Challenges In The News 05/27/08

Population growth will outpace food productionRegarding the April 18 article, "How to ease squeeze on food access": With clear evidence before us, I find it unsettling that an article on food scarcity has only a single passing reference to population – one that implies that continuing population growth is something we have to cater to rather than challenge.

Traffic gridlock is emerging as a challenge to auto sales in China, with many potential buyers saying lack of space on the country's roads is a major factor in whether or not they will buy a car.

CALGARY -- The first legal challenge of Alberta's southern water limits is surfacing in a courtroom this week as a new report warns Alberta's water scarcity is a wake-up call to the rest of Canada.

Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory is issuing an eco-friendly challenge to the city. The mayor wants more Cincinnati residents to recycle – and he's willing to pay for it.

A U.S.-based think tank has awarded a $500,000 prize to the leader of a student protest movement that has posed a potent challenge to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

PALO ALTO, Calif.----Demonstrating that the kids of today care very much about the shape of our planet tomorrow, recently launched ZooKazoo.com , the safer, online destination for kids 6-12 years old, announced that nearly 2,000 votes were cast during its first-ever Earth Day Challenge.

Each year, AmeriCorps engages thousands of Americans in full or part-time service to help communities address their toughest challenges. Learn more about AmeriCorps in California, including how to become an AmeriCorps member!

CaliforniaVolunteers.org, a new online tool to match individuals with volunteer opportunities in their communities, eases these challenges. You can literally spend about 5 minutes on CaliforniaVolunteers.org and find multiple and varied volunteer opportunities for you and/or your family with nonprofits right in your community. CaliforniaVolunteers.org utilizes technology to include nonprofits from around the state, some of which might not otherwise be able to publicize their volunteer opportunities. CaliforniaVolunteers.org is able to connect the state's nonprofits with Californians who are ready and willing to help.

Gavin Rundell of Troop 328 was running back and forth between all the different stations to make sure that activities were running smoothly since he was a member of the host troop. "I've learned that planning an event is really complicated. You have to work out all the little details," he said. Yet it was a challenge that the scouts seemed up to and their leaders wanted them to have that valuable experience. "They're doing at a young age something that people in their forties, fifties and sixties might be doing for the first time and getting that experience already," said Wickerham about planning such a major event.

Activities Director for the Arrowhead District, John Snyder, was overseeing the Fire Challenge. Scouts had to build a fire and then extinguish it by using water balloons. The water source was not close by, so they had to work out a strategy. "It's been very entertaining," said Snyder. "There's been a bit of success and quite a bit of education."

Another batch of scouts from Troop 438 were having a hard time with the challenge, but they refused to give up. "I've learned a lot about leadership," said patrol leader Corey Johnson. "It's a hard thing, especially leading the younger kids in the group."