The idea that the happiness of people should be a goal of public policy is not new. As early as 1809, Thomas Jefferson stated publicly his belief that “the care of human life and happiness… is the only legitimate object of good government.” And yet, for the lion’s share of human history, we have gauged societal wellbeing according to much cruder metrics, like national income. Of course, what makes people richer and what enables their flourishing are not always...
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In the desert of Namibia’s remote Kunene region bordering Angola, live the Himba, a fascinating, semi-nomadic people whose way of life has virtually remained unchanged from that of their ancestors.
We believe that if we can help keep moms and children healthy worldwide, we can get at the nexus of many sustainable development goals. Moms can go back to work to combat extreme poverty; girls can stay in school to finish secondary school and potentially a university degree; we can promote gender equality, improve maternal and child health, and prevent mother to child transmission of HIV, to name a few outcomes.
Dear Mother Earth,
On behalf of the rest of humanity, I’m sorry for what we’ve done to you. We’re destructive, greedy, selfish and, well, just plain nasty.
That being said, I hope you haven’t lost hope in us just yet because we are a new generation about to take the reigns, and I think you’ll dig us.
We are Millennials, and we’re very cool — but I’m sure you already knew that by overhearing the not-so-very-well-known music our hipsters listen to. You’re probably also a fan of the recycled bicycles we take to work that don’t pump poison into you.
Today is World Health Day and the theme for 2015 is Food Safety. Now, this may take you back to begrudgingly putting your hair up during food tech classes to avoid the stray-hair-in-your-pasta-drama, but food safety is actually about a LOT more than a strand of additional hair accidentally landing in your lunch!
How important can it be you, we hear you ask? Well, we’re going to tell you!
1. Did you know that more than 200 diseases are spread through food?
Millions of people...
Instagram is one of the fastest growing social networks and can be used for anything, from capturing the small moments in life to championing a cause. However you look at it, Instagram lets you tell a story through pictures. We’ve pulled together some of our favorite Instagram accounts that depict life from all across Africa.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so we’ll let the Instagrams do the talking…
Everyday Africa @everydayafrica
Who needs a fancy camera when you’ve got your...
Ten years ago, on April 5th 2005, at a launch featuring Brad Pitt, Bono, Djimon Hounsou and the late great Jack Valenti, we launched this iconic ONE ad. In stark black and white featuring many of the most famous stars of that time (and today) from Ellen DeGeneres and Viola Davis to Clooney, Pitt, Pacino, Hanks, and Hounsou, it called on people to join ONE and help make poverty history, especially across Africa. It went viral on something that was...
Musically, you may know Angélique Kidjo as the energetic performer who put African beats on the world music map via her Grammy winning songs and collaborations with the likes of Bono, Alicia Keys, John Legend, Josh Groban and others. In addition to her music, Kidjo has a boundless passion for women’s empowerment and human rights. She is an advocate for girls’ education and a fighter against genital mutilation, early marriage, and violence against women. She’s also a global UNICEF...
In the developed world we rarely walk into a room and think twice before flipping a switch to turn on the lights. We seldom, if ever, consider the possibility that when we go to the doctor’s office it may not have electricity, or give us medicines that haven’t been property refrigerated.
Most mothers in the developed world don’t consider whether or not to give birth in a facility that has electricity. When was the last time you showed up at...
Issac Asimov once said, “Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in a while, or the light won’t come in.” If it is not your desire to live in darkness then please scrub away. It is simple really: assumptions are constant, the world is not. Most of my assumptions of Africa fell apart while I stayed in Kenya.