#BeatAsOne

[positivedevelopment]

Monthly Roundup May 2024

The Impact of War on Children Worldwide

"According to Save the Children, in 2022, there were approximately 452 million children – or one in six of all children on the planet – that were living in conflict‐affected areas. As of 2024, we are witnessing unprecedented levels of attacks against children in armed conflict contexts."

“Untitled” by Bîstyek, a Winnipeg‐based Kurdish artist from Syria who fled that country at 16 years of age. Painting by Bîstyek

"The impacts of armed conflict on children are multi‐pronged and have long‐term consequences beyond the duration of the armed conflict. When children are exposed to armed conflict, denied humanitarian access, displaced from their homes and families and unable to attain education, the ramifications impact the individual child and, at the same time, impact the development of communities and economic growth while perpetuating cycles of insecurity and violence."

Gaza – children in the crossfire, lack of access to education and healthcare

Sudan – forced displacement, lack of education and food insecurity

Colombia – armed violence, recruitment of children and trafficking

"We need to reframe the way we think about and understand children’s participation and protection. Understanding and including children’s perspectives in peace and security can contribute to the empowerment of children as agents of change, bring diverse solutions to intractable problems, and help us to disrupt long‐term consequences of armed conflict that impact children’s identity, belonging and connection to family and communities. The challenge of supporting children’s engagement is not about their lack of capacity but a shortcoming in the imagination of adults to think beyond traditional approaches to peace and security. Building lasting peace and security requires a new approach that addresses the unique challenges that children face before, during and after conflict and one that recognizes that children’s perspectives and protection are at the core of our humanity."

Waiving Away the Problem: How US Presidents Have Let Countries Complicit in Child Soldiering Off the Hook

"For more than a decade, the United States has sent billions of dollars in military assistance and weapons to countries complicit in the recruitment or use of child soldiers, despite a law intended to block it. But there are concrete steps that presidents can take to enhance U.S. child soldier prevention efforts by leveraging the fierce global demand for U.S. arms and assistance."

HOW MINT LEAVES AND LEMON TREES ARE HELPING ELEPHANT CONSERVATION IN NEPAL

“There is a strong correlation between elephant habitat fragmentation and crop loss,” says Rinjan Shrestha, WWF-Canada’s leading expert on Asian species. Today, human-elephant conflict remains the number one threat to the already-small Asian elephant population in Nepal. “The answer,” says Shrestha, “is to connect and restore historical habitats for growing numbers of elephants.”

"Biological fencing, or “biofencing” — the practice of making barriers out of natural, living things — is one way to help guide Asian elephants through their natural habitat without tempting them to wander into cropland."

Bees & Elephants: Villagers in Yunnan turn to beekeeping to bolster conservation of wild Asian elephants

"In recent years, in some rural areas in Yunnan, the local governments and volunteers have been promoting industrial transformation, with beekeeping being a key project. This has not only helped achieve rural carbon reduction but also allowed villagers to work at home, reducing direct contact with elephants."

❤️ / It is officially #RideforHeart month!!! ❤️ /

For the 4th year I will be raising money in support of Heart and Stroke in memory of my Dad 🎗 This year I am thrilled to be part of the Heartbeat Heroes - VIP Community! As a VIP my fundraising goal is to reach $1000.

As of today I am at 45% of my goal. You may find my fundraising page HERE Thank you so much for supporting me and Heart and Stroke ❤️ I am making every beat count for my Dad ❤️ today and forever.

[sometimesrufus]

❛ did i do good? ❜ (Reno)

"Yes, Reno." Rufus squeezed the Turk's hand and looked to the medic trying to staunch the blood flow. Compressed lips were all he got in response to his silent question, and his gut knotted that much tighter. At least he was still conscious. Rufus quietly hung his hopes on that little piece of knowledge. That, and the medics hadn't indicated it was hopeless yet. He'd probably lived through worse.

"Don't think that means you can slack off now. I still need you." His throat tightened on the last syllable. There was no way he was getting more than that out. It was dangerously close to sentimental and Rufus didn't do sentiment.

"Stay," he still commanded through the pain in chest, his hand holding on too tight without him noticing.

@infernocharged

[citattoo-studio]

#tattooenhancement #lwtteringtattoo #beatasone #atektattoo #citattoostudio #salamatpoama🙏 (at Citattoo Studio) https://www.instagram.com/p/CV5UtzJPwd5/?utm_medium=tumblr

[serafim]

@ourhearts-beatasone asked:

🎨 - Reno - failed mission

[onewingedxngel]

“ how did you get this scar? ”  (Tseng)

“No one heard me screaming, then. How could they, now?” (Tseng)

“ are you going to kill me? ”  (Tseng)

“ may i have this dance? ”  (Tseng)

“ why are you looking at me like that? ”  (Tseng)

@ourhearts-beatasone​

“ may i have this dance? ”

“Hmm?”

Sephiroth’s eyes locked with the soft brown ones of the awaiting Turk; a most unexpected sight. He was trapped, yet again, in some indulgently vain celebration of some Shinra victory he’d not felt particularly excited over, but was still required to attend. He’d always notice the people dancing to delicate music beneath vivid lights, knowing he’d never be among them.

Until now, apparently.

“I know not how to dance,” Sephiroth replied. Though his expression was serene, a myriad of questions raced through his mind; why did Tseng want to dance? Why with him specifically? Did Tseng not find him as unnerving as he thought? How was he meant to dance if he said yes?

Looking off to the side, he could not help but ask aloud a quiet “why?”

[sepheroth]

[ 📲 • sms ] —— you text me after i upload a bomb selfie i see. (Genesis)

text messages.

Earlier that midday he associated with infantrymen and then SOLDIER operatives. That's if Lazard hadn't held him at conservationist ransom. It was an exaggeration for him to word it this way, he knows. But that was it felt like the more he'd spoken to him. It wasn't particularly his favorite past time, but Sephiroth figured that he may as well had taken this break while he had the chance. Held conversations and then a bite for him to eat while he still remembers. Time and time again, he caught himself lunch due to it completely slipping his mind that the days kept him so frequently. So it was never on purpose. Often he'd forgotten that the seconds and thirds around him were no younger than he had been he'd first enlisted. That was such a long time ago. But all the while, some things that happen years before seemed just like a day earlier that he was able to recall and picture it so vividly. He then could recall a few instances when he'd wanted nothing more than to impress the higher ups, his superiors. But then he suddenly paused when he realized that Zack seemed to be that way with both himself and Angeal. Angeal played more of a role model him than himself. Not that he found a reason to be envious about that since they were long time friends. But now that he's long since entered adulthood, Shinra was become more and more of a mundane task that he just been glad that he'd gotten it over with. He really didn't care too much about paper work, but someone had to them. Someone had to over look reports. Those younger than him. Specifically, Zack's. After he'd given himself the time to be absentminded when he'd just taken his left overs back to his office, as soon as he'd sit down and allow himself to sit, he had just not processed that he missed a few text. Glad that he could hide away behind his own walls because his social battery was draining. But then it also dawned on him that he turned the volume down on his phone. He knew he'd forgotten something, but it didn't catch up with him what it had been...Until just now. With an inward though, knowing cheekily grin because he saw he the multiple texts from Genesis. Not that he had purposefully ignored him. It was just that when the redhead wanted something...well, he'd get his attention sooner or later. Sephiroth accepted it. Those words of phrasing and choice of them send the silverette stumbling a few mental paces back. Sephiroth really hadn't been that up to date with what, on Gaia, had that even meant. He had heard it before, it’s just he wasn’t completely natural real the term. 'Bomb selfie'? How absurd. Did people really talk like that? Maybe it was odd for him because he's so used to being so formal the way he goes about his own speech pattern. But it was hilarious to him nonetheless and his viper-like irises brighten at slight amusement at hand. After being distracted by his own train of thought between texting, he'd go and hit send with his thumb.

[ 📲 • sms ] I was occupied all day between those who apparently required my attention. You'll have to forgive me. 'Bomb selfie'? What does that even mean?

[arsonicversed]

@ourhearts-beatasone​ met the snake

“ Well, what do we have here? “ Anko would tease, keeping her hands in her pockets fiddling with concealed weapons within the large sleeves. What she wasn’t expecting on her normal patrol around the village grounds was the wanted shinobi. 

“ Out of everyone that could be here, you’re the last person I thought I’d find. “ Keeping her guard up despite her casual speech, she knew better than to relax too much.

[loyalandroid]

@ourhearts-beatasone​ liked for an angry starter

What was he doing? Why was he continuing to fight? This wasn’t right. This wasn’t fair. How could the other Glaive defend themselves in such a state? CC could no longer stand idly by while this was happening. It was quick to cross the training ground and approach the man it deemed the aggressor. What may have started out as training had clearly devolved into some form of harassment, possibly even assault. “Stop! Leave him alone. Now.” It placed itself between the attacker and the poor Glaive that was still recovering from his harsh fall. It seemed the younger man, Luca, was still growing used to using magic in combat. He didn’t stand much of a chance against the more experienced Glaive.

“You are out of line, Glaive Axis Arra.” It had run a scan on the other and managed to find a file on him. It had his name almost instantly. It’s social relations programming deemed him as hostile. Threatening. This ‘training’ could not be allowed to continue. “This is over,” it said defiantly. 

[anitamw84]

Bye A-ARON #gbvsATL #RiseUp #InBrotherhood #GameDay #AllGasNoBrakes #LETSGOFALCONS #ILoveMyTeam #Winners #Quinning #AtlantaFalcons #greenbay #BeatAsOne

[positivedevelopment]

Monthly Roundup April 2024

❤️ Heart Failure Awareness Week, May 5 - 11 ❤️

This week highlights the importance of sharing information to help raise awareness, increase public knowledge, and provide a better understanding of heart health. Follow @canadianheartfailuresociety and visit heartfailure.ca to access downloadable resources 🩺

For the 4th year I will be raising money in support of the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada ❤️/ Donations received between now and June 30th will be matched until $500,000 in gifts are received. You may contribute to my page HERE Once again I have set an ambitious goal of $1000. Thank you for supporting me, and Heart & Stroke, in memory of my Dad 🎗

______________________________________________________________

Many children must live with the trauma of war. Here's how to help them

Conflict in Ukraine, Gaza and Sudan has led to millions of children losing family members, fleeing their homes and being caught up in the fighting themselves. The effects could last for decades.

"In particular, they say, from the get-go, the international community needs to not only focus on acute humanitarian needs like food and shelter, but also on the longer-term requirements of providing community and family support, trauma-informed mental health and social services and lasting infrastructure like stable living conditions and medical care."

BIG STEPS FORWARD: A PATH TO ELEPHANT CONSERVATION IN NEPAL "For Asian elephants, who need lots of space to roam, landscape-level conservation means securing and protecting existing habitat fragments and corridors in the Terai Arc Landscape so they can regrow naturally and resist further degradation. This will rebuild safe corridors for elephants to travel and avoid human contact. It also involves using the latest technology — such as motion-sensing cameras, satellite GPS tracking, molecular genetics and conservation drones — to map elephants’ migratory behaviours and monitor corridors. These game-changing tools also help us understand elephants’ use of space and keep an eye on the success of our conservation efforts."

NASA is tracking endangered animal habitats from space

"The rapid decline of many iconic animal species due to habitat loss presents one of the most critical challenges in modern conservation. NASA, an organization typically associated with space exploration, has emerged as a valuable partner in the fight to save endangered animals. By utilizing cutting-edge satellite technology, NASA provides vital data on endangered wildlife habitats, informing and driving conservation strategies around the world."

Elephant conservation: Habitat preferences to mitigate conflict

"African savanna elephants, now classified as endangered, struggle with the relentless expansion of human settlements into their native range. A NASA study offers insights into elephant habitat preferences, particularly in less protected zones where conflict of with humans is more likely. The researchers found that elephants consistently favor dense forests, especially near waterways. Unfortunately, these same areas are often targeted for tourism infrastructure. Armed with this knowledge, conservationists and land managers can work together to identify areas where development poses less risk to elephant populations, striking a balance between economic needs and conservation goals. The experts can also strategically prioritize the protection of the dense forest habitats that elephants rely on for survival."

______________________________________________________________

How you can get involved

Consider the following ways to get involved:

Support

Targeted donations

Consider volunteering your time or skills.

Raise awareness

The power of your voice

Fact-based advocacy

Make informed choices

Sustainable consumption

Scrutinize business practices

Reduce, reuse, recycle

[sometimesrufus]

❛ there’s nothing you could have done. ❜ (Tseng)

Rufus's hands curled into fists.

"How do you figure, Tseng? Because I was so grossly incompetent that every plan I made to overthrow my father sooner failed? Then, yes. I suppose there wasn't anything I could have done. Beause everything I tried to do got me nowhere." He laughed bitterly. "Turns out my old man was right. My plans are stupid and ineffective." Cool blue eyes pinned Tseng. "So now it's your turn. Where would you go from here?"

[plagiarizedx]

@ourhearts-beatasone - continued, because these two pining for one another gives me life.

Nothing in the world compared to this, at least nothing that he had ever experienced before, though he knew somewhere in the back of his re-fabricated brain that his predecessor probably had a lot more experience with these sort of feelings. The ones that made his heart stammer, made his toes curl inside of loosely fitting Allstars, made the tip of his tongue go numb and the muscles in his body vibrate against his bones. He needed his dreamer in a similar way that a fish needed water. Found it harder to breathe whenever he wasn't around, even though whenever he was, oxygen became even more of a foreign concept but that was okay.

Bright blue LED light flooded through his bedroom window and the glass rattled from how loud the Mitsu was when it idled, the light was blinding but beautiful, shadows danced across the walls of his room and the memories that decorated them. Pictures he didn't remember taking, old soccer trophies that filled up his bookcase with his name engraved into metal, other school awards that he couldn't recall ever accepting. It was an uncomfortable place to be, amongst objects that were meaningless to him, things that he'd much rather toss in the trash in hopes of gaining a better understanding of who he was now rather than who he was before. His bedroom at his Ma's place was still exactly the same, drawers filled with dusted over-long since forgotten about clothes, easy to keep up with and maintain, all because he never touched anything. He didn't even sleep in the bed, the couch wasn't uncomfortable and it was warmer downstairs, or at least those were his go-to excuses whenever someone quizzed him on it.

The rain that hit the tin roof was loud and that mixed in with the Evo had made it that much harder to tell what K was saying as Prokopenko remained sat in the windowsill, a cheeky dimple filled smile had made way across pale features, green eyes staring out into the darkness at the boy in the driveway, the one that was capable of reminding him what it felt like to be alive again. At least if that's what he was. And then he was moving, blinds left pulled open, to grab his backpack off the mattress and yank the straps over crooked shoulders before he headed out the door and down the stairs. Loud and obnoxious with his steps, taking all his energy and excitement to channel it through the soles of his feet and into the messy wet earth as he all but ran out the front door, screen door slapping back behind himself, the barely visible stars in the sky couldn't hold a candle in comparison to the star filled eyes that Proko looked at Kavinsky with, a galaxy trapped in emeralds. A fondness that was exclusive.

"So does that make you a prince, then? Since you came to my rescue?" Proko had shouted over the rain as he made his way across the murky lawn, shoes getting soaked from the swamp the grass had turned into, nothing but laughter and smiles and messy brown curls that stuck to sunken cheeks and quickly becoming drenched clothes that clung to an athletic frame. He was happy. Thrilled by the smell of rain and the scent of rubber and gasoline that grew stronger the closer he got to K's Mitsu, passenger door pulled open, the dream boy tossed his bag carelessly into the back before he practically tossed himself into the passenger seat, finding comfort in the leather despite the fact that he felt like he would shiver out of his skin. Teeth chattering as he reached across the console to kill the air-co, condemning them both to the sticky humidity that would surely settle in after Proko had pulled the door closed, "Let's go get some greasy ass fries, man, my Ma still can't cook."

[umbral-stigmata-unbound]

Loud & Deafening Silence Meme | Open

@ourhearts-beatasone​ asked: ❛   downfall .   find  my  muse  collapsed  on  the  ground . (Rosso and Aurelia)   +   ❛   caress .   gently  caress  my  muse’s  face . (Rosso and Aurelia)

// Combing these as well~ //

It had been half a day since she’d last spoken with anyone. A few Deepground soldiers, and some of the doctors, had been aware she was having an episode, and no matter what had provoked it, none seem to think it worth their time to work with her on it. They never did. Instead, they tossed her into her containment lobby, which was set to be locked for the usual time, over three hours which was generally far beyond her usual time but was set as precaution, or so they said.

But the outburst of fire and explosion had only lasted perhaps five minutes, more or less, this time. And yet they left her, in the heat, in the singed ground and walls, in her sweat and tears and the wounds that were known to heal on their own after an outburst, but were no less painful or saddening.

Of course, certain higher members of Deepground weren’t deemed important enough to inform. Which is why, when Rosso gave in to a whim to visit the young woman, giving in to their constant gravitational pull, she was not aware of what she would find.

Until she entered. There Aurelia lay, breathing slowly, eyes looking glazed and distant with who knows what running through her mind, in the madness, the loneliness, the despair of what was brought to life inside of her and yet lived beyond her control... Then she looked to the crimson woman as she entered, hesitating only a second to stare, but the moment Aurelia’s face contorted in an oncoming, contained sob because she couldn’t trust herself, Rosso closed the distance, with grace and a very clear lethal air only she could achieve. She knelt down, as Aurelia was choking back the sobs, vowing she would NOT let these sobs turn into an episode, that turned into an explosion, that turned into the worst possible outcome.

And then Rosso’s fingers were slowly caressing Aurelia’s cheek, thumbing under her eye, and after a deep breath, she let out a choked sobbing noise and crawled to wrap her arms around what she could reach of Rosso, clinging on like a lifeline, wanting to burn yet fighting that very sense in herself....fighting her very self, because she would not burn Rosso. Not her...

[serafim]

@ourhearts-beatasone--

The blinders in his office don’t shut tightly enough to block out the city lights. Everything seems to have a tinge of green to it. Pervasive and dense, a mako haze that settles low over the city and limits visibility to the night sky even for topside city crawlers. Sephiroth drops his hand away from the window, allowing the flimsy blinder under his fingers to snap back into place with a metallic rattle.

“You could have told me.” To a stranger, he might have sounded unaffected. Bored. He lives his life under the magnifying glass, and so, that is the level of attention to detail required to recognize all those little idiosyncrasies that the General chooses to dispense.

A well-trained ear might find that Sephiroth’s voice is wound tight; words leave his lips a fraction of a second slower than they normally would have.

Sephiroth turns his head to one side, allowing him to catch a glimpse of Genesis’s silhouette in the doorway through a curtain of silver bangs. “I don’t see why you feel the need to fixate on Shinra’s propaganda. It means nothing. And it’s making you reckless.”

[onewingedxngel]

“ is… that my shirt you’re wearing? ”  (Genesis)

“ would you run away with me? ”  (Genesis)

“Do you think I could be saved?” (Genesis)

@ourhearts-beatasone

“Do you think I could be saved?”

Sephiroth remained silent, eyeing the first-class SOLDIER as he kept the tip of his Masamune trained upon the skin of their throat. It was fitting that the one Shinra defector to have made it this far was a high-ranked SOLDIER, one that only Sephiroth could take care of with ease. What a chaotic mess he’d conjured... but now, it was the end of this masquerade.

Whether the man was referring to his degradation, Shinra’s wrath, or Sephiroth’s lack of mercy, he did not know. But the question aroused his curiousity enough to stay the silver’s hand, if for but a moment, to contemplate the strange soldier’s position.

“Death lies at the end of every path before you,” Sephiroth said. “I cannot help but wonder why you cling so stubbornly to the hope that you still have a chance.”

[sepheroth]

‘  their  pills  turn  my  brain  into  puddy.  ’ (Gen to Seph)

MISC  SENTENCE  STARTERS. "Um...?" The younger boy of the two stopped long enough between a pause for a worrying expression crossed over upon his youthful features as he thought on whether or not that sounded right in his head. His head tilts, nose crinkled a little. He himself noticed that he wasn't feeling particularly sick, but he wasn't feeling a hundred percent 'normal', either. Maybe Genesis felt the same way he did? It didn't stop him from feeling a hint more concerned for his friend at that bit of phrasing. His own wave of lightheadedness was probably due to the tests, the experimental medicines and all those syringes the then youthful SOLDIER was subjected to. But it was also due to machine he was nearly almost on a daily bases hooked up to all of the time. Hojo didn't seem even in the slightest bit of concerned for the nature of either boys health. Same went for the other scientists, too, if it wasn't Dr. Gast. When Sephiroth thought about the needles and how it simply being pricked by them, it suddenly caused him roll up his sleeve for a moment, before flinching "Ow! I forgot how much that s-still h-hurts...!" the boy bites his lip only to let out a yelping sound and then cut himself off to turn back to his friend who otherwise seemed fine. Maybe he pretended well of that long enough until the one the doctors who saw him went away. After his miserable attempt to hide his verbal anguish between a hissing noise that he had made. "If's making your brain feel weird, don't you think you shouldn't take them..? You could just...I dunno....Maybe" turning over his shoulder before he turned to look behind them and then rushed shut the door behind them just in case someone would come in and hear his scheme. But due to being almost certain he'd heard someone coming, but saw no one the young silverette nearly slammed door and stood behind it a moment and resumed to proceed to close it with caution once he remembered that someone might've heard that as he looked at the elder boy of the two. "...Maybe you could stuff it somewhere else? I mean, like hide it? Underneathe a pillow? But make sure you crush it so it's harder for them to find? Pretend that you took it next time? Talk about it to one of the nicer ones if it makes you feel icky...?" Suddenly he frowned after he walked up and sat beside his friend back upon the mattress before placing a hand over to his forehead and then retracted it to resume what he was saying before. "Yeah, you're comin' down with a fever..." a tone of certain rang apparent. By one of the 'nicer ones', he meant one of doctors who weren't so nosy or forceful about those medicines that he, Genesis and Angeal were almost always forced to take every day and every night. All the time. Mentally noting that caused a pinch of annoyance to flash before his eyes. Dr. Gast was pretty merciful with him, particularly. He guessed that it would be if Genesis visited him instead. He'd have to talk to him in secret. Besides, he felt safer with Gast then he did with Hojo, or even Hollander. "I'm kinda worried about you? If you makes you feel any better, I'll stay here with you? Until someone tells us it's okay for us to leave. Wanna know a secret?" his voice fell to a whisper. "I've skipped tons of times because I get tired of feeling like I'm gonna throw up all the time. 'Side effects,' Hojo says.' Obvious enough Sephiroth wasn't convenienced. Most of the time he wasn't sure if he could trust that guy...