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Saving Sichuan's 'people in the clouds'
The devastating earthquake in Sichuan province has seriously endangered the 3,000 year-old customs of the Qiang people, writes the BBC's Nick Mackie.
It is a precarious drive some 10 km up a narrow, winding mountain trail to catch a glimpse of Zengtou and its fortress-like dwellings.
From about a kilometre downhill, the damage seems slight.
Surprisingly so, for this area is close to the epicentre of May's powerful earthquake. To the east, the huge Longmenshan range - the quake fault line - fills the skyline.
After China's choking, chaotic cities, the final climb past hillside blossoms towards this village in the clouds seems idyllic.
But on the rock-strewn path between high stone walls that serves as Zengtou's main street, the picture is different.
At the home of 60-year-old Zhou Libin the quake damage is clear.
Sections of the roof have caved in and supporting walls have collapsed. Huge cracks run down stonework that is still standing and the floor is dangerously unstable.
“We've no idea how to continue,” she says, crying. “We cannot harvest our plants, our peppercorns. We used to dry them on the roof, now we've either no roof or it's too dangerous.”
The devastating earthquake in Sichuan province has seriously endangered the 3,000 year-old customs of the Qiang people, writes the BBC... more -
Homeless Mall Rats in South Africa
Brendan is 14 and the youngest. Thompson protects him. If Thompson isn't there the other boys beat Brendan up. He is soft. His voice hasn't broken and his hands are always tucked into his light jersey.
His shy demeanour disguises the fact he has lived on the streets since he was seven.
Brendan's from Durban. He lived with his uncle who used to drink a lot and beat him. At the age of five Brendan left home to go and live with his mother.
When she abandoned him he came to Joburg to beg from rich people who drive fancy cars.
"Some social workers found me in the city a few years ago and I was put in a shelter. But the one day they caught me with dagga (Cannabis) and I was thrown out.
"At the beginning of this year I was put in New Nation School (a school designed for homeless children in Johannesburg). I was happy there, but the security guards (from the shopping centre) burnt my school uniform and so I couldn't go back."
The boys live in fear of the guards. Just above the entrance to the drain a large CCTV camera turns an all-seeing eye. When the camera moves over them the boys know what is coming.
A group of eight guards arrive. Their blue uniforms identify them. They pick up sticks and have batons ready. The boys scream and run into the pipes - a place into which nobody is willing to follow. Brendan is 14 and the youngest. Thompson protects him. If Thompson isn't there the other boys beat Brendan up. He is soft. His voice h... more -
Hey buddy, can you spare a movie ticket?
Hundreds of Denver's homeless could be cooling their heels in a movie theater or museum while the Democratic National Convention is in town next month.
The Colorado Coalition for the Homeless plans to get 500 movie tickets as well as passes to the Denver Zoo, Denver Museum of Nature and Science and other cultural facilities for the people it helps.
Bus tickets will be provided for events beyond walking distance, said John Parvensky, the non-profit's president.
Many shelters will expand their hours and receive televisions so that patrons can safely watch convention.
Homeless persons will also be giving the opportunity to register to vote while the DNC is in town so they will be eligible in November.
The funny thing is that voter registration for the homeless is just for show since without a local address or government ID, they will not be able to vote. Further after the movie and the visit to the zoo, they will still be homeless.
Complete story www.rockymountainnews.com Hundreds of Denver's homeless could be cooling their heels in a movie theater or museum while the Democratic National Convention is in... more -
DNC loves those homeless people in Downtown, Denver,CO.
You are welcome here. Thats the message that Denver officals say they hope to convey to the homeless people at the Democratic National Convention. But in an effort to clean up the city around the convention center, The city plans to move all the homeless people and empty the park of the vagrants, city officals said.
Yet some Homeless advocates question the impetus behind all the meetings the city officals held in the past months leading up to the convention. Some advocates are being quoted as saying they have been offered money to go away during the event. Some say they have been offered tickets to attend movies during the event. Some say the have been offered voter registration for the democratic party.
The City of Denver has yet to decide what their final plan to do with the homeless society during the upcoming multimillion dollar event at this luxurious multimillion dollar convention center. "As someone said who works with the homeless people and people who depend on the services downtown, when I hear there is a big event that the media is excited about, my heart sinks because its not going to be good for the hungry people I work with". You are welcome here. Thats the message that Denver officals say they hope to convey to the homeless people at the Democratic Nationa... more -
The Soundtrack of St. Petersburg: Ray
Ray earns a living on the streets of St. Petersburg, Fla. by playing the guitar.
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The Soundtrack of St. Petersburg: Ray
Ray earns a living on the streets of St. Petersburg, Fla. by playing the guitar
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Al Gore Enlists the Homeless as Personal Carbon Offsets
In a compassionate, selfless and ecologically responsible move, former Vice President and environmental leader Al Gore has invited the homeless in the United States to act as his carbon offsets.
"What can I say, we're honored," exclaimed an excited Trudy Watson, a homeless advocate in Queens, New York. "Anything we can do to help Mr. Gore save the planet."
Under the agreement, Gore can continue to use his mansions, heated pools, private planes and SUVs as long as the homeless offset this usage by agreeing to not put an equal amount of carbon into the atmosphere.
Phil Dawes, a homeless man from Philadelphia, was ecstatic. "Wow... it's good to know I'm making a difference by doing absolutely nothing."
In a compassionate, selfless and ecologically responsible move, former Vice President and environmental leader Al Gore has invited the... more -
Extreme Makeover Homeless Edition
You've seen the original, now see the homeless edition.
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Drawn Together
Poems of promise, lines of love and inches of inspiration line the sidewalks of downtown St. Petersburg, Fla. Next to them are drawings of flowers, hearts and crosses; greeting city dwellers, businessmen and tourist.
The author behind the pastel caulk drawings was a mystery to local resident Terry Lee Getz, an office worker and artist, until a newspaper article clued her in to his identity.
Thus began a nearly two year search for him that would find her a new purpose in life, and for Jacob, the homeless artist, a new beginning.
Poems of promise, lines of love and inches of inspiration line the sidewalks of downtown St. Petersburg, Fla. Next to them are drawing... more -
Credit crunch turns cars into homes
Dan Glaister reports in the UK paper The Guardian that homeless people living in cars and motorhomes across the US are being joined by a new breed: the middle class.
As mortgage foreclosures continue to rise, growing numbers of middle-class professionals are losing their homes and downsizing from four bedrooms to four wheels.
Meanwhile the war in Iraq alone costs $4,681 per household, $1,721 per person, $341.4 million per day. Dan Glaister reports in the UK paper The Guardian that homeless people living in cars and motorhomes across the US are being joined by... more -
Childhood poverty costs the U.S. about $500 billion a year
Persistent childhood poverty costs our country about $500 billion a year by way of lost productivity, school drop-outs, crime, and growing numbers enrolled in nutrition and public assistance programs. Persistent childhood poverty costs our country about $500 billion a year by way of lost productivity, school drop-outs, crime, and gro... more
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Transportable house for the homeless
Italian team of designers zo_loft created a transportable house for the homeless. Wheelly is made out of rubber, aluminium and pressed paper rollers and is 100% recyclable. It provides a shelter with an insulated sleeping space and a collecting one.
The designers are still looking for sponsors and hope that, by placing logos on the sides of the object, they will be able to give them out for free to those who can't afford a shelter.
Definitely a good idea, but can a Burger King-sponsored tent be a consistent and effective way to cope with the homeless problem? Italian team of designers zo_loft created a transportable house for the homeless. Wheelly is made out of rubber, aluminium and pressed... more -
More than 1M homeless from flooding in China
GUANGZHOU, China - Weeks of rain pushed rivers over their banks in southern China, killing at least 112 people, displacing more than 1.27 million and forcing some to huddle on rooftops Monday as the region braced for more downpours.
The deaths have been reported in 12 provinces, the Ministry of Civil Affairs said on its Web site on Tuesday. Raging rivers have collapsed tens of thousands of homes, damaged crops across more than two million acres and causing more than an estimated $1.5 billion in economic losses.
GUANGZHOU, China - Weeks of rain pushed rivers over their banks in southern China, killing at least 112 people, displacing more than 1... more -
conclusion of Sociedad Anónima
Juan, Raymond and Fernando reflect on their experience making the film and life on the street.
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Sociedad Anónima
Short documentary profiling the story of Juan and Fernando in Barcelona, Spain. Basically it’s about the homeless issue. Juan is a crippled ex-construction worker from Andalusia and Fernando is a Cuban struggling to get his residency papers. Sorry no English subtitles. En español.
Juan está en la calle desde hace ocho años. Lo acompaña su perro, vive de limosnas y hace “horario comercial”. Hace poco más de un año, Raymond salió de su trabajo. Empezó a caminar. Esa noche durmió en la calle. Desde entonces, vive en ella. Fernando es cubano. Vivió dos años en la calle a la espera de sus papeles legales. Reunimos a estos tres personajes frente a un televisor para enseñarles sus retratos.
DOCUMENTAL
Sociedad Anónima
Dirección
Carolina Correa-Pía Hucke
Fotografía
Joshua Spencer
Guión
Anna Peris
Música
Anna Carne Carvajal
Montaje
Carolina Correa-Pía Hucke
Producción
Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona
BTV. Barcelona Televisió
Nacionalidad
España
Año
2003
Short documentary profiling the story of Juan and Fernando in Barcelona, Spain. Basically it’s about the homeless issue. Juan is a c... more -
A Genius Outside the Academy
The Hip Hop Caucus tour featuring Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Jr. Yearwood is a minister, community activist, military chaplain, and one of the most influential people in Hip Hop. A powerful and fiery orator. The Hip Hop Caucus tour featuring Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Jr. Yearwood is a minister, community activist, military chaplain, and one of ... more
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Home Sweet Home(less) pt2
I Senzatetto nelle città sono un problema? Se sì, in che misura?
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Home Sweet Home(less) pt1
I Senzatetto nelle città sono un problema? Se sì, in che misura?
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Invincible feat. Finale- "Locusts" (docu-music-video)
Detroit based Hip-Hop artists Invincible and Finale rhyme about the impacts of gentrification on the Motor City. This piece includes interviews with community activists discussing displacement and predatory planning versus sustainable development in the D.
Both the song and video for "Locusts" by Invincible feat. Finale, (produced by DJ House Shoes) are from Invincible's debut album Shapeshifters available on www.EMERGENCEmusic.net and www.bling47.com). Detroit based Hip-Hop artists Invincible and Finale rhyme about the impacts of gentrification on the Motor City. This piece includes i... more -
Homeless Vets vs. Bill O'Reilly, part 2
Bill O'Reilly: "The only thing sleeping under a bridge is that guy's brain."
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