I think that poverty is one of the saddest global problems in the world right now. Poverty has been heightened due to the worldwide economic struggles. People loss their jobs and can't continue to pay their bills and before they know it, they're being evicted and forced to live out of their car - or worse, on the streets. The working class adults are not the only victims of the global recession; their children suffer everyday that their parents go a day without work. These children are forced to give up a normal children because their parents are unable to afford the basic costs of living.
The sad thing is that the most unhappy child could have all the video games and electronics that exist and more money than all the homeless people in the world combined, but yet, he or she isn't happy. And the happiest child could be found where you least except - for example, living out of a car with their family, barely having enough to eat.
This is the case for a sister and a brother that were on an episode of 60 minutes I just saw. This story really hit home for me because I know their must be some kids at Newark who get by just barely with the little money they make. The family on 60 minutes not only was happy, they were determined to do well in school and make use of their education the best they possibly could. The sister wanted to one day be a children's defense lawyer.
She seemed so happy and proud to just make it through each day. It surprised me how positive she was despite the fact that her mom had died not too long ago and that she was living in a small truck eating nothing but canned food. She wasn't thinking about her current living situation, she was focused on her future and how happy she was to just be healthy and have a loving dad.
Kids just like her go to schools around the world everyday unnoticed that they are truly homeless. What do you think schools/communities could do about this global problem? It is not fair for these children to have to live on the streets because of the lack of money thereof that their family has. Something needs to be done!
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Monday, January 16, 2012
Nigerian Fuel Subsidy: Strike Suspended
Poverty stricken Nigerians came together to strike oil prices rising from $0.40/liter to $0.86/liter after subsidies were removed. These Nigerians could not afford the new price of oil after the subsidies were removed. The IMF initially encouraged Nigerian President Jonathan for a long time to remove the fuel subsidy and when he finally did the poor Nigerians formulated a strike against the high fuel prices.
After weeks of tireless protesting, President Jonathan, made a promise that most people would think he couldn't keep - to lower fuel prices. But so far he is succeeding on his promise. Fuel prices recently have been seen at $0.60/liter, which is obviously good enough to stop the protesting.
To put it in perspective, $0.60/liter is about $2.27/gallon, which in the US right now would be AMAZING. But when you're barely making $20 in a week paying $0.60/liter is out of the question for poverty stricken Nigerians.
In the BBC article it gave few details on how the cost of fuel went down at all, because if it is really something in a President's power why hasn't Obama done anything? I know it is a good thing that fuel prices are high because it encourages more people to not drive as much but I'm just curious.. I don't know all that much about fuel, etc.
Comment pretty pretty please :-)
Republicans Dropping Like Flies
Just today, Huntsman announced he was quitting the race for the Republican nomination after getting third in New Hampshire and running out of funds. Huntsman hoped to get more votes from Independent voters to at least secure second and be considered as an alternative to Romney, but his low placing on the polls have really affected his popularity in towns. For example he just gave up in Iowa and left early..
Huntsman main agenda was to 1) get rid of President Obama and 2) to create a bold conservation presidency, similar to the Reagan administration. This views line up almost exactly with Romney, who Huntsman now endorses. In my opinion I think the race is over and Romney is the Republican Nominee. I'm not thrilled, but it could be worse... right? It could be Michelle Bachmann or Herman Cain - Oh god..
Do you think that if Huntsman had had sufficient funds to continue running, he would have had a chance of receiving the nomination??
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/15/huntsman-says-hes-quitting-g-o-p-race/?hp
Another G.O.P candidate that has dropped out is fortunately Michelle Bachmann. She, after a oh so close race in Iowa.... not .... she got 6th place. This 6th place obviously discouraged herself and her advisers enough that she quit. The real question is why weren't her advisers discouraged before.... ???
Here's a youtube video of Bachmann: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0povtLK4vS8
The cute little boy says "My mommy is gay and doesn't need any fixing" and then Bachmann prompty says, "Bye bye".
What do you think Bachmann's advisers were thinking when they helped Bachmann running for the Republication nomination? This is a serious question.
Huntsman main agenda was to 1) get rid of President Obama and 2) to create a bold conservation presidency, similar to the Reagan administration. This views line up almost exactly with Romney, who Huntsman now endorses. In my opinion I think the race is over and Romney is the Republican Nominee. I'm not thrilled, but it could be worse... right? It could be Michelle Bachmann or Herman Cain - Oh god..
Do you think that if Huntsman had had sufficient funds to continue running, he would have had a chance of receiving the nomination??
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/15/huntsman-says-hes-quitting-g-o-p-race/?hp
Another G.O.P candidate that has dropped out is fortunately Michelle Bachmann. She, after a oh so close race in Iowa.... not .... she got 6th place. This 6th place obviously discouraged herself and her advisers enough that she quit. The real question is why weren't her advisers discouraged before.... ???
Here's a youtube video of Bachmann: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0povtLK4vS8
The cute little boy says "My mommy is gay and doesn't need any fixing" and then Bachmann prompty says, "Bye bye".
What do you think Bachmann's advisers were thinking when they helped Bachmann running for the Republication nomination? This is a serious question.
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