“Women hold up half the sky” ~ Chinese Proverb

With that introduction, you get a sense of what Pulitzer Prize winners Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn share as a perspective on the economic and moral resource that women around the world provide. What their book “Half The Sky” delivers, however, goes so far beyond that simple statement. Through their reporting for the New York Times, they have traveled through Africa and Asia and have witnessed much of the most heinous oppression towards women in the developing world.

While painful to read at times, it is simultaneously uplifting as they recount stories of women who have fought back against human trafficking, honor killings, mass rape, maternal mortality, HIV/AIDS and have emerged as victorious in varying degrees.

Rather than just throw a bunch of statistics at you, each chapter takes you to a different part of the world and tells a story. I don’t think anyone can read this book and come away not wanting to do something to help.

The subject of help is what I find most fascinating about these stories – how well-intended foreign aid often can have unforeseen consequences when applied in settings that don’t fully contemplate entrenched customs and attitudes. The stories often illustrate how an NGO can go into a region with a specific solution only to find it produced a totally unexpected result (and often not a good one). The overwhelming message is that flexibility and persistence are what ultimately makes the difference.  And that the education of women is the most reliable way out of poverty and toward a more peaceful society.

As we enter 2010 I hope we do so with a renewed sense of optimism, an unflagging belief in the inherent kindness of people and a passion to make a difference.

Below you will find links to some of the NGOs mentioned in the book. I encourage you to check them out, find one that speaks to your heart and act.  And please…read the book.

“Never doubt that a small group of committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” ~ Margaret Mead

Afghan Institute of Learning; www.afghaninstituteoflearning.org ~ works to improve the health and education of women and children in a country ravaged by three decades of war

American Assistance for Cambodia; www.cambodiaschools.com ~ fights trafficking and has a program to subsidize poor girls so they can remain in school

Apne Aap; www.apneaap.org; battles sex slavery in India

Campaign for Female Education; www.camfed.org ~ supports schooling for girls in Africa

Central Asia Institute (Greg Mortenson’s organization written about in Three Cups of Tea); www.ikat.org ~ provides education in Pakistan and Afghanistan

Edna Adan Maternity Hospital; www.ednahospital.org ~ the only teaching hospital in Somaliland, a country with one of the highest maternal and infant mortality rates in the world

Girls Helping Girls; www.empoweragirl.org ~ founded in 2007 by a 15 year old girl, it builds relationships between girls across continents and supports education and health initiatives

Hunger Project; www.thp.org ~ focuses on empowerment of women to end hunger

New Light; www.newlightindia.org ~ provides education and shelter to high risk children and women in Kolkata, India

Pro Mujer; www.promujer.org ~ supports women in Latin America through microcredit and business training

Tostan; www.tostan.org ~ one of the most successful organizations in overcoming female genital cutting in Africa

Whether you support through monetary donations, time volunteering (many of these organizations accept interns on the ground in country) or simply spreading the word, everything helps.

Peace and blessings,

Meg

A new documentary was released in September, following a writer and his family as they attempted to live a full year without making a large impact on the natural world around them. No electricity. No toilet paper. No imported foods.  Check it out.

The journey for Colin Beavan and his family continues on his blog.  There you can read about some of his observations and ideas concerning climate change, community, health, you name it!  And if you’re interested in taking a gander at the full length film, the No Impact Project has partnered with the Center for a New American Dream to draw attention to the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen.  They are screening the movie in communities nationwide, followed by a discussion on “to talk about the impact of holiday spending on [our] lives and the environment.”  You can check out the screening dates and locations here.

Why not send your circle an e-card to remind them about the UN Climate Change Conference this year from December 7th through the 18th?  It’s always a good time to start thinking green!

I love the guys over at GOOD who have been busy making some amazing materials!  By their own definition, “GOOD is a collaboration of individuals, businesses, and nonprofits pushing the world forward. Since 2006 we’ve been making a magazine, videos, and events for people who give a damn.”  GOOD’s videos can all be found on their website, or many are featured on their YouTube channel here.

I think GOOD does some of the best work around on making statistical information about our world come alive–which is so important. Much like a powerful image, what use is information if it can’t tell a story?  So, in honor of the approaching holidays, here’s a video they made last year on the origins of much of our Christmas products.  Check it out!

I was totally shocked when I saw this video the first time.  It made me wonder from where much of the other things I typically purchase come.  It can be pretty difficult these days to track the origins of what we consume and own–as so much is outsourced globally.  However, the folks over at MIT’s Media Lab, are creating an incredible tool to help us with that very problem. It’s called the SourceMap.

As the MIT folks posit, “Some things have vast supply chains that stretch across the world while others are completely regional. Understanding the reach of our sourcing is fundamental to improving economic, social and environmental conditions.”  The Sourcemap is a tool for use by individuals, or business owners, to understand the impact of the supply chain of which we are a part. It’s a pretty empowering instrument–because it compels us to consider how we make an impact globally with what we consume–giving us the tools we need to make informed decisions.

“[The] site is a social network where anyone can contribute to a shared understanding of the story behind products.” And the MIT developers have made it accessible to all, even creating easy-to-use embed tools so you can use Sourcemap on your own site, for the packaging of products, in your business, anywhere! Go over and take a look.

There’s so much positive energy going into projects like the Sourcemap, or the media work from GOOD. It’s truly inspiring!  Do you have a favorite project that is doing something for the well being of the planet?  Well, tell us about it.  We would love to know!

Saludos,

Megan