Julian Brooks of the Progressive Book Club posted the following list from the annual list of the worlds worst humanitarian crises of 2009 released by Doctors Without Borders.  A recommended book, focusing on famiine and failures of the Western aid system, Enough:  Why the World's Poorest Starve in an Age of Plenty, written by Roger Thurow and Scott Kilman.  You can purchase this book from Progressive Book Club.

1. Unrelenting Violence Stalks Civilians Throughout Eastern DR Congo

2. Somalis Endure Violence and Lack of Access to Health Care

3. Precarious Situation for People in Southern Sudan and Darfur

4. Thousands Injured during the Final Stage of Sri Lanka’s Decades-long War

5. Civilians Suffer From Violence & Neglect in Pakistan

6. Politics of Aid Leaves many Afghans Cut off from Humanitarian Assistance

7. Civilians Trapped in Violent War in Northern Yemen

8. Woefully Inadequate Funding Undermines Gains in Childhood Malnutrition Treatment

9. Funding for AIDS Treatment Stagnating Despite Millions Still in Need

10. Lack of R&D and Scale Up of Treatment Plagues Patients with Neglected Diseases

While this information is certainly anything but uplifting, it's important to acknowledge what's really happening around the world.  Why?  Because our planet is growing ever smaller.  Children and civilians caught in war and violence are malnourished, often ill and rarely educated.  If they survive they will carry deep scars.  These conditions are ideal breeding grounds for future acts of violence and retribution.  It is also a trigger for a mass exodus of refugees.  Where will these people go?  To industrialized countries.

What can we do? Speak out! Learn more, donate to Doctors Without Borders, an amazing program, bring friends together and collectively set up fundraising efforts or start your own grass-roots program to address one of these serious issues.  It is up to us to bring the change we must see for the survival of our planet.