Many water and sanitation experts are currently arguing for a new approach to sanitation that is cognizant of the financial constraints - and often the water resource limitations - of developing nations, especially considering their rapidly burgeoning urban populations. This article in WHY Speaks portrays the scope of the global urban sanitary crisis and offer some of the new sustainable approaches to sanitation.

There are two primary factors that are inducing a sanitary crisis in the developing world - rapid growth of population and increasing urbanization of established cities. As a result of improved public health and disease control, infant mortality has been reduced and life spans are increasing. While most of the population growth in the developing world had formerly occurred in rural areas, a major demographic is now underway whereby an increasing proportion of Third World populations now dwell in towns and cities.

In a web exclusive for The American Prospect, Robert Kuttner throws in his two cents as to why third world countries walked out of trade talks in Cancun.

"So why did the poor countries apparently shoot themselves in the foot? Don't they know what's good for them," Kuttner writes. "The answer is that the system is rigged against poor and vulnerable countries, and these nations have had a bellyful. For decades, the United States and Europe have set agendas for these "rounds" of trade negotiation, and the outcome invariably does more to advance the interests of the sponsors. This time, the Third World finally cohered as a strategic bloc."

FNS (Food & Nutrition Service) is looking for public comment on redesigning the food packages offered through the WIC Program to suss out if the WIC food packages should be revamped to better improve the nutritional intake, health and development of participants, and if so, what specific changes should be made to the food packages.

The USDA announced today a new initiative, through which the government organization will donate non-fat dry milk to nonprofit, faith-based and community groups for use in meal services or for distribution to needy recipients.

The non-fat dry milk is being provided to qualified nonprofit charitable organizations, including many that do not currently participate in the distribution of USDA commodities. The USDA Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) will accept orders Sept. 17-30, 2003, for this one-time initiative. Recipients must order a minimum of one full truckload, with all deliveries to be completed by Sept. 30, 2004.

Completed applications must be submitted to: Kansas City Commodity Office, Dairy & Domestic Operations Division, P.O. Box 419205, Stop 8718, Kansas City, MO 64141-6205, fax (816) 926-6381, voice (816) 926-6124. Further information on this program may be obtained by contacting Clyde King at (816) 926-2610 or William Lang (816) 926-6050; e-mail: CPKING@kcc.usda.gov or WLLANG@kcc.usda.gov. The agreement and order form can be found at: http://www.fsa.usda.gov/daco/ndmnonprofits.htm.

According to an article in the New York Times, Linda I. Gibbs, the commissioner of the Department of Homeless Services, is looking at the long-term solutions to homelessness.

The commissioner is in the first stages of her effort, writes The New York Times. To reduce the number of homeless single people, the Department of Homeless Services has started programs to encourage prisons and hospitals, which often discharge people directly to shelters, to help find alternatives.

Key quotes:

"It is a mistake to only think in terms of shelter," Ms. Gibbs said. "We need to start a conversation on prevention and to understand what is causing homelessness in completely unprecedented numbers and take action to reverse it."

"Affordable housing is the elephant in the room that nobody wants to talk about," said Patrick Markee, a senior policy analyst at the Coalition for Homelessness, which has a program to help prevent evictions. "Big problems require big solutions, and ultimately they require money."

Sanford Lewis, director of social services for the Community Service Society of New York, which has a program to prevent evictions, said the commissioner is overly optimistic. "People that reach the point that they are in the shelter system have tried every possible way to prevent eviction, including friends, family and the Human Resources Administration," he said. "They need help paying the rent."

The Community Food Security Coalition (CFSC) is holding its 7th annual conference, "Growing the Movement: New Opportunities and Challenges for Community Food Security," at the Boston Park Plaza, Boston, MA, November 1-5, 2003.

The popular conference provides an excellent opportunity to connect with food activists and analysts to share experiences and learn from one another.

Boston Plaza is offering a special room rate of $99 for singles and $109 for doubles. Call 800-225-2008 or 617-426-2600 by Oct. 15 to make reservations. To receive the special discount, ask for the Community Food Security Conference rate, as this deal is not available through the Boston Park Plaza website.

Do you want fresh, locally grown, organic food, but don't know where to find it? The LocalHarvest map makes it easy to find family farms, farmers markets and other sources of sustainably grown food in your area.

Trade talks in Cancun cllapsed after a walkout by African countries protesting a failure to address the issue of farm subsidies. If a deal had been acheived by first and third world countries, 144 million people would have been lifted out of poverty, according to the World Bank.

Key quote:

George Yeo, Singapore's trade minister, however, has cautioned against this "I'm all right Jack" attitude among the wealthier countries. Rich countries would ignore the rising resentment against them within the WTO at their peril, he said. "It's not in the interests of those of us who are better off to have them remaining impoverished because eventually, their problems become our problems - whether through terrorism or disease or migration," Mr Yeo said.