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MSNBC Headline "More American kids went hungry last year"
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Check out the new Coscious Alliance videos covering our "Back to School Snack Tour" featuring Hot Buttered Rum, and our film that showcases our Guinness Book World Record at Rothbury.
BACK TO SCHOOL SNACK TOUR
GUINESS BOOK WORLD RECORD


September 19, 2008 Conscious Alliance Back to School Snack Tour Featuring Hot Buttered Rum READ MORE

Conscious Alliance and ARRR are currently on the ground and feeding in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike. Please help us feed those in need by making donations to help us deliver food to some of the most hard hit locations.
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Check out video clips of Hurricane Ike's devistation on the Houma Indian reservation in, Louisiana
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"UN Summit on World Hunger: One.org"
High food and fuel prices continue to have a catastrophic impact on the world's poorest people and threaten to roll back some of the great progress we've made alleviating poverty in areas including AIDS, malaria, and education. Later this month, world leaders are going to the United Nations in NYC. They’ll be discussing the world's progress toward (MDGs)—critical issues like health, education and water. They must also act on the food and hunger crisis. There are 30 countries in immediate need of emergency food assistance and essential seeds and fertilizer. These countries have created specific plans to feed the hungry and prevent future crises by enabling people to provide for themselves. Meeting these emergency needs requires $1 billion in funding by the end of this year. As world leaders come together for the United Nations summit, please ask them to close the book on the hunger crisis.
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Conscious Alliance, Montana State University and Whole Foods set New Guinness World Record
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Christian Disaster Relief in Burma:
New testimonial READ MORE

Conscious Alliance and Whole Foods, Guinness World Record attempt to take place at Rothbury READ MORE
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Weezer "Pork and Beans" CD Release:
Check out the Weezer CD relaese Virtual Food Fight on Buzznet.com to help benefit Conscious Alliance. READ MORE

Senate Calling for More Food Assistance ~ New York Times
“Citing hunger riots in developing countries and soaring grain prices around the world, Senate Democrats called on Monday for a swift increase of $200 million in foreign food aid, on top of an additional $350 million that President Bush has requested…” READ MORE

"Charities forced to do more with less"
(CNN) -- Ordinary Americans aren't the only ones being punished by tough economic times. Charities say they need help, too. READ MORE

“Grain Prices up 120%; Hungry People Riot”
CNN Headline News has been covering the rising costs of basic foods that are resulting in riots across the world. The price of rice has jumped nearly 75% globally, while wheat has risen nearly 120% in the last year. From Egypt to Haiti, people are pouring out into the street to protest these increases. Rising demand for food supplies from India and China, as well as increased cost of oil and the boom of renewable fuels have been to blame. READ MORE

Large Donation from Whole Foods Market Arrives
We are proud to announce that we received our first load of donations from Whole Foods Markets, which amount to nearly 80,000 pounds. This is but the first of many loads that will be arriving in the next weeks. All of the loads will be arriving in Denver, CO, where we will parcel them out for distribution to communities throughout New Mexico, Montana and South Dakota.

Check out Conscious Alliance on Channel G. CLICK HERE

Check out Conscious Alliance's Executive Director, Justin Baker on elevision. CLICK HERE

2008 11th Annual $1 Million Giveaway To Fight Hunger

For the eleventh straight year, Alan Shawn Feinstein will divide $1 million among hunger fighting agencies nationwide using it to help them raise funds during March and April, 2008. Any food or monetary donations made to the the Conscious Alliance during this time will therefore be matched by Mr. Feinstein. READ MORE


“Prices are up at the Gas Pump and the Supermarket”
President Bush wasn't mistaken when he spoke the line above at a recent press conference. Food is becoming more expensive. MSNBC reported that food increased at an annual rate of 4.7 percent for the first three months of the year. While this is less than the 7.6 percent increase in energy prices during the same time, it is still impacting our buying power in the supermarket. Ethanol, transportation costs, and weak dollar are all to blame. READ MORE

Langerado in the Rearview, Summer Ahead
Most of you are probably prepping for spring, not summer. However, spring in the Conscious Alliance office means summer is nearly upon us. An annual recognition of this shift is the conclusion of Langerado. During Langerado we were able to raise nearly 3,000 pounds of food. The total was short of our goal, but considering the weather and new festival venue we are pleased nonetheless. This summer we will be extending our Summer Outreach Tour, to include Summer Camp Festival. Don't forget those cans of food when you set out this summer!

Economic Stimulus Package Will NOT Promote Food Relief
A temporary increase in food stamp benefits, increased funding for home heating assistance and additional federal commodities for The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) were not included in the final plan approved by Congress. Even though numerous economists suggested that increased food stamps would be the most effective way to stimulate the economy, Congress never even considered it.

Rainforest Action Network Calls for a Moratorium on Biofuels We at Conscious Alliance understand the role and value of biofuels, but we encourage the global community to keep discussion open regarding the side effects of biofuels. Among these are the rise in food costs, deforestation and the displacement of rural people. The European commission has been forced to examine the dangers of biofuels expansion, now the same is being encouraged in the United States. READ MORE

The Conscious Alliance would like to take this time to remember our Lakota Grandmother, Cora Maria (Wounded) Red Hair who just recently passed away on January 29th of this year. To read Cora's memorial please CLICK HERE


Increase Food Stamps, Boost Economy. The Food Resource and Action Center (FRAC) has published a report encouraging the House to add increased food stamp benefits to the economic stimulus package s currently before the House. The economic benefit of these benefits would happen almost immediately, with only a two-month lag time. This is supported by USDA research, which has estimated that $5 of federal food stamps results in double that in economic activity.
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Holiday Toy Delivery Storyboard

Conscious Alliance Visits Honduras
Last week we teamed up with JamCruise, Pangea Organics, The Children's Fund of Roatan and Zero Hero to deliver school supplies and organic soap to a school, orphanage and clinic in the small island community of Roatan, Honduras. The agencies shared their histories to our group of 40 participants and children at the orphanage received an acoustic performance by musicians appearing on Jam Cruise, which included Jon Fishman, Jamie Jannover, Jeff Coffin, Dave Watts and Dan Lebowitz. See Pictures

Revolution Led by Grannies, Fueled by Spinach
An article regarding an organic gardening movement in South Africa recently caught our attention. The interest was not only in the success of community gardens in and around Cape Town, South Africa, but also that grandmothers were leading the initiative. “When the adversary is hunger… grandmothers may be the best people to overcome it.” On the reservations we rely upon a network of grandmothers for the very same reason. Read More READ MORE

Special Holiday Thanks to JAKKS Pacific and 53 Boulder Businesses!
We want to thank all of the individual donors and the 53 Boulder Businesses, including Celestial Seasonings, Wild Oats and Tulsi Tea, who contributed to our Annual Toy Drive. We also want to send a special thank you to JAKKS Pacific for contributing several pallets of assorted toys. As a result of all this generosity, we will be delivering 1000's of toys to needy children on the Pine Ridge, Northern Cheyenne and Fort Peck Reservations. We have three (3) separate trucks headed out to each destination loaded to the brim with boys and girls toys, books, clothing and food. In addition, there will be nearly 2,000 pillowcases sewn by quilting groups across the Midwest (Illinois,Georgia,Missouri). On behalf of all the people we serve we wish you Happy Holidays!

Growth of “AgroFuels” Raises Questions of Food Security
A recent report released by Community Food Security Coalition International Links Committee raises concerns about the prioritizing of crops for fuel production rather than food. The report, which focuses on industrial-scale agricultural, addresses the interdependence of our food and energy systems and the need for a diversified approach that more comprehensively examines the connection between sustainable energy, food security and rural development. READ MORE

Emergency Canned Food Drive Organized by Teens
America's Second Harvest, the nation's largest network of food banks, is projecting an immediate food shortage of 15 million pounds by the end of the year. Youth organizations around the country have rallied together in a challenge to raise one million pounds of food by year's end. A counter can be found on Facebook. READ MORE

Climate Change Conference Warns of Impending Hunger Crisis
The World Food Program warned the UN Climate Change Conference that convened in Bali over recent days that hunger and malnutrition will increase with climate change. Changing weather patterns are already having adverse effects on world food security. READ MORE

NY Times Headline: Critical Shortages at Food Banks: As more and more news agencies across the country cover the rapidly declining food supplies at our nation's food bank, the severity of the issue is becoming very apparent. Many food banks are purportedly returning to food drives to offset shortages. The shortages are the worst in America's Second Harvest's 26 years in operation. READ MORE

Pine Ridge on the Web

How Does Climate Affect the World's Hungry? According to a recent report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, rain-dependant agriculture could be down by 50 percent by 2020. To put this in perspective consider that this accounts for 95% of agriculture in Africa. As weather patterns continue to become more erratic, implementing long-term solutions to hunger will becoming unfeasible. READ MORE


The Birds are Out
Through the generous outpouring of support we were able to collectively distribute 1,750 turkeys this past week. This was nearly three times the amount we were able to give out last year. Please check out pictures from the deliveries, to see many of the families affected by your donations.

The Farm Bill Needs YOUR Help
At a time of the year when food banks across the country are in need of extra supplies to meet families' needs, agencies are instead having to turn people away. The Farm Bill, if passed this year, can increase the amount of federal aid. Please contact your Senate to voice your concern. Visit the Hunger Action Center to Learn More (LEARN MORE)


Get Your 'Furkies' Ready!
No, it is not a typo, 'furkies' are what Europeans first call turkeys upon arriving in North America. This is the time of year that we begin raising funds for our 4th Annual Turkey n' Trimmings food deliveries. So far we have been able to purchase nearly 500 birds for the Houma Reservation in Louisiana through the generous donations of STS9 fans. This is only the beginning! Join in and help BRING THANKSGIVING BACK TO NATIVE AMERICA. DONATE HERE

Updates on the Farm Bill
Many strong points of the Farm Bill were recently approved by the Senate, however key funding for the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and for the Food Stamp Program was less than what was established in the House-passed bill in late July. By writing a letter to your Senators you can stress the importance of providing $250 million for TEFAP and indexing the amount for inflation. Additionally, voice your concern for enhancing the Food Stamp Program, which has helped millions of Americans secure food for themselves and their families during difficult times.