The U.N. seemed even cooler than ever before to me when I learned about their program GirlUp a few months ago. The program is basically all about supporting getting more balanced representation in the sexes of global leaders, and thereby fostering more integrated, successfully organized, educated, peaceful societies. They help middle school and high school age girls in wealthier countries with advanced economies help other girls worldwide, thereby building global leadership skills for the young organizers - and supporting them in becoming more a part of creating global innovations, actions, and policies. I highly recommend their blog, it has real potential to make you feel awesome or at least give you some great ideas like how to donate $40 to help prevent a girl from being married before ze is 15 years old!. . . though that idea can be freaky, I realize, since of course it's kind of presumptuous for one culture or way of life to be mapped on to another (i.e. propagating the idea that girls shouldn't marry before 15 might be construed as imposing American culture onto other sovereign societies). But I think remembering that this is one integrated society can help alleviate that fear for a moment, especially in this era of still relatively burgeoning globalization. We all have a responsibility to help each other out, and blocking some people from full participation in society does not effect that possibility.
shanti
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