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https://beta.canada.b4utv.com/music/news-details/17491/PM-Narendra-Modi-Congratulates--RRR--Team-For-Golden-Globes-Win- | 2023-10-01T09:28:57 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233510810.46/warc/CC-MAIN-20231001073649-20231001103649-00335.warc.gz | 0.932042 | 167 | CC-MAIN-2023-40 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-40__0__233825478 | en | Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday congratulated 'RRR' makers for winning Golden Globe in the Best Original Song category. The song titled 'Naatu Naatu' picked up the win, defeating bigwigs like Rihanna and Taylor Swift in this particular category. Taking to Twitter, PM Modi labelled the triumph as a "very special accomplishment" and he went on to say that this makes every Indian "proud".
"A very special accomplishment! Compliments to @mmkeeravaani, Prem Rakshith, Kaala Bhairava, Chandrabose, @Rahulsipligunj. I also congratulate @ssrajamouli, @tarak9999, @AlwaysRamCharan, and the entire team of @RRRMovie. This prestigious honour has made every Indian very proud," PM Modi tweeted. | politics |
https://congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/house-bill/3980 | 2020-08-11T01:43:07 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-34/segments/1596439738723.55/warc/CC-MAIN-20200810235513-20200811025513-00427.warc.gz | 0.910475 | 579 | CC-MAIN-2020-34 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2020-34__0__41912062 | en | H.R.3980 - Redundancy Elimination and Enhanced Performance for Preparedness Grants Act111th Congress (2009-2010)
|Sponsor:||Rep. Cuellar, Henry [D-TX-28] (Introduced 11/02/2009)|
|Committees:||House - Homeland Security | Senate - Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs|
|Committee Reports:||S. Rept. 111-291; H. Rept. 111-346|
|Latest Action:||10/12/2010 Became Public Law No: 111-271. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions)|
|Roll Call Votes:||There has been 1 roll call vote|
This bill has the status Became Law
Here are the steps for Status of Legislation:
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- Resolving Differences
- To President
- Became Law
Summary: H.R.3980 — 111th Congress (2009-2010)All Information (Except Text)
Public Law No: 111-271 (10/12/2010)
(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the Senate on September 16, 2010. The summary of that version is repeated here.)
Redundancy Elimination and Enhanced Performance for Preparedness Grants Act - Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to submit to the appropriate congressional committees not later than 90 days after this Act's enactment a report that includes: (1) an assessment of redundant reporting requirements imposed by the Administrator on state, local, and tribal governments in connection with the awarding of covered grants; (2) a plan for eliminating any redundant and unnecessary reporting requirements identified; and (3) a plan for promptly developing a set of quantifiable performance measures and metrics to assess the effectiveness of the programs under which the grants are awarded. Defines "covered grants" as homeland security preparedness grants awarded under the Urban Area Security Initiative and the State Homeland Security Grant Program and other grants specified by the Administrator.
Requires the Administrator to submit to such committees within one year after such report is required and every two years thereafter a grants management report that includes: (1) the status of efforts to eliminate such redundant and unnecessary reporting requirements; (2) the status of efforts to develop quantifiable performance measures and metrics; and (3) a performance assessment of each covered grant program.
Directs the Administrator to: (1) enter into a contract for the National Academy of Public Administration to assist the Administrator in studying, developing, and implementing performance measures and metrics to assess the effectiveness of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) grants and the programs under which covered grants are awarded; and (2) report on the study's findings and recommendations within one year after such contract is awarded. | politics |
http://onvaredonya.blogspot.com/2010/04/no-to-iranian-propaganda-mosque.html | 2018-07-17T00:19:41 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-30/segments/1531676589536.40/warc/CC-MAIN-20180716232549-20180717012549-00482.warc.gz | 0.957212 | 1,669 | CC-MAIN-2018-30 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2018-30__0__170543468 | en | lørdag den 24. april 2010
No to Iranian propaganda-mosque
Call to Danes and the Danish left-wing politicians: Do not support the grand mosque at Vibevej road- it will become a propaganda central for the Iranian clergy-regime and a platform for fundamentalist brain wash of unadjusted members of immigrant youth
By: Hussein Ferdowsipour
14. april 2010 | Historik
Published on the internet at information.dk 14. april 2010,19:15. Printed version 15. april 2010 on page 17 in 1. section. Latest update 14. april 2010, 20:55.
I am writing this, because I feel squeezed. Squeezed between the Danish right wing with Pia Kjærsgaard in the lead, who perceives almost every muslim as a potential terrorist, and the Danish left-wing politicians, who in a wellmeaning attempt to accept of other ethnic people overlook most basic human rights. I am a board member of Frit Iran, a grassroot organization of exile-Iranians, who fight, using peaceful means, for a demokratic Iran.
Many of us have experienced the oppression of fundamentalism on our own bodies. More have been subject to harsh physicial and psychological torture and yearlong imprisonment. I am myself one of the over five million Iranians, who have been forced to exile since 1979.
Through the years I have experienced consequences of the xenophobic atmosphere, which the Danish right wing has put energy in spreading. Let me illustrate this by an example concerning a good friend. Ashkan Panjeheighalehei, also a board member at of Frit Iran, was deported from Denmark to Iran after biased case processing by immigration authorities. Three years after he succeeded anew to flee and reunite with the rest of his family in Denmark. Here he told, how he with bloody clothes and wrist, which was sutured hastily after unsuccesful suicide attempt at Copenhagen International Airport at Kastrup - and quite against medical advice from hospital staff - had been flown to Iran and handed over to his tormentors in Teheran. Thereafter he had to go through 23 months confinement in the ayatollahs´ secret prisons, where he was subject to harsh torture, without ever being presented for any court proceeding.
Owned by the Iranian state
The problem arises, when various minority rights collide. At present we experience horrifying examples of how the left-wing politicians set aside both women´s rights, children´s rights and freedom of expression only to show concern for, what they imagine, is the right to retain and practice own religion and culture.
I am addressing the project regarding a mosque by the name Imam Ali, which soon is to be built at Vibevej in Copenhagen Northwest neighbourhood.
The shocking fact is, that Denmark´s first real mosque will both be financed and owned by the Iranian state. That means, owned by a regime, which practices Sharia law, rapes women and men in its prisons and stones and mutilates its own citizens in full public display.
Behind the mosque is standing a foundation called Ahl-Ul-Beyt, which already runs 68 other centres for Iran´s clergy-rule around the World. The foundation has as its goal to promote the Islamic Republic of Iran´s views, which shows from the list of its board members, many of which are hardboiled Holocaust deniers.
Why dares the Danish left-wing politicians not take the discussion about the mosque, which based on available documentation is intended as a platform for dessimination of the way of approaching matters, which are tightly related to Sharia law and legitimizes crimes such as amputation of arms and legs and stoning of women? Approaches, which left-wing politicians in any other context would oppose without compromise, and here brutally undermine women´s rights, children´s rights, the right of atheists?
Looking into those centres that Ahl-Ul-Beyt Foundaton is running around the globe, one gets some insight into, what the idea behind the mosque at Vibevej in Copenhagen Northwest neighbourhood be.
The foundation´s centres in Africa and Asia have become an axis for radicalization of local muslim communities. The mosques payout mony to the poor, who in return convert to Shia-Islam. With this regard they are subjected to religious education, which is permeated by the clergy-rule´s official stance and its political visions.
The Repulic of Azerbajdjan has deemed Ahl-ul-bayt´s presence in that country a threat and closed down their centre there. Similarly South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, Thailand, Singapore and a few countries in Central Asia have banned Ahl-ul-bayt´s activities.
In the West, Ahl-Ul-Beyt is operating in a more sophisticated manner. mere raffineret. Externally they present their centres as peaceful places for sport, culture and celebration of religious holy fiests (at some locations the centres received state funding for these innocent activities). However, at the same time big sums are accumulated and transfered to build similar projects at locations in the World, where a far more radical-fundamentalist practice is preached.
Groups associated to Ahlul Bayts mosque in Hamborg, Germany, where involved in the assassination of four leaders of the Kurdish Democratic Party in Berlin i 1992. The Ahlul Bayts mosque in London has similarly created a framework for recruiting of terrorists, death threats against the British-Indian author Salman Rushdie, and espionage against exile-Iranians.
The Imam at the planned grand mosque at Vibevej, Mehdi Khademi, was untill 2004 empolyed at the Iranian Islamic Revolution Guard Corps´ department of ideology, whereafter he has switched the military helmet to a turban and was handpicked by the clergy-rule to transfer to Denmark. He must be suspected to have connections to Iran´s ill-reputed intelligence services, especially in lue of his past working collaboration with experts in brain washing and recruiting of new members to the holy cause.
Directly from the clergy-rule
Ahl-Ul-Beyt has as its assignment to mission for a form of islam, which rules and regulation is dictated directly by the clergy-rule in Iran - thus from a fundamentalist state, which is ill-reputed for its oppression, not only towards other religious communities, but also against competing versions of Islam, thereby oppressing Sunnies, Alavits, moderate muslims, Sufi muslims and secular muslims, all subject to persecutation.
This pitch-black ideology, which will dominate within the new mosque. Most exile-Iranians do not perceive the mosque as a forum, where muslims freely practice their belief, but rather yet another location that can be used as a base for espionage against us and a place, where the integration of immigrants be undermined. After 11. of September we have observed a marginalization of people of muslim background, where the media primarily have been preoccupied by us, when any bloody conflicts and sensatinal stories happened. During the same period some of our youth have lost their foothold in the society, where they have been born and grown up, which in turn has fertilized the grounds for exstremist views.
Thus Hizbollah has gained a larger recruitment in Danmark, the same can be told about Hamas. Now it is the ayatollahs´ turn to handpick our youngsters. And this time with support from the Danish left-wing politicians!
The building of the new mosque is about more than just the issue of freedom of religion and respect for minority cultures. It is about Iran´s wish to grasp political-religious power in Denmark and to create discord, distrust and insecurity amongst the immigrant milieu.
Therefore, dear left wing, wake up to reality. This is serious. Listen to the prrotests against the Imam Ali
Mosque and Culture Centre.
Hussein Ferdowsipour is a freelance journalist. | politics |
http://eng.tsutmb.ru/news/122-tsu-named-after-g.r.-derzhavin-signed-a-cooperation-agreement-with-almaty-management-university%2C-kazakhstan.html | 2020-07-09T01:21:35 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-29/segments/1593655897844.44/warc/CC-MAIN-20200709002952-20200709032952-00250.warc.gz | 0.943502 | 414 | CC-MAIN-2020-29 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2020-29__0__156553916 | en | In Almaty Management University (Kazakhstan) the International Conference "The role of universities in the development of civil society" has been held. Kazakhstan and international experts, leaders of civil society, representatives of diplomatic missions and universities took part in the forum.
Derzhavin University was represented by Natalia Ershova, Director of the Resource-Methodological Center for Interethnic Cooperation. She spoke about the experience of the University in shaping civic activism among foreign students and their integration into Russian volunteering.
The conference participants discussed the impact of universities on the development of civil society, and also determined the role of universities in achieving the UN development goals, in training non-profit sector specialists and others.
Nurzhan Alzhanova, Director of the Center for Social Entrepreneurship of Almaty Management University noted the unique experience of the Tambov State University in the formation of civic activity among foreign students and their integration into volunteer activities.
TSU foreign students carry out systematic work aimed at the prevention of socially significant diseases and a healthy lifestyle. They help ambulance teams in medical accompaniment of sports and mass events. For several years, they have been holding master classes, popularizing the profession of a doctor among high school students in Tambov educational institutions.
The help of TSU foreign students to nurses in patient care, the support of sanitary and hygienic standards in medical institutions have resulted in the development of regulations for the work of foreign students as volunteers in medical institutions.
TSU named after G.R. Derzhavin and Almaty Management University signed a cooperation agreement, a memorandum of understanding and scientific exchange, and an agreement on the exchange of students.
“The issues discussed at the conference are of paramount importance for the modernization of higher education, the development of civil society and the education of young people with active citizenship,” explained Natalia Ershova. “The concluded agreement on cooperation will strengthen the relationship between our universities in education, science and culture.” | politics |
https://soulcatcherstudio.com/twenty-minutes-in-houston-sara-terry/ | 2023-02-05T11:23:47 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-06/segments/1674764500251.38/warc/CC-MAIN-20230205094841-20230205124841-00873.warc.gz | 0.979749 | 370 | CC-MAIN-2023-06 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-06__0__44098084 | en | Liliesleaf Farm from the series Landscapes from Nelson Mandela's South Africa
Archival pigment print photograph
17x22", produced in an open edition.
Signed by the artist.
Print prices are set by the artist and start at $1,500.00.
The artist states, This image is from the long-term project, "Forgiveness and Conflict: Lessons from Africa". It comes from "Chapter Five: Landscapes from Nelson Mandela's South Africa." It was created during my year as a Guggenheim Fellow in Photography. Liliesleaf Farm, Johannesburg, Gauteng. In the early 1960s, Liliesleaf Farm was secretly used by members of the African National Congress, including Nelson Mandela, who lived at the farm under the assumed name of David Motsamayi, as a worker in blue overalls employed by the owner to look after the farm. In a crushing blow for the ANC and its armed wing, Umkhonto we Sizwe, South African security forces raided the farm on July 11, 1963, capturing 19 members of the underground as they were meeting to plan attacks on the government. The raid led to the Rivonia Trial (named after the neighborhood in which Liliesleaf stands), in which ten leaders of the ANC were tried for 221 acts of sabotage, which the government said were designed to "foment violent revolution." Mandela was among those sentenced to life in prison; he was sent to Robben Island, where he served 18 of his 27 years in captivity. Today, the farm is a national museum, dedicated to keeping awareness of the early liberation struggle alive."
Contact Soulcatcher Studio to purchase this print.
Image copyright © of the respective artist or estate. All rights reserved. | politics |
https://cityofnegaunee.com/2020/05/01/public-hearing-dda-expansion-and-amended-and-restated-development-plan-and-tif-plan/ | 2021-04-17T15:17:44 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-17/segments/1618038460648.48/warc/CC-MAIN-20210417132441-20210417162441-00478.warc.gz | 0.857257 | 145 | CC-MAIN-2021-17 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2021-17__0__243679355 | en | There will be a Public Hearing on Thursday May 14, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. at the Negaunee City Council Meeting via teleconference (Zoom Meeting), to accept citizen input on the DDA Expansion Districts #1 & #2 and the amended and restated development plan and TIF Financing plan. The map and plan are located below. Comments can be sent to Negaunee City Hall, PO Box 70, Negaunee Mi. 49866 or by email: [email protected]. Instructions to join the teleconference are as follows: dial: #1-312-626-6799, Meeting ID: 935 608 7193. | politics |
https://anjalialappat.wordpress.com/2014/04/08/big-in-italy/ | 2022-12-02T13:09:25 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-49/segments/1669446710902.80/warc/CC-MAIN-20221202114800-20221202144800-00070.warc.gz | 0.966766 | 1,784 | CC-MAIN-2022-49 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2022-49__0__191678094 | en | Today, I was published in Italian. It was pretty much the highlight of my week. I’ve never been translated before – and that, combined with the fact that it was my first political article – has me pretty excited!
Here’s the link to the Italian article: http://www.altd.it/2014/04/08/india-elezioni/
And for everyone else – here’s the English version. Be kind, like I said – it’s my first attempt. Baby steps.
Election season has begun in the biggest democracy in the world. Starting April 7, 2014, the difficult process of identifying the next political leader of one of the world’s most powerful developing countries is a monumental task. The most politically and socially charged election in years; even now there is no clear way to predict a winner. The conflicting opinions of the nation are testament to how complicated India’s political scene really is.
For several years, the two major political parties in India have been the Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) and the Indian National Congress party.
At the root of their differences lies a crucial point of contention – religion. The Indian National Congress (INC) is considered a secular party whereas the BJP, or the ‘Indian People’s party’ considers itself fundamentally ‘Hindu’. Closely affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), an infamous Hindu nationalist organization, the BJP is known for its ‘nationalist’ views with an emphasis on anti-terrorism laws and protection of Indian culture.
For decades the two parties have battled it out on the national scene. Though the Congress party is currently in power, both the Radia tape scandal and the 2G spectrum scam publicly exposed corruption and political and economical mismanagement on a enormous scale by the INC. However, despite the almost universal lack of faith in the Congress party, there are still those who believe that a corrupt, ineffectual government is preferable to one powered by a more religiously influenced party.
The third option – the Aam Admi party or ‘the common man’ party is the latest, surprise addition to India’s convoluted political landscape. Headed by Arvind Kejriwal, the AAP takes a hard line with corruption and advocates transparency at all levels of the government.
Butcher to Futurist
BJP’s nomination, Narendra Modi is a uniquely Indian success story. Born into poverty in Gujarat, as a child Modi used to help his father sell tea at the railway station in his hometown of Vadnagar. An average student but a keen debater – Modi was always politically active and his association with the RSS began in his adolescence.
His political career is a colourful one. Though he undoubtedly contributed to the unprecedented economic growth and development of his home state, his term as Chief Minister was also the bloodiest in recent years. In 2002, the Gujarat communal riots shocked the nation, resulting in hundreds of deaths.
Modi’s involvement in the situation has been hotly debated. Rumours range from political mismanagement and negligence to outright support of the persecution of the Muslim minority. Succumbing to political pressure, he resigned but was quickly re-elected. Now painted as the ‘butcher of Gujarat’, and with an eye on the ultimate prize – the role of Prime Minister – Modi needed an image overhaul.
Putting aside his anti-minority views, he focused on issues of development and social change. During his tenure, Gujarat’s economic and social development showed marked improvement. He advocated harsh measures against terrorists and publically called for the execution of terrorists implicated in the 2001 attack on the Indian parliament.
While Modi’s bias against minority communities remains troubling, he is a favourite for the Prime Minister role primarily because he is marketed as the face of economic development in the country. Additionally, he is also the only candidate who has any actual experience governing. Industrial giants like Ratan Tata, Mukesh Ambani and Adi Godrej have all declared their support for Modi.
A savvy politican – Modi has reached out to the youth of India through social media. He even has a viral YouTube campaign anthem. Futurist indeed.
The Golden Boy
If there had to be a Kennedy equivalent in India, It would be the Gandhi’s. In sharp contrast to Modi’s rags to riches story, Rahul Gandhi was born into power. Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India started the proud family legacy, followed by his daughter, the notorious Indira Gandhi. Rahul’s father, Rajiv Gandhi, was also Prime Minister for a single term. He was assassinated, leaving the reins of the flagging Congress party in the hands of his Italian born wife, Sonia Gandhi. She proceeded to lead the Congress party for two terms – winning both the 2004 and 2009 elections.
The Indian National Congress has always been plagued with issues of corruption and bad decisions. From Indira Gandhi’s ill-advised declaration of Emergency to the more recent 2G spectrum scam, each of the Congress party’s terms have been riddled with problems.
Rahul Gandhi’s Prime Ministerial nomination is seen as a typical move from the House of Gandhi. Unfortunately, unlike his similarly inexperienced father, public opinion doesn’t favour the Congress party’s golden boy.
Though unflinchingly supported by the INC, Rahul Gandhi’s public image, though not as colourful as Modi’s, remains largely ineffectual. He’s committed several political and diplomatic faux pas like accusing the ISI of trying to recruit youth affected by the Muzaffarnagar riots, and his comments about the controversial ordinance negating the Supreme Court’s decision to disqualify lawmakers with criminal records.
Rahul also continues to duck hard questions about his corrupt party officials and his plans for development, economic and foreign policy. His first and only televised one-to-one interview was a disaster. After a decade as an MP, he came off as largely confused. Not an auspicious way to kick start a campaign trail.
Arvind Kejriwal has been described as a middle class hero. A former civil servant, he quit his government job to become a social and political activist. He teamed up with Anna Hazare to push the Jan Lokpal (anti-corruption) bill. Though Hazare balked at joining mainstream politics, Kejriwal eagerly stepped into the arena, forming the AAP and winning the Delhi elections, wresting power from long time Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.
His victory was short-lived. When the Jan Lokpal Bill failed to be implemented in Delhi, Kejriwal resigned from his post, a mere 48 days into his term. Though not yet a viable Prime Ministerial candidate, Kejriwal remains one of the most important political figures in India today, intrinsically connected to his party, the AAP. His election to Chief Minister alone inspired hope amongst voters that there was an end to the BJP-Congress stalemate. He will face off against BJP candidate Narendra Modi at the Varanasi elections.
Kejriwal’s political rhetoric is revolutionary in nature. He believes that corruption has permeated every aspect of Indian politics. His primary focus is on anti-corruption. The AAP believes that they represent the underdog – the common man who is ignored by politicians and the ruling elite. The AAP emphasizes self-governance and decentralization – calling upon Gandhian tenet of ‘swaraj’ or ‘self-rule’.
Another noteworthy aspect of the AAP are the members – primarily well-educated, qualified individuals – a big change from the charismatic career politicians that populate the Congress and BJP ranks.
Though Kejriwal remains a middle-class favourite – no small feat in a country where the middle class is broad and varied, the AAP does have its detractors. Many have pointed out that their actions remain more of activists than potential governors of India. Many believe that Kejriwal’s resignation was premature and naïve.
Though the outcome remains undecided, the interest generated by the elections is unprecedented. One of India’s biggest problems has always been a disinterested voting population – a handicap indeed for a country where votes can be bought easily. Politicians who promise benefits, quick fixes and rewards are often successful. The 2014 election is unique because of the rising rate of awareness amongst the educated masses. For the first time in decades, Indians of all ages are exercising their right to cast their vote. In this new world of technology and transparency – it promises to be a revolutionary race. | politics |
https://nationnews.com/2016/02/08/as-i-see-things-surviving-in-a-dynamic-world/ | 2024-03-01T17:30:54 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947475422.71/warc/CC-MAIN-20240301161412-20240301191412-00298.warc.gz | 0.957277 | 695 | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-10__0__107878141 | en | LAST JULY, former Prime Minister of Barbados Owen Arthur delivered a speech at The Gleaner Editors’ Forum, held at the company’s Kingston, Jamaica office, in which he alluded to the changing economic circumstances facing Caribbean countries and the kinds of adjustments we must make if we are to survive in a rather dynamic and rapidly evolving world.
He said: “There was a time in our history when we were the entities in the developing world that were relatively more open to capital flows. In the ’70s we didn’t have to worry about China [because it was] a closed economy . . . . China is now an open [and] liberalised economy and a lot of the industrial capital that would have come to the Caribbean is now going to China.”
This description of the reconfiguration of the global economic reality with China now a leading player both in relation to the inflow and outflow of foreign direct investment is something that we in Barbados and other Caribbean islands ought to treat seriously because the tight fiscal balances we have recorded in the past five years and our inabilities to grow our economies in a significant and sustained manner do suggest that our countries require a tremendous amount of foreign capital to flow our way.
You see, back in the 1970s, some of our regional thinkers in the area of development economies recognised that the transformation of Caribbean economies ought to have been more internally propelled because the global environment would never be so organised as to be in our favour. Hence, our continued dependence on external considerations such as preferential access for bananas to the European market and foreign aid for developmental purposes could only have been temporary assistance with no long term growth benefits. And so, an approach to our economic development that included the birth of CARICOM became the order of the day.
Nowadays, it should be clear to all who have eyes to see and ears to hear that the winds of change that started to blow within our region in the early 1970s with regional integration as the engine that can propel our economies to higher heights ought to have continued and become much stronger in magnitude. But, sadly, that surely is not the case. We have since tried to give momentum to regional integration through the establishment of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) but the viability of that institutional apparatus remains in serious doubt. Where are we going in relation to the CSME? Are we at all serious about advancing this initiative for the sake of our peoples and countries? Is the CSME alive and kicking or slowly dying?
Despite all the old talk about our development, about our polititcal independence from Britain and our eagerness to boast and celebrate such great achievements, the fact remains that we in Barbados and the wider Caribbean are much more inventive with respect to possible reasons why regional integration and the CSME specifically cannot and should not proceed as planned.
Debates on this issue range from concerns over xenophobia to the question of sovereignty. While these discussions intensify, we the people continue to experience deteriorating standard of living, poor quality health care, limited access to top class education that is relevant to the needs of the 21st century, high incidence of poverty, rising cost of living, and the list of woes goes on.
But how can we deliver on those fundamentals which are key ingredients to our survival in a dynamic world if we continue to drag our feet on the question of deeper regional integration? | politics |
https://repositorio.escuelaing.edu.co/browse?type=author&value=Tamayo+Torres%2C+Mar%C3%ADa+Constanza+%28dir%29 | 2022-10-01T14:37:42 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-40/segments/1664030336674.94/warc/CC-MAIN-20221001132802-20221001162802-00098.warc.gz | 0.855708 | 231 | CC-MAIN-2022-40 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2022-40__0__263600278 | en | Equidad y regresividad, un estudio particular para el gravamen a los movimientos financieros en Colombia entre 1999-2018
Briceño Forero, Luisa Fernanda | 2020
This research work makes a record of structure´s evolution of the levy on financial movements (GMF or four per 1000) in Colombia. The GINI and tax collection series are also presented. which will be used in the construction of the regression indicator and the productivity indicator for the tax with the aim of analyzing the efficiency and equity of the GMF in the system 1999-2018. The hypothesis arises that the tax four per 1000 or GMF complies with the principle of efficiency dictated by the Colombian Political Constitution in article 363 but does not comply with the principle of equity. The regressivity problem is that prevents the tax from complying with the two principles of taxation that the colombian constitution prosecutes. This work is based on primary sources from the archives of the Direction of National Taxes and Customs (DIAN), the National Administrative Statistics Department (DANE) and the World Bank. | politics |
https://oslo.church/news/historic/read1/pastortorp-quarantine-cairo | 2023-12-09T16:04:31 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100912.91/warc/CC-MAIN-20231209134916-20231209164916-00575.warc.gz | 0.982328 | 264 | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-50__0__1515677 | en | Our pastor Jan-Aage Torp is in statutory quarantine after his assignment in Egypt´s capitol Cairo last week. He travelled abroad from Friday to Wednesday, March 12th-17th.
Oslochurch follows loyally all laws and guidelines from both political and health authorities during the corona pandemic, regardless of what we might think about the measures.
Torp tested negative in the PCR test before he travelled, and likewise upon his return. After seven days, i.e. Wednesday, March 24th, he will take a new PCR test, and if it is still negative, the quarantine ends.
According to new orders from our authorities, which were announced and implemented while he was in Cairo, everyone who has been on a necessary work trip abroad, may have their quarantine at home. Torp´s trip was certified by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which stated that Torp was an official guest of Egypt, and that he was a speaker at the 31st Session of the General International Conference of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, under the patronage of H.E. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt. Egypt also states that he had a number of bilateral meetings with religious and political leaders in the Middle East. | politics |
http://www.corrections.org.fj/pages.cfm/news/archives.html?year=2009&newsid=police-officers-visit-north-inmates | 2013-12-10T06:19:10 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-48/segments/1386164010865/warc/CC-MAIN-20131204133330-00098-ip-10-33-133-15.ec2.internal.warc.gz | 0.968158 | 359 | CC-MAIN-2013-48 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2013-48__0__167308484 | en | Police officers visit North inmatesThe Police department in the Northern division took time out yesterday to visit the inmates at the Vaturekuka Prison.
17 August, 2009
Police officers from Nabouwalu, Seaqaqa, Savusavu and Labasa filled a bus to visit inmates.
Regional Police Commander SSP Isikeli Ligairi led the police officers with the Commissioner Northern Ratu Inia Seruiratu for the visit yesterday.
The police officers bore gifts and morning tea for the inmates as well.
Commissioner Northern Mr Seruiratu said he was very happy with the positive police initiative which is the first of its kind in the country.
He said it was very good to see that government departments give their support to the Yellow Ribbon programme.
Mr Seruiratu said government departments would be engaging themselves in such programmes to help build a better Fiji.
“We need to work together in order to build a better future for all of us in the country,” he said.
He added that most inmates were youths and as a government official he felt that the Yellow Ribbon programme was educational as it was a means to build connections between the inmates and people of the country.
“We want to solve crime, cut down on unemployment and help in the economic growth and this can be the first step for doing it,” added Mr Seruiratu.
He added that the Commissioner’s Office came along with the police force for the visit so that people can realise that such programmes is the way forward.
“These inmates are our future leaders and are the productive part of this nation,” added Mr Seruiratu.
Source: Fiji Sun
Other August 2009 News | politics |
https://africachinatraining.com/reporting/africa-china-101/myth-5/ | 2024-04-15T05:48:48 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296816942.33/warc/CC-MAIN-20240415045222-20240415075222-00867.warc.gz | 0.968423 | 1,883 | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-18__0__170577573 | en | China is a Communist government and the Chinese domestic economy is largely still centrally planned. In the past this included encouraging Chinese companies to expand abroad. However, the decision of where to go is made by the companies alone and almost always guided by a single factor: profits.
The vast, complex Chinese political system is poorly understood by most outsiders. It is a system where power is both highly concentrated, yet simultaneously very diffuse. So it is understandable that many people think that Chinese companies operating in Africa are somehow orchestrated by authorities in Beijing as part of a centrally-planned system. They are not. Instead, Chinese state companies have been urged to "go out" (走出去战略), that is, go overseas in search of new markets and new profits. Journalist and China Africa Project co-founder Eric Olander explains that once these companies go abroad, they are largely on their own.
The popular perception of the Chinese government, particularly among foreigners, is that it functions similarly to old cold war Soviet Union administrations. According to this view, an army of functionaries enacts the policies of small cadre of Communist apparatchiks led by a charismatic figure. Everything from agricultural output to labour to foreign investments is centrally planned.
In today’s China, all of the above is in fact true. China is indeed a Marxist/Maoist state still committed to some aspects of central planning. With the ascension of Xi Jinping to the presidency, it certainly has a powerful, charismatic leader in firm control of the bureaucracy.
The problem with this narrative, like most caricatures, is that it is only partially accurate. Although there are strains of central planning and control, the reality is that like all governments, the policy-making process is often chaotic, fractured and fraught with infighting. This is especially true in China where the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is a separate, more powerful entity that sits atop the government.
At the domestic level, local and provincial governments are often given wide latitude to implement their own policies that are frequently in direct conflict with those of the administration in Beijing. Internationally, particularly as it relates to foreign commercial policies, the primary actors are State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) who may follow some of the proscribed guidelines set by the central government. However, more often these companies pursue their own profit-driven agendas.
Chinese SOEs in Africa
In the late 1990s the Chinese government recognized that its burgeoning levels of foreign exchange reserves was pushing the value of the yuan upwards. The government also wanted to avoid the high inflation that plagued the country in the early part of the decade. The government realized that it had to put that money to work by investing it abroad. Part of that strategy led to the massive buying of US treasury bonds along with the implementation of a new “Go Out” initiative that encouraged both public and private enterprises to invest abroad.
The “Go Out” strategy in many ways marked the beginning of the current phase of China’s commercial engagement in Africa. Dozens of companies, mostly in the natural resource extraction sector, set out across the continent to look for investments. Armed with preferential loans from state-owned Chinese banks, these firms offered far more competitive deals than anything available from Africa’s traditional lenders in the West.
This led to stampede of sorts in the early 2000s by the major Chinese oil, mining and infrastructure companies as they scoured the continent for investment deals. Few, if any, of these companies were following specific guidance from Beijing as to how where and how they should invest. This led to bitter competition among these SOEs to gain even the smallest advantage over their rivals.
Chinese Embassies in Africa (see Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs list of Chinese embassies in Africa)
Many US and European embassies around the world, including in Africa, have commercial sections that are fully integrated into the embassy. In contrast, the Chinese foreign commercial envoys largely operate detached from the political and economic sections. In her research on Chinese embassies in Africa, Johns Hopkins University professor Deborah Brautigam discovered that Chinese commercial attachés were often located in buildings separate from the embassy itself, very likely detached both physically and organisationally from the mission’s diplomatic and political operations.
So at the operational level Chinese commercial policy is implemented without coordination with China’s political envoys and is very likely highly disorganized. This then might explain, in part, why so many Chinese businesses in Africa have long complained about a lack of support from their embassies.
Over the years, China’s diplomatic presence in Africa has grown significantly. There are indications that Chinese embassies in certain countries are now beginning to offer similar levels of commercial support to their national companies that have long been standard in Western and Japanese overseas missions. However, with thousands of Chinese SOEs and Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) now spread across Africa, Chinese embassies are also being confronted with new challenges, especially when Chinese firms violate local laws or become involved in scandal.
Over the past few years, Chinese embassies have publicly denounced the poor behaviour of their own nationals for engaging in poor business practices, including for discriminating against restaurant patrons in Kenya, for violating mining and immigration laws in Ghana and over allegations of labour rights abuses in Zambia.
All of this suggests China’s commercial engagement in Africa lacks the central planning and control one would assume characterizes the Communist-led government in Beijing. The reality is that China’s economic and commercial engagement is both chaotic and fiercely competitive, with little to no political oversight from political authorities back home.
Case Study: Chinese extractive companies in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
The rush into Africa by Chinese extractive companies in the early 2000s was most notable in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) where Chinese mining firms saw massive potential in the country’s vast mineral reserves. The behaviour of these Chinese firms in the DRC showcases just how much autonomy they have from the central government in Beijing and how the driving force behind their engagement has nothing to do with any master plan but rather a frantic search for profits.
In 2009 a team of independent researchers, Johnna Jansson, Christopher Burke and Weran Jiang, closely examined Chinese corporate behaviour in the extractive industries in both the DRC and Gabon. The following is an excerpt of their report published by the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative and the Centre for Chinese Studies at Stellenbosch University in Cape Town, South Africa:
“Contrary to popular perceptions of Chinese firms active in Africa, very few companies receive support of any kind from the Chinese Government. Only one of the respondents of this study, the owner of a medium sized company with both mining concessions and recently awarded rights to open a comptoir, said that his company gets support in the form of loans from the Chinese state. The respondent did however neither reveal which bank had extended the loans nor if it was a policy banks or a commercial bank. All of the other companies interviewed stated that they receive support neither from the Chinese banks nor from any of the Chinese funds allocated to private sector initiatives in Africa. For most of the Chinese privateers interviewed for this study, this was their first business venture in Africa.
The PRC embassy in Kinshasa is located at a distance, both psychologically and geographically from the Chinese nationals operating businesses in the Katanga province. A majority of the Chinese respondents interviewed for this study claimed that they get no support whatsoever from the Chinese embassy in Kinshasa. Several examples were brought up in which the respondents had been in trouble called the embassy and received no support. This was compared by the Chinese respondents to situations where ethnic Chinese colleagues of Western nationalities call their embassies for help and receive timely assistance. The Chinese ambassador to the DRC [at the time], Wu Zexian, confirmed that the embassy would indeed like to be able to extend more help to Chinese nationals active in southern DRC.
The often touted notion of a China, Inc. – that there is a coherent ‘going global’ strategy for all Chinese actors venturing abroad in the global economy – is not supported by the case studies in this research. Instead, the findings suggest that Chinese engagement with Gabon and the DRC is fragmented and uncoordinated in a policy sense. As such it would be very difficult to implement a uniform strategy designed to reach all Chinese stakeholders in support of transparency. It is important to consider the factors determining behaviour and attitude while considering how to encourage transparency among Chinese stakeholders active in African countries.
Only a small minority of the Chinese company representatives interviewed in the DRC stated that they receive Chinese government support in some form. Instead, the vast majority of Chinese companies interviewed stated that they had chosen to invest in Africa on their own initiative and have no relationship with the Chinese government. In the DRC, all but one of the Chinese respondents active in the south eastern Katanga Province said that they receive no support at all from the Chinese government representatives. This was confirmed by the Embassy where a senior representative explained that they would like to establish a consulate in Katanga, to be able to have more contact with and assist the Chinese companies operating there, if Beijing decided to do so.” | politics |
https://rebuilding-peace-in-colombia.simplecast.com/episodes/danelly | 2022-01-26T11:32:44 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-05/segments/1642320304947.93/warc/CC-MAIN-20220126101419-20220126131419-00410.warc.gz | 0.974582 | 5,107 | CC-MAIN-2022-05 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2022-05__0__40938269 | en | Buenaventura, a Pacific port city in Colombia, is coveted by economic and criminal interests. The people of Buenaventura have been caught in the middle of brutal battles to control their homes and the land they live on. Danelly Estupiñán, an Afro-Colombian social leader, is part of the effort to give power back to the people and pave a new path for peace.
Rebuilding Peace was created by the Washington Office on Latin America for the Con Lideres Hay Paz Campaign. If you would like to learn more about the campaign and this podcast, please head over to conlidereshaypaz.org.
Hello, my name is Darryl Chappell. Welcome to Rebuilding Peace. This series, from the Washington Office on Latin America, will share the stories of social leaders in Colombia, who every day, under threat to their lives, search for truth and work towards reconciliation, fight for justice for victims of the Colombian conflict, and ensure the government lives up to the guarantees it made to ethnic and rural communities in the historic 2016 peace accord.
According to Colombian government data, nearly 400,000 people live in or around Buenaventura, and more than 85% are Afro-Colombian. Buenaventura also happens to be one of Colombia’s and the world’s most important commercial seaports, according to Gimena Sánchez, the Director for the Andes at the Washington Office on Latin America.
Basically, Buenaventura was and is the number one port of Colombia in terms of 60% imports and experts, the number one for the Pacific, and the number one for the United States.
Chappell: Yet despite its economic value, Buenaventura is still part of the “other” Colombia.
Sánchez: So, one of the biggest contradictions about Buenaventura is it is a country’s most important port. It brings in a tremendous amount of revenue for the rest of the country. But the people living there, the majority of the inhabitants don’t have potable water, don’t have sufficient sanitation. Many of them are living on top of raw sewage and garbage.
Chappell: Buenaventura is home to a rapidly expanding seaport, a city where reckless development collides with drug trafficking, racism, and patriarchy, leaving behind a community with little option but to resist. It is also home to a social leader who has spent her life organizing her community to resist against these very forces, Danelly.
My daily purpose is to have the strength to keep resisting, as hard as it may seem. Those of us who are involved in the dynamics of defense of human rights in Colombia, in Latin America, we understand. We know that we’re changing a structure, a power structure built on many powers, to put it one way. On economic power through the development of capital, on capitalism, patriarchy, racism.
Chappell: That was Danelly Estupiñán, an Afro-Colombian leader, welcoming you to Buenaventura. The power structures that Danelly actively resists are the same ones that have played out in Buenaventura over the decades. Buenaventura was coveted during the Colombian conflict by guerrilla groups and paramilitaries interested in its strategic location that facilitated the drug trade. It is prized again today by powerful economic and criminal interests. All along, the people of Buenaventura have been caught in the middle of brutal battles to control the land they live on.
In the late 1980s, Buenaventura was the site of violence tied to the Colombian conflict. A combination of strategic access to the sea, a wealth of natural resources, and coca-producing fields in rural areas drew the interest of guerrillas on the one end, and right-wing paramilitaries who at times colluded with the Colombian military on the other. Both were actively looking for resources to finance their ongoing battles.
But it wasn’t until 2000, just around the time that a young Danelly immersed herself in grassroots activism with the Black Communities’ Process (PCN) that violence in the city intensified to previously unimaginable levels.
Estupiñán: There were situations that I did not understand, did not comprehend. Really difficult, painful situations. Violence, bombings, displacements, forced disappearances, massacres. We documented so many instances of violence on that team, and I was distressed because I didn’t quite understand what was happening.
Chappell: In 1990, 58 homicides were recorded in Buenaventura. In 2000, there were over 400. Of the 26 massacres reported by the National Center of Historical Memory, a government entity tasked with uncovering and clarifying the causes of human rights abuses committed during the conflict, in Buenaventura, between 1995 and 2013, 20 happened in the four years between 2000 and 2004. In Buenaventura, people call this period the “Epoch of 1,000 deaths.” Aggressive paramilitary incursions into the city drove a surge of violence.
Sánchez: And what became particularly horrible about this situation is that the groups started upping each other in terms of terror, and so it became a complete display of barbarism. You know, cutting people into pieces, torturing people for hours on end in front of everybody else, raping and attacking and torturing women who were thought to even speak to a member of the other group or enemy, so to speak.
Chappell: Though at the time Danelly didn’t quite get the reasons for the increasing violence and brutality, she was compelled to understand and meet the needs of her Afro-Colombian community.
Estupiñán: We produced human rights reports on what was really happening in Buenaventura. We organized social mobilizations that unveiled the massacres or the ethnocide, as we called it at the time, in Buenaventura. And I began to be recognized within my organization, but also with the people of Buenaventura, with the people who I accompanied. After that documentation process in the mid-2000s, we began to provide psychosocial attention for those who had lived through violence, because there were severe traumas, prolonged pain.
Chappell: The intensity of the trauma and the pain pushed Danelly to find new ways to support her community. Specifically, she felt compelled to provide spaces for mothers mourning the loss of sons and daughters to the conflict.
Estupiñán: Keeping in mind that the situation was creating serious emotional damage among the mothers, we began to organize what we called “collective wakes” and “collective last nights.” We made a tomb which we pretended held the body of the deceased. We prepared a beautiful space in the house, with flowers, with pictures of all the people. Usually, when we have the body and the coffin, we pray and sing all night. But since we didn’t have the bodies, we used their photos, and we did the ritual as if the body were there. It was my idea, and that idea was – to say it this way – very emotionally resonant. The mothers cried, prayed, and sang. And the next day, hearing their stories, that they felt they had been able to say goodbye to their sons and daughters told us, told me concretely, we’re doing well. This is the way to help.
Chappell: This was emotionally taxing work, but Danelly soldiered on for years, through massacres, disappearances, murders, kidnappings, and more. The emotional burden eventually forced her to focus on a different project, one that led her to develop a hypothesis to explain the root of the surge in violence in her community and a new way of organizing for peace.
In 2004, Danelly got the chance to take a course with an expert on geopolitics and economics. What he shared with her inspired more than a decade of work.
Estupiñán: He told us, “First comes the violence, and then the ports will arrive.”
Chappell: This stuck with Danelly. She started seeing the news of new port construction and remembered her teacher’s words. She began to do research – on the internet, in the field talking with communities. She developed a theory that helped her understand why violence in Buenaventura had exploded since 2000.
Estupiñán: Up until 2012, everyone said that the big problem in Buenaventura was the problem of drugs and drug trafficking. That we had issues because we were a transit point for drugs and that everything that happened here was generated by the illegal business of drug trafficking.
Chappell: But this explanation struck Danelly as only partially true. While it could explain some of the violence, it didn’t explain the sudden spike in paramilitary activity in 2000 and the resulting increase in brutal violence. It didn’t explain the fact that she had spent years setting up collective wakes for dozens of families who had lost sons and daughters in the first part of the 2000s. She focused her analysis on the port, specifically Afro-Colombian communities that were right on the water.
Estupiñán: So, I began to see that there was a correlation between those projects of port expansion that were being projected from my city and the places where the violence was happening in its greatest intensity and brutality.
Chappell: Specifically, the violence was surging in land known as “territories taken from the sea,” segments of land right on the coast that were filled in by hand by the ancestors of Afro-Colombian communities in Buenaventura.
Estupiñán: They made handmade fillings using organic and inorganic garbage and consolidated them into the mainland. They filled it out and turned it into land thinking about their future, their own life project. And turns out that later, after we built those neighborhoods, we strengthened that territory. We gave life to that territory and now it’s a coveted territory because of the port’s expansion.
Chappell: Companies in Buenaventura identified this region as ideal as ports were installed in Buenaventura. These companies wished to use the land to build warehouses for shipping containers. They needed parking spaces for truck tractors to transport goods. They needed hotels that would house those drivers as well as the entrepreneurs looking to invest in the trade economy. The area built by Afro-Colombians was incredibly valuable.
Estupiñán: So, it turns out that we were able to analyze that the war was concentrated there, with the interest of demographically emptying out these territories, regentrifying them, to use that term. The aim was to use violence to create that panic, that terror, that fear to motivate massive displacement, and through that, install those new economic dynamics in those territories. That was one of the strategies that was being used that no one knew, no one analyzed.
Chappell: Danelly researched this issue extensively and published a paper on it called “Victims of Development.” Through it, she used different instances of violence and trends to argue that it wasn’t just the illegal drug trafficking that was leading to violence in Buenaventura. The legal economy was generating significant damage and violence to Afro-Colombian communities in the city.
Estupiñán: So, keeping that in mind, it was clear that we weren’t victims of violence, rather that a specific vision of economic development was provoking port violence. And that these armed groups, well, they were doing the bidding, the work given to them by port entrepreneurs and the legal economy of the ports.
Chappell: Her research went even further by naming a new actor that was participating in the nascent and brutal violence in the port city.
Estupiñán: The real faces of the violence are the businessmen that pay the paramilitaries, the armed groups, to massacre and kill. And they benefit from those massacres because they create displacement. And after that displacement, they can then install their economic model. They go and build parking lots, they go and build containment centers, they go and build hotels. So, this thesis was very powerful because it managed to interpret the analysis of what was happening in Buenaventura in a different manner. It showed the structural issues of the analysis and it included an actor that had been untouchable up until then, a face for the violence that had been untouchable and unnamed to that moment.
Chappell: Danelly’s thesis kicked off a flurry of investigations. She teamed up with the National Center for History Memory to work on a book about Buenaventura. She also worked on a separate case study which outlined the history of port expansion and the damage and violence it brought to a specific territory taken from the sea, a neighborhood known as The Immaculate.
Estupiñán: At the start of the year 2000, this was the neighborhood. This was the laboratory for the violence in Buenaventura. It became a ghost neighborhood. Nobody wanted to look that way. Nobody wanted to see what was going on in there. Anyone who went inside who was not from the neighborhood would go missing. The entire neighborhood became a torture house, a collective torture house. And we had all sorts of testimonials. All types of violence were being experienced here, including myself as a citizen of Buenaventura. Nobody wanted to look into that neighborhood. Nobody wanted to see.
Chappell: What nobody wanted to see was that this neighborhood was a part of the port expansion plans that were included in big ticket free trade agreements.
Sánchez: A lot of the areas where you would need to expand the port in order to be able to have the level of operations that you need for all of the free trade agreement signs, all of this increased commerce, were occupied by people.
Chappell: Danelly found compelling evidence made public by the Justice and Peace Act, a 2005 law intended to demobilize paramilitary groups and bring truth to people who were victimized by them, that backed up her theory: paramilitaries were doing the work of private interests in Buenaventura.
Estupiñán: So, they mentioned in their testimonials that the Cauca Valley entrepreneurs had called them to Buenaventura, and that the massacres they had done in Buenaventura were related to the call to action done by the entrepreneurs.
Chappell: Danelly’s research was revolutionary. She began making inroads with human rights advocates abroad who were interested in her work, but she also caught the attention of others. Almost immediately after she published the last of her investigations in 2015, she received her first death threat.
Estupiñán: At that point, I was a lecturer at Universidad del Pacifico, and I was inside the car when I received a text message. It said, “DANELLY, your end has come.” I received it through a code, not a number. It was a code. So, I thought, “What is this?”
Chappell: Danelly sent a screenshot of the threat to a United Nations representative. An investigator eventually found that the originator had used the Victim’s Unit Database to threaten several leaders around the country. During a call with the UN investigator, Danelly was threatened again.
Estupiñán: When I got home, I received a call from the UN worker, and she was asking me how I was feeling, how I was doing, and as we were talking, a third distorted voice hijacks the call, which fortunately she was also able to hear. It said, “We know where you are.” And they started saying a few horrible things, so I was filled with panic and I threw the phone on the bed. I started packing up everything I could, and I left that night to stay overnight at her house with my daughter.
Chappell: Danelly eventually was able to receive protection due to the nature of the threats. A human rights group in Barcelona sent a letter on her behalf to the port company, noting that they were aware of Danelly’s situation and were monitoring the threats against her. Danelly noted she did not receive any more threats about her research after that.
Danelly’s research and resulting impact on her life was eventually reflected in a key component of the peace accords signed in 2016: the Ethnic Chapter. The Ethnic Chapter at its core recognized that ethnic communities had suffered specific impacts because of the conflict, and their right to territorial peace.
The Ethnic Chapter was one of the key innovations of Colombia’s historic peace accord. The Ethnic Chapter acknowledged that Afro-Colombian and Indigenous communities were central to building lasting peace and prosperity. It also recognized that the challenges were rooted in historic, targeted oppression, as well as dispossession of land.
The Ethnic Chapter was included in the accords after tireless advocacy from multiple delegations of ethnic minority representatives. The Ethnic Commission included the National Afro-Colombian Peace Council (CONPA), the National Indigenous Organization of Colombia (ONIC), and the High Government of Indigenous Authorities. They ensured that any peace deal took into account the specific impact of the conflict on Afro-Colombian and Indigenous communities.
Chappell: It helped move the accord beyond simply ending the bloodshed and towards actionable solutions that tackled the root causes of the conflict. For Danelly, it was a promise that she thought would help validate her work.
Estupiñán: Within this agreement, which has been signed already, we have a point that deals with Territorial Peace. This is what we called it, Territorial Peace. And it talks about the whole topic of economic dynamics linked to the violence experienced within the territory, which are linked to dispossession of territorial rights. And the first things that we did here were defending, guarding, and protecting the territorial rights of the urban African communities in Buenaventura. And it is our contribution to building that peace.
Chappell: The Ethnic Chapter, along with the rest of the peace accord, motivated social leaders like Danelly. It gave them new tools with which to do their advocacy. It signaled to them that they had the full support of the international community. But more than anything, it motivated them to mobilize for peace on a bigger scale than ever before.
Sánchez: Once the accord was signed, the signal to the civil society was, “Wow, we’re in a new era now. We’re not scared. We’re going to go out and ask for what we need in terms of our rights, in terms of our basic needs. The international community is behind us because they’re behind peace.” That gave them all a better sense of protection.
Chappell: In Buenaventura, this meant that a community that had been downtrodden for so long, that had spent the first part of the 2000s mired in brutality, disappearance, and massive inequality, finally had the tools to resist. And Danelly would play an important role in organizing them.
Chappell: In May 2017, the Buenaventura Civil Strike Committee, composed of prominent social leaders in the city, including Danelly, convened hundreds of thousands of Buenaventurans to a peaceful strike that lasted 22 days.
Sánchez: The civic strike was incredibly important. First of all, it shut down operations of the port completely, meaning everything that came in and out of the port or any business or anything happening, for more than 30 days. It brought together the religious sectors, the teachers, all of the civil society in Buenaventura, under the same rubric of asking for some very basic things from the government. One of them being potable water, a second being there being a fund for Buenaventura. Some of the money leaving coming back, somehow benefiting people, and to find solutions to the employment situation and some of the longstanding structural poverty issues happening there.
Chappell: The activists encountered heavy backlash as a result of the strike. One of the most prominent leaders of the Strike Committee, Temístocles Machado, was killed. Danelly faced death threats once again. Even the hundreds of thousands of Buenaventurans that protested faced a repressive government response. Gimena Sánchez-Garzoli, WOLA’s Director for the Andes, received reports on the ground during the strike.
Sánchez-Garzoli: Immediately they came in and basically attacked the civilian population, even going into people’s homes. I believe there were more than a thousand recorded abuses committed by the anti-riot police and security forces that went in.
Chappell: The protests succeeded in getting the Colombian government to the negotiating table to secure key funding to help the citizens of Buenaventura meet basic necessities. And although some of those commitments have not been fully met, there have been other tangible benefits from the strike.
Sánchez-Garzoli: There’s still a long way to go to get that fully implemented. It was going in the right direction and then when the Duque administration came into power, that’s been stalled a bit. But the infrastructure set up due to the accord of the civic committee led to the first time ever having a mayor in Buenaventura who came from civic society.
Chappell: Danelly has endured even more death threats since her work organizing the strike committee, and some of these have forced her to stop her work building peace in Buenaventura. Yet when she looks back on that 22-day strike, she sees the beginning of a new generation of leadership that will continue her fight for equitable development, justice, and peace in her city.
Estupiñán: I am full of hope. First, because there are a lot of young people, a lot of young people. A lot of people who are convinced. There are a lot of people who know what’s happening and an important precedent was set here. For example, they believed they could intimidate us with the assassination of Temístocles Machado. He was one of our comrades in the struggle, in our struggle to defend the land. Instead, they strengthened our resolve, so it’s clear that they can assassinate anyone they want here. They can physically exterminate us. But this soul and this motivation for our freedom, for our dignity of life that we deserve, that cannot be assassinated.
Chappell: Danelly believes that now that more people are aware of the underlying problems, the systemic discrimination and exploitation, the people of Buenaventura are prepared to push back.
Estupiñán: The seed is planted. The seed of resistance. And the people know how they deserve to be treated as a people. They know what their collective dreams are. And they are working towards a collective and dignified life project. And here, they can do whatever they want. The people will continue. Those who are left will continue.
Chappell: Rebuilding Peace was created by the Washington Office on Latin America for the Con Líderes Hay Paz Campaign. Lantigua Williams & Co. produced this series. Edited by Virginia Lora, with help from Jen Chien. Mixed by Michael Aquino and Kojin Tashiro. Production help by Michael Aquino and Carolina Rodriguez. If you would like to learn more about the campaign and this podcast, please head over to conlidereshaypaz.org.
Chappell, Darryl host. “Danelly Estupiñán: A Vision for Equality.” Rebuilding Peace, Lantigua Williams & Co., March 11, 2021. conlidereshaypaz.org. | politics |
https://stormsandsilverlinings.home.blog/2019/04/05/opt-out-organ-donation-presumed-consent/ | 2019-10-15T09:06:49 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-43/segments/1570986657949.34/warc/CC-MAIN-20191015082202-20191015105702-00201.warc.gz | 0.969161 | 1,205 | CC-MAIN-2019-43 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2019-43__0__159683893 | en | This week, the Province of Nova Scotia announced that they will become the first jurisdiction in North America to have presumed consent for organ and tissue donation. What does this mean? Essentially, exactly what it says.
Instead of waiting for people to ‘sign up’ as donors, their consent would be presumed, except in the cases where Nova Scotians make the choice to opt-out (or other situations where the person lacks the capacity to understand).
Whatever their reasons may be, that choice to opt-out is important, and understanding that is key to understanding this policy as a whole. This is not about taking away an individual’s autonomy over their own body, because that ‘opt-out’ option unequivocally ensures it. This policy does not eliminate your right to make choices over your own body, because again – that ‘opt-out’ option ensures it.
Instead, this policy would facilitate and streamline the organ donation process in a more patient-centred way, and ultimately the goal would be to save lives.
And while yes – people may have their reasons for opting-out (and that’s their right), I can’t imagine a world in which the vast majority of the population would be opposed to saving lives.
It’s important to recognize that organ donation isn’t as simple as harvesting the organs from any patient who dies, regardless of circumstance. In fact, in the linked article above it’s noted that last year, there were just 21 organ donors in Nova Scotia. That’s very low, given the number of Canadians awaiting transplant right now.
It’s a rare and typically tragic circumstance when a person actually can be an organ donor. When my mom died, she experienced a fatal “brain bleed” leaving her “brain dead,” so that while she was able to be kept alive on machines, her actual state was incompatible with life. This was confirmed by multiple doctors after multiple tests, to the point that there was absolutely zero question or margin of error. It was agonizing. But, because of her very specific medical circumstance, it was also an instance that became a miracle for others. It’s also important to note that when these instances occur, the family or next-of-kin of the patient ultimately does get the final say. From everything I’ve read, I understand that will not change under presumed consent.
I understand that there has been a level of backlash throughout the Province since this announcement was made. I’ve read the comments sections and have done my best to understand the fury felt by those who feel this is a violation of their rights.
Here’s the thing though – I am a huge advocate for bodily autonomy. That applies to every aspect of life. I believe in asking before hugging someone you’ve just met. I believe in a woman’s right to choice over her own reproductive system. And of course, I believe in the incomparable importance of not just consent – but enthusiastic consent when it comes to sexual relations.
However, I think when people compare this policy to the #MeToo movement and suggest it’s the same thing, then we are blurring lines that have no need of being blurred.
Sexual assault causes pain and trauma.
Organ donation saves lives.
A sexual assault survivor will live with the after-effects of their experience for the rest of their life.
An organ donor (with the exception of living donors, but obviously that doesn’t apply here) will not live, because this is a gift they give in their death.
The families of the donor will absolutely live with the memories of the organ donation process, and I know first hand that it can be traumatic and trying. I’ve been there.
However, that incredible pain is a small price to pay when you’re already facing massive loss. Because with the price of extending the process, you’re also able to give an incredible gift.
It’s about the opportunity for a second chance at life for another Canadian. And while your family will be undoubtedly grieving, another will be rejoicing.
It’s cyclical in the most beautiful way, and though it’s undeniably painful, it’s also undeniably incredible.
While I agree that it would be nice if we could rely on people signing their donor card on their own terms, the reality is that like many things in life, it’s one of those ‘chores’ we feel like ‘we really should get around to at some point.’ And in our busy lives, far too often, we never do.
Presuming consent doesn’t take away your right to choose. It just makes your right to choose ‘yes’ a heck of a lot easier. And if you want to choose ‘no,’ you can do so at your own freewill. Whatever your reasons, that is your right. That provides you with autonomy over your own body, even in your death.
I know not everyone sees it this way, and that’s fine. However, this is the perspective I wholeheartedly believe in, as the daughter of a donor who has made that choice based on the presumption it’s what my Mom would have wanted.
I know how difficult it is for donor families and I would never wish that upon anyone. However, for anyone who’s experienced a tragic loss like we did, I would pray they’d find healing and hope in something the way we have in organ donation.
I believe in doing the right thing, whenever we can. I believe that a policy like this makes the decision to do so a whole lot easier for families who are experiencing the very worst day of their live. | politics |
https://shawncerra.com/meet-shawn/ | 2024-04-15T09:57:44 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296816954.20/warc/CC-MAIN-20240415080257-20240415110257-00126.warc.gz | 0.972694 | 330 | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-18__0__126115622 | en | Shawn Cerra, a resident of Coral Springs since 1993, was elected as City Commissioner for Seat 2 in June 2019.
Commissioner Cerra proudly served as Principal of J.P. Taravella High School, one of Broward County’s largest schools, for 14 years before his promotion to Director of Athletics and Student Activities for the School Board of Broward County. Always an active member of the community, Commissioner Cerra served on the Coral Springs Education Committee and as a Chamber of Commerce leader and a member from 2002-2016. He also led the City’s Ultimate and Flag Football Leagues for 10 years, serving as Vice President.
Commissioner Cerra and his wife, Kerry, have three children who attended Coral Springs public schools. As a father and educator, one of Commissioner Cerra’s greatest priorities as City Commissioner is school safety. Recognizing it is not an issue the city can address solely, he intends to utilize his leadership experience to cultivate partnerships between the Broward County School Board, law enforcement, community members and policymakers to improve the safety of our schools and address student mental health.
In addition to improving school safety, Commissioner Cerra plans to address infrastructure upgrades to meet the needs of our City’s growing population. He also recognizes the importance of proper city planning to ensure Coral Springs remains an attractive destination for residents, existing businesses and new business development.
Commissioner Cerra is a graduate of the University of South Florida, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Social Science Education. He received his master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Florida Atlantic University. | politics |
https://byberry.com/cbs-quit-twitter/ | 2023-12-10T20:04:34 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679102637.84/warc/CC-MAIN-20231210190744-20231210220744-00820.warc.gz | 0.948919 | 398 | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-50__0__276486737 | en | CBS News announced its intention to pause its social-media activity on Twitter, but in less than 24 hours it reversed its decision and now intends to remain active on the platform. “In light of the uncertainty around Twitter and out of an abundance of caution, CBS News is pausing its activity on the social media site as it continues to monitor the platform,” one of the media outlet’s national correspondents stated.
This announcement came after Elon Musk’s pledging to reinstate formerly banned Twitter accounts, including those of Kathy Griffin, Jordan Peterson, and the Babylon Bee. To determine whether users wanted Donald Trump to be allowed to rejoin the platform, Musk issued a public poll via his own Twitter account.
But since the former president set up a rival social-media outfit, he has not yet expressed any willingness to return to the platform, despite Trump’s account’s reinstatement, reported National Review.
CBS decided to suspend all of its official social-media activity on Twitter following these developments, which includes its flagship account with nearly 9 million followers. But as Musk tries to navigate Twitter toward financial solvency after massive layoffs, high-profile resignations, and uncertainty over his new monetization initiatives, this announcement came at a difficult time for Musk. CBS’ move might be the first in a series of media outlets’ rushing to ditch Twitter, some pundits initially speculated.
The outlet’s corporate Twitter account tweeted the next morning that “after pausing for much of the weekend to assess the security concerns, CBS News and Stations is resuming its activity on Twitter as we continue to monitor the situation.”
CBS News surprisingly returned after just about 20 hours of absence from Twitter.
Users across the platform are making fun of the quick comeback and considering it as a failed attempt at virtue-signaling in response to the new initiatives Musk has pursued since taking the helm of the social media giant. | politics |
https://www.cdtcmpo.org/transportation-plans/transportation-improvement-program/nys-transportation-improvement-program | 2020-06-02T12:00:53 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-24/segments/1590347424174.72/warc/CC-MAIN-20200602100039-20200602130039-00362.warc.gz | 0.94823 | 274 | CC-MAIN-2020-24 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2020-24__0__32673984 | en | The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) draft Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) for federal fiscal years 2017 through 2020 is available for review at https://www.dot.ny.gov/programs/stip/draftstip. The STIP is a list of all projects in New York State proposed for federal funding that are scheduled to begin during this period.
The STIP contains the regional transportation improvement programs of the State's 14 metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), and all other federally funded highway and transit projects from around the State. The STIP is generally updated every two to three years. All federally funded projects planned for federal fiscal years 2017 through 2020 must be included in this draft STIP update.
The draft STIP assumes the availability of approximately $12.5 billion in federal aid to address highway safety, bridge and highway infrastructure, public transportation infrastructure, and bicycle and pedestrian enhancements. Including State and local project contributions, the STIP would facilitate $33.4 billion in planned transportation projects.
NYSDOT will review and address comments received during the public comment period which ended on August 26th. These comments will be incorporated into the draft STIP submitted to the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit Administration. The draft STIP is expected to be submitted in September for final approval by October 1, 2016. | politics |
https://bac.org.uk/our-history/ | 2023-12-07T10:19:10 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100651.34/warc/CC-MAIN-20231207090036-20231207120036-00085.warc.gz | 0.916002 | 1,241 | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-50__0__58500353 | en | DISCOVER THE STORY OF OUR RADICAL BUILDING
THE BIRTH OF BATTERSEA
The building opens on 15 Nov, commissioned by the Vestry of the Parish of St Mary’s Church to serve a growing community moving to work on Clapham Junction railway. By 1900, the Borough of Battersea is formed and Battersea Town Hall sits at the heart of political, social and cultural life.
HOME OF A FAMOUS ORGAN
Battersea Council chooses former telephone engineer, Robert Hope Jones, to design, build and install an organ in the Grand Hall. He goes on to invent the world’s first theatre organ. The organ in the Grand Hall, which we re-installed after the fire, is now the largest surviving Hope-Jones organ in the world.
THE ORIGINS OF SOCIAL HOUSING
The first council housing estate is built here in Battersea, Latchmere Estate. John Burns, one of the first working-class MPs in Westminster and Liberal MP for Battersea, is based at Battersea Town Hall, and helps to shape and build the estate.
A CAMPAIGN FOR SUFFRAGE
Christabel and Emmeline Pankhurst, Charlotte Despard, and other suffragettes use the building for lively debates. Following successful campaigns locally and nationally, the People’s Representation Act enables women of property, and all working class men, to vote.
A SEEDING GROUND FOR DIVERSE POLITICS
John Archer is elected here as the first black Mayor of a London Borough. He says “I am a man of colour… my election tonight marks a new era. You have made history tonight.” In 1922, Bombay-born Shapurji Saklatvala is elected as one of the UK’s only two ever Communist Party MPs. The party hold their national congress here in 1922, 1926 and 1956.
A DESTINATION FOR ARTISTS
American civil rights activist Paul Robeson attends a peace congress meeting at the Town Hall. He sings Ole Man River, changing the lyrics from “I’m tired of living and scared of dying” to “I must keep on fighting until I’m dying”. The Jam and Fleetwood Mac perform in the Grand Hall in 1968, Allen Ginsberg in 1979 and Sam Shepard in 1997.
THE CLOSURE OF A TOWN HALL
Governance of Battersea is transferred to the London Borough of Wandsworth and the building gradually becomes mothballed. In 1967, the local community rally to save the building after calls for it to be demolished for the creation of an “ultra-modern” swimming pool. In 1970 it is listed for its architectural significance and key role in the birth of the suffragette and labour movements.
THE OPENING OF AN ARTS CENTRE
Wandsworth councillors, led by Martin Linton, unlock the building and create a community arts centre known as Battersea Arts Centre. In 1979, it is saved by the local community when public spending cuts threaten closure. In 1980 it becomes an independent charity.
OPENING UP THEATRE
In the 1990s, alternative comedians test new shows and radical festivals push the limits of theatre. In 2000, the first Scratch Night invites artists to share ideas and audiences to contribute to their development. Scratch goes on to be used all over the world. Richard Thomas and Stewart Lee create Jerry Springer the Opera using Scratch; it transfers to the National Theatre and West End and is adapted for BBC television, winning 4 Olivier Awards, and provoking 55,000 complaints.
OPENING UP OUR BUILDING
We begin working with architects Haworth Tompkins to develop the building, using the principles of Scratch. Punchdrunk’s The Masque of the Red Death tests out a different way of using the building, opening up disused spaces, and is seen by 40,000 people. Collaborations with Kneehigh and One on One Festivals test out the creation of artist bedrooms, a play space for families and an open air theatre.
OPENING UP THE PROGRAMME
We launch The Agency with Contact Manchester and People’s Palace Projects to help 15-29 year olds develop entrepreneurial ideas. It’s the first of many programmes that inspire people to take creative risks and Scratch ideas with their community. We use Scratch to run a development programme for museums, create a national touring partnership with small cultural organisations, and support artists to produce their own television for BBC Two’s Performance Live.
A DEVASTATING FIRE & RENEWED PURPOSE
On Friday 13 March, fire engulfs the Grand Hall. Thanks to 80 fire-fighters and support from our community, the front of the building is saved, re-opening 26 hours later. Over 6,000 people support Battersea Arts Centre, helping to raise funds, re-house shows and rebuild the Grand and Lower Halls.
Our new purpose becomes “to inspire people to take creative risks to shape the future”.
A PHOENIX SEASON
On 6 September, the Grand Hall officially re-opens. For the first time in 12 years, the entire building is open to the public. We celebrated with a building-wide Phoenix Season, 10 free events to thank those who supported us after the fire, and a series of programmes and ideas to celebrate the creativity of everyone in our community. All in time for the building’s 125th anniversary.
On 7 February, we launched as the world’s first Relaxed Venue. This means we are committed to making our venue accessible to everyone and to creating equal experiences for all people. The concept was devised with Touretteshero using the Social Model, which says disability isn’t caused by people’s bodies or minds, but by how society is structured.
Find out more about the Relaxed Venue model. | politics |
https://vid.app.com.pk/vid/2016/08/ch-nisar-addresses-press-conference/ | 2020-11-26T14:45:10 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-50/segments/1606141188800.15/warc/CC-MAIN-20201126142720-20201126172720-00136.warc.gz | 0.975849 | 546 | CC-MAIN-2020-50 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2020-50__0__18026275 | en | ISLAMABAD, Aug 12 (APP): Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has said dialogue is the only option for Pakistan and India to resolve their issues, but India always closed the door for talks and also maligned Pakistan. He said no Pakistani can remain silent over the atrocities being committed against the people of the occupied Kashmir by the Indian forces.
Addressing a press coverage here Friday, he said the people of Pakistan are emotionally attached with the Kashmiris and rightly protested against the recent violence of the Indian forces in the occupied Kashmir.
The Minister told the newsmen that American blacklisted national Matthew Barrett will be deported in the next three days in the light of the findings of joint investigation team’s report.
He said the findings did not suggest that Matthew Barrett was a spy, but he was found in objectionable activities. The Interior Minister said the American national was blacklisted by Pakistan in 2011, and deported. But despite that he was issued visa by Pakistani consulate in Houston. He said action is being taken against the officials, who committed negligence in issuing visa to Matthew Barrett. However, the one who identified him will be given appreciation prize.
Referring to the verification campaign of Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs), Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said over thirty-one million cards have been verified.
He said thirty thousand intruders have been identified so far, who have been blocked.
They will be unblocked if they were verified; however in case of non-verification, action will be taken against them after August 31.
He appealed to the people and the media to make this national campaign a success.
Referring to the Indian Home Minister’s early departure before conclusion of the recent SAARC Interior Ministers’ conference in Islamabad, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said he only defended his country. The Minister said he as a Pakistani responded to the disgraceful remarks of the Indian Minister about Pakistan.
He said the world has recognized Pakistan’s successes in the war on terrorism. He said terrorists are on the run, and they are desperately hitting soft targets. He said twenty thousand intelligence-based operations have been carried out, which helped to prevent several terrorist attacks.
He regretted that the terrorists are getting support from across the border.
The Minister said the opposition is not serious in measures against corruption, but it is exploiting the issue to secure political vested interests.
Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said undue criticism of the security agencies is no service to the country.
He said it is his duty as Interior Minister to refute the wrong impression created about the security agencies. | politics |
https://washnewsline.com/latest-obamacare-shake-up-could-fuel-rate-hikes/ | 2020-12-01T09:19:21 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-50/segments/1606141672314.55/warc/CC-MAIN-20201201074047-20201201104047-00010.warc.gz | 0.939602 | 164 | CC-MAIN-2020-50 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2020-50__0__102134861 | en | Trump’s newest move against Obamacare puts new pressure on insurers, who are already grappling with the administration’s efforts to undermine the law.
The Trump administration’s latest blow to Obamacare is rattling health insurers as they draw up rate proposals, sparking new worries about huge premium increases just before midterm elections.
The administration’s decision to freeze a $10 billion program designed to protect insurers from big losses in Obamacare injected more volatility into insurance marketplaces, which President Donald Trump’s health department has sought to undermine. And the move swiftly drew new warnings from insurers that higher premium increases could soon follow when enrollment reopens in November. https://www.politico.com/story/2018/07/09/obamacare-insurance-rate-hikes-675525 | politics |
http://loudouncountymagazine.com/dr-duane-nystrom-to-visit-loudoun-community-press/ | 2023-10-05T03:57:29 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233511717.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20231005012006-20231005042006-00710.warc.gz | 0.937671 | 167 | CC-MAIN-2023-40 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-40__0__200229907 | en | On October 6, Dr. Duane Nystrom will lead a talk on Working as an Editor for Student Editors producing Loudoun County Magazine’s Winter 2021 issue. Loudoun students and residents who are interested in editing and publishing are invited to attend this event. Please email [email protected] for more information.
As a publisher and editor on Capitol Hill for 30 years, Dr. Duane Nystrom edited, indexed, and wrote text for committee hearings, reports, and documents, including historical publications. As a congressional staffer, he oversaw the production and distribution of hundreds of publications by the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and the Committee on Printing of the Senate Rules and House Administration Committees and was editor of the Government Style Manual. Dr. Nystrom currently teaches English at Marymount University. | politics |
http://www.goodnewsfinland.com/archive/news/massive-gains-for-true-finns-in-parliamentary-elections/ | 2015-07-31T03:00:28 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2015-32/segments/1438042988048.90/warc/CC-MAIN-20150728002308-00116-ip-10-236-191-2.ec2.internal.warc.gz | 0.965631 | 373 | CC-MAIN-2015-32 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2015-32__0__184078336 | en | The results of Finland’s parliamentary elections were announced late in the evening of Sunday 17th April. The True Finns party enjoyed resounding success taking a total of 39 parliamentary seats of which no fewer than 34 were new gains. The party with the largest number of seats was the National Coalition with 44 seats.
The Social Democrats were the second largest party with 42 seats. The party which lost most seats was the Centre party who lost 16 seats and retained 35. The Left Alliance won 14, the Greens 10, the Swedish People’s party 9 and the Christian Democrats 6.
The overall election ‘king’ was the Chairman of the True Finns, Timo Soini who won 43,212 votes. Alexander Stubbs of the National Coalition was not far behind with 41,766 votes.
The voting turnout rose slightly to 70.4 percent over the previous elections. The advance voting facility was widely used and just under 1.3 million voters chose that option.
The elections saw 200 members of parliament selected from a total of 2,315 candidates. Of those elected, 84 will be new members of parliament, which is 12 more than last time. A total of 86 female members of parliament were elected which is more than ever before.
The first task for the new members of parliament will be to begin negotiations to form a new government.
(Change in brackets)
National Coalition Party 44 seats (-6)
Social Democratic Party 42 (-3)
True Finns 39 (+34)
Centre Party 35 (-16)
Left Alliance 14 (-3)
Greens 10 (-5)
Swedish People's Party 9 (0)
Christian Democrats 6 (-1)
Massive gains for True Finns in parliamentary elections
LEHTIKUVA/ MARTTI KAINULAINEN | politics |
https://kainsa.wordpress.com/2011/08/11/why-nations-go-to-war-the-determinants-of-war/ | 2017-03-28T21:27:48 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-13/segments/1490218189903.83/warc/CC-MAIN-20170322212949-00129-ip-10-233-31-227.ec2.internal.warc.gz | 0.975199 | 6,600 | CC-MAIN-2017-13 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2017-13__0__227270506 | en | The first general theme that compels attention is that no nation that began a major war in the twentieth century emerged a winner. Austria-Hungary and Germany, which precipitated World War I, went down to ignominious defeat. Hitler’s Germany was crushed into unconditional surrender. The North Korean attack was thwarted by collective action and ended in a draw. Lyndon Johnson escalated the Vietnam war to more than 500,000 American troops because he did not want to be the first American president to lose a war, whereupon he lost it anyway, and paid for it with more than 58,000 American lives. The Arabs, who invaded the new Jewish state in 1948, lost territory to the Israelis in four successive wars. Pakistan, which sought to punish India through preemptive war, was dismembered in the process. Iraq, which invaded Iran in 1980 confident of a quick victory, had to settle for a costly stalemate eight years and half a million casualties later. And when Saddam provoked most of the world by invading Kuwait in 1990, he was expelled by UN forces. Slobodan Milosevic, whose henchmen “cleansed” much of Bosnia of Croats and Moslems in the pursuit of a Greater Serbia, was forced to give back most of his conquests. And his “final solution” for the Albanians in Kosovo was nullified by an aroused NATO, which was repelled by barbarisms similar to those of the Nazi era. Hitler ended his own life, but Milosevic ended his in a jail cell.
In all cases, those who began a war took a beating. Neither the nature nor the ideology of the government that began hostilities made any difference. Aggressors were defeated whether they were capitalists or Communists, white or nonwhite, Western or non-Western, rich or poor. Twentieth-century aggressors fought for total stakes and hence made war a question of survival for their intended conquests. Those who were attacked had to fight for life itself, and courage born of desperation proved a formidable weapon. In the end, those who started the war were stemmed, turned back, and, in some cases, crushed completely. In no case did any nation that began a war achieve its ends.
It is not premature to draw some conclusions about the two wars that have made the dawn of the new century a watershed. First, none of us will ever be the same again after September 11, 2001. We now know that everything is possible, even the unthinkable. Even though there has not been another 9/11, there can be no real closure to that barbarous event as long as its perpetrator, Osama bin Laden, is alive or evades justice. In the meantime, the shadowy struggle against unseen enemies in every part of the globe must continue unabated. The failed attempt, on Christmas Day 2009, by a Nigerian terrorist who was hiding an explosive in his underwear, to blow up a plane carrying 289 other people, is a case in point.
It would be facile to assert that George W. Bush won his war against Saddam. To be sure, there was a swift military victory after three weeks. However, Saddam was missing, and marauding guerrilla bands still loyal to him killed more American soldiers after the war than during the war itself. The oft-repeated statements made by the Bush administration that the war’s outcome was not in doubt certainly did not reflect conditions three months after its official end, which Bush had declared on May 1, 2003, aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. On July 3, a day when ten more American soldiers were wounded in three separate guerrilla attacks, the commander of allied forces in Iraq declared that “we’re still at war,” and the United States announced a reward of $25 million for the capture of Saddam Hussein or confirmation of his death, plus $15 million for each of his two sons. “Until we know for sure, their names will continue to cast a shadow of fear over this country,” Paul Bremer, the American civil administrator of Iraq, declared.1 When Saddam’s two sons were killed in a fierce firefight by U.S. troops, their funerals were attended by Iraqis shouting anti-American slogans. And, at Fort Stewart, Georgia, a colonel had to be escorted out of a meeting with 800 angry wives who wanted their husbands to come home. In August, there was the disastrous attack on the headquarters of the United Nations in Baghdad, claiming twenty-one lives including that of a top UN official. Moreover, November ushered in a quantum leap in violence when five U.S. helicopters were shot down, killing fifty-five GIs. Nineteen Italian soldiers, seven Spanish intelligence agents, and several Japanese and South Koreans were killed as well. The November total of coalition casualties approached the 100 mark.
The capture of Saddam on December 13 by American soldiers was no doubt the best day for the United States since the outbreak of the war. The president, who regarded Iraq as the central front against terrorism, lauded the event as a major victory.
In mid-2004 the Bush administration decided to turn over sovereignty to an Iraqi provisional government and to postpone drafting a constitution and holding national elections until January 2005. Moreover, the Americans embarked on tough new tactics including aerial bombardments, the erection of barriers, detentions, and razings that echoed Israel’s antiguerrilla methods. Yet the insurgency continued to rise steadily to a seething fury. “I see no difference between us and the Palestinians,” an Iraqi man complained while waiting to pass through an American checkpoint. “We didn’t expect anything like this after Saddam fell.” 2
The steady escalation of insurgency attacks during the months, and then years, of the “war after the war” clearly denied the Americans the victory they had announced with such confidence when Saddam’s statue was toppled from its pedestal in Baghdad. The facts suggest that Saddam’s capture was a significant success, but by no means a decisive victory. Americans continued to die in Iraq in ever rising numbers, surpassing the 4,000 mark by 2009. Gradually, the Americans were forced not only to battle a fierce insurgency but to keep Sunnis and Shiites from murdering each other in a desperate civil war. Victory seemed more and more like a mirage. Instead, by June 30, 2009, the date of American troop withdrawals, the number of Iraqi victims of suicide bombers had risen to frightening proportions.
With regard to the problem of the outbreak of war, the case studies indicate the crucial importance of the personalities of leaders. I am less impressed by the role of abstract forces, such as nationalism, militarism, or alliance systems, which traditionally have been regarded as the causes of war. Nor does a single one of the cases examined here indicate that economic factors played a vital part in precipitating war. The personalities of leaders, on the other hand, have often been decisive. Conventional wisdom has blamed the alliance system for the outbreak of World War I and the spread of the war. Specifically, the argument runs, Kaiser Wilhelm’s alliance with Austria dragged Germany into the war against the Allied powers. This analysis, however, totally ignores the part the Kaiser’s personality played during the gathering crisis. Suppose Wilhelm had had the fortitude to continue in his role as mediator and restrain Austria-Hungary instead of engaging in paranoid delusions and accusing England of conspiring against Germany? The disaster might have been averted; conventional wisdom would then have praised the alliance system for saving the peace instead of blaming it for causing the war. In truth, the emotional balance or lack of balance of the German Kaiser turned out to be crucial. Similarly, the relentless mediocrity of the leading personalities on all sides no doubt contributed to the disaster.
If one looks at the outbreak of World War II, there is no doubt that the financial burden of the victors’ peace terms at Versailles after World War I and the galloping inflation of the 1920s brought about the rise of Nazi Germany. But once again, it was the personality of Hitler that was decisive. A more rational leader would have consolidated his gains and certainly would not have attacked the Soviet Union. And if it had to be attacked, then a rational man would have made contingency plans to meet the Russian winter instead of anticipating a swift victory.
In the Korean War the hubris of General MacArthur probably prolonged the conflict by two years, and in Vietnam at least two American presidents, whose fragile egos would not allow them to face facts, first escalated the war quite disproportionately and then postponed its ending quite unreasonably. In the Middle East the volatile personality of Gamal Abdel Nasser was primarily responsible for the closing of the Gulf of Aqaba, the event that precipitated the Six-Day War of 1967. In 1971 Yahya Khan, the leader of West Pakistan, took his country to war with India because he would not be cowed by a woman, Indira Gandhi. In 1980, and again in 1990, Saddam Hussein made a personal decision to begin a war. Around the same time, Slobodan Milosevic, driven by personal ambition to become the leader of a Greater Serbia, launched his expansionary moves into neighboring Croatia and Bosnia, and finally, disastrously for him, into Kosovo.
There is no doubt that Osama bin Laden’s personality and his fanatical hatred of America inspired the nineteen terrorists who perpetrated the heinous deeds of September 11, 2001. If ever there was a quintessential fanatic, it certainly was the man who organized al-Qaida in the wastelands of Afghanistan.
George W. Bush’s road from Afghanistan to Iraq was paved by gradual steps toward the crusading end of the personality spectrum: First, his evangelical conversion predisposed him toward a Manichean, good-versus-evil worldview; second, the influence of neo-conservative intellectuals reinforced that worldview; third, bin Laden’s slipping from his grasp frustrated him; and last, Saddam Hussein’s attempt to assassinate his father triggered a personal grudge. All of these factors culminated in a fixation on Saddam, until Bush was convinced his tyrannical and dangerous presence had to be removed, peacefully if possible but by force of arms if necessary.
In all these cases, a leader’s personality was of critical importance and may, in fact, have spelled the difference between the outbreak of war and the maintenance of peace.
The case material reveals that perhaps the most important single precipitating factor in the outbreak of war is misperception.
Such distortion may manifest itself in four different ways: in a leader’s image of himself; in a leader’s view of his adversary’s character; in a leader’s view of his adversary’s intentions toward himself; and finally, in a leader’s view of his adversary’s capabilities and power. Each of these is important enough to merit separate and careful treatment.
1. There is remarkable consistency in the self-images of most national leaders on the brink of war. Each confidently expects victory after a brief and triumphant campaign. Doubt about the outcome is the voice of the enemy and therefore unacceptable. This recurring optimism is not to be dismissed lightly by the historian as an ironic example of human folly. It assumes a powerful emotional momentum of its own and thus itself becomes one of the causes of war. Anything that fuels such optimism about a quick and decisive victory makes war more likely, and anything that dampens it facilitates peace.
This common belief in a short, decisive war is usually the overflow from a reservoir of self-delusions held by a leader about both himself and his nation. The Kaiser’s appearance in shining armor in August 1914 and his promise to the German nation that its sons would be back home “before the leaves had fallen from the trees” was matched by similar expressions of military splendor and overconfidence in Austria-Hungary, Russia, and the other nations on the brink of war. Hitler’s confidence in an early German victory over the Soviet Union was so unshakable that no winter uniforms were issued to the Wehrmacht’s soldiers and no preparations whatsoever were made for the onset of the Russian winter. In November 1941, when the mud of autumn turned to ice and snow, the cold became the German soldier’s bitterest enemy. Tormented by arctic temperatures, men died, machines broke down, and the quest for warmth all but eclipsed the quest for victory. Hitler’s hopes and delusions about the German “master race” were shattered in the frozen wastes of the Soviet Union. The fact that Hitler had fought in World War I and had seen Germany’s optimism crumble in defeat did not prevent its reappearance.
When North Korea invaded South Korea, its leadership expected victory within two months. The Anglo-French campaign at Suez in 1956 was spurred by the expectation of a swift victory. In Pakistan Yahya Khan hoped to teach Indira Gandhi a lesson modeled on the Six-Day War in Israel. In Vietnam every American escalation in the air or on the ground was an expression of the hope that a few more bombs, a few more troops, would bring decisive victory. Saddam Hussein expected a quick victory over Iran but got instead a bloody stalemate. Ten years later, he once again expected an easy triumph, this time over Kuwait, but instead provoked the world’s wrath and took a severe beating. In Serbia, Slobodan Milosevic’s belief that destiny had chosen him to be the leader of a Greater Serbia nourished his conviction that he was invincible. He did gain much ground early in the war, but later was forced to give it back even more quickly. Israel’s swift victories in its wars against four Arab nations made its military leadership confident of a quick and decisive victory over Hezbollah in 2006. Instead, its army was fought to a standstill by a determined guerrilla force. Finally, the Americans were so confident of victory in Iraq that they failed to prepare adequately for postwar reconstruction. The resulting power vacuum invited a fierce insurgency that nullified the Americans’ early successes. Indeed, coalition casualties rose to ever greater heights. In the fall of 2006, when the facts on the ground clearly precluded victory, President Bush still promised it in ringing tones, but his successor’s only choice remained a gradual withdrawal.
Leaders on all sides typically harbor self-delusions on the eve of war. Only war itself provides the stinging ice of reality and ultimately helps to restore a measure of perspective in the leadership, and the price for recapturing reality is high indeed. It is unlikely that there ever was a war that fulfilled the initial hopes and expectations of both sides.
2. Distorted views of the adversary’s character also help to precipitate a conflict. As the pressure mounted in July 1914, the German Kaiser explosively admitted that he “hated the Slavs, even though one should not hate anyone.” This hatred no doubt influenced his decision to vacate his role as mediator and to prepare for war. Similarly, his naïve trust in the honesty of the Austrian leaders prompted him to extend to them the blank-check guarantee that dragged him into war. In reality the Austrians were more deceitful than he thought, and the Russians were more honest. Worst of all, the British leadership, which worked so desperately to avert a general war, was seen by Wilhelm as the center of a monstrous plot to encircle and destroy the German nation. Hitler, too, had no conception of what the Soviet Union really was like. He knew nothing of its history and believed that it was populated by subhuman barbarians who could be crushed with one decisive stroke and then made to serve as German supermen’s slaves. This relentless hatred and ignorant contempt for the Soviet Union became a crucial factor in Hitler’s ill-fated assault of 1941.
Perhaps the most important reason for the American military intervention in Vietnam was the American leadership’s misreading of the nature of Communism in Asia. President Lyndon Johnson committed more than half a million combat troops to an Asian land war because he believed that Communism was still a monolithic octopus, with North Vietnam its tentacle. He did this more than a decade after the death of Stalin, at a time when Communism had splintered into numerous ideological and political fragments. His total ignorance of Asia in general, and of Vietnam in particular, made him perceive the Vietnam war in purely Western terms: a colossal shoot-out between the forces of Communism and those of anti-Communism. The fact that Ho Chi Minh saw Americans as successors of French imperialism-whom he was determined to drive out-was completely lost on Johnson. Virtue, righteousness, and justice, so Johnson thought, were fully on his side. America, the child of light, had to defeat the child of darkness in a twentieth-century crusade.
Mutual contempt and hatred also hastened the outbreak of the wars between the Arab states and Israel and between India and Pakistan. In the former case, the Arab view of Israel as an alien and hostile presence was a precipitating cause of conflict. In the latter, the two religions of Hinduism and Islam led directly to the creation of two hostile states that clashed in bloody conflict four times in half a century. Saddam Hussein’s contempt for the Americans and his boast that he would annihilate them in the “mother of all battles” led straight to his defeat. Milosevic’s distorted perception of the Turkish victory over the Serbs at Kosovo in 1389 prompted him to turn his fury against the Moslem Albanians in Kosovo 600 years later. In January 2002, President Bush designated Iraq, Iran, and North Korea as members of an “evil axis.” Iran and Iraq responded by fanning the fires of the IsraeliPalestinian conflict, and North Korea regarded Bush’s statement as a declaration of war. Yet Bush’s primary target clearly was Saddam Hussein. Although the Bush administration liked to compare him to Hitler and Stalin, the Iraqi dictator’s reach was never global, unlike that of his two predecessors. Besides, the man who had precipitated 9/11 and murdered 3,000 civilians continued to remain at large. And Bush unwisely diverted resources from the real criminal, bin Laden, to Saddam.
3. When a leader on the brink of war believes that his adversary will attack him, the chances of war are fairly high. When both leaders share this perception about each other’s intent, war becomes a virtual certainty. The mechanism of the selffulfilling prophecy is then set in motion. When leaders attribute evil designs to their adversaries, and they nurture these beliefs for long enough, they will eventually be proved right. The mobilization measures that preceded the outbreak of World War I were essentially defensive measures triggered by the fear of the other side’s intent. The Russian czar mobilized because he feared an Austrian attack; the German Kaiser mobilized because he feared the Russian “steamroller.” The nightmare of each then became a terrible reality. Stalin was so constrained by the Marxist tenet that capitalists would always lie that he disbelieved Churchill’s accurate warnings about Hitler’s murderous intent, and the Soviet Union almost lost the war. Eisenhower and Dulles were so thoroughly convinced that the Chinese would move against the French in Indochina, as they had against MacArthur’s UN forces, that they committed the first American military advisers to Vietnam. The Chinese never intervened, but the Americans had begun their march along the road into the Vietnam quagmire. Arabs and Israelis generally expected nothing but the worst from one another, and these expectations often led to war. The Palestinians’ conviction that Israel intended to hold on to the occupied territories forever precipitated two intifadas and countless suicide bombings that in turn prompted Israeli retaliatory attacks-a cycle of ferocity unprecedented even in that tortured region. And Milosevic’s belief at Kosovo that the Albanians were out to oust the Serbs launched his subjugation of other ethnic groups in Yugoslavia, especially the Albanians.
It was in this area-a leader’s view of his adversary’s intention- that the Americans found the fundamental basis for going to war with Iraq. For the Bush administration, the invasion’s core rationale was the suspected existence of hidden arsenals of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, including chemical and biological agents and possibly even nuclear weapons that, if real, posed a direct and imminent danger to the United States. “I will disarm Saddam,” the president declared repeatedly.
This perception persisted despite numerous reports from UN inspectors that struck a far more cautionary note. Finally, when Saddam began to destroy some of his conventional missiles, Bush changed his goal from disarmament to regime change. His fixation had solidified into a determination to rid the world of Saddam, no matter what.
After the war, when no weapons of mass destruction were found anywhere in Iraq, the Bush administration, despite accumulating evidence that it had selected only those intelligence reports that supported its view of Saddam and rejected all that cast doubt on Saddam’s weapons caches, clung to its assumptions that “we will find them.” Even when, in October 2003, six months after the beginning of the war, David Kay, the United States’s chief weapons inspector, informed Congress that no illicit weapons had been found, but suggested that the search be continued, the Bush administration requested $600 million to carry on the hunt for conclusive evidence. Yet, in January 2004, Mr. Kay, who had decided to retire, announced that he had concluded that Iraq did not possess any large stockpiles of illicit weapons at the start of the war in 2003. The UN inspectors, whose reports on weapons of mass destruction turned out, after the war, to be quite accurate, were belittled and denied access to postwar Iraq by the Americans. And, finally, in 2006, Paul Pillar, CIA’s National Intelligence Officer for the Near East from 2000 to 2005, declared that the Bush administration had misused intelligence to justify decisions already made in Iraq. Regarding the alleged ties between Saddam and bin Laden, when no definitive proof of any such link was ever found-when in fact it was emphatically denied by captured al-Qaida operatives- the administration remained adamant that such a conspiracy had existed. It did finally admit that there was no evidence that Saddam had been involved in the attacks of 9/11. So far as the presence of alQaida in Iraq was concerned, it became a self-fulfilling prophecy when that nation, during the U.S.-led occupation, became a magnet for terrorists under al-Qaida’s barbaric Abu al-Zarqawi.
There may be fine lines of distinction between a misperception, an exaggeration, and an outright lie. But it must be asserted that the decision to go to war is the most solemn one a president can make and therefore must be made on the basis of all the available evidence, not those parts only that fit the doctrine of a crusader. Yet, to persuade the American people to go to war on the basis of Saddam’s evil character alone might not have been enough. The direct threat of lethal weapons had to be added to make the case convincing. It was here that truth became a casualty. When it came to describing Saddam’s weapons program, Bush never hedged before the war. “If we know Saddam has dangerous weapons today-and we do-does it make any sense for the world to wait to confront him as he grows even stronger and develops even more dangerous weapons?” Bush asked during a speech in Cincinnati in October 2002.3 After the war, however, when no such weapons were actually found, the president shifted his emphasis from the immediacy of the threat to the assertion that, no matter what, the world was better off without Saddam Hussein in power. When pressed on the topic by Diane Sawyer of ABC News on December 16, with Saddam already in American custody, the president responded sharply: “So, what’s the difference?” he asked rhetorically.4
The answer, I believe, is as follows: “With respect, Mr. President, mote than 4,000 American casualties and more than 40,000 American wounded, numerous other coalition casualties, tens of thousands of Iraqi civilian casualties for each year of the war, and enormous sums of money that the United States can ill afford. That’s the difference.”
This point was underlined by Barton Gellman of the Washington Post on January 7, 2004. Based on numerous interviews with leading Iraqi scientists, he concluded that Iraq’s unconventional weapons arsenal existed “only on paper.”
Investigators have found no support for the two main fears expressed in London and Washington before the war that Iraq had a hidden arsenal of old weapons and built advanced programs for new ones. In public statements and unauthorized interviews, investigators said they have discovered no work on former germwarfare agents such as anthrax bacteria, and no work on a new designer pathogen-combining pox virus and snake venom-that led U.S. scientists on a highly classified hunt for several months. The investigators decided that Iraq did not, as charged in London and Washington, resume production of its most lethal nerve agent, VX, or learn to make it last longer in storage. And they found the former nuclear weapons program, described as a “grave and gathering danger” by President Bush and a “mortal threat” by Vice President Cheney, in much the same shattered state left by UN inspectors in the 1990s.5
4. A leader’s misperception of his adversary’s power is perhaps the quintessential cause of war. It is vital to remember, however, that it is not the actual distribution of power that precipitates a war; it is the way in which a leader thinks that power is distributed. A war will start when nations disagree over their perceived strength. The war itself then becomes a dispute over measurement. Reality is gradually restored as war itself cures war; the fighting will end when nations form a more realistic perception of each other’s strength.
Germany and Austria-Hungary in 1914 had nothing but contempt for Russia’s power. This disrespect was to cost them dearly. Hitler repeated this mistake a generation later, and his misperception led straight to his destruction. One of the clearest examples of this phenomenon took place in the Korean War. MacArthur, during his advance through North Korea toward the Chinese border, stubbornly believed that the Chinese Communists did not have the capability to intervene. When the Chinese crossed the Yalu River into North Korea, MacArthur clung to the belief that he was facing 40,000 men; the true figure was closer to 200,000. When the Chinese forces temporarily withdrew after an initial engagement to assess their impact on MacArthur’s army, the American general assumed that the Chinese were badly in need of rest after their encounter with superior Western military might. When the Chinese attacked again and drove MacArthur all the way back to South Korea, the leader of the UN forces perceived this action as a “piece of treachery worse even than Pearl Harbor.” Most amazing about MacArthur’s decisions is that the real facts were entirely available from his own intelligence sources, if only the general had cared to look at them. But he thought he knew better and thus prolonged the war by two more years. Only at war’s end did the Americans gain respect for China’s power and take care not to provoke the Chinese again beyond the point of no return.
Despite the lessons of Korea, in the Vietnam War the American leadership committed precisely the same error vis-à-vis North Vietnam. Five successive presidents believed that Ho Chi Minh would collapse if only a little more military pressure was brought to bear on him, either from the air or on the ground. The North Vietnamese leader proved them all mistaken, and only when America admitted that North Vietnam could not be beaten did the war come to an end. In both Korea and Vietnam the price of reality was high indeed. As these wars resolved less and less, they tended to cost more and more in blood and money. The number of dead on all sides bore mute testimony to the fact that America had to fight two of the most terrible and divisive wars in her entire history before she gained respect for the realities of power on the other side. In Pakistan, Yahya Khan had to find out to his detriment that a woman for whom he had nothing but disdain was better schooled in the art of war than he, did not permit her wishes to dominate her thoughts, and was able finally to dismember Pakistan. Only a quarter century later, when both India and Pakistan went nuclear, did these two nations regard each other with respect and gradually developed their own regional balance of power. In 1948 the Arabs believed that an invasion by five Arab armies would quickly put an end to Israel. They were mistaken. But in 1973 Israel, encouraged to the point of hubris after three successful wars, viewed Arab power only with contempt and its own power as unassailable. That too was wrong, as Israel had to learn when, a decade later, Palestinian suicide bombers drove the Israelis to despair with a campaign of terror. In the Persian Gulf, the invading Iraqis were amazed at the “fanatical zeal” of the Iranians, whom they had underestimated. In 1991 Saddam Hussein’s belief that the Americans were too weak and cowardly to expel him from Kuwait led straight to his defeat. And again, in 2003, Saddam remained convinced that the Americans would be too fearful to attack him. The Bosnian Serbs’ contemptuous prediction that they would drown the Moslems and the Croats in the ocean came back to haunt them when they were put to flight by their intended victims. And, like Saddam before him, Milosevic’s conviction that NATO was too passive and divided to intervene in the former Yugoslavia led directly to his own surrender in Kosovo.
Finally, the Americans underestimated Iraqi resistance in 2003, not during the war itself, but afterwards when, to their dismay, tenacious guerrilla movements claimed a growing number of American lives. “Bring ’em on,” Bush exclaimed in growing frustration, but the casualties kept rising nonetheless. This realization forced allied military commanders to admit that the war was far from over.
In the case of North Korea, by contrast, Bush, despite his “loathing” for Kim Jong Il, had an accurate perception of North Korea’s military capabilities.6 Kim’s nuclear weapons and his 1-million-man standing army no doubt helped deter the American president from a preemptive strike on North Korea à la Iraq. Thus, misperception hastens war, while recognition of reality tends to avert it.
Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon in 2006 constituted a classic example of each combatant misperceiving the other’s power. Israel underestimated the guerrilla army’s tenacity and was shocked when it was fought to a standstill after the longest war in Israel’s history. Hezbollah, and Hamas in turn, were shocked that the kidnapping of one or two Israeli soldiers would trigger such ferocious responses.
Hence, on the eve of each war, at least one nation misperceives another’s power. In that sense, the beginning of each war is an accident. The war itself then slowly, and in agony, reveals the true strength of each opponent. Peace is made when reality has won. The outbreak of war and the coming of peace are separated by a road that leads from misperception to reality. The most tragic aspect of this truth is that war itself has remained the best teacher of reality and thus has been the most effective cure for war.
Source: John G. Stoessinger, “Why Nations Go to War,” Cengage Learning, Boston, 2011
Republished by Kajian Internasional Strategis | politics |
https://www.kba-law.com/national-news/posting-of-forest-maps/?pag=cat | 2023-11-29T17:32:48 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100135.11/warc/CC-MAIN-20231129173017-20231129203017-00166.warc.gz | 0.952679 | 336 | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-50__0__238120526 | en | According to the announcement issued by The Press Office of the Ministry of Environment and Energy, posting of forest maps with regard to the regions of Kavala, Pieria, Drama, Arkadia, Kastoria, Lefkada, Kefallinia and Zante has started as of 15th January 2021. This is considered a follow-up development of the adoption of the newly issued Environmental Law under number 4685/2020. Furthermore, according to the aforementioned announcement, it is the result of the continuous cooperation between, on the one hand, of the Ministry of Environment and Energy and, on the other hand, the Coordinators of Decentralized Administrations, the forest department executives, the Greek Cadastre, as well as the timely preparation and issuance of the necessary administrative actions.
The aim of the project is, that forest maps of the Greek territory in its entirety will have been ratified by the end of 2021 – including, inter alia, the examination of the majority of objections against the content of these forest maps by the Objection Examination Committees, in accordance with the new institutional framework regarding their composition, but also with the national commitments of our country to the European Union.
Following these developments, a weekly program, covering the time period from mid-January to end-February 2021, has already been drawn-up and notified to the decentralized forest departments and the state bodies involved (the Greek Cadastre, the Greek Payment Authority of Common Agricultural Policy (in Greek: OPEKEPE), the Ministry of Economy).
Please find here an overview of all regions for which forest maps are expected to be posted till the end of February 2021. | politics |
http://allasia.press/asias-water-conflicts-pose-global-threat-un-university/ | 2018-08-19T10:22:50 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-34/segments/1534221215075.58/warc/CC-MAIN-20180819090604-20180819110604-00012.warc.gz | 0.935947 | 1,180 | CC-MAIN-2018-34 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2018-34__0__11954017 | en | HAMILTON, ONTARIO, CANADA, EINPresswire.com/ — The current political rhetoric between India and Pakistan underlines the risk of failing to manage correctly and cooperatively vital water resources shared between nations.
India’s suspension of the Indus Water Commission meeting on 26 September 2016, and its convening of a meeting to review India’s options for modifying or walking away from the Indus Water Treaty, was immediately met with sharp retorts from political leaders in Pakistan, who suggested that any Indian attempt to renege from the Treaty would be deemed an act of war.
This potential global catastrophe looms in Asia as rapidly rising water demand collides with a diminishing resource on which at least 300 million people depend directly, warns a new book from United Nations University’s Canada-based Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH).
A loud call for immediate strengthening of transboundary cooperation to increase both water security and overall regional security.— Terry Collins
The book, “Imagining Industan,” appeals to the three nuclear-armed powers sharing the Indus River basin — India, Pakistan and China — and Afghanistan to begin working together as never before to manage the precious resource.
Its editors describe the book as an effort “to kindle serious discussion of the trans-boundary cooperation needed to confront what more and more water experts believe is developing into one of the planet’s most gravely threatened river basins.”
The book’s 14 contributing experts acknowledge the immensity of the challenges in a region prone to political and military conflict but contend that “much greater collective planning is essential…if the Indus basin is to escape the likely disastrous consequences of continued failure to collaborate.”
Published by Springer, the 216-page work is the culmination of a project supported by UNU-INWEH and proposes a new course for the 1,120,000 km2 basin drained by the Indus River, six major tributaries and connected waterways covering over 65% of Pakistan, a significant part of India (14%) and smaller areas of Afghanistan (11%) and China (1%).
Zafar Adeel, Executive Director of the Pacific Water Research Centre at Simon Fraser University, Canada, co-edited the work with Robert G. Wirsing, recently retired Professor of Government at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service in Doha, Qatar.
Most of the Indus waters flow from glaciers and melting snow high in the Himalayan Mountains and the Tibetan Plateau. Pakistan and India have, until now, been by far its biggest consumers — mainly for irrigation and generating hydroelectric energy — through one of the most extensive system of dams and canals that originated with British engineers during the colonial period.
Mushrooming water demand has led to pollution, shortages and conflict in those countries, and rapid population and economic growth adds to these problems. Disputes over water have fuelled conflicts within and between the riparian nations, and that history of conflict, in turn, increases the difficulty of achieving amicable and sustainable solutions.
The situation will only worsen as climate change threatens the resource and China and Afghanistan divert more of it for their own uses. Numerous new dams are planned or under construction in all four countries.
“Industan” is a play on words to emphasize the need to think of the basin as a single, integrated resource.
The basin “lies in a part of the world where intense distrust, chronic conflict, and bitterly contentious water policies have a long history,” the editors say.
Dr. Wirsing admits that “the subject of this book might seem imprudently optimistic.” However, “it was not really optimism that drove the project to completion but a combination of the available opportunities and what might happen if they are not availed.”
The consensus among all the book’s contributors is that “further delay in tackling collectively the region’s widely shared and massive problem of water insecurity probably risked intensifying already considerable tensions among the four states sharing the basin.”
Water shortages could lead to economic distress and internal political instability, particularly in Pakistan, whose freshwater withdrawal at 183 billion m3 per year is the world’s fourth highest rate of water use behind India, China, and the United States.
Making matters worse, the Indus basin is widely expected to be among the world’s worst-affected from climate change, leading to drought, desertification, less predictable monsoon rains, weather turbulence, flooding, sea level rise, and glacial retreat — all with “potentially harmful collective economic and political consequences.”
Co-operation could start with sharing data, which would not only increase understanding of the resource but raise the level of trust among the four nations. Cooperation is possible also on specific areas of concern, such as dealing with the impacts of climate change, the sharing of hydropower energy, and collective responses to water-related natural disasters.
Says UNU-INWEH Director Vladimir Smakhtin: “The book is an important contribution to creating the awareness of the existing and emerging water-related conflicts in the world, and a loud call for immediate strengthening of transboundary cooperation – to increase both water security and overall regional security. The Indus river basin may be seen as a water time bomb, which may go off any time with increasing water scarcity, variability and progressively changing climate. There are similar water-related accumulating tensions and issues in other major river basins and UNU-INWEH has embarked on the scrupulous analysis of those to ensure peaceful and sustainable trajectory of river basin developments.” | politics |
http://www.progressivefl.org/about/progressive-movement/ | 2017-11-23T22:26:50 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-47/segments/1510934806979.99/warc/CC-MAIN-20171123214752-20171123234752-00716.warc.gz | 0.94414 | 607 | CC-MAIN-2017-47 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2017-47__0__148571188 | en | The Preamble to the Constitution states that government should promote the general welfare. The term welfare means the well-being of the people. The Progressive Movement advocates positive liberties that promote the general welfare of the American people.
Progressives are advocates of government taking an active role in society to defend and protect the civil rights of all persons. We believe that the greatest obstacles to individual freedom and liberty are inequality and poverty; a person is never truly free if they are disenfranchised, discriminated against, or poor. Everybody has the right to equal opportunity to reach their full potential and make positive contributions to the quality of life in their community. We advocate government taking an activist role to eliminate social injustice and poverty because everyone deserves a fair chance to succeed in life.
The Progressive Movement is not new. The Abolitionist Movement to free the slaves was a struggle for equality and social justice in America. The experience of the Abolitionists created the core values of the Progressives Movement. We have promoted our progressive values ever since then to bring equality, justice, peace, security, and prosperity to all Americans.
The rise of conglomerates, corporations, monopolies, and big banks, at the turn of the 20th Century, created widespread unfairness in markets and gross inequality in America. The “progressive” label became popular during this time. Progressives led the struggle for consumer safety, regulating industry, and advancing the cause of working Americans. Progressives won social security and the minimum wage for the American people during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s administration (1933-1945). The Progressive Movement mobilized women to advance the suffrage movement. Progressives won the vote for women with the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920, and the vote for Native Americans by congressional statute ion 1924.
Progressives were active in the civil rights movement. In the early 1960s, Progressives worked with the Congress of Racial Equality (C.O.R.E.) and heroically participated as Freedom Riders. Progressives participated in the March on Washington in 1963, and the Selma to Montgomery Marches in 1965. Progressives led the struggle to ratify the 24th Amendment that outlawed poll taxes in 1964, and ratify the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Throughout the 20th Century, progressivism continued to be the leading force in America for advancing equal rights, social justice, and promoting democracy and prosperity. The recent accomplishments and activities of Progressives include: the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, The Consumer Protection Act and establishing the Consumer Protection Agency, funding the Violence Against Women Act, advancing the cause of healthcare reform, repealing DADT, and advocated for ending the wars. Progressives are leading advocates for marriage equality, equal rights for the GLBT community, women’s reproductive rights, improved gun control regulations, raising the minimum wage, defending voting rights and removing voting barriers, defending the middle class and the right of working people to organize, consumer protection, and stronger regulations for Wall Street. | politics |
https://countryside-lavie.com/article/2009/11/05/first-fight | 2022-05-27T15:43:46 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-21/segments/1652662658761.95/warc/CC-MAIN-20220527142854-20220527172854-00760.warc.gz | 0.966917 | 838 | CC-MAIN-2022-21 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2022-21__0__95897643 | en | First to fight
Seventy years after the invasion of Poland, leading British statesmen and military leaders, from The Rt Hon The Baroness Thatcher to General The Lord Guthrie, unite to remind us: "We must never forget Poland's unique contribution to Britain's freedom and the defeat of Nazi Germany."
Polish veterans were profoundly shocked to find young people in the UK asking whether Poland fought with Germany in WW2. To ensure their contribution to Britain's war effort is remembered, a new book 'First to Fight' is being launched today, ahead of the dedication of the first national memorial to Polish forces in the UK later this month.
The Polish veterans' 'last campaign' is being supported vigorously by Britain's senior political and military establishment, including Baroness Thatcher, Patron Conservative Friends of Poland, who said:
"Today, as we mark the 70th anniversary of the invasion of Poland and the subsequent outbreak of World War II, we remember the unique contribution of the Polish armed forces towards the freedom of Britain, of Europe and indeed of the world. Poland fought alongside us from the first day of the war to the last. Her people showed extraordinary bravery: many giving their lives as the ultimate sacrifice. But the freedoms for which they fought were to be cruelly denied them in the post-war world. Those who remained in exile could only look on as a new wave of oppression engulfed their country. Some would never achieve their heart-felt goal of returning to their homeland. But, finally, after more than four decades under communist tyranny, the people of Poland were able to set their own destiny.
"In Britain, we remember the steadfastness of the Polish people; we treasure the bond of history which ties our peoples together; and we look forward to a flourishing friendship which will serve our nations well into the future."
General The Lord Guthrie, former Chief of the Defence Staff, writes in the book:
"We owe much to the Poles who came to join us in our struggle. There was a time when the only allies the British Commonwealth had were Polish and large numbers died in battle many miles from their country. We are right to remember those gallant men and women who, at a very difficult time in both our countries' histories, were our firm friends and allies."
Other contributors to the book and supporters of the campaign include:
HRH The Duke of Kent, KG
HRH The Duke of Gloucester, KG GVCO
Major General The Duke of Westminster, KG CB OBE TD CD DL
General The Lord Guthrie of Craigiebank, GCB LVO OBE DL
General Sir Mike Jackson GCB CBE DSO
Winston S. Churchill MP (grandson of the wartime Prime Minister)
Sir Martin Gilbert (Churchill's official biographer)
'First to Fight' recounts Poland's epic six year struggle – with some historically significant texts being published for the first time, such as the English translation of Stalin's signed order to execute 14,736 of the Polish Officer Corps at Katyn Forest in 1940. The story is brought to life with moving personal stories from Poles who fought in the air, on land and at sea, on many fronts.
'First to Fight' launched ahead of the dedication of the first official war memorial in the UK for the 500,000 members of the Polish forces who fought in WW2 under British command. The event, in the presence of HRH The Duke of Kent, took place at the National Memorial Arboretum on 19th September.
With the publication of 'First to Fight' and the unveiling of the Polish War Memorial in September, the last remaining veterans now know that their struggles, and those of their departed comrades, will be duly remembered in Britain for generations to come.
Due to unprecedented interest in the book, more material has already come to light, which is being incorporated into a Second Edition. If any readers have anything they can contribute for instance personal stories/recollections of the Poles in the War these will be considered for inclusion in the new edition. | politics |
https://alexbroun.com/product/whos-afraid-of-donald-trump/ | 2021-02-27T12:56:14 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-10/segments/1614178358956.39/warc/CC-MAIN-20210227114444-20210227144444-00046.warc.gz | 0.949308 | 391 | CC-MAIN-2021-10 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2021-10__0__51340420 | en | Be the first to produce this play – download your copy now.
Who’s afraid of Donald Trump?
It’s election night – Tuesday November 3rd, 2020 – and the US (and the world) holds it’s breath to see if Republican president Donald Trump will win a second term.
On the lower East Side of Manhattan, Nguvu Mukare (Goo for short), an Associate Professor in Linguistics at Columbia, and her Australian husband Brandon, have invited a couple from a few storeys up – Phil and Emily – to their apartment to watch the results come in. Phil is a die-hard Trump supporter, while Emily is a Democrat – so they make for interesting company.
But before dinner is served Goo wants to play a little game.
“What are the rules?” asks Emily.
“There are only two rules,” says Goo, “you can say anything, as long as it’s not generic. And no violence.”
“You expect violence?” enquires Emily.
So Goo’s game begins but it soon becomes very clear that the game they are all playing is something else entirely. As POTUS would say: “it’s going to get nasty.”
Inspired by the great Edward Albee’s original Who’s afraid of Donald Trump? is a rollicking, no-holds barred voyage to the dark heart of Trump’s America.
“Words are guns”, barks Goo as the game heats up.
“You don’t mean that literally?” says Emily.
“Yes I do. Words are guns. Your words are guns.”
Just like Trump’s America – the bullet is in the chamber, someone just has to pull the trigger. | politics |
http://www.mercyhealth.com.au/ceoblog/default.aspx | 2017-04-28T02:35:09 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-17/segments/1492917122726.55/warc/CC-MAIN-20170423031202-00621-ip-10-145-167-34.ec2.internal.warc.gz | 0.963043 | 3,801 | CC-MAIN-2017-17 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2017-17__0__27602187 | en | Welcome to my blog.
As Mercy Health's Group Chief Executive Officer, I'd like to share my thoughts on some of the key public health, aged and home care issues facing Australia today.
I look forward to your insights, views and feedback.
Stephen Cornelissen, Adjunct Professor
Group Chief Executive Officer
In mid-October, an independent review panel released Targeting zero: a review of hospital safety and quality assurance in Victoria, a detailed report into the Department of Health and Human Services' governance of quality and safety in Victorian hospitals.
The picture it paints is sobering. While focused predominately on system leadership issues, it also outlines a vision for engagement of clinical experts and patients in making our hospital system safer and more effective.
Mercy Health welcomes the review and applauds the Victorian Government's commitment to acting on all of its recommendations. All those involved are to be commended for the review panel's exhaustive research and analysis, which have shone much-needed light on our state's healthcare strengths and weaknesses.
While in no way diminishing the devastation those weaknesses have caused, nor the need for change, it is the strengths I want to emphasise here. As the government's response notes, "[The report also] highlights cases of excellence and success that have not been shared across the health system, as a missed opportunity to strengthen statewide systems and better protect patients."
Organisations such as ours, while needing to continually improve, have long integrated clinical and consumer voices into the fabric of our quality, safety and governance systems. We recognise multiple checks and balances, performed by people from across the spectrum of delivering and receiving our care, are crucial to ensuring that care is consistently safe and effective. Our quality framework is robust and continually evolving to keep pace with, and where possible lead, better practice (note I am not referring to best practice: better is more descriptive of the need to continue to strive to be, and do, better).
A brief scan of our 2015/16 Report of Operations, released last week for all Mercy Health staff to view, highlights our many stunning achievements over the past year. We are meeting the performance standards set by the Victorian Government, but welcome additional measures that more effectively measure the quality and safety of the healthcare system. If our system was fundamentally broken, these outcomes would be quite different. However, we must each make a commitment to not only look for opportunities for improvement, but be willing to lead and champion them.
I know I share with all Victorians the fervent wish that this review had not been necessary; that our system was perfect and no family had endured loss and anguish in what should have been the safest of places. As Dr Duckett said so movingly, "When my daughter was born, I cried with joy. I cannot imagine what it is like to have your child die." What we must do to honour those families is maintain an unwavering commitment to learn, improve and evolve by sharing our strengths with our partners in care.
We have heard much in the media recently about "the right to die."
The recent report from the Inquiry into end-of-life choices identifies 49 recommendations to improve patient choice and support. Mercy Health is fully supportive of 48 of these, which, if implemented, will result in better access to appropriate palliative care when and where it is needed. The recommendations also outline the improvement of advance care planning, through which people can have a much greater say in their death and can be confident their wishes will be heard and honoured.
However, I fear the 49th recommendation has the potential to monopolise the debate around how we can better support people in their end-of-life care. The recommendation is 'That the Victorian Government introduce a legal framework providing for assisted dying, by enacting legislation based on the assisted dying framework outlined in [the] Report'.
At the recent CHA conference, I had the great honour of listening to one of the most thoughtful and influential women in the world, Sr Carol Keehan DC. In her address she noted the work Catholic health services in Australia have undertaken in advocating for and providing palliative care to those in need.
She outlined why it is critical for Catholic ministries to continue to ensure patients, families and communities have access to and understand palliative care. She also spoke of the "stories of great suffering, indignities, and compromised autonomy which have led to millions... to put more faith in assisted suicide than they put in entrusting themselves to our care when they are dying.
"Think about how sad this is. But can we say state-of-the-art palliative care is available in each of our facilities? Can we say no patient or family need fear being subjected to excessive treatment, restraints, not be kept clean, their wishes not respected, not suffering intense pain and not being supported in their dying process?"
Sr Carol is right in noting it is sad when fear drives public health policy. We in Australia have a long way to go in implementing the 48 recommendations to reassure people that in our health services, they will always die serenely, peacefully and with appropriate human dignity.
It seems to me that irrespective of one's belief system, the debate on assisted dying is not one we as a country are ready to have. Until we have addressed the issue of access to improved palliative care with consistent and effective processes to ensure all people have a say in their death, we are at risk of making decisions out of ignorance of what could be, and fear of what might be.
Australia thrives on a culture of helping and being there for others. Catholic healthcare is built on the mission of providing compassionate care to those in most need. It is important we unite to ensure improvements in care for the dying, their families and their loved ones are made so that, at the very least, we can offer all people the comfort of a dignified death.
This is the time of year in which organisations reflect on the highs and lows of the past 12 months. For Mercy Health, that landscape represents much more than financial health: it is a map of how we have responded to community need that seems to change and grow at a faster pace each year.
We have ended the financial year on a reasonably positive note in both respects. While our financial performance fell short of expectations, our healthy balance sheet is a record of the hard work and resourcefulness of our staff. It is not always easy to maintain an excellent standard of care under increasing cost and funding pressures, but our access and performance results show we continue to achieve that aim.
We have taken strides forward in improving quality of life for aged care residents through our evolving model of care; our home and community care clients through participation in the NDIS rollout; and our health services' patients through innovative maternity support for Karen women, expanded dialysis services, and many other important initiatives.
Our achievements and vision for the next chapters in our care have been showcased recently in a booklet celebrating the 'Year of Mercy' which will be hand delivered to the Vatican next month. The booklet details key developments including our aged care expansion, embracing the household living model; our robust research culture; the expansion of Werribee Mercy Hospital's critical care and inpatient mental health services; and our memorandum of understanding with Apunipima Cape York Health Council, an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation with whom we will collaborate on educational and professional development opportunities.
A version of the booklet will also be distributed to the communities of the Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia and Papua New Guinea as well as the Catholic Dioceses we work within throughout Australia.
The booklet also restates our commitment to carrying forward Catherine McAuley's vision to meet contemporary needs with compassion and pragmatism. The founding Sisters were often forced to much out of little; this year has proved that the same dedication and resilience shine in those who carry the Mercy mission today.
The theme of 'strength in unity' has been much discussed both locally and globally over the past few weeks.
The federal election outcome, highlighting a growing divide in community values, is likely to result in a government significantly hamstrung by its reliance on divergent minority interests — some of them extreme. Of significant concern is the major parties' positions on aged care and public health, which if passed through a new parliament, could place those in greatest need at further risk of poverty, poor health and social isolation.
Neither party has committed to protecting access to complex care for aged care residents; this is unlikely to change given there is no incentive from within to change course. Older people who previously would have benefited from multidisciplinary care will miss out.
The future of free public healthcare is also far from clear, with doubt cast on the Coalition's plans for Medicare. The opportunity arose in this election campaign for unequivocal reassurance from the Prime Minister about the security of Medicare funding. His position on protections for the broader Medicare system remains unclear. What is clear is that any impediment to equal access to the best care available for all members of our community would hit those most vulnerable hard.
While the current political climate can mean progress on issues is halted, it can also provide opportunities to sway them in the community's favour. This week I will be writing to House of Representatives crossbench members, and to the new Turnbull ministers when known, requesting meetings to restate the importance of these issues. Australians need to stand together to ensure that all voices are heard at a state and federal level: a clear demonstration of being 'stronger together'.
This concept of 'stronger together' has been a focal point of the Remain campaign during the Brexit referendum. Its outcome has revealed a catastrophic social division within the United Kingdom between the values of collaboration, reciprocity and openness, and those of autonomy and individualism at all costs. The scare tactics used on immigration and border control, echoing those heard here during our election, resonated with too many Britons.
Their world view stands in stark relief against the Remain campaign's call to keep drawing on the political and economic strengths of the European Union. Brexit can be read as a cautionary tale about the politics of division and exclusion, from which Australia would do well to learn. Our historical identity as a nation should not overshadow our responsibility to act justly by including all people: a particularly salient message during last week's NAIDOC celebrations. In the current national and global landscape, commitment to inclusion and equity has never been more important.
Both the Government and Labor have been at pains during this election campaign to demonstrate they will protect Medicare because the public will not tolerate cuts to free public health.
But both sides have now agreed that a $1.2 billion cut to health services for people living in aged care is somehow acceptable.
I have been on the record saying that over-claiming should be dealt with when it occurs, but cuts to the Complex Health Care domain of the Aged Care Funding Instrument are unjust.
Firstly, they put pressure on aged care providers to find further savings. Two thirds of us are community-based organisations and the sector has already had to adjust and restructure to maintain the viability of aged care services in response to the previous round of federal and sector reforms.
Secondly, there is a risk that some providers might respond by limiting health care to residents in their homes. If this is unconscionable in the general community, then why would it be acceptable in aged care? It is a dilution of the very principle of Medicare which all sides of politics are so desperate to defend.
Of course, aged care residents who have private health insurance might still be able to afford to pay for health services, but for those who are not privately insured, they would be relegated to a second tier of healthcare – creating 'haves' and 'have-nots' for anything but the basics.
This is no longer just an argument about the true cost of aged care. Politicians need to admit that there will be a human cost for not providing care. These costs in aged care undermine the very principles of Medicare that they so vigorously defend.
In any election year, it is the people who have the least in life that stand to win, or lose, the most. Even minor reductions in funding for programs and services can hit the vulnerable hard.
As leader of a mission-based care provider, my role naturally encompasses advocacy. With the release of the 2016/17 Federal Budget and an upcoming election in July, it is critical that we each review our responses to key issues which will help define how we care into the future.
Across Australia, those living in residential aged care settings are likely to be significantly affected by planned funding cuts. Budget measures included changes to the current Aged Care Funding Instrument (ACFI), which enables residents with complex care needs to access pain management and other strategies that help them enjoy the best possible quality of life. The Government estimates this measure will save $1.2 billion over the next four years.
Clearly, this cut may hurt some of the most vulnerable in our community: the frail elderly. While I agree that costs cannot continue to grow at their current rate, better choices can be made and options exist to reduce, rather than remove, funding for services that improve residents' lives. For example, adjustments to means testing could achieve savings without compromising care, as could stronger disincentives for operators who exploit funding opportunities. This significant reduction in funds to the frail elderly is even harder to understand given the decision to reduce taxes for small and medium businesses, costing $5.3 billion in revenue over the same period.
To date, no political party has satisfactorily highlighted improving care outcomes for our ageing population as a major issue going into this election. The Age Well campaign is a national initiative by a coalition of 48 care providers to place aged care firmly on the political agenda. I support this campaign, ensuring the voices of those in need are heard and responded to by those we elect to lead our country.
When we step into polling booths on 2 July, we need to keep those voices in mind. Every Australian can play a part in shaping our shared health future. Most Australians believe healthcare should be central in setting priorities for government. Most will one day need support from aged care services, whether in homes or in the community. Each vote is an opportunity to advocate for the most vulnerable in our society.
Among the many emotions a person should experience when dying are moments of peace, reflection and acceptance. These are the gifts palliative care can give, by easing physical, emotional and spiritual pain throughout the journey to a dignified death.
National Palliative Care Week (22-28 May) offers each of us time to reflect on the long-running debate around dying with dignity, on serving those facing the end of their lives, and on the support of those who love them.
It is critical we place the sanctity of each person's life at the centre of our care, from their earliest moments until their last. In doing so we are able to support the quality, as well as duration, of life. Good palliative care, including advance care planning, can empower both patients and loved ones. It aims not to prolong life in the face of suffering, but to make each moment that remains as peaceful and meaningful as possible.
Palliative care workers are highly skilled and support communities in many settings. Yet for every person who receives palliative care, many more will need it in the future.
With an ageing population and a third of Australians reported to have at least one chronic condition, access to palliative care has never been more important. At this very moment palliative care faces a critical point where in parts of this country, demand is outstripping funding and/or service availability. As a society, we have a duty to ensure that health funding choices do not result in indignity. Early and easy access can help ensure the process of dying is rich with meaning and respect for the patient and those who love them.
As part of its leadership in this crucial issue, Mercy Health in conjunction with the Mercy Care Centre Community Advisory Group is hosting the Dying with Dignity and Choice forum in Young, New South Wales, on 27 May. This event will highlight the importance of quality healthcare for people with a terminal illness and offer a safe space for families to start discussing death. It also speaks to the organisation's founding belief: that every moment of every life is precious.
Our people work in some of the most challenging of environments, supporting our community through life and death issues on a daily basis. Ensuring staff and the community we serve feel safe, valued and heard is crucial to their health and to that of our organisation. Safety and mutual support are emphasised at every level of Mercy Health, from frontline care to our Boardroom.
This is why Mercy Health welcomes the renewed focus across the healthcare system on bullying and harassment in the workplace. The Victorian Government recently released its own strategy and while I do not want to debate its specifics, its intent and principles are relevant to everyone working in our sector.
At Mercy Health we are committed to effective risk management. We encourage transparency and open communication when concerns arise on either side of the care relationship, recognising that the welfare of our community, our people and our organisation are inextricable from each other.
We have long had a clear strategy for managing safety and culture in our workplaces, including programs to discourage and respond to bullying and other anti-social behaviour. They include reporting and complaints processes that offer a direct line to the most senior levels of the organisation. Anyone who uses or works within our services can formally register their concerns with confidence and they will be taken seriously at the highest levels.
These processes are reinforced by regular staff satisfaction surveys and programs to help teams identify positive solutions to workplace conflict. Within our ever-expanding and increasingly diverse workforce, these measures are fundamental to maintaining a safe, harmonious and respectful workplace.
They are also intrinsic to providing the best care to our equally diverse and evolving community. Our risk management strategy aims to manage risks as broadly and comprehensively as possible, from both a community welfare and organisational point of view. Ensuring staff and community feel confident to have input, especially in times of change and including voicing concerns, is intrinsic to its success.
I warmly encourage you to contribute to the transparency and collaborative spirit that inform our culture and our care. Our organisation today is the latest iteration of the first Sisters of Mercy's own equitable, mutually supportive community, and I am proud that we continue to model our values and behaviours on their example.
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http://jaafsl.com/news/808-us-says-expo-2012-a-great-idea | 2013-05-22T05:27:56 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701370254/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104930-00023-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | 0.945389 | 744 | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2013-20__0__181279401 | en | “We thank the US for being our top apparel customer,” says Rishad
The US is keen to promote further trade and investments in the resurgent Sri Lanka.
“Sri Lanka Expo 2012 is a great idea. Our arrival here for Expo 2012 is also to notify the world that Sri Lanka is back on the world stage,” said Michael J Delaney, Assistant US Trade Representative of South and Central Asia.
Delaney was addressing Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen, having made a courtesy call on the latter on Monday.
Delaney is leading a US business delegation to the Expo 2012 exhibition that commences today, 28 March.
Addressing Delaney, Minister Bathiudeen said: “We in Sri Lanka are now enjoying peace and unity among all communities thanks to the visionary leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. I am pleased to note that in 2011, our GDP surpassed the Rs. 6.5 trillion mark with a growth rate of 8.3%.”
“We thank the US for visiting Expo 2012 and also its continuous assistance to Sri Lanka in various aspects and more importantly, for being the top buyer of our apparels. We also need to thank you for the USAID-funded enterprise development program, BIZ Plus, which is set to help the north and east,” Minister Bathiudeen said.
“The ‘Divi Neguma’ program, a national level effort initiated by Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa, is set to uplift the village level backyard economic units across the country and now also has been expanded to develop the northern and eastern rural economy sector,” Bathiudeen added.
Delaney stressed that the US is keen on increasing trade and investment cooperation with Sri Lanka. “The US is Sri Lanka’s topmost customer. US consumers of Sri Lankan apparels are probably the largest single employer of Sri Lanka’s workforce. Our continuous purchases of Sri Lankan apparels are assisting many workers in Sri Lankan apparel sector.”
According to the Department of Commerce apparel products remain the largest single Sri Lankan export item to the US. Of Sri Lanka’s US$ 4,039 m apparel exports to the world in 2011, 39.36% ($ 1,590 m) was directly absorbed by the US market, rising from $ 1,297.5 m in 2009. Another Sri Lankan product line in demand in the US market is the ‘rubber-based product’ category.
When it comes to SL-US trade, the balance of trade has always been in favour of Sri Lanka during the past several years, while total trade levels from 2003 to 2010 remained somewhat unchanged. In 2003, the total trade was $ 1,962.20 m and in 2010 climbed to $ 1,933.08 m.
During the past 50 years, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has provided assistance (not loans) to Sri Lanka to the value of US$ 2 b in areas, among others, education, tsunami reconstruction, demining and public private partnership ventures. Around 4,000 Sri Lankan students are currently pursuing their studies in the US.
Also present during the courtesy call were Sri Lankan Ambassador to the US Jaliya Wickramasuriya), US Embassy in Colombo Economic and Commercial Affairs Counsellor Edward Heartney, Director General of Commerce of Sri Lanka P.D. Fernando and Embassy of Sri Lanka in Washington DC Minister Commerce Bandula Somasiri. | politics |
https://staffassembly.usc.edu/about/committees/rules-and-elections/ | 2020-09-26T20:19:41 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-40/segments/1600400245109.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20200926200523-20200926230523-00606.warc.gz | 0.921158 | 212 | CC-MAIN-2020-40 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2020-40__0__120086680 | en | Rules and Elections Committee Mission
The Rules and Elections Committee is responsible for reviewing and recommending changes to the Constitution, By-laws, and Standards Operating Procedures of the Staff Assembly. It conducts the nomination and elections process as well as the election of officers. The committee monitors the Assembly’s attendance, maintains the official membership list, and is responsible for filling vacant seats. The committee also selects the Staff Monthly Recognition Award recipient in conjunction with the USC Staff Club.
Philip Turner, USC Housing
Tanya Acevedo-Lam, USC Viterbi School of Engineering
Rene Almassizadeh (Parliamentarian), USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Science
Queena Hoang, Student Affairs
Michelle Jones, Gould School of Law
Kierra Lewis, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Science
Bryan Ortiz, Office of Senior Vice President, Finance – Payroll Services
Do you have a question or suggestion for the Rules and Elections Committee? Please message us directly by clicking here. | politics |
https://smorgens.wixsite.com/website | 2023-11-29T18:09:40 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100135.11/warc/CC-MAIN-20231129173017-20231129203017-00098.warc.gz | 0.794168 | 935 | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-50__0__98655887 | en | Scott joined the Political Science faculty of the University of Pittsburgh as an Associate Professor in 2005, and directed Pitt's Center for Latin American Studies 2014-2018. Prior to moving to Pittsburgh, he taught at Duke, CIDE (Mexico) and the University of Salamanca (Spain). He earned his Ph.D. at the University of California, San Diego, in 1996, and his BA at Occidental College. Prior to entering graduate school he was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Samoa. His research focuses on political parties, electoral systems, and legislatures, with a regional specialization in Latin America. Among his publications are Are Politics Local? The Two Dimensions of Party Nationalization around the World (2017 Cambridge University Press), Patterns of Legislative Politics: Roll Call Voting in the United States and Latin America's Southern Cone (Cambridge University Press, 2004), Legislative Politics in Latin America, (coeditor and contributor; Cambridge University Press, 2002), Pathways to Power (coeditor and contributor, Pennsylvania State University Press, 2008), and Paths for Cuba (co-editor and contributor, University of Pittsburgh Press 2018). His articles have appeared in the Journal of Politics, Comparative Political Studies; Comparative Politics, Party Politics, Electoral Studies, Review of International Political Economy, Journal of Politics in Latin America , and other journals. He was also the primary investigator on a grant from the USAID to produce documents related to their political party development programs. His current work focuses on a collaboration with the University of Salamanca and their survey of legislators (Parliamentary Elites of Latin America), including work on views in Latin America towards the United States and China. He is also working on a book about US-Latin American relations.
Are Politics Local?
The Two Dimensions of Party Nationalization around the World
Reforming Communism: Cuba in Comparative Perspective: (University of Pittsburgh Press)
Articles and Chapters
“Battling for the Hearts and Minds of Latin Americans: Covariance of Attitudes towards the United States and China.” forthcoming: Latin American Research Review. with Asbel Bohigues.
“Revisiting Shugart and Carey's Relation of Executive Powers and Democratic Breakdown,” forthcoming. With Maxwell Peterson and Amaury Perez. Political Studies Review.
Reprinted as “Nacionalización De Partidos E Instituciones,” 2011 in Manuel Alcántara Mercedes García Montero (edit.): Algo más que presidentes. El papel del Poder Legislativo en América Latina. Zaragora: Fundación Manuel Giménez Abad de Estudios Parlamentarios y del Estado Autonómico.
“Ideological Cohesion of Political Parties in Latin America” with Kirk Hawkins in Latin American Party Systems, Cambridge University Press 2009
Reprinted as: “La oposición parlamentaria en regímenes presidenciales: El caso latinoamericano.” In ¿Qué pasa con la representación en América Latina?, ed. L. Béjar Algazi. Mexico: Congreso de México-UNAM-Porrúa, 13-50.
Electoral Laws, Parties, and Party Systems In Latin America,” 2007. Annual Review of Political Science. with Javier Vazquez D'Elia. 10:143-68.
“Limits on Exporting the U.S. Congress Model to Latin America” 2006. in Exporting Congress, eds. Timothy Power and Nicol Rae. University of Pittsburgh Press.
“Legislative Oversight: Interests and Institutions in the United States and Argentina,” with Luigi Manzetti, in Mainwaring and O’Donnell, Institutions, Accountability, and Democratic Governance in Latin America. 2003. Oxford University Press.
*Runner-up for best paper in Comparative Politics, 2001/2 by the Comparative Politics Section of APSA
Reprinted as: "Legislaturas Reactivas y Presidentes Proactivos en America Latina" Desarrollo Económico: 41,163:373-394. Oct-Dic, 2001.
Reprinted as “Grupos Organizados y Partidos Desorganizados: Incentivos Electorales en Uruguay” América Latina Hoy (2002). | politics |
https://santarosanm.gov/meetings/ | 2024-04-22T13:05:50 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296818293.64/warc/CC-MAIN-20240422113340-20240422143340-00867.warc.gz | 0.902952 | 196 | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-18__0__28540448 | en | The Governing Body of the City of Santa Rosa will conduct Regular Council Meetings on the second Tuesday of each month.
The meetings will be held at the Blue Hole Convention Center, 1085 Blue Hole Road, Santa Rosa NM 88435.
You may obtain a copy of the agenda at the City Clerk’s Office 244 South 4th Street, Santa Rosa, NM 88435 or by visiting https://santarosanm.gov/meetings/
If you are an individual with a disability who is in need of a reader, amplifier, qualified sign language interpreter, or any other form of auxiliary aid or service to attend or participate in the hearing or meeting, please contact the City Clerk at (575) 472-3404 as soon as possible. Public documents, including the agenda and minutes, can be provided in various accessible formats, please contact the City Clerk at City Hall if a summary or other type of accessible format is needed. | politics |
http://www.prodigeek.com/2009/10/ | 2017-08-22T18:33:22 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886112539.18/warc/CC-MAIN-20170822181825-20170822201825-00646.warc.gz | 0.967847 | 397 | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2017-34__0__282017416 | en | While many countries continue to roll out faster and cheaper broadband, the U.S. remains locked in simply how to define broadband. For all our claims of technological superiority, our country is falling behind. So how did Monticello, Minn, a town of less than 12,000, get some of the fastest and cheapest internet service in the country?
They tried to build it themselves.
In 2007, Monticello tried to build its own fiber-optic network recognizing that no business was going to using city bonds to fund the project. The local teleco, TDS Telecommunications, sued. And it sued over and over again up to the Minnesota Supreme Court claiming the town could only use bond money for specific reasons, like building utilities. The courts ruled the internet is a utility and the town could build its own.
Now TDS has launched 50Mbps fiber service to every home costing a fair $49.95.
TDS originally claimed it did not believe there was demand for faster speeds until after the town passed its referendum, but that does not explain why the company sued to the city rather than compete with its lead in the market. But as we’re seeing around the country, lack of competition among internet service providers is costing Americans money for poor service.
Lafeyette, Louisiana launched its own fiber optic network and states they have saved their citizens $3 million because local cable provider Cox has not raised its prices even while raising them everywhere else.
Hopefully these examples will be a call to arms for local governments to recognize that their local cable and telecommunications provider is unlikely to improve their service (they’ve had more than a decade) even though prices keep rising. These companies have had monopolies on their areas, and the lack of competition is costing us money while the rest of the world speeds past us.
The U.S. ranks 20th in the world for broadband penetration and pays higher prices for slower speeds. | politics |
http://www.vietcambiz.com/en/strengthening-investment-cooperation-between-vietnam-and-cambodia/ | 2020-09-19T06:42:36 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-40/segments/1600400190270.10/warc/CC-MAIN-20200919044311-20200919074311-00224.warc.gz | 0.944783 | 1,320 | CC-MAIN-2020-40 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2020-40__0__115401429 | en | Recently, ministries, branches, and localities of Vietnam and Cambodia have worked closely together in developing a legal framework to encourage investment and trade cooperation activities through the signing of bilateral and multilateral treaties and agreements.
The two sides also have many activities of exchanging information, strengthening state management, promoting and supporting, seeking ways to solve difficulties, obstacles and creating favorable conditions for enterprises of the two countries to invest and trade in each nation.
|Photo: Ministry of Planning and Investment|
This is one of the remarks made by Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung at the Vietnam-Cambodia Trade and Investment Promotion Conference, hosted by the Ministry of Planning and Investment, in coordination with the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Council for the Development of Cambodia of the Kingdom of Cambodia on October 4, 2019. Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Royal Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen co-chaired the Conference.
Speaking on the status of cooperation on investment and trade of Vietnamese enterprises to Cambodia, Minister Nguyen Chi Dung emphasized, with good neighborliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, the cooperation relationship between Vietnam and Cambodia over the past time has been continuously developing and achieved remarkable results. Regarding investment cooperation, as of September 2019, Vietnam had 178 projects investing in Cambodia, with a total registered capital of approximately 2.8 billion USD, Cambodia ranked 3rd out of 76 countries and territories with FDI activities from Vietnam. Particularly in the first 9 months of 2019, Vietnam’s investment capital in Cambodia reached approximately 50.4 million USD, up 49.5% over the same period in 2018.
Vietnam’s investment activities in Cambodia focus on areas such as agriculture, banking, telecommunications – information technology, industrial production, processing – manufacturing, etc. Up to now, many projects have been put into stable, permanent and effective operation, and contributed to the socio-economic development of Cambodia through paying the state budget, actively contributing to social security, creating jobs, training and improving skills and qualifications of the labor force, participating to the infrastructure development and improvement in Cambodia.
In the opposite direction, up to now, Cambodia has had 21 projects investing in Vietnam with a total registered capital of 63.7 million USD. Cambodia’s investment in Vietnam is concentrated mainly in the fields of agriculture, forestry, fisheries, trading, warehouse and transportation, manufacturing and processing technology, etc. Particularly in the first 9 months of 2019, Cambodia’s investment capital in Vietnam reached 3.2 million USD.
Regarding trade, the trade turnover between the two countries has maintained a high and persistent increase in recent years. In 2018, it reached 4.7 billion USD, up nearly 24% over the same period. Particularly in the first 8 months of 2019, it reached 4 billion USD, up 13% over the same period in 2018. With the current growth momentum, the bilateral trade turnover will likely reach 5 billion USD by the end of 2019 (the target was set for 2020).
The investment and trade promotion, supposition activities have also been boosted at both state and enterprise levels. Since 2009, the two countries have jointly organized 05 investment cooperation conferences at the Government level. The latest conference is the Vietnam-Cambodia Business Forum at the end of 2018 in Hanoi. Also, many ministries and branches of the two countries have paid visits, worked, reviewed the implementation of agreements relating to the investment, and facilitated the flowing deployment of Vietnamese enterprises’ investment projects in Cambodia. However, Vietnam’s investment activities in Cambodia in the last time also had some shortcomings and limitations, and was not yet commensurate with the potential, advantages, and expectations of the Governments of the two countries.
|Photo: Ministry of Planning and Investment|
To further promote trade and investment activities between Vietnam and Cambodia in the coming time, Minister Nguyen Chi Dung said that besides continuing to maintain, consolidate and develop the achieved areas such as agriculture, forestry, telecommunications, banking, etc. the two sides should promote investment cooperation in areas that bring about sustainable efficiency such as production and processing of clean agricultural and forestry products, serving and meeting the requirements, standards of the people’s consumption needs of the two countries and export, expanding to several high-quality services such as tourism, health care, education, and other services which provide higher added value.
Besides, the state agencies of the two sides should continue to deploy the signed treaties and agreements between the two sides to create legal basis for ensuring safety for investment and business activities and clearing difficulties, obstacles of enterprises; implement the “Joint Framework Agreement on Vietnam-Cambodia Economic Connectivity until 2030”. The two sides need to sign Vietnam – Cambodia Border Trade Agreement soon.
We need to strengthen the improvement of investment and business legal system and accelerate the reform of administrative procedures relating to investment and business; ensure transparency, uniformity and consistency from the Central to local levels; at the same time, continue upgrading and completing the infrastructure system, developing high-quality human resources with preference policies to create an environment to attract and promote investment and trade. Also, we need frequently to maintain the dialogue mechanism between the Governments’ agencies with enterprises to find ways to solve the difficulties and obstacles of enterprises, promote the early and effective implementation of the investment projects. Along with that, it is necessary to strengthen the role of Business Associations. Accordingly, the Businesses Associations and investors of the two sides need to strengthen the activities of connecting, promoting and supporting investors to operate effectively, and at the same time connecting with relevant agencies of Cambodia to protect the legitimate rights and interests of Vietnamese investors in Cambodia.
Minister Nguyen Chi Dung suggested that representatives some enterprises and investors of the two countries need to point out opportunities and difficulties for the relating agencies of the two countries to acknowledge and take measures to timely support and untangle so that investment and business activities of the enterprises work effectively. At the same time, he wishes Cambodia’s Government, the Council for the Development of Cambodia and related agencies continue to support and create favorable conditions for Vietnamese enterprises to invest and trade in Cambodia. For its part, the Ministry of Planning and Investment of Vietnam will coordinate with Vietnamese and Cambodian relevant ministries and branches to do their best to support the effective investment and business of Vietnamese enterprises in Cambodia and facilitate the best conditions for Cambodian enterprises to invest and do business in Vietnam, Minister Nguyen Chi Dung affirmed./. | politics |
https://ultimatemetallica.com/metallica-lars-ulrich-move-denmark-not-because-trump/ | 2024-03-03T20:21:57 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947476397.24/warc/CC-MAIN-20240303174631-20240303204631-00392.warc.gz | 0.973632 | 366 | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-10__0__51268959 | en | Metallica’s Lars Ulrich Still Considering Move to Denmark, Not Because of Trump
The drummer entertained the idea four years ago, back before Trump took office as the country's 45th commander-in-chief. At the time, Ulrich floated the notion of relocating to his native Denmark if Trump befouled America. Now, the Metallica member has revisited that idea ahead of the 2020 election.
Ulrich first mentioned the possibility of abandoning the U.S. to Danish tabloid Ekstra Bladet in 2016. During the chat, the musician clarified that he's "a hundred percent Danish citizen" but pays taxes in the United States. So what did he tell the publication about moving back to Denmark?
"If Trump becomes president and everything goes to shit, I might make my way to the airport and ask if I can get back in again," Ulrich confessed during the 2016 interview.
In August 2020, the drummer looked back on that remark in an Independent interview conducted mainly to promote Metallica's S&M2 live album. Just two months out from another election, Ulrich clarified that his intentions have more to do with getting back to his roots than escaping Trump's domain.
"I feel a deeper connection to where I came from as I get older," Ulrich explained when confronted with his 2016 comments. "And I think in whatever time I have left, I'd like to spend more of my time [in Denmark]."
The musician continued, "You and I could spend hours talking about what I love about America as a place and as an ideal. So when I say I think about moving back to Denmark… that's not a middle finger to America."
See Metallica in the Most Performed Songs by 50 of Metal's Biggest Bands | politics |
https://philmshirley.medium.com/britain-at-the-crossroads-why-we-should-take-heed-of-rightwing-nationalisms-tightening-grip-on-cd59c5ec95fe?source=post_internal_links---------1---------------------------- | 2021-05-12T09:07:38 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-21/segments/1620243991685.16/warc/CC-MAIN-20210512070028-20210512100028-00187.warc.gz | 0.947635 | 1,911 | CC-MAIN-2021-21 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2021-21__0__90461356 | en | Britain at the crossroads: why we should take heed of rightwing nationalism’s tightening grip on Germany.
The December 12 general election will determine what sort of country Britain will become over the next generation. The populist right has a vision of the future it wants. This vision is intolerant, exclusionary, and backward-looking, but it is presented as a strong, nationalist alternative to the current liberal status quo, and it is disturbingly compelling.
Down a flight of stairs on a street in South Kensington, West London is the temporary office of a self-styled climate activist by the name of Felix; a native of Berlin, former hospital porter, member of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, and organiser of popular informal talks on how eco-fascism can save the planet.
Felix stayed on in London after taking part in the Extinction Rebellion London Protests and his ‘lectures’ about how “greater surges of migration will accompany the rising waters of climate change,” are extremely popular among South Kensington’s well-educated, but disenfranchised, fearful and uncertain young voters.
Felix offers a compelling, empathetic narrative, talking about the need to support those who are displaced by climate-induced migration; the millions of people who have been forcibly displaced by weather-related sudden onset hazards — such as floods, storms, wildfires, extreme temperature — each year since 2008. “The World Bank estimates that Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa, and Southeast Asia alone will generate 143 million more climate migrants by 2050,” Felix says, with unerring authority and contagious passion.
He talks about how climate migration has a direct impact on cities — cities like London, which, according to Felix, is increasingly the prime destination for displaced persons and refugees. He reels off statistics about asylum seekers arriving in the European Union; the high numbers fleeing war zones in Afghanistan, South Sudan, and Syria, and the increasing percentage of migrants fleein economic deprivation in Nigeria and Pakistan; and political instability in Somalia.
“We have these individuals coming from all over the world that have some of the most extreme medical care in the world, and they are coming in with diseases such as smallpox and leprosy and TB that are going to infect our people in Europe, and that includes all of you here, in South Kensington.
“They’re pouring into your country,” Felix says. “They are pouring into my country. And the governments of Britain and Germany are doing nothing to stop them. In fact, they have encouraged them, just like they encouraged business, industry and the consumer to damage the planet. The blind leading the blind.”
Behind this swell of climate crisis, extinction and complete environmental breakdown rhetoric is a rising tide of angry right-wing nationalism, and a well-funded network of right-wing civil society organisations campaigning around the world to roll back civil rights advances.
Make no mistake, the far-right has constructed a powerful narrative of victimisation that is fast moving into the mainstream. And if you believe the UK is resistant to rightwing nationalism, you should heed this warning. No country is immune to the far right.
In the space of two months this spring, Nigel Farage rebuilt the fledgling Brexit Party, blitzed the country with a social media campaign, and captured the largest share of the UK’s vote in the European elections. Several other right-wing populist movements; Marine Le Pen’s National Rally in France, Viktor Orban’s Fidesz in Hungary, Matteo Salvini’s Lega in Italy, also captured the most votes in their countries.
The rise of the anti-immigrant far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD) — running on an anti-Islam, Euro-skeptic platform — is benefiting from fears of foreigners, picking up protest votes by those who feel left behind by the centrist parties that have long dominated German politics, including Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrats.
October’s regional elections in the eastern state of Thuringia sent shock waves throughout the country when Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union was outvoted by the socialist left-wing party, Die Linke, followed by the AfD, which gained 23% of votes. The majority of voters under age 30 chose the AfD, according to official polling statistics, suggesting a new, younger generation that hasn’t lived through the division of its country is in agreement with the far-right party.
The fact that Thuringia’s AfD party leader, Bjoern Hoecke is currently under investigation by federal intelligence agencies for extremist speech, which has included questioning Germany’s culpability in World War II, has not seemed to detract from his success. He has denied the existence of Nazi speech when questioned about using words associated with the Third-Reich, including “Lebensraum” or “degenerate,” as in a recent interview with German broadcaster ZDF.
Right-wing nationalism is infectious and is going around the world right now like a chronic disease. The far-right has not only declared that “another world is possible”; it is busy building that world, just like Felix in that improvised basement political theatre in South Kensington; the so-called natural preserve of a moderate, pro-remain Conservative-style candidate, but in truth a population of contrasting millionaires and celebrities in South Kensington, Holland Park and Notting Hill with the deprived communities of North Kensington, where residents are still profoundly marked by the Grenfell fire.
The inhabitants of South Kensington, irrespective of race or creed or social standing, are, like many people in the UK, are facing the future with fear and trepidation, as solid certainties crumble apart and the fabric of society becomes ever more fragile. And it is into this underlying unease that pedlars of right-wing nationalism such as Felix are injecting potentially lethal doses of anxiety laced conjecture.
“The old way of doing things — consensus politics, carbon-hungry consumerism, a reluctance to challenge corporate and government authority, or to address the shadow side of mass immigration, are coming into question,” Felix said. “You must know by now you can’t trust your political leaders. They cannot build the new world you deserve.”
Britain at the crossroads.
Not since the early 1980s has the gap between the two major political parties been so wide, the different visions on offer so distinctive.
On one side, Boris Johnson’s Conservative Party is now a long way right of the political centre, intent on whipping up Britain’s deep social divisions to help him win this election. Cracking down on migration and going hard on “law and order” are top of his agenda, which will also be wrapped in a “parliament vs the people” narrative which attempts to demonise elected representatives for frustrating his attempt to leave the EU. Already he has compared Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn to Josef Stalin.
On the other, Corbyn’s Labour Party is committed to reversing years of free-market economics which has laid waste to British society. He will try to steer the conversation away from the divisions created by Brexit by promising massive investment in public services and the regional economy, a “green new deal”, and a commitment to tax and regulate big business, including by clamping down on tax havens and introducing a financial transactions tax.
In the marginal, Labour held South Kensington, it is virtually impossible to see how that voting pattern can continue. Middle-class professionals have leaned Labour since the 1980s. But the anti-Semitism, conspiracy-mongering, and economic chauvinism of Corbyn’s Labour Party seem anathema to such professionals.
So when rightwing internationalists, in disguise as nationalists and climate activists, start talking about climate crisis and extinction and complete environmental breakdown, the irony is overwhelming to the point of rationale paralysis.
Climate change is both the radical right’s Achilles’ heel and window of opportunity. On one hand, rightwing nationalism has no effective response to climate change other than to pretend that it doesn’t exist. On the other, though, this is the first time in human history there is a single issue on which all of humanity can hopefully agree, and if you can get disillusioned and politically disfranchised people to believe that immigrants are to blame for climate change, then it becomes much easier to sell the entire far-right narrative of victimisation into mainstream thinking.
Make no mistake, ‘ecofascism’ is a delivery mechanism for the full white nationalist manifesto.
Following the mass shooting in El Paso, Texas on August 3 this year, which claimed the lives of 22 people, the suspected shooter 21-year-old Patrick Crusius reportedly uploaded a ‘white nationalist manifesto’ to the website 8chan, also called Infinitechan.
Amongst the four-page document, he made reference to how his ideology was partly inspired by a desire to improve the environment and ‘get rid of enough people’ to make the ‘American lifestyle more sustainable.’ | politics |
https://www.christthetruth.net/2010/03/08/the-power-of-forgiveness/ | 2023-09-22T21:36:06 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233506423.70/warc/CC-MAIN-20230922202444-20230922232444-00825.warc.gz | 0.983047 | 280 | CC-MAIN-2023-40 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-40__0__302748588 | en | In writing a press release for the papers I sought the help of a local minister whose first career was journalism. I told him the line-up of speakers: We have a former high-flying politician (Jonathan Aitken) who was brought down by perjury charges and found Christ in prison. We have an international sportsman (Henry Olonga) exiled from his own country of Zimbabwe for standing up to Robert Mugabe. We have a former police officer who forgave the criminal who shot him in the face. And we have evenings on science and the new atheism. (By the way, please pray for our events. We want to see people trust Christ!)
After I ran through all our events he said to me, "Which night do you think people will talk about in the pub?" That was his diagnostic for a good headline. And as soon as he said that I knew the answer immediately: The policeman who forgave his almost-killer. (Read the amazing story here). He agreed. That definitely has the biggest wow facter. There is no power on earth to enable that kind of forgiveness - it is so out-of-this-world.
Just interesting isn't it? The celebs, the powerful, the big names can't hold a candle to the testimony of an ordinary man who puts the gospel into practice.
For more on forgiveness: | politics |
https://drri.org/priority-issues/ | 2021-09-18T17:44:41 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-39/segments/1631780056548.77/warc/CC-MAIN-20210918154248-20210918184248-00528.warc.gz | 0.932044 | 1,443 | CC-MAIN-2021-39 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2021-39__0__252548620 | en | The mission of Disability Rights Rhode Island (DRRI) is to assist Rhode Islanders with differing abilities in their efforts to achieve full inclusion in society and to exercise their civil and human rights through the provision of legal advocacy.
DRRI employs various legal and advocacy strategies in the pursuit of its work, including individual and systemic litigation, where appropriate.
DRRI administers nine federally funded programs, all of which have different purposes and requirements. Every year the agency establishes priorities to guide its work and provide a means for efficiently allocating its resources. Priorities are broken down into two categories: systemic advocacy on behalf of the broader disability community, and individual case representation.
For federal fiscal year 2021, DRRI has identified the following seven (7) priority areas for its systemic work:
Improve behavioral healthcare for prisoners with mental illness in order to eliminate the use of solitary confinement.
Educate and train educators, advocates, judicial and governmental personnel, families, and individuals about implementation of new law on supported decision-making for people with disabilities so that decision-making authority can be retained.
Promote implementation of new education law to ensure students who want and need special education and related services through the age of 22 have access to and receive those services.
- K.L. v RICESE:
DRRI represents the plaintiffs in Rhode Island Federal Court in K.L. v RICESE. In this case, the Plaintiffs brought suit against the state to ensure that students with disabilities continue to receive special education services until the age of 22. Before this case was brought, Rhode Island was not providing those services until age 22, as required by federal law. The United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit reversed the Rhode Island district court decision and agreed with the Plaintiff that Rhode Island violated the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) by failing to provide special education services to individuals between the ages of twenty-one and twenty-two when it provided public education services to individuals without disabilities. DRRI joined the action to help to determine what compensatory education services were due to the retroactive class members and what services might be appropriate going forward. DRRI continues to work with the parties to find an appropriate solution to remedy the lack of services students faced when they did not receive a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE).
Reduce unnecessarily prolonged hospitalization or other institutionalization of people with developmental and intellectual disabilities and/or behavioral health issues, addressing options and need for increased community-based services.
Safeguard the rights of Social Security beneficiaries whose benefits are paid to and managed by representative payees, pursuant to referrals by the Social Security Administration.
Advance full participation in the electoral process by persons with disabilities.
- Click here for a video on voting rights of people with disabilities:
People with Assistants have Equal Voting Rights
Create and develop Investigations and Monitoring (I&M) Unit for abuse and neglect. Establish I&M procedures and protocols; Analyze and create informational database of all facilities in Rhode Island under consideration for investigation and/or monitoring activities by I&M Unit; and initiate select monitoring.
Individual case selection priorities for 2021 will be focused in six (6) areas as indicated below:
Safety and Guardianship
- Investigate reports of abuse and neglect, including at facilities and segregated schools, when those reports are not responded to, investigated, and addressed in a timely and effective manner for the purpose of ensuring that the appropriate authorities do so, and take legal action when necessary to protect victims of abuse and neglect.
- Represent a limited number of persons contesting a guardianship, a petition for guardianship, the scope of a guardianship, or the appointment of a particular person as a guardian, to provide assistance with supported decision-making or other forms of less restrictive decision-making.
- Represent students who face disability-related discrimination in a school setting, such as: students with behavioral health needs denied eligibility for special education; students whose rights are violated during restraint; and, students charged with truancy for disability-related reasons.
- Represent persons denied or incurring delays in acquiring technology devices or services from public funding sources such as Medicare, Medicaid, school districts, and vocational rehabilitation.
- Represent persons seeking to enforce the state Consumer Enforcement of Assistive Technology Device Warranties Act and Hearing Aid Dealers and Fitters Act.
- Represent persons denied or incurring delays in receiving appropriate vocational rehabilitation, employment network, or independent living services.
- Represent persons in efforts to obtain appropriate Social Security Administration work incentives.
- Represent persons denied reasonable accommodations in employment when those accommodations are necessary to maintain or advance in employment, and represent Social Security beneficiaries who are otherwise discriminated against in employment.
- Represent Social Security beneficiaries concerning work-related Social Security Administration matters or other issues that constitute a barrier to employment.
Housing and Community-Based Services
- Represent persons who remain in hospitals or other restrictive environments due to a shortage of appropriate community alternatives.
- Represent persons denied reasonable accommodations, or otherwise discriminated against, in housing.
Government and Public Accommodations
- Represent persons denied physical accessibility, policy modifications, or auxiliary communication aids and services by state or local governments.
- Represent persons denied physical accessibility, policy modifications, or auxiliary communication aids and services by schools, colleges, universities, and testing services.
- Represent persons denied physical accessibility, policy modifications, or auxiliary communication aids and services by health care providers
- Represent persons denied full participation in the electoral process.
The following factors will be considered when determining acceptance of individual cases:
- Unavailability of effective alternative representation or resources.
- Availability of financial and staff resources.
- Strength of the evidence and legal grounds supporting the individual’s claim.
- Inability of the individual, his/her parent(s), legal guardian, or interested person to advocate.
- Immediacy, severity, and duration of effect of the threatened harm to the individual.
- Increased vulnerability of the individual based on economic, social, or minority group status.
- Likelihood that a successful result in the individual’s case will have a positive impact on other individuals.
While not all factors must be satisfied for a case to be accepted for representation, they do guide the allocation of limited resources most effectively within Rhode Island’s disability community by avoiding duplication of services by other community organizations, assisting those who are most in need, and ensuring that the greatest number of individuals possible may realize benefits from our advocacy efforts.
Please note: Disability Rights Rhode Island makes every effort to serve the needs of individuals with disabilities but regrets that eligibility for services is not an entitlement. Our intake process is thorough and comprehensive in order to determine how we may best serve the greatest number of people with disabilities through limited resources.
We welcome your feedback. If you would like to provide input on our priorities, you may direct your comments via email to [email protected] or by regular mail to: Executive Director, Disability Rights Rhode Island, 33 Broad Street, Suite 601, Providence, RI 02903. | politics |
https://www.iser.essex.ac.uk/research/news/2013/04/17/cypriot-austerity-measures-hit-middle-and-higher-income-families | 2024-02-22T03:31:57 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947473690.28/warc/CC-MAIN-20240222030017-20240222060017-00226.warc.gz | 0.962849 | 428 | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-10__0__65495287 | en | The pre-bailout austerity measures implemented in Cyprus were both mild and directed more at middle and higher income families rather than the poor. However, the ability of the government to cut social expenditure and or raise taxes while protecting the poor is likely to be limited post-bailout, according to a new EUROMOD study published by ISER.
Austerity and the Income Distribution: The Case of Cyprus by
Christos Koutsampelas and Alexandros Polycarpou, has found the first round of austerity measures in Cyprus have had more impact on higher and middle income families.
“Up to now, welfare state institutions appear resilient to the first waves of austerity. Benefits cuts were not extensive and designed in progressive fashion. The government even introduced a new social benefit in order to meet the needs of one of the most vulnerable social groups (lone parents).
This development overwhelms the negative distributional implications of the child benefit reform while increases considerably the welfare of single parent families. Despite that the the worsening labour market conditions and the increase of unemployment will affect families with children, child poverty is likely to remain at relatively low levels. Elderly poverty is moving downwards but this is only because the income position of the elderly is improving in relative terms. In absolute terms, their economic well-being is likely to decrease. Finally, in-work poverty remains at low levels but most probably will increase in the upcoming years."
Using EUROMOD, the tax and benefit microsimulation unit, based at ISER, the economists were able to study the impact of national austerity measures and estimate the impact of future cuts to welfare.
They found that:
“The first phase of the austerity era was not marked by shrinkage of the welfare state. […]. However the rules of games change rapidly. It is likely that the budgetary constraints will soon exert pressure to the coverage and generosity of social benefits and a further shift from universal benefits to targeted benefits will take place”
Austerity and the Income Distribution: The Case of Cyprus is published as part of the EUROMOD Working Paper series. | politics |
http://www.partnerweekly.com/2011/08/18/state_of_missouri_looks_to_cap_payday_lending_rates_/ | 2017-04-23T23:26:48 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-17/segments/1492917118851.8/warc/CC-MAIN-20170423031158-00486-ip-10-145-167-34.ec2.internal.warc.gz | 0.966844 | 474 | CC-MAIN-2017-17 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2017-17__0__201002903 | en | State of Missouri looks to cap payday lending rates
The state of Missouri has proposed new limits that would cap payday lending rates. Many Americans turn to payday loans when they need cash immediately. Because they are such short-term loans, they generally come with high interest rates, which negatively impact some borrowers.
The Secretary of State has given the “Missourians for Responsible Lending” group approval to begin promoting a petition that seeks to place the issue on the 2012 ballot.
With the economy currently in tatters, payday lending has become a popular business venture, with several new financial institutions offering the borrowing option. These companies offer paycheck advancements and can get borrowers out of a tough bind – for example, giving them the resources they need to pay rent before they get their next check.
However, the sector has been criticized for the unreasonably large interest rates attached to payday loans. Considering the target audience for payday loans already has trouble managing their funds, the high interest rates put some borrowers even further in debt.
“This business makes money off of people that are in trouble for whatever reason,” said Rev. James Bryan, the group’s treasurer. “They just prey on those poor people that are in a desperate situation.”
Several states in the U.S. have already enacted caps on interest rates. Among 17 states, annual interest rates are limited to 36 percent, while the federal government has also placed limits on payday loans for military personnel. However, in Missouri, the average annual interest rate for short-term loans is 445 percent.
“It’s big companies taking advantage of the weak. People who aren’t able to make a house payment or pay a medical bill, they get trapped under this debt,” Bryan added.
Supporters of the payday lending industry suggest the issue is being exaggerated by opponents. In particular, the 400 percent interest rate is misleading, says Gerri Guzman of the Consumer Rights Coalition, as it represents the compounding of loans over the course of months.
“This ballot initiative is an ill-advised assault on all forms of consumer credit that, if passed, would hurt Missourians by eliminating their only real credit options and forcing them into more-expensive and credit-damaging alternatives,” Guzman explained. | politics |
https://www.cheapnfljerseyschinaonline.com/nfl-and-football-association-allow-players-protest/ | 2021-10-23T12:06:03 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-43/segments/1634323585671.36/warc/CC-MAIN-20211023095849-20211023125849-00195.warc.gz | 0.967389 | 673 | CC-MAIN-2021-43 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2021-43__0__114585884 | en | Allow players to kneel to protest, Trump: I don’t watch NFL and American football anymore
This month, the Professional Football League (NFL) and the Football Association of the United States announced that they would allow players to speak out against violent law enforcement and racial discrimination in the game. The football association has abandoned a three-year ban on standing up to play the national anthem.
This decision directly “bombed” President trump of the United States, who claimed in two tweets on the 14th that he would not watch these games again.
On the same day, he first forwarded an article by representative Matt Gaetz criticizing the FA’s cancellation of the standing up requirement for playing the national anthem, saying “I won’t watch [American football] any more.”
He then forwarded a similar report from representative Jim Jordan, adding, “it looks like the NFL made the same decision, but I don’t see it.”
In 2016, Colin capenick, a rugby player, was the first to use one knee kneeling to protest against unfair incidents in the United States, such as violent law enforcement and racial discrimination, during the flag raising ceremony.
In September of the same year, American women’s football captain Megan lapinoer followed the example of the former to express support, which directly prompted the US football association to issue regulations to prohibit similar behaviors.
It is worth noting that both of them have been criticized or even reviled by trump. However, they did not compromise, especially lapinoe, who had an impressive cross-section with the US president during the World Cup last year. For this reason, this kind of protest has not disappeared in the sports field.
After the African American Freud incident, kneeling became the most popular form of protest in the United States.
This month, both the NFL and the FA said they encouraged players to “protest peacefully and express their opinions.”
On June 11, the Football Association tweeted that its board of directors had voted to repeal the 604-1 policy, which requires players to stand up when the National Anthem rings.
The Football Association of America points out that it is obvious that this policy is wrong and ignores the important message that “life is life for black people”. “We haven’t done enough to listen to players, understand and recognize the importance of black Americans and other minority communities. We apologize to the athletes, especially the black athletes, the staff, the fans and all those who have worked hard to eliminate racism. Sports is a powerful platform, but we haven’t used it effectively. On these specific issues, we can do more, and we will do more. ”
Earlier this month, NFL president Roger Goodell tweeted that players could speak up for recent events and denounce racism and systematic oppression of blacks. “We admit that it’s a wrong decision not to listen to players earlier. Now, we encourage everyone to express their views and protest peacefully. We believe that black people’s lives are also lives. ”
Goodell also said he would protest with the players as an individual, hoping to be “part of a call for change in the United States.”. | politics |
https://englishconcert.co.uk/in-the-news/the-english-concert-receives-grant-from-the-government-culture-recovery-fund-2/ | 2024-04-25T13:57:17 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712297295329.99/warc/CC-MAIN-20240425130216-20240425160216-00668.warc.gz | 0.954736 | 953 | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-18__0__92342663 | en | The English Concert to receive £80,000 from third round of the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund.
- The English Concert among 925 recipients to benefit from the latest round of awards from the Culture Recovery Fund
- This award will help The English Concert continue its recovery, support its highly skilled musicians, and allow it to bring its unique sound and exceptional music-making to audiences across the UK as well as being a global cultural ambassador for a great British musical tradition.
More than £100 million has been awarded to hundreds of cultural organisations across the country including The English Concert in the latest round of support from the Culture Recovery Fund, the Culture Secretary announced today.
The English Concert in London has been awarded a grant of £80,000 by the Culture Recovery Fund.
The English Concert is one of the finest ensembles in the world and a pioneer in the field of historical performance. It has produced over 100 critically acclaimed recordings and works with leading directors, as well as a stellar roster of the world’s most outstanding artists. With a global reach, both through its extensive discography and performing at the world’s most renowned venues, it is committed to bringing exceptional music-making to audiences everywhere. This award will be used to support its return to live performance, with concert activity, recording and digital projects, designed to take its work far beyond the concert hall to audiences across the UK and beyond, as well as nurture young and emerging talent, and provide support for its highly skilled freelance musicians.
The third round of funding will support organisations from all corners of the sector as they deal with ongoing reopening challenges, ensuring they can thrive in better times ahead.
Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries said:
Culture is for everyone and should therefore be accessible to everyone, no matter who they are and where they’re from.
Through unprecedented government financial support, the Culture Recovery Fund is supporting arts and cultural organisations so they can continue to bring culture to communities the length and breadth of the country, supporting jobs, boosting local economies and inspiring people.
Over £1.2 billion has already been awarded from the unprecedented Culture Recovery Fund, supporting around 5000 individual organisations and sites across the country ranging from local museums to West End theatres, grassroots music venues to festivals, and organisations in the cultural and heritage supply-chains.
Alfonso Leal del Ojo, Chief Executive, The English Concert said:
We are delighted and extremely grateful to have been awarded this generous support from the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund and receive this endorsement of the value of what we do. Whilst the arts have been one of the sectors hardest hit by the pandemic, it has also demonstrated they are intrinsic to cultural understanding as well as being central to our wellbeing. We firmly believe that culture is for everyone, and this award will allow The English Concert to re-engage with our audiences, reach out to new ones and give us the confidence to return strongly as the situation improves.
Darren Henley, Chief Executive, Arts Council England, said:
This continued investment from the Government on an unprecedented scale means our theatres, galleries, music venues, museums and arts centres can carry on playing their part in bringing visitors back to our high streets, helping to drive economic growth, boosting community pride and promoting good health. It’s a massive vote of confidence in the role our cultural organisations play in helping us all to lead happier lives.
The funding awarded today is from a £400 million pot which was held back last year to ensure the Culture Recovery Fund could continue to help organisations in need as the public health picture changed. The funding has been awarded by Arts Council England, as well as Historic England and National Lottery Heritage Fund and the British Film Institute.
Notes to Editors:
Arts Council England is the national development agency for creativity and culture. We have set out our strategic vision in Let’s Create that by 2030 we want England to be a country in which the creativity of each of us is valued and given the chance to flourish and where everyone of us has access to a remarkable range of high quality cultural experiences. We invest public money from Government and The National Lottery to help support the sector and to deliver this vision. www.artscouncil.org.uk.
Following the Covid-19 crisis, the Arts Council developed a £160 million Emergency Response Package, with nearly 90% coming from the National Lottery, for organisations and individuals needing support. We are also one of the bodies administering the Government’s unprecedented Culture Recovery Funds. Find out more at www.artscouncil.org.uk/covid19. | politics |
https://cirufyzoxo.magny-notaires.com/authorizing-j-monroe-johnson-assistant-secretary-of-commerce-to-accept-a-decoration-and-diploma-from-t-23263zc.php | 2021-09-17T15:30:02 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-39/segments/1631780055684.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20210917151054-20210917181054-00137.warc.gz | 0.822833 | 194 | CC-MAIN-2021-39 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2021-39__0__52826920 | en | 4 edition of Authorizing J. Monroe Johnson, Assistant Secretary of Commerce, to accept a decoration and diploma from the Belgian Government. found in the catalog.
Authorizing J. Monroe Johnson, Assistant Secretary of Commerce, to accept a decoration and diploma from the Belgian Government.
United States. Congress. House. Committee on Military Affairs.
|Other titles||Authorizing J. Monroe Johnson to accept decoration and diploma from Belgian Government|
|The Physical Object|
Waterbirds around the world
Legislative power and the Supreme Court in the fifties
The plant hunters
MEDREP: permanent inventory of biomedical and health care research projects in the European Communities
The war Queen.
Risk taking behavior of normal and mentally handicapped adolescents and the relationship of this behavior to learning
McGregor Range rangeland management program document..
A dictionary of Chinese mythology.
political and economic organization of modern Japan.
Advanced industrial robot control systems | politics |
https://www.proviso209united.com/gotv | 2024-03-03T06:45:21 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947476205.65/warc/CC-MAIN-20240303043351-20240303073351-00865.warc.gz | 0.950259 | 311 | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-10__0__112000824 | en | Your Vote is Your Voice
Don't let someone else speak for you
Registration During Early Voting
Early Voting extends the registration period by allowing voters to register and vote until the Monday before an election. Guidelines limit when and where Early Voting registrants can vote – during the Early Voting period, voters must register and vote in person at one of the Clerk’s designated Early Voting locations.
Individuals wishing to vote during the Early Voting must bring two pieces of identification to register, one with a current address. Registrants must immediately cast their ballot after registering to vote. ~Cook County Voter Registration
The Cook County, Illinois general election will be held on November 8, 2022. Primaries will be held at an earlier date.
Elections will be held for Assessor, Clerk, Sheriff, Treasurer, President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners, all 17 seats of the Cook County Board of Commissioners, all three seats of the Cook County Board of Review, three seats on the Water Reclamation District Board, and for judgeships on the Circuit Court of Cook County.
Illinois voters elect judges every two years. This year, 75 candidates are running for 29 judicial vacancies in Cook County. Every voter will get to choose candidates to fill two appellate court seats and 10 circuit court seats. You may also have one or two subcircuit races on your ballot depending on where you live. Judges elected from subcircuits have the same responsibilities as other circuit court judges, but only people who live in that subcircuit can vote for them. | politics |
http://australian-travel-directory.com/page26.html | 2023-06-06T10:44:36 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-23/segments/1685224652494.25/warc/CC-MAIN-20230606082037-20230606112037-00594.warc.gz | 0.963144 | 2,679 | CC-MAIN-2023-23 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-23__0__12283655 | en | Canberra & Suburbs
Canberra (pronounced /ˈkænbᵊrə/, /ˈkænbɛrə/) is the capital city of Australia. With
a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest
city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory
(ACT), 280 km (170 mi) south-west of Sydney, and 660 km (410 mi) north-east of Melbourne.
A resident of Canberra is known as a "Canberran".
The site of Canberra was selected for the location of the nation's capital in 1908
as a compromise between rivals Sydney and Melbourne, Australia's two largest cities.
It is unusual among Australian cities, being an entirely planned city. Following
an international contest for the city's design, a blueprint by the Chicago architects
Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin was selected and construction commenced
in 1913. The Griffins' plan featured geometric motifs such as circles, hexagons and
triangles, and was centred on axes aligned with significant topographical landmarks
in the Australian Capital Territory.
The city's design was heavily influenced by the garden city movement and incorporates
significant areas of natural vegetation that have earned Canberra the title of the
"bush capital". The growth and development of Canberra were hindered by the World
Wars and the Great Depression, which exacerbated a series of planning disputes and
the ineffectiveness of a sequence of bodies that were to oversee the development
of the city. The national capital emerged as a thriving city after World War II,
as Prime Minister Robert Menzies championed its development and the National Capital
Development Commission was formed with executive powers. Although the Australian
Capital Territory is now self-governing, the federal government retains some influence
through the National Capital Authority.
As the seat of the government of Australia, Canberra is the site of Parliament House,
the High Court and numerous government departments and agencies. It is also the location
of many social and cultural institutions of national significance, such as the Australian
War Memorial, Australian National University, Australian Institute of Sport, National
Gallery, National Museum and the National Library. The Australian Army's officer
corps are trained at the Royal Military College, Duntroon and the Australian Defence
Force Academy is also located in the capital.
As the city has a high proportion of public servants, the federal government contributes
the largest percentage of Gross State Product and is the largest single employer
in Canberra. As the seat of government, the unemployment rate is lower and the average
income higher than the national average, while property prices are relatively high,
in part due to comparatively restricted development regulations. Tertiary education
levels are higher, while the population is younger.
Before European settlement, the area in which Canberra would eventually be constructed
was seasonally inhabited by Indigenous Australians. Anthropologist Norman Tindale
suggested the principal group occupying the region were the Ngunnawal people, while
the Ngarigo lived immediately to the south of the ACT, The Wandandian to the east,
the Walgulu also to the south, Gandangara people to the north, and Wiradjuri to the
north west. Archaeological evidence of settlement in the region includes inhabited
rock shelters, rock paintings and engravings, burial places, camps and quarry sites,
and stone tools and arrangements. The evidence suggests human habitation in the area
for at least 21,000 years.
Blundells' Cottage, built around 1860, is one of the few remaining buildings built
by the first European settlers of Canberra. The word "Canberra" is derived from the
word Kambera or Canberry meaning "meeting place" in the old Ngunnawal language of
the local Ngabri people. Alternatively the name was reported to mean "woman's breasts",
by journalist John Gale in the 1860s, referring to the mountains of Mount Ainslie
and Black Mountain. The Ngunnawal name was apparently used as a reference to corroborees
held during the seasonal migration of the Ngunnawal people to feast on the Bogong
moths that pass through the region each spring. European exploration and settlement
started in the Canberra area as early as the 1820s. There were four expeditions between
1820 and 1824. White settlement of the area probably dates from 1824, when a homestead
or station was built on what is now the Acton peninsula by stockmen employed by Joshua
John Moore. He formally purchased the site in 1826, and named the property "Canberry".
The European population in the Canberra area continued to grow slowly throughout
the 19th century. Among them was the Campbell family of "Duntroon"; their imposing
stone house is now the officers' mess of the Royal Military College, Duntroon. The
Campbells sponsored settlement by other farmer families to work their land, such
as the Southwells of "Weetangera". Other notable early settlers included the inter-related
Murray and Gibbes families, who owned the Yarralumla estate—now the site of the official
residence of the Governor-General of Australia—from the 1830s through to 1881.
The oldest surviving public building in the inner-city is the Anglican Church of
St John the Baptist, in the suburb of Reid, which was consecrated in 1845. St John's
churchyard contains the earliest graves in the district. As the European presence
increased, the indigenous population dwindled, mainly from disease such as smallpox
The district's change from a New South Wales (NSW) rural area to the national capital
started during debates over Federation in the late 19th century. Following a long
dispute over whether Sydney or Melbourne should be the national capital, a compromise
was reached: the new capital would be built in New South Wales, so long as it was
at least 100 miles (160 km) from Sydney, with Melbourne to be the temporary seat
of government (but not referred to as the "capital") while the new capital was built.
Newspaper proprietor John Gale circulated a pamphlet titled 'Dalgety or Canberra:
Which?' advocating Canberra to every member of the Commonwealth's seven States Parliaments.
By many accounts, it was decisive in the selection of Canberra as the site in 1908,
as was a result of survey work done by the government surveyor Charles Scrivener.
The NSW government ceded the Federal Capital Territory (as it was then known) to
the federal government. In an international design competition conducted by the Department
of Home Affairs, on 24 May 1911, the design by Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony
Griffin was chosen for the city, and in 1913 Griffin was appointed Federal Capital
Director of Design and Construction and construction began.
On 12 March 1913, the city was officially given its name by Lady Denman, the wife
of Governor-General Lord Denman, at a ceremony at Kurrajong Hill, which has since
become Capital Hill and the site of the present Parliament House. Canberra Day is
a public holiday observed in the ACT on the second Monday in March to celebrate the
founding of Canberra. After the ceremony, bureaucratic disputes hindered Griffin's
work; a Royal Commission in 1916 ruled his authority had been usurped by certain
officials. Griffin's relationship with the Australian authorities was strained and
a lack of funding meant that by the time he was fired in 1920, little work had been
done. By this time, Griffin had revised his plan, overseen the earthworks of major
avenues, and established the Glenloch Cork Plantation.
The federal legislature moved to Canberra on 9 May 1927, with the opening of the
Provisional Parliament House. The Prime Minister, Stanley Bruce, had officially taken
up residence in The Lodge a few days earlier. Planned development of the city slowed
significantly during the depression of the 1930s and during World War II. Some projects
planned for that time, including Roman Catholic and Anglican cathedrals, were never
Two of Canberra's best-known landmarks, Parliament House and Old Parliament House
(foreground). Commonwealth Place runs alongside the lake and includes the International
Flag Display. Questacon is on the right.From 1920 to 1957, three bodies, successively
the Federal Capital Advisory Committee, the Federal Capital Commission, and the National
Capital Planning and Development Committee continued to plan the further expansion
of Canberra in the absence of Griffin; however, they were only advisory, and development
decisions were made without consulting them, increasing inefficiency.
Immediately after the end of the war, Canberra was criticised for resembling a village,
and its disorganised collection of buildings was deemed ugly. Canberra was often
derisively described as "several suburbs in search of a city". Prime Minister Robert
Menzies regarded the state of the national capital as an embarrassment. Over time
his attitude changed from one of contempt to that of championing its development.
He fired two ministers charged with the development of the city for poor performance.
He ruled for over a decade and in that time the development of the capital sped up
rapidly. The population grew by more than 50% in every five-year period from 1955
to 1975. Several Government departments, together with public servants, were moved
to Canberra from Melbourne following the war. Government housing projects were undertaken
to accommodate the city's growing population.
Most of rapid expansion was achieved after the National Capital Development Commission
(NCDC) was formed in 1957 with executive powers, replacing its ineffective advisory
predecessors. The NCDC ended four decades of disputes over the shape and design of
Lake Burley Griffin—the centrepiece of Griffin's design—and construction was completed
in 1964 after four years of work. The completion of the lake finally laid the platform
for the development of Griffin's Parliamentary Triangle. Since the initial construction
of the lake, various buildings of national importance have been constructed on its
The newly-built Australian National University was expanded, and sculptures and monuments
were built. A new National Library was constructed within the Parliamentary Triangle,
followed by the High Court and the National Gallery. Suburbs in Canberra Central
(often referred to as North Canberra and South Canberra) were further developed in
the 1950s, and urban development in the districts of Woden Valley and Belconnen commenced
in the mid and late 1960s respectively. Many of the new suburbs were named after
Australian politicians, such as Barton, Deakin, Reid, Braddon, Curtin, Chifley and
On 27 January 1972 the Aboriginal Tent Embassy was first established on the grounds
of Parliament House; it was created to draw attention to indigenous rights and land
issues and has been continuously occupied since 1992. On 9 May 1988, a larger and
permanent Parliament House was opened on Capital Hill as part of Australia's bicentenary
celebrations, and the Federal Parliament moved there from the Provisional Parliament
House, now known as Old Parliament House.
In December 1988, the ACT was granted full self-government through an Act of the
Commonwealth Parliament. Following the first election on 4 March 1989, a 17-member
Legislative Assembly sat at temporary offices at 1 Constitution Avenue, Civic,
on 11 May 1989. Permanent premises were opened on London Circuit in 1994. The Australian
Labor Party formed the ACT's first government, led by the Chief Minister Rosemary
Follett, who made history as Australia's first female head of government. On 18 January
2003, parts of Canberra were engulfed by bushfires that killed four people, injured
435, and destroyed 487 homes and the major research telescopes of Australian National
University's Mount Stromlo Observatory.
How to use the Directory
To find a town or specific activity:-
1st select the State or Capital City & Suburbs or Towns listed from the menu at the
Then click on Edit on your browser toolbar
Select “Find” and type the name of the town or the type of information you want eg
whales, golf, fishing
You will be taken immediately to that town or towns that have whale watching etc
NOTE: Towns such as SYDNEY NSW bring up multiple choices. If you search for Sydney
with its Postcode 2000 you will get direct to the listings for Sydney City. So you
type- Sydney then 2 spaces then 2000.
Use this URL to find Postcodes | politics |
https://weybridge-hoa.com/2018/11/10/weybridge-hoa-board-election-results/ | 2023-03-26T00:39:38 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-14/segments/1679296945376.29/warc/CC-MAIN-20230325222822-20230326012822-00602.warc.gz | 0.957517 | 180 | CC-MAIN-2023-14 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-14__0__107123547 | en | During October we asked Weybridge residents to cast votes for the 3 open Board seats. 48 ballots were returned. Since we had 3 open seats and 3 announced candidates, the results were fairly predictable. The complete voting results were:
- Beth Alderson, 37
- Norm Parrish, 41
- Pamela Webb, 38
- Write-In: Sharon Foster, 2
This means Beth Alderson, Norm Parrish, and Pamela Webb will fill the 3 open Board seats, joining the 2 continuing members: Stacy Holliday and Ed Kuplis.
All 5 Board members will attend a formal meeting on Monday, November 12. In accordance with our Code of Regulations (section VI, item 2), the assembled members will choose Officer roles including President, Vice President, Treasurer, and so forth.
We will update the Weybridge website with the new Officer list following the meeting. | politics |
https://www.ivansteelelaw.com/uniting-spouses-and-common-law-couples-in-the-time-of-covid-19-canada/ | 2020-12-03T11:01:17 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-50/segments/1606141727627.70/warc/CC-MAIN-20201203094119-20201203124119-00384.warc.gz | 0.962553 | 657 | CC-MAIN-2020-50 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2020-50__0__168610819 | en | Sponsoring a spouse or a common-law partner for permanent residence in Canada has never been an easy task. It is now made even more daunting by the imposition of corona virus travel restrictions in Canada. In the era of COVID-19 regulations, delays in processing and travel restrictions, spouses and common law partners of Canadian citizens and permanent residents have become one of the most endangered and disproportionately affected groups – in stark contrast to Canada’s history of reuniting families under spousal sponsorship immigration laws and regulations. The federal government loosened the cross border travel rules on June 8, 2020 to allow foreigners to visit immediate family members in Canada – allowing, at least in theory, the reunification of foreign spouses and common law partners. While the definition of an immediate family member includes spouses and common-law partners, that inclusion does not automatically grant a foreign spouse or a common law partner entry into Canada. COVID regulations have transferred a significant amount of discretionary decision making from IRCC to Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). Common law partners of Canadian citizens and permanent residence are at most his under the current framework because they are essentially forced to build a case on the spot to prove the existence of their common law relationship.
Spouses stand in a privileged position under the current framework, since marriage, is de jure relationship, meaning that it has already been established in law and is presumed to be valid by means of a marriage certificate. In contrast, common-law relationships are de facto relationship – their very existence and duration of at least one year have to be established on a case by case basis. This often requires a slew of documentation spanning a period of the existence of the relationship. Foreigners must satisfy border officers that they meet the requirements to enter Canada, but since common law couples often lack definitive proof of their relationship, such as a marriage certificate, they are forced to stitch together a patchwork of documentation showing that they have lived together for at least a year in a real, conjugal relationship. When asked what documents cross-border couples need to provide to prove their common-law status, CBSA couldn’t provide a definitive list since such a list does not exist. When assessing the existence of a common law relationship in the context of sponsored permanent residence applications to Canada, IRCC relies on a variety of factors and documents that have been developed over decades by the Federal Courts and the Tribunals. Currently, CBSA only offers vague suggestions, such as providing a common-law status certificate (which is not a document frequently issued or even existing in most jurisdictions) or other documents showing a shared residential address, such as residential leases, official government documents (IDs, drivers’ licenses) with same address for at least one year etc.
While we live in scary times, love cannot and should not be held hostage to fear and government oversight. If you are a bi-nation common law couple, attempting to reunite in Canada – either on a visitor visa or by applying for permanent residence, having a knowledgeable Canadian immigration lawyer can make a real difference in the outcome of your case. As a Toronto spousal sponsorship lawyer, I am happy to consult and provide the best strategy to any couple who is planning to build their lives together in Canada. | politics |
https://www.iamz.ciheam.org/fr/news_and_events/news/one?event=passing-away-of-cosimo-lacirignola-secretary-general-of-the-ciheam-and-dedicated-advocate-of-cooperation-in-the-mediterranean&id=73 | 2021-01-21T13:39:20 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-04/segments/1610703524858.74/warc/CC-MAIN-20210121132407-20210121162407-00584.warc.gz | 0.955852 | 610 | CC-MAIN-2021-04 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2021-04__0__164316557 | en | Passing away of Cosimo Lacirignola, Secretary General of the CIHEAM and dedicated advocate of cooperation in the Mediterranean
(31st May 1957 – 2nd January 2018)
Staunch advocate of cooperation in the Mediterranean and of North-South dialogue, since 2013 Cosimo Lacirignola was Secretary General of the CIHEAM, an intergovernmental organization founded at the behest of Ramón Esteruelas Rolando in 1962 and headquartered in Paris (France). Cosimo Lacirignola graduated as an agricultural engineer and began his professional career in the European Commission before becoming head of the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari from 1987 until 2016. This institute is one of the 4 CIHEAM Institutes which, together with those in Zaragoza (Spain), Montpellier (France) and Chania (Greece), make up one of the main agro-food cooperation networks in the Mediterranean.
In the words of Graziano Silva, FAO Director General, Cosimo Lacirignola was a “strong advocate of peace and the fight against hunger”, as well as the sharing of knowledge between both sides of the Mediterranean, particularly among the younger generations, always striving to foster multilateral cooperation, agricultural and scientific diplomacy and political dialogue at the service of the Mediterranean.
Today, his vision, his vocation and his enthusiasm are reflected in the CIHEAM Action Plan for the Mediterranean (CAPMED 2025), an ambitious plan which aims at reinforcing the capacity of all the actors in the agro-food sector and the development of rural areas. He considered CAPMED a priority at a time when natural hazards and food crises, climate change, the loss of biodiversity, and scarcity of energy, land and water are threatening the Mediterranean region, home to 10 % of the world’s population.
Convinced of the importance of food and agriculture for the achievement of peace and stability, he was actively involved in improving the sharing of knowledge and good practices through the building of open knowledge platforms. Furthermore, he was a tireless ambassador of the “Mediterranean Diet” and of the struggle against waste, particularly the kind which affects traditional agricultural knowhow and human talent. As an author, researcher and lecturer, Cosimo Lacirignola constantly focused his attention on the challenges of agriculture, food and fisheries in the Mediterranean, working hard to involve young people in these sectors.
Born in San Pietro Vernotico, in the Apulia region of Italy, Cosimo Lacirignola was married and father of three children. He was appointed Commander of Merit of the Italian Republic, Commander of the Cedar National Order of the Republic of Lebanon and Laurea Honoris Causa of the Agricultural University of Tirana, Albania.
His colleagues at the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Zaragoza will always remember his smile, his dreams, his vision and his perseverance in enhancing dialogue and cooperation between the North and South of the Mediterranean. Rest in peace. | politics |
https://library.vassar.edu/c.php?g=510086 | 2022-06-27T21:45:14 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-27/segments/1656103341778.23/warc/CC-MAIN-20220627195131-20220627225131-00202.warc.gz | 0.865281 | 569 | CC-MAIN-2022-27 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2022-27__0__28995018 | en | It looks like you're using Internet Explorer 11 or older. This website works best with modern browsers such as the latest versions of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. If you continue with this browser, you may see unexpected results.
We are excited to share our new Library catalog and search tool! We hope that you will find it easy to search and explore our collections. If you need help, have questions, or want to share feedback, visit the Ask a Librarian page.
The following books in the reference collection contain information on how to start research on the electoral process and background information on campaigns, voting, political parties and elections.
American Presidential Campaigns and Elections (Ref. JK 1965.A57 2003)
How To Research Elections (Ref. JK 1976.M37 2000)
A really comprehensive source on how to research every aspect of elections from campaigns to political parties to the electoral system to voter participation. Lists primary and secondary sources, databases, and websites.
Guide to US Elections (Ref. JK 1967.C662 2001)
Includes chapters on the evolution of American elections, political party development and historical profiles of American political parties, nominating conventions, Presidential elections, Congressional elections, and gubernatorial elections. Tables and figures include Votes Cast in Presidential Primaries, 1912-2000; Voter Turnout, 1789-2000; American Political Parties, 1789-2000
Elections A to Z (Ref. JK 1976.M57 1999)
Encyclopedia of the Democratic Party (Ref. JK 2312.E55 1997 and Suppl.) and Encyclopedia of the Republican Party(Ref. JK 2352.E56 1997 and Suppl.)
Surveys the history, evolution, and current state of the Democratic and Republican parties as of 2002. Includes history, issues and ideology, elections, conventions and platforms, and biographies.
Encyclopedia of Presidential Campaigns, Slogans, Issues, and Platforms (E 176.1.R62 2004)
Historical Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections (Ref. Folio G 120l.F9 H5 2006)
Includes information, data and maps on Presidential elections, political parties, the nomination process, changes in the electorate, political geography of settlement, and historical trends in suffrage and voter participation.
Historical Dictionary of United States Political Parties (Ref. JK 2261.B345 2000)
National Party Conventions, 1831-2004 (Ref. JK 2255.N376 2005)
Presidential Elections, 1789-2000 (Ref. JK 524.P6783 2002)
Presidential Winners & Losers (E 176.1.V65 2002) Letters, speeches, concession speeches, Inaugural address, etc. | politics |
https://docallegro.com/2020/07/05/let-women-decide-what-to-do-with-their-bodies/ | 2023-03-31T09:58:43 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-14/segments/1679296949598.87/warc/CC-MAIN-20230331082653-20230331112653-00795.warc.gz | 0.980888 | 1,027 | CC-MAIN-2023-14 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-14__0__113422033 | en | Back in 1963, when I was in my first year at the University of Pennsylvania, a fellow freshman who lived in my suite in the dorms, ran into a problem that he was having difficulty resolving. A girl he had dated, but that he had no intention of marrying, had become pregnant. He had enough integrity not to desert her, that would have resulted in her having to deal with an out of wedlock child or an abortion on her own, that at that time, was illegal in the United States. After much investigation, he found a place in Puerto Rico, where abortions were allowed, that he had been told was reputable. He bought two round trip tickets to Puerto Rico, paid an exorbitant amount of money to have the abortion carried out, and returned the next day.
Before 1973, when Roe vs. Wade legalized abortion in the United States. what my friend did was probably more common than one would expect with accidental pregnancies. My friend had the good fortune to come from a family that could afford the cost of the trip to Puerto Rico. I recently read that 60% of people who seek abortions fall into an income level that defines them as poor. Given these statistics, it is reasonable to believe that most people in need of abortions before 1973, probably could not afford to have them.
The Republican argument against abortion is that we are giving sanction to ending human life, and that this act is contrary to the Divine Will of God. They believe that preserving human life, after conception, takes precedence over a woman’s right to choose whether she wishes to have the child or terminate the pregnancy. With the good Lord on their side, these folks are blinded by their philosophic inconsistencies in which such a view lead. For example, an underlying theme of conservative politics is to reduce the dependency that poor people have on welfare after having children they can ill afford. But are we not creating more potential candidates for such services if we prohibit abortions?
As a clinical psychologist, I have counseled many married couples who have told me that such and such child was unplanned, but nevertheless, both inevitably agree not to terminate the pregnancy. I have found it to be extremely rare when a married couple suddenly discover an unplanned pregnancy and decide not to have the baby. On the other hand, many of those that choose to have an abortion are generally not married, and, more than likely, do not have the will and resources to bring a newborn into the world.
The other classic conservative position is to keep a tight rein on government spending toward social programs that are geared toward helping the poor. Trump aside, conservatives have traditionally taken a laissez faire attitude toward the government with their motto being the best government is less government. This gives rise to the individual spirit that is so much reflected in small businesses and entrepreneurs, in general. But these same people, who believe in fewer governmental interventions, now back these same powers to be with the authority to tell women what is best for them and society.
There are many factors as to why the crime rate has decreased since Roe vs. Wade became law. Some commentators have suggested that legalizing abortion, thereby reducing the birth of unwanted children, may have influenced the reduction of criminal behavior. One way or another, we can safely say the crime rate has not likely worsened due to the termination of children that otherwise may have been born out of wedlock.
Fortunately, recently John Roberts, the current chief justice of the Supreme Court, cast a tie breaking vote in favor of retaining a woman’s right to abortion without any obstacles attached to that right. Inasmuch as Roberts is considered a conservative regarding constitutional law, his vote, in not limiting the scope of Roe vs. Wade, came as somewhat of a surprise. And that, I would maintain is the beauty of an independent branch of government: The Supreme Court, in not being beholden to any one party, has the duty of focusing on the principles outlined in each case it reviews in an unbiased manner.
Thank God for Justice Roberts! He has reinforced a decision that can continue to help the next generation of women have access to abortion services without any unnecessary restrictions. As I pointed out in the beginning of this essay, in the past such procedures, considered safe, only could be afforded by the wealthy.
3 replies on “Let Women Decide What to Do with Their Bodies”
Very interesting take. Well written article.
The fundamental point is that women should have personal control over their own bodies. Government should not interfere in the decisions that a woman chooses to make. The Hyde amendment which prevents Government through any legislation to support pregnancy termination should and must be reversed. Unwanted children become a burden not only to their parents but also to society
Interesting article! Coming from a catholic family, abortion has never been a fully accepted topic. Big part of my family are ok with it and for that I am grateful. I feel as women we have the rights to choose and I am glad you wrote about this, giving light to different aspects of the situation. | politics |
https://www.egypes.com/conferences/finance-investment-in-energy-conference/ | 2023-03-28T17:40:36 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-14/segments/1679296948868.90/warc/CC-MAIN-20230328170730-20230328200730-00117.warc.gz | 0.900876 | 1,460 | CC-MAIN-2023-14 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-14__0__294423721 | en | Wednesday 15 February 2023
Ministrial Keynote Speech
Transforming Egypt into a regional energy trading hub
Egypt is increasing its liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports to help solve Europe’s energy challenges, following disruption to supply amidst geopolitical tensions, with the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources declaring that Egypt aims to export $8.5 to $10 billion worth of natural gas during the fiscal year 2022/23. This keynote speech will outline Egypt’s prospects in the global LNG market as well as the government’s strategy to attract regional FDI in the aftermath of geopolitical instability
This Keynote will provide insights on investment opportunities as part of Egypt’s strategic roadmap to establish itself as a regional energy trading hub and exporter of gas and LNG globally.
Capitalising on investment opportunities in North Africa and the East Mediterranean
The West’s sanctions against Russia have prompted Europe to reduce its dependence on a single oil and gas supplier. In response to the current energy crisis, the EU is turning to the North African and East European region for gas supplies to satisfy short-term needs. With its abundant resources and strategic location, how is the region taking advantage of this opportunity? And what opportunities are there for investors?
Financial and economic experts will provide a deep dive on the potential investment opportunities offered by the recent signing of the trilateral MOU between Egypt, Israel and the EU.
Solving Europe’s gas supply in the short and long term through targeted investments
As Europe braces for a challenging winter amidst current geopolitical unrest, global natural gas markets are projected to remain tight well into 2023 due to the industry’s lack of investment in LNG. With the EU looking to secure alternative supplies and reduce its dependency on Russian gas, demand for LNG is anticipated to increase 150% between 2022 and 2040.
There has been a recent ramp-up in new supply projects to strengthen Europe’s energy security in the short term, with investment only likely to accelerate. But in the long run, what investment decisions should policymakers undertake to rebalance Europe’s natural gas market with dependable, affordable, and sustainable energy?
Energy leaders will examine strategies and the required investment needed that will allow Europe to transition away from dependence on Russian gas and ensure energy security while continuing to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.
Accelerating decarbonisation and energy security through public private partnerships
NOCs in the North Africa and East Mediterranean region are extensively using the public-private partnership (PPP) financing model to gain access to private capital and new expertise. Several significant international collaborations have recently been formed in the region with projects aimed to support climate change strategies; but can public-private partnerships be the key to attracting more foreign investments in decarbonisation and energy efficiency technologies? Will the region’s public-private partnerships expand to fund future projects and achieve energy security?
This panel will discuss the role of public-private partnerships in delivering long-term oil, gas and energy infrastructure projects while examining the investment models that enable governments to achieve energy security without having to increase direct state capital spending.
Mateus da Costa
Director of Exploration and Research Innovations
National Authority of Petroleum and Minerals (ANPM)
Overcoming the market impacts of ESG investment constraints
With oil and gas ESG benchmarks a major factor for banks and investors, these conditions continue to affect the industry’s access to capital. With ongoing calls for ESG criteria standardisation and a consistent set of reporting disclosure, how are oil and gas companies managing short-term investment needs? Is sustainability-linked finance the solution? And long-term, where will oil and gas investment come from when banks and private equity firms cease funding?
A must attend session for energy leaders and investors to develop a holistic view of ESG reporting standards to ensure the long-term survival of the industry.
Head of Financial Market, MENAP, and ESG Lead for Global Credit Markets
Standard Chartered Bank
Africa Focus: The role of natural gas to drive economic growth and reduce energy poverty
Energy access is the primary factor in boosting African countries’ economic and social growth. According to reports, more than 600 million people in Africa lack access to energy and clean cooking solutions. Natural gas resources have been suggested as a solution to energy poverty by African leaders, with Africa owning over 9% of the world’s gas reserves and generating around 6% of global natural gas. What are the financial challenges in building new gas infrastructure in developing countries? How can government bodies and investors eradicate energy poverty through green finance?
This session examines the prospects and constraints for natural gas investment to foster economic growth and alleviate energy poverty.
Managing Director - Africa Energy Investments Corporation
African Petroleum Producers’ Organization (APPO)
Financing the Energy Transition
Following the Paris agreement, governments and policymakers remain committed towards driving a global transition to clean energy. It is estimated that the cumulative investment on physical assets to accelerate net-zero, being approximately $9.2 trillion through to 2050, including technology, infrastructure, and natural resources. The question is how global economies can deploy capital and prioritise the investment decisions needed to accelerate the transition. What technologies must companies invest in and implement into their business models to minimise greenhouse gas emissions?
Global net-zero targets can only be achieved if sustainable financing is available to help developing nations achieve decarbonisation – what regulatory frameworks are required to enable a just and affordable energy transition for emerging economies?
Financiers and climate experts will examine the importance of balancing investment priorities to ensure an affordable, accelerated just transition.
The evolving role of a CFO as a catalyst for digital transformation
The role of a CFO and finance department has changed as a result of the oil and gas industry’s adoption of digitalisation in order to keep up with the ongoing developments of new digital transformation operations that are restructuring the operating landscape and reaping the benefits of increased productivity, higher efficiency, and increased cost savings. What essential elements must be reported to internal stakeholders in order to shift attitudes towards digital transformation? How can CFOs ensure a return on investment through digitalisation whilst also considering net-zero targets?
This discussion will evaluate the evolving role of CFOs and finance departments to drive digitalisation across the business for revenue optimisation, organisational efficiency and financial reporting transparency. | politics |
http://drooker.com/books/street_posters.html | 2016-02-10T20:01:22 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-07/segments/1454701160582.7/warc/CC-MAIN-20160205193920-00139-ip-10-236-182-209.ec2.internal.warc.gz | 0.886652 | 182 | CC-MAIN-2016-07 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2016-07__0__231554 | en | In this limited edition folio of his graphics, songs and poems, Eric Drooker presents ten years of work chronicling the political and cultural upheavals on Manhattan's Lower East Side. Drooker traces the neighborhood's radical history back two centuries in his written introduction and follows with dozens of arresting images, depicting the resistance of the beaten-down, the trod-upon and the forgotten in our brave new economic order. These visual protests debuted on lampposts and walls, but they have long since become part of the ongoing visual and psychic landscape of the Lower East Side.
$69 signed (limited edition)
Winner of the Firecracker Alternative Book Award80 pages, 2 colors, 12" x 9"
Seven Stories Press, paperback
ISBN# 10: 1888363770
ISBN# 13: 9781888363777
Limited Edition of 2,500 copies | politics |
http://atomicfootlocker.blogspot.com/2012/05/american-media-culture-in-atomic-age.html | 2019-02-17T08:06:33 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-09/segments/1550247481766.50/warc/CC-MAIN-20190217071448-20190217093448-00483.warc.gz | 0.949737 | 2,063 | CC-MAIN-2019-09 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2019-09__0__219450913 | en | After nearly four of decades of Cold War conflict, accompanied by apathy and acceptance of the general population, the ‘no-nukes’ movement finally arose in the early 1980s to protest the ongoing threat of nuclear conflagration. Or so goes the pious orthodoxy that Margot A. Henriksen seeks to problematize in Dr Strangelove's America: Society and Culture in the Atomic Age (University of California Press, 1997), a cultural history of the Cold War years in America. On the contrary, she postulates that a long-standing resistance to nuclear weapons and warfare is evident in a ‘culture of dissent’ born with the first blast of the atomic bomb during World War II, and that this wide-ranging dissent is found in all walks of society, but primarily in works of film, art, music, television and literature during the period from the mid-1940s to the late 1970s, preceding the no-nukes movement. The American culture of dissent challenged ‘the dominant culture of consensus and its vision of a new order of atomic security, defense, and prosperity.’ Henriksen’s goal in pursuing this legacy is to highlight ‘the changed forms of cultural expression which challenged the serenity and order of the atomic consensus with a new cultural chaos that mirrored the disruption of matter achieved in the technology of the atomic bomb.’ Her work seems primarily geared toward refuting the consensus historians who have claimed that Americans were generally apathetic or disinterested in the threat posed by the atomic bomb until president Ronald Reagan re-invigorated the Cold War in the early 1980s.
Soon after World War II, several spy drama films highlighted an aspect of the Cold War that historians have only recently begun to take seriously. Movies like The Stranger or Alfred Hitchcock’s Notorious develop the theme of post-war Nazi intrigue in America, foreshadowing later revelations that American (and Soviet) officials gave immunity to Nazi scientists and intelligence experts in exchange for their contributions to the nuclear arms race and Cold War intelligence apparatus. The case of Klaus Barbie still embarrasses American officialdom, and Henrikson shows that cultural dissent to the issue, in the form of spy drama films, arose almost immediately within the post-war film industry.
During the 1950s, as American officialdom began to escalate the Cold War with the Soviet Union, a genre of science fiction movies reflected a growing sense of anxiety and terror toward the bomb by way of films about flying saucers and giant or mutated monsters. Movies like Them! and The Thing from Another World focused on the terrors of invaders from space and creatures born of the bomb who wreak havoc and destruction on humanity. Similarly, and more ironically, the Japanese film industry adopted this genre to offer their own take, producing in 1954 Gojira (aka ‘Godzilla’) about a giant monster that tramples Tokyo into rubble, much like the American bombs did to Hiroshima and Nagasaki a decade earlier.
Henriksen finds in these 1950s science fiction films two tendencies of the Cold War era: fear of the bomb and anxieties about the McCarthy era hunt for ‘un-American’ activities, the latter targeting several filmmakers and writers. Henriksen notes, ‘This merging of antiatomic and anticommunist fears – particularly in the form of attack or invasion from outside forces, often tainted with radiation – became a relatively standard device in cold war science fiction films, and the representation of anticommunist anxieties helped to make the identical representation of atomic anxieties more acceptable to scrutinizing studios and law-and-order committees.’ She also finds more deeply seated cultural feelings toward unleashing the anti-human and destructive power of the bomb. For example, she outlines the contradictions found in many science fiction films that portray mutant creatures as the result of nuclear testing, who are then destroyed by the same technologies that created them. The bomb is both the destroyer and redeemer. In such films, Henriksen suggests that ‘their sensibility to guilt and remorse and their recognition of the crime against nature and man that is the essence of atomic and hydrogen bombs coalesce into an effective indictment of the atomic base of American power.’
These more or less direct depictions of nuclear war and its results, no matter how fantasized or stylized, are not the only aspect of the culture of dissent that Henriksen reviews. In fact, she locates relevant contradictions and even psychoses in a variety of films and novels of the 1950s, ranging from the senseless murders of In Cold Blood to the youthful rebellion of Rebel Without a Cause.
Henriksen links the growing fascination with violence and chaos to the moral dilemma of the Cold War, that the key to peace lies in promulgating weapons of mass destruction on a global scale. This is best outlined in the second section of the book, about ‘the emergence of a schizoid America in the age of anxiety.’ One of the most engaging chapters in this section is on civil defense. During the late 1950s, the US government sponsored a series of films and other public relations ploys to convince Americans that they ought to build and learn to live in bomb shelters. This reflected a growing acceptance within the Eisenhower administration and officialdom in general that the only key to survival in the world of the bomb would be to shelter the population in the rapidly growing suburban sprawl around most large cities. Such a policy considered cities as lost causes, since they would be the first targets of Soviet nuclear strikes. It also addresses the problem of masses of people fleeing from destroyed cities into the outlying suburban areas, shining new light on the promotion and growth of American suburbia. The bomb shelter craze led to all sorts of depraved and schizoid behavior, including, for example, a 'civil defense' film that features a proclamation by a priest that it was acceptable for Americans to kill each other in defense of their private shelters. But the culture of dissent responded to such lunacy in a variety of ways, including a series of articles in periodicals like The Nation, and as reflected in the plots of television shows like The Twilight Zone, which directly or indirectly criticized the cruel ironies and moral bankruptcy of these official policies.
The culture of dissent also responded to the increasingly growing and noticeable psychological and emotional problems of Americans, giving rise to widespread practices like the use of medication to ease the tension of living in terror of the bomb. As Henriksen suggests, ‘The surface complacence of the Eisenhower years, perhaps in part artificially induced by the security network that promoted conformity, may also have been medicinally aided by the billions of tranquilizers ingested by Americans in the postwar era. Adding to the complexity and ambiguity of this era’s surface calm was this new reality: mental health had become the number one medical concern of the nation.’ This problematizes the narrative of conservative historians who write off the 1960s as a time of social stupor induced by illicit drug use among the American youth; in the 1950s, the drug-induced stupor was prescribed by doctors. Henrikson continues: ‘While the mainstream American culture of consensus and Eisenhower’s politics of tranquility continued to uphold the image of a secure and contented American society, the culture of dissent shifted its attention to this coexistent underground America of anxiety, where tranquility and satisfaction dissolved into tension and conflict.’ The growing atmosphere of repressed tension and conflict in the 1950s gives birth to the tumultuous 1960s, with its mass youth rebellion, the movement for Black liberation and the murderous American adventure in Vietnam.
Henriksen derived her title from an early 1960s film, Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, by Stanley Kubrick, who was a key figure in the culture of dissent. The strange love of Kubrick’s apocalyptic film is love of the bomb above all else. Peopled with sick technocrats, venal politicians and insane war mongers, the startling imagery of the film brought to the screen many of the tensions and conflicts that had been seething under the seeming calm surface as the culture of dissent gained momentum in the 1950s. Kubrick’s dark and macabre comedy ends with impending nuclear holocaust, providing an irreverent warning to those who flirt with the bomb.
The culture of dissent continued to question all that was sacred in the American culture of consent, culminating in questions about the existence of God. By the late 1960s, even mainstream publications like Time magazine asked, ‘Is God Dead?’ Many Americans saw the gross contradictions of nuclear diplomacy, the Vietnam war and continued repression of Black liberation as signs of a total moral breakdown in mainstream American society, leading to the growing infusion of atheism into the culture of dissent.
Henriksen concludes this important and wide ranging work by suggesting a resolution of the multifarious tensions manifested in the culture of dissent: ‘The culture of dissent, whether with a violent or peaceful counterforce of protest, had kept the tension in American culture and society high and had ultimately promoted the alternative peaceful and humanist values that helped to control the destructive values of the system.’ An odd ending, perhaps, for an enlightening book, since she finds a benefit in the decades of hysteria, death and destruction that become more apparent once one places her story in a global context. This oddly anti-climatic conclusion points to perhaps a key shortcoming of the work, which arises from her adherence to a particular methodological orthodoxy of American scholarship. Henriksen, an American historian, infuses her work with the insights of cultural studies – a welcome addition to a discipline that all but ignores culture – but in so doing she concedes almost completely to the rigid and limiting periodization and localization that's become faddish among many historians. While the book, as a result, lacks breadth, it is nevertheless a worthwhile synthesis that provides a much needed insight into the ways in which the atomic age created its own uniquely tragic cultural history for Americans. | politics |
https://peaceforlebanon.org/news/ | 2019-05-22T13:04:17 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-22/segments/1558232256812.65/warc/CC-MAIN-20190522123236-20190522145236-00045.warc.gz | 0.948528 | 2,631 | CC-MAIN-2019-22 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2019-22__0__150507061 | en | A powerful antidote to the Islamic State
The Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/...refugee.../4750d7...
November 29, 2015
by Gordon Brown, prime minister of Britain from 2007 to 2010, is a U.N. special envoy for global education.
Syrian refugee students attend school in Taanayel, Lebanon. (Hassan Ammar/Associated Press)
In Beirut — the troubled capital of a country with one of the worst histories of sectarian violence in the world — a unique experiment is underway.
Born out of a National Charter for Education on Living Together in Lebanon — which leaders of all major religions have signed — a common school curriculum on shared values is being taught in primary and secondary schools to Shiite, Sunni and Christian pupils.
The curriculum focuses on “the promotion of coexistence” by embracing “inclusive citizenship” and “religious diversity” and aims to ensure what the instigators call “liberation from the risks of . . . sectarianism.” But the new curriculum is more than an optimistic plea to love thy neighbor and an assertion of a golden rule common to all religions. It teaches pupils that they can celebrate differences without threatening coexistence.
The curriculum is designed for children starting at age 9 and includes four modules. The first tells the story of the global human family, asserting that all are equal in dignity. The second focuses on the rights and duties of citizenship, irrespective of religious or ethnic background. The third covers religious diversity, including the “refusal of any radicalism and religious or sectarian seclusion.” In the fourth, the emphasis shifts from the local to the need for global cultural diversity.
Of course, there is a long way to go before this experiment bears fruit, but the fact that it is happening today in Lebanon is of global significance because of the country’s decision to offer schooling to all Syrian refugee children.
Operating under a double-shift system — Lebanese children are taught in the morning, Syrian refugees in the afternoon — the public schools now house more refugee pupils — nearly 200,000 Syrian boys and girls — than local ones.
Lebanon’s offer of school takes young people off the streets and ensures that they are being taught in an ordered environment. More important, the curriculum’s focus on peace and reconciliation between religions is an antidote to the extremist propaganda of the Islamic State. The curriculum challenges the narrative of the violent extremists that there is an irreconcilable divide between Muslim believers and the apostate “others.”
The strategy of the Islamic State is to “capture the rebelliousness of youth, their energy and idealism, and their readiness for self-sacrifice,” according to its own propaganda. Central to this worldview, as one former hostage held by young Islamic State extremists bore witness, is “the belief that communities cannot live together with Muslims” and “that there is a kind of apocalyptic process under way that will lead to a confrontation between an army of Muslims from all over the world and non-Muslims.”
But if most Syrian refugee children are getting an education that promotes decent, humane values, the space this apocalyptic worldview holds rapidly diminishes.
President Obama is right to say that the Islamic State has to be destroyed as we also condemn those whose perverted interpretation of Islam leads them to condone violence. But hard power deals best with the hard core. We have to offer these young people an alternative vision of their region’s future and accept that there has been an abject failure in education. This has left too many Arab youth with little knowledge of the common strands within the world’s religions and of any alternative other than in jihad to closed and unreformed institutions that are unable to provide jobs or hope.
Today, 47 percent of Middle Eastern and North African youth are either unemployed or underemployed. By 2025, the region will be home to 250 million people under 25. With these young people under daily pressure to identify with the suffering of their fellow Muslims, we have to show that there is a third way beyond terror and an often tyrannical status quo.
All evidence suggests that if there were educational, employment and entrepreneurial opportunities, the region’s youth would seize them. Most want to live in a more open society with the chance to benefit from scientific advances like other young people. In a recent survey, nearly 40 percent of Middle Eastern youth said they wanted to start their own businesses.
It is time to show we are not only on the side of openness, tolerance and diversity but also of opportunity. We need to guarantee that every refugee child has what the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child and the 2000 Millennium Development Goals promised: the right to education irrespective of where the children are located, what religion they practice or what status they have — refugee or otherwise.
Before the civil war, most Syrian children were in school. Now, with most of the 2 million Syrian children exiles on the streets, theirs is a lost generation among whom child marriage rates have doubled in Jordan and for whom child labor — according to recent survey of Turkish refugees — is rampant.
In just a few months, thanks to Lebanese Education Minister Elias Bou Saab, 175,000 refugee school places have been created without having to build one new school. But it is not enough. There are 200,000 school-age children still on the streets of Lebanon and even more in Turkey and Jordan.
But a lack of money is holding us back. For about $500 million, or $500 per year per student, we could put 1 million refugee children into school across Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon.
If education is available within the region, many parents will think twice about life-threatening voyages across the Mediterranean, and we will slow the exodus to Europe of thousands of refugee families. But the case for large-scale Western financial support for an education program in refugee communities is more compelling than that: It is about how we not only deal with the terrible suffering and sorrow of millions who have lost everything in a brutal civil war, but also offer a vision of a future that makes coexistence between religions a reality.
Farewell letter to Lebanon by Tom Fletcher, outgoing British Ambassador to Beirut
“…You gave me Bekaa sunrises and Cedars sunsets. You gave me the adventure of my life, and plenty of reasons to fear for it. You gave me extraordinary friends, and you took some away. I loved your hopeless causes and hopeful hearts, shared your tearful depths and your breathless heights.There are eight stages of life as an ambassador here. Seduction. Frustration. Exhilaration. Exhaustion. Disaffection. Infatuation. Addiction. Resignation. I knew them all, often simultaneously. I wouldn’t have swapped it for anywhere in the world. I and the brilliant embassy team are still buying shares in Lebanon 2020. I’m finishing my time as ambassador to Lebanon, but with your permission I will always be an ambassador for Lebanon. Many of you ask why I remain positive about this country. All I ever tried to do is hold a mirror up and show you how beautiful you really are. Shine on. You crazy diamond. I wouldn’t have swapped it for anywhere in the world. I and the brilliant embassy team are still buying shares in Lebanon 2020. I’m finishing my time as an ambassador to Lebanon, but with your permission I’ll always be an ambassador for Lebanon.Many of you ask me why I remain positive about this country. All I ever tried to do was hold a mirror up and show you how beautiful you really are. Shine on, you crazy diamond.
Please stay in touch.
3asha LubnanYalla, bye
Ambassador TOM FLETCHER
Tom Fletcher is the outgoing British ambassador to Lebanon.”
BEIRUT ELECTIONS, A GAME CHANGER AND A SIGN OF HOPE
OPINION 10 MAY 2016
BY RAMI G KHOURI, Rami G Khouri is a senior public policy fellow in the Issam Fares Institute at the American University of Beirut.
Do Beirut elections mark birth of new Arab citizens?
If change is ever to come to stagnant Arab political systems that have long lumbered beneath the control of sectarian and other entrenched forces, historians may look back on the Beirut municipal elections held Sunday as a turning point.
When the voting took place, one main question caught people's attention: Would the upstart Beirut Madinati (Beirut My City) list of candidates comprising young activists and professionals gain any meaningful support from voters?
“The unexpectedly strong showing by the technocratic and social activist challengers is a powerful message that politics may be changing in ways that were never experienced in Arab countries before”
A significant new element quickly visible in Beirut's election discussion was Beirut Madinati's 10-point policy programme that focused on practical family needs, such as transport, water, rubbish, natural heritage, housing, public and green spaces, community services, and other such daily life needs.
"We wanted to politicise the city council where things happen that directly impact on citizens' lives, because this could be a way to achieve the change in their daily life that they want," one young Beirut Madinati activist said in an interview during the voting Sunday.
A grassroots change?
The fact that the challengers secured more than 40 percent of the vote indicated to most analysts in Lebanon that a growing number of Lebanese were seeking ways to express their anger with the stagnant governing system, while improving living conditions for citizens.
This meant that many Sunni, Shia, Christian and Druze supporters were prepared at the municipal level to ignore their sectarian leaders and bring in new city managers who could get things done.
The fact that the establishment candidates retained control of the Beirut city council indicates how deeply entrenched are the old behaviours and loyalties.
The unexpectedly strong showing by the technocratic and social activist challengers is a powerful message that politics may be changing in ways that were never experienced in Arab countries before - community-based, issue-driven, citizen-focused demands delivered by gender-equitable slates of younger candidates.
This could see the birth of a new political party or the establishment of a shadow municipal council, and, for certain, stringent monitoring of the municipal council's performance by activists and citizens who have tasted success for the first time, hoping that victory and incumbency would follow in the years ahead.
This important breakthrough for a new kind of Arab political action - in the face of traditional hegemonies - now faces the harder test of building on the achievements and lessons of the past nine months of public political action.
Lebanese oncologists resort to immunotherapy to achieve cancer survival, with the first medicine approved by the FDA and the Ministry of Health in Lebanon
A revolutionary development in cancer treatment, immuno-oncology therapies are now available in Lebanon, and the Lebanese oncologists are prescribing new medicine, based on Pembrolizumab molecule, to patients with advanced melanoma and lung cancer. The latter molecule is a humanized monoclonal antibody that works by increasing the ability of the body's immune system to help detect and fight tumor cells.
On this note, the leading research-driven international healthcare company Merck Sharp & Dohme, hosted a full day conference on January 30th gathering local and international oncologists and specialists in the field, to officially launch the new medicine, approved by the FDA and the Lebanese Ministry of Health. Speakers discussed the role of Pembrolizumab in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer and melanoma, and showcased case studies featuring promising results of the drug that is achieving cancer survival.
Lebanon is the first country after the US to launch Pembrolizumab as a treatment for non-small cell lung cancer. In fact, the molecule is indicated at a dose of 2 mg/kg administered as an intravenous infusion over 30 minutes every three weeks for the treatment of patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer and melanoma, with disease progression on or after platinum-containing chemotherapy.
On this occasion, MSD Middle East Medical Affairs Director- Oncology said: "Our goal is to translate breakthrough science into innovative oncology medicines to help people with cancer worldwide. At Merck Sharp & Dohme, helping people fight cancer is our passion and supporting accessibility to our cancer medicines is our commitment. Our focus is on pursuing research in immuno-oncology and we are accelerating every step in the journey - from lab to clinic - to potentially bring new hope to people with cancer." | politics |
http://bottom-of-the-glass.blogspot.com/2009/04/critic-at-large-cuba-and-carib.html | 2018-04-25T14:38:28 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-17/segments/1524125947822.98/warc/CC-MAIN-20180425135246-20180425155246-00611.warc.gz | 0.981416 | 965 | CC-MAIN-2018-17 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2018-17__0__174350575 | en | Steely Dan--"Third World Man (live)" (mp3)
It's funny how things line up sometimes. Now there is news that Obama will begin loosening travel restrictions and financial restrictions between the United States and Cuba. Nothing certain yet, but perhaps the beginning of the long-needed thaw. It was one of his campaign issues and he's stuck to it. The first step will allow Cuban-Americans to travel to Cuba and to send more money back to Cuba than had been previously allowed. The hope, at least among us liberals, is that this will lead to a broader softening of our foreign policy towards Cuba.
But it is funny how things line up sometimes. Last week, while I was in Florida and eating books like candy, I had brought a book along with me that I bought last summer and was just getting around to finishing--The Brief, Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz. When I arrived, I was about halfway through with it, and it took several days of library binging before I got back to it. The last book I read before I returned to it was a thriller, albeit a literary one. Fidel's Last Days deals with a contemporary, fictional plot to finally get rid of Castro once and for all. A thriller and a Pulitzer Prize winner wouldn't seem to have much in common, would they?
Fidel’s Last Days by Roland Merullo.
If you wanted to kill Castro, how would you do it? Who would you trust? Can you trust the Cuban-American community in Miami, or has it been infiltrated by Castro agents interested in ferreting out plots to eliminate Castro? These are kinds of questions a female ex-CIA agent in Miami and a doctor in Cuba, both of whom have been drawn into the plot, will have to answer. If you fail, you lose everything, and your family loses everything, and control becomes even tighter as a result. Imagine living in a country where, 50 years after the fact, the overthrow of the Batista government is still considered an ongoing revolution, and where to voice even the slightest doubt about that revolution is to face destruction, even though no aspect of your society functions properly. The layers of deceit are unfathomable; the challenge of getting close enough to the great man, who has understandably become quite paranoid, to administer a lethal anything is almost insurmountable. As is the dramatic irony of knowing that Castro is still alive.
The Brief, Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz.
Like most great works, this one reduces to an unrevealing simplicity of plot: fat kid wants to get laid before he dies. Of course, that isn't the half of it, or even the fourth of it. The "fat kid," Oscar, is from the Dominican Republic, and to understand the depths of his bad luck, you have to grasp the last 60 years or more of life in the Domincan Republic. I can't speak for you, but I was stunned, in reading this book, to discover how little I know about the history of a country that is so close to us. The history itself is perhaps not all that surprising: for most of the 20th century, the Dominican Republic was dominated by a cruel, meglomaniacal dictator who had the tacit support of the United States. The extent to which this man and his desires and his police force's desires dominate even the smallest decision or utterance from the mouths of one of his citizens is incomprehensible to us in this country. But, as an example, one doctor's decision not to make his beautiful daughter available to "El Jefe" has dire consequences for a couple of generations.
The connections should be pretty obvious, but I'll make them anyway. The dominance of repressive, harsh governments in the Caribbean has disjointed life there. We don't begin to understand the extent of these repressions. Both of these books illuminate those extents; in fact, in both books you get quite graphic accounts, both fictional and historical, of boundless acts of torture and violence. But, really, the subject matter, as compelling as it is, is almost secondary to superb writing, especially in the case of Oscar Wao. As told by Oscar's sister and her sometimes-ne're-do-well boyfriend, the story becomes the intimate story of a few characters and the story of a family of immigrants and a country.
Both books engaged me fully and taught me a lot, but Oscar Wao is the Great American Novel, much of which doesn't take place in America. Highly recommended.
"Third World Man" comes from Steely Dan's Alive in America, available at Itunes. | politics |
https://www.ourbigskyvalues.org/could-this-unknown-montana-governor-be-our-next-president/ | 2019-03-19T06:35:44 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-13/segments/1552912201904.55/warc/CC-MAIN-20190319052517-20190319074517-00367.warc.gz | 0.972028 | 480 | CC-MAIN-2019-13 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2019-13__0__67960362 | en | For two weeks every August, the Iowa State Fair becomes the center of the regional universe. It’s unlike other state and county fairs I’ve attended out West: It’s cleaner and less dusty, and there are paved streets. Some senior citizens zoom by on scooters; other people hitch a ride on cabooses towed by John Deere tractors. And then there are the political candidates, wandering around, making a show of relatable fair-food eating, glad-handing, and introducing themselves to everyone, because everyone could potentially sway their local caucus, the traditional manner in which the state helps determine the trajectory of the presidential election to come.
Walking the main thoroughfare, 52-year-old Steve Bullock, the governor of Montana, gets stopped by a woman asking to take a selfie. She didn’t know who he was — she just knew he was running for political office. “You can tell by the clothes,” she said. On that day: a blue oxford, Levi’s jeans, a Montana summer tan, and the kind of cowboy boots that signal Bullock as someone who doesn’t live — and who has, in truth, only briefly lived — anywhere with a population of more than 30,000 people.
“Iowa is kind of like doing the stations of the cross,” Bullock joked at one point in the three days he dutifully spent going through them. At the state fair, he ate pork belly on a stick. He ate a hard-boiled egg on a stick. He ate a pork chop not on a stick, and talked with the guy who sold it to him about bilateral agreements and the Trans-Pacific Partnership. He went on the Ferris wheel and took photos and wondered, “Can I still Snapchat this, even if I’ve already taken it?” He exclaimed, “Did you know that 31 piglets were born here last night? The vet just told me!”
He drank a local IPA on draft at the Triple-A ballpark in Des Moines, and a Coors in a bottle on a farm out in Altoona. He showed up at a dozen events over three tightly packed days; he sat for interviews with the local press and made pitches to big-name donors. | politics |
https://careernest.info/motivational-letter-for-master-of-public-administration-mpa/ | 2023-10-03T08:01:50 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233511055.59/warc/CC-MAIN-20231003060619-20231003090619-00115.warc.gz | 0.915181 | 590 | CC-MAIN-2023-40 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-40__0__102632188 | en | Dear Members of the Admission Committee,
I am writing to convey my deep passion for public service and my unwavering commitment to pursuing a Master of Public Administration (MPA) at [University/Institution Name]. As a dedicated and socially conscious individual with a fervent desire to contribute to effective governance, drive positive policy changes, and enhance the well-being of communities, I am excited about the opportunity to immerse myself in advanced studies in public administration at your esteemed institution.
Having successfully completed my undergraduate studies in [Your Current Major] at [Your Current University], I have developed a strong foundation in social sciences and governance. However, I am eager to delve deeper into specialized areas within public administration and contribute to the field’s ongoing research, policy analysis, and innovative strategies for addressing public challenges.
What particularly resonates with me about [University/Institution Name] is its esteemed faculty members who are experts in various public administration domains. The program’s emphasis on leadership development, public policy formulation, and practical application align perfectly with my goal of acquiring the expertise and knowledge necessary to navigate complex governance issues, advocate for equitable policies, and drive positive societal changes.
I am particularly excited about the opportunity to engage in public administration projects, policy seminars, and collaborative learning experiences with fellow public administration enthusiasts. The intellectually stimulating environment of [University/Institution Name]’s Master of Public Administration program provides an ideal setting for honing leadership skills, understanding policy implementation, and refining my analytical and decision-making abilities.
In today’s dynamic societal landscape, the role of public administrators is crucial for creating inclusive and responsive governance, fostering transparency, and delivering efficient public services. I am inspired by [University/Institution Name]’s commitment to fostering a culture of public service, ethical leadership, and evidence-based policies. The program’s focus on these principles aligns perfectly with my aspiration to contribute to the advancement of public administration practices and to address the evolving challenges faced by communities.
Throughout my academic journey and public service experiences, I have consistently demonstrated strong analytical skills, a passion for community engagement, and a commitment to promoting social equity. I have had the privilege of participating in community development initiatives that have aimed to empower marginalized groups, and I am excited about the opportunity to further refine my skills under the mentorship of [University/Institution Name]’s esteemed faculty.
In conclusion, I am confident that the Master of Public Administration program at [University/Institution Name] will empower me to become a skilled and effective public administrator who can contribute to advancing governance practices, advocating for inclusive policies, and fostering positive societal changes. Thank you for considering my application. I eagerly anticipate the opportunity to join the esteemed [University/Institution Name] community and contribute to its tradition of excellence in public administration education and leadership. | politics |
https://www.expertion.us/2015/07/barcelona-imposed-ban-on-registration.html | 2018-02-17T22:54:10 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-09/segments/1518891808539.63/warc/CC-MAIN-20180217224905-20180218004905-00517.warc.gz | 0.949734 | 237 | CC-MAIN-2018-09 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2018-09__0__1545152 | en | |The second largest Spanish city will issue a year no new licenses for Boarding houses and apartments.|
The Barcelona City Council wants to regulate the influx of tourists in the Catalan capital better. The new mayor Ada Colau issued on Thursday a one-year moratorium on the registration of new hotels and other accommodations. "It is absolutely necessary to establish order," said the non-party mayor who belongs to the camp of the Left. "So far, the tourism policy has been a kludge."
The second largest Spanish city will then issue a year no new licenses for Boarding houses and apartments. According to media reports, more than 30 major hotel projects are expected to affect. "With the measure the activity of the tourism industry is not stopped," said the mayor. Tourism accounts for about 14 percent of the economic strength of Barcelona.
"The tourism sector will create jobs in the future", said Colau. "It is our common duty to maintain the tourism." The city government wants to use the moratorium to draw up a plan for the tourism policy. In previous workers and fishing district of Barceloneta residents had protested last year against the influx of party tourists. | politics |
https://blog.helloeave.com/2018/11/at-stake-in-the-ca-midterms/ | 2019-09-21T03:55:57 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-39/segments/1568514574182.31/warc/CC-MAIN-20190921022342-20190921044342-00456.warc.gz | 0.954764 | 1,272 | CC-MAIN-2019-39 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2019-39__0__87937447 | en | Eave is a direct mortgage lender. We are nonpartisan and not a political organization. You can learn more about us here. While it’s not our aim to push any one political agenda over another, we are grateful to live in a country where everyone’s voice can be heard. The 2018 midterm elections are important. All 435 seats in the House of Representatives, 35 seats in the Senate, and governors in 36 states (including California!) are on the ballot.
Here’s what at stake in California and five things you can do to get yourself ready to vote.
What’s at Stake in California
The gubernatorial race
The governor is the head of the state’s executive branch. This means the governor has a lot of say over things like state budgets, and laws. They also have the power to appoint many state officials. In California, the current governor is Democrat Jerry Brown. He’s been in this role since 2011. But on November 6th, California will be voting in a new governor — either Democrat Gavin Newsom or Republican John Cox. You can read more about each candidate, including how they’ve voted in the past, their position on key issues, ratings, speeches, funding and more here.
In 2017, California passed a law stating that certain gasoline taxes must be set aside for road repairs and public transportation. If passed, Proposition 6 would repeal this — meaning the cost of gas would go down (because the taxes would be lower), but there would be less money available (because there would be less taxes collected) to pay for the designated road repairs and public transit. Lowering the cost of gas would help many, especially Californians who are struggling with the high cost of living. On the other hand, it could jeopardize the safety of bridges and roads because it would take away nearly $5 billion dollars each year from local transit funding. Some believe that taking these funds away would result in failure to improve transit, which could negatively impact congestion relief efforts, and potentially put the safety of those in cars at risk. You can read more about Proposition 6 here.
Several congressional seats are being voted on in the 2018 midterms. Many believe that these races are of the utmost importance. Congress is composed of two parts: The Senate and the House of Representatives (often referred to as just “the House”). Right now, both the Senate and the House have a Republican majority. To flip the Senate, Democrats would need to gain 2 seats. And experts in both parties believe the outcome on November 6th could determine control of the the House because all 435 seats there are up for grabs.
Californian’s will also elect 53 candidates to the House, one representative from each of California’s 53 congressional districts. You only get to vote for the representative running for the district you live in — not all 53. And since your your district is determined by your address, you may see a different name on your ballot from someone else you know in the state. To learn who is running for a House seat in your district, go here.
Five Things To Do before Your Vote:
(1) Find where and when you can vote
Enter your address here, to confirm your voting place and see the hours it will be open. In California, you can also vote early. You can find more information on where you can early vote here. If you need an absentee ballot (a great option if you can’t be at your polling station because you are traveling, sick, disabled, or for any other reason), go here.
(2) Find out what you need to bring
In some states (including California!), you don’t need ID; you can just state your name and address. Other states require ID, so if you’re voting outside of California, be sure to check your state requirements here.
(3) Arrange time off to vote
All states have laws allowing people time off from work to vote. In California, this law can be found in Cal. Elec. Code § 14000. The law allows up to 2 hours at the beginning or end of a shift, whichever gives you the most time to vote and takes the least time off from work. But you should know that time off is not required if you have enough time to vote during non-work time. If you do take time off form work, your employer must pay you for up to 2 hours. After that, any time off will be unpaid. Also, you need to request time off to vote in advance. The law requires you give your employer at least 2 working days notice before the election.
(4) Determine how you’ll get to you polling station and support should you need it
If you need a ride to the polls, check out Carpool Vote. They are a group of volunteers who drive those who need a ride to the polls. Lyft and Uber are also offering discounted or free rides on election day. If someone is giving you a hard time, you feel intimidated, harassed, or if you are turned away, call a voter protection hotline. And remember: Every state allows you to bring minors into the voting booth with you. So don’t worry if you have little ones in tow.
(4) Decide who you’ll for vote
BallotReady and Ballotpedia show you all the candidates on your particular ballot, what they support and who endorses them. Both tools are easy to use and have a ton of helpful information. Another thing you can do is research candidates who align (or do not align) with specific issues. For example, if your top issue is gun reform, you can use the Gun Sense Candidates look-up tool created by Moms Demand Action. A simple google search can help you plug into whatever groups are important to you. And finally, if you’re feeling overwhelmed and don’t know who to vote for — you should still vote! In fact, you can answer a few questions here, and learn which candidates align most closely with you.
Are you voting on November 6th? We will be. See you at the polls, California! | politics |
https://marksnet.net/strike4thevote/ | 2021-01-20T02:55:04 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-04/segments/1610703519883.54/warc/CC-MAIN-20210120023125-20210120053125-00061.warc.gz | 0.820879 | 239 | CC-MAIN-2021-04 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2021-04__0__243808529 | en | General Strike for Voting Rights and to End Voter Suppression
Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2020
- All Workers, Employees, and Students to Stay Home From Work or School (Except for Election Workers, Essential Postal Workers, and Essential Medical Personnel.)
- All Those Working or Schooling At Home to Take the Day Off
- Employers To Give employees the day off
Instead of working on Nov 3, we will:
Vote! Help Others Vote!
Volunteer! Rally! Protest!
End Voter Suppression! Stop . . .
- Restrictive Voter ID Laws
- Felony Voter Laws
- Racial and Political Gerrymandering
- Absence or Elimination of Same-Day Registration
- Unfair Restrictions and Sabotage of Voting By Mail
- Reducing the Number of Polling Places in Minority Neighborhoods
- Aggressive Purging of Voter Registration Rolls
- Restrictive Student Voting Laws
News Item: Over 700 Companies Will Give Their Employees Election Day Off.
(Click Here to For More Info and Other News)
Click on Support Our Strike for more information on how to support us and for other actions. | politics |
https://kevin-klinkenberg-9yyd.squarespace.com/blog/guest-post-americas-original-individual-mandate | 2019-10-21T04:38:15 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-43/segments/1570987756350.80/warc/CC-MAIN-20191021043233-20191021070733-00310.warc.gz | 0.968297 | 769 | CC-MAIN-2019-43 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2019-43__0__220852399 | en | The Car: America's Original Individual Mandate?
Today, we feature a guest post from Amanda Graor. She wrote this originally on her blog and I thought it worthy of reposting here, since it ties into a number of posts that NewUrbanismBlog has featured on transportation. Enjoy:
Ever since the Affordable Care Act was passed, there have been people fighting to repeal it, arguing that it will raise the cost of pizza, and the "individual mandate" made it all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court (and survived). The Individual Mandate was a controversial piece of the legislation, in short requiring that everyone carry health insurance or pay a fine for not doing so.
I was thinking about a trip I'm making to Wichita later this month and how my options are limited on how to get there. How it seemed like government policy over the years, starting with the "greatest public works project in history," the Interstate System, is considered one of government's greatest accomplishments, but how it has ended up reducing funding available for other forms of transportation, thus requiring Americans to own cars to make it from place to place even within their own city boundaries.
And it makes me wonder.
Is the automobile the original "individual mandate"?
Prior to the rise of the automobile, streetcar systems existed, municipal buses ran frequently, and pedestrians and bicycles were accepted and expected on streets. Once the car began taking over, the streets became less hospitable to non-motorized transportation and the cries of public transit not funding itself often drown out those that understand that the highways also don't pay for themselves.
So where does that leave someone who doesn't want to own a car, especially in a place outside the five boroughs or downtown Chicago?
Seemingly rather short of luck.
The average American way of life has evolved to a point where it is nearly necessary for a person who wants to be able to travel between destinations on a schedule to own their own vehicle. The Interstate System has made it easier to travel between cities on an individual basis, and the popularity of cars (among other things) ate away at the availability of passenger rail service. Intercity buses don't run nearly as often. Federal funding has long supported the roads-and-highways approach over a more holistic view of transportation that considers the movement of goods and people, not just the movement of vehicles.
Public transit is making a comeback in a lot of places, and the generational differences in many realms are beginning to show as Millenials enter the workforce and property-buying market in higher numbers, but it is still incredibly difficult to exist in many places without a car. I couldn't make it to my soccer games, dance classes, or graduate classes using mass transit right now, and I live in the middle of the city. This also speaks to the sprawling development that has taken place, and without requisite density, transit just doesn't make sense. All of this piles on to make an automobile a must-own for residents of most places. The "fine" in this case is either the increase in the amount of time spent traveling between destinations because of limited transit service, or the cost of ownership of a vehicle (which, when examined, really is staggering).
So, has policy over the years essentially made the automobile an unofficial "individual mandate"? Maybe with a little more active transportation, we wouldn't need quite so much health care in the first place.
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https://www.nancylyons.com/newsletter-archive/the-4th-of-july-a-celebration-of-freedom-and-an-opportunity-for-inclusion | 2023-11-30T13:08:55 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100227.61/warc/CC-MAIN-20231130130218-20231130160218-00176.warc.gz | 0.964347 | 1,552 | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-50__0__254837108 | en | Hi, this form is a starting point for all speaking requests.
Please don't hesitate to reach out about your event or request and let me know what you have in mind.
Email me directly at [email protected] with other requests like writing for your publication or joining you on your podcast.
Also, email me if you want to say hi. I like that, too.
In a past newsletter, I shared a bit about how important the 4th of July holiday is for me. Having grown up in small-town Michigan, it was the one time a year we really got to see what ‘community’ meant. The entire town would come together for the parade and fireworks over the lower harbor. There were picnics, cookouts, and beach gatherings. At the time, I was barely able to comprehend the magnitude of the holiday.
Independence Day is one of the most significant holidays in the U.S. It’s a day when people come together to celebrate the birth of a nation, marking the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. The 4th of July is not merely a holiday; it is a symbol of America's independence, freedom, and the democratic values that are the foundation of the nation's identity. July 4th is known for those festive celebrations like parades, barbecues, fireworks, and, of course, displaying the flag. These practices remind us of the hard-fought struggle for independence and the founding principles that continue to guide our nation. It is a day to pay tribute to the people who laid their lives on the line for the future of our country and to celebrate the progress and achievements that America has realized over centuries.
Yet, this holiday has become divisive (well, it actually always was, as you can learn from this video). There are often two camps of thought on that divisiveness: you either uncritically glorify American history, or you are critical of it and therefore are believed to lack patriotism. I, however, think there’s so much more to consider. So, let’s do that.
The central divisive issue lies in the interpretation and representation of American history and the perceived exclusivity of patriotism. The 4th of July can be problematic because it tends to gloss over the darker aspects of our country's history. While it is true that the Declaration of Independence was a groundbreaking document that espoused the ideals of freedom and equality, it is also true that these ideals were not initially extended to all the inhabitants of this new nation, and, in some cases, still aren’t. At the time of its signing in 1776, the horrific institution of slavery was prevalent (and existed for nearly 100 more years after!), and indigenous people were being systematically displaced, exterminated, and robbed of their land.
And still today, while we’ve made progress, we have racial inequities that trace back to our origins. So it’s not hard to believe that celebrating the country may be complicated for Black and Indigenous people living with the actual, often untold history. Here are a few articles that explain some perspectives on that complexity: “For Many Black Americans, The Fourth Of July Means Something Other Than Independence” and “As A Black American, I Don't Celebrate The Fourth Of July” and “Why I Still Celebrate the Fourth of July as a Black American.”
Amidst the extreme anti-immigration rhetoric that is common these days, zealous patriotism and the American flag—often displayed by far-right groups—can feel very different to the wide range of immigrants living in the U.S. I recommend these two articles that share thoughtful reflections of what the 4th of July means to a selection of immigrants who were interviewed: “6 immigrants reflect on their complicated relationships with the 4th of July” and “Here’s What Immigrants Think About the Fourth of July.”
We are a country of diverse people with diverse histories and diverse beliefs, so it shouldn’t be too hard to imagine that pride in our country may be complicated for some people. How can the 4th of July be more inclusive, considering that we have both a lot to celebrate and a lot to reckon with? For me, I think the opportunity lies in expanding the narrative of what the holiday represents and how we celebrate it.
July 4th is a perfect opportunity to be open about the entirety of America's history, both its triumphs and its failures. Acknowledging and discussing the reality of the past doesn't have to detract from our country’s many great achievements. Instead, it can create a more nuanced picture to foster empathy and understanding—if we acknowledge and discuss the failures of our past, doesn’t that mean we may not be doomed to repeat them?
It will likely take a lot of time, but we must redefine patriotism in more inclusive terms. Patriotism must not only be about pride in our country but also about recognizing and respecting its diversity. Celebrations must embrace the truthful diversity of American experiences and identities, highlighting the wide variety of contributions to our nation's evolution. Then, public display of patriotic symbols, such as the flag, could instead be seen as an invitation for everyone to celebrate freedom, democracy, and the potential for progress rather than a symbol of division. But we have to consider including other cultural symbols that represent the vast array of humans who participated in our country’s development.
Inclusive celebrations can be community-driven, much like they’ve always been, focusing on shared experiences and values. They could feature cultural performances, exhibits, and public talks that highlight the contributions of diverse communities to this country’s history and culture. Approaching it this way would not only make the 4th more inclusive, but it would also enrich the celebrations, adding depth and meaning to the holiday.
Our education system plays a significant role in shaping perceptions of national holidays. While there is so much unnecessary debate about what is called ‘Critical Race Theory,’ there is no reason to reject uncomfortable truths about our country’s past. Schools could use this particular holiday to educate students about the different facets of our history, including the hardships various communities face. This approach encourages an informed, empathetic form of patriotism.
Public acknowledgment of historical injustices is another important step toward inclusivity. Monuments, public holidays, and remembrance events that honor the victims of historical injustices are visible reminders of the past, encouraging society to acknowledge and learn from our mistakes. By recognizing these painful histories alongside Independence Day, we can ensure that the 4th of July is a celebration not of selective history, but our nation’s journey as a whole.
I’ve always known that the 4th of July was a day of celebration, family, and community. What I was never taught, however, is that it is also a day of reflection. It must also be an opportunity to revel in our freedoms and acknowledge the struggles endured to secure those freedoms and the work that remains to be done. The spirit of the holiday cannot be to glorify a sanitized version of our past but to celebrate the ongoing journey of progress, which involves all of us. With greater understanding, dialogue, and inclusivity, we can transform this holiday into a day that truly represents the collective experience of the American people.
And, also, July 4th is my lovely partner’s birthday. Happy Birthday, Laura. I sure am happy you were born. | politics |
http://www.yesforaffordablehousing.com/statewide-measure/ | 2023-01-28T12:45:50 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-06/segments/1674764499634.11/warc/CC-MAIN-20230128121809-20230128151809-00013.warc.gz | 0.895149 | 318 | CC-MAIN-2023-06 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-06__0__83301642 | en | Measure 102: Amendment for Affordable Housing Bonds
The Oregon Legislature referred this ballot measure to voters with a bipartisan, nearly unanimous vote. By making this small change, local communities throughout the state will be able to create more affordable housing for thousands of hard working families, seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities while spending bond funds more efficiently.
What is the official ballot title for Measure 102?
Amends Constitution: Allows local bonds for financing affordable housing with
nongovernmental entities. Requires voter approval, annual audits.
See full details in the Oregon Secretary of State voter guide.
Why is Measure 102 important?
Currently, an outdated ban in Oregon’s constitution prevents local governments from using affordable housing bonds more efficiently by collaborating with nonprofits and local businesses. This significantly limits the number of affordable homes that can be created with taxpayer-approved bonds. By lifting the ban, local governments will be able to create more permanently affordable affordable homes in partnership with outside groups — without additional burden on taxpayers.
How much will Measure 102 cost?
Nothing! In fact, Measure 102 will make local affordable housing bond spending more efficient, creating more housing without added cost to taxpayers.
Who supports Measure 102?
More than 500 organizations, business, elected officials and community leaders throughout Oregon support Measure 102.
Who is eligible to vote on Measure 102?
All registered Oregon voters will have the opportunity to vote on Measure 102.
Yes for Affordable Housing
PO Box 42307
Portland, OR 97242 | politics |
https://rickhanseninstitute.org/resource/publications-media/news/379-the-government-of-canada-advances-knowledge-and-treatment-of-spinal-cord-injury | 2019-08-23T15:12:32 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-35/segments/1566027318894.83/warc/CC-MAIN-20190823150804-20190823172804-00101.warc.gz | 0.929088 | 314 | CC-MAIN-2019-35 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2019-35__0__162474497 | en | June 5, Toronto ON - The Rick Hansen Institute is pleased to announce that the Government of Canada has announced an investment of $35 million over five years to assist in the ongoing mission to achieve breakthroughs in spinal cord injury (SCI) research and treatment, generating new knowledge, new technologies and knowledge-based jobs, while improving patient outcomes and quality of life, and ensuring long term prosperity for all Canadians. In addition, this support will help with all elements of SCI treatment and care for newly, acutely and chronically injured individuals, including developing new therapies and decreasing the time required for research to be translated into real-life benefits.
The announcement was made today in Toronto, Ontario by the Honourable Steven Fletcher, Minister of State (Transport) and Member of Parliament for Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia, Rick Hansen and Bill Barrable.
(Picture, from left to right): Rick Hansen, Co-Chair, Rick Hansen Foundation, Kathy Sabo, Senior Clinical Vice President and TWH Executive Lead, University Health Network, Dr. Charles Tator, Professor of Neurosurgery, University of Toronto, The Honourable Steven Fletcher, Minister of State for Transport, and Bill Barrable, CEO, Rick Hansen Institute celebrate the announcement of $35 million in funding to advance knowledge and treatment of spinal cord injury.
Read quotes from our Research Network on how the funding will impact them.
F2012 Report on Financials and Accomplishments. English
Key Impact 2007-2012. English
RHI FAQs. English | politics |
https://dikdurus.com/tatar-sent-letter-to-guterres-alternative-formulas-for-a-settlement-including-a-two-state-solution-must-be-on-the-table/3812/ | 2023-12-05T10:59:16 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100551.17/warc/CC-MAIN-20231205105136-20231205135136-00179.warc.gz | 0.956885 | 785 | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-50__0__178645177 | en | His Excellency Mr. Antonio Guterres
Secretary-General of the United Nations
As the newly elected Chairman of the National Unity Party, the largest political party and the main opposition in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, I am writing to share with Your Excellency the views and position of the relevant organs of our Party on the Cyprus issue as well as the efforts you are undertaking as part of your mission of good offices. At a time when your Special Envoy, Ms. Jane Holl Lute, is in our region to have contacts with the parties concerned, I deem it particularly important that I do so.
As we enter a new era following the failure of the talks in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, last year, I believe that any new process for the solution of the issue must not be a repetition or continuation of the past processes, and must take into full consideration the following:
• Such a process must not be open-ended but have a clear, limited time-table;
• It must be result-oriented within that limited time-table;
• Alternative formulas for a settlement, including a two-State solution, must be on the table;
• It must include a clause for the provision of an international status for the Turkish Cypriot people, in the event that the new process also proves to be inconclusive.
Experience has shown and Your Excellency will appreciate that, as long as the Turkish Cypriot people continue to be subjected to unjust measures of isolation and restrictions, it is not possible to negotiate with the Greek Cypriot side on fair and equal terms, let alone achieve results. Such isolation and restrictions must be lifted as a matter of priority and urgency, levelling the playing field and translating the concept of political equality into clear and practical terms.
You will also no doubt appreciate that the issue of the underwater hydrocarbon reserves around the island of Cyprus is a test case for the Greek Cypriot side in terms of proving its sincerity and willingness to reach a political settlement on the basis of a new partnership of equals. Our Party believes that the Greek Cypriot side must give serious consideration to the Turkish Cypriot proposals for the establishment of an ad hoc committee for the hydrocarbons issue, and must engage in dialogue with the Turkish Cypriot side on this issue, even before any new process starts. Otherwise, we are left to believe that the Greek Cypriot side only pays lip service to a political settlement but is actually after the continuation of the status quo, as it has been up to now, using the negotiating process as a smokescreen to that end.
Let me stress, Your Excellency, that the continuation of the effective and actual, physical Guarantee of Turkey, including the unilateral right of intervention, which saved the Turkish Cypriot people from certain destruction in the past, is a sine qua non for us. The continued presence of a sufficient and deterrent number of Turkish troops necessary for our security is also indispensable and has been named as a red line by our Party Congress. There is no question of our Party sacrificing from these two main pillars of our security, as per the Treaty of Guarantee and of Alliance.
I also wish to emphasize that the maintenance of peace in and around Cyprus rests on the balance between the Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots within the island, and between Turkey and Greece around the island. It is of utmost importance, Your Excellency, that while we try to restore the balance between the Turkish and Greek Cypriots through a negotiated settlement, the balance between Turkey and Greece is also preserved.
I would like to conclude by wishing you, your family and the United Nations personnel the best of health and happiness in the New Year.
Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.
National Unity Party | politics |
https://jollytomato.com/lethal-lunches/ | 2019-06-18T13:18:56 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-26/segments/1560627998724.57/warc/CC-MAIN-20190618123355-20190618145355-00302.warc.gz | 0.95349 | 284 | CC-MAIN-2019-26 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2019-26__0__180077560 | en | OK, so we know school lunches aren’t always the most nutritious, and there’s certainly an obesity problem in this country, but is it really a matter of national security? That’s what some retired military brass are saying. In a new report called “Too Fat to Fight,” they find that 9 million young adults (27 percent of Americans ages 17 to 24) are too fat to join the military.
The group is on Capitol Hill today to promote passage of the Child Nutrition Act. They’re hoping to get more nutritious foods in the schools and find new strategies to help kids develop healthy habits. Of course there are myriad other problems associated with childhood obesity, but it’s kind of an eye-opener to realize that it’s even causing the military to have trouble with recruitment.
Ironic side note: The Associated Press points out that this isn’t the first time the military has gotten into the school lunch fray. During World War II, we had the opposite problem, with too many young adults suffering from inadequate nutrition and stunted growth.
We say, if the military wants to get involved in this debate, more power to them. We love the fact that there’s some shock value in calling it a matter of national security. And who better than a bunch of generals to whip us all into shape? | politics |
http://morganirwin.houserepublicans.wa.gov/2020/01/31/rep-morgan-irwin-fighting-to-keep-your-way-of-life-affordable/ | 2024-02-22T08:12:15 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947473735.7/warc/CC-MAIN-20240222061937-20240222091937-00893.warc.gz | 0.913675 | 527 | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-10__0__156888077 | en | Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Here’s what I’ve heard from you. You want more to be done to ensure your communities are safe. You want more to be done to ensure your way of life is affordable and taxes don’t continue to rise, especially on things like gas, common goods, your businesses, or on your hard-earned income.
I’m working on solutions to do my part to ensure our communities are safe. I’m also fighting hard to ensure the policies we pass aren’t increasing your families cost of living.
Keeping our families and communities safe
The opioid crisis has hit so many lives in our district. Whether you’ve been affected personally, or know someone who has, it’s a continued issue where common-sense solutions still lag. I’ve teamed up with Rep. Mari Leavitt, a Democrat from the 28th District, to make it illegal for someone to have, buy, and/or sell a ‘pill press machine’ used for homemade drug manufacturing. It’s time we stop destructive behavior by removing the tools used to produce harmful and addictive drugs. This bill is a small step in the right direction. You can learn more about our efforts by clicking here.
Fighting to keep our state affordable and accountable
This week, House Democrats passed a controversial low-carbon fuel standard mandate off the House floor on a 52-44 vote. According to the Puget Sound Regional Transportation Fuels Analysis Final Report, this bill would:
- Raise the cost of gas by up to 57 cents per gallon by 2030.
- Raise the cost of diesel by up to 63 cents per gallon by 2030.
- Result in job losses and impacts to many businesses, including our agricultural and farming industries.
House Republicans stood together and fought a hard debate. Click on the image below to watch a short video montage of our floor debate.
We believe a program like this would also:
- Be an expensive and unaccountable state bureaucracy.
- Do very little to benefit our environment and air quality.
- Not generate any new revenue for transportation infrastructure projects.
- Increase the cost of construction and add to the cost of housing.
I’ll continue to fight against bad policies like this. We’ll see what the fate of this particular bill will be as it moves forward to the Senate. I’ll keep you posted.
For more information on this important issue, please click here.
It’s an honor to serve you. | politics |
https://nonviolentpeaceforce.org/blog/myanmar-news/477-updates-from-myanmar | 2020-02-25T19:50:48 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-10/segments/1581875146127.10/warc/CC-MAIN-20200225172036-20200225202036-00131.warc.gz | 0.963962 | 557 | CC-MAIN-2020-10 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2020-10__0__185489733 | en | In July and August, negotiators of a Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) in Myanmar intensified their efforts to conclude a deal before the campaign season for the upcoming elections kicks off. During this same time, heavy monsoon rains poured down, causing widespread flooding around the country. Nonviolent Peaceforce is working in several states to support civilian ceasefire and protection monitoring mechanisms. Among these states, Chin has been the most severely affected by the floods and subsequent landslides. Some of the monitors and Nonviolent Peaceforce (NP) partners halted their usual activities in order to respond to the situation and support relief efforts. Others were simply unable to continue or communicate their activities as landslides blocked the roads and internet connections were interrupted. Citizens in Yangon and other cities flocked the streets to collect donations in a display of solidarity with flood-affected communities.
While monsoon rains created havoc around the country, negotiators of the government’s Union Peacemaking Work Committee (UPWC) and the ethnic armed group’s Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT) continued to address outstanding issues. They were able to reach an agreement on most of the provisions in the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement text and excerpts of the text were released to the public in August. A Senior Delegation of ethnic leaders is expected to meet with the president and the commander in chief in September. During that time, they will work to finalize the National Ceasefire Agreement and discuss any outstanding issues.
Whatever the final outcome of the negotiations will be, NP continues to support the peace process. NP is working together with local civil society organizations across the country to establish self-sustaining community based mechanisms that monitor the implementation of ceasefire agreements and/or address civilian protection issues. After building relations with key stakeholders and supporting local partners in recruiting and training monitors in 2014 and early 2015, NP is now working to consolidate the existing mechanisms. In July and August, NP efforts focused on facilitating dialogue between monitors and key stakeholders, coaching monitors in the implementation of their work plans, and developing resources with and for the monitors to increase their autonomy and efficiency.
It takes time and effort to establish functioning monitoring mechanisms that suit the local context, meet the needs of partners and monitors, and are sufficiently flexible to adapt themselves to emerging developments and the ever-evolving peace process. But there are encouraging signs of progress. Key stakeholders have responded positively to the participation of civilians in the peace process and the support that NP is providing them. Local partners have taken initiatives to coordinate their efforts and exchange lessons learned across projects and states. Most importantly, monitors on the ground have taken initiatives to strengthen their own mechanisms and effectively applied unarmed civilian protection methods, feeding back that “it works!” | politics |
https://normfest.org/tag/anti-imperialism/ | 2024-04-15T01:57:34 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296816939.51/warc/CC-MAIN-20240415014252-20240415044252-00116.warc.gz | 0.970895 | 190 | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-18__0__122792832 | en | Norm Geras was a kindred spirit and a true friend. He embodied the liberal values and commitments of the social democratic left that have always given me my political bearings. His courage in defending these values against apologists for extremism and bigotry, posing as prophets of an “anti-imperialism” of fools, was an inspiration to all of us. The patience and rigour with which he systematically dismantled unsound arguments for misconceived views offered a model of civilized discourse. He effortlessly cut through the noise of partisan rhetoric and polemical hyperbole to penetrate to the core of the most complex issues of the day. He combined a deep loyalty to his Jewish roots with a strongly universalist view of moral obligation and cultural engagement. He was above all a person of decency and moderation, who embraced friends with affection, while sustaining respectful dialogue with adversaries. The world is a better place for his having been in it. I will miss him deeply. | politics |
https://www.zeromotorcycles.com/incentives/ | 2020-06-04T02:45:12 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-24/segments/1590347436828.65/warc/CC-MAIN-20200604001115-20200604031115-00430.warc.gz | 0.968949 | 376 | CC-MAIN-2020-24 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2020-24__0__50349029 | en | Uncle Sam Wants You to Ride
All Zero models eligible for a 10% federal tax credit*
The E-motorcycle Federal Tax Credit, also known as the 2-wheeled plug-in tax credit, was included in the tax extenders bill approved by Congress and signed into law by President Trump late on Friday December 20, 2019. It covers 10% of the purchase price on a new Zero motorcycle up to a maximum of $2,500. The federal tax credit is available in all 50 US states and applies to new e-motorcycles purchased in 2018 and 2019 (retroactive) as well as all of 2020.
As an added bonus, an additional tax credit was approved which covers electric motorcycle chargers (e.g., Zero Quick Charger) with a 30% tax credit up to $1,000.
With additional incentives offered by many states, going electric has never been easier. See your Zero Dealer for pricing, availability or to go for a test ride.
Credits are based on the final bill of sale price for the motorcycle (including configuration accessories and additional batteries purchased on the same invoice, less taxes, fees and registration). If the product was discounted, the tax credit applies to the discounted price.
To ensure eligibility for the 30% federal tax credit specifically on charging equipment and accessories, these should be purchased on a separate invoice, which may serve as tax documentation.
Incentives come and go quickly. Check with your state, region and city to learn whether additional incentives are available in your area.*
* Government agencies offer these incentive programs. Availability and eligibility vary and are beyond Zero Motorcycles’ control. Many programs have limited funding and/or expiration dates. Eligibility for tax credits depends on your personal tax situation. Please consult your tax advisor, attorney, or accountant for details. | politics |
https://mybuckingham.com/insights/market-insights-special-election-edition | 2023-09-25T14:13:29 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233508977.50/warc/CC-MAIN-20230925115505-20230925145505-00184.warc.gz | 0.967604 | 1,139 | CC-MAIN-2023-40 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-40__0__321878599 | en | By: Neal Davis, CFA - Senior Portfolio Manager & Research Analyst
This year has been a turbulent one, as much of the news and market fluctuations have been centered around the COVID-19 pandemic. Even with COVID-19 still very much in the news, investors are already starting to look beyond the virus and out to the election that is several months away. As new polling data and approval ratings for President Trump project a challenging path for his reelection campaign, some investors are pondering the outcome of a potential win by former Vice President Joe Biden and his proposed policy changes. So, what might investors expect for the next four-plus years?
As of the middle of July, various polls show President Trump trailing Biden, with some as wide as double-digits. While these polling leads are substantial, polls may not reflect actual results. Polls can be an imperfect measure, as there tend to be biases in the data sampling, and voter turnout can factor into the eventual outcome.
However, if Biden is elected President, we could anticipate some policies that could be distressing to equity markets. The primary concern would be that he may push for an increase in the corporate tax rate from 21% to 28%, which would be a partial rollback of President Trump’s tax cuts in 2017. This would diminish corporate profitability and would likely pressure stock prices. However, companies could adapt to the higher tax rate through cost saving measures, price increases, or a reduction in share buybacks. Additionally, Biden would likely push for more regulations, particularly in the banking and energy sectors. Naturally, this would impact stock prices in those sectors, but tactical shifts in portfolios could be made in anticipation of such a move. Lastly, he may push for a $15 minimum wage. Many businesses with low-income earners could adjust to the increase in wages by cutting costs, raising prices, or by replacing manual labor with technology. Alternatively, some of those plans could be delayed to prioritize policies for economic recovery and job creation, as we eventually emerge from the COVID-19 crisis.
There could be some offsetting positive aspects for market participants if Biden is elected President. We might see an improved relationship with China and other foreign economies. China is the second largest economy in the world with many large U.S. corporations relying on China for inexpensive imports and their purchases of U.S. goods overseas. Global markets would applaud easing tensions with China and a rollback of tariffs. Biden also just unveiled an infrastructure spending plan that has earmarked $400 billion towards expanding green energy vehicle technology, steel production, and other building materials. Additionally, he has proposed spending another $300 billion on 5G cellular and artificial intelligence. His $700 billion plan is projected to create 5 million jobs.
Some analysts argue that perhaps the best outcome for the markets if Biden were elected as President would be a divided Congress. Democrats are favored to retain the House majority. The outcome for the Senate, which is now controlled by the Republicans (53-47), is less clear. At this point, the Republicans are projected to hold a narrow margin. If so, Biden would likely be unable to increase corporate taxes or impose regulations. Couple that stalemate with a more diplomatic approach to foreign policy and trade, and it could be a nice tailwind for the markets.
On the other hand, if President Trump is re-elected, much could remain the same, although he has yet to fully unveil his plans for his second term. In a recent interview, he mentioned goals to “defeat the invisible enemy”, rebuild the economy, and bring back foreign jobs to the U.S. Those plans would be welcome news for Wall Street, especially if he presented a clear path to achieve those goals. His policies thus far have been business-friendly, so we could expect to see more of the same if elected for a second term. There are still concerns that some of his foreign policy regarding jobs and trade could unsettle the markets, but investors and companies have mostly been able to adapt to those changes.
Trying to “time the market” ahead of an uncertain outcome is always extremely difficult even with the best information available. Whether it is an election, COIVD-19, or some other event, some assets will perform better than others, which is why a properly diversified portfolio is paramount.
Buckingham Advisors will continue to digest information on the election as it becomes available and provide updates. Please look for more commentary as well as webinars on this topic in the upcoming months from your Buckingham team.
Disclaimer: Buckingham Advisors is not endorsing either candidate or a political party.
Neal Davis, CFA
Senior Portfolio Manager & Research Analyst
RISKS AND IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS
Views and opinions expressed here are for informational and educational purposes only and may change at any time based on market or other conditions or may not come to pass. This material is not a solicitation to buy or sell securities and should not be considered specific legal, investment, or tax advice. The information provided does not consider the objectives, financial situation, or needs of any specific individual. All investments carry a degree of risk and there is no certainty that an investment will provide positive performance over any stated period. Equity investments are subject to company specific and market risks. Equities may decline in response to adverse company news, industry developments, or economic data. Fixed income securities are subject to market, credit, and interest rate risks. As interest rates rise, bond prices may fall. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. | politics |
https://southsideprojections.org/2017/finally-got-the-news-the-qa/ | 2024-02-20T22:33:40 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947473347.0/warc/CC-MAIN-20240220211055-20240221001055-00690.warc.gz | 0.981332 | 8,168 | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-10__0__88386637 | en | Finally Got the News: The Q&A
Conversation between film scholar Annie Sullivan (Northwestern University) and longtime activist Mike Siviwe Elliott after a screening of the 1970 film Finally Got the News
Held at the Stony Island Arts Bank on October 9, 2017.
Annie Sullivan’s introduction:
The film was a collaboration between the Revolutionary League of Black Workers and Newsreel. This was a contentious moment in Detroit’s history. In 1967, Detroit had the Great Rebellion, or what the mainstream news called “the Riots.” Because economic resources were low, there was a lot of problems with the police—brutality—and so, it erupted into days of vandalism, riots, et cetera. But it kind of galvanized a lot of activism in the city. And the League of Revolutionary Workers emerged as a coordinating body of local RUMs, or Revolutionary Union Movements, in Detroit. DRUM, or the Dodge Revolutionary Union Movement, emerged in 1968 through a series of wildcat protests at the Dodge plant in Hamtramck, Michigan, which is a little city inside the city of Detroit.
And so, they were mostly protesting the UAW, which had no black—at the time—representatives. So, the auto workers at different plants decided to get together and form the Revolutionary League of Black Workers to coordinate black protests and thought Detroit was the best place to start a national revolution, because it was at the point of production where all labor flowed.
So Newsreel, which was a collective of documentary filmmakers in New York, heard about this. Newsreel started in 1967, wanting to create a collective of filmmakers who could make alternative films, with radical aesthetics, about what the mainstream press wasn’t showing you. So Newsreel, one member of them named Jim Morrison, who was not the lead singer of the Doors, saw this and was really inspired. He thought, “We need to go to Detroit, we need to set up a Newsreel branch there and just radicalize the city, you know spread this message, because Detroit is where it’s all happening.”
The rest of Newsreel, which was also setting up locations in other cities throughout the U.S.—there were Newsreel branches in Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco… They were interested in this idea, but they didn’t really know if they wanted to fund it, because this guy Jim Morrison was not kind of a major heavyweight in the Newsreel collective. So he decides to fund it himself through an ill-fated hash smuggling scheme from Canada, which netted him ten years in a Canadian jail. But his enthusiasm for the project caught on, and other Newsreel members thought, “Okay. Let’s go to Detroit. Let’s do this.”
So, about half the group that goes to Detroit were really, really invested in this kind of—getting involved with all the radical movements in the city. The local Black Panther Party, the White Panther Party, started by John Sinclair, and being part of the student movement there. The other group was really invested in making a film about the League of Revolutionary Black Workers and working with them to make this film. During the whole production process, these tensions just kept flaring up, to the point where Detroit Newsreel just fell apart. And some people decided to leave and go back to New York. Some decided to go to Ann Arbor, where there was a lot of student activism.
And the League caught news of this, and they were like, “No, they’re not leaving. We’re making this film.” So the League decided to steal—or not steal, because they thought it was theirs. They decided to take all the filmmaking equipment and write a letter to the remaining Newsreel members that said, “Hey, this is our film. This is our equipment. You’ve mistreated us. You’re trying to make a film about us without using the message we want. This is now ours, and we’re making this film. You can stay and help if you want if you want.”
And three members of Detroit Newsreel—Paul Gessner, Steve Burke, and Renee Lichman—thought, “You know what? They’re absolutely right. We have been participating in organizational chauvinism, racism… This is their story to tell. The movement has to be made; and we’re happy to stay and help them.” And from then on, they collaborated with the League to make the film the League wanted to make. And that’s really what makes this film so unique. This isn’t a documentary made by filmmakers about a labor movement or about black radicalism. It’s a film made by a black radical organization. And the other members just helped because they knew how to make film.
And one example of this, which you’ll see in the film, is the opening sequence, where once the League took creative control, they sat down with the members of Newsreel and said, “No, no. These are the aspects of the film we really want to keep in the film. These are the aspects you’ve got to cut. You have to make it our way.”
John Watson, who was the creative director of the film—or the member of the League of Revolutionary Black Workers who had the most investment in making this film and using it as an organizing tool, said, “No. What you need to do at the beginning is we’re going to tell a whole history of slavery, from the beginning of colonization to the auto working factory.” And then the filmmakers from Newsreel were like, “I don’t know. That seems like a lot to cover in a very short film.” And they said, “No, that’s what we’re doing. And we don’t want this just to be a documentary film of us. We want it to be a film where we talk to the camera. We tell them what we think, and that’s what we’re doing.” He thought about it as a form of re-education.
So, what you’re going to get in this film is the League of Revolutionary Black Workers telling you exactly what they were thinking about the film, driving you around Detroit… You’re getting their perspective on the city through filmmaking, with the assistance of Detroit Newsreel, or the remaining members of it.
Shortly after this, which we can talk about after, the League of Revolutionary Black Workers started Black Star Productions with the idea that they were going to start to making more and more films. This never happened, unfortunately. They had a few projects in the pipeline before the League dissolved. But John Watson and some members of the League really wanted to use filmmaking as a way to spread a radical message from Detroit outward. Other members were a little bit cautious of this, especially because they were scared police, who could see their activism filmed, would use it against them. Which they had good reason to think, because another Newsreel film from L.A. about the Black Panthers—the police stole all the footage and used it as evidence of what their activism strategies were.
So there was some caution in Detroit about, no, we need to keep low profiles. The revolution is what matters in the auto factory. This also helped create a divide in the Revolutionary League of Black Workers around the film. But today, this film still exists as a great document of Detroit and one of the rare examples of early black documentary filmmaking, with these labor representatives who had no history of filmmaking before kind of taking an act of control in their own representation in Detroit.
Q&A with Mike Siviwe Elliott
Annie Sullivan (AS): I just want to know—being in Detroit around this time and a little bit after, what your experience of watching this now or your experience in thinking about it as someone who was part of it in a subsequent way.
Mike Siviwe Elliott (MSE): So I’m actually beginning to cry right now. Those were some incredible times, and I was a teenager at the time, in my late teens. But I was an activist. So, all of the members of my family were members of United Auto Workers. They were all working at different plants. My siblings, my cousins, my father, my grandfather… I’m a third-generation member of the United Auto Workers.
It was just not… not just limited to what was going on in the auto plants. It was the whole atmosphere of that time. It was the Black Power Movement that was going on. It was the awakening of black consciousness that was going on. You know, James Brown created a song “(Say It Loud) I’m Black and I’m Proud.” You know that was an anthem. It represented a real change in our psychology. Earlier in the 60s, we were colored, we were calling ourselves colored and negro and things like that. And then this whole shift in our mentality occurred. We rejected those terms, like negro and colored, and we became black and descendants of Africa.
So that was a huge change. That meant that our hair became different—we started wearing our natural hair. We took pride in our history—we just devoured black history back then, to find out more and more. For instance, when I was a kid, I was taught that the Egyptians were white, and I loved history. And I was taught that the Egyptians were white. And when I found out that the Egyptians were black—you know, the founders of Egypt were actually black people—I was so pissed off I threw a brick through my history teacher’s window. [laughter] And I stabbed both of his car tires. I didn’t know how else to express my anger. [laughter]
And so it was really a magical time. We had Motown music! You know, Motown music was the music of the nation. And so all that was going on. But most importantly, those folks were my mentors. They were my mentors, they set me on a path that I remain on today. You saw Kenny Cockrel speaking. Kenny Cockrel was a lawyer. Nobody could talk as fast as that—nobody. [laughter] When I would meet with Kenny Cockrel, I would have my questions written down, and I would call, like, time out. “Kenny, I need to ask you another question!”
But he was very courageous. You know, in courtrooms, he would call the judge a racist pig, and they would lock him up for contempt. And he didn’t care. So he was like this brave example. And General Baker—like, when you heard people being interviewed in front of—that was Cobo Arena where they were protesting against the UAW. They were also saying backing then that UAW was an acronym for “You Ain’t White.” Because there was such racism within the leadership of the UAW back then. But that voice that you heard in the background, saying “We finally got the news of how our dues being used,” that was General Baker. And he was one of my personal heroes.
I actually have an interview with him that I recorded in 2014, and he died some months after the interview. But if you go to YouTube, look for Mike Elliott, you’ll see some of my videos, but you’ll see that interview with General Baker, and you will know how powerful that man was. So, you know, growing up with people like that, and not only those guys, it was, like, James and Grace Boggs. Malcolm X was the minister at Mosque Number One. Mosque Number One was founded in Detroit. And so, I was very fortunate. My grandfather was a follower of Marcus Garvey. He instilled in me an international view of black people.
And so, growing up in those times, we had the ’67 rebellion, but we also had the shoot-out at New Bethel Church, where members of the Republic of New Africa, you know… where the door of the church was kicked in at New Bethel Church, and the reverend at New Bethel Church was Reverend C.L. Franklin, the father of Aretha Franklin. And he supported that movement! And he used his political connections to actually get those folks out of jail. But there were so many things that went on in Detroit at that time. There was no way you could just close your eyes. It was impossible. Because they all affected you. Your family members were talking about it constantly. You know, people on the street, it was the topic of conversation.
General Baker pointed out quite clearly how at that time, during that period, the real understanding of how capitalism works was right there in our face. It was, like, during the ’67 riot, black folks were quarantined to certain areas of the city. But if you worked at one of the assembly plants, and you had your ID on you, you could pass patrol, barricades, and everything else. They said, “Well, you work at Ford? Let him through! Produce those cars!”
So it became clear that, wow, our purpose is to just produce products for these folks. As you can see, the brother that did the most talking, particularly at the beginning, how articulate he was, how clearly he understood everything… And so, when DRUM was formed—the Dodge Revolutionary Union Movement—when it was first formed at Hamtramck Assembly Plant, where I worked at later on as a college student, the idea began to spread, and other plants started forming chapters of DRUM. Of course, they didn’t call them “DRUM” because the D was for “Dodge,” So it was like at the Eldon plant, it was like ELRUM.
And so, it spread. And it really empowered us, in so many ways. Not only did it give us pride, but it educated us about the world economy works… what our purpose is in serving this nation as workers. And how capitalism will keep us divided racially, even though all the workers were being exploited, and the white workers were very clear about how the line was speeding up and all that kind of thing. But they will keep us divided, feed us these lies and myths to divide the working class. That’s still going on today. But I’ve probably said too much so far.
AS: Well, I have a bunch of questions that I could ask, but I’m wondering what everyone else thinks. Does anyone else have anything to say?
Audience Member #1: I got drafted in the Army in ’66. Some of my best friends were from Detroit, and so, they were always above the other people when it came to sharpness. And I did a lot of research on the city of Detroit. One thing that is significant is that I found out that in the 50s, 60s, and 70s, they made over 50 percent of all the cars in the world. Now only two percent come out of Detroit. I also found out that when they dropped crack in this country, three cities were the first cities to go. One was Oakland, the second one was New York, and the third one was Detroit. And in listening to you and seeing the movie and already knowing about how the streets operate, I see what? The only dilemma I have is how can I be in this building the same day that the President of the United States is in this building, and he leaves. I get the gift, and he leaves. The movie was excellent. Thank you. [Applause]
AS: And one thing I want to say—first of all, when we talked about Ken Cockrel, he also was on the Detroit City Council. So they elected, Detroit, a Marxist, radical lawyer who calls judges racist pigs to the Detroit City Council, and he was going to try to be mayor—
MSE: He would have been mayor.
AS: He would have been mayor, but he died of a heart attack, unfortunately. But there was a lot of radical activism. And even though the League sort of dissolved after 1972, those people all continued in their fights to change the city. And another thing is, a lot of people who have written on this film—like scholars and activists—they talk mostly about how the film is a Marxist labor film that deals with the auto plants. And then they kind of leave out parts about the end or think of it as an afterthought, where you have a woman’s voice suddenly talk about women’s labor. Or talking about the strike against the police officers who murdered Danny Smith (note: see p. 13-14 here). But what’s interesting about this film, to me, is thinking about the relationship between the labor activism and how they’re thinking of Detroit as a community, and thinking outward. And one of the reasons that brought me to this film in the first place was thinking about the problems of Detroit today and how many of those problems you can see them responding to in 1969, 1970. Like, it hasn’t changed, it just keeps going.
So while the League of Revolutionary Black Workers kind of stopped some of their organized activism, how much of those problems continue to this day, and continue to be addressed by activists like these people? So their legacy lives on in people like you.
Floyd Webb: You know, some of this is real interesting is because I was engaged with League of Revolutionary Black Workers in 1968, when I was 16 years old working for Revolutionary Union here in Chicago. That’s how I was introduced to them, through what is now the cult of Bob Avakian. But at that time, I was working with the People’s Voice newspaper, and this is how we came to the League of Black Revolutionary Workers. Now it’s real interesting, because when League came into Chicago, the Black Panther Party just started. And basically, they totally diminished Eldridge Cleaver’s lumpenproletariat. And this is something that nobody ever really talks about, because the League fell apart around 1972, after Fred Hampton was killed, but this thing about the lumpenproletariat, it was a real discussion, it was a real struggle in the street for what that leadership was.
This is one of the first films that I actually pushed around. When I got out of high school and in college, this was a film that we brought around, along with The Murder of Fred Hampton, because this film was one of the most powerful films that talked about what real black power was—which was at the point of production. Because I come from a family, I worked in a factory at 16. All five of my family, six of my family who worked were members at UAW. And yeah, “You ain’t white.” That’s what the union was. And we struggled against the unions at Standard Screw Company. That’s the real name of the factory, Standard Screw Company. We provided the bolts, the nuts, bolts and tappets for the engines up in Detroit. That was our job…
But the impact of this film was not lost on a lot of us. But there was a whole disinformation thing about really pushing this lumpenproletariat model that was, like… Nobody really read Marx. People said they did, but nobody really read Marx, so they didn’t know what the lumpenproletariat was. They didn’t know that they were basically the quickest to sell out, that they were really people who were in a class of—what was the word? I can’t remember the exact words, but it wasn’t a good thing, right? But Eldridge and these people, they kind of massaged it in order to create this vanguard. And a lot of my best friends are Panthers, but this is something we struggled over constantly.
This is a film—I mean, we really need to bring this film back. I’m going to show this… Because of organizing, this is a film that people need to see. Know what I mean? It’s like, Black Lives Matter, for all of their good intentions… This is organizing! This is what organizing looks like, you know? What we have now, for all the demonstrations in the streets, it’s about how do we seize this power. You don’t have to seize state power. All you have to do, the first step is seizing local power. That’s all I’ve got to say.
Peter Kuttner (filmmaker, activist, SSP board member: With the brother that just spoke, Floyd Webb, talking about pushing films around, he didn’t really say what he does. He’s a major curator of films in Chicago. He brought the first African films to Chicago, started the first African film festival… so if Floyd’s going to show a film, it’s going to be important. And since I’ve got it, just for one second, Black World Cinema is a series that runs the first Thursday of every month in a cineplex down in Chatham, 87th and Dan Ryan. Just Google it. There’s movies that you’ve never heard of that will change your view.
Speaking of changing views, it’s really funny. I’m an older man than Mike Siviwe Elliott, and I’m a lighter skinned man than him, but I was moved by exactly the same things. And literally the same man, Kenny Cockrel, whom I met in 1980, when he was on the City Council, making a film about him. I’m hoping Annie knows this film, called Taking Back Detroit—
AS: Yeah, I’ve seen it.
Peter Kuttner: But what’s interesting is the organizing part. Because everything you said was correct, Annie, that he was going to run for mayor and that. But he wasn’t just going to run for mayor because he was a famous guy. He had an organization, and the organization was—I’m not sure whether they were Marxist-Leninists or not; I know there were Marxist-Leninists involved—but he had an organization called the Detroit Alliance for a Rational Economy and had people from all different neighborhoods and things. So, the thing that Kenny did a lot, he knew what organizing was, and he knew how change could be made, revolutionary change.
One more thing is I happen to be one of the organizers of Chicago Newsreel, so I know a little thing about Newsreel too. And although this film was a little divorced from Newsreel, you have an incredible amount of knowledge about it. All that stuff about Morrison is supposed to be secret! How do you know about it?
AS: If you notice the credit, he’s listed as a political prisoner.
Peter Kuttner: They don’t say he was selling dope or anything! How do you know all this stuff?
AS: I looked at the paper. When Detroit Newsreel reported back to New York Newsreel, like, “Sorry all our equipment’s gone,” they wrote a letter, and I’ve seen the letter. It’s at Wayne State, and it’s pretty interesting. It’s like the title of the letter is “The Rip-Off,” and then it kind of details what happens. And they say things very specifically, like, “Nope, they were right. It was their film, their equipment. We’re going to hand it over.” And I wished that happened more often in this world.
Peter Kuttner: But the fact is that Newsreel sort of got taken over in a similar situation. Newsreel started as “Rich White Guy Newsreel.” And then it went to Women’s Newsreel, and then it became Third World Newsreel.
AS: And it still exists today.
Peter Kuttner: And it stays Third World Newsreel. That’s the one that really stayed and existed. But I just wanted to talk about the filmmaking and the format. As much as it got divorced and divorced itself from Newsreel, it does a lot of the same stuff Newsreel did. The soundtrack is total Newsreel, along with the cuts, where there’s a lot of drum beats and bells and all of that. Hardly any sync sound. Most of the film—I mean, there are interviews in it—but most of the film, if you were to look at it again, is voice-over. But they do it in a way that you think that the people there are talking about it, so you don’t really notice that. And finally at the end, I would say that the end of that film is an homage to the famous first Black Panther film, where they sent people from New York out to San Francisco. It was early 1968. Eldridge was out…
AS: Was it Off the Pig?
Peter Kuttner: Yeah, that’s the film that’s known as Off the Pig. And they, Third World Newsreel, markets it as Black Panther now. But the end of it is Bobby Seale reading the Black Panther Party ten-point program as the camera moves through the neighborhoods of Oakland. And I was reminded of it when I don’t know whose voice—I don’t know if it was John Watson or General Baker—seemed to be reading the precepts or the mission statement of the League of Black Revolutionary Workers. Sorry, I just kind of remembered that.
AS: Thank you. In many ways, from my knowledge and studying of it, the filmmakers who made this came to Detroit wanting to make films like that about the Revolutionary League of Black Workers. Although there are some—which you can probably tell from the film—very big differences, and one of which is that it’s between the Black Panthers and the Revolutionary League of Black Workers. And that’s mostly because the Revolutionary League of Black Workers did not want to—They wanted to make sure that they emphasized the lumpenproletariat. That it wasn’t about ritualistic marching or kind of uniformed public parades in the way that the Panthers really wanted visibility. The League of Revolutionary Black Workers were kind of cautious of having too much visibility because their emphasis was on organizing the community and trying to get all the local black citizens involved in the struggle and then, from there, they hoped that white citizens would follow too and create their own struggle that supported it. So there was some differences in the ideology between the Revolutionary League of Black Workers and the Black Panthers, but they also clearly borrowed a lot of the black nationalist rhetoric from it and some of the filmmaking strategies you see in this film.
Floyd Webb: Wait a minute—black nationalist rhetoric? You know…
AS: I mean, it’s true.
Floyd Webb: No, we’re talking about a black nationalist tradition.
AS: Tradition, correct.
Floyd Webb: It’s not rhetoric, right?
Floyd Webb: I mean, I would be real careful with this language.
AS: Okay, I apologize.
Floyd Webb: This tradition we come through—You know, the first labor riot in Detroit was in 1943, when white workers reacted to the black workers who came in the Great Migration, in the first wave of the Great Migration. Those kids’ consciousness was, like, forged in that struggled. You know, 50 people killed. [UAW leader Walter] Reuther just pushed it all to the side. The UAW let that happen, right? That’s where these kids came from. That consciousness grows out of blood, it grows out of blood and sacrifice. So when I hear somebody say “black nationalist rhetoric”—You know, the struggles of Marcus Garvey, the struggles of all those people who passed this ideology on to us, you know, to the point that when I left here—I left to get to Tanzania, because we were very serious about this. So I don’t consider it rhetoric, because a lot of us were putting these things into action. We were activated, we were activists, and we did stuff. You know, this wasn’t about talk. I’m sorry to be passionate about this, but—
AS: You’re right. I used the wrong word. And I think you’re right when you said “blood,” and it almost feeds right back to what John Watson said, that it’s converting black blood, sweat and tears—it’s what they were using in the factory to create things. And these revolutionaries were just pushing that against that. And so I apologize. That was not the best word for it. I was mostly just thinking about it, you know, they were dividing themselves from what the Black Panthers were saying at the time. They saw it slightly differently.
Floyd Webb: I appreciate that.
Michael W. Phillips Jr. [SSP director]: I have a question for Mike. So bring us up into the present. You spent much of the 40 years since this film as a UAW organizer. How does this film inform what’s going on today in the factories?
MSE: When you look closely at those folks marching on the street, demanding justice because the police had killed this kid, it looked exactly like the Black Lives Matter movement today, you know, with the same kind of demands. I first started protesting around police stations when I was 17. And you know, I’m still doing that. The shit has not changed, it’s gotten worse and far more sophisticated. So, I would say today’s labor movement is far more passive than it was before. My particular union, which had so many radical thinkers at one time, is the most passive union in the nation, in my opinion. United Auto Workers. They’re like, hands off of everything. We don’t hear about them being involved in nothing.
There is a slow build-up of workers who are coming out of the Black Lives Matter experience that are now factory workers, and those folks are starting to push the leadership of their local unions to do things. You know, I see more of that happening, and I work very closely with those folks. I’m a member of the Black Lives Matter Chicago chapter myself, but you know, my role as the chair of the labor committee of the Chicago Alliance is to work with labor unions and also the Black Lives Matter movement and other youth movements. So I have a chance to interact with folks who are pulling me to the side or calling meetings about what they can do to get their local union more active. And it’s been an experience of activists around the nation, because of the Black Lives Matter movement, which is one they’re going to get a hell of a lot of credit for changing the narrative in this nation. People are experiencing more and more young workers—of color, in particular—pushing their local unions to get involved in social justice issues, which was once the norm.
When I grew up to be a union activist, it meant that you were a community activist. There was no separation. A union activist was a community activist. It was your job as a union member to get involved with your community. That’s not true today, but there are a lot of conscious workers now who are rising up and starting to demand that their unions get involved in the issues that are faced today. I can say probably that, you know, the Chicago Alliance Against Racism and Political Repression and the work that we’ve done through our labor committee, we’ve been able to receive the… So we’re fighting for an all-elected civilian police accountability council, which is the most radical proposal for police accountability in the nation. There’s no other city in the nation that has an all-elected civilian police accountability council. All of the councils and bodies that deal with police are appointed. They’re appointed. So they’re beholden to the people that appoint them; that’s why they’re never successful.
But we’ve successfully gained the support of the Chicago Teachers’ Union, of the SEIU, which is the Service Employees International Union, Local 73, and their healthcare local union. It’s SEIU healthcare union. And some AFSCME locals, and you know, various locals of the electrical workers’ union. So it’s slowly changing for the better. It’s slowly changing in terms of labor unions using their leverage and their voices to bring about social justice and, you know, to lean on politicians and also to educate their members and the community about what’s happening in the social justice movement. So I see a change gradually coming, in answer to your question.
Audience Member #5: Say I wanted to be an activist or I was involved in activism, and I understand the economical format in which I operate in a capitalist society. Is it my job to dissertate or to educate the people that I represent around the ramifications of what may happen? Like, for example, what has happened with certain unions, like, for example, the steel company in Garfield or Oak Park. It’s a disaster. Detroit is a disaster because of certain things that happened within the unions and that happened at the capitalistic foundation. Is it my job to kind of educate what may happen in the ramifications of moving forward?
MSE: More importantly, it’s your job to organize. So, your single voice is not going to have much weight. But if you can organize other people that agree with what you’re fighting for, then you’ll be much more effective. So, it’s important to call meetings with groups of folks to discuss and get their ideas and have them understand what exactly the issue is. The Black Lives Matter movement understands that very well, and they’re organizing with all kind of communities right now. They’re expanding the movement. You know, they’re staunch supporters of what’s happening in North Dakota and, you know, in the Latino communities. There’s black and brown coalitions that are growing in Chicago and other cities, because people are realizing that we’re facing the same kind of issues, and the only way we can fight them is by fighting them together. So, you know, organizing is the key, and then your voice will be amplified. That’s my advice.
AS: Just to add a question. So one of the things that happened with the Revolutionary League of Black Workers is, after the film was made, John Watson went, traveled around with the film and so did other members of the League. And they were saying that the more they went away from Detroit, the less strength the League of Revolutionary Workers had, because they needed to be located in the community and located where the point of production was. And so I’m wondering, do you think it’s—with Black Lives Matter, it’s interesting because it’s all over the country, but how important is it to make sure that the struggle is also local and that it’s really centered around what’s happening in the place, in each different city?
MSE: Well, if you use Chicago as an example, the Black Lives Matter movement is extremely focused locally. As a matter of fact, it’s one of the most effective Black Lives Matter movements in the nation. It’s right here in Chicago. And so, you know, there’s constant organizing going on, there’s just really some community-based building going on. So, yeah, they’re taking up their call, and definitely they’ve learned and they’ve studied the past. And so they’re taking advantage of that.
I just wanted to add, there’s a few little tidbits. So General Baker was, like, my personal hero, and some of the things that he shared with me about, like, where they would meet to organize was called the Ghetto Cafe. It was on Grand River Avenue. And in the Ghetto Cafe, they would always have African drummers. African drummers would always be playing. You know, they would play chess, they’d meet, they’d do everything, but the drummers would always play. And so, they really loved the fact that they could name their organization DRUM, because they always had drummers with them. So at their demonstrations, they had drummers, and it was the guys that played in the Ghetto Cafe.
Michael W. Phillips Jr.: Were they the ones playing over the intro?
MSE: I’m not sure.
AS: Actually I don’t know either. I know the song, the “Please Mr. Foreman,” is by Joel Carter, who’s a Detroit native too. So that song they picked specifically because it’s from Detroit, but I don’t know about the drumming. That’s something I need to look into.
MSE: I always loved that. General Baker himself had to leave the city. They had a warrant out for him. The lawyer Kenny Cockrel called him and said “The police woke the judge up in the middle of the night and got a warrant for your arrest.” So he was like, “Well Kenny, what should I do?” And Kenny said, “If I was you, I wouldn’t be around tomorrow.” [laughter] So General Baker left the city for a year and stayed in Cleveland, and he was on probation at the time for carrying a gun. But his probation officer was so cool that he would mark him present every week, like he had visited his office every week. And you know, Kenny said that when he was gone, the organization really started to lose some power. And I guess while he was gone, Watson was traveling and people were doing other things, and by the time they came back to Detroit, you know, the movement had really dwindled.
But it lives on. I mean, you can talk to folks in Detroit and they’re proud to talk about DRUM and League of Revolutionary Workers. | politics |
https://thecorrespondent.in/nation/how-world-media-covered-pakistan-announcing-release-of-indian-pilot/ | 2019-05-27T13:40:22 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-22/segments/1558232262600.90/warc/CC-MAIN-20190527125825-20190527151825-00141.warc.gz | 0.971105 | 259 | CC-MAIN-2019-22 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2019-22__0__8190138 | en | Reporting on the India-Pakistan tensions, Al Jazeera said that Wing Commander Varthaman and the Indian Air Force (IAF) have been at the heart of the crisis between the two countries after Pakistan claimed to have shot down two Indian fighter jets in response to the bombing of alleged “terror” targets inside Pakistan on Tuesday morning. It quoted the IAF statement which said that in releasing the IAF pilot, Islamabad was simply following international norms around prisoners of war. The Guardian also reported on Pakistan’s ‘peace gesture’ adding that it comes amid the ‘gravest military crisis in the subcontinent in two decades’.
CNN said that India is waiting for the release of Wing Commander Abhinandan who has been in Pakistani custody since he was shot down on Wednesday. It reported Imran Khan’s decision to release him as ‘a goodwill gesture which could defuse the gravest crisis in the disputed border region in years.’
BBC said that with the decision to release Wing Commander Abhinandan, Imran Khan said that Pakistan was focused on ‘de-escalation’. “Pakistan will release a captured Indian pilot as a “peace gesture” on Friday,” BBC said quoting Imran Khan. | politics |
https://gabrielabc.com/tag/womens-history-month/ | 2020-06-04T07:00:34 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-24/segments/1590347439213.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20200604063532-20200604093532-00427.warc.gz | 0.94711 | 693 | CC-MAIN-2020-24 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2020-24__0__57500046 | en | October is Women’s History Month in Canada and we wish you a thoughtful one! As we celebrate the stories and struggles of women here and in the Philippines, we should also reflect on these histories in the context of the occupation and colonization of the unceded lands of so-called “Canada”. As members of GABRIELA BC, we stand in solidarity with Indigenous women on their ancestral territories as they continue to fight for true justice and decolonization. No woman is free until all are free.
This month, we reflect on women’s struggles for liberation in the diaspora here, and how they are tied to women’s and all people’s liberation in the Philippines. We also reflect on the historical root causes of the formation of the global Filipino diaspora. As well, we understand that our celebration of this month is also carried militantly forward as we also work to continue these histories of women’s struggles into the present. Our reflection, remembrance, and struggle doesn’t begin or end with this one month.
This month is a chance for us to revisit the stories of Filipino women and bring forth new ones.
Our grassroots women’s alliance organization, GABRIELA, is named in honour of the peasant Illocano military general Gabriela Silang (March 19, 1731 – September 20, 1763), who was the first Filipino woman to lead an armed revolt against Spanish occupiers. She was the closest military advisor to her husband, Indigenous Illocano resistance leader Diego Silang. Following his assassination, Gabriela established a new base in the Abra mountains to reassemble her troops and recruit fighters from local communities. She led the regional resistance for four months before being captured and executed by the Spanish.
Another woman who directly inspired the formation of GABRIELA is Maria Lorena Barros (March 18, 1948 – March 24, 1976), who formed MAKIBAKA (Free Movement of New Women) as a student in the University of the Philippines. Maria was at the forefront of the First Quarter Storm, a period of civil unrest ignited by local uprisings led by students, labour unions, and people’s organizations in response to poverty, economic instability, and political corruption. MAKIBAKA understood the women’s struggle as fundamentally anti-feudal, anti-colonial, and anti-capitalist, while directly addressing patriarchy’s embeddedness in these structural inequalities. Following the declaration of Martial Law by President Marcos in an effort to violently suppress the people’s resistance, Maria was captured, tortured, and killed by the military. MAKIBAKA would eventually evolve into GABRIELA.
We remember Gabriela Silang’s resistance against Spanish colonialism by carrying on the Filipino struggle against American imperialism today. We remember Maria Lorena Barros by carrying on the Filipino struggle for true national democracy, free from imperialism, feudalism, and capitalism. Our liberation as Filipino women is built on the militant dismantling of these structural oppressions and our solidarity with international liberation movements.
Long live women’s liberation! Long live international solidarity!
We acknowledge that we work and live on the unceded and stolen Coast Salish territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations. | politics |
https://muscateer.om/en/news/ten-south-sudan-ministers-test-positive-idaGZpag== | 2020-05-29T06:44:43 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-24/segments/1590347402457.55/warc/CC-MAIN-20200529054758-20200529084758-00419.warc.gz | 0.972854 | 186 | CC-MAIN-2020-24 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2020-24__0__167077387 | en | Ten cabinet ministers in South Sudan are now confirmed to have contracted the coronavirus.
Information Minister Michael Makuei has told the BBC that all members of the high-level task force on coronavirus - apart from the health minister - have tested positive for Covid-19.
But he has denied reports that President Salva Kiir - who was also a member of the team - had tested positive.
It comes just days after alongside his wife, Defence Minister Angelina Teny.
All of the infected ministers are now in self-isolation and the government says they are in good health.
South Sudan has seen a sharp rise in coronavirus cases in recent days with more than 300 confirmed cases and six deaths.
There are fears the virus could cause havoc given the healthcare system is barely functioning following decades of conflict.
Read more. source: https://www.bbc.com/ | politics |
https://irelandafternama.wordpress.com/2010/10/01/irelands-external-debt/ | 2017-04-29T21:28:27 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-17/segments/1492917123590.89/warc/CC-MAIN-20170423031203-00599-ip-10-145-167-34.ec2.internal.warc.gz | 0.950049 | 351 | CC-MAIN-2017-17 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2017-17__0__189978956 | en | The CSO released the Q2 external debt figures today. The headline figure is that Ireland’s external debt increased to €1.74 trillion at end-June 2010.
The CSO report that: “At 30 June 2010, the gross external debt of all resident sectors (i.e. general government, the monetary authority, financial and non-financial corporations and households) amounted to €1,737bn. This represents an increase €63 bn in the stock of financial liabilities to non-residents (other than those arising from issues of Irish equities and derivatives contracts) compared to the level shown at the end of March 2010 (€1,674bn).”
I thought it might be interesting to see how external debt has altered since the quarterly data was first released in 2003, creating the following graph using the CSO data (available here also below). Ireland’s external debt (including that not only of government but also financial institutions based here and in the real economy) has increased markedly over the period. In terms of the state, total government debt has increased from €24.4bn in Q2 2003 to €80bn in Q2 2010, and monetary authority debt has increased from €5.6bn in Q2 2003 to €65.7bn in Q2 2010 (having been €103.5bn in Q2 2009 and €5.1bn in Q2 2008). Clearly, a dominant factor in these two arenas is the fiscal crisis and the bank bailout. The bottom line, whether it’s overall debt or state debt, is that external debt has grown enormously over the past 7 years, and is set to be a significant issue for the foreseeable future. | politics |
https://harshji.com/health-minister-of-bihar/ | 2023-11-28T09:19:28 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679099281.67/warc/CC-MAIN-20231128083443-20231128113443-00721.warc.gz | 0.923477 | 638 | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-50__0__127190936 | en | In the diverse landscape of India, each state has its own unique set of challenges and opportunities when it comes to healthcare. Bihar, one of the most populous states in India, is no exception. The health minister of Bihar plays a pivotal role in addressing the healthcare needs of the state’s population and implementing policies to improve the overall health and well-being of its people. In this article, we will explore the key responsibilities, challenges, and initiatives undertaken by the health minister of Bihar in the pursuit of better healthcare.
The Role of the Health Minister
Policy Formulation and Implementation:
- The health minister of Bihar is responsible for formulating health policies and strategies that align with the state’s unique healthcare needs.
- They oversee the implementation of these policies and ensure that they are executed effectively.
Healthcare Infrastructure Development:
- One of the critical roles of the health minister is to oversee the development and maintenance of healthcare infrastructure, including hospitals, clinics, and medical facilities.
- They ensure that the healthcare infrastructure is accessible to all, especially in remote and underserved areas.
Public Health Awareness and Education:
- The health minister is responsible for raising awareness about public health issues and promoting health education campaigns.
- They work to educate the public about preventive measures and healthy lifestyle choices.
Budget Allocation and Resource Management:
- The health minister manages the budget allocated for healthcare in the state.
- Efficient allocation of resources ensures that healthcare services are well-funded and accessible to all.
Challenges Faced by the Health Minister of Bihar:
- Bihar’s high population density poses a significant challenge in providing healthcare services to all.
- The health minister must focus on reaching out to every corner of the state.
- The state faces challenges related to inadequate healthcare infrastructure.
- The health minister must invest in infrastructure development to bridge these gaps.
- Bihar has a higher incidence of certain diseases and health issues.
- The health minister must formulate targeted strategies to combat these diseases.
Initiatives Undertaken by the Health Minister:
Health Insurance Schemes:
- Implementing health insurance schemes to provide financial protection for the vulnerable population.
- Ensuring that the schemes cover a wide range of medical services.
- Introducing telemedicine services to reach remote areas.
- This technology allows doctors to consult with patients even in distant regions.
Maternal and Child Health Programs:
- Initiating programs to improve maternal and child health.
- Ensuring access to antenatal care and immunization services.
Health Camps and Awareness Drives:
- Conducting health camps in rural areas to provide basic healthcare services.
- Promoting awareness about health issues through workshops and campaigns.
The role of the health minister of Bihar is instrumental in shaping the healthcare landscape of the state. Despite facing various challenges, the health minister continues to implement innovative policies and initiatives to provide quality healthcare services to the people of Bihar. The future of healthcare in Bihar looks promising as the government, under the leadership of the health minister, strives for a healthier and more prosperous state. | politics |
https://www.metaverseprwire.com/tax-on-energy-used-by-bitcoin-mining/ | 2023-11-28T19:09:16 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679099942.90/warc/CC-MAIN-20231128183116-20231128213116-00101.warc.gz | 0.942783 | 965 | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-50__0__244701979 | en | \In recent years, Bitcoin mining has gained significant attention not only for its potential financial gains but also for its environmental impact. As the world grapples with the urgent need to address climate change, the Biden Administration has proposed a bold move – a 30% tax on the energy consumed by Bitcoin miners.
This proposal has sparked debates and discussions across the cryptocurrency community and beyond. In this blog post, we will explore the rationale behind this proposal, its potential implications, and the broader context of energy consumption in the world of cryptocurrency.
Understanding Bitcoin Mining
Before diving into the specifics of the proposed tax, let’s briefly understand what Bitcoin mining is and why it consumes so much energy. Bitcoin is a decentralized digital currency that operates on a technology called blockchain. The blockchain is a distributed ledger that records all Bitcoin transactions and is maintained by a network of miners.
Miners are individuals or groups who use powerful computers to solve complex mathematical puzzles, known as proof-of-work. When a miner successfully solves a puzzle, they validate a block of transactions and add it to the blockchain. In return for their efforts, miners are rewarded with newly created Bitcoins and transaction fees.
However, the process of mining is incredibly energy-intensive because it requires miners to run their high-powered computers 24/7 to compete for rewards. This energy consumption has raised concerns about its impact on the environment, particularly in regions where fossil fuels are the primary source of energy.
The Biden Administration’s Proposal
To address the environmental concerns associated with Bitcoin mining, the Biden Administration has proposed a 30% tax on the energy used by Bitcoin miners. This proposal aims to achieve several objectives:
- Environmental Sustainability: By imposing a tax, the government hopes to incentivize Bitcoin miners to adopt more energy-efficient practices and reduce their carbon footprint.
- Revenue Generation: The tax revenue generated from Bitcoin miners could be used to fund renewable energy projects and support initiatives aimed at combating climate change.
- Regulatory Oversight: The tax would also provide the government with a means to monitor and regulate the growing cryptocurrency mining industry more closely.
Implications of the Proposed Tax
The proposal to tax energy consumed by Bitcoin miners has significant implications for the cryptocurrency ecosystem, as well as for the broader economy:
- Increased Costs for Miners: A 30% tax on energy consumption would substantially increase operating costs for Bitcoin miners. This could lead to smaller mining operations becoming financially unsustainable.
- Shift Towards Renewable Energy: To minimize tax liability, miners may be incentivized to transition to renewable energy sources such as solar or wind power, reducing the carbon footprint of the cryptocurrency industry.
- Regulatory Precedent: If the proposal becomes law, it sets a precedent for governments worldwide to regulate and tax cryptocurrency activities, potentially leading to more comprehensive regulatory frameworks.
- Market Impact: The news of the proposed tax could influence the price and adoption of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. Traders and investors may react to the uncertainty surrounding future regulations.
- Environmental Benefits: The tax revenue generated could be directed toward environmental initiatives, helping fund the transition to cleaner energy sources and mitigating the environmental impact of crypto mining apps.
The Broader Context of Energy Consumption
To better understand the Biden Administration’s proposal, it’s essential to consider the broader context of energy consumption in the cryptocurrency space. Bitcoin is not the only digital currency that relies on energy-intensive mining processes; others, such as Ethereum, also utilize proof-of-work algorithms.
Furthermore, the energy consumption of the entire cryptocurrency industry is comparable to that of some small countries. This has led to concerns about its contribution to greenhouse gas emissions and its potential to undermine global efforts to combat climate change.
Many within the miners for crypto community acknowledge these concerns and are actively exploring alternative consensus mechanisms that are less energy-intensive, such as proof-of-stake. These mechanisms could potentially reduce the industry’s overall energy consumption and environmental impact.
The Biden Administration’s proposal to impose a 30% tax on the energy used by Bitcoin miners represents a significant step in addressing the environmental concerns associated with cryptocurrency mining. While the proposal has generated debates and concerns within the cryptocurrency community, it also presents an opportunity to promote energy efficiency and environmental sustainability within the industry.
As the world grapples with the urgent need to combat climate change, the cryptocurrency industry must find ways to reconcile its growth with environmental responsibility. Whether or not the proposed tax becomes law, it serves as a reminder that the energy consumption of digital currencies remains a critical issue that requires thoughtful consideration and innovative solutions.
As the bitcoins mining app landscape continues to evolve, it will be fascinating to see how the industry responds to these challenges and whether it can find a sustainable path forward. | politics |
https://isoumare.org/en/case-study/actuarial-evaluation-of-the-national-health-insurance-scheme-of-mali-canam/ | 2022-12-08T12:24:51 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-49/segments/1669446711336.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20221208114402-20221208144402-00859.warc.gz | 0.951337 | 584 | CC-MAIN-2022-49 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2022-49__0__167933608 | en | National Health Insurance Fund of Mali (CANAM)
BACKGROUND AND PROBLEM:
Mali’s Compulsory Health Insurance (AMO) scheme, established in 2009, is based on the principles of solidarity, contribution, risk pooling and the paying third party. The National Health Insurance Fund (CANAM) manages it in accordance with the law. CANAM, by regulation, delegates some of its functions to two delegated social security schemes that are also responsible for public service missions: the Malian Social Security Fund (CMSS) and the National Institute of Social Welfare (INPS).
The AMO concerns workers and retirees in the public and private sectors exercising a permanent and/or regular activity as well as members of Parliament. In addition, can join the AMO, the persons affiliated to the voluntary insurance scheme of the INPS, in particular the non-salaried members of the liberal, craft, commercial and industrial professions as well as the self-employed. For the categories of people mentioned above, health insurance coverage is family, that is to say, it includes the member and his dependents for the benefit of health insurance. Participation in AMO requires a contribution in the form of contributions from the member and his employer as the case may be. The contribution rates are determined by Decree.
The collection of contributions for the scheme began in November 2010. In this context, and in accordance with the provisions establishing the Compulsory Health Insurance scheme (AMO), an actuarial study was to be carried out at the end of the second year of operation of the scheme. This is how this actuarial study, which constitutes the first actuarial valuation of the scheme since its inception, was carried out.
The actuarial study of the AMO scheme, object of our service, aimed to provide relevant data concerning the impact of the technical and institutional arrangements of the AMO, to update the cost of the basket of care and to provide CANAM with real visibility on its present and future commitments.
In addition to determining short-term equilibrium parameters, the study aimed to ensure the sustainability of the system and the sustainability of its funding over the long term.
- The evaluation and updating of the care basket
- The review of the institutional and organizational arrangements of the scheme and recommendations for their improvement
- The actuarial evaluation of the scheme and recommendations on the parameters of the scheme to ensure its long-term solvency.
The results of this study allowed the CANAM to make the various adjustments necessary to the AMO regime to ensure its long-term viability. Today the AMO scheme managed by CANAM is seen as a success story in the sub-region and in Africa, and serves as a model for several other similar regimes. | politics |
https://tadalafilsde.com/the-art-of-being-a-law-abiding-citizen-a-comprehensive-guide/ | 2023-10-04T23:48:45 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233511424.48/warc/CC-MAIN-20231004220037-20231005010037-00579.warc.gz | 0.914799 | 736 | CC-MAIN-2023-40 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-40__0__252916947 | en | Being a law-abiding citizen is not just a legal requirement; it’s a fundamental aspect of a civilized society. It’s about more than just following the rules; it’s about contributing positively to your community and country. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore what it means to be a law-abiding citizen, why it matters, and how you can actively participate in upholding the law while enjoying the benefits of a safe and just society.
Understanding the Role of a Law-Abiding Citizen
Defining Law-Abiding Citizenship: Before we delve deeper, let’s define what it means to be a law-abiding citizen. Simply put, it’s someone who respects and complies with the laws, rules, and regulations of their country and local community.
The Social Contract: Being a law-abiding citizen is often seen as a part of the social contract we have with our fellow citizens and the government. We agree to follow the rules in exchange for protection, services, and the benefits of living in a structured society.
Why It Matters
Preserving Order and Stability: One of the primary reasons to be a law-abiding citizen is to preserve social order and stability. Laws exist to prevent chaos and ensure everyone’s rights and safety.
Protecting Individual Rights: Laws protect individual rights and freedoms. Being law-abiding ensures that your rights are respected and upheld, while you also respect the rights of others.
Economic Prosperity: Law-abiding citizens contribute to a stable economy. Businesses thrive in a secure environment, leading to job creation and economic prosperity.
Benefits of Being a Law-Abiding Citizen
Personal Safety: One of the immediate benefits is personal safety. Law-abiding citizens are less likely to be victims of crimes.
Legal Protections: You have legal protections when you follow the law. The legal system is there to support you when you need it.
Peace of Mind: Knowing you’re on the right side of the law provides peace of mind. You don’t have to constantly worry about legal consequences.
How to Be a Law-Abiding Citizen
Know the Laws: Start by knowing the laws that apply to you. Ignorance of the law is not an excuse.
Respect Others: Treat others with respect and empathy. Respect for others is a cornerstone of being a law-abiding citizen.
Report Illegal Activity: If you witness illegal activity, report it to the authorities. Being proactive in maintaining law and order is commendable.
Community Engagement: Get involved in your community. Being an active participant can help build a safer and more law-abiding environment.
Challenges in Upholding the Law
Ethical Dilemmas: Sometimes, obeying the law might clash with your personal ethics. In such cases, it’s essential to find lawful solutions or advocate for change through legal channels.
Influence of Peer Pressure: Peer pressure can lead individuals to make unlawful choices. Being a strong, principled citizen may mean standing up against such pressure.
Being a law-abiding citizen is not just about avoiding legal trouble; it’s about actively contributing to a just and safe society. By understanding the importance of following the law, knowing your rights, and respecting others, you can become an exemplary law-abiding citizen. Remember, a society flourishes when its citizens uphold the law, and your actions can make a significant difference. So, embrace the role of a law-abiding citizen, and together, we can build a better tomorrow for all. | politics |
https://euveca.eu/opportunities-for-health/ | 2023-11-30T10:02:36 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100184.3/warc/CC-MAIN-20231130094531-20231130124531-00501.warc.gz | 0.928772 | 424 | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-50__0__339400 | en | The event organised by the European Policy Center focused on turning the current and future challenges healthcare systems and the healthcare workforce will be facing into opportunities.
The digitalisation of healthcare creates an urgent need to upskill and reskill Europe’s healthcare workforce. Digital tools have the potential to improve care quality and accessibility, as well as reduce healthcare workers’ workload. However, without the required skills and knowledge, digital tools could create additional burdens for healthcare workers. This issue was addressed in an in-person policy dialogue in the context of the European Year of Skills. The dialogue focused on what action is needed to equip healthcare professionals with the skills required for the digitalisation of the health sector and how the EU can support member states in this endeavour. Facilitated by the Associate Director and Head of the Social Europe and Well-being Programme Elizabeth Kuiper, speakers from different backgrounds like decision, policy-makers, researchers among others, presented their approaches and possible solution on how to upskill and reskill Europe’s healthcare force.
Henriette Hansen, EU Project Manager from the South Denmark European Office, presented EUVECA’s potential and opportunities for effectively implementing digitalisation and new digital tools in European healthcare systems to decrease the burden on healthcare workers. She emphasised that EUVECA aims to contribute not only to the digital transition but also to the creation of healthcare systems and solutions. EUVECA focuses on high priorities such as ageing population, modern health consumers, the evolving roles of the healthcare sector, and personalised medicine. EUVECA intends to train healthcare staff for a yet unknown future, and the seven regional hubs aim to collaborate closely among healthcare providers and students. Additionally, EUVECA is developing a European platform where healthcare professionals and students from different regions can collaborate through webinars and apprenticeships.
In summary, the event underscored the necessity for action to prepare healthcare professionals with the skills needed to navigate successfully the digitalisation of the health sector. Projects like EUVECA are critical in contributing to a more technologically adept and well-equipped healthcare workforce to face future challenges. | politics |
http://www.m-w-h.com/JenniferB.html | 2021-09-17T07:30:26 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-39/segments/1631780055601.25/warc/CC-MAIN-20210917055515-20210917085515-00622.warc.gz | 0.976952 | 167 | CC-MAIN-2021-39 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2021-39__0__54604320 | en | Jennifer Baker is an advocate for Murdoch, Walrath & Holmes. She previously represented the California Teachers Association, where she served as a Legislative Advocate responsible for all fiscal issues before the Legislature, including both the TK-12 and community college budgets, all tax-related items, as well as pensions, with particular focus on the California State Teachers' Retirement System. During her tenure at the CTA she also worked on policy issues relating to community colleges, language acquisition and development, as well as early childhood education.
Prior to joining the CTA, she was the Director of Governmental Affairs and Program Analysis for the California State Teachers' Retirement System, where she managed both the legislative and policy unit.
Jennifer is a former Trustee for the Natomas Unified School District and a former President of the California Latino School Boards Association. | politics |
https://thevariedgod.com/2016/11/02/predictions/ | 2021-10-21T23:55:47 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-43/segments/1634323585449.31/warc/CC-MAIN-20211021230549-20211022020549-00195.warc.gz | 0.959363 | 642 | CC-MAIN-2021-43 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2021-43__0__272527787 | en | Yesterday I bought gasoline for $1.89 a gallon. Again I shook my head over the unexpectedly low price, and at my own lack of foresight. Several years ago, in a discussion with my family about gas prices, I boldly pronounced ‘You will never see gas under $2 a gallon again. Those days are gone!’
But then we had the collapse of America’s financial markets, the worldwide recession, the sudden increase in domestic energy production, and other factors that completely changed the picture, and we have seen gas prices under $2 a gallon many times in recent years. I have borne considerable ribbing on this score.
I, of all people, should know better. I try not to be a pontificator, for one thing, and I am particularly averse to predictions. ‘There’s nothing more unreliable than a prediction,’ is a favorite saying of mine. Most predictions in my life I have lived to see disproved. It goes without saying that the current presidential election cycle has offered up a few examples of predictions gone awry.
So Americans are once again driving wherever they want, as much as they want, in whatever vehicle they want, all fueled by cheap gas. And as usual, while we’re happy about our freedom, we don’t consider the true cost of our excess, which is, of course, adding to the problem of climate change. And here again I think about the problem of predictions.
When we set up benchmarks, we only give naysayers ammunition to defeat us. If someone predicts that the world’s average temperature will rise to X degrees by year Y, or that the Marshall Islands will be underwater by this year, or Florida will lose 15% of its land mass by that year, or that the polar ice cap will melt this much by the end of the decade, and those things don’t in large measure come about, it hurts the cause of warning people about the problem. ‘The experts said this would happen,’ the Climate Change Deniers sneer, ‘and of course it didn’t!’ But missing certain predictions doesn’t mean that the problem doesn’t exist: it only means that it is a hugely complicated syndrome whose effects we can only hope to track and report.
It is enough to report that the coastline of the Marshall Islands is creeping steadily inward, as is the coastline of Florida; that 9 of the 10 warmest years on record have already happened in this century; even that I am sitting outside in shirtsleeves on November 1, a day that will run 10 to 15 degrees warmer than average, writing this down. I just drove from St. Louis to Columbia, a drive that takes me through many miles of wooded Missouri hills, and where there should have been a brilliant display of autumnal color, I saw only green trees fading, unable to enter their usual seasonal cycle in the persistent heat of summer. I am not an expert and I will not try to predict anything; I can only report what I see, and that frightens me enough. | politics |
https://www.travelbritain.com/the-houses-of-parliament/ | 2024-04-22T15:19:21 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296818312.80/warc/CC-MAIN-20240422144517-20240422174517-00100.warc.gz | 0.97639 | 599 | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-18__0__14895104 | en | It is only a short walk from Trafalgar Square to Parliament Square and The Houses of Parliament. While the building is absolutely stunning from Parliament Square, it is well worth walking over Westminster Bridge to enjoy the view from the South Bank.
In the early modern period back through the Middle Ages there were the four separate kingdoms of Wales, Ireland, Scotland, and England. These later developed separate parliaments. The 1800 Act of Union included Ireland under the Parliament of the United Kingdom and Ireland, the 1707 Acts of Union brought England and Scotland together under the Parliament of Great Britain, and Wales was annexed as a part of England as a result of the Laws in Wales Acts of 1535–42.
The origins of the English Parliament can be traced to the Anglo-Saxon Witenagemot. A feudal system was brought by William of Normandy in 1066, by which he sought advice of a council of ecclesiastics and the tenants in chief before making laws. The Magna Carta was secured from King John in 1215 by the tenants in chief. The Magna Carta established that the king may not collect or levy any taxes, save without the consent of his royal council, which slowly developed into a parliament.
In 1265, the 6th Earl of Leicester, Simon de Monfort, summoned the first elected Parliament. The franchise for parliamentary elections for country constituents was uniform throughout the country and extended to all those who owned the freehold of land to an annual rent of 40 shillings, who were known as Forty shilling Freeholders.
The franchise differed across the boroughs and individual boroughs had various arrangements. This set the scene for the so called Model Parliament of 1295 which was adopted by Edward I. By the reign of Edward II, Parliament was separated into dual Houses: the first which included the burgesses and the other included the higher clergy and nobility, and no tax could be levied nor law made, without the consent of Sovereign and both Houses.
In 1603 Elizabeth I was succeeded by the Scottish King James VII, becoming James I of England, both countries came under his rule but they each retained their own Parliament. Charles I, who was James I’s successor, quarreled with the English Parliament and their dispute developed into the English Civil War. In 1649 Charles was executed and Oliver Cromwell’s Commonwealth of England the House of Lords was abolished and the House of Commons were subsequently made subordinate under Cromwell. Following Cromwell’s death, the House of Lords and Monarchy were restored by the Restoration of 1660.
The Glorious Revolution of 1688 deposed James II in favor of the joint rule of Mary II and William III amidst fears of a Roman Catholic succession, and while the supremacy of the Crown remained, introduction of a constitutional monarchy was finally accomplished with the agreement to the English Bill of Rights. A Convention Parliament was required to determine the succession for the third time. | politics |
http://actionsforfreedom.ning.com/profiles/blogs/are-you-pro-irs-or-pro-fairtax | 2018-06-24T06:56:31 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-26/segments/1529267866888.20/warc/CC-MAIN-20180624063553-20180624083553-00279.warc.gz | 0.952694 | 1,133 | CC-MAIN-2018-26 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2018-26__0__127846369 | en | Conversations on more than 50 actions to expand freedom in the United States
Are you Pro-IRS or Pro-FairTax?
Do you want token tax reform or tax replacement?
Do you want a system that taxes the poor or one that untaxes the poor? The FairTax will send every lawful family, including yours, a monthly electronic payment in the amount necessary to spend at the poverty level. A family of four will receive $611 per month.
Do you want a tax on what you earn or on what you spend?
Do you want the payroll tax or would you rather take home all your earnings?
Do you like filing with the IRS or would you prefer to have retailers collect your tax, send it to the state with any state sales tax and have your state remit the national tax to the Treasury?
Is it better to tax wealth creation or wealth depletion? To tax work, wages, income, savings and investment or tax consumption?
Is it better to keep records to file with the IRS or to have retailers collect a federal sales tax the same way they collect sales taxes in 45 states with 98% of the population? No individual or business would have any dealings with the IRS.
Is it better to try to simplify the present system in which the IRS has said evasion and errors cause a tax gap of $450 billion and the costs to comply are another $431 billion or to replace the system?
Does the government need to know how much you make and where or could that just as well be private?
Should we continue our present system that taxes exports making them less competitive in world markets and allows imports to come in tax free or vice versa, should we grow American jobs by making our exports tax free and tax imported goods and services made with foreign labor?
Should our tax system give corporations incentives:
Is it better for families and corporations to make distorted economic decisions to get the best after-tax effect or to just make the best economic decisions?
Is it better that 47% of filers pay zero income tax or that every consumer in the U.S. have skin in the game and all of us be in the same boat wanting the government to control costs to keep the tax rate as low as possible?
Do you want a system that gives employment to thousands of tax lobbyists in Washington working against your interests or one that is so simple and fair they won’t be able to game the tax code?
Do you want to continue to empower the Washington cartel or have more personal freedom with the FairTax?
Do you think pastors and charities should restrict what they say so their churches and organizations won’t lose tax-exempt recognition or should they also enjoy full rights to free speech guaranteed by the founders in the Constitution before the 16th Amendment authorized the income tax?
Do you prefer having the government tax the money you earn and contribute to charity or would you rather contribute earnings that haven’t been taxed?
Should our tax system discourage or encourage Americans to save and invest, creating more jobs and a higher standard of living for everyone?
Overall, are you Pro-IRS or Pro-FairTax?
The FairTax replaces federal payroll, personal income, estate, gift, capital gains, alternative minimum, Social Security, Medicare, self-employment, and corporate taxes. Instead, when you buy something new for $1.00, $0.23 of that would be the FairTax.
The present tax code and regulations are 75,000 pages. They change more than once a day.
The Fair Tax Act (HR25/S155) is 131 pages.
The FairTax is a 23% national sales tax on the final use and consumption of new goods and services.
The 15.3% payroll tax, half from you and half from your employer, is the largest tax that 80% of Americans pay. Removing payroll and other corporate taxes would decrease product costs and increase exports.
With the FairTax, saving what you earn is like putting money in one of the 15 different tax-advantaged savings accounts such as the tax-free 401(k). Later, when you spend money from savings, you pay the FairTax.
The IRS would be completely defunded three years after passage of the Fair Tax Act (HR25/S155).
In 2010, the IRS assessed 37,055,841 Americans $28.1 billion in civil penalties.
The FairTax reduces business risk by leveling the playing field between debt and equity.
Also, foreign corporations would flock to invest in the U.S.
Some taxes destroy more economic value than the revenue they collect. The most efficient taxes to collect are repeated real property taxes, then consumption taxes, then income taxes, then capital, then corporate taxes. Small businesses and the poor pay proportionately more to comply with the present tax code. It costs about 30% of income tax revenues to collect the income tax. It costs individuals $5 to pay $4 of income tax to the federal government and it costs businesses $143 to pay $100 of income tax to the federal government.
Treating all Americans the same will reduce opportunities for politicians to divide us. The Constitution requires that taxes be “uniform.”
Most crony capitalism, such as wind and solar power subsidies, occurs in the tax code.
The distinction between for-profit and nonprofit corporations would disappear.
To eliminate the IRS we have to eliminate the taxes collected by the IRS. States would send the FairTax directly to the Treasury. | politics |
https://foulstonemploymentlawblog.com/2021/12/07/court-temporarily-halts-federal-contractor-vaccine-mandate-nationwide/ | 2023-12-10T05:03:27 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679101195.85/warc/CC-MAIN-20231210025335-20231210055335-00320.warc.gz | 0.939887 | 384 | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-50__0__119616153 | en | On Tuesday, December 7, 2021, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia issued a preliminary injunction halting the enforcement of the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for federal contractors and subcontractors in all covered contracts nationwide. Though the lawsuit only included Georgia, Alabama, Idaho, Kansas, South Carolina, Utah, and West Virginia, the court issued the injunction “with nationwide applicability.” This order follows last week’s preliminary injunction by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky to halt the mandate in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Ohio.
The Court’s order was based on its determination that the “Plaintiffs will likely succeed in their claim that the President exceeded the authorization given to him by Congress through the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act when issuing Executive Order 14042.” Under Executive Order 14042, certain government contracts were to include a clause stating that the contractor and subcontractor (at any tier) must comply with all guidance published by the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force. The updated Task Force guidance imposed a deadline for covered contractor employees to be fully vaccinated, unless legally entitled to an accommodation, by January 18, 2022.
This ruling follows nationwide stays to the implementation and enforcement of the Biden Administration’s two other key vaccine mandates: the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Omnibus COVID-19 Healthcare Staff Vaccination Interim Final Rule.
All three of these injunctions remain in effect until further court order, though they are not yet permanent and do not address the final merits of the mandates. Employers should continue to monitor legal developments and consider continuing to take steps to be ready to come into compliance with the applicable vaccine mandates, should a court dissolve any of the injunctions. | politics |
http://www.couriernews.com/pages/full_story/push?article-Aldermen+select+more+expensive+comp+option%20&id=15356166 | 2017-04-27T11:49:37 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-17/segments/1492917122159.33/warc/CC-MAIN-20170423031202-00192-ip-10-145-167-34.ec2.internal.warc.gz | 0.982639 | 813 | CC-MAIN-2017-17 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2017-17__0__58517633 | en | DOVER - Despite voiced and written opposition from the mayor and some members of the community, the Dover City Council voted Tuesday night to impose a $400 cap on health insurance premiums offered to aldermen as compensation.
After previous discussion prompted by Dover resident Margaret Looper in February, council members discovered the monthly premiums for at least two aldermen were in excess of $800, at the city's expense.
Alderman Pat McAlister proposed a resolution at the council's March meeting that would place the $400 cap on all insurance premiums. Looper requested, however, the council take another month to compare its aldermen compensation with other cities its size.
As published in the March 9 edition of The Courier, Russellville (estimated population 25,500) and Dover (estimated population 1,300) are the only cities in Pope County in which aldermen who currently receive more than $100 per month. Aldermen from Pottsville, Atkins, London and Hector city councils each receive $100 or less.
"I'd like to keep this down to where the other cities are, considering our financial situation," Mayor Alan Bradley said Tuesday night. "I'd like to see our aldermen's compensation down to $100 per month base pay instead of insurance. ... I believe that's a fair rate until our finances get better."
Alderman Chris Loper disagreed, and explained why he believed Dover aldermen were first offered compensation years ago.
"I was recruited onto the council; I wasn't elected," Loper said. "And the reason I was recruited was because they couldn't get anyone to show up. And by 'anyone,' I mean council members."
He said the decision was soon made to offer an incentive.
But Margaret Looper, who was unable to attend Tuesday's meeting, is one resident who sees things differently. She sent a letter to the mayor and all council members urging them to either take $100 per month pay or no pay at all in place of their current insurance policies.
"If an alderman/mayor wishes to have health insurance, they may do so but at their expense, not the tax payers," she wrote in the letter also obtained by The Courier. "This way will ensure that the tax payer's money will be used for other more needed equipment for our city."
She suggested money saved from alderman's previous insurance premiums be spent on a new fire truck for the city, as well as insurance for the part-time firefighters and police officers.
One of Looper's comments, however, was brought to light during Tuesday's meeting. Alderman Loper refuted Looper's statement that "the council works one day a month for two hours or so."
"Being on the council is a lot more involved that just coming to the meetings," Loper said, explaining that the council recently attended a 12-hour training session. He said the council members must read and study any state laws or city ordinances that come up during city business, as well as accept phone calls at home from concerned citizens.
"It takes up a lot of our time, and I want people to understand that," he said.
After a motion from alderman Carl Wetzel and second from Ila Anderson, the council voted to impose the $400 cap with the stipulation that council members could accept cash in place of insurance.
Alderman Pat McAlister said her insurance premiums, as well as Anderson's, were $280 per month, and they would continue accept only $280. Bradley said he would accept only $200 per month with no insurance, and alderman Roger Lee said he would only accept a $200 payment.
Alderman George Boyd was not present Tuesday night, and Loper and Wetzel did not disclose during the meeting what they would accept from the city.
Look for more from the Dover City Council meeting in future editions of The Courier. | politics |
http://pressreleaseheadlines.com/dominican-republic-senators-call-catholic-church-rein-father-hartleys-discredit-campaign-26357 | 2015-04-28T03:49:02 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2015-18/segments/1429246660628.16/warc/CC-MAIN-20150417045740-00150-ip-10-235-10-82.ec2.internal.warc.gz | 0.954766 | 497 | CC-MAIN-2015-18 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2015-18__0__103063699 | en | SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, Sept. 30, 2009 — In a letter to the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Jozef Wesolowski, several Dominican legislators, led by Senator Charlie Mariotti and Senator Prim Pujals Nolasco, have asked the Catholic Church's authorities in the country to speak out on the smear campaign being directed towards the Dominican Republic by Father Christopher Hartley.
The senators said that the ideologists of this steadfast campaign are tainting the country's image abroad and have sought to cast doubts on the honesty, business ethics and staff of the main entities and public and private persons involved in the economic, political and social development activities of the Dominican Republic.
They also said that unrestrained and unruly statements by members of the Church, as is the case of Father Hartley's, could bring about catastrophic results for the Dominican economy and its international relations. "This could in turn precipitate massive unemployment of Dominicans and immigrants alike, since they would have nowhere else to go and no other choice but to cross the border and work in the Dominican Republic's fields," they added.
In referring to the need for Catholic authorities to control the smear campaign, the senators said that the Church has tremendous influence over billions of people in the world, so it should show solidarity with the Dominican people, informing Father Hartley's immediate superiors of the serious damages on the Dominican Republic being caused by the negative international campaign he is promoting. They should find out which interests it responds to, who is financing his campaign and who benefits from his actions. (http://pressreleaseheadlines.com/2009-UNAZUCAR-2.pdf)
In the same vein, the President of the Dominican Federation of Sugar Growers (FEDOCA), Bernardo Diaz, also publicly appealed to the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Jozef Wesolowski, to reprimand Hartley and inform the Vatican "about the damage his behavior is causing on Dominicans." He noted that the priest's allegations are intended to bring sanctions that will affect the industry's opportunities in that market, where 30,000 tons of sugar are currently placed. (http://pressreleaseheadlines.com/2009-UNAZUCAR-3.pdf)
Union Nacional de Azucareros (UNAZUCAR)
Phone: 1 (809) 567-7999
# # # | politics |
https://thesurrealityproject.com/2014/02/20/the-act-of-killing-2013/ | 2023-06-06T13:49:34 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-23/segments/1685224652569.73/warc/CC-MAIN-20230606114156-20230606144156-00277.warc.gz | 0.951901 | 881 | CC-MAIN-2023-23 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-23__0__173596513 | en | An Examination of Accepted Brutality
What happens when evil becomes accepted? When it’s not only allowed, it’s praised. Celebrated. Spoken of with pride? History is full of crimes against humanity but when an entire country is involved, we all ask, “How did they let that happen”? It’s difficult to imagine the whole of Germany allowing Nazism or the Russian gulags operating for half a century. In the documentary The Act of Killing, director Joshua Oppenheimer examines the phenomenon of accepted atrocities without the need for historical references or archival footage. He goes straight to the people responsible.
The Act of Killing takes place 40 years after fall of the Thirtieth of September Movement, a 1965 coup d’etat of Indonesia. Repelled in just a few days, the incident caused a McCarthy style witch hunt with communists being the prime targets. Over the next two years, over 100,000 enemies of the state were slaughtered at the hands of privately hired death squads. Many of the gangsters involved in the slayings are now boastful paramilitary leaders and well known citizens. They not only admit to the crimes but smile about it, confident in what they did was best for the nation.
Oppenheimer, sensing something in their pride and swagger, gives them the tools to make a movie about their experiences forty years ago. He allows them to tell it their way without any filters. The Act of Killing documents the creation of their movie and serves as a complicated yet eye opening look into the acceptance of evil and the toll it takes on the human spirit.
The star of the show is Anwar Congo, one of the original death squad leaders and founding father of Pemuda Pancasilla, the country’s reigning paramilitary organization. On the outside, Anwar is jovial and light-hearted, even as he talks about his many methods of dispatching political enemies. His happy-go-lucky charm and pride for personally killing over a thousand people undercuts a lingering despair. This central morality question, one of duty of government versus crimes against the spirit, is at the core of the film.
Oppenheimer directs it all with control and balance, allowing the now geriatric gangsters to react and even ham it up for the camera. According to Anwar and his crew of now powerful political figures, they did nothing wrong. The communists were a plague that needed to exterminated and not only did they gladly do so, they were rewarded with fame and riches. Oppenheimer never gives an opinion or blinks cinematically, even when they talk of proper garroting technique with a smile on their face.
As the film progresses and they start to shoot their extermination methods, the documentary becomes more surreal. Scenes of feigned ransacking of homes bring real tears to the faces of the local “actors” and simulated moments of torture, gives rise to long suppressed emotions. Anwar’s arc in particular is one of the most fascinating self-realizations in recent history. The doc is also exceptionally well crafted, as Oppenheimer uses the actual film footage to provide the juxtaposition between the group’s perception of the 1965 events and the emotional reality.
When the credits start to roll, there a few big names that pop up. Werner Hertzog and Errol Morris are labeled as producers. The production companies all get a plug. Five editors get mentioned. But there’s one contributor who stands out, one name who makes everything on screen seem more real, more dangerous.
As the credits scrolls downward, the word rolls by in a stream. Second camera, production manager and recording engineer. Assistant directors and gaffers. All people who’d rather be faceless than risk being involved in a volatile exposé on the country they call home. The Act of Killing is an important, heart-rending view into the world of systematic corruption. It may not answer the question of why the Indonesian killings happened over 40 years ago, but it sheds a harsh, bright light on the men responsible for carrying it out and in turn, tells a haunting story of the cost of wanton brutality. The best documentary of 2013.
Score: 9 out of 10
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http://emasculate-meddler.blogspot.com/2012/07/romney-planning-to-visit-israel-over.html | 2018-06-18T01:58:07 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-26/segments/1529267859923.59/warc/CC-MAIN-20180618012148-20180618032148-00190.warc.gz | 0.976617 | 250 | CC-MAIN-2018-26 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2018-26__0__113385383 | en | WASHINGTON (AP) ? Mitt Romney is planning a trip to Israel this summer, an aide to the presumptive GOP nominee confirmed.
No details were immediately available about exactly when and where the candidate would visit. The aide spoke on the condition of anonymity because the aide was not authorized to speak publicly about the plans.
The trip could help Romney shore up support among Jewish voters, evangelicals and foreign policy hawks. It could also help him bolster his limited credentials in foreign affairs.
During the GOP presidential primary, Romney accused President Barack Obama of throwing Israel "under the bus." He has also said his policy toward the Jewish state would be the opposite of Obama's.
Romney and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have a longstanding friendship stemming from their brief overlap in the 1970s at Boston Consulting Group. Both men worked as advisers for the firm early in their careers, before Romney co-founded his own private-equity firm.
In January 2011, Romney traveled to Israel and met with Netanyahu as part of a Mideast trip that also brought him to Afghanistan and Jordan. He also spoke in 2007 at a prominent security conference in the Israeli coastal city of Herzlia.
The New York Times first reported plans of Romney's upcoming visit.Associated Press | politics |
https://www.europafederalisterna.eu/what-is-federalism/ | 2022-07-02T02:48:45 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-27/segments/1656103983398.56/warc/CC-MAIN-20220702010252-20220702040252-00556.warc.gz | 0.970197 | 1,595 | CC-MAIN-2022-27 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2022-27__0__103054463 | en | European federalism is not a new idea. It is considered to have been popularized by the Ventotene manifesto during World War II. The Ventotene manifesto was written by Altiero Spinelli, an Italian activist who was detained together with other political opponents of Mussolini’s fascist party, on the island that gave the manifesto its name. The manifesto was written in 1941, smuggled out of the island and spread within the Italian resistance movement. In the manifesto, Altiero Spinelli described how a third world war was inevitable unless Europe made a major transformation from competing nations to cooperating states. He wrote that the absolute sovereignty of national states gave the nations a will to dominate others because each nation felt threatened by the strength of the others and the only way to be sure and grow as a nation was if another nation became weaker and less. When a country went to war, no European country could stand next to unaffected. If a country chose a despotic government, it was a vital interest for all other European countries. Europe’s fate touched all and Europe’s problems could not be solved by drawing artificial boundaries through Europe’s multicultural population. The rational and necessary solution for a Europe without totalitarianism and nationalism was a Europe of the United States. A federation where cooperation between the Member States was so close that a war would be unthinkable, and where all Europeans were equal citizens.
What is federalism and what does it mean to the member nations and its inhabitants? A federation is a form of cooperation between states that may look different, but the common ground for all federations is a clear distribution of power. Power shall be based on the autonomous Member States. They have their own governments, their own laws and their own courts. Together, Member States decide which areas whose problems and solutions go beyond the boundaries or opportunities of individual Member States to resolve, and give responsibility for those areas to a common federal organization that is also self-governing. The federal organization usually consists of a separate form of government, laws and courts around its areas. For example, it may be Republican, with a president elected by the citizens of all Member States, a chamber of elected representatives for the interests of the people and a chamber of representatives of the interests of the Member States. But it can also be parliamentary, with a parliament with elected representatives from all the Member States that form a federal government. The goal of a well-functioning federation is that the relationship between Member States and federal power is not hierarchical, but it is a side-by-side relationship where responsibilities do not compete with each other. The federal power is usually clearly confined to a so-called constitution. This clarity in the division of powers and emphasis on self-government and cooperation when it is commonly considered necessary creates an organization that is the best of both worlds. Each Member State can maintain its own identity, its own culture and its splendor, while providing all the benefits of cooperation with all other Member States.
The foundation of the European Union was laid after the Second World War, when the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) was formed in 1951 by France, West Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. The direct purpose was to prevent future war by making it both unthinkable and materially impossible by neutralizing competition over natural resources. But there was also a longer term objective with the ECSC. That would mark the start of a more united Europe, for example by creating a single European market, a single European political entity, a European federation. Over time, this cooperation developed through various forms and treaties of the European Union (EU), established in 1993, and is what we know today. But it has not become the federation since Altiero Spinelli’s time was considered necessary. The European Union is today a blend of federal ideas and intergovernmental agreements. The EU is governed today by various institutions. The European Council is composed of the Heads of State or Government of the Member States. They put the Union’s political direction, goals and priorities. The European Commission is drafting legislative proposals according to the Council’s priorities and is also responsible for implementing the legislative proposals. The President of the Commission is proposed by the European Council and must be approved by the European Parliament. The chairman then works to draw up a commission consisting of one citizen from each Member State. The European Parliament is the only directly elected institution where citizens of the Member States vote for their national members. Parliament, together with the Council of Ministers, composed of representatives of each Member State at ministerial level, examines the Commission’s legislative proposals and approves or rejects the proposals. In addition, there are also the European Union Court, the European Central Bank and the European Court of Auditors. The EU institutions mean that Europe’s common direction is set by politicians who have won national elections to pursue national policies in their homelands. The European Parliament, consisting of politicians who have won national elections for pursuing European politics in Europe, has only a scrutiny role and can neither affect Europe’s direction nor produce its own bills. The fact that national politicians control Europe’s common direction is the EU’s biggest problem in recent years. Politicians are hampered by the fear of losing national elections by making decisions that may be for Europe’s best, but considered a loss at national level. This, together with a growing nationalism in Europe, makes it even more difficult for nationally elected politicians to act for common interests. This is completely different from a federation where national politicians conduct national policies in each Member State, and Europe’s common policy is run by European politicians on a mandate from Europe’s citizens. National and common policies are clearly separated. This means a more efficient and more democratic organization. Correct decisions are made at the right level of the right people. One essential difference between the EU and a European federation is that the EU is based on treaties. Treaties are intergovernmental agreements where the signatory states undertake to comply with the treaty until the day they do not want it anymore. Treaties are written in common but it is possible for each state to withdraw if desired. In order to get all the Member States to sign the Treaties, they contain countless exceptions to the content of the Treaties at different points for different Member States. This combination of different exceptions and the possibility of withdrawing the treaties means in practice that the treaties are not binding. No one is playing the same game rules. This would be impossible in a federation based on a constitution instead of treaty. A constitution is a basis that must be approved by all the citizens of the Member States and the states themselves. Once a constitution is introduced, it applies to all without exception and conditions. A change of the constitution must go through the same approval procedure with citizens and states. This is significantly more democratic than a cooperation based on treaties.
The clear distinctions between non-competing responsibilities, between national and European policies, with the right decision in the right place, by politicians chosen to the respective level of mandate for their level, based on a democratic basis in the form of a constitution, is why one The European Federation is a better organization to solve today’s and future problems for Europe and its citizens. Problems like the environment, international crime and tax evasion. In a more global world, in competition with superpowers from all continents of the world, where freedom, democracy and all people’s equal value can not be taken for granted, Europe does not afford to let politicians with national interests make the EU ineffective, or let nationalism resume splitting Europe into small nation states in competition with each other. The only way forward is together as the Europeans we have always been, in a union created by us, working for us and making sure we have the best possible Europe for all of us. That road is in the form of a European federation. | politics |
https://www.servizipubblicicomparati.it/corti-ue-corte-edu/electricite-de-france-edf/ | 2024-04-17T02:19:04 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817128.7/warc/CC-MAIN-20240417013540-20240417043540-00467.warc.gz | 0.935839 | 1,043 | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-18__0__79403693 | en | La Commissione Europea, all’interno della disciplina che regola gli aiuti di stato ai Paesi membri, ha stabilito che i vantaggi fiscali concessi nel 1997 dal governo francese ad Électricité de France (EDF), il principale gestore elettrico del Paese, erano incompatibili con la normativa europea sugli aiuti di stato e, come tali, vanno recuperati. Secondo la
Commissione, i vantaggi fiscali in questione hanno conferito ad EDF un vantaggio economico vis à vis i concorrenti, il quale ha distorto la concorrenza nel mercato. La Commissione aveva riaperto l’inchiesta su EDF nel 2013 a seguito dell’annullamento di una sua precedente decisione da parte della Corte di Giustizia.
|European Commission – Press release
State aid: Commission orders France to recover €1.37 billion in incompatible aid from EDF
Brussels, 22 July 2015
The European Commission has decided that Électricité de France (EDF), the main electricity provider in France, has been granted tax breaks incompatible with EU rules on State aid. In 1997 France did not levy all the corporation tax payable by EDF when certain accounting provisions were reclassified as capital. This tax exemption conferred on EDF an undue economic advantage compared with other operators on the market and so distorted competition. In order to remedy this distortion, EDF must now repay that aid. The Commission reopened its investigation in 2013 following annulment of an earlier decision by the EU Court of Justice.
Margrethe Vestager, the Commissioner responsible for competition policy, commented: ‘Whether private or public, large or small, any undertaking operating in the Single Market must pay its fair share of corporation tax. The Commission’s investigation confirmed that EDF received an individual, unjustified tax exemption which gave it an advantage to the detriment of its competitors, in breach of EU State aid rules.’
As EDF was awarded the high-voltage transmission network in France as a concession, between 1987 and 1996 it made accounting provisions with a view to renewing the network. In 1997, when EDF’s balance sheet was restructured, the French authorities reclassified some of these provisions as a capital injection without levying corporation tax.
The Commission reopened the investigation in 2013 to verify, in accordance with the criteria laid down by the European Courts, whether France’s tax revenue loss was economically justified from the point of view of a private investor in relation to EDF in similar circumstances. The Commission has now concluded that it was not, in particular because at the time the profitability that could reasonably be expected of such an investment was too low. It follows that the tax exemption granted to EDF cannot be considered an investment made on economic grounds.
It is therefore State aid that has strengthened EDF’s position to the detriment of its competitors, without furthering any objective of common interest. The aid is therefore incompatible with the single market and EDF must repay it to the French state. The amount in question is some €1.37 billion, of which €889 million is a tax exemption granted in 1997 and €488 million is interest (the exact amount will be calculated in cooperation with the French authorities).
EDF is the main supplier of electricity in France, and also operates on a number of other markets in Europe. The French State is the majority shareholder of EDF, holding 85% of the capital. The Commission’s decision concerns facts dating back to 1997 when EDF was not yet a public limited company but a publicly owned industrial and commercial entity with special status.
Following an in-depth examination, the Commission had concluded in 2003 that the non-payment of corporation tax on these accounting provisions had conferred a selective advantage on EDF and constituted State aid that was incompatible with the internal market. The Commission had also ordered France to recover this aid, estimated at €889 million, with interest.
The General Court of the European Union annulled this decision on the grounds that, when re-examining the French authorities’ reclassification of the provisions as capital, the Commission had not checked whether a private investor would have invested a comparable amount under similar circumstances (Case T-156/04). This judgment was confirmed by the Court of Justice of the European Union in June 2012 (Case C-124/10 P).
The non-confidential version of the decision will be made available under case number SA.13869(C 68/2002) in the State Aid Register on the DG Competition website once any confidentiality issues have been resolved. New publications of state aid decisions on the internet and in the Official Journal are listed in the State Aid Weekly e-News. | politics |
https://www.parat.com/thsf/om-thsf-2005-363716/the-mercury-case/norway-bans-mercury-in-products | 2024-02-25T21:38:12 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474643.29/warc/CC-MAIN-20240225203035-20240225233035-00048.warc.gz | 0.92203 | 508 | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-10__0__155704959 | en | When toxic mercury lands in the environment it is extremely harmful, and the development of children may be harmed as a result. The Norwegian Minister of Environment and Development, Erik Solheim, has therefore prohibited the use of mercury in products in Norway.
Also the use of mercury in dental materials will be prohibited. “Mercury is among the most dangerous environmental toxins. Satisfactory alternatives to mercury in products are available, and it is therefore fitting to introduce a ban”, the minister said.
The reason for the ban is the risk that mercury from products may constitute in the environment. It is therefore important to stop all use of mercury as far as possible.
The ban will include dental filling materials (amalgam) and measuring instruments, as well as other products. The ban includes all areas of use that are not specifically exempted or are already regulated. The ban will enter into effect on 1. January 2008.
Most mercury released to the environment in Norway comes from sources elsewhere in the world. Norway works actively towards stronger international regulations for mercury, both in the EU and globally.
‘The Norwegian ban shows that we are doing our job at home. It is an important signal to the EU and other countries that there are satisfactory alternatives to mercury”, the minister said.
Exposure to mercury results in permanent development damage to children.
Mercury accumulates in food, especially in fish, and therefore constitutes a threat to fish as a global source of food. Mercury is transported across long distances, far from the sources.
There is too much mercury in the environment in Norway also. Today we advise against eating too much large freshwater fish, and that pregnant women entirely avoid such food.
See ‘Regulation on amending the regulation of 1 June 2004, No. 922, on restrictions on the use of chemicals and other products that endanger health and the environment (product regulation)’.
In Norwegian: Forskrift om endring av forskrift 1. juni 2004 nr. 922 om begrensning i bruk av helse- og miljøfarlige kjemikalier og andre produkter (produktforskriften)
Contact information: Deputy Director General. Anne Beate Tangen
Phone: +47 2224 6033
Fax: +47 2224 9563
Address: The Ministry of the Environment, P.O. Box 8013 Dep, N-0030 Oslo | politics |
https://politonomicsandtravel.wordpress.com/2013/07/21/the-supreme-courts-tea-party-wing/ | 2017-04-25T04:36:31 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-17/segments/1492917120101.11/warc/CC-MAIN-20170423031200-00337-ip-10-145-167-34.ec2.internal.warc.gz | 0.97532 | 5,756 | CC-MAIN-2017-17 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2017-17__0__1902917 | en | Several months ago, in a series of posts I looked at the ongoing argument throughout the nation’s history between the Federalists, who since the founding of the country supported a strong central government, versus the Anti-federalists, who favored a weak central government with strong state governments and a loose confederation of states. In the six-part series titled Civil War 2.0, I provided the historical context for how today’s war of words that can be found on the Internet, cable TV and in social media are similar to the arguments that were made in the past and which ultimately lead to the Civil War and segregation following the war. In the post titled Round Five – The Tea Party, I addressed how this historical argument ramped up once again when Barack Obama was elected president. That post included the list of the Tea Party’s core beliefs which are generally agreed upon by the numerous Tea Party organizations. Although these groups may place a different emphasis on what the movement stands for, they generally agreed on the following core beliefs:
A constitutionally limited government
Fiscal responsibility on taxation and spending
Unregulated free markets
Opposed to same-sex marriage
Opposed to abortion in all or most cases
In general, the first three are intended to restrict the authority of the federal government and its ability to protect individual rights and the last two are intended to use the power of the government, primarily state governments, to restrict individual rights for women, gays and lesbians.
Over the past few months we have seen significant steps taken by numerous Republican-controlled state governments, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, and most importantly by the conservative U.S. Supreme Court, to advance these Tea Party core beliefs. These actions are leading to a deepening of the divide in the country. As Lincoln said in his famous address to the Republican State Convention in 1858, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” At that time Lincoln was addressing the overriding divisive issue of his day, slavery. The country was deeply divided with the northern states opposed to any expansion of slavery into the new territories and for the most part were in favor of the complete abolishment of slavery, even in the southern states. The southern states not only wanted to maintain what was euphemistically referred to as their “peculiar institution”, they wanted to expand it into the new territories and states as they entered the union. At the heart of the argument was federal verses states rights argument that occurred between the Federalist and Anti-federalist during the ratification of the Constitution. Should each new state or territory be permitted to make its own decision on whether or not to permit slavery, or should there be a federal policy for new states entering the union?
The Kansas–Nebraska Act of 1854 created the territories of Kansas and Nebraska, which opened new lands for settlement, and had the effect of repealing the Missouri Compromise of 1820. The purpose of the Missouri Compromise was an effort to preserve the balance of power in Congress between slave and free states by admitting Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state, and prohibiting slavery in the Louisiana Territory north of the 36° 30´ latitude line. This stood until the Kansas–Nebraska Act of 1854 which allowed the settlers in those territories to determine through “Popular Sovereignty” whether they would allow slavery within each territory. The act was designed by Illinois Senator Stephen A. Douglas. But Douglas’s concept of “Popular Sovereignty” was just a rehash of South Carolina Senator John C. Calhoun’s old “States Rights” argument. It was Calhoun – who 30 years prior to the Civil War was laying the groundwork with his states rights and nullification arguments – which provided the justification for the south’s secession and philosophical underpinnings that ultimately lead to the Civil War. Douglas, who had the famous debates with Lincoln, revived Calhoun’s old argument and gave them new credibility since Douglas was a northerner.
The initial purpose of the Kansas–Nebraska Act was to open up new farmlands and make way for a new Transcontinental Railroad. However, because “popular sovereignty” was written into the proposal, it became problematic when it was left to the voters of the moment to decide whether slavery would be allowed. The result was that both pro- and anti-slavery groups flooded into Kansas, which lead to a bloody civil war that became known as “Bleeding Kansas” or “Border War.” At one point, Kansas had two separate governments, each with its own constitution, although only one was federally recognized.
Three years after the Kansas-Nebraska Act was adopted, the Supreme Court declared the Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional in the infamous Dred Scott decision. In Dred Scott there were two main legal rulings; the first was that African Americans were not citizens, and therefore had no standing to sue in federal court, and the second was that the federal government had no power to regulate slavery in any territory acquired after the creation of the United States. Thus further deepening the divide in the country over slavery.
It was with these recent events in mind that Lincoln delivered his “House Divided” speech and concluded “I do not expect the Union to be dissolved — I do not expect the house to fall– but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing or all the other.” Two years after this speech, Lincoln was elected President on November 6, 1860. South Carolina seceded from the union on December 20, 1860 followed by ten other southern states. Kansas was admitted to the Union as a free state on January 29, 1861. And on April 12, 1861 the Confederate Army fired on Fort Sumter which began the Civil War, and as the saying goes, the rest was history. Eventually, after 625,000 Americans lost their lives in a bloody Civil War, the house was no longer divided.
So what does this brief summary of pre- Civil War events have to do with what is happening today? Once again the country is deeply divided; this time over abortion rights, gay rights and the size and role of the federal government. And once again at the heart of the argument is the same federal verses states rights argument that occurred between the Federalist and Anti-federalist during the ratification of the Constitution and leading up to the Civil War. The Tea Party movement is just the latest incarnation of the Anti-federalist.
Recently the Supreme Court released a slew of decisions for the 2012-13 court session. In total the court’s rulings did significant damage to the federal governments authority to establish national policies and its ability to protect individual rights for all citizens no matter where they live. They also limited the governments ability at all levels to regulate corporations. To the casual observer, lazy journalist and pundits it may appear that the Supreme Court was all over the place. For instance, saying in one decision that the University of Texas can consider race as one of the factors in its admission policy in FISHER v. UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN. And in another case, SHELBY COUNTY v. HOLDER, that the formula based on race or color used in the Voting Rights Act (VRA), which was reauthorized by Congress in 2006, and subjects certain states and political subdivisions with a history of racial discrimination to obtain pre-clearance from the justice department before implementing changes to their voting laws, was unconstitutional.
With respect to gay rights, the court found that Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which barred the federal government from recognizing legal marriages of lesbian and gay couples, was unconstitutional in the case of UNITED STATES v. WINDSOR. But in the HOLLINGSWORTH v. PERRY case they wouldn’t rule on the federal constitutionality, ducking a decision because they determined that the plaintive didn’t have standing to defend the California Proposition 8 anti-gay marriage Constitutional amendment. On the surface it appears that two same-sex marriage cases were big victories for gay and lesbian community, and they were a step in the right direction, but if you read deeper into these decisions what you find is that the court has created a two-tier system. This will only lead to a deepening of the divide much in the same way that PLESSY v. FERGUSON created the principal of “separate but equal”. In some states gay and lesbian couples now have their full constitutional rights and in others they do not.
However, if you read the court’s other decisions beyond the high profile ones, what you find is that the big winners in almost every decision were corporations and states. The “states rights” argument is what many of the decisions were based upon. The big losers were individuals and the power of federal government to enforce individual rights. The Supreme Court has exposed its Tea Party wing with these decisions. But based on their past rhetoric you might think that the Tea Party groups would be outraged over the court’s decisions that trampled individual rights, but I have not yet heard any of these groups complaining. Have you? Why is that, when we have constantly heard Tea Party groups talking about individual rights and freedoms and seen them waving their “don’t tread on me” flags? If we look deeper into the rulings maybe we can answer that question.
Let’s start with the two same-sex marriage cases. In the California Proposition 8 case, the California State Supreme Court had ruled that limiting marriage to only opposite-sex couples violated the state’s constitution. In response, a group which opposed same-sex marriage got an initiative on the ballot to amend the State Constitution to define marriage as a union between one man and one women, and it passed. This resulted in some same-sex couples being officially married since their marriages occurred before Proposition 8 was passed and others were now prohibited from marrying. So same-sex couples who wanted to marry filed a federal lawsuit challenging Proposition 8 as unconstitutional under the “equal protection” clause of the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. When state officials refused to defend the Proposition 8 amendment to the State Constitution in federal court, the Federal District Court allowed the proponents of the ballot initiative to defend it. The District Court had a trial and declared that Proposition 8 was unconstitutional. The proponents of Proposition 8 appealed to the Ninth Circuit Federal Appeals Court and lost. They then appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. Here is where is starts to get tricky. The Supreme Court found that the proponents who defended Proposition 8 did not have “standing” to defend the case, so they vacated the ruling and remanded it back to the lower court. In the majority’s opinion they stated “The Court does not question California’s sovereign right to maintain an initiative process or the right of the initiative proponents to defend their initiatives in California courts. But standing in federal court is a question of federal law, not state law.” So when the state decided not to appeal the District Court’s ruling that Proposition 8 was unconstitutional, the Supreme Court has said that is where the case should stop. That is good if you are a same-sex couple that lives in California. But what if you live in Alabama? If it is unconstitutional to prevent a same-sex couple from marrying in California, why isn’t it in Alabama? Don’t we all live under the same Constitution? Before we can answer this question, let’s look at the other case that dealt with same-sex marriage, DOMA.
In the DOMA case, the Supreme Court found that Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act was unconstitutional. Section 3 read as follows, “Definition of marriage: In determining the meaning of any Act of Congress, or of any ruling, regulation, or interpretation of the various administrative bureaus and agencies of the United States, the word ‘marriage’ means only a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife, and the word ‘spouse’ refers only to a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or a wife.” In the majority opinion, the court reasoned that the principal effect of DOMA was to identify and make unequal a subset of state-sanctioned marriages. The case was about a dispute over the payment of an estate tax. Edith Windsor and her spouse Thea Spyer were married in Canada in 2007, and the State of New York where they lived recognized their marriage. When Spyer died in 2009, the IRS said Windsor owed a substantial inheritance tax because the federal government did not recognize their marriage because of DOMA. Ironically, when Spyer died in 2009, New York had not yet approved their same-sex marriage law, but they still recognized the marriage that occurred in another jurisdiction. Ms. Windsor sued in federal court and sought a refund of the estate tax contending that DOMA violates the principles of equal protection incorporated in the Fifth Amendment. She won at the District Court and the IRS was ordered to refund her tax payment with interest. The case was appealed to the Second Circuit Appeals Court, but the Justice Department decided not to defend the constitutionality of Section 3 before the Appeals Court. So the appeal should have been withdrawn and the tax refund issued. But the Republican-controlled House of Representatives intervened in order to continue the appeal of the District Court’s ruling. Never mind the fact that we were all taught that it is Congress’s job to pass the laws, the executive branch’s job to implement the law, and the court’s job to interpret the law. It was working as it should right up to the point when the District Court ruled DOMA was unconstitutional and then the executive branch agreed with that decision and decided to no longer pursue an appeal. However, not satisfied with this outcome, the House of Representatives decided they would take on the role of the executive branch. But that is a whole other constitutional issue. The case proceeded and the Appeals Court upheld the District Court and then the Supreme Court upheld the Appeals Court.
So the good news is that the Supreme Court said that the federal government cannot create inequality in the federal codes when the State of New York’s objective was to eliminate the inequality. But did the Supreme Court recognize that same-sex and opposite-sex couples needed to be treated equally? No, the Supreme Court’s decision only applied to New York and the other twelve states, plus the District of Columbia, that recognize same-sex marriage. What the court said is that they only recognize the inequality if your state says so. That means if you live in one of the other thirty-eight states, you are still unequal and that is just fine with the Supreme Court. Your state government now gets to decide if you will have to pay a federal estate tax if you are part of a same-sex couple. So the Supreme Court didn’t really find on behalf of Edith Windsor, their finding was on behalf of the State of New York. Ms. Windsor was lucky that she lived in a state that recognized her marriage from Canada because if she had lived in Alabama, she would not have gotten her estate tax refunded. Now is this what you would call equal justice under the law?
Furthermore, the Supreme Court chose to ignore Section 2 of DOMA, which is blatantly unconstitutional on its face. Section 2 reads as follows; “Powers reserved to the states: No State, territory, or possession of the United States, or Indian tribe, shall be required to give effect to any public act, record, or judicial proceeding of any other State, territory, possession, or tribe respecting a relationship between persons of the same sex that is treated as a marriage under the laws of such other State, territory, possession, or tribe, or a right or claim arising from such relationship.” But Article IV, Section 1 of the Constitution says “Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the public Acts, Records , and judicial Proceedings of every other State.” And Section 2 says “The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.” This is why marriages between opposite-sex couples are recognized in other states when they move and they are not required to get another marriage license in their new state of residence. But as it stands now, if a same-sex couple such as Kris Perry and Sandy Stier, who just won their case in the Supreme Court and are now married, were to move from California to Alabama, they would no longer be legally married in the eyes of the state or the federal government. So if a same sex couple is driving across country from Massachusetts to California, when they leave their home state they are married. They are still married as they drive through New York, but as soon as they hit the Pennsylvania state line, they are no longer married. When they are in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois they are still unmarried, but once they get to Iowa, they are married again. After they leave Iowa, they are unmarried again until they reach California. So they better hope they don’t have an accident that requires hospitalization in one the states that doesn’t recognize same-sex marriage because their partner can be denied visitation rights at the hospital. So to answer the earlier question, don’t we all live under the same Constitution, the Supreme Court’s answer was a resounding NO!
Why would the Supreme Court leave such a mess? Because the real purpose behind their rulings was not to rule in favor of individual rights or the federal government’s ability to protect those rights, but rather the court’s purpose was to rule that whatever a state decides those rights should be, is what your rights are. If the individuals who brought the cases happened to benefit, that was just a happy coincidence. This is where the Supreme Court has shown itself to be controlled by a Tea Party majority. They were advancing the “state rights” argument. So why haven’t we heard the Tea Party groups complaining about the loss of individual rights? Because the Tea Party movement has never been about protection of individual rights. They are all about a states right to be able to discriminate how they wish. Take a look back at their core beliefs and see whose rights are being protected.
Some will argue that the Supreme Court prefers to make their rulings on the narrowest grounds possible and that the constitutionality of Section 2 of DOMA was not directly in front of them. For other Supreme Courts that may have been true. But for the Robert’s Supreme Court, all you need to do is look at CITIZENS UNITED v. FEDERAL ELECTIONS COMMISSION that was decided in 2010. In that case Citizens United, a not-for-profit corporation, wanted to run commercials for a documentary they had produced that was critical of Hillary Clinton within 30 days of a primary election. They sought declaratory and injunctive relief from the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (BCRA), also known as McCain-Feingold, arguing that it was unconstitutional to prohibit them from running their television ads 30 days before an election and that the BRCA’s disclaimer, disclosure and reporting requirements were also unconstitutional. The District Court denied Citizens United preliminary injunction. They appealed to the Supreme Court and, after hearing the arguments on the narrow issues of the limited case that was in front of them, Chief Justice John Roberts directed the two sides to prepare new arguments for the much broader issue that federal laws prohibited corporations and unions from using their treasuries to make independent expenditures for speech that is a “electioneering communication” or for speech that expressly advocates the election or defeat of a candidate. After the scope of the case was expanded by Chief Justice Roberts, and reargued on the much broader issue, the court used its decision to strike down 100 years of election laws, going all the way back to the Tillman Act of 1907. Ironically, both DOMA and Citizens United were decide by a 5-4 majority with Justice Anthony Kennedy being the swing vote and writing the opinion for the majority. Citizens United was hardly a display of judicial restraint and one of the most blatant displays of judicial activism in the court’s history. So the Robert’s court could have chosen to also strike down Section 2 as unconstitutional based on their own recent history of judicial activism.
But the most obvious and damaging of the “states rights” decisions that came from this year’s Supreme Court decisions was the VRA decision in SHELBY COUNTY v. HOLDER. In effect, the ruling gave the green light to states if they want to discriminate against some of their citizens right to vote; the court said to go right ahead. Within two hours of the decision being made public, the State of Texas Attorney General announced that they would proceed with the implementation of the voter ID and redistricting laws that had already been found to be discriminatory and unconstitutional by a three-judge panel of the federal court. Texas tried to implement these changes prior to the 2012 elections but was prevented from doing so when the Justice Department used the pre-clearance authority provided under Section 5 of the VRA because Texas was one of the jurisdictions subject to the review under Section 4(b) of the VRA. A few hours later, Mississippi said they would also proceed with their new voter ID law. Numerous other states that were also subject to pre-clearance have announced that they too will proceed with implementing new laws that had been blocked or that they would be introducing new laws in the near future. The Supreme Court’s decision in SHELBY COUNTY v. HOLDER did not say that the finding by the three-judge panel in the U.S. District Court was wrong when they found that the Texas voter ID law imposed “strict, unforgiving burdens on the poor” by charging those voters who lacked proper documentation fees in order to obtain a valid election ID card. The law would have required a person who wanted to vote, that didn’t already have one of the accepted forms of ID, to travel to a State Department of Public Safety office to get their election ID card. While the state claimed that these cards were free, in reality the voter would have to pay to obtain the documentation necessary to receive the “free” voter ID card. In addition, not all Texas counties have Department of Public Safety offices located within them, so it would require some voters to travel over 200 miles to get to one of the offices. Of course that would have to be during the work day, which for many poor people would be an additional financial burden to lose a days pay plus the travel cost. The Supreme Court did not even say in their decision that the Section 5 pre-clearance requirement was unconstitutional. In fact, they upheld that it was constitutional. Instead they said that the formula under Section 4(b) that is used to determine which jurisdictions are subject to the pre-clearance requirement was unconstitutional. Their rationale was that even though Congress had re-approved the VRA in 2006 and retained the formula that was in the prior reauthorization, in the court’s opinion this formula was too old and had reached its expiration date. So they threw it out like spoiled milk. Of course they said Congress was free to come up with a new and improved updated formula to determine which jurisdictions would be subject to a Section 5 pre-clearance review. But in the meantime Section 5 will no longer be in effect because nobody is subject to its requirements. So the Supreme Court was very clever in saying the pre-clearance requirement under the VRA is still constitutional, but you just cannot apply it to anyone; that is until we decide that we like the new formula Congress might develop.
Besides the obvious impact on minority voters who will now be subject to the discriminatory whims of of their state and local governments, the most radical part of this decision is that the court has set a precedent that they will now review and be the final arbiter of how Congress goes about reaching a legislative decision. If they are not pleased with Congress rationale or outcome, they will strike it down and tell Congress to try again. In effect, the court has given themselves the equivalent of the presidential veto power. Similar to the Voting Rights Act, there are many federal laws which use formulas for making determinations of who gets covered or how federal funds are distributed. Many of these formulas have been used for decades, just like Section 4(b) of the VRA. But now the court has set itself up to review every one of these formulas to decide if they are also too old. If the Supreme Court were to use the same reasoning for other laws, what else might they find unconstitutional? For the VRA, they said we see less discrimination today because more minorities are registered to vote and actually voted in the last election than was the case in 1965. Therefore maintaining the same VRA formula that achieved these results is now unconstitutional. If this type of reasoning were to be applied to other federal laws such as food safety, they could declare that because we see fewer deaths from food poisoning today, then food safety laws are now unconstitutional. That is until Congress could gather new evidence and write new laws for food safety. In the meantime so what if a few people die or loose their right to vote. In effect, the Supreme Court has set the precedent that they can now pick and chose what federal laws they would like Congress to re-write. This is extremely dangerous and a classic case of judicial activism.
What the Supreme Court has done this session, and in prior ones under the Robert’s court, is to lay the groundwork for two Americas, and give it legal force. This is no different than the infamous PLESSY v. FERGUSON of 1896 which confirmed the principal of “separate but equal” and led to decades of legalized segregation and discrimination. If your state is willing to give or protect your rights, such as same-sex marriage or a women’s right to chose an abortion, then you are one of the lucky ones. But if you live in a state that restricts your right to vote, or your choices when it comes to having an abortion, or says that same-sex couples don’t deserve the same rights under law that opposite-sex couples enjoy, then you are less equal and out of luck. The Supreme Court is saying that it will not step in and protect these individual rights across the entire country. The Robert’s court has given their blessing to creating a divided house.
As Lincoln said, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” I agree with Lincoln’s conclusion, “I do not expect the Union to be dissolved — I do not expect the house to fall– but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing or all the other.” It took a Civil War to resolve the slavery issue. Will issues like abortion rights, same-sex marriage rights, or voting rights lead to a second Civil War? Nobody can know for sure one way or the other. But wars are often triggered by highly charged emotional issues. If the southern sates begin to feel that the advances they are making in restricting abortion and voting rights, or their laws prohibiting same-sex marriage rights are under attack by the federal government at some future point, will they follow the same path as before and secede from the union? Might this be the trigger that starts a second Civil War? We don’t know if it will go this far; but one thing that we do know is that the Tea Party wing of the Supreme Court has provided the legal justifications to deepen the divide between those that support federalism and those that favor states rights. It is the same old Federalists verses Anti-federalists argument all over again. | politics |
https://lasvegas.citycast.fm/best/our-favorite-political-scandals | 2023-09-30T03:45:25 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233510575.93/warc/CC-MAIN-20230930014147-20230930044147-00764.warc.gz | 0.970049 | 370 | CC-MAIN-2023-40 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-40__0__189022808 | en | Nevada was barely out of diapers when it had its first headline-making scandal: In 1869, it was discovered that the late State Treasurer Eban Rhoades had looted state funds to support his cocaine habit and buy mining stocks. Here are a few more recent examples:
After a 1954 raid on a well-known Boulder Highway brothel, Las Vegas Sun publisher Hank Greenspun “put together a sting operation” to nail the local officials involved, says historian Michael Green. Featuring microphones concealed in watches, a reporter hiding in a motel closet, and a character nicknamed “Big Juice,” it implicated the sheriff, among others.
In 1982, this FBI sting operation netted bribery convictions against two state senators (including Floyd Lamb, who has a state park named after him) and two Clark County commissioners.
Convicted of falsifying his income taxes, District Judge Claiborne of Nevada refused to resign, and went to prison in 1986 still holding his seat and drawing his salary. The only way to bounce him from office was for the Senate to impeach him — which, in a rarely used move, it did in 1986. The case had far-reaching implications for the impeachment process.
This early-aughts doozy embroiled the county commission with a strip-club owner in a fetid gumbo of venality. “It has everything,” says political journalist Steve Sebelius, “bribery, greed, corruption of otherwise innocent people (Mary Kincaid-Chauncy), use of government as a weapon against competitors of strip clubs, etc. Plus it’s a quintessential Las Vegas story and sent a voting majority of former commissioners — four — to jail at the same time.” | politics |
http://www.bspp.org.uk/publications/bsppnews/bsppnews34/bsppnews34.htm | 2019-04-22T16:15:48 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-18/segments/1555578558125.45/warc/CC-MAIN-20190422155337-20190422181337-00453.warc.gz | 0.956513 | 854 | CC-MAIN-2019-18 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2019-18__0__166491907 | en | BSPP News Spring 1999 - Online EditionThe Newsletter of the British Society for Plant Pathology
Number 34, Spring 1999
Contents of BSPP Newsletter 34
- Editorial: Food? Health? Hype!
- Membership Database Update
- Professor David S Ingram OBE
- Cover Photographs for Plant Pathology
- BioCISE: Biological Collection Information
- BSPP Undergraduate Vacation Bursaries 1998
- Incorporation of BSPP
- New Members of BSPP
- People and Places
- BSPP Fellowship Scheme Report
- Conference and Travel Reports
How will we feed a hungry world? The answer promoted by a few transnational companies is to grow genetically modified crops. Destructive viruses? Voracious insects? Devastating fungi? There'll be a gene to cure every ill, and no more of those nasty pesticides. Yet, despite the promise of a green and pleasant land of bountiful crops, with sprayers rusting in the barn, the public in Britain has turned against genetically modified crops. Hostility has been ignited by a toxic combination of professional scaremongering, fears about food safety stemming from mad cow disease and the determination of one company, Monsanto, to make sure that Europeans buy its products whether they want to or not.
The latest move of the GM lobby to win over a hostile public is to try to persuade Europeans that they're being selfish, in that their refusal to support GM products is holding back the development of a technology that's desperately needed to feed hungry people in poor countries. The silliest move in this game of public relations is Monsanto's trademark, "Food - Health - Hope", a slogan which appears to claim that food is a monopoly product of a giant multinational and that health and hope are just commodities to be bought and sold.
The question of how we will feed hungry people can be viewed in two quite different ways. For those who believe that the answer lies in GM technology, the "we" of the question means the GM companies while the solution lies in providing new crop varieties to the poor, to replace the inadequate crops they grow at the moment (they must be inadequate, mustn't they, if the farmers who grow them don't have enough to eat?)
Is there any truth in this? For centuries, a tenet of "Western" culture has been that we have a duty, Kipling's "white man's burden", to share the benefits of our technology, our knowledge, our political and economic systems with less fortunate parts of the world. And what a disaster it's been! The European-inspired ideologies of imperialism, communism and neo-colonialism share much of the blame for instability, poverty and famine in what, as a consequence of the havoc so wreaked, are now the poorer countries of the world.
The other way of looking at the question of hunger is to ask instead, how can poor people feed themselves? There's a long list of reasons why they cannot do so _ landlessness, debt, iniquitious feudal systems, no access to credit on fair terms, inadequate systems of distribution, degradation and erosion of the soil, poor education, having to save to pay dowries, inability to work because of illness for which the cure is too expensive, warfare... Yes, diseases and pests take their share, but absentee landlords, moneylenders and corrupt officials take far more. No single crop variety, never mind any single gene, can do anything to help poor people if they don't have the economic power to take advantage of new technologies or if the only beneficiaries of their investment will be members of powerful elites. A company which sets out to persuade poor farmers that their problems will be solved if they will only buy a new, perhaps costly variety of seed is simply adding its own name to the long list of parasites that feed on the disadvantaged.
GM plants already control insects and defeat viruses in the lab and glasshouse and will soon start doing so in the field. For farmers who have the capacity to use them, they could become a small but valuable component of an ecologically and economically sustainable agriculture. But without social justice and fair trade, they will do nothing to feed hungry people. | politics |
http://us.lostsoulsgenealogy.com/misc/history.htm | 2018-09-23T08:40:05 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-39/segments/1537267159165.63/warc/CC-MAIN-20180923075529-20180923095929-00476.warc.gz | 0.964061 | 12,644 | CC-MAIN-2018-39 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2018-39__0__61660788 | en | The history of the United States traditionally starts with the Declaration of Independence in the year 1776, yet its territory was occupied first by the Native Americans since prehistoric times and then also by European colonists who followed the voyages of Christopher Columbus starting in 1492. The largest settlements were by the English on the East Coast, starting in 1607. By the 1770s the Thirteen Colonies contained two and half million people, were prosperous, and had developed their own political and legal systems. The British government's threat to American self-government led to war in 1775 and the Declaration of Independence in 1776. With major military and financial support from France, the patriots won the American Revolution. In 1789 the Constitution became the basis for the United States federal government, with war hero George Washington as the first president. The young nation continued to struggle with the scope of central government and with European influence, creating the first political parties in the 1790s, and fighting a second war for independence in 1812.
U.S. territory expanded westward across the continent, brushing aside Native Americans and Mexico, and overcoming modernizers who wanted to deepen the economy rather than expand the geography. Slavery of Africans was abolished in the North, but heavy world demand for cotton let it flourish in the Southern states. The 1860 election of Abraham Lincoln calling for no more expansion of slavery triggered a crisis as eleven slave states seceded to found the Confederate States of America in 1861. The bloody American Civil War (1861–65) redefined the nation and remains the central iconic event. The South was defeated and, in the Reconstruction era, the U.S. ended slavery, extended rights to African Americans, and readmitted secessionist states with loyal governments. The national government was much stronger, and it now had the explicit duty to protect individuals. The present 48 contiguous states were admitted by early 1912, with Alaska and Hawaii added in 1959.
Thanks to an outburst of entrepreneurship in the North and the arrival of millions of immigrant workers from Europe, the U.S. became the leading industrialized power by the early 20th century. Disgust with corruption, waste, and traditional politics stimulated the Progressive movement, 1890s-1920s, which pushed for reform in industry and politics and put into the Constitution women's suffrage and Prohibition of alcohol (the latter repealed in 1933). Initially neutral in World War I, the U.S. declared war on Germany in 1917, And funded the Allied victory. The nation refused to follow President Woodrow Wilson's leadership and never joined the League of Nations. After a prosperous decade in the 1920s the Wall Street Crash of 1929 marked the onset of the a decade-long world-wide Great Depression. A political realignment expelled the Republicans from power and installed Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt and his elaborate and expensive New Deal programs for relief, recovery, and reform. Roosevelt's Democratic coalition, comprising ethics in the north, labor unions, big-city machines, intellectuals, and the white South, dominated national politics into the 1960s. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, the U.S. entered World War II alongside the Allies and helped defeat Nazi Germany in Europe and, with the detonation of newly-invented atomic bombs, Japan in Asia and the Pacific.
The Soviet Union and the U.S. emerged as opposing superpowers after the war and began the Cold War confronting indirectly in an arms race, the Space Race, and intervention in Europe and eastern Asia. Liberalism reflected in the civil rights movement and opposition to war in Vietnam peaked in the 1960s–70s before giving way to conservatism in the early 1980s. The Cold War ended when the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, leaving the U.S. to prosper in the booming Information Age economy that was boosted, at least in part, by information technology. International conflict and economic uncertainty heightened by 2001 with the September 11 attacks and subsequent War on Terror and the late-2000s recession.Pre-Columbian era
It is not definitively known how or when the Native Americans first settled the Americas and the present-day United States. The prevailing theory proposes that people migrated from Eurasia across Beringia, a land bridge that connected Siberia to present-day Alaska, and then spread southward throughout the Americas. This migration might have begun as early as 30,000 years ago and continued through to about 10,000 years ago, when the land bridge became submerged by the rising sea level caused by the ending of the last glacial period. These early inhabitants, called Paleoamericans, soon diversified into many hundreds of culturally distinct nations and tribes.
The pre-Columbian era incorporates all period subdivisions in the history and prehistory of the Americas before the appearance of significant European influences on the American continents, spanning the time of the original settlement in the Upper Paleolithic period to European colonization during the Early Modern period. While technically referring to the era before Christopher Columbus' voyages of 1492 to 1504, in practice the term usually includes the history of American indigenous cultures until they were conquered or significantly influenced by Europeans, even if this happened decades or even centuries after Columbus' initial landing.Colonial period
After a period of exploration by people from various European countries, Spanish, Dutch, English, French, Swedish, and Portuguese settlements were established. In the 16th century, Europeans brought horses, cattle, and hogs to the Americas and, in turn, took back to Europe maize, potatoes, tobacco, beans, and squash. The disease environment was very unhealthy for explorers and early settlers. The Native Americans became exposed to new diseases such as smallpox and measles and died in very large numbers, usually before large-scale European settlement began.Spanish, Dutch, and French colonization
Spanish explorers were the first Europeans to arrive in what is now the United States with Christopher Columbus' second expedition, which reached Puerto Rico on November 19, 1493; others reached Florida in 1513. Quickly Spanish expeditions reached the Appalachian Mountains, the Mississippi River, the Grand Canyon and the Great Plains. In 1540, Hernando de Soto undertook an extensive exploration of the present U.S. and, in the same year, Francisco Vázquez de Coronado led 2,000 Spaniards and Native Mexican Americans across the modern Arizona–Mexico border and traveled as far as central Kansas. The Spanish sent some settlers, creating the first permanent European settlement in the continental United States at St. Augustine, Florida in 1565, but it was in such a harsh political environment that it attracted few settlers and never expanded. Much larger and more important Spanish settlements included Santa Fe, Albuquerque, San Antonio, Tucson, San Diego, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Most Spanish settlements were along the California coast or the Santa Fe River in New Mexico.
New Netherland was the 17th century Dutch colonial province on the eastern coast of North America. The Dutch claimed territory from the Delmarva Peninsula to Buzzards Bay, while their settlements concentrated on the Hudson River Valley, where they traded furs with the Native Americans to the north and were a barrier to Yankee expansion from New England. Their capital, New Amsterdam, was located at the southern tip of the island of Manhattan and was renamed New York when the English seized the colony in 1664. The Dutch were Calvinists who built the Reformed Church in America, but they were tolerant of other religions and cultures. The colony left an enduring legacy on American cultural and political life, including a secular broadmindedness and mercantile pragmatism in the city, a rural traditionalism in the countryside typified by the story of Rip Van Winkle, and politicians such as Martin Van Buren, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Eleanor Roosevelt.
New France was the area colonized by France in North America during a period extending 1534 to 1763, when Britain and Spain took control. There were few permanent settlers outside Quebec, but fur traders ranged working with numerous Indian tribes who often became military allies in France's wars with Britain. The territory was divided into five colonies: Canada, Acadia, Hudson Bay, Newfoundland and Louisiana. After 1750 the Acadians—French settlers who had been expelled by the British from Acadia (Nova Scotia)—resettled in Louisiana, where they developed a distinctive rural Cajun culture that still exists. They became American citizens in 1803 with the Louisiana Purchase. Other French villages along the Mississippi and Illinois rivers were absorbed when the Americans started arriving after 1770.British colonization
The strip of land along the eastern seacoast was settled primarily by English colonists in the 17th century, along with much smaller numbers of Dutch and Swedes. Colonial America was defined by a severe labor shortage that employed forms of unfree labor such as slavery and indentured servitude, and by a British policy of benign neglect (salutary neglect) that permitted the development of an American spirit distinct from that of its European founders. Over half of all European immigrants to Colonial America arrived as indentured servants.
The first successful English colony was established in 1607, on the James River at Jamestown. It languished for decades until a new wave of settlers arrived in the late 17th century and established commercial agriculture based on tobacco. Between the late 1610s and the Revolution, the British shipped an estimated 50,000 convicts to their American colonies. One example of conflict between Native Americans and English settlers was the 1622 Powhatan uprising in Virginia, in which Native Americans had killed hundreds of English settlers. The largest conflict between Native Americans and English settlers in the 17th century was King Philip's War in New England, although the Yamasee War may have been bloodier.
The Plymouth Colony was established in 1620. New England was initially settled primarily by Puritans who established the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630. The Middle Colonies, consisting of the present-day states of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware, were characterized by a large degree of diversity. The first attempted English settlement south of Virginia was the Province of Carolina, with Georgia Colony the last of the Thirteen Colonies established in 1733. Methodism became the prevalent religion among colonial citizens after the First Great Awakening, a religious revival led by preacher Jonathan Edwards in 1734.Political integration and autonomy
The French and Indian War (1754–1763) was a watershed event in the political development of the colonies. The influence of the main rivals of the British Crown in the colonies and Canada, the French and North American Indians, was significantly reduced. Moreover, the war effort resulted in greater political integration of the colonies, as symbolized by Benjamin Franklin's call for the colonies to "Join or Die".
Following Britain's acquisition of French territory in North America, King George III issued the Royal Proclamation of 1763 with the goal of organizing the new North American empire and stabilizing relations with the native Indians. In ensuing years, strains developed in the relations between the colonists and the Crown. The British Parliament passed the Stamp Act of 1765, imposing a tax on the colonies to help pay for troops stationed in North America following the British victory in the Seven Years' War.
The British government felt that the colonies were the primary beneficiaries of this military presence, and should pay at least a portion of the expense. The colonists did not share this view. Rather, with the French and Indian threat diminished, the primary outside influence remained that of Britain. A conflict of economic interests increased with the right of the British Parliament to govern the colonies without representation being called into question.
The Boston Tea Party in 1773 was a direct action by colonists in the town of Boston to protest against the taxes levied by the British government. Parliament responded the next year with the Coercive Acts, which sparked outrage and resistance in the Thirteen Colonies. Colonists convened the First Continental Congress to coordinate their resistance to the Coercive Acts. The Congress called for a boycott of British trade, published a list of rights and grievances, and petitioned the king for redress of those grievances.
The Congress also called for another meeting if their petition did not halt enforcement of the Coercive Acts. Their appeal to the Crown had no effect, and so the Second Continental Congress was convened in 1775 to organize the defense of the colonies at the onset of the American Revolutionary War.Formation of the United States of America (1776–1789)
The Thirteen Colonies began a rebellion against British rule in 1775 and proclaimed their independence in 1776 as the United States of America. The United States defeated Britain with help from France especially, and also the United Provinces and indirectly from Spain in the American Revolutionary War. The colonists' 1777 capture of the British invasion army at Saratoga secured the Northeast and led the French into an open alliance with the United States.
In 1781, Washington led a combined American and French army, acting with the support of a French fleet, and captured a large British army led by General Cornwallis at Yorktown, Virginia, thus virtually ending the land war. Political scientist Seymour Martin Lipset observes, "The United States was the first major colony successfully to revolt against colonial rule. In this sense, it was the first 'new nation'."
On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress, still meeting in Philadelphia, declared the independence of "the United States of America" in the Declaration of Independence. July 4 is celebrated as the nation's birthday. The new nation was founded on Enlightenment ideals of liberalism in what Thomas Jefferson called the unalienable rights to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness," and dedicated to republican principles. Republicanism emphasized the people are sovereign (not hereditary kings), demanded civic duty, feared corruption, and opposed aristocracy. The new nation was governed by Congress, and until 1789 followed the Articles of Confederation of 1777.
After the war finally ended in 1783, there was a period of prosperity. The national government was able to settle the issue of the western territories, which were ceded by the states to Congress and became territories (and after 1791 started to become states). Nationalists worried that the new nation was too fragile to withstand an international war, or even internal revolts such as the Shays' Rebellion of 1786 in Massachusetts. Nationalists—most of them war veterans—organized in every state and convinced Congress to call the Philadelphia Convention in 1787. The delegates from every state wrote a new Constitution that created a much more powerful and efficient central government, one with a strong president, and powers of taxation. The new government reflected the prevailing republican ideals of guarantees of individual liberty and upon constraining the power of government through a system of separation of powers.
To assuage the Anti-Federalists who feared a too-powerful national government, the nation adopted the United States Bill of Rights in 1791. Comprising the first ten amendments of the Constitution, it guaranteed individual liberties such as freedom of speech and religious practice, jury trials, and stated that citizens and states had reserved rights (which were not specified).Early national era (1789–1849)
George Washington—a renowned hero of the American Revolutionary War, commander-in-chief of the Continental Army, and president of the Constitutional Convention—became the first President of the United States under the new Constitution in 1789.
The major accomplishments of the Washington Administration were creating a strong national government that was recognized without question by all Americans, and, following the plans of Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton, assuming the debts of the states (the debt holders received federal bonds), creating the Bank of the United States to stabilize the financial system, setting up a uniform system of tariffs (taxes on imports) and other taxes to pay off the debt and provide a financial infrastructure. To support his programs Hamilton created a new political party—the first in the world based on voters—the Federalist Party. Thomas Jefferson and James Madison led the opposition, forming an opposition Republican Party (usually called the Democratic-Republican Party by historians). Hamilton and Washington presented the country in 1794 with the Jay Treaty that reestablished good relations with Britain. The Jeffersonians vehemently protested, and the voters aligned behind one party or the other, thus setting up the First Party System. The treaty passed, but politics became very heated.
The Whiskey Rebellion in 1794, when settlers in the Pennsylvania counties west of the Allegheny Mountains protested against a federal tax on liquor and distilled drinks, was the first serious test of the federal government.
At the end of his second presidential term, George Washington made his farewell address, which was published in the newspaper Independent Chronicle on September 26, 1796. In his address, Washington triumphed the benefits of federal government and importance of ethics and morality while warning against foreign alliances and formation of political parties.
Vice President John Adams, a Federalist, defeated Jefferson in the 1796 election. War loomed with France and the Federalists used the opportunity to try to silence the Republicans with the Alien and Sedition Acts, build up a large army with Hamilton at the head, and prepare for a French invasion. However, the Federalists became divided after Adams sent a successful peace mission to France that ended the Quasi-War of 1798. Jefferson defeated Adams for the presidency in the 1800 election.
Although the Constitution included a Supreme Court, its functions were vague until John Marshall, the Chief Justice (1801–35), defined them, especially the power to overturn acts of Congress that violated the Constitution, first enunciated in 1803 in Marbury v. Madison. The Louisiana Purchase, in 1803, removed the French presence from the western border of the United States and provided U.S. settlers with vast potential for expansion west of the Mississippi River.
In response to multiple grievances, the Congress declared war on Britain in 1812. The grievances included humiliating the Americans in the Chesapeake incident of 1807, continued British impressment of American sailors into the Royal Navy, restrictions on trade with France, and arming hostile Indians in Ohio and the western territories. The War of 1812 ended in a draw after bitter fighting that lasted until January 8, 1815, during the Battle of New Orleans. The Americans gained no territory but were cheered by a sense of victory in what they called a "second war of independence". The war was a major loss for Native American tribes in the Northwest and Southeast who had allied themselves with Britain and were defeated on the battlefield.
As strong opponents of the war, the Federalists held the Hartford Convention in 1814 that hinted at disunion. National euphoria after the victory at New Orleans ruined the prestige of the Federalists and they no longer played a significant role. President Madison and most Republicans realized it had been a mistake to let the Bank of the United States close down, for its absence greatly hindered the financing of the war. So they chartered the Second Bank of the United States in 1816. The Republicans also imposed tariffs designed to protect the infant industries that had been created when Britain was blockading the U.S. With the collapse of the Federalists as a party, the adoption of many Federalist principles by the Republicans, and the systematic policy of President James Monroe in his two terms (1817–25) to downplay partisanship, the nation entered an Era of Good Feelings, with far less partisanship than before (or after), and closed out the First Party System.
The Monroe Doctrine, expressed in 1823, proclaimed the United States' opinion that European powers should no longer colonize or interfere in the Americas. This was a defining moment in the foreign policy of the United States. The Monroe Doctrine was adopted in response to American and British fears over Russian and French expansion into the Western Hemisphere
In 1830, Congress passed the Indian Removal Act, which authorized the president to negotiate treaties that exchanged Native American tribal lands in the eastern states for lands west of the Mississippi River. This established Andrew Jackson, a military hero and President, as a proponent of the forcible removal of native populations to the West. The act resulted most notably in the Trail of Tears, a forced migration of several native tribes to the West, with several thousand people dying en route, and the Creeks' violent opposition and eventual defeat. The Indian Removal Act also directly caused the ceding of Spanish Florida and led to the many Seminole Wars.
After 1840 the abolitionist movement redefined itself, mobilized its supporters (especially among religious people in the Northeast affected by the Second Great Awakening), escalated its attacks, and proclaimed slave ownership a sin, not just an unfortunate social evil. It gained tens of thousands of followers. William Lloyd Garrison published the most influential of the many anti-slavery newspapers, The Liberator, while Frederick Douglass, an ex-slave, began writing for that newspaper around 1840 and started his own abolitionist newspaper North Star in 1847.
The Republic of Texas was annexed in 1845. The U.S. army, using regulars and large numbers of volunteers, defeated Mexico in 1848 during the Mexican-American War. Public sentiment in the U.S. was divided as Whigs and anti-slavery forces opposed the war. The 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ceded California, New Mexico, and adjacent areas to the United States, about thirty percent of Mexico. Westward expansion was enhanced further by the California Gold Rush, the discovery of gold in that state in 1848. Numerous "forty-niners" trekked to California in pursuit of gold; land-hungry European immigrants also contributed to the rising white population in the west. In 1849 cholera spread along the California and Oregon Trails. An estimated 150,000 Americans died during the two cholera pandemics between 1832 and 1849.Civil War era (1849–1865)
In the middle of the 19th century, white Americans of the North and South were to reconcile fundamental differences in their approach to government, economics, society and African American slavery. The issue of slavery in the new territories was settled by the Compromise of 1850 brokered by Whig Henry Clay and Democrat Stephen Douglas; the Compromise included admission of California as a free state and the passage of the Fugitive Slave Act to make it easier for masters to reclaim runaway slaves. In 1854, the proposed Kansas-Nebraska Act abrogated the Missouri Compromise by providing that each new state of the Union would decide its stance on slavery.
By 1860, there were nearly four million slaves residing in the United States, nearly eight times as many from 1790; within the same time period, cotton production in the U.S. boomed from less than a thousand tons to nearly one million tons per year. There were some slave rebellions—including by Gabriel Prosser (1800), Denmark Vesey (1822), and Nat Turner (1831)—but they all failed and led to tighter slave oversight in the south.
After Abraham Lincoln won the 1860 election, eleven Southern states seceded from the union between late 1860 and 1861, establishing a new government, the Confederate States of America, on February 8, 1861. Along with the northwestern portion of Virginia, which became West Virginia, four of the five northernmost "slave states" did not secede and became known as the Border States.Civil War
The Civil War began on April 12, 1861, when Confederate forces attacked a U.S. military installation at Fort Sumter in South Carolina. In response to the attack, on April 15, Lincoln called on the states to send detachments totaling 75,000 troops to recapture forts, protect the capital, and "preserve the Union", which in his view still existed intact despite the actions of the seceding states. The two armies had their first major clash at the First Battle of Bull Run, which ended in a surprising Union defeat, but, more importantly, proved to both the Union and Confederacy that the war was going be much longer and bloodier than they had originally anticipated.
The war soon divided into two theaters: Eastern and Western. In the western theater, the Union was quite successful, with major battles, such as Perryville, producing strategic Union victories and destroying major confederate operations.
In the Eastern theater, things did not start well for the Union. In the summer of 1861, General Irvin McDowell was given the task of destroying the Confederacy in one quick battle with the newly created Army of Northeastern Virginia. Union and Confederate forces engaged in combat at Manassas Junction (Bull Run), which resulted in a surprising Union defeat due in part to steadfast Confederate defense. Following McDowell's failure, Major General George B. McClellan was put in charge of the Union armies. After reorganizing the new Army of the Potomac, McClellan failed to capture the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia in his Peninsula Campaign and retreated after attacks from newly appointed Confederate General Robert E. Lee.
Feeling confident in his army after defeating the Union at Second Bull Run, Lee embarked on an invasion of the north that was stopped by McClellan at the bloody Battle of Antietam. Despite this, McClellan was relieved from command for refusing to pursue Lee's crippled army. The next commander, General Ambrose Burnside, suffered a humiliating defeat by Lee's smaller army at the Battle of Fredericksburg late in 1862, causing yet another change in commanders. Lee won again at the Battle of Chancellorsville in May 1863, while losing his top aide, Stonewall Jackson. But Lee pushed too hard and ignored the Union threat in the west. Lee invaded Pennsylvania in search of supplies and to cause war weariness in the North. In perhaps the turning point of the war, Lee's army was badly beaten at the Battle of Gettysburg, July 1–3, 1863, and barely made it back to Virginia.
Simultaneously on July 4, 1863, Union forces under the command of General Ulysses S. Grant gained control of the Mississippi River at the Battle of Vicksburg, thereby splitting the Confederacy. Lincoln made General Grant commander of all Union armies.
The last two years of the war was bloody for both sides, with Grant launching a war of attrition against General Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. This war of attrition was divided into three main campaigns. The first of these, the Overland Campaign forced Lee to retreat into the city of Petersburg where Grant launched his second major offensive, the Richmond-Petersburg Campaign in which he sieged Petersburg. After a near ten-month siege, Petersburg surrendered. However, the defense of Fort Gregg allowed Lee to move his army out of Petersburg. Grant pursued and launched the final, Appomattox Campaign which resulted in Lee surrendering his Army of Northern Virginia on April 9, 1865, at Appomattox Court House. Other Confederate armies followed suit and the war ended.
Based on 1860 census figures, about 8% of all white males aged 13 to 43 died in the war, including about 6% in the North and approximately 18% in the South, establishing the American Civil War as the deadliest war in American history. Its legacy includes ending slavery in the United States, restoring the Union, and strengthening the role of the federal government. The social, political, economic and racial issues of the war decisively shaped the Reconstruction era, which lasted through 1877, and brought about changes that would eventually help make the country a united superpower.Reconstruction and a rise in power (1865–1918) Reconstruction
Reconstruction took place for most of the decade following the Civil War. During this era, the "Reconstruction Amendments" were passed to expand civil rights for black Americans. Those amendments included the Thirteenth Amendment, which outlawed slavery, the Fourteenth Amendment that guaranteed citizenship for all people born or naturalized within U.S. territory, and the Fifteenth Amendment that granted the vote for all men regardless of race. While the Civil Rights Act of 1875 forbade discrimination in the service of public facilities, the Black Codes denied blacks privileges readily available to whites.
In response to Reconstruction, the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) emerged around the late 1860s as a white-supremacist organization opposed to black civil rights. Congress passed the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1870 and vigorous enforcement closed down the Klan and classified the KKK as a terrorist group. However, an 1883 Supreme Court decision nullified the Civil Rights Act of 1875 and ended federal efforts to stop private acts of violence designed to suppress legal rights.
During the era, many regions of the southern U.S. were military-governed and often corrupt; Reconstruction ended after the disputed 1876 election between Republican candidate Rutherford B. Hayes and Democratic candidate Samuel J. Tilden. Hayes won the election, and the South soon re-entered the national political scene.Gilded Age and Progressivism
The "Gilded Age" was a term that Mark Twain used to describe the period of the late 19th century when there had been a dramatic expansion of American wealth and prosperity. Reform of the Age included the Civil Service Act, which mandated a competitive examination for applicants for government jobs. Other important legislation included the Interstate Commerce Act, which ended railroads' discrimination against small shippers, and the Sherman Antitrust Act, which outlawed monopolies in business. Twain believed that this age was corrupted by such elements as land speculators, scandalous politics, and unethical business practices.
By 1890 American industrial production and per capita income exceeded those of all other world nations. In response to heavy debts and decreasing farm prices, wheat and cotton farmers joined the Populist Party. An unprecedented wave of immigration from Europe served both to provide the labor for American industry and create diverse communities in previously undeveloped areas. From 1880 to 1914, peak years of immigration, more than 22 million people migrated to the United States. The workers' demand for control of their workplace led to the often violent rise of the labor movement in the cities and mining camps. Industrial leaders included John D. Rockefeller in oil and Andrew Carnegie in steel; both became leaders of philanthropy, giving away their fortunes to create the modern system of hospitals, universities, libraries and foundations.
Dissatisfaction on the part of the growing middle class with the corruption and inefficiency of politics as usual, and the failure to deal with increasingly important urban and industrial problems, led to the dynamic Progressive Movement starting in the 1890s. In every major city and state, and at the national level as well, and in education, medicine, and industry, the progressives called for the modernization and reform of decrepit institutions, the elimination of corruption in politics, and the introduction of efficiency as a criteria for change. Leading politicians from both parties, most notably Theodore Roosevelt, Charles Evans Hughes, and Robert LaFollette on the Republican side, and William Jennings Bryan on the Democratic side, took up the cause of progressive reform. Women became especially involved in demands for woman suffrage, prohibition, and better schools; their most prominent leader was Jane Addams of Chicago. Progressives implemented anti-trust laws and regulated such industries of meat-packing, drugs, and railroads. Four new constitutional amendments—the Sixteenth through Nineteenth—resulted from progressive activism, bringing the federal income tax, direct election of Senators, prohibition, and woman suffrage. The Progressive Movement lasted through the 1920s; the most active period was 1900–1918.Imperialism
The United States emerged as a world economic and military power after 1890. The main episode was the Spanish–American War, which began when Spain refused American demands to reform its oppressive policies in Cuba. The "splendid little war", as one official called it, involved a series of quick American victories on land and at sea. At the Treaty of Paris peace conference the United States acquired the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Guam. Cuba became an independent country, under close American tutelage. Although the war itself was widely popular, the peace terms proved controversial. William Jennings Bryan led his Democratic Party in opposition to control of the Philippines, which he denounced as imperialism unbecoming to American democracy. President William McKinley defended the acquisition, and was riding high as the nation had returned to prosperity and felt triumphant in the war. McKinley easily defeated Bryan in a rematch in the 1900 presidential election. After defeating an insurrection by Filipino nationalists, the United States engaged in a large scale program to modernize the economy of the Philippines, and dramatically upgrade the public health facilities. By 1908, however, Americans lost interest in an empire, and turned their international attention to the Caribbean, and especially the building of the Panama Canal. The canal opened in 1914, and increased trade with Japan and the rest of the Far East. A key innovation was the Open Door Policy, whereby the imperial powers were given equal access to Chinese business, with no one of them allowed to take control of China.World War I
While World War I raged in Europe from 1914, the U.S. pursued a policy of neutrality until disputes with Germany over unrestricted submarine warfare, among other disagreements, erupted into an American declaration of war in April 1917. The U.S. had previously shown interest in world peace by participating in the Hague Conferences. American involvement in the war proved essential to the Allied victory in 1918. President Woodrow Wilson also implemented a set of propositions titled the Fourteen Points to ensure peace, but they were denied at the 1919 Paris Peace Conference. Isolationist sentiment following the war also blocked the U.S. from participating in the League of Nations, an important part of the Treaty of Versailles.Woman suffrage
The women's suffrage movement began with the 1848 Seneca Falls Convention, organized by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott, and the Declaration of Sentiments demanding equal rights for women. Many of the activists became politically aware during the abolitionist movement. The women's rights campaign during "first-wave feminism" was led by Mott, Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, among many others. The movement reorganized after the Civil War, gaining experienced campaigners, many of whom had worked for prohibition in the Women's Christian Temperance Union. By the end of the 19th century a few western states had granted women full voting rights, though women had made significant legal victories, gaining rights in areas such as property and child custody.
Around 1912 the feminist movement, which had grown sluggish, began to reawaken, putting an emphasis on its demands for equality and arguing that the corruption of American politics demanded purification by women, because men could not do that job. Protests became increasingly common as suffragette Alice Paul led parades through the capital and major cities. Paul split from the large National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA), which favored a more moderate approach and supported the Democratic Party and Woodrow Wilson, led by Carrie Chapman Catt, and formed the more militant National Woman's Party. Suffragists were arrested during their "Silent Sentinels" pickets at the White House, the first time such a tactic was used, and were taken as political prisoners.
Finally, the suffragettes were ordered released from prison, and Wilson urged Congress to pass a Constitutional amendment enfranchising women. The old anti-suffragist argument that only men could fight a war, and therefore only men deserve the right to vote, was refuted by the enthusiastic participation of tens of thousands of American women on the home front in World War I. Across the world, grateful nations gave women the right to vote. Furthermore, most of the Western states had already given the women the right to vote in state and national elections, and the representatives from those states, including the first woman Jeannette Rankin of Montana, demonstrated that woman suffrage was a success. The main resistance came from the south, where white leaders were worried about the threat of black women voting. Nevertheless Congress passed the Nineteenth Amendment in 1919. It became constitutional law on August 26, 1920, after ratification by the 36th required state.
NAWSA became the League of Women Voters and the National Woman's Party began lobbying for full equality and the Equal Rights Amendment which would pass Congress during the second wave of the women's movement in 1972. Politicians responded to the new electorate by emphasizing issues of special interest to women, especially prohibition, child health, and world peace. The main surge of women voting came in 1928, when the big-city machines realized they needed the support of women to elect Al Smith, while rural dries mobilized women to support Prohibition and vote for Republican Herbert Hoover.Roaring Twenties, the Great Depression, and World War II (1918–1945)
Following World War I, the U.S. grew steadily in stature as an economic and military world power. The United States Senate did not ratify the Treaty of Versailles imposed by its Allies on the defeated Central Powers; instead, the United States chose to pursue unilateralism, if not isolationism. The aftershock of Russia's October Revolution resulted in real fears of communism in the United States, leading to a three-year Red Scare. In 1918 the U.S. lost 675,000 people to the Spanish flu pandemic.
In 1920, the manufacture, sale, import and export of alcohol was prohibited by the Eighteenth Amendment. Prohibition encouraged illegal breweries and dealers to make substantial amounts of money selling alcohol illegally. The Prohibition ended in 1933, a failure. Additionally, the KKK re-formed during that decade and gathered nearly 4.5 million members by 1924, and the U.S. government passed the Immigration Act of 1924 restricting foreign immigration. The 1920s were also known as the Roaring Twenties, due to the great economic prosperity during this period. Jazz became popular among the younger generation, and thus was also called the Jazz Age.Great Depression
During most of the 1920s, the United States enjoyed a period of unbalanced prosperity: farm prices and wages fell, while new industries and industrial profits grew. The boom was fueled by an inflated stock market, which later led to the Stock Market Crash on October 29, 1929. This, along with many other economic factors, triggered a worldwide depression known as the Great Depression. During this time, the United States experienced deflation, unemployment soared from 3% in 1929 to 25% in 1933, and manufacturing output collapsed by one-third.
In 1932, Democratic presidential nominee Franklin D. Roosevelt promised "a new deal for the American people", a phrase that has endured as a label for his administration and its many domestic achievements. The desperate economic situation, along with the substantial Democratic victories in the 1932 elections, gave Roosevelt unusual influence over Congress in the "First Hundred Days" of his administration. He used his leverage to win rapid passage of a series of measures to create welfare programs and regulate the banking system, stock market, industry and agriculture, along with many other government efforts to end the Great Depression and reform the American economy. Some programs that were a part of Roosevelt's New Deal include the Works Progress Administration (WPA) relief program, the Social Security Act, the Emergency Banking Act, and the Economy Act. The recovery was rapid in all areas except unemployment, which decreased yet remained fairly high until 1940.World War II
In the Depression years the United States remained focused on domestic concerns while democracy declined across the world and many countries fell under the control of dictators. Imperial Japan asserted dominance in East Asia and in the Pacific. Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy militarized to spread their influence while Britain and France attempted appeasement to avert another war in Europe. U.S. legislation in the Neutrality Acts sought to avoid foreign conflicts, however policy clashed with increasing anti-Nazi feelings following the German invasion of Poland in September 1939 that started World War II. Roosevelt positioned the U.S. as the "Arsenal of Democracy"—arming the fight against the Nazis—and embargoed Japan's oil supply. Japan tried to neutralize America's power in the Pacific by attacking Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, which catalyzed American support to enter the war.
The Americans joined the British and the Soviets as one of the three "Great Powers" of the Allies in the fight against the Axis: Germany, Italy, and Japan. In accord with the Allies believing Germany the main threat, America focused on offensives in Europe first, while checking Japanese expansion in the Pacific, until European victory would allow resources to be reallocated to the Far East. The American Navy in the Pacific had two early successes against the Japanese, stopping them at the Battle of the Coral Sea (May 1942) and inflicting a decisive blow at Midway (June 1942). American ground forces assisted in the North African Campaign that eventually concluded with the collapse of Italy's fascist government in 1943. A more significant European front was opened on D-Day, June 6, 1944, in which American and Allied forces invaded Nazi-occupied France from Britain.
On the home front, mobilization of the U.S. economy was managed by Roosevelt's War Production Board. The wartime production boom led to full employment, wiping out this vestige of the Great Depression. Indeed, labor shortages encouraged industry to look for new sources of workers, finding new roles for women and minorities. However the fervor also inspired anti-Japanese sentiment, which was codified by the government in Japanese American internment. Research and development took flight as well, best symbolized by the Manhattan Project, a secret effort to harness nuclear fission to produce highly-destructive atomic bombs.
The Allied spearhead progressed through Nazi-controlled Europe in the months following D-Day, but later in the year was slowed by near-disasters in Operation Market Garden and the Battle of the Bulge. The Allies soon entered Germany, the Americans and British from the west and the Soviets from the east. The western front stopped short, leaving Berlin to the Soviets as the Nazi regime formally capitulated in May 1945, ending the war in Europe. Back in the Pacific, the U.S. implemented an island hopping strategy toward Tokyo, establishing airfields for bombing runs against mainland Japan from the Mariana Islands and achieving hard-fought victories at Iwo Jima and Okinawa in 1945. In lieu of further invasions, American airplanes dropped two atomic bombs on Japanese cities, forcing the empire's surrender in a matter of days and thus ending World War II. The U.S. occupied Japan (and part of Germany), sending Douglas MacArthur to restructure the Japanese economy and political system along American lines.
Though the nation lost more than 400,000 soldiers, the mainland prospered untouched by the devastation of war that inflicted a heavy toll on Europe and Asia. Britain and the U.S. suspected the Soviet Union would abuse its influence in territories it had conquered, and sought Soviet assurances against a unified communist dictatorship. Participation in postwar foreign affairs marked the end of predominant American isolationism. The development and use of nuclear weaponry, with destructive force far greater than seen before, proved controversial and inspired both optimism and fear. Nuclear weapons were never used after 1945, as both sides drew back from the brink and a "long peace" characterized the Cold War years, 1947–1991. There were, however, regional wars in Korea and Vietnam.The Cold War begins (1945–1964)
Following World War II, the United States emerged as one of the two dominant superpowers. The U.S. Senate on a bipartisan vote approved U.S. participation in the United Nations (UN), which marked a turn away from the traditional isolationism of the U.S. and toward more international involvement.
The primary American goal of 1945–48 was to rescue Europe from the devastation of World War II and to contain the expansion of Communism, represented by the Soviet Union. The Truman Doctrine of 1947 provided military and economic aid to Greece and Turkey to counteract the threat of Communist expansion in the Balkans. In 1948, the United States replaced piecemeal financial aid programs with a comprehensive Marshall Plan, which pumped money into the economy of Western Europe, and removed trade barriers, while modernizing the managerial practices of businesses and governments. The Plan's $13 billion budget was in the context of a U.S. GDP of $258 billion in 1948, and was on top of $12 billion in American aid to Europe between the end of the war and the start of the Marshall Plan. Soviet head of state Joseph Stalin prevented his satellites from participating, and from that point on Eastern Europe, with inefficient centralised economies, fell further and further behind Western Europe in terms of economic development and prosperity. In 1949, the United States, rejecting the long-standing policy of no military alliances in peacetime, formed the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) alliance, which continues into the 21st century. In response the Soviets formed the Warsaw Pact of communist states.
In 1950 the Soviets tested their first nuclear weapon, thereby escalating the risk of warfare. Indeed, the threat of mutually assured destruction prevented both powers from going too far, and resulted in proxy wars, especially in Korea and Vietnam, in which the two sides did not directly confront each other. Within the United States, the Cold War prompted concerns about Communist influence. The unexpected leapfrogging of American technology by the Soviets in 1957 with Sputnik, the first Earth satellite, began the Space Race, won by the Americans as Apollo 11 landed astronauts on the moon in 1969. The angst about the weaknesses of American education led to large-scale federal support for science education and research.
In the decades after World War II, the United States became a global influence in economic, political, military, cultural, and technological affairs. Beginning in the 1950s, middle-class culture had a growing obsession with consumer goods. White Americans made up nearly 90% of the population in 1950.
In 1960, the charismatic politician John F. Kennedy was elected as the first and—thus far—only Roman Catholic President of the United States. The Kennedy family brought a new life and vigor to the atmosphere of the White House. His time in office was marked by such notable events as the acceleration of the United States' role in the Space Race; escalation of the American role in the Vietnam War; the Cuban missile crisis; the Bay of Pigs Invasion; the jailing of Martin Luther King, Jr. during the Birmingham campaign; and the appointment of his brother Robert F. Kennedy to his Cabinet as Attorney General. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas, on November 22, 1963, leaving the nation in profound shock.Climax of liberalism
The climax of liberalism came in the mid-1960s with the success of President Lyndon B. Johnson (1963–69) in securing congressional passage of his Great Society programs, including civil rights, the end of segregation, Medicare, extension of welfare, federal aid to education at all levels, subsidies for the arts and humanities, environmental activism, and a series of programs designed to wipe out poverty. As recent historians have explained:
"Gradually, liberal intellectuals crafted a new vision for achieving economic and social justice. The liberalism of the early 1960s contained no hint of radicalism, little disposition to revive new deal era crusades against concentrated economic power, and no intention to fast and class passions or redistribute wealth or restructure existing institutions. Internationally it was strongly anti-Communist. It aimed to defend the free world, to encourage economic growth at home, and to ensure that the resulting plenty was fairly distributed. Their agenda-much influenced by Keynesian economic theory-envisioned massive public expenditure that would speed economic growth, thus providing the public resources to fund larger welfare, housing, health, and educational programs."
Johnson was rewarded with an electoral landslide in 1964 against conservative Barry Goldwater, which broke the decades-long control of Congress by the Conservative coalition. But the Republicans bounced back in 1966 and elected Richard Nixon in 1968. Nixon largely continued the New Deal and Great Society programs he inherited; conservative reaction would come with the election of Ronald Reagan in 1980.The Civil Rights Movement
Meanwhile, the American people completed a great migration from farms into the cities and experienced a period of sustained economic expansion. At the same time, institutionalized racism across the United States, but especially in the South, was increasingly challenged by the growing Civil Rights movement. The activism of African American leaders Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King, Jr. led to the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which launched the movement. For years African Americans would struggle with violence against them, but would achieve great steps towards equality with Supreme Court decisions, including Brown v. Board of Education and Loving v. Virginia, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the Fair Housing Act of 1968, which ended the Jim Crow laws that legalized racial segregation between Whites and Blacks.
Martin Luther King, Jr., who had won the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to achieve equality of the races, was assassinated in 1968. Following his death others led the movement, most notably King's widow, Coretta Scott King, who was also active, like her husband, in the Opposition to the Vietnam War, and in the Women's Liberation Movement. Over the first nine months of 1967, 128 American cities suffered 164 riots. The late 1960s and early 1970s saw the strengthening of Black Power, however the decade would ultimately bring about positive strides toward integration.The Women's Movement
A new consciousness of the inequality of American women began sweeping the nation, starting with the 1963 publication of Betty Friedan's best-seller, The Feminine Mystique, which explained how many housewives felt trapped and unfulfilled, assaulted American culture for its creation of the notion that women could only find fulfillment through their roles as wives, mothers, and keepers of the home, and argued that women were just as able as men to do every type of job. In 1966 Friedan and others established the National Organization for Women, or NOW, to act for women as the NAACP did for African Americans.
Protests began, and the new Women's Liberation Movement grew in size and power, gained much media attention, and, by 1968, had replaced the Civil Rights Movement as the U.S.'s main social revolution. Marches, parades, rallies, boycotts, and pickets brought out thousands, sometimes millions; Friedan's Women's Strike for Equality (1970) was a nation-wide success. The Movement was split into factions by political ideology early on, however (with NOW on the left, the Women's Equity Action League (WEAL) on the right, the National Women's Political Caucus (NWPC) in the center, and more radical groups formed by younger women on the far left).
Along with Friedan, Gloria Steinem was an important feminist leader, co-founding the NWPC, the Women's Action Alliance, and editing the Movement's magazine, Ms. The proposed Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution, passed by Congress in 1972 and favored by about seventy percent of the American public, failed to be ratified in 1982, with only three more states needed to make it law. The nation's conservative women, led by activist Phyllis Schlafly, defeated the ERA by arguing that it degraded the position of the housewife, and made young women susceptible to the military draft.
However, many federal laws (i.e. those equalizing pay, employment, education, employment opportunites, credit, ending pregnancy discrimination, and requiring NASA, the Military Academies, and other organizations to admit women), state laws (i.e. those ending spousal abuse and marital rape), Supreme Court rulings (i.e. ruling the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment applied to women), and state ERAs established women's equal status under the law, and social custom and consciousness began to change, accepting women's equality. The controversial issue of abortion, deemed by the Supreme Court as a fundamental right in Roe v. Wade (1973), is still a point of debate today.The Counterculture Revolution and Cold War Détente (1964–1980)
Amid the Cold War, the United States entered the Vietnam War, whose growing unpopularity fed already existing social movements, including those among women, minorities and young people. President Lyndon B. Johnson's Great Society social programs and the judicial activism of the Warren Court added to the wide range of social reform during the 1960s and 1970s. Feminism and the environmental movement became political forces, and progress continued toward civil rights for all Americans. The Counterculture Revolution swept through the nation and much of the western world in the late sixties and early seventies, dividing the already hostile environment but also bringing forth more liberated social views.
Johnson was succeeded by Republican Richard Nixon in 1969, who turned the war over to the South Vietnamese forces and ended American combat roles; he negotiated a peace treaty in 1973, secured the release of POWs and ended the draft. The war had cost the lives of 58,000 American troops. Nixon manipulated the fierce distrust between the Soviet Union and China to the advantage of the United States, achieving détente (cooperation) with both parties. The Watergate scandal, involving Nixon's coverup of his operatives break-in into the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate office complex destroyed his political base, sent many aides to prison, and forced Nixon's resignation on August 9, 1974. He was succeeded by Vice President Gerald Ford, who was subsequently helpless to prevent the conquest of South Vietnam when North Vietnam invaded in 1975.
The OPEC oil embargo marked a long-term economic transition, as for the first time energy prices skyrocketed and American factories faced serious competition from foreign automobiles, clothing, electronics and consumer goods. By the late 1970s the economy suffered an energy crisis, slow economic growth, high unemployment, and very high inflation coupled with high interest rates (the term stagflation was coined). While economists agreed on the wisdom of deregulation, many of the New Deal era regulations were ended, as in transportation, banking and telecommunications.
Jimmy Carter, running as someone who was not a part of the Washington political establishment, was elected president in 1976. On the world stage, Carter brokered the Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt. In 1979, Iranian students stormed the U.S. embassy in Tehran and took 66 Americans hostage, resulting in the Iran hostage crisis. With the hostage crisis and continuing stagflation, Carter lost the 1980 election to the Republican Ronald Reagan. On January 20, 1981, minutes after Carter's term in office ended, the remaining U.S. captives held at the U.S. embassy in Iran were released, ending the 444-day hostage crisis.The end of the Cold War (1980–1991)
Ronald Reagan produced a major realignment with his 1980 and 1984 landslide elections. Reagan's economic policies (dubbed "Reaganomics") and the implementation of the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981 lowered income taxes from 70% to 28% over the course of seven years. Reagan continued to downsize government taxation and regulation. The U.S. experienced a recession in 1982; unemployment and business failures soon entered rates close to Depression-era levels. These negative trends reversed the following year, when the inflation rate decreased from 11% to 2%, the unemployment rate decreased from 10.8% in December 1982 to 7.5% in November 1984, and the economic growth rate increased from 4.5% to 7.2%.
Reagan ordered a massive buildup of the U.S. military, incurring a costly budget deficit. Reagan introduced a complicated missile defense system known as the Strategic Defense Initiative (dubbed "Star Wars" by opponents) in which the U.S. could, in theory, shoot down missiles with laser systems in space. Though it was never fully developed or deployed, the Soviets were genuinely concerned about the possible effects of the program and the research and technologies of SDI paved the way for the anti-ballistic missile systems of today.
The Reagan administration also provided covert funding and assistance to anti-Communist resistance movements worldwide. Reagan's interventions against Grenada and Libya were popular in the U.S., though his backing of the Contra rebels was mired in controversy. The arms-for-hostages scandal led to the convictions of such figures as Oliver North and John Poindexter.
Reagan met four times with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, who ascended to power in 1985, and their summit conferences led to the signing of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. Gorbachev tried to save Communism in the Soviet Union first by ending the expensive arms race with America, then by shedding the East European empire in 1989. The Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, ending the U.S.–Soviet Cold War.World superpower (1991–present)
The United States emerged as the world's sole remaining superpower and continued to intervene in international affairs, including the 1991 Gulf War against Iraq. During the 1990s President Bill Clinton oversaw one of the longest periods of economic expansion and unprecedented gains in securities values, a side effect of the digital revolution and new business opportunities created by the Internet. Under Clinton an attempt to universalize health care failed after almost two years of work on the controversial plan. Charged with perjury and obstruction of justice from lying about a sexual relationship with White House intern Monica Lewinsky, Clinton was impeached in 1998 by the House but he was acquitted by the Senate.
The presidential election in 2000 between George W. Bush and Al Gore was one of the closest in U.S. history, and helped lay the seeds for political polarization to come. Following Election Day, Florida entered dispute over the counting of votes due to technical issues regarding certain Democratic votes in some counties, which the Supreme Court resolved in Bush v. Gore by ending the recount with a 5–4 vote and certifying Bush as president.9/11 and the War on Terror
Once again the United States was attacked by terrorism with the September 11, 2001 attacks (9/11) in which al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four transcontinental airliners and intentionally crashed two of them into the twin towers of the World Trade Center and one into the Pentagon killing 3,000 people. President George W. Bush announced a "War on Terror" in response. The United States and NATO launched an invasion of Afghanistan to overthrow the Taliban regime that had harbored al-Qaeda and its founder, Osama bin Laden. The federal government established new domestic efforts to prevent future attacks. The controversial USA PATRIOT Act increased government's power to monitor communications and removed legal restrictions on information sharing between federal law enforcement and intelligence services. A cabinet-level agency called the Department of Homeland Security was created to lead and coordinate federal counter-terrorism activities.
Long-standing tension with the Iraqi government led by Saddam Hussein came to a head as the U.S. led the 2003 invasion of Iraq, which overthrew and captured Hussein. The reasons cited by the Bush administration for the invasion included the spreading of democracy, the elimination of weapons of mass destruction (a key demand of the UN as well, though later investigations found parts of the intelligence reports to be inaccurate) and the liberation of the Iraqi people. The invasion and continued Iraq War fueled international protests and gradually saw domestic support waver. After years of violence by the Iraqi insurgency, in 2007 President Bush deployed more troops in a strategy dubbed "the surge". While the death toll decreased, the political stability of Iraq remained in doubt. Barack Obama, elected in 2008 as the first African American President of the United States, decreased troop levels in Iraq with 50,000 staying to assist Iraqi forces, help protect withdrawing forces, and work on counter-terrorism until December 31, 2011, the date Bush scheduled for the full withdrawal. Obama increased American involvement in Afghanistan, starting a surge strategy using an additional 30,000 troops, while proposing to begin withdrawing troops in July 2011.Recent events
The economy peaked in December 2007, as the nation, and most of Europe, entered the longest post–World War II recession, which included a housing market crisis, a subprime mortgage crisis, soaring oil prices, an automotive industry crisis, rising unemployment, and the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. The financial crisis hit a critical point in September 2008 when Lehman Brothers and other important financial institutions failed. Starting the following month the federal government lent $245 billion to financial institutions through the Troubled Asset Relief Program. Later, Obama signed into law a $787 billion economic stimulus package aimed at helping the economy recover from the deepening recession. The government took steps to rescue the auto industry and prevent future economic meltdowns. These included a bailout of General Motors and Chrysler, putting ownership temporarily in the hands of the government, and the "cash for clunkers" program which temporarily boosted new car sales. Congress enacted the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, making sweeping changes to financial regulation. The recession officially ended in June 2009 as the U.S. economy began to expand once again, however the unemployment rate has continued to linger at 9% and above into 2011.
In the 111th Congress the GOP was unified in almost total opposition to the programs of the Congressional Democrats. Heated national debates emerged over numerous issues such as health care reform, which was rekindled by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. In the 2010 midterm elections, the Republicans regained control of the House of Representatives and cut into the Democratic majority in the Senate. Another factor in these results was the Tea Party, a populist conservative movement that since 2009 has promoted political candidates and protests with the goal of adherence to an originalist interpretation of the Constitution and reductions in government spending, taxes, and the federal budget deficit. As of 2010, with high levels of voter anger, debates continue over distrust of politicians, the sluggish economy with 9.5% unemployment, the bailout of banks and auto companies, the stimulus spending, health care reform, the financial crisis in state government, and the role of corporate spending in election campaigns. | politics |
https://channelviewpublications.com/page/detail/Towards-Openly-Multilingual-Policies-and-Practices/?k=9781783094950 | 2021-08-01T04:30:57 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-31/segments/1627046154158.4/warc/CC-MAIN-20210801030158-20210801060158-00619.warc.gz | 0.874198 | 949 | CC-MAIN-2021-31 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2021-31__0__100325610 | en | Towards Openly Multilingual Policies and Practices: Assessing Minority Language Maintenance Across Europe
- Related Formats:
- Ebook(PDF), Ebook(EPUB)
- 3rd Mar 2016
- Multilingual Matters
- Number of pages:
- 234mm x 156mm
This book investigates the maintenance of multilingualism and minority languages in 12 different minority communities across Europe, all of which are underrepresented in international minority language studies. The book presents a number of case studies covering a broad range of highly diverse minorities and languages with different historical and socio-political backgrounds. Despite current legislation and institutional and educational support, the authors surmise there is no guarantee for the maintenance of minority languages, suggesting changes in attitudes and language ideologies are the key to promoting true multilingualism. The book also introduces a new tool, the European Language Vitality Barometer, for assessing the maintenance of minority languages on the basis of survey data. The book is based on the European Language Diversity for All (ELDIA) research project which was funded by the European Commission (7th framework programme, 2010–2013).
This well researched and reasoned book provides the evidence and approaches to enable the human rights advocate to make the arguments for language protection in a clear and convincing manner. This work is an important addition for the advocacy of language protection as part of the human rights agenda.
Theodore S. Orlin, Harold T. Clark Professor of Human Rights Advocacy and Scholarship, Emeritus, Utica College, USA
This book is a rare gem. Issued from a research project, it clearly demonstrates how not only the research community, but the civil society at large can benefit from the interplay of data, research assumptions and methodology that is at the core of research. The authors go far beyond their duty of presenting their research results: they engage the readers in rediscussing their assumptions and pre-conceptions about multilingualism and language minorities in Europe, and they do it beautifully, involving them in a dialogue that reminds of the ancient Greek dialectical method.
Claudia Soria, Istituto di Linguistica Computazionale "A. Zampolli", Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Italy
I hope teachers, local politicians, and members of Parliament, as well as politicians at the European level, read the book and gain a better picture of the real diversity or the lack of it, and use this as a foundation for minority language policy decision-making. The book encourages cooperation between different groups to improve people's language rights, thereby making the world a little better and more equal.
Sociolinguistic Studies, Vol 12, No 3-4
With refreshing Nordic directness, the advance organiser of the foreword "To the Reader" (p. xv) asks about general ideas in regard to the role minority languages play in the political and research landscapes in Europe, and thus concludes: "Don't be naïve. Don't believe everything you are told. Read this book". I second that.
Pragmatics 6:1, 2018
Johanna Laakso is Professor of Finno-Ugric Studies at the University of Vienna, Austria. Her research interests include Finno-Ugric languages, historical linguistics, language contact and gender linguistics.
Anneli Sarhimaa is Professor of Northern European and Baltic languages at the Johannes-Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Germany. She is Vice-President of ELEN (European Language Equality Network). Her research interests include sociolinguistics, contact linguistics and language policies.
Sia Spiliopoulou Åkermark is Associate Professor of International Law, Director and Head of Research at the The Åland Islands Peace Institute, Finland. Her research interests include international law, diversity, law and politics, and peace and conflict resolution.
Reetta Toivanen is Academy of Finland Research Fellow and Adjunct Professor for social and cultural anthropology at the Erik Castren Institute of International Law and Human Rights, University of Helsinki, Finland. She is interested in human rights, minorities, power, identity politics and ethnography.
Tables and Figures
To the Reader
2. European Language Vitality Barometer – A Novel Tool for Measuring the Degree of Language Maintenance at Group Level
3. Apples, Oranges, and Cranberries: Finno-Ugric Minorities in Europe and the Diversity of Diversities
5. Implications and Recommendations: What Should We Do to Maintain Language Diversity in Europe?
About the authors | politics |
http://www.millermayer.com/content/view/h-1b-visas-used-up-overnight.html | 2013-05-24T14:44:26 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704666482/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114426-00032-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | 0.944885 | 2,367 | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2013-20__0__12400625 | en | H-1B Visas Used Up Overnight
By Stephen Yale-Loehr and Ted J. Chiappari**
On April 2, 2007, over 130,000 petitions arrived by courier at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), submitted by employers vying for the 58,200 H-1B specialty occupation visa numbers that will become available on October 1, 2007, the start of the next federal fiscal year. The USCIS, which allows petitions to be filed up to six months in advance, is still sorting out by computerized random selection who the lucky filers will be. Employers not selected in the lottery, and those who didn't manage to file their petitions in this first wave, will for the most part have to do without this useful temporary work visa category until October 2008. That is when the next batch of H-1B numbers becomes available, absent congressional action to alleviate this problem.
Purely domestic American companies have few visa categories to import skilled foreign workers temporarily. The H-1B visa category is by far the most important. Multinational corporations can transfer personnel from their overseas offices on an L-1 temporary visa, and treaties the United States has with many of our trading partners allow foreign-owned companies to bring in foreign workers with the same nationality as the corporate parent on an E visa. U.S.-owned companies without foreign operations don't have these options, and must generally rely on the H-1B.
As background, before a foreign national can apply for an H-1B visa, the U.S. employer must have a petition approved that establishes to the satisfaction of the USCIS that the U.S. employer is offering a job that requires at least a bachelor's degree in a specialty field (or its equivalent) and that the foreign national meets those requirements. Charles Gordon, Stanley Mailman & Stephen Yale-Loehr, Immigration Law and Procedure § 20.08 (rev. ed. 2007). As part of that petition, the employer must also notify U.S. workers at the worksite that it intends to employ a foreign worker. That notice must include the job title, the proposed salary, and the prevailing wage for the occupation, among other information.
Congress first imposed an annual quota on H-1B visas in 1990, but the quota of 65,000 wasn't reached until 1996. The tech boom of the 1990s and the resulting shortage of qualified workers convinced Congress to raise the annual cap temporarily in 1999 to 115,000 and again in 2001 to 195,000, where it stayed until 2003 before dropping back down to 65,000.
Carve-outs for Singaporean and Chilean professionals, created by bilateral agreements with those countries, have reduced the annual H-1B total to 58,200, although unused H-1B numbers for those two countries are supposed to become available again at the beginning of the next fiscal year. Of the 6,800 set aside for Chileans and Singaporeans, only approximately 700 were used in fiscal year 2006, and the USCIS claims that the 6,100 unused visa numbers were in fact incorporated into the 2007 H-1B quota. See the USCIS website. In 2004 Congress added an additional 20,000 H-1B visa numbers for foreign nationals who have a master's degree or higher from a U.S. college or university. About 7,000 of that separate 20,000 allotment remains unused for the next fiscal year.
Who is affected by this oversubscribed quota? As indicated above, domestic employers who can't find sufficient U.S. talent lose their most important vehicle to import temporary skilled labor. Which employers are most affected? According to a USCIS report issued in November 2006, computer-related occupations account for the lion's share of the H-1B petitions approved: approximately 43% in 2005 (the most recent year analyzed), with occupations in architecture, engineering and surveying a distant second at 12%. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Characteristics of Specialty Occupation Workers (H-1B): Fiscal Year 2005 (Nov. 2006) [hereinafter USCIS FY 2005 H-1B Report], Table 8A, page 12, at http://www.uscis.gov/files/nativedocuments/H1B_FY05_Characteristics.pdf. This is clearly one reason that computer industry organizations such as the Software and Information Industry Association and coalitions such as Compete America are lobbying to raise or eliminate the cap on H-1B visas. See, e.g., an April 7, 2007, SIIA press release at http://www.siia.net/press/releases/H1b_Limit%20Reached.pdf and a recent CNN.com article at http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/biztech/04/04/tech.visas.ap/index.html.
Thousands of foreign nationals seeking to work here are also obviously hurt by the H-1B cap. Approximately 44% of H-1B petitions approved in 2005 were on behalf of Indian nationals, followed by nationals of mainland China at 9%. USCIS FY 2005 H-1B Report, at Table 4A, page 7. The unavailability of H-1B numbers has led India to push for more H-1B numbers at the World Trade Organization. See, e.g., International Relations Center/Foreign Policy in Focus, U.S. Immigration Policy on the Table at the WTO (Nov. 30, 2005), available at http://www.fpif.org/fpiftxt/2962.
USCIS statistics show that 23% of H-1B petitions approved in 2005 were on behalf of foreign nationals already in the United States. USCIS FY 2005 H-1B Report, at Table 3, page 6. It is unknown how many of these were foreign students in F-1 or J-1 status, but American universities have partnered with U.S. companies in such coalitions as Compete America to push for more H-1B visa numbers. If foreign students choose not to study in the United States because of limited chances of career development here, the universities will lose a significant source of revenue from foreign students, who typically pay full tuition. According to Open Doors 2006, the annual report produced by the Institute of International Education, international students contribute $13.5 billion dollars to the U.S. economy through tuition and living expenses. Institute of International Education, Open Doors 2006: International Students in the United States, available at http://opendoors.iienetwork.org/?p=89251. Sixty-three percent of all international students receive a majority of their funds from personal sources, and more than 68% of all international student funding comes from sources outside of the United States if other sources of funding such as assistance from home country governments or universities is added in. Id.
Moreover, education was the third largest occupational division for H-1B employers in 2005, constituting 12% of approved petitions that year. USCIS FY 2005 H-1B Report, at Table 8A, page 12. So both U.S. universities and industry benefited when Congress in 2004 exempted from the H-1B visa quota those workers employed by U.S. institutions of higher education and not-for-profit research organizations.
With higher education, the high tech industry, our trading partners and President Bush in favor of increasing H-1B visa numbers, who is opposed to them? The most vocal critics of the H-1B program are, not surprisingly, the representatives of American high-tech workers, including the Communication Workers of America, the Programmers Guild and the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE-USA). Citing concerns about the well-being of U.S. workers and the domestic high-tech industry, some politicians, including Rep. Tom Tancredo (R.-Colo.), have even called for the abolition of the H-1B program.
Such opposition to the program makes a quick fix in Congress unlikely. Any legislative relief is further complicated by concerns about border security, the number of undocumented foreign nationals already in the United States, and the perceived need for a new guest worker program, which have led to calls for comprehensive immigration reform. Various proposals have surfaced. On March 22, 2007, Representatives Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) and Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) introduced H.R. 1645, the Security Through Regularized Immigration and a Vibrant Economy Act of 2007 in the House of Representatives. The STRIVE Act, as it is called, would indeed be comprehensive. It addresses border security, interior enforcement, and improved systems to verify employment authorization. It also would increase the annual number of H-1B visas to 115,000, with future market-based increases up to a cap of 180,000, and with unlimited exemptions for holders of U.S. master's degrees and for graduates of foreign universities with at least master's degrees in science, technology, engineering or mathematics. Senator Edward Kennedy (D-Ma.) is expected to introduce a comparable comprehensive immigration reform bill in the Senate shortly.
For those employers recruiting candidates with advanced degrees from U.S. institutions, the H-1B is still a viable option for now, although those additional visa numbers will be used up shortly. Also, employers should remember that the H-1B cap only applies to new H-1B petitions. H-1B extensions, requests for a change of employer for someone already in H-1B status, and requests for concurrent employment are not affected by the cap. Without legislative relief, however, many employers will have to explore alternative nonimmigrant visa categories. These include the O-1 for persons of extraordinary ability and the J-1 for trainees, as well as the visa options created by various free trade agreements for nationals of Canada, Mexico, Singapore, Chile and Australia. These options are limited, however.
As Microsoft chairman Bill Gates told Congress last month, "America should be doing all it can to attract the world's best and brightest. Instead, we are shutting them out and discouraging those already here from staying and contributing to our economic prosperity. . . . America will find it infinitely more difficult to maintain its technological leadership if it shuts out the very people who are most able to help us compete. Other nations are recognizing and benefiting from this situation. They are crafting their immigration policies to attract highly talented students and professionals who would otherwise study, live, and work here. Our lost opportunities are their gains." Testimony of William H. Gates before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee (Mar. 7, 2007), at http://help.senate.gov/Hearings/2007_03_07/Gates.pdf. A congressional solution is needed to fix the H-1B cap problem, and soon.
* This article originally appeared in the April 23, 2007 issue of the New York Law Journal. Copyright © 2007 New York Law Publishing Company. The authors thank the Journal for permission to reprint this article.** Stephen Yale-Loehr is co-author of Immigration Law and Procedure, published by LexisNexis Matthew Bender. He also is of counsel at Miller Mayer in Ithaca, N.Y., and teaches immigration law at Cornell Law School. Ted J. Chiappari is a partner at Satterlee Stephens Burke & Burke LLP in New York City. | politics |
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