From the NPCA:

Do you know of a returned Peace Corps volunteer who continues to make a sustained and distinguished contribution to humanitarian causes at home or abroad? Someone who typifies the best qualities of the Peace Corps community?

If so, nominate him or her for the Sargent Shriver Award for Distinguished Humanitarian Service. The award was named to recognize the tremendous contributions of the first Peace Corps Director, Sargent Shriver, in the founding and development of the Peace Corps.

We welcome your nomination materials by June 2, 2008 to qualify for consideration.

Past winners and the nomination form (.doc)

On par with the UN Data post, here’s another site that let’s you explore country specific stats.

Guyana info

(via independent.co.uk)

A deal has been agreed that will place a financial value on rainforests – paying, for the first time, for their upkeep as “utilities” that provide vital services such as rainfall generation, carbon storage and climate regulation.

The agreement, to be announced tomorrow in New York, will secure the future of one million acres of pristine rainforest in Guyana, the first move of its kind, and will open the way for financial markets to play a key role in safeguarding the fate of the world’s forests.

The initiative follows Guyana’s extraordinary offer, revealed in The Independent in November, to place its entire standing forest under the protection of a British-led international body in return for development aid.

Hylton Murray-Philipson, director of the London-based financiers Canopy Capital, who sealed the deal with the Iwokrama rainforest, said: “How can it be that Google’s services are worth billions but those from all the world’s rainforests amount to nothing?” The past year has been a pivotal one for the fast- disappearing tropical forests that form a cooling band around the equator because the world has recognised deforestation as the second leading cause of CO2 emissions. Leaders at the UN climate summit in Bali in December agreed to include efforts to halt the destruction of forests in a new global deal to save the world from runaway climate change.

(via radiojamaica.com)

To the wider region now, there are fears of further flooding in Guyana following last week’s high sea swells.

Heavy waves caused by a low pressure system affected several Caribbean countries, and left many areas under water.

Residents along Guyana’s east coast Demerara fear that sections of the already fragile sea defence may collapse after the earthen base and shoulder on which the sea-wall rests were eroded.

One shelter has already been opened to facilitate persons displaced by flooding.

Silt from the unusually high tide, triggered by a north-Atlantic low pressure weather system, has clogged up an already poorly maintained drainage system.

(via cubanews.ain.cu)

Dr. Bheri Ramsaran, of the Guyana Health Ministry, praised the work of the Cuban doctors many of whom are working in areas of difficult access, reported Granma.

In the community of Enterprise, Dr. Ramsaran bid farewell to two of the 15 Cuban doctors who started the Integral Health Program in Guyana two years ago. He also welcomed the six Guyanese medical students, in their final year of studies at the Havana based Latin American School of Medicine. The students will spend their last year working under Cuban physicians in Guyanese communities.

Rody Cervantes Silva, head of the Cuban medical mission, explained via Internet that the 122 Cubans serving throughout Guyana have to date attended more than 385,000 doctor’s visits and saved an estimated 200 lives.

The work of the Cuban medical staff has also had an impact on the infant mortality rate, which has dropped from 60 per thousand live births to 28, according to the Guyana authorities.

 

(via caribbean360.com)

Delta Airlines will begin its non-stop flights from New York to Guyana sooner than expected.

Although not giving a reason, the airline has decided the service will begin on June 1st, a month earlier than the July 2nd date it had previously announced.

The North American carrier will fly to and from the John F. Kennedy airport three days a week - Wednesday, Fridays and Sundays.

The UN has opened up it’s databases of global information for all countries, the site is very comprehensive. Check out Guyana’s info - http://data.un.org/CountryProfile.aspx?crname=Guyana

(via dailymirror.lk)

The ‘Micro’ car-manufacturing company of Sri Lanka has embarked on establishing a production plant in Guyana in the Caribbean with the intention of targeting the Latin American motor car market. The agreement in this regard was signed recently at the Export Development Board (EDB) under the patronage of Prof. G.L.Peiris, Minister of Export Development and International Trade.

It was signed by Dr. Laurence Perera, Chairman, Sri Lanka Micro Co. Ltd. and Ahamed Ameer, Chief Administrative Officer, Micro Car Caribbean Company on behalf of their respective companies.

Under the Agreement entered into, the Caribbean Company would be authorized to manufacture motor vehicles that fall within the patent license of Micro company while the latter would provide technical and design advice along with the services of Sri Lankan engineers.

<a href=”http://technorati.com/claim/bn83xxy84a” rel=”me”>Technorati Profile</a>

(via stabroeknews.com)

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of 18-year-old Project Trust volunteer Pamela McCarroll around 2 pm on Sunday at the Tutuwau Falls, South Central Rupununi.

According to a police press release, investigations so far revealed that McCarroll, a Scottish national, who was attached to the St Ignatius Secondary School in Lethem, had gone sightseeing at the Falls in the company of a friend.

“It is reported that she was rock climbing in the area when she fell and sustained injuries.

She was subsequently pronounced dead by medical personnel from the Lethem Regional Hospital,” the police press release said yesterday.

 

A former PCV of Guyana has started a non-profit called Dance Beyond Limits, Inc.  They’re a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of children and teens with life-altering illnesses, persons with developmental disabilities and inner-city youth through Ballroom Dance.  Check out her upcoming event -

Dance Beyond Limits, Inc. and Dancing 4 Fun have teamed up to bring you a 4-Week Class!!!

Beginners and Intermediate Salsa, Bachata and  Merengue

What: A 4-week dance class and latin party benefiting Dance Beyond Limits

When: Every Tuesday for 4 Weeks starting March 18, 2008 from 7:30-9:30. Party from 9:30-12am

Where: Nemoes Tavern & Grill 6025 Peachtree Pkwy
Norcross, GA 30092.

Price: $25 min. donation for 4-week class. $5 min. donation for each party

Dance Beyond Limits is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of children and teens with life-altering illnesses, persons with developmental disabilities and inner-city youth through Ballroom Dance.

To Register and Pay for the 4-Week class, visit www.dancebeyondlimits.org and click on Events and then click “DONATE.”