Each day some 1,400 women and girls die from childbearing related causes.

Poor nutrition and maternal childcare contributes to low birth weight in 20 million babies each year.

Ethnic, religious and tribal warfare has displaced millions of citizens in countries like Ethiopia and Liberia creating roaming homelessness for the most vulnerable elderly, women and children. Drought and decimated economies have left little hope for these people.

The incidence of hurricanes, typhoons, floods, earthquakes in the last 10 years has been unprecedented. Many of these events occur in places least equipped to deal with them like Bangladesh, Iraq, the Caribbean and Central America.

In many cultures around the world women are sentenced to lives of untold misery. In countries like India, widows of all ages are subject to lives as “untouchables” and forced to beg or live lives of basic sustenance. Millions attempt suicide each year.

In places from Russia to Zambia to Mexico…street children and orphans are overwhelming local communities and creating unmeasured suffering. In Africa alone it is estimated that within this decade alone there will be 15 million orphans as a result of the AIDS epidemic. Ruthless leaders and terrorist prey on these children.

One billion people have virtually no access to medical attention and treatment of any sophistication.

The world wide demand for fresh water doubles every 20 years. In many lands and communities, the need for fresh water is overwhelming locals and causing disease and hardship, while stifling local economies. It is estimated that at least 1 billion people have little or no access to quality, reliable, clean water.

One-half of the world’s 6.2 billion people live on the equivalent of $2 per day or less. One billion of these people live on $1 a day or less.