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Jan 30 2013

Clean Water, Safe Water: WaterAid Deals With Global Access Issues

Three-fourths of the Earth is covered by water, so why are millions dealing with clean water issues around the world?

Today I worked with my 9 year old on his science homework. For an upcoming test, he has to identify the resources that living things share in an environment.

The sentence that struck me, reminding me of many Development policy discussions in grad school, was “Many living things may share an environment and its resources. If the environment has too little of any resource, the living things compete with one another to get what they need.” In other words, there’s conflict. Water was the first resource that I thought of.

Coincidentally, I had this post on my writing list and will be turning it into a broader teaching moment for my son. His science book looks at animals but I will generalize it for him, to illustrate what limited resources like clean water can do to people. Ironically, when I make this decision, a faucet in my kitchen drips quietly and consistently. Feeling guilty, I tighten the handle to stop the waste.

CLEAN WATER ACCESS ISSUES

800 million people worldwide do not have access to clean, safe water, while 2.5 billion don’t have the types of sanitary environments we enjoy. That’s a lot of people. This results in:

2,000 children dying every day from easily preventable diarrheal diseases because they don’t have safe or clean water.
Thousands more children not being able to attend school.
Millions of women unable to work because of the time it takes to collect water and care for sick children.
Wasted human capital, which has a direct affect on economic growth, development, and sustainability.

WaterAid

Since 1981, WaterAid, has been transforming lives through its clean water, safe water programs in 27 countries throughout Africa, Asia, The Pacific, and Central America. The organization, through its offices in the U.S., UK, Australia, and Sweden, uses affordable and locally appropriate solutions to provide safe water, effective sanitation, and hygiene education to people in developing countries.

What To Do

As with any of these organizations, a donation goes a long way to furthering their efforts. And with WaterAid, 81% of donations goes to water programs. Something as small as a $25 gift could pay for one person in one of the world’s poorest countries to gain access to safe, clean water, and sanitation for life. You can also write to your local congressman/congresswoman to support the Paul Simon Water for the World Act. Wouldn’t it be great if our utility companies could be more altruistic and take a share of our bills and donate it for us? Hey, that’s an idea – what do you think?

This post was written in conjunction with WaterAid as a member of Social Good Moms’ Global Team of 200.

Jan 30 2013

UNICEF Promotes January As Human Trafficking Awareness Month

Human trafficking is a form of modern-day bondage and something, I have to admit, I knew very little about.

In December, on a family day trip to nearby Virginia, my family and I visited two historical sites. One of those sites was the Ben Lomond House, which had a well-preserved slave cabin still standing on the property. An object of our ancestry, as well as history books, it was our first time ever stepping foot in one.

We learned quite a bit that day about how our enslaved ancestors celebrated Christmas and New Year’s. The most interesting factoids were that on Christmas, everyone (except the cook) was given the day off. On this day, they were “allowed” to indulge in spirits (liquor), party freely (mostly for the entertainment of their owners), as well as move about freely to other slave quarters and plantations.

My oldest son asked a significant question: “Mommy, are there still slaves?” My answer: “Nope.” And then I thought about it and rephrased. “Well, no, not like it was back then. Not like that in the United States. At least, not that we know of. It happens in a few small places in the world but not like it was here.” I stumbled on my words because I honestly didn’t know how right or wrong I was.

Turns out, I was kinda wrong.

Facts on Human Trafficking

Yesterday’s slavery is today’s human trafficking. An estimated 5.5 million children worldwide are victims of child trafficking. This illegal enterprise generates an estimated $32 billion in profits per year! Did you know that human trafficking existed in the United States? Reportedly, there are thousands of cases reported in every state. States with the highest rates of victims of human trafficking are California, Texas, Florida, and New York. If you think like me, your next question is, what is human trafficking in the U.S.?

Basically, human trafficking involves grueling forced labor with little or no pay, being bought and sold, and forced into prostitution. The definition of human trafficking encompasses labor trafficking which happens in restaurants, bars, hotels, agriculture, and construction. It also encompasses sex trafficking which happens in brothels, strip clubs, escort/massage services, as pimp-controlled prostitution, on the street or on the internet.

Trafficking Prevention

The U.S. Fund for UNICEF has launched the End Trafficking project, which raises awareness about child trafficking and mobilizes communities within the U.S. to take purposeful action to help protect children. Want to get involved?

On UNICEF’s site, you can find ways in which you can help end child trafficking. There’s a 1-pager, a toolkit, and educator resources for middle and high school. You can volunteer by joining the UNICEF Action Center or call 888-373-7888 to report potential cases.

We all have a hand in raising our world’s children. And it’s my firm belief that is our responsibility to keep all children safe and help them to have the happy childhood that they deserve. Tell me what you think. Did you know all of this about human trafficking?

This post was written in conjunction with the U.S. Fund for UNICEF and the Social Good Moms, Global Team of 200.

Jan 12 2013

Remembering Sandy Hook Victims: Madeleine Hsu, We Remember You

It shouldn’t take a tragedy for us to be kind. But sometimes I think the universe and God allows tragedy to happen to remind us. Last December’s school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut acts as yet another catalyst for renewed kindness. It’s unfortunate, but we humans are forgetful. Even still, many of us will not forget the Sandy Hook victims.

Some day we’ll all get it right.

I remember when 9-11 happened. I’d worked in the World Trade Center a few years before. The company I worked for suffered the most losses. Several of my friends died in that tragedy. It’s a day I don’t think I’ll ever forget. Not only was it the first time I had felt such despair but it was also the first time that I’d seen my city, the place where I grew up and had always known as being hard knock, come together and show each other love. We were reminded of our humanity and the importance of kindness in the face of evil. We slowed down. We opened up. We chipped away at our exteriors. It reunited us and changed us as a community forever.

The community of Newton, CT is also forever changed. They will never forget and many people around the country share their pain. This post serves as a reminder to not forget the lives lost that day and to do something kind in remembrance. It’s one of a series of posts by other mom bloggers, each recognizing a victim from Newton, every day of this month. Today, I’m asking you to do two things in preparation for your week. 1.) Remember 6-year old Madeleine F. Hsu and 2.) Perform an Act of Kindness.

Remembering Madeleine

If you go to Time’s story remembering the victims, there’s very little information on Madeleine. No picture, no bubbly smile; just a name. The short sentence that describes her to the world reads: “Madeleine Hsu — also known as Maddy — was described by a neighbor as ‘very upbeat and kind’ and ‘a sweet, beautiful little girl.’ She often wore bright, flowery dresses.” It’s short and clearly not from a family member but it speaks volumes. It speaks of a family that probably wanted complete and utter privacy in this moment. No media attention, no cameras. The remaining thing that they have of their daughter, they wanted to protect and keep to themselves. As a parent of a critically-ill child, I understand. We all deal with pain and loss in very significantly different ways, but nonetheless, let’s remember Maddy.

Random Act of Kindness

Remembering Sandy Hook victims — Extend a hand to someone.

What exactly is an act of kindness? It’s whatever your heart leads you to do. Unfortunately, we don’t do enough of these acts where we should. It could be helping someone who may be struggling to cross the street. It could be paying for a coffee for the person in line behind you. It could be bringing a meal to the homeless person you pass every day. It could be giving words of encouragement to a child that looks troubled. Whatever. It’s doing the unexpected, the thing that would make the next person smile and believe that the world is still good, even in the face of darkness.

Each of us bears the responsibility to be kind and live up to our full human potential. Think about what you might be able to do this week. I’ve decided to bring a bag of bagels to the other cancer parents when I take my son in for his procedure. I’m looking forward to putting a smile on someone’s face. What do you think you might do this week? I’d love to hear about it and have you come back and share your day.

“Faith lets the good of Jesus be infinitely bigger than all the bad of life…”

Image courtesy of:

pinksquid / 123RF Stock Photo

Nov 30 2012

World AIDS Day: A Time To Show Empathy And Support

World AIDS Day is on Saturday December 1st – it’s a day that should give many of us moms, a reason to pause. As we sleep comfortably in our beds at night, our children sleeping sound in the next room, a mother is comforting her HIV-infected child. I don’t sympathize, I empathize. Imagine yourself in her shoes. I can. And maybe because I’m dealing with my child’s own immunity issues, is the reason I can. It’s also the reason why I will give.

900 children are infected with HIV. Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation knows the number of new infections can be reduced to zero. Most of the infections can be avoided through education and protection but also, testing is the first and most critical step in reducing mother-to-child transmission. If an expectant mother knows her status, she can receive the necessary treatment that will protect her health and the health of her unborn child. The Glaser Foundation has joined the global health community in setting a goal to hit zero by 2015. How is it possible?

90% of child infections of HIV are passed on from mother to child – and 100% of those infections are preventable with care and treatment for the HIV-positive mother. We’ve come a long way from 30 years ago, where an HIV diagnosis was indicative of a death certificate. Not anymore. Did you know that a donation of $30 can provide care and treatment to one mother, for one month?

In honor, of World AIDS Day this Saturday, consider giving generously by donating to save a child. Help infected mothers get treated and protect their children from HIV. You can make a donation at https://secure.amothersfight.org/page/contribute/Support-Moms Just think, we could alleviate AIDS in our generation. We really are that close but our first step is to address pediatric HIV/AIDS. Let’s get rid of this disease once and for all and save the lives of babies everywhere.

Nov 27 2012

Giving Tuesday: Finding Real And Direct Ways To Give Back And Serve

The Giving Tuesday campaign has been in the back of my mind ever since the day I found out about it. The idea behind it and its potential have beckoned me to think of bigger ways that I can give this holiday season. But even before Giving Tuesday, after the first month of treatments to cure my son’s leukemia, I’ve been thinking about ways to help other families like mine deal with some of the stresses of this life.

Spending Distaste

Thanksgiving this year was very different in our home. We kept it to a minimum, having just gotten released from the hospital a couple days before the big day. My tradition of endless eating, followed by internet stalking for pending Black Friday deals, seemed so trivial in light of everything that’s been going on. The only thing I purchased this year was a DVD set from Target on White Saturday (the day after Black Friday). I spent a whole $13 and that’s it thus far for the Holiday season.

Giving in a direct way

Now, I don’t believe that’s all I’ll be spending but I’m much more focused this year on helping others in more direct ways. Yes, I’ve written out the tithe and building fund check for the church; yes, I have my donation envelope ready for my annual gift to Mercy Corp; yes, I’m volunteering to help house and feed the homeless in January; yes, we’re (still) filling up our Operation Christmas Child shoebox – but my hands feel like they want to get deeper in the mud this year. I want to do more. Because I can. We all can.

What is Giving Tuesday?

“Giving Tuesday is a national movement around the holidays dedicated to giving, similar to how Black Friday and Cyber Monday have become days that are, today, synonymous with holiday shopping. It’s a call to action. The goal is to help Giving Tuesday become a major part of the holiday season, putting giving upfront in November rather than an afterthought in December or the New Year.”

My Giving

So, right in line with my own plans to do something more, Giving Tuesday fits perfectly. Apart from giving to other organizations, I’ve put together a blood donation drive with Children’s National Medical Center in honor of my son and other oncology patients, particularly of African American decent, who are in constant need of blood. This gift goes beyond toys and physical things for the holiday season. It’s the gift of life – from one body to another. It’s a way that I can give in a more real way.

As Martin Luther King Jr said, “Everyone can be great because anyone can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.” This is the spirit behind Giving Tuesday. I hope you’ll get involved.