Yemen has been in the news this week after Al Qaeda attacked a military base in the southern part of the country. Both the Al Qaeda and ISIS terrorist groups are operating in Yemen, which has been in chaos from a civil war since last year.
But what has not made the news is the biggest threat of all to Yemen: famine.
See my full commentary at the Huffington Post:
Filed under global hunger, Uncategorized
On World Refugee Day today, let’s remember the starving war victims from Boko Haram’s reign of terror.
Think of the farmers in Nigeria who have been forced from their land by Boko Haram’s attacks. Think of the malnourished children in Cameroon, internally displaced with their families because Boko Haram crosses the border from Nigeria with its terror.
Read the full article at Cleveland.com.
Filed under global hunger, Uncategorized
Championships can be won, in part, during the off-season. When my cross country team at Elder High School in Cincinnati went unbeaten and won the state title, one of the reasons was the summer.
Either we would run on our own, or meet with teammates for an evening run. Everyone on the team definitely kept in shape during the summer. I would say most of my teammates ran at least hundreds of miles. That way when the season started we were already in really good condition and ready for the races!
Read the full article at the Huffington Post:
Filed under global hunger, Uncategorized
The Republican-led Senate has the power to ratify the test ban treaty. It can finish a journey started by one of their own, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who believed that ending testing was a step toward global disarmament. Ike did not want Americans to have carry the expensive burden of nukes forever.
Read the letter at the New York Times.
Filed under global hunger, nuclear weapons, Uncategorized
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) announced today that Pope Francis will be visiting the agency’s headquarters on June 13. This will be the first time a Pope has ever visited the WFP, which is based in Rome.
WFP is the largest hunger relief organization in the world. The UN food agency fights hunger in over seventy countries. They are the lead player in achieving the UN Sustainable Development goal of zero hunger.
Pope Francis will speak to the WFP Executive Board on the morning of the 13th. In the afternoon, the Pope will address WFP staff worldwide through a webcast.
The Pope has said, “it is a well-known fact that current levels of production are sufficient, yet millions of people are still suffering and dying of starvation. This is truly scandalous.” He will seek to rally worldwide support for ending hunger.
WFP is leading hunger relief in war-torn Syria, Iraq and other nations facing conflict, natural disasters and poverty. The agency depends entirely on voluntary donations from the public and governments. The WFP food assistance includes emergency rations, school meals, nutritional foods for infants, and food for work projects to help grow communities.
Read the full article at Examiner.
Filed under global hunger, Uncategorized
Americans do need to pay more attention to nuclear weapons (“Presidential stakes are high for nuclear arsenal,” Editorial, May 25), especially as each citizen carries the heavy burden of their cost. Estimates have the United States spending $1 trillion over the next three decades on our nuclear arsenal.
See my full letter at the Boston Globe.
Filed under nuclear weapons, Uncategorized
President Obama makes a historic visit to Hiroshima, Japan this week. He is the first sitting president of the United States to visit the site of the first atomic bomb dropped on Japan during World War II. The threat of this ultimate weapon of mass destruction has loomed over mankind ever since the war. Leading the charge today for nuclear disarmament is a group called Global Zero.
I recently interviewed Mary Popeo, an activist who started the Boston chapter of Global Zero. She talks about getting the group started, what role they will play in this year’s presidential election, and how you can get involved.
Read the full interview at Blogcritics.
Filed under nuclear weapons, Uncategorized
History is being made this week with President Obama’s visit to Hiroshima. He is the only sitting U.S. president to make the trip to the site of the first atomic bombing on Japan during World War II.
Mary Popeo, of the nuclear disarmament group Global Zero, exclaims, “Having spent three summers in Hiroshima and Nagasaki working with the Japanese bomb victims and the Japanese peace movement, I can tell you that Obama’s trip is a huge deal!”
The President should use this historic opportunity to build support for the global treaty ending nuclear weapons testing. The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) is the key to unlocking the door to a future without the crushing burden and fear of nuclear weapons.
See my full commentary at the History News Network
Filed under History, Uncategorized
This Saturday, May 14, you can take action to feed the hungry just by leaving non-perishable food by your mailbox. It’s the national Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive. It helps fight hunger by providing much needed support to Feeding America foodbanks all across the country.
On the morning of May 14 you are asked to leave non-perishable food items by your mailbox. These can be items like pasta, rice, peanut butter or any foods that have a long shelf life. Your donations of food will be picked up by your letter carrier that same day.
The food will be taken to emergency foodbanks in your area. Your donations will fight hunger in your community.
This is especially critical with summer approaching because food donations decline during these months. Food banks do not want to face empty shelves during summer. They depend on the national food drive to prevent this from happening.
Sarah Cook of the Cincinnati Freestore Foodbank says, “Stamp Out Hunger is among the top three biggest food drives to support our efforts. Last year’s donations through the food drive were the equivalent of more than 51,000 meals. With one in six neighbors in the Tri-State area facing hunger, we hope that residents continue to support this event. And it’s such an easy way to give back.”
All it takes is leaving some food by your mailbox on Saturday, May 14. You are also asked to share photos of your donations on social media with the hashtag #stampouthunger
This will be the 24th year of the Stamp Out Hunger National Food Drive. For more information visit www.nalc.org/food.
Read the full article at Examiner.
Filed under Hunger in America, Uncategorized
What if we had the power to end hunger in America? We could bring a source of stability and hope to every community.
On Saturday, we have this chance with The National Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive.
You are asked to leave nonperishable food next to your mailbox. These would be items liked boxed cereals, rice, pasta and other foods that have a long shelf life.
Read my full commentary in the Pensacola News Journal:
Filed under Hunger in America, Uncategorized
Author William Lambers 