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
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, May 14 we have this chance with The National Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive.
You are asked to leave non-perishable 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 Bennington Banner:
Filed under global hunger, Uncategorized
Last summer in the New York Times I wrote about the importance of school meals for children victimized by the war in Syria. We can do so much more for them, as we did for children in Europe and Asia affected by World War II.
Lebanon is one of the main countries where Syrians have fled to during the last five years of civil war. But once the refugees arrive they face all kinds of challenges just to have the basics of food and shelter. They have little or no resources.
Read my full commentary at The Huffington Post.
Filed under global hunger, Uncategorized
The news coming from Haiti is very alarming. The El Niño weather phenomenon has struck again, this time leading to a severe drought.
It’s been so bad for farmers that many have lost more than 82 percent of production. That is leaving Haitian families with low food supply. Any food that is available at markets is high priced.
See my full commentary at The Huffington Post.
Filed under global hunger, Uncategorized
Author William Lambers 