美国56%青少年乐于从事志愿工作
American teens are setting an example for their parents through their volunteer work, according to a new poll by Harris Interactive.
The random national telephone survey released this week by the Federal Way-based charity World Vision found that more teens volunteer to support a charitable cause - 56 percent - than have a part-time job - 39 percent.
Parents and guardians said 82 percent of the teens in their lives do something to support charitable causes, including volunteering, recruiting others to a cause, wearing a button or T-shirt or donating money. Forty-six percent of the adults surveyed said they volunteer their time, but they also take credit for inspiring their children to volunteer.
The Harris Interactive poll was conducted in the United States between Jan 29 and Feb 2 among 2,003 adults.
Sara Johnson, a teacher who advises students at a private school in a Chicago suburb, says she’s seen a resurgence of teen involvement in social causes since President Barack Obama was elected in November.
The Harris Interactive survey found a quarter of teens have become more involved in charitable causes or organizations as a result of the economic downturn, but the economy has also led to cuts in allowances, and has teens working more hours at a paying job.
Unlike many public high schools across the nation, Illiana Christian does not require its students to clock public service hours. Senior Melissa Martin said some kids are too busy with other commitments like sports and music, but most of her classmates do volunteer.
Alynn Woodson, director of volunteer engagement at Habitat for Humanity International, said she has noticed a new enthusiasm among teen volunteers for the organization.
Habitat for Humanity celebrates the 20th anniversary of its alternative spring break program this year and is expecting more than 12,000 young people to help build homes for low-income people around the nation.

“哈里斯互动”开展的一项最新民调显示,美国青少年十分热衷志愿工作,为他们的父母树立了榜样。
这项于本周公布的电话随访调查受位于Federal Way的慈善机构“世界宣明会”的委托开展。调查结果表明,与兼职(39%)相比,有更多的青少年乐于从事慈善工作(56%)。
家长及青少年监护人称,82% 的青少年在日常生活中有过支持慈善事业的行为,包括志愿服务、慈善招募、佩戴志愿标志或穿带有此类标志的T恤衫或者捐款。而在参与调查的成年人中,仅有46%的人表示愿意参加志愿工作,但同时他们也因鼓励子女参与志愿工作而受到赞扬。
该民调于今年1月29日至2月2日开展,共对美国2003名成年人进行了调查。
芝加哥郊区一所私立学校的教导员萨拉?约翰逊称,自从去年11月巴拉克?奥巴马当选美国总统以来,学生们参与社会公益事业的热情一路高涨。
该调查发现,受经济衰退的影响,四分之一的青少年更热衷参与慈善事业或慈善组织,但同时经济危机导致了报酬的减少,所以现在青少年做兼职更加辛苦。
与美国其它很多公立中学不同,伊里阿纳基督学校对学生参与公共服务的时间不作要求。高年级学生梅丽莎?马丁称有些同学忙于参加体育和音乐等其它课外活动,但她们班上的大多数同学都参加志愿活动。
“人类家园国际”组织的志愿服务部门主管安林恩?伍德森称,她注意到青少年志愿者参与该组织的热情比以往高涨。
“人类家园国际”组织今年将迎来其“特殊春假”项目的20周年纪念。据其预计,有一万二千多名青少年将参加帮助全国低收入者建设家园的志愿活动。

葡萄牙水犬或将成白宫第一犬
News that a Portuguese Water Dog will become the First Canine of the United States is thrilling lovers of the breed in its native land, who say Barack Obama's family couldn't have picked better.
"It's been more than 500 years that these dogs have played a part in great moments of humanity," raved Hugo Oliveira of the Association for the Protection of Water Dogs, which champions the poodle-like breed in Portugal.
"It could be one of ours. Why not?" Carla Peralta, a Water Dog breeder in the southern Algarve region, told the popular 24 Horas daily.
Peralta's bitch is expecting puppies at Easter time -- around the period that the Obamas hope to get their dog.
Speaking to People magazine this week, First Lady Michelle Obama confirmed that the family is looking to adopt an unwanted Portuguese Water Dog, whose hypoallergenic coat would suit allergy-prone older daughter Malia.
"Temperamentally they're supposed to be pretty good," she said. "From the size perspective, they're sort of middle of the road... And the folks that we know who own them have raved about them."
With a history going back to pre-Christian times, the Portuguese Water Dog travelled with world with 15th century Portuguese explorers, swimming between ships with its webbed feet.
Fishermen meanwhile used them to recover lost nets and guard boats.
The breed slipped out of favour during the 20th century until enthusiasts in Portugal and the United States launched a revival -- inspired by the dogs' gentle temperament, particularly with children.

日前,“葡萄牙水犬”将成美国第一犬的消息让葡萄牙的爱犬人士兴奋不已,喜爱水犬的葡萄牙人称,这种狗是奥巴马一家的最佳选择。
葡萄牙水犬保护协会的雨果奥利夫自豪地说:“五百多年来,葡萄牙水犬在人类社会的重大时刻都扮演了重要角色。”葡萄牙水犬外表酷似狮子狗。
位于葡萄牙南部阿尔加维地区的水犬饲养人卡拉?佩拉尔塔在接受《24小时》日报的采访时说:“没准我们的狗能被选中呢,何乐而不为?”
佩拉尔塔家的水犬在去年复活节期间怀上了狗崽,恰好这段时间奥巴马全家表示希望找到一种合适的宠物犬。
第一夫人米歇尔?奥巴马上周接受《人物》杂志采访时说,他们希望收养一只被遗弃的葡萄牙水犬,因为这种犬的皮毛属于低敏感性,比较适合容易过敏的大女儿玛丽亚。
米歇尔说:“葡萄牙水犬性情温顺,从体型大小看也很适中,我们认识的养这种狗的朋友都对它们称赞不已。”
葡萄牙水犬的历史可以追溯到公元前,还曾在15世纪跟随葡萄牙的探险家们周游世界,它们双脚带蹼,常在船只间游来游去。
此外,当地渔民还利用水犬寻回遗失的渔具和保卫船只。
葡萄牙水犬在二十世纪一度失宠,直到葡萄牙和美国的爱犬人士对它们再度推崇——这主要是因为水犬性情温顺,对小孩尤其如此。