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Humanitarian Day Detroit 2008
Discusses homelessness in Detroit, a very major issue not talked about or dealt with nearly enough. It also documents the annual Day of Dignity, formerly known as Humanitarian, which is one of the largest events held in MIchigan to help the homeless. Discusses homelessness in Detroit, a very major issue not talked about or dealt with nearly enough. It also documents the annual Day o... more
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Bush announces extra billion in aid for Georgia
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Pushing back against an increasingly aggressive Moscow, President Bush said Wednesday the U.S. will send an extra $1 billion to Georgia to help the pro-Western former Soviet republic in the wake of Russia's invasion.
"Georgia has a strong economic foundation and leaders with an impressive record of reform," Bush said in a statement. "Our additional economic assistance will help the people of Georgia recover from the assault on their country, and continue to build a prosperous and competitive economy."
Vice President Dick Cheney, due in Georgia on Thursday, planned to make the massive aid package a major highlight of his discussions with Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili. Cheney is on a tour of three former Soviet republics that are wary of Russia's intentions in what Moscow likes to call its "near abroad" sphere of influence and what Cheney termed while in Azerbaijan on Wednesday "the shadow of the Russian invasion of Georgia."
"The free world cannot allow the destiny of a small independent country to be determined by the aggression of a larger neighbor," Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told reporters at the State Department in a simultaneous announcement with Bush.
She mocked Russia for its recognition of the two separatist regions in Georgia that are at the heart of the conflict that broke out last month, and for its failure to garner international backing.
"Almost no one followed suit, I might note. It isn't really an impressive list to have Abkhazia and South Ossetia recognize each other," she said.
Also in tandem with Bush, the International Monetary Fund announced it has agreed to lend Georgia $750 million for economic recovery.
The administration is delaying an announcement on some sort of punishment of Russia for its actions against Georgia and its refusal thus far to comply with a French-brokered cease-fire. However, the decision to shower tiny Georgia with such substantial aid and have Cheney talk about it in Moscow's backyard will likely be seen by the Kremlin as highly provocative, if not a punitive measure in and of itself. WASHINGTON (AP) -- Pushing back against an increasingly aggressive Moscow, President Bush said Wednesday the U.S. will send an extra $... more -
US Navy warship sails into Georgia with aid
ABOARD THE U.S.S. MCFAUL (AP) -- A U.S. Navy warship carrying humanitarian aid anchored at the Georgian port of Batumi on Sunday, sending a strong signal of support to an embattled ally as Russian forces built up around two separatist regions.
Ahead of the USS McFaul's arrival, a top Russian general suggested that the presence of U.S. and other NATO ships in the Black Sea would worsen tensions already at a post-Cold War low.
Russia pulled the bulk of its troops and tanks from its small southern neighbor Friday after a brief but intense war, but built up its forces in and around two separatist regions - South Ossetia and Abkhazia - and left other military posts deep inside Georgia.
The guided missile destroyer USS McFaul, loaded with some 80 pallets containing about 55 tons of humanitarian aid, is the first of three American ships scheduled to arrive this week, according to the U.S. Embassy. The aid includes baby food, diapers, bottled water, and milk.
The arrival was a stark reminder that it will take substantial aid and months of rebuilding before Georgia can recover from the war with Russia. Five days of fighting damaged cities and towns across the country and displaced tens of thousands of people.
The commander of the U.S. task force carrying aid to Georgia by ship, Navy Capt. John Moore, downplayed the significance of a destroyer bringing aid. "We really are here on a humanitarian mission," he said.
The McFaul, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, is also outfitted with an array of weaponry, including Tomahawk cruise missiles, which can carry either conventional or nuclear warheads, and a sophisticated radar system. For security reasons the Navy does not say if ships are carrying nuclear weapons, but they usually do not.
At dockside in Batumi, with the McFaul anchored offshore, U.S. Navy officials in crisp white uniforms were met Sunday by Georgian officials, including Defense Minister David Kezerashvili.
Speaking to The Associated Press on the aft missile deck of the McFaul, anchored a mile offshore, Kezerashvili said Georgians would feel safer now.
"They will feel safe not because the destroyer is here but because they will feel they are not alone facing the Russian aggression," he said.
The deputy chief of Russia's general staff suggested that the arrival of the ship and those of other NATO members would increase tensions in the Black Sea. Russia shares the sea with NATO members Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria as well as Georgia and Ukraine, whose pro-Western president also is leading a drive for NATO membership.
"I don't think such a buildup will foster the stabilization of the atmosphere in the region," Russia's ITAR-Tass news agency quoted Col. Gen. Anatoly Nogovitsyn as saying Saturday.
The conflict between Russia and Georgia, a small ex-Soviet republic whose pro-Western leaders have tried to shed Moscow's influence and sought NATO membership, has strained Russian-U.S. relations.
Georgia straddles a key westward route for oil from Azerbaijan and other Caspian Sea nations including Kazakhstan, giving it added strategic importance as the U.S. and the European Union seek to decrease Russia's dominance of oil and gas exports from the former Soviet Union. ABOARD THE U.S.S. MCFAUL (AP) -- A U.S. Navy warship carrying humanitarian aid anchored at the Georgian port of Batumi on Sunday, send... more -
Georgia recieving aid from U.S but not South Ossetia
The United States has sent 25 planeloads of humanitarian assistance to Georgia even as aid experts try to determine the full extent of the crisis.
The United States is unable to gain access to the breakaway region of South Ossetia, where fighting began August 7 between Georgian and Russian troops.
"We are not allowed into South Ossetia," U.S. Agency for International Development Administrator Henrietta Fore said from the Georgian capitol, Tbilisi.
She said that access to the Georgian city of Gori, near South Ossetia, "is still challenging."
The scope of the humanitarian crisis was unclear, because American and other disaster experts have been denied entry to regions controlled by Russian troops.
"We are calling for full access to all humanitarian teams. That is very important. Humanitarian work -- to be able to save lives, to be able to keep families together -- needs access," Fore said. "We have aid going through implementing partners, so through other agencies, but at this time we are not sending any of our American teams into South Ossetia."
An estimated 130,000 newly displaced people are in Georgia, and most of them "need some sort of assistance, from shelter to water to food," Fore said.
"This is a large and complex challenge for internally displaced persons to have access to food and bedding and mattresses and all of the things that you need for good quality of life."
The United States has provided $7.2 million in humanitarian aid to Georgia, Fore said.
"We anticipate staying as long as there is need and helping to set up the economy," she added.
In addition to 25 U.S. aid flights through Wednesday, two U.S. Navy ships and a U.S. Coast Guard cutter are en route to Georgia after getting permission from Turkey to enter the Black Sea, the State Department said.
Earlier Thursday, State Department spokesman Robert Wood said the United States wants Russia to live up to its agreement to leave Georgia.
"There are a lot of Russian forces moving around but not moving out," Wood said. He said U.S. officials were concerned about reports that Russians were setting up checkpoints. "This is a violation of the cease-fire agreement."
The crisis began when a Georgian military attack on the Russian-backed separatist territory of South Ossetia was followed by Russian troops moving into the former Soviet republic. The United States has sent 25 planeloads of humanitarian assistance to Georgia even as aid experts try to determine the full extent of... more -
Female British aid worker gunned down as Taliban ambush kills four in Afghanistan
A British woman was among four aid workers killed on Wednesday when their vehicle was ambushed by Islamic militants in Afghanistan.
Dr Jacqueline Kirk, said to be of British-Canadian descent, was gunned down along with three other International Rescue Committee members as they traveled through Logar province to Kabul.
The aid workers were attacked despite their vehicle being clearly marked with the IRC logo, said a spokesman for the New York-based charity, which is yet to name the victims as it tries to contact their families.
Dr Kirk died along with two other female workers - a Canadian and Trinidadian-American - the IRC said. The fourth casualty was their Afghan driver.
The charity said it would be suspending humanitarian aid duties in Afghanistan after 20 years operating in the country.
IRC President George Rupp said: 'We are stunned and profoundly saddened by this tragic loss.
'These extraordinary individuals were deeply committed to aiding the people of Afghanistan, especially the children who have seen so much strife.
'Words are inadequate to express our sympathy for the families and loved ones of the victims and our devoted team of humanitarian aid workers in Afghanistan.'
The attack was carried out by five Islamic militant gunmen who stepped out of a small village area and fired at the IRC vehicle on the main road.
The attack on the eastern outskirts of the capital on Monday afternoon also wounded two other soldiers from 16 Signal Regiment.
Afghan officials said three civilians were killed and 12 injured. A British woman was among four aid workers killed on Wednesday when their vehicle was ambushed by Islamic militants in Afghanistan. ... more -
Easy Way To Feed Homeless Pets
Freekibble.com's primary mission is to provide good, healthy food to dogs and cats to those shelters who are working so hard to see that none of them go hungry - they need our help. We'll continue to provide free kibble to the Humane Society of Central Oregon and now we're expanding to add more shelters in need of free kibble.
Mimi Ausland, a 12 year old girl from Bend, Oregon, wanted to help feed the hungry dogs at her local animal shelter. "There are 10's of thousands of dogs in animal shelters across the country, all needing to be fed a good meal." Say hello to freekibble.com! And now it's time to feed the cats too! http://www.freekibblekat.com/ Freekibble.com's primary mission is to provide good, healthy food to dogs and cats to those shelters who are working so hard to s... more -
Changing the World with Kiva.org
Kiva is changing the world through microfinancing. Kiva allows people to lend as little as $25 directly to the poor. They use that money to start a busiess that helps them get out of poverty. 99.9% of the loans have been paid back. Kiva is changing the world through microfinancing. Kiva allows people to lend as little as $25 directly to the poor. They use that mon... more
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Save Children From The Sex Trade Industry
The Blind Project is a group of concerned individuals who aim to protect children from the sex trade industry. Many people living in more affluent, civilized parts of the world are unaware and sometimes overlook the social injustice taken place towards children and sex trafficking. This non-profit organization is dedicated to raising and improving the lives for sex trafficking victims by providing education, rehabilitation, and jobs. The Blind Project is a group of concerned individuals who aim to protect children from the sex trade industry. Many people living in m... more
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Helping Make Poverty History
ONE is a charity organization that is helping to make poverty history. ONE is a campaign of over 2.4 million people and growing from all 50 states and over 100 of America's most well-known and respected non-profit, advocacy and humanitarian organizations. ONE is raising public awareness about the issues of global poverty, hunger, disease and efforts to fight such problems in the world's poorest countries. ONE is asking our leaders to do more to fight the emergency of global AIDS and extreme poverty. ONE is a charity organization that is helping to make poverty history. ONE is a campaign of over 2.4 million people and growing from a... more
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Feed A Starving Person With One Click
www.freerice.com is a website with an online vocabulary that promotes self-improvement and humanitarian aid by providing free rice to developing nations through the United Nations. It works by asking the viewer what the vocab of a word. If you get the question right, 20 grains of rice is donated, if you get the qustion wrong, you get an easier word. The rice is paid for by ads at the bottom of each page. FreeRice now gives you a second chance on words you miss.
http://www.freerice.com/ www.freerice.com is a website with an online vocabulary that promotes self-improvement and humanitarian aid by providing free rice to ... more
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humanitarian aid
