Bonn, Germany: The 2008 Beijing Olympics is one of the biggest volunteer-involving events in history. On every street corner and in every venue, there's an army of volunteers meeting, greeting, translating, giving directions and helping visitors in every way imaginable. For an insight into what being a Beijing volunteer is all about, here's a selection of news, views and links - and a space for your own comments.  Read article

Mian Yang, Sichuan province, China: On 12 May 2008 an earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale struck Sichuan province in south-western China. Volunteerism is critical to the relief efforts. Read UNV volunteer Liu Lei's diary of his work with the IFRC here.   Visit site

Washington DC, USA: Millions of young people from Cambodia to Peru, from Pakistan to Liberia, from Mexico to Mongolia, are implementing community service projects during the 20th Annual Global Youth Service Day (GYSD).

Young volunteers will address important community needs through service and service-learning projects addressing climate change, literacy, poverty, human rights and many other issues.

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Geneva, Switzerland: Somalia is again polio-free, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) announced last week, calling it a 'historic achievement' in public health. This landmark victory is a result of the efforts of over 10,000 Somali volunteers and health workers who repeatedly vaccinated more than 1.8 million children under the age of five by visiting every household in of the most dangerous places on earth.  Read article

It started with a question: How can we inspire people to take action on climate change?

The answer: Ask the people of Sydney to turn off their lights for one hour.

On 31 March 2007, 2.2 million people and 2100 Sydney businesses turned off their lights for one hour - Earth Hour. If the greenhouse reduction achieved in the Sydney CBD during Earth Hour was sustained for a year, it would be equivalent to taking 48,616 cars off the road for a year.

With Sydney icons like the Harbour Bridge and Opera House turning their lights off, and unique events such as weddings by candlelight, the world took notice. Inspired by the collective effort of millions of Sydneysiders, many major global cities are joining Earth Hour at 8pm on March 29 2008, turning a symbolic event into a global movement.   Visit site

International Volunteer Day, 5 December, is your day!

Volunteers and their from all over the world, from Brazil to Viet Nam, Trinidad & Tobago to New Zealand, are being recognized and their contribution highlighted through various IVD activities. We sincerely appreciate your articles, photos and videos.

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BBC News online highlights people all over the world are taking part in a day of action to hold governments to a UN pledge, made seven years ago, to eradicate poverty by 2015. Organisers of the Stand Up Speak Out event, which started at 2100 GMT on Tuesday, are using everything from concerts to kite-flying events to draw attention to their demands. Some of those taking part from different corners of the planet explain here why the issue of reducing poverty is important to them, and how they will be playing their part.   Read article

Fears of being falsely accused of harming children is the major factor preventing Scots from volunteering, and while 69% of adults consider working with children, only 5% actually do, a report claims today. Concerns over the culture of litigation is also a factor when it comes to working or volunteering with young people, a survey by Scotland's Commissioner for Children and Young People (SCCYP) found. In the poll carried out for the commissioner, 48% of adults said concern about being falsely accused of harming young people is the number one obstacle to becoming a volunteer.  Read article

Shanghai, China: The overwhelming response towards voluntary work among Shanghai youth, communities and all levels of society is one of the reasons why Shanghai can develop into a sustainable economy. For a population of 18 million, the city of Shanghai has more than a million volunteers. They are involved in all types of social work and many will be called into action at the Special Olympics World Summer Games starting next week and the 2010 World Expo.    Read article

United Nations Volunteers Online Volunteering service is looking for the Online Volunteering Team of the Year. Online volunteers and organizations alike, are invited to nominate their team for the Online Volunteering Team of the Year Award! The purpose of this award is to recognize online volunteers' contributions to human development, to demonstrate how -- through effective online collaboration with volunteers -- development organizations can strengthen their activities and to showcase the diversity in which online volunteers can support development organizations.

View the video of a former OV awardee.

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