It?s certainly not everyday, but sometimes we get to work with folks like Bono on special projects we hope will make a difference. Recently, a group of Yahoo! developers took some time off to work on the development of the new ONE.org site, Bono?s campaign to rally us, one by one, in the fight to end AIDS and extreme poverty. (Other times, we just enjoy getting in a few snaps around campus.)

Bono?s question to the Yahoo! community is what can we do to make poverty history?

I?m turning over the mic to Mr. Mario of the Yahoo! Answers blog, who points out that it?s not easy to think about the big questions, but though these problems seem massive, discussion leads to action:

Ending poverty on a global level is not going to be easy, but that doesn?t mean the effort shouldn?t be made at all. Bono and groups like ONE.org, are urging everyone to find ways to get the ball rolling in their own little corners of the world. Sometimes keeping the conversation going makes all the difference.

Identifying the sources of the problem may be the first step. Many cite trade regulations and corruption as key contributors to global poverty, and say that the duty to rectify these issues falls on the shoulders of established nations. The scarcity of natural resources, loss of ambition, and limited opportunity for growth also help contribute. Some believe that monetary assistance grants only help perpetuate the problem, while others examine biological and psychological theories behind the subculture of poverty.

So what can ordinary people do?

Head over to the Yahoo! Answers blog for the rest of Mario?s post, including some thoughtful solutions proposed by users. Then give it your best thought!

Tara Kirchner