Famine

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to spend time traveling with my husband. We were able to have a few days together while he was working. As I traveled, I found myself looking for news on the natural disasters that occurred in our country. I was craving all the details I could get and I was impressed with what I saw and heard. Local, State and Federal government officials were being extremely proactive by taking advantage of a very wired constituency to alert people, to evacuate people, to set up shelters for those who had to leave their homes; all efforts to prevent the loss of life.

Imagine if those types of safety nets existed for people living in the Horn of Africa. Imagine if the famine were covered on the international and national media level equivalent to what we saw over those days. Imagine the devastation that could have been prevented if officials were proactive in times before a famine. Imagine saving the lives of the more than 30,000 children now lost. Imagine the lives of over 12 million people that will be affected in this drought. Imagine walking 28 days with the hope of getting you and your family to a place where you might be able to find food and having to choose which one of your three children you would have to leave on the side of the road to die because you were too weak to carry them.

I agonized over this situation; this needless loss of life. I agonized over the idea that I would ever have to choose which one of my children I would have to let die first. Even worse, where I live, people die from obesity, obesity related causes – we have too much. And, people in a different part of the world die from not enough.

What good does it do for me to worry and agonize about a famine in another part of the world? What can I do? Can one person make a contribution that might make a difference? Those of you who know me, know that when I get frustrated with something that is happening I make a conscious decision for change.

On September 1 I began a physical, personal commitment to practice yoga and pilates every day for 30 days. The purpose of this endeavor is to raise awareness and money to support the work that CARE and the World Food Programme are doing in the Horn of Africa. I know that my physical challenge in no way equals what people in the Horn of Africa experience daily but I believe that through my commitment to a 30 day journey of physical healing I can somehow honor the lives that have been lost. I can also reach out to each of you to join me in this experience.

How can you participate?

1. Support me. Donations can be made to Mango Tree Foundation with all proceeds received from September 1 – October 15 going equally to CARE and the World Food Programme.
2. Engage your local yoga and pilates studios to do a community oriented event with the proceeds coming to Mango Tree Foundation, which will then be donated to CARE and the World Food Programme. Suggested donation amount is $30 (people living in extreme poverty live on less than $1/day – $30 for 30 days). Of course, if you are feeling more generous, please give freely.

Through my physical challenge I hope to honor the women and children and men who are struggling every day to find food, to stay alive. Sometimes we need to be reminded of how secure our lives are, how lucky we are. Yes, I know that one person can affect great change in the world. But, I can only start with myself, share with you what I am going to do and ask you to join me.

nbb