Hundreds of thousands of families across the United States are preparing for the holiday season -- filling shopping carts with gifts and fridges with holiday meals. But as you sit down with your families at your respective dinner tables this season, remember that the world doesn't stop turning for anything and that not everyone has the same fortune as you.
1. Half a million kids are still trapped in Syria.
The United Nations just reported that more than half a million children are trapped in the middle of the Syrian Civil War. There are chlorine gas barrels being dropped in the middle of cities and hospitals are being targeted for providing aid to civilians. Not to mention the millions of people starving in cities like eastern Aleppo, where food trucks are being blocked from delivering aid to civilians.
2. ISIS is still a global threat.
As of September 2016, ISIS/ISIL has carried out or inspired more than 143 attacks in 29 countries not including Syria and Iraq since their official start in 2014. They just bombed a group of Shiites during their annual event, Arbaeen, killing 80.
3. The DRC is about to fall into civil war... Again.
The Democratic Republic of Congo is on the verge of another massive civil war, as President Joseph Kabila is attempting to extend his presidency beyond his term. 40 people died in protests in September attempting to urge Kabila to honor his term limit.
4. Native Americans are still fighting for their land.
"Make America Great Again," am I right? Back to the 1800's we go. Protesters are being targeted with attack dogs and mace. The heavily protested pipeline would not only desecrate sacred Native land, it also threatens the Missouri River should it leak or rupture. Oh, and by the way, Trump owns stock in the company building the Dakota Access Pipeline.
5. Venezuela is still in crisis.
Inflation is predicted to hit 1,700% in 2017 and most business sit a standstill after the government nationalized the majority of the domestic economy. The price of water has skyrocketed so people collect what groundwater they can in bottles to take home to their families. With the country's oil prices continuing to fall, they have no way to improve the economy.
6. Half of the world's population still lives on less than $2.50 a day.
805 million people live without enough food to eat and more than 750 million do not have enough access to safe drinking water.
You may not drive a Maserati or have a 20,000 square foot house, but if your faucet gives you clean water and you sleep surrounded by four walls and a ceiling, you're living another's life of luxury. Give back this holiday season.
"If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one." - Mother Teresa
