Trending

WORLD

This Christmas Start A Tradition Of Helping Those In Need With The GOAL Mile

Once the sparkling holiday decorations have been put up, many of us reflect on the past year. We mull over all that we have and what we might have done differently — and everything comes into perspective.

During the holiday season, we often realize that this is the best time to give back to our communities and help improve the world. There are small and large ways to give back. Some people go local, while others aim to make a more significant difference. Here’s the chance for charities to truly achieve their missions. If you’re looking for a philanthropic organization whose purpose is to save lives and empower people to develop resilience and greater control over their lives, then look no further than GOAL.

GOALis an agile first-responder to humanitarian crises and works with some of the most vulnerable communities across the world to help them recover and get them on the road to recovery.

For the last 45 years, they’ve been working tirelessly to support those who are in need and battling poverty. GOAL responded to crises such as the genocide in Rwanda, the tsunami in Southeast Asia, and the Haiti earthquake. They worked to provide safe water and food rations in Syria; they established treatment centers in Sierra Leone and Liberia during Ebola, and today GOAL is responding to the needs of IDPs (internally displaced people) fleeing Ukraine.

GOAL’s commitment and courage stem from the notion that each and every person deserves equal rights and a life of dignity and opportunities. As they envision a world without poverty where every community is safe and healthy, we wonder what more we can do.

So, the big question is, how can you help GOAL this holiday season? Take part in the GOAL Mile, an inspiring event that sees people run or walk a mile at community events all across Ireland. Or you can take part virtually, from anywhere in the world — just walk or run a mile around your house, garden, or local area. For the last 4 decades, the GOAL Mile is a highly popular Christmas tradition for families. What a tremendous way to get the community involved while raising funds for a cause that matters.

Signing up and getting started is super easy. The GOAL Mile takes place on the 25th and 26th of December. Simply pick your location — and it can be any location — beach, forest trail, or running pitches. Depending on the number of participants in your GOAL Mile, you may need a team of organizers to stand at the start, cheer at the finish line, and along the course to hand out refreshments or collect donations.

GOAL sets up a fundraising page for you and sends you collection buckets. Additionally, they’ll promote your GOAL Mile through their advertising campaign and, of course, social media.

Participants can also register online for their mile on the GOAL Mile website: https://www.goalmile.org/

GOAL Global and the GOAL Mile have helped so many communities all over the globe. Join a local outside event, participate virtually, or start your very own GOAL Mile.

The GOAL Mile is the perfect way to brighten your holidays, make someone's Christmas, and help make a difference in the world.

Register now and help your community make a difference this holiday season!

https://www.goalmile.org/

WORLD

Is It Finally Time For The Kohinoor To Be Returned To India?

Queen Mother's Crown on top of the coffin/ Peter Macdiarmid/Shutterstock

Queen Elizabeth II’s death brought immense sadness to Britain. The United Kingdom has gone into mourning. Throngs of people are queueing outside Westminster Hall to bid farewell to the longest reigning Monarch in English history.

Keep reading...Show less
WORLD

Will You Partake In The Metaverse Of Madness?

Since the beginning of time, technology has never been stagnant – it’s constantly evolving. Most of us are used to these fleeting technology trends and apps. We first started virtually communicating on MySpace and then ventured into the world of avatars with Snapchat's snappy 10-second stories.

We – or should I say Millenials and Gen Zers – are used to new ideas. But even we couldn’t conceive of a virtual world where people can live, interact, and earn money until . . . the Metaverse was born.

October 28th 2021 will go down in history. That’s when the company formerly known as Facebook rebranded as Meta fully committing to a 3D version of the internet know as the Metaverse.

Metaverse-Metaverse-Metaverse it’s all over the place. But what is it exactly? Simply put, it’s a virtual world that blurs the lines between online and offline communication.

Hold on! Virtual reality? My grandparents are only just getting used to taking my video calls, and now I have to introduce them to the Metaverse – a world where their avatar can walk, talk, and even get married?

During the last few years when people couldn’t interact IRL, a virtual world was ideal. People – or should I say Avatars – could meet and engage in a rocking virtual party. That wasn’t too extreme, but then people started buying property !?! This resembled a piece of land you can own and do with whatever you please. I cannot imagine living in a Metamansion – unless it’s in a game of Sims.

Then came NFTs – or did they come before? – it’s super hard to keep track of. But NFTs are Non-fungible tokens – digital assets like art, music, videos are bought and sold online through cryptocurrency. Oh-yeah, then there’s cryptocurrency. It’s a digital or virtual currency that’s secured by cryptography, which makes it close to impossible to counterfeit or double-spend. Cryptocurrency revolutionized the finance world with people making a ton of money through bitcoin.

Slowly, the fashion industry moved into the Metaverse as well. A Gucci - Roblox bag recently went for 350,000 Robux (close to $4000) on Roblox – a site where you can purchase upgrades for your avatars. I mean, your Avatar can’t be roaming the Metaverse in just jeans and a sweater, they need high-end fashion.

Obviously, with so many items moving into the Metaverse, it made sense for people to secure virtual insurance. I cannot believe this – Virtual insurance! So if you break or lose, or your artwork gets stolen, it makes sense to have a cover. Soon enough, educational institutions imagine digital classrooms, and medical professionals visualize a world where junior doctors practice medicine digitally.

There doesn’t seem to be a limit.

Since we cannot physically inhabit the virtual world, most of these ties make sense until Coke-Cola recently announced a limited edition Coca-Cola® Zero Sugar Byte.

Coke promises that it tastes just like pixels. “The drink’s bright, upfront taste is reminiscent of powering up a game. And its refreshing finish makes for a perfect gaming companion.”

Personally, I don’t understand the concept of creating a beverage for the Metaverse. And I’m so not interested in tasting pixels – I anticipate something chalky and salty. But if you pick up a Zero Sugar Byte before they hop back into the Metaverse, you are one brave individual.

In addition to this drink, Coke is hosting an immense digital experience that includes an original, augmented reality game. Then there’s Pixel Point, an island designed by Coca-Cola where fortnight players can experience this refreshing soda and enjoy a few mini-games.

Now that beverages are being created for the Metaverse, the big question is what next? Will our Avatar’s start grocery shopping in a virtual Target to survive?