UK: Hope From The Floods

Dear friends,

David Cameron is reacting with short term fixes as our country suffers the worst floods in 200 years. But together we can get him to face down the climate deniers, and agree a way to stop disastrous deluges happening more and more often. 
Energy Secretary Ed Davey just warned that fringes of the Tory Party and UKIP are trying everything to trash the scientific and political consensus on climate change. These guys have their heads in a sandbag: leading scientists agree these floods are climate-related. Their nutty attacks are dangerously timed -- right now, Europe is setting joint long-term goals to cut carbon pollution. And only if the EU sets the right benchmark can we get the rest of the world to aim high.

At this time of national crisis, David Cameron is looking for ways to show voters he’s a strong leader, but he’s refusing to step up on long-term targets. Let’s build a massive national outcry to remind him of his promise to lead the “greenest government ever”. Sign the petition to get the strong climate targets we need to make our country safe and forward this widely -- for every 10,000 signers we’ll send a sandbag filled with names to No.10:

www.avaaz.org/en/hope_from_the_floods/?bOksxab&v=35971

Vatican Under Global Scrutiny After UN Sex Abuse Report

Vatican under global scrutiny after UN sex abuse report (via AFP)

The UN's damning report on the Vatican's handling of child sex abuse cases has turned up the pressure on the Church to convince a sceptical international community it has adopted a zero-tolerance approach. "The Vatican has taken some steps forward,…

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5 Hot Hollywood Celebs Who Are Hell-bent On Saving The Earth

Apart from being talented and insanely good-looking, there are some Hollywood actors out there who are have a green heart and are leaving no stone unturned to practice green living and to do their bit towards conserving the environment. These are real-life stars playing a fantastic role even behind the scenes, working towards the betterment of earth and mankind. Listed below are 5 hot Hollywood celebrities who have been working hard to support the environment and promote green living.

How Alcohol Can Affect Your Sex Life

By Henry H. Hernandez

We all know some of the more common dangers of alcohol like, liver damage, hangovers or even death as a result from drunk driving. But could it also be damaging your sex life? Is there a connection between alcohol and bad sex? I have some stats and facts that may surprise you about the two and may make you rethink your drinking habits.

Though many people believe alcohol to be an aphrodisiac, researchers have actually found the opposite to be true. Drinking too much can actually reduce sexual sensitivity in both men and women. Here are some more things to consider…

Let's Help Edward Snowden Find A Safe Home!

Edward Snowden risked everything to expose mind-boggling and illegal US surveillance -- and now faces solitary confinement and life in prison unless Brazil grants him asylum. Let's send the largest citizen-supported asylum bid in history to President Dilma this week, and win a battle for democracy everywhere!

The History of Germs [Infographic]

Essentially, bacteria was the first type of life to form on planet Earth, which is why advancing in technology to help understand bacteria and germs is so important today. Germs have technically been around for more than 3,500 million years, and were only first recognized in the 1670s, when Atnon van Leeuwenhoek first began looking at different microorganisms underneath a microscope. Understanding germs and bacteria today allows us to move forward with vaccines, cures and medicine to boost our immune systems and to increase our overall lifespan.

Types of Germs
There are four types of germs that are categorized individually. Bacteria is considered single-cell creatures, which often require a microscope to view. Bacteria lurks just about everywhere on the planet, ranging from the air, water, soil and even on the human body. It is possible to find bacteria on nearly all surfaces and spaces of the earth with a microscope.

A virus is another type of germ which requires a host to survive and continue on. Viruses are capable of reproducing and growing on their own with the right host and amount of food. Viruses live within a the actual cell of an animal, human being or even a living plant.

Fungi is another type of germ that lives off of plants and animals. It is made up of a number of cells. Additionally, protozoa is the final type of germ, which is extraordinary small, similar to bacteria itself. There are more than 20,000 different types of protozoa known to man today. Protozoa can be found in ponds, rivers, lakes, oceans and any type of body of water.

Deadliest Germs
Some of the deadliest germs still exist on earth today, which is why hygiene and being proactive with your health is essential to avoid them. E Coli is one of the most deadliest germs that is found just about everywhere. It is pathogens that trigger deadly diseases and illnesses in humans, which can ultimately be fatal.

Salmonella is another deadly germ that has the ability to take two forms. One of the forms of salmonella, typhi, triggers thypoid fever in its human host, responsible for more than 216,000 deaths a year.

Tetanus is another deadly germ which is dirt carrying spores which can lead to sickness and is potentially fatal. Streptococcus is another germ that is responsible for a large number of deaths due to pneumonia and meningitis.

Thousands Protest Extreme Right Ball In Vienna

Thousands protest extreme right ball in Vienna (via AFP)

Thousands of people rallied in Vienna Friday to protest against the staging of an annual ball hosted by an extreme right party in a palace in the heart of the Austrian capital. State television network ORF estimated 10,000 people took part in the three…

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Modern Astronomy And The Universe [Infographic]

Over time, ancient astronomy and research has adapted and allowed us to make tremendous advancements in understanding our universe. From Galileo’s invention of the 3x and 30x telescopes to Sir William Herschel’s discovery of Uranus, scientists and astronomers have been able to expand our knowledge of space by using the tools available to them. Just think about it; 500 years ago it was still a popularly held belief that the earth was the center of the universe and all other planets orbited around us. When looking at the modern technology used to map the universe and study its nature it is important to analyze the profound impact of the Hubble Space Telescope. Launched in 1990, Hubble was the first major optical telescope to be placed in space. In its 20-year lifetime it has made more than 930,000 observations and taken over 570,000 photos of 30,000 celestial objects. You can learn more about life in space and the universe by reading through the infographic below.

Europe: Huge Climate Decision In 48 Hours

In 48 hours, Europe will decide how much to cut the pollution that is causing the climate crisis. If they set weak goals, we are in trouble, but if Europe is bold, then mega polluters, like China and the US, could follow. This is the first battle to save our planet and EU President Barroso holds the key. 

Send him an urgent message now!

My Top 10 Dubbed Anime TV Series [In No Particular Order]

Many fans in the U.S. were first introduced to anime at a young age, watching dubbed versions on Toonami and Adult Swim. The hard work and dedication that goes into creating a smooth and still entertaining voice-over dub requires a special set of skills, especially for the voice-over talents.

With that in mind, here is a quick top ten list of what could be considered some of the best voice-over acting for an English dubbed anime television series (in no particular order).

Warm 2013 Stirs Debate

Everyone maintains their own unique opinions about global warming. Even scientific data is
sliced in various ways to support arguments falling on both sides of the issue. So it is with great
anticipation that climatologists assemble year-end information about global weather conditions.

While preliminary studies have been released for the calendar year 2013, the data used to
compile findings is actually based on information gleaned from January through October. The
full-year report will follow in March, once the November and December figures are assessed.

A preliminary look at 2013, illustrates a comparatively warm year, perhaps ranking among the
warmest average temperatures in history. In addition to last year's data, the UK Met Office 
released a forecast for similarly warm conditions in 2014.

The Hazards Of Urinating In Public

The header itself will probably make you think you don't need to read this because you're never ever going to do it anyway. But wait...before you definitively say that, think of circumstances you may find yourself in which makes you do just that - pee in public.

Public urination is viewed on different levels of tolerance. In some countries, it is a normal everyday occurrence, even if it usually happens at night. In others, usually in the Western side of the globe, the act of urinating publicly is taboo, even illegal. So, before you attempt it, know the local culture of the place you're in and the laws regarding public peeing.