President Obama’s announcement today of the goal to provide lifesaving antiretroviral treatment to 6 million people living with HIV worldwide represents a critical step towards this goal. Since AIDS was identified 30 years ago, we have made significant progress, saving and improving the lives of millions of people around the world. Remarkable scientific breakthroughs in preventing and managing this disease have given us the tools for even greater action. Through the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a cornerstone of the Obama Administration’s Global Health Initiative, we are working to translate these advances into lifesaving programs.

This vision of an AIDS-free generation can only be realized by working together. Partner governments, civil society, the private sector and multilateral organizations like the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria must collaborate and share best practices. We must engage the world’s brightest scientists, advocates, and public health experts to find more effective ways to fight HIV. High-impact interventions like antiretroviral treatment, prevention of mother-to-child transmission, and voluntary medical male circumcision have the potential to move us toward the end of this epidemic.

We have come a long way in the fight against AIDS, but there is still a long road ahead to realize our ambitious goals. If we continue to work together and coordinate a global effort guided by science, we may one day live in a AIDS-free generation.

“I’m trying to smash the statistics that Black and Brown communities don’t get along,” said Luis Guerrero, a youth from Wilmington. “You can see all these youth helping us. There are signs right here that there is a big chance for peace.”

Narconon spokesperson Teddy Chambers who worked with the youth to organize for today’s march acknowledged in particular Luis Guerrero and Angela Flores (from Long Beach). These and other young people worked with other adult volunteers, Danny Flores and Ruben Vazquez, to bring youth in from 10 different cities, including besides Long Beach and Los Angeles Hawaiian Gardens, Compton, Lakewood, Wilmington, Artesia, Inglewood, Culver City, and Carson.

Other sponsoring groups were SoCal Foster Care Mentoring Network and The Positive Art of Hip Hop. One young girl representing Dreamcatcher Foundation, a foster care program, said, “This is a tribute to Martin Luther King. He plays a big part in our having the courage to come together as Black and Brown and just have some harmony and peace.”

Sporting shirts with an artistic, distinctly styled logo, designed by the youth themselves, the young friends marched from 7th and Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. to MLK Jr. Park. Ruben Vazquez praised the kids: “They made this beautiful sign all together, working as one. It’s nice to see this.”

Narconon supports youth events such as this all across the United States and the world to support drug-free, ethical, and peaceful communities. Narconon centers across the United States are participating in similar events including in Georgia and Oklahoma.

For more information about Narconon drug education and community awareness events, visit www.narconon.org/community-activities/ .

Who better to provide tips for greening your holiday than a company focused on sourcing and developing the best products for the home, from furniture to decor, that meet the highest standards of sustainability and earth friendly practices. “From the beginning, we did not want to preach or tell people to be green. We wanted to offer consumers a competitive and appealing eco friendly choice when it comes to furnishing their homes,” said Susan Aplin, founder of bambeco. “As we get ready to dive into the holidays, we want to provide some easy, achievable tips that will encourage all of us to re-think those longstanding family traditions that can be easily modified to be earth friendly.”

Following are 10 easy steps that all of us can do to make our holiday season a little more green:

* Rethink holiday cards. Think about sending an e-card. We love iomoi.com for stylish design driven holiday wishes. If you like a traditional holiday card, look for recycled paper with earth friendly dyes.

* Green your lights. Switch from standard tree lights to LED tree lights. Think about a light timer to minimize usage.

* Bring nature indoors. Adorn your home with natural holiday decor. Decorate with earth friendly ornaments. Pick ornaments and decor made from natural objects or recycled materials, such as reclaimed metal, natural wool, recycled wood, hemp or other natural materials.

* Balance carbon footprint. Buy carbon offsets for your holiday travel. These offsets don’t cost a lot of money. We like CarbonFund.org, the largest seller of carbon offsets, www.carbonfund.org/Calculators#Home .

* Wrap with care. Buy beautiful holiday paper made from recycled paper and earth friendly dyes.

* Think local, edible. Look around your area and find a farmer or local market that sells produce. Nothing says thoughtful and delicious more than farm fresh edibles. Anything produced and bought locally comes to your home with reduced emissions from unnecessary travel time.

* Recycle Christmas tree. As soon as the presents are unwrapped and the Christmas dinner is over, turn attention back to everyday tasks like recycling. Take your tree to a chipper.

* Trade-in old electronics. Don’t buy anything new unless you can recycle the old. Companies like Radio Shack are recycling your old electronics.

* Give a gift, get a gift. Have your children recycle their gently worn toys and donate them to local family shelters. When they write their Santa letters, make sure they have a list of toys they are willing to donate for every new toy on their wish list.

* Carry holiday shopping bag. Say “No, thank you” to every store clerk whenever they offer to bag your holiday gifts, especially those glossy shopping bags that are rarely produced with recyclable paper.

To find out more about bambeco’s standards and practices applied to all of their products, partners and manufacturers that earn them the bambeco earth-friendly seal of approval, visit www.bambeco.com or join them on twitter.com/bambeco or Facebook to learn more.

About Bambeco:

Bambeco (www.bambeco.com) is the home furnishings and decor company where your eco-conscious self intersects with your home and lifestyle needs. Bambeco curates the best green products and presents them in one easy-to-navigate shopping experience for the consumer who knows you don’t have to sacrifice style and value to be green. Launched on Earth Day 2009, bambeco celebrates bamboo, the planet’s most renewable and versatile resource, and ecology, the essential relationship we have with the natural environment.

“We are not new to the industry,” Rafael Fernandez, MyChristmasSweater.com, co-founder says. “We started with our retro jumpers and are now expanding our line due to the great reception that we received. Our research also revealed the increasing popularity of ugly Christmas sweater parties in the U.S.”

It is the company’s belief that these “ugly” sweaters remind people of times gone by. And, in today’s world, sometimes a look back is what necessitates a positive leap forward.

My Christmas Sweater not only offers a wide array of ugly Christmas sweater choices, it also provides reading forums, blogs and links to other sites. Additional product offerings include: jumpers, t-shirts, sweater vests, mittens and hats.

“These are great gifts to provide to family and friends around Thanksgiving,” Fernandez says. “It will put them in the holiday spirit and people can plan holiday parties around these ugly Christmas sweaters to kick off the holiday season. They’re great fun for everyone!”

These kooky and ugly Christmas sweaters will be available for sale starting June 1, 2009. Choices include: Cheese-O-Rama, Reggie Reindeer, Silly Granny, Party Santa, and more.

The parent company, My Christmas Jumper (www.ChristmasJumper.co.uk), has received much media attention in the U.K. and with the launch of MyChristmasSweater.com, they are sure to knit their way into the global market of comedy fashion.

Entertainment: Hit Explosion, The RETROS, Cambalache, The Andy Stokes Band, the “New Year’s Eve Laugh off” with comedian performances all night long! Cover: $59.00 “Early Bird Tickets” presale available now. Doors open at 8 p.m. Music starts at 9:00 p.m. Must be 21+ to attend.

* 5,000 swanky party guests at this Downtown Seattle Waterfront Venue!
* 6 areas of live entertainment!
* 5 fantastic dance floors
* More than 35 bars
* Disco Fever Stage: HIT EXPLOSION!
* You Spin Me Right Round 80′s Stage: THE RETROS! (performing in sync with MTV Videos)
* R&B Stage: The ANDY STOKES Band
* Sizzlin’ Salsa Stage: CAMBALACHE (13-piece hot and sexy salsa)
* The MOViN Live Stage: 92.5 DJs broadcasting live and DJs spinning all night
* LIVE COMEDY Theater: nationally renowned stand-up comedians
* 3 separate floors and 100,000 sq. ft. of PURE PARTY SPACE!
* Party the night away on the Seattle Waterfront
* Exclusive VIP Area spanning 3,000 sq. ft.
* Outdoor patios overlooking Puget Sound
* Festive party favors for EVERY GUEST
* Easy-access free coat check
* Pre-party “cocktail hour” for singles
* Food available throughout the venue
* Camera renter on-site to capture all of the fun
* Covered parking with Skybridge across the street
* Special rates at nearby downtown hotels
* View of the Space Needle fireworks
* and many more SURPRISES!

This is the biggest New Year’s Eve Party in Seattle. It is THE place to be to ring in 2009 in style. For more details and photos go to: http://www.SeattleBash.com.

Tickets are on sale now for $59 by visiting the official event Web site and following the links to the ticket page. You can also purchase tickets in person by visiting any www.brownpapertickets.com outlet throughout Seattle and the Eastside.

What: “The INDULGENCE New Year’s Eve Bash” Seattle’s largest New Year’s Eve Party

When: Wednesday, December 31st, 2008. Doors open at 8:00, music starts at 9:00 p.m.

Where: Bell Harbor International Conference Center, Pier 66, 2211 Alaskan Way.

[tags]Black Opal Ventures LLC, Seattle New Years Eve Party[/tags]

Chocolate coins have universal acceptance. Just try to find someone who hasn’t had them. But in the past, consumers had no options for what was imprinted on the coins and the chocolate inside those brightly colored foils simply wasn’t very good. “That’s where we’re different,” said Wayne, “Our chocolate is exceptional quality. It is 100% Belgian Callebaut chocolate with absolutely no concerns with the melamine tainting you’re hearing about in cheaply produced chocolate coins coming out of Asia. Our chocolate is not only completely safe, but an unrivalled quality for this type of product… especially at this price. And why limit customers to a couple of basic designs when we can offer images for any event, with any theme at the same price.”

Sweet 16, birthday, Mardi Gras, wedding, bar or bat mitzvah…. you name it, you can find it at The Chocolate Coin Store. And with the ability to select unique front and back images for your coins, the combination possibilities are endless. “Pirate-themed events are big these days. You’d be amazed how many couples want a flowery image on one side of their wedding favors and a skull & crossbones on the other. With us you can have it and not break your budget.”

With new designs being added weekly, there are coin designs that will be perfect for any event, with any theme. At a price of only 12-cents per coin, these delicious coins can be used for anything from birthday parties to fund-raising dinners.

With the holiday season right around the corner, how about chocolate coins with Merry Christmas on one side and Happy Hanukkah on the other for inter-religious families? “If we can help just one family cope with the age-old problem of their holiday message, it’ll all be worth it,” joked Wayne.

About The Chocolate Coin Store

Based in Houston, Texas, The Chocolate Coin Store is a subsidiary of chocolate industry leader Images in Chocolate. Specializing in 100% Belgian chocolate coins, the company offers thousands of design choices to fit any occasion at exceptionally low pricing.

More information: http://www.chocolatecoinstore.com.

[tags]Chocolate Coin Store, premium holiday chocolates, Belgian chocolate coins[/tags]

The memorials which include details, memories and images of the deceased will be transmitted at the speed of light via a dedicated British Telecom transmission dish situated at the historic Goonhilly earth station in Cornwall, U.K. Each memorial is designed to last – quite literally – forever: an eternal memory for the senders of their lost loved ones.

From transmission, the message travels over the Mediterranean coast at a height of 450 miles and within five hours leaves the solar system to continue its journey through space and remains travelling across the universe for all time.

MuchLoved was conceived and founded by Jonathan Davies after he suffered the sudden death of his brother Philip aged just 21 whilst at University in 1995. Jonathan says that, “The thought of precious memories travelling through space forever really appealed to our users and so we are delighted to be part of this event. The ability to continually track their progress as they move further and further into deeper space is particularly sentimental and fascinating.”

Stephanie Baillache of SentForever says: “In a world where so much is temporary in nature, it’s really moving to be able to ensure someone’s special memory will last forever. This is a unique way to recognise that for a relatively short period in the vastness of space and time somebody special once existed and lived on our planet. When all traces of our individual existence disappear at some time in the future, the Day of the Dead memorials will continue their way through the universe for the rest of time.”

More information: http://www.sentforever.com.

[tags]SentForever Limited, Day of the Dead Festival, beam memories into space, MuchLoved charitable trust[/tags]

Haunted Attractions continue to gain a tremendous amount of popularity throughout the United States providing top notch Halloween Entertainment during the months of September and October. Many of these attractions resemble the sets of Hollywood, blockbuster horror films, with expert craftsmanship, highly trained actors and carefully scripted events taking place to thrill all who enter.

Popular haunts can attract over 40,000 to 60,000 during the months of October and September. In the height of the season, admission numbers can reach over 4,000 guests in one night and with record breaking attendance expected this year, selecting the best possible online ticketing provider is a top priority for haunt producers.

“Interactive Ticketing’s innovative technologies, wireless PDA scanning, marketing features and understanding of our industry’s specific ticketing needs are reasons why we selected them as our provider. We’re eager to move forward and confident they will handle our ticketing with efficiency and expertise,” said Tony Wulhgumeth, owner of Kersey Valley – Spookywoods.

Information and tickets can be found on each attraction’s respective website. Customers who buy online will be able to enjoy the convenience of getting their tickets early and saving time at the box office and in some cases, take advantage of special web promotions and discounts.

About Interactive Ticketing

Interactive Ticketing is an industry leader in online ticketing across the country, supporting events of all types including: amusement parks, zoos, fairs, expos, concerts, ski areas, consumer shows, museums and more.

Tickets are purchased online and printed from the patron’s home or office; tickets are then validated at the event site using a barcode scanner. Interactive Ticketing separates themselves from the competition by providing state-of-the-art marketing tools, reporting features, and wireless scanning capabilities which allow their clients meet and exceed their ticket sales expectations each and every year.

More information: http://www.interactiveticketing.com.

[tags]Interactive Ticketing by Electric Arrow, haunted attractions tickets, online ticketing system, Halloween Entertainment[/tags]

WAUWATOSA, Wis. — A day that recognizes the beauty of bulldogs, despite their droopy looks, will challenge people as it conveys a message of acceptance, when bulldogs and their owners celebrate the second annual “National Bulldogs Are Beautiful Day” on Saturday, April 26, 2008 (www.bulldogsarebeautiful.com). “I hope that with the help of these sweet bulldogs, people will take note of how they treat others they deem unattractive,” said Jackie Valent, author of the children’s book, “Stinky the Bulldog” (ISBN 1420826972).

The Milwaukee and national signature event, which will take place at Central Bark; 5780 W. Hemlock; Milwaukee, Wis., 53223 from 12 p.m. until 3 p.m., is expected to attract about 50 bulldogs and their owners.

The event will feature snacks and mingling for pups and people, but different this year is a showcasing of regional agencies doing great work around diversity and acceptance issues. Even though bulldogs’ saggy skin makes them look to have perpetual frowns and their stout bodies connote sluggishness, bulldogs are affectionate animals that enjoy attention from humans, according to bulldog owner and the holiday’s host, author Jackie Valent of Wauwatosa, who is also a human resources executive at Deloitte, LLP.

“I hope that ‘National Bulldogs are Beautiful Day’ teaches us to embrace differences in people; if people see beyond the looks and aggressive ancestry of a bulldog, they can certainly look within and challenge themselves to accept their neighbors of a different race, gender, appearance, lifestyle, physical ability, national origin or religion.

“In today’s global community, we are valuable as a cohesive civilization rather than as segmented populations.” Valent knows that changing people’s prejudices is a large order, but with her success as a human resources specialist who works passionately with diversity issues, and each time someone hides their face in shame after hearing that Stinky is her bulldog’s name of affection, not cruelty, she believes that it can be done.

Host your own National Bulldogs are Beautiful Day celebration and show people that there is beauty in all beings!

The story of Stinky the Bulldog
A loveable bulldog in a new neighborhood, Stinky is eager to make friends, but is quickly disappointed when kids crinkle their noses and run away; they don’t even know him! Packed with vibrant illustrations, “Stinky the Bulldog” (ISBN-13: 978-1420826975, AuthorHouse) is a touching story that teaches the value of people’s differences, and the wonders of true friendship.

“If we cherish our differences and learn to cooperate and reason with one another, our world will be a more profitable and peaceful place,” Valent said. “It’s a grande effort, but one that we can learn from our bulldog partners.”

More information on “Stinky the Bulldog”: www.stinkythebulldog.com and www.stinkythebulldogmedia.com.

[tags]National Bulldogs Are Beautiful Day, author Jacalyn Valent, Stinky the Bulldog Enterprises, ISBN 9781420826975[/tags]

“Jamesallen.com is pleased to offer these special Valentine’s Day pendants and lockets to our loyal customers, as our way of carrying on and adding to this rich, storied holiday tradition of expressing our appreciation to our loved ones,” stated Marketing Manager Raz Barr.

Pendants and lockets for Valentine’s Day are being offered in 14K white gold, yellow gold and two-tone, so it is easy to find jewelry pieces perfect to suit all tastes, Barr said.

Shoppers with all types of budgets will find plenty of items from which to choose: Prices range from $100 to $2,000, and all pendants will include a complimentary 18-inch gold chain.

The traditional day on which partners show their love for each other, the holiday dates to the Middle Ages, However, the modern tradition of Valentine’s Day and gift-giving of jewelry, candy and flowers dates to 1847. This was when the first mass-produced valentines of embossed paper lace were produced by a Worcester, MA, book and stationery store. Since then, Valentine’s Day has grown into the second-largest card and gift-giving holiday of the year, after Christmas. In the 1980′s, giving diamonds and other jewels for Valentine’s Day became popular.

“These beautiful pendants and lockets tie in perfectly with the long-standing Valentine’s Day tradition of showing our appreciation for our loved ones, and we believe will help to make a vivid and memorable holiday for both the giver and receiver,” said Barr. Read more about what our customers say about us at http://www.ivouch.com/jamesallen .

James Allen is the only online retailer to feature over 15,000 unique diamond photographs. Each diamond can be viewed with our Virtual Loupe(TM) to see its inclusion with magnification of up to 28X actual size.

Founded in 1998, Jamesallen.com offers the world’s most beautiful diamond jewelry and engagement rings coupled with the finest laboratory graded diamonds, all at an extraordinary value. The company is regularly featured in trade magazines such as “National Jeweler” and has been profiled by such famous publications as “The Washington Post” Newspaper, “NBC News”, “US News & World Report” and “National Public Radio.” The firm may be reached at: 1291 Riverbend Way, Frederick, MD 21701, phone: 877-826-9866.

[tags]James Allen jewelers, gold and diamond pendants, online jewelry offerings, laboratory graded diamonds[/tags]