World Hunger Awareness

'Saigon' hunger striker fading

Seven days without water and 26 without food is taking a toll on Vietnamese protester and war hero Ly Tong. "I'm so completely exhausted at night," he said."I'm so numb I cannot sleep. Either democracy has to be restored here, or I must die." Ly ,who has been on a hunger strike since Feb. 15, recently gave up drinking fluids, sharpening his protest with the SJ City Council. He's protesting the Council's refusal to name a Vietnamese business district "Little Saigon." Tong's condition is of concern to the city and those around him. He's camping in front of City Hall on East Santa Clara Street in a tent. .

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Stars Design Lunch Boxes To Aid World Hunger.

Sir Elton John, Yoko Ono, Mike Myers and Gwyneth Paltrow are among a number of stars who will design lunch boxes in a bid to raise money for hunger relief charities. Over 100 music and showbiz celebrities will decorate and sign lunch boxes to be auctioned off next month (07Dec07) for non-profit organisations The Lunchbox Fund of South Africa and Food Bank For New York City. Comedian Myers says, "I'm honoured to once again be a part of The Lunchbox Auction. The Lunchbox Fund and Food Bank For New York City have created a wonderful way to raise money and awareness about hunger and poverty in South Africa and New York." .

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Britain Gives $6M To Fight Afghan Hunger

The British government says it will send more than $6 million to Afghanistan to help fight rampant food shortages in the troubled country. International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander said his country's funds should help prevent a humanitarian crisis from occurring in Afghanistan, the BBC reported Sunday. .

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Students at Fenelon Falls Secondary School begin 30-hours of hunger

Students at Fenelon Falls Secondary School are going hungry for 30 hours this Friday and Saturday to raise money for foster children across the globe. Students at the school have been fundraising for foster children every year since the late 1960s. Fenelon Falls Secondary School currently supports 32 foster children in over 20 countries around the world. This is the largest number of foster children supported by any school in North America. Students are hoping to set a record this Friday by raising $10,000. Principal Mark Cossarin says the "30 hour hunger" is a powerful way for students to understand what it means to live with poverty. "Students can experience what millions of children across the globe experience every day, and do something about it," he says. Mr.

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Hunger As an Instrument of War

BLACE, MACEDONIA--Serbian troops are turning a new weapon on the people of Kosovo: hunger. Refugees crossing the border into Macedonia in recent days have been emaciated and faint. "The Serb forces are shelling villages to push civilians into enclaves and then cut off their food supply," says Lindsey Davies, spokesperson for the United Nations World Food Program (WFP). The experience of the village of Slovia, in central Kosovo, is typical. Ethnic Albanian refugees say their Serbian neighbors told them not to fear when troops surrounded the village on April 15. "They said, `Don't get excited, the Army only wants to meet with you,' " recalls Rasim, who declined to give his last name because family members remain in Kosovo. Panicked villagers tried to flee. Some were shot.

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Fighting Hunger 20 Grains of Rice at a Time

While most parents deter their kids from surfing the Internet for very long, Neal and Sandy Lorberbaum encourage their children to spend time online. Perry Lorberbaum, 13, and Eryn Lorberbaum, 12, are strengthening their vocabulary skills while sending food to impoverished nations, thanks to the Web site FreeRice.com. The site features a vocabulary game that donates 20 grains of rice to the United Nation's World Food Programme for each correct answer. John Breen, founder of Poverty.com, created the site to help his children study for the SATs. He decided to partner with the World Food Programme, and when the site debuted in October, it donated 10 grains of rice for every correct answer. Since then, the amount has doubled to 20 grains of rice, and the total grains of rice raised as of Feb.

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Arrested Russian opposition leader goes on hunger strike to protest ...

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia - A Russian opposition leader accused of hitting a policeman has gone on a hunger strike to protest his detainment, which he believes is politically motivated, his lawyer said Wednesday. Maxim Reznik, leader of the Yabloko party in St. Petersburg, began the hunger strike on Tuesday, when a city court ruled that he should remain in custody for two months while the case is under investigation, attorney Boris Gruzd said. Reznik was arrested before an anti-Kremlin protest was to take place Monday, led by former chess champion Garry Kasparov. Reznik is a St. Petersburg organizer of the protests held by Kasparov's opposition coalition. He has denied the charge against him. He faces up to five years in prison if convicted. "We'll do everything necessary to defend Reznik," Gruzd said.

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Drew Barrymore Donates to Anti-Hunger Cause

ET has the latest... DREW BARRYMORE appeared on OPRAH WINFREY's show Monday to announce that she is making a $1 million donation to help the World Food Programme (WFP) feed thousands of school children in Kenya. "I have seen with my own eyes what a difference a simple cup of nutritious porridge can make in a child's life," said Drew, who has traveled to Kenya twice in two years. "It helps them learn, stay healthy and sets them on track for a bright future. I urge everyone -- everywhere -- to help WFP 'Fill the Cup' for hungry children, and make hunger history." Drew's generous contribution kicks off WFP's new 'Fill the Cup' campaign, which challenges America to help feed 10 million children for a year. .

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Drew makes donation to fight hunger

Actress Drew Barrymore has said she is donating a million dollars (£500,000) to help fight hunger worldwide. The 33-year-old star is giving the money to the World Food Programme, a UN body that delivers millions of tons of food aid to more than 70 million people in about 80 countries, she said on The Oprah Winfrey Show. "I'm able to make this incredible donation - this has changed my life," said Barrymore, who serves as a WFP ambassador against hunger. "But I encourage everyone to give." Later, she said that the million dollars was "by far" the largest donation she has ever made. "But nothing has ever felt so good," she said. Barrymore, whose screen credits include the Charlie's Angels movies and ET: The Extra-Terrestrial, later visited the floor of the Chicago Board of Trade, saying she discussed the impact of rising food prices on the poor.

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Hunger As an Instrument of War

BLACE, MACEDONIA--Serbian troops are turning a new weapon on the people of Kosovo: hunger. Refugees crossing the border into Macedonia in recent days have been emaciated and faint. "The Serb forces are shelling villages to push civilians into enclaves and then cut off their food supply," says Lindsey Davies, spokesperson for the United Nations World Food Program (WFP). The experience of the village of Slovia, in central Kosovo, is typical. Ethnic Albanian refugees say their Serbian neighbors told them not to fear when troops surrounded the village on April 15. "They said, `Don't get excited, the Army only wants to meet with you,' " recalls Rasim, who declined to give his last name because family members remain in Kosovo. Panicked villagers tried to flee. Some were shot.

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