Haiti 2010 Earthquake - Man in the Mirror - Michael Jackson

The 2010 Haiti earthquake was a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 earthquake with the epicenter near Léogane, approximately 25 kilometres west of Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti, striking at 16:53:10 local time (21:53:10 UTC) on Tuesday, 12 January 2010. The earthquake occurred at a depth of 13 kilometres. The United States Geological Survey recorded a series of at least 33 aftershocks, fourteen of them between magnitudes 5.0 and 5.9. The International Red Cross estimated that about three million people were affected by the quake, and the Haitian Interior Minister believes that up to 200000 have died as a result of the disaster, exceeding earlier Red Cross estimates of 45,00050,000. The earthquake caused major damage to Port-au-Prince. Most major landmarks were significantly damaged or destroyed, including the Presidential Palace (President René Préval survived), the National Assembly building, the Port-au-Prince Cathedral, and the main jail. To compound the tragedy, most hospitals in the area were destroyed. The United Nations (UN) reported that the headquarters of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), located in the capital, had collapsed and that the Mission's Chief, Hédi Annabi, his deputy, Luiz Carlos da Costa, and the acting police commissioner were confirmed dead. Elisabeth Byrs of the UN called it the worst disaster the United Nations has experienced. As Michael Jackson said in Man in the Mirror, Make that CHANGE ! Please Help Haiti and donate.

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Litterbug Doug in the Missions of Michael Recycle by Ellie Bethel

Image : http://www.flickr.com

I have to admit I was a bit hesitant when I picked up this book. Although the cover and the illustrations are enticing, a book on recycling didn't seem as exciting to me as Knuffle Bunny or Lunch Lady. But I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised.

Litterbug Doug is lazy. He is wasteful. He is messy. But worst of all, he hates recycling! The clean and green town where he lives is in danger from his lazy ways, not to mention suffering from the stench released by the mountains of garbage that Doug leaves wherever he goes! So strong is its stink that even the army of rats that follow Doug around are rethinking their friendship with him. It's up to Michael Recycle, planet Earth's green-caped crusader, to show dastardly Doug the error of his ways...before it's too late!

Fortunately, Michael convinces Doug to "clean up" his act and with the help of others, the garbage is sorted from the recyclables- phew! Doug even agrees to a bath which helps him out on the friend front. Doug has such a turnaround, he's named the official Litter Police.

It's a fun story told in rhyme that offers an entertaining way to introduce kids to the three r's, and taking care of our environment. The back also offers a section with facts on litter and recycling that discuss the various aspects of environmental responsibility, the positive effects of recycling, and conservation issues relating to water, energy, and paper. But even the facts are fun (ex: "Americans recycled 33 percent of the trash they threw away in 2007. (Another third was thrown away, and the rest in on the floor of your closet.")

Additional Information:

Author: Ellie Bethel
Ilustrator: Alexandra Colombo
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 24 pages
Publisher: Worthwhile Books (April 8, 2009)
ISBN-10: 1600103928
ISBN-13: 978-1600103926

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