Salem-News.com Poverty articles Page 33

Inaugural Balls Will Help Fight Hunger

‏Celebrate the inauguration of Barack Obama as President of the United States, Tuesday, January 20th, while helping to fight hunger.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - To emphasize Obama's call to community service, a number of local inaugural events ask attendees to bring food or fund donations to benefit Oregon Food Bank.

"These tough economic times affect us all, but our low-income neighbors are hardest-hit," says Rachel Bristol, OFB's executive director and CEO.

"We need the support of the entire community to respond to this dramatic increase in need, especially after the holidays when donations usually drop off."

Militants in Lebanon Blaze Rockets Into Israel

The attacks come a day after Hezbollah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah delivered a fiery speech in Beirut in which he warned Israel not to attack Lebanon.

(SALEM, Ore.) - As many sources predicted, Israel’s conflict with Hamas in Gaza broadened Thursday as at least three rockets were fired into the north of Israel from Lebanon. It isn't clear who was behind the attacks.

David Hartwell, IHS Jane’s Middle East Analyst commented, “The rockets, said by media reports to be Katyusha variants, landed in the vicinity of Nahariyya, an Israeli town eight km from the border with Lebanon. Israeli forces in the area, which have been on high alert since the start of military operations in Gaza, returned mortar fire in response to the attack, which caused only minor casualties.”

Security sources in Lebanon told reporters that the rockets probably were not fired under instructions from the militant group Hezbollah. The group has neither confirmed or denied responsibility for the attacks.

Kindness Pays BIG Dividends...

Poor people are targeted and made into criminals; there are no SAFE place to sleep, and too often shelters are NOT SAFE. People face loitering laws, and there are no public places for people to sleep/rest, why not???

(MENDOCINO ) - Many people are losing their homes, jobs, retirement funds and sources of financial well-being. What are YOU doing about it not just to secure your own future but what about your community?

Did you know that a growing segment of poor and homeless people are War Veterans as well as children and families? According to the National Coalition for the Homeless, 1.2 million children are homeless on any given night. Also, the U.S. Department of Education that report almost 400,000 homeless children were served by the nation's public schools last year.

The World Should Stop Israel`s Killing Machine (VIDEO)

The country that the United States has shown decades of blind support for while contributing billions in U.S. taxpayer revenue, has a seriously checkered past when it comes to military restraint.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Today's Israel began its existence as a terrorist nation. That is a hard fact for many people to accept, but it is true.

Great Britain and the United States were complicit in the formation of the Jewish state, and both nations are also presently aware that Israel has undeclared nuclear weapons pointing at its neighbors, as it lies to the world and claims to be a non-nuclear entity.

Today Israel is a country that kills large numbers of Palestinian people in retaliation for the loss of a few of their own. Today, it is a country despised by its neighbors over its lack of lethal restraint in resolving its affairs.

Art Mimics, Mocks, The Economic Downturn

Over the past few months, in sync with growing bad news about the economy, a number of artworks related to tight credit, high unemployment, corporate greed and Washington politics are showing up in artists' galleries.

(CHICAGO, Ill.) - Internet art gallery DiscoveredArtists.com reports that the adage, art mimics life holds true, and also reports that some art mocks life, especially art related to the recent economic downturn.

A growing number of paintings and fine art photos posted to the online art gallery are themed around current woes related to the financial crisis. The artworks range in temper from sympathetic, empathetic reflections on the plight of the common man, to critical commentary on corporate greed, and mockery of leadership responsible for the worsening economic outlook.

Analysis From Jane’s Country Risk Daily Report on the Mumbai attacks

Comment from Jane’s South Asia Analyst, Urmila Venugopalan.

(LONDON) - “An unknown group, Deccan Mujahideen, has reportedly claimed responsibility for the attacks via email, although this has yet to be verified.” Jane’s South Asia Analyst, Urmila Venugopalan, commented. “Nevertheless, it has triggered speculation that the group may be linked to the Indian Mujhaideen, which sent email manifestos claiming responsibility for four attacks it carried out between November 2007 and September 2008.”

Jane’s Country Risk Daily Report explained that an examination of the strategy and tactics employed by this new group suggest significant differences to the terrorist violence that has beset India over the past 15 years and specifically over the past year.

Attacking international and luxury hotels and other soft targets is not a new phenomenon in the region, particularly in light of the September 2008 Mariott bombing in Islamabad that killed more than 50 people, but the apparent focus on killing or capturing foreign businesspeople, specifically US and UK nationals, has never occurred before, suggesting a wider global anti-Western agenda.

New WFP Country Director Pledges Continued Support for People of Afghanistan

The people of this beleaguered nation will see more help from the world community.

(KABUL, Afghanistan) - The new representative for the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in Afghanistan, Stefano Porretti, has pledged to continue WFP's support for the poorest and most vulnerable members of Afghan society – especially women and children.

"I want to build on the achievements of former WFP Country Directors in continuing WFP strong commitment to assist the Government and people of Afghanistan to address their hunger and nutrition challenges even in the face of major security risks by providing food assistance to the millions of Afghan people who need help," Porretti said, adding that he would be looking to the international community to provide the support WFP needs to assist up to 9 million Afghans.

Mr. Stefano Porretti an Italian national, he holds University (Laurea) degree in Geology. He has been working for the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) since 1987. He has been assigned the WFP Country Director and Representative in Afghanistan since October 2008.

Op Ed: Education Nation’s
Foremost Priority
For 21st Century

“Know-Nothing” election damage demands action.

(EUGENE, Ore.) - The American public sometimes has to learn the hard way what constitutes common-sense action in the most demanding of situations.

Recent damaging effects of the dual-party “know-nothing” approach to issues make it painfully clear: Comprehensive review of our educational system is now by far the highest priority demanded for our 21st Century America.

Widespread politically pandering vote-seeking propaganda, substituting for issue-clarifying dialog, clearly became the major pry-tool for prevaricators on both sides.

WFP Welcomes Indian Biscuit Donation for Afghan Children

Afghanistan is one of WFP's largest operations and requires an additional US$17 million over the next six months to provide 24,000 metric tons of food.

(KABUL, Afghanistan) - The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today welcomed a US$12 million contribution from the Government of India that will be used to provide fortified biscuits made from Indian wheat to schoolchildren in Afghanistan.

The biscuits - produced in factories around New Delhi and Amritsar - will be shipped to Afghanistan through Pakistan, marking a major transportation breakthrough that opens a new route for humanitarian assistance from India.

"Thanks to the generosity of the Government of India, more than one and a half million schoolchildren in Afghanistan will receive a nutritious snack in school," said Rikki Maliklali, WFP Deputy Country Director in Afghanistan, adding that hunger negatively affects the development of the brain and limits a child's chances of educational success.

Escalating Violence Threatens Civilians in DR Congo

Non governmental organizations are forced to evacuate staff from key towns.

(NEW YORK) - Concern Worldwide today warned of a looming humanitarian disaster in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The UN High Commissioner for Refugees reported yesterday that in the past few days, as many as 45,000 people have fled fresh fighting as rebels advanced toward the provincial capital of Goma, which they threatened to overtake.

More than 1.3 million people have already been displaced from their homes, and humanitarian agencies are struggling to maintain effective operations. Rebel CNDP forces continue their advance against government FARDC troops in the eastern province of North Kivu.

Concern has evacuated its staff from Masisi and Goma, and is calling on the international community to broker a ceasefire. Concern has approximately 300 local and international staff based in DRC.