Somali students fight famine, forgetfulness
Students like junior Fadumo Abdul .have perceived a loss of media interest in what the United NStations has called the worst humanitarian crisis of this generation, so they have decided to take action.
“I remember in the summer there was this whole momentum with the media and every channel was covering it but now, it’s like they got bored and it’s pretty disappointing,” Abdul said.
Inspired by local relief efforts, the SSA has teamed up with the American Refugee Committee of Minnesota on a “do-it-yourself” campaign called “I am a Star” that aims to use individual ideas and social networking to spread famine-relief efforts locally and worldwide.
“People think the famine has declined and that everything is fine in the region, but it’s not and this campaign will hopefully remind people that our work is not done,” Abdul said.
Nearly 750,000 Somalis are still at risk of death from famine in the next four months.
Conditions in Somalia are additionally exacerbated by warfare between the African Union and the militant group al-Shabab, which has prompted many residents to flee different parts of the nation’s capital, Mogadishu.
Lynx feted with WNBA championship parade
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Lindsay Whalen sat in the back of a convertible, scanning the delighted crowd for kids to toss candy to.
On her right was Seimone Augustus, waving and smiling as the Minnesota Lynx caravan crawled through downtown Minneapolis in celebration of their first WNBA title.
Between them was the shiny basketball-shaped trophy.
The Lynx don't draw the attention the Vikings, Twins or Gophers get, but that didn't matter on this day. This was a championship parade, the kind of community pride Minnesota sports fans have been craving.
"Awesome. Awesome. Awesome," Whalen said afterward at Target Center, after the eight-block ride down Nicollet Mall and 7th Street in front of a crowd the Lynx estimated at 15,000.
Workers on lunch break Tuesday streamed out of the skyscrapers in their suits, grinning at the unexpected entertainment as the players, coaches and staff went by. People lined up about five deep at the points where the car carrying Augustus and Whalen passed. Confetti was poured down from some of the rooftops.
The student body at Duluth East gathered in support by wearing “The Love is On” T-shirts and holding up blue signs at the hockey games, with “The Love is On” printed on them. It was all for Rachel. The students wanted her to know that while she sat at
