UN agencies have recently expressed strong concern over the violent massacres of civilians in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

There have been killings, torching and attacks against civilians for months, with the victims of these attacks primarily being women and children.

The UN reports that since May 2011, there have been more than 45 attacks on 30 villages and towns in the DRC.

The UN says that the attacks result in serious human rights violations, including the destruction and looting of homes and property and a mass displacement of thousands of civilians.

Officials say that armed groups are affording to expand their own area of influence, often carrying out brutal attacks against civilians in the process.

As a result of the brutality, the UN High Commissioner recently called on all armed groups to immediately cease attacks against civilians, noting severe consequences for those responsible for the violence.

To help curb the fighting, Congolese authorities say they will deploy troops to the areas affected and reiterated the government’s priority of civilian protection in the DRC.

Monday August 26th marked the start of World Water Week, an annual conference in Stockholm, which focuses on the management of global water resources.

UNICEF and the World Health Organization (-WHO-), say that between 1990 and 2010, more than 2 billion people have gained access to improved sources of drinking water such as piped supplies, or protected wells.

As of 2010, the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) target of halving the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water has been met well in advance of the MDG 2015 deadline.

At the end of 2010, 89 percent of the world’s population, or 6.1 billion people, used improved drinking water sources.

This is one per cent more than the 88 percent MDG target. The report estimates that by 2015, 92 percent of the global population will have access to improved drinking water.

Nevertheless, UNICEF and WHO warn that victory could not yet be declared, as at least 11 percent of the world’s population – 783 million people – are still without access to safe drinking water, and billions without sanitation facilities.

The world is still far from meeting the MDG target for sanitation. Currently 2.5 billion people still lack improved sanitation.

Although 63 percent of the world now has improved sanitation access, that figure is projected to increase only to 67 percent by 2015, which is still below the 75 percent aim in the MDGs.

We often wonder how those who have risen to the top of the business world got there. Is it education? Luck? For many, it’s thanks to the guidance of famed CEO coach, Mark Taylor. NGB had the privilege of learning the tricks of the trade from the master, himself. A results-oriented executive with a 35-year history as an accomplished CEO and corporate manager, Mark’s extensive leadership and operational experience offers a diversity of relevant business building skills and perspective to Chief Executives and business owners worldwide.

Mark is a trainer for the CultureSync Tribal Leadership Intensive- a twelve week leadership training program offered to the public. As a certified national speaker with Vistage International, his workshop on Tribal Leadership has been ranked one of the best in the country.

His presentation, entitled, “Tribal Leadership: because Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast”, is highly interactive. Tribes can make or break your organization’s success. Tribes operate at different cultural stages, which can positively or negatively impact your results as an organization. Effective tribes perform at rates 3 to 5 times greater than ineffective tribes.

You can learn all about Mark’s work and upcoming intensives at: http://vistagenyc.com/

May 29th, 2012 marked the first International Peacekeepers Day being observed in the Republic of South Sudan, since the country obtained independence on July 9th, 2011. This year’s peacekeeper’s day pays tribute to 120,000 peacekeepers serving in seventeen missions in some of the world’s most volatile places.

Speaking at an event to mark the International Day of Peacekeepers, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, UN Special Representative Hilde Johnson said peacekeepers played a crucial role in contributing to collective security and the consolidation of peace. United Nations Peacekeepers in South Sudan are rededicating themselves to help achieve lasting peace and sustainable prosperity for the citizens of the Republic of South Sudan.

Among those in attendance to honor the brave men and women of the UN peacekeeping force were South Sudan’s Minister of Information Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin, the UNMISS Force Commander Moses Bisong Obi, senior UNMISS leadership, members of the diplomatic community and the UN Country Team attended the event.

During the celebration 47 Japanese officers were awarded medals. The Japanese troops are part of the 212-strong Japanese Engineering Company serving in the mission. Other troops at the ceremony included those from Rwanda, India, Bangladesh and Cambodia. The celebration concluded with a martial arts and calligraphy show by the Japanese troops.

At the helm of one of the most ambitious projects to end children’s hunger worldwide is the Clarins cosmetics corportation, led by the internationally recognized businessman and humanitarian, Jonathan Zrihen. Jonathan began his Clarins tenure in the International Marketing Division at the Clarins head office in Paris. He was subsequently sent abroad to gain more international exposure and held Distribution positions in both Madrid and Sydney over the next two years.

After five years, he moved on to become President of Clarins Canada Inc. and in January 2007, Zrihen was named President & CEO of Clarins USA Inc., putting him at the helm of one of the largest subsidiaries for the brand worldwide. The motto that has served him well throughout his successful career path: ‘’Selling beauty is selling happiness!’’

For many children around the world, hunger is not only a daily struggle, it is life threatening. Every 5 seconds, a child dies from hunger, and over 350 million children go to bed hungry each night. Clarins has always aimed to create a more beautiful future. Loyal to humanitarian values, Clarins is pleased to be working with FEED projects to help fight hunger worldwide. Founded in 2007 by Lauren Bush, feed has raised over $6 million and distributed over 60 million meals to hungry children across the globe—something Mr. Zrihen considers one Clarins’ proudest achievements.

In the parched land of South Sudan, finding water is never easy. Doing so for 35,000 refugees is even more challenging. With effort after effort turning up little water and even less hope, the mission to ensure the health of the Sudanese people is becoming more dire.

With the need for water bound to grow, UNHCR and its partners airlifted in a more sophisticated water drill than currently exists in the country, one that can dig deeper into the soil and utilize longer pipes to bring the water to the surface. All this is in the hope of finding much needed water before the next influx of refugees.

South Sudan’s environment is starkly beautiful but harsh. During the annual six-month dry season, daily temperatures often rise above 120°F. Every day, millions of South Sudanese, usually women and children, must trek miles to collect water from ponds, marshes, ditches, or hand-dug wells. This water is often contaminated with disease-causing parasites and bacteria. The results are pain, sickness, even death, especially among infants and children.

The story above illustrates the struggle faced by countless families fighting to stay alive as they travel from camp to camp seek refuge and asylum from the hardships they face. This particular story is set on the edge of the Sahara desert, in Mangazie, Niger, near the border with Mali. A new UNHCR camp is under construction. Complete with family-size tents to replace the sheets and blankets the refugees have been living under for weeks. This will provide better living conditions for the families who fled to this desolate region.

This camp will eventually take in 3,000 people, but with the ongoing insecurity in northern Mali more are sure to come, fleeing war and hunger. Workers are putting up tents, latrines, showers and other facilities. Since Tuareg and Salafist rebels began their campaign in January for an independent state called Azawad, in Northern Mali, more than 320,000 people have fled their homes and about half of them have sought asylum in refugee camps in neighboring states.

Chad has one of the lowest rates of access to safe drinking water and sanitation services in the world. The shortfall plays out in recurrent epidemics of diseases like polio, meningitis and persistently cholera. Rural areas still linger far behind and children living there are always at risk. Last year there were more than 17,000 cases of cholera in Chad and 459 deaths.

Efforts, however, are underway to try and stop the spread of sanitation-born disease through programs like those run by UNICEF in partnership with ‘Healthy schools, healthy homes’, an NGO that promotes hygiene practices. They are part of a community-led total sanitation approach to improving sanitation and hygiene practices in rural areas. It’s an approach that works with and empowers local communities to stop open defecation and to build and use proper latrines.

The project is being implemented in eight regions across Chad, and since it began 202 villages have achieved one hundred percent latrine coverage across the country and with it cleaner, healthier living conditions. Chad still has a long way to go if it’s to reach the goal of halving the percentage of its population without access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation by 2015. But through education and sanitation, through the work of UNICEF and others, the country is saving lives one clean village at a time.

NGB wants to help you maximize your earning and saving potential with a few tips for success, and that means starting with the very first impressions you have about money. Most of these impressions come from your childhood, observing how your family and friends spent and saved. Now, it’s your turn—and it’s likely those impressions haven’t matured as much as you have.

Understanding your personal finances doesn’t have to be a difficult thing.  You don’t have to know much about finance in general to be smart about your own finances.  Whether you’re a young adult just starting out, or you’re older and have never had to deal with your finances before, it’s a journey that we all face at one time or another—and the key is knowledge and preparation.

You’d likely be surprised to discover how many people aren’t aware of the exact amount of money they make per month or per year.  It’s nearly impossible to make an accurate, thorough budget without first knowing how much money you have coming in.  Whether you’re working full- or part-time, or you’re on disability, unemployment insurance, social assistance, or you’re self-employed, you must know how much money you’re making every month.  If your income varies, add up what you made in the last year, divide it by twelve and you’ll have the average amount that you made each month.

Have a notebook, binder or file for your finance-related notes, budgets, bills, statements, etc., so that everything is in one place and easy to access, and you never have to go searching for an important document. Knowing the state of your personal finances can be empowering – if you have money left at the end of every month, you can feel good knowing that all your bills are paid and you have extra money to either put into savings, put toward next month’s budget, or spend it on things you want. If you aren’t able to make your budget balance and you can’t handle all your expenses, at least you’re aware of the situation and you can take steps to improve your financial situation and either avoid or undo debt.

Stay tuned to this series for more insights into improving your knowledge and understanding about money and the role it plays in your life.

NGB was on hand at the historic Empire State Building, in the heart of New York City, as the lobby filled with New York Police Department officers, their families, and representatives of the Mayor’s office.

New York City Police Commissioner, Raymond Kelly, gave a few heartfelt remarks about the dedication and sacrifice of NYPDs officers before inviting all the children in attendance to help him throw the commemorative switch.  The Empire State Building’s tower lights were then turned all blue to commemorate Police Memorial Week.

This is one of many events held at the historic landmark honoring holidays, observances, and special occasions by the city of New York. Soaring 1,454 feet (from base to antenna) above Midtown Manhattan, the Empire State Building is the “World’s Most Famous Office Building.” The Empire State Building was named America’s favorite building in a poll conducted by the American Institute of Architects. The Empire State Building Observatory is one of the world’s most beloved attractions  and is the region’s #1 tourist destination.