Hunger

Local residents were out at Glenoaks and Central, in front of the Armenian Consulate doing a hunger strike against the Protocols. The reporter said that they were chained together in solidarity and that would probably make a nice photo. I headed out there one day after they started their hunger strike, but they were not chained to one another. I was informed that they chain themselves about every two hours, so I decided to return when the dramatic chaining would be going on. Waiting this time paid off with this dramatic photo of about 30 people sitting on the sidewalk, with red tape over their mouths and chained together.

Gretchen Hoffman GLENDALE -- A year ago, 212 walkers in a 5K benefit walk raised more than $21,000 to fight hunger locally and around the world. This year, organizers are aiming for 300 participants and $25,000 in the seventh annual Glendale CROP Walk. The walk, which kicks off at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, is one of 2,000 taking place across the country this year, organizers said. It's a day when the community comes together to make a difference both locally and across the country, said Evy Horigan, one of the organizers of the event.

Youth group to host hunger banquet GLENDALE -- Glendale Temple Youth, made up of Temple Sinai of Glendale teens in the ninth through 12th grades, will host a Hunger Banquet at 6:30 p.m. June 14 at the temple. Its purpose is to dramatize the plight of the undernourished around the world. Participants will be divided into groups just as the global population is divided. Fifteen percent will enjoy a three-course meal. Thirty percent will get a simple meal of rice and beans, and 55% will be served rice and water.

Claudia Peschiutta GLENDALE -- Everyone was supposed to accept their lot. The select few guests assigned to the prosperous group at the Glendale Interfaith Hunger Banquet on Sunday were to eat a three-course meal. The others, representing the world's poor, were to receive scarce meals, the majority of which included no more than a cup of rice and one of water. But some of the "underprivileged" snuck food from their "rich" friends. What may have looked like cheating was exactly what event organizers were hoping to see -- the fortunate sharing with the less fortunate.

The Wilson Middle School Parent Teacher Assn. will host a family night event Thursday that will focus on what life was like on the Western frontier in 1883. The Clune family, formerly of La Canada Flintridge, will speak about their experiences on the PBS Television series, "Frontier House." The family spent several months living in a cabin in Montana, dealing with hunger, fatigue, heat and a June blizzard. The family night event is from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Wilson Middle School, 1221 Monterey Road.

GLENDALE — As lunchtime neared Wednesday, 17-year-old Vana Aprahamian hadn’t consumed anything but water for 35 hours. Her fast would continue until Friday at midnight. “I think the first day was the most difficult day,” she said, speaking barely above a whisper to save energy. “You don’t feel hungry any more. You just feel weak.” Aprahamian is one of 32 protesters taking part in a 96-hour hunger strike on Glenoaks Boulevard across from the Armenian Consulate to protest protocols for new official talks between Armenia and Turkey.

It's clear to me that the more our country is admired internationally, the better it is for our fight against terrorism. That's why we should increase funding for programs addressing poverty, disease, and hunger abroad. This is also why we should protect our civil liberties at home. Our freedoms are admired all over the world. If we restrict them, as we did when we passed the Patriot Act, we are not only hurting ourselves but tarnishing our image abroad as the leader in the fight for freedom.

Soroptimists looking for creative bras Soroptimist International of Glendale is searching for innovative creations for its seventh annual Bras for a Cause fundraiser April 10 at the Embassy Suites Hotel. Anyone can decorate a bra according to this year?s theme, ?Bras for a Cause Salutes Television.? The entry fee is $100, and submissions are due by March 26. They can be dropped off at Beverly Ann Flowers, attn. Lou Rhodes, 1150 N. Brand Blvd. Entries are best mounted on a mannequin torso, which are available for free at Beverly Ann Flowers.