North Korea

• Nothing has been in the news recently about North Korea's gulag until now. The incarcerated inhabitants rival the numbers held in U.S. prisons but their treatment is far more inhumane. The story of one man who escaped is recorded in a new release Escape from Camp 14 . Read the review from the 4-6-12 Wall Street Journal.

Islam

• A growing threat to our freedom of speech is the attempt to stifle religious discussion in the name of preventing defamation of or insults to religion, especially Islam. Blasphemy and Free Speech

Palestine

• Holy Land Common Ground
  This film tells the story of a growing movement of Israelis and Palestinians who live as neighbors in peace. By refusing to be enemies with one another, they undercut the predicates of a war that has lasted too long and has claimed too many lives. Other films on Palestine/Israel, Iraq, Middle East  http://www.fosna.org/resources/films

Congo

• For Congo Children, Food Today Means None Tomorrow
  “Délestage. That means: ‘Today we eat. Tomorrow we don’t.’ The Congolese, in the spirit of irony, have adopted this term,” said Mr. Nsala quietly. He added that the family had eaten the day before: “So, today, there is nothing.”

Malawi

• Website and past letters
  Pia and Anselm Varni, long time St Mel parishioners, spent one and a half years in Malawi with Catholic Relief Services. Read their account of life in Africa.