It is the end of the month, which means it is time for this month’s installment of the We Are the World Blogfest. In this blogfest we seek to share a story of positive news of people helping others.
In August, faith leaders along with the organization No More Deaths and the Unitarian-Universalist Service Committee went to Arizona to bring water to migrants in the Sonoran Desert. I had been meaning to share this story previously but time got away from me. Although the weather has gotten cooler as the year marches on, this issue remains very much in the news.
The initiative was called “Faith Floods the Desert.” Two groups of workers distributed water via the Devil’s Highway and the Charlie Bell Road, a trail in the Cabeza Prieta Wildlife Refuge along the Growler Mountain Range. Rabbi Brant Rosen’s report is here in People’s World: Faith Floods the Desert: Humanitarian Aid is Never a Crime. Rabbi Ari Lev Fornari’s report is here: Faith Leaders Bring Life Saving Water to Migrants in the Desert.
This article resonated with me because earlier this year humanitarian aid workers from No More Deaths were arrested and charged. Mary Katherine Morn, CEO and president of the UUSC said:
“As people of faith, there’s an intrinsic obligation to help others in need and protect and affirm the inherent dignity and beauty of every single human life.”
~~~About #WATWB~~~
The We Are the World Blogfest (#WATWB) seeks to spread positive news on social media. Co-hosts for this month are: Eric Lahti, Inderpreet Uppal, Shilpa Garg, Mary Giese and Roshan Radhakrishnan Please stop by and say hello!
~~~GUIDELINES~~~
1. Keep your post to below 500 words, as much as possible.
2. Link to a human news story on your blog on the last Friday of each month.
3. Place the WE ARE THE WORLD Badge on your sidebar, and help us spread the word on social media. Tweets, Facebook shares, G+ shares using the #WATWB hashtag through the month most welcome. The more the merrier!
4. We’ll read and comment on each others’ posts, get to know each other better, and hopefully, make or renew some friendships with everyone who signs on as participants in the coming months.
5. To signup, click here to add your link.
A Thousand Finds 
Hi Karen – thanks for this … I hadn’t noted – but now I know … I’ll keep more of an eye open. Appalling to think that humans in this day and age turn over water butts – that had been brought in to aid struggling peoples. I do wish people would see the other side of their actions … while the arrests – I sincerely hope sense prevails in the courts. Thank you – not a good read – I count my blessings – Hilary
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I know, WATWB is supposed to be positive news, and the stories of the arrests and the people who don’t make it out of the desert are pretty bleak. I want to say, as Mr Rogers did, “look for the helpers.” These people in “Faith Floods the Desert” were the helpers. They are who I want to lift up and celebrate.
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And may civility, care for each other, and common sense prevail. Thanks for this, Karen. 😍
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“Now more than ever we must fight for a world without borders, for a world where freedom of movement over our shared earth is respected and honored.”
I love those words from Rabbi Rosen. We may not see this in our lifetime, but it is something I will always hope for the future…that we have no borders between peoples. While so many fear migration into this country, I believe we should be honored that our country offers a better life to migrants. To have people come here and die in the desert or be hunted by border patrol is a very sad reflection on our country at the moment.
Thank you for sharing this story during October’s #WATWB. What these faith leaders did was in the spirit of love, compassion, and abiding by God’s teachings. May He bless them all.
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Arrested for giving water to a thirsty human being – that’s just sad.
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It’s very sad and it’s wrong. These volunteers are saving lives.
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