What's not in the news

We are constantly bombarded with news, most of it being sensational or negative in some way.

Just recently New York and hurricane Sandy had the attention of all news media. We also clearly remember the big earthquake in Japan and the following tsunami and all of the devastating destruction that took place. And who can't still recollect the horrifying images of Port-au-Prince crumbling during the Haiti earthquake in January of 2010. A city turned into dust under the influence of a 7.0 magnitude earthquake.

People half buried in rubble after earthquake

Or think of some mad suicide bomber robbing a lot of innocent people of their lives. Even the tragedy of the Taliban attempt at taking Malalas life in October just because she wants girls in Pakistan to have the right to go to school and get an education.

What does not reach the news are the millions of people all over the world who live in poverty daily. Every single day their story is the same. They go hungry, they can't afford what the rest of us take for granted. No running water, no education, no shoes.... the story is the same each and every day.

This is the untold catastrophy. Untold because it does not change. Untold because it is present year in and year out on end, and as such becomes uninteresting. It is, however, also the story of our failure to seriously help make changes for the better. We may excuse ourselves with tight economy and financial crisis, which is not untrue in one sense. But try, then, to compare yourself with them and see if you are not actually still extremely rich in comparison.

Got roof over your head? They do, too. Some live in a cardboard box or under a piece of plastic. Ever go to the grocery store to do your daily shopping? They never would be able to afford that, not in their economy either. Do you still get to eat out from time to time? They never do. Or put in another way, they always eat out when searching other peoples trash for leftovers. Still got a car despite tight economy? Some of them can't even afford shoes for transportation. I could continue, but you get the point.

What if this was your family home?

They are not in the news because they mirror our failure to properly get them the help they need. And by that I don't mean that we should endlessly fill food in their mouths, build their houses for them, pump them with money and their kids with expensive toys, and the like. Actually this will harm them rather than help them. That would allow them to lean back and do nothing on their own. The best we can do is to offer the education necessary to teach them how to survive and improve their condition. That may involve providing some sort of home and food for a while, but those two alone will never do the job.

Next time you watch the news, try to remember those who are not in the news. Then think about how you can involve yourself in bringing the best form of help! They need it and you need it, too.