On the 13th of April 2014, the IPYG (International Peace Youth Group) hosted the victory cup for peace

It is a recurring theme for IPYG to organize sports and cultural events to help others and to promote positive premises, using the passion that sports provide and the opportunities that arise to meet others and make new friendships.

On the 13th of April 2014, the IPYG (International Peace Youth Group) hosted the victory cup for peace in Thailand.

This cup as the name says, was held with the idea of reaching to the Thai community and giving them some support, letting them know that others are aware of their situation and that it is important to the outside world.

The small tournament took place in Busan University's football pitch and did not only involve football but also had a relay race and a dance performance by the IPYG.

The participating teams in the cup were BMT FC A and BMT FC B (the BMT FC team was split into two teams), Sasang FC and Thai FC which were both Thailand teams.

In the early morning the day had actually been very rainy, which caused some delays to the event, however the weather improved greatly later on and everyone was able to enjoy a great time.

Opening match: BMT FC A 3 – Sasang Fc 1

The opening match was between BMT FC A and Sasang FC.
From the very start the Titans were more calm than their opponents who seemed to be a little nervous, this gave the Titans a great advantage which let them display some very nice team plays and overall superiority.

Very early on the game Titan's striker Will scored a lovely goal after a wonderful team play that had been created by a sequence of perfect passing between the BMT FC.

A couple of minutes later Sasang FC was able to tie the match through a mid distance volley kick
 by one of their midfielders, this ball made a strange curve which caught BMT FC's keeper Meu off pace and thus ended inside the goal.

However the BMT FC bounced back after just a few minutes, finding the net again through a nice individual play by midfielder Ross Davies, who shot into the net from a very narrow angle inside the box.

Before the first half was over BMT FC's Will once again scored a nice goal by running through the defense and surprising everyone with an unexpected finish.

The second half was dominated by the Titans but there were no goals scored.

The game ended 3‐1 in favor of BMT FC, but it could have had more goals as there were plenty of scoring opportunities for the Titans throughout the game.Sasang FC on the other hand only had two shots on goal however they made a good effort and showed their friendly spirit at the end of the match when they greeted the BMT FC.

Second match: BMT FC B 1 – Thai FC 0

The second match was betweenBMT FC B (which had a few first time players in the roster) and Thai FC, this match was fast paced although there was only one goal the overall match was very dynamic. The only goal was scored byBMT FC's Irish striker Denis, there were other opportunities for goalscoring that couldn't be finished well by bad luck.

Although the B team had a few new players who were there for the first time, the team actually played quite well starting with a strong defense led by Danilo and a generally balanced team.

Third place match: Sasang FC 1 – Thai FC 0

The two losing teams played a match for the third spot in the tournament, Sasang FC beat Thai FC only by one goal difference which was scored in the final minutes of the match.

Relay race

Before the final match of the tournament, a small relay race was held, this was a nice opportunity for fast runners to try their speed against each other.
The relay race has become a small tradition that provides variety and some additional fun to IPYG events.

Dance performance by IPYG

While the  sides were preparing for the final match, one final part of the event took place, a dance performance by the mBMT FC members of IPYG, followed by some group photos and group fun. As this took place the sky had cleared and the sun was shinning, this way the final game was going to be held under ideal conditions.

Final match: BMT FC A 2 – BMT FC B 1

The final was disputed by BMT FC A and B.
Before the match began, putting usual team members against each other, BMT FC B's witch doctor Bonga passed by every player of the BMT FC A lineup placing a temporary African spell to lower their skill, this however did not have such a great effect as in the end BMT FC A would take the cup.

The first goal was scored after another appearance by Will, who was very effective in both matches, however BMT FC B managed to tie the game through Denis, who had also scored on the first match for his side.

The game was very even as Danilo would stop the A team's attacks on most occasions and the A team's mid field would cut most attacks from the B side.

The tie was broken finally through a powerful attack by Timur, who rocketed the ball into the net from the side.

A few extra chances for both teams were created but the end result was 2‐1. BMT FC A and B were once more a whole team, taking the Victory cup home.

The organization was good, although the weather conditions in the morning and some other factors caused some unwanted delays, which made the games shorter than originally intended, however overall everyone enjoyed the experience and all the members of IPYG who helped to organize and manage the event should be commended and appreciated for their hard work and good will.

As with every time that IPYG organizes events, the day was celebrated with a lot of fun and healthy competition. In the end everyone got together to greet one another, happy to having had an opportunity to enjoy the day and make new friends.

A lot of IPYG　members continued the fun for a little while longer, going out for food together after the event had ended.
Everyone ended the day hoping to enjoy more days like that.

Rescuers ramp up search for hundreds missing in ferry disaster

JINDO/SEOUL, South Korea, April 18 (Yonhap) -- Rescue workers stepped up their search Friday for hundreds still missing in the deadly sinking of a ferry off the southwestern coast of South Korea amid growing fears no survivors remain.

Hundreds of coast guard and military officers, along with civilian divers, struggled to gain access to the submerged ship to search for 268 passengers who are still unaccounted for, but their efforts were hampered by strong currents and murky waters.

A total of 475 passengers, including 325 high schoolers on a field trip, were aboard the 6,825-ton ferry when it capsized in waters off the southwestern island of Jindo on a foggy Wednesday morning. It was en route to the southern resort island of Jeju from the western port of Incheon.

As of 5 p.m., 28 passengers had been confirmed dead. While 179 have been rescued, no one has been found alive since around Wednesday noon when the ship capsized.

Search-and-rescue operations are under way in waters off South Korea's southwestern town of Jindo on April 18, 2014, to search for hundreds of missing passengers in the ferry Sewol that sank two days earlier. (Yonhap) 

Battling strong underwater currents and low visibility, a group of veteran divers attempted to enter the submerged hull after they secured a path inside, according to the Coast Guard.

The 21 divers attempted to enter the cabin on the second deck of the five-level vessel where most of the passengers are believed to be trapped, the Coast Guard officials said.

Earlier in the day, the divers approached the cargo compartment on the second deck and pumped oxygen inside in an effort to get the ship to float and help potential survivors breathe.

But the guide line helping rescue workers move inside snapped, while cargo prevented them from going into the compartment.

Experts say that people could possibly survive for up to 72 hours if there are air pockets in the compartments.

At around noon, the capsized ship disappeared completely from sight, stoking fears that the ship went under which would make it difficult for rescue workers to have access to the hull.

To keep it afloat, military divers attached an air-filled bag to the ship and is planning to attach 25 more 35-ton ones, according to the authorities.

Four salvage cranes, including a 3,200-ton machine, also arrived at the scene earlier in the day, either to move the hull, currently at a depth of about 35 meters, to a place where the currents are weaker or to salvage the vessel.

"But we are reviewing the options very carefully, as the salvage operations could hurt survivors trapped inside," a Coast Guard officer said. "We are also considering using a floating dock to set the ship afloat."

With questioning of the surviving crew under way to find the exact cause of the tragedy, a joint police and prosecution team said that it has sought an arrest warrant for Sewol's captain Lee Jun-seok on charges of abandoning ship in violation of seafarers' law.

The investigation team alleged that the 69-year-old captain had failed to carry out his duty of taking care of passengers by leaving the vessel first.

A public uproar has erupted against Lee for his alleged poor management of the emergency situation before the boat's sinking. He is suspected of instructing passengers to remain seated even as the boat was listing leftward, denying them a chance to escape.

Arrest warrants were also sought against two crew members, including a 26-year-old third mate with one year of experience, for the same charge, officers said.

The crew member, only identified by her surname Park, was allegedly in charge of steering the vessel at the time of the accident, they said.

A district court is scheduled to hold a hearing within 48 hours to decide whether to issue the warrants for the three.

As to the cause of the tragedy, a sudden shift in cargo may have contributed to the deadly outcome, according to the investigators.

"We've seen no problems where the ship changed course. But we are now investigating if it was a normal turn or an emergency one," said Park Jae-uk, chief investigator of the joint team, announcing their interim probe results earlier in the day.

Experts and investigators have raised the possibility of a sudden shift in 180 vehicles and 1,157 tons of freight on board disrupting the balance of the ship.

Police also vowed stern punishment of those who spread false information on the developments in the rescue efforts and whoever masterminded phone-based financial frauds that deceived people into thinking they were receiving the latest information on the rescue.

Meanwhile, the vice principal of the school, who was in charge of the hundreds of high school students and survived the disaster, was found dead in an apparent suicide.

The senior teacher from Danwon High School in Ansan, south of Seoul, identified by his surname Kang, 52, was found hanging from a tree on a hill near an indoor gymnasium on the island of Jindo, where parents of the students missing from the sunken ferry are staying.

Of those rescued, 100, including 69 high schoolers, have been receiving treatment at hospitals. Six of them sustained serious injuries, and many of the survivors suffer from severe post-traumatic stress disorder, according to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters.

Earlier on Friday, families of those missing made a public statement denouncing the government's response and calling for additional help.

The office of Prime Minister Chung Hong-won said he will stay at the Coast Guard office in the southern coastal city of Mokpo near the accident scene to coordinate rescue operations and necessary support measures for victims and their families.

The sinking is feared to be the nation's biggest ferry disaster since 1993, when a vessel capsized off its west coast, killing 292 people.

The ship, which travels between Incheon and Jeju twice a week, was built in Japan in 1994. The 20-year-old vessel is 146 meters long and 22 meters wide, and has a maximum capacity of 921 people, 180 vehicles and 152 shipping containers at the same time.

source: http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/national/2014/04/18/10/0301000000AEN20140418007051315F.html

please....please..... I pray of them.

To youth who really dedicates to cover the earth with light

Today there are many youth who really dedicates to cover the earth with light. They just don't think about their friends, family or relatives but they think about other people and volunteer, donate and help many poor people. Besides there are youth who just think about themselves which means "Selfish". In our youth age what should we really think about? If we go up to our ancestors, there were many people who sacrificed themselves to develop their nations and to restore the light. If we think about the past I hope we have the solution what we have to do today. There are many famous youth like singers, actors, entertainers showing their talents noticing their each nations. Isn't this a good chance to gather our mind in one? The whole world is now greeting a global era. I'm sure there are many other people who is really doing their best out of view to make the world one like sharing each nation's culture, teaching the country's language etc. The more we effort in behave, our wishes will come true.

The International Youth Walk for World Peace and Restoration, 25 May 2013

On the 25th of May 2013, between 15:00 and 17:00, an unprecedented event was staged in the vicinity of the Seoul Olympic Park, built for the Korean Olympics in 1988, blocking three lanes of one of the busiest roads in the bustling South Korean Capital, Seoul.

Youth representatives from many nations gathered to walk in the International Youth Group Walk for World Peace and Restoration, signifying their commitment to working towards the cessation of war. This campaign was birthed from the desire to see the youth of the world united under the cause of making world peace a reality. Hosted by the International Peace Youth Group, the event was attended by over 100 associated organizations from over 50 different nations, including youth leaders from Portugal, Greece, Morocco, Kazakhstan, Jordan, Belarus and Columbia. Together with over 27,000 local youth and citizens of Korea, they made a declaration of peace.

The 1.5km walk was divided into seven sections, representing each of the seven continents. The message of the event was clear: participants traversed a representation of the world, crossing the five oceans and seven continents, arriving in the Republic of Korea – the place where world peace is being fulfilled.

Amongst the 27,000 participants, approximately 5,000 foreigners residing in Korea were bused in, in 87 busses from all around the peninsula to participate in the peace walk.

Despite the difference of nationality and age, the mind and heart of the youth that participated in this event were the same, wishing to see world peace become something their generation can enjoy. “I wish the people of the world would love and be aware of peace like we are. The people of the world must realize that peace is needed not only in the Korean peninsula but also in Belarus and the whole world”, said Dol Anastasiya from Belarus who is the representative of Youth Peace Group of Belarus. Atif Javaid from the UK commented on the event as follows “it is a wakeup call for world leaders, the public does not want war but wants to become family and we are taking action to make it come true”.

The spectacular event was aired live to the world via Internet broadcast. The story of the day’s remarkable events was covered by multiple news agencies around Korea, and there were13 press releases covering the walk in International 10 different countries.

Posted in International walking for peace

source: ipyg.org

Old Telephone Booths Converted Into Wonderful Outdoor Aquariums

With the proliferation of mobile phones, street telephone booths have become relics of a less convenient era—artist Benedetto Bufalino and designer Benoit Deseille are collaborating on a project that turns these neglected structures into objects of interest again.

Filling out the insides of these booths with water, they converted these almost-obsolete facilities into delightful outdoor aquariums that add touches of whimsy to the streets.

The first aquarium booth debuted back in 2007, but these public art installations were most recently seen at the Lumiere Festival in Durham, UK, last month.

The pretty blue water and colorful fishes in these old telephone booths prompted passers-by to stop in admiration—at night, they look even more stunning with their ethereal glowing lights.

Don’t you wish that one of these telephone booth aquariums would appear in your city?

source: http://designtaxi.com/news/362738/Old-Telephone-Booths-Converted-Into-Wonderful-Outdoor-Aquariums/interstitial.html/?advertiser=External&return_url=http%3A%2F%2Fdesigntaxi.com%2Fnews%2F362738%2FOld-Telephone-Booths-Converted-Into-Wonderful-Outdoor-Aquariums%2F

10 inspiring stories of everyday heroes

(CNN) -- They clean up rivers, build homes for disabled veterans and bring health care to some of the darkest parts of the world.

They help children who are fighting cancer, poverty and a lack of opportunity.

These are the top 10 CNN Heroes of 2013.

For their extraordinary efforts to change the world, each of these everyday people will receive $50,000. They were also recognized at "CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute," an annual show broadcast globally on CNN.

"I've long admired the CNN Heroes tribute, but even more, the heroes themselves," said Jeff Zucker, the president of CNN Worldwide. "We are proud to share the stories of these 10 exceptional individuals and to continue one of CNN's most important traditions."

The tribute show, hosted by Anderson Cooper at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, included celebrity presenters and performers. This year's presenters included Grammy Award-winning musician Ne-Yo; comedians Jim Gaffigan and Sarah Silverman; television hosts Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan; and actors Jason Biggs, Alan Cumming, Josh Lucas, Mariska Hargitay, Shay Mitchell, Allison Williams and Jeffrey Wright.

Three-time Grammy nominee Sara Bareilles performed her hit single "Brave."

This was the seventh year CNN has conducted its annual search for CNN Heroes. In those years, the campaign has profiled more than 200 people on CNN and CNN.com.

This year's top 10 were nominated by CNN's global audience and profiled earlier this year on CNN.

At the end of the show, one of the top 10, Chad Pregracke, was named CNN Hero of the Year. He will receive an additional $250,000 for his cause, which is cleaning up the Mississippi River and other American waterways. Pregracke was chosen as Hero of the Year through a five-week public vote on CNN.com.

Here are the top 10 Heroes of 2013, in alphabetical order:

Dale Beatty: Making life easier for disabled veterans
After Dale Beatty lost his legs in the Iraq war, his community thanked him for his service by helping him build a home. To pay it forward, Beatty co-founded Purple Heart Homes, which has helped build or modify homes for dozens of disabled U.S. veterans. "We wouldn't leave someone behind on the battlefield," Beatty said. "Why would we do it at home?"

Georges Bwelle: Bringing health care to the jungle 
For decades, Georges Bwelle watched his father suffer, unable to get the medical attention he needed. Now a doctor, Bwelle travels into the jungles of his native Cameroon nearly every weekend, providing free medical care for those who don't have access to good health care. "To make people laugh, to reduce the pain, that's why I'm doing this," he said.

Robin Emmons: Creating an oasis in a 'food desert' 

More than 72,000 people in Charlotte, North Carolina, lack access to fresh produce. When Robin Emmons discovered this problem, she took action. "I decided to rip up my whole backyard and make it all a garden for people in need," she said. Since 2008, Emmons has grown more than 26,000 pounds of fruits and vegetables for area residents.

Danielle Gletow: Granting wishes for foster kids 

Foster children don't often get the things other children do, but Danielle Gletow is trying to help change that. She posts their wishes online so the public can help grant them. "I'm here to be the mom to all these kids who might not feel like they have one," she said. Since 2008, her group has helped grant more than 6,500 wishes in 42 states.

Tawanda Jones: Giving kids a way off deadly streets 

Tawanda Jones is using dance to empower the youth of Camden, New Jersey, one of the poorest cities in the country. Through Jones' drill team program, at least 4,000 children have learned discipline, respect and community service -- and all of them have graduated high school. "We need to take back our city and, most importantly, take back our youth," Jones said. 

Richard Nares: Helping sick kids get to chemo 

For many children fighting cancer, it can be extremely tough to make it to their chemotherapy appointments. But Richard Nares started a group that gives them transportation and support. "No child should miss their cancer treatment due to lack of transportation," said Nares, who lost his son to leukemia in 2000. 

 Kakenya Ntaiya: Educating girls for the first time 

Kakenya Ntaiya is inspiring change in her native Kenyan village. After becoming the first woman in the village to attend college in the United States, she returned to open the village's first primary school for girls. "Our work is about empowering the girls," Ntaiya said. "They are dreaming of becoming lawyers, teachers, doctors." 

Chad Pregracke: Cleaning up America's rivers 

Chad Pregracke has made it his life's work to clean up the Mississippi River and other American waterways. Since 1998, about 70,000 volunteers have helped Pregracke remove more than 7 million pounds of garbage from 23 rivers across the country. "Picking up garbage, it's tough, miserable and hot," Pregracke said. "We try to make it fun." 

Estella Pyfrom: Bringing computers to kids in need
Estella Pyfrom used her life savings to create "Estella's Brilliant Bus," a mobile computer lab that provides tutoring for thousands of low-income students in Palm Beach County, Florida. "It's not just a bus, it's a movement," Pyfrom said. "And we're going to keep making a difference."

Laura Stachel: Lighting the way for safe childbirths 

Laura Stachel created a special "solar suitcase" to help health-care workers deliver babies in more than 20 developing countries. "I really want a world where women can deliver babies safely and with dignity," Stachel said. 

As part of their award package, each top 10 Hero will also receive free organizational training from the Annenberg Foundation, a leading supporter of nonprofits worldwide. The Heroes will participate in a customized version of the Annenberg Alchemy program, which offers practical guidance to help strengthen organizations for long-term success.


source: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/11/01/us/top-10-cnn-heroes/index.html?hpt=wo_bn6


There are inspiring stories in the world.
We need to think about that I try to volunteer people around me.

Gold for Russia, silver for South Korea's Yuna Kim, and controversy ensues

(CNN) -- In the final chapter of her storied Olympic figure skating career, South Korea's Yuna Kim won silver -- not able to defend her shot at gold against a Russian teenager who seemingly came out of nowhere to get the top prize.

Instantly, there was controversy.

Russia's Adelina Sotnikova finished with a total score of 224.59, beating Kim's score of 219.11 by 5.48 points after the free skate program. Sotnikova, 17, became the first female Russian skater to win in the category.

Some pointed out that she had stepped out after landing a triple combination, and others raised questions about the anonymous judging system.

Dick Button, a men's figure skating two-time Olympic gold medalist, said he didn't think Sotnikova was the whole package.

It didn't help that one of the judges had been suspended for a year for trying to fix an event at the Winter Olympics 16 years ago. Or that another is married to the head of the Russian figure skating federation.

American figure skater Ashley Wagner also slammed the judging Thursday night. She skated without falling but finished seventh behind several skaters that had stumbled on the ice.

She even finished behind Russian skater Julia Lipnitskaia, who fell more than once.

"I feel gypped," Wagner said, according to Yahoo! Sports. "People don't want to watch a sport where you see people fall down and somehow score above someone who goes clean."

5 moments from Thursday at the Winter Olympics

Critics have created a petition at change.org urging that the judging be investigated. Early Friday morning, the petition had more than 1.6 million supporters.

Opinions varied on whether the right skater got the gold medal.

Sotnikova's program had seven triple jumps, which was one more than Kim's. The final judgment split sports journalists and figure skating experts.

"It's debatable, but not a robbery," wrote Chris Chase of USA Today. "Sotnikova skated well enough to win gold. She had a carefully constructed program with seven triples, five of which were in a combo. Kim had six and three, respectively. Thus, Sotnikova was going in with a higher total and made more margin for error, which she took advantage of with a minor hop after one exchange."

Sotnikova's technical score of 75.54 dwarfed Kim's technical score of 69.69.

Results: Women's figure skating results 

But others weren't convinced.

Kurt Browning, a four-time world champion, told The New York Times: "I just couldn't see how Yu-na and Sotnikova were so close in the components. I was shocked. What, suddenly, she just became a better skater overnight? I don't know what happened. I'm still trying to figure it out."

Italy's Carolina Kostner took the bronze.

Kim was looking to be only the third woman to defend her Olympic figure skating title, joining Katarina Witt, who took to the ice in Calgary 26 years ago, and Sonja Henie, who competed in the 1920s and '30s.

In 2010, she took gold in the Vancouver Olympics by a landslide, where she scored a record 228.56 points to win in women's figure skating. She eclipsed her closest rival by a massive 23.06 points.

Known as "Queen Yuna" to her legions of fans, Kim's victory in Vancouver made her the first Korean figure skater to win a gold medal.


source: http://edition.cnn.com/2014/02/21/sport/kim-sotnikova-skating-controversy/index.html?iref=obnetwork