"...UN researchers predicted the current food crisis in Niger months ago. But only now, as millions face starvation and images of dying children sweep the news media, has the international community begun to respond with food aid..." - NewScientist.com news service

"...the sad fact remains that a country struck by disaster is in real trouble as far as Western governments are concerned, unless it has one or all of three things--resources worth stealing, beaches for European tourists or oil in abundance..." - Daily Trust (Abuja)

My wife was telling me about a news report she was watching on tv that talked about the Niger famine. Besides the gory details of the slow death of thousands of children, one point stuck out in my mind - the lack of humanitarian aid. She said that the report pointed out that, once the Tsunami aid effort got going (which was the "kool & hip" aid effort to be a part of), folks just packed up and said "see ya - we'll get back to ya" to the Niger people.

Lesson to be learned - remember to never assume that this world is inherently good in nature. The world is inherently evil, and we should never assume that anyone in it is looking out for our best interests.

"Be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind..." - Romans 12