Blog Action Day 2008: Fight Global Poverty

In my internet travels today, I came across several blogs discussion global poverty and discovered that today is Blog Action Day 2008, a day when bloggers across the globe have agreed to discuss global poverty issues. It's only fitting that we at the Women On Women Music Program take part in this discussion, since throughout history and culture, women are consistently more affected by poverty issues than men. Sexism, violence against women, workplace discrimination, access to healthcare and access to child care are some of the largest issues contributing to the economic disparity between poor women and men, and not just in third world nations, but here in our own backyard. Want to help fight global poverty? Here are some suggestions -

Make the United States government accountable to you - pledge to vote today at the National Women's Law Center's Vote 2008 campaign.

Ask your Senator to support the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act, which would allow women to sue their employeers for wage discrimination.

Start your own business, and once it grows, hire other women. Sound hard? Check out the Small Buisness Administration website for more information.

Owning your own business is the most effective way for women in third world nations to gain economic independence as well as political power in their local community. To help them be successful, consider using your purchasing power to support women-owned small buisnesses when you do your holiday shopping this year. Ten Thousand Villages and UNICEF's online store support the work of women around the globe.

Invest in women's businesses through Kiva. Kiva, one of the most successful micro-lending organizations, exemplifies the economic theory of giving women the means to create their own businesses, pay back lenders, and then invest in their communities. This theory, championed by Muhammad Yunus and his Grameen Bank in Bangladesh, won them the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006.

Sign up for action email lists from the ONE Campaign, which has been working on global poverty issues for nearly a decade.

Test your vocabulary skills with FreeRice.com, which donates food through the UN World Food Program for every correct answer.

Have more suggestions? Put them in the comments!