Selena Gomez

Selena Gomez

          Hello, this is IGL and this post is about Selena Gomez. Selena Gomez is a famous singer and actress known for her Disney Channel show Wizards of Waverly Place. She has also appeared in other movies such as “Princess Protection Program”, which she worked on alongside her best friend Demi Lovato. Her music has been praised too, such as her songs “Love You like a Love Song” and “Who Says”.

          Selena Gomez involves herself in many charities and organizations. She is the youngest ambassador of UNICEF’s foundation Goodwill. She has participated in launching the Ryan Seacrest Foundation, which helps children in poor conditions to be able to chase their dreams in radio, TV, and music.

          Selena Gomez has involved herself in so many organizations and charities. This isn’t even half the things Gomez has done in her life. She has been a great help to many children and individuals in this world.

Idea+Gift=Love IGL

Demi Lovato

Demi Lovato

          Hello, this is IGL and this post is about Demi Lovato. Demi Lovato is a singer and actress, and also, a philanthropist. Demi Lovato is a celebrity that has struggled through many issues as a child and adolescent, including cutting, eating disorders, bipolar, substance abuse, and bullying. Demi has been bullied as a child, but during middle school, the bullying became too much and she pulled out of public school to be homeschooled. She had a rocky relationship with her self-esteem issues and her eating disorders. At a young age, she began binge eating, and soon, throwing herself up because of her bullies. She also began to cut herself to harm herself.

          She always wanted to become a singer/actress, so she landed a role on Disney Channel to a short series called As the Bell Rings. People were impressed by Lovato’s talent and Disney soon gave her the roles in Camp Rock along with the Jonas Brothers, the sequel, and her own show, Sonny with a Chance.

          Lovato’s first account of substance abuse was around the age of 12. She got into a car accident and was prescribed painkillers. She would sneak them from her mother’s purse and consume them, enjoying the feelings of being taken away of her conscious. Through her teen years, she began to party a lot and use drugs and alcohol. After her relationship with Joe Jonas broke, whom she dated for about two months, she started to frequently party. When one of her own friends threatened to tell, she punched her and had a nervous breakdown.

          Her family and friends suggested for her to go to rehab, where she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. After exiting rehab, she got better, and stopped cutting, purging, and overcame her past experiences. However, she relapsed, and continued her substance abuse with cocaine and alcohol. But after one day of throwing up in the limo, she decided to turn her life around and stay sober. She lived in a sober living house for quite a time, and now advocates against glamorizing intoxicants.

          She released her hit single “Skyscraper” in 2011 and published a daily meditation book called Stay Strong: 365 Days a Year to positively treat a day better. She advocates against drug and alcohol abuse, reckless partying, self harm, and hate. She tells people that no matter how they feel, they are beautiful. She has inspired people to tell their story after she dared to tell hers, and helped many souls in getting better from their own issues.

          Lovato is also an advocate for LGBT rights, and was crowned the grand marshal for Los Angeles’s Gay Pride Parade in 2014. She has publicly announced her love for the LGBT community and how even though she was Christian, she knew that Jesus loved everyone and treated them equally. Today, Demi Lovato has been an inspiration to people everywhere: children, teenagers, and adults. She has been an incredible role model to people all around the world.

Idea+Gift=Love IGL

Help the Elkhorn Coral

Help the Elkhorn Coral!

     Hello, this is IGL and this post is about helping the Elkhorn Coral. The tissue of Elkhorn Coral is covered with zooxanthellae, a type of algae that has a symbiotic relationship with coral. The zooxanthellae produce food for the coral by photosynthesis, while the coral gives the algae shelter and space for sunlight.

     Elkhorn Coral is a great home for other sea life because a) they can outgrow competitors in their tropical reef habitats because of their light structures; b) Elkhorn Coral colonies are simultaneously hermaphroditic, being able to reproduce young with themselves because they are both sexual and asexual (their offspring will be exact clones as their mother/father); and c) Elkhorn Corals, whenever hungry, can prey for fish and plankton using their long tentacles.

     However, despite these advantages and adaptations to survive, the Elkhorn Coral is critically endangered. Because of disease, natural disasters, coral bleaching, human activity, and pollution, the Elkhorn Coral is disappearing. The main factor is global warming. The climate change causes the waters in the ocean to heat up, which the zooxanthellae do not like. This causes coral bleaching. With the disappearances of zooxanthellae, the corals are vulnerable to disease. The climate change also causes more hurricanes, harming the coral reef habitats. The bacteria from human pollution also cause more diseases for the Elkhorn Coral. Destructive fishing practices and human waste harms the reefs.

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

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

2.     Educate people and tell them about it.

3.     Use less electricity and fossil fuels. Try walking or biking instead of driving around in cars. Don’t use electricity when you don’t need to.

4.     Start throwing away your trash and stop increasing pollution.

5.     Don’t destruct coral reefs by fishing or any other human activity.

Help the Elkhorn Coral!

Idea+Gift=Love IGL

Afghanistan

Afghanistan

          Hello, this is IGL and this post is about Afghanistan. Afghanistan is a country in the region of Central Asia. Afghanistan is known primarily because of the ruthless Taliban. After the Taliban faded and was forgotten in most of the country, poverty followed. The country’s Islamic faith holds them true to themselves, but all the hard work was wiped away after the war with the United States.

          The Taliban was an organization of strict rulers and leaders, and followers grew among the nation. The Taliban was harsh, and many were killed. Females were not aloud to attend schools, and are brutally treated as mere servants to cook, clean, and raise children. After the 9/11 accident, a war occurred between USA and Afghanistan. When the Taliban retreated, people rejoiced. But today, members of the Taliban still live in the nation. After the war, buildings were gone and streets were ruined. Children have to go to work instead of going to school to get an education. 42% of the population lives in severe poverty. 90% of women are illiterate, and 63% of men are illiterate. In 2012, Afghanistan’s GDP per capita was $1000. That means, the average amount of money people who work in the country earn $1000 in one year in total. That’s not a lot.

          Poverty is most common in the rural areas. Prices of food have increased when families could barely afford anything. After the war, pollution and destruction is everywhere. Most battles took place in the rural. 45% of the Kuchi nomads and rural people are living in critical poverty. Famers, herders, and landless citizens are the poorest, and widows must take care of their children without a husband. The Kuchi people are historically nomadic and depend on livestock to survive. 15% of these people must settle because of loss of migrational routes or livestock. The Kuchi citizens are also neglected by the government.

          Afghanistan’s children have harsh treatment, especially children under the age of five who are vulnerable. Their families can’t pay for school so they must work to earn some money for their families. Half of Afghanistan’s population of children is living with chronic malnutrition. Children in the refugees do not have the right resources to stay healthy, and some rural children must live on the rural land alone with their widowed mother. Many are illiterate, and when they become sick, their families don’t have enough money to get a doctor.

          Help the Afghan Children is a foundation founded by Suraya Sadeed. Help the Afghan Children supplies children with the right sources. It also helps them get a good education by building schools around the country. They send learning programs to the children, and have established schools in Kabul and Laghman Province. HTAC gives programs for computers, environment, literacy, and cultural exchanges. They also give peace and landmine education, as well as teacher training. Their literacy program, the Read Afghanistan Literacy Program, teaches children to read story books in bilingual languages, and educating them how to write. HTAC also gives humanitarian supplies, such as clothes, blankets, medicine, shoes, food, and heating to help them live.

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

1. Start a petition.
2. Spread the word
3. Adopt a child from Afghanistan
4. Donate or volunteer at HTAC (http://www.helptheafghanchildren.org/)

Help Afghanistan!

Idea+Gift=Love IGL

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

Mental Disorders

Mental Disorders

          Hello, this is IGL and this post is about mental disorders. Mental disorders are conditions in which the brain is not able to function correctly. People with mental illnesses can be born with them or can be affected by their environment. Mental disorders can be defects in personality, education, social ability, phobias, depression, impulse-control, memory and eating disorders. These affect people and others around them. It affects their past, present, and future. However, people with mental disorders should be treated equally as anyone else.

          There are many types of mental disorders, such as:

• Anxiety disorders: This could affect both adults and children. They can last a long time and are quite common. They put the person in a depressive mood, creating feelings like angers, stress, and fear. This includes phobias, panic disorders, social anxiety, stress, OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder), and general anxiety.
• Child disorders: These affect a person during their childhood. It can be social or learning abilities. These include pica, ADHD, autism, dyslexia, bed wetting, and much more.
• Sleep disorders: These are in effect during sleep. They include insomnia, sleepwalking, sleep bruxism, nightmare disorder, narcolepsy, hypersomnia, and sleep terror disorder.
• Mood disorders: Mood disorders affect a person’s behavior and mood, and some may even cause potential, violent outbursts. These include bipolar, depression, Cyclothymic Disorder, Seasonal Affective Disorder, and Dysthymic Disorder.
• Organic Brain disorders: Organic brain disorders are caused because of the individual’s surrounding environment. Trauma from past events or other failures of the body could cause this. These include dementia, (sometimes) amnesia, Multiple Sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, delirium, Parkinson’s disease and Huntington Disease.
• Personality Disorders: Personality disorders affect a person’s behavior or mental thoughts. A type of personality disorders is called an odd personality disorder, oddly dissociative and detached. These are Schizotypal, Paranoid Personality Disorder, and Schizoid. Another type is Dramatic, being over reactive or sensitive. These include Antisocial, Borderline, Narcissistic, and Histrionic Personality Disorder. The last group is Anxious, when a person is scared to be independent and sometimes detaches him or herself from others. These are Avoidant, Dependant, and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.
• Impulse Control Disorders: Impulse control disorders are conditions in which a person has an addiction or urge that might harm him or herself or others around. These are Kleptomania (stealing), Intermittent Explosive Disorder (anger issues), Pyromania (setting fire), Pathological Gambling, Trichotillomania (hair plucking), Internet Addiction, Dermatillomania (skin plucking), onchycophagia (nail biting), and compulsive shopping.  

There are many other types of other mental disorders, such as conversion disorders, factitious disorders (pretending to be injured or sick), and substance abuse (abusing intoxicants). 

Help people with mental disorders!

Idea+Gift=Love IGL

Breast Cancer

Breast Cancer

            Hello, this is IGL and this post is about breast cancer. Breast cancer is the disease of the overgrowth of breast cells. Tumors will form; the two kinds of tumors are benign (harmless) and malignant. Harmful tumors can spread to other body parts and affect the system drastically. Types of malignant breast cancer are Invasive Ductal Carcinoma; Triple Negative Breast Cancer; Inflammatory Breast Cancer; Metastatic Breast Cancer; Metaplastic Carcinoma; and Paget's Disease.

            Symptoms for breast cancer are not usual at first, but when signs that a benign tumor is forming in the breast, it usually means cancer. But if you are going through puberty, do not mistake a bud to be breast cancer. For more serious conditions, painful symptoms occur. Breast or nipple pain, swelling, a large, strange lump, tenderness, skin irritation, skin dimpling, inward nipple, and nipple discharge that is not breast milk. If any of these symptoms occur, visit your doctor immediately.

            Breast cancer is classified into stages.

1.       Stage 0- Cancer not invasive or dangerous

2.      Stage 1A- Grows up to 2 cm but has not spread to other body parts

3.      Stage 1B- No tumor with invasive cells, or there is a tumor but smaller than 2 cm.

4.      Stage 11A

a.      No tumor but invasive cells found in lymph nodes

b.      Tumor is 2 cm or smaller, but has spread to axillary lymph nodes (under arm)

c.      Tumor is bigger than 2 cm, but hasn’t spread to axillary lymph nodes

5.      Stage 11B- Tumor is bigger than 2 cm and has spread to axillary lymph nodes or is bigger than 5 cm but did not spread to axillary lymph nodes

6.      Stage 111A- No tumor, but invasive cancer cells clumped in lymph nodes or any size of tumor has spread to axillary lymph nodes

7.      Stage 111B- Tumor is any size and spread to skin, and could’ve spread to axillary lymph nodes

8.      Stage 111C- NO sign of breast cancer, but could have spread to wall. Also has spread to lymph nodes near collarbone and to axillary lymph nodes near breast bone.

9.      Stage IV- The cancer has spread to other parts in the body

Breast cancer can be caused by many risk factors. Intoxicants, such as smoking, drinking, and drugs, can be cause breast cancer in the future. Being overweight and being exposed to radiation are also common ways. Radiation exposure before the age of 30 to the chest and face is a likely cause of cancer. Obesity is a huge risk factor. The excess fat produces more estrogen, which also produces more breast cells. As you begin to become older, losing weight is difficult. Junk food is also malicious to the body. Growth hormones in the fatty foods grow more breast cells, and also make girls receive their period before the age of 12, which is also another risk factor. Dense breasts make it harder to detect the cancer during testing. But there has been no link discovered from breast implants to breast cancer. But it is quite possible that breast implants may cause lymphoma. But lack of data can clarify this statement. Smoking is also a big risk. It damages the lungs, which makes it harder for treatment and healing. Drinking speeds up the growth of estrogen, and if a female drinks at least three drinks a week, it increases breast cancer risk by 15%. People who’ve taken HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) in the past, it can also risk breast cancer. Low Vitamin D and exposure to chemicals are also risk factors.

Luckily, if noticed early enough, breast cancer can be treated. Surgery is the most common type. Lumpectomy is the removal of a tumor and unhealthy tissue; mastectomy is the removal of a whole breast. A mastectomy reduces the risk of breast cancer again by 90%. The female has a choice to reconstruct the breast either by replacing with a breast implant or gathering other tissue. Surgeons remove the lymph node as well. Prophylactic Ovary Removal is when the ovaries are removed to reduce estrogen growth. This only makes it harder to get breast cancer. Hormonal therapy is similar to Prophylactic Ovary Removal—it blocks off or shuts down estrogen supply. When using hormonal therapy, often times the surgeon would remove the fallopian tube or ovaries. Cyrotherapy is when extreme cold temperatures are used to kill off cancer cells. However, scientists are not sure if cyrotherapy is affective. Radiotherapy is when radiation is used to kill invasive, cancer cells. Chemotherapy is the use of medicines to weaken or kill cancer cells. To see if you have breast cancer, contact the doctor for a mammogram, which is a test to see if you have breast cancer.

It is rare for parents to pass down breast cancer to children, which is only 5-10% of causes. The main reason is aging, which is 90%. In the United States, 1 out of 8 women will get breast cancer. However, individual risks vary depending on background, considering age. Breast cancer is most common in Caucasian women.

October is National Breast Cancer Month. Many organizations have been collaborating for events for National Breast Cancer Month. October 4^th is Breast Cancer Awareness Day. The breast cancer ribbon is light pink.

NBCF (National Breast Cancer Foundation) is an organization that helps women by providing mammograms and detecting breast cancer before it becomes malignant. They give education and helpful advice for breast cancer and what might happen. NBCF started off as giving free mammograms in the United States, but now helps all around the world. NBCF is one of the most praised cancer foundations in the world.

There are many ways to help. You could:

1. Tell someone. Write an article about it.
2. Stop or abstain from drinking, smoking, and using drugs.
3. Exercise a lot and keep a healthy weight. Maintain a healthy diet with plentiful Vitamin D.
4. Stay away from radiation and harmful chemicals.
5. If dense breasts are a burden, suggest breast reduction as an option.
6. Donate to organizations, such as NBCF or American Cancer Society
7. On October 4^th, wear a pink ribbon in celebration of breast cancer.
8. Test for breast cancer frequently, like mammograms
9. Receive the best treatment for breast cancer if you have it

Help stop breast cancer!

Idea+Gift=Love IGL