provide enough for those who have too little

Quote of the Month

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“The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little."?

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Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 32nd President of the United States, 1937

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World Health Organization Declares Global Emergency Over Mpox Outbreak in Africa

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The Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) “has determined that the upsurge of mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and a growing number of countries in Africa constitutes a public health emergency of international concern. Formerly called monkeypox, the virus began its spread in 2022.?

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This year, the DRC has reported more than 15,000 cases and more than 500 deaths from the virus. The outbreak has spread across 13 African countries, and this past week, Sweden confirmed is first case of the more contagious variant of mpox. Pakistan has also confirmed a case, in a traveler returning from the Middle East.

Mpox has traditionally been a disease that affects rodents, such as rats and mice, or monkeys. Although it has occurred mostly in Central and West Africa, international travel has helped its spread. The virus is transmitted through close contact with an infected animal or person.

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Human Rights

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Securing human rights is integral to the mission of The Secular Community “to promote the improvement in the quality of our lives, end needless suffering, and prosper together in peace…” In upcoming months, we will be dedicating a portion of our newsletter to human rights and the status in upholding those rights in today’s world. This month, our focus is on housing.

The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights states “Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care…”

Let’s define what identifies as adequate housing:

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• Housing costs should be at a level that does not compromise other basic needs such as food and healthcare.
• Adequate housing must provide a safe, healthy, and livable environment. This includes protection from the elements (wind, rain, cold), hazards (structural instability, fire), and access to adequate space, ventilation, and natural light.
• Housing should be situated in a location that provides reasonable access to employment opportunities and essential services.
• Adequate housing must include access to basic services such as clean water, sanitation, energy for cooking, heating and lighting, and garbage disposal.

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Although a declared international right, there is currently no country that provides adequate housing for all its citizens, but a few countries (Scotland, France, and South Africa) have adopted legislation aimed at providing such housing.

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One way of easing the world-wide shortage of adequate housing would be to convert some existing structures for better use. For example, churches, mosques, temples, and synagogues. Instead of using them to worship non-existent supernatural beings and the money that it takes to keep them up, a much better use would be to convert them to housing.?

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There is no clearly defined number of churches, mosques, temples, and synagogues in the world, but it is estimated that the number exceeds 40 million. Using a conservative estimate of at least 10 people per facility would accommodate 400 million people, providing quite a significant reduction in the number of people currently without adequate housing.

The Secular Community 310 S. Twin Oaks Valley Road #107-131 San Marcos, California, USA 92078 [email protected]