by Brook Wilkinson

Starting early next year, travelers will likely be asked if they want to make a suggested donation of $2 each time they buy an airline ticket. The fundraising effort is part of MassiveGood, a joint project involving the Millennium Foundation (an NGO dedicated to raising money to support the UN's goal of fighting HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis in developing countries), the World Travel & Tourism Council, and other travel partners. Those travelers who agree to make the small contribution will be supporting UNITAID, which is already receiving funding from airline ticket taxes levied by several countries in Europe, Asia, South America, and Africa. UNITAID uses this money to place large orders for medication; this in turn drives down prices and allows the contribution to make an even greater impact. It's a model that's gotten the attention of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, a well-respected philanthropic organization.

What do you think? Will you click the box to add an extra $2 to your spring break flight next year? Or would you rather make your charitable donations elsewhere? How do you make sure that your travel gives something back to the earth and its inhabitants?

Further reading:
* Check out our live reports from Monday's World Savers Congress, an event that brought together travel industry leaders to talk about corporate social responsibility
* Responsible Traveler: Making a difference