“We crossed our target of training 400 new health activists in 2009 by November. Over 1,000 women have attended training sessions in 2009 and 412 have been designated as health activists” – Dr. Shiban Ganju. There is no reason for a woman to have to bury 7 children in her lifetime; there is no reason for a boy to lose his mother to infection that could have been easily prevented with proper hygiene. Please visit Save-A-Mother.org for more information on how you can help increase (and eliminate!) maternal mortality rates in some of the most affected areas in the world.

Breast Cancer Awareness month celebrated its 25th anniversary this year with a multitude of highly successful campaigns and events. Millions of women and men came together to support the research for a cure – hundreds of websites went ‘pink’; thousands of dedicated articles and promotions circulated the internet; millions walked, ran, jumped, swam, threw, and sang to honor the victims and survivors of breast cancer. The Artists For Moms project takes a moment appreciate the journey so many women and families had to endure. November’s Artists For Moms contributors featured in this post and the pink gallery can be found below – thank you for helping to raise awareness!

One in every 8 babies in the United States is born premature. A study conducted by Thomson Healcare in 2001 found that premature babies are fourteen times as costly as healthy, full-term babies. First year health costs for premies were in excess of $41,000, while first year health costs for full-term babies were under $3,000. Every year over 550,000 uninsured women give birth in the United States, many of whom would rather forgo doctor visits and expensive medication, then shell out cash for care (and the social costs are tremendous). Even insured parties are angry with the current system. Here is what one unsatisfied customer had to say in response to a New York Times Online debate on health care

“He began sexually abusing each daughter when she was about six, beginning with fondling, then kissing her genitals, and then moving on to oral and vaginal sex. One of his daughters began sleeping under her bed to get away from him. They did not notify the police. Throughout this entire span, Ray was very active in the Church and had constant callings.” In an all-male church and a strongly patriarchal community, complaints from women will typically get an extremely unfavorable reaction from both family and the clergy. The extensive political and religious networks of LDS have made reporting, tracking, and mitigating violence and sex crimes difficult. Shame and guilt keep victims from coming forward…

Deep thanks to everyone who signed the Petition for the release of two American journalists, Euna Lee and Laura Ling, who were in North Korea in march shooting a documentary when they were arrested on charges of illegal entry. The two women had been inmates at a “political offense village” – a place which utilizes a number of inhumane correctional methods, such as beatings, maiming, and forced exercise – and have been released today, Tuesday August 4th, 2009. Thanks to the efforts of former President Bill Clinton and the ‘kind heart’ of the capricious and sour little Kim Jong Il, the two women can return to their families safely and in one piece.

Sadly, the economic downturn is forcing more and more children across the globe into prostitution, while depriving charities of the funding they need to help. According to the United Nations, 1.2 million children are trafficked annually – others put this figure as high as four million. In Cambodia, where a Swiss NGO First Hand is finding more and more families turning to prostitution to make ends meet, with young victims sold for as little as $10. Contrary to popular belief, the main clients are nationals: many Cambodians are said to consider it acceptable and many believe HIV can be prevented or cured through sex with a virgin.

Two American women are facing 12 years of hard labor for their humanitarian efforts, one of them a mother, and yet the national media has not picked up the story with as much enthusiasm as that of Roxana Saberi. Unfortunately, the nature of the relationship between the United States and North Korea lends itself to a muted media response. Additionally, the so-called Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has established a record of unpredictable and hostile behavior, most recently with walking out of UN negotiations, restarting it’s nuclear program, testing new intermediate-range missiles, and detonating its largest-ever nuclear device (and that’s just in the last several months). Join Pledge For Moms in an effort to liberate Euna Lee and Laura Ling – sign the petition today!