World Hunger

Here is an emotionally moving video on hunger in the world.

View this movie at cultureunplugged.com

No statistical facts but it makes a very strong case. Before we blame overpopulation, let's examine how the lack of some compares with the excesses of others.

swine flu statistics similar to death rates for normal flu

I did some checking concerning swine flu. From what I find the death rate is very similar to regular flu, at least in the USA. CDC reports 6552 probable and confirmed cases and 9 deaths.

This site has slightly higher case numbers but no more deaths:
USA
confirmed - 7751
suspected 1014
fatal - 9

Reports from Mexico show (not sure how this would compare to normal flu there):
confirmed cases - 5234
suspected cases - 3971
fatal - 212
The WSJ proposes that the reason for the higher death rate in Mexico could be the lack of quality health care and the delay in accurately identifying it.

Canada:
confirmed - 787
suspected - 5
fatal - 1

even the Wall Street Journal weighs in with insights on eating healthy

Wall Street Journal site

Raisins as a preservative - alternative to sodium nitrite

During digestion, sodium nitrite can break down into cancer-causing chemicals but there is a study that shows raisins can be used as a health-safe alternative for preserving foods:
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2003/05/31/raisins.aspx

All the more reason for me to like raisins! :-P

repeal of homestead property tax

A proposal from a couple of years ago to repeal the property tax for homesteads in Indiana:
http://www.munciefreepress.com/node/17712
I wonder where this is now...
Need this in Texas, too!

God's perfect balance

In my homesteading class today, we looked at the importance of soil and how to care for the soil. It is the foundation of all life. A pound of soil has over 900 billion living things in it. The health of the soil determines the health of the plants, which determines our health and the health of the animals which then continues to impact us when we eat the animals as well. It is amazing to see the synergistic, symbiotic cycle of life. A farm must be seen as a whole system of life on many levels, from the interconnectedness of the physical life systems but also on the level of the earth is a stewardship which God has given to us and how we relate to the life systems which God has designed in the earth is connected to our relationship with God. When we are out of order with how God has designed the earth to operate then it has serious consequences for life. Truly, the earth is groaning for the manifestation of the sons of God, those who are living and governing in the earth according to the design of Father God.