I will admit, I wasn't really brought up with an interest in news (local or otherwise) or politics. If anything, I would only hear about what was happening in the Philippines and rightfully so -- that was the home of my parents.

The older I get and, more specifically, in the last year, I've grown a really strong interest in knowing what is going on around me and in the rest of the world. I've subscribed to at least two dozen news feeds this year to make sure I'm conscious of things happening in and around my neighborhood, around the world, in the economy, etc. (I don't watch much TV, so relying on the news wasn't going to cut it!) It dawns on me, though, that current events were not really taught much when I was in school. Up until college, anyway. Sure, in high school I'd had that one teacher who really cared about these things and took it upon himself to educate us.

(This post is dedicated to my nine nieces and nephews... and my Joseph. Ha!)

I want the kids in my family to be aware -- aware of the things we, as a country, are doing to make their world a better place... and aware of the things we haven't done... aware of the realities that exist outside of their Wii's and Xboxes... aware of people less fortunate than them... aware of all the rights and advantages they have within an arm's reach... and aware of how those little things that are tough for them are tougher for someone else in this world.

I want them to know that Guantanamo Bay is not a mythical place where Harold & Kumar went. Hundreds of people are being held there as detainees and prisoners have knowingly been mistreated and tortured since 2002.

I want them to know that along with grown women, there are little girls their ages in Darfur that are being subjected to sexual violence and rape, and have been for almost 5 years.

I want them to know that, among many journalists and writers in China, Shi Tao is imprisoned simply because he sent an email.

I want them to know that in some countries, kids younger than 15 are being recruited as soldiers and being exploited as combatants.

I want them to know that kids in other countries can still be punished by death for misdemeanor crimes.

And I want them to care about these things and have a genuine interest in them before they turn twenty-something.

Today, we unite as bloggers, fighting for these causes... blogging for hope.

For more information, visit Bloggers Unite.