Hello fellow Nerdfighters! My name is Jaden and I’m from Pittsburgh, PA. I need your help with a charity project that I’m running during the holidays this year.

One in eight babies is born too soon and more than 1 million babies born prematurely die each year before they are a month old. Caring Caps is a non-profit organization for which people across the country come together to knit and crochet preemie baby caps to donate to a local hospital.

We’re also adding another part to the project this year — if you don’t know how to knit, but still want to help out, you can donate! All the donations go to the March of Dimes foundation, which is a research foundation dedicated to finding ways to eliminate premature birth defects.

Who: Everyone is welcome to get involved! As long as you have knitting needles, a crochet hook, or a giving heart, you can help this project be a success.

What: A holiday knitting and crocheting drive.

Where: Anywhere across the country!

When: November 24th – January 5th.

Check out our Facebook Page or Website to get involved.

Thanks, everyone! Hope you all have a nerfightastic holiday season. :)

I just received this submission from Jaden of Pennsylvania. Thanks for letting me know! Nerdfighters, let’s step up to the bat and help these preemies. :)

This link is to a Change.org petition to Apple, asking that they change their voice-recognition software, known as Siri, to enable women to easily find family planning centers. The fact that Siri can recognize and assist in issues regarding Viagra, but does not know what the words “abortion,” “rape,” and “family planning” are is a technological travesty for nerds and non-nerds alike. Please consider signing this right away!

1. One in three women die or are seriously injured as a result of gender-based violence. Violence against women results in more deaths among women ages 15 to 44 than the total number of women who die because of war, malaria, and cancer.

2. An estimated four million women and girls are bought and sold worldwide each year, either into marriage, prostitution or slavery.

3. One out of every six American women have been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in their lifetime. An estimated 60 percent of all rapes are not reported to the police.

4. Approximately 96 million young women in developing countries still cannot read or write. Globally, girls account for 55 percent of children not in school.

5. Nearly 75 percent of those displaced by violent conflict are women. Displacement leaves women without access to health care, proper nutrition or education. Displaced women face a higher threat of gender-based terrorism and violence.

6. The 1994 genocide in Rwanda resulted in hundreds of thousands of violent sexual assaults, resulting in an estimated 250,000 women falling victim to HIV/AIDS. While many women awaiting treatment died, their perpetrators receive antiretroviral therapies in prison.

7. Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world that actually denies women the right to vote by law. In other parts of the world, where women are legally allowed to vote, many women still struggle to exercise their rights. For example, in Afghanistan, some women were denied the right to vote in 2009 because the country lacked the necessary amount of female staff members to provide enough polls for women.

8. With its rate of violence, sexual assault and inadequate health care, Afghanistan remains the most dangerous place in the world for women to live.

9. In 1974, Isabel Peron became the world’s first woman president, when she was elected President of Argentina. Around the world, 68 women have served as head of state in their country (not including monarchies). Currently, 38 women serve as head of government around the world. In 1997, Ireland became the first country to succeed power from one female president to another.

10. African nations have more women in parliament than most western nations. Rwanda ranks number one in world rankings for the highest representation of women at 49 percent. 

(Source: confessionsofcunts)

thehpalliance:

The hands on the clock may face mortal peril for Warner Brothers if they don’t act fast. 34 days are left… It’s time to act!

Not in Harry’s Name has three ways for you to show Warner Brothers that we’re not going to just sit here while they tarnish Harry Potter’s good name with their…

Today in my Intro to Peace and Social Justice class, I watched a documentary called When Did I See You Hungry? The whole concept of the short film was that people should see Jesus in the poor, and thus, are obligated to help mitigate their suffering. I grew up in a Catholic faith tradition, but I’m not particularly religious these days. I rather admire the teachings of Jesus as I would anyone who supported good works throughout humanity to help those in need.

Though the film centered around Christian humanitarism, it could’ve broken anyone’s heart. I was deeply moved by the photographs of poor children from all over the world. If you’re reading this, you probably have much more than they do. But that does not make us any greater. In my humble opinion, all humans are born equal, and should thus be treated with kindness and dignity. Instead, many go without food and shelter.

I know that no matter what people do, however, it’s not enough to cure the world of its extreme poverty. But I’ve learned that even helping one person is important.

So what does that mean for The Giving Nerd?

Well, I feel like there are many old and tired ways to raise funds for charity. I go to a college that has a moderate amount of such activities. Though I love fundraisers, I want this one to be extra awesome. So I’m going to e-mail someone on campus about potentially having a zombie walk.

Why a zombie walk? Because it sounds absolutely ridiculous and absolutely FUN. I know various people who go to colleges that have hosted them. There was one at Syracuse University recently, and it was a resounding success. So yeah. This is what I’m going to try to do to alleviate poverty for others. It may not be that much, but any difference made in anyone’s life is encouraged and important.

Signing out,

Sabrina

fishingboatproceeds:

The Nerdfighter Kiva team just hit ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS in loans.

Never underestimate the power of Nerdfighteria to make a difference. 

compassionalert:

Compassion Alert

THE BECKONING OF LOVELY

Written and Directed by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

This video is the first part of a 65 minute film about opening one’s heart and mind and letting the universe in. Nerdfighters are explicitly credited as special friends of the project. This film is important because not only does it allow viewers to enjoy the simple little pleasures that the universe has to offer, but it demonstrates little ways that we can make each other’s lives a bit lovelier. If you have the chance, try to gather some friends, family, and hey, maybe even a few kind strangers to watch The Beckoning of Lovely. 

Here’s a video by John Green of the VlogBrothers that explains philanthropy in Nerdfighteria better (and with more Tobuscus love) than I ever could.