What's UPP, Universal Peace Plan Newsletter


May 2010
UPP’s Global Solutions Network UPP’s Global Solutions Network is perpetually on the look-out for items of interest to our expanding ranks of difference-makers. The process is organic in that it matches the unique talents of individuals with specific solution skills to conditions in need of their contributions. Thanks to ever-improving technologies, greater effectiveness is now possible. An outstanding example involves a lethal disease that continues to victimize major populations in under-developed nations: Malaria. Malaria Bites! ScienceDaily (Apr. 2, 2010) — Also known as Dengue fever, malaria is transmitted by a virus that threatens 2.5 billion lives each year and imposes immense economic problems. Although quinine treats the symptoms, a more critical challenge is to eliminate the source. Recently researchers at Michigan State University stepped up to the plate. They discovered a bacterium that stymies the culprit before it reaches humans. "In nature, about 28 percent of mosquito species harbor Wolbachia bacteria, but the mosquitoes that are the primary transmitters of dengue, Aedes aegypti, have no Wolbachia in them," said Zhiyong Xi, MSU assistant professor of entomology. "We found that Wolbachia is able to stop the dengue virus from replicating. If there is no virus in the mosquito, it can't spread to people, so disease transmission can be blocked." In the April 1 issue of the journal PLoS Pathogens, Xi reports that he and his colleagues introduced the Wolbachia bacterium into Aedes aegypti mosquitoes by injecting embryos. The bacterium then passes to successive generations, producing strains with hostility to the virus. Meanwhile the Wolbachia bacterium itself doesn’t transmit to humans. An independent report substantiating the success was published by Australian researchers deploying a different variety of the Wolbachia bacterium. "The strain we used has a 100 percent maternal transmission rate and causes the mosquitoes to live slightly longer," Xi explained. "The strain the Australian researchers used causes the mosquitoes to die a bit sooner. There are advantages to both. The longer the mosquitoes live, the more likely they are to pass on the Wolbachia bacteria to their offspring and infect the entire population in a shorter timeframe. Xi and colleagues, including Guowu Bian, a post-doctoral research associate in Xi's lab who conducted much of the research for this study, are now working to understand how the Wolbachia bacterium stops the dengue virus from replicating in mosquitoes. "Only when we know the mechanisms underlying Wolbachia-mediated viral interference, will we will be able to understand why it's happening and further improve the efficiency of the viral interference," he said. While dengue fever is rare in the continental United States, Hawaii was the site of a dengue epidemic in 2001. Overall, about one-third of the world's population is exposed. Up to 100 million people are infected each year. While recovery can occur in about two weeks, the risk nevertheless remains for life-threatening consequences marked by bleeding from the nose and gums. In addition to Xi and Bian, UPP recognizes Yao Xu, visiting pathobiology and diagnostic investigation; Peng Lu, doctoral student in Xi's lab, and Yan Xie, research specialist in the MSU Center for Statistical Training and Consulting. The program is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Xi's research also is supported by the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station. Kudos to everyone responsible for bringing forward solutions to cure Malaria. UPP’s Global Reach Universal Peace Plan, a 501c3 non-profit, unites people in pursuit of peace with causes to eradicate hunger, poverty, disease, illiteracy, environmental abuses, tyranny and violence. UPP welcomes your participation & ingenuity in creating a multi-cultural, multi-national, multi-lingual initiative that delivers a better world with respect for all. And you delivered! By comparison to the earth with its 7 continents and 196 countries, UPP reaches 6 continents and 92 countries speaking in 22 different languages. Our newest friends come from: Cambodia, Luxembourg and Bolivia. UPP salutes our Facebook friends for building this success story and bridging cultural barriers. Please tell all your FB friends that UPP created Universal Peace Plan –Too because we exceeded our 5,000 friend limit on the original. Here’s our current FB population: UPP Original Friends: 5,000 UPP-Too Friends: 330 Fans: 4,977 Group: 6,456 Many solutions to our causes of: hunger, disease, poverty, human rights, economics, literacy and the environment are starting to flood through our site. Check out our wall to read all about the exciting new opportunities for bringing forward correction. “GETTING IT DONE!” “The true civilization is where every man gives to every other every right that he claims for himself.” Robert Ingersoll MAY’S CLOSE UPP: POSITIVE SOLUTIONS SHOWCASE Shout Out Goes To: WORLD VISION’S “NIGHT OF NETS” www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9eBqEJV1JE World Vision hosts free music concerts and asks that everyone make a donation of $6 that will buy a bed net for a child living in a Malaria-prone country like Zambia, Mozambique, Kenya and Mali. Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease that kills nearly one million children every year. Research has shown that bed nets provide one of the best ways to protect children from Malaria. UPP also recognizes and thanks the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for all the great work their foundation does to eradicate Malaria. BE ROMANTICALLY ENTERTAINED May’s Feature: Diana Krall “Boy From Ipanema” Live from Rio www.youtube.com/watch?v=usH4nVyy9A4 UPP-BEAT ABOUT THE FUTURE Non-profits and other research institutions are at the heart of creating solutions for sustainability. As these advancements in the fields for social and environmental security are made known to UPP, we’ll post the great news on our FB wall for all to read. Some will even make it to the UPP Positive Solutions Showcase. If you now of other organizations that are making a positive difference or if you have proposals to deliver the same, we have an audience eager to discover them. Use UPP to get the word out. Tell us about great work through CONTACT US @upp.org. Great ideas have only come from great minds. The solutions are out there. UPP hopes to reel them in. In the event that you haven’t read GREATEST 21^ST CENTURY EXPERIMENT, click here. It’s worth the read! SPEAK UPP! UPP’s SUMMIT’S COMMUNITY FORUMS are your opportunities to be heard! Don’t be shy. Loud is good and highly effective! Have a “say so” on UPP’S Cause Topics or start your own. Respond to others and have them respond to you. It’s all about connecting and driving momentum. UPP needs you to become a member and participate in constructive brainstorming @upp.org. A LITTLE HELP FROM OUR FRIENDS Every act of generosity has special meaning … $5, $10, $15, $25….when multiplied by our membership roll adds up to a significant resource for advancing humanitarian goals. UPP.org is a non-profit 501C3, so your donation is deductable to the fullest extent allowable. Our overhead and administration costs are extremely low. Be assured that what you give goes dollar-for-dollar to build our cause communities, social networks and add the new features that you want! Donate now online (Click here) Every donation makes a difference. If you prefer to write a check, please make yours payable to: Universal Peace Plan PO Box 14243 Chicago, IL 60614 USA Don’t forget to re-confirm your log-in and password, sign up for the NEWSLETTER and join Universal Peace Plan on FaceBook and Twitter. EXEMPLARY TEAMWORK Numerous friends and supporters are responsible the success of Universal Peace Plan. If not for their resourcefulness, talent and determination, simply put, we wouldn’t be UPP and running. The following is the beginning of a long list for which profound gratitude is deserved. Michael Best and Friedrich LLC – Legal Services Billie Jean Smith, Partner Jeffrey Brown, Partner Jaime Treml, Intellectual Property Administrator ONCALL Interactive – Site Development Matthew Maday, Partner Michael Farro, Partner Adam Brown, Partner Chris Rothstein, Project Manager Shaun Crittenden, Programmer Jason Ward, Programmer Hawk & Dove Creators Steve Foster, illustrator, and Dickie Harris, writer UPP Content Development, Writer Dickie Harris UPP Social Network Administrator Jean Lachowicz, Urbs In Horto Communications, Inc., President And Together We Can Change The World, Inc., COO Graphic Design Alex Helfers Little Green Cube – for preliminary development and ongoing support of UPP. DePaul University’s Peace, Conflict Resolution and Social Justice Program Dr. Mary Jeanne Larrabee, Director - for hosting conferences. Harris Realty Group - for initial funding and facilitation. Thomas Hinkes, Richard Harris, Fr. Dennis O’Neill, Matthew Maday of UPP’s board for unconditional devotion and sacrificing many long evenings. We’ll keep you posted on progress and developments. Thank you all so much! Sincerely, Patty O’Neill President and Founder
Our archived newsletters: Current newsletter April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 Click here to REGISTER for the Universal Peace Plan. Click here to return to the UPP Website. Click here to subscribe to our monthly newsletter. Join our FaceBook group and follow us on Twitter.