OneWorld.net (U.S.)

WASHINGTON, Nov 7 (OneWorld) - As the year 2008 comes to a close, OneWorld is once again looking to honor one person or organization that has inspired and improved the lives of others in their community or around the world over the past year.

Molly Melching and women from the village of Malicounda Bambara, Senegal, which chose to end the practice of female genital cutting after participating in a program organized by Melching's organization, Tostan. © TostanLast year, the global community chose Molly Melching and the women of Senegal as the People of the Year, for their efforts to end female genital cutting using an innovative, culturally sensitive approach to educate and relieve suffering.

The 2006 winner was Dr. Rashad Zidan, whose nonprofit group supports women working to hold their families and communities together in war-torn Iraq.

Other nominees have included the heralded and the unheralded -- from Al Gore and Burma's monks to the Asia America Initiative, immigrants' rights campaigners, and the town of Kinsale, Ireland, which is working to wean itself entirely off of fossil fuels.

Thus far, this year's nominations include Dr. Monica Alonso of the Pan American Health Organization for her work in HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and control, and Olena Prykhodko, a young woman from Ukraine, who has been campaigning for democracy and children's rights since the age of 11.

To nominate a person, group of people, or organization to be OneWorld's Person of 2008, click here. You may leave your nomination(s) by Friday, Nov. 14, 2008.