Banker for the Poor

Dr. Muhammad Yunus, also known as the "Banker for the Poor", and his Grameen Bank won the Nobel Prize for 2006.

Dr. Yunus started his bank by giving small loans to some of the poorest women in the world. These women would never qualify for traditional bank loans. The money empowered the women, and helped them to build their own businesses. The bank also gives them access to other financial services.

As the recepients of the loans pay back their loan, the money is then distributed to others in need of a loan.

Find out more about Dr. Yunus and the Grameen Foundation at the foundation's website.

Green & Noteworthy - Limited Brands Announces New Environmental Policy

Limited Brands, owner of retail brand Victoria's Secret, announced a new and refreshing environmental policy.

The company will cease in using paper made of pulp from natural wildlife refuges, and use 10% post consumer content (recycled) or paper certified by the Forest Stewardship Council instead. The clearance catalogs already use 80% post-consumer recycled content. 10% may seem small, but considering the mass mailings for Victoria's Secret, this number will definitely make a difference.

See the whole press release here.

Silent Reef Destroyers

The deceivingly beautiful creature that you see in this photograph is destroying one of our earth's most valuable natural habitats.

The Crown of Thorns Starfish feeds on the hard coral that is vital to the foundation of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. In the past number of years, the population of these animals has grown so largely, that they are destroying coral at a much faster rate than it can recover.

The Crown of Thorns Starfish is a natural part of the ecological system in the area. However, with the chemicals introduced into the water by farming and the removal of the animal's natural predators by over-fishing, the population has skyrocketed.

The rate at which these animals are destroying the reef is quite alarming.

There is not an easy solution to this problem without further affecting the ecosystem. Currently, there is a program which employs divers that patrol the reef. The divers use the Starfish's own venom, injected in each of its legs, to destroy the animal. This process is extremely unefficient because of the rate at which the population of the animal grows.

Discovery HD Theater aired an excellent documentary on the subject, entitled "Predators of the Great Barrier Reef", that provides lots of information and high quality footage of the reef. You can also find more information on the subject by going to the control program's website - here.

Person to Watch: Barack Obama

The US Senator of Illinois, Barack Obama, first made headlines around the nation with his captivating speech at the Democratic Convention during the last election.

Since that time, Obama's name has been popping up all over the place. He has been touring the nation (and the world) with a message of hope for the growing population of government cynics.

Right now our govenment needs to be less focused on party lines (goodbye red & blue, hello purple!) and more focused on fixing problems. Could this be the guy to make that happen?

New Music: Josh Groban

One of my favorite singers, Josh Groban has a new album out this month entitled "Awake". This album features more original material than the previous albums, but it maintains Josh's signature strong tenor sound.

Also noteworthy of this album is that Josh has teamed up with the beautifully pure acapella sound of Ladysmith Black Mambazo. (If you have never heard LBM before, you definitely should look them up. You can find more out more about them here.)

Tracks:
1. Mai
2. You are Loved (Don't Give Up)
3. Un Dia Llegara
4. February Song*
5. L'Ultima Notte
6. So She Dances*
7. In Her Eyes
8. Solo Por Ti
9. Now or Never
10. Un Giorno Per Noi
11. Lullaby (with Ladysmith Black Mambazo)*
12. Weeping (with Ladysmith Black Mambazo & Vusi Mahlasela)*
13. Machine (with Herbie Hancock)
14. Verita [Bonus]
15. Awake [Bonus]
16. Smile [Bonus]

"February Song":

Artist Spotlight: TaRanda Greene

Congratulations to TaRanda Greene, a friend of ours from Boone, who won both female artist of the year and song of the year from The Southern Gospel Music Awards.

TaRanda's sophomore solo project - "A Thing Called Love" contains a delightful mix of upbeat, catchy tunes (such as "Sky Full of Angels", which won the song of the year) to the powerfully worshipful experience of "Redeemer".

TaRanda sings with The Greenes, a traditional Southern Gospel group headquartered in North Carolina. They make appearances throughout the country, so go hear them if you get the chance. You can also see them on the Gaither Homecoming series. For more information, visit The Greenes website.

New Music: Sarah McLachlan

I have been a fan of Sarah's since I first heard her "Surfacing" album back in the late 90s (especially "Do What You Have To Do"). Anway, I was thrilled to hear that she was releasing a Christmas album.

Wintersong is just as fabulous as I imagined that it would be.

Tracks:
1. Happy Xmas (War is Over)
2. What Child is This? (Greensleeves)
3. River
4. Wintersong
5. I'll Be Home for Christmas
6. O Little Town of Bethlehem
7. The First Noel / Mary Mary (I think this one may be my favorite)
8. Silent Night
9. Song for a Winter's Night
10. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
11. In the Bleak Mid-Winter
12. Christmas Time is Here

Please Pray for Lillie

We just found out Lillie, the two and a half year old daughter of Jonathan's cousin, was diagnosed with Stage 4 Neuroblastoma, a rare but particularly agressive childhood cancer.

Please remember Lillie, her parents (Cory & Michelle) and her sister Hannah in your prayers.

Lillie's blog is here.

Make A Difference - Become (RED)

Each year 30 million people die of complications from AIDS. 60% (20 million) of these people live in Africa. AIDS is the leading cause of death right now in Africa. 5,500 Africans die each day from this disease.

These numbers are staggering. Countless numbers of these deaths occur simply because the victim did not have the financial ability or the access to obtain medication that could prolong his or her life.

There is a new campaign that has been put together by Bono and Bobby Shriver that will help raise money from the private sector to go to AIDS funding. The campaign is called (RED). The (RED) campaign has teamed up with iconic brands such as Armani, Gap, Converse and several others to produce (RED) branded products. A significant portion of the proceeds from these products will go to The Global Fund, assisting women and children affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa.

To find out more about the (RED) campaign and the products available for purchase here.

Artist Spotlight: The East Village Opera Company

Opera meets Rock in a blend that you have never quite heard before. And the result is amazing. That's what you get with The East Village Opera Company. The group features two powerful vocalists backed by an extremely talented band. Get ready to hear "La Donna E Mobile" as you have never heard it before.

I love every song on the CD, but my favorite is "When I Am Laid In Earth". The band really shines in their version of "Overture" (from "Le Nozze di Figaro).

This is definitely a fun and exciting spin on Opera.