World Malaria Day

Today is World Malaria Day and you can find out more about the disease and what you can do about it at Plan Canada's Spread the Net site:

plancanada.ca/spreadthenet

Made in a Free World: Mica

www.madeinafreeworld.com/india

Will You Be a Powerful Force for Change?

MEDA (Mennonite Economic Development Associates) put together this list of the Top 7 Reasons to Support Women's Economic Development:

1.  It's smart economics:  When we invest in women, there is a multiplier effect on productivity, efficiency and sustained economic growth.  That's a great return on your investment!
2.  Women invest their extra income in their children - their education, their nutrition and their health - creating a brighter future for their family and their community.
3.  Women need our help!  Women make up the majority of the world' poor.
4.  Women often have less personal autonomy, fewer resources and limited decision-making power, both within their family and in their community.
5.  Women need the knowledge, skills and confidence to pursue economic opportunities.
6.  Women's needs and potential contributions are often overlooked in development work.
7.  Women farmers can increase yields 20-30%, raising total agricultural output and reducing the number of hungry people in the world.  They just need the same access to resources.

apowerfulforce.org

Take the MEDA Challenge

meda.org/challenge

The Face of Human Trafficking in Canada

I saw this report from CTV News and I thought to myself, "What has the world come to?"  Just in case you have the perception that "creepy man" is the best description for people who traffick others, specifically in the sex trade, think again.  Amanda McGee is not the face of someone you would think of as a criminal who is charged with drugging her roommate and trafficking her to sexually exploit her.  This does happen in Canada and we need to be aware of the signs and what we can do (see the sidebar of my blog - 10 Things You Can Do to Combat Human Trafficking).

winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/video?playlistId=1.1773040

CNN: Drive to End Child Marriage Stalls, but Fightback Begins

Please take the time to read this important CNN article on child marriage as Iraq's government plans to legalize girl marriage at the age of 9.  Also, add your name to Walk Free's petition, making your voice heard.

thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com/2014/04/10/drive-to-end-child-marriage-stalls-but-fight-back-begins

www.walkfree.org/iraq-child-marriage

A Call to the Canadian Government

Make your voice heard by telling the Canadian Government that they need to address answers on modern slavery, not only globally but locally as well.  "The Government of Canada has missed the deadline to provide answers to the Global Slavery Index Government Response Survey" according to Walk Free.  You can add your name to the petition, holding them accountable at:

www.walkfree.org/give-answers-modern-slavery/?utm_source=Subscribers&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=give-answers-modern-slavery&utm_content=GSI-Action_EmailTarget_Launch_EN_07Apr14

Though Not Seen, Her Voice is Heard

Some pictures really are worth a thousand words and I think this one says it all:

RAHMAT GUL / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

From Saturday's Winnipeg Free Press:
"An Afghan woman casts her vote at a polling station in Jalalabad east of Kabul, Afghanistan on Saturday. Afghan voters lined up for blocks at polling stations nationwide on Saturday, defying a threat of violence by the Taliban to cast ballots in what promises to be the nation's first democratic transfer of power."

Photos of Survival in Congo

Susan Schulman shares powerful photos from the Congo in Nicholas Kristof's The New York Times column:

kristof.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/04/02/photos-of-survival-in-congo/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_php=true&_type=blogs&module=BlogPost-ReadMore&version=Blog%20Main&action=Click&contentCollection=Opinion&pgtype=Blogs&region=Body&_r=1#more-12669

CNN: Pineapple Program Fights Traffickers in Sierra Leone

Check out the CNN article Pineapple Program Fights Traffickers in Sierra Leone:

thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com/2014/04/02/pineapple-program-fights-traffickers-in-sierra-leone

CNN: Brazil Tackling Child Prostitution for World Cup

thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com