
August 2004 Newsletter from The Dalai Lama Foundation
We're hoping to get into a regular routine of sending online updates to keep you posted on what's happening. We'll focus on upcoming events, new capabilities we're putting in place online, and things you can do as an individual (and especially as a volunteer) to promote the causes of peace and ethics. We'll send more of these short newsletters, hoping you'll find the time to read each one as it arrives, and take action on whatever moves you.
Contents: QUOTE-A-DAY Has Been Expanded Dalai Lama in Miami, Puerto Rico, Central America Cellphones and Peace The Learning Ethics Game The oneVillage Foundation blog Online Volunteer Positions Open
QUOTE-A-DAY Has Been Expanded One of the great volunteer organizations we've cooperated with for almost two years now is CharityFocus.org, an organization that helps nonprofits find technologists to provide for their online needs. They've given us immeasurable help, and they provide invaluable connections. For a couple of years now, in addition to its regular activities, CharityFocus has run an email service which distributes a daily inspirational quote, an inspirational fact or motivation, and a "be-the-change" suggestion or activity. The service is called Quote-A-Day. On an experimental basis, The Dalai Lama Foundation has been picking up this information every day and relaying it to interested registrants in our own online community. We now think the relay is ready for prime time. You can see what it’s all about, and add Quote-A-Day to your services at your My Profile page on our web site—you must register an online profile in order to subscribe. And if you have a cellphone with SMS text messaging, you can also receive Quote-A-Day on your phone! top
Dalai Lama in Miami, Puerto Rico, Central America His Holiness the Dalai Lama will be speaking in Miami, Florida, September 19 thru 21st at the University of Miami. He then continues to Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, and then Mexico. He will be in Mexico October 3 thru 7th, 2004. Visit our events page for more details on this and other peace-related and ethics-related events. top
Cellphones and Peace Our adult US registrants may not be aware that 70% of the population in Europe, and high percentages elsewhere on the globe use cellphones for text messaging—maybe as much as for voice. This is not just kids, but people of all ages. So what does this mean to the future of hand-held communications? Potentially a lot! The Quote-A-Day service can be directed to your cellphone, using the Short Messaging Service (SMS), but we have recently begun experimenting by providing some information in a form that can be browsed and used on web-enabled cellphones. The Wireless Access Protocol (WAP) is what the phone uses to browser the web. We are experimenting with this in preparation for additional offerings we will bring online in the future. Cellphone users whoe have WAP access may browse the Dalai Lama Foundation website by visiting http://dlfound.org/wap where they will be redirected to current online contents. Cellphone technologies are being rolled out much faster than wired telephones in many parts of the world, and wireless technologies may provide the best way to get information to people in many parts of the world where it is difficult to string wires, or to maintain them due to harsh or dangerous conditions. If you have a phone capable of browsing the web, please let us know whether it works with our web site and what kinds of information you 1) currently access on your phone, and 2) would find of use related to peace and ethics. Contact us at wap@dlfound.org. top
The Learning Ethics Game The Learning Ethics Game has been launched! This interactive phone and video experience is designed to get teens (ages 13 to 23) thinking about making ethical decisions. It's an experience that takes place using cellphones, email and online video, and you can register and play at youthmoves.org/game. Please let us know how the experience feels to you, and help us decide how we can improve it. top
The oneVillage Foundation blog The team at oneVillage Foundation supports efforts to alleviate suffering due to HIV/AIDS in Africa. They do this using information and communication technologies (ICTs) to develop strong local programs. They have recently implemented a weblog ("blog") and are using the blog to share stories as a way to increase everyone's understanding of the issues they're encountering. The blog will also make US and African participants more familiar with ICT tools that may facilitate communication, and will allow the team to evaluate how ICT affects the ways we communicate and live. We urge you to take a look at the informative, deeply personal and touching stories they're putting online every few days at blog.onevillage.tv top
Online Volunteer Positions Open Check out the volunteer job descriptions listed at our web site. It’s a great way to make your own contribution to our mission of “supporting action for peace and ethics, where we live, and around the world.” And the great thing about these jobs is they can be done where you live, wherever around the world that is! top
You may change your newsletter subscription selections at the newsletter page on the web site - feel free to forward this newsletter to others - your friends can also subscribe at our web site. This email was sent to you at . You can reach us by email at info@dlfound.org . The Dalai Lama Foundation is on the web at www.dalailamafoundation.org/