Half The Sky

I am currently reading Half The Sky: Turning Oppression Into Opportunity For Women Worldwide by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. This national bestseller, written by the first married couple to win a Pulitzer Prize for journalism, is, I believe, one of the most important books of our time, dealing with the single most important issue of our time: gender inequality. Yes, I do believe that before we can tackle any of the other challenges that we face on a national or global level we must first raise the status of women worldwide. "Through inspiring stories of extraordinary women, Kristof and WuDunn show that the most effective way to fight global poverty is to unleash the potential of women. They also offer an uplifting do-it-yourself toolkit for those who want to help."

I am currently focusing my efforts on the Congo but there are places all over the world where help is needed. And it's not just in the developing world; sex trafficking and forced prostitution occur in this country as well as in other developed nations. It's tragic, it's shocking, it's unnecessary and it's time for the world to stand up and say, "Enough!" In their introduction to the book, Kristof and WuDunn tell their readers, "It's true that there are many injustices in the world, many worthy causes competing for attention and support, and we all have divided allegiances. We focus on this topic because, to us, this kind of oppression feels transcendent--- and so does the opportunity. We have seen that outsiders can truly make a significant difference."

Read this book. Make a contribution of your time, your money or your attention. I know many people are struggling financially right now. But there are so many ways to help. Take a moment out of each day to send healing and love to these areas of the world, envision light in these places of darkness and despair. You can make a difference.