Help Stop Cyberbullying!

Help Stop Cyberbullying!

       Hello, this is IGL and this post is about cyberbullying. Cyberbullying is using technology to bully someone else. Today, many people all around the world are abusing technology to hurt an individual’s feelings in a devastating way. Any network used can hurt someone, such as Facebook, Google Plus, and Twitter. Or you could simply just send a cell phone text. If you tease someone, their feelings can get hurt in a considerable way. Cyberbullies are in a sense cowards. They, instead of saying something face-to-face, they tend to hide behind a computer or phone. When cyberbullies are confronted and exploited, they really have nothing to say.

          Whenever something inhumane is done, consequences are sure to come. Even if you're friends or close to someone, they might interpret your message differently than you intended. You can be a cyberbully simply by passing on a picture or something private to people you know. If you get a picture sent to you that could be embarrassing or humiliating to someone, it is humane nature show everyone something exciting. However, this could hurt someone very much. People can make some actions that are drastic, such as self harm or suicide.

          Megan Meier was a young, 13-year-old, diagnosed with depression and ADHD, who lived in the state of Missouri. She was bubbly, goofy girl who loved spending time with friends and family—she killed herself in 2006 by hanging. Megan Meier was a user of MySpace, and she found herself an online friend by the name of “Josh Evans”. They exchanged messages and became friends. Moments later, “Josh Evans” began to send her hurtful messages. She couldn't talk all this hate any longer and hung herself in October 2006. It turns out that this Josh Evans isn't real, and the people who made the account where Lori Drew, Sarah Drew, and Ashley Grills. Sarah Drew was a friend of Meier, and when she heard that Megan allegedly called her an “ugly lesbian”, she and her mother, Lori Drew of 49 years of age at the time, created the MySpace account along with Lori’s employee, Ashley Grills, 18. They taunted her and finally, the message that sent Meier to the doorsteps of Death, said “The world would be a better place without you”. The Drews and Grills were sent to court about the case. An adolescent and two adults were involved in the suicide of Meier. Instead of having a talk between parents and adults, Lori Drew cyberbullied a young girl.

          Tina Meier, Megan’s mother, created a foundation called the Megan Meier Foundation. It represents all the consequences and aftermaths of cyberbullying. Tina has traveled all over the United States to teach children of all ages the matters of cyberbullying and what might happen afterwards. Today, the Megan Meier Foundation reminds people of the terrible effects of gruesome cyberbullying.

          There are many ways for you to help. You could:

1. Start a petition and get people to sign it.
2. Spread the word about cyberbullying.
3. Encourage your friends or yourself to stop spreading private media of others that could hurt their feelings.
4. If you are a victim of cyberbullying, remember to stay strong and know that people are there for you and people who love you.
5. Volunteer/donate at the Megan Meier Foundation (site: meganmeierfoundation.org ) or other organizations.

Help Stop Cyberbullying!

Idea+Gift=Love IGL

Divorce

Divorce

            Hello, this is IGL and this post is about divorce. Divorce is when two parents decide to legally separate, and to be called exes. Divorce happens every day everywhere for many reasons. It could be financial issues, abuse, or alcoholism (see previous post for more about alcoholic parents). In other words, the parents don’t agree on certain things such as disputed actions, behavior, and seldom times looks.

Children involved in the parents’ relationship may feel torn apart between them. Heartache and depression may result upon an unwanted divorce between two parents. When two parents fight, they develop feelings of hate towards each other. After that, they file for divorce and sign the papers. But who will get custody of the offspring? That matter depends in court, and a parent may keep the child, and the other may receive visitation rights. Sometimes parents can’t see the child at all.

Divorce is becoming more common every day. Even back then, during the times of kings, they would divorce their wife just to marry new wives in hopes of creating a male child instead of female ones. It is understood today that the gender of a child is determined by the mother and father’s traits, not by the ability of the mother.

Children encounter when their parents are through a divorce. Often times, the child blames him or herself for the separation. It is usually unexpected for a divorce to happen, but they inflict the emotional pain on themselves. It is NEVER a child’s fault for a divorce. It was the parents’ decision and the child has nothing to do with it. If you are a child in a divorce, it may be hard to believe, but you are never the cause of a divorce.

Divorce is a heavy weight on a person’s shoulders. Divorce Care is one example of an organization that helps people through divorce. Divorce Care is a foundation aimed towards the adult through a divorce, showing what joys and happiness can be in life. Don’t let a divorce bring you down. Besides Divorce Care, the Children 1^st Foundation is aimed towards the children through a divorce, discussing the needed care for a child, such as child support, visitation arrangements, and custody.

There are many ways to help. You could:

1.     Tell someone if you are going through a divorce

2.    Tell a child that it is never their fault for their parents’ divorce

3.    If you have depression, seek therapeutic help

4.    Talk to your parents about their relationship issues.

Help the people going through divorce!

Idea+Gift=Love IGL

Alcoholic Parents

Alcoholic Parents

          Hello, this is IGL and this post is about alcoholic parents. Many families have children with adult parents that are addicted to drinking alcohol. This may cause many family issues and problems, and tear many relationships apart. Alcohol controls the mind and body. It changes people’s moods and instead fuel aggressiveness, causing dramatic mood swings, when people have too much. This is called being drunk. Even though it leads to such bad effects, the person has to have it because they’re addicted.

          Alcohol, leading to unwanted incidents, can bring harm and emotional pain to others. Parents may argue over something small and they can eventually stop cooperation in becoming fatherly or motherly. Drunken people can physically harm children through their aggressive and nonsensical actions. Persisting alcoholism can lead to divorce, tearing the child apart. Keep in mind, this is the alcohol’s doing, not the parent’s for the most part.

          Many times, children may blame themselves for the alcoholic doings. A parent’s alcoholism is never the child’s fault. Reasons such as money and business may drive a parent to wine or beer, but the child/children are never the cause of such actions. If you are someone just as I described above, it may be hard for you to believe me, but you should never take the blame for an alcoholic parent.

         The Center on Addiction and Family is a part of the Phoenix House organized for helping families with alcoholic issues and professional information to recover. They teach these dysfunctional families on health and positive influences and strength. To spread their cause, they write articles which can be easily read on their website.

          There are many ways to help. You could:

1.     Tell someone about alcoholism in families

2.    Write an article for the newspaper or post a flyer

3.    If you are a victim of alcoholic parents, tell someone and get professional, therapeutic help

4.    Tell yourself and others that it is not their fault for an alcoholic parent

5.    Donate to the Center on Addiction and Family organization

Make a change for alcoholic parents!

Idea+Gift=Love IGL

Stop Women Abuse!

Stop Women Abuse!

          Hello, this is IGL and this post is about women abuse. Around the world, abuse has happened to everybody before. We all know that women have a more likely chance to getting abused my others because of their weakness. In many cases, women are violated sexually or physically against their will.

          We all most likely know what rape is. Rape is when a person is forced to have sex with another person against their will. Usually, it happens to females but it could also happen to boys (usually when they are children). The rapist can be a male or a female, even though a homosexual rape towards women is very rare. Rainn.org states that most rape victims are under the age of thirty and that only 3% percent of rapists are put in jail for their crime. That is an outrageous percentage. Rape is something that nobody should have to go through. Consequences of rape include a high risk of substance abuse, such as alcohol or drugs to take away depression of the past event. You could also receive an STD and/or become pregnant. Victims may also become traumatized and gets insomnia or trouble sleeping. Worse of all, victims may resort to suicide. Whatever you do, prevent a person from suicide or prevent yourself from suicide. If you get raped, call the police immediately and call a sexual assault hotline as quick as possible. If you know someone else who has been raped, do not be judgmental and recommend a sexual assault hotline.

          To avoid rape, follow these steps.

• ·         Be aware of your location and the people around you.
• ·         Avoid places with few or no people at all.
• ·         Be confident when you walk, even if you don’t know where you’re going.
• ·         Trust your instincts.
• ·         Bring a phone and some money to go home for.
• ·         Go with a trusted person.
• ·         Avoid listening to music with headphones to block out sounds.

Also, tell your child at the comfortable age so they are aware of rape and sexual assault.

          RAINN (Rape Abuse Incest National Network) is an organization that helps people that have been sexually assaulted and spreading awareness. RAINN specializes in many things, including providing the national hotline and statistics. However, they succeeded by donations from generous people. Donate at this site: http://www.rainn.org/donate/ways-to-give

          Domestic violence is when a partner in a relationship abuses the other partner physically, sexually, or emotionally. Usually it is when the male abuses the female, but in some cases the wife/girlfriend is the one putting it on. Domestic violence affects the health of the partner, causing broken trust. If a partner is forcing you to have sex or forcing you to get pregnant, it is best to consult with a doctor secretly to get birth control methods without him knowing. To leave an abusive relationship, always seek shelter and bring a phone with you. Don’t make it obvious that you need help and don’t go anywhere alone. Keep your privacy and don’t share anything out loud to someone or online.

          To keep safe from domestic violence or an abusive person, follow these steps.

• ·         Meet in public
• ·         Tell someone, like a friend or parent, where you’re going and who your date is
• ·         Avoid parties that have alcohol
• ·         Have a reliable source of transportation
• ·         Bring a phone

If you’re going to a place with alcohol, follow these steps.

• ·         Don’t take drinks from anyone but yourself
• ·         Have your drink besides you at all times
• ·         Don’t drink from punch bowls or public drinks
• ·         If you didn’t pay attention to your drink, throw it away immediately
• ·         Don’t drink too much

Signs of an abusive relationship:

• ·         Always stalking you and wanting to know where you are at all times
• ·         Trying to take things fast
• ·         Major jealousy and pushiness
• ·         Suggesting to do sexual activities often
• ·         Putting inappropriate pictures of you online without your permission
• ·         Threatening you if you break up with him
• ·         Blaming you on the harm he gives you

Human trafficking is when someone is taken into a profession they are fooled into, usually something sexually but could also result in forced labor. It usually happens to women. They could be tricked into a job, but is actually taken into a human trafficking ring. They are usually resulted in sexual labor or forced prostitution in most cases. If you see a victim of human trafficking, call the police and they will take care of it.

There are many ways to help stop women abuse. You could:

1.       Spread awareness of all types of women abuse.

2.     Start a petition and get people to sign it.

3. Donate to organizations that specialize in this, such as the Human Trafficking 

4.     Befriend people that have been abused by others.

Together we can make a difference!

-Idea+Gift=Love IGL

Stop Sexual Abuse

Stop Sexual Abuse!

       Hello, this is IGL and this post is about sexual abuse. Sexual abuse is the assault against a person unwillingly sexual, like rape. Most of the time, sexual abuse happens to girls. And most of the time, the rapists are familiar to the victim. Rapists also threaten their victim not to tell by causing fear.

          Sexual abuse cases are successful because of fear and embarrassment. The abuser threatens the victim not to tell by causing something to happen when the case is exploited. Embarrassment is when a person feels like when someone knows, they will have doubt in them. For example, if a teenage girl is raped and becomes pregnant, she would fear that her parents would be disappointed in her.

          Audrie Pott was a teenage girl that was sexually abused. She was at a party when she became drunk and fell unconscious. Three of her schoolmates decided to rape her and post inappropriate pictures on the internet. The next day, the pictures go viral and everybody in the school knows about it. A few days later, Audrie hung herself.

          Audrie’s family founded an organization, the Audrie Pott Foundation, after Audrie’s death. The foundation gives free scholarships to art and music, important and valuable aspects to Audrie’s life.

          The American Foundation For Healing is a foundation that helps children and adolescents that has had first hand experiences of sexual abuse. AFFH aids people in believing in themselves and staying physically and mentally healthy. 
          There are so many people in this world suffering. But there are ways for you to help. You could:

1. Spread the word and educate people around.
2. Start a petition to help victims of sexual abuse
3. Donate to organizations such as the Audrie Pott Foundation or the American Foundation for Healing.
4. If you have been sexually abused, remember to stay strong and move on with life. 
5. If you know someone that has been sexually abused, remind them that there are people out there that love them and can help them. 
6. If YOU are the abuser, stop. 

Help stop sexual abuse!

-Idea+Gift=Love IGL 

Code Red

Code Red

          Hello, this is IGL and this post is about Code Red. Code Red is when a dangerous or suspicious person is on campus of a school. Sometimes, people take there anger out on little children in school. This is a major crisis in our society today. But there are ways to becoming safe of Code Red.

1.       LISTEN to your teacher in the situation.

2.     Lock the doors immediately.

3.     Stack heavy items against doors. This includes desks, chairs, and backpacks.

4.     Be quiet (shut up).

5.     Create a barrier in a small area in the classroom with desks or tables.

6.     Get everybody (including you) inside the barrier.

7.     Call 911--or any other emergency dial tone your country has--if the office didn’t already.

8.     Wait until the office declares it is safe to come out.

9.     Inform your parents (if they care) when you get home.

After following these directions, you will be safe and sound!

But if this is a major event in your school, there are still ways of spreading awareness. You could:

1. Spread the word
2. Start a petition
3. Bond with children in need if injured or hurt during a code red they had

Follow these directions and tell the world of Code Red!

-Idea+Gift=Love IGL

Stop Animal Abuse

Stop Animal Abuse

         

          Hello, this is IGL and this post is about animal abuse. IGL has contributed a lot on animal abuse. There are also other posts about animal abuse including animal fighting, the animal shelter, farm animals, wildlife, and more.

          Animal abuse is so cruel and inhumane. The reasons are just so unexplainable. Sometimes people take their anger out on someone else (just like bullying, domestic violence, rape, women violence, and child abuse—which are also NOT okay). Sadly, people know that animals are helpless against a person’s power.

          Another reason is that a person just doesn’t realize how hard it is to take care of animal. Sometimes someone buys a puppy from the pet store (which is usually from the puppy mill, but that’s a whole different story). But that person doesn’t realize that an animal needs a lot of care. But they thought that they need to be brushed, washed, watered, and fed. So they just leave the animal there for a few days without any care.

          You can always help stop animal abuse. You could:

1. When you don’t want an animal anymore, talk to your vet/animal expert or take it to a no-kill animal shelter. Both of those options are better than abandoning it without any food, water, and shelter.
2. When you buy a pet, know what it needs. Give your pet the thinks it needs including food, water, and shelter.
3. If you suspect animal abuse is going on, call the animal control.
4. Donate to organizations that help stop animal abuse. A good organization for helping abused dogs is Rolda.

http://rolda.org/Ways-to-Help/help-dogs-with-us.html

Another good organization is ASPCA.

http://www.aspca.org/

Lastly, the IS foundation helps the circus animals.

http://www.isfoundation.com/news/kids/stop-circus-animal-abuse

5. Spread the word. You could write a letter to the newspaper or just tell some people you know.

Help stop animal abuse!

-Idea+Gift=Love IGL

Stop fur factories!

Stop Fur Factories!

          Hello, this is IGL and this project is about stopping fur factories. All types of animals are captured for their fur. They spend their life in a small cage then are killed and their fur is used in clothing. And you do NOT want to see a bloody pile of dog and cat carcasses on the dirt. Yes, people kill dogs and cats for their fur. Many times factories say that they use artificial fur, but most of the time, this isn’t true.

          No matter if the animal is endangered or not, they are killed for their hair. It is also been reported that raccoons are skinned ALIVE in factories. I’m afraid I’m going to go against Fey Sommers on this post (we know Ugly Betty is an old show) but fur is murder!

          The horrible thought of skinning so many innocent animals every year is so terribly terrible. There are ways you could help. You could:

1. Shop fur-free
2. Spread the word

Help stop fur factories!

-Idea+Gift=Love IGL

Stop Captive Hunts!

Stop Captive Hunts!

          Hello, this is IGL and this topic is about stopping captive hunts. Captive hunts could disrupt the whole population of a species of animal. Animals are sold from zoos, breeders, and the circus to captive hunt operators. These animals could be endangered and they aren’t afraid of humans since they were cared by them. They lock the animals in a fence then hunters could kill it as an easy target without any difficulty.

          First of all, this strategy of hunting could really harm the population of animals. They don’t stand a chance when a hunter shoots them. Even worse, the bondage between people and animals are harmed.

          Unfortunately, captive hunts also affect humans too. When an animal is placed in an unfamiliar habitat, their immune system might not take the viruses found in that new habitat. They could carry a disease and when a hunter takes their body or head to hang on a wall in their house, that person could receive a disease from the animal. When the government hears about it, taxpayers might have to pay more to fund the cure for the disease.

          So for the benefit of both animals and humans, stop the cruel hunting of captive hunts. There are many ways to help animals in captive hunts. You could:

1. Spread the word. Tell someone or express it in the public.
2. Ask your legislators to help stop captive hunts
3. Write a letter to your state’s government

Captive hunting could be cruel in so many ways, and not only does it affects animals, it affects people too. Help stop captive hunts all over the world.

-Idea+Gift=Love IGL

Stop poaching!

Stop Poaching!

          Hello, this is IGL and this post is about poaching. Poaching is the act of illegal hunting of animals. Poaching is going on everywhere. Hunters kill endangered animals and illegally trade their body parts.

          Poachers kill thousands of animals every year. They also use illegal weapons too. Poachers could decline the population of endangered species, like the tiger and the elephant.

          Poaching occurs all the time. The start of a threat to animals is because of poaching. You could always help by a lot of things. You could:

1. Notify any suspicious activity. If you see any suspicious acts of hunting, recognize who it is (ex: license number). Tell the park ranger or someone in charge.
2. Spread the word. Write about it or tell someone about it.
3. Donate to charities that help threatened animals.

Poaching is a horrible and illegal act. Stop poaching!

-Idea+Gift=Love IGL

Help the Animals in Laboratories!

Animals in Laboratories

          Hello, this is IGL and this topic is about animals in laboratories. Animals in laboratories are bought at the humane society, breeders, or the store to be tested in universities, colleges, and military training. Sometimes they are kidnapped from their habitats. Animals spend their lives in cages sick, undernourished, unloved, and living with dead animals. For example, bunnies are used to test out cosmetics so people put make-up on bunnies.

          People perform surgery on animal to test for medical training. Veterinarian schools also kill animals, cut them open, and then throw them away. In military training, they have the animal run around, and then soldiers shoot them live.

          Animals are abused every day in laboratories. But people could help too. You could:

1. Spread the word. You could promote the issue to the public or just tell people about it.
2. Plead to universities, schools, and the military to stop.
3. Donate to foundations that help animals in laboratories.

Many animals need your help. More than thousands of poor animals are killed in laboratories every day. Help the animals in laboratories!

-Idea+Gift=Love IGL

Help Your Country's Troops

Help Your Country’s Troops!

          Hello, this is IGL. Our topic for this post is the troops. Originally, the idea was to help the US troops, but we remembered there could be people not from the USA looking at this. So, help your country’s troops because it is very important if you do.

          Troops are the military for your country. Whenever there is war, they fight for you. No matter what country you're from, from UK to Côte d'ivoire, your troops fight for you. These troops are always there and they barely ask us for anything, only to be back with their families.
          Operation Gratitude is an organization that sends care packages to US troops in signs of appreciation. They send snacks, entertainment items, and personal letters of appreciation. They have delivered more than 915,000 care packages to men and women in the military since 2003. 

          People in the military go to war many times. These troops help us in so many ways. There are also many ways to help them. You could:

1. Donate to the military
2. Spread the word
3. Send them gifts by Operation Gratitude.
4. Donate to Operation Gratitude for shipping matters. 

Your country’s troops help us in so many ways! Help the troops!

-Idea+Gift=Love IGL

Help the African Child Soldiers!

Help the African Child Soldiers!

          Hello, this is IGL and this project is about African child soldiers. Africa has used children as a militia for years. African boys and girls of teenagers to the age of nine have been kidnapped, sold by their families, or forced to join the military. Boys are separated from friends and families and are taught to fight. Girls are to please adult men in the military.

          One boy said that when he was kidnapped, the militia tied his two younger brothers up and beat them till they died. The youngest was nine years old. Boys are brainwashed and drugged to fight. They always killed someone and it wouldn’t bother them at all.
          War Child is an organization that prevents children from being manipulated by warfare. War Child believes that children should be in school instead of fighting in the army. 

          The children have lost so much. If they showed any weakness, they would be shot and killed. These poor children will never have a happy childhood, family, or friends. You could:

1. Spread the word.
2. Protest against it.
3. Speak to retired children to rehabilitate them.
4. Donate to War Child. Here's their website ==>> http://www.warchild.org.uk

As you can see, these children need a life too. Help the African child soldiers.

-Idea+Gift=Love IGL

Syrian Civil War

Syrian Civil War

          Hello, this is IGL and this topic is the Syrian Civil War, or the Syrian Uprising. The Syrian Uprising has been going on since 2011. It is the war between the rebels of the Ba’ath party and the people who stay loyal to it.

          Many people have fled the country. Some stayed, but live in devastation. Many people die from bombings and riots. Nearly 70,000 people were killed in the war.

          The children of Syria have been through so much through the civil war. There family and friends were killed. A girl, Turkieh, says that her mother was shot and killed when she came back from the market. A boy states that many friends that he used to play with our now dead and missing body parts.

          Save the Children has built refugees in Syria for children. Sadly, they are running out of food, water, clothing, blankets, and medicine. These children deserve this.

          Even though this war is one of the most sad and devastating, you could help too. You could:

1. Donate supplies to refugees in Syria
2. Spread the word. You could write letters to the newspaper or post reports to the library.

Even though there are usually more options, either one of these are very helpful for Syria. Help Syria!

-Idea+Gift=Love IGL

Stop Animal fighting

Animal Fighting

          Hello, this is IGL and this project is about animal fighting. There are many types of animal fighting, even some most people have never heard of. Sometimes animals are fought to the death and these games are considered “entertaining” to some people.

          Dog fighting: Dog fighting is when two dogs are brought together and trained to fight the opponent. The losing dog is usually left dead, but even the winning dog could die because of its harsh injuries. The owners bet each other to see which dog will win. And people come to watch two dogs tear each other’s limbs off to survive. Dog fighting is illegal in some places, but is still common in most areas like Pakistan, China, South Africa, Japan and Russia.

          Hog-Dog fighting: Hog-Dog fighting is the blood sport of when a hog is held captive by a rope and a pole. Dogs are released to torment the animal and kill it. Even the dogs could be hurt by the tusks of the hog. It is most common in the rural south of the USA. Hog-Dog fighting is still present.

          Cockfighting: Cockfighting is a game when two roosters are held together to fight and peck each to the death, like dogfighting but with roosters. After a game, the owner of the rooster throws it away like trash after the bet. Cockfighting is still present in Cuba, Peru, Southern India, Pakistan, Iraq, and Japan.

          Fox penning: Fox penning is the sport when foxes and coyotes are trapped in a fence with no escape. Dogs trained to kill these animals are released and have to try to kill these animals. Foxes are sold to fox operators. They trap them and haul them in cages. Sometimes, foxes and coyotes die on the trip there. The owners bet on their dogs to kill the foxes.

          Bear Baiting: Bear baiting is the game when a bear is trapped by a pole and a rope. Their teeth are flattened and their claws are cut. Dogs are released to kill the bear. The bear has no self-defense weapons to protect itself. The bear is killed to the death. It is allowed in South Carolina.

          As you can see, there are many more blood sports. But these are just a few examples of animal cruelty. But how could you help stop animal fighting? You could:

1.     Spread the word. Tell everyone the truth about animal fighting. You could also write a letter to the newspaper or put up flyers.

2.    Tell the people in charge. You could write a letter to the state’s government or your country’s political leader.

3.    Help the animals yourself. There are many retired animals from animal fighting. You could adopt one if you like or bring it to the animal shelter.

There are many simple options you could do. Stop animal fighting and help the animals.

-Idea+Gift=Love IGL

Stop Eating disorders!

Stop Eating Disorders

          Hello, this is IGL and our new project is eating disorders. Eating disorders are when someone abstains from food to make their body thinner. Sometimes people purge and skip meals. Most of the time people with eating disorders are young adults or teenagers.

          Eating disorders could affect a lot of people. Sometimes when someone is bullied, they are called fat and overweight. Because of that, the person purges themselves to look better. Or it could be because someone is just a “queen bee” and keeps their eating disorder as something to look better in their revealing clothing. Or maybe it’s because their friends are all skinny and inspire that person to contain an eating disorder. Either way, it’s not a good thing.

          Another BIG reason why most people have eating disorders is because of the media. Yes, the media. The media nowadays include super skinny models, movie stars, ettica. In other words size 1 ½ dresses and outfits. Still, there are some healthy and normal-weighted people in TV shows and celebrities that go against bulimia, but most people are still super thin. Our member, Kristine, one day was watching TV shows on her computer. Then, when she came across a clip from the Disney Channel TV show “So Random” (the individual show, not the one in Sonny with a Chance) she was super shocked of what she saw. It was the episode when the male model came to his girlfriend’s house. They were talking about how the male model ate only one full meal a week, which is bad. And the model said that his agent told him that if he wanted to get the jobs (being famous) he couldn't eat ANY carbs. This is so outraging! Now they were supporting eating disorders on children’s shows!

          Even if you skip breakfast so you could look like Ali Lohan, that’s still considered an eating disorder. If you have a minor eating disorder, consider visiting a therapist to get over it. But if it is a hardcore, serious eating disorder (like going without food for weeks or purging) go to a treatment facility if you can't overcome it when you try.


          NEDA is an organization that helps young girls going through eating disorders. NEDA is a non profit organization that reaches out to people with their self-esteem issues. To help, you can plan a NEDA walk to raise money and spread awareness to eating disorders. If you don't want to plan a walk, then just donate! NEDA has a program in which you can donate a car so they can auction it off. Besides, they will take care of all expenses for sending the car over.

          No matter what happened in the past, accept who you are. How you look like on the outside doesn't really matter to how you are in the inside. There are ways to discourage eating disorders .You could:

1.     If you have an eating disorder yourself, stop it. Don't let how your image looks like affect you. If it’s a minor case, try seeing a therapist or a doctor. If it’s serious, consider going to a treatment facility

2.    If you know someone who has an eating disorder, tell them to get some help.

3.    Spread the word. Write a letter to the newspaper, tell someone about it, or just encourage people to stop eating disorders.

4.    If you or someone you know with an eating disorder is afraid of getting overweight or obese, skipping meals is not the answer. Food has healthy nutrition that helps you, not goes against you. However, if you don't want to get too overweight, avoid fatty food like hamburgers, French fries, hot dogs, or fried chicken.

5. Support NEDA and maybe donate to the organization. 
    (  http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org  )

So you see, eating disorders affect so many people in the world every day. Help stop eating disorders and make the world a healthier place.

-Idea+Gift=Love

Cancer

Cancer

          Hello, this is IGL and our topic is Cancer. Cancer is a deadly disease when abnormal cells grow uncontrollably and constantly. Cancer never is a joke; it’s horrifying and heart-breaking when you could lose someone you love or care about. There are many different types of cancer, some with a cure and some you just have to live and die with.

          Once upon a time, there was a member in IGL named Kristine. Kristine’s grandmother smoked a lot. Cigarettes were not something healthy for you. One day, her doctor told her she had a cancer disease. Thankfully, the cancer was minor and had an easy cure. But, if Kristine’s grandmother got lung cancer, she’s a goner. So after that visit to the doctor’s, Kristine’s grandmother threw away all her cigarettes.

          Many people die of cancer. Even though the population of people dying of cancer has decreased, a great amount of people die from it. Doctors work hard for these people. Remember, not everyone’s as lucky.

          Since there aren’t a lot of cures for cancer, many people panic of getting it in the future. But there is a way. To prevent cancer:

1.    Eat healthily
2.    Exercise
3.   Avoid harmful activities (ex :drugs and smoking)

People in the hospital with cancer really need help.A foundation called Stand Up To Cancer funds research labs on cancer. Donate to Stand Up to Cancer Even though only doctors could cure cancer, you could still help. You could:

1. 1.       Cheer them up at the hospital
2. 2.     Support them
3. 3.     And show you care 
4.      Donate to Stand Up to Cancer

Even though cancer is a big battle, you could still help!

-Idea+Gift=Love

Stop the Puppy Mills!

Stop the Puppy Mills!

          Hello, this is IGL and our next project is puppy mills. Puppy mills are breeding facilities that breed dogs numerously. Many pet stores and pet shops say that they get their puppies from person breeders. Usually, they get their puppies from puppy mills. But what’s so bad about puppy mills?

          EVERYTHING! L Puppy mills are basically prisons for dogs and puppies. They puppies are stuffed with others in small cages without any toys or love. They also drink contaminated water and dirty food. They have bloody feet from jumping and struggling in the cage. They have lesions on their eyes and they don’t have enough space in the cages that they crawl on their food. Puppies also live in their poop and pee. Sometimes a puppy dies and the people in charge don’t discard the body. Therefore, puppies could get contagious diseases easily.

          Once upon a time, there was a little girl that wanted a puppy. With her parents, she went to the pet store and bought a Chihuahua puppy. Two days later, they brought it to the vet and it was determined that the puppy already had a disease when it was sold. It would die in a few days (Courtesy of Animal Planet).

          So, the animal shelter has many healthy animals waiting for adoption. Adopt an animal from the animal shelter if you want a guaranteed and healthy dog/puppy. And also, a trusted breeder would be good too. But how could we stop puppy mills? You could:

1.     Notify it to other people

2.    Convince your local pet store to get healthier puppies

3.    Ask your town’s government

4.    Write a letter to the newspaper

5.    Buy puppies from healthier sources

6.    Ask your local library to make a notice

7.    Post flyers at the vet

Stop puppy mills and help the puppies!

-Idea+Gift=Love IGL