The Amazing Work of Earthquake Rescue Dogs
- 25301 Views
- May 4, 2012
- 6
Shaping Cultural Experiences
Travel has been an integral part of my life since I was a young child. I grew up in a multicultural, bilingual home in the Netherlands with a Polish mother and a Dutch father. My
- 16204 Views
- May 10, 2012
- 7
Update & BBC News Link
A brief update: One interview video will be uploaded tomorrow evening. I believe the BBC News One-Minute World News provides well-balanced reporting of news, hence why I wanted to share it. Top stories on May
- 21682 Views
- May 11, 2012
- 5
From Nigeria to Boston
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VNkCazT_T4&feature=youtu.be
When you first meet Oluwagbeminiyi Osidipe, you encounter a very vibrant, friendly, and unique personality. Oluwagbeminiyi or Niyi – as she shortened her name for simplicity – was named by her mother, who had a “very personal experience” when she had her, Niyi explained. Niyi is a Yoruba Nigerian transplant who arrived in the U.S. in 2006. As one of the most densely populated (West) African countries, Nigeria derives its name from the river that spans its land. To the South, it borders the Gulf of Guinea to the Atlantic Ocean. Originally colonized by the British, Nigeria gained independence in 1960. Its main ethnic groups are the Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba, who speak English and their own respective languages, while major religions include Islam, Christianity and indigenous beliefs. Niyi shares her story, her views on politics, cultural differences she’s embraced with humor, and what we can learn from each other by expressing curiosity. Her message is simple: travel enriches us through its exposure to new cultures, and enables us to grow.
- 11900 Views
- May 16, 2012
- 6
Mark Twain on Travel
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” (American author Mark Twain, Innocents Abroad).
Have you had the opportunity to travel (extensively, within your country, or even once abroad)? Can you relate to Twain’s sentiments? How does travel enrich us?
- 12133 Views
- May 19, 2012
- 19
Pleasing The Taste Palate
Food has the wonderful quality of uniting us no matter where we are. There is nothing partisan or narrow-minded about food. It simply invites us to indulge, create recipes, and share with others. Two of my favorite Polish dishes (included in collage) are pierogies and barszcz czerwony – a beetroot soup – served on Christmas Eve in Poland. How does food bring us together? What are some of your favorite dishes and why? Can food trigger memories?
- 12264 Views
- May 23, 2012
- 2
Stereotypes: Truth or Fiction?
DEFINING STEREOTYPES: “An idea or statement about all of the members of a group or all the instances of a situation.” (Merriam-Webster). Stereotypes enable bias and preconceived notions to perpetuate, but can also reveal valid
- 11255 Views
- May 29, 2012
- 4
Annual Human Rights Report
“The world changed immeasurably over the course of 2011. Across the Middle East, North Africa, and far beyond, citizens stood up to demand respect for human dignity, more promising economic opportunities, greater political liberties, and
- 9614 Views
- May 31, 2012
- 4
Euro Crisis & Emerging Stereotypes
Brief Crisis Breakdown Since the onset of the global financial crisis, or Great Recession, in 2007, the Eurozone has feared impending growing global debt levels, as well as sovereign debt within European countries themselves. In
- 10198 Views
- June 4, 2012
- 2
Remembering Tiananmen
Today marks the 23rd anniversary of Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protests in Beijing, China. Inflation, a lack of career prospects, the fall of Eastern European communism, and political corruption, are all said to have fueled anger
- 11910 Views
- June 7, 2012
- 18
Coffee's Uniting Power
A cup of coffee can bridge cultural gaps. At least, that’s what Gizem Salgicil White, founder of Turkayfe.org, believes. Her organization aims to create awareness of Turkish culture, particularly within America. Gizem is a Turkish native,
- 6094 Views
- Guest Blogger
- December 5, 2016
- Travel
Today’s guest post is by Leigh Marcos
The majestic mountainous landscapes and colorful culture of Nepal had always called to me, and last summer I finally found the time (and money) to tick one more dream off my bucket list and visit this wonderful place. But along with the fantastic scenery, bustling townships, and incredibly friendly locals came a more somber note: the wreckage of the terrible April 2015 earthquake which killed nearly 9,000 people and flattened entire villages.
While I was there, I heard about the amazing work of earthquake rescue dogs and was bowled over by how brave and helpful these faithful canine heroes had been during the rescue efforts following the catastrophic shake. I went on to found out more about how these dogs are trained to help survivors buried in the rubble of a collapsed building, and some of the amazing feats they’ve accomplished.
From the humblest beginnings
Some of the rescue dogs start their working lives coming from dog shelters or rehoming organizations, making the journey from unwanted and sometimes neglected to playing a valuable part in saving lives across the globe. Dogs are thoroughly vetted for potential and receive the best of care before going into training.
Thorough training
Earthquake recuse dogs work mainly by scent, although sight and sound do play a part too. In their training, they learn to follow the scent of a specific person, having being given the smell from a belonging or an item of clothing. They are given the scent and let loose in the area that the victim is suspected to be buried; they return quickly to their handler if they pick up the scent in the rubble and bark to indicate that they’ve found something. At this point, the delicate process of uncovering the person can start, which can take many hours but, if successful, ends up with a shaken and exhausted survivor being pulled from the wreckage. Finding these people would be almost impossible without the help of earthquake rescue dogs.
Canine heroes
The stories of the dogs that have worked diligently to help suffering humans are truly touching. Take Yumenosuke, a rescue dog that was due to be euthanized and went on to save people trapped by mudslides in Hiroshima and later worked for five days in the ruins of the Nepal earthquake, saving more lives. Or Dayko, a heroic dog that saved the lives of seven people following the Ecuador earthquake, only to collapse from the strain of his tireless efforts to rescue as many as possible.
Leigh Marcos is a freelance writer.
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