Are you happy with the way that everything, absolutely everything, is going in the world? If you are not, then do something about it!

Each of us has an opportunity to play a part in world affairs by joining one of the multitude of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). There is almost certainly one and probably several of these voluntary groups that address any transnational issue that you are interested in from almost any policy perspective that you have.

Be Active!

• A great way to find a group to your liking is to check the UN site that lists the more than 2,000 NGOs that have consultative status with the UN. The Web address is http://www.un.org/esa/coordination/ngo/. There you will see a grid that looks very much like Table 5.2 and lists 48 interest areas. Each of these and other reference points on the page will lead you to a site that, in most cases, has yet other hyperlinks to UN agencies and to NGOs in your area of interest. A backup alphabetical listing of all NGOs that have consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) is www.un.org/esa/coordination/ngo/pdf/INF_List.pdf.