Bi-Weekly Roundup: March 9, 2012

Inside our Chapter

• Sai Khisty (ghU Coordinator) and Becky Hong (Internal Co-President) recently hosted a breakout session at the Rutgers Bioethics Symposium on March 1^st, 2012. Titled When Beliefs and Biology Clash, both explored the fine line healthcare providers face when approaching health care practices alongside cultures, religions, and beliefs. Inspired by the GlobeMed Winter Book Club pick, “The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down” by Anne Fadiman, the session encouraged a great debate amongst the students.

(From L-R): Tracy Ren, Andre Laguerta, Becky Hong, & Sai Khisty 

photo by the Rutgers Bioethics Society

• Looking ahead, our chapter has a number of upcoming campaigns set for this spring semester, including a possible basketball event and an awareness campaign for Rutgers Day! If you're in the New Brunswick/Piscataway area, be sure to check out the program, which is open to the public. And stop by the GlobeMed stand!

Within the Network

• On February 20, 2012, GlobeMed, like so many others across the world, celebrated World Day of Social Justice. This year, the network started the first ever GlobeMed Teach-Ins, where students across the 46 chapters asked professors to dedicate 5 minutes of their time to discuss the connections between their field of expertise and social justice. Check out what they had to say at the GlobeMed WDSJ Tumblr Page.

On the World Wide Web

• Here's an amazing article by the journal, The Lancet, concerning an assessment of 10 countries in Southeast Asia, including Cambodia.

• An inspiring blog post written by Purnima Mane, President and CEO of Pathfinder International, an organization dedicated to providing reproductive health and family planning services to improve the lives of women and their family in the developing world. Titled "Is 2012 the Year for Women and Girls," the post is part of the coverage on International Women's Day 2012.

• Finally, to brighten up your day a little bit, the UN has announced that the international goal to halve the number of people who do not have access to safe drinking water has been reached ahead of its 2015 target!   89% of the world's population (around 6.1 billion people) now use improved water sources. While this is a cause for celebration, it is important to remember that many still do not have access, and the goal to improve sanitation conditions is still far from being met.