US officials hopeful China will make concessions on currency. (Undervalued Chinese currency has led to US trade deficits with China, and loss of US jobs.)   John Pomfret  Washington Post February 5, 2010

Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer of South Carolina : "Don't feed the poor. They'll breed."  YouTube  January 22, 2010  The poor are powerless and thus we remain silent about Bauer's remarks (Commentary) Leonard Pitts Jr.  Miami Herald February 3, 2010

Haitian children prepared to eat dinner recently at the Foyer of Patience orphanage in Port-au-Prince. Many such centers are barely habitable. Chronic problems — like inadequate services, overwhelming poverty and shady orphanages — have only intensified, while the authorities fear that some of the less scrupulous orphanages are taking advantage of the chaos to round up children in crisis and offer them for sale as servants and sex slaves. It took the arrest last weekend of 10 Americans caught trying to leave the country with 33 Haitian children to focus international attention on the issue. While there is no evidence that the Americans, who said they were trying to rescue children in the aftermath of the earthquake, intended any harm, the ease with which they drove into the capital and scooped up a busload of children without documents exposed vast gaps in the system’s safeguards.  Lynsey Addario/New York Times  Photos of Haiti orphanages   See also World Hunger pictures and stories

Bleak portrait of Haiti orphanages raises fears for the children Ginger Thompson New York Times February  6, 2010 

Only one man is left to help tuberculosis patients amid the rubble of Haiti's only TB sanatorium  Ian Urbina  New York Times February  5, 2010  (Factsheet: Haiti has the highest rate of TB in the Western Hemisphere) More than 150,000 have been buried, Haiti says  Damien Cave New York Times January 23, 2010

Businessman wins Chile’s presidency Alexi Barrionuevo New York Times January 18, 2010

Brazilians reflect on President Lula's last year Gary Duffy BBC News January 11, 2010

Report on lawyer's death eases a political crisis in Guatemala Elisabeth Malkin New York Times January 13, 2010 See earlier story: Video made by Guatemalan lawyer blames his slaying on Guatemalan president William Booth Washington Post May 14, 2009 

Demand overwhelms program to prevent homelessness Tony Pugh McClatchy Newspapers January 12, 2010

Venezuela to devalue its currency BBC News January 8, 2010 After currency devaluation, Chavez warns businesses that he will nationalize those that raise prices Reuters New York Times January 10, 2010 See Hunger Notes special report: Harmful economic systems

What does hunger mean? (You can be  hungry and there is world hunger.  How are they related?) What percentage of the world's population is hungry? What does severe hunger feel like? Test your knowledge of hunger by taking our hunger quiz--topics vary weekly--and during January Hunger Notes will donate $.01 to Partners in Health for its disaster response to the earthquake in Haiti  Take the quiz

World Hunger Education Service thanks St. John's Lutheran Church of New Washington, Ohio, the First Congregational Church of West Haven, Connecticut, and online donors for their recent contributions to support our hunger quiz. All donations are used 100 percent to assist hungry people. Please make an online contribution below through our secure site (managed by PayPal) to support the quiz. Contributions can also be made by check.  Send your check to:
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Many governments target  rights defenders in order to suppress human rights, Human Rights Watch says in a 90 country report Hunger Notes February 5, 2010  See Hunger Notes special report: Harmful economic systems

Amid starvation, runaway inflation, and food shortages in the Army, North Korea fires top economic officials, South Korean press reports Blaine Hardin Washington Post February 5, 2010

 The street is riskier but pays better  Photo: A. Mirza/ILO

South Africa: A day in the life of a sex worker IRIN News January 22, 2010

Suicide has emerged as the single leading cause of death among women in Nepal aged 15-49.  The report listed general causes for suicide such as  mental health problems, relationships, marriage and family issues, and  youth (since 21 percent of the suicides were committed by young women aged 18 years and under) but did not elaborate on causes. Photo: Brennon Jones/IRIN

Nepal: Why are so many young women killing themselves? IRIN News January 22, 2010

Plumpy'nut is one of the most widely distributed ready-to-use therapeutic foods (RUTF), given to children suffering from malnutrition. The patents for Plumpy'nut - a blend of peanuts, sugar, milk powder, oil, vitamins and minerals - are owned by  a French company and a research institute. Manufacturers of similar pastes have been reluctant to challenge Nutriset because the patents are so broad, but two US companies just have, saying  there should be "no restrictions on the development and production of life-saving food aid".  Photo: Georgina Cranston/UNICEF

Plumpy'nut patent under pressure IRIN News January 12, 2010 See also Birthplace of an innovation saving the lives of starving children--a blender in Malawi IRIN News June 22, 2007 See Hunger Notes special report: Trade and hunger

The two men were also convicted of leaking details of a network of tunnels reportedly being built in Burma. It is thought the tunnels were built to house communications systems, possible weapons factories and troops in the event of an invasion. Photo: BBC

Burmese officials sentenced to death for revealing government visits to Russia and North Korea and information about military tunnels BBC News January 7, 2010 See Hunger Notes special report: Harmful economic systems

North Korean currency crackdown fuels food  shortages; government's aim is to decrease reliance on markets, which now provide about half of North Korea's food, but which also represent an alternative source of economic, and thus political, power  Blaine Hardin Washington Post January 8, 2010  See Hunger Notes special report: Harmful economic systems

South Sudan cattle raid kills 140; aid agencies warn that the country faces a return to war BBC News January 8, 2010 More Sudan stories

World Food Program halts aid in southern Somalia because of attacks by militants, putting a million people at risk of starvation Robyn Dixon Los Angeles Times January 6, 2010  More Somalia stories