Sue Pleming's blog

Whether in Haiti or Hoboken, New Jersey, the raging floodwaters from Hurricane Sandy had the same miserable impact for millions of people. While natural disasters don’t distinguish between rich or poor, most of the media coverage from Sandy has focused on the U.S. Eastern Seaboard.

Cyber Monday and Black Friday are traditionally listed as the biggest shopping days of the year in the United States, kicking off the retail season after Thanksgiving. Now add #GivingTuesday – the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving – to that list.

MEXICO CITY - Whether the G20 is a credible or even legitimate body has been a vibrant topic of conversation among civil society groups that have been meeting in Mexico City this week to discuss strategy for both the G8 and G20 summits this year.

Mexico’s foreign minister, when asked about the legitimacy of the G20, conceded she had her own concerns about its track record on following through on promises.

InterAction’s strength is in its members and the work they do alongside communities globally. We hope our new website design reflects that.

You’ll notice some new features, including more information on our members and a clearer breakdown of what InterAction does to support them whether through vigorous advocacy efforts or in helping define best practices. We’ve reorganized the site in a way we think is easier to navigate and which shows off the breadth of our humanitarian and development work.

CANNES, France – Giant billboards pasted all over Cannes this week declare "history is being written" at G20 meetings held here on Thursday and Friday. Walking along the Boulevard de la Croisette to the impressive Palais des Festivals complex where the summit is being held, I wondered (cynically I admit) who history will say benefit most from these meetings on the Riviera Coast. Will it be the clientele and owners of the high-end boutiques that line the star-studded boulevard – Gucci, Chanel or Dior?

DEAUVILLE, France - When is something smoke and mirrors and when should a promise be believed? This was a frequent question during the G8 summit in Deauville last week as world leaders dedicated billions to help "Arab Spring" countries Egypt and Tunisia and promised full transparency in the delivery of previously announced development assistance which never came through.

DEAUVILLE - For NGOs seeking to get their voice heard at a G8 summit, staging stunts is often the most effective way to attract media coverage. There have been a few good ones this time round by several of InterAction’s members attending this year's summit in Deauville, the pretty seaside town in northern France.

DEAUVILLE - InterAction is in Deauville this week, joining thousands of international reporters at the G8 summit -- two days of meetings between leaders of the world's most powerful nations which are being held in this pretty seaside town in northern France.

InterAction member ONE has just released its annual DATA report, a scorecard on whether Group of Eight (G8) nations and the European Union are meeting commitments they made to sub-Saharan Africa back in 2005. The release of ONE’s report is timely, as it comes the week before G8 leaders meet in Deauville, a picturesque seaside town in northern France.

InterAction member Save the Children released its annual “State of the World’s Mothers” report today, reminding those holding the purse strings why it is so important to fund maternal and child health care programs worldwide.