Yuko Sugimoto, the Japanese woman in an iconic tsunami photo from last year, at that point did not even know her son was alive in the submerged school across the street. Almost a year later, Yuko has quit her job to spend more time with her son and husband even though they are renting an apartment and still paying on a 31-year mortgage on their home lost to the tsunami.
Perhaps we should enjoy our family more while we can.
Read the full Woman in iconic tsunami photo looks to future at Reuters.
President Hu Jintao reduces the number of racy programs in China, focusing instead on shows that “promote traditional virtues and socialist core value.” It seems China is experiencing the temptations Jesus warned us about 2000 years ago. The question is if this is from the “westernization” President Hu warns about or a generational difference, the president is 69. Read the full China claims success in curbing racy entertainment story at Reuters.
Sharing some beautiful video of New Year Celebrations from around the world on YouTube.
Countdown New Year 2012 and celebrations around the World includes Auckland, Sydney, Beijing, Hong Kong, Dubai, Moscow, Berlin, Paris, and London.
New Year 2012 celebrations around the World (2) includes Taipei, Beijing, Athens, Paris, Edinburgh, Rio De Janeiro, and New York City.
Happy New Year to everyone! Love to you all!
It is amazing what a small village the world has become. I found a story about people reflecting on the kindnesses they received this year in the village of Yellow Springs. I guess the word-association made me think I was reading about a village near Yellowstone National Park. Once I finished, I looked up Yellow Springs and it is in Ohio. Their reflections on the past year could be written in any city, town or village around the globe. See for yourself by reading the Acts of kindness the whole year long story at the Yellow Spring News.
Happy New Year to you and your family! I wish everyone good health and prosperity in 2012. God bless you one and all!
What a great story about world cooperation – the New Zealand air force dropped supplies and equipment to a stranded Russian ship in the Antarctic ice pack, a Korean ice breaker created a lane for the ship to reach open water, and on top of it the Russian ship held a crew of Russians, Indonesians, and Ukrainians. Read the full Russian ship repaired and freed from Antarctic ice story at Reuters.
I am so glad to see the countries continuing to cooperate with the International Space Station as Russia sends astronauts from Russia, Europe and the U.S. into space again, especially given all the unrest and rioting around the world these days. I sure wish there could be peace everywhere. Read the Multinational crew blasts off for space station story at Reuters for more details.
Martin Sheen narrates the Dalai Lama’s new book Beyond Religion: Ethics for a Whole World. The Dalai Lama is a modern-day prophet who transcends all religions and “is a reflection of the Gospels” according to Sheen. Read the whole Book Talk: Sheen “nourished” by narrating Dalai Lama’s book story at Reuters.
Note: the Reuters story includes a free download of the Dalai Lama’s book from Audible.com until December 20th. I plan to listen to his book.
According to Mayan experts 12/12/2012 is just the end of a 5,126 year cycle of their calendar, not the end of the world. See full Mayans never predicted world to end in 2012: experts story at Reuters.
Do not be afraid. Fear is the most harmful condition on the planet. False rumors like the end of the world only incite anxiety and panic and may even cause bad things to happen. Terrorist and the evening news thrive on fear. The next time you watch the news, listen closely to *where* the incident happened. Most of the time it occurred somewhere else in the state or even across the country, but they make you feel like it happened next door. If you are afraid, take a 30-day “media break”, no watching or reading the news. Use the time to help your neighbors or a local shelter. You will be surprised how your outlook will change.
Note: I try to post only positive news on Whittle Love.
It is hard to believe that China has 638 million mobile phone users. That is over two times the total number of men, women and children we have in the United States, but still less than half (48%) China’s total population. See the brief China Mobile says total subscribers rose to 638.89 million in October story at Reuters.
According the United Nations, about 1 million people in Zimbabwe will be short food until next March. It would be great if some farmers around the world could collect a little surplus grain or corn each and send it to Zimbabwe to help. In the grand scheme of things, we are all in this world together. See full WFP says more than 1 million Zimbabweans need food aid story at Reuters.