TresSugar

Iowa Flooding and Polygamy Cause Debate Within Religions

CitizenSugar — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 00:00:07 -0700

What do the recent floods in the Midwest, and the attention garnered over the FLDS polygamy case have in common? It might not be obvious on the surface, but they're both instances where headlines are having a big impact on religion. First, the floods:

One grocery-store owner in Iowa, who is a devout Muslim, saw his business of six years washed away along with hundreds of others in the severe flooding last month. But whereas other businesses are signing up to receive federal loans at low interest, he cannot; it is forbidden in the Quran for any believer to pay interest. The store owner claims he will need $18,000 to replenish his stock, a sum he does not have, yet his faith has not faltered: “With all of our losses here, even the loss of a six year effort, I still feel we were blessed.”

In Utah, a somewhat different religious struggle is taking place between the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the more renegade Fundamentalist groups, most of whom practice polygamy. To see what's causing the debate, read more.

Each group believes they have a rightful claim to the appellation “Mormon.” The LDS Mormons believe that since traditionally the word Mormon has been used to describe their church that they are the ones whom it should refer to exclusively. The more fundamentalist branches, including the group recently raided in Texas, disagree stating that it is their belief in Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon is all that is needed to be called “Mormon."

Should a religion's name be proprietary - does the LDS Church have a rightful claim to it? Would you refuse government assistance because your religion dictated?

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Think Food's Spendy Now? The Flood Just Made It Worse. . .

CitizenSugar — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 09:00:10 -0700

Although help to those affected by the horrible damage in the heartland will most likely be forthcoming, relief to the rest of the country due to skyrocketing food prices may not. Sixteen percent of Iowa farms have been destroyed and their entire crops demolished following the severe flooding.

The devastation has in turn caused record high market prices of corn and soybean products. The prospects of the smaller amounts of grain yields shocked the market where corn prices rose to nearly 8$/bushel; four times the amount of its usual price and a new record. World corn prices have now risen to 90 percent higher levels than just one year ago.

One Iowa mayor put the cost of the hit on the heartland plainly. He said that even after the floodwater recedes, affected farmers would have to work the rest of the year to clear silt, tree limbs and other debris before they can plant next year. "There's going to be absolutely no farming this year. They've lost it. It's gone. Nothing at all. No beans, no corn this year." That's a reality that will show up in every shopping cart for a long while to come.

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While beginning the onerous task of rebuilding lives washed away by the Midwestern floods, survivors got visits from two high profile guests yesterday. To see who, read more.

Locals who'd worked exhaustively to try to protect houses and farms were praised by the presumptive Republican nominee, John McCain, as he toured the submerged Iowan streets of Columbus Junction. Walking past flooded buildings, washed out roads and countless sandbags used in an attempt to prevent disaster McCain said, “I know I speak for all America. We’ll do everything necessary to try and rebuild the lives [of residents of Columbus Junction].”

President Bush also visited the flooded area pledging assistance. “Obviously, to the extent we can help immediately, we will help.” Bush also made a visit to the flooded area, visiting Cedar Rapids and Iowa City. The president was also taken on an aerial tour to view the damage that has caused tens of thousands of people to evacuate their homes in six states.

Are you thinking ahead to how this disaster will affect you?

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Mighty Mississippi River Bursts Its Banks Forcing Rescues

CitizenSugar — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 10:00:03 -0700

Despite backbreaking teamwork to sandbag the riverbanks, the Mississippi River broke through an Illinois levee forcing nearly half a dozen people to be rescued by helicopter. However, because the federal government learned from a 1993 flood in the same area and planned for a repeat, the damage could have actually been much worse.

After the 1993 Mississippi flood, President Clinton purchased much of the low-lying land buying out more than 9,000 homeowners. The land was turned into parks and underdeveloped areas creating much less of a risk when the next flood - like this one - occurred.
The buyout plan moved whole communities including Rhineland, MO and Valmeyer, IL. FEMA also spent $1.6 million to move the resident of Elkport (whose population then numbered 80) and razed the remaining buildings. The ones who remained are paying the price today as their town is now completely inundated with water.

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The National Weather Service predicts crests in the next few days along the Mississippi River near St. Louis to approach those 1993 levels. In Canton, MO, the river might reach 27.7 feet high, more than 13 feet above the flood stage.

Though 1993 preparations controlled some damage, area residents are still hurting. Reports of raw sewage and farm runoff in floodwaters raise concerns about public health, and some long-time river dwellers are calling it quits. One woman who's 83, said, "I'm not going back after this one." It was the third time she'd been flooded out of her home since 1965.

Given the sheer number of recent weather-related disasters, is emergency response after the fact enough? Do we need more planning like the 1993 buyout to minimize disaster's affect?

Souce

Record Flooding Puts Mississippi River on Lock Down

LibertySugar — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 03:00:43 -0700

As all three of the Midwest's major rivers - the Missouri, Illinois, and Mississippi - rise above flood level, residents face record flooding and mandatory evacuations. Today the US Army Corps of Engineers plans to close nine locks and dams on the upper Mississippi River.

Closing the locks means that the economic repercussions of the flooding will rise along with the rivers - the decision will halt traffic on 200 miles of prime commercial waterway. Good thing gas is cheap, so they can just use roads to transport all those goods!

As for some good news, Iowan volunteers who filled and piled up sandbags in downtown Cedar Falls, Iowa, have been able to protect their city's center. You can see them at work in the pictures below. 200 locations have been flooded across the US, and flood warnings have been issued in Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Oklahoma, and Montana, according to the National Weather Services. Are you seeing any flood action near you?

View 5 Photos ›

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Front Page: Gaza Blast Kills 5, US/Iraq Talks Stall, Midwest Pounded

CitizenSugar — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 06:55:45 -0700

Gaza Blast Kills 5: A large explosion in Gaza yesterday killed at least five Palestinians, including several Hamas militants and a baby girl. Despite the death and destruction of a residential building, responsibility is unclear. Hamas, the Islamist group that controls Gaza, first blamed the blast on an Israeli air strike, causing them to fire rockets and mortar rounds at Israeli towns and villages around Gaza. The Israeli military has vehemently denied any involvement in the explosion.

US/Iraq Talks Stall: Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki declared that talks with the US aimed at reaching a long-term agreement allowing US forces to remain in Iraq have "reached an impasse". According to Maliki, the US demands compromised Iraqi sovereignty. President Bush has said he wants an agreement by the end of July, as the UN mandate for US forces to be in Iraq expires at the end of 2008. Maliki said of the proposal, "We cannot allow US forces to have the right to jail Iraqis or assume, alone, the responsibility of fighting against terrorism."
Midwest Pounded: Iowa's Cedar River broke its banks yesterday, forcing the evacuation of thousands of homes and causing a railroad bridge to collapse. Officials estimated that 100 blocks are underwater in Cedar Rapids, where preparations weren't enough to hold back the water. The sheriff said of the weather crisis, "We're just kind of at God's mercy right now, so hopefully people that never prayed before this, it might be a good time to start." Estimates show that 3,200 homes were evacuated and 8,000 residents have been displaced. This news comes after a deadly tornado hit an Iowa Boy Scout camp, and a similarly deadly twister tore through Kansas, leaving residents to dig out of the destruction.

To see an exclusive, first-hand photo account of the Kansas aftermath, read more.

Front Page: Tornado Kills Boy Scouts, US Releases Tape of Strike, Toddlers Starve in Indonesia

CitizenSugar — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 06:54:17 -0700

Tornado Kills Boy Scouts: Four people were killed and 48 injured after a tornado tore through a Boy Scout camp in western Iowa last night. The victims included three 13-year-old scouts and one 14-year-old scout according to an executive with the Mid America Council of the Boy Scouts of America. The scouts at the devastated camp, aged 13 to 18 were participating in a leadership training course at the camp and "were some of the top scouts in the area,” according to a Homeland Security spokeswoman. Tornadoes also touched down in Kansas, Minnesota and Nebraska last night, killing another two in Kansas.

US Releases Tape of Strike: The US military has released the tape of the attack on the Pakistan border that killed 11 Pakistani soldiers and led officials to describe it as a "cowardly" act. The footage released by the Pentagon shows black-and-white aerial footage with narration describing the video. The narrator repeatedly notes that there are no military structures or outposts within the impact area. A Pentagon spokesman yesterday said they had "every indication we have at this point is that this was, indeed, a legitimate strike in defense of our forces after they came under attack."
Toddlers Starve in Indonesia: At least 21 toddlers have died of malnutrition in Indonesia in recent months as a food shortage threatens the lives of thousands more. The shortage brought on by floods and drought has led to an additional 116 youngsters being admitted to hospitals in critical condition, according to the head of the local health department. He said, "we urgently need medicine and nutritional foods to save the children. We are racing against time because they need nutritious food within 30 days if we want to save their lives."