Low-Income Countries - nations with a low standard of living in which most people are poor.
Stephen Christian has a background with humanitarian work. When he was young, he helped his father, who worked with a non-profit organization called American Medical Relief that supplied medical equipment to third world countries. Now, Stephen is the co-founder of an organization called Faceless International, which provides a real life, hands on, education concerning issues such as poverty, human trafficking, and hunger. On the foundations website, Stephen says, "it is my life's ambition and desire to work with humanitarian efforts and help the widows and orphans." He has a passion for those less fortunate that live in low-income countries.
High-Income Countries - the nations with the highest overall standards of living.
Anberlin's official website has a list of tour dates and venues. Almost all of these gig venues are located in wealthy nations. Very rarely will you see bands touring in lower-income countries, as these countries spend their money on the basic neccessities. High-income countries have more overall wealth and can therefore enjoy the luxury of paying bands to tour within their borders for the enjoyment of their citizens.
Multinational Corperation - a large business that operates in many countries.
Faceless International is a humanitarian organization, co-founded by Stephen Christian, that operates in many countries around the world. Faceless International's goal is to "put a face on the many people who have gone faceless" - to help those who are struggling due to a lack of food, clean water, education, or freedom.
Here is a map of representing the Human Development Index for 2007-8. The closer to 1 the Index, the better the quality of life on the country and the closer to zero the index is, ther worse the quality of life in the country.
Global Stratification - patterns of social inequality in the world as a whole
Anberlin has been advocating awareness about global stratification through Faceless International. Anberlin has also been on mission trips to Haiti, where they have helped underprivileged youth in education. Their guitarist, Christian McAlhaney , has been using Anberlin as a venue to encourage fans to make a difference not only locally, but around the world.
Modernization Theory - a model of economic and social development that explains global inequality in terms of technological and cultural differences between nations.
On tour, Anberlin has used the modernization theory to explain global differences in the country and how privileged people, such as their fans in high-income countries (US, UK, etc), can make a difference by donating, purchasing certain products, or even visiting different low-income countries.
Colonialism - the process by which some nations enrich themselves through political and economic control of other nations
Anberlin is trying to stop the spread of colonialism through Faceless International and their own independent charity projects, such as helping out the victims of slave traifficking in Haiti.
High-Income Countries - the nations with the highest overall standards of living.
Multinational Corperation - a large business that operates in many countries.
Global Stratification - patterns of social inequality in the world as a whole
Modernization Theory - a model of economic and social development that explains global inequality in terms of technological and cultural differences between nations.
Colonialism - the process by which some nations enrich themselves through political and economic control of other nations