The news from Haiti’s January 12’s massive earthquake is horrific. Estimates of the death toll are staggering and continue to rise. Following is a list of reputable organizations to which you can donate to help (you can even donate via text—it can’t get much easier than that):

• Partners In Health: www.pih.org, 617-432-5256
• Doctors Without Borders: www.doctorswithoutborders.org, 888-392-0392
• Oxfam America: www.oxfamamerica.org, 800-77-OXFAM (800-776-9326)
• Yéle Haiti: www.yele.org or donate $5 by texting “YELE” to 501501
• Unicef: www.unicef.org, 800-4-UNICEF
• American Red Cross International Relief Fund: www.redcross.org, 800-RED-CROSS, or donate $10 by texting “HAITI” to 90999
• International Rescue Committee: www.theirc.org, 877-REFUGEE, or donate $5 by texting “HAITI” to 25383
• AmeriCares: www.americares.org, 800-486-HELP
• UUSC/UUA Joint Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund: www.uusc.org

Source: Integrative Yoga Therapy

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called for renewed support for international family planning and reproductive health programs in a speech from the U.S. Department of State.

The event commemorated the 15^th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD).  In 1994, 179 representatives from around the world gathered for the ICPD conference in Cairo and agreed to achieve universal access to reproductive health services by the year 2015, a goal reinforced in the Millennium Development Goals.  Cairo was the first global forum that recognized the connection between women’s health, the quality of women’s lives and human progress.  Now, 15 years later, too many women still have little or no access to reproductive health services.  Secretary Clinton’s statement marks a return to U.S. leadership on international family planning.

Clinton emphasized that “reproductive healthcare is critical to the health of women, and that women’s health is essential to the prosperity and opportunity for all, to the stability of families and communities, and the sustainability and development of nations”.  There is an urgency of the need for increased access to women’s health services – every minute of every day, one woman dies in pregnancy or childbirth, and each year six million more suffer injury, illness, or disability.  In addition, Clinton highlighted the ties between equity, rights and health care, stating that “… we cannot accept the marginalization of half the world’s population.”  Women Deliver’s motto, “Invest in Women- It Pays” was emphasized in Clinton’s speech as well, as she told the world that “… investing in the health of women and girls is the smartest investment we can make.”

Watch Secretary Clinton’s speech here.
Read Secretary Clinton’s speech here.

For more information CDC Healthier Worksite Initiative

Yoga Month invites all styles of yoga to participate in an awareness campaign designed to draw attention to the many benefits of yoga and inspire our fellow citizens to live healthier, happier lives.

More info at yogamonth.org.