Nothing moves me more than seeing activism.
Before I explain what one group of dedicated and caring people recently did, allow me to tell you about two very important pieces of legislation that are currently pending in Congress.
The Global Poverty Act was introduced in Congress last year to focus U.S. efforts on meeting the objectives of the Millennium Development Goals, which was initiated to improve life for the world’s poorest people by 2015. The first goal is to cut in half the number of people living on less than $1 per day.
Another piece of legislation, The Jubilee Act, would help alleviate the burden of international debt that many poor and developing countries face. With the Jubilee Act, these nations would be able to fulfill their full potential and become self-sufficient.
Sen. Richard Lugar, (R-Indiana) has sponsored both of these bills, however, his Democratic counterpart, Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Indiana) has not.
Last week local global poverty activists advocated in every sense of the word as they held a 10-hour demonstration outside the Indianapolis office of Bayh. In addition, the vigil activists also participated in a 24-hour fast.
While some of you reading this editorial may feel that Americans have enough of our own problems to worry about people in other countries, the fact is — those people’s issues are our issues. Yes, we may live in different countries; yes, we’re faced with our individual problems; and yes, the economy is bad, but the reality is, these people are human beings and they deserve more than the raw deal they’ve been given over the years.
I don’t wish the economic problems America is facing on anyone, but our problems aren’t to the extent of those living in impoverished countries; there’s simply no comparison. For years Americans have lived lives of excess and now we’re being forced to cutback. Imagine existing in a place where you had no options at all. No work, no school, nor the basic essentials such as running water or a modicum of food. It would be unbearable, yet millions of people around the world live like that every day.
Here’s an alarming statistic: every day, 16,000 children die from poverty-related causes. Sixteen thousand!
It’s our responsibility as human beings to help our fellow brothers and sisters in our community as well as around the world — even if that brother and sister speaks differently than us or is of another race.
One of the greatest things about last week’s demonstration was that there were people of all ages participating in the vigil, including elementary-aged activists. I saw a picture of a young white boy holding a sign that read “They derserve a future.” On the poster board were also pictures of two poor Black children who today may be of the 16,000 children who won’t see tomorrow. As I looked at the picture, I was reminded how important it is to get children involved in helping others. I was also reminded of the few times I’ve seen a Black child advocating for something of significant substance. Many white people are teaching their children at early ages the need to be philanthropists and humanitarians. We have to do the same in our community. We must do this so that our children will teach their children and the cycle of giving will continue.
I encourage you to become involved in some civic cause, and make it a family affair. If you’d like more information on the Global Poverty Act, visit www.Bread.org/gpa. For information on the Jubilee Act, you can log on to www.jubileeusa.org. You can also encourage Sen. Bayh to get involved by calling his local office at (317) 554-0750.
