More than half of all households in the United States have a pet, and with good reason: owning or interacting regularly with animals helps people live longer and lead healthier lives, both physically and mentally. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, pets can help lower blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride [...]

The International Fund for Animal Welfare, Humane Society International, and Defenders of Wildlife have urged the United States to lead the way to end international commercial trade in polar bears, including hides, trophies, rugs and other polar bear parts. The United States has an opportunity to submit a proposal to stop the trade at next [...]

On her second day in the eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), UNICEF Executive Director, Ann M. Veneman visited Mugunga I Camp for Internally Displaced People (IDPs) in Goma, North Kivu.
Due to the recent fighting, thousands of IDPs have fled to Goma with nothing more than the clothes on their backs. [...]

The Nevada Institute for Renewable Energy Commercialization (NIREC) (www.nirec.org) today announced the appointment of James A. Croce as President and CEO of the nonprofit renewable energy technology accelerator.
“Jim has extensive experience commercializing technologies and building successful public-private partnerships in the renewable energy industry,” said Ian Rogoff, chairman of NIREC’s board of trustees. “I am confident [...]

Americans for the Arts, the leading organization for advancing the arts in America, announces recipients of the 2009 National Arts Awards. The annual awards recognize those artists and arts leaders who exhibit exemplary national leadership and whose work demonstrates extraordinary artistic achievement. They are organizations and individuals—artists, business leaders, and patrons—who understand that the arts [...]

Vancouver fashion designer Ivanka Tanafranca is participating in The Humane Society of the United States’ Cool vs. Cruel 2009 Fifth Annual Fashion Design Competition. Ivanka has chosen to use a Michael Kors design as her inspiration, using cruelty-free alternatives to fur. She is cutting out the pieces, getting ready to sew it all together using [...]

The Greenpeace ship Esperanza is sailing to the Western and Central Pacific Ocean to protect threatened Pacific tuna stocks(1), as the fishing industry reports record catches.
Over half the world’s tuna is caught in the Pacific, with the vast majority taken by distant water fishing nations from Asia, the US and Europe. Despite agreements to [...]

The following was released today by the California Coastal Commission:
What: The 25th Annual California Coastal Cleanup Day. Tens of thousands of Californians will gather along the beaches, shorelines, and inland waterways of the state to clear away the debris that has been deposited over the past year.
Last year, 73,461 Coastal Cleanup volunteers (a 20 percent [...]

Bartering may be the answer to bail us out of our current crisis. Although artists have historically been bartering as much as possible it is more relevant now than ever before. It can provide a solution to survival for so many of us and create a new vision for society.
The artists that are participating [...]

Apple Specialist Marketing Co-op (ASMC) has partnered with the Snow Leopard Trust to raise funds to help save the wild snow leopard. Beginning August 18 at participating Apple Specialist Snow Leopard Launch Events, customers can “adopt” a snow leopard cub at a specially reduced price or make donations to the Snow Leopard Trust through their [...]

A deadly form of cancer has been detected in the younger first responders who braved the horrific conditions during and after the 9/11 World Trade Center attack and cleanup.
Multiple myeloma is a rare blood cancer that was brought about as a result of heavy exposure to the toxic dusts and wastes at Ground Zero, according [...]

After two decades of social activism that took her to the four corners of the globe and gave her a firsthand view of diverse cultures and social inequities, Leisa Collins (http://www.leisacollins.com), has taken up her paintbrush again and returned to her full-time art career.
Based in the USA, but international in scope, Leisa [...]

96.9 FM, WTKK talk hosts Michael Graham and Jay Severin will conduct a week-long auction of premier experiences for the Deutsche Bank Championship to benefit Fisher House Boston.
The auction, which begins August 24( )and runs through August 31, will feature a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play in the Deutsche Bank Championship Pro-Am on September 3(rd) alongside [...]

Among the festivities leading up to the 61st Primetime Emmy(R) Awards on September 20, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation has launched its 2nd Annual Emmy Season online auction for memorabilia and one-of-a-kind experiences featuring some of the biggest shows on TV, announced Terri Clark, Executive Director of the Academy of Television Arts [...]

Preparations are being made for the International Center for Autism Research & Education, Inc. (ICARE) to hold its first annual “International Autism Conference.” The grand scaled event will be held February 16th-18th, 2010 at the International Convention Center in Jerusalem.
Industry experts such as Eric Hollander, M.D; Brian Iwata, Ph.D. and Eli Hatchwell, M.D., Ph.D. [...]