# 9-21-2023 - Housing Crisis, U.N. Ocean Treaty, & Disney’s $60 Billion Park Gamble

An episode of [Pray News](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1697158801), 21 Sep 2023, 13 min.

Audio: https://podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/traffic.omny.fm/d/clips/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/ce9a673d-e313-4c0a-9df4-b4d6010c32c6/5bf067fa-6dea-4b44-ad6d-b4d700088be3/audio.mp3?utm_source=Podcast&in_playlist=992944cf-642c-431f-a11e-b4d6010c32cd

This is PrayNews, your Daily Christian news and beacon of hope in the stormy seas of current events. Sign up to receive PrayNews in your inbox every weekday: https://www.praynews.com/ Today’s Good News at a Glance: • Americans are finding it more and more difficult to afford homes. • Dozens of nations gathered Wednesday to discuss protecting the ocean. • Disney recently announced plans to nearly double its investment in its parks division. Pray News is your number 1 source for the top conservative news given to you daily. Download the Pray.com app and make prayer a priority in your life. Watch and listen to inspiring sermons, dramatized Bible stories, and relaxing Bedtime Bible Stories at Pray.com, the digital destination for faith. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

## Transcript

[0:00] Speaker 1: And if a brother or sister is naked and in
[0:02] Speaker 1: lack of daily food, and one of you tells them,
[0:05] Speaker 1: go in peace, be warmed and filled, yet you didn't
[0:08] Speaker 1: give him the things that the body needs, what good
[0:11] Speaker 1: is it? James 2, 15-16 Dear Lord, we are reminded
[0:17] Speaker 1: that our faith must be accompanied by actions, particularly actions
[0:21] Speaker 1: that show love and compassion to those who are in need.
[0:25] Speaker 1: It's not enough to wish well, we must do well.
[0:28] Speaker 1: Guide us in recognizing the needs of those around us,
[0:32] Speaker 1: whether they be material, emotional, or spiritual needs. Help us
[0:36] Speaker 1: not to be blinded by our own comforts and busyness,
[0:39] Speaker 1: but to truly see the suffering and the needs of
[0:42] Speaker 1: others around us. Equip us, Lord, to be your hands
[0:45] Speaker 1: and feet, offering not just words, but meaningful assistance and
[0:49] Speaker 1: unconditional love. We thank you, Lord, for your grace, which
[0:53] Speaker 1: not only saves us, but also calls us to a
[0:55] Speaker 1: greater purpose of serving others in your name. It's in
[0:59] Speaker 1: the name of Jesus, who modeled the ultimate form of
[1:02] Speaker 1: servant leadership, we pray. Amen. Welcome to Pray News, where
[1:06] Speaker 1: hope is our only bias. Today's news at a glance,
[1:09] Speaker 1: Americans are finding it more and more difficult to afford homes.
[1:12] Speaker 1: Dozens of nations gathered Wednesday to discuss protecting the ocean,
[1:16] Speaker 1: and Disney recently announced plans to nearly double its investment
[1:20] Speaker 1: in its parks division. There's a growing sentiment among the
[1:23] Speaker 1: Christian community that the world is becoming worse and everything
[1:26] Speaker 1: is going to hell in a handbasket. While we acknowledge
[1:28] Speaker 1: that this world definitely does have evil, heartbreak, and corruption,
[1:32] Speaker 1: we don't want to succumb to hopelessness. We say hope
[1:35] Speaker 1: is our only bias, not as a promise that we'll
[1:37] Speaker 1: never have any bias, but as a declaration that no
[1:40] Speaker 1: matter what, we will cling to the hope of the gospel.
[1:43] Speaker 1: If we don't believe Jesus has overcome the world and
[1:45] Speaker 1: that we can make a difference, then what is our
[1:47] Speaker 1: faith even for? Today, we declare that hope can prevail
[1:51] Speaker 1: even in the midst of dysfunction, destruction, and evil. We're
[1:55] Speaker 1: glad you're here with us today. We pray that this
[1:58] Speaker 1: take on the news leaves you informed and transformed. If
[2:01] Speaker 1: you've been enjoying Prey News, make sure to give us
[2:03] Speaker 1: a follow. That way you never have to miss an episode.
[2:07] Speaker 1: Before we dive into today's first story, let's hear a
[2:09] Speaker 1: word from these sponsors. Our first story of today has
[2:13] Speaker 1: to do with the housing crisis. The American housing landscape
[2:16] Speaker 1: has been subject to intense scrutiny as skyrocketing prices create
[2:20] Speaker 1: a sense of urgency for both tenants and landlords alike.
[2:24] Speaker 1: The root cause stems from a variety of structural and
[2:27] Speaker 1: economic issues, highlighting a nuanced picture that is far more
[2:31] Speaker 1: complex than most politicians and policymakers are willing to admit.
[2:35] Speaker 1: The case of Milwaukee, Wisconsin serves as a microcosm of
[2:38] Speaker 1: the struggles faced by average Americans in acquiring affordable housing.
[2:42] Speaker 1: Over the last year, this swing state has seen a
[2:45] Speaker 1: considerable decline in housing affordability. For example, even if a
[2:49] Speaker 1: person gets a 4% raise for their income, rents would
[2:52] Speaker 1: have surged as much by 25% in that time, making
[2:56] Speaker 1: it incredibly challenging to keep up with costs. Furthermore, people
[3:00] Speaker 1: looking to renew their leases are confronted with sticker shock,
[3:04] Speaker 1: which is financial burdens like the first and last month's rent,
[3:07] Speaker 1: along with moving costs. They make renting or buying a
[3:11] Speaker 1: home an unattainable dream for many. This has led to
[3:14] Speaker 1: a general sentiment that the promise of the American dream,
[3:17] Speaker 1: often touted by both parties, is falling apart. Notably, this
[3:22] Speaker 1: disillusionment does not spare any particular age group. Gen Z,
[3:26] Speaker 1: for instance, cited the inability to buy a home as
[3:29] Speaker 1: the second largest source of their unhappiness. Surprisingly, the housing
[3:34] Speaker 1: crisis doesn't discriminate based on your financial statement. Even America's
[3:38] Speaker 1: biggest landlords are finding it difficult to buy new properties
[3:41] Speaker 1: due to high borrowing costs and a scarcity of available homes.
[3:45] Speaker 1: Major real estate firms like AMH and Invitation Homes are
[3:48] Speaker 1: grappling with financial dynamics that have pushed property prices beyond
[3:52] Speaker 1: their profit targets. It is essential to recognize that this
[3:56] Speaker 1: isn't merely a result of fluctuating market trends, but it
[3:59] Speaker 1: also has to do with structural issues. Permanent capital and
[4:03] Speaker 1: high interest rates are making it increasingly difficult for first-time
[4:06] Speaker 1: homebuyers and large landlords alike to engage in the housing
[4:10] Speaker 1: market effectively. Additionally, developers seem more interested in building luxury
[4:15] Speaker 1: high-rises rather than affordable housing units, further skewing the market.
[4:20] Speaker 1: There's a sense of hopelessness, especially among the younger generation,
[4:24] Speaker 1: that they aren't going to have what their parents had
[4:25] Speaker 1: and what their parents had before them. The ability to
[4:28] Speaker 1: acquire generational wealth through the buying of property. It's quite
[4:32] Speaker 1: a sad thing, actually. The American dream seems less viable
[4:36] Speaker 1: by the day. As we ponder these economic challenges, reflecting
[4:40] Speaker 1: on the Christian ideals of community and compassion is crucial.
[4:44] Speaker 1: A society that prices its members out of homes is
[4:46] Speaker 1: one that needs both practical change and spiritual reflection. James 2,
[4:51] Speaker 1: 15-16 says, Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes
[4:55] Speaker 1: and daily food. If one of you says to them,
[4:58] Speaker 1: Go in peace, keep warm, and be well fed, but
[5:01] Speaker 1: does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?
[5:03] Speaker 1: We ought to empathize with those affected by the housing
[5:06] Speaker 1: crisis and advocate for policies that ensure housing is a
[5:09] Speaker 1: right and not a privilege. The issue of housing affordability
[5:12] Speaker 1: is complex and intricately tied to economic, social, and even
[5:15] Speaker 1: spiritual aspects of our lives. It demands attention and action
[5:19] Speaker 1: from each of us, regardless of our position in society.
[5:22] Speaker 1: While the solutions may not be easy or quick, the
[5:25] Speaker 1: conversation needs to continue for the sake of the American
[5:28] Speaker 1: dream and the well-being of our neighbors. With all this
[5:31] Speaker 1: being said, let's lift this story up in prayer. Lord,
[5:34] Speaker 1: we lift up those struggling with housing affordability, from tenants
[5:37] Speaker 1: to landlords, and ask for your wisdom and guidance in
[5:40] Speaker 1: finding equitable solutions. May our policymakers be led by compassion
[5:44] Speaker 1: and a sense of stewardship for the communities that they
[5:47] Speaker 1: are elected to represent. Recognizing the dignity and worth of
[5:51] Speaker 1: every individual, help us to advocate for just housing prices
[5:55] Speaker 1: and embody the teachings of James 2, 15-16, that faith
[5:59] Speaker 1: without deeds is empty. We pray these things in Jesus' name. Amen. Ah,
[6:04] Speaker 1: the ocean, the vast, beautiful expanse of water that covers
[6:08] Speaker 1: about 70% of the Earth's surface and produces at least
[6:11] Speaker 1: half of the world's oxygen. It's a world unto itself,
[6:14] Speaker 1: a mysterious realm of underwater wonders and underwater woes. From
[6:19] Speaker 1: the coral reefs to the wide open seas, our oceans
[6:22] Speaker 1: are increasingly under threat. On Wednesday, the annual United Nations
[6:26] Speaker 1: General Assembly is set to become a signing frenzy. At
[6:30] Speaker 1: least 60 countries are expected to ink an agreement on
[6:33] Speaker 1: a new UN treaty designed to protect the world's oceans.
[6:37] Speaker 1: Agreed upon last March and formally adopted by the United
[6:41] Speaker 1: Nations in June, the treaty focuses on conserving biodiversity and
[6:45] Speaker 1: aims for the target of 30 by 30. That's right,
[6:48] Speaker 1: protecting 30% of the Earth's land and sea by 2030.
[6:52] Speaker 1: It's an ambitious plan that advocates argue is crucial for
[6:56] Speaker 1: reversing the damage done by overfishing and other environmental hazards.
[7:00] Speaker 1: Mads Christensen, the interim executive director of Greenpeace International, has
[7:05] Speaker 1: described the event as a powerful signal. Yet, he also
[7:09] Speaker 1: points out that it's a purely symbolic moment. Ratification on
[7:12] Speaker 1: a national level is the real hurdle to jump. Signing
[7:16] Speaker 1: is easy, implementing is hard. As Christians, we often face
[7:19] Speaker 1: the same dilemma. Knowing what's right is one thing, but
[7:22] Speaker 1: doing what's right is another thing entirely. The International Union
[7:26] Speaker 1: for the Conservation of Nature estimates a cool $ 500 million
[7:30] Speaker 1: will be needed just to kickstart the treaty. An additional
[7:33] Speaker 1: special fund could require another $ 100 million annually. According to
[7:38] Speaker 1: Jessica Battle, an ocean expert with the Worldwide Fund of Nature,
[7:41] Speaker 1: the oceans are not in the business of waiting. There's
[7:44] Speaker 1: a deadline to meet if the 30x30 target is to
[7:47] Speaker 1: be hit. And that deadline is 2025. Given that threats
[7:52] Speaker 1: to the ocean's environment have been escalating, thanks to overfishing,
[7:56] Speaker 1: rising temperatures, and even the potential for ocean bed mining
[7:59] Speaker 1: and geoengineering, it seems like there's no time to waste.
[8:03] Speaker 1: The Bible reminds us that the earth is the loss,
[8:05] Speaker 1: and everything in it. Taking care of this beautiful planet,
[8:08] Speaker 1: which includes its oceans, is not just a global responsibility,
[8:12] Speaker 1: it's a divine mandate. In the book of Genesis, God
[8:15] Speaker 1: gave humanity dominion over the fish of the sea and
[8:18] Speaker 1: every living creature that moves on the earth. That dominion
[8:21] Speaker 1: wasn't a blank check for exploitation, but rather a call
[8:24] Speaker 1: to stewardship. Christians should cheer for endeavors like the UN
[8:28] Speaker 1: Ocean Treaty because it aligns with our core belief in stewardship.
[8:32] Speaker 1: It's not just about saving the whales or the coral reefs,
[8:34] Speaker 1: it's about respecting and preserving God's creation. A balanced approach
[8:38] Speaker 1: is key. Conservation should not come at the expense of
[8:41] Speaker 1: human needs, obviously, but human activities should not decimate the
[8:45] Speaker 1: planet either. So, as the ink dries on these treaties,
[8:48] Speaker 1: let's pray that they would lead to substantial action. With
[8:52] Speaker 1: all this being said, let's lift the story up in prayer.
[8:54] Speaker 1: Heavenly Father, we thank you for the beauty and majesty
[8:57] Speaker 1: of your creation, particularly the oceans that sustain life here
[9:00] Speaker 1: on earth. We pray for wisdom and urgency for all
[9:03] Speaker 1: nations and individuals involved in the UN Ocean Treaty. Grant
[9:07] Speaker 1: them the conviction to move from symbolic gestures to substantive action,
[9:11] Speaker 1: aligning with the divine mandate to be stewards of the earth.
[9:14] Speaker 1: May we all strive to preserve and protect your creation,
[9:17] Speaker 1: recognizing that faith without works is lifeless. In Jesus' name
[9:21] Speaker 1: we pray. Amen. Ah, the magic of Disney. Who can
[9:25] Speaker 1: resist the charming call of a singing teacup or the
[9:28] Speaker 1: allure of flying on a magic carpet ride? But even
[9:31] Speaker 1: for Disney, known for its fantasy and magic, things haven't
[9:34] Speaker 1: always been, well, magical. Particularly when it comes to its
[9:39] Speaker 1: theme parks and cruise lines, those meccas of the modern
[9:42] Speaker 1: consumerist fairy tale. But don't shed a tear for the
[9:45] Speaker 1: Mouse House just yet. Disney recently announced plans to nearly
[9:48] Speaker 1: double its investment in the Parks Division, amping up the
[9:51] Speaker 1: numbers to roughly $ 60 billion over the next 10 years.
[9:55] Speaker 1: That's right, $ 60 billion, with a B. It's as if
[9:58] Speaker 1: Disney found Aladdin's genie. lamp and wished for more zeros
[10:01] Speaker 1: on their investment checks. The investment comes as Disney navigates
[10:05] Speaker 1: its way through the labyrinth of modern media, attempting to
[10:08] Speaker 1: balance traditional television networks, streaming services, and the potential lawsuits
[10:13] Speaker 1: against Florida's very own Governor Ron DeSantis. The park's experiences
[10:18] Speaker 1: and products division have been something of a twinkling star
[10:21] Speaker 1: in the otherwise cloudy Disney sky. While the domestic parks
[10:24] Speaker 1: are looking a little less happiest place on Earth due
[10:27] Speaker 1: to slowed attendance, Disney's international parks are like Elsa from Frozen.
[10:32] Speaker 1: They're letting it go to the tune of a 13%
[10:34] Speaker 1: revenue increase, reaching $ 8. 3 billion. After Bob Iger's return as CEO,
[10:40] Speaker 1: Disney has worked to address rising prices and longer wait
[10:44] Speaker 1: times at its parks. Anyone who's had to wait two
[10:46] Speaker 1: hours for a three-minute thrill ride will appreciate this. After all,
[10:50] Speaker 1: it's not every day you get to pay $ 300 to
[10:52] Speaker 1: stand in line that resembles the length of a Tolkien novel.
[10:56] Speaker 1: Let's not forget the elephant, or should I say Dumbo,
[10:58] Speaker 1: in the room, Disney's legal tiffs with Governor Ron DeSantis.
[11:02] Speaker 1: The situation is practically a soap opera at this point.
[11:05] Speaker 1: At the heart of the issue, a controversial Florida bill
[11:08] Speaker 1: limiting classroom discussions about sexual orientation and gender identity, among
[11:12] Speaker 1: other grievances. Disney parks expect to generate about $ 10 billion
[11:17] Speaker 1: in profit this year, which is a rather pricey sum.
[11:20] Speaker 1: That's almost five times their profit a decade ago. Even
[11:24] Speaker 1: if their other businesses like Disney Plus are wading through
[11:26] Speaker 1: the swampy terrain of uncertainty, the parks seem like the
[11:29] Speaker 1: hero Disney didn't know that it needed. What's next for Disney? Well,
[11:34] Speaker 1: more intellectual property, of course. Disney plans to bring new
[11:38] Speaker 1: worlds like Wakanda to life, because why create new stories
[11:41] Speaker 1: when you can just repackage old ones, right? With CEO
[11:44] Speaker 1: Bob Iger stating that the parks will be among the
[11:47] Speaker 1: top three value-driving businesses over the next five years, it
[11:50] Speaker 1: seems Disney's fairy godmother has waved her wand for good fortune,
[11:55] Speaker 1: or at least good quarterly reports. It's hard not to
[11:58] Speaker 1: see the allure of Disney, a place often associated with magic, dreams,
[12:02] Speaker 1: and yes, consumerism. But the underlying politics and controversy remind
[12:07] Speaker 1: us that even in seemingly magical realms, There are challenges
[12:10] Speaker 1: to face that can't be swung away by a charming
[12:13] Speaker 1: prince or solved with the wave of a fairy wand.
[12:16] Speaker 1: While it's okay to get lost in the magic, Christians
[12:19] Speaker 1: should be vigilant about not only the entertainment they consume,
[12:22] Speaker 1: but about the corporations they support. With all this being said,
[12:25] Speaker 1: let's close our time together in prayer. Dear Heavenly Father,
[12:28] Speaker 1: thank you for the creativity and imagination that companies like
[12:31] Speaker 1: Disney bring to our lives. We pray for discernment for
[12:34] Speaker 1: Christians and all consumers in supporting corporations and engaging with
[12:38] Speaker 1: entertainment that aligns with the values of justice, inclusivity, and
[12:41] Speaker 1: ethical business practices. Help us to remember that while magic
[12:45] Speaker 1: and fantasy can bring joy, it's our responsibility to be
[12:48] Speaker 1: aware and take mindful steps in our daily lives to
[12:51] Speaker 1: uphold what is good and just. We pray all of
[12:54] Speaker 1: these things with trust, knowing that you have everything in
[12:57] Speaker 1: your hands. In Jesus' name, amen. Thank you for joining
[13:01] Speaker 1: us today on Pray News. It is our aim to
[13:03] Speaker 1: be informed and transformed. We pray today you would proceed
[13:06] Speaker 1: with hope, love, and determination to be a force for good.
[13:10] Speaker 1: If you've enjoyed this take on the news, consider writing
[13:12] Speaker 1: us a review and share your experience. You can sign
[13:15] Speaker 1: up for our newsletter at PrayNews.com. There you will find
[13:17] Speaker 1: sources to all of our reporting. And be sure to
[13:19] Speaker 1: download the Pray.com app to make prayer a priority in
[13:22] Speaker 1: your life and experience the Bible in new and exciting ways.

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