It's Time for Us All to Be Humanitarians - What To Do

by Alanna Shaikh · 2009-08-19 11:04:00 UTC
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(image credit: brain_malfunction)

Here's what I'd like you to do, right now today this very moment in honor of International Humanitarian Day and the world's great need. Five simple things - simple, but not easy:

1)      Identify a global health cause you feel passionately about, and determine what you can give - financially and in terms of time - to support that cause. Make a budget for your donations and follow it. Find a way to give your time, and commit to that schedule.

2)      Treat women as full and equal human beings. Don't let anyone denigrate women in your presence. Denying women's humanity is bad for the health of individual women and it contributes to a global culture that undervalues women's lives. Support legislation that codifies the rights of women and gives appropriate weight to crimes against women. Women's health is essential to global health.

3)      Eat less meat and more grains and vegetables, leaving more of our global resources for others who need them. Meatless Mondays are an easy way to start. Stephanie can help.

4)      Do your part to protect the effectiveness the antibiotics we need to protect global health. If you are prescribed antibiotics, take your entire prescription as prescribed by the doctor. Don't stop when your symptoms stop. Don't share your meds with other people, and don't take antibiotics that weren't prescribed to you.

5)      Ask your government to do a better job of supporting and protecting health worldwide. That includes advocating for an effective and equitable health system for your own country, and pushing your government to support global health efforts through financial and legal support.

Alanna Shaikh
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