Our Common Concern

Our New Home

2008-02-25T14:17:00.002-05:00

Hi folks,

Our Common Concern now has an exciting new home at ourcommonconcern.wordpress.com, which will allow greater functionality and hopefully greater readership.

Please join us in the coming weeks and months at WordPress. See you there!

Best -
Jared

Myanmar pressed to release Suu Kyi

2007-06-28T23:13:00.000-05:00

A brief update on one of our earlier concerns: the unjust imprisonment of the democratically elected opposition leader in Myanmar, Aung San Suu Kyi. Suu Kyi has been under house arrest since 2003 by the military regime in power.

This week, an official from the U.S. State Department has again pressed for her release, unfortunately, it seems, to no avail.

And so the movement to release this symbol of human rights and courage continues.

An Easy Way to Save Darfur

2007-06-13T19:45:00.001-05:00

Good news: the Sudanese government has finally agreed to a hybrid United Nations / African Union peace-keeping force of over 17,000 troops to patrol Darfur and curb the continuing violence. For more, go here.

Also, an easy way to Save Darfur: Ask U.S. Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), the Chair of the Senate Banking Committee, to bring the Sudan Divestment Authorization Act to the Senate floor for a vote. The Act would ensure that states divest from any companies with "a qualifying business relationship with Sudan", and would protect the 15 states that have already done so.

Take 1 minute and call Senator Dodd at (202) 224-2823. Actually, take 30 seconds, because that's all you'll need.

For the text of the bill, go here.

Our Own Prejudice, Part II

2007-05-05T15:26:00.000-05:00

On behalf of Reeba Monachan, thanks to everyone for taking the time to read this week's posts on prejudices, and sorry for the delay in getting Part II to you. Hopefully, we have all been reminded that the first step for change must come from within. Thank you, Reeba, for your hard work!

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Following up on last week’s Concern I happened to come across this article by a nationally syndicated Harvard grad, Ruben Navarrette Jr.

For more on hate crime statistics, see the sidebar or go to the FBI website here.

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Being a fairly religious person, for Part II of “Our Own Prejudice” I’ve decided to compile a few verses from many of the major religious texts affirming my belief that above all “God is love.”

34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

John 13:34-35

Do not judge or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged and with the measure you use it will be measured you.

Matthew 7:1-2

18 "'Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.'"

Leviticus 19:18

O humankind! We created you from a single [pair] of a male and female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise each other)…T.Q. Sura 49, The Inner Apartments, Ayaa 13.

When you judge, between people, judge with justice: verily how excellent is the teaching which Allah giveth you! T.Q., Sura 4, The Women, Ayaa 58.

O ye who believe! Stand out firmly for Allah, as witnesses to fair dealing, and let not the hatred of others to you make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice. Be just: that is next to piety… T.Q. Sura 5, The Table Spread, Ayaa 8.

"Tolerance is a virtue that is required no matter how one lives, yet its virtues are certainly greater when based on the bigger picture of life described in the sacred literature…The beginning of realizing and living in this bigger picture beyond the duality of sense perception is tolerance." - Bhagavad-Gita: Its Feeling and Philosophy, p. 46

Our Thirteenth Concern: Our Own Prejudice

2007-04-27T20:42:00.000-05:00

This week, guest blogger Reeba Monachan asks us to reflect on our inner prejudices -- and to realize those that prevent us from fully acknowledging each other's humanity. Be sure to read her post, take action, and look for an update on Wednesday 5/2.

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Our Own Prejudice

“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.”

- Edmund Burke

Prejudice is all around us. It is involved in most of the topics we’ve discussed, in one form or another, but how often do we sit back and sit astounded by the prejudice around the world? This blog looks at the prejudice in our society and in our culture and more surprisingly in our own home.

There are multiple angles to look at societal, and inner prejudice. The first is through race:

Are these ideas ingrained in us everyday? After Hurricane Katrina, two photos were printed in two different AP news sources. They both displayed individuals wading in water chest-high carrying food items after the destruction caused by the storm. The photo with a young African-American was captioned “looting”, while a similar photo cited two Caucasian individuals in the same deep, murky water “finding” the goods. Check out the pictures of this discrepancy on the side panel.

Maybe these ideas are ingrained into us at a much younger stage, before we are even able to really comprehend news media. Last year, Kiri Davis recreated a 1940s experiment concerning young girl’s images of themselves. Ms. Davis asked these girls to choose the “good” doll and the “bad” doll between a black and white barbie, identical in every other way, but race. 15 of the 21 girls in the study (taken last year) chose the black doll as the bad one.

The video Ms. Davis produced was reposted on youtube.com and can be found here

Check out an interesting article from Time Magazine regarding the immigration debate. Would Americans be concerned with immigration if illegals were coming in from Canada, Australia or England? Are we just afraid of being “over-run by darker skinned people”?

Race is only one of our subconscious prejudices that we may be condoning. I don’t believe that we were born to hate. We are taught our manners, ideas, and opinions by society, by our cultures, and by the individuals with whom we surround ourselves.

Subconsciously, it's there. It is our job to change.

Because this topic is less tangible than others I don’t have statistics or a “top ten list” of how to be a better person. However, the mission of “Our Common Concern” is to “leave the world a better place than we found it.” This is just the first step.

Take Action!

This week, conquer your own inner prejudice. Tell someone they’re beautiful. Influence children in the right way. Think about and rethink your views on certain issues and why you have these views. Donate to organizations and charities established to fight injustice, such as the National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ).

“Be the change you want to see in the world.”

-Gandhi

For more information on this topic and ways people are closing these gaps, try these websites.

- Racial Disparities on the war on drugs

- The National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ)

- The Fight for Your Rights Campaign is geared towards the young MTV crowd, but this page has links to a number of organizations established to fight against various forms of discrimination and to educate those of all ages.

Part III: Burma/Myanmar

2007-04-19T00:58:00.000-05:00

To complete his three-part post on the Three Countries You Don't Hear Much About, guest blogger Dan Gilligan takes us to Myanmar, aka Burma.

Dan personally asked that I thank all of you for reading. He noted that while your small actions may not seem like much, "ripples sometimes add up into waves". Which is exactly why we need all of you. Thanks everyone, as always.

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“There exist today as many signs to justify hope as there are to instill fear.”

–Hannah Arendt

Burma or Myanmar, whether you wish to use a colonially imposed name or one imposed by a military junta, is a country we don’t get to hear about much about for a very simple reason: other than North Korea, it is perhaps the most closed off state to the rest of the world. Foreigners -- especially journalists -- are rarely allowed in. What little we do know comes mainly from human rights workers who must sneak into, around, and out of the country illegally. Since its independence from Great Britain, Burma/Myanmar has been marked by internal ethnic struggles. As you may know, this is not uncommon in post-colonial countries where administrative borders of former European powers were imposed on a locality and called a nation. It has, however, given rise to a particularly brutal military government. Forced and child labor as well as human trafficking are common, especially among military ‘officials’. While the military allows a parliament and political parties, they are heavily regulated and their influence is minimal. Further, without an independent judiciary, widespread and summary executions are commonplace in Burma/Myanmar.

Fast Facts:

- 1,300 political prisoners, including 18 members-of-parliament-elect are believed to still be held in Burma/Myanmar.

- While the National League for Democracy won over 60% of the vote and over 80% of parliamentary seats in the 1990 election and the military-backed National Unity Party won less than 2% of the seats, NLD-leader Aung San Suu Kyi was placed under house arrest while Senior General Than Shwe remained in power.

- Myanmar in ranked in the top 15 military spenders in the world, while it is ranked 66^th in GDP.

Learn More By Visiting:

- Amnesty International Country Profile

- BBC country profile

Take Action by:

- Contacting the US and UK Ambassadors to the UN in support of their recent draft resolution for the UN Security council to address the Human Rights and political concerns in Burma/Myanmar.

- And as before, contact the Media and your Representatives to raise their concern for our concerns.

In Memoriam

2007-04-19T00:43:00.000-05:00

Friends,

In light of the recent tragedy at Virginia Tech, the University has created the "Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund" to support grief counseling, memorials, and more. Give what you can here.

I'll keep this and related links available for the indefinite future on the top of this page as well.

Thanks,
Jared

Tragedy in Virginia

2007-04-16T14:28:00.000-05:00

This blog would be remiss if we did not express our deepest sorrow for the shooting at Virginia Tech today. I for one believe it speaks to the slow devolution of our community fabric that Our Common Concern was formed to resist. In light of this recent tragedy, we should redouble our efforts to care for one another and to realize our stake in the well-being of people, animals, and the environment.

I'm sure there will be opportunities to support the Virginia Tech community. I'll post that information here when it becomes available.

Yours,
Jared

Part II: Zimbabwe

2007-04-15T21:52:00.000-05:00

Now, the second country you don't hear much about. By Dan Gilligan:

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Part II of this three-part series takes us to Zimbabwe. The media recently gave some attention to the political and human rights situation there following the March 11^th arrests of several political activists and members of the opposition party, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). Over fifty members were reportedly arrested and brutally beaten by police officers and most are still believed to be held in custody. Their crime? Peacefully assembling in support of open and fair democratic elections for new leadership of their country.

Since initially being elected Prime Minister in 1980 Robert Mugabe has moved to consolidate power and committed egregious violations of human rights to maintain it, including but not limited to:

- Rigging elections

- The forced relocation and evictions of minorities, notably the recent Operation Murambatsvina or ‘Drive out the Rubbish’

- Systematic discrimination against women, the disabled, and homosexuals

-Curtailing basic needs such as: food, shelter, as well as freedom of movement and residence

-Limiting important political freedoms such as assembly, the press, and participation in civil organizations or opposition parties

While Mr. Mugabe focuses on policies that maintain power and offer short-term solutions, his country long ago collapsed economically and continues to worsen. Simultaneously, he’s obstructing the efforts of outside aid organizations to offer even basic humanitarian relief.

Fast Facts:

1. Robert Mugabe just celebrated his 83rd birthday; average life expectancy in Zimbabwe is 38.

2. Zimbabwe’s Infant Mortality Rate nears 52 per 1000 births.

3. Inflation rose from an annual rate of 32% in 1998 to a high of 1,730% on March 10 of this year, which is currently the world’s highest.

4. The ‘official’ unemployment rate in Zimbabwe in 80%.

Operation Murambatsvina is estimated to have affected some 700,000 people. 5,000 - 6,000 are estimated to be housed in ‘transit camps’ while the rest been absorbed into now severely overcrowded households in urban and rural areas or are sleeping outside in small groups scattered across the country.

Learn More By Visiting:

1. Amnesty’s Country Report

2. BBC News Profile

Take Action by:

1. Contacting UK Ambassador to the UN Emyr Jones-Parry and support his effort to get the UN Security Council to step up its actions against Robert Mugabe.

2. Contact National Media and tell them you want to see more coverage of the ongoing political crisis in Zimbabwe following the March 11^th arrests for a peaceful political rally.

Our Twelfth Concern: Three Countries You Don't Hear Much About

2007-04-12T21:45:00.000-05:00

Our Common Concern is back with a new look and a very thorough guest blog by Dan Gilligan. Dan's a fellow N.C. State grad and he focuses our attention on three countries we don't hear much about, beginning with Turkmenistan. Look for a discussion on Zimbabwe this coming Sunday.

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Our First Concern was the ongoing genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan. While there are many human rights concerns throughout the world, it may be worth some time to look at three more countries. These nations have very different but sadly very similar problems that don’t get as much media attention as others at the moment: Turkmenistan, Zimbabwe, and Burma/Myanmar. We’ll look at the first of these today and the others shortly. In no way is focusing on these three meant to suggest that there are not many other countries with grave human rights concerns; rather, this is just meant to provide a starting point.

Part 1: Turkmenistan

The most recent coverage of Turkmenistan in mainstream media occurred this past December when their current and only President in the post-soviet era Saparmurad Niyazov, a.k.a. Turkmenbashi or “Father of the Turkmen” passed. Turkmenbashi had long been a punch line, especially in European media, for some of his eccentricities which were reminiscent of the most decadent of the Caesars. Among them:

- renaming months of the Turkmen calendar after himself and his mother

- having an oversized solid-gold statue of himself installed in front of his palace that was rotated to always be facing the sun

- and styling himself after Elvis Presley.

What was not so funny was the fact that while Turkmenbashi was spending much of the profits from his country’s vast resources building palaces and statues meant to build a ‘Turkmen Identity’. 60% of the population lived and still lives in poverty. As well as making a reservoir in the desert and ski slopes on sub-tropical, arid mountains for his and his family’s recreation, minorities suffer under repressive government policies. Religious minorities were persecuted under Turkmenbashi, and the only allowed religion was a truncated form of Islam presented in the form of the Ruhnam, a collection of sayings and Koran tracts collected and authored by Turkmenbashi, which incidentally was the only book that schools are allowed to teach from.

The sort of extreme poverty combined with Islamic fundamentalism present in Turkmenistan has been compared to Afghanistan in the early 1990's. Despite the opportunity for change that the death of President-for-life Saparmurad Niyazov presented, elections this past February brought to power a long-time Saparmurad aide, Acting President and head of the Turkmen Democratic Party Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedow by an Eighty Percent Margin. No other formal political parties have been allowed to organize.

Fast Facts:

- Turkmenistan has the world’s fourth largest *natural gas* reserves.

- Unemployment in Turkmenistan is estimated at about 60%; the same percentage live below the poverty line.

- Turkmenistan had the second-worst press freedom conditions in the world behind North Korea.

- Any act of homosexuality in Turkmenistan is punishable by up to five years in prison.

Learn More By Visiting:

1. The BBC News Country Profile

2. Amnesty 2006 Report

Take Action by:

1. Supporting Amnesty’s recommendations to Turkmenistan’s new government

2. Joining Amnesty’s Appeals for Turkmenistan’s Prisoners of Conscience

3. Writing to your Congressperson and Two Senators asking them to make engagement with and international scrutiny of Turkmenistan a greater concern.

The Show Me Campaign

2007-04-04T21:36:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone,

Thought I'd give you updates on previous Concerns in between new ones. Here's one on Extreme Poverty:

- Grammy-winning musician John Legend has started what he's calling "The Show Me Campaign" to eradicate extreme poverty after his visit to a Millenium Village in Ghana. Below are links to the Campaign's partner organizations:

*Millenium Promise

*Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT)

*The Gentlemen's Fund

more soon...

A Brief Hiatus

2007-04-01T20:25:00.000-05:00

Dear Readers:

In just three months, Our Common Concern has welcomed hundreds of visitors to its site, hosted six great guest blogs, and highlighted Eleven Concerns on everything from companion animals in disasters to global warming.

This is quite an accomplishment indeed, especially for a brand new site like ours. But really, it's your accomplishment, not mine or anyone else's. It's you who read, posted, and commented every week. And it's you who took action for change.

I think three months is a great time to pause for reflection and to plan for what's next. Which is why, starting this week, I'll be taking a short hiatus from the blog.

But in the meantime, I'm asking you to send your thoughts on the site so far. What works, and what doesn't? What needs changing? Send in your thoughts today, or volunteer to guest post.

On behalf of all the guest bloggers and readers, thanks for sharing Our Common Concern. See you soon.

Best wishes -
Jared

Environmental Justice Update

2007-03-25T22:32:00.000-05:00

Thanks again to Patrick Schwing and Jennifer Darrell of the Young Adult Ecumenical Forum for teaching all of us a bit more about Environmental Justice. Now, Part II of Our Eleventh Concern:

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It is horrifying that we have to fight our own government to save the environment.

-Ansel Adams

The Young Adult Ecumenical Forum (YAEF)

As people of faith, we are deeply concerned about justice and the integrity of all creation. Therefore, the mission of the 2007 Young Adult Ecumenical forum is to raise questions about environmental justice and to announce good news about our ecosystem.

YAEF 2007 is a gathering of people between the ages of 18 and 35 and will include speeches on environmental justice and its connection to violence, hunger, and poverty.

More Resources

1. Eco-Justice Ministries

2. Young Adult Ecumenical Forum on Environmental Justice

3. An example of Environmental Justice work in one community

More Ways to Take Action

1. Visit the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to learn more about applying for Environmental Justice grants or becoming an Environmental Justice Community Intern. Also, learn more about the EPA's definition of EJ.

2. Go to Step It Up 2007.org and take action locally!

Our Eleventh Concern: Environmental Justice

2007-03-21T21:05:00.000-05:00

This week, Patrick Schwing and Jennifer Darrell, organizers of the 2007 Young Adult Ecumenical Forum to be held in Boston from July 26-29, tackle a topic of growing international concern: Environmental Justice. They also integrate two worldviews that I personally find fascinating: religion and the role it can play in inspiring social change and social action.

Be sure to take action on their post and support the right of every human being to a safe and healthy environment.

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"The whole style of American politics is nonecological. Ecology is a comprehension of systems, interdependencies, webs of relationship, connections extending over space and time -- and the very essence of our politics is to zero in on single causes." -Walter Truett Anderson

Environmental Justice is the right to a safe, healthy, productive, and sustainable environment for all, where "environment" is considered in its totality to include the ecological (biological), physical (natural and built), social, political, aesthetic, and economic environments.

Fast Facts:

437 of the 3,109 counties and independent cities in the U.S. failed to meet at least one of EPA's ambient air quality standards.
313,000 HIRED farm workers in the U.S. suffer from pesticide-related illnesses each year.

Learn More:

1. Environmental Resource Center at Clark Atlanta University

2. E.P.A-Environmental Justice Resource Page

3. Environmental Justice Scorecard

Take Action:

1. Attend the Young Adult Ecumenical Forum on Environmental Justice.

2. Go to Scorecard.org and oppose the EPA's plan to weaken pollution reporting standards.

3. Go to Scorecard.org to find out how your community is affected.

And look out on Sunday for Part II of this two-part post.

Update on Extreme Poverty

2007-03-18T20:47:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Sam and Seth for publicizing this emergency that still affects millions. Now, the conclusion to their work:

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While empowering the poorest individuals to escape from extreme poverty is key, it is also important to recognize that the United States government can play a strategic role in supporting anti-poverty initiatives. By increasing foreign aid to support the MDGs and the Millennium Villages on the ground, creating more just trade conditions for poorer nations, and ensuring debt cancellation, the United States and other Western governments can do their best to ensure the end of extreme poverty.

More fast facts:

More than 40 percent of women in Africa do not have access to basic education.
A total of 114 million children do not get even a basic education and 584 million women are illiterate.

Learn More:

* Visit ONE.org to learn more about the ONE Campaign, a national US campaign to build political support for ending extreme poverty.

*And please check out The End of Poverty, written by anti-poverty advocate and UN Special Advisor on the MDGs, Professor Jeffrey Sachs

*And with this and all crises, be sure to seek as many perspectives as possible.

Take Action:

This daily crisis can be ended.

* Research the websites and book above.

* To join in the student movement, please visit us at The Positive Foundations to learn how your college or university can play an active role in ending extreme poverty.

* And sign the ONE Declaration to ensure the political support for ending extreme poverty.

Our Tenth Concern: Extreme Poverty

2007-03-15T21:37:00.000-05:00

We're back, after a brief slumber, with a Concern that should wake us all up. Extreme Poverty affects millions of men, women, and children in every corner of the globe, of many colors and circumstances. Sam Nemat Vaghar and Seth Werfel, Executive Directors of the Positive Foundations and students at Brandeis University, masterfully take on this issue and offer solutions. Be sure to take action after reading their post and look for an update on Sunday.

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Extreme poverty. Defined as living on less than $1 per day, it is a daily crisis that impacts more than 1.2 billion individuals worldwide. It leads to more than 8 million deaths every year, and more than 20,000 deaths everyday. U2’s Bono has called it “a global emergency”. Here's more about the emergency that is extreme poverty:

Fast facts:

Every year six million children die from malnutrition before their fifth birthday.
More than 800 million people go to bed hungry every day...300 million are children.
Everyday HIV/AIDS kills 6,000 people and another 8,200 people are infected with this deadly virus.

To address extreme poverty, 189 countries met in September 2000 and committed to achieving the eight United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015:

1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger (halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people whose income is less than $1 a day; halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people who suffer from hunger)

2. Achieve universal primary education

3. Promote gender equality and empower women

4. Reduce child mortality

5. Improve maternal health

6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases

7. Ensure environmental sustainability

8. Develop a global partnership for development

These eight goals are tangibly supported on the ground through the Millennium Villages Project. To date, 78 villages in 10 nations of sub-Saharan Africa (an epicenter of the crisis) have been supported, allowing community led development to occur with technical and infrastructural support, and the villages will be self-sustaining after five years of initial support. The hope is that this model can be scaled up by African governments to eradicate extreme poverty throughout the respective nations.

Learn More by visiting:

* Millenium Promise and Columbia University to learn more about the Millennium Villages Project.

* The U.N. Millenium Project to learn more about the UN Millennium Development Goals

Take Action by:

*Making a financial contribution to The Millenium Promise,
or by visiting Omni-Peace.com when buying your next shirt. Now, you can be a conscious consumer who supports the Millennium Promise.

*Visiting Brandeis University during our Millenium Development Goals Week, April 11-17, featuring a live videoconference with Professor Jeffrey Sachs and lectures with analysts working in the Millennium Villages.

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Extreme poverty can be eradicated with your support. For further dialogue and/or if you have questions, please contact us at svaghar@brandeis.edu or swerfel@brandeis.edu, and look out for an update on Sunday.

Update on Global Warming

2007-03-10T23:01:00.000-05:00

This is a hot issue-- and yes, that's a pun-- so thanks to everyone for posting your comments, and thanks especially to Jen for her hard work! Here's Part 2 of the two-part series... enjoy!

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Learn Even More:

Visit Climatecrisis.net to check out the trailer for An Inconvenient Truth, buy the DVD, or calculate your personal impact on global warming. If you’re a teacher, you can also download educational materials to share with colleagues and students.
...
Read The American Geophysical Union’s position on climate change. The AGU is a respected organization comprising over 41,000 Earth and space scientists, who agree that "natural influences cannot explain the rapid increase in global near-surface temperatures observed during the second half of the 20th century."

Take Even More Action:

Buy/rent/borrow An Inconvenient Truth and watch it with everyone you know – friends, classmates, family, and neighbors.
Sign The Heat is On! ... A petition to urge presidential hopefuls to make a commitment to end global warming.
...
And keep the proverbial Heat On in your everyday life to end global warming for good!

Our Ninth Concern: Global Warming

2007-03-06T11:26:00.000-05:00

You may have heard Al Gore speak about it, read the articles written about it, or seen the newstories discussing it. This week, guest blogger Jen Gaze takes you behind the scenes of Global Warming, and urges you to take action to stop it!

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Global warming is the result of an increase in the earth’s average temperature due to a buildup of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Although you may have heard different opinions in the media about global warming and whether it exists, there is no debate among scientists about the fact that global warming IS happening and that WE are causing it by burning fossil fuels and cutting down forests.

The bad news: the U.S. is the world’s largest carbon emitter, and if we don’t start acting now, parts of the world will be uninhabitable in as little as ten years. Scientists project a 20 foot rise in global sea levels which will put low-lying coastal areas across the globe under water. For the first time, scientists have found evidence that polar bears are drowning because climate change is melting the Arctic ice shelf! These and many other changes in our ecological system are indications that global warming has, and will continue to disrupt nature’s delicate balance.

The good news: there is still time to avert impending environmental disaster. By taking a few simple steps, each one of us can play a role in making our earth healthy again.

Learn More:

Check out what the Union of Concerned Scientists has to say about global warming
Watch the Global Warming cartoon presented in An Inconvenient truth if you don’t have time to view the film.

Take Action:

Easy as 1, 2, 3! -- Commit to making three simple changes in your life to help stop global warming. Here’s just a few I found on the website:

Switch to energy-efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs. They use 60% less energy than a regular light bulb and can help reduce your electric bill!
Turn your thermostat down 2° in the winter and up 2° in the summer. Check out the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy for more energy saving tips!
Unplug electronics from the wall when you are not using them. Even when turned off appliances like hairdryers, cell phone chargers and TVs use energy!

Raise your voice -- Join the Stop Global Warning March, a non-political effort bringing Americans together to declare that global warming is here now and it’s time to act.

An Update on Body Image

2007-03-04T19:29:00.000-05:00

And now, Monica Mangual's mid-week post on Body Image. Thank you to Monica and to everyone who's helped address this concern!

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Not only do many individuals suffer with explicit eating disorders, others struggle with body dissatisfaction and sub-clinical disordered eating attitudes and behaviors. For example, it has been shown that 80% of American women are dissatisfied with their appearance. However, because there is a stigma regarding eating disorders, many individuals – especially male-- live in silence about their lifestyle.

Learn More:

46% of 9-11 year-olds are “sometimes” or “very often” on diets, and 82% of their families are “sometimes” or “very often” on diets
91% of women recently surveyed on a college campus had attempted to control their weight through dieting, 22% dieted “often” or “always”
95% of all dieters will regain their lost weight in 1-5 years
35% of “normal dieters” progress to pathological dieting. Of those, 20-25% progress to partial or full-syndrome eating disorders
25% of American men and 45% of American women are on a diet on any given day
Americans spend over $40 billion on dieting and diet-related products each year

Take Action:

- Eat when you are hungry
- Rest when you are tired.
- Surround yourself with people that remind you of your inner strength and beauty

And be sure to visit the website of National Eating Disorders Awareness (NEDA)

Our Eighth Concern: Body Image

2007-03-01T17:14:00.000-05:00

For Our Eighth Concern, guest blogger Monica Mangual addresses a topic that has probably touched all of our lives at one point or another: Body Image. She's a family counselor who's no amateur on the issue, so be sure to take action on her post and look for an update this Sunday, March 4.

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As someone who's felt the unnecessary and sometimes overwhelming pressure of society to look a certain way and be a certain weight, I have always considered myself an advocate for a healthy body, male or female. Although I've never struggled with an eating disorder, I have fallen into the traps of fad dieting, over-exercising, and basing my worth as a person by the numbers on a scale. This week, February 25 through March 3, 2007 is National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. In the United States, as many as 10 million females and 1 million males are fighting a life and death battle with an eating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia. Millions more are struggling with a binge eating disorder.

The most important thing you can do if you have a friend who is suffering from an eating disorder is address it with them! Remind them that you are there to talk and to offer support in any way you can, without judgment and without criticism.

Below are some statistics I’ve found regarding America’s dieting and drive for thinness:

Over one-half of teenage girls and nearly one-third of teenage boys use unhealthy weight control behaviors such as skipping meals, fasting, smoking cigarettes, vomiting, and taking laxatives
Girls who diet frequently are 12 times as likely to binge as girls who don’t diet
42% of 1st-3rd grade girls want to be thinner
81% of 10 year olds are afraid of being fat
The average American woman is 5’4” tall and weighs 140 pounds. The average American model is 5’11” tall and weighs 117 pounds.
Most fashion models are thinner than 98% of American women
And more to come later in the week...

This week, let’s make an effort to celebrate our bodies!! What can we do to do this?

Make a list of all the things your body can do – read this and add to it often!

*Wear clothes that are comfortable and fit your body – throw out those jeans that are restricting and uncomfortable.

*Make a list of all the people that you admire and whether their appearance is important in their success.

*Keep a list of ten positive things about yourself that has nothing to do with appearance – repeat these and add to them regularly!

*And more later to come later in the week... post your suggestions today!

Finally, Visit the National Eating Disorders Awareness website (NEDA) to discover ways to celebrate your body and create positive body image. This site has tons of information regarding various eating disorders and what we can do to prevent and help them. Also, be sure to sign the “No Weigh! A Declaration of Independence From a Weight-Obsessed World”.

And post your suggestions today on how we can all create a world more supportive of who we are and how we look!

Our Seventh Concern: Tibetan Refugee Crisis

2007-02-19T11:32:00.000-05:00

We're back this week with yet another great guest blog, this time from Vinita Kamath. Vinita is very knowledgeable on refugee issues, and she presents some very detailed and very helpful info. on the crisis in Tibet.

Be sure to read about Our Seventh Concern. Then post your comments and invite your friends to check it out as well!

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The Tibetan refugee crisis has been an on-going human rights concern for many years, and recent reports of killing and torture by Chinese border control troops have been particularly disturbing. Between 2,500 and 3,000 Tibetans make the dangerous crossing by foot over the Himalayas into exile in Nepal and India each year, fleeing religious and political repression, as well as discriminatory educational and economic policies by the Chinese government. One-third of these refugees are children.

Last fall, Chinese troops opened fire at a group of Tibetan refugees, killing a 17-year-old nun. Other refugees, including children, were detained by these soldiers, and many were tortured while in detention.

Learn More:

1. International Campaign for Tibet

- an international organization that has been working on remedying human rights abuses in Tibet for the past 19 years. ICT’s 2001 report “Dangerous Crossing: Conditions Impacting the Flight of Tibetan Refugees” provides an in-depth and informative analysis of the refugee situation.

2. YouTube video showing Chinese soldiers attacking Tibetan refugees (warning: graphic images)

Take Action:

1. Students for a Free Tibet- Activist Center

- provides students with an “Activist Toolbox” which explains how to organize around this issue within your school

2. Race for Tibet Campaign- Beijing Olympics 2008

- sign a petition urging China to improve its human rights conditions and demanding integrity from China and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) before next year’s Olympics

- also, receive free advocacy tools (including ‘Race for Tibet’ stickers and post-cards) to help raise awareness in your community

3. Amnesty International Online Action Center

- sign and send a letter to various Chinese and Tibetan government actors condemning the shooting and torture of Tibetan refugees

Mid-Week Update: Gender-Based Violence

2007-02-17T11:34:00.000-05:00

Our first guest blogger, Abby Garner, continues today with a mid-week update on Our Sixth Concern: Gender-Based Violence.

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The terrifying reality of gender-based violence manifests itself most intensely during periods of armed conflict. Fighting forces use sexual abuse as a strategy of war, intended to destroy and humiliate their opponents. Women and girls are often forced to exchange sexual favors for their survival. The majority of female survivors of the genocide in Rwanda, for example, were sexually assaulted.

In Bosnia, more than 20,000 Muslim women were raped in a single year during conflict (UNHCR 2002). Such atrocities are now recognized as crimes against humanity.

To learn more about this issue and to read first hand accounts from victims, click Here

...Or visit this site to read a poignant story about a Congolese woman who survived sexual assault and is now rebuilding her life with help from the IRC (International Rescue Committee)

To find out how to help, visit:

- The Women’s Edge Coalition

-and make sure to sign the petition to support the GROWTH (Global Resources and Opportunities for Women to Thrive) Act, which would provide economic opportunities to women living in poverty

You can also donate to:

The International Rescue Committee (IRC), a global leader in providing emergency relief, rehabilitation, and protection for people affected by violent conflict and oppression.

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Thanks for reading Abby's posts, and thanks for sharing Our Concern about Gender-Based Violence. Post your comments today and be sure to look out for our next guest blog soon!

Important Update on Cluster Bombs

2007-02-14T22:51:00.000-05:00

I won't normally do this, but an important development has occurred on Our Third Concern that I wanted to share with you all.

You may recall that cluster bombs, of which the U.S. has about 5.5 million in its arsenal, have killed millions of civilians in Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon and elsewhere. New legislation sponsored by U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) would ban federal funding for the deployment of such bombs in or near civilian areas. Human rights groups are hailing this bill, and so I'm asking you to do the following:

Learn More... by reading this article and this Press Release by co-sponsor Sen. Feinstein.

Take Action... by urging both of your two U.S. Senators to co-sponsor this legislation. All it takes is a phone call and a few words, i.e. "Hi, I'm a constituent and I'd like to urge Senator X to co-sponsor legislation by Senators Feinstein and Leahy that will end federal funding for dangerous cluster bombs. Will you pass on my message to the Senator?"

A single phone call literally does matter. Find your Senator's phone number Here, and then make the call!

Thanks everyone.

Our Sixth Concern: Gender-Based Violence

2007-02-11T23:11:00.000-05:00

You may recall that part of my original intention in creating this blog was to activate a network of concerned citizens. Given that, it's my pleasure to introduce our very first Guest Blogger, Abby Garner.

Abby address Our Sixth Concern, the very important issue of Gender-Based Violence. Be sure to read through her post, post your own thoughts and then look out for a mid-week update:

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Gender-based violence (GBV) is a global epidemic that affects the well being of women and girls from every culture, country, and class. Violence against women has been called "the most pervasive yet least recognized human rights abuse in the world." Studies have shown that at least one in three women have been beaten or sexually abused in their lifetime.

GBV can take many forms, including rape, harassment, domestic violence, and genital mutilation. It is undoubtedly linked to gender-based inequalities that permeate the attitudes and beliefs of many cultures. Because of the stigma surrounding this issue, women are often reluctant or afraid to share their suffering. It is time to give these women a voice. Our Sixth Concern addresses the morally reprehensible, yet widely ignored, public health threat: Gender-Based Violence.

To learn more:

1. Visit:

- UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund)

http://www.unfpa.org/gender/violence.htm

-an international organization dedicated to ensuring basic human rights for every woman, man, and child. UNFPA works with men and boys to change the paradigm of male-dominance that perpetuates violence against women.

- Women Watch

http://www.un.org/womenwatch/

-an inter-agency website created to provide information and resources about gender equality and the empowerment of women throughout the United Nations.

- The World Health Organization (WHO) to read a groundbreaking study that investigated the extensiveness of gender-based violence in 10 countries

http://www.who.int/gender/violence/who_multicountry_study/summary_report/summary_report_English2.pdf

- International Violence Against Women Act (I-VAWA)

- slated for introduction in Congress in 2007, this act proposes ways in which U.S. international assistance programs can help support women all over the world who are working to eliminate violence in their communities.

http://www.womensedge.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=283&Itemid=99999999

***In the mid-week update I’ll offer you more ways to help. I’ll also discuss a particularly pressing matter related to GBV: the increased vulnerability of women and girls during armed conflict.

Update: Children and War

2007-02-11T22:41:00.000-05:00

A brief update on Our Fifth Concern. Children, as many of you surely know, often pay the brunt of war costs and can suffer dearly.

Here's some ways to serve Iraqi children:

1. Operation Iraqi Children (OIC): Co-founded by actor Gary Sinise, Operation Iraqi Children donates primarily school supplies to children in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere. You can organize a School Supply Drive or simply Donate Funds today.

2. UNICEF: This well-known non-profit deals with the issue of orphaned and homeless children in Baghdad through reintegration, medical care, and disease prevention. For more information or to make a donation, click Here.

For more organizations that serve Iraqi children, read this blog and then click on the links that follow it.

Finally, thanks to a great suggestion by a reader, you may want to read the book War Is A Force That Gives Us Meaning by noted New York Times columnist Chris Hedges. Click Here for more.

Our Fifth Concern: The Human Costs of War

2007-02-07T20:10:00.000-05:00

By now, many of us have heard about the billions of dollars spent on the War in Iraq and the thousands of human lives lost. Yet, probably fewer of us are familiar with the other human costs of war: the injured and the disabled veterans at home. Conservative official estimates place the number at about 21,000 (combat injuries only) and unofficially at over 53,000 (combat and non-combat injuries).

While these numbers are stagerring, there was a time that supporting the troops meant supporting the President or supporting the war. No longer. Now than more ever, combat veterans of the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan need our moral sensibilities as well as our political and philosophical ones.

Which is why Our Fifth Concern addresses the Human Costs of War.

Here's how you can help the troops at home and abroad:

1. Fisher House: Perhaps the largest organization of its kind, Fisher House provides specially-designed homes for injured veterans. The organization now operates 34 homes nationwide, each equipped with 8-21 suites that can accomodate 16-42 family members. The temporary homes also have plenty of living space and are located in close proximity to hospitals and care centers. For ways to help, click Here.

2. Homes For Our Troops: A similar organization, Homes For Our Troops provides permanent individual family homes for injured veterans. The homes are free for the veterans and are financed fully by private contributions. To read personal stories about affected veterans, click Here. To support activity in your state, click Here. To get involved and make donations, click Here and Here.

3. Any Soldier: You can send care packages to Any Soldier in Iraq through this organization. Click Here to learn how and what to send.

4. Books for Soldiers: Register on the Books for Soldiers website and send books, DVDs, and other items to entertain the troops. Seems easy enough.

Post a comment now to share other ways that we can support the vets. Come back later in the week for more suggestions and opportunities to serve Iraqis affected by the conflict as well.

UPDATE: Rescuing Animals From Disasters

2007-02-01T18:01:00.000-05:00

The mid-week update to Our Fourth Concern, Animals in Disasters, focuses on the tangible and practical side of rescuing animals from disasters. First, thanks to a suggestion by a reader, I highlight one international organization that is doing just that. Second, I offer you more ways to take action.

On the Ground: Reacting to Emergencies...

1. World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) has participated in animal rescue efforts everywhere from flooded Central Europe to earthquake-shattered India. Learn more about their international work here, and about a specific experience in Pakistan here. Some of you may also be familiar with their local work in Massachusetts and beyond.

Ways to Participate in Animal Rescue...

1. Friends of Animals offers a state-by-state breakdown of the disaster plan development in each state. Click on your state to learn more.

2. The American Humane Association describes how you can become an Animal Emergency Services Volunteer. There is training involved, but it might be something to consider in the future or just to peruse.

I know Our Fourth Concern was one with which only a few of us were familiar, so thanks for taking the time to learn more. Continue to post your comments on this Concern and to help us develop future ones as well.

And look out next week for our first Guest Blogger!

Our Fourth Concern: Animals in Disasters

2007-01-28T22:17:00.000-05:00

This week we move to Part 1 of a two-part series on disasters. Our Fourth Concern considers the often forgotten victims of natural disasters: non-human animals. We may recall the remarkable stories of wild animals escaping the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004. Domestic animals, however, are rarely as fortunate. Which is why Our Fourth Concern highlights Animals in Disasters, and offers ways you can help prevent future catastrophes for both people and pets.

Learn More About...

- The PETS Act, which offers federal disaster relief funding only to those states that include pets in their disaster response plans, was signed by President Bush in 2006. According to a recent Zogby poll, 61% of Americans say they won't leave their homes without their pets during a disaster. Approximately 600,000 animals were abandoned during Hurricane Katrina.

- Several charities that have dedicated national, and in some cases international, disaster relief response programs for animals:
- The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)
- American Humane Association (AHA)
- The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS)

- The difficulties associated with disaster relief for animals:
- A report on developing a county-wide plan in North Carolina
- Efforts by vet students at Louisiana State University to launch a spay/neuter program

Take Action by...

- Taking the Disaster Preparedness Quiz
- Taking a few moments to help pets abandoned by Hurricane Katrina

Have an idea or comment about Animals in Disasters? Post them below.

Update: Cluster bombs and more

2007-01-24T21:48:00.000-05:00

Thanks to a great comment by a reader, I'm posting some links to more information about cluster bombs, which pose as equally a significant threat to civilians as do landmines. I've also included a link to one of the most action-oriented organizations dedicated to landmine removal.

- The Mine Action Information Center at James Madison University: a thorough resource that not only provides the latest news on landmine and cluster bomb threats around the world, but also publishes The Journal of Mine Action, which offers the latest developments in the field.

- Here's a fascinating but disturbing report from the U.N. on the slow de-mining process in Lebanon where over 1 million cluster bombs remain from the Israeli-Lebanese war in July 2006. Even the technology that detects and removes these weapons can be costly and tricky. About 1,200 Lebanese and 157 Israelis were killed during the Israeli-Lebanese conflict.

- Adopt-A-Minefield: a great resource for those who want to take action on the landmine issue. Adults can host a fundraising dinner with some friends and students can organize simple fundraising events on campus. Perhaps the easiest action to take is to Donate as your budget allows or to actually Adopt-A-Minefield in your name.

- Finally, Adopt-A-Minefield offers one of the best factsheets I've seen on the issue, reporting that 35-40 million landmines remain in 82 countries and that 90% of all landmine victims are civilians. About 30% of all victims are children, or 8,000 - 10,000 children annually. While progress has been made in some countries, much more work remains in others.

As always, thanks for taking action on this issue and for posting your comments. Thanks for speaking out and spreading the word about this blog. And thanks for sharing Our Common Concern.

Our Third Concern: Landmines

2007-01-21T16:25:00.000-05:00

I recently saw a moving Iranian/Iraqi-produced film called Turtles Can Fly, an incredible story about children that in part addresses the dangers of unexploded landmines to civilians worldwide. According to the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL)-- a consortium of 1400 NGOs in 90 countries-- landmines kill approximately 15,000-20,000 people per year, or over 40 per day. While many nations have banned their future use, unexploded landmines can remain active for up to 50 years, and still pose a serious threat to all innocent passersby including and in particular children. The results have been catatrosphic: thousands of disfigured and deceased children everywhere from Angola to Afghanistan and Burundi to Bosnia, and a handful of nations such as Pakistan who refuse to ban their future use.

Which is why unexploded landmines are Our Third Concern. Here's how you can learn more and take action today to ban them:

Learn:

1... about UNICEF's Mine Risk Education Programme, join their efforts to expand the Mine Ban Treaty, and review breaking news on the issue.

2... about the details and history of the problem from the International Campaign to Ban Landmines.

Take Action:

1... by signing the People's Treaty Against Landmines and the Youth Against War Treaty. Then take one of 9 other steps to spread the word and educate others.

2... by enacting any of these 14 steps on your campus today.

3... by donating to either or both of these organizations: ICBL and UNICEF.

Then post a comment to tell us how YOU helped ban landmines today!

Do Something.

2007-01-18T13:01:00.000-05:00

This week's update to Our Second Concern, Volunteerism, highlights Do Something, a fantastic non-profit organization that urges its members to do just that-- something, whether it be starting a club, receivng a grant, or volunteering. As some of you have said, volunteering inspires you and others, encourages you when you're down, changes the way others think about you, and, perhaps most importantly, positively affects those in need. Which is why Do Something may help link you to your community. Here's how:

1. Check out the spectacular Guide on Volunteering to learn more about how and why you should volunteer.

2. Consider Volunteering for a Cause in your area, on anything from Animal Welfare to Discrimination to Teen Homelessness, and learn that you don't need much in the way of time, money, or resources to do it.

Of course, volunteering is only one of many ways to serve your larger community. It's a way to impact individuals on a very personal level, to see changes in the faces of people or animals when they know someone cares about them. It's simple, it's easy and it's now. So let's get started.

And let's keep posting our volunteer experiences, and offer suggestions on how others can serve, too!

Our Second Concern: Volunteerism

2007-01-14T15:48:00.000-05:00

Many of you have probably volunteered sometime, somewhere, whether it was cleaning up the local highway or caring for companion animals at the local animal shelter. If you have, then you probably know that volunteering works-- for the individuals being served, for the volunteers themselves, and for the community where volunteering occurs. According to the Dept. of Health and Human Services, over 45 million Americans volunteer, or one out of every six Americans. A pretty impressive number, but can we do better?

I think we can. Which is why Our Second Concern is Volunteerism, from around the corner to around the world. And thanks to your suggestions, here are some groups that will help you do just that:

1) International Student Volunteers, Inc. For the students out there, this program offers volunteer/adventure trips to everywhere from Australia to Costa Rica on everything from conservation to construction.

2) i-to-i. The i-to-i program offers international volunteer trips for all ages, teaching and job opportunities abroad, as well as "meaningful vacations" that combine service with seclusion.

3) Global Volunteers offers combined volunteer/vacation opportunities in 19 countries, as well as volunteer opportunities in several U.S. locales on a variety of topics.

You may notice that most volunteer opportunities, particularly ones that involve travel, include significant fees and financial cost to the volunteer. But don't let this discourage you. Many universities offer scholarships for students to travel, and you can still volunteer closer to home to spare your checkbook.

Now comes your part: Visit the websites above and Tell us which concerns YOU volunteer for and how we can all help.

Update on Sudan Divestment

2007-01-14T15:35:00.000-05:00

I've been advised not to post a list of companies that warrant scrutiny as a result of their involvement with the Sudanese government. However, for those of you want to begin a targeted divestment campaign at your University or want to learn more about companies that have disturbing interests in Sudan, you should do the following:

1) Visit sudandivestment.org to learn more about targeted divestment campaigns. You will notice divestments are an historically effective tool to encourage socially responsibile business practices.

2) E-mail info@sudandivestment.org to receive a complete list of companies that warrant scrutiny for their involvement in Sudan. Most of these are oil, natural gas, and mineral companies, several of which are based in China. Harvard University, Stanford University, Yale University and several other institutions have already divested from several companies on this list.

If you yourself buy and trade stocks, you too can divest from companies that warrant scrutiny. Receive the list today to help end the genocide.

Thank You, and a "Breakthrough" in Darfur

2007-01-10T15:10:00.000-05:00

Thank You, first of all, for the overwhelming response you gave to Our Common Concern in just a few days. Several of you have already posted unique ways to serve and offered some useful insights on Our First Concern, some of which I highlight below. It's this kind of consistent interest that will make this blog work.

But first, an update from Darfur. New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson has successfully negotiated a 60-day ceasefire between the Darfuri rebels and the Sudanese government. Although Sudanese President al-Bashir again rejected allowing U.N peacekeeping troops to enter Darfur, the agreement is a significant breakthrough in the 4-year genocide. Not a panacea by any means, but evidence at least that our work matters and that we still have more to do.

To keep us working and, as one of you has said, "change the way we think" about Darfur, here's some more ways to support Our First Concern:

1. Join the following two groups and, as your budget allows, donate a few dollars to support their concerns: the Genocide Intervention Network and the Save Darfur Coalition. Both groups have been instrumental in the Darfur peace process.

2. Lobby Congress to secure more funding for Darfur in Fiscal Year 2008. Darfuris will need more humanitarian aid, and the U.N. and African Union troops will need more financial support. All it takes is a phone call, so urge your congressman or woman to secure this funding in next year's budget by contacting them here and here.

3. Finally, encourage companies to divest from operations in Sudan. Visit sudandivestment.org and consider urging your university to take action. Once I receive a list of companies that deserve scrutiny, I'll post it here.

And thanks again for taking any action, because something is always better than nothing.

Our First Concern: Darfur

2007-01-07T19:38:00.000-05:00

We've all pretty much heard the statistics by now, or should have: a three year-long conflict in the Darfur region of Sudan in East Africa, 400,000 killed, 2.5 million displaced, 3.5 million dependent on international aid. And yet, as we know, governments and the U.N. have taken few sustainable measures to curb the violence and protect the refugees.

So what can we do? Well I know many of you have already taken action-- by lobbying Congress, educating your classmates, sending in donations, and so on.

But I think there's at least two things that each of us can do after reading this post: sign the petition at SaveDarfur.org and then get five friends to do the same thing.

Oh, and another thing: tell me how You have worked to stop the genocide, and I'll post some of your ideas on this blog.

Can we stop the crisis overnight by signing a petition? Maybe not, but at least it's a start. And you better believe it's Our Common Concern.

What This Will Become

2006-12-27T12:37:00.000-05:00

Somewhere between the punditry, pale compromises, and pork barrel spending lies the common ground we've all been searching for. It's a place between arrogance and apathy, vitriol and vice, wisdom and wise cracks. It's the belief that there exists some common bond, some link that belies our understanding of the world as blue and red, black and white, life and death. Indeed, it erodes lines of class and race and religion, crosses species barriers, and goes beyond bumper sticker catchphrases and sound-bite cable news.

Indeed, this common ground is Our Common Concern. It is our shared interest in service and our shared belief in each other. It is a concern that, in the coming weeks and months, will hopefully make this blog a valuable resource for anyone who is tired-- tired of witnessing well-intentioned organizations collapse from bickering, squabbling, and divisiveness; tired of the give-and-take, take-no-prisoners rhetoric we hear all too often from the polished politicians and pining pundits; and tired from the bureaucracy and duplicity and hypocrisy. Tired, and ready for something better.

Soon you will find links to various service activities and organizations on this page. Starting immediately, I am seeking information about Your Concerns-- from fundraising for charity at your high school to starting a charity in college-- that I can post and share with others on this blog. From opportunities to save Darfur to more information about local animal protection groups, this blog will seek to unify a normally disparate array of causes. But because finding Our Common Concern must involve as many people as possible, you will serve not only as an essential participant in this process, but as an essential facilitator of it and an essential ambassador for it. Without you, there can be no Common Concern-- only a spider web of supporters and initiatives that repeat ideas and retread funds. You know it, and I know it-- we can do better.

Today I ask you to join with me to make this blog what it will become, to make any ideas or words or thoughts you see here as much my creations as they are your own.

So welcome, my friends, to Our Common Concern... because our greatest resource is each other.