50 Cent, Deepak and Youssou N’Dour

Every Woman, Every Child:

A reception hosted by the MDG Health Alliance

Vision Statement:

The health of women and children is at the heart of the Millennium Development Goals. Without addressing the needs of these two populations – at once the most vulnerable members of society, and the two groups with the greatest potential to transform the world – we cannot achieve broader goals around poverty, equality, defeating disease, or environmental sustainability.

A year ago, “Every Woman, Every Child” focused new attention on maternal and child health. Tonight is about harnessing that energy to achieve the MDGs by 2015. We have made significant progress in some areas; less so in others. Much work remains to be done. But by looking through the lens of women and children, we can see our way to the new partnerships, bold commitments, and visionary approaches that will make the MDGs a reality.

By Alison Rose Levy

Last week, Deepak Chopra invited Mark Ruffalo, a well-informed advocate of water defense, to dialogue with him about fracking, the fast-forward gas drilling practice that has colonized 23 states thus far. Chopra and Ruffalo met before a studio audience at DeepakHomeBase, (the new social media salon co-launched by Chopra and Paulette Cole, the CEO of ABCHome) which is featuring a series of “Love in Action” conversations with celebrity cause champions (like Ruffalo, Russell Simmons and Fran Drescher)

Although they met for the first time, both Deepak Chopra and Mark Ruffalo have something in common: As New York residents, they drink water that originates in the Delaware River — and so do 15 million other Americans residing in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware. In less than five weeks, a governmental commission, authorized by President Obama to permit fracking wells next to the Delaware River, will green-light drilling to begin. Since the fracking process uses over 500 highly toxic chemicals, once those wells are fracked, Ruffalo is convinced that the water used by he, Chopra and 15 million other folks will be impacted. (more…)

“We have come up with a solution to save the world,” host Deepak Chopra said, as he commenced the second of three Love in Action conversations, stop fracking: protect water, our most vital source.

“We are a part of the earth, and it is a part of us,” he continued—this time reciting a letter the Chief Seattle addressed to the President in 1854. “The earth does not belong to us—we belong to the earth…We did not weave the web of life; we are merely a strand of it. What we do to the web, we do to ourselves.”

 

 

 

 

 

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If you can not attend in person, please join the conversation:  Citizen Global (more…)

By Alison Rose Levy

Being an activist celebrity is a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, some people secretly question whether you have sufficient expertise to weigh in on major matters, like cancer or polluting the water supply of New York and Philadelphia. On the other hand, many issues of urgent social concern don’t get attention without a star attached to the cause. Fortunately, some celebrity performers are taking the spotlight off themselves and focusing it on crucial matters that affect us all. I personally am deeply grateful to Deepak Chopra to act as the first major health leader to highlight these issues. It’s an answer to a green health journalist’s prayers. (more…)