I Belong: The Plight of the Stateless

#IBELONG

#Statelessness

#HumanitarianCrisis

#Refugees

Dear Friends and Family, 

The thought of being stateless is a foreign concept to most of us. The grim reality is that the many conflicts abroad, including Syria, Iraq, Iran, the Congo, Nigeria, Libya and beyond have rendered countless individuals stateless.  

Under these harsh conditions, refugees are displaced to other countries. They do not leave their homes willingly. But, in doing so, they hope for a future, only to discover that the options for creating a new home and likelihood are limited.  

Most of those affected are single mothers coming from countries where women have generally not been afforded employment opportunities. Thus, they have no job skills to support their children even if such jobs were available.

The incidence of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder amongst refugees is high but, the likelihood of mental health treatment, at least as we know it in the West, is almost nonexistent. As a result, there is correlatively higher suicide rate.

In their hearts, the only thing they want, need and desire is to return to their homeland, where the customs and culture are familiar.  

As a collective humanity, we need to support the relief effort by the NGOs, such as the Carter Center, as well as United Nations' various subgroups such as the UN Refugee Agency, UNICEF, the United Nations Development Programmer (UNDP) and the United Nations High Commission of Rights (UNHCR).

"Statelessness" also occurs in North and South America as a result of the mounting illegal immigrant crisis, which the Obama Administration has repeatedly promised to address.  This presents an entirely different set of needs by those about whom the assumption appears to be that they have voluntarily chosen to leave a homeland conducive to their well-being. This is facially inaccurate.  I cannot imagine the emotional stressors involved in making the decision to pursue the route of an illegal alien.  Again, the data reflects that there is a high incidence a Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and suicide.  

Thank you for the privilege of allowing me to express my personal sentiments.  

Love, Light and an Abundance of Heartfelt Gratitude,

Cynthia Lardner 

#ImaginePeace 

#OneOhana 

Poverty Is Everywhere

 

My Dear Friends, 

For those of us who are Americans, we need to repair the problems our own country is facing, as well respond to the now seemingly infinitesimal global humanitarian crisis. 

 

Our hope for a better tomorrow, both here and abroad is vested in all children, making them most our precious of resources.  There remains so much work to be done right here at home.  That work includes providing for our children

On July 24th, the United Nations Development Programme released findings that the United States was one of four countries leading the Human Development Index. There are 46.2 million individuals in the United States living before the poverty level, an increase from 43.6 million individuals a year ago.  This includes our children.

"Hunger prevents kids from reaching their full potential.  It's an epidemic threatening America's future." www.nokidhungry.org.  

Year round, not just during the Holiday season, as is often presumed, children desperately require access to nutritional meals.

While dedicated organizations desperately need cash donations, it is also the gift of your

time that will insure our country a healthy future.

No matter our own personal circumstances, there is always something more we can do to help.

Love, Light and an Abundance of Heartfelt Gratitude,

Cynthia Lardner