Each month, I summarize local, national and international “stories of need” from local, national and international news sites, blogs, press releases and editorials. The following are some of July’s most need-in-the-news-worthy stories:
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA — The U.S. government separated and detained the children of immigrants. Scientists forecasted a bleak future in relation to drought in the West. On Table Rock Lake in Branson, Mo., Tia Coleman survived but lost nine of her family members when their tourist “duck boat” sank. It was also a bad month for Denver area non-profits as The Action Center was forced to close its homeless shelter and an Aurora food bank is on the brink of closure.
ETHIOPIA & ERITREA — When two leaders hug it can symbolize the hope of peace for millions. And they are not alone in seeking peace and new connection.
JAPAN — At least 176 people died and 20,000 were stranded because of flooding and mudslides.
IRELAND — Ireland recently voted to divest from fossil fuels.
At times, what gets lost in the concern and clamor over major local, national and international events and issues, are ordinary people, communities, businesses and other groups doing extraordinary things. Here are a handful I’ve heard about recently:
SREBRENICA (Bosnia) — Ramiz Nukic survived genocide and has dedicated his life to find the remains of those who didn’t.
U.S.-MEXICO BORDER — These ordinary people have a macabre, but extraordinary humanitarian mission — finding the dead bodies of people who have crossed the U.S.-Mexico border.
DENVER (Colorado) — Rev. Dawn Riley Duval and Rev. Tuwana Davis promote social justice and help raise awareness of racism.
BANGLADESH —
This farmer and his family in Bangladesh took in 351 Rohingya refugees into their home. pic.twitter.com/Sf6z7GHzdw
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) July 17, 2018
Thoughts and stories worth reflection:
PUTTING A FACE TO A “BAD” NAME — There’s a lot of talk about the ‘refugee problem’ — but what’s needed is more humanization of people who find themselves forced from their native country.
RESURRECTING A CIVIL RIGHTS TRAGEDY — The Justice Department has reopened the Emmett Till murder case.
SCRIPTURE AS RESISTANCE — More of us need to read the Bible as a literature of resistance.
ALL STORIES ARE EQUAL, BUT… — Some disaster stories are more equal than others, at least in the popular minds of a media-hungry world.
MAPPING MASSACRES — Place-names often reveal clues about massacres of indigenous people in Australia (and not just in Australia).
