makehope

Seth Godin reads Tribes for 95¢...remarkable!

Know what I love about this guy he puts his money where his mouth is, he walks the talk. I mean who else does stuff like this in the middle of a book intro -- he gives the thing away! It's genius.

Seth Godin thanks for a super cool book for under a buck -- I am going to use it as an awesome way to spread the word -- to discover and uncover new tribe members....who get it!

240 children will have died before you finish reading! | Blog Action Day 2008 poverty

On January 9, 2007 I did a blog post called 30,000 yesterday, 30,000 today, 30,000 tomorrow it was my  horrified reaction to the realization that by some estimates** 30,000 children die ~ not each year or month but EACH DAY! These children die from poverty related illness which are for the most part and here's the kicker.... preventable!

And so do the math if it takes you two minutes to read this post and maybe click on a link ~ 240 children will have died! Startling but true.

So here we are on Blog Action Day 2008 some 645 days since my first post and I shudder to think that in that period of time some 19,350,000 more children have died due to poverty. Let me say that again,

19,350,000 more children have died due to poverty

I really don't know what to say, I just don't. I know there are numerous organizations and amazing people working their butts off to end this scourge. Some you might want to check out ONE, Oxfam, Kiva and Global Action there are many more but that should get you started!

While the mountain of poverty seems insurmountable I do know wherever there are human being who care there is always hope and the promise of the sunrise, the promise of new and better day.

Learn more at Global Issues they have some disturbing and sobering statistics

**some say the number is more like 26,500 a day which is of course zero solace

Blog Action Day 2008 | remembering Harry Chapin

I had all but forgotten, did you ? about one of the leaders in the fight to end poverty Harry Chapin. Listening to my iTunes party shuffle in my office and all of a sudden there it is All my life's a circle ~ what a sign!

Please remember today this gentle, giving giant of a man and his fight to end poverty!

"Look in their eyes Mom you'll see me."

Today is October 15, 2008 and if you're like most Americans you are full up with political nonsense, scared to death about your finances and worried about your children's future. Fair enough, it's been a heck of few weeks!

But I'd like you to take a few minutes to think bigger, to give some thought to people just miles maybe even steps away from you who are worried too, worried about where they will sleep tonight, if they will have enough to eat and worried if their kids will even have a future.

Today thousands of bloggers are writing about poverty and millions of readers (like you) are reading... together we can make a difference, we can make a start to finish poverty.

Rather than ramble on and on I am going to hand this off to none other than Bruce Springsteen ~ I'll let his music and words speak for me. All I am asking is that you listen (turn it up, WAY UP!) to Bruce's Ghost of Tom Joad  his homage to John Steinback's Grapes of Wrath a poignant duet with Tom Morello (it is a stunning performance). (there is a more beautiful video version on iTunes if you like)

If you would please watch the video and read the lyrics ~ I hope it moves you like it moved me ~ please let me know what you think by leaving me a comment below. End poverty, now.

The Lyrics:

The Ghost Of Tom Joad Men walkin' 'long the railroad tracks
Goin' someplace there's no goin' back
Highway patrol choppers comin' up over the ridge
Hot soup on a campfire under the bridge Shelter line stretchin' round the corner
Welcome to the new world order
Families sleepin' in their cars in the southwest
No home no job no peace no rest

(Chorus)
The highway is alive tonight
But nobody's kiddin' nobody about where it goes
I'm sittin' down here in the campfire light
Searchin' for the ghost of Tom Joad

He pulls prayer book out of his sleeping bag
Preacher lights up a butt and takes a drag
Waitin' for when the last shall be first and the first shall be last
In a cardboard box 'neath the underpass
Got a one-way ticket to the promised land
You got a hole in your belly and gun in your hand
Sleeping on a pillow of solid rock
Bathin' in the city aqueduct
(Chorus)
Now Tom said "Mom, wherever there's a cop beatin' a guy
Wherever a hungry newborn baby cries
Where there's a fight 'gainst the blood and hatred in the air
Look for me Mom I'll be there
Wherever there's somebody fightin' for a place to stand
Or decent job or a helpin' hand
Wherever somebody's strugglin' to be free
Look in their eyes Mom you'll see me." (Chorus)