All through college I was bombarded with images and ads like this, showing how much (and how many) people around the world were suffering.  And the response was to feel guilty, give something up so I could give something away, and do the right thing: send some money.  Maybe this was your experience,too. For...

I’ve said it already.  Extensively.  But some things bear repeating. There’s been an explosion on the development blogs regarding Jason Sadler’s proposal to send one million used (but decent!) t-shirts to Africa.  Apparently, Sadler runs a site called I Wear Your Shirt, built on...

Imagine that the dome of the White House had fallen in on itself. Or a disaster hit of such magnitude that nearly everyone west of the Mississippi was affected. This is what happened in Haiti last night.  The presidential building collapsed in on itself when a 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit the island....

10. Local Food Banks We’ve experienced two recessions in the 2000s, and the second is the worst Americans have seen in decades.  This has meant that even more people rely on food banks to meet their daily needs as unemployment rises and incomes stagnate and fall.  The USDA’s recent figures...

10.  Bono Bono, the rock-star-turned-humanitarian, has been speaking truth to power since 1999.  He has achieved near honorary statesman status and has influenced many heads of state.  Since 2002 he has become increasingly involved in campaigning for third-world debt relief and raising awareness...

Some attempts at justice are better than others. Bono stood on the stadium’s stage, a briefcase in his hand. This is what I remember he said, “In a few hours I will be taking this briefcase to Gleneagles Hotel, and turning it over to the leaders of the countries you represent.  Inside they will...

For most of my life I was disgusted by the church and its followers. Hypocritical. Self-Obsessed. Prideful. Unkind. These were the words I used to describe the church and its people. All that changed when I was twenty and read the Bible for the first time. This is what Jesus is like? Why didn’t...

Anyone who follows the news in even the most cursory manners knows that Israel/Palestine has erupted again (please pray). But what’s new? Does anyone pay attention anymore? And if you do – congratulations, and thank you – does your knowledge of what’s going on in the world...

If you’re like me there’s something that you do at least four times a day that you’d rather avoid. It’s not brushing my teeth (I’m not that neurotic), eating my vegetables, or checking my email. All you moms (and savvy title readers) out there guessed it – it’s changing diapers. When...

Africa is big. Especially these days. And caring about Africa is hip: Brad Pitt, Bono, and Gwyneth Paltrow say so. There is nothing wrong with highlighting Africa, reminding us that we are all interconnected, that Africa’s problems are our problems. As we consider this, though, we would do well...