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How $1 Million From This Catholic Agency Will Assist Needs of Ukrainian Humanitarian Crisis

Currents News Staff

Numerous Catholic agencies have been helping Ukraine during the worldwide humanitarian crisis. One agency is the Catholic Near East Welfare Association. So far, the agency has donated more than $1 million dollars to Ukrainian families.

Msgr. Peter Vaccari, a priest in the Diocese of Brooklyn, is the agency’s president.

Msgr. Vaccari joined Currents News to discuss how the Catholic agencies are helping those with long-term health care issues, including mental and emotional recovery because of the trauma inflicted by the conflict.

 

Catholic News Headlines for Wednesday, 3/30/2022

Mayor Eric Adams has a new plan to tackle homelessness in New York City.

Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Diocese of Brooklyn Auxiliary Bishop Paul Sanchez.

Russia attacked areas around the capital of Kyiv and another city in Ukraine overnight.

War in Ukraine Could Have Disastrous Effects on Agriculture as Europe’s ‘Breadbasket’ Remains in Limbo

Currents News Staff

On a farm in western Ukraine, and many like it across the country, the future of food security for hundreds of millions of people around the world is being determined.

One-third of the world’s most fertile soil is in Ukraine, according to the U.N. So what doesn’t grow there or what this country is unable to export because of the war, will cause ripple effects around the globe.

“The repercussions of the war in Ukraine began to impact everything,” said Volodymr Remeniak, Head of the District State Administration, “including all agricultural operations inside and outside the country, including the Sowing season.”

The most productive farms lie in the hottest conflict areas of the country and the Ukrainian agriculture minister said the impact on this year’s crops will be devastating.

“Last season, we had approximately a total of 110 million tons,” said Mykola Solskyi, the Agriculture Minister of Ukraine. “This year, we expect at least 30% less than this amount.”

This is already impacting food prices for everyone but most acutely for people in vulnerable countries:

In 2020, 80% of Lebanon’s wheat imports came from Ukraine alone; 40% of Libya’s; 30% of Egypt’s wheat came from Ukraine last year and now bakery prices there are jumping as high as 25%.

Ukraine is known as the breadbasket of Europe and so a war on this country is also an attack on all those who depend on it for food.

NYC Mayor Eric Adams’ Plan to Tackle Homelessness Includes Removing Encampments

Currents News Staff

More than 400 hypodermic needles were found in a homeless encampment. It’s something Mayor Eric Adams wants to clean up by removing the encampments completely.

“We’re not throwing people off the street,” said Mayor Adams. “Let’s be clear here, you have a right to sleep on the street, you don’t have a right to build a miniature house.”

So a new task force has been hitting the streets and so far, it’s dismantled nearly 250 of these sites as they try to get the most vulnerable New Yorkers into shelters. But it’s not just any shelter, more of a safe haven. It will not only offer a warm bed, but also toiletries, a locker, food and access to a health care center on site.

A big hurdle that isn’t going to be easy: convincing the homeless to go there.

“There’s a lack of trust,” the mayor said.

It’s also a big job. According to the Coalition For The Homeless, roughly 48,400 homeless people rely on city shelters each night.

That’s significantly higher than the city’s official count, which last winter, estimated the Big Apple’s homeless population at just 2,300 people.

Altogether, the coalition says more than 10,000 families and nearly 19,000 individual adults sleep in the city’s main shelter system every night.

So far, no families have been found in these encampments – some of which are underground.

As New Yorkers start to return to the office, many are back in the subways.

“It’s basically become, you know, the world’s largest mobile homeless rescue operation,” one commuter said.

Not everyone feels safe.

“Seeing homeless more than ever inside the train,” another commuter said,  “it’s very dangerous.”

In the end, the city is hoping this initiative will be a win-win for everyone.

“We must ensure that our public places are safe,” said NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell, “that they are accessible to all and that everyone in need of a suitable place to stay has access to one.”

After the first seven days of clearing the encampments, only about five people agreed to go to a safe haven shelter.

The mayor says he’s confident that number will go up once the workers gain the trust of the homeless.

Why Food and Gas Prices Won’t Drop Any Time Soon

Currents News Staff

New federal forecasts show food prices will likely keep climbing. The average cost of gas will stay high or may even rise. The USDA now predicts grocery prices will increase up to four percent throughout this year and the average cost of dining out could set a new record.

That’s partly because Ukraine and Russia usually export a lot of the world’s wheat and corn.

“It will have global context, impact, beyond anything we’ve seen since World War II,” said U.N. World Food Programme Executive Director David Beasley.

China’s new COVID-19 lockdowns are making it hard for supply chains to recover from the pandemic. Oil prices dipped a bit this week after Russia said it would ease up its assault on parts of Ukraine.

“I think we should be clear eyed about the reality of what’s happening on the ground,” said White House Communications Director Kate Bedingfield. “And no one should be fooled by Russia’s announcements.”

Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said gas prices will fluctuate.

“It’s called rockets and feathers,” said Granholm, “meaning when the price goes up, price per barrel, that means your gas stations prices go up like a rocket. When the price goes down per barrel, the gas station prices come down like a feather.”

U.S. oil producers aren’t increasing drilling much to help. Company CEOs say investor pressure is retraining growth — according to a Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas survey.

“Because of gas!!!” said driver Albert Zupancic. “We are, as of right now, we are definitely not taking our family vacation this year. It will be more or less a trip to the lake.”

Catholic News Headlines for Tuesday, 3/29/22

Could the war in Ukraine be nearing its end? Why Russia has decided to de-escalate part of its military assault following peace talks.

Close to three dozen Russian asylum seekers crossed the border into the U.S. thanks to a secret deal between American and Mexican officials.

Pope Francis is helping to erase the pain of survivors of Catholic run indigenous schools in Canada.

A school bus up in flames — with kids still inside!

Peace Talks Progress: Russia Could Reduce Military Operations in Ukraine’s Capital

Currents News Staff

It’s a significant move on two fronts.

Russia is pulling back some forces from Kyiv and Chernihiv following the latest peace talks with Ukraine in Istanbul, with Turkey hailing the talks as the “most meaningful progress yet.”

More than a month into the invasion, many are crediting the underestimated resilience of the Ukrainian people.

“I do think that Ukraine is in a good negotiating position,” said Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth. “Much better than they would be had they not been able to push the Russians out of Kyiv.”

Paramount to Russia’s change in strategy is an agreement on “neutrality.” A Ukrainian presidential advisor is saying a meeting between Putin and Zelensky is now a “likelihood.”

But the shelling of northern cities continued on Tuesday even as the de-escalation was announced.

“You have just heard an explosion,” said Chernihiv mayor Vladyslav Atroshenko. “That means something has flown in to attack us. This isn’t us striking something. This is something that has come from the enemy side.”

U.S. officials believe Russian forces are pulling back in some areas of the North to focus on gains in the south and the east.

But Secretary of State Antony Blinken cautions this could be a deception.

“There is what Russia says, and there is what Russia does,” said Blinken. “We’re focused on the latter.”

Florida Governor Signs Bill Banning Gender Identity Lessons In School

Currents News Staff

Florida’s so called “Don’t Say Gay” measure, as critics have dubbed it, is now law. On Monday, Gov. Ron DeSantis appeared defiant at the bill signing after months of controversy.

“I don’t care what big corporations say,” said the governor. “Here I stand. I’m not backing down.”

DeSantis referenced Disney’s condemnation of the bill, which has also sparked student walkouts in some Florida schools.

The “Parental Rights in Education” law does not specifically ban the use of the word gay, but it does prohibit instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity in Kindergarten through third grade.

Supporters argue the measure gives parents greater oversight over what students learn and discuss at school and that LGBTQ-related topics should be left for families to discuss at home.

“Parents have a fundamental role in the education, health care and well being of their children,” said Gov. DeSantis.

But opponents say the measure negatively impacts an already marginalized community. So far, at least one LGBTQ rights group, Equality Florida, has threatened legal action against the legislation.

“You’re clearly singling out,” said Jeff Delmay of Equality Florida, “clearly discriminating against, in this situation and we feel it.”

Meanwhile, the Trevor Project, a non-profit organization that works on suicide prevention among LGBTQ youth released a statement saying “LGBTQ youth in Florida deserve better. They deserve to see their history, their families and themselves reflected in the classroom.”