The photo of a Trump Tower billboard above sleeping homeless children is real
Posted by Joe Vesey-Byrne in news
A photograph of the slum children of Mumbai sleeping beneath a billboard for Trump Tower went viral in early December.
Initially denounced as a fake on Reddit and Snopes.com, the photographer Paul Needham has since come forward.
Since Trump’s elevation to the international stage as president-elect, the juxtaposition becomes even more powerful than simply a hotel magnate and people in poverty.
When the image initially went viral, some doubted its veracity.
Needham has since spoken to indy100, and verified the image.
I was in Mumbai to meet a social impact investor. I run a company called Simpa Networks, Simpa Energy here in India. We provide solar energy solutions to farmers and small shops in rural India.
~Ryan Lochte Epitomizes White Privilege and U.S. Foreign Policy~
The harrowing tale of American Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte and his fellow athletes being held up at gunpoint and robbed in Río de Janeiro by men disguised as police officers was all the rage in the media last week.
Not surprisingly, there was no shortage of excuses made for the cherished American Olympic athletes.
“These kids tried to have fun,” said Rio 2016 Olympic spokesperson Mario Andrade. “Lochte is one of the best swimmers of all time. They competed under gigantic pressure. Let’s give these kids a break. They had fun, they made a mistake, life goes on.”
Following the European colonial playbook, Lochte played on the perceptions his countrymen have of Brazil and Latin American countries in general as having nothing more to offer than crime and poverty.
The same way the white Christian settlers demonized the Indigenous Americans as “savages” and Donald Trump demonizes Mexicans as “rapists”, Ryan Lochte essentially demonized the inhabitants of Río de Janeiro as nothing more than a bunch of thieves.
In this way he is the perfect representative of his country’s foreign policy, showing no respect for international standards of decency, behaving as if we are the “exceptional” nation, caring nothing about other cultures, and fabricating evidence to make the U.S. appear an innocent victim while those we invade and oppress are tarred with a brush of criminality and terrorism.
Schools in Puerto Rico have been closing down due to the debt crisis, but hedge fund managers like Mark Brodsky continue to take advantage of the situation. Urge elected officials to put the lives of Puerto Ricans above interests of hedge funds.
Puerto Rico needs action in Washington that respects local authority, fairly restructures the debt, puts people over hedge fund profits, and protects the environment.
We are counting on our elected officials to promote shared prosperity, not austerity for Puerto Rico.
If a child lives with criticism, they learn to condemn.
If a child lives with hostility, they learn to fight.
If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive,
If children live with pity, they learn to feel sorry for themselves,
If a child lives with ridicule, he learns to be shy.
But do not despair …
If a child lives with tolerance, they learn to be patient.
If a child lives with encouragement, they learn confidence.
If a child lives with praise, they learn to appreciate.
If a child lives with fairness, they live with justice.
If a child lives with security, they live to have faith.
If a child lives with approval, they learn to like himself.
If a child lives with acceptance and friendship.
they learn to find love in the world.
We can do that but what we can’t forget is the fact that there’s a sinister side to celebrating this day.
We have to acknowledge the other side of this reality.
Let’s not be blind to what our reality really is.
Our Earth is full of scars.
Wounds have been inflicted by us humans.
I look through my personal library and find books related to recycling, green consumer, tropical nature, end of nature, earth rights, save our planet and many more.
Mind you, I got these books while I was in high school and college.
That was many more than 40 years ago.
Still the same concerns apply and, at this time, with more urgency.
Remember, there’s no “Planet B“, at least for the average citizen.
Many events are taking place simultaneously: raging wars almost worldwide, genocide, injustices, obviating humans rights, killings, hunger, poverty, catastrophic losses, hurricanes, drought, earthquakes.
I often wonder, if humans treat other humans without regard to life, why would they treat our planet, our home, with any small iota of respect.
It seems to be that “the powers that be” are squeezing Mother Earth until the last drop of her resources has been converted to profit.
~~Published on Apr 20, 2013~~
Created for Earth Day 2013
The facts are terrifying.
No matter what you think about global warming or climate change, we need to take care of our planet. It’s the only one we’ve got
We need to care for animals!
We need to take care of Mother Nature!
We need to take care of the environment!
We need to take care of ourselves!!!
“IOTD” is image of the day, a concept I came up with. I teach visual meditative therapy – or in easy terms – a mini mental holiday. For some people it is very difficult for them to get their image right. I post an image a day for people to use in their mini mental vacay. Some are serious, some are silly, and some are just beautiful!”
THIS IS A SHAME …. THEY SERVED, COMPLETED THEIR DUTY … THEY ARE HEROES
Who are homeless veterans?
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) states that the nation’s homeless veterans are predominantly male, with roughly 8% being female. The majority are single; live in urban areas; and suffer from mental illness, alcohol and/or substance abuse, or co-occurring disorders. About 12% of the adult homeless population are veterans.
Roughly 40% of all homeless veterans are African American or Hispanic, despite only accounting for 10.4% and 3.4% of the U.S. veteran population, respectively.
Homeless veterans are younger on average than the total veteran population. Approximately 9% are between the ages of 18 and 30, and 41% are between the ages of 31 and 50. Conversely, only 5% of all veterans are between the ages of 18 and 30, and less than 23% are between 31 and 50.
America’s homeless veterans have served in World War II, the Korean War, Cold War, Vietnam War, Grenada, Panama, Lebanon, Persian Gulf War, Afghanistan and Iraq (OEF/OIF), and the military’s anti-drug cultivation efforts in South America. Nearly half of homeless veterans served during the Vietnam era. Two-thirds served our country for at least three years, and one-third were stationed in a war zone.
About 1.4 million other veterans, meanwhile, are considered at risk of homelessness due to poverty, lack of support networks, and dismal living conditions in overcrowded or substandard housing.
Just another traveler on life's highway hanging out in the slow lane. It's quiet, it's peaceful. Beyond the horizon is rest calling my name. Green pastures, still waters, my cup runneth over.
