businesses with clean solar light. You can learn more on their website www.solarsister.org. This program was a cash prize winner with 114 endorsements. $1210 and 462 hours pledged. Check out how this entrepreneurial program works
If you have an idea that would change the poorest communities in Africa or want to support what others are doing, check out  http://arc.peacecorpsconnect.org/ 

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Canada Welcomes Immigrants

I am currently in Montreal and one thing that has struck me is all the programs that the Canadian government has created to welcome immigrants. Sure, there are immigrants who will complain that the immigration is difficult but compared to the US immigration process, Canada gets the top grade.

Unfortunately there are people who try to take advantage of people who want to move to Canada. These immigrant consultants take your money and promise that they will help you or your family to move to Canada quickly. Most of them have been found to be fradulent and the government has recently passed regulation to make it harder for them to operate.

Do yourself a favor and check out the recent legislation before you give your money to anyone.

Click here for some more information about Bill C-35.

Monday, September 5, 2011

The state of the working union around the world

As the US struggles with a 9% unemployment rate this labor day, things seem pretty bleak for the American Worker. Though 9% ranks poorly compared to other developed countries, it is a gold standard compared to countries around the world with staggering unemployment rates such as
  • South Africa  25%
  • Kenya 40%
  • Puerto Rico 59.7%
  • Zimbabwe 90%
Some of these numbers are staggering and explain the hopelessness of the youth who grow up knowing they would be lucky to ever find a steady job. It explains why some of the riots around the world pick up such great steam with all the simmering tensions of frustrated citizens. Though the unemployment numbers are extremely high for some countries, they do not tell the real story of the working conditions of workers around the world. Here are some facts to consider
  • There are 50 to 100 million domestic workers worldwide who are excluded from employee protection legislation
  • In many countries you can forget even wishing for a job if you are disabled
  • 80 million kids labor in extremely hazardous conditions
  • More than 250 million children between the age of 5 and 14 do back breaking work
  • According to the International Confederation of free trade unions, there are 1.2 million fatalities on the job every year
  • Forty Percent of the World's population, almost 3 billion people, live on less than $2 a day, with 1.3 billion living on less than $1 a day
  • 70% of the world's poor are women and girls
These are sobering facts for those of us who have a safe job and decent wages. If you happen to be in this situation, celebrate labor day with a grateful heart and an acceptance of the responsibility to be part of the change you want to see. You can insulate yourself but is that really living? Happy Labor Day America!



Sources:
http://mhssn.igc.org/gbrown.htm
http://www.bespokeinvest.com/thinkbig/2011/1/14/global-unemployment-rates.html
http://www.ilo.org/global/topics/lang--en/index.htm

Sunday, September 4, 2011

8 How-To-Guides For Activists

Movements.org is dedicated to providing resources for activists to help them be more efficient and effective.

Some of the resources available include a set of how-to-guides of best practices in digital technology. Check out these 8:



  1. How To Raise Money on Facebook.


  2. How To Get A SMS Short Code To Raise Money.


  3. How To Remain Connected If Your Internet Gets Shut Off.


  4. How To Stay Safe and Anonymous Online.


  5. How To Collaborate Effectively and Form Coalitions.


  6. How To Crowdsource Election Observation Using Ushahidi.


  7. How To Make Sure Your Movement Stays Strong Over Time.


  8. How To Make Sense of Google Analytics Reports.


Source: www.movements.org.







Saturday, September 3, 2011

Friday, September 2, 2011

September is Hunger Action Month----------4 Ways You Can Help End Hunger In America

With the economy in slow recovery mode, many people are still out of work and the number of people going hungry in America is at an all time high.

According to the organization, "Feeding America", their network of food banks feeds "37 million Americans each year". 37 million people! It is hard to fathom that there are that many people going hungry in America.

During the month of September, Feeding America is asking all of us to step in and help end hunger in America. How can you help?



  1. By contributing food to your local food bank, you help your neighbors who you may not even know are going hungry each day. Click here to find the nearest food bank.


  2. To support, Feeding America, consider a donation of as little as $45 a month which is enough to feed a family of four. Click here to donate.


  3. Volunteer your time to work at a food bank.


  4. Spread the word. Tell all your family and friends and ask them to help.


Do something today to help end hunger in our communities. 37 million + people will thank you.





Thursday, September 1, 2011