NY Times: "Across Globe, Empty Bellies Bring Rising Anger'

The April 18 New York Times ran an article about the increasing food riots across the globe. These clashes are becoming more an more common as people on the edge are feeling desperation and anger. All of these stories are illustrating how extreme poverty alleviation is not only a matter of morality, charity, social justice or national security, but all of those things together.

Here are excerpts:

"Saint Louis Meriska’s children ate two spoonfuls of rice apiece as their only meal recently and then went without any food the following day. His eyes downcast, his own stomach empty, the unemployed father said forlornly, “They look at me and say, ‘Papa, I’m hungry,’ and I have to look away. It’s humiliating and it makes you angry. That anger is palpable across the globe. The food crisis is not only being felt among the poor but is also eroding the gains of the working and middle classes, sowing volatile levels of discontent and putting new pressures on fragile governments."

“Why are these riots happening?” asked Arif Husain, senior food security analyst at the World Food Program, which has issued urgent appeals for donations. “The human instinct is to survive, and people are going to do no matter what to survive. And if you’re hungry you get angry quicker.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/18/world/americas/18food.htmlx=1209614400&en=fad837a1acd76314&ei=5070&emc=eta1

Bloggers Against Hunger, June 18

The forwarded message is from a blogger friend of mine. She's organizing a Blog Against Hunger day. Even if your blog doesn't directly have to do with poverty issues, please consider doing a post about something hunger related on June 18. You could publicize an event, promote a hunger-fighting org,post your own musings... Help raise awareness and maybe learn more about an issue yourself! Thanks!

-ccyl

http://endpoverty-ccyl.blogspot.com/

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The lines in the soup kitchens and food pantries are growing. More and more people need help, and not enough is being done to provide for those in need.

I'm inviting all of you to take on the issue of hunger in America. On Wednesday June 18, I need you to post a blog calling attention to the fact that the poor are getting poorer, while our nation fails to acknowledge the need to do something to change things. The ongoing cycle of poverty needs to end.

Think about the situation in your home town and what could be done to make a difference. Spotlight an organization that is working to make changes. Write about your personal experiences and actions. But do something to raise awareness of a growing issue here that is destined to grow worse as the economy continues to spiral downward.


Join Bloggers Against Hunger and post a blog about hunger issues on June 18. In the interim, you can send a letter to your local paper letting them know about the planned blogfest on June 18, notify your churches and synagogues and ask them to join in the effort, and alert your friends and colleagues to participate. There is a similar BAH groups set up on MySpace and Facebook, so let your friends there know about it as well.

Just a reminder that on Saturday, May 10, the Postal Carriers are doing their annual food drive. You can leave a bag of canned goods by your mailbox, and they will collect it and bring it to local food pantries. Do what you can to help someone in need.

A Survey from Howard Dean: Where is Poverty in the Dem Issues?

I just finished filling out a survey from the Democratic National Committee. Apparently, my voice is important to deciding the campaign strategy for the general election? Well, that's debatable, but what I want to write about was the one of the questions that had to do with ranking the importance of election issues. 14 were listed: Education, environment, health care, civil rights/liberties, immigration, social security, ethics in government, reproductive rights, homeland security, stem cell research, Iraq, taxes, energy policy, and jobs/economy.

Where was Poverty?

I know that it is a complex issue that spans education, healthcare, jobs/economy, civil rights and immigration. But really, I think it deserves it's own category seeing as how over 35 million Americans are food insecure and 1.1 billion people live in extreme poverty around the world. Doesn't it deserve a _mention_ in a Democratic party survey? I mean, if the Dems aren't even going to bring it up amongst themselves, who is going to talk about poverty? Clinton was very quick to jump on the bandwagon earlier in the primary, claiming poverty was "central" to her campaign after Edwards said it was central to his. But if it doesn't have to do with the healthcare part of it, I don't hear it being discussed. More and more people are getting on food stamps and hunger riots are breaking out globally. I hear and see plenty of coverage on this from NPR, the NY Times, the Chicago Trib, and the Economist, but nothing from our candidates. Obama a great record on poverty-fighting legislation like Farm Bill subsidy reform and the Global Poverty Act. But even he isn't bringing those up. We really have to talk about these things out in the open if we are going to change them. Words matter...change... So, let's speak some words about poverty again and change some lives for the better!

I've got to find Howard Dean's address somewhere here on this survey....