Exclusives, OCT 06

THE KHAM AID FOUNDATION - October's Featured Charity
by ROXY VARZA, managing editor

The Worldly kicks off its new charitable focus. Visit our store: The Worldly Culture and Travel Store. All profits this month go to benefit Kham Aid.

The people of the Kham region, known as Khampas, are reputed for spreading mayhem throughout the Himalayas and for their warlike spirit. And yet despite their warlike image, the people of the Kham region are anything but. The region is undeveloped, as many of the inhabitants are malnourished and do not have access to modern education. While KAF has succeeded in implementing amazing disaster relief programs in the past – the organisation last gave over $5,000 to help rebuild the Manigango Primary School after a 2004 fire -- economic development, education, and health care are the programs currently in need of support.



SI, SE PUEDE - The Century Boulevard Protest
September 28, 2006
by AJ GANSER, guest writer

With a beautiful Los Angeles sunset as our backdrop, we chanted "Si, se puede!" as police officers rallied through the street. Glancing at the faces surrounding me, I saw young children atop of their parents' shoulders marching next to elderly activists. Mantras were shouted both in English and Spanish. Amongst the protesters were individuals of every age, ethnicity, religion and belief system, uniting together for the equality of their fellow man and woman. City councilmen, students from LMU, APU, and UCLA, state legislators, professors, and members of the clergy were arrested side-by-side with support from their family and friends.



SERENADING MARIACHIS - The Heart, the Soul, and the Song of Mexico
by HABEEB SALLOUM, senior global correspondent

Even more Mexican than the tequila (also born in Guadalajara), the two go hand-in-hand when there is folkloric entertainment. Mariachis often perform in city squares and plazas, which at times act as hiring halls for those seeking their services for baptisms, hotel entertainment, patriotic holidays, restaurants, weddings, and a particular type of Catholic mass. Playing the best-known Mexican music in the world, the Mariachis are part and parcel of almost every carnival, traditional fiesta, or festival in Mexico, and have become a trademark of the country and its culture.



TAIWAN DEMONSTRATES - A Protest, In Pictures
by JESSICA CHU, guest writer/photographer

Taken from the frontlines of the protests, these pictures present the truth about the peaceful demonstrations of concerned and politically-aware citizens in Taiwan. Their numbers have swelled to include hundreds of thousands.

With high tensions rising in Taiwan, two major groups have risen and dominated Taiwan’s political scene. The Democratic Progressive Party, also known as the Green Party, support President Chen Shui Bian -- despite allegations of monetary fraud and corruption from not only himself, but also his allies and administration. Although the media has continued to portray the demonstrations as violent and uncontrollable, with many clashes between the Red and Green parties, the majority of demonstrators camp out only to express their dissatisfaction with the president.