Niger children starving to death

[muriel_volestrangler]

Children are dying of starvation in feeding centres in Niger, where 3.6m people face severe food shortages, aid agencies have warned.

The crisis in the south of the country has been caused by a drought and a plague of locusts which destroyed much of last year's harvest.

Aid agency World Vision warns that 10% of the children in the worst affected areas could die.

They say the international community has reacted too late to the crisis.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4695355.stm

The first test of international aid since the much-vaunted G8 agreement - and we're failing. Pressure is needed on governments - contact your representative.

[Parche]

1. Niger

Why are they starving when they have all the yellow cake in the
world to eat?

[NorCalDem]

2. If the topic weren't so sobering

I would say LMAO, but I'm not sure that's appropriate for this thread.

[eissa]

3. Starving black children vs. missing blonde girl

which of these stories is worthy of 24/7 coverage?

[gizmo1979]

4. If CAFTA passes my kids

will be starving.Hope someone will care about them too.

[SoCalDem]

5. The problem is that children have ALWAYS been starving somewhere

Americans are "used to it".. remember Biafra..Ethiopia..and so many more.. These stories hit the presses, make a few waves, and then disappear..
People donate a few bucks and go about their business..

There is just not enough arable land to grow enough food for the poor people of the world..(Where or near where they live).. No one wants to accept refugees, so they are stuck where they are, and they DO starve..

These are the poorest of the poor, mostly uneducated..and skilled in nothing but subsistence farming and hunting.

Their own governments would prefer that they die (and cease to be a drain on the economy)..the rest of the world takes pity on them from time to time, and sends food (often of a nature that they cannot even prepare, and do not want to eat)...or they donate money for food, only to have that money siphoned off by the "leaders" of the country or used to feed the very army that's trying to annihilate the supposed recipients of the aid)...

Even when aid/food does reach them, what about the REASON for their need? Little, if anything, is ever done to change that . If you were not allowed to move, had no job, no money and the only patch of land you had was dust..you got no rain, and had no seeds or money for seeds..what would YOU eat??

I don't know what the solution is, but whatever we have been doing for decades has not really helped all that much:cry:

[Oversea Visitor]

7. It is

the climate. Drought and the friggin locusts. We screw Mother Nature bad.

[Dark]

6. In Nigeria, Africa's largest 'Christian Church' is spending 3 mil for

a 'Christian Disneyworld'.

THIS is why I hate religion.

[Payne]

8. Don't be so quick to judge Dark

The Catholic Church is the worlds largest charity,sure religion does a lot to piss us off,but it does a lot of good stuff to.It's people like you who are making atheist look bad.Anyway it's a good thing there weren't any typos in the title of this thread.:spray:

[WhiteTara]

11. I agree

Catholics screw children in a few countries and act like they are saviors in others. At a price of course. Don't be who you are and we'll give you a little food. Christian charities do not give aid freely. It is always with strings attached. And it is never enough.

[nine30]

9. With so much yellow cake to eat, thats a pity .

Sorry, couldn't resist.

[sintax]

10. kick n/t

[UrbScotty]

12. Don't worry, children. At least the sanctity of marriage is protected.

:sarcasm::mad::sarcasm::mad::sarcasm::mad::sarcasm::mad::sarcasm::mad::sarcasm::mad::sarcasm::mad::sarcasm::mad::sarcasm::mad::sarcasm::mad: