This is one of my favorite TED talks, Hans Rosling takes us through population and economic data while making it all very entertaining. He explores and follows human development trends and challenges old myths.

You can use his tools here : Gapminder.org

Photo Credit: James Nachtwey

"Many people think of tuberculosis as being a disease from the past. The truth is far from it: Tuberculosis is mutating into dangerous new strains for which there is no known cure".

Award winning photographer James Nachtwey describes XDR-TB as "a merciless, man-eating predator lurking in the shadows." His arresting photographs of TB and AIDS patients are not some thing we see often. These photographs raise emotions in viewers often repressed in our modern world. These are real people dying from real diseases that there is no cure for yet.

Visit the XDRTB.ogr site to learn more.

Photo Credit: Future Generations

"Although primary health facilities exist in these remote highlands, the indigenous communities do not utilize them due to distance and poverty combined with language and cultural barriers. As a result, the Cusco Region has among the highest rates of maternal-child mortality and chronic child malnutrition in Peru".

Read more about the NEXOS Project in Peru which provides primary and maternal health care and ongoing education on nutrition and illness.

They have some very interesting community driven programs such as:

• Community emergerncy evacuation protocals to transport obstetrical and newborn emergencies to the nearest health facility
   
• Community work plans with goals such as reducing chronic child malnutrition and obtaining government funding for community projects
   
• Leaders of women´s groups met to exchange experiences in maternal and child health and nutrition, and to discuss their rights and responsibilities as women and mothers in the home.

Photo Credit: Time Child Soldiers- link

"The international community failed to stop Rwanda’s genocide and promised not to let it happen again. Has the world forgotten so quickly"?

NY Times Opinion

LA Times

How will aid come to those who need it? Food water, shelter and medicine. We are sure to hear of the deaths of aid workers and other peacekeepers. When is the time to intervene?

Photo Credit: Unknown, please contact us if you know the appropriate credit

Helen O'Neill is an Operational Advisor with emergency medical aid agency Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). She recently returned after having worked with the MSF teams in the Kivu region of northeastern Congo where, today, thousands of people are desperately fleeing violence as the 15 year conflict escalates into outright war. Here Helen describes the situation on the ground.

Listen to Helen O'Neill talk about the situation:

You can read her account here: Médecins Sans Frontières