Page 7a: Stories You may have Missed

Page 7a: Stories You may have Missed

by
Apr 13, 2012

In the past few weeks, social media has been flooded with a strong public outcry with a variety of perspectives on the Trayvon Martin case, support for his family and friends, as well as  multiple pleas for justice. In this week’s news, after a long and painful process, George Zimmeran was charged with second degree murder in the shooting of Trayvon Martin.

In other news from around the world:

  • PODCAST: Global Development: The World Bank says the international goal of halving extreme poverty has been met. But with almost 1 billion people still living on less than $1.25 a day, what progress has really been made?
  • Earthquakes in Indonesia: Two big earthquakes hit off the coast of Sumatra this past Wednesday, causing Indonesians to fear possible tsunamis, which luckily never came.
  • Sahel Food Crisis: While perhaps not a main focus of current news, this remains a priority for us here at Lutheran World Relief. Please take the time to learn how we are helping and what your role can be.
  • Child Labor in India: The reality of Indian slum grounds is disturbing, but it is where millions of childhoods are being played out.  Life in the slums is a self-perpetuating cycle and by only treating symptoms of poverty, no significant positive change can occur.
  • One Day Without Shoes: Why give up wearing shoes for a day? TOMS has started a movement raise awareness for children across the world who don’t have shoes, but while the movement was made with good intentions, it has raised some controversy.

 

  • VIDEO: A Day without Dignity: Donating clothing can hurt local markets and diminish competition. What is a better, more sustainable way to provide aid?

What else was in the news this week? Please leave your comments below.

is Lutheran World Relief's Program Assistant for Marketing and Creative Services

Categories: Africa, Burkina Faso, India, Indonesia, Mali, West Africa
Tags: , , , ,

Related Posts:

  • http://blog.lwr.org/ Dan Ruth

    The two videos at the bottom are a fascinating beginning to a debate I’ve read a lot about over the past year or so. What is it that actually helps, and doesn’t do more harm than good?

    If you want to learn more about the TOM’s Shoes controversy, there’s a great series at http://goodintents.org/blog. Their “Day Without Dignity” is a counter-campaign to TOM’s “Day Without Shoes” campaign.

  • Jillian Riddle

    My friend was in Honduras and saw children wearing the shoes TOMS made for them. I know it works. Also, One Day Without Shoes is about so much more than marketing. It is about understanding what it feels like to go without and being mindful and prayerful for those who go without. We take so much for granted- chapped lips? grab chapstick, raining? grab an umbrella, headache? grab advil, going outside? grab shoes. Until you participate in this day, don’t knock it. Experience. Pray. Love.

    • http://blog.lwr.org/ Dan Ruth

      Thanks, Jillian! You make a very good and important point about the easy access we in the US we take for granted. And the mindfulness & awareness that One Day Without Shoes creates can definitely be a blessing.

      One interesting story I read about TOMs was from a missionary family living in Haiti. (http://www.mangine.org/2012/02/one-for-one.html) I don’t know this family, or endorse their blog in any way. But I did think this one particular story was a fascinating take.

  • http://www.facebook.com/ben.bwakea Ben Bwakea

    IT is my hope you are doing well.Am a Tanzanian my home region is Kagera region,the time i was born up to 13yrs i din’t have a shoes.I went school without shoes,almost in our school no body was able to put shoes also our toilet was very but we went without shoes and was no water to cleans our hands or feets but we survived up to now.But also up to now most of our children they still no shoes and the situation is very bad you can’t believe up to this centuary.

    But if we can manage to preach the word of god through churches we may reduce the number of poverty especialy in africa Because till now we have many remote areas they don’t know the church,never been in church.
    Thanking you.

Share on Tumblr