Global Youth Connect

The mission:

Global Youth Connect is dedicated toempowering youth to advance human rights and create a more just world.

We envision a world where the human rights of all people are equally respected, fully protected and universally realized. We also envision a world where all young people – irregardless of nationality, ethnicity, religion, class, gender or other differences – are encouraged and empowered to non-violently claim their own rights and serve as advocates for the rights of others.

GYC’s programs provide youth (ages 14-30) from a wide range of ethnic, national, economic and religious backgrounds with opportunities to enhance their ability to take action on pressing human rights issues. Our programs weave together: experiential training programs and workshops; skills development in grassroots organizing, conflict transformation, human rights activism and leadership; mentoring and technical support for on-going organizing efforts; on-the-ground experience in human rights organizations and doing human rights work; and connection to a global community of youth activists.

"We must be the change we wish to see in the world..." --Gandhi

"The young people who do this work are amazingly courageous and passionate. Standing witness and taking action helps shine light on issues and problems that need urgent change. We want to be part of the solution and demonstrate to the world that there are alternatives that work , and work well." --Jennifer Kloes, Executive Director, Global Youth Connect.

The Need for Our Work

Memorials scattered across the Rwandan landscape provide a grim reminder of how the egregious violation of human rights can lead down a dangerous path to genocide. The bones and remnants of clothing laid out for display prompt us to ask how it was possible that the Rwandan government was able to rally neighbor to turn against neighbor. They bear testimony to how the international community has time and again failed to meet its obligations to uphold the standards enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Genocide Convention and other agreements.

Unfortunately, Rwanda is not an isolated case. Similar stories and testimony can be found in other former zones of conflict around the world – from the streets of Sarajevo to the killing fields of Cambodia, from the rural areas of Nepal to the indigenous highlands of Guatemala. Today we are urgently confronting unspeakable atrocities in Darfur, sectarian violence and foreign occupation in Iraq, ethnically motivated killings in Kenya and severe authoritarian repression in Burma, to name but a few notable cases. Furthermore, in communities across the world, rampant social and economic injustices, including discrimination, poverty, exploitation, the destruction of entire cultures, and ethnic and religious intolerance, are creating an increasingly where new conflicts and wars may be far too easily ignited.

There is an urgent need to better understand why war, mass violence and genocide occur. More importantly, there is a clear need to invest in strategic solutions that aim to prevent such atrocities from occurring in the future. There is also a need to ensure that this knowledge is passed on to the next generation of human rights leaders.

In considering strategic approaches to breaking the cycle of conflict it is particularly important to recognize that -- in Rwanda and elsewhere where lives have been touched by mass violence -- young people have been particularly vulnerable to human rights violations. This is largely due to the fact that youth typically lack the knowledge, skills or opportunities to take action for social change or to stand up against intolerance, discrimination and oppression. Insufficient resources are being invested to provide young people with the knowledge necessary to defend their human rights and the rights of others in their communities. Without such support, young people can become disempowered, frustrated, disengaged, and vulnerable as the injustices pile up around them. They are also more likely to be victimized or join in the violence (just like many young Rwandans who took up machetes).

There is a clear need to direct more energy towards informing young people of their rights in tandem with providing them tools for taking action. Youth must feel confident in their ability be part of the solution by standing up to racism, violence, poverty, genocide, torture and other tough human rights problems, preferably doing so before they escalate into widespread violence. Although some schools and organizations are doing great work to jumpstart youth engagement in human rights activism, there is significant need to create additional opportunities to enable youth to develop and strengthen their activism skills, expand their knowledge on current and past human rights crises, exchange ideas with others and take action to test their ideas and see the immediate results of their efforts. If we don’t empower them now and direct their energies to promoting non-violent social change, we will continue to feed the global cycle of violence, oppression and injustice for generations to come.

Additionally, among those young people who are already taking a stand for change, we must provide additional support. Young frontline activists generally lack sufficient opportunities for training and their work and efforts are largely undervalued. There is a need to help them generate new ideas, connections and strategies that will help them provide the breakthroughs necessary to transform problems that now seem intractable. Investing in youth who are already leaders in their communities, especially those who are working with other youth, also makes sense since they are best poised to share what they’ve learned with many other people, creating a ripple effect. Rather than spreading resources thin by trying to reach every single young person, working with youth leaders is an extremely wise strategy to ensure maximum impact of limited resources.

Motivations and Inspirations.

A deep-rooted desire to help put an end to the dehumanization and devastation of genocide and mass violence inspires the work of Global Youth Connect. We believe that investing in youth and enabling them to serve as active bystanders to promote and protect human rights is a critical strategy to help prevent and minimize the escalation of conflict as well as heal divided and traumatized communities seeking to rebuild after conflict. Based on our experience, we believe that the concepts and strategies of human rights education offer today’s youth the most powerful tools of understanding and motivation to take action.

Who We Serve

Our programs serve a global community of youth and young adults, ages 14-30. We support youth who are already established leaders in their community and who are looking for ways to strengthen their skills, expand their understanding, deepen the impact of social justice projects and build a network of supportive allies.
We also serve youth who are at an earlier stage in their activism to enable them to better understand how to use their unique talents to advance human rights. As a global organization with programs in a variety of countries around the world, the youth we work with come from all backgrounds – from the poorest communities to the wealthiest, from the “developed” world to the “underdeveloped” world, and from a wide range of ethnic, national, and religious backgrounds.

Goals and Objectives

-->Increase understanding among youth of both the theoretical and practical context of the human rights framework

-->Build the skills, knowledge and confidence of youth to raise awareness, take action and work collaboratively on projects to promote and defend human rights;

-->Facilitate meaningful dialogue, enable critical thinking and analysis of complex issues and encourage joint problem solving to address shared human rights concerns;

-->Foster personal and emotional growth by testing boundaries and limitations, reflecting critically on our own lives and cultures, exploring how the choices we make affect others;

-->Build strong personal connections and community among youth activists;

-->Provide positive outlets and opportunities for youth to work to promote human rights; and

-->Create, inspire and nurture both new and existing youth-led projects aimed at promoting and protecting human rights.

Human Rights Framework

It is no coincidence that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was agreed upon on the heels of the Nazi holocaust. In 1948, the UDHR was proclaimed as “a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations,” directing all humans to “strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms.”We believe that the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights provide us with a guide for action. We also believe that it is critical to embrace the entire spectrum of human rights – the economic, cultural and social as much as the political and civil with a consideration for both individual and collective rights – in order to work towards implementation of the ideals offered by the UDHR.The promotion and protection of human rights needs to be at the forefront of any youth movement dedicated to peace building, reconciliation and violence prevention. At the same time, we also seek to explore the complexity and interconnectedness of human rights challenges as experienced in the real world. And we aim to identify the ways in which nations, institutions, individuals as well as ourselves must take responsibility to act in order to ensure human rights and dignity for all.

Educational Methodology

Our educational methodology is drawn from a mixture of techniques and strategies used by the popular education movement. Our programs are highly interactive and experiential. We promote a “whole person” approach to leadership development as well as understand the importance of providing experiences for participants to connect with others in to engage in meaningful shared work. Our goal is to help young leaders learn about the ideas, concepts and strategies of human rights through engaging in meaningful dialogue, promoting critical analysis, encouraging self-reflection and fostering action. Emotional and psychological development and community-building are just as important to us as intellectual content.

Please contact africaeducation@unesco.co.uk or contact@globalyouthconnect.org for more information on Global Youth Connect.

Peace Education!

The following section supplements the Learning Units offered in the Learner as Teacher section and gives an overview of the broader theory of peace education. Navigate through the three sections on the left (Content and Methods, the Importance of Educational Environments, Challenges and Opportunities) to gain information on the substance and scope of the field. Content & MethodsPeace education brings together multiple traditions of pedagogy, theories of education, and international initiatives for the advancement of human development through learning. It is fundamentally dynamic, interdisciplinary, and multicultural and grows out of the work of educators such as John Dewey, Maria Montessori, Paulo Freire, Johan Galtung, Elise and Kenneth Boulding, and many others. Building on principles and practices that have evolved over time, responding to different historical circumstances, peace education aims to cultivate the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to achieve and sustain a global culture of peace. Understanding and transforming violence is central. The following diagram helps visualize the core relationship between violence and peace.

Peace is understood not only as the absence of traditional forms of direct violence, but also as a positive presence. Educating for and about all aspects of peace constitutes peace education. The following diagram illustrates the relationships among the central knowledge, skills, and attitudes of peace education. They are drawn from educational initiatives all over the world.

In the classroom, peace education aims to develop skills, attitudes, and knowledge with co-operative and participatory learning methods and an environment of tolerance, care, and respect. Through dialogue and exploration, teachers and students engage in a journey of shared learning. Students are nurtured and empowered to take responsibility for their own growth and achievement while teachers care for the wellbeing of all students. The practice of peace education is an opportunity to promote the total welfare of students, advocate for their just and equitable treatment of youth, and promote individual and social responsibility for both educators and learners. Through pedagogy and social action, peace educators demonstrate that there are alternatives to violence. Japanese peace educator
The Importance of Educational EnvironmentsCentered on developing the capacities of learners, peace education is relevant in a variety of different educational settings from rural to urban, school-based to community, and within formal curricula or non-formal popular education projects. To a large extent, the social, cultural, economic, and political contexts in which educators work shape the specific content and methods they choose. However, the central knowledge, skills, and attitudes discussed in the Content and Methods section are relevant across educational environments. Many teachers infuse peace education into traditional academic subjects such as literature, math, science, history, language, civics, and the arts. Various aspects of peace education may even serve to enhance learning across subjects, as indicated in a recent conflict resolution initiative in the United States. Ultimately, educating for peace is as varied as the teachers who practice it.
Challenges & OpportunitiesPeace Education does not teach students what to think, but rather how to think critically. In the process, its holistic and participatory approach may conflict with more traditional curriculum design or strict standards-based schooling. Peace education aims not to reproduce but to transform. It consists of people "consciously striving to educate their successors not for the existing state of affairs but so as to make possible a future better humanity." (John Dewey, Democracy and Education) And with this task comes significant challenges and opportunities for all involved.
One way to meet the challenges of peace education is to build bridges of support among key participants. Just as learning takes place in a broader social context and not exclusively in schools or classrooms, so peace education relies on families, communities, and social networks to affect positive and lasting change. The notion "think globally, act locally" is central to educating for a culture of peace in that it links theory with practice, international issues to individual efforts. As a peace educator, you need not work alone. The international peace education community is active and growing through networks, publications, global campaigns, national initiatives, and international programs. Concerned citizens, educators and activists of all ages around the world are promoting and building peace through education.

Here Comes David Suzuki!

The 21st century is an exciting time for young people. Technology like email and social networking websites makes connecting with people easier than before, and Google puts a virtual library on everyone's desk. This current generation of youth has unprecedented exposure to knowledge. And the old adage that knowledge is power still holds true.

I've been approached by different groups to talk to young people at universities this month. I'm speaking at campuses across Canada, either in person or by video, on a tour with the Canadian Federation of Students, about global warming and its solutions. My daughter Severn and David Suzuki Foundation CEO Peter Robinson are also speaking at some stops. I'll also speak to young people in Ontario as part of a campaign called Flick Off, which is encouraging people to consider renewable energy as a solution to some of the serious environmental and economic problems our dependence on fossil fuels has created.

Whenever I talk to students, I'm reminded of the joy I experienced as a college student, surrounded by intellectually curious classmates who were also forming their opinions about the world. Public interest in the environment is at an all-time high today, and that's bound to affect the values students form and the choices they make as they go through life. Attending college is an exciting phase of life, and students should be encouraged to question the way things are and consider the way they could be.

But I don't envy today's students, even though they have great new gadgets such as iPods and digital cameras to play with. They are seeing the effects of global warming first-hand. They can see the mess that previous generations have created by ignoring the natural world and living beyond its limits. Today's university students will have to deal with increased smog-alert days, clear-cut forests, nuclear waste, overfished marine ecosystems, and other environmental problems that older folks have created.

In my college days, I was active in the civil-rights movement. The opportunity to right historic wrongs was a powerful incentive. The people I marched with took action and eventually helped change society and repeal discriminatory laws. Is there still racism and bigotry today? Absolutely. But things have certainly improved since the 1950s.

Back then, many things seemed divided. There were the activist organizations full of young, energetic people demanding change. Then there were older, established groups that constantly seemed to say, "We agree with you, in principle, but..." to any arguments put forth in favour of equal laws for all. Thankfully, things evolved and eventually the excuses for inaction melted away.

I see parallels with the battle against global warming. I hope we are entering a new era in which the old excuses for inaction are no longer given any credence – and students become active in solving some of the serious problems in the world. There's evidence that this is already occurring. Renewable energy is a very realistic part of the solution, not only to environmental problems but to economic difficulties as well, and I think young people can play a major role in pushing for a switch from non-renewable fossil fuels to renewable.

It's heartening to see the number of people saying "yes" instead of "no" to topics such as energy conservation and renewable power. And it's a diverse group. If there is one positive thing to come out of global warming's threat to humanity, it's that it's bringing together different factions to work together for change.

In the not-too-distant past, environmentalists were treated as a "special interest group" and relegated to the fringes of public discourse. But now we're starting to see organizations as diverse as student groups, major corporations, technology companies, Crown corporations, and financial institutions talking to each other to find solutions to issues such as climate change. The environment may continue to be a "special interest," but it's one that concerns us all.

Today's young people know this. And it's interesting to see them use the tools at their disposal, such as email, blogs, podcasts, and social networking sites, to become online activists. Combined with individual actions, this is a powerful way to call for change at all levels of society.

When I see the energy of today's youth, I'm inspired. Although they haven't learned all the answers to climate change yet, they haven't learned all the excuses, either.

HOW TO FIGHT PROSTRATE CANCER AND WIN!

"You have prostate cancer and hereis the prognosis...."

There aren't many men who can hear those dreaded words and not feel frightened and panic stricken. And, with good reason. US estimates for 2008 call for 186,000+ new cases and almost 29,000 deaths.
Many people assume that prostate cancer only attacks the elderly and figure they'll just wait and hope for the best. Bad decision. While the majority of cases do occur in men over 70, it has been known to attack men as young as 50.
The disease also crosses ethnic lines and is the second most common malignant cancer in men. African American men are at a higher risk than white men including Hispanic men.
According to the National Cancel Institute, "Dramatic differences in the incidence of prostate cancer are also seen in different populations around the world." This is telling because there may be dietary or other environmental factors involved.
Getting all the answers
Just like any disease, the earlier the detection the better the chances of beating it. That's all well and good, but how do you know if you are at risk or heaven forbid, already showing symptoms? What are the symptoms? You really need to have a good resource available for reference.
That's where "Dealing With Prostate Cancer" rides in to give you all the information you need to be prepared. So often when dealing with a serious medical situation just having answers can bring some much needed relief.
"Dealing With Prostate Cancer" understands your fears and provides you with answers to those most burning questions. A few examples of what will help to ease your mind are:

· What are the different types of prostate cancer
· What is the progression or stages of the disease
· How common is prostate cancer
· Analysis of who is at risk for prostate cancer
· What symptoms should be watched for
· How should the disease be treated
· Are there alternative therapies for prostate cancer
· Your immune system and prostate cancer
· Does prostate cancer make a man impotent
· Nutrition and diet for prostate patients
· The right exercises your doctor may consider
· Is it possible to father children after treatment
· Can prostate cancer be prevented

Put your fears and anxiety behind you once and for all! Get the answers to these burning questions and MUCH MORE inside "Dealing With Prostate Cancer."
You owe it to yourself and your loved ones to get the answers. Fear of the unknown is the worst case enemy you need to fight. Getting the answers to the unknown is the first step to peace of mind and living a long and healthy life!
Do it right now while you are focused. Don't wait until it's too late!

To order a copy of the book please contact baladeokin@yahoo.com http://www.freedomfromcancers.com/ or visit

BOTV CARE4YOU.632 Old Kent Road,London SE15 1JB.United Kingdom.

E-Mail: Info@freedomfromcancers.com

FREEDOM FROM CANCERS - De-Mystifying Cancer

What You Don't Know About Cancer Could Be Deadly

By The Time You Are Diagnosed - Will It Be Too Late?

Are you playing Russian roulette with your health? Do you suspect that you may have cancer but have been ignoring the symptoms hoping they will just go away?

It's hard to believe that people would actually ignore something that important, doesn't it? But it happens. Thousands of people die every day of cancer related illness.

The sad thing is that many of those premature deaths could have been avoided with just a little bit of knowledge and early detection.

The major problem with much of the information about cancer is that it is very general and written in medical jargon that is nearly impossible to decipher. That's where "De-mystifying Cancer" comes in.

"De-mystifying Cancer" has taken all that technical information and broken it down in plain English so that anyone can get answers to their burning questions. Questions like these:

What is cancer?
How does it develop?
What are the major types of cancer?
What are primary and secondary cancers?
What are carcinomas, sarcomas, leukemia, lymphomas and adenomas?
How is your immune system affected by cancer?
Who gets cancer?
What are the signs and symptoms of cancer?
What are the risk factors for cancer?
How do you diagnose lung cancer in men and women?
Are you at risk for prostate cancer?
How can you detect breast cancer in its early stages?
What imaging processes are used for detecting cancer?
What are the different types of biopsies?
Do you know what treatment options are available?
Are there alternative treatments and therapies?

And that just scratches the surface. "De-mystifying Cancer" is jam-packed with answers to every question you could possibly have about cancer.

One of the most important things you will find inside is an Action Plan for Coping with a cancer diagnosis. This section will help you:

1. Inform yourself
2. How to choose the right doctor
3. How to communicate with your family members
4. Innovative approaches to treatment
5. Changing your diet
6. How to continue with your normal daily life

Don't put it off any longer. If you suspect that you or a loved one may have cancer and need answers to those burning questions, "De-mystifying Cancer" is just what you need. Don't wait until it's too late. Get your copy now!

ZAIN - Confused or Aiming high...

Following Zain in Jordan’s March 2008 announcement that it had successfully rolled out its mobile roaming services on aircrafts, five more operators within the Zain Group - Bahrain, Lebanon, Tanzania, Kenya, and Nigeria have started commercial operations. They will soon be joined by Kuwait, Iraq, Sudan and Uganda. With the new service, Zain will become a market leader and amongst the first few mobile operators in the world to introduce such services to its customers.

The new technology, installed by AeroMobile, was successfully tried by Zain customers, during the world's first commercial flight on Emirates Airlines between Dubai and Casablanca that took place with the new innovative technology.

"We are proud to be the first mobile service provider in Jordan to offer our customers such a differentiated service", said Zain's Chief Executive Officer Dr. Saad Al Barrak who added that Zain has always been a pioneer in introducing top of the line services in Jordan and across the Middle East. "With mobile phones becoming an important part of people's everyday lives, we are delighted to offer our customers the choice of using their own mobile phones to contact friends, family or colleagues during flights and therefore making their lives easier”, he said.

Al Barrak also said that Zain had signed an agreement with AeroMobile early in 2006, having seen the potential this technology has to offer to its customers. "During the initial phase, Zain's customers in Jordan can now stay connected on board of a number of Emirate flights. The service will be later expanded to include all flights on Emirates as well as other airlines that have partnered with AeroMobile" added Al Barrak.

Zain in Jordan's International Roaming Manager Mervette Al-Shihabi said: "Through our partnership with AeroMobile, the company will further enhance its international mobile roaming services". "This follows the successful launch of Zain in Jordan's Marine roaming Services in 2006", she added.

Zain's agreement with AeroMobile includes International Roaming Services for all Zain in Jordan's customers through which they can now enjoy using voice calls as well as SMS services on board. GPRS, Blackberry Services and Push Mail will be also available to customers in the near future.

AeroMobile completed several months of operational trials in an extensive testing procedure in Australia in 2007. The AeroMobile technology ensures that passengers' mobile phones operate at their minimum power settings in order to allow secure use and avoid interference with ground telecoms networks.

For appropriate use of mobile phones on board, all airlines will be providing a list of guidelines, which will include a request for passengers to switch their mobile phones to “silent” mode during the flight. Furthermore, the cabin crew will be able to monitor as well as handle full control of how the system will be used throughout the trip.

Passengers wanting to use the service during the trip will receive a text message welcoming them to the AeroMobile system as soon as they switch their mobile phones on.

AeroMobile's Chief Executive Bjorn-Taale Sandberg said: “We are delighted to deliver a genuine world first technology through Zain's network, a mobile operator that is amongst the first in the world to provide such a unique innovative service to its customers." "We believe that the ability to communicate efficiently, easily and safely when on board flights will become an every-day feature for business and leisure travelers soon" he added.

The European Connection

On June 5th, 2008, the Zain Group began operating its inflight roaming service with OnAir on Air France (on A318s) and as of July, Portugal’s TAP (on A319s). These carriers both fly to various European destinations, with Air France also flying to North Africa and TAP serving the Portuguese Islands of the Azores, Madeira and Cape Verde.

Onboard voice, SMS and GPRS is available (for Zain operators subject to commercial launch with OnAir of course). This service is available above 3,000 meters, but not during take off or landing.

Further airline launches will be announced as soon as launch dates are confirmed.

VIRGIN GALACTIC ROLLS OUT MOTHERSHIP 'EVE'

July 28th 2008
Virgin Founder, Sir Richard Branson and SpaceShipOne designer, Burt Rutan, today pulled back the hangar doors on the new WhiteKnightTwo (WK2) carrier aircraft that will ferry SpaceShipTwo and thousands of private astronauts, science packages and payload on the first stage of the Virgin Galactic sub-orbital space experience.
The rollout represents another major milestone in Virgin Galactic’s quest to launch the world’s first private, environmentally benign, space access system for people, payload and science.
Christened “EVE” in honor of Sir Richard’s mother, who performed the official naming ceremony, WK2 is both visually remarkable and represents ground-breaking aerospace technology. It is the world’s largest all carbon composite aircraft and many of its component parts have been built using composite materials for the very first time. At 140 ft, the wing span is the longest single carbon composite aviation component ever manufactured.
Driven by a demanding performance specification set by Virgin Galactic, WK2 has a unique heavy lift, high altitude capability and an open architecture driven design which provides for maximum versatility in the weight, mass and volume of its payload potential. It has the power, strength and maneuverability to provide for pre space-flight, positive G force and zero G astronaut training as well as a lift capability which is over 30% greater than that represented by a fully crewed SpaceShipTwo. The vehicle has a maximum altitude over 50,000 ft and its U.S. coast-to-coast range will allow the spaceship to be ferried on long duration flights.

An all carbon composite vehicle of this size represents a giant leap for a material technology that has already been identified as a key contributor to the increasingly urgent requirement by the commercial aviation sector for dramatically more fuel efficient aircraft. Powered by four Pratt and Whitney PW308A engines, which are amongst the most powerful, economic and efficient available, WK2 is a mold breaker in carbon efficiency and the epitome of 21st century aerospace design and technology.
The twin fuselage and central payload area configuration allow for easy access to WK2 and to the spaceship for passengers and crew; the design also aids operational efficiencies and turnaround times. WK2 will be able to support up to four daily space flights, is able to carry out both day and night time operations and is equipped with a package of highly advanced avionics.
Large numbers of VIP’s, media and more than 100 fully signed-up future Virgin Galactic astronauts flew into Mojave for the rollout onboard a new Airbus A320 aircraft specially chartered from Virgin America, the youngest and most efficient US domestic airline, which launched to great acclaim in 2007.
Rutan’s Scaled Composites facility has been strictly out of bounds whilst design and construction has been underway, but guests today were additionally given a tantalizing preview of SpaceShipTwo, clearly visible but heavily shrouded and well on its way to completion, in the smaller of Scaled’s two hangars awaiting its own rollout in 2009. This will be scheduled once WK2 is at the appropriate stage in its extensive test program, which has already begun with ground tests; it is expected to take its first flight in the fall of 2008. The flight test program will be comprehensive even before SpaceShipTwo is carried as a payload for the first time in 2009.

"WhiteKnightTwo represents the apogee of the application of carbon composites to aerospace and all of us at Scaled are tremendously excited at the capabilities of the Mothership for SpaceShipTwo. I believe the vehicle will be developed and sold for a variety of launch applications beyond the initial requirements of our launch customer, Virgin Galactic. We have set up a new business jointly with Virgin, The Spaceship Company (TSC), to develop these vehicles and we very much hope that its efficiency will herald a wake up call to the aerospace industry and the necessity of using new materials and technologies in the future."
Sir Richard Branson, Founder of Virgin Galactic added:
"As usual, Burt and the Scaled team have created a beauty and this is a very proud day for us all. The rollout of WhiteKnightTwo takes the Virgin Galactic vision to the next level and continues to provide tangible evidence that this most ambitious of projects is not only for real but is making tremendous progress towards our goal of safe commercial operation.
Virgin Galactic is central to our ambition at Virgin to become the world’s leading group in the operation of energy and environmentally efficient transportation, in the air, on the ground and in space. We arrived here this morning on an aircraft operated by Virgin America, who run the most fuel efficient commercial fleet in the US, to roll out what by most definitions, is the most energy efficient aircraft in history. We are naming it EVE after my Mother, Eve Branson but also because it represents a first and a new beginning, the chance for our ever growing group of future astronauts and other scientists and payload specialists to see our world in a completely new light. I for one can’t wait!"

HEART OF AFRICA - Titi Adejumo

In the heart of Africa, on the Nigerian terrain, from my world of experience, comes scenes and incidence which cannot be aptly told, only better seen. Anyone who has been too much on the high side of life may find these exaggerative but believe me when I say we sometimes don’t gratefully acknowledge the gift of hope. While there are thousands of us out there mailing, surfing, researching and what have you, there are more individuals out there who wouldn’t mind having these few bucks for a week or two weeks allowance. I’ve realized life really is good when majority could attest to it.

Sometime ago, while studying in one of the classrooms in the evening with keen interest in what I had to cover, there came a soft voice that broke the silence that hung on the air; “excuse me ladies and gentlemen…” This young man’s pathetic story went on for about sixty seconds with articulate grammatical construction, he appalled us all. What I really could not fathom was his being able to speak eloquently with intelligence and still beg for alms. If I remember clearly Wow! Was my misused exclamation for “ah!” or a solemn dear Lord! Showing his left thigh which needed medical operation and it being his reason for having to beg, he walked around collecting individual donations. Feeling uneasy when he approached my seat, and choking with emotions I picked up my wallet to make my own contribution, looking straight into his palms rather than face I let my note make an addition to the meagre sum he already had. He was prompt to express appreciation in the most remarkable way as that which befits a university graduate which he earlier claimed to be. With this and a million thoughts coming, I gently picked my pen up and the rest is what you read.

Earlier the previous month, while chatting with friends in the morning, an old man approached us although he was in search of used cans and bottles, dressed in tattered trouser and smeared shirt, he walked up to my friends and I asking for alms! At such a time as this, I felt the reason underlying this was beyond human comprehension. First he spoke in the native language, and when he switched to well accentuated English Language we were surprised. Seeing the look on our faces he was quick to recite his past achievement. Once a lecturer, formerly a successful contractor, truthfully he mentioned a few other things that I couldn’t register because at that moment I was deep in thought. When he was leaving he left behind two things; emotions in me, and an advice for the future. Life some say is good, but at such a time like this when you see the downfall of the mighty you might be forced to think on what made some better and happier and more confident than the others. Wondering if this old man’s ordeal was as a result of consequence from a wrongly placed decision or choice, then if that was it, could I clearly remember the number of times I’ve made the right choices.
Stories of this sort may seem normal, but being confronted with alms in different places all around my domain, meant something was wrongly placed. From the young graduate who walked into the classroom, to the ex-lecturer who walked about picking empty cans, and bottles alongside begging, then to middle-aged woman living in an uncompleted building next street with no mattress, blanket out there in the cold alone, no family, home, food supply and other things that may be necessary for life.

At moments like this, one could easily pass the blame rather than bear it. The government most times is the accused, but how many times have we poured out the remaining portion of our meal into the dust bin, or bought a snack out of fun not hunger pang this time only to throw it away. I see leftover meal as often as possible, meanwhile there could be a woman next street or a neighbour next door in dire need. Early during the last political dispensation in Nigeria, there were poverty alleviation programs but to my surprise, I realised former Mr President could not alleviate poverty in his ward (locality)! So why wait on the government. I’ve realised for every child in the begging business, old men and women in the trade, long as their reason for doing it is out of no better option or choice we all get daily chance of alleviating what the government cannot completely solve because out there somebody needs me to survive!

I’ll tell you what, where I come from (Nigeria) begging is no joke and so when on the second day I saw a young man with clubbed foot limb towards me anticipating that I’d drop him a note on the carved wood he used to enhance mobility, I just smiled and politely turned him down but here is my reason for smiling, I don’t have money to give but I’m going to tell the world that where am from, its something new everyday and we just might need help.

So, really what have you got in your mind? Let’s read it! We all need each other to survive.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALL AUGUST BABIES

Happy birthday for today,
You’re kind and clever I must say.
With moments worth a million hugs,
Talks, with coffee in those mugs.

Your heart and values seem so right,
We share our views without a fight.
Our memories live with eyes so true,
Adventures grow in a life’s canoe.

I wish you more than words can say,
That you will never, cease to play.
Happy birthday for today,
I’m here for you, on this special day.




Happy birthday you look the same,
A few wrinkles, nothing to shame.
We all lose our external beauty,
Growing internally is our duty.

Happy birthday you look the same,
Time is flying by, who should we blame?
Aging can’t be all that bad,
More experiences, you get to add.

Happy birthday you look the same,
From a distance, I see your flame.
As I look and see your eyes,
Sharp as ever; calm and wise


My Love for You

My love for you, shall never pause,
Strong and determined with all our flaws.
It endures and doesn’t judge,
Never holds a lasting grudge.

Generous, loyal, always kind,
To your outer layer blind.
Surely, opposite of rude,
My beating heart I must include.

On your birthday, my love for you,
From the clouds, a perfect view.
Moments, memories, a year gone by,
I'm here for you, don't you cry.

My love for you, lives by the truth,
Always keeps me, in my youth.
When it sees, our trust and hope,
It climbs and conquers any slope.

The Creativity in Africa!

Many times, I want to write when words keep rushing to me because of an experience or because I want to give an issue a face. Sometimes, I really doubt if the words I write will turn out sensible but I write and before I know it, it’s the last dot. Well, let’s see this.

Fifty years ago, Africa was a continent struggling to find identity and freedom, despite centuries of control and change that destroyed the cultures of a diverse group of people. As Africa struggled to free itself from colonial rule in the second half of the 20th century, there were many who wondered if Africa could survive in the industrial age and move beyond colonialism.

In 2008, it's hard to say whether Africa's independence from colonial rule has resulted in freedom. It has certainly allowed many nations, such as Nigeria and South Africa, to compete globally, but it has also left many others in the throes of poverty, genocide, and war. As African nations found their independence throughout the '60's and '70's, many hoped Africa would become a new world superpower, but it never happened. It has been a tumultuous time, and Africa continues to struggle with the scars left by colonial rule. Africa is therefore the only liability to the whole world.

As African Youths, we need to be empowered to make progress and that means seeking for information on our own.

The difference between an informally trained Engineer and a Graduate is that one is taught dogmatically while the other is taught with understanding. The former is taught the process such that when there is a problem, he has to start all over again, but the Graduate understands the principle behind every step and when there is fault, he can always identify the source of the problem from the problem and rectify it without having to start again.

Intelligence does not mean understanding things the way you were taught but rather in your own way. There are many other ways to accomplishing a task which are better and time-saving. The way of life is the way you view life. There is no other world somewhere; the one you create for yourself is where you live. Create a unique world for yourself by thinking in a unique (uncommon) way. View all things differently coz it brings out the distinction in you and you are not seen with the crowd.

Hence, Creativity!

Brain Tracy began studying creativity more than 20 years ago. He thought it was an ability that was possessed by a few, especially intelligent people, such as artists and writers and scientists. But as he delved further into the subject, he came to a remarkable conclusion: I am a genius! Not only that, but everyone, too, is a genius! In fact, probably 95 percent of the population has the capacity to function at exceptional levels. Creativity is as natural to human beings as is breathing in and out. Everyone is creative to a certain extent. People are highly creative because they decide to be highly creative. It’s no miracle. Creativity is like any human faculty; it can be developed with practice and strengthened with constant use.

If creativity is improvement, in what areas do you want to use it? The answer is simple. You want to use your inborn creativity to improve the parts of your life that are most important to you. You can use your creativity to improve your relationships, to increase your income and improve your business, and to assure yourself higher levels of health and happiness. With that definition, you can see clearly that you have opportunities to be creative from the time you get up in the morning to the time you go to bed at night.

Creativity is like a muscle. If you do not deliberately and consciously flex your creativity on a regular basis, it becomes weak and soft. It loses its strength.

As Africans, if people criticize us for our ideas, or if we conclude that we are not particularly creative, we tend to be more passive and submissive and look to others for new and better ways of solving problems and achieving goals. However, if we start to practice creative thinking, we will be absolutely amazed at how smart we really are.

I used to think that you had to be highly intelligent to be creative. Then I found that intelligence is not just a matter of IQ. There are many people with high IQs who got excellent grades in school but who are doing very poorly at life.

Intelligence is a way of acting. If you act intelligently, you are intelligent. If you act stupidly, you are stupid. That’s all there is to it. You can decide to be highly intelligent and highly creative simply by doing the things that highly intelligent and highly creative people do.

I will continue this piece soon. Please Check back but make a comment or add to this wonderful piece before you step out.

08-08-08

A day to remember

08-08-08

“Africa must get onboard… Right now! … Africa will be either on to the Information Age or off to the dark Agricultural Age … Africa is suffering from knowledge apartheid that forces its children to eat the crumbs from the dinner table of the information-affluent nations.”

I write today because there is an urgent need to write & time to write also.

ü AFRICA:

It is time we lived out the dreams of Africa. Here is my continent that I love and cherish so much. In case you have not noticed, there is colour in Africa; beauty, pride, respect and dignity.

Now, no matter where life takes you – big cities, small towns; you will inevitably run across small minds. People who think they are better than you, people who think that being pretty or popular automatically makes you a worthwhile human.

None of these things matter as long as you have strength of character, integrity, sense of pride.

So when you meet someone for the first time, don’t judge them by their situation in life, because you never know, they may end up being your very best friend.

ü The African Youth:

The African youth has a dream! His dream may not be to own the best and fastest of things, but he wants to be comfortable. Access to qualitative education, effective communication, a fair environment and enabling opportunities will be topmost in his list of desires. He has seen dreams aborted, may have heard of unfulfilled promises and has been around long enough to think that he is better off on another soil.

ü You:

You are blessed; right here and right now, with the miracle that is your life. With magnificent abundance swirling all around you, the possibilities are more numerous than can be imagined.

Yes, the setbacks and disappointments can be acutely painful. And yet the only reason you're able to feel the pain is because you know that joy and fulfillment are always possible.

There is no limit to the potential that is in this moment. For in this moment you can put your highest, most treasured values into action.

In this moment, you have a choice. And you have all that is necessary to follow that choice.

In this moment you can choose to benefit from a lifetime of learning, experience, dreams and longings. All that has brought you to this day is yours to make use of in fulfilling your best possibilities.

Every bit of energy you sense around you can be focused in the service of the most wonderful possibilities you can imagine. Go ahead, imagine, and bring those possibilities to life.

There will be times when you find yourself in extremely difficult circumstances. When those times come, it's important to put things in perspective.

Whatever else may be going on, always remember that you have been blessed with life and the ability to live it as you choose? Think of how completely awesome that is.

The idea that you are a victim of any particular circumstance is simply not accurate. For when you look at the big picture, you're not a victim at all.

You are a very fortunate beneficiary of the greatest circumstance that you could possibly imagine -- being alive and able to direct your own life. All other circumstances pale in comparison.

The transitory ups and downs are merely tiny threads in the overall fabric of your life. Each one ultimately adds to the richness of your experience.

The quality of that experience is up to you, and the fact that you're aware and able to think and act confers on you an incalculable wealth. See it, value and appreciate it, and spend each day being truly worthy of the unique, precious life that you have.

To make a difference, you often must be different. It takes courage and confidence to go against the grain of negativity that surrounds you, and such courage can bring great rewards.

Where others see only doom and gloom, look for the bright glimmer of opportunity. For it is most certainly there.

When everyone is looking for someone to blame for what has already happened, turn your focus toward the future. Exploring the current possibilities will create infinitely more value than arguing over past failures.

When you encounter rudeness and irritation, generously offer your own polite and confident patience. When you bump up against the arrogance of another person, melt it away with your own sincere, self-assured humility.

Just because everyone is heading in a negative direction doesn't mean you must go that way too. On the contrary, it's a valuable opportunity for you to set a positive example.

In times of great difficulty and stress, choose to be a beacon of encouragement, understanding and positive purpose. Be different, and you can truly make a valuable positive difference.

This way 08 08 08 will not pass away I believe that come December 31^st, 2025; Nigeria will be undoubtedly, the most desired Nation to Live in.

Keep the flag flying.

Amb. Temmylade Ayo Aladeokin.

Olympics Starts!

As the Beijing Olympics begin, the world looks on with mixed emotions. It's a moment which should bring us closer together, and Chinese citizens deserve their excitement -- but the Chinese government still hasn't opened meaningful dialogue with the Dalai Lama, or changed its stance on Burma, Darfur and other pressing issues.

Even worse, extremists in China are promoting the view that Olympic activism like ours is anti-Chinese. We can't stay silent, but we also can't let our efforts be abused to divide people. So what can we do? The answer comes from the Dalai Lama himself, in an unambiguous gesture of Olympic spirit and friendship: a handshake.

It began in London, passed hand to hand by thousands of us -- now the handshake has gone online, and is crises-crossing the globe on its way to Beijing. All of us can join, Chinese and non-Chinese, and it comes with a promise: to hold ALL our governments accountable where they fall short, in Tibet, Iraq, and Burma or beyond. We'll deliver our message in a bold media campaign in Hong Kong and around the world: Click below to see how the Olympic handshake started, sign up to join in, and watch it circle the globe --

http://www.avaaz.org/en/handshake

The worldwide outcry has produced a little progress, but much resistance from Chinese officials so far. If we are to see advances not setbacks after the Games, we need to show both that our voices will never fall silent, and that our challenge is a positive one.

We have one last chance to reclaim the spirit of the Olympics, with the message of friendship and dialogue we share with the Dalai Lama. The more people join the global handshake, the more powerful our message will be when it hits the Chinese and international media. So let's forward this email on, encouraging everyone to join in. "One World, One Dream" is an ideal that's bigger than the Olympics -- it's time for citizens around the world to take it back.

With hope and respect,
Temmylade Ayo Aladeokin

On behalf of the Avaaz team

Honour Black Men! 08-08-08

There are beautiful Black men walking this planet. Dedicated courageous brothers who respect and love Black women. This world is full of humble, brilliant, spirited brothers who love God, family and community. Black men are strong, hard working, and worthy. I know brothers who love, protect and rear children. Our brothers are attentive fathers, loving husbands, and strong leaders. Sisters, we have plenty of affectionate, sincere brothers among us. I know brothers who pray, listen, and meditate. We have plenty of brothers who love & raise children who are not biologically theirs. Yes, damn good Black men are alive and well.

But somehow some of us forget all that, because I hear sisters say: where all the good brothers at? or ain’t no good brothers left and all the good ones are gone. What do we really mean by good? How clear are we on what good is? When you think damn good what comes to mind? Sometimes we are not nearly as clear as we believe we are. Get a piece of paper out and start writing down what a good man is. List 50 qualities of a good Black man (whether you are married or single, the ongoing clarity is good for all of us). Really think about, sleep on it if you have to. Allow the list to just be yours, don’t call your home girl or mama for their thoughts, this is your list. By the way, if you are over the age of 15 "sweet" should not be your 1st characteristic!

Got 50 qualities yet? Once you have reached your 50 or close to it, put a checkmark by the qualities that describe you. For example, if you put honesty as a damn good man characteristic, are you an honest woman? Would others say you are honest? If rich made your list, how financially responsible and stable are you? We can only attract what we already are, if we are striving to attract a damn good man, we must ensure we are a DAMN good woman, ya dig?

OIL & NIGERIA: When tomorrow comes

Retiring from a 135-minute experience of the notorious Lagos-Ife expressway, I settled down to read the October 2001 edition of an educative international magazine. I thought that would take me off the drifting thoughts on why Nigerian roads always go through the vicious cycle that hangs on one word, contracts. Maybe I was wrong, Nigeria was everywhere in the air! Turning through the pages, the creative intelligence unit of my system set to work when I saw a book review that changed my mind’s symphony… I could no longer read the magazine…an unusual mental alarm was off.

The review of “Hubbert’s Peak: The Impending World Oil Shortage”, written by Keith S. Deffeyes, captured my attention. Deffeyes is not one of those who have been looking into the black crystal ball since oil was discovered, to predict its end. He is the son of a petroleum engineer, a geologist who has worked for Shell Oil and now, a professor at Princeton University. Based on the work of M. King Hubbert, a Shell geologist whose earlier prediction of 1956 got his nation listening when his announced decline rocked America’s oil production, Deffeyes included further sophistication and global calculations in his submission.

“What’s my business with America, or world oil production decline?”, you may ask. Simple. Nigeria’s annual budget is built on a table with only one leg, OIL. When the decline sets in, what happens to Nigeria’s revenue base? Where do we turn? Why would a wise man build his house on a foundation that has a considerable chance of crumbling? The answer to these questions is not far-fetched. (There may be more than one answer but I know one that is tested, proven and certain.) Philip Emeagwali, the Nigerian-born information scientist of world-wide fame once alerted Nigeria on “…putting all her eggs into one basket (by depending on oil)…” and advised that we should “… use a multipronged approach that includes the use of Information Technology…” for job creation, wealth inducement, national recovery and global participation.

Globalization has helped to emphasize the importance of every nation’s presence in the digital society. Nigeria’s National Policy on Information Technology is definitely a great stride in the right direction but … what is the attitude of each Nigerian teacher, lecturer, governor, minister, senator, LG boss, lady, and gentleman to the challenge of bridging the digital divide and the fulfilment of the IT Policy’s vision statement, “To make Nigeria an IT capable country in Africa and a key player in the Information Society by the year 2005, using IT as the engine for sustainable development and global competitiveness”?

I will go ahead with a question that I asked at an Information Technology conference that held in Abuja in 1999 (and further made relevant by the enlightening book, nay warning, from an industry expert): What happens to Nigeria tomorrow, if or when oil revenue cannot service our national budget?

Is it not time to embrace Information Technology at all levels, by all people, and people-groups; in reality and not only in “words, ink and papyrus”? The core of Nigeria’s wealth is not in its natural resources, intellectual capital is Nigeria’s greatest resource base. Today’s efforts will decide our fate when tomorrow comes…

Culled from ‘Gbenga Sesan (gbengasesan@yahoo.com)'s page on
Nigeria's Information Technology Youth Ambassador

Words on Mandela!

...The prisoners faced sabotage rather than treason charges. Under the sabotage legislation, and unlike the earlier treason trial, the onus was now on the defense to prove the accused were innocent...Each of the Rivonia trialists was accused of 222 acts sabotage between 1961 and 1963 in preparation for guerrilla warfare. The state asked for the maximum penalty: death by hanging...

..On December 3, 1963...Mandela had put the South African Government on trial. Together with the crowd assembled outside Pretoria's Supreme Court, the world held its breath for the outcome...


...April 20, 1964 was a wet and miserable Monday. Mandela's mother and his young wife sat side by side in the Palace of Justice.His mother had come all the way from rural Transkei to watch her only son stand up....

....reading from his own script, carefully drafted over two weeks...Mandela refused to change his parting words. He put his script on the table and turned to face the judge. He did not break eye contact as he spoke the final risky words engraved in his memory:

" I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal I hope t live for. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die for"

It was the last time the judged looked his famous prisoner in the eye.

Mandela finished.

The courtroom was silent.
Even the aggressive, jumpy prosecutor was quiet. Mandela had been speaking for hours.

He sat down.

One of the worlds greatest speeches was over.

(Culled from the book NELSON MANDELA written by Christiana Scott, 2005- Random House Inc)

Today, Mandela is free and still alive. South Africa is liberated from colonialism..

...so one question I ask...do you have any values you hope to live for and if needs be die for?...or are you just one of those people who are carried away by the winds? we live in a country with dead values and no one is ready to stand up for change. I ask...and once again I ask, what will you be known for when you time is up? Mandela is still alive and many values stand already in his name..the battle is over..South Africa is a free land!!
!

Richard Branson's Virgin Success

Richard Branson's Virgin Success
The Incredible Triumph of an Enigmatic Entrepreneur

By: John Shepler

When Richard Branson's granny was 99, she wrote him to say that the last 10 years had been her best. He should read the book, "A Brief History of Time" by Stephen Hawking. She had loved it. But most of all, her advice to Richard was "You've got one go in life, so make the most of it." Those are words that mean so much to Richard Branson, as they go right to the heart of his belief in making it on your own. Now, head of 150 or so enterprises that carry the Virgin name, with a personal wealth estimated at nearly $3 billion, he has followed that personal dream and made the most of it. He still holds the record as fastest to cross the Atlantic ocean by boat. He still hopes to be first to circle the globe in a balloon. It is a success that was never expected for a dyslexic, nearsighted boy.
Richard didn't breeze through school. It wasn't just a challenge for him, it was a nightmare. His dyslexia embarrassed him as he had to memorize and recite word for word in public. He was sure he did terribly on the standard IQ tests...these are tests that measure abilities where he is weak. In the end, it was the tests that failed. They totally missed his ability and passion for sports. They had no means to identify ambition, the fire inside that drives people to find a path to success that zigzags around the maze of standard doors that won't open. They never identified the most important talent of all. It's the ability to connect with people, mind to mind, soul to soul. It's that rare power to energize the ambitions of others so that they, too, rise to the level of their dreams.
Ironically, Richard Branson's talents began to show themselves during his adolescent school years. Frustrated with the rigidity of school rules and regulations, and seeing the energy of student activism in the late 60's, he decided to start his own student newspaper. This might not have been remarkable, except that this paper was intended to tie many schools together. It would be focused on the students and not the schools. It would sell advertising to major corporations. It would have articles by Ministers of Parliament, rock music stars, intellectuals and movie celebrities. It would be a commercial success. That was the business plan that 17 year old Richard Branson put together with his pal, Jonny Gems.
The had a little help. Richard's mother donated four pounds to help cover postage and telephone expenses. It was enough to start. They worked in his basement and scrimped on everything except the grand vision of the magazine. The first edition appeared with a cover picture of a student drawn by Peter Blake, who designed the Beatles' Sergeant Pepper album cover. He also agreed to give an interview. Student debuted in January, 1968. The headmaster of Stowe, where Richard and Jonny were students, wrote: "Congratulations, Branson. I predict that you will either go to prison or become a millionaire."
In 1970, the British government abolished the Retail Price Maintenance Agreement, but none of the stores elected to discount records. Richard Branson saw an opportunity for Student to offer records cheaply by running ads for mail order delivery. The student readers of Student spent a great deal of money on records even at full price. How would they respond to this opportunity?
It turned out that the orders so flooded in that they were more lucrative than magazine subscriptions. Richard rounded up the staff of Student and recruited them to spin off a discount music business. They found an empty shop above a shoe store and persuaded the owner to let them build shelves and move in a couple of old sofas for their first store. In lieu of rent, they promised that they'd bring so much traffic that the shoe store's business would pick up too. Now all they needed was a name.
The first candidate was "Slipped Disc." It had promise. It was catchy and appealed to a wider range of buyers than "Student." Then one of the group piped up "Virgin." Because, she said, "we're complete virgins at business." In retrospect, Richard says he's happy they went with the alternate name. Slipped Disc Airlines just wouldn't have the customer appeal of Virgin Airlines.
Virgin Airlines is very much a Richard Branson style company. Instead of getting caught in the downward spiral of chopping fares and cutting service, he's taken a stand of reasonable fares on transatlantic flights with amenities like in-flight massages, ice cream with movies and soon, private bedrooms, showers and exercise facilities. Far from failing, Virgin Airlines is a big money maker.
In fact all 150 companies make money and Richard Branson claims no prior expertise in any of them. He has no giant corporate office or staff. Few if any board meetings. Instead, he keeps each enterprise small and relies on his magic touch of empowering people's ideas to fuel success. When a flight attendant approached him with her vision of a wedding business, Richard told her to go do it. He even put on a wedding dress himself to help launch the publicity. His Virgin Cola is bigger than Pepsi in Europe and looking to take on Coke in the United States. Richard drove a tank up to the Coke Sign in Times Square and fired at it to launch that challenge. Flamboyant? Yes. Greedy? Well, certainly not in the sense we normally use that word. "I never went into business solely to make money," he says. Yet, over and over again, he's done just that.
If he is greedy, then it is a craving for turning possibilities, even unlikely ones, into raging successes. "It all comes down to people," he remarks in an interview with David Sheff of Forbes. "Nothing else even comes close." He writes them all, all 5,000 Virgin employees, a chatty letter once a month from his paper notebook, and invites them to write or call him with their problems, ideas and dreams. They do...and new Virgin successes are born.

50 years of NASA

2008 is the 50th year of operations for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration – that’s Nasa, to you and me.

Nasa is very nearly as old as space exploration itself, having partly grown out of the Cold War rivalry between the US and the Soviet Union.

When that country beat the US to the punch in October 1957 by launching Sputnik, the world’s first artificial satellite, it was a spur to Congress and President Eisenhower – who signed the National Aeronautics and Space Act the following July.

July 29 specifically marks 50 years since US Congress passed the legislation that officially established the agency. This brand new organisation was established with a broad mission: to explore and use space for the benefit “of all mankind”.

For all of 2008, Nasa is celebrating its 50 years of endeavours and accomplishments in space. The celebrations take the form of lectures, galas, forums on the future of space exploration, school competitions– and a golf tournament

In 1972, President Nixon gave Nasa the go-ahead for developing a new ‘Space Transportation System’ (STS).

This system was the reusable Space Shuttle: a vehicle still used by the US for human spaceflight missions today. The first flight of the new system (STS-1) was with the Space Shuttle Columbia in 1981.

Pictured: Columbia launches April 12 1981, beginning the first Space Shuttle flight.

Nasa history has not been without its tragedies. Among them is the 1967 launch pad simulation aboard Apollo-Saturn 204, during which a flash fire broke out in the capsule and killed three astronauts: Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffee.

In 1986, Space Shuttle Challenger was destroyed and its seven-member crew lost in an explosion shortly after take-off. In 2003, the Space Shuttle Columbia broke up on re-entering Earth’s atmosphere; again, all seven crew members were killed.

Pictured: Space Shuttle Challenger explodes 73 seconds after take-off, January 28 1986

In 1977, Nasa launched the two Voyager probes. These were to fly away from Earth and towards the edges of the Solar System, exploring all the giant outer planets and many of their moons on the way out.

Some 30 years later the probes are still flying, with Voyager 1 15.7 billion km from the sun and its twin, Voyager 2, 12.7 billion away.

Nasa has undertaken a number of diverse missions to Solar System planets: the ongoing Mars Exploration Rover mission, for instance, which placed two robotic rovers – named Spirit and Opportunity – on the surface of Mars in 2003.

Pictured: a view from the surface of Mars from Spirit, the Mars Exploration Rover

The Hubble Space Telescope launched from the Space Shuttle Columbia (STS-31) in 1990.

The orbiting telescope is a collaboration between Nasa and the European Space Agency (ESA), and has amazed astronomers and the public alike with the spectacular images it has beamed back over its 18 years in space.

Pictured: A Hubble Space Telescope image of sparkling young stars within giant nebula NGC 3603

In 1998, representatives from 15 countries met in Washington DC to formally agree to cooperate on the design, assembly, operation and use of an International Space Station (ISS).

Expedition One of the ISS launched in late 2000, and after the first resident crew entered the station on November 2 2000, the ISS has been continuously inhabited – that is, it is the first permanent human presence in space.

Zooming along at 27,700 kmph, the ISS is in a low Earth orbit and can be seen at night with the naked eye. The station is expected to be fully built in 2010.

Nasa’s work today is varied: in 2004, the Cassini-Huygens spacecraft became the first to orbit around Saturn after an epic seven-year journey to that planet - a joint effort of Nasa and the European Space Agency.

The Stardust mission brought a precious sample of material from a comet back to Earth in 2006.

Also in 2006, the New Horizons spacecraft launched from Cape Canaveral and began its nine-year voyage toward Pluto, and Dr. John Mather of Nasa’s Goddard Space Flight Center received the Nobel Prize for Physics.

In 2004, President Bush announced the new Vision for Space Exploration in a speech at Nasa headquarters.

Among the goals outlined in the speech was a human return trip to the Moon by 2020, in preparation for human exploration of Mars and other destinations.

Pictured: President Bush greeting Space Shuttle astronaut Clayton Anderson

On April 21 2008, in a special commemorative lecture entitled “Why We Should Go Into Space,” Prof. Stephen Hawking spoke eloquently on the importance of Nasa’s work:

“There will be those who argue that it would be better to spend our money on solving the problems of this planet,” he said.

“I am not denying the importance of fighting climate change and global warming, but we can do that and still spare a quarter of a per cent of world GDP for space. Isn’t our future worth a quarter of a per cent?”

On May 28 1959, a rhesus monkey named Able and a squirrel monkey named Miss Baker became the first living creatures to successfully return to Earth after travelling in space.

Aboard a Jupiter missile AM-18, the two monkeys flew at speeds above 16,000 kmph and withstood acceleration 38 times that of Earth’s gravity.

Pictured: Able being released from his life support capsule after a safe return to Earth

On May 25 1961 President John F Kennedy vowed that there would be an American on the Moon before the end of the decade – upping Nasa’s budget and pace at once.

In his “Urgent National Needs” speech, President Kennedy told the US:

“No single space project in this period will be more impressive to mankind, or more important for the long-range exploration of space… in a very real sense, it will not be one man going to the moon - if we make this judgment affirmatively, it will be an entire nation. For all of us must work to put him there.”

July 20 1969 will be forever remembered as the day humankind first set foot on the Moon.

The Apollo 11 mission delivered astronauts Neil Armstrong, Edwin ‘Buzz’ Aldrin and Michael Collins to the Moon; Neil Armstrong made the “one small step for man”, followed by Aldrin. Collins orbited overhead in the Apollo command module.

Pictured: Aldrin descending the steps of the lunar Module ladder

In mid-April 1970, 56 hours into the flight of Apollo 13, an oxygen tank exploded, damaging life support and power systems.

With televisions all over the world tuned to the developing drama, the crew members and Nasa flight controllers fought to return the spacecraft safely to Earth. An ingenious course correction and improvisation of a ‘lifeboat’ from the lunar lander module saved the day.

Pictured: Apollo 13's Command Module Odyssey floats in the Pacific Ocean after splashdown