Scots we like...J.K. Rowling

J.K. Rowling, author of the best-selling Harry Potter series, delivers her Commencement Address, "The Fringe Benefits of Failure, and the Importance of Imagination," at the Annual Meeting of the Harvard Alumni Association.

A most eloquent & moving speech. Rowling mentions working at the Amnesty International London office as one of her most transformative experiences. The entire prepared text & video from Harvard Magazine.

Give Refugees a Hand

Since early 2001, renowned American actress Angelina Jolie has traveled the world as a Goodwill Ambassador to UNHCR, The UN Refugee Agency. On World Refugee Day, she pays tribute to the forcibly uprooted and to the people who protect them.

BOOK IT!

Calling All Supporters of Darfur Schools of Peace

OBJECTIVE: To purchase new textbooks for the Darfur Schools of Peace

QUANTITY: 1 textbook for every 2 students (of each required text)

COST: $8,000

SUPPLIER: Darfur Peace & Development Organization will purchase the textbooks, approved for primary school curriculum, from the Sudanese Ministry of Education

TIMELINE: 1 month!

DPDO hopes to raise this textbook budget by July 15 or earlier in order to ship the books to the schools for the 2008-2009 school year.

For donations, see http://www.darfurpeace.org/ or click on their logo at top right.

Congratulations Senator Obama!

Giulia encourages all her friends to join Cats for Obama (on my.barackobama.com). We are so excited about the news that the Senator will be our nominee & our President. He has been very helpful in the movement to end the Darfur crisis. We look forward to hearing him speak on the issue in the general campaign. [the YouTube cookie is disabled until you click on it.]

Have a great weekend!