Think Globally

In this day and age it's pretty hard not to be aware, on at least some level, of the vast disparity between the lives most of us lead and the lives of millions upon millions of people in developing countries. It's hard, too, not to feel guilty--and even ridiculous--about bemoaning the price of a latte when confronted with the facts about war, hunger, disease, and other horrors beyond our imagining that people not so very different from us are enduring every day. With the internet and cable television having made the world so much smaller, we can no longer plead ignorance of the plight of others, no matter how many of thousands of miles away they might be. This time of year, especially--after having spent many hundreds of dollars on holiday gifts and indulgences--my conscience isn't feeling particularly clear.

Last week I took one small step toward making a difference in the world and became a UNICEF Global Parent. UNICEF is the United Nations' Childrens Fund, committed to ensuring that every child is afforded health, education, equality, and protection. As a Global Parent, I will make a monthly donation of $20 US, which will be used to help build long-term, sustainable communities--wherever children are in need. I know we've all seen the commercials, but still, it's astonishing how many valuable services such small sums of money can provide. My monthly contribution could, over the course of a year, buy 48 caffe lattes. Or it could vaccinate six children against the six most deadly childhood diseases, or give four girls the chance to go to school, or educate 20 youth counselors in HIV/AIDS prevention (source: www.unicef.se). The mind boggles.

I know that what I'm giving isn't much, in the scheme of things, but it's more than I was doing last month and I feel good about that. I can't remember the last time spending twenty bucks felt so satisfying.