ramadan at Brave New Films

Immigrants Hit By Rising Food Prices During Festive Season

2008-10-28T19:57:44Z

This time of the year it's Diwali - The Hindu festival of lights and Ramadan just ended earlier in the month, hence some immigrants are feeling the squeeze of the economy due to rising prices of ethnic food items.

The price of imported foods and beverages rose 12.5 percent from September 2007 to September 2008, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In fact, 84% of Americans have said that they are concerned about rising prices of food.

Immigrants can no longer take their staple foods such as particular brands of imported rice such as basmati for granted. The empty food shelves at Asian grocery stores is a rising cause of concern for most in the community. See the Boston Globe coverage of this here

The Columbus Dispatch reports the strain as particularly hard on Arab and Somali communities earlier in the month.

Like many American parents, Rehab Ismaeil trims her grocery list because of the sour economy.
Her husband has a good job as an ambulance driver, she said, but food prices have become prohibitive -- particularly the imported goods she buys to make traditional Sudanese meals.
She won't cut back on lamb, basmati rice and mango juice for her two young girls. The penne pasta, however, is cheaper at Kroger than instant couscous, and her daughters can live with less pudding and cake.

Some families have had to change their patterns of buying and acquire to new taste i.e. fried chicken instead of sizzling goat, cheesburgers instead of basmati rice. But coping skills are part of the immigrant-mindset ans families have looked fo less expensive domestic alternatives.

Economy-wise, demand for local produce should increase production, hence create more jobs consequently leading to more activity and cash flow in any otherwise tight money market. Of course, it does not help a lot of workers detained by the ICE are the ones that put the local produce in our markets. Richard Delgado offers his theory on the rising price of food here, stating that the illegal immigration crackdown has boosted food prices.

I personally have less sweets and dishes in my house this year during Diwali--the economy offers nothing to celebrate about and neither does the nail-biting tension of the U.S. Presidential elections. The sweets are more expensive; less in variety. I may need to buy and distribute sparingly.Then again, I may stay a little healthier and sugar-less this Diwali.

Happy Diwali / Happy New Year

Listening Post - Ramadan TV - 03 Oct 08 - Part 2

2008-11-01T03:30:18Z

we explore the biggest event on the Middle East's media calendar: 'Ramadan TV,' the battle for the hearts and minds of Islamic viewers and the big business that it brings.

As the Muslim world bids farewell to another month of fasting and worship, they also say goodbye to the vibrant, eclectic and often controversial programming that is, the Ramadan TV season. The Listening Post's Salah Khadr examines how the steady growth in viewers and ad revenue have led to charges of commercialism and left some viewers extremely unhappy.

In this week's Newsbytes: The Egyptian editor imprisoned for suggesting that President Hosni Mubarak was not well; the continuing media war in the Palestinian territories and the rogue images from Iraq; Italy and the outlawing of web blogs and the tiny US newspaper that takes a stand the rest of the US media could learn a lesson from.

Finally, for our Video of the Week, we are Stayin' Alive with a helping pair of hands from Gerry Phillips, the world wide web's very own 'Manualist.' With no instruments in sight, check out why this musical pioneer has hundreds of thousands of viewers putting their hands together to applaud him.

ramadan at Brave New Films

Immigrants Hit By Rising Food Prices During Festive Season

Listening Post - Ramadan TV - 03 Oct 08 - Part 2

Nigerians celebrate Eid festival

Inside Story - Cairo Special - Ramadan - Sept 14 - Part 2

Inside Story - Cairo Special - Ramadan - Sept 14 - Part 1

Mosaic News - 9/22/08: World News from the Middle East

Mosaic News - 9/19/08: World News from the Middle East

CAIR-MN Rep Offers an inside Look at Ramadan

Re: Boycott Israeli Dates 1 of 2 (www.inminds.co.uk)

China's Uighurs face fasting restrictions -- 10 Sept 2008

CAIR-IL Rep Debates Religious Accommodation with O'Reilly

Palestinians break out of Gaza

CNN-News:Rehab vs Glenn Beck on Ramadan, Christmas in School

Indonesisans on the move for Eid - 13 Oct 07

Riz Khan- Street Talk- 08 October 07

Egypt's Ramadan lanterns stand the test of time - 13 Sep 07

Alive in Baghdad: Uncut - A Look At Ramadan In Iraq