Make Poverty History

Today I was watching HBO and stumbled upon a movie for which I have seen previews. It was very moving to me as I thought of my own struggles in life and how much I really do have that improvrished nations do not. I think sometimes, what if I had been born in Africa as part of one of the millions of families who are severely poor? We are so lucky as Americans to have as much as we do. During a professional development meeting, the presenter posted a list of statistics. It was based on the fact that if you took 100 people out of the world, how many people would have a computer, a car, a degree, a home etc. It's amazing to me that I have all those things, and I still complain about my student loans or barely getting by in life. I would have been most likely dead at the age of 5 had I been born somewhere in Africa. I would probably have AIDS or some debilitating disease. I do not know the detailed political solutions that may be available, but I urge you to see the movie on HBO called "The Girl in the Cafe" and to check out this iMovie on making poverty history.

Go here to voice your support of the G8 summit meeting. I did not realize this, but there is 1 day until this meeting on which global poverty will be discussed. If you support abolishing poverty, I suggest you visit this site today.

The One Declaration

WE BELIEVE that in the best American tradition of helping others help themselves, now is the time to join with other countries in a historic pact for compassion and justice to help the poorest people of the world overcome AIDS and extreme poverty. WE RECOGNIZE that a pact including such measures as fair trade, debt relief, fighting corruption and directing additional resources for basic needs – education, health, clean water, food, and care for orphans – would transform the futures and hopes of an entire generation in the poorest countries, at a cost equal to just one percent more of the US budget. WE COMMIT ourselves - one person, one voice, one vote at a time - to make a better, safer world for all.”