How to Cope with the Loss of a Loved One

Posted on May 9, 2012 by HRSupport

A death of a family member, friend or someone you love can be a devastating experience. Though it is painful for everyone, it is important to learn how to deal with the loss of a loved one because everyone is going to experience the feeling at one point. Here are the tops tips you should take when dealing with a loss:

1.Talk it out
The grieving period can be very tough, but it can become more comfortable if you have someone to talk to. Whether it’s a parent of friend, talking to someone can allow for you to express yourself and be heard. It’s a great way to get out your feelings. Try not to hold anything back, especially if you are around people dealing with the death as well. Communicating with each other can create strong bonds and may bring everyone together. Planning a funeral can be tough and talking at the funeral is even harder.  Make sure that your loved one is laid to rest in caskets that they would love.

2.Give yourself time
After someone has passed away, do not feel as if you need to immediately carry on with your life. It is a good idea to take a break and let yourself mourn for a few days to a week. Experiencing sadness during this time is completely normal, and it is better to take time off for thinking and spending time with loved ones. However, this should not be a long period of time – it is important to get back into the routine of things eventually, even if you are still grieving.

3.Write your loved one a letter
One of the best ways to cope with the loss of a loved one is to write letters to them. Although this is not the same as speaking to them and they will not get a chance to read it, it is very comforting getting feelings out on paper. Take the chance to tell them what you enjoyed most about them and share some memories. This is a great way to express your grief.

These tips can help you feel better after the loss of a loved one. Take time and let yourself grief after a horrible loss, even if it’s only for a little while.

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How Social Media Has Affected Human Rights Movements

Posted on March 15, 2012 by HRSupport

Social media has changed the way countless people live their lives. Despite the best efforts of marketers to try and turn these mediums into a business free-for-all, the beauty and power of social media shins when people come together over things that concern them. Whether it’s an effort to stop a company from bowing to pressure from vocal minorities (think JC Penny and Ellen DeGeneres), or a campaign to end tiger poaching, social media can effect real change.

One of the best examples of this power to effect change comes from human rights campaigns. A stunning example of social media in action occurred during the Arab Spring of 2011. Despite near total media control by the authorities in such countries as Tunisia, Egypt and Yemen, they were unable to stop word of the protests and repressions taking place from being posted via Twitter or Facebook. With no journalists allowed free access to areas controlled or contested by activists, the world relied on social media to provide case after case of human rights abuses by the governments of these countries. This is still the situation today in Syria, where the Assad regime restricts media access to the areas held by the rebels. Twitter, Facebook and YouTube accounts such as @Revolutionsyria post short, timely messages on conditions in the country. Using the hashtag #syria on Twitter brings up a constantly updating stream of information. As always with social media, caution must be shown in many of the posts, but human rights activists are finding it much easier to get their message across today.

Amnesty International is embracing social media campaigning. Senior Director, Widney Brown warns social media’s role can be exaggerated, but calls it a “diffuse solidarity” where people can show support for human rights activists and also register their concern. Says Brown “it’s a tool we need to learn to use as intelligently and securely as possible”. Amnesty has launched the Social Media Action Center, which coordinates timed releases of social media messages on a given theme. This makes it easier to gain trend momentum, raising the profile of the campaign immediately.

Now the United Nation is getting involved. At the end of 2011, it launched a social media campaign to raise awareness of human rights issues globally. As social media evolves, one thing is certain: human rights campaigns will take advantage to get their message to the watching world.

 

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Ethical Consumerism and The Purchase Of Human Rights Clothes

Posted on March 2, 2012 by HRSupport

Ethical consumerism involves purchasing items that support human rights. This is a popular term in today’s society, and an increasing number of consumers are searching for ways to support companies that practice ethical standards. An industry that is seeing a push for high-quality products that are produced in a way that supports human rights is the clothing industry. Consumers are demanding human rights clothes and looking for ways to purchase them.

A great way for consumers to know they are purchasing clothing that is produced in an ethical fashion is by purchasing items labeled as Fair Trade. Fair Trade items are produced in factories that give workers basic rights, such as the right to a fair wage, maternity leave, sanitary working conditions and healthcare provisions. Clothing items certified by the Fairtrade association are labeled as such, so a consumer need only view the tags to know the items were made responsibly.

Another way to find clothing manufacturers that support human rights is to buy organic. Organic products like organic t-shirts are made with cottons grown without the use of pesticides, herbicides and other harmful chemicals. Organic cottons cause less harm to the environment and in turn, less harm to the people in communities surrounding the cotton fields.

One complaint that surrounds the purchase of human rights clothing is the higher price tags. Garment manufacturers who enforce fair trade standards often charge more for the items they sell, which means a higher cost is passed on to consumers. While saving money is important, it is also important to understand there is a reason behind the higher price attached to these articles of clothing. When factories offer workers a fair wage, good working conditions and a few basic benefits, they have to pay for those things in some way. Some of the cost must be passed on to consumers, which is why these items typically cost a little more. It is also important to consider that, while consumers pay more for ethical clothing, these products help to provide livable conditions in communities. When a community has improved living conditions, members of that community require less assistance to sustain their existence.

Ethical consumerism is a growing trend that benefits individuals everywhere. When consumers demand ethical working standards by purchasing items with human rights in mind, industries are forced to respond. This creates sustainable communities and improves the lives of individuals everywhere. What a great reason to purchase human rights clothes!

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How the Humans Rights Movement Has Gone Global

Posted on February 20, 2012 by HRSupport

Human Rights Movement has gone global with a simple common belief, that we all share the same ideals and treasure the value of life. Statements of these beliefs and the need to change are built into the foundations of what we know as movements, crossing all boundaries of countries, races, religions and genders. The messages and voices penetrate the atmosphere seeking supporters and activists to organize and assemble for humanity.

National holidays have been created to reflect the patronage of human rights champions who have come before us. Human Rights Day acknowledges the past, enticing tomorrow’s visionaries to continue the movements. Today’s technology offers the ability reach out globally, touching lives that have been untouchable in the past. From all corners of the world, more people have become active in preserving and defending human rights.

The challenge is to share the struggle with each country’s plight to restore, establish dignity and strengthen the abilities to improve lives collectively. Basic human rights are global desires that fuel the human rights movement, taking responsibility without fear of repression. The first change needs to happen within the society and region where human rights have been prohibited. As the region breaks the barriers from the past, the new struggles begin to emerge and time increases individual numbers as human rights struggle to become not just a way of life but the purpose of life. Global human rights movement is no longer just a dream or thought it is reality.

Human rights movement involves diplomacy and governmental structure, which is supported by social arrangements and regional state of minds. As the voices grow louder, global pleas are heard, proclaiming the need to support global human rights. Opening the doors of opportunity to youth ends the once accepted poverty and endless resistance against enabling men and women. Today these voices, which have been silent in past are now being heard matching the face to the society and the region globally. They are the faces in the front position linked arm in arm, committed to human rights movement for their generation, their children and grandchildren’s generation.

Human rights movement has gone global and the proof are the bonding societies ready to face the present battle, preparing for the future, by recalling plans and strategies of the past. The struggle of equal rights continues in the history of America, Europe and the Far East.

 

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The Human Rights Campaign and Success

Posted on January 17, 2012 by HRSupport

As humans, we are all entitled to indivisible rights free of discrimination. The face of discrimination often takes the shape of hatred and disdain for a person’s race, sex, age, economic status, religion or sexual orientation. Entire movements have been formed, laws enacted and countless lives have been lost in the fight for human equality across the board. One such fight, which is alive and well today, is for the rights of the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender—LGBT—community. In an effort to gain the respect that the LGBT community rightfully deserves, the Human Rights Campaign—HRC—was formed in 1980. The HRC is the largest civil rights organization in America with many successful campaigns under its belt. Below are two such campaigns that prove what can happen when 1 million people are brought together to fight for, and change, what should belong to everyone—human rights.

When a life is taken away too soon at the hands of another, it forces everyone to open their eyes. In 1998, University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepherd was tortured and murdered in one of the most heinous hate crimes in recent history. 21-year-old Shepherd was brutally tortured, left for dead and later died because he was presumed to be homosexual. Because there were no legislations in place that addressed hate crimes, a bill was presented to Congress in 2007, which would expand on the hate crime laws already in place. Finally, after being rejected several times, the Hate Crimes Prevention Act was signed into law by President Barrack Obama on October 28, 2009—another victory for human rights.

Being a student in elementary or high school is already a difficult journey for most, and being considered “different” and bullied for it does not make that process any easier. In 2010, the HRC launched its Call It Out campaign, which specifically works towards eliminating the bullying of LGBT students. Bullying has been shown to have tremendous negative effects on students, and this can often lead to depression, feelings of unworthiness and suicide. Sadly, this type of bullying comes from teachers, religious leaders and parents, as well as the child’s peers. The HRC has been successful in “calling out” such adult tormenters in school systems around the nation, and they will not stop until there is zero tolerance for this type of discrimination.

The Human Rights Campaign organization is responsible for countless success stories in their journey towards human equality. The road is long and largely unknown, but one thing is certain, the HRC will not rest until the hatred and evil is dead and buried.

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What is Volunteer Tourism?

Posted on January 4, 2012 by HRSupport

Volunteer tourism is an up and coming idea in travel where people go to a place in the world where their services or support helps the local people, wildlife or fauna in some way.

Doctors and nurses may take some vacation time to go a place, usually a third world country, where medical services are scarce or difficult to get to and volunteer their time and skills. Often these trips are scheduled by or with the help The Red Cross, UNICEF, or other non profit humanitarian group. Skilled workers volunteer to administer medical attention to locals who would otherwise not get the care at all.

This type of volunteer work can last a couple of weeks to a couple of months and services can include administration of medications or vaccines, treatment of routine and endemic infections and injuries or even surgery. Recent places where this type of tourism was effective was in the Ivory Coast and Gambia, both in Africa, and in Honduras. Volunteers can also assist with helping locals learn how to disinfect water, plant sustainable food sources and stay healthy.

Other volunteer tourism groups sign up for a few weeks to help build and rebuild homes in areas where natural disasters destroyed property. This was done recently in Haiti where hurricanes destroyed many of the homes. People donate their building skills, and strength to literally help rebuild lives. Groups such as Habitat for Humanity get involved in building projects.

Yet other groups focus on wildlife and forest preservation. People love to travel to exotic places to help turtles lay their eggs in places safe from predators and similar activities. They help educate locals on why it is important to conserve natural resources, drink clean water and save species from extinction.
Volunteers who enjoy volunteer tourism often have discovered that vacations shelling out money at theme parks just are no longer fun and want to teach family important values. Volunteer vacationers always help change lives if even on a small level. But mostly what they take home is how very much their own lives have changed with that experience and how good that feels.

 

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Some Ways to Help Human Rights While on Vacation

Posted on December 15, 2011 by HRSupport

Not many people know this but there are still ways to help human rights while on vacation. People who want to learn how they can help human rights while they are on a trip should continue to read as they can find out how they can help while on vacation.

A person who is on vacation and wants to help human rights still can do so by simply donating money. There are many human rights organizations and charities out there that need donations. A person can donate a little bit of money to these charities and still enjoy their vacations. Just a small donation can make all the difference, and this is why there are many people who choose to donate money to human rights efforts. It is very easy to do and there are many human rights charities to choose from.

Some people like to be active in fighting for human rights in other ways other than donating money. A person who is on vacation and still wants to help human rights, then they should go online. There are many human rights websites and a lot of them have petitions going on. All a person will have to do is sign one of these petitions and they will be helping human rights.

There are always news articles about human rights. These news articles can be found anywhere online. A person should find some of these news articles and read them. Most of the articles will have some sort of information about how people can help out with specific human rights topics. Some of these tasks are very simple to do which is perfect for someone who is on vacation.

A person can also contact one of the many human rights organizations and ask what they can do in order to help the organization. The person can explain to the organization that they are going on vacation to a specific area and the organization may be able to tell the person what they can do to help. A person may be surprised at what they can do to help when they are away and how easy it is too.

These are just some ways a person can help human rights while they are away on a vacation. There are many other ways but the above ways listed are some of the easiest ways to help human rights efforts while on vacation.

 

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How to Get Exposure to Your Charity

Posted on December 1, 2011 by HRSupport

Starting a charity is a great way to help those that are in need throughout the world. Not only is it a great way to show that you’re loving and caring, it’s a great way to get the community involved as well. Running a charity can be a chore, but if you don’t have donations, you’re quickly going to find that your organization is going to be able to run at 100%.

In order to get those donations, you’ll have to properly market your charity so that it can get the exposure that it deserves. With that being said, here are some tips and ideas that you can use when you want to market your charity:

Social Media: In today’s technological era, just about everyone use media websites such as Twitter and Facebook. Take this opportunity to create a fan page to promote the happenings throughout the area. For those that have a budget, consider running advertisements on Facebook targeting those that you want to reach out to. Since many love to donate, word can quickly spread.

Local Newspapers: Instead of going for the massive media outlets such as the New York Times, consider going after the local newspapers. Since the local newspapers have a heart for charities, reach out to one of the editors and explain what your charity is doing. If it’s having a fundraising dinner in the upcoming weeks, bring it up! Since you’re more than likely going to be helping out those in need throughout the community, most hometown newspapers will be more than happy to write up a small article.

Be Unique: Yes, this is easier said than done, but major TV outlets love to hear a story that truly touches everyone’s heart. Do you have a story to share? Did you donate to a person that truly was in need and it changed their life? Let the local media outlets know about this. Again, just like the newspapers, consider reaching out and letting them know what you did. Another great tip regarding the local TV stations is to keep your eyes peeled for people in need. This is a great way to donate to those people and get your organization blasted on the airwaves.

Website: In this day and age, each and every business and charity should have some sort of website. Be sure to create this website and make it user friendly. Promote this website via charity directories as well as other avenues such as message boards, blog comments and more. By taking the time to reach out to those in the cyber world, this can help spread the message fast as well. You’ll also want your website compatible on mobile platforms

Like a business, promoting a charity is going to take a lot of hard work. Be proactive, have a loud voice and let your name be heard. Sitting in the corner will do nothing for your good cause. Consider the tips mentioned above today and see how far you can take your charity!

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