United Nations Yak

Professor M. S. Swaminathan has been acclaimed by TIME magazine as one of the twenty most influential Asians of the 20th century and one of the only three from India, the other two being Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore. He has been described by the United Nations Environment Program as “the Father of Economic Ecology” and by Javier Perez de Cuellar, past Secretary General of the United Nations, as “a living legend who will go into the annals of history as a world scientist of rare distinction”.

A plant geneticist by training, Professor Swaminathan’s contributions to the agricultural renaissance of India have led to his being widely referred to as the scientific leader of the green revolution movement. (more…)

Muriel chats with DJ Louis founder and organizer of STARFEST and Mr. Charles Fisher of the Hip-Hop Summit Youth Council (HHSYC).

STARFEST Multi-Cultural Music Festival is Series of events that will take place throughout the Caribbean Community from December 2009 through2010.

STARFEST will launch at Henfrasa Stadium in Haiti on Saturday, December 5th, 2009. The festival was created to entertain Caribbean residents and citizens worldwide through concerts from some of the Top Artists in the world performing Hip-Hop, R&B, Compa, Reggae, Jazz and Zouk music. There will also be parties, food, drinks, art, talent shows, cultural and educational events. In addition to having “tons of fun”, STARFEST will bring awareness to the world about the needs of the Caribbean Community and the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. (more…)

Born in 1934 in Durban, South Africa, Arun is the fifth grandson of India’s legendary leader, Mohandas K. “Mahatma” Gandhi. Growing up under the discriminatory apartheid laws of South Africa, he was beaten by “white” South Africans for being too black and “black” South Africans for being too white; so, Arun sought eye-for-an-eye justice. However, he learned from his parents and grandparents that justice does not mean revenge, it means transforming the opponent through love and suffering.

Grandfather taught Arun to understand nonviolence through understanding violence. “If we know how much passive violence we perpetrate against one another we will understand why there is so much physical violence plaguing societies and the world,” Gandhi said. Through daily lessons, Arun says, he learned about violence and about anger. (more…)

Born in 1934 in Durban, South Africa, Arun is the fifth grandson of India’s legendary leader, Mohandas K. “Mahatma” Gandhi. Growing up under the discriminatory apartheid laws of South Africa, he was beaten by “white” South Africans for being too black and “black” South Africans for being too white; so, Arun sought eye-for-an-eye justice. However, he learned from his parents and grandparents that justice does not mean revenge, it means transforming the opponent through love and suffering.

Grandfather taught Arun to understand nonviolence through understanding violence. “If we know how much passive violence we perpetrate against one another we will understand why there is so much physical violence plaguing societies and the world,” Gandhi said. Through daily lessons, Arun says, he learned about violence and about anger. (more…)

Steven M. Hilton has worked in the field of philanthropy for more than 25 years. He joined the Foundation in 1983 and has held numerous positions over the years, including program assistant, program associate, and vice president, programs. He was named president in 1998 and in 2005 the Board of Directors also appointed him CEO.

Prior to joining the foundation begun by his grandfather, Mr. Hilton worked for five years in hotel management with Hilton Hotels Corporation in Alabama, Georgia and California. He was also involved in aquaculture (fish farming) businesses in California and Hawaii. A graduate of the University of California at Santa Barbara, he earned his Masters of Business Administration (MBA) degree from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). (more…)

Steven M. Hilton has worked in the field of philanthropy for more than 25 years. He joined the Foundation in 1983 and has held numerous positions over the years, including program assistant, program associate, and vice president, programs. He was named president in 1998 and in 2005 the Board of Directors also appointed him CEO.

Prior to joining the foundation begun by his grandfather, Mr. Hilton worked for five years in hotel management with Hilton Hotels Corporation in Alabama, Georgia and California. He was also involved in aquaculture (fish farming) businesses in California and Hawaii. A graduate of the University of California at Santa Barbara, he earned his Masters of Business Administration (MBA) degree from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). (more…)