Quote of the day.
"The church is obliged by its evangelical mission to demand structural changes that favor the reign of God and a more just and comradely way of life. Unjust social structures are the roots of all violence and disturbances. … Those who benefit from obsolete structures react selfishly to any kind of change." -- Archbishop Oscar Romero, November 1979. Today is the 31st anniversary of his martyrdom.
(U.S. Catholic)
1. Obama visits Archbishop Romero’s tomb.
"Obama completed here (after much delay and out of view of the public) what could arguably have been the most dramatic gesture of his swing through Brazil, Chile and El Salvador: The U.S. leader Tuesday evening made a pilgrimage to the crypt of Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar Romero."
(Los Angeles Times)
2. Bomb explodes in Jerusalem.
"A suitcase bomb exploded in one of the busiest parts of Jerusalem just before rush hour, destroying years of relative calm in the city and damaging hopes for a resumption of the Middle East peace process. A 60-year-old woman was killed and dozens of people injured."
(Guardian)
3. Fighting continues in Libya.
"Fighting between rebels and forces loyal to Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi has been continuing in key cities after a fifth consecutive night of air strikes by international forces."
(BBC)
4. Pentagon needs more money for Libya attack.
"The U.S. military operations in Libya will cost hundreds of millions of dollars and force Congress to seek help next week for the cash-strapped Pentagon, which is operating on a short-term funding resolution."
(Washington Post)
5. Radiation threat on two fronts in Japan.
"Two workers at the Fukushima plant are hospitalized after exposure, and consumers buy up bottled water amid concern over tap water."
(Los Angeles Times)
6. Protests continue in Syria.
"Protesters have marched through the Syrian city of Deraa, chanting anti-government slogans at the funeral of activists killed on Wednesday."
(BBC)
7. State budget crisis hits cities.
"The state budget squeeze is fast becoming a city budget squeeze, as struggling states around the nation plan deep cuts in aid to cities and local governments that will almost certainly result in more service cuts, layoffs and local tax increases."
(New York Times)
8. Anti-immigrant laws prompt backlash.
"Laws targeting illegal immigrants have reflected and even intensified the rising anti-immigration movement, both in statehouses and on the streets. The result is a legislative record from Arizona to Florida that hasn't made much of a mark on illegal immigration, but has fueled a populist backlash against it."
(Christian Science Monitor)
9. Administration seeks more cuts in nuclear weapons.
"The Obama administration has begun examining whether it can make cuts to its nuclear weapons stockpiles that go beyond those outlined in a recent treaty with Russia."
(San Diego Union-Tribune/AP)
10. Organic vs. genetically-engineered crops.
"In recent weeks, the administration has announced a trio of decisions that have clouded the future of organics and boosted the position of genetically engineered (GE) crops."
(Washington Post)
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