Fact #1 – In many developing countries, children must walk barefoot for miles to school, clean water & medical help.
Yesterday was “One Day Without Shoes” around the world. If you had been paying attention out in public, you probably saw at least one person with no shoes on as they went about their daily lives. I was one of them. I went to work yesterday with no shoes on. I got some funny looks and some questions, but it worked. The purpose of One Day Without Shoes is to raise awareness of how hard it is to live without shoes, like over a third of the people in the world do.
Fact #2 – Hundreds of millions of children are at risk of injury, infection & soil-transmitted diseases that most can’t afford to prevent and treat.
It actually felt a lot better than wearing shoes since my toe still hurts like a son of a gun sometimes, but it wasn’t exactly comfortable when walking across the parking lot at work or walking around the office. But, it wasn’t meant to be comfortable. It was meant to open our eyes to the fact that over a third of the world doesn’t have the option of comfort.
Fact #3 – Children who are healthy are more likely to be successful students, & access to education is a critical determination of long-term success.
Many people around the country gave up their comfort for the day and left their shoes at home. There are some really cool pictures on the One Day Without Shoes website that you should definitely check out.
Fact #4 – Healthy, educated children have a better chance of improving the future of their entire community.
On a lighter note, I finally gave in and ordered cable again. After about six months without cable TV, I have grown bored of World of Warcraft and Hulu is running out of options. If I am to remain {somewhat} sane, I need that mindless comatose state that can only come from watching reruns of Law & Order: SVU and Top Chef marathons. So, next Tuesday I will have cable again. I’m happily going back to AT&T U-Verse since they are still my internet carrier and I never had any real solid complaints about their service. That and the fact that I’m getting free DVR and $25 off each month for the first six months makes it worth it in my mind.
So, what’s going on in your neck of the woods? Did you see anyone walking around barefoot yesterday?
I didn’t notice any shoeless folk around here but I’m sure, on a college campus, that there were numbers of them!
We keep considering cutting cable out of the budget but hubby loves Encore Westerns, I love HGTV and Food Network, and we both love Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. So we always decide against making the sacrifice!
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Good topic for discussion. It is sad that so much of our aid money never gets to those in need. While my dad was still with us, foreign aid was his hot button. He saw it as a waste of our money. There. are times that I see his point, misuse of funds, and secret, under-the-table deals – are simply wrong.
Getting our TV feed beyond local channels has become a requirement instead of a luxary over the last decade. That concept may be challenged bowers, once the local station take advantage of multiple-casting via there digital communication channel capabilities. Having said that, if were are to follow the money stream – the cable industry will continue to grow.
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I did NOT see anyone without shoes.
I do however, plan to buy TOMS For the entire family when Nordstrom gets them in nad I believe he actually donates a pair for every pair purchased? or at least every so many?
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Lindsay Reply:
April 8th, 2011 at 7:33 am
You are correct. It’s a one for one. Every pair you buy gets another pair donated to a child in need.
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That’s interesting. I’ve never heard of One Day Without Shoes. I’m not sure I saw anyone without shoes, though the only place I went yesterday was a large college campus…and it was cold, and rainy.
Amy T recently posted..Mothers Day Gift Guide- I Want You To Know MeLove- Mom Review
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