In a 5 January New York Times op-ed, Nick Kristof reminds us that each month (!!) more people die of AIDS (240,000) and Malaria (165,000) than did in the tsunami. (Another 140K ... PER MONTH ... die of diarrhea.) These deaths are not "spectacular" except to families and loved ones, but are a stain on all our existences.
My (very small) suggestion: With 3 friends (initially) start a monthly lunch-time "study session" on such topics. We must begin by working on ourselves—our own sensibilities & sensitivities.