Aid

I was pleased to hear Pres Bush say it would be a mistake to cut back on foreign aid even though our economy is floundering.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/21/AR2008102102523.html?hpid=topnews

Despite his many, many shortcomings, I will give W. props when it comes to providing assistance to impoverished nations. We should follow our nation's example and give when it hurts to do so.

The following is a partial reprint of something I posted awhile back on The Sweetest Thing:

I implore everyone to take action against the injustice of extreme poverty in the world. I understand that many of us are reevaluating our own budgets with the current economic downturn, but think about giving the gift of food and water to those that need it this holiday season. Every dollar you can spare will help a fellow human being. When you do give, make sure it is to an organization with a proven track-record of getting the money where it will do the most good, such as UNICEF or OXFAM, both of which allow you to buy tangible things such as bed netting, vaccines, and even farm animals for those in need. You can also give these things as a dual gift, by donating them in someone’s name. What do you get for the person who has everything? -A goat (that will provide food and/or milk for a starving family).

If you simply can not find spare money to give, then at least lend your voice to the cause. Visit http://www.one.org/ and join the cause of ending extreme poverty and the associated diseases. The ONE campaign is an unprecedented mass-scale grassroots campaign initiated by Bono and others using the power of the internet. The ONE campaign does not solicit money. Instead, they educate and alert via email about issues where the public voice can make a difference. When important legislation issues are moving through congress that will impact the impoverished, you will be presented with the facts about the bill and asked to sign an electronic petition or contact your local representatives, exhorting them to do the right thing when it comes to international and domestic aid.

One thing we cannot do as citizens of the humanity is proverbially stick our heads in the sand. Some Americans say we should be isolationist as a country and just 'protect our own'. That type of ethnocentric sentiment is ignorant and completely unfeasible in the modern world. “Where you live should no longer determine whether you live.” -Bono.
We all need to educate ourselves and stay informed on global issues because the butterfly effect is real, and if our generation does nothing to alleviate the beating wings of starvation occurring half a world away, we will surely be judged harshly by future generations when the hurricane is at their doorstep.