Friends of the Poor
Friends in Action
Winter 2014 Volume 42
A project of Friends of the Third World, Inc.
Friends in Action
Winter 2014 Volume 42
Friends of the Poor
611 West Wayne Street
Fort Wayne, IN 46802-2167
260-422-6821
Www.friendsofthethirdworld.org
The Historic Hattersley
House
611 West Wayne Street
Fort Wayne, Indiana 46802-2167
IN THIS ISSUE
Water is the New Oil
Give Water
Organize a “Water Celebration” on or near
World Water Day March 18…
Hold a House Party, Concert, Walkathon, Teach-in or ?
(Organizing information will be available from Friends of the Third World
by calling 260-422-6821 or by email: [email protected])
Friends’ Needs
Friends of the Poor (Third World) has always depended on the generosity of the community to share their useable material goods.
We reuse items at the Center or share with low-income folks.
If you have it and think we can use it, please call Jim Goetsch at (260) 422-6821 for details.
Some Items on our list include:
For Reuse (Please Call First):
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Printing Equipment or Supplies
Late Model Computer Equipment or Supplies
 Esp. a working color copier or press
Commercial Style Drip Coffee Maker
For Our Training Program:
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Useable Postage Stamps, Office Supplies, Paper
Household Supplies
 toilet paper, soap, paper towels, paper plates, napkins
Food for lunch program, esp. fruit, vegetables
Heavy-Duty/Electric Can Opener
Adult Bicycles
Tools of all kinds, esp. plumber’s pipe threading set
Good batteries
Mulch for garden/Fresh bale of hay
Good light bulbs
Mortar Mix
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Larger Items/Assets
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Quark Express Late Edition Publishing Software
Camcorder
Digital Camera
Digital TV
Carpet for Stairs (3’ x 40’ approx.)
Working Van/Small Truck
Forklift
Commercial-Grade Display Tent (10’ x 10’)
Small Ground-Level Building/Garage for Long-Term Use
Use of Lift Truck/”Cherry Picker” to Maintain Bricks on
Historic Building
Scaffolding
Long Extension Ladder/Ladder “Jacks”
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Used Postage Stamps (especially international)
Used ink jet, copier, and laser printer cartridges
Aluminum Cans/Other scrap metals
Cotton Rags/Cotton Sheets
World Water Day
1
At the Center
2
Zatoun: Palestine Olive Oil
3
Thread of Hope - Guatemala
3
Divine Chocolate - Ghana
4
Syrian Refugees
4
Philippines Typhoon
4
Water Report
5
Post Office Update
5
Green Business Update
5
Solutions to Hunger
6
Middle East Resources
7
How Maps Change Society
7
Nonviolence Resources
8
Colombia Youth Project
8
Coffee Report
9
Calendars for a Cause
10
Spring Matching Grant
10
2014 Dates to Remember
11
Volunteer Opportunities
11
Friends Needs these Items
12
Find us on
Facebook & Twitter
Order online at
For Recycling
Live Simply That Others May Simply Live
MEMBER
www.friendsofthethirdworld.org
Learn more: Order the “No-Nonsense Guide to Water “
$16 from Whole World Bookstore, 611 W. Wayne St., Ft. Wayne, IN 46802 or 800-401-2672
12
Digging
at the Roots
of Poverty
Since 1972
Live Simply
That Others
May Simply
Live
Friends in Action
Winter 2014 Volume 42
Friends in Action
Winter 2014 Volume 42
2014 Dates to Remember
At the Center
2013 has been quite a year. In times like these, it is difficult to see beyond the present moment. It is tempting to focus on the successes of the past, the good old days.
We remember. In 1972, when we opened the Third World Shoppe (importing the idea from a visit to
Holland), we could find only one business textbook that discussed this different way of doing business, a way
that balances good for the community with income for the proprietors. Today, partly as the result of our
efforts to organize conferences, the Fair Trade Federation is now 300 groups strong and still growing. In 1983,
when we ordered our first load of coffee to support small farmers (the first to be sold as fairly traded in the
United States), who knew the idea would grow to include several hundred independent marketers of foods.
Just last year, in fact, the total amount of fair trade foods sold was 152 million pounds.
Locally, we’ve worked with over 4,000 volunteers and students in our job training programs, and over
the years we’ve cooperated with hundreds of other groups who care for the poor. We’ve also helped several
non-profits start-up. We continue to provide graphics and mailing services to other nonprofits.
Our unique approach is to promote voluntary citizen action with a minimum of administrative expense
and overhead. Our three professional staff live as simply as possible. We collect rent so that the Third World
Shoppe sales can go in greater amounts to the craft producers. We reuse old things.
Yet, we have to work within the system. There are reports to file with government agencies, and safety regulations, health codes, and more to navigate. Certain resources can only be purchased. To continue, we
have always relied on public support. To partner with new groups and suppliers takes seed money. To maintain living and workspace requires utility expense. This newsletter requires paper, postage, and even gas
to drive the product to the Post Office. To maintain internet access and phone service costs dearly.
We now look toward the future and ask you each to join us. If you find one of the projects herein inspires your interest, please indicate that with your response. We will honor specific directives. If you choose
to support our program with a general contribution, we promise to use it with the utmost care, multiplying its
effect. The need is urgent. We have opportunities we cannot pursue without assistance and resources.
Our goals for 2014 include investing in energy saving work on our Historic Building, expanding our local employment training, and encouraging the Fair Trade movement to promote fair trade business practices
for producers within North America. (The federation’s annual meeting will be held in Indianapolis next April).
We also hope to create programs to involve young adults in our work, planning for the future. All these plans
are expensive. Building upgrades could cost $20-25,000; domestic fair trade involving training and investing in
local artisans could cost $5-10,000, and a new youth program supporting two college interns could cost $35,000 for the year.
Through all this, we want to remain faithful to the values that have proven effective over the years.
Marian and I consider this work a ministry, an extension of our Christian faith. We pray that each of you receive a blessing this season of peace and goodwill.
Sincerely,
January 20 Martin Luther King National Community
Service Day
NE Indiana: www.friendsofthethirdworld.org
(260) 422-6821
National: www.mlkday.gov (202) 606-5000
March 18 World Water Day
International: www.unwater.org/
worldwaterday
March 29 Lansing, Michigan, Pax Christi Michigan
Conference
Regional: www.paxchristimi.org (517) 481-5280
April 1-3 Indianapolis, Indiana, North American Fair
Trade Federation National Conference
National: www.fairtradefederation.org
(302) 655-5203
April 20 Easter Sunday
April 22 Earth Day
National: www.earthday.org (202) 518-0044
May 10 World Fair Trade Day
National: www.fairtraderesource.org
(917) 464-5558
May 30-June 1 Chicago, Illinois, National Co-op Conference
National: www.usworker.coop (415) 392-7277
July 18 Nelson Mandela Day (Remembrance of his
Birthday)
International: www.nelsonmandela.org
October Fair Trade Month (Celebrating Fairly Traded
Foods)
National: www.fairtradeusa.org (510) 663-5260
October 16 World Food Day
National: www.worldfooddayusa.org
Volunteer Opportunities
-Craft Shop Computer Entry
-File Clerk/Librarian
-Auto Mechanic
-Printing Press Mentor/Operator
-Photographer
-Website Maintainer
-Carpenter/Plumbing/
Electrical Repair
-Event Organizer
-Artist/Sign Painter
-Gardener (Spring-Summer)
-Shop Decorator/Display
-Writer/Newsletter
-Errand Runner
-Craft Shop Customer Server (In store or
at festivals/displays)
For details please contact
Not Convenient to Visit the
Third World Shoppe? Let us bring
the Shoppe to you.
Host a Fair Trade House Party.
We can provide beverages, a video, music & a display, even invitations.
You provide the guests.
Marian Waltz,
Friends of the Poor
Volunteer Coordinator
Jim Goetsch, Administrative Coordinator
Live Simply That Others May Simply Live
2
Live Simply That Others May Simply Live
11
Friends in Action
Winter 2014 Volume 42
Friends in Action
Winter 2014 Volume 42
All items available in our shop or online at
www.cooperativetrading.com!
Matching Grant Again Offered to Encourage Spring Membership Support
The Alan Feinstein Foundation of Rhode Island will again offer to match a portion
of all donations to Friends thru April 30, 2014. Please consider renewing or
becoming a first time supporter with a generous donation now.
Suggested membership is $12 per year.
Zatoun Offers:
olive oil
(16.8 oz.-$16.00; 25 oz.-$20)
olive oil soap
(4 pack scented-$19.50;
single-$5.50)
Za’atar (Thyme, Sesame, Salt)
(5 oz.-$5.50)
“The olive trees and the land they grow on still
have a special place in my heart. They offer me
a sense of connection to my history and that of
my people. A sense reinforced each time I remember or climb a tree that was planted several hundred years before by me forefathers. To
think that I was picking and eating from the
same trees that my family had picked and eaten olives from for generations before me, still
inspires awe in me. It is something that I will
most assuredly pass on to my children and
hope that they will get the chance to do like-
Zatoun ensures that farmers are paid fair
trade prices. Proceeds are used to directly
benefit Palestinian farmers and children living in occupied Palestine and to create
awareness for peace. Also, a portion of each
purchase goes to tress for Life: Planting
peace in Palestine, a worldwide program that
replants olive trees .
҉ Support farmers in Palestine and peace in the Holy Land ҈ Inform yourself and others about the true facts ҉
҈ Be critical of traditional news media and of politicians ҉ Be outraged at injustice and biased reporting ҈
www.zatoun.com
Calendars For A Cause
Articles and opinions expressed in this
newsletter are for educational purposes and are not the position of
Friends staff, volunteers, or board unless indicated.
Copyright 2013 Friends of the Third
World, Inc.©
Contributors and volunteers
for this edition include:
Kaitlin Roland
Holly Barry
Fred Shaheen
Marian Waltz
Clevester Watson
Jim Goetsch
Cliffton Patterson Clifford Minnick
Gena Shepard
Brenda Stayer
Here at Friends of the Third World, we traditionally
have offered a variety of appointment diaries supporting causes related to our mission: Earth Care,
Poverty, & Peace/Nonviolence. We offer more than
20 different choices from desk calendars to pocket
calendars to wall calendars.
This year, after over a year of digging, our volunteers
have edited our very own Fair Trade Wall Calendar:
Friends of the Poor 2014. Each month describes a
partner around the world represented in our Third
World Fair Trade Shoppe. The dates throughout the
year represent the national holidays celebrated in
each of the 12 countries, whether that be an independence day, a national hero, or a major religious
holiday.
Our Calendar lists for $15 ($12 for volunteers and
donating members) or free for donors of more than
$50.
Live Simply That Others May Simply Live
10
These prodA Thread of Hope is a woman’s co-op that helps
ucts and
woman in Solola to battle the poverty in their area. more available online or
They have 10 full-time dyers, and almost 200 partat Friends of
the Third
time weavers in their co-op, and every woman has a World Shoppe
voice.
Being a member of A Thread of Hope means that the
women make 2-4 times what they would selling
their products at a local market,. Also, it ensures
that the children of these women can stay in school
instead of dropping out, sometimes at the age of
seven, to help support their families.

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($22.00)
www.athreadofhope.org
Facts:
In the 1980’s, there was a massacre of indigenous Mayan peoples in the Guatemalan
highlands.
Many families lost their brothers, fathers,
and sons.
($7.50)
Within the Mayan population, extreme poverty is estimated around 70%.
Within the Mayan population, 50% of children suffer from chronic malnutrition.
($7.50)
Live Simply That Others May Simply Live
3
Friends in Action
Winter 2014 Volume 42
In autumn 1998, Divine, the first
ever Fairtrade chocolate bar
aimed at the mass market was
launched onto the UK confectionery market. In an exciting new
business model, the co-operative
of cocoa farmers in Ghana own
shares in the company making the
cocoa they grow into candy bars.
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1 Stick of Butter
1 Cup Brown Sugar
1 Egg
Divine Holiday
Cookies
1 1/2 Cups Flour
1/2 Teaspoon Baking Soda
Friends in Action
Cocoa from Ghana is of a high
quality and trades at a premium
on the world market. Kuapa Kokoo's motto is pa pa paa - which
means the best of the best in the
local Twi language. Kuapa's premium quality cocoa is now sold to
chocolate companies around the
world.
1 Cup Divine Chocolate (chopped into small pieces)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Divine Chocolate is available in our
shop and our online store!
Full-size bars ($3.50)
Snack-size bars ($1.75)
Box of Mint or Ginger Thins ($7.25)
Friends of the Third World is Currently Collecting Donations for
Syrian Refugees &
Victims of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines
We are collecting the following items for the relief kits:
 4 Large Bars of Bath Soap (in wrapping)
 1 Plastic Bottle of Shampoo (13-24oz; place bottle in resealable plastic bag)
 4 Large Bars of Laundry Soap (Some stores carry Fels Naptha,
Sunlight or Zote brands)
 1 Squeeze Tube of Toothpaste (min 6oz; leave in box)
 4 Adult-sized Toothbrushes (leave in packaging)
 4 Bath Towels (medium weight, dark or bright colors)
 2 Wide-toothed combs (6-8’)
 1 Fingernail clipper (good quality)
 1 Box Adhesive Bandages (minimum 40; assorted)
 1 Package Sanitary Pads (18-24 thin maxi)
All items must be new and as requested due to customs regulations, however you may give single items which we will combine
with others donations.
A tax-deductible receipt is available. Donations to cover shipping
at $5 per kit are encouraged, but not required.
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Typhoon Haiyan
More than 6,000 dead have been recovered from the
wreckage of Typhoon Haiyan
27,468 were injured at the onslaught of the Typhoon
and 1,779 are still missing
Out of the 16 million people affected, 3.9 million were
displaced, at least a hundred thousand among them
are still staying in evacuation centers
Syrian Refugees
More than 2.5 million Syrians have fled their homes
since the outbreak of civil war in March 2011
Nearly half of the refugees displaced by the Syrian civil
war are children
The U.S. has accepted fewer than 100 Syrian refugees
since the civil war began
Live Simply That Others May Simply Live
Coffee Rust Rocks Central America:
25 Percent of the Crops Lost
If you think that a 25 percent loss of this last crop is
bad, take time to consider the dire prediction that the
climate required for growing coffee (high altitudes
while still being warm, humidity but no freezing) will
be compromised within the next 50-75 years, threatening a 15 billion dollar per year industry that employs millions in over 20 countries.
Coffee rust, a fungus, is spreading across farms in
Central American and Caribbean countries. The ICO
(International Coffee Organization) estimates that
437,900 workers will be jobless this year and more
will be affected next season. Currently, nearly 2 million of the 43 million people living in Central America
earn their livelihood in the coffee industry.
PREPARATION & QUANTITY:
Makes 12 Cookies
Preheat oven to 300 degrees
METHOD:
Let the Butter sit out of the refrigerator for a while to soften, chop
into small pieces to help it along (don't put it in the microwave).
Mix the Butter and Sugar fully
Add the Egg and vanilla extract and beat in a mixer on high until
fluffy
Add Flour and Baking Soda
Add Divine Chocolate pieces
Drop dough by large spoonfuls onto a greased pan.
Bake for 15 minutes
Winter 2014 Volume 42
4
In addition to this disease, world coffee prices have
dropped from a high of over $3 per pound to $1 during the last half of 2013, while it costs coffee farmers
a minimum of $1.25 to produce a pound of coffee.
This drop is due to bumper crops of lower grade
coffee in several countries including Brazil and Vietnam. This loss in
Our Nicaraguan Coffee is imported income will seriously
hinder Central Amerifrom Prodeco, a group of 2,200
can farmers in resmall farmers in the Northeast, and
planting lost trees and
is still the mainstay of our coffee may force most of the
project, Cooperative Trading.
workforce to flee the
coffee region due to
lack of paid work, usually resulting in homelessness.
Our partner in Chicago, Tom Baker, recently spent 3
months in Nicaragua and brought updates. He reports
that the Nicaraguan National Assembly is considering
a “National Salvation Plan” involving low-interest
loans and technical assistance over the next four
years to aid in replanting. The law will set up a fund
to encourage sustainable methods of coffee production.
Another country that is working to combat coffee rust
and improve sustainable farming practices is Haiti.
We hope that in the next year we can add Haitian
coffee to our shop, from the newly organized farmers
associations being set up in Haiti.
A fact sheet, “Coffee: who is making all the money?”
is available from our coffee project both in English
and Spanish, comparing fair traded coffee to traditionally marketed coffee.
FEATURED COFFEE - Yirgacheffe natural
Coffee was first “discovered” in Ethiopia about 5,000 years
ago. Since then, Ethiopian coffee has been a favorite of European coffee drinkers and is being discovered here in North
America.
Our Ethiopian coffee beans hail from the Yirgacheffe District
in the Gedeo Zone, named after the Gedeo people who are
indigenous to this area. Here, approximately 700 small coffee
farmers harvest heirloom varieties which are indigenous to
the region, producing a distinctive and slightly acidic flavor
which is best preserved in light to medium roasts.
These beans are delivered as ripe cherries to the Kebel Aricha
mill where they are sorted by hand and then placed on raised
drying beds in thin layers. This method of letting the cherries
dry on the raised beds is referred to as the “natural method,”
which does not involve washing, as opposed to many Central
and South American mills. The cherries are turned every 2 to
3 hours in the first few days to avoid over-fermentation and
mold growth. Depending on the local weather, 4 to 6 weeks
later the beans are de-hulled and transported in parchment
to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital, to be milled and bagged
for export.
Due to long-distance shipments, as well as
unique quality, our Ethiopian Yirgacheffe costs
about 50 cents more per pound than our
Western Hemisphere varieties, but it is oh-so worth it.
Give it a try!
Live Simply That Others May Simply Live
9
Friends in Action
Winter 2014 Volume 42
An Anniversary We Would
Rather Not Celebrate…
Friends in Action
a modest agreement to try to control the flow of guns
from one country to the next. These weapons often
end up in the hands of child soldiers exploited by warring factions (see www.un.org/disarmament/att). Recent increases in violence, especially in the Congo, the
Central African Republic, and Nigeria in Africa, have
risen to the level of possible genocide, where the killing of populations who are of a different race or religion continues unabated.
We are writing this exactly one year after a shooter
killed 26 in an elementary school in Connecticut. Just
a few days ago, a student in Colorado wounded two
in a high school, and then killed himself. Here in Fort
Wayne, we have just equaled the previous record for
annual murders. Our news media reports events like Our Whole World Bookstore has a large selection of
books exploring nonviolent responses to violence. We
these.
also hope that our service day on January 20, in
Last spring, we applied for a grant to survey the public memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., will help to
concerning violence. The foundation declined our re- build a more respectful community.
quest, saying that no survey was needed since this
public already agrees that violence is bad. Yet any discussion of a solution to senseless violence seems to
lead to arguments with no progress towards a solution. While there are groups in many communities
who pray at the site of every murder, and some governments promoting gun buybacks, other Americans Colombia is an amazing country, strategically lofeel that the way to increased security is just to own
cated, with extensive biodiversity; hosting every
larger and more lethal weapons.
climate in the world. It has coveted resources like
In Houston, Texas, a new nonprofit, The Armed Citi- oil, gold, platinum, and emeralds. Unfortunately,
Colombia is also the only Latin American country
zens Project, is giving away free guns. Residents of that continues to struggle with an active civil war.
the Oak Forest Neighborhood in Houston were the The conflict, which began as a dissatisfaction over
first of many neighborhoods trained and equipped by farm policy and political corruption, has led to
the project. The organization has now expanded to grave danger for civilians. The risk of being kidDallas, San Antonio, and Tucson, Arizona, and plans to napped in Colombia is greater than in any other
begin gun giveaways in 15 cities including Chicago and county, and the risk of being murdered is eight
New York. Founder Kyle Coplen says it costs the or- times greater than in the United States. There are
ganization about $300 to arm and train an individual, leftist groups, right wing paramilitaries, drug pedand $20,000 to arm and train a neighborhood--all dlers, and just plain thugs--all creating a human
rights nightmare.
paid for by private donations.
A New Project Partner:
Poder Joven (Youth Power)
In Colombia, South America
Is it true that gun ownership deters crime? Experts
such as Professor David Hemenway of Harvard say,
“What guns seem to do is make the situation more
lethal. When a gun is in the mix, there is much more
likelihood of somebody dying or of being seriously
hurt.”
A solution, then, must change the widespread perception among the American public that differences between parties can be resolved through the use of
greater force, rather than through patient efforts to
find common interest.
Thinking globally, the United States, through foreign
aid and sales by U.S. based manufacturers, is the largest supplier of weapons to the world. Concern for loss
of sales income recently discouraged the U.S. Senate
from ratifying the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty,
Colombia’s second largest city, Medellin, is the
home of a young nonprofit group, Poder Joven, or
“youth power.” Poder Joven was created by university students to help street children who struggle to survive in neighborhoods rife with prostitution, violence, drug dealings, and gangs. Poder
Joven’s mission is to provide these homeless children with opportunities. Since there are no free
public school in Colombia, money is being raised
to support the education of these children.
Friends of the Third World has agreed to handle
donation designated for Poder Joven and safely
transfer the funds to Colombia. Thus far, we have
forwarded over $10,000. More information on this
amazing effort can be found at their website,
www.fundacionpoderjoven.org.
Live Simply That Others May Simply Live
8
Winter 2014 Volume 42
Our World: Without Water…
Or Food
Available from our
Whole World Bookstore
for $12.95
A Report of Our World Food Day Event, October 16
A while ago, we called a local food bank warehouse
and asked one of the staff if they would be interested
in participating in an event relating to clean water.
The person replies that, “no, we only care about feeding the hungry. Water isn’t a hunger issue.” We do,
however, beg to differ. Not only do we each need a
relatively large amount of potable water to stay
healthy, we learned at our showing of “Our Thirsty
World” film that the food we eat requires large
amounts of water to produce.
Our event in October went well, including a lively discussion about possible solutions to improving water
quality here in Fort Wayne, a city build on the banks
of three large rivers. Our discussion helped us realize
the depth of looming crisis. Even though our city water utility was granted permission to raise rates each
year for 10 years in order to pay for a massive project
to reroute sewage so that it does not overflow into
our rivers, there has yet to be a groundswell of public
concern. We know, now, that we must redouble our
educational efforts.
We hope to encourage folks both locally and elsewhere to celebrate World Water Day on March 18
(www.unwater.org/worldwaterday).By 2030, 47% of
the world’s people will be subjected to severe shortages of clean water. This crisis promises to affect us
all. We hope to have an organizing resource packet
available after the beginning of 2014. We encourage
everyone to raise funds for clean water. To learn
more about the water crisis, we suggest the book: NoNonsense Guide to Water.
Graphics News: Going Postal…
In our last letter we reported
that, as of January 2014, discounts for bulk mail would not
be allowed unless the mailing
was prepared according to the
standards
of
the
new
“intelligent bar code scheme,” using computer technology. While this new procedure is intended to
save the Post Office money by saving employee
time, it requires that we as the consumer incur extra
expense by purchasing specialized computer software, thus eliminating the ability of volunteer
groups to sort mail “by hand”. Fortunately, the Post
Office announced last week that the requirement is
being postponed to allow more time for smaller
groups to adapt. Our printing coordinator, Fred Shaheen, recently attended a seminar on changes in the
Post Office.
If you have questions about all things postal, please
write, call, or visit. Our graphics program may be
able to save your community organization or church
money.
Green Business Update:
Have You Had Your Free Energy Audit?
Here at Friends we have been working hard to improve the energy efficiency of the 140-year-old building in
which we both live and work in Fort Wayne. We’ve come a long way, but have only reached Green Business
Level 2 thus far. We plan to install rain barrels to water our organic garden and a build a small greenhouse
so we can grow veggies and herbs year-round. We are currently raising funds (available only to Indiana customers of several electric suppliers) by asking folks who haven’t yet had an energy audit (cost-free from major electric utilities) to do so, and to include the name “Friends of the Third World”. We then receive a donation of $25. Our goal is 100 audits, and we hope you can help!
Live Simply That Others May Simply Live
5
Friends in Action
Winter 2014 Volume 42
Friends in Action
The Hunger Games: Making it Real
Resources for Action:
Peace Activists in
The Middle East
Today, fast food sandwiches are being used to market
a motion picture about people who will do anything
to survive in a totalitarian society in which there is
nothing to eat. Entertaining? Maybe. Caring for those
truly in need? No.
As of October 31, 47 million people--almost 3/4 of
whom are children, the elderly, or individuals with
disabilities--suffered a cut in food stamps. This cut
averages $36 per month, equal to the typical cost of a
Thanksgiving dinner, complete with trimmings. In addition, the House recently voted to cut $4 billion
more from food stamps, claiming that it was a move
to eliminate fraud. (However, the food stamp program already has an extremely low rate of slippage.)
One pastor has described the politics behind cuts that
are aimed at the most vulnerable as the “great forgetting,” a hardhearted thinking not unlike that of the
two church leaders who passed by the injured man in
the story Jesus told of the man on the road to Jericho.
One local community action agency has been offering
poverty simulations, a two-hour program in which
participants experience, if only briefly, what it means
to live in poverty; experiencing that feeling of hopelessness and desperation while struggling to maintain
basic food and shelter. The hope is that the public will
regain our tradition of neighbor-helping-neighbor,
individually as well as corporately.
On a positive note, the poor have found an advocate
in the recently-elected Pope Francis, who called on
people around the world to pray to end hunger. This
marked the beginning of the “One Human Family,
Food for All” campaign, spearheaded by Caritas Internationalis. Pope Francis has declared a goal for his
ministry “as creating a church that is poor and cares
for the poor.”
Here’s My Donation, but Information, No Thanks...
A new website, www.stopgamblingonhunger.com,
offers a new video and serves as a clearinghouse for
resources from U.S. and international campaigns to
curb unfair food and energy marketing practices.
The World Food Program sponsors www.freerice.com
where you can take quizzes that share languages and
world knowledge. Each correct answer earns a donation of rice.
Of course, purchasing fairly traded foods helps to create a sustainable food supply by treating farmers and
consumers respectfully. We recommend the “Nononsense Guide to Fair Trade.”
Available from
Whole World Books
for $12.95
A national hunger advocacy group shared the following to begin to address the root causes of hunger
(The long-term goal is to encourage ways for low-income families to become self-supporting):
Rewrite the farm bill to ensure that federal nutrition programs continue to benefit both farmers and families who are
food-insecure
__________
Increase the minimum wage which, if increased to $10 an hour, would provide 30 million workers and their 17 million
children with an adequate income
__________
Enact immigration reform, which would lift half a million people out of poverty who are exploited by employers paying
substandard wages and are often not withholding required taxes
(Editor’s Note: Government programs have not been proven to eliminate poverty, only mitigate its effects.
The solution to poverty lies in expanding economic opportunities thru a more democratic marketplace)
Live Simply That Others May Simply Live
Winter 2014 Volume 42
6
As we have all heard, there is much unrest in the Middle East,
and this unrest comes in many forms: civil war in Syria, land
grab in Palestine, turmoil in Egypt, bombings in Iraq, and the
list just continues. It’s quite overwhelming, in fact. But for
those who want to do what they can in order to alleviate the
suffering of our fellow human beings in the Middle East, we
here at Friends of the Third World have compiled a list of
some resources for you. Whether you do something large or
small, just remember that every little act of kindness makes a
difference.
Syria
Egypt
The Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) provides relief
supplies to those displaced by
the Syrian civil war.
Save the Children works with
local groups on health, education, child protection, and other critical initiatives.
(www.mcc.org)
(www.savethechildren.org)
Palestine
Lebanon
The Israeli Committee Against
House Demolitions works with
locals and volunteers to rebuild and prevent the destruction of Palestinian homes.
Heart for Lebanon works to
provide proper food and education to both Lebanese and
Syrian refugees located in Lebanon.
(www.icahd.org)
(www.heartforlebanon.org)
Jordan
Iran
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) operates free clinics in Jordan to assist refugees
from throughout the Middle
East.
Relief International (RI) offers
a Rural Women’s Microcredit
Program, providing women
the opportunity to gain income and economic stability.
(www.rescue.org)
(www.ri.org)
“An individual has not started living until he
can rise above the narrow confines of his (or
her) individualistic concerns to the broader
concerns of all humanity.”
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Book Review:
How Maps Change Things
Ward L. Kaiser
How Maps Change Things takes a very interesting standpoint,
informing us of how the maps that we use actually influence
the way in which we, as societies, tend to think. Maps aren’t
just about getting from one place to another but, at the core,
are about “human relations, social justice, peace, budgets,
and environmental concerns.”
In his book, Kaiser informs us some of the ways in which
different maps actually cause us to look at a nation or continent; he himself being an ardent supporter of the Peters map,
and all other equal-projection maps. Maps, as Kaiser points
out, are actually quite political.
Written in a lively style, and easy to read for both those familiar with the topic, and those completely new to the idea, Kaiser gives many examples of how disproportionate maps have
been used to justify political moves throughout history.
Thought-provoking at the least, and revolutionary in its
points, Kaiser’s novel is a must read for all social activists,
educators, and peace lovers alike.
Available in our
Whole World Bookstore
$31.95 or $10 download.
Special maps of the globe $5-$30
“A tour de force, from the mapping of Iraq as a set of oil wells,
through Mercator’s love of Germany, first nation Canadians’ and
current Palestinians’ land rights, … to calls for an end to borders,
bigotry, disease and war. This is not just a book about maps, although it's full of maps - it’s about a worldview.”
- Dr. Danny Dorling
Professor of Human Geography, University of Sheffield;
author of The No-Nonsense Guide to Equality
Live Simply That Others May Simply Live
7