In his inaugural address in 1961, President John F. Kennedy remarked: "For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life." ... "To those people in the huts and villages of half the globe struggling to break the bonds of mass misery, we pledge our best efforts to help them help themselves, for whatever period is required...because it is right. If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich."

What powerful words. While I wasn't around to hear them in person, I wonder how much has changed on the global and local poverty level since he spoke those words. Is our world more responsive to those needs today? Maybe in some ways, but in others we are falling far short of our responsibility as humans.

Think about this: what are you doing right now? Perhaps you are drinking water from a bottle, washing dishes, doing laundry, or just finished a quick shower. Actions we all take for granted, but when you remember that ONE OF EVERY SIX people in this world, or over one billion people, lack access to safe drinking water, you gain a new perspective. Do you think that all of those people live in third world countries? Think again. In an abstract dated 2001, Charles Clements, MD, MPH noted 1500 communities in Texas and New Mexico without running water or sewers. http://www.jhsph.edu/clf/events/water_conference_01/water_clements01

What can you do to be a responsible citizen of a free society today?