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5 August 2011

Contact: Stephen Michael Apatow
Founder, Director of Research & Development
Humanitarian Resource Institute
United Nations Arts Initiative
Humanitarian University Consortium Graduate Studies
Center for Medicine, Veterinary Medicine & Law
Phone: (203) 668-0282
Email: s.m.apatow@unarts.org
Internet: www.unarts.org  
Twitter: unarts

HRI:UNArts: Humanitarian Intervention Initiative
Url: www.unarts.org/H-II

HRI: International Disaster Information Network
Url: www.humanitarian.net/idin

H-II: Horn of Africa - Appeal to NATO - UN Security Council

The famine in the Horn of Africa continues to spiral out of control, with an estimated 29,000 children that have died of starvation [1], 500,000 children in need of immediate, life-saving help, [2] with more than 12 million impacted by this humanitarian emergency. [3]

On 2 August 2011, Humanitarian Resource Institute and the United Nations Arts Initiative advanced an appeal [4] through the HRI: International Disaster Information Network for airlines to transport upwards of  5,000 metric tonnes of food from warehouses in Europe to the region.  Today, the World Food Program Reports:
In desperation, we are forwarding this appeal to the UN Security Council and NATO for emergency assistance with logistical coordination of relief efforts that are beyond the capabilities of UN agencies and NGO's.

International security is now a focus of world leaders, as entire global regions are now destabilized by the global food crisis:
Crisis Analysis by Country:

Countries and Disasters: Reliefweb

References:

1. Urges 'Unfettered' Aid to Shabab-controlled Somalia: Voice of America, 4 August 2011. Url: http://blogs.voanews.com/breaking-news/2011/08/04/urges-unfettered-aid-to-shabab-controlled-somalia/
2. Horn of Africa‎ Children Exposed to Lifetime Trauma: Voice of America, 29 July 2011. Url: http://www.voanews.com/english/news/africa/Horn-of-Africa-Children-Exposed-to-Lifetime-Trauma-126418328.html
3. Hunger in the Horn of Africa: The Economist, 4 August 2011. Url: http://www.economist.com/blogs/baobab/2011/08/pictures
4. HRI:UNArts:H-II - UN pleads with airlines for famine help: HRI:UNArts Humanitarian Intervention Initiative, 2 August 2011. Url: http://www.unarts.org/H-II/ref/822011UNSC.html


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2 August 2011

Contact: Stephen Michael Apatow
Founder, Director of Research & Development
Humanitarian Resource Institute
United Nations Arts Initiative
Humanitarian University Consortium Graduate Studies
Center for Medicine, Veterinary Medicine & Law
Phone: (203) 668-0282
Email: s.m.apatow@unarts.org
Internet: www.unarts.org  
Twitter: unarts

HRI:UNArts: Humanitarian Intervention Initiative
Url: www.unarts.org/H-II

 

HRI:UNArts:H-II - UN pleads with airlines for famine help

Country Music Association Artist H-II Stephen Michael Apatow, founder of Humanitarian Resource Institute and the United Nations Arts Initiative is expanding the appeal by the United Nations for airlines to assist famine relief operations into the Horn of Africa.

The United Nations appealed Tuesday to the air transport industry to help fly food in urgently to the Horn of Africa, where millions of people are starving due to a severe drought. "We're making an appeal to the air transport industry for free and heavily discounted cargo space to help us transport emergency nutrition supplies to the Horn of Africa," said Marixie Mercado, spokeswoman for the UN children's agency.

The agency is trying to get 5,000 metric tonnes of food from its warehouses in Europe to the region, but it costs about $350,000 (250,000 euros) to transport just 100 metric tonnes of food by cargo jumbo jet from France to Nairobi.
-- UN pleads with airlines for famine help: World News Australia, 2 August 2011.

This appeal accompanies the call for optimization of Special Protective Forces for Humanitarian Operations [1] supported by the UN Security Council to secure humanitarian relief efforts and stabilization of threats associated with the war against terrorism in the region.

Somalia's militant group al-Shabab says it will not allow aid groups it has banned from operating in famine-stricken areas of the country. -- Somali Militants Will Block Aid to Famine-Stricken Areas: Voice of America, 22 July 2011.

Video: Video: Somalia Faces Famine as al-Qaida Threat Halts International Aid: PBS News Hour.




Country Goes Global: World Tour

2010 marked 20 years of dedication to humanitarian relief efforts and policy development by Stephen Michael Apatow, though around the year 2000, his interest once again refocused on the arts, music, composition and production.  In the late 2000's, he expanded these efforts as an artist/publisher with American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) as an artist member of the Country Music Association. It was from this transition that the HRI "Arts Integration Into Education" focus evolved, leading to the development of the United Nations Arts Initiative.  The focus, utilizing artists, who have the innovation, creativity and a connection with the grassroots level as the bridge, to lead U.S. and international humanitarian relief efforts and policy development. -- Behind The Music: The American Way: HRI:UNArts, 7 May 2011.

2010 marked the release of his first album entitled "Country Goes Global."  Reflecting upon "the cost of putting your life on the line to help the needy, rich and poor," the lead soundtrack is "The American Way," and in dedication to the troops, the compilation includes "Special Forces Prayer" and "The Soldiers Tear."



For addition information on the album, visit:
  • Country Goes Global:  AirPlay Direct for broadcast quality digital access for television and radio networks. 
  • Purchase Album: Country Goes Global: Artist H-II Stephen Michael Apatow on iTunes - Amazon
All proceeds from album "Country Goes Global" supports HRI:UNArts advocacy and relief efforts.

References:

1. Special Protective Forces for Humanitarian Operations:  Humanitarian Intervention Initiative. Url: http://www.unarts.org/H-II/ref/spf_deopressoliber.html


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