Taj Mahal hotel in Mumbai during the recent terrorist attacks Photo: Stuti Sakhalkar (flickr)

India and Pakistan have a violent history since partition in 1947. Relations remained fragile even prior to last month's attacks in Mumbai. But they were getting better, at least on the economic front.

A year ago freight trains started to carry goods across their borders for the first time since partition. Bilateral trade had grown to $2 billion per year. And leaders had scheduled expanded trade talks in early 2009.

Now the question is whether the Mumbai bombings — thought to be the work of Pakistani militants — will ratchet up tensions high enough to overturn gains made in economic relations.

Jairam Ramesh, India’s Junior Minister for Commerce, told the The New York Times: “Four years of sincere and bold initiatives from both sides have been put on pause mode. The momentum is badly affected."

Paul Farmer is a tireless campaigner against the world's "stupid deaths." His hands-in-the-dirt work on behalf of diseases that afflict the poorest of the poor in places like Haiti and Rwanda was chronicled in the 2003 NYT bestseller, Mountains Beyond Mountains. He's also eloquent voice for health care as a human right.

Paul Farmer took a break from his humanitarian work in Rwanda to contribute this convincing essay on NPR's Weekend Edition last Saturday.

A gift of five dollars will provide seeds to a farmer in cyclone-devastated areas of Myanmar to plant an acre of rice. Photo: Jeremy Barnicle/Mercy Corps

We're all thinking harder about what we can afford these days. Even the daily routines that we used to take for granted, like grabbing coffee on the way to work, aren't as easy as they used to be. As our pockets are lighter, the value of small change feels greater than ever.

But in some of the places where Mercy Corps works, what we might consider small change is a fortune to families in need.

A sum like $5, which we might spend on a quick lunch, is as much as some families earn in a whole week. Imagine trying to house, clothe, educate and feed a family on that. These are daily struggles for millions of families living in places most of us never hear about.

What we might drop on lunch — or a week's worth of coffee, or a movie — could instantly change lives.

• $5 will provide seeds to a farmer in cyclone-devastated areas of Myanmar to plant an acre of rice
• $10 will grant six months of agricultural training to someone trying to rebuild their farm in war-torn northern Uganda
• $15 will deliver clean, safe drinking water to 30 people in one of eastern Congo's sprawling displacement camps
• $25 will provide traumatized children in Darfur with 12 weeks of activities and psychological care to help them heal

Imagine: No more thirst. Better health. The pride in growing one's own food. These are realities you can make happen today.

And your gift, combined with the resources of our worldwide partners, leverages even more change: every dollar you donate helps us secure more than $11 in food and other vital supplies.

How much is change worth to you? Even the smallest amount helps. Donate to Mercy Corps today.