Originally posted on the Huffington Post

A colleague on maternity leave recently sent an e-mail saying what an incredible experience pregnancy is and how she can't help thinking of the millions of women who go through it without the support we take for granted in the U.S. "Here I am focusing on tummy time and music groups; talk about perspective when you consider that more than half a million women die every year during pregnancy and childbirth because they don't have access to the simplest of health services and supplies."

Originally published in The Huffington Post

Have you seen the ads? They seem to be everywhere -- from the Washington Metro system's billboards, to the New Yorker and Roll Call.

"9 billion people to feed. A changing climate. NOW WHAT?"

While focused on biotechnology, the ad (sponsored by Monsanto) does point to a key challenge in the years ahead: namely, the need to double agricultural output by 2050 to feed a rapidly growing world.

There are always complicated issues around mothers. Being one, having one, not having one, wanting one, losing one, not being one.

Personally, we love our mothers even when we don't. Culturally, we revere them. Globally, we say how important mothers are, but still a woman dies every minute of every day from a pregnancy-related cause. Each of those deaths is preventable and at very little expense. There's been little help for those young women -- dying to be mothers -- over the past two decades. It's not just bad, it's sinful!

Read more of Amy's second blog entry for The Huffington Post!

Bula! (hello in Fiji). I am here in Fiji, taking part in a regional advocacy training for young people from the Pacific, put on by the Youth Coalition for Sexual and Reproductive Rights, a sub-grantee of PAI's. I arrived yesterday (Tuesday) and have been very busy working with the other YC facilitators (Nino from Indonesia and Fred from Sweden) to finalize the week's agenda and develop the sessions for the training.

There are 10 participants, representing Fiji, new Zealand, Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and Nieu. I'll be facilitating sessions on analyzing UN texts, understanding the MDG framework, mapping international advocacy opportunities, and a session on research-based advocacy that will center on A Measure of Survival.

It is a very dedicated and knowledgeable group of young people, so I am looking forward to a productive week. The training began today, with presentations from participants on the key SRR issues in their countries and communities.

Sarah E. Haddock, Research Assistant