Letter From a Senator and Book Club Questions...

A Haitian woman bakes clay 'biscuits' under the Sun May 9, 2008 in the Port-au-Prince slum of Cite Soleil. As the food crisis continues in Haiti, rice and bean prices have increased by some 100 percent according to officials, forcing many to turn to the clay 'biscuits' as a source of food. The clay is mixed with salt and vegetable fat and dried in the sun. AFFP PHOTO/Thony BELIZAIRE.


Did you guys see this picture from Haiti?

I recently wrote to my senators about the global food crisis. I spoke specifically about Ethiopia.

Here is a letter I received today...

Thank you for writing regarding foreign food aid to Ethiopia. I appreciate hearing from you and welcome the opportunity to respond.

Like you, I am committed to helping alleviate the suffering of people living in poverty around the world, and admire your concern for the people of Ethiopia. I believe that in order to remain a leader in the global economy and international affairs, the United States must be willing to promote our interests overseas with many tools, including a robust foreign aid budget that offers relief to the millions of people suffering from poverty and starvation throughout the developing world.

You will be pleased to know that Congress recently approved $1.25 billion in emergency foreign food aid as part of recent supplemental appropriations legislation. This funding is intended to help ease the suffering of people around the world affected by the recent food shortages. Further, the President has requested $1.64 billion in fiscal year 2009 for international development assistance, including $69.8 million for Ethiopia. Please know that I understand your support for increased aid to Ethiopia and will keep your thoughts in mind as the Senate continues to consider funding for international food aid programs.

Again, thank you for writing. I hope you will continue to keep me informed on issues of importance to you. Should you have any further comments or questions, please feel free to contact my Washington, D.C. office at (202) 224-3841. Best regards.

Sincerely yours,
Dianne Feinstein
United States Senator


On a lighter topic...

I can't believe how many of you want to do a book club! Woo Hoo! I thought that maybe everyone could just read along with our local Ethiopian Book Club, but maybe we can do something more high tech. Is there anyone out there who has an idea about how to do this? I am not very computer savvy. I think it would be cool to have an online book club chat. Although, isn't the best part of a book club the actual getting together and partaking in libations? Could you guys move here? That's what I would like best.