Traditional plant decorations for sale at flower market for Chinese New Year, Mongkok, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China, Asia

An eight year old girl running out of the sea during a holiday in France

Indonesian men taking part in a carnival celebrating Malang's 101st year anniversary, Malang, East Java, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Asia

New Year celebrations in northern China, Asia

Close-up of the limestone terraces formed by volcanic water depositing six inches of calcium carbonate a year, Mammoth Hot Springs and Terraces, Yellowstone National Park, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Wyoming, United States of America, North America

Chinese New Year float for the year of the buffalo, Macao, China, Asia

A four year old boy and five year old girl playing in a stream in Devon

A Chinese small family business selling fruit in colorful gift boxes during the Chinese New Year holiday, Chengdu, Sichuan, China, Asia

Choir in Notre Dame de Fourviere Basilica during the Fete des Lumieres (Festival of Lights) held every year on december 8, Lyon, France, Europe

The 500 year old Sheikh Hanafi Mosque on Massawa Island, Eritrea, Africa

The ancient Pingyao city wall first built about 2700 years ago and expanded in the Ming Dynasty, Pingyao, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Shanxi, China, Asia

Chinese new year. Kek Lok Si Temple, Penang, Malaysia, Southeast Asia, Asia

Opening ceremony of Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral on 850 years anniversary, Paris, France, Europe

Yom Kippur also known as Day of Atonement, the holiest day of the year for the Jewish people, Paris, France, Europe

Old woman lighting butter lamps in a small temple on the north side of Boudha or Bodhnath stupa, Tibetan New Year (Lhosar), Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia

Friday Mosque or Masjet-eJam, built in the year 1200 by the Ghorid Sultan Ghiyasyddin on the site of an earlier 10th century mosque, Herat, Herat Province, Afghanistan, Asia

Five thousand year old dolmen in Tanum Kommune, Langdosen, Bohuslan, Sweden, Scandinavia, Europe

A woman praying during Lhosar (Tibetan and Sherpa New Year festival), Bodhnath Stupa, Bagmati, Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia

Five thousand year-old cave paintings in Lass Geel caves, Somaliland, northern Somalia, Africa

Chinese New Year, Paris, France, Europe

Chinese New Year, Paris, France, Europe

Chinese New Year, Paris, France, Europe

Chinese New Year parade, Paris, France, Europe

Golden Dragon Parade, Chinese New Year Festival, Chinatown, Los Angeles, California, United States of America, North America

An 8-year old girl reading, France, Europe

Lhosar (Tibetan and Sherpa New Year festival), Bodhnath Stupa, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Bagmati, Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia

Chinese new year, Thean Hou Chinese temple, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Southeast Asia, Asia

Chinese New Year float on Leal Senado Square, Macao, China, Asia

A four year old boy running across a field in Wiltshire, England

St. Albans Cathedral, a Christian site for over 900 years, the foundations of the current building date from 1077, St. Albans, Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Rock carvings between 2000 and 6000 years old on ice striations, Hjemmeluft UNESCO World Heritage Site, Alta, Finnmark, Norway, Scandinavia, Europe

Complex of temple buildings built over 1000 years ago to commemorate a prince of the Zhou Dynasty, Jinci Temple, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China, Asia

Chinese New Year, Paris, France, Europe

A four year old boy and five year old girl playing in a stream in Devon

Site of Tushpa, an Urartian city which flourished 3000 years ago, Van, Anatolia, Turkey, Asia Minor, Eurasia

Reduced water level in Moraine Lake following a dry year, and Wenkchemna Mountains, Banff National Park, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Rocky Mountains, Alberta, Canada, North America

Complex of temple buildings built over 1000 years ago to commemorate a prince of the Zhou Dynasty, Jinci Temple, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China, Asia

Golden Dragon Parade, Chinese New Year Festival, Chinatown, Los Angeles, California, United States of America, North America

Chinese New Year lights, Macao, China, Asia

Six hundred year old tower, Jiayuguan Fort, Jiayuguan, Gansu, China, Asia

Stonehenge, 5000 years old stone circle, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Chinese New Year float for the year of the buffalo, Macao, China, Asia

Petroglyphs carved 1000 years ago by Fremont Native American people in the iron oxide 'desert varnish' on the sandstone of Cub Creek Valley in this fossil park, Dinosaur National Monument, Utah, United States of America (USA), North America

Petroglyphs carved 1000 years ago by Fremont Native American people in the iron oxide 'desert varnish' on the sandstone of Cub Creek Valley in this fossil park, Dinosaur National Monument, Utah, United States of America (USA), North America

Naga man wearing headdress made of woven cane decorated with wild boar teeth and bear fur and wearing a tiger teeth necklace, Naga New Year Festival, Lahe village, Sagaing Division, Myanmar (Burma), Asia

Naga man dancing and playing musical instrument, wearing headdress made of woven cane decorated with wild boar's teeth, bear fur and topped with hornbill feather, Naga New Year Festival, Lahe village, Sagaing Division, Myanmar (Burma), Asia

Naga lady dancing and playing, Naga New Year Festival, drum, Lahe village, Sagaing Division, Myanmar (Burma), Asia

Naga lady dancing and playing, Naga New Year Festival, drum, Lahe village, Sagaing Division, Myanmar (Burma), Asia

Naga man wearing headdress made of woven cane decorated with wild boar teeth and bear fur with Tiger claw straps and wearing tiger teeth necklace, Naga New Year Festival, Lahe village, Sagaing Division, Myanmar (Burma), Asia

Naga man with horn used as drinking vessel, Naga New Year Festival, Lahe village, Sagaing Division, Myanmar (Burma), Asia

Naga men at Grand Finale (tribal dancing) in headdresses of woven cane decorated with wild boar teeth and bear fur topped with a hornbill feather, with tiger claw straps, wearing tiger teeth necklaces, heirloom ivory armbands and aprons decoratated with cowrie shells, Lahe village, Naga New Year Festival, Sagaing Division, Myanmar (Burma), Asia

Naga New Year Festival, Naga people walking to festival ground, the men wearing headdress made of woven cane decorated with wildboar teeth, bear fur and topped with hornbill feather also with conch shell ear ornaments, Lahe village, Sagaing Division, Myanmar (Burma), Asia

Naga tribal groups lined up waiting for the arrival of the General, (the shorts are not part of their traditional clothes but supplied by the govenment, for them to wear in place of their traditional loin cloth), wearing headdresses made of woven cane decorated with wildboar teeth, bear fur and topped with hornbill feather, with tiger jaw necklaces, Naga New Year Festival, Lahe village, Sagaing Division, Myanmar (Burma), Asia

Naga man, Taungkul tribe wearing traditional headdress made with red seeds, from Sombra village near the Indian border, who walked for five days to get to the Naga New Year Festival, Lahe village, Sagaing Division, Myanmar (Burma), Asia

Naga man in headdress of woven cane decorated with wild boar teeth, Mithan horns (wild cow) and bear fur, wearing conch shell ear ornament with a tiger claw chin strap, Naga New Year Festival, Lahe village, Sagaing Division, Myanmar (Burma), Asia

Naga man wearing headdress made of woven cane decorated with wild boar teeth, Mithan horns (wild cow) and bear fur and wearing conch shell ear ornament with a tiger claw, Naga New Year Festival, Lahe village, Sagaing Division, Myanmar (Burma), Asia

Naga man wearing headdress made of woven cane decorated with wild boar teeth, Mithan horns (wild cow) and bear fur and wearing conch shell ear ornament with a tiger claw, Naga New Year Festival, Lahe village, Sagaing Division, Myanmar (Burma), Asia

Syria, Palmyra Oasis, The Temple Consecrated In Year 32 To God Bel Seen In Silhouette At Sunrise

Algeria, Sahara, Hoggar, Tamanrasset, River Flooding After Heavy Rains First Time After 8 Years Drought

Nepal. Sonam & boom praying at charnel grounds. Humla. Vajrayana is tantric mahasiddha, lives fearlessly in terrifying places like remote jungles charnel grounds. nyingma lamas perform ritual at cremation grounds. lama rattles damaru, a small ritual drum to have origins in - shamanism. damaru, used as a tantric device to summon gods ward evil spirits, once made from human skull bones dried human skin as a reminder of impermanence of body. other lama, boom blows a kangling, a human thigh-bone horn. kangling is used in exorcism is capable of gods demons. Traditionally, best bones a kangling come from brahmans, particularly sixteen-year- brahman girls-or from tigers

Anuradha Koirala holds up her CNN Hero of the Year 2010 award as she is warmly greeted upon her return. Tribhuwan International Airport, Kathmandu, Nepal. A woman whose group has rescued more than 12,000 women and girls from sex slavery has been named the 2010 CNN Hero of the Year. Anuradha Koirala was chosen by the public in an online poll that ran for eight weeks on CNN.com. ?Human trafficking is a crime, a heinous crime, a shame to humanity,? Koirala said after being introduced as one of the top 10 CNN Heroes of 2010. ?I ask everyone to join me to create a society free of trafficking. We need to do this for all our daughters

A painting of Bakula Rinpoche hangs behind his reincarnation, a six year old boy from Nurla, at Samkar Tashi Gatsal House. Ladakh, India

Nepal. Ritual, sonam/boom. Lobsangs cremation. Humla. traveler reached of journey! In freedom of infinite he is free from sorrow, fetters that bound thrown away, burning fever of life is no more,oesays dharmapada. Lobsang having spent whole life preparing moment of death, finds liberation on february 14, 1986. Extensive ritual follows cremation-traditionally a forty nine period, sonam lama rattles damaru. A small ritual drum to have origin in - shamanism. damaru, used as a tantric device to summon gods ward evil spirits, once made from human skull bone dreid human skin as a reminder of impermanence of body. Boom lama blows a kangling, a human thigh-bone horn. kangling is used in exorcism is capable of gods demons. Traditionally, best bones a kangling come from brahmans, particularly sixteen-year- brahman girls-or from tigers. On makeshift altar rest chhome, votive lamps filled with butter, cups of water, grains, tormas, holy food made of barley meal decorated with medallions of butter offered to gods. Alone, boom lama continues prayers of deceased

Trulshig rinpoche, blesses. Tulshig rinpoche blesses. Tulshig rimpoche s followers believe that he, like many other lamas, reassumes a human body after death in order to return to disciples. previous incarnation of tulshig rimpoche spent several years at dzarongpu monastery (highest monastery in world located at 16,500’ within sight of northern side of mt everest) served as of ngawong tenzin teachers. He promised to return in next life, so at tulshig s death ngawong tenzin norbu sought found reincarnation. current tulshig rimpoche then came to monastery studied with ngawong tenzin norbu. relationship between teacher student, in which a teacher returns to study from former student, maintains lineage over generations. Bhutan

Dragon dance, Chinese New Year, Beijing, China, Asia

Chinese New Year Dragon Dance, Sao Paulo Church, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Macau China, Asia

Indonesia a kindergarten in banda aceh which lost many of children to tsunami, been rebuilt. schools director halimah anwar bustam (seen here in foreground) describes horrors suffered: area kids came from completely flattened by waves. On that fateful sunday children were in their homes, or many were already on beach having. So many died that morning. It devastating. Only we getting things back together, very grateful to helping with reconstruction of damaged building. staff give up a portion of their (already) salaries to sponsor poor children from outlying villages to come to school. structure includes offices staff, a library, prayer room wheelchair accessible classroom.__ Photograph taken in banda aceh, -december 2006, 2 years after tsunami of december 26th 2004 devasted much of coastal region. Taken to illustrate reconstruction work projects of (catholic relief services) of sponsored photo tour

Indonesia boy taking a bath at a crs provided tap in paloh village, pulo aceh, aceh. 2 years after the tsunami

CAMBODIA Grandmother and baby in hammock. Don Tok village, Kampot, lies beside a river estuary and is often flooded by sea water, a consequence of climate change during the last few years. CRS is studying the problem through its partner agency, SCW (Save Cambodian Wildlife). These people have to endure the inconvenience of daily flooding around their homes. photo by Sean Sprague

Zambia 7-year-old constance mabo of chikwela village, chongwe, with her grandmother rita, in front of her house

Zambia kaunga mashi village, shangombo district (near the angolan border). Seed distribution project by catholic relief services. Face of farmer waiting to receive free seeds to grow crops. This follows 2 years of serious famine in the region

Indonesia growth monitoring (baby weighing) at a posyandu, or mother-child temporary health post in village of paya lumpat. Photograph taken in meulaboh, aceh province -december 2006, 2 years after tsunami of december 26th 2004 devastated much of coastal region. Taken to illustrate reconstruction work projects of (catholic relief services) of sponsored photo tour

Zambia girls hoeing field together. Kaunga mashi, shangombo district. The area had suffered drought and severe food shortages during the previous 2 years

74 year sadhu stands on meditates. Nepal

Lake Isabella near Bakersfield, East of California's Central valley is at less than 13% capacity following the four year long devastating drought. The reservoir has dropped so low, that the water level is below the outflow pipe.

Grubbed out Olive trees that no longer have water to irrigate them near Bakersfield, California, USA. Following an unprecedented four year long drought, Bakersfield is now the driest city in the USA. Most of California is in exceptional drought, the highest level of drought classification. 428,000 acres of agricultural land have been taken out of production due to lack of water, thousands of agricultural workers have lost their jobs and one third of all children in California go to bed hungry.

Dead and dying Almond trees in Almond groves in Wasco in the Central Valley of California after the irrigation water ran out following the four year long drought in the Western USA. 80% of the world's almonds are grown in California, and it takes 1.1 gallons of water to grow each nut. Many farms have run out of water, and $2.2 Billion has been wiped off the agricultue sector annually. Currently one third of all children in California go to be hungry, as a direct result of job losses connected to the drought. 428,000 acres of farmland have been taken out of production as a result of the drought, in the Central Valley.

The Kern Valley Wildlife Refuge in California's Central Valley was created as important resting and feeding grounds for wildfowl migrating along the pacific flyway. After four years of unprecedented drought, the water shortages in California are critical. The reserve has received only 40% of its usual warer, with the result that most of the lake beds are dried up and dessicated, leaving the birds nowhere to go.

Almond groves being chopped down as there is no longer water available to irrigate them, in Wasco in the Central Valley of California following the four year long drought in the Western USA. 80% of the world's almonds are grown in California, and it takes 1.1 gallons of water to grow each nut. Many farms have run out of water, and $2.2 Billion has been wiped off the agricultue sector annually. Currently one third of all children in California go to be hungry, as a direct result of job losses connected to the drought. 428,000 acres of farmland have been taken out of production as a result of the drought, in the Central Valley.

Dying Olive trees that no longer have water to irrigate them near Bakersfield, California, USA. Following an unprecedented four year long drought, Bakersfield is now the driest city in the USA. Most of California is in exceptional drought, the highest level of drought classification. 428,000 acres of agricultural land have been taken out of production due to lack of water, thousands of agricultural workers have lost their jobs and one third of all children in California go to bed hungry.

Almond groves being chopped down as there is no longer water available to irrigate them, in Wasco in the Central Valley of California following the four year long drought in the Western USA. 80% of the world's almonds are grown in California, and it takes 1.1 gallons of water to grow each nut. Many farms have run out of water, and $2.2 Billion has been wiped off the agricultue sector annually. Currently one third of all children in California go to be hungry, as a direct result of job losses connected to the drought. 428,000 acres of farmland have been taken out of production as a result of the drought, in the Central Valley.

Irrigation pipes near Wasco in the Central Valley of California following the four year long drought in the Western USA. Many farms have run out of water, and $2.2 Billion has been wiped off the agricultue sector annually. Currently one third of all children in California go to be hungry, as a direct result of job losses connected to the drought. 428,000 acres of farmland have been taken out of production as a result of the drought, in the Central Valley.

A pumping station sends water uphill over the mountains on the California aquaduct that brings water from snowmelt in the Sierra Nevada mountains to farmland in the Central Valley. Following a four year long catastrophic drought, irrigation water is in short supply, with $2 billion annually wiped off the agricultre sector.

Almond groves in Wasco in the Central Valley of California that are vulnerable following the four year long drought in the Western USA. 80% of the world's almonds are grown in California, and it takes 1.1 gallons of water to grow each nut. Many farms have run out of water, and $2.2 Billion has been wiped off the agricultue sector annually. Currently one third of all children in California go to be hungry, as a direct result of job losses connected to the drought. 428,000 acres of farmland have been taken out of production as a result of the drought, in the Central Valley.

Almond groves being chopped down as there is no longer water available to irrigate them, in Wasco in the Central Valley of California following the four year long drought in the Western USA. 80% of the world's almonds are grown in California, and it takes 1.1 gallons of water to grow each nut. Many farms have run out of water, and $2.2 Billion has been wiped off the agricultue sector annually. Currently one third of all children in California go to be hungry, as a direct result of job losses connected to the drought. 428,000 acres of farmland have been taken out of production as a result of the drought, in the Central Valley.

Dead and dying grape vines in Bakersfield, California, USA. Following an unprecedented four year long drought, Bakersfield is now the driest city in the USA. Most of California is in exceptional drought, the highest level of drought classification. 428,000 acres of agricultural land have been taken out of production due to lack of water, thousands of agricultural workers have lost their jobs and one third of all children in California go to bed hungry.

A water charity in Porterville supplying bottled water to houses who have had no running water for over five months, near Bakersfield, California, USA. Hoses in the East of Porterville, many of which are on private wells, have run completely out of water as the water table has dropped catastrophically. Following an unprecedented four year long drought, Bakersfield is now the driest city in the USA. Most of California is in exceptional drought, the highest level of drought classification. 428,000 acres of agricultural land have been taken out of production due to lack of water, thousands of agricultural workers have lost their jobs and one third of all children in California go to bed hungry.

A water charity in Porterville supplying bottled water to houses who have had no running water for over five months, near Bakersfield, California, USA. Hoses in the East of Porterville, many of which are on private wells, have run completely out of water as the water table has dropped catastrophically. Following an unprecedented four year long drought, Bakersfield is now the driest city in the USA. Most of California is in exceptional drought, the highest level of drought classification. 428,000 acres of agricultural land have been taken out of production due to lack of water, thousands of agricultural workers have lost their jobs and one third of all children in California go to bed hungry.

Abandoned dead and dying Orange trees that no longer have water to irrigate them near Bakersfield, California, USA. Following an unprecedented four year long drought, Bakersfield is now the driest city in the USA. Most of California is in exceptional drought, the highest level of drought classification. 428,000 acres of agricultural land have been taken out of production due to lack of water, thousands of agricultural workers have lost their jobs and one third of all children in California go to bed hungry.

Shafts of sunlight highlight the smoke from the King Fire that burned 97,717 acres of the El Dorado National Forest in California, USA. Following an unprecedented four year long drought, wild fires are much more common. Most of California is in exceptional drought, the highest level of drought classification. 428,000 acres of agricultural land have been taken out of production due to lack of water, thousands of agricultural workers have lost their jobs and one third of all children in California go to bed hungry.

The King Fire that burned 97,717 acres of the El Dorado National Forest in California, USA. Following an unprecedented four year long drought, wild fires are much more common. Most of California is in exceptional drought, the highest level of drought classification. 428,000 acres of agricultural land have been taken out of production due to lack of water, thousands of agricultural workers have lost their jobs and one third of all children in California go to bed hungry.

A fire danger sign next to forest that has been burnt by a fire in the Tule river area of the Sequoia National Forest, east of Porterville, California, USA. California is in the grip of a four year long exceptional drought, that has made wild fires much more frequent, as well as wiping $2.2 Billion annually off the agricultural sector.

The King Fire that burned 97,717 acres of the El Dorado National Forest in California, USA. Following an unprecedented four year long drought, wild fires are much more common. Most of California is in exceptional drought, the highest level of drought classification. 428,000 acres of agricultural land have been taken out of production due to lack of water, thousands of agricultural workers have lost their jobs and one third of all children in California go to bed hungry.

The King Fire that burned 97,717 acres of the El Dorado National Forest in California, USA. Following an unprecedented four year long drought, wild fires are much more common. Most of California is in exceptional drought, the highest level of drought classification. 428,000 acres of agricultural land have been taken out of production due to lack of water, thousands of agricultural workers have lost their jobs and one third of all children in California go to bed hungry.

Foscheck fire retardent dropped on a wild fire near Hawkins Peak above coleville in California, USA. Following an unprecedented four year long drought, wild fires are much more common. Most of California is in exceptional drought, the highest level of drought classification. 428,000 acres of agricultural land have been taken out of production due to lack of water, thousands of agricultural workers have lost their jobs and one third of all children in California go to bed hungry.

The King Fire that burned 97,717 acres of the El Dorado National Forest in California, USA. Following an unprecedented four year long drought, wild fires are much more common. Most of California is in exceptional drought, the highest level of drought classification. 428,000 acres of agricultural land have been taken out of production due to lack of water, thousands of agricultural workers have lost their jobs and one third of all children in California go to bed hungry.

The King Fire that burned 97,717 acres of the El Dorado National Forest in California, USA. Following an unprecedented four year long drought, wild fires are much more common. Most of California is in exceptional drought, the highest level of drought classification. 428,000 acres of agricultural land have been taken out of production due to lack of water, thousands of agricultural workers have lost their jobs and one third of all children in California go to bed hungry.

Foscheck fire retardent dropped on a wild fire near Hawkins Peak above coleville in California, USA. Following an unprecedented four year long drought, wild fires are much more common. Most of California is in exceptional drought, the highest level of drought classification. 428,000 acres of agricultural land have been taken out of production due to lack of water, thousands of agricultural workers have lost their jobs and one third of all children in California go to bed hungry.

The King Fire that burned 97,717 acres of the El Dorado National Forest in California, USA. Following an unprecedented four year long drought, wild fires are much more common. Most of California is in exceptional drought, the highest level of drought classification. 428,000 acres of agricultural land have been taken out of production due to lack of water, thousands of agricultural workers have lost their jobs and one third of all children in California go to bed hungry.

A wild fire near Hawkins Peak above coleville in California, USA. Following an unprecedented four year long drought, wild fires are much more common. Most of California is in exceptional drought, the highest level of drought classification. 428,000 acres of agricultural land have been taken out of production due to lack of water, thousands of agricultural workers have lost their jobs and one third of all children in California go to bed hungry.