bits and bites 4/20/08: us news, world news
Now, normally, I try and keep things light, to provide a touch of silliness to an increasingly dismal world.
Unfortunately, it seems as though things will not get better soon, and there are many more important issues other than the impending Pennsylvania primary and the papal visit that are not getting near the amount of coverage or attention that they should be, as they are larger human issues of international importance.
The US economy weakened more than was initially estimated, and the dollar still plummets in value, aggravating the already dismal housing and credit markets. Additionally, wholesale prices have nearly tripled, raising food and energy costs. Oil has now soared to past $115 a barrel. Increasing demands for biofuels are compounding the world hunger crisis, as corn is being used in excess in order to try to act ‘greener’. The impact of this is only now starting to ripple across the world.
North Korea may fall into a famine, as their economic situation is complicated by the recent floods in the country. Breadlines are now a common sight in Egpyt.There have already been riots in Haiti and over thirty developing nations are at risk of falling into economic and social disorder if things proceed in this manner.
What can be done?
I think that the best thing to do now is to make the issue known, to inform others about what is going on.
The non-profit organization ONE.ORG is sponsoring a petition to urge President Bush to bring up the issue of World Hunger at the G8 Summit this summer.
The petition reads as follows:
President Bush,
The soaring cost of staple foods and the resulting hunger crisis has caused riots from Haiti to Bangladesh, threatens hundreds of thousands of people with starvation and could push one hundred million more people deeper into poverty. Please build on your recent commitment by taking immediate action to:
1. Prioritize issues of global poverty, including the world hunger crisis, on the agenda of the G8 Summit this July in Japan.
2. At the summit, secure commitments for additional resources for all types of food assistance and increased agricultural productivity in developing countries.
Make your voice heard and sign the petition here.
Violence in Iraq has escalated in the past few days, with suicide bombers killing 42 at an Iraqi funeral and other bombings on Tuesday killed nearly 60.
On Tuesday, a a plane crashed in Congo, killing at least 38 and injuring 115. There are still 20 people missing.
In a horrifying story coming out of Detriot, a jury rejected an 18-year-old's claim that he acted in self-defense, finding him guilty of murder in the gory stabbing, beheading and torching of a Michigan man. The jury of eight men and four women deliberated for more than 10 hours over two days before finding Jean Pierre Orlewicz guilty of first-degree murder, felony murder and mutilation.
Ending on a positive note, two SFSU alumni were recently awarded the Pulitzer prize for poetry and journalism. Philip Schultz won for his latest book poetry, entitled "Failure," and journalist Jose Antonio Vargas, who writes for the Washington Post and helped cover the Virginia Tech Shooting earlier this year.
Unfortunately, it seems as though things will not get better soon, and there are many more important issues other than the impending Pennsylvania primary and the papal visit that are not getting near the amount of coverage or attention that they should be, as they are larger human issues of international importance.
The US economy weakened more than was initially estimated, and the dollar still plummets in value, aggravating the already dismal housing and credit markets. Additionally, wholesale prices have nearly tripled, raising food and energy costs. Oil has now soared to past $115 a barrel. Increasing demands for biofuels are compounding the world hunger crisis, as corn is being used in excess in order to try to act ‘greener’. The impact of this is only now starting to ripple across the world.
North Korea may fall into a famine, as their economic situation is complicated by the recent floods in the country. Breadlines are now a common sight in Egpyt.There have already been riots in Haiti and over thirty developing nations are at risk of falling into economic and social disorder if things proceed in this manner.
What can be done?
I think that the best thing to do now is to make the issue known, to inform others about what is going on.
The non-profit organization ONE.ORG is sponsoring a petition to urge President Bush to bring up the issue of World Hunger at the G8 Summit this summer.
The petition reads as follows:
President Bush,
The soaring cost of staple foods and the resulting hunger crisis has caused riots from Haiti to Bangladesh, threatens hundreds of thousands of people with starvation and could push one hundred million more people deeper into poverty. Please build on your recent commitment by taking immediate action to:
1. Prioritize issues of global poverty, including the world hunger crisis, on the agenda of the G8 Summit this July in Japan.
2. At the summit, secure commitments for additional resources for all types of food assistance and increased agricultural productivity in developing countries.
Make your voice heard and sign the petition here.
Violence in Iraq has escalated in the past few days, with suicide bombers killing 42 at an Iraqi funeral and other bombings on Tuesday killed nearly 60.
On Tuesday, a a plane crashed in Congo, killing at least 38 and injuring 115. There are still 20 people missing.
In a horrifying story coming out of Detriot, a jury rejected an 18-year-old's claim that he acted in self-defense, finding him guilty of murder in the gory stabbing, beheading and torching of a Michigan man. The jury of eight men and four women deliberated for more than 10 hours over two days before finding Jean Pierre Orlewicz guilty of first-degree murder, felony murder and mutilation.
Ending on a positive note, two SFSU alumni were recently awarded the Pulitzer prize for poetry and journalism. Philip Schultz won for his latest book poetry, entitled "Failure," and journalist Jose Antonio Vargas, who writes for the Washington Post and helped cover the Virginia Tech Shooting earlier this year.