His daughter, Rachel Buchanan, says he helped thousands of Kiwi children flourish, particularly through his work to increase breastfeeding rates in Maori communities, save premature babies and help children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Continue reading

The people of Whanganui, where he worked for 25 years, remember him with affection Read more

Father Brian Fletcher died at the Home of Compassion at about 2pm.

Monsignor John Broadbent died at Wellington Public Hospital at about 7.30pm.

Previous events have left countries with decaying venues and huge bills that take years to pay off.

Local communities are increasingly unhappy that a large portion of their government's funds are directed towards events that might line the pockets of corporations, but do little to support local industry.

The $51 billion Sochi Winter Olympic Games — believed to be the most expensive Olympics in history — may have showcased modern Russia to the world, but it also shone a spotlight into the darker corners of the country's society: its treatment of LGBT people, the crackdowns on free speech of groups like Pussy Riot, and the corruption among the country's elite.

The spotlight will soon turn on Brazil, with the World Cup kicking off in June.

Here too, the event has brought world attention to the country's issues.

Hundreds of thousands have taken to the streets to protest the enormous financial costs, the forced evictions of communities, and the exploitation of construction workers.

Marginalised people bear the brunt of costs for these global events.

A new report from Caritas Australia estimates that around 200,000 people have been forced out of their homes in favelas in Brazil to make way for the construction of venues for the World Cup - that's one in every 1000 people. Continue reading.

Source: Eureka Street

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