Let's Ban The Lion Trade Now!

South African lions are being slaughtered for their bones, just to make bogus sex potions for men. But if we show President Zuma that this hurts South Africa’s image as a tourist destination, he could stop this cruelty by banning the trade in lion bones and organs....

Dear friends,

Hundreds of South African lions are being slaughtered to make bogus sex potions for men. But we can stop this cruel trade by hitting the government where it hurts -- the tourism industry.

A global ban on tiger bone sales has traders hunting a new prize -- the majestic lions. Lions are farmed under appalling conditions in South Africa for "canned hunting", where rich tourists pay thousands to shoot them through fences. Now experts say lion bones from these killing farms are being exported to phony 'medicine' makers in Asia for record profits. Trade is exploding and experts fear that as prices rise, even wild lions -- with only 20,000 left in Africa -- will come under poaching attack.

If we can show President Zuma that this brutal trade is hurting South Africa's image as a tourist destination, he could ban and punish the trade in lion bones. Avaaz is taking out strong ads in airports, tourism websites and magazines, but we urgently need 1 million petition signers to give the ads their force.

>> Sign here to build our numbers fast <<

London Riots: One Year On [Infographic]

Nothing could prepare business owners across the UK for the devastation and brutality of the London riots as gangs tore through major cities looting and causing significant damage to commercial properties. As we approach the 1st anniversary of the riots it serves as a stark reminder that we must all take measures to protect our belongings, whether it is within a domestic or commercial setting.

Five Iconic Cars From Television History

Iconic cars on television play a major role in shaping the personalities of shows. In many cases, people remember the cars over the actual content of the shows, and have fond memories of owning collectibles and model kits of cars from series. Some of the best cars to have appeared in television shows derive their appeal from their unusual features, or for their association with glamour and danger. And sometimes, they are just cool. Although many of these cars wouldn’t quite work in the same way in the real world, on their own merits within their shows they deserve some more specific attention. The most iconic cars from television consequently include, in no particular order:

1 - KITT, Knight Rider

KITT had everything. It talked, helped out Michael Knight (David Hasselhoff) with mysteries, and had its own personality that helped it to become a favourite with children. The star of Knight Rider from 1982 to 1986 KITT was actually a T top 1982 Pontiac Trans-Am that was resigned for the series by engineer Michael Scheffe. Some of KITT’s best features included its voice commands, speed boosters, and its ability to run on autopilot when Knight was solving crimes. Models of KITT have sold on eBay, while other models have appeared on stage with Hasselhoff.

The Science of Star Trek [Infographic]

Star Trek is famous for being written by technology geeks for technology geeks. Therefore it's no surprise that Star Trek has repeatedly predicted future scientific developments, applied existing science to its logical conclusion, and given the scientifically minded something to dream about and aspire to. Many scientists, thinkers and futurists have pointed to Star Trek as an inspiration (or at least aspiration) for their ideas and research, and the phrase "Like in Star Trek" is shorthand for any technology or idea which is as futuristic and cool as it is useful.

The chart below summarizes some of the key bits of science that Star Trek has used that are science fiction and lets you know what is science fact. While of course not everything on Star Trek is actually possible, a surprising amount is - from cell phones to androids and from laser weapons to antimatter. This chart even highlights some ways in which modern technology exceeds what there is in Star Trek!

Was an Oil Pipeline Behind the War in Afghanistan?

To a great many outside observers, both partial and impartial, it seems that former American President George W Bush’s ‘War on Terror’ was little more than a smokescreen for a motive that had less to do with systematically dismantling the world’s foremost terrorist organisations and more to do with securing a new source of natural oil and gas to alleviate the perceived monopoly on fuel exports currently enjoyed by Russia and the Middle East. The theorists who believe that the war in Afghanistan is based more upon economic and commercial principles than humanitarian crusading make much of the fact that they see the discovery of important oil and gas reserves in Central Asia as more than a coincidental factor for America’s interest in Afghanistan.  

The Bourne Vacation - Real Life Locations of Jason Bourne's Most Thrilling Moments

From James Bond and Ethan Hunt to Indiana Jones and Sherlock Holmes, men of action seem to capture the imagination of the public, and many follow in their path to retrace the footsteps of these fictional heroes. Yet no other all-action hero has been more popular in recent years than Jason Bourne, played by actor Matt Damon in the Bourne Identity series of movies. 

With the fourth movie in the series, The Bourne Legacy, scheduled for release shortly, here is a look at some of the real life destinations that Jason Bourne visited in the course of the movies, places where you too can visit on your holiday and feel a bit of the excitement and energy.

Films To Inspire A Trip To France

This photo was used under the Creative Commons license courtesy of Flickr.com

When I was younger I used to love hopping over the Channel to France to embark on cycling holidays and adventures which usually involved sleeping in odd places, meeting extraordinary people and requesting money from back home to ensure my safe return.


Before I’d set out on such experiences I’d often immerse myself in all things French including books, music and food, all of which flamed my desire for what I considered to be one of the most romantic and exciting countries on the planet.


These days, my passion for France hasn’t dwindled and although my bed and board tends to be of a slightly better standard to when I was younger, I still consider the cities and countryside to be just as enticing as they always were.


With the above in mind I’d like to suggest to you five very different films to inspire the joie de vivre that can only be experienced by visiting our continental cousins.

The Anatomy of a Boss from Hell [Infographic]

Most people are conditioned to believe that the person who signs their paycheck is a superior being, but that is often far from the truth. Many bosses are sociapathic disasters who rule their little part of the world as it's their own personal serfdom. This type of boss most likely suffers from narcissistic personality disorder and needs constant reassurance that he or she isn't crazy -- which of course, they are.

Another type of horrific boss is the passive aggressive individual who can't make a decision or offer clear direction to employees, and is always looking for someone to blame while denying that they are trying to blame anyone for anything. Working for someone like this is like being in emotional quicksand.

A bad boss can have a significant negative impact on an employee's entire life, making them feel useless, hopeless and overwhelmed by the toxicity their boss is slopping in every direction.

Christine - The Most Evil Car Ever Made

Christine sends chills down everybody’s spine.  Even if you have never read anything by Stephen King or even seen the Christine movie, you will know that this car is the embodiment of all evil.  If you are a Stephen King lover, you know that things never end well.  But why is Christine so evil?  What could’ve possible been behind the thinking of Stephen King, other than the mastermind of a horror genius?

Brain Hack the 7 Deadly Sins [Infographic]

Even people who are not religious have at least a passing familiarity with the so-called 7 Deadly Sins. These famous transgressions are universal, and most people struggle with one or more of the Sins on a regular basis. Thankfully, people can overcome their desires to engage in these unproductive or dangerous behaviors by taking control of their brains.

Individuals may not feel like they have much control over their impulses, but the fact of the matter is that every person on the planet is in charge of his or her own brain. Those who have had trouble with the 7 Deadly Sins can take comfort in this graphic which shows how the Sins tend to manifest themselves in the modern world. They can also take the advice offered to begin making the necessary changes to their brains.

Though it takes some effort to make the changes, people can use this helpful information to start living less sinful lives.

10 Most Expensive Comic Books

Superheroes are big business. It’s currently impossible to visit a cinema without the latest comic book adaptation bearing down at you from the billboards. If it’s Avengers Assemble, that’s OK; when it’s Green Lantern...

One of the great pop culture successes of the 20th Century, comic books and their characters have rich and fascinating histories. Avid fans often respect the silver screen versions, but know nothing beats having a classic issue in your hands, if you have the cash. Here are the 10 Most Expensive Comic Books, whose values have soared like Superman.

Max Payne: Ready to take on a New World and New Generation

Since we last had the frozen frown of Max Payne slow-mo shooting his way through New York’s criminal underworld a lot has changed and many more of Rockstar’s memorable protagonists have come our way. We have moved to a new generation of consoles and have got to grips with the likes Grand Theft Auto IV’s cynical but sympathetic Niko Bellic, the true grit of Red Dead Redemption’s John Marston and most recently but unfortunately less memorably, the stern and straight-laced story of L.A Noire’s Cole Phelps – but now Max is back and he seems ready reclaim the mantle of our favourite dishevelled and down-on-his-luck character in Max Payne 3, finally released after a stutter at the starting blocks on May 18th.

In what has nearly been 10 years since Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne was released on the last generation of consoles, a lot more has changed other than Rockstar’s repertoire of movie-like protagonists, as whether we like it or not, what we have come to expect as gamers has evolved and the technology used to develop these blockbusters certainly has done so. Max Payne might be an old dog, but he’s going to have to learn some new tricks if Max Payne 3 is going to live up to the expectations of fans of old and newcomers to the series alike.