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Archive of "News" Category
Chinese Immigrants = Big Money
Arizona looks like the new port for Chinese immigrants to the US. Illegal immigrants are being smuggled between Chinese organized crime groups and Mexican smuggling organizations. This is a very lucrative business especially in light of the increasing interception of drugs.
Chinese immigrants commonly pay smugglers upward of $40,000 each to lead them from their homeland to the United States, Mr. Jimarez said. In comparison, he said, illegal immigrants from Mexico commonly pay $1,500 to $3,000.
Read The New York Times Coverage: In Arizona, a Stream of Illegal Immigrants From China
Real Relief for Haiti
My heart breaks for Haiti. Sadly, many do not know about the ongoing problems of Haiti.
It is one of the poorest countries in the Western hemisphere, with around 80 percent of the population living under the poverty line and 54 percent living in abject poverty, according to the CIA World Factbook. More than two-thirds of the labor force are believed to not have formal jobs, and just 62.1 percent of adults over age 15 are literate, according to the United Nations Human Development Report.
Haiti also has among the world’s lowest levels of gross domestic product per capita. [via New York Times]Historically, Haiti has been taken advantaged of for years and forced to pay for their freedom with high interest loans from a host of countries that include the United States. It’s time to bring real relief to Haiti.
Does it have to take destruction and loss of countless lives for us to be aware of injustice? We may not have control over natural disasters but we can certainly do something about poverty and injustice. We can right some of the wrongs. We can bring real relief to Haiti.
Congress is still considering The Jubilee Act for Responsible Lending and Expanded Debt Cancellation. This bill would help countries like Haiti get their debt canceled, without making that cancellation conditional on things like closing down free schools or raising the cost of fresh water. This may be a good time to contact your representatives about about this bi-partisan measure.
If you’re praying, great. Then put your money where your prayers are too. Let me also add that it’s easy to throw money at causes. It’s distant love. We are called to do much more. This is a time for the church to shine and respond with the love of Christ.If you’re praying, great. Then put your money where your prayers are too. Let me also add that it’s easy to throw money at causes. It’s distant love. We are called to do much more and we actually can if we open our eyes and hearts.
Haiti Earthquake Relief: How You Can Help
The Huffington Post has a growing roundup of ways to help
You can also text “HAITI” to 90999 to donate $10 to Red Cross
One Day’s Wages has set up a relief fund
More Links
For all things Haiti: (haiti.alltop.com)
Haiti’s Economy (NYT)
Haiti Earthquake Relief: 9 Ways to Help Now (Mashable)Healing for South Philadelphia High School Asian Students
The moment that Asian students from South Philadelphia High School have been waiting for finally arrived yesterday, 8 days after the violence they experienced. They were able to meet with District Superintendent Arlene Ackerman and other school officials with translators and community leaders on neutral ground at CCCNC. It was a closed door ‘conversation’ between school officials and over 30 students that comprised of Asian students who have not been back at school since the attacks as well as students that belonged to an Ambassador program. In the end the students were strongly urged to return to school today otherwise absences will be counted against them and ultimately hurt their academic careers. What mattered from when this whole ordeal began was whether these students felt heard or not. It was a really powerful moment for me to see and hear the deep appreciation that these students had for the many leaders that rallied around them to get this conversation going and continue to stand by them. This is just a first step in this process of healing for these students, the school community and the surrounding neighborhood. The goal is healing. It’s going to take more conversations and the efforts of both adults and students to bring healing to this school and community. Apologies help. Empathy too. And of course, forgiveness.
I really wonder, throughout this whole process leading up to today, what have they learned?
Students were told that they can make the difference, they have a voice and it’s basically up to them. This is true to a certain extent but we cannot just place the burden for action and change solely upon the shoulders of students. Adults need to come alongside and speak up for them. That goes for teachers, administration, parents and the rest of us as neighbors. Right now it’s a question of whether these students feel safe enough and are able to trust the adults appointed there to protect, teach and care for them. Many of these students did return to school today but the healing will take time.
Links to Recent News
Asian Students Return to South Phila. HS After Talks
Nutter backs Ackerman’s handling of S. Philly High
Asian Students Back to Class at S. Philly High
Opinion:What are we teaching our kids?RadioTimes on Tensions among students at South Philadelphia High School [mp3, 27mb]
The Chinese Worker: TIME Person of the Year 2009?
CHINESE IN THE NEWS: The shortlist for the TIME Person of the Year came out this morning. You’ve got Steve Jobs, Ben Bernake, and “The Chinese Worker”… Blink. Blink. You heard right.
“They are an increasingly influential group in one of the world’s most powerful economies”
The magazine’s selection will be unveiled Wednesday morning on the “Today” show. You can vote on who you think should be Person of the Year. [via Huffington Post]
Undergrads from China growing on US Campuses
Photo by Jacob Hannah for USA TODAY
For years we have seen mostly graduate students pour in from China but we’re witnessing a surge in undergrad enrollment as USAToday confirms. Campus/Student ministries in Chinese churches are fairly new developments. It’s wonderful to see these missional efforts from the Chinese church side and I see that they’re getting a taste of what English speaking ministries experience in a Chinese church context. Leaders of these ministries are much more contextual and intentional in their ministry approach. They have to deal with turnover more frequently than traditional Chinese pastors. How will Chinese churches respond to the surge in undergrads? Generally grad students are older and may be single or married. It’s a different stage of life. Undergrad attitudes and outlook will be different.
Is this a moment of opportunity for English-speaking ministries and not just Chinese congregations? Perhaps this development can provide a bridging ministry between the Chinese and English speaking ministries of Chinese churches.
26 Asian Students Attacked at South Philadelphia High School
An incident occurred last week involving 26 or more Asian students being targeted and attacked at South Philadelphia High School. The school is 18% Asian and has been designated by the state as persistently dangerous. Racial? The situation is very complicated. The media can’t capture the complexities of the situation but violence against Asians in this neighborhood is not uncommon. What’s really upsetting the lack of outrage by school officials and others in response to this situation. Sure suspensions were given out and apparently have been given out for the past 18 months. They are also increasing police presence but what does that do except provide a band aid solution over racial tensions and misunderstandings. These circumstances will undoubtedly shape the hearts and minds of students, families, and communities for years. Racist attitudes will grow like mildew and mold. This a real opportunity for the school district, community leaders, and students to retool and reshape the school culture and larger community.
NEWS LINKS & TIMELINE
Friday
26 Asian Students Attacked at Philly High School [philly.com]
26 asian students attacked at south philadelphia high [Angry Asian Man]
Philly school’s racial tensions lead to fights [AP]
Racial assaults at S. Philly: What went wrong [The Notebook/Helen Gym]
South Philly High students meet with officials after attacks [philly.com - press conference at cccnc]Saturday
Many Asian students fear return to South Phila. classes [philly.com]Monday
Asian students boycott S. Phila. High [philly.com]
Asian students plan walkouts [philly.com]Euna Lee & Laura Ling: Glamour Women of the Year?
Euna Lee, left, and Laura Ling, photographed by Brigitte Lacombe in West Hollywood, California
Glamour Magazine honors a number of interesting women this year in various categories. Rihanna? Serena Williams? Amidst the high-profile public personas are Euna Lee and Laura Ling, the journalists held captive in North Korea and sentenced for 12 years of hard labor. This incident sparked prayer vigils across the country. It’s interesting to read the range of comments on the Glamour site on whether these two deserve this recognition or not. Reporters take risks and Lee/Ling made their mark. Regardless of whether their methods were right or not they’ve helped raise more awareness for what’s going on in North Korea and human trafficking. C’mon. It’s Glamour Magazine…
Euna Lee and Laura Ling also support LiNK, which provides resources to North Korean defectors and raises awareness about the humanitarian crisis in that part of the world.Don’t forget about Sarah, Josh and Shane (the 3 Hikers in an Iranian prison. Go to the website and sign the petition (www.freethehikers.org).
Everyday Giving
NY Times article on the everyday giver. Namely, YOU.
It’s easier than ever for you to make a difference.Nice to see Eugene Cho and One Day’s Wages featured here.
Kanye West. There’s a Lesson in This.
So Kanye West screwed up the other night at the VMAs in a juvenile lapse of judgement.
I admit that I was upset by what he did to Taylor Swift. C’mon, she’s so sweet and innocent
I’m also not ashamed to admit that I’m a Taylor Swift fan too. So he apologized on Leno. Maybe he was sincere. Maybe not. Maybe one day we’ll know the truth. Sure right now he has a responsibility to address the public but it would mean more to deal with Taylor directly.
It’s easy to be hatin on him. I was tempted to erase all his music off my iTunes. I was appalled, confused, but then got over it.
This year’s VMAs was definitely a circus but seriously, it’s the VMAs and not the Grammys.
Now I’m not making excuses for him but let’s take another look at this. I don’t even want to throw the race thing in the mix here. Kanye’s a celebrity and celebrities live in a different reality that many of us mere mortals cannot fully grasp. It’s a world marked by gross access and excess. What that does to one’s sense of moral, social, and spiritual grounding we cannot imagine. Virtually every little thing they do is tweeted, documented, and shared with the world.Why are we surprised when they do crazy stupid things?
What if our lives were always on camera for the world to scrutinize?I don’t think he’s that much different than some of us, or someone on our leadership team or even in our congregations? I recall when I was in youth ministry doing a lot of stupid things in public whether from the pulpit or elsewhere. I had my moments where I strongly disagreed with the establishment. How do we as leaders and followers of Christ help young immature but influential, talented, gifted, individuals become the people God desires for them to be? Do we judge? Do we condemn?
I think we need to have different eyes.
We can focus on the actions or we can look at the man and what he could be. Then by faith take action to help him get there. Transformation won’t happen through condemnation. I’m sure this will serve to shape Kanye and make him “stronger” but I think we can do better. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen celebrities make career wrecking moves. This isn’t the first time Kanye’s pulled a Kanye. I hope to see the evolution of Kanye West. Let’s condemn his actions but not the man. We want to see this person grow and change as an artist, a human being, one who is made in the image and likeness of God.Foxwoods Defeat. Good News For Chinatown.
Interesting things always happen in my absence. I should go away more.Last Friday, good news came to Chinatown and all those who have been opposing the plans for slots casinos in Center City as Foxwoods pulled their plans for pursuing the 8th and Market St site (Formerly the Strawbridge & Clothier building). Foxwoods is revisiting their original site plans in South Philly and will likely be confronted by angry protests there as well. However, this time protests are a city wide effort and the Chinatown community will continue to add their voice to making Philadelphia casino free.
For now we can claim a major victory for Chinatown. I’d like to see Casinos entirely out of Philadelphia no matter how desperate we are to fix the doomsday budget outlook here.
Links
Looks Like it’s Back to South Philly for Foxwoods Casino, [Philly.com]
Beating the House, Helen Gym [Metro]
DiCicco: Foxwoods Ruling “Damages Philadelphia’s Fabric”
Mayor Nutter: Foxwoods Ruling “A Step Backwards”Twitter Updates from Casino Free Philly
My Posts on “Saying No to Casinos in Chinatown”
[Part 1] [Part 2] [Part 3] [Part 4] [Part 5] [Part 6] [Part 7] [Part 8]
Events
"HERO" An EPIC MOVEMENT EAST COAST Conference January 15-18, 2010, Philadelphia
Verge Missional Community Conference,
February 4-6, Austin, Texas
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