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As cyclone and monsoon season begins in Bangladesh, tens of thousands of Rohingya families in refugee camps near the border with Myanmar wait to see if their homes and newly-formed communities will hold. Their shelters cling to the sides of slopes or are situated in flood plains, both precarious places as the camp and surrounding hills have been stripped of trees and vegetation that could prevent deadly flash floods and landslides. Catholic Relief Services is working with partner agency Caritas Bangladesh on the ground in Cox’s Bazaar, Bangladesh responding to this emergency. Together, Caritas and CRS have modified thousands of shelters and accompanying infrastructure in preparation for torrential rains and flooding. In addition to retrofitting existing areas of the camp and constructing new sites with proper infrastructure, they are engaging community members in camp upkeep and looking out for vulnerable neighbors. CRS is the international relief and development org. of the U.S. Catholic Church and officials are on site and available to speak with media. Caroline Brennan, CRS’ emergency communications director and an expert in areas of emergency relief and recovery and refugees will be in Cox’s Bazar and is available for interview June 18-29. Simply click on her icon to arrange an interview over Skype, phone or in person. Source:
Cedar Crest College fights food insecurity with food pantry
It’s a topic that isn’t often talked about, but it’s reaching near epidemic proportions: Food insecurity on America’s college and university campuses. With the costs of education rising – students are having to make the unfortunate and unhealthy choice of deciding whether to pay for school or pay for food. Some are scrounging, some are going hungry and it’s a trend that needs to stop. Cedar Crest College was one of dozens of schools to participate in a recent survey conducted by Temple University and the Wisconsin HOPE Lab assessing the basic needs of university students across the nation. The study determined that 36 percent of students on U.S. College campuses suffer from food insecurity. You can read the full report here. In light of that shocking report, Cedar Crest College is continuing to work diligently to combat hunger on campus. The college currently operates a food pantry on campus that is open to all students – traditional undergrads, adult learners and graduate students. The pantry operates solely on donations and gifts, and the college hosts two food drives each year to stock it. It offers non-perishable food items, toiletries and frozen meals. “It is harder to concentrate on your academic work when you are hungry,” said Mary Alice Ozechoski, Vice President of Student Affairs & Traditional Enrollment. “We believe that students who are food insecure need assistance so they can focus on what matters: completing their education.” Mary Alice Ozechoski is available to speak with media regarding this issue. Simply click on her icon to arrange an interview. Source:
Another Big Short or Better Off? 10 Years Later – Is there Another Financial Crisis Looming?
It was 10 years ago Wednesday that the world changed for just about everyone. It was on that afternoon when BNP Paribas announced it was ceasing activity in three hedge funds that specialized in U.S. mortgage debt. BNP Paribas was the first major bank to acknowledge the risk of exposure to the sub-prime mortgage market, and many look back at those days as the start of the worst financial crisis in American history since the stock market crashed in 1929. For a decade, America has been in a state of recovery. It took trillions of dollars in stimulus and bail outs. The real estate market almost collapsed on itself and millions were left unemployed. Some are still incapable of finding work and income that matched what they made back then. On the outside, America seems to be in complete recovery. Housing prices have bounced back, the DOW is soaring and unemployment rests at just 5.1 percent. However, some are skeptical. Americans are borrowing again at record rates. Credit is once again being offered abundantly and as people spend again – risk is climbing. Add in China’s shaky economy and there’s also talk of a double-bubble bursting. Understanding finance and economics is no easy task. It takes global understanding, a keen eye on micro and macroeconomics and sometimes a crystal ball. But on Wednesday, many people will remember exactly what they were doing when America’s economy tanked. So where are we now? Have we learned our lesson or are we doomed to repeat ourselves? Have the reforms on Wall Street worked or can the actions of a few big banks still derail one of the strongest financial engines in the world? None of these are easy questions to answer or explain. But experts from Missouri State University can help. Dr. David Mitchell is a Professor of Economics and Director of the Bureau of Economic Research at Missouri State. He is also an expert at economic forecasting and understanding market trends and direction. Dr. Mitchell can speak to the anniversary of the financial crisis and what may lie ahead for America’s economy. Click on his icon to arrange an interview. Source:
#Rio2106 – A Billion Dollar Party?
Is hosting the Summer Games worth it for an economy in shambles? On Aug. 5, the Olympic Games begin in Rio de Janiero. What should be a point of pride for Brazil has been reduced to a cause for concern and worry for athletes, tourists, and international organizers. Hosting the Olympics is not cheap. It can cost the host country billions of dollars in infrastructure costs. During the bidding process, host cities make bold promises of upgrades to transportation, modernized and safe housing for athletes and new event facilities. Brazil’s economy is currently is a serious recession. Some economists have even said that the economy in this once powerful South American nation has not been in this poor a state since 1901. Professor Tom Smith specializes in cultural economics and the economics of the arts at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School. Professor Smith is available to speak to media about whether or not the economic risk of hosting the Summer Games outweighs the reward. He can also speak to the costs, benefits and long term effects can have on a country. Source:
