· July, 2011

Stories about Humanitarian Response from July, 2011

Denmark: Starvation Day

  29 July 2011

The severe drought in Africa's Horn is echoing in many online corners of the world. But not only established organizations are raising funds for food. Here's a Danish Facebooker introducing an alternative event – Starvation Monday [en]: “Starve yourself on August 1 and donate the money you would have spent...

Africa: Africa Cartoon Stirs Famine Pornography Debate

  25 July 2011

Natasha Elkington looks at satirical newspaper cartoon commenting on media priorities around the Murdoch scandal and the East Africa famine which has sparked debate about pornography: “The image, labelled “Priorities”, depicts three naked, emaciated children holding empty bowls, with swollen bellies, ribs sticking out and flies swarming above them.”

Colombia: Challenges of the Victims’ Law

  21 July 2011

Paula Delgado-King writes about some of the challenges the recently approved Victims’ Law faces: “the process needs to provide loans and credits, guidance for which crops and animals are most suitable where, and access to markets,” and that “the law has no accompanying truth commission to create a national conscience...

Barbados: Legal Battle over Wetlands

  21 July 2011

Barbados Free Press recounts the falling out between a Canadian philanthropist and the government over the latter's alleged action of “dumping raw sewerage into the Graeme Hall wetlands and other violations of various treaties and agreements”, saying: “The truth is that Peter Allard has been a better friend to ordinary...

Somalia: Al-Shabaab Calls For International Aid

  8 July 2011

On Afrik.com, Michelle Nougoum reveals [fr] that: “The Horn of Africa is experiencing one of the worst droughts of its history, so much so that al shabaab, an islamist insurgent group of Somalian rebels, has called for international aid on Wednesday, July 6th. Two years ago, this group had  forced...

Russia: Infamous ‘Vanishing’ Charity Foundation Resurfaces

The heartwarming performance of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin playing the piano and singing the song "Blueberry Hill" at a charity concert, was darkened by the scandal surrounding the 'Federaciya' (Federation) foundation that allegedly tried to disappear with the money raised by the event. The charity has recently resurfaced, with plans for another concert underway.

The North Korea Food Aid Dilemma

  5 July 2011

On July 4, the European Commission pledged USD 14.5 million in emergency food aid to help impoverished North Koreans. The Opening Up North Korea blog posted an analysis on the timeless dilemma in aiding North Korea.

Togo: $200,000 aid for Japan

  2 July 2011

On 24th June 2011 the Togolese blogger, Sylvio Combey, denounced on his blog [fr]:    “[The president] Faure Gnassingbé has given $200,000 (about 92 million CFA francs) to a country [Japan] which is suffering great losses and paying the consequences of its nuclear policy. You just have to look at...