December is Universal Human Rights Month

Article I

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

Article II

Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.

Article III

Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.

The Birmingham Pledge

• I believe that every person has worth as an individual.


• I believe that every person is entitled to dignity and respect, regardless of race or color.


• I believe that every thought and every act of racial prejudice is harmful; if it is my thought or act, then it is harmful to me as well as to others.


• Therefore, from this day forward I will strive daily to eliminate racial prejudice from my thoughts and actions.


• I will discourage racial prejudice by others at every opportunity.


• I will treat all people with dignity and respect; and I will strive daily to honor this pledge, knowing that the world will be a better place because of my effort.

Sign the Pledge!

November is Native American Heritage Month

Please visit the following sites for information about the culture, history, traditions, and contributions of the indigenous peoples of North America.

Aboriginal Links
Eitleljorg Museum of American Indians
First Nations Peoples
First People of America & Canada
Indigenous Peoples Literature
Native American Code Talkers
Native American Heritage Month
Native American Lore
Native American Technology & Art
Native American Tribes of Alabama
Poarch Band of Creek Indians
Poarch Creek Pow Wow

Awesome Website - ProCon.org

The http://www.procon.org/ website promotes critical thinking, education, and informed citizenship by presenting controversial issues in a straightforward, nonpartisan, primarily pro-con format. All ProCon sites are free, require no registration, and have no advertising.

ProCon.org at a glance:

• over 1,000 questions on controversial issues
• date and source information for all research cited
• over 4,800 biographies for the sources used on the sites
• research done or vetted by experienced professionals
• strict editorial guidelines to ensure journalistic integrity

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Help raise awareness about the dangers of breast cancer and the benefits of early detection. The websites below offer free e-cards to remind the women in your life to get an annual mammogram:

• http://www2c.cdc.gov/ecards/message/message.asp?cardid=196
• http://www.bluemountain.com/category.pd?path=34939
• http://www.mammosite.com/e-card-reminder/
• http://makingstrides.acsevents.org/site/PageServer?pagename=MSABC_FY09_mammogramreminder

Banned Books Week Sep 26−Oct 3, 2009

Celebrate the freedom to read by learning more about Banned Books Week. Observed since 1982, Banned Books Week serves as a reminder of one of our most empowering rights, the privilege to freely choose what we wish to read. To quote Franklin Roosevelt: “Books cannot be killed by fire …books never die...no force can take from the world the books that embody man's eternal fight against tyranny.”

Please visit our Banned Books Week page.

Hispanic Heritage Month: Sep. 15 - Oct. 15

The following Central American countries share a common language and similar cultures:

Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua.

In the course of their development, they also share a major historical connection - what is it? The answer provides an explanation for the unusual time-frame for Hispanic Heritage Month. For this and other interesting facts about this important national observance, please visit our Hispanic Heritage page.