Sunday, April 25, 2010

グリーンファイタ - 100

Green fighters - 100

The new issue of Sotokoto ( ソトコト ) Magazine just arrived in Ohio. Sotokoto is a lifestyle magazine for the urban dweller of Japan, and focuses on health, environmental, educational and social issues. The special May edition outlines the work of 100 "Green Fighters." I am honored to be among them.

It is an awesome group. Featured green fighters include Paul Watson and the entire Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, whose mission it is to protect the whales, porpoises, seals and other sea life of the oceans through direct action and intervention (see cover at left).

Among the green fighters for Africa are Feliciano dos Santos, who has dedicated his life and his music to campaigning for better public health through clean water and adequate sanitation in Mozambique; Eveline Aendekerk, managing director of dance4life, which advances skills for survival and AIDS/HIV awareness across Africa; Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, founder of Conservation through Public Health, which seeks to prevent spread of disease between human and gorilla populations in Uganda; and Muuewa Chikanba, founder of Zambikes, inexpensive locally made bikes in Zambia.

Other global greenfighters include an ecologist promoting the understanding of biodiversity through the popular media, women who advocate environmentally friendly environmental publications, local food businesses which connect students and the elderly, the publisher of a journal for the full-figured woman advancing in the business world, and social entrepreneurs who bring clean safe water to remote villages.

Many who have risen to the top of the world of government and business are among the "Green Fighters 100" for 2010, through their commitment to humanity and the environment. I noticed Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil, Bill and Melinda Gates, Warren Buffet and Jeff Skoll, former president of eBay, and founder of the Skoll Foundation.

I feel honored to be part of this group.

Monday, April 5, 2010

New Single Rope Speed Record

The single rope speed record for East Africa, which has stood at 60 for the past month, has been broken. Last Saturday, 11-year old Constance from Kibera reached a score of 64 right-footed jumps in 30 seconds. That's 128 total jumps. With a licorice rope. With one mistake. At the end of a 3 hour training session.

I leave for Moshi today. It's been an amazing month here in Kibera, and I wish I could stay longer, but I'm excited to see all of the kids from Mkombozi, Amani, and Tunahaki. I'll spend the next three days in Moshi, return to Nairobi, then head to Mombasa for a few days. Check back for videos soon!