Need in the News, Vol. I, Issue 4

Mohamed Nasheed of the Maldives briefs reporters during the 2009 Copenhagen climate change talks. At the time, Nasheed was president of the Maldives, but he was forced to resign under threat of violence from a coup in February 2012. (Adam Wells, tcktcktck campaign, via Wikimedia Commons)
Mohamed Nasheed of the Maldives briefs reporters during the 2009 Copenhagen climate change talks. At the time, Nasheed was president of the Maldives, but he was forced to resign under threat of violence from a coup in February 2012. (Adam Wells, tcktcktck campaign, via Wikimedia Commons)

An overview of stories of need with links to news articles, editorials, press releases and blog posts from around the nation and the world:

 

Front-Page Worthy

 

Fighting the Good Fight

  • NEVER FORGET: On April 19, people around the world, including thousands at the former Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz in Poland, participated in Holocaust Remembrance Day.
  • WATER RESCUE: Witnesses waded into Denver’s Cherry Creek to save a driver whose car had overturned underwater.
  • FILMMAKING FOR GOOD: In mid-April, the two-day conference Envision 2012 explored how documentaries can help promote a sustainable future.
  • WORKERS’ ALLIANCE: A movement for the labor rights of domestic workers is being led, in part, by Ai-jen Poo, the director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance. The NDWA’s 35 local affiliates in 19 cities and 11 states speak out on behalf of nannies, housekeepers and caregivers for the elderly.
  • NATURE DEFICIT DISORDER: Should we be encouraging our children to spend more time outdoors?

Troublespot Alerts

  • THE SUDANS: The armed conflict between Sudan and the world’s newest nation, South Sudan, continued to escalate. In the disputed region of Heglig, several foreigners were detained by Sudanese officials and accused of spying for South Sudan.
  • MALI: West African mediators encountered resistance to their efforts to bring stability to the destablized country, where a military junta recently took over the government, then handed over power to an interim civilian government.
  • SENEGAL: A potential food crisis looms as farmers may not be able to plant their crops.
  • THE SAHEL: The severe food crisis continues in the Sahel region of Africa. This month aid groups admitted a cash shortfall in their efforts to combat the crisis.
  • SYRIA: Violence continued in Syria, placing the already precarious U.N.-backed ceasefire in doubt.

 

Reflections & Reviews

 

Published in April on EverydayEpics.com

  • Change at the Grange — The Crescent Grange in Broomfield, Colo., and its long-term partners hope to be a model and catalyst for community service and renewal.
  • Habitat Home Repairs — A local Habitat for Humanity program helps qualified families complete needed repairs.
  • Easter, war and deconstruction — Thoughts on the sobering past of violence committed by Christians against other Christians.
  • A Truly Good Friday — A profile on Northern Ireland and the remarkable Good Friday Agreement, which brought peace after decades of violence between Protestant unionists and Catholic nationalists.
  • Forgive when? — A guest commentary on Easter, forgiveness and hope by Fr. Chris Bollegar.
  • A liturgy for tragedy — Commentary on experiencing a “Moment of Blessing” liturgy at the site of a recent murder in North Denver.

 

Coming Up

  • Commentary: Social services and human dignity, what is the “good news”?, and the role of churches in addressing the story of need. Also, a guest commentary on health care in America.
  • Stories: A survey of health care in Colorado, everyday life for a foster family and the everyday challenges of immigrants.

 


Feel free to share your thoughts about this month’s review of “need in the news” or offer additional links below.

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