As some of you know, today is Blog Action Day and I’ve registered Static-Romance to blog for awareness this year’s theme of poverty. It is not too late for you to register and sign up. If you’re reading this today, October 15th, 2008, I urge you to participate and take action.
I’ve spent the last two months without a cell phone. The first day my phone broke, I thought it was a mini-tragedy. How was I going to get my Olympic text messages from NBC?  Safe to say, I did survive. Life continued on, and I made due with what I have. At eighteen years-old, I’ve spent everyday of my life with running water. I’ve had electricity, gas, heat, and for the last four years the usage of air conditioning. If I’m hungry, I can drive down to Wendy’s and spend $4 on a entire meal. I don’t have to walk anywhere. I can choose to, but it’s not a necessity.
Most of you are just like me. I’ve never had to fetch water from a river filled with toxins just to drink and bathe in everyday. I’ve never had to eat less than 500 calories a day. I’ve never had to sleep on the ground. This is not my everyday life. However, for millions of others, it is their everyday life. Â
- Â Six million children under five die every year as a result of hunger.
- 134 million children between the ages of 7 to 18 have never been to school.
- Nearly a billion people entered the 21st century unable to read a book or sign their names.
- 400 million children have no access to safe water (1 in 5)
- 10.6 million children died in 2003 before they reached the age of 5 (same as children population in France, Germany, Greece and Italy)
-  1.6 billion people — a quarter of humanity — live without electricity.
- Â At least 80% of humanity lives on less than $10 a day.
- Â In 2005, almost 1.4 billion people lived below the international poverty line, earning less than $1.25 per day.
- 1Â % (ages 15-49) of the world is HIV prevalent (2005 data).
- In 1991, the United States had approximately 35.7 million people living below the poverty level. This represents 14.2 percent of the Nation’s population (U.S. Bureau of the Census, 1992).
- Poverty is five times greater in single parent households.
- People are most vulnerable to poverty when they turn 18.
- The official poverty rate in the United States in 2005 was 12.6% of the population.
- In 2005, 37 million people lived in poverty in the United States.
- Over a quarter of black women and nearly a quarter of Latina women are poor. Black and Latina women are at least twice as likely as white women to be living in poverty.
Feel educated? Want to do something about it? Â Here’s a list of 88 ways to do something about poverty right now. You can donate right now to help somebody. This is only the beginning, everyday there is something new you can do to help fight poverty. Let your friends and family know. Maybe the world would be a better place if we spent less time talking about who Miley Cyrus is dating and more time educating each other on the conditions on who the world really is.
However mean your life is, meet it and live it: do not shun it and call it hard names. Cultivate poverty like a garden herb, like sage. Do not trouble yourself much to get new things, whether clothes or friends. Things do not change, we change. Sell your clothes and keep your thoughts.  – Henry David Thoreau
People in America take things for granted! Its a damn shame! :think: I personally always try to give back as much as I can, whether its money or clothes. I always give someone who has less than me a little something. It might not always be much, but its the thought behind it!
I can’t stand those who are rich and only care for themselves… I mean, if it were for the “little people” who bought your products or whatever, you wouldn’t even be worth a thing. So I appreciate those who do give back! Its always well respected! 🙂
Oh and I wish I can give the world some of my Mac & Cheese! ;-D
Jaydes last blog post..My mind on other things… Other people!
I’m not sure if the comment before this worked bceause it lead me to a blank page! o_o
But I said before:
I like to watch movies in class too haha 😛
Im definitely checking out the site right after this!
2 months without a phone? :O Glad you got through it~
Bonnies last blog post..falling leaves
There are so many unfortunate people out there, it’s depressing. While growing up I was very fortunate to have the basic amenities and more and I still do at present. I guess some of us take what we have for granted. Whenever I waste food my parents constantly tell me that there’s someone out there without food for days. It’s really sad and I think we all need to think about the others out there who are poverty stricken.
My parents and I donate quite a lot to the less fortunate people. It is a great feeling on the inside knowing that you’re helping someone.
I agree with Jayde. People take things for granted. I admit that I’m one of them. I will never know the value of what I have until I lose it. I have almost every luxury item and yet I still complain. I hate myself. lol
My family donates money and clothes to people/charitable orgs in the Philippines (where my parents are originally from). They believe we should help “our people” first. Whatever that means.
This post is awesome. It shows ungrateful people *ahem*ME*ahem* that we should be thankful for what we have and stop complaining that our lives suck. lol.
Michelles last blog post..
I also agree with Jayde when she said that Americans take things for granted. We do and if we do not stop and realize how fortunate we are than most people, I think the outcome may be really bad. That reminds me of this Human Rights Museum that we did at our school my senior year. It was a museum that showed the events and problems happening around the world. One project that I did was to help clear land mines in areas. We sold t-shirts to raise money for the cause. I forgot how many t-shirts we sold but it was a good many and I think we raised a good amount of money to go to helping clear landmines.
poverty is sad.
like i never realized how lucky we were before my gramma went into the hospital.
now we`re right on the borderline of poverty.
for now,
but i know that we`ll be on our feet in about 2 – 3 months,
other people are so unsure about their tomorrows.
it`s so sad.
Alaynas last blog post..PØ?NØS
Its amazing how easily people can take things for granted.
I think of how people want the latest iPod or cellphone because they NEED it. No. People are dying from malnutrition, having luxury items is quite a minute matter.
I’m well aware about all of this. I’ve given $ before. Now I don’t have cash like I use to. I’m knowedgeable about alot of foundations out there. It’s sad but we all know that we get alittle scared giving our money to people. The question is always, ‘will the needy people recieve this money?’
That is so tragic. When I start complaining about my life, I really stop to think about how there are people out there suffering a lot more.
Brandys last blog post..Behind the wheel
My heart goes out to all of those people. It’s so sad that so many people are without the basic necessities- food/water, clothes, & shelter. I’m too skeptical about these organizations that ask you to donate money. Some of them are corrupt and you never REALLY know if the money is going to them. I can’t wait ’til I’m older and financial well off. I want to help impoverished areas, some way, some how.
A lot of ppl think the only way they can help is to give money but there’s so much more- participating in canned food drives, donating clothes, nonperishable items, etc or just volunteering at a local shelter. SMH @ my suggestions. I really need to take them… Thanks so much for posting this, now I feel the need to actually stop saying how sad it is and actually help out.
Poverty can even hit as close to home as well not just in a 3rd world country. We take so much for granted.
A family friend teaches grade 1s and she normally forks out money for her students to have something for lunch as most familys in her area don’t have the money for rent and food
Kimms last blog post..Lairs, Lairs pants on fire
there are so many things that we take for granted in life, like the things you mentioned. idk how you survived 2 months without your cell phone though that’s crazy lol.
Licias last blog post..change.
How are you?, Do something to help those hungry people from Africa and India,
I made this blog about this subject:
on http://tinyurl.com/6bz6t7
GOOD TO C ONE OF MY CAMERA PICTURE ON THIS BLOG.
SHAHNAWAZ