After 30 years of armed conflicts, Afghanistan has suffered the loss and desecration of thousands of archeological objects and hundreds of ancient sites, such as the city of Ai Khanum and Bamiyan, which endured vandalism and irreparable destruction in 2001.
Archaeological sites are like open books, revealing to us the story of an era, a civilization, of trades and relationships between nations. These are the stories of our humanity and the roots of a nation’s cultural identity. They must be preserved.
Let us ACT now for the Heritage of Afghanistan and protect Mess Aynak, an ancient and vast Buddhist monastic ensemble under threat from a proposed copper mine. While economical development is necessary through the mining of precious minerals, it cannot become an additional tool for cultural destruction.
Help protect Mess Aynak’s treasures–please ask UNESCO to include Mess Aynak, Afghanistan on the List of Endangered Sites and the World Heritage List.
Protect Afghan Archaeological Sites, the case of Mess Aynak
Are you sick of doing your holiday shopping at corporate malls and discount chains? Are you looking for unique gifts that create social change? Do you want giving this holiday season to be meaningful for people around the world? Then check out the 2010 Change.org Holiday Gift Guide. You can join the growing social movement to ditch the mall and buy better this holiday season– better for the planet, for people, and for you. As with everything you buy, we recommend you do your own research on the companies and organizations you choose to support financially. This guide is far from exhaustive, so please add your favorite places to buy gifts in the comments section.
Last week, the World Bank 
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I’ve spent the last few days in Boulder immersed in the world of the Unreasonable Institute. As I’ve been listening to some promising social ventures give their pitches, there have been a number of great articles about the changing nature of the venture space, innovation in global mobile money, some good news about conflict minerals, and more.