Coca-Cola Obesity; Ashamed of Poverty; Uganda's Gay Genocide?

DECEMBER 14 - DECEMBER 20

	Coca-Cola Obesity; Ashamed of Poverty; Uganda's Gay Genocide? Hey Changemakers, We all know that our nation is currently struggling with serious social problems ranging from increasing homelessness, to worsening public health, to failing schools. However, there's tremendous hope in the capacity of social innovators to address these far-reaching problems. It's in this spirit that the White House just launched new regulations for the Social Innovation Fund, which aims to identify some of the most promising, results-oriented nonprofit programs and to expand their reach throughout the country. Policy strategist Tom Sheridan – the man that The Hill newspaper has dubbed "A powerbroker for those without a voice" – writes for Change.org this week that this Social Innovation Fund has the power to radically shift the way Washington addresses social problems. Rather than continuing to attempt to solve community problems in a top-down way from Washington, the Social Innovation Fund will invest in programs run by social innovators already showing measurable results on the ground in their communities. This makes the Social Innovation Fund one of the most promising new vehicles for scaling social change in the country, and one of the most important steps the Obama administration has taken thus far to support innovative nonprofit solutions to the problems Americans faces. It's also why we'll keep you updated on its progress at Change.org in the weeks and months ahead. For more news and commentary from the world of change this week, see summaries from your favorite causes below.		Tell Walmart to Get Dangerous Products off its Shelves by Wake-Up Walmart Take action » Don't Let the Senate Undercut Real Health Care Reform by CREDO Action Take action » Ask President Obama to Make Ending Genocide a Priority by Save Darfur Coalition Take action »
	Coca-Cola Obesity Why are Americans more fat and ill than ever before? The answer may be high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), one of the main ingredients in soda and other sugary drinks. Sustainable Food blogger Katherine Gustafson writes that the whopping 60 pounds of HFCS that the average American consumes each year is having massive implications on health. New evidence shows that HFCS coats our organs with fatty cells and leads to the onset of early diabetes and heart disease. For millions soda might be a refreshing drink. But is it altering our body's metabolism in deadly ways? (Read more)   Ashamed of Poverty The last thing someone who loses their job needs is a heavy dose of shame. Yet, for many, part of the cost of losing a job is an overwhelming sense of embarrassment. Poverty in America blogger Leigh Graham writes about a new poll released this week that shows half of America's jobless reporting crippling senses of shame and lower self-worth. As unemployment, foreclosures, and reliance on private and public assistance continue into 2010, we must stick to the messaging that we are all in this slump together, and that being a victim of bad economic policies is nothing to be ashamed of. (Read more)   Uganda's Gay Genocide? Genocide doesn't begin with killing; it begins with words. That's one of the main reasons why malicious language can't just be brushed aside as harmless, but should be treated as something much more sinister. Stop Genocide blogger Michelle writes about efforts in Uganda to pass legislation that would institute the death penalty or severe prison terms for the country's gay population. What's frightening are the parallels in language between Uganda's legislation and language used by some of the most notorious leaders during Nazi Germany. Is the world about ready to watch another genocide unfold? (Read more)   Social Entrepreneurship in 2010 If you're wondering what some of the biggest trends in social entrepreneurship will be over the next year, put down the Magic 8-Ball and instead check out the list crafted by Social Entrepreneurship blogger Nathaniel Whittemore. From an explosion of creativity in seed funding to a significant increase in activity around regional innovation ecosystems, 2010 is bringing with it a renewed sense of optimism and increased capacity for social change. (Read more)   War vs. Maternal Mortality The developed world hardly worries about the issue anymore, but maternal mortality might just be the most tragic issue that humans face. War and Peace blogger Daniel Gerstle writes that the problem is so pervasive that more people might die each year from complicated pregnancies than from war. This is doubly tragic because achievable solutions like improved medical resources and education could dramatically curb maternal mortality. (Read More)   We hope you had a great weekend, - The Change.org Team