Oct 15 2008
20,000 People Died Yesterday
Photo by Mike Wells - Uganda (1980)
And 20,000 more will die of starvation today, according to Professor Jeffrey Sachs, author of The End of Poverty. When I think of poverty I think of starvation. It affects everyone, everywhere. 20,000 people die a slow, painful death every single day due to poverty and starvation. It is baffling when you think about it. I am saving my money for my kids and doing well. I get a little upset when I don’t have enough of the things I want. (I know, I am working on it).
Imagine being hungry and not being able to do anything about it, or worse, listening to your child cry because she is hungry and you can’t do anything about it. Can you imagine? I can’t. My eyes well up with tears and my mind erases the thought before I am allowed to think of it, because to think of it makes it real. Unfortunately, it is real. Too real.
With poverty comes starvation, disease, preventable illnesses, and eventually death.
I ask you to take some time today to think about what you can do in your life to be less greedy. Do you really need another pair of shoes? Can you spare some money or time or clothes to donate?
Simple Steps You Can do Now to Help End Poverty -
1. Clean your closet. A lot of people out there can’t afford to buy new clothes, so they buy used clothing. Drop your unwanted clothes at your local Goodwill or Salvation Army .
2. Clean out your cupboards. Donate your unwanted food to your local food bank . They always need donations and some even accept perishables.
3. Before you get that new sofa donate your old one. Always donate your furniture .
4. Donate your old coat or jacket . Kids and adults need help staying warm and your coat can help.
5. Donate your time to a food bank. They need your help.
There are so many things you can do in your own community to help end poverty. Your actions will have a butterfly effect to the entire world. You might not be able to save everyone, but you can help out those living in poverty in your community. Others will see you doing this and could end up donating their things, and so on. Plus, you can ask your friends, family and co-workers for old clothing, jackets and food to donate. Or you could tell them where to take them. You can help end poverty! Start today!
Today is Blog Action Day and the theme is poverty.
