Women Lead the Way Out of Poverty

by Mary Avant

LITTLE ROCK, Ark - The world hunger organization Heifer International has launched a $1 million fundraising campaign to support WiLD (Women in Livestock Development) projects that have proven to be effective helping women in third world countries overcome poverty and injustice.

Simultaneously, Heifer is reaching out to engage women to empower them with ideas, knowledge, skills and resources. The goal is to enable women to come out of isolation, emerge into the public sector and create a brighter economic future for their families for generations to come.

Throughout the developing world, women are responsible for feeding their families and producing most of the food through backbreaking labor. Yet many of these same women are not permitted to own land or livestock. School, a career and independence are far out of their reach. Overlooked by government programs and often denied education, rural women face a cycle of poverty, hunger and despair.

Facing Your Face

by Roselle Kovitz

In our culture where extreme makeovers are more and more commonplace and the concept of designer children is not out of the question, opting for refining or remaking our appearance is an increasingly accepted practice. I admit, I've lingered over glossy plastic surgery ads, noting the smooth faces, wide eyes and taut thighs. It's tempting.

According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), "From 1997 to 2005, there has been a 444% increase in cosmetic procedures." Industry predictions now estimate that cosmetic procedures could exceed $30 billion globally, growing 25% per year. But what if your face told the story of who you are, how you behave and how your life experiences have marked you? According to the ancient Chinese practice of face reading, our faces are a three dimensional reflection of who we are and how life has affected us. But in this culture, more and more of us want the airbrushed face of a young über model—no matter our age.