Fight Poverty - Blog Action Day

Posted by Maria on October 15th, 2008

Blog Action Day - Poverty


Today is Blog Action Day. It’s a day when “thousands of bloggers will unite to discuss a single issue - poverty. We aim to raise awareness, initiate action and to shake the web!”

As we all know, my passion is supporting causes, especially when new media is involved in the process. Poverty is one of those issues that strikes very close to home. As some of you know, I was raised in southern India, in one of the most rural and poorest areas in India. As a 10-year-old fresh from affluent America, malnourished and emaciated children, 8 people sleeping in a single room hut on dirt floors, and lines 2 hours long to get a single bucket of water once a day, was not something I was used to seeing — nor something I’ve ever gotten used to seeing.

But poverty isn’t just in developping countries. There are people, right here in our backyards, that cannot afford to buy shoes. They don’t know where their next meal is going to come from. And with winter right around the corner, many of them have no idea how they are going to heat their house (if they even have a house).

SM4SC (social media for social change) proved that the power of social media can be leveraged to bring people together to support one cause for one day. Last Friday, we raised $21,000 for Jane Doe, Inc.

So, today I ask you to come out in support of fighting poverty. Check out the Blog Action Day website (http://www.blogactionday.org/) to see what people are doing all over the world.

Or, check out what Jessica Smith is up to over at Jessica Knows: she has pledged all the money she makes from advertising on her blog today to support Project Peanut Butter (it helps malnourished children). Not only that, but Jessica is one of the fabulous ElevenMoms (a video contest put on by Walmart - for details follow the previous link), and Walmart has promised to match dollar-for-dollar all the money raised by the ElevenMoms today.

So, go to Jessica’s Site, click around on her ads and make some money for Project Peanut Butte!!

And Please. Please. Blog about Poverty. Blog about Blog Action Day. Pass the Message On. Take Action.

Blogs, Social Change

World Concern said,

October 15, 2008 @ 10:25 am

Blog Action Day is fantastic. I work at World Concern, we’re doing all we can. http://www.worldconcern.org

becoming minimalist said,

October 15, 2008 @ 10:27 am

thanks for using your blog and taking the time to raise awareness for the reality of poverty. good for you.

i hope it encourages your readers to donate to a charity of their choosing.

mathurrell said,

October 15, 2008 @ 10:27 am

Awesome!

mathurrell said,

October 15, 2008 @ 10:33 am

becoming minimalist - thanks! and I hope so too.

If sm4sc taught me anything it’s the power of people to come together to support something. This is my first Blog Action Day. I hope to be similarly impressed.

I think it is easy to think the worst of people. Especially when you look at the current state of affairs in the world. But there are so many good people out there doing such good work to make this world a better place. I try to do my part, and love that I meet people who are doing their part too each and every day. Just by taking the time to read my blog and to comment here, you too have contributed to a global movement of change.

So, thanks!

kouji haiku said,

October 15, 2008 @ 11:36 am

thanks for the link to jessica’s site. :) will check it out now.

for my part, i turn to sites like freerice, kiva, and goodsearch, as ways to help alleviate poverty online.

saw this post via the front page of blog action day. it’s great that you’re participating. :)

mathurrell said,

October 15, 2008 @ 11:39 am

kouji haiku - you should also check out Epic Change (www.epicchange.org - disclaimer: they are a client). They provide loans for social entrepreneurial projects with a very unique pay back method. I’ve written about them a few times here on my blog.

cheritycall said,

October 27, 2008 @ 4:09 am

hi, Give something for help those hungry people from Africa and India,
I made this blog about them:
at http://tinyurl.com/556poc

mathurrell said,

October 27, 2008 @ 11:33 am

Hi Cheritycall - Thanks for sharing!

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