Over the last couple of weeks, the world has witnessed what has possibly been the bleakest financial times since the Great Depression. Greedy, inconsiderate, insensitive, inimical power-mongers in the financial sector have brought markets in all parts of the world to its knees. While many of them flaunt their latest European sports car, Rolex watches, first-class travel tickets and mult-million dollar mansions, the average Joe Bloggs is anxious if he’ll be able to afford school fees, mortgage repayments and general day-to-day bills.
For a lot of us, this is a new anxiety. Especially in the west, where we have lived quite comfortably for most of our lives.
Amidst all the current financial commotion, in the not too far distance, are the already long-suffering poor. For them, the daily challenge to find a scrap of bread to feed a family is the norm.
For them, our poorest socio-economic state in the western world, is heaven.
Highlighting the problem of Poverty
What’s the point? It’s Blog Action Day 2008 and the focus is poverty. The aim is to encourage discussion and hopefully unite as bloggers to discover ways to address this complex issue.
Did you know?:
1. At least 80% of humanity lives on less than $10 a day.
2. Number of children in the world: 2.2 billion . . . Number in poverty: 1 billion (every second child) . . . Children out of education worldwide: 121 million
3. The world’s low income countries (2.4 billion people) account for just 2.4% of world exports.
4. For every $1 in aid a developing country receives, over $25 is spent on debt repayment. The poorer the country, the more likely it is that debt repayments are being extracted directly from people who neither contracted the loans nor received any of the money.
5. A mere 12 percent of the world’s population uses 85 percent of its water, and these 12 percent do not live in the Third World. (source Globalissues.org via Oneredrobin)
What Can YOU do?
I was born in the Philippines which is known for its prolific poverty. My parents were wise to move to Australia when I was two, however, I am reminded of my roots and how blessed I am, everytime I visit. Because of our deep rooted gratitude to God and love for our home country, my wife and I promised ourselves that we would help out as many as we could in our lifetime. To date we have several sponsored children in the Philippines and over time we now also sponsor kids in countries such as South America, Sri Lanka , Ghana and Nicaragua.
I’m not sharing the above to brag, but to give you an idea of what you can do - sponsor a child! For most sponsorships, you can start with a measly $1 a day. It’s a small price to pay for a chance to change someone’s life.
1. Sponsor a Child
Organisations that we partner with are:
- Christian Missionary Alliance of Australia
- International Needs : terrible website but good people
- Compassion : (my cousin is U.S. West Coast Regional Manager)
Others are:
- World Vision
- Salvation Army
- Oxfam
2. Add charity links to your website
I’ve had banners on my shopping pages for almost 5 years. Set it up then let it run.
3. Participate in charity events
One of my favourites is the Melbourne City Mission Sleep Out.
The above are three simple things we can do. If you want more, here’s an official blog post from the Blog Action Day 08 Website that has 88 practical ways we can something about poverty.
Hoping that this blog post will not only make you think about poverty, but spur you on to action.
“If you can’t feed a hundred people, then just feed one.” - Mother Teresa
