As we stress out about our 401(k)s taking a beating due to the economic crisis, there are millions of Americans who have been living with their own personal financial crisis for years. Life below the poverty line in the richest nation in the world is a difficult reality — one that is even more challenging for those living in even less stable areas of the world.

As you can tell, Blog Action Day 2008 has me thinking about those who are less fortunate. I know poverty is off topic for Go Green Charleston, but here are some thoughts anyway…

Like me, many of you reading this blog are probably not one of the millions of people dealing with poverty each and every day. We try to avoid eco-unfriendly bottled water, while others desperately seek it in order to stay alive. We dream of installing solar panels, while others risk their lives and freedom illegally tapping into power grids. We seek out local organic produce, while others rely on genetically-modified food staples flown in from around the world. I know sustainable living is important all of us, but when cast in the light of world poverty, it can look more and more like a luxury item.

I’m sure a lot of you have taken some green actions around your homes that have saved money. Installing CFL’s, driving a hybrid, using cloth napkins, harnessing alternative energy, and using a clothesline can all generate serious savings. So if you’ve done some of these sustainable, earth-saving actions, why not celebrate by giving some of those savings to those who could use it?

If you feel like giving green instead of going green, here are just a few of the local organizations working hard to fight poverty each day here in the Charleston-area:

• Lowcountry Food Bank
• Charleston Meals on Wheels
• East Cooper Community Outreach
• The Barrier Islands Free Medical Clinic
• Sea Island Habitat for Humanity
• East Cooper Habitat for Humanity
• Charleston Habitat for Humanity
• Fields to Families

Cheers to the Blog Action Day crew for putting the blogosphere’s attention on poverty. Sometimes we get so focused on an issue of personal passion, like sustainable living, that we often lose sight of others. Today’s event has brought people together from around the world to offer different perspectives on this issue, and I can only hope that you’ve all learned as much as I have.

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This post is part of Blog Action Day 08 – Poverty