Salem-News.com Poverty articles Page 23

The Golden Rings of Betrayal

Report Coincides With New Effort to Break Gaza Siege.

(BEIRUT) - On the 21st of June Haaretz published an article, “Lebanon allows Gaza-bound ship to sail to Cyprus.” Two ships may be involved, one with a contingent of Americans, approximately 10, another with a group of women including Nuns, the Miriam.

This new effort at breaking the Israeli siege of Gaza follows the attack on the boats that sailed from Turkey where 9 people were killed by Israeli naval forces.

Arizona Immigration Law & Senators John McCain & Russell Pearce

One source suggests that it is little more than a “publicity stunt.”

(LOS ANGELES) - One national report calls it, "Arizona's New Low" and it just might be; the latest idea of State Sen. Russell Pearce is to deny citizenship to people born in the U.S. if their parents happen to be here illegally.

There is no question that laws should be followed, they exist for a reason, but it is not that simple. People who were born in the USA are Americans.

Innovation of the Week: Getting Water to Crops

After just two years of improved irrigation provided by a treadle pump, Robert Mwanza grew more than enough vegetables to feed his wife and eight children.

(DAKAR, Senegal) - In 1999, when he purchased his first treadle pump, Robert Mwanza, a farmer in Lusaka, Zambia, was struggling to make ends meet and without reliable access to water. As his country dealt with drought and economic weakness, Robert lacked the necessary resources to irrigate his farm and “couldn’t grow enough to eat, let alone sell.”

Access to water is a luxury that many rural households, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, do not have.

World Hunger

Hunger is an offence to human dignity.

(MADRID) - An infant’s semblance is the image of an adult’s moral condition. Any civilization that fights against infancy is a world that has lost all sorts of hope. Infancy in poverty, sacrifice, and abuse is a crime against humanity that will sooner or later be judged by its own descendants.

Colonias to Get Centennial Boost

Bordering Mexico, Dona Ana County hosts 37 federally-designated colonias with a combined population of about 100,000 people.

(LAS CRUCES, N.M.) - New Mexico state Senator Mary Kay Papen has taken many a memorable truck ride on the bumpy roads of the numerous communities in her district called colonias. The Dona Ana County lawmaker says she even once donned work boots to wade through a street where sewage was spilling onto the surface.

“Very deplorable conditions,” Papen recalls.

CITIZENS OF ISRAEL -- Please Sign - A Declaration of Support for the Break the Siege Flotilla

To sign the statement please send an e-mail to eilat@coalitionofwomen.org

(TEL AVIV) - The Coalition of Women for Peace in Israel is asking other Israeli citizens to please take a minute to sign a declaration of support on behalf of citizens of Israel for the huge (more than 700 people) Break the Siege of Gaza Flotilla that is planned to arrive at the Gaza port during the weekend.

This declaration is especially important because the Israeli navy is threatening to stop the boats and arrest the activists.

Innovation of the Week: Providing an Agricultural Answer to Nature`s Call

The real scoop on the lifesaving use of 'poop'.

(DAKAR, Senegal) - It’s hard to believe, but an estimated 2.6 billion people in the developing world—nearly a third of the global population—still lack access to basic sanitation services.

This presents a significant hygiene risk, especially in densely populated urban areas and slums where contaminated drinking water can spread disease rapidly.

Gaza Artist Discusses Art and Oppression in Dual Languages

Shareef Sarhan talks to Tim King about life as a dedicated, passionate artist of Gaza. (Arabic and English / بالعربية والإنكليزية)

(GAZA CITY / SALEM) - Shareef is an artist who creates amazing images of Gaza. I asked about the impact this has on people to see such suffering through your camera lens.

He says art has a significant role in daily life in Gaza, and many people all over around the world look forward to it. It is a toll in which we can transform the nature of life; either delight or suffering, through my camera, video, audio art or other artistic devices.

Homegrown Solutions to Alleviating Hunger and Poverty

Women growing vegetable gardens in a slum outside of Nairobi, Kenya, were among the best prepared for the country’s 2007 food crisis, despite being some of the poorest.

(DAKAR, Senegal) - “We’ve got hundreds of local foods, almost 600 that we’ve categorized through our research,” said Kristof Nordin in a January interview with Nourishing the Planet.

“But we are starving because we are only planting one crop: maize, which came originally from America.”

`Israel`s Intimidation Tactics Won`t Stop Us`: First Ship Sets Sail for Gaza!

More brave people set sail with relief for Gaza, knowing Israel will probably react violently.

(DUBLIN) - The MV Rachel Corrie, a 1200-ton cargo ship, part of an 8-vessel Freedom Flotilla, is on its way to Gaza.

This past week reports from Israel have indicated that authorities will not allow the Freedom Flotilla to reach Gaza with its cargo of much-needed reconstruction material, medical equipment, and school supplies.