Global Roots

the problem:

There are a great number of things in this world that one cannot deny: the laws of physics, the human need for food and shelter, the anatomy of the body, and the cycles of birth and death that our bodies perpetuate, are a few examples. We live by and with these things, and we are molded by their impact on our lives. We do not deny them for they are impossible to ignore. The presence of unnecessary and preventable human suffering also belongs on that list, but it is different. It is true that we do not deny it, like the others, but we also choose not to accept it. What would happen if we did?
If we accepted the suffering and despair of the poor, and the helplessness of those forgotten by the world, what would be the outcome? Would we be filled with an overwhelming compassion for our fellow man and leap into action, forgetting our duties, responsibilities and families? Probably not. It is more likely that we would feel a deep pain in our gut, followed by a dull and indistinguishable heaviness, which we would only notice for an instant. We may even suffer a crippling blow to our ego if we are struck by the realization that we in some way support this suffering; not by what we do but what we don’t do, not by subconscious action but by conscious inaction, and then… we would shrug. All of those feelings would simply roll off of our shoulders and fall into the gutters, leaving behind only a vague impression, another bullet on the back of our to-do list.
This is the problem that I, along with the organization I am part of (Global Roots) is trying to solve. We are trying to halt that shrug, to help people hold on to those feelings, that pain, that suffering.

vital stats:

people impacted:

people involved: