iEARN in Action, April 22, 2008

Special Announcement!
iEARN YOUTH REPRESENTATIVE ELECTIONS - JUST ONE MORE DAY TO VOTE - LAST DAY TO VOTE IS APRIL 23! From the iEARN Youth Representative Election Committee - 2008, "It is now time to vote for the next Youth Representative. The following are the names of the candidates: (in alphabetical order). 1) Kapil Joshi - India; 2) Nanis Yousry - Egypt; 3) Niwa Dwitama - Indonesia; 4) Zeina Hariri - Lebanon. We encourage you to become familiar with the qualifications of ALL 4 candidates before casting your vote. To see their profiles and responses to the questions posted to each of the candidates during the Question and Answer period, go to the Youth Representative Election Forum iEARNers 6-24 years of age are allowed to vote. Voters must vote using the voting ballot that is provided on the YR Election Forum (see URL above)." Voting will take place April 3, 2008 to April 23, 2008. Please feel free to share with the election committee any inquiries and/or comments via forum or email:: yrelection@iearn.org.

Seeking Partners: iEARN Projects!
2. OF(2) Our Footprints, Our Future - iEARN helps develop first Carbon Footprint Youth Calculator.
3. Join Global Youth Service Day events, April 25-27, 2008.
4. Qatar school seeking partners for Special Places exchange.

Resources, Contests, Websites and Announcements!
5. Download a copy of the March Global Connections and Exchange newsletter of iEARN activities.
6. iEARN turns 20 - see video stories from participants worldwide.
7. Check out Adobe Youth Voices media in the AYV Album.
8. Educational Opportunities Forum.

Upcoming Events!
9. iEARN-Trinidad and Tobago to host Natural Disaster Youth Summit (April 2008).
10. 15th Annual iEARN International Conference, Bukhara, Uzbekistan (July 2008.

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Seeking Partners: iEARN Projects and Activities
Download the 2007-2008 iEARN Project Book (in Arabic, Azeri, English, French, Spanish): http://www.iearn.org/projects/projectbook.html for a full listing of iEARN projects, see: http://media.iearn.org/projects/.
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2. (OF)2 - OUR FOOTPRINTS, OUR FUTURE: iEARN helps develop first Carbon Footprint Youth Calculator. After measuring her footprint, Regina in New York City wrote to Mohamed in Cairo in the YouthCaN forum: "I'm so happy that you calculated your carbon footprint! So, did I and I got a 9.4. Ever since I calculated it, I've been more cautious of things I do everyday. I make sure I turn off lights when I leave rooms and have been recycling a lot. My family has always recycled paper and bottles since I was little, so I hope that will eventually help our environment. For me, figuring out my footprint made me realize the effect of my carbon emissions on our world. Maybe once people find out theirs, they too will realize that our environment needs help." Any/ALL youth can measure their footprint and set personal goals for lifestyle change by clicking on "Calculator" at: http://of2.iearn.org The goal is to have 1 million young people set a goal of reducing 35,000 kg/tons of CO2 within a year. A guide for teachers about the questions in the Youth Calculator and lists of resources are also on http://of2.iearn.org

3. JOIN GLOBAL YOUTH SERVICE DAY EVENTS, APRIL 25-27. GYSD connects young people worldwide on service projects in which young people evaluate social issues in their immediate and extended communities and respond to them through action projects. Join the various youth service projects in iEARN and collaborate with youth worldwide on local and global service activities, including CIVICS and Students Unlimited and Good Deeds.

4. QATAR SCHOOL SEEKING PARTNERS FOR SPECIAL PLACES EXCHANGE. Qatar Leadership Academy invites you to share with us our special places, one in Qatar and the other somewhere in the world. The students have just been reading about others' special places and have introduced themselves. I am sure you will find their places have a lot of emotion attached to them. Contact Judith. For more about the iEARN Special Places Project, see here.

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Check it Out! Resources, Contests, Websites, Announcements.
(This includes resources that are not part of iEARN)
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5. DOWNLOAD A COPY OF THE GLOBAL CONNECTIONS AND EXCHANGE PROGRAM MARCH NEWSLETTER FEATURING iEARN ACTIVITIES IN THIRTEEN COUNTRIES. Read about iEARN workshops, youth service projects, and exhibitions in Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Syria, Uzbekistan and the USA. The Global Connections & Exchange Program (GCE) is made possible through support and funding from the US State Department's (DOS) Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA).

6. iEARN TURNS 20 - VIEW VIDEO STORIES FROM PARTICIPANTS WORLDWIDE. See here for video interviews with iEARN participants in Argentina, Canada, Egypt, Georgia, India, Israel, Japan, Mali, Netherlands, Pakistan, Palestine, Senegal, Taiwan, UK, USA, and Yemen, speaking about favorite iEARN projects and experiences. Join us in celebrating 20 years of global collaboration by uploading your stories, photos and videos!

7. VIEW ADOBE YOUTH VOICES MEDIA FROM CANADA, INDIA, THE UK AND USA. Young people from cities around the world are using video, multimedia, digital art, web, animation, and audio tools to express themselves and make positive contributions to their communities. View their work in the AYV Album.

8. EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FORUM. An iEARN forum (http://foro.iearn.org/iearnforums/edopportunities) providing information about educational and fundraising opportunities for students and teachers. Recent items include: 5th Annual Youth Assembly at the United Nations, date: August 11-14, 2008. Learn more here. Summer Journalism Courses in Prague, Czech Republic, various dates. Learn more here. 3rd International Young Professionals Summit, dates: 19th to 22nd August. Learn more here.

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Upcoming Events
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9. NATURAL DISASTER YOUTH SUMMIT April 2008. This year's theme: Global Warming and Disaster Reduction. NDYS 2008 International Conference will be held in Trinidad and Tobago in April 2008. For more about the project, see http://ndys.jearn.jp/ and to join discussions, http://media.iearn.org/projects/ndys.

10. JOIN iEARN-UZBEKISTAN JULY 12-18 IN BUKHARA FOR THE 15TH ANNUAL iEARN CONFERENCE. Check out the conference website, developed by youth, with help of iEARN-Uzbekistan team! iEARN-Uzbekistan Country Coordinator, Anatoly Kochnev announces pre-conference activities schedule where people will be able to learn more about conference hosting country, things to bring, activities during the conference, visa issues, travel opportunities and other.

Online chat schedule:

April: Date: Friday, April 28. Time: 4PM (GMT +5). Theme: Accommodations, trips, pre and after conference activities.

May: Date: Monday, May 12. Time: 4PM (GMT +5). Theme: Two months to go: are we ready? Date: Tuesday, May 27. Time: 4PM (GMT +5). Theme: Last call for proposals for workshops.

June: Date: Thursday, June 19: Time: 4PM (GMT +5). Theme: Getting ready to travel to Uzbekistan: what to take with you.

Connect in the 2008 Conference forum or see here. If you have any questions or inquires about participation in iEARN Annual 15th International Conference and 12th Youth Summit, please contact us at info@iearn2008.uz

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TO SUBMIT AN ANNOUNCEMENT FOR THE NEWSFLASH: Send your announcement (2-3 lines) to newsflash@us.iearn.org.
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iEARN (International Education and Resource Network) is a global non-profit network that empowers teachers and students to undertake projects designed to make a meaningful contribution to the health and welfare of the planet and its people. Started in 1988, iEARN is currently active in over 120 countries, with 1,000,000 students participating as part of their education. iEARN-International: http://www.iearn.org

Download the 2007-2008 iEARN Project Book: http://www.iearn.org/projects/projectbook.html (available in Arabic, English, French, and Japanese) or for a full listing of iEARN projects, see: http://www.iearn.org/projects/
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