"We shall not finally defeat AIDS...or any other infectious disease that plagues the developing world until we have also won the battle for safe drinking water, sanitation and basic health care." -- Kofi Annan, United Nations Secretary-General 1997-2006

In the developed world, easy and reliable access to clean water...

The quote -- "Give a man a fish, he'll eat for a day. Give a woman micro-credit, she, her husband, her children and her extended family will eat for a lifetime" -- has been attributed to Bono, the humanitarian and rock star of U2 fame.

Micro-credit programs, which encourage...

I spent the weekend with my ex-boyfriend's mother at her home in Brooklyn. To some the preceding sentence may appear to describe the type of torture that is strictly prohibited by the Geneva Convention. I assure you, it was not as awkward as it sounds, in fact, I...

On Dec. 3, Douglas Allen, a Poughkeepsie, New York travel agent, was arrested for promoting prostitution. Allen's arrest was not another example of a local businessman's dirty laundry finding the light of day. Unlike many others who face prostitution charges, Allen made little effort to conceal his activities....

Americans typically view slavery as a disturbing relic from the past. The antebellum south and even activity north of the Mason Dixon line is looked upon as a historical period; which will not be repeated due to changes in laws and culture. Chattel slavery may have been abolished in 1865,...

In the fall of 2005, the New York Historical Society debuted "Slavery in New York," an exhibit on New York's often forgotten history of legalized slavery. Slavery was officially abolished in New York in 1827; unfortunately evidence suggests that contemporary forms of slavery continue to persist in the...

Political theater was at its finest on October 18, when a slew of third party candidates joined Democratic nominee, Andrew Cuomo and Republican nominee, Carl Paladino for what might be New York State's only gubernatorial debate this campaign season. Former Manhattan madam, Kristen Davis, contributed to...

A picturesque fall morning, Saturday October 9th, played host to this year's Stop Child Trafficking Now fundraising walk.

The sunny weather provided an optimistic backdrop for the grass roots crowd and celebrity ambassadors. Actor Stephen Baldwin and reality star Caroline Manzo kicked off the walk in midtown...

Upon her passing earlier this year, I was reminded of this statement by Dorothy Height, former President of the National Council of Negro Women. "If the time is not ripe, we must ripen the times." Less well-known than many of her contemporaries, Height's contributions to the American civil...

Singer, Nadja Benaissa, was put on trial in Germany last week for grievous bodily harm and attempted bodily harm. Benaissa, 28, achieved stardom in Germany in the early 2000's when she won a place, via a reality television show, in a girl band called No Angels.

　On May 11th, I received a Google alert about a poorly written article entitled ""Community Board 1 and The Cordoba Mosque." The article accurately listed my name as a member of the Financial District Committee of Manhattan's Community Board 1. I am hesitant to out myself as the...

On Friday, a group of Nigerian expatriates gathered outside of the Nigerian Consulate in Midtown to protest the absence of the country's ill president.

In late November of 2009 President Umaru Yar'Adua went to Saudia Arabia for medical treatment. Reports indicate that Mr. Yar'Adua suffers from a kidney ailment and...

Over the holidays I went to see Clint Eastwood's Invictus, an amalgamation of a sports story and a political drama. Like most Americans, I know little about rugby but I have a strong appreciation for the common ground that can be found through athletics. The film received mixed reviews...

On October 22nd Brazilian college student, Geisy Arruda, attracted more attention than she bargained for when she made a trip to the restroom, and a spontaneous student protest erupted. How did the 20-year-old, who studies tourism at Bandeirante University in Sao Bernardo do Campo, incite her fellow classmates into...

On Friday, October 2 Rio de Janeiro sambaed its way into the hearts of the International Olympic Committee, and secured the well-deserved opportunity to host the 2016 Summer Olympics. Dashing the hopes of pitch teams from Madrid, Tokyo and our own Chicago, Rio made history and will be the first...

What was I doing in a Greek "disco" listening to a Swedish band cover the hits of the 80's, 90's and today? As I was singing along to Bon Jovi's It's My Life (performed with a slight Swedish accent), I realized that I was having one of those vacation...

Sarah Palin's conservative views would prevent me from voting for her, but at the same time, I am intrigued by her meteoric rise from small, frontier-town mayor to vice presidential candidate. The phenomenon that is Sarah Palin has struck a chord with a segment of the population. Her rise to...

One of the most exciting aspects of globalization is that it has changed the world into one large international neighborhood. We can develop relationships with people all around the globe and communicate instantly and inexpensively. Internet dating, which was once considered a little weird and potentially dangerous, is now a...

The position of first lady has always fascinated me. The opportunity to champion non-controversial causes, raise money for worthy charities and visit with dignitaries at events is appealing. It's a role that I have envisioned myself in; if I am honest about one of my daydreams. The problem, being...