I’m Signed Up: Blog Action Day 08 – Poverty

Impoverished area near 125th street in Harlem,...

My 18-year-old son is always wearing one of those colorful rubber bracelets signifying his concern for global problems — hunger, war, cancer. Our young people are always setting examples for us, aren’t they? Now it’s my turn, by participating in Blog Action Day 2008 – Poverty, a worldwide attempt by bloggers to all write a post about this issue on the same day — October 15th. So far, more than 900 websites (and counting) have signed up to participate with an audience of more than 2 million reaaders.

Here’s how Envato, the non-profit behind the idea, described Blog Action Day:

Global issues like poverty are extremely complex. There is no simple, clear answer. By asking thousands of different people to give their viewpoints and opinions, Blog Action Day creates an extraordinary lens through which to view these issues. Each blogger brings their own perspective and ideas. Each blogger posts relating to their own blog topic. And each blogger engages their audience differently.

If you’re a blogger who would like to participate, go to the website and sign up. It’s easy and free. If you’re an educator, why not make this day a teachable moment? How about doing some research about poverty? Comparing numbers? Learning more about what poverty means in different countries? Training your lens on poverty in the United States?

If you’re a superintendent of schools, why not set a great example by participating in a food drive, working at a soup kitchen, volunteering for Habitat for Humanity, or simply blogging about the issue?

Join us on Oct. 15, 2008.