We Don't Need Special Powers to Make a Difference Every Person’s a Hero the Soul of a Citizen Living with Conviction in a Cynical Time, Paul Loeb explores the "mistaken belief that [an advocate] … has to be a larger-than-life figure, someone with more time, energy, courage, vision or knowledge than a normal person could ever possess. … As a result of such images, many of us have developed the perfect standard. Before we will allow ourselves to take action on an issue, we must be convinced … that we have perfect understanding of it, perfect moral consistency in our character, and that we be able to express our views with perfect eloquence." In what ways does this "perfect standard" interfere with your willingness to tackle issues in the classroom, school or community? "What is a hero?" A hero is someone who uses his powers to help or save other people. "Does a hero have to have special powers?" "No, Martin Luther King Jr. was a hero, and he didn't have special powers. But he wasn't just a normal person -- he did a lot of great things to help the world. Just a regular person probably couldn't do all the things he did." "Do you think you could do the things he did?" "Probably some things, but I don't know if I could be a hero like him." Join us and tap into the hero in you, http://endpoverty.meetup.com/40/ Together we can do anything! [excerpts from article by Dana Williams] Sincerely, Diana Nicholson

Today there are 6 billion people living on the planet and it is possible to produce food for 10 billion. Hunger, starvation and misery are on the increase (800 million people suffer from malnutrition and 2.4 billion live under the poverty line.) The three highest Microsoft CEOs have a combined wealth greater than the amount of money the US spends on anti-poverty programmes. The exchange of products between different economies does not take place in a fair and just way: a small number of powerful multinational companies control most of the wealth (40% of the planet's Gross Domestic Product and 70% of trade) and they impose their interests on the rest of the world. The division of the world economy between the different countries does not benefit all eqitably but condemns the underdeveloped countries to providing the more advanced countries with cheap raw materials (oil, minerals, agricultural products) and cheap labour. This process increases inequality instead of reducing it. "Is crusading against extreme poverty a noble act?" I DO NOT CONSIDER THIS A CRUSADE NOR DO I CONSIDER IT TO BE A NOBLE ACT. A THINKING MAN KNOWS THAT IT IS ONLY PRACTICAL! Whatever we do has consequences There is an alarmingly growing number of homeless in America. "HOMELESS" is a word we like to use instead of "PEOPLE IN EXTREME POVERTY" And how many are a heartbeat away from living on the streets? Every day living in terror, struggling to make ends meet. In America being poor is shamefull, and kept a secret, isolating people from the help of their friends, family and community. "It takes a village!" Our communities and citizens must join together, it is the only way. Help one another! Clearly not every American is benefitting from this gross imbalance of trade. How long can we go on pretending everything is fine, when evidently it is not! Join us and be the solution! http://endpoverty.meetup.com/40/ Sincerely, Diana Nicholson Organizer of "End Poverty Malibu Group"