Blog Action Day 2008 - Poverty

Blog Action Day is an annual nonprofit event that aims to unite the world’s bloggers, podcasters and videocasters, to post about the same issue on the same day. Our aim is to raise awareness and trigger a global discussion.

One Issue, Thousands of Voices

Global issues like poverty are extremely complex. There is no simple, clear answer. By asking thousands of different people to give their viewpoints and opinions, Blog Action Day creates an extraordinary lens through which to view these issues. Each blogger brings their own perspective and ideas. Each blogger posts relating to their own blog topic. And each blogger engages their audience differently.

What is the aim of Blog Action Day?

First and last, the purpose of Blog Action Day is to create a discussion. We ask bloggers to take a single day out of their schedule and focus it on an important issue.

he blogging community effectively changes the conversation on the web and focuses audiences around the globe on that issue.

By doing so on the same day, the blogging community effectively changes the conversation on the web and focuses audiences around the globe on that issue.

Out of this discussion naturally flow actions, advice, ideas, plans, and empowerment. In 2007 on the theme of the Environment, we saw bloggers running environmental experiments, detailing innovative ideas on creating sustainable practices and focusing audience’s attentions on organizations and companies promoting green agendas. In 2008 we aim to again focus the blogging community’s energies and passions, this time on the mammoth issue of global poverty.

Mass Participation

From the smallest online journals, to huge online magazines, to EU ministers, to professionals and amateurs, Blog Action Day is about mass participation. Anyone is free to join in on Blog Action Day and there is no limit on the number of posts, the type of posts or the direction of thoughts and opinions.

I have decided to focus on my experiences with global poverty, both here and abroad.  From the children I worked with in the Ranchos in the Mountains of Central Mexico, to the clients I have had who were victims of sex trafficking or political asylum, to this sweet homeless child I met in desert of Morocco, that I just wanted to adopt and bring back with me . . . . these are experience that have changed me and I will never forget them.  However, unless your career focuses on poverty, as Americans we seems to forget about this issue from day to day.  If you're in Austin, a day doesn't go by that you don't see a homeless person begging on the street, but even when it's in your face, it's as if it escapes your mind once the light turns green and your on your way and on with your day.  In times like this when the economy is bad, and everyone seems to be struggling, it's hard to find expendable income to contribute to those less fortunate.  But also in times like this, we should remember that even in the worst of times, how much more fortunate we are than those who never go a day without wondering if they will have the basic necessities: food, clothing and shelter.  I ask you, to remember this even with the economy the way it is.  If you can't donate money, donate some can goods, if you can't donate something tangible, donate your time.  If each of us help just a little bit it can go a long way.