Hello All, It's going to be a busy time up until the next USA Presidential election. If you are a citizen or not here are some things to participate in... 1. Sojourners will be holding a "Vote Out Poverty" campaign for congregations of all faiths, in conjunction with a voters registration drive. It won't officially be launched until 8/1/08 but if you're in the USA and want to get involved let me know. I'm organizing an action in Connecticut. 2. The Prayer Vigil To End Extreme Poverty which I launch is starting the Billion Prayer March (one prayer for everyone living in extreme poverty). Anyone from any country can participate by logging in to Countingprayers.org. This is something you can do to be in solidarity with the Archbishop of Canterbury's Interfaith March on Parliament to End Poverty on 7/24/08. 3. If you attend a congregation and want to get involved in funding Millennium Villages through Millennium Promise, Columbia University, and the Earth Institute you can visit millenniumcongregation.org, or again get in touch with me. Blessings, Jon Denn

 [ send green star]

Look forward to connecting with you! Let's make a better globe by doing good!

 [ send green star]

Hi, I've just joined. I hate writing intros, but if you want to know anything, just ask. 

 [ send green star]

It is nice to see that this group has almost 700 members who are fighting for this cause, or showing some interest. I am happy to be a new member of this group.

Peace and love everyone.

 [ send green star]

Thanks for all your generous and kind words, Carole

And welcome!

 [ send green star]

I just recently joined this group after noticing that Simon, a member I respect greatly, was a host here.

After touring the discussions, I must say I'm glad I did...  Well thought-out posts, contributed by caring and knowledgeable people.

 [ send green star]

Welcome, April and Larry!

And good on you, Larry, for making that foundation, and for all the work that you do in it, for the people!

 [ send green star]

Hello everyone!

May i first take this time to give honors to the host of this place where there are people who care about the dibilitating act of poverty, which have caused many people from all walks of life to loose parts of them selves, for the reason of tring to make ends meet, one way or another.

Allow me to introduce my self.

I'm Larry DeBaptiste and have a foundation here in California, which consist of providing, clothing and soon shelter and my greatest motivators is God, people such as your selves and the one who have to muster up the strength constantly to keep thier faith.

God bless

 [ send green star]

Hola Jeep It is great to see you here. Please read and post in the groups that I co-host, like this one, and this way we can build our movement for human rights for all people (e.g. the right to adequate food, clean water and health care), our movement for freedom from the imperialism that oppresses so many people and prevents them from enjoying their human rights.

Yes, people are poor in "poor" countries not because the countries are really poor - these countries are rich (in natural resources and labour power), and that is why first world countries came and colonised them (why bother colonising a poor country?)....

But, yes, the majority of the people in them are poor, because, although most of them liberated themselves from traditional colonialism, they were already devasted by all the years of colonialism, and most of them succumbed to neo-colonialism. This means that they have borrowed money from the first world at extortionate rates of interest, and have allowed foreign corporations to continue to exploit their people and resources in the name of "development", keeping them in poverty and destroying their natural environments.

Here is a specific statistic to give you some idea of what we are talking about here: contrary to a common misconception, most of the wealth flowing between the first world and the Third World is actually flowing FROM the THIRD WORLD, TO the FIRST WORLD. The figure is U.S.$500 billion net, plundered from the Third World by the first world. As a net figure, this takes into account the aid money that the first world gives to the Third World - a tiny fraction of this plunder. Is it any wonder that so many people in the Third World are poor?

If the first world didn't give anything to the Third World, but merely stopped plundering the Third World, that would go a long way to ending poverty in the Third World. Indeed, it would probably be more than enough.

If you want to know more about this stuff, Jeep, and everyone, then I recommend that you read the "red-pinned" threads in this group, especially "Imperialism 101".

 [ send green star]

Hi Jessica, I read your introduction here many weeks ago, and I visited your links, but I forgot to welcome you here. I am sorry about that. I just noticed your introduction again today, after so many weeks. Please forgive me?

So, Jessica, my friend,

It is truly great to see a person like you, an activist in Africa, writing here!

Please come back and write some more?

Perhaps you would teach us some things, and maybe make contacts with people around the world, and even inspire them to help your project in Africa.

 [ send green star]

You are very welcome here, Ivana!

I agree that this is a very important issue, and I would like to see everyone writing here regularly. Please write here regularly, Ivana, so we can give life to this very important group, and inspire others to participate more.

Perhaps it would be especially effective for us to talk about the actions that people are doing to end poverty in the world, (for example the actions happening in our own parts of the world), eh?

 [ send green star]

Dear Simon and our dear friends here, greetings and thank you for the great ideas and actions here,

My names are Jessica Batsemaghe, a great friend to Simon who introduced me to this group of friends, I am happy to be here and hope I can be able to add my voice to the rest to ends global poverty, bringing ideas with experience from the developing world.

I am personally a women's activist especially for the girl child promoting their rights to education. I have great online friends like you with whom we have developed a programme to promote girls education in Uganda, You can see the great work on www.kyarumba.org. You can also visit us and join our working team at http://www.nabuur.com/modules/villages_issues/index.php?villageid=116.

I am happy to join you friends and hope we can end poverty together.

Jessica.

 [ send green star]

I found your new group and decided to join.  My name is Amber Riviere, and I'm with Agent Retriever, a virtual assistance company for real estate agents.

I'm currently working on a project that fits your group perfectly!  It's The CARE MORE Giving Circle Challenge.  My group, The CARE MORE Web Women Giving Circle, is working alongside The CARE Organization and MORE Magazine in a challenge to raise $1M by December 31 of this year, in an effort to eradicate global poverty.

You can find out about this project by visiting our new blog, www.InspiringWoman.com.

Please join my new network at www.Ryze.com, too, called Inspiring Women.  Hope to see you there!

- Amber

 [ send green star]

Thanks for this, Douglas sounds great

It reminds me of what Australia is like (there is a more generous welfare system here than in the U.S.A.), or even more, what Sweden is like Plus the Bolivarian Circles in Venezuela (they are community groups that work towards things like this "share-the-wealth society").

Yes, I saw a film "Kingfish" starring John Goodman as Kingfish. I liked it - although he was portrayed as a man with flaws or something, as far as I remember, I also found it inspiring I was happy to see a somewhat successful leftwing politican in the U.S.A.

 [ send green star]

To explain the title, motto, and principles of such a society I give the full information, viz:

Title: Share-our-wealth society is simply to mean that God's creatures on this lovely American continent have a right to share in the wealth they have created in this country. They have the right to a living, with the conveniences and some of the luxuries of this life, so long as there are too many or enough for all. They have a right to raise their children in a healthy, wholesome atmosphere and to educate them, rather than to face the dread of their under-nourishment and sadness by being denied a real life.

Motto: "Every man a king" conveys the great plan of God and of the Declaration of Independence, which said: "All men are created equal." It conveys that no one man is the lord of another, but that from the head to the foot of every man is carried his sovereignty.

Now to cover the principles of the share-our-wealth society, I give them in order:

1. To limit poverty:

We propose that a deserving family shall share in our wealth of America at least for one third the average. An average family is slightly less than five persons. The number has become less during depression. The United States total wealth in normal times is about $400 billion or about $15,000 to a family. If there were fair distribution of our things in America, our national wealth would be three or four or five times the $400 billion, because a free, circulating wealth is worth many times more than wealth congested and frozen into a few hands as is America's wealth. But, figuring only on the basis of wealth as valued when frozen into a few hands, there is the average of $15,000 to the family. We say that we will limit poverty of the deserving people. One third of the average wealth to the family, or $5,000, is a fair limit to the depths we will allow any one man's family to fall. None too poor, none too rich.

2. To limit fortunes:

The wealth of this land is tied up in a few hands. It makes no difference how many years the laborer has worked, nor does it make any difference how many dreary rows the farmer has plowed, the wealth he has created is in the hands of manipulators. They have not worked any more than many other people who have nothing. Now we do not propose to hurt these very rich persons. We simply say that when they reach the place of millionaires they have everything they can use and they ought to let somebody else have something. As it is, 0.1 of 1 percent of the bank depositors nearly half of the money in the banks, leaving 99.9 of bank depositors owning the balance. Then two thirds of the people do not even have a bank account. The lowest estimate is that 4 percent of the people own 85 percent of our wealth. The people cannot ever come to light unless we share our wealth, hence the society to do it.

3. Old-age pensions:

Everyone has begun to realize something must be done for our old people who work out their lives, feed and clothe children and are left penniless in their declining years. They should be made to look forward to their mature years for comfort rather than fear. We propose that, at the age of 60, every person should begin to draw a pension from our Government of $30 per month, unless the person of 60 or over has an income of over $1,000 per year or is worth $10,000, which is two thirds of the average wealth in America, even figured on a basis of it being frozen into a few hands. Such a pension would retire from labor those persons who keep the rising generations from finding employment.

4. To limit the hours of work:

This applies to all industry. The longer hours the human family can rest from work, the more it can consume. It makes no difference how many labor-saving devices we may invent, just as long as we keep cutting down the hours and sharing what those machines produce, the better we become. Machines can never produce too much if everybody is allowed his share, and if it ever got to the point that the human family could work only 15 hours per week and still produce enough for everybody, then praised be the name of the Lord. Heaven would be coming nearer to earth. All of us could return to school a few months every year to learn some things they have found out since we were there: All could be gentlemen: Every man a king.

5. To balance agricultural production with consumption:

About the easiest of all things to do when financial masters and market manipulators step aside and let work the law of the Lord. When we have a supply of anything that is more than we can use for a year or two, just stop planting that particular crop for a year either in all the country or in a part of it. Let the Government take over and store the surplus for the next year. If there is not something else for the farmers to plant or some other work for them to do to live on for the year when the crop is banned, then let that be the year for the public works to be done in the section where the farmers need work. There is plenty of it to do and taxes of the big fortunes at the top will supply plenty of money without hurting anybody. In time we would have the people not struggling to raise so much when all were well fed and clothed. Distribution of wealth almost solves the whole problem without further trouble.

6. To care for the veterans of our wars:

A restoration of all rights taken from them by recent laws and further, a complete care of any disabled veteran for any ailment, who has no means of support.

7. Taxation:

Taxation is to be levied first at the top  [ send green star]

"The Kingfish wanted the government to confiscate the wealth of the nation's rich and privileged. He called his program Share Our Wealth. It called upon the federal government to guarantee every family in the nation an annual income of $5,000, so they could have the necessities of life, including a home, a job, a radio and an automobile. He also proposed limiting private fortunes to $50 million, legacies to $5 million, and annual incomes to $1 million. Everyone over age 60 would receive an old-age pension. His slogan was "Every Man A King." "

http://www.ssa.gov/history/longsen.html

Mr. President, I send to the desk and ask to have printed in the RECORD not a speech but what is more in the nature of an appeal to the people of America.

There being no objection, the paper entitled "Carry Out the Command of the Lord" was ordered to be printed in the RECORD, as follows:

By Huey P. Long, United States Senator

People of America: In every community get together at once and organize a share-our-wealth society--Motto: Every man a king

Principles and platform:

1. To limit poverty by providing that every deserving family shall share in the wealth of America for not less than one third of the average wealth, thereby to possess not less than $5,000 free of debt.

2. To limit fortunes to such a few million dollars as will allow the balance of the American people to share in the wealth and profits of the land.

3. Old-age pensions of $30 per month to persons over 60 years of age who do not earn as much as $1,000 per year or who possess less than $10,000 in cash or property, thereby to remove from the field of labor in times of unemployment those who have contributed their share to the public service.

4. To limit the hours of work to such an extent as to prevent overproduction and to give the workers of America some share in the recreations, conveniences, and luxuries of life.

5. To balance agricultural production with what can be sold and consumed according to the laws of God, which have never failed.

6. To care for the veterans of our wars.

7. Taxation to run the Government to be supported, first, by reducing big fortunes from the top, thereby to improve the country and provide employment in public works whenever agricultural surplus is such as to render unnecessary, in whole or in part, any particular crop.

Simple and Concrete--Not an Experiment

To share our wealth by providing for every deserving family to have one third of the average wealth would mean that, at the worst, such a family could have a fairly comfortable home, an automobile, and a radio, with other reasonable home conveniences, and a place to educate their children. Through sharing the work, that is, by limiting the hours of toil so that all would share in what is made and produced in the land, every family would have enough coming in every year to feed, clothe, and provide a fair share of the luxuries of life to its members. Such is the result to a family, at the worst.

From the worst to the best there would be no limit to opportunity. One might become a millionaire or more. There would be a chance for talent to make a man big, because enough would be floating in the land to give brains its chance to be used. As it is, no matter how smart a man may be, everything is tied up in so few hands that no amount of energy or talent has a chance to gain any of it.

Would it break up big concerns? No. It would simply mean that, instead of one man getting all the one concern made, that there might be 1,000 or 10,000 persons sharing in such excess fortune, any one of whom, or all of whom, might be millionaires and over.

I ask somebody in every city, town, village, and farm community of America to take this as my personal request to call a meeting of as many neighbors and friends as will come to it to start a share-our-wealth society. Elect a president and a secretary and charge no dues. The meeting can be held at a courthouse, in some town hall or public building, or in the home of someone.

It does not matter how many will come to the first meeting. Get a society organized, if it has only two members. Then let us get to work quick, quick, quick to put an end by law to people starving and going naked in this land of too much to eat and too much to wear. The case is all with us. It is the word and work of the Lord. The Gideons had but two men when they organized. Three tailors of Tooley Street drew the Magna Carta of England. The Lord says: "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them."

We propose to help our people into the place where the Lord said was their rightful own and no more.

We have waited long enough for these financial masters to do these things. They have promised and promised. Now we find our country $10 billion further in debt on account of the depression, and big lenders even propose to get 90 percent of that out of the hides of the common people in the form of a sales tax.

There is nothing wrong with the United States. We have more food than we can eat. We have more clothes and things out of which to make clothes than we can wear. We have more houses and lands than the whole 120 million can use if they all had good homes. So what is the trouble? Nothing except that a handful of men have everything and the balance of the people have nothing if their debts were paid. There should be every man a king in this land flowing with milk and honey instead of the lords of finance at the top and slaves and peasants at the bottom.

Now be prepared for the slurs and snickers of some high-ups when you start your local spread-our-wealth society.

 [ send green star]

Welcome Ramesh

I think that this group is already doing work that matters, that reduces poverty. For example, we raise awareness about poverty - we make the privileged people who use the internet think about people who are living in poverty. We educate people about poverty issues. We discuss solutions. We inform people about ways that people are fighting against poverty, including actions and events in which we can participate. And we give inspiring news.

You could be part of this. But, you could also encourage people here to do other things - sharing your ideas about what we can do to be effective in ending poverty

 [ send green star]

Hi folks, & thanks to Sandra for telling me about this group!

I am a research botanist, and am currently setting up my own business so that I can try to put a lot of tht current knowledge in to use. I am particularly interested in sustainable agriculture and fairtrade co-operatives. The business is still in its early stages, and the website is still under development, but if anyone wants they can take a look at www.gaianlife.co.uk. All comments appreciated, its still pretty much the basic layout online at the moment, but you will get an idea of what we are about and what we hope to do in the future. I hope I will find lots of great advice from this group to help me along on the way!

 [ send green star]

Hello Ana J. 

It is great to see you joining!

And it is great to see our members, (such as you Ana M. ), welcoming other members so warmly!

 [ send green star]

Hello Ana J.!

Be wellcome my dear friend!

Welcome Tuesday! Good on you for being so dedicated to political activism! Please keep up the great work!

 [ send green star]

Hi my name is Tuesday. Im a filipina living in spain. I am here because I believe each and everyone can make a difference even in our own small way.

Ive made some baby steps on changing the world by having a website/web blog called www.lasolidaridad.com. Its a personal project of mine where i write about global issues, cultural diversity and social responsibility. Id like to invite everyone to share their thoughts or contribute write-ups, as long as it is socially relevant and supports a cause. Hope to hear from ya all.

 [ send green star]

Welcome Karla good to know exist people like you wanting to end this injustice and wanting to change te world

 [ send green star]

I agree very much with what you are saying, Karla. And I am grateful to you for clearing this up

However, Karla, I am happy to say that it is quite possible that when we make the world more equal, when we are compassionate, we do gain, everyone gains!

When there is more equality - of power (whether that be economic power [money] or any other kind of power) - there is less reason for terrorism, war, violence, oppression. When there is more equality, people have less children, and treat our environment more kindly in general. When there is more equality, all people feel safer - we feel less fear of losing what we have. Thus, while we see gated communities and armed guards protecting rich people and their wealth from the millions of poor people in places like Rio de Janeiro, and even parts of the USA, we don't see this kind of thing in Cuba, in the egalitarian Ladakh area of northern India, nor in the quite egalitarian Sweden (not that I have heard of, anyway).

Many sociologists are well aware of how poverty breeds crime - gangs, robberies, kidnappings, assaults, murders, and so on. When people are forced to live in poverty, especially in capitalist urban environments where there is much unemployment, it is very difficult for a person to avoid joining gangs or selling drugs, etc., to survive. But in another richer environment, with job opportunities, family prosperity, a decent welfare system, etc., a person will survive easily without needing to do those crimes.

And lastly, regarding "who gains from ending poverty": philosophers and religious people emphasize how "it is better to give than receive". When we help others willingly, we become happier ourselves. (E.g. the Buddha recommended that we live a life of loving-kindness, to be truly happy.) I definitely find much fulfilment in living for others, doing things in a community spirit, "walking in love".

Many rich people, and people in general, ignore what I have said above - and I think that is why they do not act on it. Anyway, we can show people - a great advertisement to get others to live with loving-kindness is for us to live with loving-kindness and let others see that we are happy doing it

 [ send green star]

Welcome Karla It is great to see a new member

Now, as for us "fighting", if you carefully read the threads where I have "fought" with some people, you will see that I (and others) have been standing up for the rights of poor people in the face of Mendelian-style blaming of the victim. This is important, because for our cause to succeed, we must be motivated by love, rather than being judgemental about poor people. In this spirit, I think that we must not sacrifice the rights of poor people in the name of "ending poverty". I believe that we can only succeed in ending poverty if we do not sacrifice human rights. Is this not worth fighting for?

We have been showing the truth about poverty, exposing myths about the causes and solutions to poverty. (E.g. the fact that 90% of aid money to Afghanistan has been wasted - wasted on things like overpaying foreigners.) What I (and others like me) have been doing - in "fighting" about facts - is important because if we are to end poverty, we must be acting on facts, rather than myths and misconceptions. In fact, that is one of the main purposes of this group: education.

Of course I have used "non-fighting" whenever I thought this would succeed. "Fighting" is stressful, so I only "fought" when I knew no other way to succeed. If you can teach us how to end poverty and support human rights at the same time, and be just as effective as we are now, without needing to fight to achieve it, then I will be the first in line to learn.

 [ send green star]

   www.thehungersite.com

       www.freedonation.com  

                        

 [ send green star]

Hi Everyone, I joined this group a while ago but havn't taken the chance to read/experiance it yet. Tonight I have been reading some of the red pinned posts and have found this group to be really inspiring and informative. Thank-you to the hosts!

Anyways, I'm Yvette and I'm a University student from Canada. I think this global push to make poverty history is amazing and I think we are going to see great things in the world soon. Great to meet you all, and I'm looking forward to hearing more what you all have to say!

Cheers,
Yvette

 [ send green star]

Hi Good People,

I joined this discussion group yesterday after perusing the interesting topics being discussed.

I'm a bit of an uninvited guest I'm afraid!

I come from a country with huge economic disparities - termed the first (the haves) and second(the have nots) economies.

I look forward to interesting discussions in this very exciting group. Jacqueline

Hi Bengt,

Thank you for the invitation. Marina

Have a nice evening!

 [ send green star]

... for some time now we have needed a better focus on STOPING POVERTY on Planet Earth, not just amongst us members of Humankind, but for all the ways of our poverty upon the planet, in our words, thoughts, deeds and for all persons, places, things and energies. Making Poverty History. His ... story ... Her ... story ... Our ... Story of Ancestral Times.  What a wonderful notion. Poverty, hunger,  starvation, war, environmental devastation, all of these things, in a nice HISTORICAL WRAP ... with food, clothing, shelter, peace, love, harmony, kindliness and heath for all beings, being the result, everywhere.  "I'm down with that," as one of my old friends said to me the other day.  THANK YOU BENGT ... the Grand Bengt ... for the INVITE!  Now ... what can I-I-I do next, here ... Sapan Rinpoche - Lyons, Colorado, USA, North America, Planet Earth, Solar System of the "Sun," Milky Way Galaxy, Local Group, Virgo Super Cluster, Cosmos ... THINK COSMICALLY ... ACT LOCALLY!     =sapan=

 [ send green star]

Thank you Bengt for the invite.

Lena

 [ send green star]

...for the invitation!  Heartfelt gratitude for being here.

Tina

 [ send green star]

Being some one who has seen poverty upclose and personal I see and understand the urgency to rid the planet of poverty.

I believe this is obtainable but are we ready to sacrifice some material things to get this done?

As for Americans: If the rest of the world consumed like Americans do we would need 4 Earths to support this.

 [ send green star]

I've been in the group for a while, but I guess I never introduced myself... I'm Tracy and I live in Minneapolis.

Let's see... I signed the petition at One.org quite a few months ago, and I haven't taken my white band off since.  I love explaining it's meaning to people who ask.  I watched Live 8 all day and cried like a baby the whole time.  (I'm a big softie normally, but images of starving children make me sob.)

For 3 years, I've sponsored a lovely girl who lives in the Phillipines.  She is an inspiration to me every day.  I support CARE and other organizations as often as I can, through donations.

I hope that this group will help me find more ways that I can help, more organizations to support, petitions to sign, anything to help people in need.  Sometimes I feel so helpless, thinking of the government here in the U.S.  Our unity and caring gives me hope!

 [ send green star]

I'm here at Rebecca's invitation, knowing she only extends invitations to the finest groups at care2.  

I believe poverty only exists when we have our priorities in the wrong order and I look forward to working to reorganize our  cultural priorities to eradicate many of the global problems we face today.

 [ send green star]

I was active most of my life in the anti-poverty movement. As a disabled person my actions are now limited to those that can be performed from home. I am very happy to help when I am able. This is a problem that I had hoped to see solved by now but we continue to work on behalf of those who need our help and for our own edification. How seldom we truly realize the wealth of our middle-class western cultures.

Denice McKillop

 [ send green star]

It is awesome to have so many new members joining recently! Welcome everyone! And please write in this group. We would be very happy if you do!

 [ send green star]

Hello everyone,

I believe we can have no peace in this world until we have justice for all humanity.  Living in poverty is certainly not just. 

 [ send green star]

Thanks Ted for the invitation.  I'm honored.  I thought I had already taken the One.org pledge, but apparently not, so I signed up tonight.

I have been an activist in one form or another.  But I think this presents a unique opportunity.  I contribute to some organizations that help feed the poor, and I sponsor a darling little boy from the Dominican Republic - he's a real peach.

But I want to do something that has a broader reach.  Most people have been, IMO, thrust into poverty through politics of one sort or another.  The governments play while the children die from lack of simple things like clean water.  The governments go to war for  personal greed while the children starve or die for lack of simple vaccines or vitamins.  Women die of breast cancer because the money that should be used for mammograms is going to fund putting the troops in yet another location to secure us a foothold somewhere we don't belong anyway.  Men and women can't get jobs - our work is being outsourced to countries where workers can be paid poor wages so that Americans don't have to be paid a living wage because of corporate greed. It's disgusting.

American drug companies are blocking people in other countries as well as here from getting medication for HIV and AIDS at a reasonable rate.

The list goes on forever - it has to stop.

Elizabeth N

 [ send green star]

everyone.

Light&Laughter,Rhia

 [ send green star]

Simon, thanks for the invitation.  I've read several things that Simon has written and am quite impressed with his knowledge and insight.  I hope that I will be able to aid in this group's endeavor.  I have witnessed too much of the wastefulness of the few as the many are left to die.  As I sit in my comfortable, warm home I know that there is more that I can do.  I'm sure that there are others who need to be nudged, pushed, to do what they should be doing.  I'm ready to take that next step.

Bobbi

 [ send green star]

Simon, thank you for the invite.  My name is Salama (aka Nemue) from Australia.   This is a cause that I feel very strongly about.   I hope collectively we can make a difference.  We can no longer turn a blind eye to poverty.  We have enough for all - if only we could embrace sharing. 

 [ send green star]

to me

Kristi K

 [ send green star]

Hello group members, I just joined.  Simon, thank you for the invite.  This looks like a truly great group and I look forward to being a member!

Maggie

 [ send green star]

I appreciate your invite Simon. Thanks for thinking of me

Tim

 [ send green star]

 Thanks for the invite Simon

I am here because, I believe we can make a difference. Poverty used to be something we would hear about in the news when I was younger. Now, its a part of life..something HAS to be done! There is a stigma attached to poverty..like a dirty secret. People are ashamed to admit they need help. We are living in a society where most of the population is ONE MONTH AWAY FROM BEING HOMELESS! These are the LUCKY ONES! Everyday, somewhere in this world a CHILD is being SOLD to the sex slave industry! Children chained to posts to weave carpets!

Something has to be done..my first & formost concern are the children & the elderly. They are the most helpless in our society.

ANything I can do to make a difference I will..I am so proud to be part of this group

 [ send green star]

Great group glad to be here.

 [report anonymous abuse]

tnx a lot for the invite Simon...

hello everyone this is raj from India... India is one place which has 1/6th of the world population.... and around 20% of its population lives below poverty line... i am glad that i did join this group...

luv all

raj

 [ send green star]

Happy Pearl Harbor Day. FDR knew it was going down and he knew his buddies would get rich.

 Guilty as charged, your Honor.

 [ send green star]

Dear Simom

Thanks for invite, I really believe in this cause, and have been supporting it ever since it started

Peace

 [ send green star]

I see alot of friends have already arrived here!

Great! Thanks for inviting me!

Kristi K

 [ send green star]

for the invite, Simon.  I am glad to be here with you all.  Sure would be nice if we can put an end to poverty and make it a thing of the past.  Way to many people living around the world at or below the poverty level.

Michael B.

 [ send green star]

Hi All:

Simon Thank u 4 the invite, glad 2 be here, much needed group, indeed......

hugz,
Jayne

 [ send green star]

Thanks for the invite Simon.

Yeah, me too.  I'm all for ending poverty. 

Thanks for the invite, Simon. 

 [ send green star]

Hi everyone, Thank you for the invite Simon. I'm all for ending poverty.

 [ send green star]

Welcome everyone!

Thankyou for your warm words and websites Aisha, Ann, Celena, Donald, Erin, Francisca, Ivana, Lark, Sarina, Sunshine, Susan and TM

 [ send green star]

Thanks for the invite Simon.

I hope that one day, we CAN make poverty history. I am really happy to help in this force for good, where I can. Any petitions connected with this cause, I'll include in the next edition of my website http://www.greatmysterypublishing.com.

Sarina

 [ send green star]

Hello, everybody!!!  Simon, thanks for the invite!!!

Hello, to all my friends I see here... Sunshine... Steve... Simon...as well as familiar faces, and also new faces I have never seen before!!!

Let's Rock On!!!

 [ send green star]

Dear Simon,

Thanx so much for the invite.

Your Friend, Sunshine

 [ send green star]

Thank you all for caring,Joel made a comment about "precious little" if I have nothing how wonderful a little will be for me and mine.There are many ways to help .When you have no food or money or time  and you inspire or influence somebody else to do, you have helped.Perhaps you will take somebody to the grocery who wouldn't otherwise be able to get there,maybe at work you share your lunch w/someone who has none,thank you!Sure I have the wrist band,to me it is a symbol or hopefully somebody will ask about it become involved or be inspired to help or feed somebody.

  A friend whose is single, children  grown makes a good living .would probably not give to an organzation being suspicious.This man paid the utility bill of an older man he used to work with because his power got turned off and it's winter in Alaska.Also made sure he had money for groceries.A beautiful thing.I beleive almost everyone of us can do something.

 And I am happy to see some familiar faces here! Welcome all,again thank you for this group!                   Shalom!

 [ send green star]

Hi guys and gals -

thanks Simon, for the invite here... Of course we may never be able to abolish poverty completely, but we certainly can do something to help.  ((I've been a little out of commission lately with so many other things, but I'll be catching up soon, I hope! And getting with the program!))

I see a few people in here that I know!  Hello friends!! 

 [ send green star]

Salaam everyone!  Thank you Simon for the invitation.  Appalled by the conditions of this world, specifically poverty & suffering, this group is much needed.  Looking forward to dialouging, learning, sharing, making a difference..Thank you again...

Blessings, A'isha

 [ send green star]

Hello Fellow Poverty Abolishers,

Thank you Simon for the invite, I really hope I will be able to contribute to your great cause...let me know what I can do. I see a lot being here in South Africa.

The first thing that I KNOW needs to be done is fair wages to all who work; whether they are picked up off the street to do a days job in the garden or at a building site, they should and must be paid appropriately!

Ooops, I'm probably writing this in the wrong post...

Banks should be mandated to offer free of service help in how to manage money, most of these people don't know the first thing about handling / saving money, it's a novelty for heaven's sake!!!

Ok, getting off my now....

 [ send green star]

Hello everyone,

My name is Susan & I'm struggling with a terrible migraine right now, so need to go & come back later.  THANKS so much for the invite SIMON!

Susan P.

 [ send green star]

Hey YAN, Thank you very much for the invite to the group. Looking forward to being a part of this, as I have been reading your threads and links for a while now. Hopefully, together we can all make a difference. Simon and Ted have some awesome posts, too. All the links you posted are extremely informative, and your facts are correct, as I have checked on a few of them myself. All I can say is WOW! What an incredible passion you all must have for the cause!. Keep up the excellent work, and thanks for the education!

      PEACE to you all, and many KUDOS, TONY

 [ send green star]

Hi.

I am a newbie.

I'm Jam, 19 from the Philippines.

We are all about poverty...so, I guess I can say that I've been through it.

I don't think that poverty can be completely eradicated, but we can all do something about it. Right?

Peace to all.

http://www.xanga.com/c_jamaica

Steve

Seems your experience would help us a lot here, since you are in the trenches.  Would you like to be a co-host?

 [ send green star]

Hi Jessie, you are so busy with Peitions etc., and making change I can see why & great to see you here too!

truth, love,light, laughter & healing

sunshine

 [ send green star]

Hi Everyone, thanks Ted for the invitation and hello Paola, Eleanor, Sunshine, Simon, Jacalyn, Harmony and EVERYONE.  I'm Jessie and although I joined a short while ago I have not had the time to drop in and say hello so

 [ send green star]

seems I haven't been in this thread for a while.

 [ send green star]

lol, well, I'm not a host here , just kidding(soap oprah, lol), was offered in the beginnings but need help myself . Great to see some new faces and some of my friends related to other friends, and some familar ones as well. Reminds me it is time to send out more invites myself as my friends list as grown

The group was based on the ONE Campaign but has grown more in scope of discussion, ideas, (Ted is wonderful at this) and if anyone has any new just post away. There are more solutions than the ONE Campaign so please share, I know you're used to doing that here on care2

Sunshine  (never!, lol)

 [ send green star]

Hi all! My name is Yan. I am so happy to see all of you selfless people on this site. This is just great.

 My main goal is to do everything I can to make sure children/adults have some food to eat. In this day and age, it is almost inconceivable that so many people are starving to death, but sad to say it is the truth. So let's do whatever we can to help. This can be fixed, 8 men 8 signatures....need I say more?

 Thanks for the invite and I am looking forward to learning everything I can to help END POVERTY! Which can be accomplished in my lifetime. So kudos to all of you! Onward and upward.

P E A C E  

 [ send green star]

Hi, everyone.  I'm Joel. 

I used to cry myself to sleep when I was little, thinking about all the poor children in 3rd world countries, especially those in war torn Vietnam.  At the moment, it is very difficult to even take care of myself and my children, let alone help anyone.  I do what I can for various low income families as far as volunteering when something comes across my path.  It is pitiful little.  I figure there is strength in numbers and perhaps there will be some idea sparked here that could help, in a meaningful way.

 [ send green star]

Thanks for the invitation and hello to everyone.

 [ send green star]

to all of you

 [ send green star]

Hi Ted and Everyone,

I looked for groups on poverty, and am glad I found this group.  I hope to gain a lot of different perspectives on the subject -how to combat, remedy, and end poverty- from everyone here.

I have always believed that ending poverty is the key to making change on all levels. Having seen what it does to the human condition firsthand, it is something I have grappled with all my life, trying to find ways to make a difference. Volunteering my time, doesn't seem like enough, giving food and donations, doesn't seem like enough. I am never satisfied.

I believe that even though each one of us have our own lives, cultures, and ideas- we can each contribute something to affect poverty as a whole.  No matter how small the contribution, by doing it together, we can make an impact.  With each of our voices united in calling world leaders to pay attention, we can call attention to a war, the world cannot avoid.  A war to end poverty.

I really believe this, and I am unwavering in my determination.

 [ send green star]

Thanks for the invitation, Ted!  This is exactly what I am interested in!  I look so forward to becoming more involved and doing whatever I can to help other's.  As it is 1:00 am, I have to go to bed now, but will be back soon!

~ Thanks for having such a wonderful, motivated and positive group!

Blessings,

Cindy 

 [ send green star]

Woohoo! We recently reached 200 members! Well done everyone!

Let's all invite more people, so we can grow even bigger!

 [ send green star]

Thanks Ted ..and Simon,for letting me know about this place ..thanks for the invitation,im glad to be here with you all!!

 [ send green star]

Hi everyone,

I made white bands with friends and we gave it out on campus and in the subway.It was welcomed and no one turned us down.Some people wanted to give donation but we asked them to sign our petion and to sign the one here on Care2 or online.We gave out fliers too.

Raising awareness is the goal and we did it....now the struggle becomes our life,as Nelson Mandella said.

One life one world one struggle.

Raven

 [ send green star]

this IS super IMPORTANT!  THANK YOU,TED for including me!

I do have my own BUSY group 4 a matter DEAR to my heart:

http://care2.com/c2cgroups/LisaBecotte

for stemcell research!  WE-it's a group effort-provide support & info!

THANX!~peace.out! 

I am Mena and the reason I am here is to help find ways to help the less fortuante of the world. I was blessed to live in a free country where I can find work and a way to raise a family. I work in Nursing and have so many oppurtunities here. I realize that women in other countries do not have the same priviledge as me to be able to work. Children do not have the same oppurtunity to eat and recieve education as mine do. And there are wars being fought in far away places we have little understaning of here. Right now we are in a war also, but even so we still have much priviledge. I want to make wise decisions, not only for my families future, but for the future of mankind. I believe that every small step leads up to the big finale and it is here that we can all sit and eat and be peaceful. I will not be happy until every human being can sit down to a good meal without the sound of gunfire or the fear of where the next meal will come from. We must as humans help eachother, no matter how far away from one another we are if we want to save humanity and it's civilazation.

Thanks, Mena

 [ send green star]

I couldn't agree more!

What we spend on arms,we could use to do something to ease others suffering and teach them how to have a better quality of life.
Jenny

 [ send green star]

G'day all

I'm Roz from Australia.

I'm here because people living in poverty are so vulnerable to exploitation.I also don't understand how governments can find money for wars & campaigns & affluent lifestyles and ignore the plight of their own people.

I also believe that people shouldn't be stigmatised because of their financial status.

Thanks for the group

Roz

 [ send green star]

Hello,  I am Joey.  I live outside of Detroit, Michigan.  Walking down the street and watching a man throw his ice cream on the ground infront of a child that hasn't eaten anything in two days, makes me grief stricken.  I see so many heartaches, daily. 

I wish to help.  Thank You, Ted, for the invitation.

 [ send green star]

poverty-as it relates to globilization , whatever the market will bear economy etc. and toher concerns- edcuation, health care, environment, PEACE; are realted to this  NOBU**SH**Zone jarnocan.blogspot.com

Getting BushINc.'s reconstructionist gamg out of office isn't the be all and end all, but it will be a big step in the real-right direction. I try to link petitons- even from here but sometimes hard to find, other actions, and articles and some protest pics. Right now that is mostly what I am focussed on.

I do care, and want to look at other issues to BUT this is #1 for me.

 [ send green star]

Thanks for starting this group,and I love the Bono photo!

  I live in southeast Alaska on an island and am blessed by beauty all around me,I feel safe here,have a job,place to live,food to eat,stellar friends! I believe in the power of love,kindness,the right for every child to be safe and loved.I believe it is our honor and duty to give back.I think there is no excuse for the poverty in this country which I love and I think it shames us as a nation the way we treat the elderly,and allow people to go hungry in a land where there is more than enough! We can make a difference.

   I'd like to agree w/Annmarie it's ludicrous that we pay entertainers and athletes huge huge salaries and teachers,and nurses for example so little by comparison,what does that really say about us and our culture? I hope we can help each other help others here! 

                 Peace,love,joy!   TM 

 [ send green star]