TresSugar

Military Families Go Camping to See What Army Life is Like

LibertySugar — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 11:00:00 -0700

The British Army has sponsored a "take your spouse to work day," in hopes of keeping morale up among Army families. Nineteen women and 34 children joined up for a camping trip filled with activities mirroring the life of members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. The exercise was intended to teach Army WHAGS (Wives Husbands and Girlfriends) what their loved ones go through in the field.

In today's BBC, one Army wife participant shared what she learned.

On the drills: RSM Williams calls Sergeant Keith Heslop to take us through basic drill. The usual comedy routines ensue, but it's a surprisingly stark lesson in how disciplined and tiring drill is.
On army food: To eat we have a 24-hour ration pack, including silver pouches with labels such as "nonmeat mini burger and beans" and two Yorkie bars emblazoned with "not for civvies." There is also a "brew pack" of tea, coffee, and hot chocolate. We quickly become obsessed with food - when you don't have a lot, it means a lot.

To see what she has to say about the harsh conditions, and her comrades, read more.

On the harsh conditions: It's not just the lack of sleep, or days without washing, that are hard. Having basics such as light and heat taken away is disabling and disorientating. I now understand there is a real difference between what I think you need to survive and what you really need to survive.
On getting along with her fellow recruits: I also realize there are difficult choices to be made between sharing kit to keep my comrades onside, and having enough to keep myself fed and comfortable. Not to mention how liberating it is to be dirty. But this exercise also reminds me that our Army is tough, organized, disciplined, and chivalrous. I suppose I always knew this, but it's only now that I really understand why it is like this.

Source

Do Tell: What Did Summer Camp Mean to You?

DearSugar — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 14:00:00 -0700

Depending on who you ask, Summer camp is either a wonderful, life-changing part of childhood or a horrifying, embarrassing experience to be avoided entirely. For many kids, attending sleep-away camp was a first taste of independence. You're tossed into an unfamiliar place and forced to make new friends while sampling all sorts of exotic activities - from horseback riding and campfires to dancing with boys and having your underwear run up a flagpole. If you grew up in the city, it may have been your first up close and personal encounter with the outdoors; if you were raised in a rural area, maybe it was the first time you met a kid from the big city.

Did you go to Summer camp as a kid? If so, do you have fond memories, or was it a horrible experience you never want to endure again? Did it help shape the person you are today? And if you didn't go away to camp, how did you feel about kids who did?

Source

Lions and Tigers and (Empty) Tents...Oh My!

GiggleSugar — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 15:00:00 -0800

Two men. In the woods. With a supply of food to last four days. Sounds like an innocent camping trip to me, folks. But to local police officers, it was a cry to be attacked and mauled by hungry bears. So when the camping tent was expectedly (er, "mysteriously") found empty- a manhunt ensued. The dogs were called out, the helicopters were sent up, and a search team of fifty men was dispatched. But was it too late? Were these men already swimming in the bottom of the belly of a bear?

Not so much. They were at home. And they admitted to leaving the campsite in a rush because they heard a really "scary" noise. Turns out it was just some aerobics instructor trying to cough up a fur ball in the woods...

Pakistani Girl Plays With Her Father at Camp She Calls Home

TresSugar — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:00:00 -0700

A father plays with his daughter in a canal at a United Nations camp for internally displaced people in Pakistan's Swabi district, revealing a moment of innocence in an environment of violence. The Pakistan government has been urging internally displaced people to return to their homes, but this plan has been stalled after a bomb exploded in the region today, putting into question the security of the previously cleared area.

View 5 Photos ›

Displaced: Pakistani Girls Await Their Meals in Refugee Camp

TresSugar — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 14:00:00 -0700

Pakistani girls watch through a hole in the kitchen tent to see when the food will be ready at the Jalozai refugee camp outside Peshawar, Pakistan. According to the UN, approximately three million people have been displaced inside Pakistan as a result of ongoing fighting and military operations against the Taliban.

View 3 Photos ›

Source

Before a Breakup, Try Relationship Boot Camp

DearSugar — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 10:00:00 -0800

It's normal for couples to disagree and fight from time to time. We argue about huge things like money, and little things like which TV show to watch. Sometimes if a couple isn't getting along, a little intervention may be necessary. You're probably familiar with couples counseling, but have you ever heard of relationship boot camp? It could be seen as the last shot to mending a broken connection or as relationship maintenance, like bringing your car in for its 30,000-mile tune-up.

Relationship boot camp workshops are cropping up all over since divorce rates are skyrocketing. Relationship specialist Terry Real thinks this is because people never learned the skills needed to connect to another person. In his three-day relationship boot camp workshop, he teaches the basics like how to communicate clearly and honestly, how to listen, how to deal with conflicts, and how to argue respectfully. Relationship miracles don't come cheap, though; be prepared to spend $1,500 a couple.

Is this something you'd be willing to try?

Source

Tough Love or Abuse? House Sets Juvenile Boot Camp Limits

CitizenSugar — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 09:00:53 -0700

This week, the US House approved a measure implementing national standards on juvenile boot camps intended to rehabilitate troubled youth.

The bill passed 318-103, and would nix excessive "tough love" practices like withholding water, food, clothing, shelter or medical care. The new law would allow physical restraint only when the safety of the child or others is in peril, and it would allow residents reasonable access to a telephone.

Rep. George Miller (D-CA) said of the decision, "Today we are taking an important step toward ending the horrific abuses that have gone on far too long in the residential programs for teens."

It's not a slam dunk, however. The White House has indicated they're against the plan as it expands federal oversight, and the Senate still has to vote. To see how many claims of abuse have been reported, read more.

About 20,000 to 30,000 teenagers attend juvenile punishment boot camps. An AP survey has identified more than 13,000 claims of abuse in juvenile correction nationwide between 2004-2007, though only 1,343 cases were confirmed stemming from the combination that some residents make up stories, while in other cases they're pressured not to report abuse. Since 1983 more than 35 youths have died in camps like these.

If the bill becomes law, it will allow the Health and Human Services Department to impose fines of up to $50,000 for every violation. Is federal oversight a good idea? Should camps be allowed to administer whatever punishment they deem necessary?

Source

S'more Support: Camp Helps Kids Cope With Military Parents

CitizenSugar — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 06:00:14 -0700

'Tis the season for sleep away camp - and for 100 kids attending a weeklong camp in the tiny Rocky Mountain town of Larkspur organized it's no exception. The only difference is, the camp is free, and sponsored by the National Military Family Association. The association is hosting 10,000 campers in 37 states this summer - with a special mission: to help both veterans and their kids deal with the stresses of deployment.

There are more than 155,000 American children with a parent deployed in Iraq or Afghanistan, and though their parents have a tough job, the kids at home bear a burden too. With dad or mom gone, days can easily fill with loneliness and anxiety over their parents in combat. S'mores, songs, and sleeping under the stars with new friends who understand their situation is a big help. The typical camp activities are there - but they're geared toward the service as well. Instead of writing letters home the kids' notes will be dispatched to brighten military dining halls overseas. One camper says, "It's nice to help more than just our parents."

One entire wall of the dining hall is plastered with photos of parents serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. A note scrawled on one reads, "So me and my brother all have to be strong and make sacrifices for my dad because we all want him to come back."

Source

Front Page: South Africa Sets Up Camps, Olmert Called to Step Down, Nepal To Become Republic

CitizenSugar — Wed, 28 May 2008 07:00:06 -0700

South Africa Sets Up Camps: South Africa is about to create seven refugee camps around the country for foreign migrant workers who have fled a recent wave of anti-immigrant violence. Taking the pressure off of the increasingly unsanitary conditions currently housing the workers at temporary shelters put up around state buildings, the new camps will take up to 70,000 people. Respected international aid agencies have advised the government not to set up camps as they say South Africa does not have the expertise necessary to run them. Fifty-six people have been killed and more than 650 injured in the attacks.

Olmert Called to Step Down: Israel’s defense minister Ehud Barak called today for Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to step down pending the outcome of a high-profile corruption investigation in which Olmert is tied. Barak said, “The prime minister must disconnect himself from the daily running of the government.” Yesterday a Long Island businessman at the center of the corruption case testified that he gave about envelopes of cash totaling about $150,000, to Olmert over the course of 13 years. He said the money was for campaign funding and personal expenses. Olmert has denied any wrongdoing and has promised to step down if found guilty.
Nepal To Become Republic: The newly-elected Nepalese assembly is to meet in Kathmandu to abolish the monarchy but its key vote has been postponed by a boming in the capital that injured two people while the new cabinet was being sworn in. Thousands of people have gathered on the streets near the assembly in support of "republic day". Ending 240 years of royal rule, supporters are ecstatic. One said, "This is the people's victory. With today's declaration of a republic we have achieved what we fought for."

Google Earth to Show Refugee Camps - Great Idea or Too Far?

CitizenSugar — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:45:25 -0700

The ever-addicting Google Earth feature (who hasn't looked up every house they've ever lived in?) has a brand new feature with a humanitarian twist.

The feature is set to show the movement of refugees around the world using satellite images of refugee hot spots such as Darfur, Iraq, and Colombia. The maps are designed to help humanitarian operations as well as to inform the public about the millions who have fled their homes because of political violence. Google Earth's successful use after Hurricane Katrina, sparking the expansion idea.

The UN Deputy High Commissioner For Refugees said at the launch of the project, “all of the things that we do for refugees in the refugee camps around the world will become more visible.”

For example, Google Earth users will be able to see into the Djabal refugee camp in eastern Chad, home to refugees from the conflict in Darfur, and see tents clustered together amid the sparse landscape. Adding a servicey aspect, with another click, users can learn about the difficulty of providing water to some of the 15,000 people.

Google Earth faced controversy earlier this year when the US Defense Department cracked down banning views of military bases. By extension, if people wanting to help refugees can see the camps, could those wishing to harm them use the info, too? What about issues of privacy? Have we given enough thought to the bigger questions of this powerful technology?

Source