Salem-News.com Poverty articles Page 29

The Most Powerful Man Ruling Palestinians and More

"O you who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even though it be against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, be he rich or poor, Allah is a Better Protector to both (than you). So follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest you may avoid justice, and if you distort your witness or refuse to give it, verily, Allah is ever well ­acquainted with what you do."(Surah Nisaa':135)

(BETHLEHEM, Occupied Palestine) - Israel named a new ruler on Palestinians this week. Eitan Dangot will direct the Office of the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories in the Israel army.

Nothing goes in and out of the occupied areas or moves between its cities without his approval.

Signers

They are everywhere; at entrances and exits of shopping centers and on street corners and road dividers plying their ruse upon a decent public promising to “work for food” when no one in his or her right mind would want to hire them.

(PASO ROBLES, Calif.) - Every Rest Stop seems to have them, men and women holding hand- printed scrap-cardboard signs begging silently for “anything” [preferably cash] for gas, or you name it. Usually, they sit on a bench near restrooms facing the parking spaces.

Almost a Billion People in the World are Starving

"Millions and millions not served..."

(TEHRAN Press TV) - The increasing price of food has spiked the number of hunger-stricken people in the world by 40 million to reach 923 million in 2008.

According to a recent report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), more people will fall under the undernourished category if the current economic trend continues in the world.

Viva Palestina Convoy Arrives in Gaza

The current convoy, which first tried to cross into Gaza on July 11th, faced numerous obstacles.

(PALOS HILLS, Ill.) - To chants of ‘Viva! Viva! Palestina!’ more than 200 members of the Viva Palestina convoy made it into the Gaza Strip Wednesday after spending about six hours at the Rafah border processing paperwork.

Israel’s two-year siege of the Gaza Strip has plunged the tiny area of 1.5 million people into a humanitarian crisis. And Israel’s three-week assault further devastated the area when the military bombed homes, schools, mosques, hospitals and universities. The attack killed more than 1,400 Palestinians, wounded more than 5,300 and left more than 50,000 people homeless.

Christina Aguilera Lends Powerful Voice in Fight to End Hunger

She becomes the Global Spokesperson for World Hunger Relief Effort this Fall; she'll Raise Awareness of Hunger Issue by Appearing in PSA, Advertising, Posters and Online Campaign, FromHungerToHope.com.

(LOUISVILLE, Ky.) - Five-time Grammy Award winner Christina Aguilera is giving hunger a powerful voice by becoming the global spokesperson for World Hunger Relief.

Aguilera will help raise awareness of the hunger issue this fall by appearing in a new public service announcement, advertising and posters.

Oregon Tops National Homelessness Tally (AUDIO)

The AHAR report on homelessness is compiled for Congress by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

(SALEM, Ore. ONS) - The number of homeless people in Oregon has climbed for the third straight year. A new national report compiled for Congress by the Department of Housing and Urban Development says about one-half of one percent of Oregonians are homeless.

That may not sound like much, but it's a higher percentage than in any other state, compared to its total population, and it means 17,000 people statewide are living in shelters or on the street.

Israel: The Spin is Coming off the Rose

American voices are growing more openly critical of Israel as U.S. taxpayer money is swallowed by the Jewish state.

(CALGARY, Alberta) - Anti-Semitism used to be about bigotry and intolerance and justifiably condemned. Today anti-Semitism is about any criticism of Israel and its actions, no matter how legitimate and justifiable the criticism.

This latter is where I was until I started working with Salem-News. I’d always been a standard issue supporter of Israel, but that was because my view was formed by the contents of the standard media. Here at S-N, I’ve become aware that there are two sides to this tragic geopolitical horror show.

Egyptians Halt Viva Palestina Aid Convoy to Gaza

Former U.S. Congresswoman McKinney is in Cairo.

(PALOS HILLS, Ill.) - Egyptian authorities have stopped a massive aid shipment from reaching the Gaza Strip, while United States officials further complicated matters by requiring 50 American volunteers to sign an affidavit waiving their right to be protected on foreign soil.

Egyptian authorities will allow the Viva Palestina convoy to take two ambulances and an unspecified amount of medical supplies into the Strip, organizer George Galloway told the American Muslims for Palestine (AMP) Monday.

Singin` the Blues for Oregon Hunger Relief (AUDIO)

Volunteers collected about 91,000 pounds of food last year; this year's goal is 100,000 pounds.

(PORTLAND, Ore. ONS) - Where else can you get a full day of live music for ten bucks and a couple of cans of food? It's Waterfront Blues Festival weekend in Portland, starting on Thursday.

More than 120,000 people attend the four-day event - not all at once, of course! The musicians and fans are international, but the donations they generate stay in Oregon to restock Oregon Food Bank Network locations around the state. Musician Patrick Lamb and his blues band will be performing on Sunday. His band is one of more than 100 acts scheduled to perform.

California Republicans Win Gold Medals in Selfishness and Greed

The Republicans will not compromise, will not listen to reason, have no empathy for the average person, and will not allow any new taxes or tax increases.

(SACRAMENTO) - I challenge any and all of you to prove me wrong on this. As you may know, the state of California is facing a twenty four billion dollar deficit.

This is by far the largest deficit any state has faced in the history of the United States of America. The politicians have to fix this crises soon, or the state will run out of money.