The Common Good

Daily News Digest

The Top 10 Stories of May 24, 2013

Editor''s Note: Daily Digest and Verse and Voice will not be sent on Memorial Day, Monday, May 27. We hope everyone enjoys the holiday!

Quote of the day.
“This was a ridiculous and draconian idea that should never have gone so far. Rather than tackling a double-dip recession, the commission is worried about double-dipped bread.” Martin Callanan, a British member of the European Parliament, on a proposal to bar restaurants from serving olive oil in cruets or dipping bowls.
(New York Times)

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The Top 10 Stories of May 23, 2013

Quote of the day.
"Too many governments are abusing human rights in the name of immigration control — going well beyond legitimate border control measures. These measures not only affect people fleeing conflict. Millions of migrants are being driven into abusive situations, including forced labour and sexual abuse, because of anti-immigration policies which means they can be exploited with impunity." Salil Shetty, Secretary General of Amnesty International, on AI’s annual report showing that theworld has become an increasingly dangerous place for refugees and migrants.
(BBC)

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The Top 10 Stories of May 22, 2013

Quote of the day.
"Coming off the second deployment back into civilian life, we just had to do what we had to do. Those benefits kept my kids fed." Don Martinez, 33, an Iraq veteran protesting cuts in food stamps because of the assistance he received while he struggled with getting recognition for traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress.
(Huffington Post)

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The Top 10 Stories of May 21, 2013

Quote of the day.
“That’s prime land. I’ve raised 294 bushels of corn an acre there before, with water and the Lord’s help. It’s over.” Ashley Yost, Haskell County, Kan., whose farm is on the southern High Plains Aquifer, which is now so low that crops can't be watered.
(New York Times)

 

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The Top 10 Stories of May 20, 2013

Quote of the day.
"Today, and it breaks my heart to say it, finding a homeless person who has died of cold, is not news. Today, the news is scandals, that is news, but the many children who don't have food - that's not news. This is grave. We can't rest easy while things are this way." Pope Francis, in unscripted comments answering questions at a huge international gathering of Catholic associations in St. Peter's Square.
(Reuters)

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The Top 10 Stories of May 17, 2013

Quote of the day.
"We have created new idols. The worship of the golden calf of old has found a new and heartless image in the cult of money and the dictatorship of an economy which is faceless and lacking any truly humane goal."Pope Francis in a speech yesterday on the economic and financial crisis. (Full text of the speech here.)
(Guardian)

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The Top 10 Stories of May 16, 2013

Quote of the day.
"A lot of times families become afraid of interacting with their children because they are so sick and so frail, and music provides them something that they can still do." Elizabeth Klinger, music therapist in a newborn intensive care unit, on research suggesting that music may help those born way too soon adapt to life outside the womb.
(Associated Press)

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The Top 10 Stories of May 15, 2013

Quote of the day.
"I know kids look up to me, but I don''t want to be known as just a baseball player. God gave me the opportunity and blessed me to accomplish good things in this sport. But if you don''t do something with it and help people with blessings you received, what does that really mean?” Carlos Beltran, St. Louis Cardinals'' All-Star right fielder, on why he spends time off working with underprivileged kids and visiting young cancer patients.
(USA Today)

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The Top 10 Stories of May 14, 2013

Quote of the day.

"Our research predicts that climate change will greatly reduce the diversity of even very common species found in most parts of the world. This loss of global-scale biodiversity would significantly impoverish the biosphere and the ecosystem services it provides." Dr. Rachel Warren, University of East Anglia's (UK) school of environmental science, on a study she led showing that common land animals could see dramatic losses this century because of climate change.
(Guardian)

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The Top 10 Stories of May 13, 2013

Quote of the day.
‘‘I can’t pretend it’s not difficult to be reviled and maligned. But any time you can reach across the divide and work with people that are not like you, that’s what God calls us to do.’’ Martha Mullen, on why she helped to arrange the burial of Boston Marathon bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev at a small Islamic cemetery in rural Virginia.
(Boston Globe/AP)

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