AP Photo via MSNBC

My focus on promoting hope is opening up a circle of relationships that truly inspire us. A couple weeks ago, I wrote what’s immediately become one of our most popular articles, thanks to the Shakira forums around the world: Shakira, a Smart Sensuality Activist, Takes Me Back to Colombia, Where My Life Journey Really Began.

We Smart Sensuality ladies love the fact that Shakira combines sensual sizzle with a longstanding, dedicated commitment to activism.

The more I learn about Shakira, she’s right up there with Angelina Jolie and Madonna, combining Smart Sensuality with global change.

In truth, she may be leading the pack of sexy, intelligent, woman determined to change the world!

Shakira and Howard Buffett

Calling out last week’s Wall Street Journal’s feature on Warren Buffett’s son Howard, on the ground in Africa working with local farmers, I somehow missed the fact that Howard and Shakira are buddies.

“That rocks”, I said, revisiting the article yesterday.

In a footnote to my enthusiasm about the work of people like Shakira and Howard Buffett, I underscore the fact that time may be running out for us all to get our butts in gear on the massive challenges that we face.

Warren Buffett says about his middle child son: “He’s got my money and his mother’s heart.” Howie, as Buffet is called’ is featured in a new book “Enough: Why the World’s Poorest Starve in an Age of Plenty” by Roger Thurow and Scott Kilman.

Buffett estimates that his foundation has helped 1.5 million Africans so far, but says “I am more discouraged than I was when I started. The problems are so huge.”

So off we go in our expanding treasure hunt to write about ‘celanthropy’, a world away from the often simplistic and ineffective celebrity activism of yore, says the Economist’s Intelligent Life magazine.

Intelligent Life takes us to Mexico City where Shakira has Howard Buffett in tow. Howard Buffett has given Shakira $85m to support of ALAS (“wings”), a new pan-Latin American foundation focused on children.

We learned about ALAS in my Shakira feature, but not Fundación Pies Descalzos (“bare feet”), a charitable foundation named after her first big hit album, to help refugee children in Colombia, in 1997, when she was just 20. This Shakira woman is positively amazing!

Shakira’s new single ‘She Wolf’ or Loba in Spanish, is ‘a reflection of her own liberty, as a woman of 32 years who feels the right to defend her wishes’.

Listen now to Loba in Spanish. Sunday night, July 12, download for free ‘She Wolf’ in English, at ABC Music Lounge. To track Shakira’s latest move (which I am doing, I assure you), bookmark Shakira.com.

After launching her new album in October 2009, Shakira says she has plans for children with boyfriend Antonio de la Rua. Shakira spoke with the El Tiempo newspaper at her home in the Bahamas, where she says she goes barefoot all day.

Shakira wants two children, while Antonio wants three. Do we have any doubt who will carry the day? I LOVE this woman … not that I just discovered her, but I had no idea that she is such a long-term activist. Bravo, Shakira!!!! Anne

Please note that I’ve added Shakira’s ALAS foundation to my select group of charities that I endorse. I just found this video about ALAS, with brief words by Howard Buffett.

ALAS

Update on 2010-01-24 02:11 by Anne

My dear Shakira and Howard Buffett fans,

Your energy and response to my writings really has me thinking about Shakira, going deeply into myself this weekend, reflecting on my life, my beliefs and what Shakira means to me.

My trendmeister instincts tell me that Shakira is destined to become one of the most influential women (people) of the 21st century.

For me, Shakira is a life philosophy. Howard Buffett clearly recognizes her competency and commitment.

She’s an activist movement and a powerful statement about what a woman can do, when she embraces her sensuality and talent; her inner voices and convictions; her courage and beliefs about the kind of life SHE wants to see operating in the world.

Most of all, Shakira is fearless in embracing her womanly beauty, energy, sexuality and vitality. To many people, she’s a threat. You must understand that fact.

We simply must support talented Latina woman in every possible way.

Thank you, Shakira fans, for helping me understand the full range and power of this incredible woman. I am deeply moved by her, her music and dance, her message, and her ability to persuade people like Howard Buffett to back her.

We should all be so lucky!

Peace. Anne