The news doesn’t slow down for the summer, and July has been no exception. Here are some of the stories we are reading this week: Polio from 1950 Virginia to 2013 India: Amy Jeter, a staff writer for The Virginian-Pilot and a UN Foundation press fellow, draws thought-provoking connections between ongoing polio eradication efforts in Moradabad, India, and a polio outbreak that struck the town of Wytheville, Virginia, in 1950.  To help end polio for

As a father of two young boys, I look forward to life’s milestones. First steps, first words, first day of school – I wouldn’t trade these experiences for anything in the world. Unfortunately, not all parents get the chance to celebrate such important milestones in their children’s lives. Some mothers and fathers across Sub-Saharan Africa are constantly racked with the task of finding ways to protect their children from a deadly, but preventable disease –

It’s official: We have a new U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations! Samantha Power, confirmed by the Senate today, is just the person we need to continue strengthening the U.S.-UN relationship. As she said herself, the U.S. has a “critical role to play in insisting that the UN meet the necessities of our time. It can do so only with American leadership.” We couldn’t agree more. That said, she certainly has big shoes to fill:

When our daughter Frankie turned 5, it felt like suddenly a window opened up to her future. We were flooded with thoughts of how her personality would start to unfold as she grew older, and of who she could become. At 5 we started to get a glimpse of who that person will be… Read the rest of Amanda Peet’s blog at www.babble.com. Editor’s Note: Throughout August, top bloggers are using their voices to help protect

On July 18th, United Nations Volunteers started their “25 Days Equals 25 Ways to Take Action” campaign.  The campaign, which connects Nelson Mandela International Day (July 18) to International Youth Day (August 12), encourages you to commit to at least one voluntary act during the next 25 days.  We figured we’d help you out by sharing this list of six easy ways to make the world a better place: 1.  Thank UN Peacekeepers You sent