We are living in the "New Depression."The highest unemployment rate in decades, millions of people live in the street, many of them minor children, more hard-working people with families losing their homes than ever before,,,"recession" is not a word that really cuts it for me.
We are (or should be) marching in the streets demanding rights of all kinds, to which we are entitled. The G20 Summit last week was a outright riot. So were several town hall meetings on health care reform. Seems along with our depression we have ourselves a revolution. I vote we step that up a couple notches.
There's an atmosphere of frustration because of contradictory announcements by politicos and "financial experts." From week to week, often within the same week, things are getting better or worse, depending upon who you believe.
Don't believe any of them. It's talk talk talk and nothing gets done.They're trying to lull us into a false sense of security, telling us what they think we want to hear, because if real change takes place, their military industrial machine grinds to a halt. What does any career politician or wall street insider making hundreds of thousands of dollars a year know about your life?
But there's also hope. To remind us all, I've decided to link a personal story about those who beat the odds.
The stories about the sex offenders is a conundrum for me. These guys have done their time, but what a heinous crime. Can human predators be rehabilitated? Doesn't everyone deserve a second chance? Do these guys warrant compassion?
The unbelievable thing is that living in the woods was the only solution anyone could offer these men, that they were released from prison with no security, no plan, nothing.
One of the finest people I've ever known did prison time, accused of child molesting. So I'm torn.
The audacity of Mattel Toys, the tenacity of homeless street newspaper vendors, the capacity for people to rise above every obstacle, to help one another, the audacity of hope...
Just write it off to just another day of being human.
I'd especially like to call your attention to the national articles about street newspapers. With the proper support, we'll have one here soon. I'll make sure of it.
Top Story
Food stamps not included with first homeless doll by Kim Ode Star Tribune (Minneapolis). Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. More, from TIME magazine. [photo: CBS] Stimulus money aims to prevent homelessness by Matthew D. La Plante Salt Lake Tribune
Vacant foreclosures annoy, but Utah cities face limitiations Havens for homeless and crime a challenge for those who tend them. by Leslie Mitchell Salt Lake Tribune
Utahns' need for food help break records State's food stamp caseload up more than 50% from last year. by Brooke Adams Salt Lake Tribune
Vacant foreclosures annoy, but Utah cities face limitiations Havens for homeless and crime a challenge for those who tend them. by Leslie Mitchell Salt Lake Tribune
Utahns' need for food help break records State's food stamp caseload up more than 50% from last year. by Brooke Adams Salt Lake Tribune
National
A look at economic developments around the globe from Associated Press
Recession delivers a double blow to many charities by David Crary AP
Recession delivers a double blow to many charities by David Crary AP
US income gap widens as poor take hit in the recession by Hope Yen AP
Homeless Georgia sex offenders directed to woods by Greg Bluestein AP
[photo: AP]
Homeless Ga. sex offenders ordered to move by Greg Bluestein AP
[photo: AP]
U.S. jobless rate hits 26-year high of 9.8 percent by Lucia Mutikani, Reuters
Recession pulls U.S. senior citizens back to work: survey reporting by Lucia Mutikani; Editing by Dan Grebler-Reuters.
Street sheet celebrates its 20th anniversary of helping the homeless and raising their issues by Wendi Jonassen San Fransisco Bay Guardian.
Street paper is good for Nashville's homeless by Anne Paine The Tennesean [photoabove: George Wlaker IV, The Tennesean] "Debbie Overstreet, a formerly homeless woman, sells The Contributor, a newspaper written by and about Nashville's homeless..."
Global
Homelessness: living on a prayer from BBC News "An award winning hostel in Huntington is testament to the work The Salvation Army does every day with young people."
Community is all-important – if only Whitehall would listen from The Guardian byMichele Hanson, G2 columnist.
The charity that helps families stay together by LouiseTickle The Guardian "Save the Family" offers parents at risk of losing their children a chance to turn their lives around."
Tuned out to UK poverty by Amelia Gentleman The Guardian "The public is either 'harshly judgmental" toward people living in poverty or views poverty and inequality as inevitable" [photo above: Hugh Philpot/EPA] [UK] "Charities have found it easier to galvanize the public over campaigns that involve issues outside the UK."
Tuned out to UK poverty by Amelia Gentleman The Guardian "The public is either 'harshly judgmental" toward people living in poverty or views poverty and inequality as inevitable" [photo above: Hugh Philpot/EPA] [UK] "Charities have found it easier to galvanize the public over campaigns that involve issues outside the UK." Redundancy: how to restore balance by Ian Wylie The Guardian "...Ian Wylie looks into the aftermath of losing your job. While it can be a psychological blow, there is much you can do to get back on your feet."
New rules will protect families forced to sell then rent their homes by Phillip Inman guardian.co.uk . "Many were left homeless after the firms that bought their homes evicted them months or years later."
The Soloist: the true story behind Joe Wright's cello drama How a journalist discovered a musical prodigy sleeping rough-and their story became a hit film. by Andrew Gumbel guardian.co.uk .
Personal story of the week
Homeless ITN newsreader is hired from BBC NEWS. Ed Mitchell, the former ITN newsreader who was found sleeping rough in 2007 has been hired to head an online TV service helping people with addictions. Links to other street newspapers in North America
See what we're trying to bring to you, SLC.
Community Connection (Los Angeles, CA)
Making Change (Santa Monica, CA)
International-English language
The Big Issue(UK) [actually, this one's in French]
Megaphone (Vancouver, BC) Victoria Street Newz (Victoria, BC)
Well, I've gone longer than I should again. I still need to ask that everyone direct their positive energy toward those camping out in the cold nights, and the victims of the Samoan tsunami.
Love one another...
your editor
No comments:
Post a Comment