Blog Action Day, 2008 - Take a Stand to End Poverty

We do, here, at TrulyTwistedMarketing like to participate in events that make some kind of difference in the world we live in which is why we participate in Blog Action Day every year.

The gist of the event is to spread the word, globally, about a very worthwhile cause and raise awareness about an important issue - Poverty.

Here are some stats that I bet you didn't know…

1. Almost half the world — over 3 billion people — live on less than $2.50 a day.
2. The GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of the 41 Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (567 million people) is less than the wealth of the world’s 7 richest people combined.
3. Nearly a billion people entered the 21st century unable to read a book or sign their names.
4. Less than one per cent of what the world spent every year on weapons was needed to put every child into school by the year 2000 and yet it didn’t happen.
5. 1 billion children live in poverty (1 in 2 children in the world). 640 million live without adequate shelter, 400 million have no access to safe water, 270 million have no access to health services. 10.6 million died in 2003 before they reached the age of 5 (or roughly 29,000 children per day).

Wow. That's staggering.

My first question, is how, how do we as human beings allow this in a world where there is enough for everyone. Is it simply greed? Is it total lack of care or concern for our fellow human beings?

I, quite honestly, don't know. But what I do know is that if we don't speak about it, tell the story, relate it heart to heart, take some kind of action…nothing will change.

Take a look at these. It's amazing what people are doing, how they are contributing to make a difference, no matter how large or small. 

• Business Fights Poverty
• Millennium Promise
• Economic Policy Institute
• Miniature Earth

I believe we are all connected in this world we live in. What happens to a child in Africa or Haiti does affect us and our children and their children in some way. Join us as we take a stand to make a difference.